They say that if thunder is the drum beat of Gods, then lightening must be the stick for which the drum is beaten. Konan had mere moments to process what had happened. One moment she saw Grimm climbing over the four-tailed mini Nine Tails, and then the next it's fist busted through the top layer of dozens of beowolves. She thought it was one last act of begging, one last act to grip at something as the monsters chewed him to pieces.

Instead, much like the Gods, it's fist slammed downward like the mightiest stick against the surface. Unlike the drum, which was able to constantly take the hit, the surface wasn't. If he clone hadn't gotten Mallari, and Sapphire out, they'd been dead. Her only saving grace was that she was airborne at the time, and got knocked back from the wind blast.

As the dust settled, her eyes widened in shock as a two mile wide crater, about half a mile deep, remained where there had been tons of deadwood. Dust swirled in the air, snow, mud, dirt, all of it was vaporized from the sheer impact force. It's fist having crashed into the earth with the force of the mightiest lightning bolt!

There it stood, however, unharmed. It roared an animalistically victory cry, the kind a monster can only make after slaughtering it's dozens of enemies. Trees that weren't in the immediate impact were flattened, and snow was blown away to reveal hard mud. Steam rose from the crater, no doubt from the thermal heat of the attack. All Konan could do is hover upright and deliver her shock. That very same monster was searching around, but not to see if it's former allies were alive.

It was hunting for her!

Slowly it sniffs air, looking around as a lone Grimm marched toward it. These foul beasts, functioning on the single mindset to destroy, held no fear. Just like them, Naruto Uzumaki in this state held no mercy. All at once the beast pounces on the Grimm, ripping it apart like an animal would it's prey. Black teeth clamping down upon the Ursa's throat, ripping it out. Even swallowing the contents, much to Konan's shock.

"Grr…" It growled audibly enough for her to it from way above, and all of sudden it jumped up right at her, "HIIIYAAA!"

Her, and her clones each moved, scattering just as it grabbed onto the slowest one. It ripped into the clone's throat, beheading her with it's teeth! Konan formed her single hand seal whilst maintaining a minor grip on her spear. The clone transforms into paper bombs, sizzling to life just before exploding right on top of the beast.

She flew with her clones, circling the black cloud. Only for two blackish red hands to suddenly fly out from the smoke! They weaved through the air, grabbing another clone before yanking her into the dust cloud. Konan went to activate the explosive tags, but she found herself to slow when the clone's body was thrown into two pieces straight at her! Diving down to gain speed, she barely dodges the hands whilst her two other clones flew next to her.

Each hand impacting the ground before yanking Naruto himself downward! He slammed with red chakra swirling around him, right into a group of Grimm. They were vaporized almost immediately, and there he stood amongst the carnage before locking onto her. Konan's amber eyes locked onto his white glowing eyes before he pounces toward her. His speed being almost on another caliber than before.

WHOOSH!

She backflipped midair just in time to avoid the black claws, a piece of blue hair getting cut. The tails moved to curl around her, which would've been a death sentence! She dove down onto the ground, bounding back up into the sky just as his hands landed next to her. He fell toward her, like a meteor, and impacted the ground with a vicious slide that kicked up mud, dirt, and rock!

Flying back up into the air, Konan lurched back with her spear. Throwing it as hard as she could the spear whistled while dozens of others like it formed around it. She saw it impact him, only for it bounce of his hide as they began to detonate!

"Ninja Art: Explosive Paper Spear Storm!" She called out before a massive explosions rocked the clearing!

She stayed up in the air, her two remaining clones already weaving hand seals with their one remaining hands. Staring down, she nearly missed it, that was until a massive boulder came flying up at her. She rose upward, barely dodging it. Just then, a red hand grabbed the boulder midflight before the beast yanked himself upwards! She barely dodges the claw strike, but one of her clones wasn't so fortunate as he slings himself toward her. The claws ripped her to literal pieces, her features turning stark white before exploding!

Konan barely had time to register the threat before he practically appeared in front of her. Forming her wings into a shield, she felt the mighty claws scrape and tear them to pieces! Getting flung down from the force, her one last clone caught her before she impacted the canopy of nearby trees. Konan reforms her angelic paper wings just before watching as the beast's side and armpits got connected together by the viscous substance swirling around it's body!

It then roared out before gliding down at her!

"What the hell?!" She thought before dodging with her clone, the impact causing more of the forest around them to get obliterated. It stood there, in the clearing of the impact site, gripping its claws in front of it's face. "He's changing again…"

Slowly, she saw a fifth tail begin to emerge, and with it, white bone. It started from his back, but it steadily formed a spinal column. It's skull came next, covering him as if it was armor. Then on each tail, the bones for the tail formed over it. Connected by what appeared be viscous, bloodlike, tendons. It's ears grew longer, whilst the face slightly more angular, becoming much more like the fox than before.

She formed six more clones, watching as it slowly started to finish transforming. Bones creaking, the beast flexes it's newer claws. Was it learning, could it be The Nine Tails! The Nine Tailed Fox, itself, manifesting outside the host? Konan got her answers when it came to stand upright, drawing a claw back. Her eyes widened when a scarlet wind sundered the air, and careened right toward her.

