The acceleration of Kaede’s physical form to the front line as more and more shinobi and kunoichi both surged forward to pursue those that fled hadn’t distracted her from others who had remained behind. Isolated engagements were still occurring with small pockets of Imperial soldiers who had chosen to remain behind whether willingly or forced, unable to turn their backs against the foes they faced. The terms for this battle were simple: no prisoners. Kaede’s recent act might’ve labeled her incapable of being on the side of the rebellion anymore, and should someone important to the cause find out like Takeo … The cry of another from a short distance caused Kaede to remove herself from those saddening thoughts and the focus of her Byakugan was brought to a young man who appeared physically spent and desperate in the face of a single soldier. Kaede’s first instinct was to turn on her heel on the next tree limb she leaped from, but discovered that the presence of someone she couldn’t determine as either friend or foe had saved the young man. Having pulled off a maneuver that the Hyuga only expected from someone like the Hokage or even what she knew of the Mizukage when she had seen him in the past, the rapid flanking maneuver was too quick for an ordinary soldier to comprehend or expect and had resulted in an early demise. Offering words that Kaede could only guess were good, the woman had departed towards the exact location she and what one might call her ‘team’ were going. That still left the young man alone; the chakra reserves he used were spent, yet he could still stand. As far as she could tell that woman had no obligation to the rebel cause and might have saved that boy out of the goodness of her heart, only caring enough to make sure he lived without being an escort for him. Come to think of it …that boy seemed familiar… [b]“Katsu?”[/b] Kaede muttered under her breath, coming to a sudden stop and wondering how he had found himself so alone. From the looks of things there were no Uchiha out here looking after him. It both did and did not surprise Kaede; from what her own clan spoke of Katsu, the Uchiha apparently believed him responsible for the death of a man who was regarded as the oldest of the Uchiha clan. While Kaede didn’t want to believe that was true, she had been taught by her own father that this world was full of what could be considered despicable people and how power had made them that way. The Angel of the Leaf had no reason to shun Katsu for she had barely known him as a person, and the circumstances surrounding his Sharingan had not earned the respect of the Main Family. He was an outcast and quite clearly not many were sticking around to be certain he had backup, all except that woman. Predicament faced, Kaede looked forward towards the peak of the battle and the retreat taking place simultaneously, and then towards her immediate left. Katsu was effectively a twenty second sprint away from them, but … [b]“Karela,”[/b] Turning to a new comrade, she could accept that Dren wouldn’t let her out of her sight, but Karela had no such obligation and could leave her for a short time, [b]“There’s a boy a little west of us, an Uchiha named Katsu. He doesn’t appear too injured, but I would greatly appreciate it if you looked out for him for the time being.”[/b] It wouldn’t have taken too long to do it personally, but there were other comrades in questionable condition that hadn’t received her seal before the battle had taken place. Those connected to her were reasonably healthy and the chakra reserves within were replenished fairly quickly due to the downtime of combat. Katsu was considerably better off than others ahead of her, and she’d rather not see them in pain any longer. Karela seemed to be kind and might be eager to ensure others were taken care of as much as she just was, and Dren refused to leave her side. As things were, Karela was currently the only one she could count on to make sure he’d have someone close by. [b]“I know it might be a little much to ask since we just met …but I hope you could do me this favor. People say bad things about him, things I don’t want to believe. Can you just let him know that there are still people he can count on, for me?”[/b] Although Kaede believed Karela would do this for her, there was also the chance that she didn’t want to leave her to. Very apparent in the active Byakugan of Kaede, her eyes were soft with concern for the wellbeing of the boy she hardly knew anything about. As long as Karela could understand how important this was to her, there was a chance that this could be done. And so, with a heart hopefully not too heavy, Kaede hoped to proceed forward without any regrets. She entrusted Karela with this task, surging once again towards the deeper center of what battle remained throughout this forest. There were lives to save, and so many more to change. Karela could be just the start. - This scroll was well written in spite of what it intended from the rebellion; a complete cease fire from both sides with benefits tailored almost strictly to the Empress. Takeo wasn’t enthused with what was laid on this parchment, yet read on he had, jaw tightening a little more with each line. For starters, shinobi and kunoichi both had the option of joining the Empire’s ranks and enforcing the laws put in place. There was little to nothing regarding those that chose not to fight to enforce the world she intended for them all to live in, which seemed to mean shinobi had minimal opportunities outside of working with them. Then there were jobs; ever since the Empress had come about holding a job was mandatory, and now she seemed to be revoking that. You could choose not to hold a job, but should you not hold one you’d be taxed as ‘incentive’ to do something with your life. It seemed no better than keeping the law the exact same, as without taxes a village couldn’t very well function. Not paying a tax meant repercussions, and the Empire’s repercussions usually included severe time in a prison or death for much more severe crimes. Trying to start a village anew was entirely against her wishes, and doing so would be illegal and likely punishable by death. This was to stop the possibility one would hope to create an independent new nation or society not bound by the Empire’s style, and the punishment seemed as severe as one could expect. Perhaps the most interesting part of these terms was that the villages would no longer be separated by name; each and every single village would share the same government, the Empress still at the lead no doubt. This might have cut out the idea of war for land and resources that went along with it, territorial disputes would be a thing of the past …but what about independency, the desire to happily represent the Land from which you came? Takeo closed the scroll and lowered it, looking at Kenta without hate, only neutrality. [b]“You buy into what she promises?”[/b] [b]“There’s nothing to be ‘bought’ Takeo. Her methods were a little rough, but all in all this could benefit the world altogether. She’s putting an end to what we’d struggle with until the end of time.”[/b] [b]“It only took her stepping on the corpses of thousands to make this world so ‘ideal’, didn’t it?”[/b] Takeo might’ve spat on the ground had he wanted to waste the saliva. Kenta wasn’t stupid, only desperate. Like many fathers did, he wanted the best for the family he had, even if they had shunned him for so long. Takeo couldn’t blame him fully for desiring this world the Empress put into his head, but her methods were as cruel as the world she was trying to bury. As things were, he couldn’t change his mind about this. [b]“You won’t listen at all, will you?”[/b] Kenta frowned in disappointment. His former comrade was strong in mind and body, sometimes too strong. Once a man had his mind set it was often difficult to change it, and Takeo, like him, was a little stubborn sometimes when it came to a difference in opinion. [b]“I’m listening …I just don’t like what I’m hearing. She’s still on top Kenta, and these ‘terms’ benefit her more than the world that wishes its independence.”[/b] Takeo looked over his shoulder, hearing the approach of a certain fast-talking daughter and the fleet-footed granddaughter of his approaching. As with them getting by, the soldiers of the Empire that remained were also retreating, some deflecting weaponry and avoiding dangerous jutsu combinations. Chizuma and Natsumi joined beside him, and if they got behind the enemy lines that could only mean that others would soon join them. Quickly the Imperials took a defensive formation surrounding the barracks and the small skirmishes throughout the forest remained, otherwise all was beginning to grow quiet. [b]“I should kill you for having gone along with this, but for the sake of the friendship we once had I’ll let you make your case to the people you abandoned.”[/b] [b]“I never abandoned them Takeo, I only made the choice everyone else was too blind to make.”[/b] [b]“Let them decide that…”[/b] Kenta turned to look at the heavy approach of men and women he once called friends, even able to pick out some Akimichi clan as well. Those that picked him out of the Imperial soldiers were quick to spot him, but didn’t show kindness in the stares. Takeo was giving him a chance to express his side of things; he wasn’t the most charismatic man, but maybe this could prevent the slaughter he was expecting.