Disclaimer: Naruto is owned Masashi Kishimoto and not me. This story is hereby dedicated towards Aragon Potter and his epic "The Raikage".

10/31/11 Update: Some minor corrections added in.

Border Guard Station
Frost Country

Makoto Watanuki yawned loudly as he shuffled across the hard packed snow and rubbed his arms, trying to get some circulation going. As his country name of Frost implied, it was not exactly renowned for its warm and tropical climate.

It did have a lot of ice and snow. Tons of it. Of course, it also had quite a number of precious metals and diamond veins. Which was the sole reason why anyone would settle in this godforsaken piece of land, in Watanuki's opinion.

He had tried to be an explorer and find a hidden or untapped vein to no avail. With little money, he had tried to be a miner but found that he was claustrophobic to the extreme. There were little employment opportunities to be had … except as a member in the border guards.

It sounded like a sweet gig. Of course, no one had ever told him that he would have to wake up in pre-dawn hours and stand post, watching the sun rise and staring at the borderlands for mind numbing hours. Then he would then have to do all manner of drills before being allowed to sleep at nightfall only to wake up and do the whole thing all over again.

Once he built up enough of a retirement stake, he was emigrating. Southward. He heard that in Moon Country; the beaches were filled with beautiful women. Women who wore bikinis all year long because it was so damn hot. He had seen enough snow and ice to last him the rest of his life. He scratched the back of his neck even as he glanced over the borderlands and then frowned in the predawn light.

"What the—" he stared at the curious sight and after a moment of hesitation, ran to wake up the Guard Captain.

Five minutes later, Captain Riku came waddling up, irritated and shrugging into his heavy fleece-lined parka. He was holding a telescope and held it up to his eye as he studied the mass of people moving towards the border. "This doesn't look good," he muttered.

"Is it an invasion?" Watanuki blurted out, fingering his spear nervously.

Captain Riku snorted. As far as he knew; no invading army would consist of so many women, children, and elderly. If he didn't know better, he would have to say that this was a group of refugees. And there were a lot of them. Even as he watched, one or two of the refugees collapsed. Some stopped, probably part of the family group. But the rest weren't slowing. They kept moving like they had the hounds of hell nipping at their heels.

And considering that they were fleeing into Frost, which was one of the coldest and unpleasant armpits of a country; that meant that whatever it was had to be pretty bad.

"I want the guard force out and under arms in twenty minutes," he barked orders. "Have half of 'em on the pickets, the rest of them should build some temporary shelters.

"When that rabble gets closer, have the guards give them a cursory once over. Make sure that they're really refugees. If they are, try to find somebody whose relatively calm and bring them to me. I want to find out why they're running," Captain Riku said calmly even as he was mentally composing an urgent message to his superiors.

Watanuki nodded even as he felt a cold feeling descend on his stomach that had nothing to do with the weather. He had a feeling that he wasn't going to like this and that he would not be finding out if the women really wore bikinis in Moon Country all year long, anytime soon…

Shogun of War

Chapter 1: War Drums

Konohagakure
Fire Country

The Nanadaime Hokage sighed wearily as he stared blankly at the mountains of reports and paperwork sitting on his desk. He briefly entertained the fantasy that perhaps the First through the Fourth Hokages had actually chosen to commit suicide to escape having to do more paperwork.

He then entertained another fantasy. This one involving a Katon Jutsu and him laughing like a maniac as the stacks of paper became a gigantic bonfire.

He let out another sigh.

How had it come to this? he wondered. Before his investiture as Hokage; his fantasies used to involve naked females doing inappropriate things to him. Or each other … or possibly both at the same time.

Now they involved paperwork. Rather sad, really. Kakashi Hatake groaned as he picked up another report and skimmed it before deciding that he didn't need to know this crap and stamped it and threw it into his OUT box.

"MY MOST YOUTHFUL RIVAL!" a loud and rather familiar voice bellowed.

Kakashi blinked and looked up to see the sparkling teeth and the garishly familiar green spandex. He replied listlessly, "Oh … hey, Guy."

It was expected of him after all. It was a game that Kakashi played for his own amusement. It was about the only fun thing that he was afforded these days. Which was even sadder when I think about it.

"Class-A Mission successfully completed!" Guy boomed, flashing a thumbs up and produced a Mission Scroll.

Kakashi nodded, "Good work, thanks Guy. I knew I could count on you."

Satisfied, he went back to shuffling papers even as Guy departed. He briefly glanced at a drawer that contained an Icha Icha novel. I deserved a little break don't I? His fingers twitched as he began to reach out to slide the drawer open when a Chunin rushed in breathless, holding a message scroll, "Lord Hokage!"

