Disclaimer:

I do not own Naruto or Star Wars.

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Chapter 14: Shadow of Uzumaki

He instantly awoke within his personal bacta tank. Eyes full of fire and exhaustion from dreams that were still being plagued by the harrowing memories of both Skywalker and Uzumaki. Memories that have done nothing but fuel his anger and made him grow impatient with achieving his goal.

It has been nearly a month since he went down to the Leaf village and forced them into cooperating under him. During which time he has spent trying to perfect a new jutsu but despite the leeway he has given, there still has been no progress from the Leaf in locating any of his targets. He has allowed them ample time considering their primitive and limited resources, but he was beginning to suspect that they are not putting as much effort as they should be.

That was about to change.

The medicinal liquid slowly began to drain away from the tank. A pair of robotic arms then lowered down to his steam covered body before they began to remove the various tubes plugged into him. His right cybernetic arm and legs being attached before the metal arms began to put on his suit. Starting with the various leather pieces and then attaching the two parts of his metal neck brace into place. His chest panel being inserted into his abdomen just before powering up. Finally, his helmet was lowered down to cover his tortured and scarred visage before locking into place and sealing off any of the outside air from within.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The dark lord then grabbed his cape from the robotic arms and hooked it around his neck before then marching out of his quarters and down the hall to the hangar bay.

It was time to pay Konoha another visit.

Hokage Tower

These last few weeks since that horrible day have been nothing short of brutal for Tsunade. It has been only one dilemma after another for this village. Leaving her with little rest and chance to work on her actual Hokage duties.

For one, she and the others had to produce an excuse to the Daimyo as to the letter he received from Danzo about her inadequate leadership as Hokage. Luckily, Danzo himself personally clarified to the Daimyo that the letter was a forgery that was likely sent by an enemy of the village to try to weaken Tsunade's status as the Fifth Hokage. The only satisfaction out of that ordeal was seeing the look on Danzo's face as he was forced to undo his coup with such a feeble cover story. Though considering their Daimyo was not exactly the brightest one they've had, it didn't take much effort to convince him.

Second, was that the village has been growing absolutely restless with Vader's gigantic fortress looming above them. Leaving the village and much of the Land of Fire covered in its shadow. Because of that many residents have barely seen proper sunlight save for the shinobi that have taken missions far outside the borders of their country. Many of the villagers had to resort to leaving their lights and electricity running to keep the village lit. Many of the generators were being runned into the ground with their constant usage. The villagers were also extremely upset as to how the leader of these invaders got away with destroying the Hokage monument so easily while Tsunade and their shinobi had done nothing. The result of all of this were the villagers constantly piling into Tsunade's office outrightly demanding to know why she and the other shinobi have not done anything to try to repel these invaders.

Tsunade tried to explain to her citizens how the Leaf was in a very precarious situation and she and the others were doing what was necessary to protect them but many of the villagers did not believe or refused to listen to her. Some even went as far to call her a traitor right to her face which resulted in those naysayers being thrown out and her ordering that no more villagers be allowed into the mansion unless they were either summoned or had an emergency.

Then there was the third issue of her getting constant messages from the other Kage of both the great and smaller nations, demanding to know what was going on in the Leaf. Hell, it only took a couple of days after Vader and his forces came to the village before the messages started coming in. Vader's fortress was so enormous that it could practically be seen for hundreds if not thousands of miles by all of the hidden villages and countries. It also did not take long for any of them to guess that his ship was right over the Land of Fire. Prompting the many messages asking if her village required assistance to even ones from the Tsuchikage, the Raikage, and a few others that have accused her village of developing or enlisting the aid of an outside party with advanced weaponry to start a new Great Ninja War.

Strangely though she has not received anything from the Sand Village. Likely perhaps it was because of her village's actions during the mission to retrieve Gaara that the Sand didn't believe that the Leaf had any ill intentions towards them or the other nations. Then again that was just a theory and even if it were true, opinions and beliefs can change over time.

Which was why Tsunade has been working hard to try to assure the other Kage and their people that the Leaf was not preparing to attack anyone. Explaining that she and her village are only in the process of trying to negotiate peace with these outsiders in order to get them to leave without violence or other forms of aggression. She did not mention the fact that their leader was both a former Leaf shinobi and the Leaf village's jinchuriki as that would complicate things too much and possibly incite some of the other villages. Despite her efforts, though all of the other villages were on high alert and preparing their armies and forces to either attack or defend.

She hoped that it was the latter lest there would be another war on their hands.

However, there was one issue that was currently the most serious and strenuous of all their problems and that was finding Vader's targets. That is why she, Shizune, council woman Koharu, and Danzo were sitting here in her office attempting to solve the matter. Because if they did not, the Leaf would once again be in mortal danger of Vader's wrath.

"So, we've found nothing?"

Tsunade nodded to the council member.

"Yes, despite our efforts we haven't been able to find a single trace of Orochimaru or the Akatsuki anywhere."

The Leaf elder turned her head to the side to contemplate something.

"What if we devote more of our resources and ninja into tracking them?"

Tsunade shook her head.

"We can't. We're already stretched thin as it is with our shinobi being committed to both regular missions and trying to find Vader's targets."

It was a miracle that Vader even allowed them to continue doing their missions for clients both in and out of the Land of Fire. She made it clear to all the shinobi teams though that once they finished their missions, they were to try to find any information they could as to where Orochimaru or the Akatsuki might be hiding and to verify that information if they can. However, for the teams that only had genins or newly promoted chuunins, she restricted them to only gathering information. She didn't want those teams to have to deal with Orochimaru or any of the members of the Akatsuki if she could help it.

Danzo, who had been quiet this whole time, offered a solution.

"What if we were to send spies to gather information from the other nations?"

Tsunade glared at Danzo as the old fool still keeps coming up with the most outrageous of plans.

"Tensions are already high enough between us and the other nations because they think Vader's ship is a new weapon of ours! If we start sending our spies past their borders and they're discovered, we'll likely have another Great Ninja War!"

Danzo didn't seem swayed by Shizune's reasoning.

"Sometimes risk and sacrifice are necessary for the greater good!"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the war hawk.

"I would think after what happened to your men that you would've had your fill of pointless sacrifices!"

Koharu shivered as she remembered all the blood that was spilled that day including that of her dear friend and colleague Homura while Danzo still tried to argue.

"You really think that not one of the other nations has any information about them? The Akatsuki from what I understand has been taking jobs and missions to help fund their organization for years now. If there is even a small chance that at least one of these nations has hired them in the past and may possibly know where they are or how to contact them, then we have to take it as an absolute certainty! Which is why-"

"We will not be sending spies!"

The look in the Slug Queen's eyes made it completely clear that she was not leaving anymore room for argument as the matter was to be dropped.

"Very well Lady Tsunade, but then you will have to deal with the consequences once Vader grows tired of waiting."

Koharu interjected.

"Well considering he hasn't come out of his ship for weeks it's probably likely due to his own spies not producing much from their findings either."

Danzo looked at the old councilwoman.

"Yes, but it is only a matter of time before they do find something before our shinobi. And if that were to continue Vader would see our village as expendable and destroy us anyway!"

Tsunade heavily sighed as the old bastard had some points. Vader was likely not going to wait for them to find any new leads for very much longer and if his forces do end up finding information before they do, Vader just might reconsider allowing the Leaf village and its citizens to continue existing.

They were just going to have to hope that they find some intel soon.

As Tsunade sat down Koharu asked an unexpected question.

"By the way, Tsunade, how is that kunoichi you took under your tutelage? Sakura Haruno? She hasn't been seen for quite some time."

Tsunade's bangs covered her eyes while Shizune answered.

"She's refused to come out of her home since….since what happened at the cemetery."

Koharu hummed.

"I see, the poor dear must still be upset over what happened between her and Vader."

Tsunade glared daggers at the old woman which forced her to silence herself.

"Don't even pretend for a second that your concerned for her well-being or her feelings! You just want to know if she'll be ready in case, she'll have to fight Vader using her Force powers!"

Koharu didn't bother to deny Tsunade's accusation as it was obviously true.

"Princess Tsunade, even you can't be blind enough to see that if it comes to it your apprentice, flawed as she may be, is the best hope we have of defeating Vader!"

Shizune objected to Danzo's statement.

"You can't place that kind of responsibility on her shoulders! She doesn't even fully understand that power and Vader said that he was only toying with her when they last fought! She's no match for him!"

The leader of the Hawk faction still continued to argue.

"That may be but from what I've been told she's a fast learner. She was even capable of levitating those gigantic pieces of the Hokage monument away from all of the citizens. If she can come that far on her own with that power in such a brief time, then perhaps she may be able to catch up to him if given the proper guidance."

Tsunade rose to her feet will a killer look in her eyes that made Koharu and Shizune shudder.

"You stay away from her Danzo, or I swear, I'll kill you myself!"

She then turned her attention to Koharu next.

"Sakura has been carrying an enormous amount of guilt over what has happened to Naruto. No one in this village, and I mean no one, has the right to ask her right now to fight him let alone kill him. She would never be able to live with herself even more than she is now. It would be cruel to ask her and even more so to force her!"

Tsunade took a deep breathe before sitting back down.

"Consider this matter closed, both of you! Or I won't be held responsible for whatever actions I may take!"

The air was heavy with tension after Tsunade's threat. Koharu sighed in compliance while Danzo nodded as there was no point in discussing the subject any further right now. However, he was far from letting it go.

"So, if we can't devote more resources or send spies what can we do to gather information?"

Tsunade tilted her head down in silent frustration while Shizune's eyes widened and her breathe hitched.

"Um….Tsunade-sama?"

The Sannin snapped at everyone.

"DAMN IT, I DON'T KNOW! I just…just don't know right now."

"Perhaps that is the problem."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Tsunade's and everyone else's eyes snapped to the doorway where Darth Vader intimidatingly stood.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You surprisingly lack imagination, Lady Hokage. Especially when it comes to producing results."

Vader walked in causing Koharu to shudder while Danzo kept his demeanor surprisingly calm.

"Look,…..Vader,…..we are already doing everything possible to find any kind of intel on both Orochimaru and the Akatsuki!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"And yet you still have not found any trace of them. Perhaps, I should squeeze the Land of Fire until someone reveals the whereabouts of these criminals."

Everyone including Danzo felt an awful sense of dread from Vader's proclamation.

"But we don't even know if any of them are still in the Land of Fire! For all we know they could be anywhere in the Five Great Nations unknown to anyone but members of the organizaions or affiliates! The only way we'll catch them again is if either one of them slips up but considering how careful they've been it likely…..."

As Vader stood in front of her desk, even Tsunade was having a little difficulty keeping herself composed.

"Won't be…for quite…...some time."

"Time, Lady Hokage, is the one thing you and your village do not have."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Danzo spoke to the dark lord.

"I was suggesting to Princess Tsunade earlier that we should send spies to the other nations to see if any one of them are possibly hiding information about both parties."

Tsunade glared at Danzo while imagining all the gruesome things she wanted to do to him right now.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"A valid plan but wrong in its purpose."

Danzo was confused.

"What do you mean?"

"To defeat an enemy such as the Akatsuki and Orochimaru, one must first know and understand their plans and goals."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Orochimaru and Sasuke Uchiha are simple. Orochimaru wants to live forever with the power of the Sharingan. To be able to copy and learn all jutsu. The young Uchiha wants revenge by killing his older brother. As for the Akatsuki…..."

Vader looked at Koharu as she trembled from Vader's eyes staring at her with its reflective surfaces.

"Their goal is more of a mystery, but we know that it involves hunting down jinchuriki and taking away their Bijuu. Killing them in the process."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Tsunade and the others still didn't quite understand.

"Yes, we know all of that already, but how does that help?"

Vader looked back the Hokage as he explained.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"If we cannot find either Orochimaru or the Akatsuki then I will draw them back to the Land of Fire, and if they are here, I will draw them out and make them come to me."

Vader then turned around and left toward the door while everyone there was still confused.

"How will you accomplish that?"

Vader stopped in front of the doorway and answered the Hokage.

"By taking away their goals."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

When Vader left, everyone but Danzo felt relieved. That actually went better than any of them expected. Yet, there was still unease over Vader threatening the entire Fire country. Making Tsunade realize that it's not just her village that was in jeopardy anymore from his ire and that perhaps they do need to pour more resources into finding his targets.

With everything going through her mind though she still couldn't help but think of Vader's proposal to lure his enemies to him. Pondering what he could have possibly meant. Of all the possibilities, she knew one thing for sure.

It was nothing good.

Konoha Streets

All the villagers were staring at them as they left the Hokage tower. Gawking like the insignificant worms they are. However, unlike the looks of hatred and apathy Uzumaki received, the dark lord only drew looks of fear as he and his personal squad walked through the streets.

It greatly annoyed him even though the residents now knew their place.

Although, he doubted that the Hokage has not told them specifically what would happen if they didn't cooperate, he knew that their fear of him and the Kyuubi were enough to keep them in line for now. Fear has always been the best motivator in his disposal even if just for cooperation. Let them be ignorant for the time being of the punishment that awaits them should they uprise, or their shinobi fail him.

After all, their time on this planet was already limited.

Before he and his troops would return to their shuttle, which was just outside the village gates, he wanted to take a detour first. Their destination was a place Uzumaki has only ever visited once when he was still a resident in the village, and yet Vader remembered exactly where it was located. As they traversed through the various streets and neighborhoods, they began to encounter less and less villagers in the streets. The buildings around them were older and looked like they hadn't been occupied in a while. After a few more minutes of walking, the environment grew quiet and still. Then finally, they found it.

The old rotting gates of the Uchiha district.

Captain Rex turned to his leader.

"My lord, why are we here exactly?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"This is where Itachi Uchiha slaughtered his entire clan. Along with his own parents."

Rex and his men looked at each other still not grasping Vader's intentions.

"I'm afraid we don't quite understand sir."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I told the Lady Hokage earlier that in order to catch our quarry, we first needed to understand and take away their goals in order to draw them to us."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Sasuke Uchiha wants revenge for his clan by killing his brother Itachi."

Rex nodded.

"Yes, that was in the data that was provided to us during our training and simulations. But since we already know about Sasuke Uchiha's goals, I respectfully fail to see the point of investigating the home of where his clan resided."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"We may know Sasuke Uchiha's goals and intentions but not that of his brother."

Vader turned to Rex.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"If we learn the reasoning behind him destroying his own clan while choosing to spare his brother before abandoning the village, then we will be able to capture him much more quickly."

The specialized clone troops were becoming even more confused as the whole purpose they thought was to wipe out the Akatsuki organization and all its members until Rex finally figured everything out.

"And if we capture him…...we can use him to lure his brother out of hiding."

Vader stretched out his gloved hand and the old doors slowly pushed open while moss and rotting wood crumbled from them.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Precisely."

The dark lord and his personal clone squadron then entered the Uchiha compound. Walking through the empty streets past many old homes, shops, and other buildings that were all rotting and ruined just like the entrance was. Even still, it was amazing that this place was still intact after the Sand and Sound Invasion a few years back.

While however, the district may have been abandoned and left in disrepair, the clones didn't dare let their guard down as they walked through the district with their leader. The whole place was too perfect for an ambush. It also had an eerie feeling to it which kept them even more on edge for what may come around every corner.

They explored the district for quite a while before Vader suddenly stopped. He turned his helmet toward a wall that had a repeating pattern of the Uchiha fan symbol on its surface. The cyborg approached one of the symbols that had a crack on it and placed his hand on it.

He sensed through the Force that there was something ominous about it. Deducing that this crack was made by a kunai. And its holder had deep-seated feelings of anger, loss, guilt, and remorse. Vader turned around and noticed a house that was right across the street from him. The Darkside felt strong in there. Very strong indeed.

It had to be it.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Remain here."

Captain Rex nodded while he and his men established a perimeter around the front area of the house as Vader went inside.

The dark lord bent down his tall stature as he entered through the doorway. The interior was all covered with mold, dust, and cobwebs. With each step he took, the old and rotting floorboards creaked loudly underneath his heavy armored boots. There was great darkness in this home. A large mixture of everything he felt from the cracked symbol outside plus other emotions that festered around the house like old ghosts.

Feelings that were hardly unknown to the former Sith apprentice

He found a small room past a shoji that was basically devoid of all its paper covering. Upon waving his hand, the door slid on its own so that he could pass. What he found seemed to be a child's room. Only it was barren with no toys or playthings anywhere. Just academic books and scrolls. No doubt this room once belonged to Sasuke before the loss of his clan. Anyone else who would take one look at this room would think that the Uchiha was a studious youngling with a bright future in his academics and career as a shinobi.

But to the dark lord, it was truly clear the boy's studious nature was not by his choice. He could feel a wanting for acceptance, recognition, and love. Along with heavy feelings of inferiority, hatred, and jealousy. He sensed that all these feelings were toward his own family members. Particularly toward one of them, his older brother, though that was not surprising which meant there was little to be found here.

Vader left the room and kept on searching before he found another room. This one was larger than the other one and it looked like it was stripped bare of everything inside. Someone else had gotten to it before Vader did. There was nothing in here.

At least not in the physical sense.

Vader sensed that there was a strange feeling of isolation about this room. Along with sensations of fear and distrust. These feelings confused Vader because there was no doubt that this was Itachi's room. It was far too small to belong to the parents and why else would all his belongings and everything else have been removed? It only supported this belief because either Itachi took everything after the massacre of the village before the village's authorities could find them or the authorities took everything as a means to try to track him.

Or maybe perhaps someone did it to help cover Itachi's tracks.

What was strange to Vader though is why would Itachi have any fear? Especially considering how he planned on wiping out his whole clan and did so single-handedly in cold blood. One who would be capable of that would have nothing to be afraid of from this task.

Unless of course…

It was only a theory, but one Vader knew there was one more piece needed to substantiate it. Leaving the room, he continued his search until he came upon the family living room. On the floor were too worn-out chalk drawings of the bodies of Sasuke's parents from where Itachi slaughtered them.

Vader knelt down and placed his hand on the drawings. Where his mind was then overcome with intense feelings of sorrow and loss. They were not just from young Sasuke, however. No, there were also enormous feelings of guilt, heartbreak, conflict, and resolve. They had to have belonged to Itachi, but his resolve was not of one to destroy the clan for the sake of ego and power.

It was to protect.

It was all beginning to make sense to Vader. Itachi didn't eliminate his own clan for selfish reasons. There was something else at play here. A desire to protect something.

Or someone.

Whatever the reason, Vader needed more information. Since it didn't seem like he would find anymore answers here, he stood up and prepared to take his leave. Before he left, he heard a rustle nearby and looked over to see a black cat crawling in from the open window. The cat's fur and back raised in alarm. Vader headed the feline no mind as he left the room.

When he did the cat then lowered its back as it proceeded to hunt for some mice.

When Vader exited the house, Rex and the others stood at attention.

"Sir!"

Vader stood before the clones.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Something is troubling you and your men, Captain Rex."

The clone captain looked to the side before answering.

"It's probably nothing sir but…...we noticed there's something strange about this district compared to the other ones."

"And were not referring to the fact that it's old and deserted!"

Vader and Rex looked at Echo with agitation as the clone sergeant shut himself up before Rex pointed at various tall buildings that were outside the Uchiha district.

"Unlike the others, this one is completely surrounded by tall structures. Those buildings are tall enough to provide perfect surveillance of the village but the location of this district between all of them makes it seem like-"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"As if the Uchihas were being spied upon."

Rex and the others looked at their lord.

"I've suspected it as well when we first arrived."

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"But what does it mean?"

Vader answered the hulking sergeant Hevy.

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"It means that Itachi Uchiha and the massacre of his clan will require further investigation."

Vader and his men then proceeded on their way back to the ship. Along the way though Vader could sense that they were being watched. Likely by one of Danzo's men since he could barely sense any emotion in them whatsoever.

As soon as they exited the district and back into the busy streets of the village, the looks of fear and terror from the villagers persisted again. No one said a word as he and his men walked past them. Not even a whisper.

Suddenly a rock was thrown towards the cyborg. Vader didn't even bother using the Force as he caught the projectile with his left glove before crushing it into dust. Within that moment, the clones instantly drew their blasters toward the thrower before lowering them in confusion.

They saw what appeared to be a young genin squad. In the middle stood a young boy with brown hair that was standing straight up who was wearing a blue scarf around his neck. On both of his sides stood a girl and a boy. The girl had orange hair that was tied up into two large pigtails and had rosy cheeks. The other boy had large glasses and some snot dripping down from his nose.

The girl and boy with the glasses looked extremely nervous and afraid while the boy in the middle with the blue scarf pointed at them and shouted.

"I'M CALLING YOU OUT EVILDOERS! TIME FOR YOU TO LEAVE MY VILLAGE AND TO NEVER COME BACK!"

The clones looked at each other before Hevy sighed.

"You've gotta be kidding me!"

Vader slowly turned to the boy who puffed up his chest to show off his bravery.

"You must be the one called Darth Vader! I'm going to make you pay for what you did to the monument of my grandfather!"

The clones were becoming annoyed with the loudmouthed brat.

"Shouldn't you be looking for lost pets or doing someone's lawn, little genin?"

Hevy laughed at Five's statement as the boy grits his teeth while puffing out his cheeks in embarrassment.

"I'LL SHOW YOU LITTLE GENIN!"

Konohamaru charged forward much to the protests of his comrades while performing a hand sign. He then poofed into smoke which caused the clones to redraw the blasters. When the smoke cleared though the clones had but one reaction.

"WHAT THE-?!"

In the boy's place was an attractively beautiful woman with soft curves, big breasts, and luscious kissable lips. She winked at the troopers causing them to shudder. None of them ever encountered a jutsu like this one in their training. It was both unprecedented and quite frankly disturbing.

"This-This is just all kinds of wrong!"

Hevy shuddered in agreement with Fives.

"You're telling me! What kind of sick freak teaches a kid this kind of jutsu?!"

The woman swayed her hips back and forth causing her big breasts to bounce around which caused the clones to feel even more disgusted.

"Come on boys. Don't be shy.~"

The clones felt even more uncomfortable and unsure how to manage this situation. That was until Vader had enough and raised his hand before twitching his finger. When he did, the sexy woman poofed back into Konohamaru again. The boy looked around confused before he was suddenly pulled into the air right into Vader's gloved grasp.

