Chap-22 The Cursed Man

Armed warriors ran across the town with determination and anxiety burning in their eyes. Chaos was spreading across every nook and corner as the war drums and alarm bells continued to ring louder and louder with every passing second.

Terrified screams cut through the lands as the frightened civilians were being directed towards the shelters inside the strong castle.

A large army of fighters gathered behind him ready to fight and die on a single command.

He couldn't say if his people felt the same as him but in the eyes of many he saw the same look as the one he had in his own eyes.

Madness.

The hunger for battle, the desire to fight, the resolve to emerge victorious with victory or death. The sweet sound of steel clashing against steel, of the dying screams of men and women, of the blood and guts that flew all around them, of the fear in the eyes of their enemies when they delivered the final blow.

Naruto glanced at his ancestral sword, Dawn, with its finely crafted blade and the hilt that bore the sigil of a dragon.

Fire and Blood.

There was power in those ancient words.

An immeasurable force that made his kind brim with pride and confidence. Many called it arrogance and he had never denied it being such for it was what it was, because their kind was worthy of that fear and respect.

It was that same fear that made the Hatake's and Yamanakas join his forces waiting for his command.

He could feel his blood pumping, his heart threatening to burst out with joy, the intoxication threatening to flood away his senses as he experienced the feeling of the sweetest thing in the world about to touch his lips.

Battle.

Nothing was more terrifying and nothing more glorious.

He was never one to seek it openly but there was one family with whom he actively sought it.

Senju.

He could still see his brothers dying before his eyes. Of the sharp kunai hitting Inabi in the neck as he choked on his own blood, of Yashiro wildly fighting in grief before blowing himself up taking down more Senjus with him.

Of that sword piercing Izuna's chest and the feeling of watching his beloved brother die in his arms.

He trembled with hate and revenge burning deep inside of him. He must be looking quite terrifying with his sharingan for not a single one of his men dared to taunt him or ask any question. They dared not speak for his killing intent threatened to slaughter them should they step out of line.

His Kinsguard stood around him, proud and silent.

He could feel the darkest parts of his soul morphing into reality, having only inexperienced such feelings the day he killed his own kin earning the name, Kinslayer.

Even Kurama maintained his distance and was not going to participate in the battle knowing how personal this was to Naruto. The boy knew the fox was capable of ending this fight single handedly, but that would not sit well with his friend who had yearned for this chance for a very longtime. Also, if the beast fought against the Senjus it would only bring more attention to it which was not what Naruto wanted at this time.

In that moment, Kurama saw every ounce of Indra coming alive in the boy as he glared at the massive defender force of more than a thousand men.

"Any of you tries to flee, cowers, or dies without killing three Senjus..." warned Naruto, flaring his killing intent fully making dozens of his troops fall to their knees.

The madness showed in his eyes as he made his promise.

"I'll burn them and their families alive"

He smiled viciously when he saw them all nod fearfully and turned around swiftly with his Kinsguard falling in line. Together the six of them all dressed in battle armor with dark cloaks fluttering from their backs marched forward with the allied army at their back.

Their shining swords yearning for the taste of Senju blood.

The members of the Kinsguard watched their leader keenly observing as their large army took up positions with many hiding themselves away from the eyes of the approaching enemy.

"Are the traps in place?" asked Naruto coldly, without any emotion in his voice except for hate.

"It's done, Lord Commander" replied Itachi affirmatively,

"Each of you take up command of different units across our flanks. I'll hold the center..." commanded Naruto stoically,

"Naruto, a massive force of Senjus, Sarutobi's, Inuzuka's and Akimichi's are approaching towards us. Our sensors and barrier teams place their numbers twice than our own" warned Kagami, and shivered when he saw the merciless smile on his friend's face.

"More bastards to kill..."

Each of the Kinsguard looked at each other quite uncertain over their leader and friend's dangerous behavior. They had known Naruto to be a calm and capable battle commander who usually preferred tactics over brute force. But today he was doing the opposite...

To be more accurate, his hatred for the Senjus was overwhelming every other feeling in his heart.

"Is Tobirama Senju leading them?"

Shisui flinched when he felt the bloodlust in his friend's voice, they had heard of Madara's obsessive rivalry with Hashirama Senju and in that regard Naruto was not much different from his elder brother, for he had an unhealthy hatred for Tobirama Senju.

"Answer me!"

They all flinched except for Itachi at his brutal commanding voice and it was only when Shisui nodded in confirmation did the monstrous killing intent lift away from them.

"Any last orders?" questioned Takeshi obediently, which was a stark contrast to his rebellious nature. But even a hot-head like him could see that Naruto was not going to tolerate any mistakes or even japes this time.

Naruto stared at his friends and saw the fear in their eyes. Not only their enemy outnumbered them and comprised of powerful warriors, but they were more worried with his hatred. But he could not stop...

For years, he had dreamed of this moment when he finally avenged his brother. And now that it was here...

He could not bring himself to care about anything else. Not the clan, not the fate of their new alliance with the Hatake or Yamanaka clans, or even his friends.

All he could see, all he could feel was...

Hate

He saw them still staring at him expectantly, waiting for his last order before they marched into battle.

Memories from his worst nightmare came haunting back. Before his eyes he saw an unholy fire burning across sacred temple grounds, the sound of men, women and children begging and screaming in pain. The foul air that had lurked in the skies that night, the memory of a young boy standing in the midst of a horrible dream.

Those words heard that night that plagued him every day after, ones he mumbled a thousand times in sleepless nights.

"Kill them all..."

He saw them all freeze but as a testament to their courage they all then nodded before all of them except for one disappeared away to carry out their orders.

But her eyes stayed on him taking in the haunting look in his eyes as he relived the two worst nightmares of his life. Days he would never forget in his entire life...

He didn't stop her when she came forward and laid a passionate kiss on his lips, one which he hesitantly returned. It was short and when she parted from him, there was a silent pleading in her eyes.

No words were spoken but he could hear her desire nonetheless in those eyes of hers.

Stay alive.

He didn't reply or gave any sign that he heard her or even accepted her request. Mikoto nodded with a sigh before kissing his lips one last time before vanishing away to carry out her duty.

When he turned back to face the battlefield, all emotions and feelings disappeared from his eyes.

He had no remorse or hesitation in his heart for what he was about to do.

For he was no hero.

He was a selfish person who only wanted to fulfill the desires of his own heart.

He was the Kinslayer.

He was the Cursed Man.