Three of her clones got split down the middle at once, whilst two others took flight. She, and her original clone, lowered themselves to the ground. It didn't matter, she could hear the trees in the background falling over. She gets up, turning to looking over her shoulder, seeing quarter of a mile of the forest getting cut down behind her from the red wind.

"Sapphire…" It suddenly choked out, making her snap her back to it, slowly it brought it's hands up to its face. The beasts body rocked with a sob, shaking its head, growling out, "why…do…you…always…"

It roars out, shaking the very air around her. A wave of killing intent flooding the area, even making some of the Grimm suddenly charging out stop in their tracks. It spoke with wrath, rage, but she could also feel the intense pain from it's voice. The gut wrenching agony, anguish, and broken feelings of a proud warrior laid low by watching those he cared for die…once again.

"TAKE THEM AWAY?!"

The ground split around the screaming beast, it roared and raged. The five tails it had splashing against the ground, splitting it. Red chakra flowed everywhere, choking the life out of the Grimm around it. She watches as the beasts cower, and those touched by the red chakra suddenly become frenzied and turn on one another!

Beowolves ripped into each other, tearing pieces off themselves. The two Ursa wrestled, each biting and claw at each other's throat. Meanwhile, the beast that was Naruto Uzumaki continued it's mighty war cry. The miasma of red chakra flooding the area, heading right for Konan. She dodges back, whilst sending a clone in. It made it halfway, around three hundred feet. It keeled over before slowly dissolving into black ashes from the heat of the chakra itself!

Konan flew up, joining the rest of her clones before watching him stop the roaring. The red miasma collecting itself, flowing back toward the beast. It gobbled it up, it's body started to slowly swell up. Konan realized what was going on, her eyes widened in sheer terror as it pointed it's half-opened maw right up at her!

A solid beam of red energy fired from it!

She barely dodged to the side, part of hair catching aflame which batted out with her hand. However, two of her newer clones weren't lucky. The beam impacted them, turning them to ash before coming to stop with a massive explosion in the sky. She turned to see Naruto standing, the beast growling whilst looking right up at her. It's one moment of humanity, the pure rage uttering out from him, and now it was back to hunting her proper!

It launched itself up, making Konan send two clones out to meet it. Their explosions rocked the ground below, with Naruto not stopping. She flew to the side, dodging the attacking claw from it's left, whilst avoiding the following two tails coming at her. Her clones weren't so lucky as she watched one of them get impaled by two of the other tails, and the remaining two getting slashes in half by it's claws.

They exploded, filling the air around them in a cacophony of noise. She flew higher, flapping her angel wings, knowing that there was no way he could follow her up. A small red sphere flying just in front of her made her stop, and fly backward right before it exploded! The cloud she attempted to hide in suddenly found a chunk of it missing. She falls out of the sky, shaking her head to clear it from the concussive blast.

Her amber eyes widened when several more spheres flowed up toward her from the ground! She flew to the left, and right, corkscrewing whilst tumbling through the air. Her angel wings in falconry positioned for a dive. It was if she was flying through flak from one of those guns on the ship she saw working. Miniature explosions flowing behind her whilst she dove downward, forming hand seals with her remaining hand!

"Ninja Art: Heavenly Herald!" She screamed before her wings grew bigger, launching countless of itself at him with her dive!

She watches as the bombs impacting him exploded upon contact. It actually forced him back a little bit from the pressure waves rolling off each. He growled, gasped, and glowered whilst locking his eyes onto her. Spinning around, using his tails to block, she flew up barely in time to dodge the three red energy blasts flowing from his mouth at once!

They exploded behind her, filling the sky up with baleful red lights. The storm forming more, and more, with red lightning slamming down around the highest treetops. She continued her assault once she reacquired him in her vision, and pressed forward just as he raises his fist up again. Not allowing him, she grows her wings out and enwraps them around the beast. Slowly, forming into a cocoon the size of a small house!

"Ninja Art: Origami Cocoon Tandem Bomb!" She yelled out before preparing the next phase of her attack, this was do or die at this point, "if gets out…I'm not going to be able to do this again!"

Forming several one-handed hand seals, Konan slams her hand down. Seal marks appear over her wings before detaching, whilst she felt the inside rock with explosion after explosion. She held onto the ground for dear life, but slowly, she could feel the explosions overpowering him. Point blank, constantly, and rapidly. Her ability to generate origami paper being taken to the max.

"There is only one recourse of action I can take at this point. Normally Nagato would do this, but I have no choice. I have to use that jutsu! Hopefully I'm strong enough to offset The Nine Tails chakra so that Naruto Uzumaki starts taking actual damage!" Konan mentally screamed to herself whilst gathering her chakra, watching as the cocoon bulged in some places.

She began to weave more hand seals with her single hand, making sure to keep an eye on her cocoon while doing so. Seal marks began to appear as she detaches her new wings. Smiling, her newer origami wings reform before she placed her hand on the ground. Making sure to keep her cocoon of explosions going on around him!

