Disclamier: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters associated with it.
Well this is my first Naruto pick so be kind in reviews. I just had an idea and decided to write a story about it. This is cutting into my Justice League/Spiderman crossover as well as my X-men/Spiderman crossover stories. Which means chapters will be slow in coming but I am committed to finish a story once I start it so don't worry about it suddenly being discontinued.
No doubt I will spell some names and techniques wrong but please look past it and concentrate on the story.
"Things are looking very bad for us Hokaga. The Cloud and Lighting villages uniting with the Sound has proven more devastating than we could have anticipated." Said Kurani.
"Indeed, already the land of Fire and the Waterfall village haven been completely destroyed. Of the two remaining significant villages the Stone has signed an non aggression pack with Orocumario's people and the Sand is sided with us but they are still rebuilding from the attack on Garra a few months ago. The Leaf and the Sand are not enough to deal with this threat." Said one of the elderly advisors.
"Don't count the Leaf out yet. What we lack in numbers we make up for in strength. Are Shinobi are some of the best and brightest in all the lands. I should know, I personally trained quite a few of them." Said Guy with his patent smile and thumbs up.
Jiraya shook his head at the Jonin's antics.
"The old quality over quantity will not be enough here. Both Cloud and Lighting have formidable ninja as well. Not t mention Orochmario's sound ninja including Kabuto and the new Sound Five with their accursed seals." Jiraya stated.
"Unfortuannly I must agree with the pervert in this. Those cursed seals are a problem and there is no telling what others Orocumario might have given it too. For the past year activities in Sound appeared to be at a stand still. This attack and their allies came as a complete surprise to everyone." Anko added while subconsciously rubbing her neck where her own seal was.
"Yeah that is strange. Hey Kakashi, are you sure that Sasuke doesn't know anymore about the Sound? He was there for three years, he should know more than what he gave us." Asuma suggested talking around his cigarette.
All eyes in the room turned to the copy ninja who was leaning against the far wall. To this point he had added nothing in the conversation and appeared to be board. But all that knew him knew that was untrue. Kakashi had listened to everything said and was forming his own ideas. He would express them only when had an complete thought.
Kakashi felt all eyes on him and raised his head to look back at them. It was silently unnerving with only one eye but most were used to it.
"I assure you that Sasuke has told us everything he knows. He allowed me to probe his mind using Sharrigan. He has also abided by all your restrictions during the probation period and the Anbu you have checking up on him have reported nothing suspicious. Not to mention he rarely leaves the sight of his two teammates. Why you might not all trust Naruto I believe you trust Sakura's judgement. Wouldn't you agree Hokaga, after all she is your apprentice." Kakashi stated
Now all eyes turned to the Hokaga who was sitting behind her desk. Tusande met Kakashi stare and did not blink from his cold gaze.
"Sakura is trust worthy, as well as Naruto. Their renewed friendship has proved an great asset to the Leaf village. In the short year they have been reunited they have surpassed their fellow classmates in skill and strength. Which is understandable considering who taught them." Tusande answered.
Kakashi gave a small nod of approval at this praise.
An evil smile came to the Hokaga's face.
"It isn't everyone who is trained by a Legendary Sanin. Each of them has been and their current power shows that." She finished.
Kakashi seemed to frown at that and despite the tense situation many in the room let loose big smiles and small laughter.
"Speaking of which where is team seven Kakashi? They should have returned from their scouting assignment of the Leaf boarders 2 hours ago. There is no way they could have been attacked. They would have made too much noise to go unnoticed." Shizune asked.
"Yeah especially Naruto, even with the nine tail foxes chakra you should convince him not to waste so much energy unnecessarily. Sasuke isn't too much better constantly using his fire techniques. Not to mention Sakura tearing down landscapes with her strength with her temper." Kurenai commented.
"Oh yeah, I remember when Sakura got upset about one of Naruto's pranks and destroyed a whole sector of the forest going after him." Asuma said with a smirk.
"Which she was punished for." Tusande defended.
"By extra hours at the hospital and doing your paperwork. Not much of a punishment." Anko stated.
Tusande had the grace to blush but quickly gained a serious face.
"Anyway Shizune brngs up a good point. Just where is team Kakashi?" she asked.
"They returned sometime ago Hokaga. They reporter the perimeter was fine and went off to the Forest of Death for some training. I told them to be careful and that I would see them in the morning. I was going to tell you all this at the end of the meeting. I believed that the Leaf's safety came first." Kakashi explained.
"As much as I hate to admit it those kids are a key component to that. Besides their collective powers they are well liked by the other Chunin and looked at as something as leaders. Even the Uchiha as his fans despite his past crimes." Anko grudgingly admitted.