"Yes?" Kakashi asked wearily, his hand dropping away and wondering just what fresh hell he would have to suffer through now.

"It's an urgent message from Frost Village! They say that Rock Nins have invaded Lightning Country!"

"WHAT!"

Kakashi was glaring at the strategic maps now covering his desk as he traced routes, shaking his head in disbelief. How the Hell could a massive force of ninjas bypass several neutral or hostile countries without the Leaf spotting them? Even though Leaf was a shadow of it's former self, they should have spotted such large scale movement.

There was a knock and Jiraiya stuck his head into the Hokage Office. "You called Kakashi?" he asked with a grin. Kakashi impatiently gestured the former Toad Sage to come in.

Despite himself, Kakashi couldn't help but feel a slight shock at the aged appearance of Jiraiya. The man had always seemed larger than life and boisterous. Now, he seemed … smaller. His formerly white hair was turning gray and his face was more lined. There was a hint of stiffness in his movements where there had once been casual grace. It was an indication of his rapidly creeping old age that Jiraiya had abandoned his long-time habit of popping in the windows.

The Toads had not been pleased at all at Konoha's actions at Naruto and when news had reached them of his death; the Toads had repudaited Konoha and demanded that Jiraiya foreswear Konoha as well. When the Toad Sage had reluctantly refused, he had been stripped of the Toad Contract. The loss had been much more crippling than anyone would have guessed. Deprived of his Sage abilities, Jiraiya's powers were immediately reduced to High Jounin and within a year, his chakra levels had degraded rapidly.

Frankly, Kakashi suspected that he would soon be reduced to Chunin levels. But he still possessed his hard won and invaluable experience that Kakashi desperately needed and he quickly related the news of Rock's invasion of Lightning.

Jiraiya studied the maps as well for a long moment and then, "There's no way that their passage would have been completely undetected. That many ninjas would have left some traces and signs; no matter how good they are. So, they couldn't have travelled on land. They must have used a sea lift."

Kakashi blinked in surprise. Few ninjas would utilize such a method. Ships were notoriously fragile and easy to sink. Except perhaps Water Nins who were at home on water; most Nins preferred the stability and solidity of fighting on dry land. Particularly Rock Nins, Kakashi would have thought.

Jiraiya however pointed out that it wasn't quite as big a risk as Kakashi thought. After all Lightning was one of the worst hit during the Akatsuki Wars. It's Damiyo was nothing more than a figurehead with a fragmented country that was now run by warlords and bandits. And those worthy individuals certainly wouldn't bother with any sort of naval patrols or operations; leaving them ripe for the plucking to an ocean based invasion. All the Rock Nins had to do was take a port and they had an easy access route.

Kakashi cursed as he realized that Jiraiya was probably right. "Did you have any indications that the Tsuchikage was planning this?" he demanded.

He never thought that he would actually miss Onoki, the Sandaime Tsuchikage. The man was an utterly ruthless bastard but he was a practical man. His successor however was not so equipped; which made predicting his actions difficult at times. Like right now.

Jiraiya shook his head in negation. After the Akatsuki Wars, Earth Country had turned isolationist and had closed their borders to everybody. His information sources had pretty much dried up in Earth Country along with everybody else's.

Kakashi debated who he should inform first of this development. The Fire Damiyo or the Konoha Council? It was a toss-up. Frankly, he rather would avoid talking to both of them.

The Damiyo was not in a very generous mood towards Konoha for years. And he would not welcome more bad news. And as Kakashi would be the bearer of said news, it guaranteed that he would not enjoy the forthcoming conversation.

And Kakashi despised the windbags on the Council. Few of them would be able to contribute anything worthwhile to the discussion.

Maybe I should flip a coin? He wondered with a gusty sigh.

Iwagakure
Earth Country

He paused on the threshold and studied the man sitting at a huge banquet table. He was a large man. Barrel chested, thick legs, and oversized and well developed arms. He had a coarse thick black moustache and bulging eyes as well as a flushed face. It was no wonder that his enemies (and even his subordinates) referred to him as Enma Daio. At least out of his hearing.

Of course, his nickname as 'King of Hell' was only partially due to his physical appearance.

It was only through experience at keeping his face a polite mask that he refrained from shuddering as his dining companion and host tore a large strip of meat from the steak he was eating with his bare hands. He nosily chewed it before swallowing.

A servitor appeared and moved a chair, allowing the robed man to sit and then produced a wineglass that he accepted with a graceful nod. He took a delicate sip. Heady stuff, excellent vintage, he decided. Probably expensive too.

In comparison, Enma Daio grabbed his own cup which was overfilled and some of it slopped over the rim before he raised it to his own lips. He downed it all in one shot, a trickle of wine snaking down his chin and staining his clothes.