The dark lord held the boy high in his clutch much to the horror of the villagers.

HOPUR.

"You dare to perform that jutsu before me?!"

Vader began to squeeze his grip causing the boy to yell in pain. All the villagers were frozen in silence and in fear. Not one of them daring to interfere on the Sarutobi boy's behalf. Yet another example of the hypocrisy and cowardice of these people.

It only angered Vader further.

Suddenly the other two genin ran over to them where the clones drew their blasters, but Vader held his free hand up as an order to stand down.

"I'm sorry for the rudeness of my friend! He has no manners please forgive him mister Vader, sir!"

The girl bowed profusely as did the snot nosed boy.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

They were only responded with the towering cyborg's mechanical breathing. He looked at the two before back at the boy. A few seconds passed before Vader roughly dropped Konohamaru to the ground.

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"You are very brave boy. But bravery is useless if it only serves to get you killed."

He turned his caped clad back on the children.

"If you value your life child, you will never perform that jutsu in my presence again or you will die braver than most!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Vader then went on his way with his clones following behind him. The villagers quietly felt relieved that it was over. That was until Konohamaru shouted at the cyborg and his men.

"HEY! I'M NO CHILD! I'M THE FUTURE SEVENTH HOKAGE!"

Darth Vader halted in his steps while the clones were confused as they looked at each other and the boy who was being shushed by his comrades.

"Seventh Hokage? Who's going to be the Sixth?"

The Sarutobi boy pumped his fist into the air as he answered Echo's query.

"Naruto Uzumaki that's who!"

The other clones were more confused while Rex recalled that name from that kunoichi they captured before coming to the village and turned to his superior.

"Sir, do you know who this Naruto is?"

Vader stayed silent save for his breathing apparatus. However, the normal rhythm of his breathing sounded a bit quickened. Beneath his wavering cape, his fists were tightly clenching. Some of the windows of the nearby shops and homes were cracking much to the startle of the villagers.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"Naruto Uzumaki…...was a pathetic excuse of a shinobi who died years ago."

Konohamaru's face grew shocked as did the faces of his comrades and the villagers all around them. The young boy's face started to twitch as his expression slowly turned to one of rage. He pointed at the dark lord and shouted defiantly at the top of his lungs.

"THAT'S A LIE! BIG BROTHER NARUTO COULD NEVER DIE BEFORE FULFILLING HIS DREAM OF BECOMING HOKAGE! HE WAS MY WORTHY RIVAL AND FRIEND! WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU!?"

Vader slowly turned to the boy while his comrades were busy trying to restrain the young Sarutobi.

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"Because I am the one who killed him, young one."

The villagers around them all gasped at this shocking revelation. Whispering to each other as to whether or not what Vader said was true and if the Kyuubi brat really was dead. Konohamaru however only sat there shaking with tear drops dripping from his face. His kunoichi teammate tried placing a comforting hand on his shoulder until suddenly the Sarutobi boy whipped out a kunai, leapt to his feet, and charged toward Vader!

"KONOHAMARU WAIT!"

The grandson of the late Third Hokage didn't listen to his teammate as he held his kunai up while he rushed Vader. The clones began to power up their blasters much to the horror of the villagers. However, Vader held his hand up again to stand them down thereby allowing Konohamaru to proceed with his attack.

An act which may cost the boy dearly.

The Sarutobi genin didn't care though as he struck out with his kunai. An attack that was easy to predict as Vader stepped out of the way. The boy whipped around and started slashing and stabbing with his blade only for it to be met with nothing but air as the dark lord easily dodged and avoided each attack just like the first one. Konohamaru tried stabbing him again, but Vader simply sidestepped away from his lunge and shoved Konohamaru's back. Forcing the young genin to lose balance and fall forward.

While he picked himself up, Vader criticized him.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"I'm disappointed in you, young Sarutobi. All these years and this is as far as you've come."

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"You should give up now. Not even the mightiest of your Leaf Shinobi could defeat me. What hope does a genin like you that still has so much more to learn have?"

Konohamaru grunted and growled his response to the giant cyborg.

"I might not be as strong as many other shinobi here, but at least I'm just as brave to protect my village as they would be!"

Vader looked at the boy before slowly turning his attention to the villagers who shuddered under his stare.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"And the very fact that this village would allow children such as yourself and many others to fight and die on its behalf is one of the many reasons why it should be eradicated!"

Konohamaru was stunned by Vader's cold statement before he jumped to his feet and roared before charging toward the dark lord again!

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"Enough!"

With a raise of his hand Vader lifted the boy a few meters into the air with the Force.

Close by

The younger members of Team Asuma and two of the ones from Team Kurenai just left their usual barbecue restaurant. Choji has been stuffing himself quite frequently there more than usual though considering everything that's happened, it wasn't that surprising. Even with all the weeks that have gone by, none of them were getting used to having the village totally covered in darkness save for the street and indoor lights trying to keep the village lit. It was like every single day was night.

"Man, this sucks!"

Ino rolled her eyes at Kiba's statement.

"You've been saying that every day!"

Kiba retorted.

"Well, it does! I wish we could do something about it!"

Hinata stuttered.

"B-But there's n-n-nothing w-we can d-d-do about it, K-Kiba-kun."

Choji weighed in while stuffing himself with a bag of chips he just opened.

"She's right Kiba."

The Inuzuka grunted while scratching Akamaru on the head.

"Yeah, I know, I just feel so damn useless! I hate it!"

Shikamaru groaned as it looked like today was going to be another drag like the others. Unfortunately, he couldn't even go and watch the clouds like he used to do to relax since their whole sky now was that mechanized metal fortress. It's been unnerving having it hover above them like that. It feels like one day it might fall and crush them all.

But of course, he kept that to himself as he didn't want to create a panic.

"Do we even know what they want?"

Ino took a deep breath as the dog user was getting on her nerves.

"You know what they want! They want us to bring them information on Orochimaru and the Akatsuki! That's why we've been taking extra time during missions to try to dig up any intel on them that we can get!"

Akamaru barked and Kiba nodded his head.

"Yeah, I agree Akamaru! There's gotta be more to it than that! I mean why attack our village in the first place if they needed our help?!"

Choji gobbled up a handful of potato chips while agreeing.

"They do have a point."

Shikamaru responded.

"It was probably their leader's call. When he came to our village, he likely came with the intent to wipe us out but decided the village was worth more to him intact."

Kiba growled.

"I'd still like to tear that bastard apart for what he did to our monument!"

Akamaru barked in agreement with his master while Shikamaru gave a dead serious look to the Inuzuka teen.

"Listen to me Kiba! That guy is way out of our league! Not even the Hokage, our team leaders, or even a small army of Anbu could stop him! Besides the Hokage ordered all of us to fully extend our cooperation and that no one was to challenge him!"

Not that Shikamaru did not have similar feelings toward the man. Not just for what he's done to their monument and village but also how he held him, Tenten, and Shino hostage while they were unconscious and threatened their lives. Tsunade and their team leaders made them swear not to tell anyone what happened which left them little choice but to agree. However, Shikamaru has seen enough of what that man can do that unlike Kiba, he wasn't overly eager to take the bastard on.

Said Inuzuka huffed in annoyance.

"What do we know about this guy? Who the hell is he?!"

Shikamaru looked at the ground as he remembered when he asked that very same question weeks ago to his superiors.

"I don't know the answer to either of those questions. I tried asking about who he was to the Lady Hokage and Asuma-sensei, but they wouldn't tell me."

He looked at the others.

"There was this look in their eyes though. It looked like….fear and something else."

Kiba and Hinata looked at each other.

"That's funny, Kurenai-sensei had that same look when we asked her."

Hinata nodded.

"Y-Yes, she was definitely af-af-afraid."

Kiba looked at Ino.

"Hey, Sakura was there at the cemetery where the fight went down, do you think she knows anything?"

Ino's expression suddenly became saddened and worried.

"I don't know. Sakura hasn't been out of her house since what happened that day."

None of them liked the sound of that.

"She hasn't come out once?"

Ino shook her head.

"No, but I did see her one time in her room."

Hinata held her hands in worry.

"H-How was sh-sh-she?"

Ino looked at the Hyuga girl with somberness.

"She…...She looked awful. Like she's been crying a lot and barely getting any sleep. I've never seen her like this. So…...so heartbroken. Well, except once before."

They all knew what she was referring to.

"When Naruto disappeared."

Ino nodded to Shikamaru.

"Yeah, except this was worse than that. I can't explain it, but I think something terrible must've happened to her on that day. I'm really worried."

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed as he thought of an idea.

"Well, if something did happen then the only ones who know are the Hokage and our team leaders."

Choji finished his bag of chips before tossing it into a nearby garbage bin.

"You think we should ask them?"

The pineapple haired teen nodded.

"Yeah, I do. If we're going to get through this, then we're definitely going to need her help. First though we have to find a way to help her. And I think we should start by finding out what really happened that day."

They all stopped when they noticed a crowd of people forming nearby. The young group of shinobi also noticed that barely anyone in the crowd was saying a word, but they had nervous and terrified expressions. Not liking the look of this, the teens pushed their way through the crowd to see what was going on.

What they found gave them the same looks on their faces, as they watched Darth Vader levitating Konohamaru into the air before slamming him back into the ground. The genin groaned with pain as his teammates, Shikamaru, and the others rushed to his aide. Ino and Hinata checked him over but didn't find anything broken. While that was happening, Vader turned his back on the boy.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"Go home, young one. Remember this experience and never challenge me again or you will suffer the same fate as your friend!"

Vader then walked away to join his awaiting troopers while Konohamaru struggled as his comrades, Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba restrained him.

"LET ME GO! HE HAS TO PAY FOR WHAT HE DID!"

It was getting so difficult to hold him back that Ino and Hinata had to step in to help.

"Do you have a death wish?! You can't take on the guy! He'll kill you!"

Shikamaru grunted as they all struggled to calm the boy down.

"Ino's right, Konohamaru! This isn't time to try to get revenge for the monument! I understand that it was your grandfather but-"

"HE KILLED NARUTO!"

They all froze. Each of them was stunned and dismayed by the young boy's revelation. Hinata especially was appalled. Her lavender-colored eyes quivered while she stood like a deer frozen in a clearing from hearing a twig snap.

"W-What?"

Kiba's face slowly grew into a snarl before he rose up to his feet and growled at the dark lord.

"Hey buckethead!"

Shikamaru suddenly felt a cold sweat as Vader stopped and slightly turned his mask.

"Is it true? What he said?"

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"Why bother explaining myself to someone who couldn't even defeat such a pitiful weakling during the preliminaries of the Chuunin Exams three years ago?"

Shikamaru was surprised before his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

'How does he know about that?'

He quickly pushed the thought out of his head as he noticed Kiba looked like he was about to go ballistic. He released his hold on Konohamaru as he still struggled with everyone else holding him down and rushed to in front of the Inuzuka teen. Trying to calm him down.

"Kiba not you too! Listen now is not the time for this! We don't even know if it's true! Let's-"

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"It is true."

Shikamaru's eyes grew in shock as Vader fully turned around.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"I killed Naruto Uzumaki!"

Everyone gasped while Kiba growled and tried to rush Vader, but Shikamaru grabbed him and held him back as best as he could.

"KIBA STOP! YOU CAN'T!"

Kiba growled while his expression became more feral.

"I DON'T CARE! HE'S GOING TO PAY!"

It was getting so bad that Ino had to let go of Konohamaru and help restrain Kiba while Hinata still stood where she was in shock.

"KIBA LISTEN! WE'RE UNDER ORDERS FROM THE HOKAGE! YOU CAN'T FIGHT HIM!"

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"I'm afraid it's too late for that."

Next thing everyone knew, Shikamaru and Ino were lifted into the air by Vader who then threw them into the others. Causing them to collide and fall on top of one another in a confusing scrambling mess. Vader then turned his attention back to Kiba and Akamaru who was right behind his master's leg.

"You bastard! You're gonna pay for that, the monument, and for what you did to Naruto!"

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"I do not take kindly to young adolescents who lack proper respect. Especially those of them that are liars and hypocrites."

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"What's that?!"

Kiba's faces grew even more wild while Akamaru crouched low growling with his fur standing up.

"Sir…."

Vader turned to his Clone Captain.

"You shouldn't waste your time with this hotheaded Inuzuka kid. Let me be the one to teach him some manners."

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"No, the Inuzuka is mine, captain. Standby for now. I sense that you and your men will have your chance for combat very soon."

The clone nodded and rejoined with his squad who each were watching with bit of curiosity and sympathy for the teen.

"That kid has no idea what he's up against."

Kiba wasted no time in performing a hand sign.

"Let's go Akamaru!"

The dog barked before he poofed into smoke. When it cleared, the dog was transformed into a copy of his master. The two of them stood together growling while baring their fangs and claws.

"Ninja Art; Human Beast Mimicry!"

The Inuzuka chuunin and his beast clone then leapt into the air toward Vader before rapidly spinning their bodies around so fast they resembled wind cyclones.

"Fang Over Fang!"

Before either of them managed to even scratch Vader's armor, they suddenly ceased their spinning. Both of them were now floating in the air. Frozen and confused as to what was happening.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"I thought earlier that the Sarutobi child's development during these past few years was pitiful but you…...are even more pathetic."

Vader curled his arm inward and brought the two of them closer.

"You truly believed that using the same technique that failed you when you fought Uzumaki would be enough to defeat me?"

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"Disgraceful."

Vader suddenly backhanded the Kiba on the right which sent him plowing into the wall of a nearby building.

"AKAMARU!"

The clone of the canine user poofed back into the dog who laid unconscious with small rubble and dust covering his fur.

"YOU BASTA-!"

Kiba was cut off as Vader's right glove snatched the teen by the throat. Lifting him up while beginning to squeeze his windpipe. Causing the dog user to choke as he was struggling for air.

Hinata suddenly snapped out of her trance like state as she saw that Kiba was in trouble. With newfound courage and rage, she charged at Vader! Her Byakugan activating as was evidenced by the veins bulging out of her eyes.

"Put him down!"

Vader simple flicked his free glove at her. Using the Force to send her flying and rolling across the ground. The Hyuga girl came to a stop next to everyone else, who were all still picking themselves off of each othe. She struggled to get up while glaring at Vader with her lavender eyes.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"Stay out of this, Lady Hyuga. This is not your concern."

Hinata shouted at the dark lord.

"AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND PLAN TO DO IT IS MY CONCERN!"

She rushed toward Vader again while preparing her gentle fist. However, as she got closer, she noticed something odd about the cyborg. When she focused her Byakugan more, her eyes widened with shock.

'I can't see his chakra points!'

That realization came too late though as her rage blinded her into already attacking with her gentle fist. Which Vader avoided as he stepped out of the way. Hinata whipped her head only for her eyes to widen again as she watched Vader's free hand reaching toward her. She gasped in terror as she tried to step away so that he wouldn't reach for her throat too.

Too her surprise though he didn't try to grab her to choke her. He only just waved his open palm in front of her face. Right as he did that, she suddenly dropped to the ground completely unconscious.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"A thought has just occurred to me."

The dark lord then turned his attention back to the choking Inuzuka in his crushing grip.

"Perhaps the reason why the Hokage and this village have been struggling so much to find my enemies is because they are relying too heavily on incompetently weak shinobi such as yourself."

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

Vader then lifted the boy higher and squeezed harder causing him to thrash around more in a desperate attempt to breathe.

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"If that is the reason then I see no point in allowing you and other Leaf shinobi to live if your existence does nothing but slow me and my forces down."

HOOOOPPPPPUUURRRR.

"Which I will not allow."

Meanwhile Shikamaru and the others finally managed to pick themselves up from their dogpiled mess. Only to gasp as they watched helplessly as Vader throttled Kiba. Out of the corner of his eye, Shikamaru saw Konohamaru also getting up before charging again. The situation was already bad enough without the Sarutobi boy making it worse, so it was best to remove him from the equation. With a quick chop to the back of the head, he knocked the boy out. He looked over to the Sarutobi boy's teammates.

"Get him out of here, now! And go tell the Hokage what's happening!"

The two genins nodded before they grabbed their friend and made a beeline for the Hokage tower.

With them out of harm's way, Shikamaru's mind raced with trying to think of whatever he could say or do to have the dark lord release Kiba. They certainly couldn't fight him. His power and deadly skills in combat were far above their own. It would be a death sentence both for them and the village if they were to attack.

Perhaps they could try to detain Vader with the Inoshikacho formation long enough for the Hokage to get here and to try to settle him down. The problem with that plan though was that Shikamaru's Shadow Possession jutsu won't work at all while the village is covered in this darkness. For that formation to work all the members and their jutsu have to participate. Not to mention that Vader has his guard up. If they were somehow able to pull it off without Shikamaru's shadow jutsu, it would have to be right when he lowers it which doesn't seem likely to happen anytime soon. And even if it were and they did successfully manage to do it, his soldiers won't just continue to stand by and do nothing.

"Shikamaru, what do we do?!"

He wished more than anything right now that he knew the answer to Ino's question.

What can they do?

Meanwhile earlier at the Haruno home

Slowly she opened her emerald, green eyes. Her hair an unkept mess from not being brushed for so long. She was tired. No, more than tired she was exhausted. Ever since that day she has done nothing but wept and mulled over everything she could've done to try to prevent everything from happening.

She blamed herself for all of it.

After all, she did nothing to try to protect the little bit of happiness Naruto had in his life. She did nothing to help as he suffered through the terrible burden of being a jinchuriki. A curse that was laid down upon him by his very own father. A father he has desperately wanted to know about his whole life only to find out that he damned him to a horrible fate for the sake of the village.

And she did absolutely nothing but cause him more pain.

How she wished that this were all dream. Another one of her nightmares that she could wake up from. But life as she learned years ago and unfortunately is still learning to this day isn't that simple. It's not all pretty flowers and flirting with the coolest boy in the village like it used to be. It's all about chances. Chances that you have to take for the sake of yourself and for others. Because if you miss them then odds are you'll never get them back again.

Just like she missed her chance to save Naruto.

Sakura growled as she grabbed her pillow and screamed out her frustrations into it. After exhausting her lungs out, she threw the pillow away. She was sick of sitting around feeling sorry for herself. She needed to do something. Anything other than continuing to keep herself locked up in her own room like an upset child.

Her stomach suddenly began to growl. She groaned and looked over near her door to see that her mother left her this morning's breakfast. It was likely cold by now, but she didn't care. She was hungry enough that she walked over, knelt down, and dug into it.

After she finished, she knew that she seriously needed to take a shower.

So, she headed to the bathroom and threw her smelly clothes into the hamper before taking a nice long and hot shower. Soaking in the relaxing warm water. She could've gone to a hot spring, but it would've been hard to relax in any of them while the village was still darkened by Vader's ship. Also, she felt it was a luxury she didn't deserve right now. She shook her head to try to be rid of those guilt-ridden thoughts for the moment, as she tried letting the worm shower droplets spray away all of her misery, sorrow, and dried up tear marks on her face.

Sadly, though only one of them would be washed away by the water.

After giving herself a good wash with some shampoo and conditioner and drying herself off, she went back to her room and picked out some fresh clothing. Then she headed down the stairs where her mother and father were in the kitchen. Her father was at the table trying to read a magazine under the kitchen light while her mother looked like she was preparing lunch.

That was until they both noticed her coming in.

"Sakura, you're up!"

She waved meekly to her parents.

"Hey."

Her mother suddenly rushed over and began checking her by feeling her forehead.

"Mom, what are you doing?"

Her mother answered as she began examining the rest of her face.

"You've been in your room for so long without any sunlight that I was afraid you were going to catch a bad cold or something!"

Sakura was a little apprehended by this but didn't try to stop her.

"Well, you look well enough. Now then, let's you get you something to eat!"

Sakura tried to tell her that it wasn't necessary since she just ate the breakfast that was left out, but her mom immediately returned to preparing lunch before she could say anything. She simply sighed with acceptance and just sat down at the table with her father. Besides, she still felt a little hungry anyway. And a warm meal was certainly better than a cold one.

"You know Sakura you should really eat and get out more often. You gotta keep your strength up since we're likely not to have any sunlight for quite a while. If you don't keep yourself healthy and active, you could end up wasting away with your hair thinning!"

Sakura's eyes grew into white saucers as she screamed in surprise.

"DAD!"

Her father laughed at her reaction while her mother took out the ladle she was cooking with and pointed it at her.

"No shouting, Sakura! I've told you that a million times and your father is only just teasing you. But he does have a point dear, if you don't eat healthy enough and try to keep in shape and get enough sunlight on your missions then you'll end up bald before you know it!"

Sakura immediately gripped her head as if her hair were going to fall off that very second.

"MOM!"

Her father laughed while her mother once again shook the ladle at her.

"No more yelling, young lady!"

Her mother then turned around as she continued stirring the pot.

"Lunch should be ready in a minute or so."

As Sakura settled down, she noticed something different about herself.

Her mother just checked her to see if she was sick even though she knows that Sakura is a medic that is perfectly capable of self-diagnosing herself. Also, she's been on dozens of missions where she's healed and cured countless people of various afflictions due to the training of Tsunade herself. Yet, despite all of that her mother still treats her like she doesn't even know how to put on a simple band aide. Then there was her father who was constantly making corny and annoying jokes that aren't even that funny. Yet, he and her mother laugh at them like they're the funniest things in the world.

All of these things and more usually drive her crazy whenever she's around her parents. Something was different this time though. She actually didn't feel like ripping her eyes out or even the slightest bit annoyed.

If anything, she actually felt happy.

Happy and grateful that she has a mom and dad that care about her like this. That they try to bring laughter and joy into her life while making sure she was healthy and safe. It made her feel bad about the way she's treated them in the past. Like they were just annoying inconveniences from which she couldn't escape.

She should treat them better from now on.

However, her happy thoughts were soon torn down as she was reminded how Naruto wasn't so lucky with his own parents. Sakura looked up at her dad and his happy goofy smiling face. Wandering what it would've been like for her if her own father sealed a demon inside her when she was just a baby. Only to then grow up in a village where just about everyone hated and feared her for reasons she wouldn't have known or understood. She doubted that she would've had the strength and resolve Naruto had in dealing with it. Hell, she would've likely ended up taking her own life.

