A/N: You'll notice that the new Konoha society is extremely similar to that of the Amazon's in the sense that it's a female-only society. I purposely made it so because I felt like the original Naruto show focused too much on the male power and not on the kunoichi capabilities.
I'm not a feminist or anti-male, but I feel like Kishimoto didn't really give the females of the show much credit.
Enjoy chapter 1!
Chapter 1: Reminiscence
The rise of the sun did not bring the feeling of renewal and hope to the weary village. Instead, a solemn atmosphere settled on the clear sky as the inhabitants scurried to their daily tasks.
The few shops that were available opened as their owners organized their chores mechanically.
Numerous armed individuals wore magnificent red uniforms with a white flame adorning their backs that was the emblem of their transformed home.
As they marched through the slightly crowded streets, the gathered civilians bowed in respect as they murmured "long live the Queen".
The village hidden in the leaves has significantly changed over the last two decades.
Since the devastating attack, much of the infrastructure was too damaged to be repaired and re-inhabited. The village's radius became significantly smaller as the survivors were forced to relocate to the center.
Their savior spent most of her family's fortune repairing the buildings that could be saved, and rebuilding the shattered economy into its shaky form that presently existed.
To provide more protection, a powerful jutsu was used to create a thick forest of tall, imposing trees around the village just outside the ruined outskirts. Most who dared to enter never came out. It was called the Forest of Screams.
Many survivors often explored the ruins in search of tradable goods or belongings of their long dead relatives. The younger generation did not feel much attachment to the loss like their mothers did.
The villagers were very grateful to their queen for banishing the nightmare, but without the men, their home was not the same.
A lone figure observed the village's activities from a top balcony of the newly constructed palace. A peaceful expression rested on her beautiful pale face as she scratched the ears of her pet pig.
The crown that wrapped around her forehead told of her high stature.
The woman's golden hair and equally colored robe gently flew around her as a cool breeze traveled through the village.
The scenery was far from perfect, but it was still a welcoming sight nonetheless.
A dark-haired young woman carrying several scrolls walked towards her. "Your majesty, here are the lists of the new Phoenix recruits that you've requested," she said.
The elegant woman glanced back. "Have the weapon workers made sufficient weaponry?"
Her subordinate nodded. "Two hundred swords and katanas, a hundred explosive tags, one thousand senbon, and three hundred kunai and shuriken have been added to the armory."
The queen made a noise of approval, before she turned her gaze back to the village.
Her small army of formidable kunoichi halted in the courtyard directly below her balcony.
The lieutenants organized their platoons and all stood at attention beneath the sharp gaze of their queen.
Their champion stood at the center, walking forward until she made direct eye direct with the golden woman.
The warrior took out her impressive blade, and pointed it upwards. "With her mighty will and wisdom leading us, we shall achieve eternal glory. Long live the queen!" She ended by stabbing her sword into the ground and bowing low.
The rest of the army made a "hoorah" noise and they too followed their champion's example.
A small smile tugged at the golden woman's lips, before she raised her hand.
Her loyal kunoichi stood up at attention.
"My fellow kunoichi," she started loudly, "you have filled me with great pride at your accomplishments. Once again, you have protected our home from invaders. The ignorant shinobi have underestimated our power, and they have paid the price."
One-handedly, the queen removed her necklace. It was mostly made of gold, with a few blood ruby gems that scattered across the circle. In the center was a medallion of sorts with the symbol of a bird surrounded by flames.
"We are Phoenixes! We have been burned, but we have long since risen from the ashes to start anew! Countless times over, we have proven to the shinobi world that women can defend themselves, and that we are just as formidable as any great clan."
The small army cheered and yelled in agreement.
Carefully, the queen lifted the precious necklace outwards. "Wear your emblem with pride, and never succumb to the lies of the men. They claim our village is cursed, but they are the ones who are seething in jealousy at our success."
The breeze carried thin green leaves towards the golden woman.