"Sealing Art: Demon Suppression Seal Jutsu!"

The origami cocoon had several traces of seals over it as the light of the explosions inside kept up. They glow a bright red, sizzling against the paper before she stands upright. Smiling, noting the dying down of the bulging of her cocoon bombs, she took a deep breath. Her peace was short lived when she heard snow rapidly crunching behind her, her eyes widened as she barely had time to dodge an short old woman, with strange goggles on her eyes!

The woman's kama cutting the bridge of her nose open, allowing blood to flow freely!

She slid to a stop, spinning her kama around before roaring out and charging right back at Konan. The shinobi forms a paper sword, blocking the next attack with sparks flying in the air. Just then, she dodged her head to the side as a energy arrow whizzed past it. She saw the old woman already jumping into the air, twisting around to slash at her with the kama!

"Get away from my grandson, you bitch!" She screamed whilst slashing at Konan rapidly, the woman being forced to block each slash.

Konan finds her opening when the woman back turned to her to gather up strength for a slash! Stabbing whilst stepping forward with her sword. She was stunned when the old woman leaned forward to dodge it, despite having her back to her! Rolling forward, the old woman emerges up before slashing upward with her kama!

A cut appears just next to Konan's carotid artery on the right side of her neck! If she hadn't moved to the side in the brief second, she'd been gurgling up blood. This old woman was skilled, and then she remembered about the archer! She stepped backward just an energy arrow flew where she was standing, aimed right at her liver!

"I missed, sorry, Maria!"

It was the brother of the girl, Lapis, he screams out to her. "Where is my sister, what have you done?!" He hollered whilst using his aura to form another energy on the weapon, "where is she?!"

"She's…"

Konan didn't get time finish before Maria ran straight at her, slashing rapidly with her kama. When the angel of death tried to stab her with the sword again, she sidestepped it before careening her kama upward! Konan's eyes widened as she dropped the sword, pulling her hand back from where it was. Not a moment too soon, otherwise she'd lost her only remaining hand!

Jumping back, getting distance, she spreads her origami wings. Aiming right at the old woman, she launches several sharpened paper kunai. Stunned, was Konan, when she watches as this Maria person danced around them whilst moving forward. Lapis was targeting her again, waiting as Maria came closer. Whoever, or whatever this Maria person was, her movements reminded her all too well of an Uchiha.

"It's like she sees my attack before it happens…prereflexes?" Konan questioned before forming a paper short sword, and flying down to engage.

Her short sword, and Maria's kama clash with sparks flying everywhere. With Konan using her wings to slash, creating a dance between the two combatants. Maria flipped over her whilst aiming for her head with Death, and actually cut the back of her neck! Blood poured down Konan's back before she retreated forward to gain distance. Her eyes widened when she Lapis standing right there, launching an energy arrow!

This time he didn't miss because Maria made sure she ran straight whilst slinging a kabar knives in the directions she could've retreated! Konan grunted when the energy arrow tore through her side, and exited out the back in a small spray of blood! She barely blocked Maria's slash meant to take her head with her wings, watching as Lapis loaded another arrow and walked closer.

"Where is my sister, you bitch!" Lapis growled whilst pointing the arrow right at her head, "I want ask again!"

"Lapis!" Lapis turns his head whilst still keeping his energy arrow trained on Konan, seeing Mallari running towards them with Sapphire in her arms. "Lapis, we're okay, she got us out before their fight turned serious!"

"The girl…" Konan breathed out before looking at Sapphire, who's golden eyes fluttered open weakly. "I guess there are some miracles still, my shuriken hand was my left one…an inch deeper…"

"Where is my grandson?!" Maria screamed out whilst suddenly appearing next to Konan, her kama an inch away from her neck, "you tell me where he is!"

"I'm afraid, that I've completed my task, Naruto Uzumaki is dead. Sorry, but I couldn't let that demon roam about. Do you not see the devastation he's created, this isn't even him at full power…imagine…" Konan didn't get to finish Maria roared out, punching her hard across the face.

The amber eyed bluenette's nose splatters across her face, with her falling to the snow. She looked over at her cocoon, smirking as the explosions kept going. "I was saving that for Madara, but oh well…" she breathed a sigh of relief before looking at Maria and smiling.

"Why are you smiling?!"

"I've completed my revenge, for Nagato," she breathed out before laying flatly on the ground. "You can kill me, but I've already won."

Maria lets a choking roar erupt from her from her very core, bringing both hands around Death and holding it up high. Konan prepared herself, it would be quick if Maria was aiming for her head, but that all stopped when a sudden boom and explosion rocked the area they were in. Maria was blasted off her, whilst Lapis and the others were blown back. Amber eyes widen in pure shock, and terror!

Mallari fell to her knees, gripping Sapphire whilst holding her head with her left hand! She roars out, pure agony and rage, she could feel the emotions coming from where the cocoon of paper was. She slowly lifts her head up, looking on as a broken skeleton and body of a demon slowly emerged out. She saw it struggle to stand up, three tails swooshing behind it's back.