It just made her appreciate what she had all the more.

Sakura then realized something in that thought process. Where was Naruto's mother in all of that? Why didn't she try to stop her husband from sealing the Kyuubi inside their son? Did she even know what her husband was doing to their own child? Was she killed in the attack and therefore couldn't stop Naruto's father from sealing the Kyuubi inside him?

Sakura knew one thing.

If it were her child, she would be absolutely against the idea of having that horrible demon fox sealed inside them regardless of if it would save the village or not. But she still couldn't help pondering as to who Naruto's mother even was. The woman was an enigmatic mystery. One she would have to find out later as her own mother laid down the food on the table.

As Sakura took her chopsticks and prepared to dig in, she suddenly froze. She felt something in the Force. She felt Vader's presence. Like he was in this very room with them right now. Sakura looked around but didn't see anyone other than her parents and became very confused.

Until she saw him.

He appeared out of nowhere across from her at the other end of the table with northing but darkness behind him. It didn't seem like he was really in the room since her parents were completely oblivious to his presence and yet she could see him right there. Standing with his arm raised like he was holding something up. She didn't understand what was going on or what was happening.

Then Vader suddenly turned to her.

She somehow could sense that he was just as confused as she was right now. When her eyes followed his raised arm to see what he was holding, her face grew horrified. Watching as her friend Kiba was being choked in Vader's grip.

She shook with terror as Vader continued to squeeze his throat despite his attention now being now fully focused on her. She didn't know what was going on, but she could sense through the Force that something terrible was about to occur in the village.

And Vader was at the heart of it.

Sakura's parents meanwhile were both looking at her worriedly as she trembled with sweat running down her face.

Her mother tried to touch her shoulder.

"Saku-"

"NO!"

Sakura immediately rose out of her chair and bolted for the door. Grabbing her boots and hastily putting them on before leaping to the rooftops with her parents calling out to her in confusion. She didn't listen though because her mind was preoccupied with what she saw and what she was sensing right now. Making her only hurry more without delay.

For Kiba's life was hanging in the balance.

Village Streets

Shikamaru watched as Vader's attention was suddenly drawn away from Kiba. Staring at nothing but the wall in front of him. He didn't know what was distracting the dark lord, but this was far too good a chance to pass up.

It was now or never.

"Ino! Choji! Listen up!"

His teammates looked at him as he told them his plan. It was a simple one enough, but it had to be done fast and done right in order for it to work. When they both understood, Choji got into a stance before doing a hand sign.

"PARTIAL EXPANSION JUTSU!"

Choji's right arm suddenly expanded in size and reached out towards Vader! Wrapping his enormous hand around the dark lord's body before squeezing it tightly in his grip. Vader grunted in both surprise and annoyance as he was forced to let Kiba go. The ninja hound handler violently coughed while rubbing his bruised throat. Shikamaru dashed to Kiba's side as he helped him up before turning to his other teammate.

"NOW INO!"

Ino nodded before doing the appropriate hand sign with Vader in her sights.

"MIND TRANSFER JUTSU!"

Ino suddenly collapsed while Vader's clone squadron suddenly became alert.

"HEY! WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING! SHE'S GOING TO TAKE OVER LORD VADER'S BODY!"

Fives drew out his sniper rifled as he aimed at Ino's head.

"Not for long she won't!"

Shikamaru saw the clone aiming his rifle towards Ino and was about to try to intercept before he then saw the lead clone pushing down the barrel of his brother's gun which confused everyone.

"Rex what are you doing?!"

The clone captain answered.

"Lord Vader said not to interfere. Besides, he said we'd have our chance at a fight very soon, so you better get ready Fives."

The clone sergeant was confused for a moment before he realized what Rex was talking about and nodded before he suddenly vanished into thin air as Rex turned his attention back to the action.

"Besides, it will take a lot more than that to subdue Lord Vader."

Shikamaru didn't know what they were talking about or why their squad leader ordered them to stand down, but it only meant that his plan would have a greater chance of success. Meanwhile Kiba dashed over to Akamaru without haste. Trying to wake his partner up.

Since Kiba seems to be alright, Shikamaru and his teammates can solely focus on Vader. If they can keep him immobilized until Lady Tsunade shows up, then maybe she can get him to calm down. She has to have been told of their situation by Konohamaru's team by now, so Ino and Choji shouldn't have to keep this up for much longer.

Then again, the plan largely depends on how long Ino can keep control of Vader.

"How's everything going in there Ino? Ino?"

There was no reply from their comrade. The only response from the possessed dark lord was his mechanical breathing which still maintained its rhythm. Choji looked at Shikamaru while the pineapple haired Nara teen began to grow more worried himself.

'Ino's jutsu was perfectly lined up for Vader. It had to have worked! But something's wrong! She never takes this long to possess someone!'

"INO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?! INO!"

Mindscape

SPLASH!

"UGH! GROSS!"

The Yamanaka teen was disgusted as she suddenly found herself drenched. She was thankful that this was only in the mindscape and not the real world because she definitely would not have been happy being wet from what appeared to be dirty old water. As she rose up and tried to shake it off of herself, she looked around baffled at the environment around her.

"Wha-What the?"

She found herself in what appeared to be a gigantic sewer system.

This mindscape wasn't like ones she was used to entering before. Usually there was no environment at all but a large empty void. The only exception was when she fought Sakura during the chuunin exams where she encountered that enormous alternate personality of her. But this mind was much different.

It was very cold. Not just the water but the air itself felt freezing and it was very dark too. She could barely make anything out other than a narrow passageway with rusted pipes leading down it.

She knew she didn't have time to ponder about this weird mental environment. She had to get control of Vader fast. Otherwise, he will end up strangling Kiba to death.

Figuring that this was the only path leading to where she needed to go, she sprinted down it. Running through various twists and turns with the pipes all leading down this path. She felt like she was in a never-ending maze. That was until finally she came upon a doorway to an exceptionally large room. Inside was a large cage with giant rusty metal bars. At its center was what appeared to be a paper seal.

Ino was even more confused about this place.

"What is this?"

As she stepped past the threshold of the doorway, she heard something stirring within the cage. Suddenly her body froze. For some reason it was gripped with terror as she felt the presence of something evil and foul from within there. It was the same presence she felt when Vader first invaded the village. Only then it was on the other side of the village whereas now it was so close to her that she could barely move or even breathe in its presence.

It was both suffocating and terrifying.

Then everything became dark. Like a light switch had been turned off. And the water at her feet suddenly vanished. She began to panic more. She would've called for help, but it would've been useless considering where she was. Her breathing quickened as she turned around wildly looking for a way out but there was nothing anywhere.

Nothing but darkness.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Then she heard it. That unmistakable breathing that still sent chills down her spine. She could hear it coming from everywhere and yet it sounded so close. She also felt that horrible presence from before too. It was drawing closer as the breathing grew louder.

The Yamanaka teen shuddered and panicked further. Her mind forgetting all about Shikamaru's plan as fear was overtaking it. Fear and a desire to get out of here and back into her own body.

This mind was definitely not safe for her to be here.

When she turned to try to undo her jutsu, she saw him. Standing there with his intimidating form nearly blending in with the darkness around them save for the lights on his chest and belt. His helmet slowly and unnervingly tilted up as he stared at her with what she assumed to be a very angered look.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Get. Out."

Then out of the darkness behind him appeared a gigantic demonic looking fox. Ino gasped and shuddered as she saw nine tails waving back and forth behind it. Leaving no mistake as to what this monster was as its blood-soaked eyes glared maliciously at her.

"You heard him. GET OUT!"

With those words the beast let loose a mighty roar that was so powerful that Ino was pushed off of her feet and was sent screaming as she flew away.

Away into the empty chilling darkness.

Real World

Ino's body suddenly bolted upright and as she screamed. Scrambling madly away from Vader. Shikamaru confusingly rushed over to her.

"Ino calm down! What happened?!"

SCUR!

"AGH!"

Shikamaru whipped his head to see Choji yelling in pain as a crimson red glowing blade portruded out of his enormous hand. Forcing him to let go of Vader. However, as his arm retracted while shrinking back down to normal it suddenly froze in midair. Choji was confused as to why his arm wouldn't stopped shrinking back while Shikamaru's eyes darted back to Vader where he had his free arm outstretched. Then using his free arm, he threw his red blade. Both the Nara and Akamichi were too slow to react while the sword spun through the air like a shuriken toward Choji.

WAMP!

"ARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"CHOJI!"

Shikamaru watched helplessly as his friend collapsed to the ground. Howling in agonizing pain as he held the cauterized stump of where his right arm was just a few moments ago. The appendage itself fell to the ground before shrinking down to its normal size.

The clone squad winced as they saw the young Akamichi writhing in pain.

"That's really gotta hurt!"

Shikamaru rushed without delay to Choji while gasps of terror could be heard from the crowd of villagers. Many of them fleeing to their homes in panic while most were too terrified to move or even turn away. Watching as the airborne spinning blade reversed its direction as it was summoned back to the hand of its master. Once he caught it, Vader then marched towards the group of young shinobi.

Determined to finish this insurrection.

He didn't get far though before he stopped and turned his head to the side. Moments later, the three younger members of Team Gai leapt down into the scene as they were attracted by all the commotion. The state of their comrades left expressions of shock and horror on their faces.

"CHOJI!"

Lee pointed at Vader before clenching his hand into fist.

"YOU FIEND! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO OUR FRIENDS?!"

Vader ignored the taijutsu user and didn't even bother to cast a glance at Tenten. The latter of whom shuddered as this was her first time seeing the man who threatened to take her life during his attack. No, his focus was on only one individual.

Their Hyuga companion.

Neji took the moment to completely take in the scene to see what they were getting into. His eyes were instantly drawn to Hinata who was lying unconscious yet didn't appear to be harmed. However, seeing her state and Choji in howling pain drew the Hyuga teen's ire as he stared Vader down with narrowed Byakugan eyes.

Vader then turned to his clone squad.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You know what to do, Captain."

Rex nodded before he, Hevy, and Echo stepped right in between the newly arrived Team Gai and their lord.

"You should go about your business."

Lee clenched his hand into a fist.

"NO, WE WILL NOT! IF YOU'RE HURTING OUR FRIENDS THEN PREPARE TO FACE THE POWER OF OUR YOUTH!"

Hevy sighed.

"Kid, didn't you learn anything from when we took you down in the Land of Rivers?"

Lee's face was blank as his mind took a few seconds to register the hulking clone's words before his expression turned into one of outrage.

"It was you! You are the ones that blinded us and pulled a sneak attack on me like cowards!"

Echo responded.

"It's not really a sneak attack considering you attacked us first and isn't the whole point of your shinobi code to use stealth and deception against your enemies?"

Lee stammered a bit before giving his own retort.

"W-Well that's beside the point! You're going to be sorry for that and what you did to our friends!"

Lee immediately dashed at blinding speed toward the clones. His comrades called for him to stop but it was already too late as he leapt into the air. Raising his leg and spinning it toward Hevy.

"LEAF HURRICANE!"

As Lee launched his leg out, Hevy caught the leg which created a gust of air around them. The gargantuan clone then threw him to the ground. Struggling to pin him down with all of his strength and weight. The other two clones quickly drew their blasters and fired a series of stun blasts at the young taijutsu user. Rendering him immobile.

"LEE!"

Tenten cried out in horror as he laid motionless while the hulking soldier rose up and his captain turned to her and Neji.

"Don't worry, he's alive. Just unconscious again."

Hevy shook his hands.

"Wow, can that kid kick! My hands are going to be sore for hours!"

Echo shook his head.

"You would've been better off dodging his attack."

Hevy snapped at his brother.

"Yeah, well, I didn't think we'd have a better chance to get a hold of him and take him out! You saw how fast and strong that kid is from the data!"

Rex barked at his men.

"Focus! Keep your eyes on the other two!"

The two clones dropped the argument and stood ready while Tenten and Neji got into their stances.

"You'd best clear out of here girl. It's not worth ending up like your friend."

Tenten snapped at the clone squad leader.

"Like hell I will!"

Neji's eyes narrowed.

'Something's not right. Why did he only tell Tenten to leave?'

Before Neji could ponder the clone's words further, he and his brothers drew their blasters and fired right at the Hyuga much to the surprise of the young teens. Neji however began spinning and using his chakra to form a dome barrier with his Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation technique. Easily holding off the clones' stun blasts.

When the clones ceased their barrage, Tenten dashed forward and unwrapped a scroll which shot forth some kunai. Seeing the approaching blades, Rex aimed his blasters and managed to successfully shoot down each one of them. The weapon mistress was shocked at the clone's precise aiming but then just took out another scroll which poofed out a long bow staff which she spun around in her hands before charging at the clone.

"Keep firing at the Hyuga! I'll deal with her!"

Rex holstered his blasters and used his jetpack to fly right into Tenten. Catching her off guard and knocking her down. She instantly jumped back on her feet as the clone landed with his boots screeching across the ground kicking up dust. Tenten tried a series of strikes and swings at the clone with her staff, but the attacks that connected did little to nothing against his armor. She tried aiming at his head only for her attacks to miss which began to annoy her.

Having enough of this himself, Rex grabbed her staff by the tip before unsheathing his vibro blade and sliced it to pieces. As her staff fell apart, Tenten tried to leap away while pulling out another scroll which poofed out a dozen shuriken that spun toward the clone captain. Rex though used his gauntlets to block the sharp ninja stars from hitting any of the weak and vital spots in his armor.

When the last of the stars fell to the ground, he activated his jetpack again and shot right at the kunoichi. Grabbing her before she could pull out another scroll and lifting her 20 feet above the ground. Tenten struggled to break free until the clone headbutted her hard. Knocking her unconscious. Rex then flew back down and laid her on the ground.

"Girl leaves herself open too much."

He then turned his attention back to his brothers who were still barraging the Hyuga teen with their stun blasts. Neji, who still deflecting their blasts, watched as Tenten laid defeated on the ground. Cursing himself for not being there to provide her with backup.

'Damn it, this is getting nowhere! I have to end this and help my teammates!'

"That's enough. Cease fire!"

Hevy and Echo did as Rex instructed and ceased their barrage. Neji, seeing the clones lower their weapons began to slow down his rotation. Causing the dome to evaporate while wondering what the clones were up to.

'They must be trying to re-strategize. Well, in that case I'll use this opportunity to counter!'

Neji then completely lowered his dome before focusing his Byakugan on the vital points of the large clone.

"I'll take out the heavy muscle first!"

He pulled his arm back before shoving out his palm.

"EIGHT TRIGRAMS AIR PALM!"

A vacuumed gust of air shot out of the Hyuga's palm and headed right for Hevy.

"SHIELD!"

Upon Echo's command his personal droid sprung from his back. Quickly taking position above the clones before emitting a shield around them which protected Hevy from the air attack. Neji was left dumbfounded that his attack was stopped.

"Tsk, figures that it wouldn't be that easy."

He used his Byakugan to try to look for weak points in the shield. Only to find that there weren't any to be found. Once more that the shield itself wasn't even made of chakra.

"But…that doesn't make any sense!"

Neji didn't understand how they could make a protective shield like that without chakra. However, as he looked at both his unconscious teammates and their friends who were still in peril by Vader, he realized that he didn't have time to worry about that.

He knew that long range was out of the question since they would have the advantage. Close range was indeterminable considering how quickly they took down Lee. Mid-range with his air palms might be effective if not for that shield but he wagers that it can't last forever. If he continues to use his air palms on it while closing the distance he may have a chance to bring it down and catch them off guard with his Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. However, it was a risky maneuver with a high chance of failure.

But he learned years ago from the chuunin exams that sometimes reckless ideas do pay off.

So, he charged forward while preparing to thrust another attack.

"EIGHT TRIGRAMS AIR PAL-"

ZAP!

"GUH!"

Neji was suddenly struck by a small purple energy blast that hit him right in the neck. He dropped to the ground unable to move and was quickly losing consciousness. His mind wandering how on earth could an attack have hit him in his blind spot. He spent many training sessions overcoming and compensating for that weakness. But this blast was so small and came so fast that there wasn't time to prepare.

What's more, where did it even come from?

As he was only seconds from passing out, he saw something materialize out of thin air. Revealing to be another clone soldier. The weapon he was holding had smoke coming out of the tip.

"But-But why didn't I detect-"

Before he could finish, Neji completely lost consciousness. With that the clone squadron gathered around the inert Hyuga. Echo clamped chakra suppressing shackles on the Hyuga's wrists before Hevy hoisted him over his shoulder.

"Nice work, boys."

The other clones started heading back to the ship while Rex nodded to Vader who nodded in return before the captain rejoined his squad while none of the villagers left in the crowd there dared to try to stop them.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Now, where were we?"

Vader turned his attention back to Kiba who was growling at him while protectively covering Akamaru's comatose state.

"Ah yes."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

With his saber ready, Vader then marched toward his previous quarry. Realizing Kiba's predicament, Shikamaru reluctantly had to leave Choji as he rushed to try to help the Inuzuka. Only for Vader to turn around and Force Push the Nara hard into a few merchant stands. Completely smashing them to pieces. Shikamaru groaned in pain as he struggled to remove the debris off him and get on his feet. But found it too difficult due to what felt like most of his bones being bruised if not broken.

With the Nara out of the way and his comrades still neutralized, Vader was free to finally dispose of the Inuzuka. Turning back around, just as the teen leapt at him viciously, he held his free hand up which caused the airborne Inuzuka to once again be frozen. His eyes wild like a feral animal with his claws out. Vader then simple flexed one of his fingers on his saber hand which opened Kiba's weapon pouch where out popped a kunai. He then Force pushed him into the wall where Akamaru was.

While Kiba was busy trying to get back up, Vader used his free hand to grab the levitating kunai before he threw it with deadly accuracy right at the teenage boy.

THUNK!

"ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Kiba screamed in pain as the kunai sunk deep into his right shoulder and partially embedded into the wall behind him. Pinning him to it and rendering him completely helpless. More gasps could be heard from the Leaf citizens. Some either finally managing to run or to look away in horror as Vader tightly gripped his saber as he prepared to finish the boy.

Only to stop as he tilted his head up in alert to "her" presence.

Right on cue, the Cherry Blossom of the Leaf herself leapt down from the rooftops. Landing in between the dark lord and his helpless quary. Kiba looked up shocked at the sudden appearance of the thought to be secluded girl.

"Sakura….."

Kiba was surprised to see her here. He and the others figured she was still in her home being depressed and yet here she was. However, this was not the time to be happy for her finally breaking out of her melancholia state as Vader stood over her with his daunting height.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You look terrible, Sakura."

Sakura groaned a little at that remark but paid it no mind as she took glances at the scene around her. Finding that Hinata, Tenten, and Lee were all unconscious but otherwise didn't seem badly hurt. Shikamaru looked like he took damage and judging by his meager attempts to get up may possibly have a few fractures. She was instantly shocked though when she spotted Ino sitting against one of the buildings shaking like a frightened child. However, that was nothing compared to when she saw Choji gripping the stump of where the rest of his right arm should be which she spotted just a few yards away from him.

She turned back to Vader outraged.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM?!"

Vader answered in his usual callous tone.

"They are lucky to still be drawing breath after what they did."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Sakura gritted her teeth and closed her in hands into fists. She knew she should try to give Choji medical attention, but was too afraid of what would happen to Kiba if she left him alone. The said Inuzuka meanwhile was grabbing hold of her wrist with his free arm.

"No Sakura! You have to get away! This bastard's a complete psycho! A monster! You can't fight-"

"Quiet!"

"Quiet!"

HOPUR!

Kiba sweat dropped a little while Sakura continued to chastise the dark lord.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Ridding the village of a worthless and weak shinobi."

"So that's why you attacked them?! Because you suddenly decided that they were all worthless to you?!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I had only decided to kill the one you're protecting right now. The rest I disciplined for their foolishness in trying to stop me."

Sakura just couldn't believe what Vader was saying.

"Kiba is far from worthless and weak! And who are you to decide that?!"

Vader stepped closer which while intimidated Kiba didn't do as much to Sakura.

"I am the one who holds the fate of your village in my grasp. And I will not tolerate open disrespect or stupidity from anyone."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You of all people in this village should know that by now."

Sakura indeed very well knew that. Which was why she instinctively stepped closer to Kiba. An action which further annoyed Vader.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"That boy's life is not worth throwing yours away."

Sakura wasn't swayed as she held her arms out.

"I don't give up on my friends. You of all people should know that!"

The latex of Vader's glove on his sword could be heard as he tightened his hold on his saber hilt before the sword suddenly deactivated.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"But you have."

He then reattached his saber hilt to his belt.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Or have you already forgotten what you did to Uzumaki before I destroyed him years ago?"

Sakura scrunched her face while turning away at that. A small tear could be seen sliding down her cheek. Kiba, despite his shoulder still being in searing pain, was growing increasingly confused by the two's conversation.

"Sakura, what does he mean by that?"

She didn't answer him which of course wasn't good enough for the impatient Inuzuka.

"Sakura, what he is talking about?! What did you do to Naruto?! How do you know this guy?! Will someone please tell me what-ACK! OURK! CHOFF!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Your voice aggravates me."

Kiba suddenly began choking. Sakura whipped her head back around to see Vader lifting his right hand and slowly closing his fingers inward just as she knew it would be.

And knowing full well what will happen if his fist closes.

She tried to stop him but was thrown into the wall and held there by Vader's other hand. She struggled and even tried to summon the Force to break free. However, with every attempt she made Vader's own power would slam hers back down.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I told you before that without the proper training, your power could never hope to match mine."

The dark lord's charcoaled black helmet turned back to Kiba as his fingers closed in more.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It is time to permanently silence that undisciplined mouth of yours."

Just as Vader was about crush him, he suddenly stopped. He sensed a new presence. One that was old and very familiar to him. In that same moment, a man stepped out from the crowd. One that had the full attention of the remaining villagers which was signified by more gasps, whispers, and even looks of hope on their faces. Even Shikamaru, still trying to stand his feet, instantly recognized the newcomer.

"Him undisciplined? Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? You've never exactly been good at being disciplined yourself, gaki."