"Yes Kakashi, you certainly lucked out. Your teams were literally born with skills. I on the other hand worked from scratch and brought my team up to their vast success." Guy said.
"I wouldn't say a ninja from the infamous Hyuga clan starting from scratch Guy." Kakashi said.
"Yes, but he was from the lower clan. Look what I was able to do with him, he has surpassed many in the higher branches of the clan." Guy said with a bright smile.
"Enough, Kakashi can handle his team. What we are here about is averting the destruction of the Leaf village from this new threat. Not to mention the Akatuski are still around planning who knows what. What is the current state of our Chunin's and Jonin's." The Hokaga ordered with a strong voice.
Shizune pulled out some papers and looked over them.
"Including the Sand we have 27 Jonin and 86 Chunin. That leaves us with about 200 hundred Genins and some Anbu's. In comparison Orochimaru combined forces are nearly fours time that. Because of their surprise attacks they lost very few to the Fire, Wind, and Waterfall villages. Some even joined him to avoid death." She sadly reported.
"So your saying Orochimaru forces number around a thousand?" Kakashi asked doing the math.
"Unfortunally yes, the numbers are defiantly not in our favor." Shizune replied.
"Let's not get too down about that people. We knew from the beginning the numbers would be heavily in their favor. That just means we will have to out think them. I want to hear some suggestions on that." Tusande ordered.
"We should create traps around our borders. Pit traps, aerial traps, poisen darts, and any others we can think off. We should heavily layer them with genjutsu so the enemies won't detect them until it is too late. We should also use illusionary Jutsu's to make them think we have more ninja 's than we actually do." Kurenai suggested.
"I think we should separte the ninja's into different groups. Those who are proficient in close quarter combat should be on the front lines. Those who are better at long range attacks should be farther back and support those closer. It won't hold for long but it should thin out the numbers some." Asuma offered.
"I'm not so sure about that strategy Asuma. A lot of teams that we have paired and train together have different skills. Which is the reason we put them together is the first place so everyone's weakness could be covered by some one else. Now your asking them to team up with others like them, it is a serious change in their battle tactics." Guy interrupted.
"They are ninja, they must learn to deal with change and adept to their surroundings everyday. I do understand your point Guy but I must agree with Asuma. Also we will ser traps as Kurenai suggested, any other suggestions." Tsunade
"At least one Jonin should be in charge of group on the battlefield. Two Jonin for closer to the city. We must remember Hokaga that not many have seen actual war. Many were present for Orochimaru's ambush of the example five years ago but that lasted only a couple of hours and with a much smaller force than we are currently expecting. They will need strong leadership to hold the line." Kakashi spoke up.
"That would significantly thin out our strongest warriors." One of the elderly advisors warned.
"Once again I see no other choice. The Chunin and Genin may falter when met with such odds. They need experienced fighters to lead them. Kakashi, since it was your idea I putting you in charge of distributing the Jonin in key areas. Work with Asuma so you can coordinate the short and long range attacks." Tsunade ordered.
"Yes Hokaga!" both Kakashi and Asuma responded.
"Anko, you will assist Kurenai with the traps. Your specialties will come in handy in this."
"Yes Hokaga!" Kurenai and Anko responded.
"Alright, those I have designed tasks may leave now. The rest of you will remain here to further this discussion. The attack on Konoha could come any day now. I want to make sure there are no loose ends. We will be here all night and all morning if we have to. The Leaf village has stood strong for many generations and I intend for it to do so for many generations to come." Tsunade stated with conviction.
The four Jonin given their assignments bowed and puffed out of the room. One they were on the village roads Asuma and Kakashi began another conversation.
"So Kakashi, your team is training again. It seems like they never stop. I wish my own team had the same kind of drive. Unfortunally Shikamaru thinks training is troublesome wild Choji mostly trains is mouth to acquire more food. Not to mention Ino, who complains constantly about her teammates and how much stronger Sakura is then her. Don't get me wrong, they have improved from the lazy bunch they were before. But they have still yet to reach their potential, the possible exception Shikamaru who has become some what of a strategist." Asuma told him.
"This is all interesting Asuma but I assume you have a point to all this." Was Kakashi's response.
Asuma stopped walking and looked at Kakashi's back.
How do you do it? How do you get them to become so driven and reach their full potential? I'm not the only one who once to know Kakashi. The other Jonin train the hell out of their students but they don't come close to your team in unity. What's your secret man?" Asuma asked with obvious curiosity.
Kakashi stopped walking but did not turn around.
"I'm afraid you and the rest of the Jonin give me too much credit. You heard the Hokaga, each has trained under a Legendary Sanin. That is where the power comes from. As fas as the unity, I installed in them from day one that protecting one's teammate was number one. I know the rules says it's the mission but my personal experience has shown me otherwise. But in the end it came down to them. Despite each of them leaving on their own paths they always found a way back to each other. They have go through more in a few shirt years than most in a lifetime. At the end of the day they trust each other, and me. I can't explain it better than that." Kakashi answered him.
