Coward

AN: Welcome readers to a new story… sort of. Basically I wanted to make a story about the true horrors of war. The brutality of it all. It is very heavily inspired by the amazing movie "Hacksaw ridge" as well as a few other war based movies I've come to love. If you haven't seen that movie yet, I'd heavily recommend it as it was so amazing. Uh, I've actually been writing this for a while just as a sort of personal fic just for myself, but as I'm reading through it, it's actually not that bad and I have yet to read anything like it on this site… not to toot my own horn or anything haha, just… it's something different I guess. Maybe you'll like it, maybe you'll hate it. Who knows? To each their own.

As of right now, I am also working on my other story "Please Believe Me" but I've been pretty swamped with school and work at the moment so I haven't had much time to write. I'm posting this to ensure you guys that I am not dead and that I am still writing. I just wanted to get something out for my loyal readers who have been waiting patiently. A few who have messages me personally demanding updates, I am sorry. Just give me some time. When I have free time I am writing vigorously, but I don't get too much of that. So, just bear with me people! I have a ton of these personally written stories that I've made just for myself, if you enjoy this one who knows, I may put those out as well. I have about two more. Let me know.

ANYWAYS! I hope you enjoy this little snippet of a newly war-torn world of Naruto.

Disclaimer- I do not own the characters or the original plot. All rights go to their respective owners

Chapter 1:
"I see Humans, but no Humanity" (Banksy)

Lying flat on his back, Naruto's ears rang as he stared up towards the smug filled sky. He laid there on the battlefield covered in scattered dead bodies. Bodies of young men who were no longer suffering in this hellish war. Young men all uniformly donning the regalia of their respective villages. Once meaningful and hopeful souls, now reduced to nothing but pawns of war laid forgotten on the conflict riddled battlefield. Most of them were so disfigured and mangled they were no longer recognizable. All of them too young to have seen the things they've seen.

The Shinobi world is not the same anymore. Long has it changed from the days of the clan wars where its every family for themselves. Nor is it the same as the second and third great wars. No longer is it a bloody chess match between the Kage using their somewhat willing Shinobi where skill is admired and feared. Now, it's a game of numbers.

In Konoha, the time of willing participants joining the academy to hone their skills is over. There is no academy because there is no time. This is but one of the adjustments made on the losing side. Any young man twelve or up with a steady enough family line is taken from their home for the purpose of training. This means the oldest son of a family with more than one boy. The restrictions to this draft are if the boy is an only child or if the boy has no brother. For those who don't meet these requirements, entry is optional. At the age of sixteen, they are shinobi.

The four man squad equipped with a Jonin sensei who teaches you the ropes is a thing of the past. Now, for every twenty genin there are two Jonin tasked with their training. As soon as they deem your class ready, all of you are promoted to chunin and you are officially battle ready.

That's for the young boys. For the young girls, they are trained in the arts of basic medicine from the age 12 to 18 to assist in the matters of the returning wounded soldiers. When they do turn 18 they are free to decide where they would like to work. They are rarely placed on the battle field anymore for the obvious risk of the horrors forced upon them by the women deprived enemy. In the first few years, they were encouraged to go, but after a woman presumed dead escaped her captives and told her story, the third Hokage decided it a good idea to pull them from the frontline. Apparently the enemy began to target them for capture only for the purpose of satisfying their own. Men at war hold no morals.

Now the only women on the front lines are those containing advantageous kekei genkai such as the Sharingan of the women from the Uchiha clan. Even so they hold a greater risk than men. Capture is not a possibility. They are to battle with cyanide tablets beneath their tongue in case they are ever incapacitated. When they die, a seal on their body destroys their kekei genkai immediately. For the men, it merely seals it away and can only be unsealed by whoever their clan heads are.

Strength is still admired with certain restrictions agreed upon by all of the nations. There are no Jinchurikki anymore. The loss of innocent lives from the terroristic style attacks of these monsters were felt by all. It struck a chord throughout the lands and it was agreed upon. 'No Biju Warfare'.

Now it is what war is. It is brutal… it is long… and it is bloody. Army against army… man against man and in the much sadder cases… boy against boy. More precisely, this war is the longest and it is the bloodiest. The greatest of all wars. Great used ironically of course.