Sakura's own eyes widened while Vader slowly turned around to stare down a man that stepped forth from the crowd of gawking villagers. But it wasn't just any man. He was thinner than before. His clothes looked like they've seldom been washed. His long white spiky hair was even more unkept than before. His face unshaven and appears as though he hasn't slept or eaten well in a long time. Finally, the headband he wore had a crack where the kanji symbol for oil was and one of the horns was broken off.

Despite these changes there was little doubt as to who he was.

"Master Jiraiya!"

Sakura couldn't believe that the Toad Sage was here right now in the village. She hadn't seen him in years not since Naruto abandoned the village. She suspected that Lady Tsunade must've sent for him when she learned about Vader.

She only hoped that his presence here would help deescalate the situation.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"We meet again at last, Godfather."

Sakura and Shikamaru's eyes widened as they gasped and even Choji' attention was drawn away from his amputated arm to what Vader just said.

"Godfather?"

While they were left dumbfounded, Jiraiya took the time to study Vader. His face grimacing as he looked over every detail of him. His weary eyes finding it impossible to accept what they were seeing.

"My god….just….what have you become?"

The dark lord then released Sakura from his hold. As her feet landed on the ground, he held the hand he was using to strangle Kiba higher. Lifting the choking Inuzuka with his neck outstretched and his head facing upward while still gagging for breath.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I…..am what you all have made me!"

Sakura winced a little at that while everyone else was even more confused as Jiraiya continued conversing with the dark cyborg.

"This isn't…what we wanted for you. We all believed in you. We believed that you had the guts to prove to the world that you were going to become something more than what everyone else thought you were. What you are doing and what you are now is what Palpatine wanted. Deep down you know that."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Palpatine is dead. I killed him."

He tightened his hold on Kiba with his fingers curling in more.

"Everything I do now, I do out of my own desire and benefit. No one else's!"

"And are you proud of that? Are you proud of everything you do now?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The dark lord did not answer the Sannin as he continued to strangle Kiba though his grip slightly loosened which didn't go unnoticed by Sakura.

"You still have a choice. You don't have to be on the path to vengeance. It won't do anything but just cause more misery and create more hatred in this world. Believe me kid I know. I've seen many walk down this path and it never turns out well in the end."

Vader tilted his helmet down slightly and responded in a low but angered tone.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Misery? Hatred?"

Kiba couldn't even cough anymore as his windpipe began to crack which alarmed everyone.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You have the gall to lecture me while you and this village have allowed Orochimaru and the members of the Akatsuki to run freely to spread pain, misery, and hatred upon others?"

Sakura tried to protest.

"They're not easy to find or track! You know that!"

HOPUR!

"Quiet!"

Vader held Kiba tighter which caused his windpipe to crack even louder to shut Sakura up.

"Kid, listen to me! You don't have to kill him! He's your friend and a comrade! Is this truly what you want?! To make everyone pay and suffer for happened to you?! Even those who care about you?!"

Shikamaru's eyes narrowed.

'This doesn't make any sense. Why would we consider this guy a friend? He's a coldblooded monster. Yet, Jiraiya-sama and Sakura both treat him as if he's somebody we should all know and care about. Just who is he?!'

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I want vengeance against Orochimaru and his Uchiha apprentice for what they did to me. The Akatsuki, I wish to see wiped out for other reasons which you couldn't possibly understand."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Once I achieve my revenge and destroy them all, this world will have nothing to fear from them again. You seek to stop me and while I do not care for this planet, my actions will still far benefit it than yours or this village's ever will."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"But not while there are still incompetent and disobedient fools in this village that only hamper my progress."

Vader was then about to close his fist and completely crush Kiba's throat much to the alarmed Jiraiya who was about to intervene until Sakura spoke out again.

"Killing him will only slow you down further!"

Vader's fingers froze just before they completely curled in. He slowly looked back at the Cherry Blossom kunoichi. Not out of annoyance like before but instead curious as to how she will plead the boy's case.

"Kiba and his comrades are one of the best tracking teams in the entire village. If you kill him they're synchrony and teamwork will be out of balance, and they won't be able to find your targets as quickly and efficiently as you would like. He may have a big mouth but he's essential to their dynamic!"

Vader didn't say anything. Not that he needed to as Sakura could sense that he was deep in thought. Jiraiya and the others didn't dare do anything that might set him off. After almost a minute passed, Vader finally acknowledged the girl.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Your logic and reasoning are sound. If what you proclaim is true then I shall him give him a chance to prove your praises."

Sakura and the others sighed in relief.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"However,…."

Vader then used the Force in his left hand to wrench the kunai from Kiba's shoulder. The teenage ninja hound user didn't even have time to yell out in pain as his body was pulled into the air toward Vader. Where the dark lord caught him by the throat in his cybernetic grip.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It still doesn't change the fact that this boy is a dog that has long since broken from his leash and needs to be disciplined. So let us ensure that he will never bark at his new master ever again."

"NO!"

CRACK!

Sakura screamed as she and everyone reacted in horror to the sound that came from Kiba's throat as Vader squeezed it in his gloved metal grip. Kiba's face began to turn blue as he clawed at his own throat. Jiraiya immediately went into action and dashed toward them. But the dark lord Force Pushed him hard into one of the opposite buildings. Smashing him through its wall and creating dust.

He then released the Inuzuka where a panicking Sakura immediately began applying medical jutsu to his throat.

"KIBA! STAY WITH ME! STAY WITH ME KIBA!"

Sakura was trying her best to heal his throat, but his struggling due to lack of air only made things difficult. Vader watched as the girl tried to repair the damage before he turned his head to see Jiraiya emerge from the newly made hole left in the building. Blood seeping from the corner of his mouth which he wiped away.

Shortly before he fell over.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"The years have made you weak, Godfather."

The dark lord turned and then headed toward his ship.

"While they have made me stronger with every step I take away from you and this village."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The dark lord took one last look at the Cherry Blossom at work on the Inuzuka boy. Shortly, before he left the scene with the small remaining crowd of villagers parting away from him. Not too long after he did, Tsunade, Shizune, several Anbu and Konohamaru's team arrived. The Slug Sannin immediately began taking control of the situation. Ordering Konohamaru's team to go and retrieve the medical core. Leaving her Anbu to deal with crowd control while she and her two students try to stabilize everyone who was injured.

Soon enough the other medical ninja arrived along with several of the injured teens' parents. One of whom, Hiashi Hyuga, was relieved to see that his daughter didn't appear to be physically harmed. His fear though began to rise as he looked around frantically at the other injured or unconscious part.

Realizing someone was missing.

"Where is Neji?"

Elsewhere

Orochimaru watched with a somewhat feeling of pride at all the assassins that laid defeated on the ground around his pupil. There was easily a hundred of them and they were some of the deadliest killers in the Five Great Nations, yet they fell like raindrops on a mountain as his student and soon to be vessel easily swatted them down. His skills were improving, and he was definitely growing stronger without a doubt.

But there was still one issue.

"I was worried there for a second."

Orochimaru looked and saw Kabuto approach.

"I didn't think he would be able to handle all of them. And if he died, it would have caused great problems for you Lord Orochimaru."

Orochimaru smiled.

"Your concern is touching Kabuto, but Sasuke-kun was more than a match for them. It won't be long now. He'll soon be ready."

Kabuto adjusted his glassed.

"It's a shame though that they're all still alive."

Orochimaru's smile faltered.

"Yes, that's the only drawback from this. Sasuke-kun unfortunately won't commit himself to kill any of his opponents whether they're trying to kill him or not. The only ones he truly wants to kill are his brother and Vader."

Now even Kabuto's smile withdrew into a grim expression. It was not that long ago that they only managed to barely escape the rogue Leaf shinobi by the skin of their teeth. They nearly lost their lives to him. Then soon after word reached them about how Vader effortlessly conquered and took over all of Konoha. Not only was it done in a single day, but it was also done with surprisingly little bloodshed save for Danzo's Anbu. Now normally rumors and talk such as these are usually highly skeptical, but Vader's giant airborne fortress was insanely hard to miss even from this distance and it was clearly positioned right where the Leaf village was located. Which strongly suggests that none of the rumors were exaggerated at all.

Even when they themselves attacked the village with the combined effort of Suna, it wasn't enough to bring the Leaf down, yet Vader pulled it off with ease with his own army. An army which must be formidable and expansive to say the least. Which makes Sasuke's desire for a rematch with Vader all the more complicated.

If not suicidal and foolish.

"Orochimaru-sama?'

The snake sannin turned to his medical servant.

"What are your plans for when after you take Sasuke's body? All due respect but I don't think even then that you'll be a match for Vader."

Normally the former Sannin would answer with a confident remark but not this time.

"No, I'm afraid not. Defeating someone as strong as Vader is going to require jutsu more powerful than any that exist right now. And possibly…."

His slit snake eyes narrowed.

"Powers that exceed beyond that of what chakra can provide."

Kabuto looked at him confused.

"Powers beyond chakra?"

His eyes widened.

"You mean the Force?"

Orochimaru nodded.

"Precisely."

Kabuto acknowledged that it was a sensible plan. Learning more about this power and trying to acquire it could certainly improve their odds in killing Vader. There was one large problem though as they didn't know where would they even begin.

"How do we even do that, Orochimaru-sama? Where would we even look or find any information on it?"

The Snake Summoner answered.

"A good question, Kabuto. One that may have an answer simpler than we realize."

Kabuto arched a brow.

"How so?"

Orochimaru chuckled.

"So far as we know, Vader and dear Sakura are the only ones in all the Five Great Nations to possess this power. And both of them are from the Leaf Village. Therefore, the answers we seek may possibly lie there."

Kabuto's eyes widened.

"Are you sure?"

Orochimaru turned toward a tree as he watched a snake devour a poor bird's eggs.

"It is only a theory but it's the best and only lead we have at the moment."

Kabuto though didn't think it to be the wisest course of action.

"But going to the village now would be like walking into the lion's den. And considering there's a strong chance that the answers we need may not be there, it doesn't seem worth it. All due respect my lord."

Orochimaru chuckled again with amusement.

"A worthy concern. But all we have to do is simply wait until the lion leaves to go hunt his prey. Remember he is not only hunting us but the Akatsuki as well. Once his attention focuses solely on them it will be easier to sneak into the village and attain what we need. And even if there aren't any official answers, I'm sure that Tsunade has record of the powers and abilities Vader has displayed thus far. Examining those records may help us to discover a weakness in them. After all, if jutsus can have weaknesses, so can the Force."

Kabuto smiled while adjusting his glasses.

"And of course, we can try to take Sakura and examine her in one of our labs. Her DNA and body may possibly hold the key to understanding the Force more.

Orochimaru smiled sadistically.

"There's an interesting idea. Yes, I'm sure that dear Sakura will be quite helpful to us."

Kabuto cupped his chin.

"She won't be easy to capture though."

Orochimaru closed his eyes while still smiling.

"Power of the Force or not once I have the Sharingan she will be easy prey."

Kabuto smiled again in agreeance. And even if trying to capture her fails they could always search for someone else with these powers. Just because they haven't heard of anyone else having it doesn't mean that there aren't. And if they managed to find another user of this power and experiment on them, they could try to learn more about it and maybe even transfer it to Orochimaru.

With that power along with his immortality and the Sharingan, he'll truly be invincible.

Sasuke looked at the Sannin and his dog servant from the rock he was sitting on. He knows too well what they're plotting. For one thing, they're trying to figure out how to deal with Vader and his army. For another, they're obviously preparing for when Orochimaru transfers his soul into Sasuke's body which will likely be very soon. Of course, he has no intention of letting that happen.

The young raven haired Uchiha has grown tired of Orochimaru and his sadistic evil ways. The only reason he's put up with it was to learn all the jutsu he promised him. More and more though lately, he was beginning to suspect that the Sannin's usefulness as a teacher was cloes to running its course. Which means the time to end him is approaching.

Then once he's dead he'll recruit the shinobi he needs to go after Itachi.

He only hopes that it will come soon. The Uchiha has not forgotten what Vader told him when they last met. About how he intends to wipe out the Akatsuki including his brother, Itachi. Denying him the vengeance he's sought for years against his murdering sibling.

He cannot allow that to happen. He will not allow that to happen. Itachi was his to kill and no one else's. Which is why he has to get stronger faster so that he can find Itachi before Vader does and claim his vengeance.

But even if everything goes his way, there is still one thing that will remain.

It is no longer enough for Sasuke to simply just kill his brother. No, he will never truly be at peace with himself as long as Vader lives too. Not just because his former comrade was hunting him, but their last fight has proven to Sasuke just how large the gap between they're powers has grown. It gnaws at him, tortures him, and leaves him sleepless at nights even more than when Vader tortured his mind with those voices.

It was something he could not accept.

That was why the young teen decided to end Vader along with Itachi. Unlike with his brother though Sasuke intends to give Vader a quick and merciful death. Even with everything that happened, the Uchiha can't help but hold some semblance of guilt despite all the hate he has for the former Uzumaki. After all, he is the reason for Naruto becoming the monster that now holds his home village at his mercy. It's no minor feat to conquer the Leaf village yet his old comrade and rival did it very quickly and efficiently.

He couldn't help but have a little respect for that.

Even so he will die in the end and properly. Sasuke will make sure of that. He doesn't know how he'll do it, but he'll find a way. No matter what or how long it takes, he'll find a way.

He knows that Orochimaru and Kabuto are likely figuring to do the same. If there is a chance that they may discover some weakness of Vader's then Sasuke will hold off on killing his snake teacher for now. At least until he tries to take his body.

If they do manage to find something then killing his brother and Vader may not take that much time at all. And if he loses his life while killing Vader that would be acceptable too. With both Itachi and Vader dead then Sasuke will finally have peace with himself.

The Uchiha then noticed something with his one Sharingan eye. It looked like a small metal ship was flying upward into the fortress. Cleary Vader and his forces were on the move which means that break time was over.

The sullen Uchiha rose from the rock and approached his sensei.

"Enough stalling Orochimaru, teach me that new jutsu you promised!"

Kabuto irritatingly grit his teeth from the teen's lack of respect while Orochimaru smiled.

"So impatient but as you wish."

Elsewhere

The teen groaned as he opened his lavender colored eyes. His vision was blurry, but was slowly coming into focus. His body felt very sore and constricted. He tried to move but found that he couldn't at all. When his vision finally cleared up enough, he looked down at his body to find that he was strapped to some sort of metal table with metallic restraints all over his body. The confused teen looked around and saw that he was in a room with red lights. Ahead of him were two of those clone soldiers that were standing guard at a closed door.

Neji didn't like the look of his situation at all.

"Where am I?!"

The clones didn't answer him as they stood at the doorway. Their silence agitated the Hyuga, but he simply took a breath before trying to use his Byakugan to see where he was. Concentrating his chakra to focus his eyes. But his lavender irises only widened in surprise.

'My chakra!'

For some reason, his chakra felt very weak. He couldn't concentrate enough of it to activate his visual jutsu. Either they sealed it away or there was something about this room that was either draining or suppressing it.

Whatever the case may be, it only serves to make his current situation even worse.

Suddenly the door ahead opened where stood the unmistakable tall blackish appearance of Darth Vader.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The clones stood at attention as he entered the room. He wasn't alone though as he was followed by a floating metallic black sphere that had metal clamps, needles, and prods poking out of it. The floating ball greatly unnerved the captive Hyuga as well as the sound it made as it hovered behind Vader.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Leave us."

The clones acting on his command, exited the room and left the two or rather three of them alone.

"My apologies for your discomfort of our accommodations. We do not receive many guests here."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Neji didn't believe he was truly sorry at all. Nor did he care considering what Vader had just done to his friends. The Hyuga's eyes widened as to what may have happened to them while he was unconscious which filled him with worry.

"Where are my friends?!"

The dark lord answered.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Your comrades are alive and safe. For now."

Neji wasn't sure again on whether he should believe this man like machine or not. For all he knew his comrades might be being tortured or executed right now while he was stuck on this table. The very thought of either or only made him try to struggle more, which did nothing to help.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"They are all still down in the village. Likely being treated for their injuries in the hospital by the Hokage and her medics."

Neji still looked at Vader with distrust. But considering his predicament he felt that for the time being he had no choice but to take his word for now. But there was still one important question to consider.

"Why am I here?"

Vader raised his hand and suddenly Neji's headband came undone. Revealing the green Caged Bird Curse Seal on his forehead. Vader then turned and walked over to the side.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It burns you inside, doesn't it?"

Neji raised a brow in confusion as Vader turned around.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"That you had to suffer your whole life as a branded slave. Forced into serving the main branch of a family that should treat you and the others of your branch with respect and love. Knowing that they can torture and kill you at any time that they wish. All while you had to deal with the loss of your father…."

Vader approached and stood in front of him again.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Someone who was all you had...taken away from you so that the village and the main branch of your clan could survive."

Neji's eyes narrowed angrily at Vader but still kept his cool.

"I've put that anger behind me. My father chose to save the main family and the Leaf! He chose to protect me!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"True, but you know full well that if he had refused, the main family members would have forced him into being a sacrificial pawn against his will."

Neji grits his teeth before giving a retort.

"Lord Hiashi would never have allowed it! He tried to make that sacrifice himself to protect my father and the clan, but my father wouldn't let him!"

Vader cocked his helmet to the side a little.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"So, you do believe in everything your father wrote to you in that letter. The one you received from your uncle during the Chuunin exams three years ago after you lost to Uzumaki."

Neji stared at him incredulously.

"How do you know about that?"

The cyborg didn't answer as he turned to the hovering metal sphere. The object made a beeping sound before a slot opened up on one of its sides. From the slot was a glass vial of some red liquid. Vader took the vial and held it in his glove while looking at it.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Your and Gaara of Suna's defeat during those chuunin exams were the only deeds that Uzumaki ever accomplished in his life that amounted to anything."

Neji's eyes narrowed again.

"What do you know about Naruto and his deeds?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Far more than you or anyone else ever will. The boy was a failure with almost everything he tried to accomplish as it was his fate."

Neji growled.

"Naruto never believed in fate. He taught me that my destiny can be whatever I choose!"

Vader looked up at his "guest."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"He was wrong."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"No matter how much we struggle or what we accomplish or how many times we boast about becoming what we want to be in the end all things are decided by destiny and the Force."

Neji was confused.

"The Force? What is that?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It is everything."

Vader opened his palm and made the vial of red liquid float and slowly rotate around before it settled back into his gloved palm.

"I don't believe that. I don't believe in destiny controlling me anymore. I decided what my fate will be. And who are you to say that what Naruto believed was entirely wrong?!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Simple, I'm the one who ended his foolish belief."

Neji gasped at the dark lord's words.

"You what?!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Uzumaki was too weak and foolish to challenge his fate. Which resulted in his suffering and destruction."

Neji growled at him.

"What did you do to him?!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It matters not. He is dead and one might say that I put him out of his misery."

Neji grits his teeth as his cool composure was now replaced with rage.

"Is that why you brought me here?! To gloat about killing him and try to convince me that everything he believed and told me was wrong?!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I would not bother capturing you just to waste my time with a trivial debate such as that."

Vader opened the vial which unnerved and increased the worry of the Hyuga prodigy.

"What is that?"

Vader raised his right hand which caused the liquid in the vial to pour out and levitate into the air. He flexed his fingers inward which caused the liquid to take shape. Molding it until it resembled an arm with five claw like looking digits. An unsettling sight which caused the Hyuga to grow with more discomfort.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It is the key to free you from your burden."

Neji started to sweat a little bit.

"My burden?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Indeed, because of what you are your life has never been yours to take hold of. To decide what you wish to do with it. Because in the end no matter what you choose to do, you are always a target to those both in and outside of the village."

Neji's eyes narrowed.

"I see…..you want my Byakugan."

Vader didn't answer as he raised his left arm. Suddenly red chakra snaked out of it and infused itself into the blood. Neji gasped at the chakra infused liquidated arm but also what he sensed from it.

'That chakra….I recognize it!'

It was the same evil vile essence that he sensed from the Nine Tails when it appeared in the village during Vader's invasion. Not only that but he finally realized why the Kyuubi's chakra felt so familiar to him. It was the same chakra Naruto summoned when Neji thought he shut off all his chakra points when they fought three years ago.

Neji didn't have time to try make sense of it all as the red appendage reached out and stretched its claw-like fingers toward his face which was covered with beads of sweat.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You may want to brace yourself. This will be extraordinarily painful."

Neji thrashed and struggled more against the restraints, but still couldn't even budge them. He panicked as two of the claw fingers stretched out toward him. The red glow of the arm illuminating his face and reflecting in his eyes.

Moments later, Neji's screams could be heard echoing across the many halls and corridors of Vader's ship.

Konoha Hospital

They've all been in the waiting room for hours now. Waiting for any updates on how the injured party were doing. Yet, there was still no word from Lady Tsunade or any of the medical staff working on them.

It didn't take long for word to reach throughout the village of what happened. Not when considering the many witnesses that were there. Sakura realized that her parents may have been dreadfully worried and quickly got word back to them that she was alright. She expects though that will do little to stop them from bursting into the hospital looking for her.

She was kind of hoping it wouldn't happen as tensions were already high enough here.

A few of their party were growing more restless. Especially Tsume Inuzuka, Kiba's mom, and Choza, Choji's dad. Tsume was pacing back and forth like a freshly caught wild animal in a locked cage while her ninja hound sat as he watched his mistress. Akamaru was there too wrapped in some bandages, but he was concerned for his master as he whined and whimpered for his presence. Choza was constantly shaking his leg up and down as he sat in one of the chairs. Normally, you'd think experienced shinobi such as them would be used to hospital waiting rooms but considering that their children were involved and were inflicted with gruesome injuries, pretty much anyone would be impatient as them right now.

Konohamaru's team were also antsy. Especially the grandson of the Third Hokage in question. He was constantly fumbling his fingers and adjusting his scarf. Patience never was the genin's strong suit and one could tell without a doubt that he was worried for his comrades.

Even still, Sakura vowed that when this was over, she was gonna beat the crap out of that little brat for that stupid stunt he pulled.

All their senseis were there too. They came as soon as they heard what happened. Gai was relieved to see that Lee was alright but he along with Asuma and Kurenai were deathly worried about their other students. Asuma was fidgeting constantly, though it was also likely because he wanted a smoke but couldn't have one since this was a hospital, and Kurenai was staring intently at the door.

