I don't own Naruto or any of the characters from the series.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
This is my first time writing a Fanfiction. Any comments or recommendations are welcomed.
Chapter One - Overwhelming Odds
Valley of the End
"It's over Madara, you can't continue." Hashirama desperately tried to save his once friend from his madness.
"I'll never admit defeat again, even if it kills me" yelled Madara lunging at his opponent with the last of his strength. Five yards away from his enemy a wooden spike shot through his chest stopping him in his tracks and ending his life.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I always thought we could be the best of friends. It seems your thirst for power ran too deep to be quenched" Hashirama mumbled as tears fell from his eyes. As he looked at his surroundings and took his former friend's body from the stake he looked at the massive scars they had left in the terrain around them. "This is a battle that will be remembered until the end of time. You died a great warrior and that won't be forgotten."
He jumped away from the scene and returned to the village they had built together. A plot of land was cleared and a monument was build commemorating the death of a great ninja. He was the first great ninja laid to rest in that cemetery, but he surely wouldn't be the last.
Shortly after his death peace talks began between all of the shinobi nations. The Tailed Beasts were divided among them in an attempt to maintain peace, but all of the efforts of the First Hokage failed. The first shinobi war began anyway. Many lives were lost and the cemetery expanded and a memorial was made for the fallen. Madara would keep his sole headstone and be remembered as a founder of their great village, but only the man who killed him would go to visit him.
Several weeks into the war.
"Saru, I don't think we're going to make it out of this one. I will be the decoy. You are the young wills of Fire that will defend our village in the future."
"No! You are the Hokage there is no greater ninja than you in the village. It needs you" yelled Danzo.
"Danzo, you are always competing with Saru over one thing or another, but here you need to unite and work together. Don't make this a personal fight. You two are still young. Don't be hasty your time will come. Protect those who love the village and those who believe in you. Nurture those whom you can entrust the next generation. Starting tomorrow you are the Hokage, Saru. Take care of the Hidden Leaf Village"
"I won't leave you here Tobirama-sensei. I swore I'd protect the village and it still needs you" yelled Hiruzen. it would be an honor to be named Third Hokage, but not now. It couldn't happen now in some battleground running from the enemy. "If you're staying here then so shall we." Danzo, Koharu, and Homura all agreed.
"Don't be foolish this isn't a fight that will be won. You need to protect the Leaf for me, for all of your comrades now, and all that will come after you."
"No Hokage abandons a fellow ninja and I won't start my reign by doing so," Hiruzen stated stubbornly.
The enemy would be arriving shortly. Twenty-five elite Shinobi from the cloud village were catching up to them rapidly. The Second Hokage cursed and ordered his students to setup as many traps as possible before they arrived.
The Kinkaku force was upon them. Several tripwires and pressure plates went off triggering explosive tags, but 20 Ninja were still standing. The Second Hokage made the next move leaping from cover and slicing another in half with his Sword of the Thunder God. Each of his four students made similar attacks, but only Hiruzen and Danzo were succesful. Tobirama flew by many of the ninja towards another clearing leading 13 of the ninja away from his students =.
The students gathered back to back to defend themselves and their teammates. Their plan was countered by a yell of Lightning Pillar and a column of light appearing in their former positions. They scattered and made it to the trees without being injured by the attack, but all were left in a dangerous position separated and against forces with more experience than them. Luckily for them, the majority of the enemy was focused on The Second and they were left alone with a single enemy each. All of them were underestimated providing them a great advantage.
Danzo's Fight
Danzo quickly realized that he was against a ninjutsu expert as more lightning flew his way. Shortly after dodging a lightning bolt man dropped in front of him to taunt him.
"Just give up kid you're what 18 at most. There is no way you're going to beat me. I'll give you a chance to run away and let you live. There's no reason for you to die here. All we want is the Hokage." His enemy proclaimed.
Danzo shook his head. "I'll never abandon my Hokage." He ran towards his enemy pulling out kunai and throwing a few at him.
"Have it your way kid I'll just have to kill you." The cloud ninja leapt back smirking while completing hand seals and yelled Lightning Spear. Another bolt of lightning shot from his hands towards Danzo and he expected to watch him die. This time Danzo was ready and had completed his hand signs at the same it yelling Wind Bullet. The cloud ninja was shocked as the bullet passed through his chest. As he died he had one last thought 'outdone by a fire shinobi with a wind element. Kinkaku is going to be pissed.'
Danzo was quick to leap towards Homura knowing that Hiruzen would help Koharu.
Hiruzen's Fight
In Hiruzen's battle things didn't appear to be going so well. He was on the defensive against the ninja's sword. Wielding his adamantine staff, A transformation of the Monkey Prince Enma, and blocking his enemy's sword without fail so far. He didn't have time for counter attacks, but he was quickly learning his opponents style. Backing away as far as he could he whispered to his staff "have you perfected it yet."
