31 4/4

I regret to inform you that you will no longer be able to the fair skin of this underage boy every again. Well, at least not while it is warm. You shall be happy to know that your prediction was correct. He was, indeed, a blunt and useless tool. You were smart to throw him away. For all his power and boasting and bragging, he not only spectacularly failed his mission, but managed to not lay a single finger on his opponent, Me. Should you ever decide your absolute shit plan of reanimating departed shinobi to do your fighting for you, I highly suggest you skip this one. Unless you want to be reminded of your ultimate failure.

Yours Truly,

Kenta Yamanaka."

I finished my open letter with a bright grin. Kimimaro's chakra now was not only brimming with uncontrolled rage, but the real emotion I wanted, bone-deep sadness.

"Aww, what's the matter bone boy? Finally realizing you were a complete failure to your Lord and Master since day one? Don't worry, you aren't the first, nor will you be the last." My spirit drank up the boy's despair. It was absolutely intoxicating. I needed more, I wanted more. He mumbled something. "What was that, Skeletor? Did you want me to include anything else in my letter? Maybe how you were sorry you were not only a failure as a tool, but as a lover?" I smirked.

"I said. That all may be true. But I promise you." His skin began to darken and my senses began to fire on all cylinders. My body shook in anticipation. I wanted to watch him struggle with every ounce of strength left in his dying body, only for the realization that everything I said was correct. I wanted to watch his rapid descent into despair before the light left his eyes. "I will take you with me before this poison claims my body." He coughed and blood painted the ground. I grinned savagely.

"Tick tock, bones. Your time is running short. I can feel it, the vitality from the second stage is giving you a false sense of wellness. However, your heart beat is increasing, your blood pressure is rising. The adrenalin is kicking in. All of this is only bringing you quicker to death's door." I was like a kid with free reign in a toy store. His eyes opened wide in panic, the realization that my words spoke true.

"DIE!" He yelled suddenly, his demonic form rushing me even faster than before. I gave him a wink and a wave before flickering across the field. My momentary surprise that he was there to meet me was only that, momentary. I channeled my first real hero worship/mancrush and rapidly flickered back to my original position. Kimimaro's eyes narrowed and he bellowed his displeasure. The beast inside in full control.

Our dance began again, but this time, I gave into my childish glee. For all his increased speed and strength granted him, I was now 2 steps or more ahead of him. I stopped thinking, stopped worrying, and stopped counting. I let my body move, the months of agonizing training taking over without thought. It finally happened. Wherever I vanished from, a momentary after-image took my place. Within moments, there were 10 ghostly images of me. Whenever Kimimaro cut one down, another took its place opposite of the field. For every one the naturally faded, another was there to take its place. I had done it, I had mastered it. Shisui of the Body Flicker once again walked this earth. His spirit lived on inside me.

Within two minutes I stopped my deadly dance of speed. I stood opposite Kimimaro, smiling serenely at the older teen. "A dull tool can be sharpened and used again as new. However, no amount of sharpening will make a poorly crafted blade sharp enough to fulfil its master's desires. That is you, Kimimaro Kaguya. I poorly crafted blade that's outlived its usefulness. Disappear from this world, knowing that you were the ultimate failure. That you will never fulfill your master's wishes again.

And there it was. The curse mark receded and his eyes grew wide with horror. I smiled manically, watching the despair take hold. He clutched his head, muttering to himself. He began to scream for forgiveness from his master. Begging him to give him one more chance. He screamed his devotion and his zeal crazed eyes met mine.

"YOU! I WILL KILL YOU! I GIVE MY LIFE FOR OROCHIMARU!" He screamed his defiance, his curse mark activated once again by sheer willpower alone. I felt the massive amount of chakra saturate the ground all around me. I knew what was coming. The stereotypical suicide technique. The last gambit for a desperate fool. I wasn't going to allow that.

"Eat dirt and die trash." My bored drawl came, the high I had felt just moments ago was quickly coming down. The desperation wasn't craved, it was pathetic.