Sakura being a trained medic was capable of keeping herself composed but that didn't mean she wasn't eager for someone to come out of those doors with an update on her friends. Ino she imagines will probably need some psychiatric help from whatever she encountered inside Vader's mind. How she wished that she showed up sooner to stop her from doing something so dangerous and reckless as transferring her mind into Vader's. He was not the type of person to pull a jutsu like that on. Who knows what might've happened to her in there.

Even Sakura, who's felt Vader's mind, wouldn't dare to guess.

As for Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba, Sakura knows fully that their medical procedures will be more difficult especially for the latter two.

Fortunately, some of their other friends came out of the conflict with surprisingly little injuries. Tenten only received a bandage for her head while Hinata and Lee didn't have a scratch on them. Hinata though looked terrible. She hasn't said a word since she woke up. Sakura tried to ask her about it, but she wouldn't answer. Sakura though could sense through the Force that she was suffering with a terrible pain inside. Even her father, Hiashi noticed, and would've tried to help but his mind was too preoccupied on the whereabouts and safety of his nephew at the moment.

Gai was also worried about Neji. So worried that he wasn't even doing any exercises or personal self-challenges to try to pass the time. He only focused on struggling to hold onto hope that Neji was still alright. However, considering he was in the clutches of Darth Vader no one really knew what to expect except dread.

Sakura herself still couldn't understand what Vader would want with Neji. It didn't make sense for him to capture him. If he wanted him dead, he would've done it here in the village. There would be no reason to take him. She tried to sense his mind a few times to discover his intentions but was having difficulty right now. She didn't know if it was because Vader was keeping her out or if what he said was true and that her abilities were weak without a teacher to guide her.

Regardless she kept trying which didn't go unnoticed by her sensei but he kept silent about it so no one would know.

Finally, the doors opened where Tsunade and Shizune came through. Everyone who was sitting jumped to their feet while Tsume ceased her pacing. The looks on the two experienced medics didn't look comforting.

"This way."

Everyone followed them through the halls passing by many of the hospital staff. A lot of them were staring and whispering to each other as they passed. It was becoming increasingly annoying even for Sakura and she personally knows the staff here pretty well.

They came upon the first door which was Ino's room. When they opened it and entered the room, she was seen sitting up in her bed shaking with her arms wrapped around her legs. Her father immediately rushed to her. Holding her by the shoulders to try to snap her out of it.

"Ino, it's me! Your father! Ino! Ino!"

Ino looked at him for a moment before proceeding to shake and tremble like a frightened child.

"Best we can tell is that she's in a deep shock. It will take a while before she'll snap out of it."

Ino's father turned to Tsunade.

"Isn't there anything you can do or give her?"

The Hokage shook her head.

"I'm afraid not. The best we can do for her right now is wait."

They then led the others to another room while Sakura took one last look at Ino.

"I'll be back Ino, I promise."

She caught up with the rest of the group as they entered another room which was Shikamaru's. He was wrapped up in bandages but otherwise didn't look too bad. Much to the relief of his father, Shikaku.

"He'll need a few weeks of bedrest to heal up. He's lucky."

Shikamaru winced as he tried to sit up.

"Hey, everyone. Sorry to make you all worry."

Asuma stood by his bedside along with the young Nara's father.

"We're just happy to see that you're still in one piece."

Shikamaru tried to sit up more but his father gently pushed him back down.

"You heard the Hokage, you need to rest."

The boy looked at his father with rest being the last thing on his mind.

"I have to get to Choji and Ino! I have to know they're okay!"

Tsunade folded her arms beneath her large bosom.

"As I just explained to everyone else, Ino's in shock right now but otherwise physically unharmed. As for Choji…."

Everyone's looked at the Slug Queen intently as she paused before proceeding.

"He still in surgery. We're having a little difficult right now with reattaching his arm."

She turned to Shizune.

"Shizune you should get back to that immediately. They'll likely need your help in there."

Shizune nodded before heading out while Choza spoke with worried tone.

"What do you mean you're having difficulty? What's wrong with his arm?!"

The Slug queen explained.

"While Vader's weapon severed Choji's arm with a clean cut it also cauterized the wound. Completely sealing off the veins, nerves, and ligaments from each other in the two...parts of his arm."

Choza began to sweat.

"Does that mean it can't be reattached?"

Tsunade shook her head to calm him down.

"No, it means that we have to cut away the cauterized areas and try to reattach everything down to the most minute tissue. It's an extremely delicate process but our best surgeons and Shizune are working on it. However, whether he'll have full use of it again or not remains to be seen."

Choza's eyes quivered while Tsume spoke.

"And what about Kiba?"

Tsunade closed her eyes and gave a long heavy sigh before opening them and answering.

"He is stable for now. We were able to repair the damage to his shoulder and the more serious areas of his pharynx or throat if you will. But…."

Tsume's feral eyes widened.

"But what?"

Tsunade didn't bother to waste any more time as she answered again but with a tone of regret in her voice.

"His vocal cords were completely crushed. We did everything we could, but they sustained too much damage to be healed or repaired."

Sakura along with Kurenai and the other senseis gasped as they knew what that meant while Tsume looked like she was about to go ballistic.

"What are you saying?!"

Sakura answered for her mentor.

"She's saying that Kiba will never be able to speak again."

Tsume looked at Sakura with wide eyes while Gai, Lee, Tenten, and Konohamaru's team gasped including Hinata who snapped out of her depressed stupor before Tsume whipped her head back to Tsunade.

"IS THAT TRUE?!"

Tsunade slowly nodded in confirmation.

"But Lady Tsunade! Can't you simply use the same medical technique you used for me years ago when I was injured?!"

The Slug Queen turned to Lee and shook her head.

"It won't work. Your spine was extremely damaged, yes, but Kiba's vocal cords are beyond the capabilities of even that advanced method."

Lee and the others were stunned.

"Kiba…."

Hinata held hands together close to her chest while Kurenai shook.

"I should've been there. I should've stopped this!"

Asuma placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Kurenai, who knows what might've happened if we had been there. We both know what Vader is capable of. Even if we managed to stand down our students, chances are things might've still ended up as they are."

Kakashi agreed.

"Asuma is right. Vader's not exactly the forgiving type when it comes to grievances as we've already seen."

Despite her comrade's assurances, Kurenai still felt responsible. Kiba was one of her students after all. She would've put the boy in a genjutsu if it meant keeping him safe from incurring Vader's wrath.

While she wrestled with her thoughts, Shikamaru felt like hitting something if both his arms weren't in casts.

"This situation really is turning more into a total drag."

Tsunade glared at the chuunin.

"Oh,…..you have no idea how much of a drag you're in! Considering you and everyone else actively chose to disobey my orders when you all picked a fight with Darth Vader!"

Shikamaru tried to defend himself.

"Lady Tsunade, I was only trying to-"

"NO EXCUSES! YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN THAT SHIKAMARU! I TRUSTED YOU TO MAKE SURE THE OTHERS WOULD COOPERATE AND LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED!"

Shikamaru looked at Tsunade shocked. He's seen the woman lose her temper before, but he's never seen her this mad before. If looks could kill he's sure he would be dead ten times right now.

"Lady Tsunade, I understand all of that, but you can't blame them for defending themselves or their comrades."

Tsunade snapped at Shukaku.

"This wasn't about defending themselves! They placed the entire village in danger by antagonizing and challenging Vader! He may decide to attack the village as recompence!"

Tsume growled as her wild bangs covered her eyes.

"I'll give that bastard recompence when I rip his throat out for what he did to my son!"

Sakura couldn't help but hold onto her arm as her emotions began to turn over which didn't go unnoticed by Kakashi.

"You will do nothing Tsume! You and everyone else here are to stay away from Vader understood?!"

The Inuzuka woman growled before looking up at her Hokage.

"Lady Tsunade, all due respect but why are you protecting that monster?!"

Sakura gripped her arm harder while Tsunade snapped back.

"I'm not protecting him! I'm trying to protect you all and this entire village!"

Konohamaru argued.

"But none of us are protected as long as that murderer lives! He needs to pay for what he's done!"

Tsunade glared at the young Sarutobi which caused him and his cohorts to gulp in fear.

"You don't get to say anything when you caused all of this, young man! Do you have any idea how many lives you put in jeopardy because you acted without thinking in the most reckless and irresponsible manner I've ever heard a genin ever doing?! I ought to strip you of your shinobi status permeantly!"

Konohamaru continued to argue.

"I had to do it! You may be okay with what he did to the monument of my grandfather and for what he did to Naruto but I'm not!"

Tsunade suddenly ceased arguing with Konohamaru. Some of the people in the room looked at the young genin confused while Sakura closed her free hand tightly into a fist. Her knuckles slightly cracking.

"What he did to Naruto? What are you talking about Konohamaru?"

The Sarutobi boy answered Lee's question before the senseis, or Tsunade could stop him.

"Darth Vader k-!"

"SHUT UP!"

The lights and windows suddenly burst, and cracks grew on the floor around Sakura's feet. This action startled most of the people in the room while Tsunade and Kakashi were more composed, yet they were also taken a little off guard. Sakura's hair waved a little before settling down as she looked around the darkened room feeling ashamed of the damages she caused.

"Sakura,…..did you do that?"

Sakura slowly turned to Lee who along with some of the others were staring with incredulous looks at the pink haired kunoichi.

"I'm sorry….I shouldn't be here right now."

Sakura was about to turn and leave until Shikamaru spoke.

"Just a moment, Sakura."

Sakura stopped before turning to Shikamaru who was narrowing his eyes at her.

"That power you just displayed. It's similar to Vader's isn't it?"

Some of the others once again looked at her in shock as she slowly nodded her head. A few moments of silence followed as the people who didn't already know processed this. The silence was broken though when Tsume roared at the young kunoichi in outrage.

"IF YOU HAVE THE SAME POWER AS HIM THEN WHY HAVEN'T YOU USED IT TO STOP THAT BASTARD WHEN HE ALMOST KILLED MY SON?!"

Akamaru barked in agreeance while Tsume walked right up to Sakura's face with her fangs bearing as Choza tried to restrain her a little in case she goes berserk on the girl.

"YOU COULD'VE USED THIS POWER TO STOP HIM WHEN HE FIRST CAME HERE! INSTEAD, YOU'VE JUST BEEN SITTING ON YOUR ASS THIS WHOLE TIME?! WHY?!"

Tsunade suddenly stepped in between the two of them.

"Because she can't!"

Tsume she looked at Tsunade with a still feral expression.

"WHY?! SOMEBODY TELL ME WHY, DAMMIT!"

"I-I-"

Sakura tried to answer but didn't have the right words to explain until Hinata suddenly approached her with her head low and her bangs covering her eyes.

"He was your classmate. Your teammate. Your friend. A boy who would've given his life for you."

Sakura's eyes widened and her breathe hitched as Hinata slowly looked up her with lavender eyes full of anger and tears.

"Why aren't you angry for him? Why aren't you trying to avenge him? How can you…..How can you be okay with doing nothing while Naruto's killer is walking around terrorizing our village?! Answer me!"

"Hinata that's enough!"

The Hyuga girl silenced herself due to her father's command. Even so, gone was the normal demeanor of Hinata's shyness and meekness. Before Sakura was a completely different side of the Hyuga girl that she's never seen before. At least not from her of all people. It mostly reminded Sakura of herself when she was searching for answers for what happened to Naruto at the Valley of the End.

Before she found out the horrible truth.

"Sakura, I don't understand either. If Vader did indeed kill Naruto why are you not enraged by this?"

Sakura looked over at Lee who was just confused as the others. Seeing that the situation might get a little out of hand, Gai tried to step in. Fearing that Lee and the others might discover more than they need to know right now.

"Lee that's enough."

Lee however, refused to be silenced.

"NO SENSEI! Respectfully this doesn't make sense!"

Gai was taken aback a bit by Lee's outburst as the boy's mouth kept running.

"Why is Sakura doing nothing while that vile fiend gets away with his crimes?! Why are we standing around doing nothing! That murderer killed Naruto who was a dear friend of ours! We need to-"

"SILENCE!"

Lee and everyone else shut their mouths upon Tsunade's command. The woman was no longer in any mood for this insubordinate talk. Her glare even settled Tsume down into submission.

"Sakura will not fight Vader because she, like all of you, has been ordered to stand down. Besides, it's been confirmed that while she may have the same powers as him, Vader is still on a whole other level from her. There isn't much even she can do against him."

Sakura couldn't help but feel guilty. Even though Vader was more powerful she, Tsunade, Kakashi, and the other team leaders know that there's more to her not fighting him than that. A lot more to it.

But there was someone else in the room that heavily suspected this and was determined to know.

"That's understandable, Lady Tsunade. Sakura shouldn't be blamed for obeying your orders. I've seen what Vader can do and if it's like you say then it is for the best that she shouldn't fight him."

His friends looked at him shocked.

"Shikamaru…."

Shikamaru looked at Lee and the others.

"We're shinobi. As shinobi that means we need to keep our emotions in check. Even when it comes to dealing with personal loss. You all should know this, especially you Konohamaru."

The boy fidgeted a little but nodded in shame.

"However, that being said…"

Shikamaru closed his eyes before opening them again at Sakura.

"Sakura, while I believe that you're under orders like the rest of us to not fight Vader, I don't believe that's the reason why you can't do it."

Sakura was stunned and her eyes immediately turned away.

"During your confrontation with Vader I noticed a few things. The way you two talked to each other. The way you and Master Jiraiya said we were all his comrades. How you two tried to sway him from killing Kiba. To give up this vengeance he seeks against Orochimaru and the Akatsuki…."

Shikamaru leaned forward a little from his bed.

"You know who Vader is, don't you?"

Sakura started to tremble, and the others were surprised to hear this. Lee, Tenten, Hinata, and Konohamaru's team were gawking at her. Tsume began growling again at the Kunoichi though with more restraint in her tone than before.

"You mean you know who that bastard is?!"

She tried to walk up to the girl, but Tsunade still stood in her path with eyes like daggers that were daring the Inuzuka woman to make a move.

"That's enough."

Asuma said as he stepped in.

"Tensions are high enough right now without us throwing accusations. We need to-"

"NO SENSEI!"

Asuma was cut off guard by Shikamaru's sudden uncharacteristic outburst.

"My best friend had his arm cut off! Ino's in a deep mental shock! And Kiba can no longer use his voice! If we're to continue to stand down before Vader, we at least deserve to know who he really is!"

While the adults remained silent, Sakura was in turmoil. She didn't want to tell them. By God did she not want to. But he was right. They did have a right now to know. Especially Shikamaru since he's carried almost as much guilt for what happened to her teammate three years ago as she did. Even if it was for different reasons. However, she held much fear of what would happen if they learned the truth.

Her mind was so conflicted and confused that Konohamaru's next statement would cause the floodgates to burst open.

"Yeah, we have every right to know who this scum really is. Especially since he mur-!"

"HE DIDN'T KILL NARUTO!"

Konohamaru fell on his ass with Sakura's shriek. It practically could be heard throughout the entire hospital. When Sakura settled down a little her mind was then and their made up completely.

"Darth Vader…..did not…kill…Naruto….because…..because…."

Kakashi was about to step in before Sakura says anymore but Tsunade held her hand out him to stop him as Sakura struggled to tell the truth.

"Because why?"

Asked Tenten as Sakura looked up at her and the others before she took a long deep breath and revealed the truth.

"Because Darth Vader is...Naruto."

Dead silence filled the dark room. Most of the faces there were mixed with extreme expressions of shock, disbelief, confusion, and horror. Hinata's face though was hard to discern if whether she was beyond relieved hearing this revelation or absolutely heartbroken.

Whatever the case may be, the answer was unknowable as she fainted.

"Hinata!"

Her father rushed to her side. Luckily, Kurenai caught the poor girl in her arms before she hit the floor. She then carried her to one of the beds where Hiashi stood by her side. The Hyuga girl's fainting though did little to snap the others out of their frozen stupor.

Until Konohamaru fumbled trying to get back up as if he was just recovering from a heavy blow to the gut.

"No…..No that…..that can't be true...THAT CAN'T BE TRUE!"

He finally got back up on his feet before rushing over and grabbed Sakura by the arms. Shaking her while tears were beginning to pool in the corner of his eyes. Thinking this was some sort lie or sick prank.

"IT ISN'T TRUE! TELL ME YOU'RE LYING! YOU HAVE TO BE LYING!"

"She isn't lying. It's the truth."

Konohamaru turned wide eyed at Tsunade who wore a serious expression before turning back to Sakura as she looked at him with a heavy heart and nodded with a deep somber look. Reconfirming to him and the others there who were in denial. The poor boy suddenly fell to his knees struggling to hold back his tears while his teammates tried comforting him even though they were almost as shaken up.

"I can't believe it."

"No, it's….it's not possible."

Lee and Tenten were in disbelief. They never would've imagined that the loudmouthed genin that they came to know and respect from the Chuunin exams was this cold hearted vile villain. For Tenten though it was worse because all along it was Naruto who was that villain that threatened to kill her while she was unconscious from his invasion not too long ago.

Even the parents were surprised by this as none of them expected that Vader was the Uzumaki boy. The same boy that used to always proclaim himself constantly as a future Hokage. It seemed more unreal to them and the younger shinobi there than Vader's powers or anything else he's shown under his disposal so far.

"Lady Tsunade,…..how long did you know this?"

Shikamaru was staring with angry narrowed eyes at the Hokage while she stared half lidded at the floor.

"Ever since Sakura was abducted by him on her last mission."

Lee suddenly shouted.

"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US, TSUNADE-SAMA?!"

"LEE!"

Lee looked at his sensei and argued.

"I'M SORRY GAI SENSEI BUT KEEPING A SECRET LIKE THAT FROM US IS FAR FROM ACCEPTABLE! WHY ARE YOU NOT ANGERED BY THIS?!"

Shikamaru answered.

"Because he and our other senseis already knew. Isn't that right?"

Lee's expression suddenly changed to that of shock again as he looked at his sensei and the other team leaders as they stared at the ground regretfully.

"How could none of you tell us this?!"

Tenten asked very damn good question as Choji's father weighed in though he was calmer about it despite the circumstances.

"I have to agree, Lady Tsunade. How could you and the others here have kept something as important as Naruto being Darth Vader from us?"

The Slug queen answered.

"Because none of you needed to know at the time. It would've….complicated things further."

The Nara teen responded with agitation in his voice.

"All due respect, Lady Tsunade, but that's a load of crap!"

Shukaku placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"That's enough, Shikamaru! I understand your frustration, but you need to remember your place! If the Hokage felt we weren't ready to know the truth yet then she must have had a good reason. Vader showing up out of nowhere and threatening our village was a chaotic situation. And us knowing that he was really Naruto may have indeed made things more complicated. Place your feelings aside and think this logically."

Shikamaru usually excels at that, but this was one time where he just couldn't. Ever since Naruto vanished three years ago, he felt responsible. After all he led the retreival team to get Sasuke. He did all the planning, calculating, and choices. After Naruto vanished, he's been almost as obsessive as Sakura in finding out what happened to him. And here he is sitting in a hospital bed finally being told the truth. The truth that the hyperactive knuckleheaded boy he knew since early childhood and his days at the academy was none other than Darth Vader. The one who was terrorizing their village and nearly killed Kiba while brutally beating and maybe even crippling the rest of them. Not to mention abducting Neji.

The hell with logic, he needed more answers!

"Tell me why…..Why is Naruto doing this?! Why is he holding our village hostage?! He always wanted to be Hokage now all of a sudden he's threatening to destroy us all! Also, how he did gain hold of the Kyuubi?! What is going on?! What happened to him?! Tell us, damn it!"

Shukaku was about to chastise his son again, but Lee cut him off in agreeance.

"That's right! We were always told that the Kyuubi was killed by the Fourth Hokage! So how could it still be alive?! And it doesn't make sense for Naruto to threaten the village since he's always wanted to be Hokage! And why would he take Neji?!"

Hiashi spoke in a calm but concerned too.

"I also would like to know why Naruto has taken Neji."

Tenten suddenly remembered something.

"Wait, is he doing this because of what happened to his apartment and Iruka sensei? Did he snap and go crazy from them?"

Sakura shook her head.

"No,…..it goes deeper than that. Much deeper."

The others turned to her again. Konohamaru looked up at her but couldn't see her eyes as her bangs covered them. Shikamaru's eyes narrowed further at the kunoichi girl before he turned toward Tsunade again.

"What happened to him, Lady Tsunade? What really caused him to become…..like this?"

Tsunade didn't answer as she still looked down at the floor but with an expression of deep regret and guilt.

"Tell them."

Sakura slowly turned to her mentor with her bangs still covering her eyes.

"Tell them the truth or I will!"

Tsunade once again gave a long and heavy sigh before looking at her apprentice and slowly nodding.

"Fine, go ahead. Tell them."

Sakura turned to the others and took another deep breath as they waited for her answer.

"It all started 15 years ago when the Kyuubi attacked the village and the Fourth Hokage managed to kill it. However, what we were told about what happened that night….."

Sakura's hands tightened into fists.

"Was a lie!"

Konohamaru grew confused.

"A lie?"

Sakura nodded.

"That's right. A lie that was told to us by the Third Hokage and all the adults in the village."

The Sarutobi boy was about to protest about his grandfather being called a liar, but Shikamaru cut him off before he could speak.

"What lie?"

Sakura answered.

"The Fourth Hokage didn't kill the Kyuubi. In order to defeat it, he sealed it inside an infant child. And that child was...was Naruto."

All the younger Shinobi gasped.

"What?!"

"Naruto is the vessel of the Nine Tails?!"

"I can't believe it!"

Shikamaru looked at his father and the other adults.

"You knew about this all along and you all didn't tell us?!"

Shukaku closed his eyes and answered.

"We were ordered by Lord Sarutobi to keep it a secret from you all. He felt that if the younger generation of the village knew what he was that they would've hated and feared him. He wanted you all to get know Naruto and treat him as a comrade first before finding out the truth."

Tsunade spoke.

"A plan that my predecessor poorly formulated. He failed to realize that children often copy their parents and other adults' behaviour in terms of how they treat others or certain individuals."

Some of the young shinobi were confused.