Carefully placing her pet pig on the ground, the queen snatched a leaf and twirled it in her slender fingers. "A new age awaits us. Those who dare to threaten our home and existence shall be crushed!" She emphasized her point by enveloping the leaf in her palm, crumpling its delicate structure.
The kunoichi yelled and clashed their weapons against each other's as they chanted.
The golden woman smiled, and once more raised her hands to quiet the excited army. "You have earned your rest."
In an organized fashion, the various platoons left the courtyard as they retired to their quarters.
The queen looked down as the pig oinked excessively for attention.
Still smiling, the golden woman picked up the restless animal, and resumed scratching its ears.
The dark-haired woman behind her coughed. "Will that be all, my Lady?" She asked.
The queen looked back. "Go rest, Shizune," she replied.
Bowing in respect, the woman known as Shizune left the grand bedroom, and quietly shut the double doors.
A minute passed by as the golden women made her way to her wooden desk. "You can come out now," she said as she placed the calmed pig on its special mat before sitting down.
An individual wearing a Phoenix mask emerged from the shadows behind the beige curtains.
Unlike the kunoichi from the queen's army, this woman was dressed completely in black. Parts of her uniform were torn as dried blood plastered to the loose pieces.
The queen frowned in concern. "What happened?" She asked.
"I ran into some unexpected trouble," the woman in black replied.
The queen gestured her to sit on one of the accompanying chairs.
Said person followed the example, and stiffly sat down. "The Land of Hot Water was attacked." She said after a moment of collecting herself.
Shock took a hold of the queen's face, but was quickly wiped away into a carefully blank look. "How many were there?"
"A dozen warriors following an alpha. I managed to kill the alpha, but not before the Akuma[1] caused irreparable damage."
Biting her lips, the queen pressed on. "Were there any survivors?"
"Just the females," was the reply. "I had Yamanaka Asami place them under a genjutsu and stand guard for their own protection."
The golden haired woman sighed loudly. "This is the second attack in two years. Could it be that the hive is growing?" She asked.
"Most likely another hive has been born, thus they took the extra territory to fulfill their needs." The masked woman replied. "What I still don't understand is why do they only spare the females?"
"They probably see the men as more of a threat." The queen replied.
"I'm not sure whether to be grateful for their selection or offended at their underestimation of us."
The golden woman shook her head. "It doesn't matter. They still present a threat that we have to prevent from spreading."
The masked woman nodded, and stayed quiet as the queen bit her lip in deep thought.
"This is not good. We've barely managed to contain the dominant hive here in Fire country. For them to be expanding past our borders only proves their cunning and will to be set free. Their discovery will only cause international panic, and could trigger another war." The queen said.
The woman in black nodded. "Yes," she started, "though I'm still amazed that all we've received was a cold shoulder from Kiri after the Land of Whirlpools was completely obliterated by a previous attack."
The queen snorted. "The water daimyō won't risk going to war with us, especially since the Land of Water still hasn't recovered from the previous Great Shinobi War." She stood up, and walked towards the large world map that adorned the wall opposite her desk.
She glanced over it with hardened eyes at the numerous X's marked upon the small countries surrounding the Land of Fire. "Why is it that they only attack small countries that have coastlines?
The masked woman was quiet as she contemplated the question. "Perhaps they are looking for ways to infest new land far beyond our influence and reach?" she suggested.
The queen hummed quietly in thought as she continued to study the map. "If they continue with their pattern, then their next target will most likely be Oto." She pointed to the village.
The queen didn't notice her subordinate stiffen at the news.
Oblivious to the reaction, the golden-haired woman's gaze pierced at the spot, before she abruptly stepped back and snorted. "He wouldn't let anything attack his village," she commented to herself.
The woman continued to murmur to herself as she paced around her lavished chamber.
She finally stopped, and glanced at the kunoichi. "Dispatch some guards to the area, and have them escort the survivors back to Konoha."
The masked woman bowed. "Yes, my Lady."
She stood up, and made her way to the double doors, before she halted and looked back. "Are you sure it was wise to keep the Akumas' existence hidden from the younger generation?" She inquired.
