Ok so there's going to be HEAVY, HEAVY, HEAVY reference to ASoIaF and Game of Thrones in here .
disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or a A Song of Ice and Fire. I do own a copy of each book though xD
Chapter 7: The War of the Five Shadows
The Road to Vengeance Arc
Part IV of VI
Two weeks later…
A small pop was heard in the surprisingly empty room, save for the comatose prince in the hospital bed. The machines soft beeping made sure that people knew that he was still alive and breathing. But from that small pop, came another scroll, stacked on top of the other two. If one could reach over and open it, they would find that it's impossible. It was protected by a complex seal unknown to anyone but Kaede and Naruto.
Nii-san,
I miss you. Nii-san…it's been almost three months since the massacre…I want you to write back to me…to us. Kuro-nee is worried and constantly weeps in her sleep. She wants you to come to her Nii-san. I want to hear your laugh again…I want to hear your voice again. I miss you so much…we're twins damn it! We have that twin initiative that no one else has.
Please…come to us as soon as possible.
We need you.
Love,
Namikaze Uzumaki Kaede, aka, The Aka-hime no Konoha and Yamauchi Kurotsuchi, aka, The Yougan-hime no Iwa
-In Taki no Kuni…
"So let me get this straight…" Kurotsuchi said while rubbing her temples. "The entire Akatsuki is after the crowns of both villages…correct me if I'm wrong…"
"Han and Inoichi have a tight connection network with each other…" Kaede said adding on to the statement.
"The Akatsuki meet near the desolate country and the mountains graveyard?" Kurotsuchi continued. "The Akatsuki of Iwa apparently has the Uemura clan, Kamizuru and the Okano clans?"
"And Konoha has the Hyuuga, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Nara, Inuzuka and Aburame?" Kaede said. "And they are just waiting for the right moment to strike…"
"T-That's pretty much it…" Yasuha sighed.
"Where the hell do you fit into all of this?" Kurotsuchi asked.
"I was going to be Han's wife…his queen…" Yasuha looked away from Kurotsuchi's gaze. "But now that I've been captured, I'm of no use to him…"
"Just…damn." Kurotsuchi sighed and walked away from the tied up Uzumaki. "You can handle her Kaede…"
"You got it Nee-chan…" Kaede said as Kurotsuchi left the cottage of dried lava.
They waited for quite some time before they began to talk again. Kaede sliced the ropes binding Yasuha and brought up an earth chair with earth chakra. The two stared at each other, examining each other waiting for the other to start the conversation.
"So what now?" Yasuha asked. "Are you going to torture me?"
"No." Kaede simply replied. "I'm just going to ask you questions."
"I already told you everything I know!" Yasuha growled.
"I'm not asking about what you know…" Kaede said softly. "I want to know how an Uzumaki stooped so low as to become one of the Akatsuki…"
-In Tsuchi no Kuni…
Hatomi and the remnants of her attack force stopped after another day of running back to home base at her mansion. The mountains surrounded her from all sides and shrouded her from the light of the moon above. It's been two weeks since the botched mission to get rid of the Aka-hime. But whatever the reason of why she screwed up, she needed to get back to base and tell her father and Han about the new and tantalizing information that she had access to.
Yamauchi Kurotsuchi…is a traitor.
Hatomi only smiled at what happened. Her 'sister' was captured. She wasn't even her sister by blood, or by relation. Hatomi mentally gagged. Yasuha was an Uzumaki. A dirty blooded Uzumaki. She only played the good sister because she wanted to get on her father's good side. The longer Hatomi thought of it, she ended up hating and hating her adopted sister even more.
In truth, Hatomi wanted to have the speed that her sister had. Hatomi wanted the swords that Yasuha always collected. She even wanted Han to herself. The black haired Okano smirked at her luck. Not only was Yasuha out of the picture, she could get her hands on Han herself. Hatomi knew that Han would never take Yasuha back if she were to even get free of BOTH the Aka-hime and Yougan-hime.
Hatomi raised her fist to halt the remnants of her company. She looked back to her units and sighed at her misfortune. All she had left was a ragtag team of Uemura fodder. Meaning, they were just guardsmen for the actual clansmen. She looked over her troops and frowned to see that she was down to only five, and all of them were men. All of them were injured. Hatomi sighed deeply and ordered them to break for camp.
But after a few moments, they didn't comply. Hatomi looked at them weirdly and shrugged thinking they were just tired. She walked over to a corner and started pulling out her equipment, but just as she got her bedroll from her pack, they charged for her and tackled her against a tree, each one wielding kunai and daggers. They cut through her clothes and armor trying to get her clothes off of her.
For the longest time, these men had wanted to fuck the Okano and her sister, but once they heard that she was an Uzumaki, they felt disgusted and went for the next best thing, Hatomi. They didn't give a damn about what she could do to them. All they wanted to do was to get into her pants by any means necessary. Especially now that they felt that they were dying, they wanted to get some action with the only female for miles around.
But they also had orders. Why not go beyond the call of duty?