"Storm Release: Blitzing Serpent" my voice drawled out. From my fingers, a flowing serpent charged with the storm raced towards my opponent. A small amount of remaining vindictive pleasure surged its way to my gut as the serpent tore through his chest. His face frozen with the look of utter devotion and blind zeal would remain there until he decayed. The curse mark faded once more, and Kimimaro collapsed. His flame of chakra vanished from the world of the living. I had done it, Kimimaro was dead.

I stared down at my hands, realization crashed down on me. Father was right. The rush, the euphoria… It was addicting. I had to have more, I wanted more. This, this was how father single handedly took down 3 S-Rank opponents. Kimimaro should have left me a bloody smear in the dirt. I should be the one whose life made the journey to the pure lands. Instead, I stood in the middle of the field. The victor. Not a hair out of place, barely a drop of sweat. A single attack was all it took, a second to ensure my victory, a third to seal his fate and cute off any hope he had. A single senbon and two C-Rank bloodline techniques.

I chuckled to myself. My chuckle became a laugh. My laughter became hysterical. The laughter turned to tears. Kimimaro may have taken on the appearance of a monster when he activated his curse seal, but I was the true monster. My soul was evil, tainted. I had broken my opponent, drove him to actual madness, and I enjoyed it more than anything in my life. From my knees I stared up at the sky. It was still a few hours before dark. I sat down, and pulled out my book and the scrap of paper I always carried with me. I began to read my mantra, the weight of the words finally settling heavily on my shoulders. I sat there for the next two hours, reading the mantra over and over, making sure I never forgot it. For the line between darkness and light was indeed a fine one to walk.

*************************Storm V Bones… Storm Wins*************************************

"Sakura! Sasuke! Stop!" Naruto called out to his two friends, their retreating forms less than a mile from the border. Sakura sighed and stopped, Sasuke quickly followed.

"Naruto. Stop, you're embarrassing yourself. We aren't coming back so just give up!" Sakura snapped at the impatient blonde.

"No! I can't let you two go any further. I dream of being Hokage one day. How can I even sleep at night knowing I couldn't save two of my friends?" Naruto called out, his voice breaking with emotion just thinking of losing these two.

Sakura's will faltered right then and there. Naruto was too kind and pure to be hurt in this way, but it had to be done. She steeled herself and glared at the blonde. "Naruto. You're nothing but a bumbling idiot. You will never be Hokage. No one will ever want some demon sitting in the same position as so many great many. It would be absolutely appalling."

Naruto's loud laughter boomed even over the din of the waterfall that thundered nearby. "Ok, now I know something is going on. Even I realized how poor that attempt was to hurt me on purpose. C'mon Sakure, gimme some credit. I've seen a budding master at work more than once."

Sakura's face flushed, realizing that her bluff had been called so easily. It was a stupid mistake, Kenta was much better at this than her. She glared at the blonde once more. "It doesn't matter. I'm not going back with you. So either get lost of prepare to fight. The only way I'm going back with you is unconscious and tied up." Sakura growled.

Naruto's face hardened and he sunk down into his stance. "Then I'll do just that. I'll drag you both home, kicking and screaming if I have to!"

Sasuke wasted no time, he knew how stubborn Naruto was. He flashed into Naruto's blind spot, behind and to his right, swining his chokuto down with as much force as he was able to manage. Naruto anticipated the move, it was Sasuke's favorite opener.

"Secret Technique: Hair Guardian!" Naruto's hair wrapped around his upper body in a protective shelling. Sasuke's chokuto bounced off the now steel hair hair and grimaced. He barely got out of the way as Naruto lashed out, open palm glowing ominously. Sasuke appeared next to Sakura again. Sword out and at the ready. Naruto turned a smirked. "My turn" he sang.

"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique" Naruto threw half a dozen shuriken which multiplied into 300. His proficiency with the technique getting better by the day.