Konan stood up, stunned, she thought the seal and her explosions would've killed him! Instead, Naruto Uzumaki had only been knocked down to three tails, with the cloak receding off him in some places. Wounds healing, bubbling as the black and red mass of viscous chakra rapidly healed his broken body!

Lapis shook with absolute fear whilst looking at the beast, "w-what is that?"

"It's Naruto," Konan growled whilst readying herself. "Come on then, let's continue! Demon of Konoha!"

Naruto didn't need to be told twice as he suddenly roared out, running straight at her on all fours. His three remaining tails swooshing behind his back, right claw reared back. Konan smirked when she manages to form her short sword into a longer one, and block the claw! He was definitely weaker than before, which was good! Maria struggled to get up, breathing hard before hearing the roaring of the beast and turned her head to see Konan fighting a true monster. She shook that thought from her head, she always knew this could happen! Naruto needed her help!

Roaring, Mara ran forward, launching herself toward Konan!

Konan turns around, almost stabbing Maria until she twists her body midair, Maria's short stature made her highly mobile, and also highly maneuverable! Her twist ended with a back heel kick straight into Konan's face, crunching up her right cheek before Naruto got a hit with a closed fist right into her face as well!

The bluenette went flying backwards!

Maria landed and immediately was forced to Naruto's tails as they tried to strike her. "Naruto!" she called out whilst dodging them, watching as he continued to move forward, even raising a claw up. "Naruto!"

"Damn it, Naruto, stop!" Lapis screamed out whilst pointing an arrow at him, "stop!"

Mallari watches as Maria slips up, screaming out, "no! Maria dodge, dodge!"

Maria's eyes widened as the claw she had been trying to avoid thus far came crashing down. Her only saving grace came with the weakest of their voices.

"…Naruto…"

His claw stopped mere inches away from her face, a killing blow! Even if Maria's aura held up, which was doubtful, the force would've broken her body. She saw Sapphire reaching out to him, tears welling up in her eyes. Naruto stopped, turning toward her, the little girl was sobbing almost. Maria took a deep breath, moving out from under him, and standing up.

"Sapphire?" The monster weakly growled out, taking its eye off Maria.

She went to grab his claw, trying to show him comfort, only for hand to burn slightly!

"…Naruto please…stop…I'm okay…"

The beast softly growls before looking at the destruction around it. It held a hand to his head. Shaking whilst Sapphire's eyes began to glow brightly. She felt herself connect to him, via the eye contact, and channeled memories of them all together into the beast. It sunk down to its knees, gripping it's head before almost sobbing.

"What have I done?!" It roared out as the memories flooded through him, of the all the times they were happy together. "Help…me please!"

Memories of all the times they shared, the happiness. She was channeling them into him, somehow, and Mallari took not of it. She was stunned to see an aura coming around the girl slowly. It was bright blue in color, unlike her brother's yellow. It wasn't too thick, but average. Her glowing eyes continued to focus solely on Naruto as tears welled and fell from her eyes.

"Naruto, please…we're here for you." She continued calling out to him, instinctively using her semblance to channel all of their memories she had shared with him.

Maria grits her teeth, snatching the beast's claw, "listen to her! Naruto! Your friends, your family, is calling out to you…you can't just walk in the darkness all alone!"

"Don't listen to them, brat, they just want to kill you once I'm not in control. They'll see you just for the monster," The Nine Tails growled in his head. "They could just be illusions casted by that blue-haired witch!"

"No…I can feel them, Nine Tails. Let me go, I don't want this, I don't need this! What've you done?! you made me into this! I can't do this again, Sapphire…everyone, please keep going! I can hear you; I'm trying!" Naruto mentally screamed out as he continued going through the darkness of his mind, the beast reacting by shuddering almost.

Naruto stood there, still softly growling whilst looking over at them all. Slowly, one of the tails began to recede. With him collapsing down to his knees. Maria's hands were still burning, her aura was about to break! She still held on though, looking him in the eye with ADA system. Giving him a soft smile.

"I'm not letting you go, no matter what, boy, so c'mon." She beckoned him to return, whilst the third tail disappeared.

"Granny, please stop, you going to lose that hand!"
"It'll be your fault, just like it always has been…it would be better if you didn't exist!"

"Damn it all," Lapis threw down the bow, running over to Maria before channeling aura into her! "Hey idiot! Listen to Granny Maria here, I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier! You won, she's okay! Saph and Granny Mallari are okay, so just wake up!"

"Lapis, I'm so sorry I turned out to be the monster! Please, please help me!"
"He'll just kill you, give into me, stop retreating away from me!"

Mallari began to feel its emotions shift from rage, to sadness, slowly but surely, she felt Naruto in there only for them suddenly to go blank. Her little student getting up from her arms, slowly stumbling toward the monster that was the boy. She got there, Naruto's white eyes slowly began to dim as the black substance around his body began to recede. Blood was all over him, his skin beet red but starting to heal rapidly. She slowly reaches out, and grabbed his other hand.