Hatomi screamed in surprise and began to kick and scream in fear, but quickly reined herself in and calmed down to assess the situation. As it was they were already tearing through her armor and armor latches. She struggled under the largest one's grip, but managed to get a good slip. She wiggled her arm out of the first ones grip and kicked him in the groin, hunching him over onto the rocky surface.
She jumped up to her feet and kneed one of the other guardsmen in the gut and elbowed him down to the ground. She spun around and drew out a kunai knife and lodged it into one of the other Uemura's throats. She spun around with a roundhouse kick, causing the breast plate for another Uemura to cave in. Two dead, three more to go. Hatomi sped through quick hand seals and began to float up into the sky.
"Jinton: Hakuri no jutsu!" Two of the three Uemura were encased in a three-dimensional sphere with a glowing center. But just as quickly as they were covered, they were vaporized by the amazing and powerful jutsu. She descended down to the surface with a scorn on her face. "What do you think you've done…?"
"W-We have orders!" The Uemura spat. "Now die Okano bitch!" The man charged forward with his ninjato drawn.
But. Hatomi quickly kicked his wrist, knocking the sword from his hands. The Okano jumped up and connected a heavy kick to his chest and sent him back a few feet. Hatomi sped forward with chakra pumping off of her legs increasing her speed. She smashed into the man, tackling him into the ground beneath them.
"Orders from whom?" She asked with no emotion in her voice. She waited a moment for an answer but she received none.
She straddled his chest and rammed her fist into his face. When he didn't reply she sent her other fist in for a ground and pound. As each strike hit, blood began to cover her knuckles until he finally relented the information she wanted.
"T-The…O-Okano's…are…traitors to Iwa…and the Akatsuki…" The guardsman moaned in pain. "Your father thinks…that Han-sama doesn't know…"
"Silence!" Hatomi punched the man in his throat, crushing his esophagus from the hit. Blood poured from his mouth and pooled around his head.
The girl stood up from his dead body and sighed. She looked around in paranoia. As of this moment, she finally understood why her father felt the way he always did. She was being watched. She just didn't know from where. She didn't know what factions were out for her demise. She was, for the first time in her life, afraid. The Yamauchi that she felt a great deal of admiration for was after her and her family's heads.
There were only three people that she knew could stop this: Two of them were her enemies and one was an Uzumaki.
In the distance though, she sensed a large force of infantry and shinobi moving towards her. She glared when she recognized many Uemura and Manabu clansmen. She turned on her heels and burst through the rocks and caverns back towards Taki no Kuni.
-In Taki no Kuni…
"So that's what happened…" Kaede was awestruck.
"It wasn't my choice." Yasuha spat. "Again. I was kidnaped as a baby by Tetsui…I always knew, but I just never said anything so I wouldn't raise suspicion."
"What about Hatomi? You two always seemed close…" Kaede asked.
"She hates me and I hate her." Yasuha replied. "We always had the act going even when we were alone; think of it as emotional training. She hated me because I was an Uzumaki…and I hated her because she was an Okano."
"Even though we never openly fought, we hated each other…so when she had learned Jinton, I was infuriated. I chose to increase my speed so I could impress someone of high birth; namely the Yamauchi." Yasuha continued. Kurotsuchi entered into the cottage with a large jug of water from a nearby fresh water spring. "Do you want to know the secret to my speed?"
"Yes…tell us." Kaede growled.
"Here." Yasuha rolled up the sleeves to her arms and channeled chakra revealing a massive array of intricate seals and seal matrices. Each one intersecting and combining with one another and mixing to form a new seal. It was amazing to the Namikaze. Kaede continued to stare and examine the seals covering the girl's arms and now, legs.
"What are these seals…?" Kaede asked bewildered.
"They are reverse gravity seals." Yasuha simply replied. "As you know; gravity seals slow and weigh you down, but reverse gravity seals make you lighter, thus allowing you to run faster, jump higher and hit quicker, but for the cost of strength."
"What are these extra seals?" Kaede asked.
"They are the seals used to negate the weakening affects." Yasuha said.
"I see…tell me how to do these seals." Kaede said. "We'll let you go anyway. We got all the information we wanted."
"R-Really?" Yasuha was surprised.
"We aren't dumb Yasuha." Kurotsuchi said as she leaned against the wall of the cottage. "We know that no amount of torture will extract the information we want from you. Now then, hurry up and get those seals taught. We need to get out and do some recon and kidnapping. We know that you most likely don't know where Han is right now."
"H-How'd you know?" Yasuha asked with wide eyes.
"With a man as paranoid as Tetsui, there's no doubt that some of it would have rubbed off on Han. Especially in his current state of mind." Kurotsuchi stated wisely. "Kokuō is screwing with my brothers head again most likely."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Breaking News: Kumogakure's military is exploding out of proportion!
-Kumogakure is gearing for war! No one knows the true reasons as of yet, but the armies of Cloud and Kaminari no Kuni are amassing on the border between Hi no Kuni and Kaminari no Kuni!
Breaking News: Tension is rising between Konohagakure and Iwagakure!
-Ever since the Uchiha/Senju massacre in mid-summer of this year, Iwa and Konoha have been gearing for an all-out war with one another!