The queen raised a delicate eyebrow. "What good would it have done if they knew the truth? Panic would have crushed what little sanity our people had. My councilwomen have agreed to keep their existence classified."
The masked woman hesitated, before she nodded, and quietly left the room.
Alone to her thoughts, the queen let out a long breath before she walked over to her southern balcony that overlooked the training grounds.
She always enjoyed watching the kunoichi train as they sparred against each other, or practiced individual skills.
At the moment, an obnoxiously loud red-head was yelling at a cowering student for having aimed her kunai far from its intended target.
Smirking in amusement, the queen slid golden bracelets on both of her wrists, and left the grand bedroom.
She passed the large hallway, and made her way down the spacious staircase, occasionally nodding in greeting at those who bowed to her along the way.
At last, she passed through the back entrance, and stepped onto the rocky terrain of the training grounds.
All of the training kunoichi paused in their actions to bow in respect as their queen passed by.
She fixed a small smile upon each of them as she continued through.
The golden woman spotted her target, and whistled for her attention.
Upon seeing her, the red-head smiled and waved enthusiastically. "Ah, Tsunade-baa-chan! What brings you here?"
Ignoring the normally disrespectful title, the golden-haired women smirked. "I'm here to make sure you don't scare my students to death," she replied.
The younger woman rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Sorry about that, but our kunoichi have to be masters at what they do."
"I agree, however, do try to cut them some slack, Kushina. My apprentice had a rough start, but look at what she has become."
The red-head grinned. "Yeah, Sakura sure has grown," she remarked.
"Indeed she has," Tsunade added with a fond smile.
Noticing the nervous student shifting her weight between each leg, the queen nodded at her. "You may leave, young Phoenix."
"Yes, my Lady," the girl mumbled before she ran off to her peers.
Shaking her head, Kushina grumbled to herself before turning her attention to Tsunade. "So, how's your reputation holding? Still the scariest and most powerful out of the legendary Sannin?" She grinned toothily.
A chuckle escaped from the normally composed woman. "Something like that."
"Most believe that you are incapable of performing the Wood style like your grandfather. Why not prove them otherwise?"
The golden-haired woman smirked. "It would be no fun if I didn't have some secrets," she teased.
"Oh, I like your style!" Kushina exclaimed.
Chuckling once more, Tsunade cleared her throat and adopted a serious expression. "How is Mikoto?" She asked.
Immediately a sober look removed Kushina's normally contagious grin. "Eh, you know how she is. She just can't let go of the past."
The queen nodded. "Is she still there?"
"Yeah. She said it makes her feel closer to her children," the red-head said sadly.
Tsunade sighed, mentally reminding herself to visit the still mourning mother.
She glanced back at the younger woman. "How are you really holding up Kushina?"
A sad smile plastered itself on the red-head's face. "I just try to move forward, baa-chan." She closed her violet eyes, and looked down. "By Kami-sama, I miss them so much."
Tsunade fixed the younger woman with a sympathetic look as she placed a comforting hand on the slim shoulder.
Kushina wiped away rebellious tears, before she forced a big grin on her young face.
She looked up at the older woman. "We have you to thank, baa-chan. You saved us from that nightmare, and gave us a second chance."
Something tugged at Tsunade's heart as she purposely looked away. "I couldn't save everyone," she said softly.
The queen turned her focus to Kushina once more as the younger woman held her hand. "Even the greatest hero can't save everyone. It's impossible. What matters is that you came back to us in our time of need, and saved us from doom. Maybe you should cut yourself some slack, Tsunade-sama."
Surprised by Kushina's formal addressing of her, Tsunade blinked foolishly at the red-head's soft smile.
A smile teased the queen's lips, as she squeezed Kushina's hands. "Thank you," she said.
The red-head nodded, and let go of Tsunade's hands, before walking over to the training students.
Shaking her head of unwanted thoughts, Tsunade returned to her chambers, and sat on her bed. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples as she tried to ward off the spinning thoughts.
Bizarrely, she felt an impending sense of doom.
[1] Formal translation for "demon." Literally means "bad (aku) devil (ma).