"Naruto," Sapphire sobs a little bit whilst holding his other hand, "you're not a monster to me. you're my best friend!"

"Sapphire…I remember feeling you kiss my head. Sis, no, she's alive! She's alive! I am not going to give up, I'm not going to become the monster."
"Damn you, you little brat! Get back here, surrender to me! Surrender!"
"I'm coming, guys…please wait for me just a moment longer."
"What happened to your emotions, I don't understand…where is the rage?"
"I'm casting them aside for now, you don't get to control me that way…not anymore."

The black substance faded off him completely before he emerged gasping for air. He threw up some red gunk before gripping their hands tightly. Mallari smiles brightly before she felt the happiness in his heart. She watched as Sapphire collapsed down on him, making him stand upright to catch her.

"Yo, Saph, are you okay?!" Lapis yelled out before grabbing his sister from him, "Saph!"

"I'm fine, big brother, Naruto?" She questioned with her eyes closed, feeling a massive headache.

The blonde was slowly starting look around, his mount hung agape. The forest around them was totally flattened, he saw dust clouds in the distance. The lightning storm from earlier slowly starting to dissipate, but he could only look at his own hands. If he had lost more control, if he hadn't been stopped, what could've done to the world?!

Maria places a hand on his shoulder, "Naruto, are you in there, boy?"

He turns to her, tears escaping his eyes before he hugs her tightly. Maria returns the hug, with Naruto sobbing into her shoulder. Mallari nods whilst walking toward them, only for her to hear the trees behind them move. She watches as an enraged Konan came out of the deadwood, holding a spear in her hand, with her angelic wings fully opened behind her.

Naruto took a deep breath before shambling in front of everyone. Taking a moment to focus, his aura activates around him. At first exploding around him, bleeding off before contorting around his body. His wounds rapidly healing, and Maria checked her scroll. Sure enough, she smiled proudly at him whilst looking at the indicator.

There was no bleed effect!

She tosses Death over to him, which he catches. Getting Life out, Naruto twirled both kama around before readying himself. Lapis came up next to him, grabbing the bow from the ground as he did. Both of them stood side by side, with the blonde's cerulean eyes locked onto Konan. She and him stared each other down for a minute.

Looking over toward the group, she gripped her hand around the paper sword. She was nearly out of chakra, and was nursing several wounds. Sapphire ran out to be between them, holding her hands out. "Stop!" she screamed whilst looking at both Konan and Naruto.

"Sapphire, move!" Lapis yelled as he trained an energy arrow at Konan, "I have bead on her!"

"There's been enough fighting, look around us, what did this bring anyone?!" She screamed with all her heart, nearly sobbing before coughing up some blood.

Lapis and Naruto didn't hesitate, they ran over to her. He noted that her wound was still healing, the deep gash over her chest still bleeding. Konan took a moment, processing before scrunching her face up before looking at the girl she nearly killed!

Naruto signs to Lapis, "stay."

The blonde stumbled forward, wielding one kama normally, whilst the other in a reverse grip. His cerulean eyes locked with Konan's before he crouched down. They both got ready to charge at one another, with Naruto narrowing his eyes with Konan doing the same!

"There is only way this ends, Uzumaki." Konan stated before she transforms the spear into a paper sword, "I can't stop until I avenge those I've lost, Naruto."

Naruto took a deep breath, closing his eyes, "and I won't stop defending what I've got here and now!" His aura flares up around him, gathering it all toward his limbs. Fully ready to go on the offensive!

Lapis was holding Sapphire as she coughed up some more, "Granny Maria, why isn't her aura healing her?!"

"She was focused on her newly awakened semblance," Maria stated whilst running over to her, flowing her little bit of aura into her. "She's got to get to a hospital."

"Grimm!" Mallari suddenly yelled out, whilst seeing a horde of beowolves running at them.

Thirty plus, each one was large, and fully grown! There was even three Ursa coming. The Ogre that Maria and Lapis saw earlier waddled through the horizon, just behind the horde. It held two trees in its hands as makeshift clubs!

Konan took a deep breath, glaring right at Naruto before trailing over to Sapphire. "Hate him as I do, that little girl was right, you are no demon. You're just protecting those precious to you, I could kill them…but…what would be the point? Does it bring Nagato back to me?" her amber eyes looked away and towards the incoming Grimm.

She took a deep breath before yelling out to him, "Naruto Uzumaki, I stay your execution! Go now, before I change my mind!"

Naruto watches as she takes off toward the horde of Grimm, with him confused on what to do! He watches as her paper wings slash through Grimm after Grimm, killing them in rapid succession with her sword. Naruto scrunches his face up before putting away Life & Death. He ran over to Sapphire, picking her up.

Mallari and Maria ran over toward him, with Lapis grabbing his new bow. He continued pointing toward where Konan was as they retreated. Although, the amber-eyed woman continued slaying Grimm left and right with ease, Maria figured whatever she had in the tank wasn't much!