Breaking News: Kirigakure and the Unabara Clan claims direct lineage to the Rikudō Sennin of legend!
-As everyone knows, to become the Supreme Kage of the elemental nations, one had to be of direct descent to the Rikudō Sennin! The Unabara Clan, now since the annihilation of the Senju, now claims to be the ones to be in command of the Mainland!
Breaking News: Kumogakure claims true lineal descent!
-Kumogakure has now declared their Ruling Dynasty of Soga clansmen are the descendants of the Rikudō! Who will stand in the way of Kumo and Kiri?
-Shikuchi-jo…Konoha fortress…twenty miles from the border of Tsuchi no Kuni…
"Lord Commander." A voice called out to the jounin commander in charge. "A message from the Hokage."
"Leave it on the desk." The man replied.
Once the chunin headed out of the door, the jounin turned around and held up the letter and smiled as he trailed his eyes over the contents of the message. They were orders straight from the Hokage to get his forces ready to invade Tsuchi no Kuni with full force of Hyuuga at the vanguard and Land of Fire samurai right behind the Hyuuga. Behind the samurai was going to be the brunt of the force; the Sarutobi.
The man was a tall and bearded shinobi with chocolate brown eyes and a cigarette in between his lips. Around his waist was a small banner that held the crest of the land of fire. His name is Sarutobi Asuma. Next in line to become the clan head of the Sarutobi clan. He even had a son coming along from his wife Sarutobi Kurenai. He was tough and had a sword on his back and two knuckle-blades strapped to his waist. One on each side.
Looking back at the letter; it was a detailed strategy planned out from the beginning of the war operation all the way to the endgame of a very promising ending. The total destruction of Iwagakure for their treachery against Konoha. The jounin began to laugh at his luck but suddenly felt a great force of foreboding in the pit of his heart. Something isn't right. A loud explosion shook the keep down to its foundation. Loud shouts and cries were heard throughout the courtyard.
Clanging weapons rang into the air. Flying kunai and explosions were all he could hear. Asuma looked calm and collected as he examined the situation as easily as possible. Suddenly a few footsteps could be heard as a struggle was made just outside of his office at the top floor of the keep. Asuma shook slightly but managed to gather his bearings before he collided with his desk.
"Lord Commander!" The same chunin from before, barged into the room. The jounin drew out his sword and nearly killed the man for scaring him. But then he took a moment to take in his appearance. A thick trail of blood was pouring from his mouth. The chunin fell dead to the ground with ten kunai embedded to the handle in his back. Asuma's eyes went wide at the sight. He suddenly sensed a few more chakra signatures that were unknown to him and sped through a few hand seals. Once the unknown signatures came into view, Asuma let loose.
"Katon: Gokakyuu no jutsu!" He shot out a blast of fire through the doorframe, enticing a series of screams and howls. Once the fire died down, it came to reveal five corpses, burnt to ash.
The jounin commander charged through the door and looked down into the courtyard of his fortress and frowned at what he saw. His troops, shinobi and samurai were battling against an, as of yet, unknown enemy. He jumped over the railing of his keep and landed in the courtyard and engaged a few of the sword wielding enemies.
After a quick slash across one of their throats, he came to realize something wasn't right. The hitai-ate of the shinobi and samurai weren't two rocks, nor were they of four water marks. No, they were of clouds. Kumogakure had just attacked Konoha.
The jounin wasted no time and kicked the dying shinobi away from him and back flipped to get some distance from himself and some of the Lightning Samurai. One charged at him with his armor clanking and jangling about, but his armor didn't save him. With a fast chakra enhanced slash, the blade sliced clean through the chest of the samurai.
"Katon: Haisekishō!" Asuma spit forth a large cloud of ash that all Konoha and fire samurai knew of. All of his forces quickly backed out of their fights and fought their way behind the Sarutobi. Once the invading Kumo force became aware, they charged for the Sarutobi. Asuma only smirked. Once his troops were behind him, he clicked his teeth causing the ash cloud to suddenly combust in an amazing and fiery light causing the Kumo force to be drastically reduced to wailing, bleeding, husks of what used to be a man.
With much of the invasionary force defeated, the Konoha defense retaliated and cut down the remaining Kumo forces minus a few prisoners. Three genin, two chunin and one jounin commander. All six of them were badly injured and were missing at least one of their limbs. They were dragged through the corpse covered courtyard and thrown into dark and dank cells. Filth surrounded the prisoners of the attack.
"Now then." Asuma said as he pulled up a seat. "tell me. Why did you attack my nation? We have no issues with Kumo or Kaminari no Kuni?"
"The Raikage demands a war. He wants to become the supreme ruler of the Shinobi nations! Kumo is the strongest of all the nations!" the shinobi shouted. "Our samurai move like the clouds that cover our village. Our shinobi strike like the lightning that they have been blessed to control. Our prince and princesses move like bees and swiftly like cats! Konoha can do nothing against the revolution to come!"
"Interesting spiel." Asuma mumbled as he lit a cigarette. After taking a deep drag he placed the cig in between his index and middle finger. "Tell me more and I might just let you die a painless death."