It's a strange concept to grasp the way it all began. The death of a little girl and a soldier. It became a widely known story after too long. Twelve years ago, the Hyuga heiress of only five years of age was taken from her home in the dark of night. The culprit a Shinobi of Kumogakure. When her absence was discovered, her father went in search of her. A mile out of the village, he caught the man who had stopped to rest, clearly underestimating the power of Hiashi Hyuga's Byakugan. He slayed that man that night, but he did not save his daughter.

Sadly, that was not the end of it. The Third Raikage claimed innocent when he was questioned by their ally Iwagakure. He claimed his man was murdered senselessly for simply passing through the land of fire. What's more, he demanded compensation in the form of vengeance. He wanted the man who killed him to die as well. The Third Hokage did all he could to justify with Iwa on the matter, but they hated Konoha just as much. The plan was to get Iwa to side with them so that Kumo would have no backing for the issue and they would call off their silly demands.

The Hokage's actions were in vain. The stage was set and they demanded the body of Hiashi Hyuga. The grief stricken man was indifferent to the matter and he was all but ready to agree to it until his brother spoke up and demanded he take his place. The Hokage did not attempt to hide the matter to the Raikage. In fact, they agreed to the circumstances. As a clan head, Hiashi was far too valuable to kill that easily. With the rationalization of causing him more pain in life, the Raikage agreed to the trade.

It was a matter that was to happen in person. The Raikage and the oldest son of the man that died met with the Hokage and the twin brothers of the Hyuga clan at a halfway point between the two villages. The moment of reckoning was upon them. In one split second. One single breath, a war was started. As the son of the dead man went to exact revenge, his heart was stopped with a precise Jyuken strike to his chest. Hiashi was not prepared to lose his brother as well.

The Raikage made no move to save his life. He stood back in his spot, a few feet away staring at Hiruzen Sarutobi who was masking his emotions well. He said two lines that spoke volumes for his intentions. "As you know Hokage, this means war. Let history tell the story today." It's been twelve years since then. Twelve years of constant fighting. Everlasting agony to the race of humanity.

They were children. Children in the heat of war. There is no such thing as lasting innocence in this world of war.

"Naruto!" yelled a voice out in the distance. Naruto tilted his head in that direction to see a young man about as old as himself. Black hair done up into a spikey ponytail atop his head with a few loose strands falling over and matting to his bare forehead. His headband brandished proudly on his left bicep. He crawled over to the downed blonde, keeping his head low as to avoid the detection of any remaining enemies. Naruto turned back towards the greying sky, nothing remotely on his mind. When he made it to him, he could feel his hands on his body. More specifically, the bloody gash along the left side of his abdomen.

"Hey, keep your eyes open. Hey!" he said slapping his whiskered face to wake him up. Looking out towards the field, he apparently spotted something as he ducked his head down further. "I'm gonna get you out of here." He said as he grabbed the front of Naruto's green vest and began dragging him. Before they made it too far, a kunai came soaring in. He unintentionally yanked Naruto just in time as the kunai impaled the ground beneath where his head would have been.

Shikamaru looked towards the direction it came from and pulled a kunai of his own. Appearing in a shunshin, four Kiri shinobi stood before him. He hopped to his feet and stepped in front of Naruto's downed form.

One of them spoke for the group. "Well, well. Two survivors." He mocked. "A Nara if I'm not mistaken." He stated looking at Shikamaru. "Drop your weapon or you will be killed."

The ponytailed man glared at him, but did as he was told. There was just no logical way of getting them both out of here alive.

"Get down on your gut and put your hands behind your back. You're coming with us." Again, he did as he was told. The last thing Naruto saw was the bottom of a shinobi sandal soaring down towards his face. Then, everything went black.

Opening his eyes to the sound of some kind of chime, Naruto poked his head up above the blue sheets of his bed set. Looking around, there were twenty other little eight year old boys in similar beds equally confused by the sudden noise. Only twenty others as this was only one of the many orphanages littering the village. With war came a rise in orphan population, consequently an influx in space needed. This was one of the fifteen orphan houses. It's morning already? It can't be.

"Ok guys. It's time to get up." A bright and happy voice said from the front of the room. Their heads turned in sync and stared at a woman with short black hair. The head mistress of the orphanage Shizune. "Come on, rise and shine you little darlings. Let's start the day."

Groggily, the boys marched out of the room, absentmindedly falling into a straight line as they funneled out the door. They began the routine they became accustomed without a second thought. They each funneled into the bathroom to do their morning business before breakfast.

