Minato's Daughter

Chapter 9 - The Battlefield

Miyuki

I ran to the border as fast as I could, wondering how many Iwagakure shinobi there were. I couldn't help but feel exhausted already but continued forward. I had to make sure I succeeded. That was the only option.

"Miyuki?"

I stopped in my tracks as I saw Inoichi looking at me in disbelief.

"What are you doing here?" He asked me.

"I've been sent out to eliminate the Iwagakure shinobi," I replied as I walked over to where he stood. 

"You? I'm sure Lord Hokage wouldn't allow thi-..." he started until I cut him off.

"It was Lord Danzo who assigned me to this mission," I told him as he let out a sigh.

"So that's why you're here. Alright then, I'll take you to the camp we set up," he responded as he started to lead me deeper into the forest. 

After several minutes of walking we arrived at the camp. The first thing I noticed was the blood that stained the ground and the bodies of several Leaf shinobi. The ones who were alive were quiet, staring either at the floor or at the sky. Each one of them appeared to have grief or despair in their eyes.

"Inoichi, you're back. Who is that with yo-... Miyuki?" Shikaku asked me as I gave a small wave.

Before he could ask any questions, I spoke first. "Do you have any maps of where the Iwa shinobi typically are?"

He flashed me a look of confusion and bewilderment, however, Inoichi shook his head. I felt grateful to him. Shikaku cleared his throat before getting to work, showing me the maps that they had managed to draw of the area, typical areas Iwa shinobi were, and possible areas of their camps. 

"They're usually along the border or past it. They laid several traps in the land between us, putting us at a disadvantage," he explained.

I narrowed my eyes, looking at the map and taking in Shikaku's words.

"Are the traps visible at all?"

Shikaku shook his head, "Some of them are but the majority aren't."

"How big would you say is the area covered in traps?" I asked.

"Miyuki..." Inoichi started.

"Why?" Shikaku asked in return.

"Well, it doesn't seem like too big of an obstacle," I stated, providing no further explanation.

I was sure that I could avoid the traps using my special skills. But how would I even begin to tell them about my kekkei genkai and my eyes? About the experiment and its purpose? 

"You can't go, the traps will kill you," Inoichi told me sternly.

"No, I'll be able to avoid them," I replied back simply.

"At least way until daylight," Shikaku urged.

"No, before the sun rises is the best time. I'll attack now, and I'll eliminate them all."

Obito

"Where's Miyuki? She's late again." Kakashi growled.

I was about to retort back but I decided against it when I saw sensei. Miyuki could have the honor of telling him to shut up. However, as sensei got closer, I noticed that Miyuki wasn't with him. Minato sensei didn't seem like himself either. His expression was full of worry and he looked as though he hadn't slept.

"Sensei?" Rin asked him when he reached us.

"Oh, good morning everyone," he greeted with a brief smile. "Today, we're going to focus on combat practice."

"Where Miyuki?" I asked him.

He paused before he closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh.

"She won't be joining us today. She's been sent out to war," he replied.

All three of us were silent, each of us shocked. We all exchanged glances before I broke the silence.

"WHAT?!"

"Let's just focus on the training exercise," sensei said.

"Why was she sent to w-..." I was about to ask before Kakashi's harsh nudge cut me off. "What the hell, Hatake?!"

"Don't talk about it," he whispered menacingly before the training exercise started.

Throughout the whole exercise though, I couldn't focus. My thoughts were on Miyuki. I felt a sense of fear and worry as I thought about several scenarios. Please, Miyuki, come back to us safely. 

Miyuki

"Shoton, Kessho Gokakuro."

I could hear frantic yells fill the air as the Iwagakure shinobi began to crystalize. Their faces were twisted in horror as their feet were held still. How many Konoha nin had they each killed? I was snapped out of my thoughts when kunais and shuriken were thrown at me.

"Shoton, Suishoto."

The familiar blue crystal blades formed on my wrists as I dodged the weapons. I blocked a few with the blades.

"Suisho Bunshin no Jutsu."

I disappeared into the earth using a jutsu dad had taught me while my crystal clone fooled the enemies. I appeared behind the army of Iwagakure shinobi that had thrown the weapons and silently approached the closest one.

"I'm sorry," I whispered before slicing his throat with the crystal blade.

His body fell on the ground with a thump. I heard a woman shriek and I couldn't help but notice the ring she wore on her left hand. I glanced back at the man I had killed and noticed a similar ring on his left hand, signifying their love and devotion. I felt a pang in my chest. Before anyone could react, I quickly formed my hand signs.

"Shoton, Kessho Gokakuro."

The army of Iwagakure nin began to crystalize, just like the others. I heard someone screaming and saw that it was a girl who appeared to be my age. 

"Please! Don't do this!" She screamed.

I couldn't say anything as I just watched them become forever frozen in the crystals. I threw a kunai at the one closest to me and watched as the crystal shattered, the woman who was trapped inside also shattering to tiny pieces. I could have left all of them in the state that they were but I knew to avoid questions, getting rid of the biggest evidence was the best idea. I walked until I was in the middle of the crystalized Iwagakure shinobi, looking at each of their expressions. I could feel my eyes burning again, threatening the tears I had held back to spill. I took in a shaky breath, calming myself. I would not cry in the middle of a battlefield. I grabbed a few shuriken and threw each one at a crystal, shattering them and the person trapped inside. It felt as though it took an eternity.

"Miyuki?" Inoichi's voice snapped me out of the trance that I was in.

"It's done," I told him and a few other Leaf shinobi that were following behind him.

"Where are they?" He asked me, visibly confused.

I shrugged. Inoichi and the Leaf nin that followed him appeared to be confused. Inoichi took a step forward but stopped when he heard a crunch. He looked down at the tiny crystal shards that covered the battlefield. Before they could ask me anything, I decided to turn towards the direction of the village and began my journey back. I had walked away from the battlefield, however, as soon as I was a safe distance away from the Konoha camp, I felt myself running. I wanted to run as fast and as far away as I could. How many had I killed in a few hours? I ran, each face reappearing before me. My mind continued to replay the couple with the wedding rings, the man's blood still on my hands. I had killed someone, I had sliced his neck and truly killed someone. I felt as though I couldn't breathe. Run Miyuki, just run and don't look back.