-In the Great Eastern Sea…two weeks later…January
Across the great crystal horizon, the sun was rising to cleanse the darkness from the land. The ocean breeze was soft and calming. Dolphins dashed through the waves and even made a few jumps from the ocean and into the calm and cool winter air. With a quick splash down into the water, the dolphins sped and raced through the cold and endless blue. But there was something else going on. It wasn't just any calm day, nor was it any ordinary day.
"Suiton: Mizu Bakuhatsu!" The jutsu was called out, changing the course of the ocean and forming two large water cannons, two hundred feet in diameter. They spun around at quick speeds before shooting off towards each other, colliding with amazing power and strength, shaking the tides and forming massive waves.
The two men were of different villages. One had a hitai-ate with the symbol of Uzushiogakure while the other had the symbol of the Kirigakure. They were both jinchuriki for their villages, thus being a part of the royal family of their kingdoms.
The prince that hailed from Uzushiogakure was a tough young man no older than twenty. He had deep violet eyes like most had in his clan. He wore the traditional black body armor of his clan during the warring states period. At his sides were two katana's, one on each hip. His sleeves were long and a deep red. His skin was a light tan and had spiky but long, blood-red hair. His name is Uzumaki Seiji, youngest son of Uzumaki Noburo, and youngest sibling to Uzumaki Kushina. He is the jinchuriki to the seven finned Dolphin-shark.
Across the ocean stood a young man with pink-ish eyes and a long pole-arm. It was the weapon of his clan that made his name famous. His father, Unabara Yagura, is the current Mizukage. The boy had grey spiky hair much like his father and stood at a good height of 5'8", which was pretty tall for his clan. He wore a green scarf over his family's traditional battle armor. His name is Unabara Shunji. He is the jinchuriki of the six-tailed tortoise-dog.
As it was, the two princes were battling it out for control of the trade routes that came through the Great Eastern Sea. For Uzushio to gain control, meant that Konoha could stand a chance, but if Kiri won, they would be able to hold an extremely important and profitable trade route. The Uzumaki had to hold their ground for the time being. They couldn't let the remaining Senju brothers they have die off.
"Seiji!" Shunji shouted out to the Uzumaki. "You've gotten better."
"I should say the same to you, Unabara." The Uzumaki laughed. "You will never gain control of this seaway!"
"It doesn't matter if we get control of the seaway." Shunji said as he shot off a huge blast of water into the sky.
Seiji was confused for a moment, but then the large compressed ball of water exploded a few hundred feet in the air, raining water down on to them. Seiji didn't know what it was for, but he didn't like it. Channeling the dolphin-sharks chakra, the boy began to shoot off hordes of chakra, causing some of the water around him to evaporate.
But before he could do anything, a large ball of explosive tags was flying straight for him. Taking evasive actions he jumped over to the side as the ball dug through the ocean surface and into the ocean itself. Once the prince of Uzushio got his footing back on the volatile surface of the ocean, the water began to glow an ominous color as it exploded outwards, sending the Uzumaki flying.
"Suiton: Dai Suijinheki!" He slammed his hands through the water, shooting up a massive tidal wave, nearly seven hundred feet high and two hundred feet thick to defend against another ball of explosive tags. The tidal wave sped forward and crashed against Shunji.
"It's not over boy!" The deep voice echoed throughout the ocean and vibrated the sea. The tidal wave crashed against Shunji in his full bijuu form. The water simply parted at the size of majestic bijuu. It was nearly half a mile long and a quarter of a mile wide. Six tails swishing behind in the rising sun's glow. The great turtle-dog had made itself known, but that wasn't all.
Behind the great bijuu was a massive armada of ships bearing the banner of Kiri and Mizu no Kuni. Seiji looked in awe of the sight and quickly channeled his own bijuu's chakra. After a few moments, his body had transformed into a massive seven-finned dolphin shark with teeth the size of two story buildings. It was a predator of monstrous and nightmarish size. Seiji dipped his head into the water and sent out a mass sonar message to Uzushio about the incoming fleet of Mizu no Kuni ships.
"It's the Fourth Great Shinobi World War…"
-In Kaze no Kuni…two weeks later…
Along the border between Kaze no Kuni and Tsuchi no Kuni was a division of three thousand shinobi and samurai amassed to aid Konoha in the war that seemed to be raging all across the continent. So far, for the past four weeks, Konoha had been engaging both Iwa and Kumo with Uzushio holding off Kiri in the Far East. As it was, there was no clear winner as the two sides had stalemated each other. Kaze no Kuni was surprised that Iwa and Kumo weren't getting stomped about by the Kogane no ōji and the Aka-hime or the Kiiroi Senko, but then they quickly realized that the Aka-hime hadn't been home for almost four months and the Senko was traumatized by the massacre and the Ōji hadn't awoken from his coma.
Konoha had lost a third of the battles fought against Kumo and Iwa, but Konoha was making it happen as victory was coming. After the first week of the war, it became Konoha's battle cry: Victory is coming. And there were some even saying, 'Konoha Remembers' to pay homage to the Uchiha/Senju massacre that happened on July 23, also commonly known as the Bloody Sunday.