After all that, the lot of them met in the dining room for breakfast. A small meal passed out and eaten within the given time limit. When they finished their meals, it was off to the classroom. They worked on reading and writing and whatever else was in the curriculum. After their lunch break, it finally got to the best part of the day.

The kids funneled out of the side door of the small orphanage, the playground in sight. It was a completely metallic set of obstacles for them to enjoy the rest of their day on. There was a swing set, a merry go round, and a set of slides connected by a jungle of platforms and metal staircases. Naruto found a swing a ways away that he enjoyed sitting at. No one really played with him. He wasn't hated or anything. It was more like they were afraid. When he first got to the orphanage three years ago, he was five years old. He would frequently have night terrors where he would wake up and freak out, scaring everyone. Those episodes resulted from the loss of his mother a few months prior. So, he just sat here on his swing, watching everyone else.

It wasn't necessarily ideal, but he enjoyed watching the games they would play. It was still kind of fun. He found he rather enjoyed playing at the park outside of the orphanage. They used to be able to go out and explore the village. For some reason they just started locking the front gates. They did a lot of things differently now. They were not left in ignorance. It was explained to them that they were at war. None of them truly understood what that meant, but they understood that there were some bad people trying to hurt them. That's all they were told and all they needed to know.

Every day they have drills and exercises they must take to prepare for an attack. It's become little more than tedious work at this point since they've only actually been attacked once and it was on the other side of the village. But, regardless, as per the Hokage's orders, they are to practice safety at all times. When the siren sounds, you run inside and duck into any room nearby. You find a desk, table, or bed and you hide under it. And you don't come out until an adult says to. That's the way they are instructed to protect themselves.

The days never change here. Every day is the same. The only indication of them actually moving through life is the fact that the seasons change. Children wouldn't notice such a thing right? They essentially do the same things every day anyways right? Well, as time goes along even a child can become bored of routine. It's in human nature to want to experience more than just the basics of life. That's all they've been exposed to at this stage of their life. That makes the fact that they too will one day be going to war a lot sadder.

The life of war is difficult not only for the soldiers fighting, but also for the innocent people who must prepare to do so. Truly a life where no tomorrow is promised. That's the thing about life. It only takes one moment to shape our path. One moment of sheer joy.

"Hey, Naruto! We're trying to play ninja. We need one more person to make it even. You want to play with us?"

Or one very bad mistake. "u-Uh… Sure!" One innocent invitation that is soon to end in tragedy. What makes a man is his conviction to that which he believes. For a man who refuses to stand for anything is no longer a man, but a monster. In the eyes of a child however, a man of war, regardless what side, is a monster.

He stood there at the top of the slide, looking down at the kid twitching on the ground below. The ringing siren screaming in his ears, blocking out the sound of Shizune yelling his name from the door. Why wasn't he getting up. He wasn't moving. That boy that asked him to play with them was no longer moving. His eyes were open and he looked like he was breathing, but he wasn't moving.

He didn't know what happened. They were playing ninja… and then there was an argument… then the kid hit him in the face. After that… there was the sound of a boom. A very loud boom and then the siren. In that one small moment, his buttons were pushed too far, so he pushed back. It was just a little shove. A seemingly harmless way of distancing himself from this kid who wanted to hurt him. Why was it so much worse?

His vision was set solely on the downed kid laying in an awkward position on the floor. He didn't even blink when Shizune came diving in next to the boy with one of the other kids he was playing with. He couldn't move himself. He watched as Shizune placed a hand on the boys back, dropping her ear next to his mouth that hung open loosely with the smallest strand of blood leaking out the side of his lips. She then took her thumb and placed it on his top eyelid, tugging lightly. Naruto watched as the boys jade green eye retracted from the assault of extra light.

Shizune sighed and looked to the other kid who was standing on the opposite side. Naruto was still gazing into the eyes of the boy on the ground as two men wearing white medical gowns with red plus signs on their arms came diving into his peripheral. He also saw the accusing finger of the other boy barreling into his chest from a distance. Still his eyes on the boy, he didn't flinch when Shizune came rushing over to him, anger in each step. He couldn't hear much, but he did hear that one line. "You could have killed him."