Naruto looks back toward where Konan was, seeing her tear through the Grimm. She easily dispatches the beowolves before slicing apart the first Ursa to make it toward her. She danced with grace amongst them, why she retreated to fighting them was beyond him. He was fully prepared to make a last stand with those he cherished most in this world.

A small cough made him look down at Sapphire, who was slightly pale, "hang on Saph…we're going to get you to a good doctor!"

He turns his head back toward Konan, watching as she continued fighting. Sapphire looks up at him, clutching his arm whilst she weakly breathed out, "I'm cold…"

Clutching her closer, Lapis ran next to him, whilst Maria wasn't too far behind. Mallari turns back to look at Konan, noting a shift in her emotions. All the rage was gone, now she could only feel regret rolling off the woman.

"Hopefully this'll change you, I hope for his sake, because next time I don't think Sapphire can stop him. You might be full of rage, woman, but I've seen the depths of Naruto's soul…and it is only be held back by very few things." Mallari turns back, and runs toward the truck, "may you find peace as well."

"No one should live their lives mired in hatred."

Konan looks back just as she slices the head off the second ursa, seeing Naruto and co. make it into the deadwood. She sighs while looking at the giant Ogre Grimm, and smiles. She took a moment to remember something similar, to how Nagato and Yahiko retreated to save her. How, in the smallest bit of mercy, so much good could've came from it.

Yahiko had gotten stolen before his time, and Nagato may have been killed by Naruto Uzumaki. Yet, the more she realized on how much pain she was causing to others…was this truly the value of revenge? The third ursa came barreling toward her. She stabbed it through the skull whilst sidestepping it. She took a deep breath, watching as the Ogre was beginning to pick up speed.

"I'm almost dry on chakra, heh, I have no doubt that if me and Uzumaki clashed back there…I'd lose." She thought to herself before taking a deep breath, "The next time we meet…when no one else is around to intervene or stop us, I'll be the one walking away."

"Naruto Uzumaki," Konan remembers Nagato's orders to kill the girl and Kakashi. "Why would you try to find peace, after everything was taken from you?"

"What strength of character could possess you to continue forward in a new world? I…" She flies up toward the Ogre Grimm, "hope that when we meet again…"

"Our fight will allow our own words, unaltered by anger, to pour out. Be it death to come after, or something else…I promise you that I will not come after your precious ones again. You, however, are free game!" She launches several paper bombs into the opened maw of the giant Grimm, watching as it's head blows apart before kicking it down toward the ground.

Landing down on the ground, she took a moment to look up at the sky.

"Could…I find that same willpower toward peace?"

{A Few Hours Later.}

Sapphire was receiving a blood transfusion. Courtesy of Patch Town's emergency medical clinic. They had collectively agreed to call what had happened a Grimm attack. With Konan's whereabouts unknown, Naruto figured that Maria would be better off with Death, handing her the kama whilst sitting in the chair.

She nods taking it, watching over the girl as she took steady breathes. Between unlocking her aura, semblance, and not healing herself the poor thing was tuckered. Mallari was looking over towards Naruto, who kept staring at her.

"It's not your fault, you've couldn't have known, you know." Mallari stated whilst looking at him, "she'll pull through."

"Maybe I shouldn't be around any of you, because what if she comes back?" Naruto signed whilst looking at Mallari, who sighs. "I'm being serious."

Maria frowns at that, "you're family here, you don't walk away."

"It's not walking away if I'm protecting you guys, what if there is someone else?" Naruto questioned whilst leaning against the door, he himself was slightly tired, "I can't risk you all."

"Wherever you go, I'll go with you." Maria stated whilst looking into his eyes with her ADA, which read out signs of exhaustion across his face, "you need to get some sleep."

Mallari took a moment and looks at him, "she did say someone else was out there."

Naruto's eyes closed in frustration before a tear escapes them, he signs, "see! Did she give a name?"

"Actually, she did, something like Madaga…Madama..." The old herbalist took a deep breath, "Madara."

"What?!" The crashing boom of The Nine Tails' voice echoed throughout his head, he thought he cut the link, "Madara Uchiha is alive, that is impossible!"

"Madara…Uchiha?" Naruto questioned him mentally through the forced link, sighing in frustration, "like as in related to Sasuke Uchiha?"

"Much worse, if it really is him, you better off cutting their necks with a scalpel and fleeing." The Nine Tails growled whilst Naruto took a deep breath, "very few things in this life terrifies me…Madara Uchiha is one of them."

"I won't just leave my friends, and family, Nine Tails. Quit your yapping, besides, if he's the same guy I think he is…then he's super old." Naruto stated whilst looking toward Mallari, "I'm cutting the link, do not force it again!"

"Brat, listen to me! Madara could only ever be after one thing, and it is me! You have to run, you have to…" Naruto cuts the mental link completely, closing his eyes he heard the Nine Tail's voice fade away.

"Naruto, what's wrong?" Mallari questioned whilst looking at him, noting the fear creeping into him.

The blonde took a deep breath before signing, "Fox knows who Madara is, he's scared."

