"In many a mountain pass,
Or meadow green and fresh,
Mass shall encounter mass
Of shuddering human flesh;
Opposing ordnance roar
Across the swaths of slain,
And blood in torrents pour
In vain -- always in vain,
For war breeds war again!"

War song, by John Davidson

A Traitor of the Highest Degree

The first thing he noticed was her hair. It flowed down her back in a cascade of shimmering light. Insubstantial motions, delicate waves caused by every move she made, coursed through her hair, making it dance and sparkle in the moonlight. Every now and again, it would light up crimson from the frequent fireballs that pierced the night sky, but overall it remained that same heavenly shade of blond.

What drew him next were her eyes, perfect almond orbs perfectly set in her regal face. They brought back memories of his family, of eating ramen with Iruka or Jiraiya, they reminded him of Ichiraku Ramen, and the warm welcome he always received after a hard day's training. He was filled with a sense of familiarity and companionship.

Of course, that could be attributed to the small seal, tattoo like, on her shoulder, visible only due to a lucky strike of his wind jutsu (revealing more of her tantalizingly lithe body, a situation he was simultaneously aroused and embarrassed by) that marked her as a fellow Jinchuuriki. Perhaps it was their shared fate that attracted him the most. To be feared and hated for something out their control, to be marked different and shunned for it.... that was a pain few knew....
Or perhaps everyone knew it... perhaps fate made it so, on some level, for everyone.

Bah. He was starting to sound like that bastard Neji.

Uzumaki Naruto, know everywhere as the Kyuubi, had enough time to catch one last glimpse of the beauty know as Nii Yugito before the tide of battle swept them apart.

"Kyuubi!" A voice rang out, somehow managing to conquer the racket that inherently filled an army camp when the soldiers had been stationed without action for too long. "Kyuubi!" This time, more forcefully.

Naruto groaned. Sasuke getting off his High-and-mighty ass always meant another S-ranked mission from HQ. Probably signed by the Hokage. All it meant was another night of no sleep, impossible odds, last second miracles and death. He bit back the urge to groan. Maybe if he didn't answer, Sasuke would go be a prick elsewhere.

"Kyuubi! Get off your ass and report to the command tent! We received some Intel and Fugaku-sama wants to send you out on a mission." Naruto grimaced. He fucking knew it. Sasuke kicked him in the side. "Get up! Are you a goddamn Nara now?"

Naruto blearily looked up, and flipped Sasuke off before lying back down. "Get of my damn back and go tell the commander I'll be there momentarily, bastard." Sasuke stalked off, muttering about damn lazy foxes.

"Really Naruto, I don't think you should piss off the commander's son."

"It's fate, Neji. He was fated to be a prick, and I'm fated to piss him off." Naruto got up, this time with a grin on his face. He clasped Neji's arm and half-hugged him.
"That's rich, you talking about fate." Neji said with a smirk on his face. He returned Naruto's embrace. "I'm glad to see you no worse for wear."
Naruto released him. "How did your mission go?"

"Eh. Same old same old. Spy on the damn cloud-nins. Ambush the damn cloud-nins. Retreat from the damn cloud-nins... You?"

Naruto sighed. "That bitch Yugito and a squad of Anbu started raiding out supply line. I had to go out with two squads and rive her off. And the bastard Fugaku didn't let me command. Gave it some relative of his, a brother named Uchiha Riyuki or something. Usual Uchiha. Rattled on for half an hour about his fucking superiority to the rest of us, and got himself killed by Yugito. The Uchiha here declared a vendetta against Neko-bitch, Load of crap that'll do."

"Clan vendettas are powerful things, Naruto. Watch out for them." Neji shrugged. "Let's go. We're late enough for the Commander's meeting."

Sarutobi sighed. He was far too old for his own good. He glanced up and the picture of his successor, and predecessor, with a semi-glare. "I ought not of had to govern through two wars, Minato. I'm far too old for this. Fugaku tried to start a sanction against your son in the council, sighting gross negligence of power. According to Fugaku, Naruto "let Uchiha Riyuki, my brother, be killed in a most dishonorable and ill-befitting death for a man of his caliber without raising an adequate defense.""

Sarutobi stopped and stared. "And now I'm talking to a picture, out loud." He shook his head and lifted his pipe to his mouth. He started to review the latest report of his commander of the Iwa front, Hatake Kakashi.

A polite knock disturbed him. "Hokage-sama, might I enter?"

The elderly Hokage smiled, weary and sad as he was. "Of course Hiashi, my doors are always open for you." The large wooden doors opened, and one of his staunchest allies on the council, Hyuuga Hiashi entered the room, followed by his brother Hizashi.