He heard it so clearly it almost made him sick. He could have killed that boy. He almost killed someone. He couldn't even fathom that. It hurt to think about. Much more than Shizune painfully grabbing his upper arm and dragging him back inside. It hurt a lot worse than the fear riddled faces of the boys around him as they parted and allowed the two of them through. It even hurt worse than the spanking he was dealt from the administrator. He could have killed him…

(4 years later)

"Ok boys, gather your things." Shizune said, standing at the doorway of their bedroom. All twenty of them, all in their best dressed and looking presentable got in line at the door. "I am so glad to have housed you all here. It has been my pleasure to teach you all I could. I know you boys will serve our beautiful village well. Whatever you choose to do." She said.

The line stretched back to the opposite wall. Each of them had their black duffel bags in hand ready for their first departure into the real world. Naruto stood among the middle of them all. His blonde hair slicked back for this big day. It was the decision day. The day they were all dreading for one reason or another.

As orphans, they have a choice of whether or not they would like to join the forces. This of course being due to their obvious family loopholes to the draft. If not, there are plenty of other jobs that could use young hands to train. Little by little the line began to move. From his spot, it didn't feel as though it were moving any. Every little step closer they got, he pondered whether or not he really wanted to go through with this. He knew what he wanted to do, but he was unsure if he would be prepared for it all. They were asked how they planned to contribute many months ago. They were given a list of jobs or specialties within the forces or outside the forces. All this time he's spent pondering that question and still he feels as though he could use a few more minutes… or hours… or days.

"Next!"

And there went the time. There were only about five people in front of him. At the opposite side of the wall outside of their bedroom was a man wearing the official Jonin uniform with small round black shades on, signing forms for each person who told him what they planned on doing. When their form was signed and stamped, they were sent off to their location without a single glance. Shizune stood to his left, overseeing the entire ordeal, smiling the children off as they entered the workforce or the war. Only, everyone so far has chosen workforce.

"Next!"

He was a lot closer now. If ever he wanted to back out of it, this is the time to change his mind. What if he regrets it? What if he can't handle the impact of this decision?

"Next!" (small time lapse)

There are so many other ways to help. So, why this way? Why is he choosing this?

"Next!" (small time lapse)

… God this is stupid.

"Next!" The kid in front of him stepped up to the table. "Name?"

The kid seemed to be thrown out of his stupor. "u-Uh! Heichi Yuen."

The guy wrote it down on the paper. "What's your choice?"

The kid pondered it for less than a second. It seemed as though he just decided a mental debate between himself. "f-… Factory…" The way he said it seemed as though he were disappointed in himself.

The guy signed the form silently before stamping it official and handing it to the kid. "Take it to the factory, and they'll get you started. Next!" Naruto came up and stood with his hands behind his back, feeling it to be an appropriate position when in the face of someone who could be considered his captain in a few years. "Name?"

"Naruto Namikaze." He said quickly.

The man wrote it down silently. As he did so, Naruto took this time to examine his uniform. His name was presented across the right side of his chest in a little strip. Something new. It read 'Ebisu'. "What's your choice?"

Here it goes. Now or never. With an intake of breath, he spit it out. "Field medic."

The guy actually looked up at him. "Field medic?" he asked as if not hearing him. "Well, looks like we've got the year's first orphanage recruit." He said as he began writing again. Naruto offered a very small smile as he glanced up to Shizune who seemed surprised as well. With the slamming of the stamp on his paper, his fate was sealed. "Take it to the western barracks. They'll give you a place to stay for the night. Recruit training begins tomorrow." He nodded and grabbed the paper. "Thank you for your service." The man said which surprised him. Naruto just nodded and continued on his way.

As he stepped out onto the streets of Konoha, he was amazed at how dreary it seemed. Viewing it from within the walls of the orphanage all this time, he had always imagined it a lot brighter… livelier maybe.

"Hey, move it kid." A vendor said as he continued pushing his cart down the road.

Naruto offered him an apology that was left in the wind. The village is actually exactly like the walls of the orphanage. Just as dreary, just as grey, and just as lifeless. He began walking towards the direction he was informed to go by the man assisting the orphans at the front gate. He went up and showed him his paper and he directed him down this street.

The barracks are apparently not necessarily in the village. In fact, they are located at the old ANBU training grounds. He walked and walked, passing by many different people including a few high ranking shinobi. Being out here felt no different than being in the orphanage. There's just a lot more people who seem to hate the imaginary walls around them.

He continued until he finally found the location he was instructed to go to. It was a literal camp site. Or rather a much larger camp site. The sign on top of it read 'Troop 9'. He stared up at it in amazement. He was going to be part of troop number 9. For some reason that felt right.