Sakura stepped in front of Sasuke, hands flashing quickly. Slamming both palms to the ground she cried out "Earth Release: Earthen Wall" A wall rose quickly. It was only 4 ft high and half as thick, but Saukra and Sasuke were able to duck down behind it. It was just enough to halt Naruto's technique.

"Impressive." Sasuke muttered lowly. "When did you learn this?"

"Cpt Kakashi gave me a few scrolls to study and master when he took you away for the month. This was one of them." Sakura replied back with a shrug. She had done it better in practice. She needed more battle experience. "We're going to have to go all out. It's only a matter of time before either the rest of the team catches up, or your brother was forced to send out someone much more dangerous. He has to keep the façade up."

Sasuke nodded. "You're right. Naruto's a freak, we need to hit him hard and fast. Let's do formation Gamma."

Sakura nodded and collapsed her wall. Sasuke's eyes flashed crimson, and for the first time, Sakura unleashed her first stage curse seal willingly. The rush was almost too much for the young girl, the power threatened to overwhelm her. She got her chakra back firmly under her control. The whispers of power an annoying buzz in the back of her mind. She began her hand seals as Sasuke charged Naruto.

Sasuke and Naruto began a dance of death. Sasuke had the reach and reaction, but Naruto's quick reflexes and unorthodox fighting style were keeping him just beyond striking distance. Naruto faltered momentarily and Sasuke took advantage. His sword driving deep into Naruto's shoulder. The boy cried out in pain, leaping back and assessing the damage.

Naruto was very confused. He could remember making the shadow clone and having it hide for a quick substitution, so why didn't it work? No time to ponder Sasuke was right back in his face. The dance continued on, and within a minute, Sasuke's chokuto was piercing clean through Naruto's thigh. Ok Naruto was getting angry now, what the heck was going on?! He was positive he made the clone, multiple this time, so what the heck was going on. A rumbling in his head from a very grumpy fox answered his internal monologue. Naruto cursed himself. If this was anyone else, he'd be dead. He really needed to work on detecting illusions quicker, especially subtle ones like Sakura's. He released a burst of Chakra and the slight sense of vertigo he hadn't even noticed left his body.

Sakura stood there, black rose petals covered her normally pale skin. Sasuke's eyes spun lazily, capturing even the smallest of twitches. Sasuke charged once more, this time Sakura moved as well. Naruto was fighting tooth and nail, Sasuke had taken the speed up a notch. It would be more than manageable; Naruto was no slouch. In terms of pure speed, he even had Kenta beat until he started flitting around the battlefield with his consecutive body flickers. What turned the tide in Sasuke's favor was Sakura's deadly chakra enhanced punches she kept trying to sneak in. As soon as Naruto tried to counterattack an opening, Sakura was there to interrupt him. When he tried to back off and create space, Sakura was corralling him back into the fight. He couldn't even get a simple technique off or unseal a tag! He was losing, and bad. He needed to do something and fast. He pushed chakra into the hidden seals around his body. Praying that his calculations and testing were correct. If he was wrong by even a single brush stroke, this was going to end painfully for him.

Sasuke thrust his sword forward and Naruto slid around it. Using his momentum, he brought his right leg whipping around dangerously, aiming at Sasuke's vulnerable side. Sakura burst from his blind spot; fist cocked back once again. The grunt of pain and solid connection added onto Sakura's surprised gasp of pain were music to Naruto's ears. His seal had worked. His automatic defense was a success. While nowhere near as complete nor fluid as Gaara's had been, it was enough. Once activated, if anyone approached an area outside of Naruto's peripheral vision, a barrier of biting wind would spring up without thought, cutting into the opponent who tried to get the jump on him. Naruto panted and gasped, trying to catch his breath. The terrible twos onslaught was seemingly unending.

Sakura stood up as did Sasuke. She frowned. "This is taking too long. It's now or never."