"Good enough" was the brief reply from his staff. His life was staked on this next attack. As his enemy charged him he set the end of his staff in the ground and it started to grow rapidly. His enemy having not seen the transformation was surprised by this new attack. He made a side step and avoided the attack while continuing his rush only ten yards away. Just as quickly the staff came back unknown to the cloud ninja.
He could see the fear in the leaf shinobi's eyes as he thrust his sword towards his chest. Sarutobi opened his kunai pouch and armed himself for his last attack. Just a foot away from his target the cloud ninja felt two large arms wrap around his chest. His momentum stopped, his legs flew out from under him and his arms flew to what was restraining him on instinct briefly forgetting about his real opponent. This brief second allowed Hiruzen to take his drawn kunai and plunge it into his enemy's heart.
A look of confusion on his face as the cloud ninja died. Hiruzen stood there as he took in what had just happened he had been a quarter of a second away from death and was barely saved. Enma returned to his normal staff form Hiruzen spoke. "We need to find Koharu"
Koharu's Fight
Koharu was almost dead she had been able to survive for about ten minutes as the cloud ninja played with her. He had cut her several times, but the last cut had some lighting chakra in it and now her whole body was numb. She had accepted her death as the cloud ninja walked toward her with a grin on his face.
"You know it's been awhile since I've fought a fine kunoichi like you. I think I'm going to enjoy this a bit more. Your friends will be dead now and nobody is around to save you." He continued toward her and reached for his pants undoing them as he reached her. He leaned down to her and his chest exploded in gore. A large staff expanding through it and into the tree on the other side. Hiruzen knelt down beside her to check her injuries. There were several long cuts around her body and her clothes were in tatters, but the cuts were shallow and she would be able to move as soon as the lightning left her system. In 5-10 minutes, they would move to find Danzo and Homura.
Homura's Fight
Homura was rapidly dodging and retreating trying to buy time for backup. His opponent was taking their fight seriously and hadn't said a word. He had to dodge another streak of lightning with the substitution jutsu. He began to think about the odds of his survival 'that's the fifth time I've had to use that jutsu in the past three minutes. I have enough chakra, but it is becoming physically exhausted. Chakra won't help me if I'm dead.'
Homura decided he needed to go on the offensive doing hand signs and yelling Fire Breath and burning the forest around him in a circle. 'I hope someone finds me before it's too late.'
The enemy jumped into the circle and walked towards him. He decided his enemy a fool for making it harder to escape. Another charge towards his enemy wielding his sword expertly as all cloud elite could. Slashing into his opponent only to find his blade going through him completely. His eyes widen. There was no resistance at all. 'A clone. I need to be more careful.' A normally useless jutsu was enhanced by the reduced visibility in the smoke that had filled the ring. Several kunai flew towards him, but they were all blocked easily.
Danzo raced towards the massive fire hoping that his friend had enough time for him to get there.
The smoke was starting to suffocate both ninja and it left them desperate to get out. Both choosing the same method they jumped high into the air. It left them both exposed and they traded ninjustu. A fireball clashing with a lightning bolt. The lightning shot through the fire being more concentrated, but only blew a hole in the middle without stopping the fireball. Both shinobi used the substitution jutsu to escape their enemy's Attacks and falling on opposite sides of the ring of fire.
As Homura landed Danzo appeared to help him. "I'm here for you. I'll wait and surprise him. Just make an opening."
"I'll try" was Homura's terse response.
The cloud ninja appeared in front of him having dashed around the fire as they had their conversation. Danzo had already disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
"You have made an honorable last stand, but I have to end this now." He made a last charge and channeled lightning through his sword. Homura fired a smaller fireball with the last of his chakra. Only three feet in diameter the cloud ninja cut through the center and continued through the middle. As he made it through the center he heard something whistling towards him. He turns enough to bring up his sword and try to block before he knows what it is. Then he sees the air bullet shoot through the fire making a small but incredibly powerful combined jutsu. He desperately tries to deflect the ball with his charged sword even though he knows it won't save him. Even with the sword's deflection and his attempt at dodging the bullet it still hit him in his right shoulder. It blew a portion of his chest and his arm away. He was dead before he hit the ground. They returned to the clearing where they had first been separated from their teammates and found Hiruzen and Koharu waiting for them.
Tobirama's Fight
The Second Hokage was surrounded. Thirteen elite Kinkaku cloud ninja and he could feel Kinkaku himself closing in from twenty miles away. He knew he had to end this fast. He could feel where each one was in the trees with his sensor ability. He stomped on the ground raising himself three feet on a bed of stone and soaking the ground around his platform. He pulled out the Sword of the Thunder God and waited for his enemies to attack him.
He didn't wait long as five ninja rushed towards him swords drawn hoping to defeat him with numbers. The Hokage had a plan though, seeing them break from the trees he stuck his sword in the standing water running electricity through it. Four of the shinobi were fast enough to jump out of the water in time, but the one straight behind didn't see and screamed as he fell into the charged water dying from the shock. The four in the air had started to descend thinking their victory certain when they saw the Hokage making hand signs. In the air, they didn't have a chance to dodge as spears of water shot through their chests from all sides.