"Oh my," the herbalist breathed out before looking at him. "I only caught snippets of your fight with Konan…whilst in that form. If he's scared of a man, then that man isn't man…he must be a monster."

That took the young former shinobi by surprise slightly, he signs in reply, "that's why I need to stay away from you, Maria, Lapis, and Sapphire."

Maria frowns at this before speaking up, "I'm not letting go off by yourself. Besides, he can't be that much stronger than the woman and I tagged her a few times." She stated with gusto, pumping her little arm.

"I hope you're right Granny, but something doesn't sit right about this…" Naruto thought to himself before taking a deep breath and signing, "I'm going to head back to the house. Are you all staying here?"

"It was the plan for me," Mallari stated before looking toward Lapis, and Maria. "You can go with him, if you want Maria."

Maria nods her head, sighing as she got up, "c'mon then. I suppose it's time that I teach you how to drive something other than driving me crazy."

Naruto took a moment before walking over to Sapphire. He places a hand on hers, frowning before looking toward Lapis. The bluenette wasn't really glaring daggers at him, but his look was screaming for him to get away from her. Sighing, Naruto patted the girl's head before walking out of the hospital room.

"See you back at home, everyone, I hope. I'll never use The Nine Tail's power again...never and I'll make sure of it!"

{Three Days Later...}

Maria was out inside Patch Town, she was going to go get Sapphire, Lapis, and Mallari. Naruto was already starting to become depressed. He looked around the empty house. Sighing, he nursed his left arm which had been broken after one of the beams of barn house fell on top of him all of a sudden. It had happened on their day back, and he discovered that it was due to a large beowolf hiding atop. Little bastard tried to make a home for itself when they went out!

He had killed it with ease, but now that his arm was broken, he had to endure getting it put into a sling by Maria. Sighing to him, the blonde made sure not to draw upon The Nine Tails power once so ever. He didn't want to ever use it again, not after what happened nearly three days ago.

Now all he could do, whilst his body still rapidly healed itself due to chakra, he couldn't do much. He tried doing laundry, his arm screamed bloody murder in pain. He tried to do dishes, ended up soaking the sling and having to change it.

For the first time, in a hot minute, at least for the next week. Naruto Uzumaki would be out, and be useless! He flipped through channels on the TV, coming across an anime. Anime being cartoons from Mistral, but he liked them! The current anime playing in question was something called, Grimm Slayer. Basically, he could relate to the main character, Tangerine. Poor guy lost his entire family episode one, but he was becoming a badass swordsman now.

Everything about the anime screamed an allegory to his own life. He even saw in the preview last episode that Tangerine was going into a forest for an exam, what were the odds?! He heard the main theme of show playing, something called Red Lotus. He was about to grab some popcorn when he heard it, despite being all the way in the kitchen.

Naruto heard the soft knocking on Madame Mallari's front door. They were all out as he still was sure Sapphire was recovering from what had happened three days earlier. Opening the door, he was taken by surprise by her. The whole world seemingly slowed down for him as her smile caught him by surprise, and made his heart skip a few beats.

She had pale skin, thin lips, and a roundish face. Her hands were holding a basket, small, but the smell coming from it was divinely sweet. The girl, probably no older than him, and she was dressed in black and red. Her blouse was black with red trimmings, and a corset. Her long skirt with red trimmings fluttered in the winds. That smile, paired with the most beautiful pair of eyes he had ever saw, made him slightly blush as she held a basket out to him.

The sweet aromas flooded his nostrils, the smell of chocolate!

"Hey neighbor, my sis told me you were the one who got the herbs. I'm sorry, I just got back into the swing of school after being, and well...yeah it took me a while. I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and was coming over to give you some. I mean, can you smell them, they're so good! I might've taken a few though." She rapidly fired out whilst maintaining a fidgeting, nervous, smile.

Naruto didn't say anything, nodding his head before reaching over to the basket. He flips the lid up, his eyes widened at the presence of a just a single cookie. The girl looked overtop, and nearly faceplants herself into the ground out of sheer embarrassment! Inside of the basket was one single cookie remaining, she had a couple miles to walk, and yet somehow between her house and his she had devoured nearly all of the dozen!

"Gah, I didn't realize I ate all of them! I'm so sorry! I got such a sweet, doesn't help that I make the dang best cookies either! I should've had Yang do this! I can't believe I screwed this up! I'm so-so-so-sorry! You probably feel insulted, I mean of course you do, because it's like hey! I brought you a dozen tasty cookies, but you only get ONE of them! Jeez, I'm such a cookie monster!" She whined whilst apologizing and explaining herself.

Then the strangest thing happened, and it crept up on him slowly. She thought he was crying at first. His head was lowered down, she was about to apologize again. That was, until he lifted his head up, showing her possibly the brightest smile she had ever seen from someone. His broken laugh filled her ears, she had heard from Yang he was mostly mute. Save for the few grunts he had managed to give her, but here was now slowly bringing his good arm to his stomach.

