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I Will Carry On
By: Nemarra
Prologue
Five great nations stood strong and proud; Lightening Country, Water country, Earth country, Wind country, and- where our story takes place- Fire country. Each nation was a land of beauty in its own. Alliances were built stronger each day creating the nations' inhabitants opportunities to find peace and love. Their lives cycled around being born, living, loving, and, one day…dying. In such peace and harmony no one really believed war would one day curse them; but it did.
Even the strongest stone wall, no matter how sturdy it's foundation, could be knocked down. The Mizukage (water shadow), leader of the Water Country's hidden ninja village, feared the alliance the hidden sand ninja village, Suna of Wind Country shared with the hidden leaf ninja village, Konoha of Fire Country. He decided to speak with the Kazekage (wind shadow) of Suna to arrange an unbreakable alliance… through marriage.
A woman of Suna would marry the Mizukage's only heir. Under the condition that only a woman of relation to the Kazekage would do, or the Mizukage would accuse Wind Country of treason to their alliance and declare war. The pressure did not just come from Water Country. Earth and Lightening, who already arranged marriages amongst each other and Water Country, agreed with Water Country. Only the security of an endless bond by the blood of the Mizukage and the Kazekage would suffice.
The Kazekage, who was still a young man, wanted to help his people, but he could not. He had no wife and so, no children let alone a daughter to wed the Mizukage's son. He had no aunts or cousins that could marry the young man. The only woman of blood tie to the Kazekage had been his older sister, Temari. Unfortunately for Suna, Temari's hand in marriage had already been taken by Nara Shikamaru of Konoha. This news outraged the Mizukage, but being a wise man, he understood that the situation had been out of Suna's control. The Kazekage offered the alternative that he would wed a woman of blood tie to the Mizukage. Not wanting to face war for no reason, the Mizukage agreed. Three days after he had sent the message of his agreement, he sent a caravan to Suna. In the caravan was the only available woman in the Mizukage's family; the only child of his dearly departed younger brother.
When the caravan reached the border of Wind country a band of rogue ninja robbed the travelers; killing the occupants while doing so. Only a single messenger survived long enough to return to the Mizukage to inform him of the attack and the death of his niece. The Mizukage blinded with rage, accused Suna of the attack and said they never planned on going through with the alliance. The Kazekage vainly tried to explain that the attack was not his fault; the Mizukage would not hear it. He sent messengers to the hidden ninja villages of Earth and Lightening to ask for assistance in a war against Wind. Earth and Lightening agreed and before long, the first of innocent blood was spilt. Suna fought back but three ninja villages against one proved overwhelming. All they could do was seek assistance from Konoha. The Hidden Leaf Village instantaneously agreed. Day after day ninja said goodbye to their families and raced to the front line of the battle on the northern border of Wind country.
Water Country grew angry with Fire country's interference, and targeted their attack into the Fire Country. Fire country resisted but now there were two battles at hand. The first, and worse of the two, was on the northern border of Wind country. There, even the kages themselves fought. The second was the smaller involving the assignation of small villages in Fire country. Soon the Country Lords, furious with the ongoing battles, sent troops to fight in both battles. There was no time for peace, no feeling of safety, but most of all, no time for love. Battle after Battle, death after death, the war continued.
What was worse of all, the war still remained one year later. This is where our story begins.