"I apologize for my lateness, Hokage-sama. I was visiting my daughter's grave."

Sarutobi grimaced. The cloud's attempt, 4 years ago, to kidnap the then-12-year-old Hyuuga Hinata had ended up with the deaths of both Hinata and the jounin-oyabun of Kumo. It had stressed the already brittle relationship between the two villages, and was a direct cause of the war they now fought. "No offense is taken, Hiashi-sama. Hinata was an excellent young woman, and was happened to her was a tragedy of the highest degree." Hiashi mournfully nodded his head. He hadn't been the same man since the incident. Much of his confidence was sapped by his daughter's death. "As much of a pleasure as it is" Sarutobi continued "What is the reason for your visit today."

Hiashi paused. "My brother," Hizashi gave a small nod and a small, embarrassed smile, "was wondering if you had heard any news of Neji from the front. The Hyuuga clan is anxious for news of his wellbeing and deeds at the front."

This time, Sarutobi allowed a small smile to grace his timeworn face. Hyuuga Neji was the first branch-house Hyuuga to have his caged-bird seal removed. He was a test case. Hiashi and Hizashi had fought with the Hyuuga elders until everyone was blue in the face for the opportunity. Sarutobi knew that if Neji's actions benefitted the clan well, the Caged-bird seal had the distinct possibility of being resigned to history. Of course, the opposite was also true if he acted dishonorably....

The Third reached into the drawer where he kept the folders of influential ninja and their kin. He took out a sheet and started reading "He has the full compliments of his commanding officers, the marks of merit many times over for saving the lives of his fellow Shinobi, the commendations of the Jinchuuriki Naruto and has preformed many extreme missions in the name of his village, with an unbelievable 90% mission success rating." He looked up at the two smiling men. "He has become quite the war hero."

"Excellent." Hiashi stood up. "Thank you very much for making me privy to this information, Hokage-sama, and thank you for spending your valuable time with us." He and Hizashi both bowed. "The clan will be most pleased by the news."

"It was my pleasure, Hiashi-sama." Sarutobi intoned. "your clan has always been a friend to mine, and you have always been my staunchest of supporters. Any such information about your kin such as this is a trifle, compared to the sacrifices your clan has long made for Konoha."

The two men both bowed again, before politely letting themselves out of his office. Sarutobi sighed. If all his councilmen were like Hiashi, perhaps Konoha wouldn't be in the mess it was now. Maybe if he was a bit younger, if Minato was still alive, if Jiraiya had succeeded him at the start of the conflict..... Sarutobi frowned "and if I was born a women I'm probably be an ugly old shrew." He muttered to himself. "We have to deal with the plate we're dealt. A Hokage has no times for "ifs""
Back to business then. What do with Naruto.....

The 16-year old Jinchuuriki entered his commanding officer's tent, Neji close on his heels. "Kyuubi" Fugaku said in a curt, low tone. "You're late. Perhaps you should get up earlier?" Sasuke smirked at him. Goddamn daddy's-boy. "I'll take that to thought, Fugaku-sama." he muttered, with the barest hint of sarcasm. He looked up. "Your son mentioned something of a mission?"

"Yes, Kyuubi. A mission." Fugaku repeated, as if Naruto was some slow-five year old who couldn't understand anything. " I want you to wipe out the port city of Taikumo, where the Kumo nin's have been shipping in supplies to fuel their war effort. The Nibi and possibly the Hachibi might also be present. Kill them. All of them. After all, mindless slaughter has always been your forte, Kyuubi." A low chuckle rippled through the assembled Uchiha.

Naruto swallowed an angry retort, and his pride. "As your wish, Fugaku-sama, it shall be done."

Author's Note: Hello. Corcha here. Hoped you like my first fic. It was spawned after a late night reading of some of Turtledove's work. (I'm in the middle of WW1) For those that don't know, he writes alternative history. The Confederacy remained independent after the Civil war (or War of Succession). And I started to think of what would have happened if The Hyuuga incident had happened when Hinata was twelve, instead. Hope you like it. Any reviews would be welcome (save for flames, which shall be used to roast my marshmallows. (I can't eat marshmallows. Damn Gelatin. In goddam everything.)) R&R!

Author's Note (Jan. 22 2010)

Changed my name twice, which is the most obvious difference. Anyways, I noticed that my old chapter divides weren't showing up on the site, but would on the document when I downloaded it. I've changed them, so it should be better. If there aren't any chapter divides, and you made it through this far, please send me a message. Thanks! T.J.