There were tears, but it wasn't from sadness, he was genuinely laughing! She looked back at it...The whole situation was so absurd that there were really only two options! He could've just taken the single cookie, waved her off, and that'd been it. Passive aggressive as it would have been, it wouldn't be surprising. Instead, he went the most unlikely option, which option number two, smile and laugh. He smiles softly after laughing before taking the single, large chocolate chip cookie.

She thought he was going to just eat it in front of her, but to her surprise he perfectly broke it down the middle. That smile, coupled with him handing her a piece of a cookie where she already ate the others, made feel taken aback. Her eyes looked to the piece of the cookie, and then to him.

"Um are you sure, I mean already had most of yours...I'm just saying that well..." She stopped when he slightly nudged it toward her, "oh what the heck, I'm not fooling anyone give me!"

She snatched the cookie piece and took a massive bite out of it. Naruto smiled softly still as he took his own bite. Immediately his eyes widened from the taste. No wonder she had massacred the cookies, these were some of most delicious bits of sweets he had ever eaten. He then took an audible bite, consuming the rest in one go, and smiled brightly. He tried signing to her, but she leaned her head to the side.

"I can't do sign, I'm sorry..." she apologized before nervously looking away, until she felt a tap on her shoulder.

He pointed at his lips, understanding, she nods her head. She had learned to read lips because of Yang. Both sisters had a proclivity to spy on each other sometimes, so he then spoke with his lips.

"Best cookie ever, thank you. I'm Na-Ru-To." He said with lips before smiling the same smile that made feel as if she was standing next to the sun.

She smiles softly, slightly blushing herself a little, "I'm Ruby...Ruby Rose."

Broken Moon!

{In A Place Where Roads Are Left Untraveled. Three Months later…}

Upon the throne a woman sat, her eyes red as hellfire. She had white hair, snow in color. Her skin was deathly pale, death having abandoned her long ago. She had her hair tied into ornate buns, like that royalty. No doubt, she was a queen, a queen of the damned. She sat upon her dark thrown glowering at her followers, who were seated at the round table.

Her answer to an eternal rival's.

"Lady Salem," A large man greeted her whilst bowing his head at the table. "I'm sure you've already heard the reports, about something happening on Patch Island."

"That I have," Salem said whilst crossing her legs. "I felt it, the raw power of whatever it was. I've been trying to sus out where it could've come from."

"We've still not had any solid leads, however, we've recently came across one of the craters there." The large man held his hand out, a Grimm beetle was slamming itself against the glass of a jar rapidly. "One of your scarabs absorbed some weird energy left there, and it's gone insane every since."

Salem's eyes narrow, "I see," she observed the beetle before snapping her fingers.

The beetle screeches before dissolving into black gunk. The energy, however, broke free and headed straight for her. She was slightly blasted back by it, but then laughed as it ignited her senses. She could feel it, that blazing form of rage. She leaned forward in her seat, looking right at her subordinate.

"What marvelous power!" She declared whilst observing her fingers growing into claws, "and it's so primal! I dare say, if this is just a small piece of it…"

"I've already ran calculations my lady," an older man stated whilst getting up. "That beetle was supposed to be weakest of your Grimm. Yet, I gander that if it had been placed in the same room as a beringel it would've walked out unscathed."

"That much of an increase, from such a small portion?" She questioned, but still maintaining a dark smile on her face. "Simply, marvelous. We must investigate this further."

"We should hurry, lest Ozpin be the first to locate it's source!" The large man stated, "if he gets his hands on that, I don't think even you my lady…could defeat him any longer."

Salem wanted to blast him away but refrained from doing so. Her pride slightly wounded, she stood up from her throne, "then I suppose the hunt shall begin!"

"Yes, Lady Salem!" all of them said in unison.

Madara Uchiha was wondering through a large forest. Looking around, he saw Grimm moving away from an object. He saw it there, a black pool of sludge. Watching it bubble, he uses his sharingan, and was taken aback just little bit. Deep inside the sludge pit, he could see chakra escaping from it. Which only confirmed his theory on the Grimm.

These beings were pure energy, specifically, pure dark energy. What disturbed him the most, however, was that this chakra felt like The Tailed Beast's chakra. Not just one of them, all of them minus a certain one, the one he mainly was hunting for.

Taking a deep breath, the man reaches out with his pale white arm, picking up some of the sludge. He played with it, rubbing it around his fingers. He brought it up to his face, smelling it under his mask. What made him stop wasn't the fact that there was Grimm around, no, what stopped him was the sudden deep voice in his head that echoed one phrase out.

"Make me complete, Indra…"

Wiping the sludge off, he took a deep breath, "this world keeps getting weirder and weirder."

"Can't believe I got sidetracked away from Uzumaki, damn that woman. His device didn't point to anything useful, just brief conversations of the past!" Madara spiked the device on the ground, walking away before hearing something.

He turns around, seeing the black sludge slowly form into a person. That same person looked all too familiar to him. It was himself. Slowly, but surely, it emerged from the puddle. It bowed to him, almost kowtowing. Madara took a deep breath, looking over it.

"What is that you want," he questioned it whilst readying himself.

"Indra's descendant…can you make me complete?"

{End Of Act One!}