"If you're a recruit, bring me your documents. If not keep moving." A voice said from the wooden post off towards the left. Naruto turned that way to see a man with a blue bandana on his head and scars across his face.

"o-Oh." He muttered out as he made his way over. He tapped the paper in his palm on the way to him. "I'm a… I'm a new recruit sir." He said handing his paper over.

The man took it while blatantly sizing him up. With a sigh he read over the paper. "Namikaze..." He said his last name as if tasting the way it rolled off his tongue. Or rather, as if it were a name he knew all too well.

"Yes sir?"

The man looked up from the paper and handed it back. "Nothing. I knew your father is all." He said with a nod. "Great man. I expect nothing but great things. I'm Ibiki." He stuck his hand out and Naruto shook it vigorously.

"I won't disappoint you sir."

"I sure hope not." He said shaking his head. "You're in barrack 7. Choose a bed you like. You're the first one here."

Naruto nodded and turned to leave before he fully comprehended his words. "u-Uh… where are the other recruits?"

"They show up tomorrow. The orphanages discharge a day early so move in day for you guys started today. You're the only one that's signed up for service." He explained. Naruto was surprised. They were the last orphanage to be sent off, so that meant unless someone else from his came, he was truly the only one. He nodded again and walked off.

Along the way, he pondered that excitement the guy showed at hearing his last name. He knew exactly who his father was. Minato Namikaze, the yellow flash of the leaf. To the leaf, a hero who helped tilt the previous war in our favor. To the opposing forces, a monster who decimated their people. He knew of his father from the history lessons at school. He knew of his famous techniques that are now used widely in the forces, well all but one.

He died in the heat of war as he saved his Genin from certain death. He also knows of his mother being the last container of the Kyubi. That information was told to him by Hokage himself. Well, the old Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi the Sandaime. Now, they are under command of the Yondaime Kakashi Hatake.

In route to the barracks, he witnessed a living legend in the flesh walk by. Jet black hair done in a lazy ponytail, two bangs framing the sides of his face, and two strange lines on his face. Itachi Uchiha of the great Uchiha clan. Oh man, if that was his sensei then this could turn out to be very difficult.

He continued down further until he reached the designated wooden building. Barrack 7 was etched into the wooden plaque above. He stepped up and opened the door. Inside, he grew a bit disappointed. It was almost exactly like the twenty person room at the orphanage. The only difference was that the walls and floors were wooden, not blue. He walked further in and took the bed second to last along the right hand side. He swung his bag onto the bed and looked around. Each of the beds had a footlocker down in front of them.

He walked around and kicked his open. Inside there was a set of clothes, black ninja sandals, and a blank headband. This was it. He was here now. He's a part of the Konoha Shinobi forces. This was going to be something of a crazy adventure.

(The Next Morning)

Waking up to the sound of some kind commotion, Naruto rolled over to see the room now nearly filled with other guys, all of them already dressed in their training gear. Gear consisting of black ANBU style pants taped down at the bottom, black shinobi sandals, and white t-shirts with the leaf village symbol on the right side of their chest. He was still in his clothes from yesterday. There were so many guys standing around doing various tasks just to pass the time. Some playing Shogi, others practicing grappling moves they've learned, and most just talking to their neighbors. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"You're a heavy sleeper aren't you?" said a voice behind him. In the bed next to his was a brown haired boy with two red tattoos on each of his cheeks. "You pretty much slept through a fight or two." He said with a chuckle.

"Oh… really?" Naruto asked in a friendly tone, trying to keep the conversation going. "I guess I was really tired."

"Tch, seems like it." He stood from his bed and leaned over to him, extending his hand. "I'm Kiba Inuzuka."

Naruto took the friendly gesture with a nod of his head. "Naruto Namikaze."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Namikaze?" Said a voice more towards the middle of the aisle. He looked up to see a guy with a spikey ponytail looking his way in lazy interest. "As in Minato Namikaze?"

Naruto nodded. "Uh.. yeah, that was my dad…"

He chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. "Oh man. Seems I'm in a room of top class prospects. What a drag."

"What do you mean?" Kiba asked.

He gestured his head over towards the most heavily populated area of the room. "There are a lot of big named families in here. There's you Kiba, Choji, Shino Aburame, now a Namikaze… This is insane… Not to mention golden boy over there." He said again gesturing towards the big group of people. The others all looked that way and somehow all knew exactly who he was talking about. Sasuke Uchiha, the younger brother of Itachi Uchiha. No doubt a big asset to their barracks.