Naruto and Sasuke both watched in morbid fascination as Sakura's seal began to writhe. It covered her whole body, changing her very appearance. Gone was the creamy white skin. Sakura's skin now took on a shade so dark, it was nearly as black as a new moon night. Her bubblegum pink hair seemed to lengthen and darken. The pink now borderline red. Her emerald orbs now very reminiscent of rusted copper. Her eyes seemed to have an unnatural glow in the waning light of the day.

She smiled dangerously at her prey. Naruto swallowed nervously, the feeling of wrongness saturating the air. Sakura's smiled wilted and she frowned in concentration.

"What IS that?" She muttered out loud to herself. "It's like acrid pond scum." She continued to mutter for a few minutes. Naruto tensed, ready to get the jump before Sakura could finish her plotting. She eyes shot open and she looked at Sasuke.

Sakura's brow was knit in concentration, a thin sheen of sweat quickly forming on her face. Naruto couldn't contain the gasp of shock as he watched Sakura change for a third time. Her skin lightened, it was now reminiscent of warm brown colors of many of the trees found around Konoha. Her hair lightened, settling right in the middle of her natural color, and the dark color it had been just moments ago. Her eyes, no longer the glowing rusted copper of an apex predator. Instead, the glowed a bright gold color. A color that was beautiful, a color that spoke of power.

The shaky laugh escaped her lips, but her brow remained furrowed in absolute concentration. "I don't know how long I can hold this, Sasuke. Whatever happens, be ready to knock him out." Sakura called out through gritted teeth. Sasuke nodded and tensed, ready to move. Naruto tensed, ready for whatever Sakura had planned.

Naruto prepared himself for anything. He blinked, when did Sakura get right in his face? His mind on autopilot reacted quicker than his brain could. His arms came up in a sloppy cross guard just as Sakura's fist collided with the leading arm. A sound like a crack of thunder and Naruto's agonizing scream of pain were the only two sounds that could be heard. Sakura and Sasuke stared in wide-eyed horror as Naruto was hurled back near 100ft. He rolled for another 20ft before coming to a stop. Sakura dropped to her knees, her seal completely receding back to its original shape. Tears rushed down her face, but the strain of using the 2nd stage had taken its toll on her body. Her body trembled as she tried to stand. Sasuke's mind rebooted and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'll go check on him. Stay here, we're leaving when I come back." Sasuke said gently. Sakura could only nod, no words able to escape past the dry sobs wracking her body.

Sasuke quickly flickered over to Naruto. He stared down at the younger boy and nearly lost his lunch. Sakura's normally super charged punch, able to crack stone and fracture bone with a clean hit had been multiplied near Tsunade levels. Both Naruto's arms were a mangled, bloody mess. Fragments of bone stuck out in multiple places along both arms. Pained tremors wracked the boy's body, but still his stubborn determination kept him conscious. He stared at Sasuke, wide-eyed. Sasuke had to lean down to hear what he was saying, his voice was so weak.

"I won't… stop trying." He gasped through gritted teeth. "I'll… get stronger. I will… bring you both… home."

Sasuke didn't have it in him to argue with the boy. There was only one thing he could do. In this state, Naruto was a sitting duck. Sasuke crouched down, crimson eyes meeting blue.

"Sharingan Illusion: Forced Sleep" he whispered. Naruto's eyes immediately fell closed and Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief. He was half expecting the idiot to try to fight him. Sasuke flickered back to Sakura, her panic filled eyes beggin for answers. Sasuke sighed and bent down, gesturing the girl to climb onto his back. She complied, her head immediately seeking comfort in the boy's back.

"How… How is he?" She managed to choke out.

Sasuke thought about telling a white lie but quickly shut that idea down. Sakura needed to hear this. "Bad Sakura. Let's be grateful that Tsunade is back in Konoha. If it were anyone else, you might have ended Naruto's career." Sakura's gasp and choked sobs weren't deterrent enough. She needed to realize that power she now possessed. "His arms are mangled. Completely shattered in dozen of spots. Bone fragments littered his arms. Had he not gotten his arms up in time and that punch had made contact with his chest, Naruto would have died on impact. I can tell you that much." Sasuke finished. He leapt the gap over the chasm in "The Valley of the End."