Asuma stayed silent for a moment taking it all in.
"That really wasn't much of a answer Kakashi. But I appreciate you talking as long as you did. Normally it's hard to get more than two sentences out of you." Asuma said at last.
Kakashi shrugged his shoulders.
"I suppose I was talking to myself as much as I was to you. I have trouble figuring them out myself sometimes. Their power levels in the last three months alone have skyrocketed. I've put it down to their strong bond because sometimes I can hardly tell who charka is which." Kakashi spoke.
"What do you mean?" Asuma asked intrigued by this new information.
"Its strange, but sometimes its fell like they merged. I know its ridiculous and impossible but I have no other way to describe it. Its like they truly are one at times." Kakashi said trying to figure it out for himself.
"People can't just merge their charka Kakashi. It is possible to steal and in Orochimaru's case take over and control. But three separate individuals can't merge their charka and still stay one person, its just isn't possible." Asuma countered.
Kakashi let out a sigh.
"I know, your right. I don't know what is going on but I doubt its dangerous. They are good kids, even Sasuke, I trust them to know what they are doing. But enough about my excelled students, we have groups to coordinate." Kakashi said.
"Yeah, the mystery of team seven will have to wait for another time. But your kids always make things interesting." Asuma said walking up to Kakashi and letting out a small laugh.
Kakashi laughed as well and they continued their walk to find the other Jonin's and set up a plan of attack.
While they did that the objects of their discussions were training is what was known as the Forest of Death. It was given that name for the many dangerous creatures and wildlife that made the forest its home. But even these dared not to interfere with the three ninja's in its center. They could fell the power radiating from the three and cherished their lives to much to forfeit them by confronting the three ninja's.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!!" Yelled a loud voice.
Suddenly fifty Naruto's appeared throughout the forest surrounding his two teammates.
"Only fifty dope, you can't being getting tired already. We not even going at it full strength." Sasuke mocked.
"Which is why I only created 50. Your the ones who told me not to waste so much chakra." The Naruto's yelled back.
"Yeah, but we always tell you that. We're just surprised that you actually chose to listen to use for a change." Sakura said back with a hint of humor in her voice.
To that all the Naruto's shrugged their shoulders.
"You two must be having a calming effect on me." One of the Naruto's answred.
"Good, further prove that its working. But enough talk, back to training." Sasuke said before closing his eyes. When he open them again they were dark red showing he was using his Sharrigan.
Sakura said nothing and ran for a group of near by Naruto's. Fifteen responded to her advance and ran right at her. Sakura saw them coming asnd went through a variety of hand signals.
"Wind Blizzard!!" she yelled out pushing her hands forward. Suddenly chilling gusts of winds shots forth freezing ten of the Naruto's in their tracks. The other five managed to take to the air and avoid the frost. Only to have three of them puffed out of existence by three ninja stars going through them. The remaining two look at their lost comrades in shock having no idea where the attack had come from. Which is why they were caught off guard when Sakura grabbed both of them by the neck in mid air and smashed their heads together destroying them as well. Now there was only 35 clones.
Sasuke thin those numbers even more when he used his super speed and cut down seven Naruto's with lighting in his hands, Chikori. Unlike months earlier he didn't have to charge his body to create the attack. He continued his speed and avoided dozens of kunai thrown his body. Two Naruto's suddenly jumped in Sasuke's path and punched at his face. Sasuke ducked the pair of fists and leg sweeped both clones sending them to the ground hard puffing them out of existence. During this distraction six more clones came barreling down from above with their feet forward intending to stomp him. Sasuke released Chikori and performed a few quick hand signs.
"Eternal Flame!!" and a huge flame shot from his mouth incinerating the clones before they could reach him. Now there were only 20 clones left.
Another four clones popped from beneath the earth around a surprised Sakura and held her preventing movement. But to their surprise Sakura turned into a log with two exploding tags attached to it. The clones eyes widened in shock and the log exploded before they could get away. Sixteen were now left.
"Pretty good guys, and your only using your weaker attacks. But then again I'm only using physical attacks and a few weapons. I think I'll step it up a bit for these last ones." One of the Naruto's bragged.
"Bring it own Naruto, I'd like this to end on a high note." Sasuke said standing still.
"Alright guys, have your fun. But don't forget not to use too much Chakra. We have to finish the ritual tonight, and I don't need you two burned out because you wanted to show off." Sakura warned them with a scowl.
"Yes mom!!" The two boys responded.
Sakura's scowl deepened and her hands started to glow with chakra.