Clearly, no one dared to mention to Enma Daio about such a trifling little thing such as table manners. He ate like a savage animal; grunting and shuffling as he worked his way through the meal and drink. But there was a close look in Enma Daio's eyes that indicated that this was no savage and unthinking animal driven solely by his instincts. There was a wary cunning lurking there. A fierce ambition. A furious lust for power.

He had risen up from the aftermath of the Akatsuki Wars and the shattered remnants of Iwakagure to assume the rank of the Yondaime Tsuchikage over the bodies of his slain rivals. He had quickly moved to overthrow his technical superior, the Earth Damiyo. It was said that the Damiyo had taken nearly a week before he was finally allowed to die.

The robed man could not believe that ridiculous statement. Enma Daio would certainly not permit such a torture session to end so abruptly.

It was unwise to dismiss this man as an unthinking savage or barbarian. But it would be wiser still not to overestimate him either, he mused to himself as Enma Daio wiped himself off with a napkin and tossed it aside. He seemed jovial. A good sign.

"Good news I trust, Lord Tsuchikage?" he inquired.

"Yes!" he roared, thumping his fist onto the table. "I have just received reports that my men have taken the capital! Lightning is as good as mine!"

Inwardly he grimaced at that arrogant statement. It was true that political power did lie with the capital and the persona of the Lightning Damiyo; but he was a nonentity within his own country. Only the other Damiyos and perhaps the population still believed in his authority.

The various warlords, bandit chieftains, and even the small pockets of Lightning Nins remaining would all take offense at an outsider trying to claim their homeland … it was a bit early in his opinion to consider themselves as the victor. Still, it was also true that none of them could possibly withstand Enma Daio's forces. Particularly with his own … additions.

Enma Daio was gazing at him now, his eyes practically gleaming with bloodthirsty eagerness. "The reports have also been glowing with your troops' effectiveness Kabuto. You have my thanks," he said with a grim smile.

Yakushi Kabuto; former Genin of Konoha, former servant of Sasori of the Red Sands, turned second in command of Orochimaru the Snake Sanin, and most recently the Nidaime Otokage smirked and adjusted his glasses fractionally.

"It was my pleasure Lord Tsuchikage."

Kabuto added mentally, as long as you continue to be useful to me at least.

Enma was busy gloating as he rubbed his hands together. He once more consulted his mental map. Once he took full control of Lightning; Waterfall, Frost, Forest and Hot Springs Countries would be trapped between two fronts. Refugees would undoubtedly flee towards Fire Country, straining the already devastated country's economy to the breaking point where he would swoop in. That left either Sand or the Eastern Alliance afterwards. Those were the two strongest remaining countries left.

While before he would have been content to strangle Sand with lack of trade and shipments of food and other supplies; the wily Godaime Kazekage had totally rebuilt his ninja village from the Akatsuki Wars and it was the strongest and most productive it had ever been. Using his mastery of sand, they claimed that the Kazekage had carved out a huge cavern which was the new Suna and new deep wells made them almost fully independent and self-sufficient with the ability to grow their own foodstuffs.

It looked like that strategy was less and less feasible and it was going to have to come down to a siege. Which would take both time and effort.

No, we're going to have to take the Alliance first. Sooner, rather than later, Enma decided firmly as he motioned one of the servants for more wine. Smash them first and then focus on Sand.

Facing a Jinchuuriki on his home turf would be bad, but Water had none of those damn demons of their own. Hell, they chose a damn woman as their Mizukage! Weaklings! And with the Alliance crushed, they would have control of the seas and the trade routes to boot.

It was all coming together, he thought to himself. And soon, Noboru Takehiko; the Yondaime Tsuchikage and the Enma Daio would take on a new name and title. He would be Emperor of All. And there was no one who would be able to stop him…

A/N: The Tsuchikage's name of Noboru means to "ascend, climb" in Japanese while Takehiko is "Mountain Prince". I thought it fitting considering his status as the Tsuchikage and his greedy, grasping nature. His nickname of Enma Daio actually refers to a Buddhist God of Death. He was frequently considered the Judge of the Dead.

I was inspired by Aragon Potter's "The Raikage" to create my own AU version. A lot of things will be different and the history of events will be drastically altered. I also despise much of the anime filler arcs so I will be ignoring most of them. I did like was the first movie, "Clash in the Land of Snow" so I will be considering that as part of my Shogun-verse. Oh and there will be many character deaths as I wanted to try and make this as realistic as possible. Just to warn you; only three members of the Konoha 12 (except for Naruto) are still active ninjas in the present day. The others are either dead, or if I was feeling merciful, I had them retired.