Sakura swallowed her sobs and asked her last question. "Will he… will he be alright though?"

Sasuke shrugged. "I honestly can't say for certain. He has freakish recovery rates and Tsunade brought my brother back from death's door, but there's a chance it won't be enough. I would lie to you, but I know you need the truth."

Sakura nodded and then turned her thoughts introspective. Sasuke sighed and continued his run into the setting sun. He never once glanced back, never even had a thought for those they left behind. For if his mind strayed and he began to worry, his will would break, and he would turn them both right around. So Sasuke continued his steady run into the sunset, mind focused solely on the future.

****************************DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNN********************************

Kakashi stared down at the mangled body of his late teacher's son. A deep, bone weary sorrow had settled deep into his chest. Kakashi knew their good fortune wouldn't last. The only saving grace was his student's mercy in putting their comrade in a forced sleep. At least Naruto wasn't conscious to endure the agony that he would surely be in had he been awake.

The absolute worst part was the looks of horror and disbelief that adorned the faces of Naruto's teammates and comrades. While everyone looked on in shock and Shizune did what she could to stabilize the boy's arms to prevent further injury, Kenta and Ami had shut down. Ami's eyes were red, her tears long dried up. Pure, unfiltered rage poured off the girl in waves. Her blank eyes stared down helplessly at her broken teammate. She absentmindedly stroked the unconscious boy's hair, providing what comfort she could.

Kenta was another story. His eyes stared at his best friend without emotion. The cold mask had fallen into place the second we stumbled across Naruto's body. His panic at seeing his best friend lying so broken had quickly been replaced by the emotionless visage once he verified he was still breathing. Since then, he hadn't moved. He had barely breathed, and his eyes seemed frozen open, refusing to blink. For if he blinked, he would miss something, and his mind couldn't process missing a single detail at this moment.

Kakashi sighed and placed a hand on the teen commander's shoulder. "Kenta. You are still in charge of this mission. What are you orders?"

Kenta didn't flinch, didn't even look at Kakashi. His unblinking owlish eyes never left Naruto's face. "Once Naruto is stable enough to move, my team and I will make our way back to Konoha. You and Shizune will escort your team, taking care not to jostle Naruto more than necessary. I will give my report to Lord Fifth. I will tell him we failed. I will report team 7's treachery, and then I will go train." He finally tore his gaze from Naruto's and locked eyes with Kakashi. Kakashi felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. The look Kenta gave him did not belong on the face of a 13 year old teen. "I tell you this now only out of respect for you, Kakashi. Do your duty to bring your team back in chains, because if I find them, I will bring them back in a body scroll."

With that he rose to his feet and signaled his team. They jumped to their feet, Ami giving Naruto a quick kiss on the forehead before she joined the rest of her team. As one they dashed off at top speed, their desire to be home palpable.

Kakashi sighed and stared towards the darkening sky. He sent a prayer for his fallen teammates and asked his teacher for the guidance he would need in the coming future. Whatever had happened between Sakura, Sasuke and Kenta was known only to those three. Kakashi knew that Kenta was informed of the true nature of this mission. Something changed between the three, something that had painted a target on his two student's backs, and only a part of it had to do with his teacher's son. They were marked for death by possibly the most dangerous teenager in the elemental nations. For Kakashi was no fool, he had seen the body of the Kaguya boy. Kakashi had faced a few Kaguya during his time and knew firsthand the power the Yamanaka boy possessed. For even Kakashi didn't walk away from those fights without even the smallest scratch. Kakashi sent one last prayer skywards. That his two teammates would grow strong enough to weather the storm that was Kenta Yamanaka.

******************************Angst, Angst, Angst!***************************************

"That ends my report, Lord Fifth." I finished, my voice still holding no emotion. "My teammates can either deliver oral reports regarding their battles or turn in a mission report. Whichever you prefer."