But as the war dragged on into its fifth week, the Kazekage knew that he couldn't stand by any longer. Iwa was getting dangerously close to his lands and was started to puncture through Konoha and the Fire Daimyo's defensive lines all throughout the smaller nations and their own lands. So as it was, The Kazekage had sent his son, the Jinchuriki of one of the nine pieces of the Juubi, to lead a division up north to the border and get ready for an assault.
"Gaara-sama." A jounin said to the young redheaded jinchuriki.
Sabaku no Gaara. Son of the Yondaime Kazekage and jinchuriki of the great Ichibi no Shukaku. He stood at a good height of 5'10" and still had a more to go. The boy had messy red hair and no eyebrows. His eyes were a light teal and held little to no emotion. His arms were crossed and he was standing on a cloud of floating sand. The two most defining features of the boy was the tattoo for love on his left forehead and the massive sand gourd on his back.
"What is it?" The prince looked down from his cloud and to the jounin.
"A message from the Hokage and the Kazekage." The jounin said. "It is of urgent importance that you read it."
"Hand it to me." The jounin hurled the scroll up to the boy and the redhead's sand reached out and grabbed the scroll from mid-air.
"What does it say my lord?" One of the other jounin asked.
"Get ready for an attack into Tsuchi no Kuni." Gaara said with an emotionless tone in his voice. "We will be attacking a city by the name of Ishikawa. Our job is to raze it to the ground. Kill everyone we come across, man, woman or child."
"Understandable from your father, but the Yondaime Hokage too?" Some of the Jounin were surprised at the orders.
"I understand the Hokage's choice in action. This war not only is a war to keep our alliance on top, but it is also a war to avenge the fallen Uchiha and Senju clans for the treachery that conspired five months ago." Gaara quietly stated. "We will also be meeting up with the Kogane Kishi, which is being led by Uchiha Sasuke, the only surviving Uchiha of the massacre."
"Are only the Kishi coming to aide us?" The jounin asked.
"It says that they are moving through Tsuchi no Kuni as of right now with an entire battle division of hardened and skilled shinobi and samurai at their backs." Gaara replied as he sent the signal to break camp.
"It's about time Suna got into this war!"
-Taki no Kuni…
"Kaede-chan." Kurotsuchi said quietly. "It seems that the war has only escalated."
"Any news?" Kaede asked.
"The First Kiri Armada was defeated by Seiji and the Third Uzushio Fleet yesterday; The Kogane Kishi has been tearing through Tsuchi no Kuni; Danzo's ROOT aided by countless Sarutobi shinobi are battling it out with Kumogakure and keeping them in the East for the time being." Kurotsuchi said. "That's only the beginning. I haven't even gotten to what they're calling the war-"
"I feel someone coming!" Yasuha suddenly said. "It's…Hatomi?!"
"Yasuha! Aka-hime! Yougan-hime! Come out! I come in peace!" The girl's voice sounded exhausted and strained. All heads turned and looked out of the cottage to see a beat up and dirty faced Hatomi.
She looked like she just fought through an entire war just to find the girls. Given their current state as a continent, she quickly realized that Hatomi probably did fight through the entire war. The three girls headed out of the little hut and drew their weapons at the girl. Each one eyed the Okano as carefully as possible. But Hatomi simply dropped to her knees and bowed deeply.
"What do you want Hatomi?" Yasuha asked with a small growl.
"It's imperative that we go back to the mansion Yasuha." Hatomi said. "Han is going to betray the Okano's! Already he had Uemura try to kill me on my way back to the hideout."
Yasuha was surprised. She looked over to Kurotsuchi but the black haired girl was just as surprised. It was as if Han knew that they were going to fail in their mission. It was as if he wanted them to fail. But then it hit her. Kurotsuchi looked to Yasuha and Hatomi with wide eyes.
"You and your clan have been labeled as loose ends then!" Kurotsuchi exclaimed. "Han is eliminating political enemies for whatever endgame plan he has set. We have to go."
"We?" Kaede asked with a raised eyebrow. "If you don't remember, they tried to kill us!"
"I know you might have forgotten, but I am still the heiress to Iwagakure." Kurotsuchi quickly replied. "It is my duty as their princess to aid in the removal of my brother's terrorist activities."
"…I guess I have no choice then?" Kaede sighed as she strapped on her armor. The Okano and Uzumaki were surprised at Kaede's willingness to help. Kurotsuchi simply gave them a small smile and went off to get her own swords and weapons.
"So. Kaede. Here's the name of the game." Kurotsuchi said as she finished wrapping her sword around her waist. "When we go off into the Okano mansion, we will need to be quick and precise. If we succeed in defending the Okano's, then we'll have the Okano clan on our side for later use. The Okano's are deep in the Akatsuki, founding members actually, so we will need them on our side if we will want to get at Han."
"Understood. Let's go. We don't want to be caught in any battles along the way to the Mansion."
-Konohagakure no Sato…
"The war of the four shadows is escalating!" A herald was shouting out to the people passing by. "Already Konoha and the Grand Triumvirate of Suna, Konoha and Uzushio, have been able to strike a deadly blow against the forces of Kirigakure no Sato and Kumogakure no Sato!"