"What does that mean?"

Shikamaru with his keen analytical mind was able to figure it out.

"It means the reason why Naruto was bullied and ignored by us and the other children before and during our days at the academy was because of how the adults poorly treated him."

Moegi was still confused.

"But how could they hate him for having the Kyuubi inside him? It's not like he was the demon fox."

Kakashi answered from his own personal experience.

"Human beings aren't always rational when it comes to fearing, hating, and blaming others."

Sakura nodded.

"That's putting it mildly. I can't tell you all how many times I've seen such disgusting hatred and ignorance from the villagers and some of our own shinobi towards Naruto. And Not just him either. How jinchuriki in general are treated by their own villages just makes me sick!"

Shikamaru knew what Sakura meant. His conversations and interactions with Temari gave him some insight as to how Gaara became a psychopathic killing machine that they all knew him as during his first Chuunin exams. It seems the same fate has befallen Naruto now too.

"So,…..why was Naruto the one chosen for this?"

The others looked at Udon as he adjusted his glasses.

"Damn good question. Why was Naruto chosen to be the jinchuriki?"

Shikamaru turned back toward the adults.

"Why not Tenten or Lee? Why not Hinata or Neji? Or Choji, Ino, Sakura, or hell even me?! Why did the Fourth Hokage choose Naruto?!"

Kakashi tried to answer.

"Because he felt that Naruto-"

"Because Naruto was his son."

Once more the room was filled with gasps. But it wasn't just the younger shinobi as most of the adults were also caught off guard again which clearly meant that they had no idea about this. And some of them didn't look too happy to hear this.

"Naruto is Minato's son?!"

Everyone was at a loss for words with that revelation. Which wasn't a surprise given everything else they just learned in the past ten minutes. None of them especially the younger shinobi could figure out which was more shocking.

Kakashi was pinching the bridge of his nose from Sakura's actions.

"Sakura,….that was an S-class secret. You can't just blurt something like that-"

Tsunade raised her hand up to silence Kakashi which he did so but not before catching Gai's attention.

"Kakashi,….You knew? You knew Naruto was the son of your sensei?"

Kakashi looked at Gai and the others and slowly nodded. Of course, now Sakura was the one who was shocked. Her expression instantly turned into one of outrage as she looked at her sensei.

"You never mentioned before that Naruto's father was your sensei!"

Kakashi looked back at Sakura. Normally he would act sheepish when he's caught keeping a secret from her but in this case it was different. His expression turned to one of disappointment but not toward her.

"I'm sorry, Sakura. Talking about my old teammates…..doesn't exactly bring many cheerful memories."

Now Gai was the one who was outraged.

"Even so Kakashi! How could you not tell any of us about this!"

The Copycat ninja breathed a heavy sigh before answering.

"Lord Sarutobi ordered me not to."

Asuma then made his own inquiry.

"But why?! Why couldn't we have been trusted with this information?!"

Tsunade answered this time.

"Because it was strongly believed that if too many people knew of Naruto's true identity that Minato's enemies may have eventually found out and wouldn't think twice of targeting and assassinating him."

Lee, Tenten, and Konohamaru's team didn't quite understand.

"That doesn't make sense. If Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage and if his father were already dead, why would Lord Fourth's enemies even bother going after him? What would be the point?"

Kurenai answered Tenten.

"You'll find that in the shinobi world there are quite a few who would eagerly make their enemies suffer even in death."

Asuma nodded.

"Especially through killing their loved ones."

The younger shinobi still thought that was madness while Choza was cupping his chin.

"I still can't believe Naruto was Minato's son all along. I always thought there was a similarity between them in terms of looks but I thought it was just coincidence."

Tsume huffed in annoyance.

"I can't believe it either! I was on multiple missions with Minato and of the times I met the little Uzumaki brat I noticed his scent was vaguely similar to his own, but I didn't think much of it then! Damn it!"

She pounded her fist into her hand in frustration.

"I've always had a feeling there was a connection between them like this."

Shikamaru looked at his father stunned.

"What?!"

"You knew Shukaku?!"

Choza and the others stared at the Naru clan leader for an explanation.

"I didn't know one hundred percent. And whether it was true or not I knew that spreading something like this around would endanger him. The poor kid already had enough to deal with without having assassins after him too."

Lee's head perked up about something.

"Wait, does Naruto know that the Fourth Hokage is his father? Maybe that could change everything right now if he knew the truth! Maybe he'll call off his forces and truly return back to the villa-"

"He already knows, Lee."

Lee was interrupted by Sakura whose emerald eyes were becoming shiny with tears that were desperately being held back.

"He found out before I-…before he also found out about Iruka sensei's death."

Lee and the rest of the young shinobi were at a loss for words again. Shukaku and Shikamaru though were deep in thought. Looking like they were piecing together everything they just heard.

Until they arrived at similar but different conclusions.

"Considering everything that we know it's not hard to figure out now why he's turned against the village."

Lee though still wasn't catching on.

"But I don't understand! Why wouldn't Naruto be empowered by pride and the flames of youth with the fact that the Fourth Hokage is his father?! Surely that would be enough to pull him through losing Iruka and the burden of being a jinchuriki?! There must be something else! There has to be!"

Sakura turned her head away with guilt which again didn't go unnoticed by Shikamaru but Tenten smacking Lee upside the head distracted him from further thoughts on the matter.

"OW! What'd you hit me for?!"

Tenten gave a glare to her teammate that was scarier than usual.

"Idiot! Use your head! He found out that his own father sealed a demon inside him to save a village where most of the people would end up hating him for having it! How would you react?!"

Lee's large round eyes widened as he realized that Tenten was right.

"Even so, I would still like to know what he wants with Neji."

Everyone turned to Hiashi.

"Neji and Naruto have both never even met each other till the Chuunin exams. Since then, Neji has regarded the boy with nothing but respect for changing his outlook on life. For years I worried about Neji and his growing hatred for me and the main branch of the Hyuga clan but his fight with Naruto changed him. I saw it with my own eyes."

He looked down at his side.

"If Naruto has become this monster that hates the village, however twisted it may be, it makes sense. But for him to take my nephew, who did absolutely nothing to him, I can't understand it!"

They all pondered about this along with Hiashi. It was an unprecedented move on Vader's part. There was nothing to gain by taking Neji. That was until Tenten's eyes widened when she thought of something terrible.

"You don't think he did it to take his eyes do you?"

The others looked at the weapon mistress alarmed. Hiashi himself reacted with extreme horror at the thought of his nephew's eyes being forcibly plucked from their sockets. Sakura however remained calm yet still concerned as she shook her head.

"No, that's not the reason. Vader has no need for the Byakugan. Not even to study it."

Shikamaru agreed.

"Yeah, if he really wanted Neji's eyes, he would've just taken them right there instead of kidnapping him. Or he could've taken Hinata's since she was unconscious and easy prey most of the fight. There must be something else he wants from him. The question is what?"

While Hiashi was relieved to hear that it still did little to calm him from worrying for his nephew.

"Well regardless of what he has planned for him, and considering everything else he already done he has no further excuses."

Everyone turned to Shukaku.

"Lady Tsunade, I understand your reasons for not standing up to Vader both personal and professional. And perhaps helping him track down Orochimaru and the Akatsuki will ensure no further losses on our part at his hands. But after what happened today…."

He closed his eyes before opening them again.

"We can't afford to remain under his thumb for much longer. We also need to consider the possibility that he may attack the village regardless. Which means we may need to fight him."

Tsunade closed her eyes and gave a heavy sigh.

"I know but I'm hoping that he'll keep his word and leave our village in peace. He may have changed in a lot of ways but he still keeps a promise."

Hiashi argued while Tsume growled.

"But what about Neji?! What will become of him if Vader doesn't return him?!"

"And I couldn't care less about his promises! Regardless of the shit that brat has been through he still needs to pay for what he did to my son!"

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes.

"So, in other words you're all just going to abandon him again."

The others looked at Shikamaru shocked.

"Judging from everything I just learned and considering the events that happened right before Naruto abandoned the village, the reason he's become like this and did what he did to my friends is because none of you did anything to help him while he suffered! And you still plan to do nothing!"

"Shikamaru…"

Shukaku tried to place a hand on his son to calm him down, but Shikamaru shrugged his hand away despite the pain the sudden movement gave him.

"You know before we left to get Sasuke, I told everyone on my squad that I didn't particularly like the guy but that he was still a member of my village and a comrade that I would put my life on the line for. That was something that was instilled into me by Iruka sensei and all of you. Yet here you all are now talking about fighting him without even considering any course to help him. You're just going to let him continue soaking in his hatred and misery."

Shukaku tried to settle his son down, but he still refused to be silenced.

"What Naruto did to our friends, what he did to Choji, I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive him for that. But at the same time, I can't ignore everything he went through that transformed him into this monster. If the rest of us had known everything about his past and his heritage beforehand we could've helped him then. Could've supported him. Instead, you all kept silent and your distance from him like he was carrying a plague."

Choza argued.

"Shikamaru that's not fair! We were only trying to protect you all!"

Shikamaru scoffed before resting his head back on pillow.

"Yeah, and not bothering to look out for the kid that was the only thing standing between us and the Kyuubi was a real smart move. It's a miracle he didn't snap sooner when he was still a child and decided to let the damn fox kill us all. And if you all think what I'm saying is unfair then what would you call everything that happened to Naruto that made him become like this as?"

The pineapple haired boy got the adults there. There wasn't really room for them to argue with his precise cold logic. Some of them reacted by rubbing the back of their heads. Others looked at the floor in shame. Tsume was the only one that looked like she didn't care that much and still wanted to tear Vader apart. Sakura of course still had look of guilt on her face. A guilt that she, Tsunade, and Kakashi were the only ones here who were aware of.

A puzzlement of which Shikamaru will have to inquire to her about later.

"But even so, I agree with you on one thing dad. After what happened to Choji and the others, we can't afford to remain under his occupation for much longer. Which means we have to find a way to help him and convince him to stand down."

Tenten expressed some doubts.

"And if we can't?"

Shikamaru took a deep and heavy sigh.

"Then we'll really have no choice but to take him down. But only….."

Shikamaru gave a sharp glare to the adults.

"As a last resort!"

Some of the adults looked at each other with some concern and confused looks as to how to accomplish that. Sakura while appreciating that Shikamaru was of the same mind as her in regards to not taking aggressive actions towards Vader, still wasn't sure if she could participate in what Shikamaru, and his father suggested. Even as a last resort, she's not sure she has what it takes to kill Vader. Not without tearing out her care for Naruto in the process.

She really was growing into despising being a shinobi.

"I still don't understand why someone as heroic as the Fourth Hokage would do such a horrible thing to his own son. Even if it was to save the village. And I can't believe my grandfather lied about it too."

Konohamaru's fingers curled and tightly gripped his pant legs. He wasn't the only one as all the younger shinobi there didn't understand it either. They were all raised up believing the Fourth Hokage to be the greatest of Konoha's heroes. Only now they realize that it was a lie told to them by their elders and by Lord Sarutobi who was like a grandfather to all of them.

"Well,….I can't speak for Minato since even I had a hard time figuring out his reasons then, but I really can't imagine him asking any parent to allow their own child to be the vessel for that demon. Nor would he ever do it to an orphan either. Perhaps choosing Naruto was the only course for him to take."

Shukaku had a point as Tsunade closed her eyes.

"A choice which ended up being a costly mistake."

Choza suddenly remembered.

"I guess another clue we should've considered then in regards to Naruto's identity was the fact that he was born on the night that the Kyuubi attacked and Kushina was pregnant with Minato's child right before then."

Shukaku nodded while Sakura's head perked up from what Choza said.

"Kushina?"

Kakashi answered.

"She was Naruto's mother."

Sakura was about ask more about her until she suddenly froze up while her face contorted into terror from a horrible yet familiar presence she suddenly felt.

"DON'T YOU WORMS DARE MENTION THAT TREACHEROUS WOMAN IN MY PRESENCE!"

Everyone suddenly whipped towards the doorway where a red glow illuminated suddenly illuminated the room. Their mouths hanging open as their eyes grew wide with shock and alarm while some of their faces turned blue. Standing there on all fours with red slit eyes and its canine body flickering with dark orange flame like chakra was the demon fox itself; the Kyuubi!

The demonic astral fox was much smaller than it was before. About roughly the size of a ninja hound and only had one tail for some reason. But there was no mistake of what it was. Not with its blood lusting presence and ominous evil chakra that felt like it was completely engulfing and suffocating the room. Akamaru and Tsume's ninja hound growled at the demon fox who narrowed its beastly red eyes at them while baring his own fangs.

"BACK OFF YOU MONGRELING PUPS!"

The fox's flame like chakra fur flared up in an intimidation display. Which effectively worked as the dogs backed down. Crouching behind Tsume.

"That's right! Go back to whatever litter you crawled out of!"

The Inuzuka matriarch and the other older shinobi formed a defensive line in front of the younger shinobi. Getting into battle stances and bringing out their kunai. Until Tsunade held her hand out.

"STOP!"

They all looked at her confused and some of them literally had sweat running down their faces which greatly amused the demon fox.

"Heh, you shinobi are all the same. You may act brave and tough but all it takes is a little snarl and you all practically soil yourselves."

Lee protested.

"That is not-!"

Lee was cut off as Tenten wrapped her hand around his mouth to silence him while Tsunade tried to calmly speak to the demon.

"Why are you here? No wait,…..how are you here?"

The fox snorted in annoyance but answered the Slug Queen.

"A while ago, Vader loosened my seal a bit with the Force. Allowing more of my chakra to leak out of his body. Enough where I can channel it and my consciousness outside of my prison."

Kakashi's lone eye narrowed.

"If that's true then how did we not feel your presence earlier and why didn't any of the hospital staff alert us?"

The fox snarled a little at Kakashi with red chakra dripping from its fangs like that of drool mixed with blood before answering him.

"You didn't sense my chakra because I'm only using zero-point one percent of it in this form. With this small percentage I could easily hide my presence from even sensory type ninjas. Most of them anyway. As for the staff….well…."

The Kyuubi's snout curled into wicked smile which greatly unnerved the shinobi.

"What did you do demon?!"

The fox chuckled at Tsunade which only caused her and the others to worry further.

"Relax, I didn't touch any of them. I merely threatened them a little that if they did anything to alert you all that I was here that I would slaughter every person in this building."

Everyone gasped.

"You call that a little threat?!"

The astral fox turned to Gai.

"Indeed. Believe it or not I could've threatened them with far worse."

Gai growled in response while Asuma spoke.

"Does Vader know you're out here right now?"

The fox responded with a bit of agitation at Asuma's question.

"Yes, he asked me to handle a little business for him and I needed some fresh air anyway."

Tsume retorted.

"What? He too afraid to come down here and handle it himself?"

The demon's eyes narrowed at her.

"It's no wonder that Inuzuka pup of yours got his voice crushed out. He must get his stupidity and big mouth from you!"

Tsume, Akamaru, and her own hound both snarled at the fox who responded with a low and very deep growl.

"Go on! Give me the perfect excuse to rip apart every last one of you!"

Tsume hesitated at that but before anything else could happen, a quick swat from Tsunade's hand to the back of her neck brought the Inuzuka matriarch down. Choza caught her in his large arms while her hounds all whimpered a little but stayed at her side. The Slug Queen has had it with the Inuzuka woman. She understood that she was upset about her son's condition but that temper of hers was going way too far. Especially for right now of all times.

The Kyuubi looked on the scene amused.

"Heh, just like her pup. All bark and no bite."

Konohamaru stepped forward even though Asuma kept him back by the shoulders, but the boy struggled too much.

"Why did Naruto send you here, demon?!"

The Nine Tails' red slit eyes slowly turned to Konohamaru where they looked like they were piercing through him into his soul. Its intense stare sent shivers down the boy's spine and made his face turn bluish with fear. Until Sakura suddenly stood in front of him and took on the Kyuubi's glare with less fear than the little genin boy.

"Vader was right. You are a brave one, boy. Especially for calling him by his former name out loud. You're just like how he used to be."

The Kyuubi suddenly gave a loud growl and flared its ears up which startled Konohamaru and his friends, but Sakura outstretched her arms to better protect the boy as were the other adults.

"Brave…..and stupid!"

The Kyuubi settled back down a little.

"But to answer your question, I'm here for two reasons."

The Kyuubi moved away from the doorway to make room before gesturing with his head towards the inside.

"Bring him in!"

Moments later, the same clone troopers that accompanied Vader earlier entered the room. The sight of them agitated Lee and tempted him to want to kick their brains out but Tenten was still holding him back and a stern look from his sensei forced him to calm down. When the largest of the clones entered and stood opposite from the Kyuubi, something strange entered through the doorway. It looked like some sort of glass capsule, and it was being pushed in by another one of those droid creatures.

This one was different than the ones Sakura and the others have seen before. It was more humanoid and had a tube running down from its face where its mouth was. Its metallic skin was black, and it had eyes that were shining with white light. It was pushing the capsule to one of the beds on the other side of the room near the one where Hinata was still unconscious. After it set the capsule next to one of them, it pushed a button on the side where it then opened up.

The metallic humanoid then turned to the clones.

"Could you please lend me your assistance?"

The leader of the squad gestured with his head to the large clone who attached his weapon to his back before heading over. He bent down and reached into capsule with both hands before gently lifting something out. No one could tell what it was due to the clone's bulky frame, but after he set it down on the bed and stepped away everyone gasped.

"NEJI!"

There lying on the bed was the Hyuga boy. At least they were sure it was him, but it was a little hard to tell from the top part of his head being completely wrapped in bandages save for his nose and mouth. But Hiashi could tell with his Byakugan that it was his nephew. He along with Team Gai rushed to his side where the sight of his state filled them with worry before they all turned to the clones and the Kyuubi with outrage.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?!"

The clones didn't answer Hiashi and the Kyuubi only gave a gruff response.

"Wouldn't you like to know!"

Hiashi and the others grit their teeth before they became alarmed as a large syringe sprung out of the droids clamped hand and was about to be inserted into the unconscious boy's arm. Hiashi tried to rush around the bed and intervene only for the clone and his squad mates to cut him off. Forcing a standoff between them and Hiashi along with Neji's teammates.

Before any fighting could break out, Tsunade and Kakashi instantly body flickered in between the two opposing sides.

"That's enough!"

Hiashi still stood undeterred.

"I won't let that thing touch Neji, Lady Tsunade!"

The droid raised its mechanical arms in what appeared to be a peaceful manner.

"I assure you that I was merely trying to give him a reversal agent for the sedative."

Everyone cocked a skeptical brow.

"Reversal agent?"

The droid turned to the Hokage and answered her.

"Yes, it wouldn't be healthy for him to remain under its effects for too long since his body is not used to it. Please let me continue uninterrupted."

Hiashi still protested.

"I don't believe you! For all we know you may be trying to cause him pain or kill him!"

The droid calmly responded.

"That is not possible since it is against my programming. My protocols are to heal my patients not to harm them."

Tsunade and Sakura were both surprised.

"Wait, you're a medic?"

The droid nodded to Sakura.

"Yes, I am TB-N72. A medical droid in service to Lord Vader."

Everyone was surprised that there were droids that was also medics amongst Vader's forces, but they were also still confused about one other thing from the droid's explanation.

"You said that harming others was against your programming? What is that?"

The clones stared at each other in what appeared to be dumbfounded looks while the Kyuubi groaned in impatience.

"THIS IS TAKING FOREVER! DROID! FINISH YOU'RE DUTY SO I CAN GET ON WITH MY BUSINESS!"

The droid was once again startled before readjusting itself. It turned back to the unconscious boy before inserting the syringe in the boy's arm and injected the agent without interference this time. As soon as it finished and stepped away, Hiashi was once again at Neji's side.

"He should reawaken within a few minutes. I would advise not to remove the bandages yet as he still hasn't healed."

Hiashi and the others looked at the droid.

"Healed? What did you bastards do to him?!"

Gai stepped forward in anger but was restrained by Kakashi while Hiashi once again expressed his outrage.

"You stole his eyes didn't you?!"

Just as the other shinobi in the room began to voice their own anger, they were instantly silenced as the Kyuubi slammed its tail down on the floor. The impact caused the whole building to shake and tremble. Everyone struggled to maintain their balance as the building shook. Sakura kept Konohamaru and his team members from falling over. Many in there were beginning to worry about whether the building's structure and integrity would hold. When the trembling finally stopped, much to their relief, the beastly demon lifted its fiery tale off the floor where a large, indented crack was made.

"ENOUGH! I CAN'T LISTEN TO YOU IDIOTS ANYMORE WITHOUT WANTING TO RIP YOUR SPINES OUT AND PICK MY TEETH WITH THEM!"

The Nine Tails then turned to Sakura.

"YOU! YOU'RE COMING WITH ME!"

Sakura looked at the Kyuubi surprised and shocked while the others immediately disapproved of this.

"Sakura isn't going anywhere with you!"

The Kyuubi growled once again at the impudent shinobi and looked like it was about to attack until Sakura stepped forward with her arms outstretched.

"STOP!"

The fox glared its vicious red slit eyes at her. Even now, she was still terrified of just the mere apparition of the creature, but she had to protect her friends. Even if it meant cooperating with the demon.

"What is it you want from me?"

The Kyuubi settled itself down again before snapping in response.

"It's not what I want! It's what Vader wants! He's requested your presence immediately!"

Sakura slightly gasped while the others did so louder. Tsunade immediately interjected. Stepping protectively in front of Sakura.

"Absolutely not! If Vader wishes to speak to someone, he can speak with me! I will not allow Sakura to be alone with him after what's happened!"

The Kyuubi rolled its eyes.

"Forget it, old hag! She is the one he wishes to speak with not you! But if you and the others are all so eager to die and have your village and loved ones wiped from the face of the Earth, that's fine! I'll just go and tell him that your cooperation has officially ended!"

The Kyuubi turned around and headed for the door until Sakura spoke.

"I'll go with you!"

Everyone looked at Sakura like she was insane as she willingly approached the Kyuubi. Tsunade wanted to try to stop her but the look in her eyes said that her mind was made up. That and the Kyuubi's threat of Vader destroying the village for their defiance still hung heavy in the air. Meaning they had no choice in this matter.