"Oh man, they're gonna be way harder on us aren't they?" Kiba asked.

Shikamaru shrugged. "Most likely. Whatever the case, I think you should get ready. There's only five minutes until our Jonin sensei are supposed to arrive." He said to Naruto who quickly jumped up. He grabbed the stuff out of his footlocker and quickly put it on. Just in time too as the door opened. Without even being told, they all stood at attention on the left gap between their bed and the next one. Eyes forward, hands behind their backs, and feet shoulder length apart.

Their two Jonin Sensei came walking in. Both of them sporting dark black hair and coal black eyes. They were clearly family members by how similar they seemed. Strangely enough a pair of orange goggles hung down around the neck of one of them. "Welcome recruits." Said the other as he walked through examining everyone. Sizing them up as best he could. "I am Captain Shisui and this is Captain Obito. You will address us as such. From this point on you no longer have freedom. You may consider yourselves worthless until we deem you something useful."

Captain Obito stepped back towards the start of the line on the left hand side. "As I walk by, you will state your name and the position you signed up for." He informed quickly with the clipboard in his hand. He went to the first person.

"Horo Kiechi! Long range combatant!" Naruto watched on in interest as he went down the line. Each guy doing as was asked of them. Feeling a pair of eyes on him, he turned to see Captain Shisui staring straight at him. He quickly looked forward, afraid he was in trouble. When the black haired man just continued walking he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Uchiha Sasuke. All around specialist." Obito continued along.

"Nara Shikamaru. Strategist"

"Akimichi Choji. Close combat." That was the last of the left side. He then went straight across, never looking up from his keyboard.

"Inuzuka Kiba! Tracking specialist!" Obito scribbled it down and continued on.

"Namikaze Naruto. Field medic." The scribbling of his pen stopped abruptly. He slowly looked over to Naruto's face. Most of the others looked as well, most unaware of who he actually was until now. If Obito had dropped his pen, it'd sound like an explosion in this hellish silence. With a nod of his head, he continued on.

When he finally finished, Shisui once again took over. "Most of you were drafted and I am well aware not all of you want to be here. But, let it be known we don't care how you got here. We are simply tasked with making you into the best shinobi possible. So, that is exactly what we'll do. We don't care how you feel, because the enemy will not care."

Flawlessly, Obito picked up. "We don't care if you're injured because the enemy will not hesitate. We are not friends. In fact, by the time you leave our care, you should hate our guts."

"Your friends are those standing right next to you. Make a lot of them, because you'll need em for the years to come. Prepare yourselves, because we start in five minutes… Welcome to hell."

AN: Okay! So, this first chapter was fairly boring. I was simply setting up the world as it is now. Some things to know if you did not catch them.

The Biju are essentially equal to nuclear warfare and have more or less been banned from use. That being said, Naruto does not have the Kyubi… all will be explained in due time.

I chose to exclude women from the draft as was common back during the world wars, but they can choose to serve if they wish. I'm not sexist or anything lol, I love women!

Naruto's personality is a little different than it is in the show, but he still holds the same morals and beliefs. He's just a little more respectful, as I believe would be appropriate with the children being quite literally bred for war during a young age. He's essentially a decountrified Desmond Doss.

This is not an extremely religious story. It's just a tale of personal belief

If you're a common reader of my stories then yes you should know this is yet another Naruino. I honestly don't know why anymore haha. I was just writing this tale and it somehow fit. I mean, Sakura would've fit too, but idk I don't much care for Sakura.

Some people may be upset about Hinata's early demise, but that was the trigger for this war to begin. I didn't necessarily have to, it's just the route I took. As I said, this was a personal story that I am just deciding to share. It's rather compelling if you stick around.

Though some of the clan children may qualify for the decision aspect of the draft, I think it's fair to say that no clan would withhold their clansmen from a war of this scale.

For those who don't like Naruto being "tortured" as was once an issue with my story in the past, this is not a fic you're going to want to read. Once again, I'm a firm believer in growth through pain. So, he will be at the raw end of the stick for a lot of this story. But, just as he is in the show, the knucklehead just doesn't know when to give up. I hope you guys stick around and enjoy! I don't know how often these chapters will be, but I am still very much more focused on my other fic at the moment.