People cheered slightly as they listened while others simply walked off to the market. Soldiers were constantly patrolling the village at war and made sure no one stepped out of line. Many more civilians left their daily work and walked up to the herald to listen in on the news coming in from the front.
"As it is, Konoha and Iwa are in a dead-lock of a stalemate!" The man shouted from his pedestal. "The Kogane no ōji, sadly, is still in a coma, leaving his father to fight the war and the Aka-hime is nowhere to be found! If the Kogane no ōji doesn't awake soon, the war could very well tip in Iwagakure's favor!"
People groaned, some cried out to Kami in the heavens for their prince to awaken from his slumber and for their princess to come home. Others were horrified of the prospect of losing the war to the brutish people of Iwa and Tsuchi no Kuni.
"Sunagakure is moving in from the south to aid the Kogane Kishi in their assault through Ame no Kuni and into Tsuchi no Kuni! Iwa is now fighting on two fronts!" The herald cried out as he continued to read the message in his hands. Just as he was about to continue reading his current letter of information, a hawk swooped down and perched itself on his shoulder and dropped a scroll from its mouth and into the heralds hands. "Unbelievable…A new enemy has arisen from the west! He claims himself to be the true leader of the Elemental Nations! He calls himself the Otokage of Otogakure!"
The people were in uproar at the information. First Iwa assaults Konoha. Then Kumo and their Raikage claim the title of supreme Kage and leader of the elemental nations. Soon followed by Kiri and their Mizukage claiming the exact same thing. The military police soon came into the scene to calm the people down. At the head of the police force was Orochimaru with his former teammates Jiraiya and Tsunade. With their presence, they were able to calm the crowd.
"This Otokage is going to be dealt with." Tsunade said with a powerful voice, bringing out her former kage tone. "Just keep calm and return to your jobs. The war will be won."
-In Kaze no Kuni…three weeks later…
"Heheh." A man giggled maniacally. "It seems the six Kage's are falling right into my trap."
The man had a large hood draped over his head. He had silvery white hair and wore round rimmed glasses. He walked calmly with two large shinobi at his sides. Both were dressed in powerful looking body armor and had kanabo strapped to their backs. On their foreheads were hitai-ate bearing an eighth-note symbol.
The desert sands were blowing around the three as they trudged through the dunes that waved endlessly through the desert. But once the sand parted and the winds were calm, it came to reveal a massive army marching behind the hooded man and his two giant cohorts. Thousands upon thousands of shinobi and infantry were marching towards Sunagakure as their first target.
As they marched through the country, they left a path of destruction and death and fire in their wake. As they continued, they claimed every city they came across and every bit of land before they even made it half-way to Sunagakure. As it was, he had anticipated the explosion of conflict quite perfectly. With the death of the Senju and Uchiha clans, Kumo's clans and the noble families claimed true descent from the Rikudō Sennin. Since only those of the blood of the sage could be true rulers of the Elemental nations. Shortly after Kumo's Raikage and his clan declared their lineage, they sent forth their armies to rid the world of the only competition they had: the last six Senju in the world; Namikaze Minato, Namikaze Mito, Namikaze Arashi, Namikaze Naruto, Namikaze Kaede and Namikaze-Senju Tsunade. But with the recent reports of the Aka-hime, Namikaze Kaede, being gone from the village and the Kogane no ōji, Namikaze Naruto, being in a coma for the past five months, made the Raikage think of his situation with a new light.
After the massacre first happened, he was sketchy at best about how he was going to go about his assault on Konoha and the Senju/Uchiha lineage. But once the Aka-hime basically disappeared from the radar and the Kogane no ōji was injured, he knew it was his time to strike. So he took his forces and amassed them against the border in complete secrecy and moved them subtly throughout the entire northern border of Hi no Kuni and when the time was right, at the beginning of the new year, he surged his forces over the border and attacked Konoha's fortresses stationed throughout the Northern provinces of the Land of Fire. But within two weeks, Kumo's forces were pushed back by a massive counter offensive devised by Shikaku and a battle strategy council made up of nothing but Nara clansmen.
Looking over to the Far East in the vast oceans, the Unabara clan claimed their lineal descent from the Rikudō Sennin as retaliation to Kumo and their own declaration. The clan of extremely powerful water ninjutsu users were supported by the populace of Mizu no Kuni. Even the water daimyo gave the Unabara clan full support and even scrounged the history books and family trees and clan records from the ancient times and had even found proof of the Unabara clan's claim of the title of Supreme ruler of the Elemental Nations. All for the small price of gaining control of Uzu no Kuni and having himself a harem of Uzumaki women.
But so far, the Uzumaki were holding their own against the bastards across the sea. The Unabara were surprised by the Uzumaki's fighting ability and naval capabilities, seeing as how the Unabara were the creators and leaders of the Village Hidden in the Mist; which happened to be the shinobi kingdom within the Land of Water. The Kiri navy was up until the war, the most unstoppable military force known to man, woman or child. But somehow, the Uzumaki were able to destroy not just a fleet, but an entire armada of warships. Thousands of men and women, samurai and shinobi, died after two weeks of constant fighting at sea. As it was, Kiri and Uzushio were at a bloody stalemate with neither side gaining nor losing territory.