Lord Fifth studied me for a few moments before breaking eye contact. "Written reports are fine. We do not need to know excess details. I wish to view your memories sometime in the coming week. I know you won't be able to relax until you see Naruto up and about. I will send for you at that time. Dismissed, Chunin Yamanaka. You are on mandatory leave for the next 5 days. I will send a message once Naruto arrives at the hospital." I bowed stiffly to my leader and exited the room quickly. His face, so similar to the traitors was threatening to send my emotions into overload again. I flickered in a random direction and collapsed to the group in a familiar location. Training ground 23. Our team's training ground. I heard the sounding of flesh smacking wood and relized I wasn't alone. I quickly stumbled upon Ami. Her knuckles bloodied, sweat rolling off her in torrents. I took my place next to her. She noticed my presence and gave a quick nod before returning to her task. Soon, my own knuckles were broken and bloody. I spent the next 6 hours hitting that training dummy over and over.

******************************More Angst! More!*************************************

I unlocked the door to my house and stepped in quietly. The sun had set long ago, and the family was most likely in bed. I was mildly surprised to see the light on in the kitchen. I cautiously walked into the kitchen to find both my parents sitting at the table. They noticed me at the same time but didn't say anything. We simply stared at each other for what seemed like many minutes. Finally, Mom pulled out the chair next to her and motioned for me to sit. I did.

"Kenta, sweetie, you know you can talk to your father and I. We heard about what happened. I'm sure you're feeling a lot of emotions right now, especially with this being your first mission as leader. If you feel up to it, vent to us, dear. We will listen, we won't judge, we will give advice if you ask." Mom's small but genuine smile seemed to open a gash deeper than any wound I could ever receive. I sank into the chair and unloaded everything I had been feeling over the last two days.

My anxiety as team leader for such an important mission. My fears as I left my teammates one by one to face enemies of unknown strength. My anger and disappointment in myself for not being able to do more. I then got to fight with Kimimaro. I began to explain to my parents in a small, hesitant voice how the fight started. As I rattled off word after word, every doubt and self-loathing thought I had came rushing to the surface. I cried as my mother held me, but I pushed on. I told them how I broke that boy down piece by piece. How every single crack I made in his metal defenses sent a rush of adrenaline and euphoric pleasure. How completely satisfied I felt once I finally cracked him like an egg. How my soul seemed to cry out for more as I watched despair claim the teen. I finished my story as mom held me.

I don't know how long I cried, but eventually my tears ran dry. The soul-crushing fear was replacing my anguish and turmoil. I didn't want to meet their eyes. I couldn't physically stand to see their looks of horror and disgust that I know were waiting for me. I took a deep breath; I was no coward. I met my mom's eyes and I felt the all too familiar lump in my throat form. Dad's eyes though broke the dam once again and my tears renewed in earnest. Tears of joy and relief.

In my mom's eyes, nothing but unconditional love and acceptance. In my father's the same, except pride shone in his eyes like a lighthouse at sea. I managed to croak out a single word. "Why?"

Dad took up the mantle this time. "Because, my beautiful son. Your tears that you shed show that you remembered my lessons. You dove headfirst into the dangerous games we play, and you did not succumb to the darkness." I opened my mouth, but father forestalled me. "I already told you, that you would feel the rush and excitement. I warned you of the addiction and intoxicating feelings many years ago. You cry and weep for those feelings you had in the heat of the moment, for you still hold onto you humanity. A true monster would feel no guilt. He would not see the wrong in his actions. Remember what I told you all those years ago, and no matter how many men and women you break and send plummeting to the depths of despair, you will always find your way back to the light."

I smiled warmly at my parents. The crushing weight that had been burdening me for two days straight suddenly seemed to melt away to nothingness. My mind finally relaxed, and blackness claimed me, the stress of the last two days finally catching up to me and my body shut down.

