The Clan Wars

Warning: Graphic descriptions of death and hints of torture in this chapter.

Chapter 7: Stirring up the Flames

I sighed in relief as I stepped off the ship and into Port Suizan. I still couldn't stand the rocking motions of the boat and the sickness that accompanied it. I hated boats.

Gaara and I walked side by side with Tobirama and Hashirama flanking either side of us. Mito led the way, her clearly dark and disgruntled aura keeping up at bay. We cowered somewhat in her wake. I said somewhat because I don't think it is even possible for Gaara to cower. I, on the other hand, had grown up surrounded by headstrong women and knew what was best for me survival. So, I safely angled my body behind Gaara's. Tsunade, Sakura, Tenten, Temari, Anko... What was one more? Tobirama, however, was not coping well. He stared at Mito's angry form apprehensively. Hashirama seemed more wary than afraid. He had much less to fear being her fiance.

"That bastard-ugh!" Mito ranted, her anger not allowing her to articulate her frustrations properly. She aggressively trudged her way through the small port side town with a kunai spinning on her finger. I could imagine exactly what she wanted to do with it.

"I think he learned his lesson, Mito-chan," Hashirama tried to sooth. Tried being the key word. He failed miserably.

Mito whirled on him her eyes flashing Tobirama whimpered and hid himself behind me and Gaara. I edged away to get out of range of Mito's kunai. I knew the dangers of an Uzumaki temper and I had no desire to be maimed. "And you? You're my fiance and you just let that dirty sailor hit on me!" she exclaimed focusing her hard gaze on Hashirama. "You better have a good explanation!"

"He was the captain and he couldn't steer the ship if I killed him?" Hashirama's answer came out as more of a question that a statement. I could see the panic in his eyes that his answer wouldn't satisfy her.

"And you didn't see fit to warn him?" Mito asked her tone dangerous.

Hashirama put his hands up in a placating manner and said, "Hey, I did warn him, but he was very drunk and there was no reasoning with him."

Mito didn't respond and turned around to once again march through the small port town.

The town surrounding Port Suizan was incredibly small since it contained just supplies and places for travelers and sailors to stay. The port was deep within Takezashi territory making it difficult to access it not allied with the Takezashi nobles.

The Takezashi nobles were closely related to the daimou giving them enough wealth and power to be able to hire their own shinobi as protection and various missions. For the most part, they hired whoever was convenient or closely allied to them. The Senju had set up an alliance with them to have easy passage through the land. It was especially important because Takezashi owned Port Suizan which had the best access to Uzu no Kuni as well as Mizu no Kuni. Therefore, in order for the Senju to uphold their alliance and close connects with the Uzumaki royals, it was essential to be allied with the Takezashi.

As we walked through the town, Hashirama explained the important political and economics role that the Takezashi clan had and its role within Hi no Kuni. Apparently, shortly after the Senju created an alliance with the nobles of the Takezashi clan, other prominent and powerful shinobi clan began to follow suit. Eventually, all in Hi no Kuni had some sort of alliance or agreement with the Takezashi. Even the Uchiha.

Takezashi land almost acted as a free zone in which all of the shinobi clans could pass through without being attacked. There was a strict no hostility rule. But, that didn't mean that the Uchiha and the Senju still didn't do their best to avoid each other. That was just common sense. Better safe than sorry.

Aside from access to Port Suizan, Takezashi was incredibly abundant in natural resources making it a center of trade and commerce. Its especially large iron ore deposits allowed for it to be one of the top producers and sellers of basic weaponry. It you had a kunai, it was made in Takezashi.

We quickly exited the port town and began making our way back towards Senju territory. Mito set a vigorous pace with her Uzumaki stamina and residual annoyance fueling her. As we traveled further and further and further I could see the tension leaving Mito. Wow. She cooled down pretty quickly. That was unexpected. I knew that I couldn't calm down that quickly.

Gaara and I traveled next to each other our stamina allowing us to easily keep pace with Mito. It was amazing how much easier it was to travel without chakra collars and mokuton restraints on. Gaara watched Mito with great amusement.

"She reminds me of you," he commented.

I glanced at him and raised an eyebrow in questions. "How so?"

"Temper-mental, loud, and blunt."

My eye twitched with annoyance. The amused glint never left his eyes. If anything, he looked even more entertained by my reaction. He took a deep breath and continued. "Also, she is full of life and fiercely loyal. You both are." His lips turned upwards in a small smile before he turned away and sped ahead.

He smiled! I felt a huge grin spread across my face at this. And man, did he looked so hot when he smiled! Internally, I cheered.