'Only eight left' After another fifteen seconds, he decided he didn't have time to wait for his enemy to attack. His chakra pulse had revealed that Kinkaku was coming and he couldn't fight him with his students around. He hoped they were alright. Another pulse with his sensor ability confirmed that Hiruzen and Danzo had defeated their opponents and were on their way to help their teammates. Kinkaku was eighteen miles away and closing fast.
He made a shadow clone and started towards where his enemy had grouped to form a plan. Running toward them clone used a large jutsu. "Water bullet storm" he yelled and a hail of water pellets flowed from the ground the Hokage had previously soaked. As the bullets struck they ripped chunks out of trees and destroyed branches. None of the enemy ninja were hit, but they were all separated. His clone ran to the left most enemy and the real Hokage went right.
(Real Hokage)
He ran towards his enemy sword drawn and ready to clash blades with cloud ninja. Three of them had regrouped and were waiting for him. They weren't as overconfident as the first five and fought defensively. Blocked by two blades at once the Second finally unleashed the true power of his sword. The lightning of the cloud ninjas was overpowered and more was shot back at them electrocuting them and stopping their hearts. A fourth ninja had joined the group leaving him and his clone with four each. The two that remained for the real Hokage were running away and trying to dodge his sword. They were fast enough to dodge his sword, but forgot about his mastery of water and one was skewered after dodging a downward swing. Tendrils flew from the ground and flew through his chest. The last ninja distracted by his friend's death was quickly killed by the Sword of the Thunder God.
Kinkaku was ten miles away now. He didn't have time for this he had to find his team and get out. With this in mind he ran to his team. They had survived and were regrouped in the clearing where he left them. His shadow clone popped at this point and informed him that the other ninja had been led away and one had been killed. He had to get his team to a better position to kill the remaining ninja and distract Kinkaku.
His group was tired, but they could still run. They started their retreat and everything was going well until Tobirama used his sensor ability and found out the lightning ninja had decided to follow disregarding their own safety for their mission. Making a shadow clone with a third of his remaining chakra they continued on. The clone was left on a lake that they had passed. This is where the clone would fight them.
(Clone's perspective)
Standing on the lake using his chakra sensor ability he waited until the three were almost to the lake when he yelled "Great Water Dragon". A mass of water surged towards the ninja and was too large for them to dodge. It was over twenty yards wide and crashed down on them crushing their bodies and killing them instantly. More importantly, it left Kinkaku a large path to follow. For his plan to work he had to be here.
The technique took a lot of his chakra, but it was worth it to make sure Kinkaku came after him instead of his team. The clone began to write three seals. He placed them on trees surrounding the lake and waited.
Kinkaku appeared on the lake and laughed. "I see you plan to fight me with all this water around. There is nothing that will save you from me this time. You were able to crawl away last time, but I'll finish the job this time."
"I remember your brother being a there too. Without him, the most impressive thing about you is your hair. Three Seal Barrier."
Kinkaku saw a clear triangular barrier form above them as the Hokage yelled Bringer-of-Darkness. "You may believe that you're great, but you're nothing more than common trash. Even more so without your brother here to save you." His voice rang around the barrier making his words even more ominous.
"I'll kill you. I let you escape once and now I'm going to fix that mistake."
Kinkaku heard steps on the water coming from behind and turned to face the noise. As soon as he looked the sound stopped. Then started from another direction. This pattern repeated itself several times Kinkaku becoming more paranoid by the second. And then a hand reached out of the water and he slashed it away.
'It was only water, what's happening here?' He realized that he wouldn't win a fight like this and jumped into the air and releases a large cone of lightning below him. The Second's clone also jumped and made a shield of water that redirected the lightning into the lake. There wasn't much chakra left those two jutsu and these little tricks were wearing him out. To think a Kage level ninja would be scared of the dark and one of simplest d-rank jutsu, a small splash of water behind him that sounded like footsteps. This is why he made sure everyone knew the basics, they were just as likely to save a life as any a-rank jutsu.
"You're such a fool Kinkaku a brute with some chakra. It's why I'm the greatest living ninja and you're a disgrace," yelled Tobirama.
Kinkaku screamed again and let out even more lightning. The clone was destroyed and the darkness faded to show the weak barrier. That he broke through easily.
Kinkaku cursed Tobirama and spat out a promise "I'll kill you next time we meet Hokage."
-
With the real Tobirama
Another chakra pulse checked the location of Kinkaku. 'The clone stalled him for fifteen minutes. That's more than enough for us to make it.' Three hours later the team had made it safely back to their camp. Kinkaku had stopped following them after the diversion on the lake.
"Hiruzen."
"Yes, Tobirama-sensei."
"Thank you for giving an old ninja hope, but what I said in the forest still applies. It's time for the next generation to take over even if I'm still alive. I'll be there to help you, but when this war is over I'll make you Hokage."
"I don't think I'm ready."
"I'll be there to help you, Saru."
"Thank you, Sensei."