Lee though still tried to stop her.

"Sakura you can't! Who knows what he'll do to you!"

Sakura looked back Lee and calmly replied.

"He won't hurt me, Lee. He has no reason to. I'll be fine."

The Kyuubi and her were about to leave but the demon stopped at the doorway just before exiting.

"You know,…..I can easily tell there are those of you in here who share the Inuzuka woman's hatred for Vader. All while ignoring the undeniable truth that it was this very village and all of you included who created him. You also believe him to be a coward who picks on those that are weaker than him, but there is something you should know."

The demon slowly turned to them and spoke in a low growling voice.

"You would all be bigger idiots than Naruto was to think that. I have been inside him for years. I have seen him struggle, fight, survive, and vanquish all sorts of enemies and nightmarish monsters that would make any one of you heroic and brave shinobi crawl into a corner weeping like helpless infants crying for your mothers. Vader fears nothing. Not even death itself. He has taken more lives than all you Leaf shinobi combined and a quite a few of those he defeated were more powerful than any of you. He has suffered through more pain than any pathetic human from this village could possibly endure. And it is that pain that drives him and gives him his hatred and power. So, there is absolutely nothing you can say to intimidate him. Nothing you can use to threaten him with. And nothing you can do to stop him."

The Kyuubi then turned around.

"Keep that in mind."

The kitsune demon exited out the doorway with Sakura following after it while everyone looked on in silence.

"I'll say this for the girl, she's definitely got guts. More than most of you so called fighters and warriors!"

The shinobi in the room all glared at the hulking clone while his squad leader headed out the door.

"Come on. Let's go."

The other clones and the medical droid followed after him out the door. Leaving everyone else there in silence and deep in thought over everything that just happened in this room. But the silence was broken when a groan came from Neji's bandaged face.

"Neji!"

The Hyuga turned his head to the sound of uncle.

"Lord Hiashi, is that you?"

The head of the Hyuga clan was once again at his nephew's side as were his teammates. Tsunade also rushed over and helped the Hyuga boy as he tried to sit up on the bed.

"Neji! What happened?!"

"What did Vader do to you?!"

Neji only responded to Lee and Tenten's questions with a groan as he raised his hand towards his partially bandaged head.

"Are you alright?"

The Hyuga teen looked towards his uncle.

"My head….its feels like it's on fire!"

The Hiashi looked up at Tsunade.

"What could it be?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes before looking back at the clan leader.

"I don't know. I would have to remove the bandages to assess his injuries."

Moegi spoke.

"But that metal man said to keep the bandages on!"

Tsunade looked back Hiashi.

"The decision is yours."

Hiashi looked at his nephew as the boy continued shaking his curled hands in front of his bandaged face. He could not bear to see him in pain while also not knowing what horrific injury Vader may have caused. He then made his decision as he turned back to the Slug Queen.

"Remove them."

Tsunade nodded and channled chakra on her hand to make a small cut on the bandages. Then she slowly and delicately began to remove the wrappings. Taking care considering she did not know the extent of the boy's injuries either. After a minute passed and she completely removed it all everyone gasped.

Neji slowly opened his eyes but had to shield them with his hands so that they could readjust to the light. When they did he saw everyone in the room staring at him in utter shock. He was confused and was growing incredibly nervous by their reaction as to what was going on, as he still felt that searing pain from his head.

He tried to reach over into the nightstand near the bed, but his uncle took his hand to settle him back down on the bed.

"A mirror! Someone please hand me a mirror!"

Gai snapped out of his stunned stupor and did as the boy requested. Franticly opening the drawers in the nightstand until he finally found one and handed it to Neji. When the boy held the mirror up he gasped in shock just like the others did. His hands trembled but this time it was not from the pain. They shook so much that he dropped the mirror to the floor where it shattered.

What he saw in that reflection was beyond anything anyone in there could have predicted. There was a ghastly wound on his forehead. It was in the shape of Bird Cage seal, and it was so bad it was likely going to end up becoming a scar. But that was not what had him and everyone in bewildering disbelief. It was that the seal itself was completely gone.

Which could only mean one thing for the young Hyuga of the branch family.

"I'm...I'm free."

Meanwhile

It's been unsettlingly quiet as Sakura followed the Kyuubi through the hospital. Many of the staff that were busy at work only just minutes ago were gone. Sakura knew though that they were likely hiding in the patient rooms, offices, and utility closets. She could see them peering through the cracks in the doors and hear their whispering to each other as they passed.

The Kyuubi must've heard them too as its chakra ears were twitching whenever they passed a room full of scared hospital staff and patients. The clones weren't helping the situation any better as they marched behind the Haruno girl. Sakura made sure to keep her eye on them as she didn't completely trust them. Something the clones have noticed as the big one voiced up.

"Is there a problem?"

Sakura's eyes narrowed a little as she answered.

"No problem. But if you guys cause one you're going to be first one I break in half."

The big clone stiffened under Sakura's steely menacing gaze before looking at his comrades and then back at her.

"What did I do?!"

Sakura answered in growly voice.

"You did plenty when you sucker punched me back on Vader's ship! I still need to get back at you for that by that way!"

The giant clone argued.

"You punched me into a wall! I'd say that makes us even!"

Sakura huffed.

"Not even close! Didn't anyone teach you that it's inappropriate to put your hands on a girl?!"

The clone stammered and rubbed the back of his helmet as he tried to respond but the clone holding the long thin weapon intervened.

"Hevy, I speak for the rest of the boys when I say that it's in your best interest and ours if you just quit while you're ahead. It's getting to be too painful watching you getting slaughtered by her."

The clone called Hevy looked at his brother before groaning and keeping his mouth shut while the Kyuubi gave a chuckle.

A few minutes of more silence went by as they passed another room filled with terrified occupants that made the fox spirit's smile falter before it growled in an irksome manner.

"I can't believe Vader would waste his time sparing these pathetic cowards! He should've wiped you all out already like he's done so many times before!"

The demon's words caught Sakura's attention.

"What do you mean like he's done so many times before?"

She suddenly stopped in her tracks with eyes wide of shock and dismay.

"You mean he…he's actually destroyed villages before?!"

The Kyuubi turned around and gave a toothy grin to the girl.

"Oh, he's done worse than that little vixen. Far worse!"

They Kyuubi then continued as it went up a flight of stairs to the roof. Sakura just stood there frozen as she tried not to think about what awful things Vader could've done but her thoughts were drowning in all the horrific possibilties. The clones stood behind her and looked at each other before Rex calmly yet cautiously put his hand on her shoulder to snap her out of her deep in thought trance.

"Come on, girl. You don't want to keep Lord Vader waiting. He hates that."

Sakura looked at the clone as he quickly retracted his hand before slowly heading up the stairs behind the Kyuubi with the clones and the droid in tow.

Several more minutes passed before they reached the roof of the hospital. There standing with his back to them at the edge of the roof with the darkened horizon that had just a faint sliver of sunlight ahead past the edges of his enormous ship was Vader himself. Slowly he turned toward the group with his nearly pitch-black profile.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It is done?"

The clone captain nodded.

"Yes sir. They Hyuga is with the Hokage and his allies right now."

Vader nodded.

"Good, you and your men may return to the shuttle. I will join you shortly."

Vader turned toward Sakura as the clones bowed to him before they took off on their flying packs while the large one called Hevy carried the medical droid. Vader then looked at the Kyuubi before giving it a nod. The fox growled a little before turning to Sakura to give her another bloodcurdling grin.

"Until next time, vixen."

The demon's chakra apparitional form then dissipated and flew into Vader. Bathing his body in its evil essence shortly before it vanished altogether save for its still strong presence inside him.

Sakura stood firm as she was not afraid despite the two of them being alone. It is not the first time after all. However, Sakura couldn't look at Vader without having both anger in her eyes.

"How could you…How could you do that to them!?"

She marched right over until she stood face to mask as she shouted up at him.

"THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS AND YOU ALMOST KILLED THEM!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Those fools were in my way. The Inuzuka is the only one I had intended to kill and he is fortunate that I chose spare his life at your request, yet again."

Sakura looked at him stunned before she pulled her hand back and tried to smack his mask, but Vader simply grabbed her wrist before she could even touch him.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Careful, I've already granted mercy once today and I am not in the mood for showing anymore."

"Mercy? MERCY?! YOU CALL CUTTING OFF CHOJI'S ARM, CRUSHING KIBA'S VOCAL CORDS, AND WHATEVER TORTURE YOU INFLICTED ON POOR NEJI MERCY?!"

"They chose to challenge me. Doing so they placed their entire village in danger, yet they still did so without any hesitation and have paid the price for their foolishness. Their injuries will serve as an example for the rest of the village that even at my most generous I am not one to be trifled with. I could've done worse to them if I was so inclined. And there are far more things painful than losing a limb or your ability to speak."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"As for the Hyuga, your anger for him is misplaced."

Sakura grabbed the other side of his cape with her free hand while growling.

"Why in the hell would my anger for what you did to Neji be misplaced?! He wasn't even trying to challenge you! He was only trying to help everyone and get them out of trouble!"

Vader suddenly grabbed her other wrist and pulled her hands off his person.

"I did not take the Hyuga with the intention of punishing or harming him. But to give him a gift."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Sakura was confused and wasn't sure she liked the sound of that.

"A gift?! What kind of gift would leave Neji's head wrapped up in bandages?!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"The gift of something he longed for and was denied to him ever since he was a small child."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"The gift of freedom."

Sakura still didn't understand. Then her eyes widened as she remembered what Tenten told her years ago. About how the main house members of the Hyuga clan put horrible control seals on the foreheads of the branch members. Seals that would literally cause them immense pain and even their brains to explode if they disobeyed.

"Neji's seal….you removed it? How?!"

Vader released her hands.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I did not summon you to discuss matters that are inconsequential."

Vader bent down till his helmet was inches from Sakura's face.

"You will tell me about the connection."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"What?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"The connection you made to me earlier was through no ordinary method or technique of the Force. I could see you. Hear you. Feel your very presence as though you were right there with me. Though I could not see your surroundings."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"How did you accomplish this?"

Sakura tried to think of an answer, but she didn't have one.

"I honestly don't know. One minute I was with my parents as my mom was preparing dinner and the next, I…..I felt your presence too. It was like you were standing there in the kitchen with all three of us. Then I saw you. I saw what you were doing to Kiba like it was happening right in front of me. Next thing I knew I was rushing out of my house to find and stop you."

Vader straitened himself up to his full height.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Were you able to see my surroundings?"

Sakura shook her head.

"No. I couldn't see where you were. Only you and what you were doing."

Vader turned away.

"Hmmm."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

It then grew silent between as Vader stared off into the distance and Sakura looked down at her feet. She was afraid to ask this, but it was too important to ignore. Especially with her village and everyone she cares about in jeopardy. Still, it was too horrible to imagine if it were true. Her mind though wouldn't be silenced about it, so she has to hear it from his own mouth.

But she had a feeling she would not like the answer at all.

"Earlier when I was with the Kyuubi, it mentioned that you had destroyed villages before,…but it also told me…that you have done things that were even worse than that...Is...Is it true?"

Vader didn't answer as he only continued to stare at the very distant sunlight as it sunk below the horizon while breathing through his mechanical apparatus. Sakura felt like she was holding her own breath as she waited for Vader to answer. When it didn't seem like he was going to she approached him while his back was still toward her. Pressing him further.

"I have to know."

Sakura sensed the darkness in Vader churning and boiling. It almost felt like some sort of conflict inside him, but she didn't have time to figure it out as the dark lord slowly turned around.

"That kitsune has a bad habit of running his mouth off."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You believe knowing of my past actions while in servitude to Palpatine will bring you some insight into what I am and how you'll save my soul but all it will do is reconfirm what I have already told you since the beginning."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Naruto Uzumaki is no more. He is never coming back. It does not matter what you or those fools that you told believe."

Sakura's breath hitched.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Yes, I know you told them of who I once was. You thought in doing so it would help convince everyone that I am not some merciless monster bent on killing everyone he sees but you are wrong."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I am not Naruto anymore because in the end I was the one who destroyed him. You can try to convince me, yourself, and the others that he still lives on and that he can be saved, but you are blinded by a delusion."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I have no desire to return to being that naïve worthless foolhardy shinobi ever again. And I will take whatever steps necessary to prove that to anyone who thinks otherwise. No matter how cruel, dark, or twisted they are."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Naruto is gone. It is time you and your friends accept and embrace that fact. If you cannot then you will only bring onto yourselves more suffering and pain the likes of which you cannot imagine. Not even in your worst nightmares."

Vader then turned back around toward the horizon in the distance as it became fully enveloped in the darkness of night.

"That is all for now. Take your leave."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Sakura stood there stunned like she has just taken a blow to her gut. Staring at Vader in a daze like trance as his words sunk into her. Her expression slowly and softly grew to that of somber but at the same time remained slightly blank with a lack of emotion. Her eyes didn't even have tears like they did before. They had a distant look of expectant disappointment in them.

A little with Vader but mostly with herself.

She then turned around and slowly walked away towards the stairs but stopped when Vader spoke again.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You care a great deal of your comrades and family Cherry Blossom. If you value their lives you will make it known that if anyone dares to refer to me by that name then their lives and the lives of their loved ones will be forfeit."

Sakura didn't even react to Vader's threat. She just simply continued towards the stairs before heading down from the rooftop. Despite her leaving though the dark lord sensed that he wasn't alone.

He felt a familiar and annoying presence.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"How long do you intend to linger in the shadows, boy?"

Darth Vader turned around to see the young clad in orange hyperactive knucklehead of the Leaf himself; Naruto Uzumaki.

"Who the hell do you think you are?! Threatening Sakura-Chan like that?! You have no right to treat her that way! No one does!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Yet, she has treated you far worse hasn't she?"

Naruto scoffed yet his eyes showed slight hesitation.

"Sakura is my friend! She always will be no matter what you or anyone else says!"

"Why have you come back Uzumaki? Come to die again?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"No, I came here to stop you! To stop you from hurting my friends and the village!"

The cyborg gave a cold response to his former younger shinobi self.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"The only friend you had is gone. Killed at the hands of the Emperor. Everyone you had left were only liars and betrayers who tried to use and deceive you. And the village cares nothing for you."

The spiky blonde Uzumaki boy swung his fist in defiance of the dark lord's words.

"You're wrong! Those were nothing but lies told by Palpatine! My friends do care about me, and I care about them!"

Vader folded his arms.

"They were not all lies. Have you already forgotten how they lied to you about your parents? How they kept from you the truth about Iruka's death? Or perhaps how you were denied the knowledge of knowing you were the jinchuriki of the Nine Tails and why everyone feared and hated you so?"

HOPUR.

"That you had to grow up alone because your father's allies and friends including your Godfather, didn't care enough to support you? How Sakura tried to abandon you before she then begged you into bringing back the boy who tried to murder you without any shame at all?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

The spiky blonde Uzumaki boy stammered as he tried to defend their actions.

"They….They were only trying to protect me! I know they were! And Sakura…..Sakura couldn't help it! She cares a lot about Sasuke. The kind of care you could never understand!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It is you who fails to understand. They all abandoned you. Leaving you ignorant of things, you had a right to know but they didn't care enough to tell you when you needed them to. Because they know that you are easy to take advantage of."

The boy screamed in denial of the dark lords venomous words.

"NO! NO! NO! YOU'RE WRONG! THEY WOULD NEVER DO THAT! THEY DO CARE ABOUT ME! THEY DO!"

The boy then settled down as he stared at Vader with his steely blue eyes.

"I know that they haven't and would never abandon me. They are my precious people, and I will never abandon them. Including Sasuke!"

Vader's fingers dug into the latex covering his arms.

"Sasuke is the closest thing to a brother and a best friend I have ever had. He needs to be brought back to the village and to Team 7 because that's where he belongs! It's where he'll be safe from Orochimaru and from you!"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Even if Sasuke were to try kill you again? Or perhaps threaten those that you care about like Sakura?"

"I'll defend my friends from Sasuke! But I won't abandon him while I do it! I'll bring him back just like Sakura asked me to!"

Naruto then pointed his fist towards Vader with a look of determination on his face.

"If it means saving a comrade and fulfilling a promise, I'll do whatever it takes! That is my ninja way!"

Vader slowly unfolded his arms where both his gloves closed into fists.

HOPUR.

"No,…you will not."

Suddenly the environment around them shifted and changed. The buildings and houses of Konoha were replaced with burning trees that surrounded them everywhere with a river behind Naruto's back. Storm clouds raged above them with lightning while to their right loomed the statues of Hashirama and Madara Uchiha.

It was the Valley of the End.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"That has always been your true weakness Uzumaki. You hold far too much trust in these 'comrades' of yours. Even if they lie to you. Cheat you. Betray you. Abandon you. Hurt you. Even attempt to destroy you, somehow beyond logic or any sense at all, you always forgive them for their atrocities. Most find that commendable, admirable, but I know the true reason why."

Vader approached Naruto as the genin stood his ground but looked intimidated while he did.

"You are afraid of being alone. You have always feared and hated being in solitude. To the point that you would forgive them of any act they commit against you no matter how devious and cruel. You fooled yourself in believing that they only did what they did because it was for your own benefit. Or in the Uchiha's case because he's lost, and you feel that he needs your help despite the fact that he chose to join Orochimaru, he chose to betray you and your village, and he chose to try to destroy you."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

Vader stopped and stood in front of the boy.

"You refuse to accept when those who you considered to be your friends chose a different path that took them away from you."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"And you were so feeble that when you could no longer face up to the villages' cruelty and lies, you latched on to a man whom you trusted to be the only friend you had left. Only to suffer a betrayal that was worse than all the others before. And do you know why?"

Vader slightly bent down to him.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Because your ignorance of that betrayal has cost the lives of countless innocents. Untold numbers of people dead. All because you are a weak, naive, and pitiful excuse of a shinobi that never deserved to ever become Hokage."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"All you deserved was loneliness."

Naruto tried to shut out Vader by pressing his hands against his ears.

"NO! NO! SHUT UP! THAT WASN'T ME! THAT WASN'T ME WHO KILLED ALL THOSE PEOPLE! IT WAS YOU! IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN YOU! AND I'M GOING TO STOP YOU FROM HURTING MY FRIENDS! BECAUSE I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI AND I WILL BECOME HOKAGE! SO THAT MONSTERS LIKE YOU CAN NEVER HURT ANYONE EVER AGAIN!"

Naruto gathered chakra to his hand and formed a Rasengan before shoving it towards Vader. The dark lord though grabbed the jutsu and held it back in his glove. Shocking Naruto as his own Rasengan suddenly turned red and started to hurt his hand.

Without warning the jutsu exploded. Taking Naruto's right hand in the process. The boy screamed in pain as he grabbed onto the stump of where his hand was.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You will never become Hokage."

Naruto snarled at Vader before charging at the cyborg. Vader though simply lifted his left glove and levitated the boy off the ground.

Naruto struggled to free himself, but it was to no avail. He only watched helplessly as Vader used his free hand to unhook his saber hilt from his belt.

SCHUR!

Naruto's eyes grew wide as Vader's red blade shot out. Creating a red glow that illuminated his face. Before he could react, Darth Vader swung his lightsaber and hacked off the boy's legs.

"ARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"

Naruto howled with pain as his legs fell to ground sizzling from Vader's cut. He was then released from the Force grip and grunted as he hit the ground while still moaning and growling from his injuries. He looked up at the cyborg's mask with shock and disbelief in his eyes.

"How…how could you do this?"

Vader reached down and grabbed the boy by his remaining hand and dragged him to the edge of the burning forest.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"For one thing you were a child. Nothing more than a thought of a distant memory which I have destroyed time and time again along with that pointless dream of being Hokage. And for another….."

Vader then threw Naruto into the burning brush as the flames began to engulf his amputated body.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You are the only child that I hold no guilt about killing."

Naruto screamed terribly as the flames burnt his flesh while Darth Vader turned around and walked away. The boy stared through the flames that covered his vision as his eyes turned bloodshot red with anger and rage. Reaching out with his only hand at the receding image of Vader as he left the boy to his fate.

"I HATE YOU!"

Uzumaki then dug his fingers into ground as the fire consumed his hand with the rest of his body.

"I hate you!"

Darth Vader quietly responded.

"You could never hate me, more than I hate you, Naruto Uzumaki."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I was waiting for you to be alone."

Vader was brought back outside of his mind as he turned around from his spot on the rooftop of the Leaf Village Hospital to see one of Danzo's agents, Sai, stepping out from the shadows.

"Danzo-sama said you wished to see me?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Yes, during our battle I noticed your skills and jutsus. How you were able to bring ink drawings you made to life and control them. Danzo also mentioned that these skills of yours don't just apply to combat but also for recon and infiltration amongst other things."

Sai nodded.

"Yes, that's true. I've used my jutsu on many such missions."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"How many of your drawings can you create and control at once?"

Sai thought about it for a moment before answering.

"If it's for combat not very many about twelve or fifteen. But if its small creatures for stealth and information gathering about 100 or so. Why do you ask?"

Vader walked toward the Root agent till he stopped right in front of him. Even though Sai controlled himself to suppress his emotions, the dark lord still sent a chill down his spine. More than Sasuke did when he first met him. Sai wasn't sure if it was fear or perhaps another feeling since emotions were still an unknown to him.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I have a task for you."

Sai's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What task?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"I want you to provide for me as many jutsu drawings as you can make of mice, rats, whatever you choose to create for the purpose of infiltrating the other hidden villages."

"For what reason?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"To discover the identity and locations of all the remaining jinchuriki that have yet to have been captured by the Akatsuki."

Sai didn't feel like he understood.

"I thought you were only after Sasuke, Orochimaru, and the Akatsuki. Why go after the other jinchuriki?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"What is it that the Akatsuki are after?"

Sai answered.

"The bijuu inside jinchuriki."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Who is Sasuke Uchiha after that's in the Akatsuki?"

Sai answered again.

"His older brother, Itachi Uchiha."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"If we take the remaining jinchuriki the Akatsuki seeks, they will have no choice but to come to me for them and for the Kyuubi that I bear. Once that happens, they will all be destroyed with the exception of Itachi."

Sai looked down as he then understood Vader's plan.