It was nearing late afternoon and I suspected that we would set up camp soon. We rushed through the tall grasses of the plain in the center of Takezashi territory. Mito and Hashirama traveled at the front very close together whispering softly. With my Jinchuuriki enhanced senses I could easily listen in on their conversation, but I chose not to. After hearing the first couple of words I could tell that it was a very private conversation and I blocked it out. I felt a light blush spread across my cheeks at the few words I did hear. Gaara smirked at my reaction and I glared. He showed no reaction as if he hadn't heard it, yet I know he had. Him and his stupid, perfect control over his reactions.

I took a deep breath and let the natural smells of the plants and animals flood my senses. I could smell rabbit nearby and knew that when we stopped that we would be able to find a delicious dinner.

The wind abruptly shifted and a new scent slammed into Gaara and I overwhelming our senses. We both skidded to an abrupt halt catching the attention of the others traveling with us.

"Naruto," Gaara stated a grim look on his face.

"I know." I took another deep breath to pinpoint the exact location of the scent.

"What is it?" Hashirama asked warily.

"The scent of fire and blood," I stated grimly.

"Lots of blood. And death," Gaara added.

"Where?" Mito demanded.

I pointed in the direction from where the scent was coming from. Without the wind blowing directly in our faces it was very faint. If that blast of wind had not carried the scent, then I would not have noticed it at all.

Hashirama and Tobirama's eyes widened. "But that's-" Tobirama stuttered.

Mito shot a questioning glance at her fiance.

Hashirama's face was grave. "That's where the Takezashi clan compound is located."

Mito's eyes widened. Gaara and I watched and waited for what they wanted to do.

"We should go investigate. They are our allies," Tobirama suggested.

Hashirama nodded. "Very well. But, don't do anything unless I give the go ahead," he warned. "Naruto," he continued, addressing me, "take the lead and let us know if you smell anything. Gaara, take the rear and let me know if you smell anything as well. Mito, center. Tobirama, right flank. I'll take left. Be on guard. We have no idea if it is an attack or not."

We nodded and set off in the direction of the Takezashi compound in formation. I had the feeling that Hashirama had an accurate idea of what exactly had happened. I could tell that he was lying when he said that it might not be an attack. I was very sure that he knew that it was an attack. In fact, he probably even knew who was attacking.

We cautiously approached the compound keeping out of sight as well as watching for danger. I could see a small cloud of smoke curling into the sky. I took another deep breath and wrinkled my nose at the smell of death permeating the area. I slowed and ducked into a small grove of trees where we stopped.

"I didn't smell anything alive over there," I commented. "From the way the remains of the compound were smoking and the smell of death, I would say that the attack happened about two days ago." Gaara nodded in agreement with my assessment.

"An you are sure you didn't smell anyone else hidden within the remains?" Hashirama asked.

"Yes, but here are any number of jutsu that can be used by others to hide their scent," Gaara stated.

"Like genjutsu?" Tobirama asked.

"In this case, no. I may not be any good at making genjutsu, but it is very difficult for them to be trapped in them," I responded. As far as I was aware, I could only be caught in ocular jutsu such as the sharingan or the rinnegan. And since there was no one around with the rinnegan and I could effectively fight against the Uchiha, I was safe from genjutsu.

"Let's go investigate," Hashirama decided. "We need to find out if everyone was killed or if some made it out alive."

We nodded in agreement and set off towards that ruined Takezashi compound. We approached the remains cautiously and alert for any attacks. Once we entered the compound, the scent of death, blood, and fire hit me with full force. I wrinkled my nose with distaste and glanced over at Gaara to see that he was doing the same. We drew closer together at we traveled through the remains.

Dead bodies lay strewn everywhere, many of them burned to a crisp. Men, women, children; shinobi and civilian alike. Blood was splattered everywhere, covering the crumbling buildings and leaving dried up circles on the ground indicated what were once puddles of blood. Some of the larger buildings were still smoking lightly, turning the air gray and thick. In the center of the town were three men strung out on ropes by their hands and hanging above the main plaza. Their heads were decapitated and on stakes stuck into the ground. Their entrails hung from gashes in their mid sections with the remains rotting. They were not burned, but they were covered from neck to cut with gashes. So much blood had fallen from the bodies that they puddle of blood had not yet been absorbed by the ground. Gaara and I covered our noses with our sleeves at the stench permeating the air.

"The Takezashi clan head and his sons," Hashirama said. He approached the bodies and knelt down on the ground to observe a pile of ashes on the ground. He knelt down to get a closer look and his head suddenly jerked upwards. He glanced around looking for something. "I recognize this jutsu," he muttered. He pushed his way over to the stakes contain the heads of the Takezashi nobles. He bent down and examined the piece of wood.

"Fuck!" he cursed. "Uchiha!" he said. The name sounded much like the curse he had just exclaimed.