***********************Life Lessons with the Yamanaka Fam********************************

A week had passed since my first failed mission. The records would show a failure, but my record would one day be expunged once pardons were granted to the two deserters. Naruto was still in the hospital, much to his displeasure. Both arms were wrapped tightly in shoulder to finger casts. The damage was severe, and had it been anyone else besides Naruto, their career would be over. However, between Tsunade's medical prowess and Naruto's ungodly natural healing ability, further enhanced by his tenant, he would be back to training in less than a month. Lucky bastard.

Over the last week I had been called into numerous council meetings and briefings with some of the most politically and physically powerful men and women in the leaf. I was forced to answer the same questions over and over, my memories projected numerous times as if my mind was the latest matinee showing at the theatre. I didn't mind. I would do my duty to my village, whatever they asked of me.

I was knocked out of my internal musings by a purple comet. Ami crashed into me, causing me to bend down slightly. She seized the opportunity and slung an arm over my hunched shoulders.

"Where you off to, ole' buddy of mine." She asked, the glint in her eye told me she was bored. Hell. No.

"Grabbing ramen for Naruto. Going to visit with him for a bit, then head to the training field to practice a few techniques. Join me, oh bored one?" I drawled in a bored tone. She nodded enthusiastically before sobering up.

"So, what do we do about the Uchiha and Haruno? We can't let this go unpunished." The steely glint in her eyes made me shiver slightly.

"We train. We get stronger. They won't be resting the entire time they are away. If they survive and are ordered back to the village, we beat them down to get the truth from them. If we're ordered to bring them back, we break every bone in their bodies and drag them back along the bumpiest road." I growled out. Ami nodded severely.

"I agree. Anko is stepping my training up. She thinks I'm ready for her strongest techniques. I will learn and master them. That pink-haired bitch nearly killed my little brother, I need to return the favor." Ami's anger matching my own.

For the entire walk to Ichiraku we continued to bad mouth and list off all the creative ways to bring the two home alive yet in as much pain as possible. By the time we left with our order's plus Naruto's, I felt much better than I had before.

Despite the glaring blemish on my record that will be there for who knows how long, everyone under my command came back home, alive. That was more than what I could have expected now looking back. No one knows exactly what tomorrow will bring, even those that can read the webs. The only thing I did know, I would make damn well sure I would be more than prepared.

And scene! I'm really happy with the way this chapter turned out. We finished at 21.5k words. Combining that with last weeks 18k words, this chapter without being rushed would have been 39.5k words. Soooo I'm really happy I made the decision to split these chapters.

Re-reading the chapter to find those minor spelling/grammar mistakes (I still miss a lot, I'm sorry!), I'm totally feeling Noel Silva vibes from Fú's fight. Anyone else? I'm OK with that, Noel is BC Wifey #2, barely edged out by the one and only Miss OP Vanessa. However, if you didn't get the theme, in my head I imagined a bigger than life, fuck you sized horn from a Japanese Rhino Beetle (or other) charging you down :D

The biggest question I have for you all, how are we feeling about Sakura? This is an idea I've had since I wrote the wave chapter. The only thing Sakura was praised for over and over pre-timeskip was her high level of intelligence, and the insane amount of control she had. This was the idea I came up with to highlight both her greatest attributes. It may seem impossible, and for all I know it should be, but it's now on the internet and there's no taking it back! What are your thoughts on where I'll be heading with this highly aggressive direction we're going?

I took a different approach to everyone who wasn't Kenta this chapter. A few folks had recommended less 1st person POVs and more 3rd person if not a main character/main story line. Did it work, or should I continue on with the POV swaps?

The final chapter of part 1 is in the works as you finish reading these notes. I want to have it out by NLT Friday, though I expect it will be out before then.

I will mark this story as complete once one I have chapter 17/chapter 1 of part two posted. Part 2 will be its own story so there is no confusion on pre/post time skip.

This is the last chance to post your vote for Ami's Bae! Once 16 posts, the polls will close and the winner will be announced.

Feel free to review/PM me directly with comments/questions/concerns/tips/tricks/criticisms/anything. I love hearing from you guys and gals, especially when you bring in a viewpoint I never even considered!

Seeya all in chapter 16!