But out of all of the claimants to the name of Supreme Kage, and direct lineal descent from the Rikudō, the Senju still had the highest claim and the most plausible. They along with the Uchiha were the longest clans in existence. With millions of years of history and expansion, they were the most important clan in the entire world as of yet. The thing that made the other nations want control was the fact that the Senju weren't taking advantage of their blood right as Supreme rulers. They weren't conniving for power or trying to subdue their enemies into giving them what they want, no, the Senju were too noble for their own good. And it angered many people, both foreign and domestic.
But the Senju weren't the only ones with high claims as well. The Yamauchi of Iwagakure was also of the same level. While the Senju were revered and boasted descent from the Rikudō on Hi no Kuni, the Yamauchi were the same in Tsuchi no Kuni. Having millenniums worth of history and records to their name, the Yamauchi have a solid claim to the title. Yamauchi Kitsuchi was going to make sure that he was able to get the title. He needed the title of Supreme Kage. His clan was finally at the precipice of the World Stage, and the right to go down in history as the first man to unite the elemental nations under one flag.
Shaking his head from his thoughts, the Otokage smirked wildly at the state of affairs of the continent under fire. He continued to walk through the burning village he had just entered and drew out a chokutō ninjato. A village guard charged for him, but, the man simply swung his arm around, slashing the throat out from the guards, causing him to plop onto the sticky, bloody sand below.
"I am Yakushi Kabuto. And I will be the one to claim the Crown of Supreme Kage."
-In Tsuchi no Kuni…two weeks later…February…
For almost five weeks, the girls were charging through the mountainous valleys of the Land of Earth. The deeper they got into the country though, the harder it was for Kaede to not feel anxious. Even though she and Kurotsuchi had been in the country countless amounts of times for information gathering and kidnapping, she still couldn't help but feel a little worried that they might be caught. I mean, don't they remember that a massive five-way war was being fought?
Kaede shook those thoughts from her head and ran fast to catch up to Kurotsuchi and the two Okano's. No one really said much. The tension though was there. Everyone present has tried to kill one another within the last five months at least twice. At the beginning of the journey the trip was slightly awkward with the four beginning to bond, but now, all of their previous feelings for each other were gone and they now felt friendship blooming with one another.
But now, they were nearing their destination, the Okano Mansion.
"Alright. Everyone stay behind me and let me explain things to my father so he doesn't attack you two." Hatomi said to Kurotsuchi and Kaede.
"Just stay quiet and be respectful." Yasuha said as they came towards the main road to the Mansion.
But once they turned and headed onto the paved pathway towards the front gate of the Mansion, the road was littered with mutilated animals and people. The area reeked of burning flesh and wood. The four girls drew their weapons and got their jutsu ready. They sprang into the diamond formation and quickly sped for the front gate only to find the doors destroyed revealing a ruined courtyard with a few fights still going on in the center.
The two Okano's charged ahead and engaged a few unknown enemies and hacked them down leaving the rest to Kaede and Kurotsuchi whom of which, finished off their opponents in less than a second each. The two girls then followed the Okano sisters while the rest of the Okano defense forces fought back against the invaders.
"We need to see if my father is still alive!" Hatomi called out to the three girls as they barged into the main house.
Once inside they could hear the sounds of struggling and blood splashing and knives clanging against each other. Shouts echoed throughout the main floor as their voices and cries of pain rung about. The four girls slowly trudged to the top of the stairs with their blades held out for quick parries. An explosion shook the household, but the four girls were able to keep steady.
"I think we should split up and handle whoever comes in our way y'know." Kaede said. "I think we will find Tetsui faster if we get rid of the resistance beforehand."
"As much as I would like that idea, you're forgetting, the entire Okano clan is fighting to kill you. And these invaders are most likely going to go after you as well Aka-hime." Hatomi said. "It's best if we stick together."
"I agree." Kurotsuchi and Yasuha replied. Kaede merely sighed and nodded knowing she was outvoted.
Ten Minutes later…
The four girls found the main throne room and barged through the doorway to find Tetsui and a large force of defenders standing about with different injuries marring their bodies and faces. Tetsui was missing an arm which really hit home to Hatomi. But the head Okano didn't seem to care.
"What are you thinking, bringing the Aka-hime and the Yougan-hime here?!" The man seethed. "The Aka-hime is Senju-scum and the Yougan-hime is a traitorous bitch!"
"You will not speak of them that way-" Yasuha tried to defend the two girls, but was suddenly backhanded by Tetsui's good hand.
"I will speak as I please!" He spat. "They were probably here to fucking kill me right now! That's probably the only reason they followed you!"
"Believe what you want asshole." Kaede growled, letting her emotions get the best of her. "But Kurotsuchi and I have come to the consensus of letting you live as long as you give us Yamauchi Han!"
"…" There was a deep silence that claimed the room, until Tetsui began to laugh. "I see the Aka-hime is still on her Road to Revenge."
"It's a road we all must travel for our journey to be complete." Kaede simply replied back.
