I fought for my friends, for my village, and for my family. I knew that there was a huge chance that when this was all over, I might end up just being a name on the Memorial Stone.

Yet it didn't stop me from preparing myself and standing there proudly with the others from all Elemental Nations shinobi right there with me.

War doesn't slow down. Neither does it flash by in a blink of an eye. No, the worst part is that you're vividly aware of your every move and that of the Edo Tensei and the white plant beings fighting against you, aware and hearing as some of your comrades die around you.

War was brutal and soul glaringly horrible. Yet to have a chance to save those we loved, our village, and our friends and family, we would have to fight. Many had already died with that belief and trust placed in Naruto and everyone else currently fighting.

"I'm sorry," I whispered when Shika grabbed my arm after taking note of the look on my face that showed my determination and sorrow. "I love you Nara Shikamaru. Please take care of Takeo for me."

I didn't give him a chance to respond or for Takeo to move in tandem with me as any Inuzuka canine partner would do. As he has done since I gained him as my canine partner.

Instead I gathered my chakra and sprinted to where I could see Naruto and Sasuke battling Obito without a moment of hesitation because I was able to get a glimpse of what his next move would be. He was going to kill Sasuke by way of the large tree root slithering up behind him.

Wasn't it funny that I was risking my life, for someone who had believed me to be useless and annoying? My thoughts seemed all over the place as I made it in the nick of time and pain lit up my senses as the tree root slammed through my stomach and out the other side as I gripped it to keep it from going any further.

This would be one thing that I could do, because I knew that Naruto would need Sasuke to end this war. Which if that meant dying, then so be it.

"Why?" demanded Sasuke eyes wide as he spun around in time to catch my death in clear detail with his Sharingan active.

"Because you're Naruto's best friend," I answered with a mirthless smile as I choked on my own blood as it dribbled past my parted lips to splatter at our feet, "and I know it'll end up down to you and Naruto being the only ones to stop this and win us the war."

"Ōkami," shouted Naruto as he dashed toward us after sending Obito flying back with a kick to the stomach. "Ōkami!"

But even then, my hearing was leaving me along with my sight even as I took note of Shikamaru and Ino were now standing in front of me with tears streaming down his face while Ino worked to heal me.

"I love you Inuzuka Ōkami," breathed Shikamaru making me give him a smile before I began to slump forward.

They weren't going to be able to save me.

"You have to hold on!"

But it was already too late.

A large part of me wanted to scream and rave that it wasn't fair, and I was only seventeen, but the truth was I was a shinobi first and we were at war. Death was something we learned could embrace us at any time once we became shinobi.

But that didn't stop it from feeling unfair and too soon. I was thankful, and yet not, that the last sight I saw was that of my loved ones even as my twin Kiba stood behind Shika and Ino yelling at me to hold on and please keep breathing.

It would be a memory that would haunt me as well.

****

It was almost cruel of Death to claim my soul before shoving it back into a new body with my memories intact, and I know it was purposeful, because Death isn't idiotic enough to have let it slip Them by.

In truth I wasn't aware of being reborn until I was about a year old and then things began to click as I took in my surroundings that seemed to be an older Konoha when we were taken outside. I was also once more a twin but this time I had a sister and not a brother.

"Nohara Asahi and Nohara Rin," cooed my new mother as she looked down to where she had settled me and my twin in the playpen she had set up outside. "My babies."

I couldn't even offer the woman a gummy smile as her words settled inside my mind making me completely shut down in confusion and fear. Because I knew of a Nohara Rin.

Dear Sage, please tell me I was wrong and hadn't been reborn as the girl who would be the reason Obito would go insane and evil. But of course not, and that truth took a few years to settle and come to terms with making me be distant to Rin even as I fought through my sorrow and pain and rage at having this done to me.

Of dying before I could even be married to the man I had loved.

I wasn't proud with how I spent the first three years of my life. But I got it together when I caught sight of Hatake Sakumo and watched an older woman refuse him service. It snapped me out of the depression I had been stuck in for the last three years.

"Hatake Sakumo," I called out with some awe and sadness as seeing the man who was a legend be treated that way, "is a hero who brought home his comrades. It's thanks to him that those same comrades get to be with their loved ones and live another day. It's shameful to see those older than me treat him like this."

My words caused utter silence as Sakumo looked toward me in complete surprise and shock while that same old lady looked down in guilt.

Because if someone had just spoken up, if someone had just offered a hand or ear, maybe Sakumo wouldn't have fallen so low he believed that death was a better option than to continue fighting.

I couldn't stand it and it made me almost ashamed of the village I grew up in and died for. We were supposed to be about teamwork and comradely and look how we re-payed the ones who upheld that value.

"Konoha preaches and talks about how we value teamwork and supporting our comrades and yet here all of you stand including the shinobi allowing this to happen. Being a part of tearing down a hero who followed the values our village upholds."

"You're right," agreed Hiruzen Sarutobi as he made his way forward making the muttering crowd once more fall into silence. "Hatake Sakumo failed a mission and yet in truth as it turns out said mission was designed to fail."

"What?" asked Sakumo finally snapping out of his stupor of silence and looking between the Hokage and me.

I didn't think he believed many four-year-old's besides other prodigies would talk like how I had. Which was a horrid thought since I had never wanted to be seen as such.

"Jiraiya just sent one his toad Summons to inform me that the mission I had sent you on, and that which I had tasked you with, along with the information I had given to you was in fact falsified and meant to kill those who took it," answered the Hokage with a grim shake of his head. "So, you did the impossible for a mission meant to fail and came home alive with that of your comrades as well. We owe you an apology Hatake Sakumo. I owe you one for allowing this to get to this point, so I am sorry."