"All right, if you guys want to play rough then I'm in. The sooner we finish here the sooner we can do the other thing."
The two boys smiled. If Sakura was getting serious then this really would be fun.
"Cool, then let's get it started." The Naruto's yelled. Five of the clones started to put their hands together and created chakra between then. Six other clones did a few hand signs and yelled out a command.
"Transform!!" Suddenly three became Sasuke and another three became Sakura. The remaining five collected together and appeared to charge up as red chakra surrounded them.
The five gathering chakra in their hands finally formed chakra balls in their hand. To jumped to where Sakura was as well as the three Sakura clones. The other three went to Sasuke with the three Sasuke clones right behind them.
Sakura dodged to the right as the clone swung the Chakra ball at her face. She was met by a swing of one of the Sakura clones with his hands glowing blue. Sakura hooked the arm before it met her face and swung her clone into the path of the chakra ball. The ball went through the clone like butter and puffed it out of existence. Sakura then kicked her foot up hitting the clones arms and sending its crashing into the clones face with the chakra ball in its hand taking out both.
In the other fight the three Sasuke clones let out a barrage of fire balls from their mouths. Sasuke back flipped a few times to avoid them and jumped over a Naruto in the process. Three fireballs connected with the Naruto clone and it was destroyed. The Naruto's came at him and Sasuke threw forth a shuriken. One of the Naruto threw the spiraling chakra ball forward and it destroyed the four edged shuriken. Before they could enjoy that moment the destroyed shuriken turned into two and sliced through both Naruto before they could react. That left Sasuke facing three of his clones. Each clone produced a kunai and charged at Sasuke. The original proved faster and Sasuke did a hand stand and his feet met with the chins of his doubles decapitating them with unusual strength. The other clone swung it kunai and Sasuke grabbed its arm and shoved the weapon into his clones chest making it disappear.
Meanwhile Sakura had left her opponent and jumped towards the five Naruto's powering up for a attack on a tree branch. They saw her and turned in her direction to release some kind of attack. Before they could however the tree exploded sending the five Naruto flying into different directions slamming into other trees and the ground and puffing away.
From the ruin tree another Sakura appearing flying through what was left of it with her fist high in the air. It seemed she uppercutted from inside the tree from the bottom to the top causing it to explode outward. The Sakura who jumped earlier puffed away showing it was only a clone. The real Sakura made her way down to the remaining three clones with her fist aimed downward. The two Sakura clones and Naruto jumped up to meet her mid air. The real Sakura's eyes seemed to turned bright red and she performed a few hand signals and shot several fire balls from her mouth down at her opponents. The two Sakura clones did a few hand signs of their own creating a vast wind to blow out the fire. However it did not to stop the shuriken that were hidden in the flames. The shuriken slashed through the clones effectively ending the fight. Soon after Sakura landed on the ground gently and her eyes returned to jaded green.
Sasuke and Sakura turned to each other from across the battlefield and gave satisfied nods.
"Damnit, if Sakura hadn't turned the tree to scrap I would have won. Just two more seconds and the attack would have been ready." Said a irritated Naruto walking out of the woods.
He hadn't been hiding during the fight, there was no need. Due to their new closeness they could have located him at any time but chose to fight his clones instead.
Sakura walked up to him and smacked him in the head. It wasn't chakra enhanced so the pain was minimal. Still Naruto rubbed the back of his head and gave her a pout.
"You baka, it serves you right. I told you to conserve energy for tonight. Of you had gone through with that attack we probably wouldn't have enough energy to complete the ritual. I swear you do stuff like this on purpose to piss me off." Sakura scorned him.
By this time Sasuke had walked over to them but said nothing. He was used to it and it actually made him feel more at home. It was things like this he missed while he was gone. Gaining power had its temptations, but nothing could replace what he had here with his teammates and even Kakashi, family. Not to mention if the events later worked out as planned he would gain more power than he could have ever imagined. Then he would be able to end Itachi and move on with his life.
"I'm sorry Sakura, I just got carried away I guess." Naruto apologized with a small voice.
Sakura quickly calmed herself at his words, far faster than she would have three months ago.
"Its fine, no damage done. But now that training is over we have to go. Tonight is the night that determines the fate of Konoha and possibly the entire ninja nation." Sakura said with a serious voice.
"Indeed, we will either achieve ultimate power or ultimate failure. Still we have went this far and the chance for success is too big to pass up." Sasuke added with his own insight.
Naruto too now bore a serious face completely devoid of humor.
"Then let's get it done. Orocimaru and his forces could be here any moment. I refuse to allow him to destroy my friends or my home. We will put an end to his evil once and for all." Naruto proclaimed with clenched fists.
The others nodded their heads at his statement and they turned and headed for their destiny.
TBC
Hoped you liked it. Please review and tell me what you think.