"And what destination are you trying to achieve?" Tetsui asked.
"The destination is undefined, for it is the journey that matters." Kaede answered.
"Hmm…" Tetsui scratched his chin with his good hand and looked the redheaded Senju square in the eye. "If you are willing to take the risk of the double-edged sword that vengeance is, then…if you can defeat the Uemura and the Manabu…then…the Okano will have your back in taking down Han."
"It's a promise then." Kaede shut her eyes as she began to channel the power of Yin Kurama. "Let's do this!"
-In Tsuchi no Kuni…three weeks later…
The darkness of the sky was only combated by the flickering flame of the different candles decorating the elaborate room of the mountainous fortress. Sitting in the dim light in the farthest corner was a large man in blood red armor with his Iwa hitai-ate scratched out through the center. He was glaring at the table in front of him. Not once did he anticipate the events to happen like the way they have. Not once did he take into consideration of Kumo and Kiri, for he believed they were under him.
It frustrated him to no end. The war wasn't supposed to be of this level. The war was supposed to be short, concise, precise and most of all, secret. Lives weren't supposed to be thrown away like they have been for the past two months of this war. From his agents' reports from the fronts, the daily death toll is well within the thousands. He knew that if it continued, there wouldn't be any elemental nations to control. But that blasted Yamanaka Inoichi.
Why Inoichi pushed forward the plans by almost two years, Han would never know. He himself spent countless hours coming up with a schedule and time table for when certain events were supposed to happen. But with this 'War of the Five Shadow's' as it was being called, his plans were trashed and worthless, since almost all of his main targets were in the field of battle fighting or defending for their nations interests.
Han sighed and leaned into his chair also knowing about his sister dearest joining up with the Aka-hime. The former Yamauchi knew all about the little path of revenge and simply laughed at the notion. Even if the Aka-hime could exact revenge on Han, he knew that his plans would have already been fulfilled and completed. He was confident in his own organizations reliability at the time, but now, as members were being killed off one by one or even ten by ten and found mutilated by some street corner or hanging off of some monument, Han began to worry for his organization and its life.
He still had high plans and other pieces to fall into place for him to bring for the endgame. But with the Okano's falling from the Akatsuki's graces with Tetsui's revolt a few weeks back, Han felt betrayed by his own organization. So he had the Uemura and Manabu to handle the Okano's only to have them defeated by the Aka-hime and sister dearest themselves. But what really hurt the most was that it was Yasuha that led them there.
He had loved the redhead even if she was an Uzumaki by true birth. Han didn't care about that, but what really hurt him the most was that she doubted his love for her and she even doubted his organization. She betrayed him and was now after his head for what he has done to her clan. With Tetsui first revolting for his own personal goals to be accomplished, and then Yasuha betraying his emotions, Han felt that there was no other alternative but to bring for the endgame stage three years ahead of schedule.
He knows it's going to be a premature strategy and quite frankly, a very bad strategic choice of action, but he felt that he had nothing to lose. The moment he murdered the Red Death, he lost all of his inheritance as the Jōki no ōji. He became Han, leader of the Akatsuki no Tsuchi. He became everything he ever dreamed of, but now, he has nothing. His own friends and comrades that gave their oaths and swore fealty to him betrayed him without a second thought. His own sister was after his head.
So. So what if he attacks and loses in the fight. He didn't care. He just wanted the traitors blood spilt. He wanted to dance on their rotting corpses. He wanted their heads on pikes. He wanted them dead. And as the leader of the Akatsuki, what he wants is what he gets. First order of business though…what to do with Yasuha.
"My Lord." A Manabu jounin entered the room and bowed to his leader. "We have a prisoner."
"Bring the prisoner here."
"Yes my lord." The jounin opened the door and a woman with blood red hair was thrown onto the floor in front of the large man.
Her skin was bruised and cut in various places. Her clothes were torn and disheveled and her red hair dull with almost no life. Her skin was dirty and bloody and she was almost naked, if it weren't for the rags that were given to her as clothing. Around her wrists and ankles were shackles made of chakra absorbent metal. The woman looked like a mess. She looked up to stare into Han's dull pink eyes. Within seconds, tears began to trickle down her cheeks.
Han reached down and picked her up and threw her into the wall across the room with a deep snarl marring his face. His eyebrows were furrowed deeply as a deep, guttural growl escaped his lips. His pink eyes exploding with unbridled fury. His hand gripped the prisoner's throat as tightly as possible to inflict the most amount of pain while keeping the prisoner conscious.
"Yasuha…"
I know that this chapter is sadly shorter than the other chapters of this Arc, but I've hit writers block somewhat :/ and school is being a bitch to me, even though it's only the fourth-fifth week of school xO
Next Chapter: Yasuha was captured? How? What's the deal with the Okano's? What is the Akatsuki's next move now that a massive war is taking residence? Yakushi Kabuto? Otokage? Otogakure? How long will this war last? What will become of Yasuha? What will become of Kaede? Will Kaede ever exact her revenge? When the hell will Naruto wake up?! Find out next chapter!
Ja ne!
gottahavekyuubi