"And with Itachi in your grasp, Sasuke will no doubt hear of this."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"And in his rage and desperation to accomplish his goal, he will then come to me and Orochimaru will follow to make sure he survives."

Sai's eyes slightly narrowed again.

"Where you will then kill them both."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Danzo trained you well. You are smarter than most of the elders of your village."

Sai cupped his chin as he thought the plan over.

"It's a bit of a long shot. There's a high probability that my drawings won't be able to cover the distance between us and the other villages without the jutsu being disrupted by some outside force before they can gather any information."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Which is why my spies will transport your creations to the other villages. They will also carry slips of paper inside so that if your creations manage to find my targets they will report back to them and relay the information they gathered on the paper."

Sai's eyes widened.

"You know my jutsu works that way?"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Your master informed me."

Sai thought it over more before turning to Vader.

"If I do this-"

HOPUR.

"You will do this."

Sai knew it would be unwise to test Vader's patience, so he nodded.

"Fine then, but I still have a request if you'll allow me to speak it."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Very well."

"Once you destroyed all your enemies I want you to spare the village and return as Sakura's teammate once again."

Vader tilted his helmet to the side before answering.

HOPUR.

"Denied. I have no desire to ever be a shinobi again or to be a part of Uzumaki's former team."

Sai knew it was a futile effort, but he had to try for his friend, Sakura.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"But I know of something else that you seek. Something you have desired for a long time, but you have never truly realized it because you buried it deep within your thoughts. You only felt stirrings of it inside you since you came to know the Cherry Blossom. When she helped you remember the feelings you had for your brother.

Sai didn't know why but he felt another peculiar chill run down his spine.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"Prove yourself to me. Find my targets. Tell your master, Danzo, only what I want him to know. Do all of this without fail...and I will destroy him for you."

Sai eye's widend a little.

"Him?"

HOPUR.

"Danzo."

Sai's eyes widened more and he felt his breathe hitch a little.

"What? Destroy Lord Danzo for me? But I-I-"

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"You cannot deny the feelings of anger and hatred you have for him. Danzo forced you and your brother to fight to the death. Your brother only died because of the illness he kept secret, but he made you lie to Danzo to make it seem like you were the victor to protect you."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It's because of Danzo that your brother was never allowed to openly seek medical attention for his condition, and even if he had not succumbed to it you still would've had to kill him to prove yourself to a man who only sees you as an expendable tool. You know it is true. Every time you see him you feel a slight twist in your stomach. Your eyes slightly burn, and your fingers sometimes twitch in agitation."

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"It is your rage and hatred of him trying to will itself out of the mental and cognitive cage you built around it and your other emotions."

Sai looked at Vader stunned and speechless as the dark lord turned around and walked away.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"If you do not fail me, I will help you break free. By allowing you to watch the total destruction of your master and everything he's built."

Vader then left the young Root agent alone to deal with thoughts he's never remembered having before yet feel very familiar to him.

"Kill….Lord Danzo?"

Vader's Shuttle

Clone Force Obsidian sat in silence as they waited for the return of their leader. Rex was cleaning his pistol, Fives was leaning against the wall, Echo meddling with a tech pad, and Hevy doing weightlifting with a Gonk droid. There's been an uneasy feeling with them. A matter in which none of them felt the courage to speak of, but more and more curiosity was getting the best of a couple of them.

Until finally Fives spoke.

"I'm going to come out and say it. I'm beginning to think that Lord Vader was once a shinobi of the Leaf Village."

The other clones looked at him while Echo gave his thoughts.

"It wouldn't be a remote possibility."

Hevy scoffed and shook his head while putting the droid down much to the machine's relief.

"Come on that's ridiculous! There's no way Lord Vader was ever one of these Leaf ninjas! Can you imagine him running around wearing one of those silly headbands?"

Fives turned to Hevy.

"Maybe but he certainly knows these people and they know him."

Hevy still wasn't convinced.

"What are you on about?"

Echo explained.

"Well ever since we arrived on this system Lord Vader's interactions with them have always seemed to be on a personal and intimate level. Whenever he speaks to them it's almost as if he knows them individually and it's the same with them. They refer to him as if he's someone they knew of in the past. Considering all of this, it doesn't seem totally unlikely that he wasn't at least a former associate with the people of this village."

Hevy shrugged.

"I don't believe it! If that's the case how is it Lord Vader become a high-ranking leader of the Empire back in our universe? Why is he threatening this village if it were once his home? I'm telling you it's nonsense boys."

Fives tilted his head as he asked Hevy a question.

"Then how do you explain Lord Vader having the Nine Tailed Fox?"

Hevy stammered as he tried to answer Fives' question.

"Well….what if he….I dunno maybe he..….huh...I guess you have a good point."

Echo cupped the chin of his helmet.

"And if I recall, the kunoichi that we had on our ship, Sakura Haruno, said she was looking for someone named Naruto."

Hevy remembered that name too.

"Yeah, you're right she was. Wasn't he some loser shinobi that Lord Vader said he killed years ago? If the kid was already dead why would she be looking for him on our ship of all places?"

Echo and Fives couldn't make sense of it either until Rex finally spoke.

"Look boys, it doesn't really matter whether or not Lord Vader is from this village or was once an associate of it. He is our leader, and we need to respect him as well as the privacy he wishes to keep of his past. It's none of our affair. What matters is that we follow his orders and obey his commands. We are his personal squad and guard not his confidants."

The other clones nodded before a beep on the console signaled them that their lord had returned.
Rex lowered the ramp and opened the ship's doors to which Vader then entered and headed for the cockpit.

HOOOOOOOPUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR.

"To my destroyer captain."

The pilot nodded as he and his copilot began to set the ship for takeoff. As the shuttle lifted off the ground and its wings unfolded, Vader took a look through the viewport at the village. At one spot where he sensed the Cherry Blossom girl there.

Sensing that she was watching him leave.

Vader only continued to stare back as his shuttle then took off towards his Star Destroyer.

Konoha Hospital

Tsunade watched from the window as Vader's ship flew into the giant fortress above. Hearing moaning behind her, she turned around to see Jiraiya was awake and was trying to sit up in his bed. Not wanting him to exert himself too much, she set him back gently against his pillow. Having no pushback from him as he was exhausted.

No, more than exhausted. Jiraiya looked more dead than alive. He had bags literally sagging under his eyes, and he looked like he's lost more weight too. His skin looking almost like it was hanging off his bones. Tsunade didn't think it possible, but he looks even worse than the last time he was here in the village.

He turned to her with a worried expression.

"Tsunade…what happened?"

"Vader tossed you aside with the Force, so same as usual."

Jiraiya remembered that much but he was still worried about what happened after he lost consciousness.

"The others….are they….alright?"

Tsunade hesitated before answering.

"They're alive Jiraiya."

The Toad Sage raised a skeptical brow.

"That's not answering my question."

Tsunade sighed as she knew that Jiraiya would want to know everything.

"Choji had his arm reattached finally, but it will take time before we can tell if he still has any use of it. Ino is still in a deep state of shock from whatever she encountered in Vader's mind. Kiba…will never be able to verbally speak again."

Jiraiya grunted in frustration while looking up at the ceiling before he turned toward her again.

"Is Vader still here?"

She shook her head.

"No, he just went back to his fortress."

Jiraiya looked past her at the window. Seeing the sky that was still covered by the massive machinery of Vader's vessel. Even on his journey back to the Land of Fire it was pretty much nearly covering the sky. He doesn't know how anyone could construct something so massive and destructive. Whoever it was either was a technological genius or a sheer madman.

But even the mightiest of weapons are not invulnerable.

"Don't even think about it Jiraiya."

Jiraiya turned to see a dead serious look on Tsunade's face that he knew all too well.

"Even if there was a way for you to get into that fortress, the second your discovered Vader may likely kill you and then destroy the whole village. You're also in no condition to be going anywhere right now. You're staying right here where you can get food and proper rest. Even if I have to tie you down myself!"

Tsunade wasn't fooling around. Jiraiya knows once she's made up her mind in regards to a patient's care there's little to no budging her. It would be easier to fight her in a sparring match than that.

"I won't be able to rest what with everything that's happening. This is all on me, Tsunade."

The Slug Queen placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Jiraiya-"

He held his hand up to let him finish.

"It's all my fault. All of it. If I had been a better god father and took care of Naruto when I was supposed to, none of this would've happened."

Tsunade was starting to get very tired of that line coming from her and everyone she cares about.

"Jiraiya, do you remember what you told me? That you were prophesized to have a pupil that would bring a great change to the world that would be either good or bad? You told me the reason you kept away from Naruto is because you were protecting him. I didn't fully understand at the time, but you were afraid that if he were the child of prophecy that he…"

"That he would suffer greatly for it."

Jiraiya gave a heavy tiring groan.

"In all my years of being a shinobi and in all my travels, I've learned that just about anyone who's destined by whatever prophecy that has been written or foretold are likely doomed to suffer. Even if they're ones of greatness for them. But also…."

Jiraiya grimaced.

"Every student, I've ever taken under my wing has ended up dead in the prime of their lives. Yahiko, Konan, Nagato, and even Minato. If Naruto is the child of destiny, nowhere in that prophecy was it said that….."

Tsunade looked down with half lidded eyes as she knew the rest.

"That he would survive and live a joyous life after bringing this great change into the world. Whether it's good or bad."

Jiraiya nodded.

"I thought that by keeping away from him, I was doing Naruto a favor. Keeping him safe from the hardships and burden of that role. But it seemed I only helped in ensuring his suffering and torment. And when I finally decided to train him, the damage was already done."

Jiraiya palmed his face for his stupidity and naïve thinking.

"If only I had the courage to take responsibility and had raised him when he was younger. If I had more time I could have taught him better and prepared him for the truth about his father. If I had acted against Palpatine sooner, I could've protected him. I should've….."

Tsunade cut in.

"There's a lot of things that we all could've done to have prevented Naruto from becoming Darth Vader. Myself included. We allowed him to be twisted and molded into this monster that's not only a danger to the Leaf but very possibly a danger to the entire Shinobi world. Who knows what he may do once he has his vengeance against Orochimaru and the Akatsuki."

Jiraiya sighed.

"Vengeance. That's definitely a topic I should've taken time to teach him about when I had the chance. Maybe I could've convinced him to steer clear of it no matter what he would face or what would occur in his life."

Jiraiya groaned.

"Who am I kidding? In the end it still would've been all up to what Naruto would've chosen to do."

Indeed, the best advice and teachings could be given to someone a hundred times over but what they choose to do with it is entirely up to them. Tsunade has definitely had more than her share of individuals that she gave valid advice and lessons to. Only for them to disregard it as though they were nothing.

"I went to see the Great Toad Sage. To see if he had any visions about my god son."

Tsunade looked at him with eagerness as to what the ancient toad saw.

"And?"

"There was nothing. He didn't have any visions of him yet. But he senses that Naruto is indeed the child of destiny."

Tsunade was afraid he would say that.

"Which means he'll either bring great prosperity or….."

"Or great destruction."

Jiraiya looked at Tsunade with a clear goal.

"Tsunade, no matter what happens, we cannot let Vader have his revenge."

Tsunade sighed as she rested her forehead on her palm.

"It's not that simple Jiraiya."

The Toad Sage argued.

"It is that simple! I've known many who sought after vengeance in their lives and when they finally got it, they didn't gain peace. They only become worse with their hatred and misery."

Tsunade snapped at him.

"DAMN IT, DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT?!"

Tsunade rose from her chair and proceeded to rant at her former teammate.

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'LL LIKELY JUST BECOME WORSE AND MORE OBSESSED WITH HATRED AND REVENGE AFTER GETTING IT ON THE AKASTUKI AND OROCHIMARU?! OF COURSE I DO, BUT MY HANDS ARE TIED! IF WE STAND IN HIS WAY HE'LL DESTROY THE LEAF VILLAGE MAYBE EVEN THE ENTIRE LAND OF FIRE! NOT TO MENTION THAT THE LONGER WE HELP HIM THE MORE THE VILLAGERS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW RESTLESS AND MAY DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING STUPID LIKE WHAT KONOHAMARU DID EARLIER! AND ON TOP OF THAT SOME OF THE OTHER HIDDEN VILLAGES ARE BECOMING MORE ANTSY AND GETING ITCHY KUNAI FINGERS TOWARD THE LEAF! THOSE OTHER KAGE THINK WE'RE PREPARING FOR A HIGHER FORM OF WARFARE WHEN ALL WE'RE DOING IS JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE VADER'S WRATH! NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! I JUST….I just don't know what to do!"

She collapsed back into her chair growling in frustration as she buried her face into her hands.

"I really wish sometimes that you and that gaki never convinced me to become Hokage! I was much happier gambling and getting drunk than having to deal with this kind of crap on a daily basis!"

Jiraiya looked at Tsunade with sympathy. He should've known that she's been dealing with a lot of stress and problems popping up everywhere since Vader took the village hostage. Poor woman must be at her wits end but she'll bear through it. He knows she will.

"By the way want to hear some more 'good' news?"

Tsunade sat up as she told him.

"Sakura popped by before you woke up. She had a meeting with Vader earlier about what I don't know. But before she left he told her that if anyone dares to refer to him by his old name that he would execute that person along with all of their family and loved ones too."

Jiraiya's was shocked by this. No, he was dismayed and horrified that his own god son would make a threat like that. This same boy who always tried to wear a smile on his face no matter what, and who would yell out his own name to the heavens like it was his greatest weapon, would now murder anyone who would dare to mention him by that name.

Jiraiya couldn't let this stand as he tried once more to get out of his bed.

"I've got to stop him!"

Tsunade though shoved him back down with just one hand. Jiraiya grunted in annoyance before giving up. Tsunade then removed her hand and gently wrapped her fingers around his own hand. Slightly stunning the Toad Sage.

"I know how you feel Jiraiya but for now just…just rest here and get your strength back. Please?"

She looked at him with begging eyes that he has only ever rarely seen from her before.

"Okay, Tsunade you win. Since you've totally got the hots for me, I'll stay put for now."

Jiraiya then yelped as Tsunade slightly crushed his hand.

Elsewhere

Sai knelt down on the old metal bridge within the bowels of the Root headquarters as Danzo approached with the tapping of his cane echoing through the metal walls and pipes.

"How was your meeting with Vader?"

Sai answered with his usual monotone voice.

"Very informative. He wishes to use me to help him find the locations of the other jinchuriki."

Danzo was surprised to hear this until he remembered what Vader said in Tsunade's office.

"So that's it. That's how he plans to lure the Akatsuki out of hiding. If he takes away the other jinchuriki they will have no choice but to show themselves. That's actually quite clever."

"There's more. He's also convinced that once the Akatsuki are drawn out, Orochimaru and Sasuke will soon follow."

Danzo opened his "good" eye.

"What is this conviction based on?"

Sai answered.

"He believes Sasuke will seek him out if he manages to capture Itachi. Sasuke wants to kill Itachi and Orochimaru will do whatever it takes to keep Sasuke safe. So if Vader takes Sasuke's goal away…."

"Then two more mice fall within the trap."

Danzo hummed as he processed this.

"I was mistaken just now. This plan is not cleverness. It is ingenious. However, taking the other jinchuriki will not be easy. Not with the other villages so desperately clinging on to them. Even so…."

He looked down at his subordinate.

"I want you to cooperate with Vader for now. Keep me informed of every move he makes and what he tells you. His plan could actually benefit us and the village quite nicely. Not only will we be doing away with Orochimaru and the Akatsuki, but we may also have the opportunity to take the powers of the other Bijuu as well. Is there anything else he told you?"

Sai hesitated in answering for a brief moment before looking up at Danzo with his usual emotionless expression.

"No, nothing important that is worth mentioning."

Konoha Streets

It was a cold night as Sakura walked through streets of the village. She got back home a while ago much to the relief of her parents but she needed some time alone with herself. So she took a walk while still struggling with all the events that occurred today. Trying to process and deal with it all as a shinobi should.

But she couldn't.

No matter what, she just couldn't deal with all of this anymore. She was sick of it. More than that she was sick of being helpless to do anything about it.

Even now, what Kiba's mom and what some of the others said about her being the only one to fight him kept repeating in her mind. Haunting her like the nightmares she had about Vader. She doesn't want to do it. She desperately doesn't want to but she's seeing very few options left. She's tried reasoning with him. She's tried reaching him but it's beginning to feel more and more that what Vader told her is true.

That her teammate is truly dead.

She saw that she was at the village playground and sat down on the swing as she continued letting her thoughts run rampantantly back and forth.

Even if she does decide to fight Vader, how would she be able to? She knows very little about the Force compared to him and whatever she does know how to do happens only by instinct or her emotions. She can't use it whenever she wants like he can and if by some miracle she does face him again and defeats him will she have to kill him in the process?

Sakura shuddered at the thought.

Despite all the terrible things Vader has done as well as whatever unimaginable sins he may have committed before arriving here, she doesn't think she has it in her to destroy him. Perhaps a real shinobi would. A true shinobi would suppress their emotions when it comes to completing a mission or engaging in fight.

But Sakura has never been good at that by a long shot.

She gripped her head as she wrestled endlessly with her choices. Deep down though she keeps coming back to the desire to save Naruto. To bring him back to the good side and once so to never abandon him again. But how can she when he doesn't even want to be saved?

Furthermore, she doesn't even know where to start.

'Go to the Hokage Monument.'

Sakura perked up in alert. It was that voice again. She hasn't heard it since the day Vader invaded the Leaf. She looked around to see if there was anyone else around but saw that there was still no one just like usual. With nothing else to do and since the voice hasn't steered her wrong yet, she got up and did as instructed.

Several minutes passed before she came upon the base of the mountain which was restricted and gated off. Likely due to dangers of debris and rock coming loose and falling. She easily slipped through the barriers. Walking past various giant rocks or stony pieces of the Hokage faces that once loomed over the village until finally she came upon the base of the mountain.

Now that she was here, she waited. Waited for the voice to give her further instructions. Waiting and waiting but only to receive nothing but silence. She groaned and sat down on a big rock. Thinking she was just hearing things and losing her mind again.

Why would the voice want her to come here? Here of all places? She looked up at the monument that was now filled with cracked jagged edges of rock where the faces once stood. To her this monument was nothing more now than a reminder of the past mistakes of this village. On one spot near the far right was where the man who was the sole reason for all of the village's and her problems today was.

The Fourth Hokage.

She narrowed her eyes at that spot. She could still see his stony face in her mind's eye. Staring off into the distance like he was still a guardian watching over their village. But he was far from that. How could he be a guardian to them when he couldn't even watch over and protect his only son?

His son, whom he chose to be the vessel for a demon when he was just a baby. What's worse is he left no instruction, no protection, absolutely nothing for him. Nothing to comfort him or help him when he needed it most.

Yes, Sakura admits she and the village are at fault for Naruto's descent into darkness but the Fourth Hokage started it all. He may have saved them from the Kyuubi, but his method in doing so created an even worse threat to them. He was not a hero, or a Hokage, hell he's not even a father.

To Sakura he was a heartless and careless fool.

Feeling her anger boil over, she rose to her feet and tightened her fist so hard her knuckles cracked. Then without even thinking twice, she charged toward the mountain screaming with her fist pulled back. Delivering a mighty punch which shattered the rocky wall in front of her.

The stone cracked and fell to pieces. Sakura panicked and leapt out of the way of falling boulders. When it finally settled down, The Cherry Blossom coughed and tried to wave the dust away. Cursing herself for being so reckless as she could've placed the whole village in danger with such a stupid stunt like that.

She was about to leave before causing more damage when suddenly a gust of air blew into her. Clearing away the dust around her too. It was not the wind that was blowing. This air smelled old almost like it was sealed up for a long time. When she opened her eyes, she gasped to see a large opening at the base of the rocky wall. It was far too deep to have been caused by her punch and the opening itself was too smooth and well structured.

It was almost like an entrance.

Sakura was hesitant about going in, but she felt something calling to her. Something in the Force beckoning her to come inside. Something strange yet at the same time familiar.

So, without any understanding, she went in.

It was dark inside. Almost pitch black with the only thing she could make out being the echoing of her footsteps. Yet, for some reason she could feel where she was going. She doubted anyone knew of this cave inside the monument. It would've been used as one of the escape routes for the villagers if that were the case. Likely no one has set foot inside it for a very long time or perhaps ever.

Whatever this place was it felt old. Very old.

Finally, Sakura could make something out that was ahead of her. It looked like another opening. She stopped for a moment and thought maybe she should go back and report this to Tsunade, but the Force kept beckoning her to continue.

When she entered it looked like a gigantic room. She couldn't really tell though as she still couldn't make anything out. She really wished she brought a torch or something to light her way.

The kunoichi nearly slipped as her foot touched something that wasn't rock but a smooth surface. Suddenly, white light shone on the floor around her in a circular pattern. Spreading to the wall on her left which revealed strange pictures on it resembling some kind of hieroglyphics of a white figure holding some kind of blade along with other characters and symbols. The light kept spreading further along the wall ahead like water slinking through grooves carved into stone.

To her shock, a white bluish glow illuminated the wall ahead of her. Only it wasn't a wall at all. It was one half of a gigantic door that towered over her. The door's surface had one strange looking lock and on the left half of it that was shining was the same figure she saw on the hieroglyphs.

Sakura was amazed and shocked beyond all words right now with the exception of only four.

"What is this place?"

---

FINALLY! IT'S FINISHED!

I seriously can't believe this took me over a year to do. Again deepest apologies everyone. I would've gotten this out sooner, but I ran into more computer trouble after we last spoke. Had to send it in to be fixed again. Which is why I got to ask, does anyone have or know anyone that has a Lenovo laptop that has given them any trouble? Because I swear if this thing conks out on me again I'm getting a new one. PERIOD.

Anyway, as for the next chapter, I honestly can't give you guys an estimate on that one. To refresh everyone's memories this is as far out of the story that I have planned. I have an ending in mind, but I don't know how to get from here to there. That's going to take some time. And I mean a lot of time. I probably won't be able to get the next chapter out till next year and that's being generous. It could take several more years till I finish it, which is why I'm going to take a step back and take time when I can in between work and college classes to plan the rest of the story or at the very least the next several chapters out.

I'd like to thank everyone for their continued support of my story and for your patience. You guys are awesome!