((This story is pure fan-fiction. The characters and locations are the sole property of Shonen Jump and the series's creator, Masashi Kishimoto. G.I. Joe is the sole property of those who created the toys, TV shows, movies, webisodes, and video games. At no time is this fiction an intent to infringe upon their rights nor properties.

"normal speech"/ flashback thought

thoughts/ flashback speech and action

[Snake Eye's sign translation/writing]

[Snake Eye's sign translation/writing during flashback]))

Maybe an hour after securing the boat, Snake Eyes led the others along the edge of the atoll. Strolling past destroyed and damaged buildings without so much as a glance. Pausing only once they reached a wide, open pathway that led into the thick vegetation.

Following her betrothed, Mabui remained silent. Trusting him almost implicitly at this point. Yet her eyes swivelled towards buildings as she automatically studied the visual damage and tried to figure out what had caused it. When they paused she spoke up finally. "Looks like a major fight took place. Hardly a building was untouched by fire or some other damage."

Hiroku nodded, replying lowly, "You can be sure it was one hell of a fight. Uzu would have made Iwa and Kiri pay tens times over for every inch of territory. Even in Kumo, we had a saying," she said in nostalgia, not noting how she had everyone's undivided attention, "To fight an Uzu is to fight an Oni," she finished quietly. She noted her captive audience and blushed for some reason. "Just saying," she shrugged.

Mabui nodded, "Grandfather spoke of the shinobi of Uzu with the greatest of respect. He used to joke and say he'd rather face a Kage than a team from Uzu," she whispered as the group resumed walking. "I asked him why once. Just once," she continued. "He showed me two scars. One from the Raikage in a spar. It's a twisting rope of damage. The he showed me his hand where was an Uzu took the last three fingers of his strong hand. With ninja wire the person used as a weapon," she added. "That's when I understood. A Kage may show mercy, Uzu shinobi don't."

Haku gave a shiver. Having been with Zabuza for so long, he immediately knew what Mabui meant. The Uzu used shinobi wire to slice through her grandfather's hand and the Tsuki. They left him alive after rendering him practically unable to fight at all... For a shinobi, a fate worse than death… No mercy at all.

Fifteen minutes later, Snake Eyes stepped out of the foliage and stood in surprise. Arms hanging limply as he took in the scene before him. The inside "beach" of the atoll was completely black. He stepped to the side a few feet and squatted down, taking up a handful of the odd sand.

The others blinked as they escaped the thick overhead canopy of trees, spreading out slightly. Haku used a rag to wipe the sweat from his face. "How thick was that atoll?"

Hiroku stretched and looked over her shoulder, "Maybe a mile at most. Never heard of one that thick before. Stands to reason though, if it could support that kind of tropical vegetation."

Mabui blinked and asked the obvious, "What do you mean?"

The Jounin answered easily, "Most atolls are pretty thin, maybe a hundred meter thick unless it formed a corner. The plant life is usually shrubs and the like."

Haku could only shake his head, "How do you know this stuff?"

Hiroku laughed, "I have been to nearly every Elemental Nation and a lot of different countries on the map. It never hurts to know something about where you're going. Even if it's just topography or history. Any information can mean the difference," she said seriously.

While the others talked, he studied the "sand" in his hand. Rubbing some of the particles in between his fingers. Noting the discolouration it left on his fingertips. Under his mask, his face was one of intense focus. He lifted the edge of his mask and touched a fingertip with the tip of his tongue. Immediately spitting it out and washing his mouth out with water. Resetting his mask as he stood up and joined the group. He silently poured some of the sand into Haku's cupped hand.

Haku looked at the grit in confusion. "Black sand?"

Snake Eye's hands went into gear as he explained himself.

[Another reason for the invasion. My guess is, this side of the entire atoll is like this. That isn't your regular sand. It's Iron-sand. I'm betting this is the largest single source deposit anywhere outside of the mines of Iron Country.]

Hiroku and Mabui both went wide eyed as they took a closer look. "That explains things a bit," they said in unison. Haku looked even more confused.

[Iron-sand's a key component to forging most weapons and armor from shinobi to samurai alike. Its used in the forging process to form tamahagane. The better the tamahagane, the better the weapon.]

Haku nodded and went to remove the sand from his hand but it stuck to his palm like glue. "Snake-sama? Is it supposed to do that?" he asked nervously. Noting how the others stared at his overturned hand curiously. His pulse quickened when his leader drew a killing knife and carefully "shaved" the sand off his palm.

Snake Eyes replaced the knife and signed excitedly.

[I've read about this, but never in my life thought to ever see it. This Iron-sand is chakra reactive. You exuded Chakra without thinking of it, to get all the sand off your skin...This is the kind of sand used to forge Chakra weapons.] he turned to stare at the beach in wonder, [I take back what I said, this IS definitely a reason for their attack. Iron-sand of this quality is pretty rare. Even in Iron Country, which is thought to be the sole location for it.]

Looking back to the beach in each direction, all four had a similar thought: What could make them just leave all this behind? Will they be coming back for it? Have they already and when will they return?

Shelving his thoughts for later, Snake Eyes gestured before he began trekking along the inner shoreline. Hearing the crunch of their footsteps behind him, he smiled inside his mask. They accepted his lead so far and he hoped the trend would continue. When they reached the bridge, even he had to marvel. He immediately used the dispelling technique to ensure it wasn't a Genjutsu meant to take out invaders. When nothing happened, he gave the others a shrug as if to say, 'Well I had to try...'

A single flat span of stone and wood traversed the inner lagoon from atoll to island. Supported by columns of stone covered in what appeared to be hardened coral deposits. Gingerly stepping onto the bridge, he motioned the others to stay back as he went further out. Feeling no signs of decay, he walked back to the others and to the side of the bridge, peering underneath. At that moment, he wished he could whistle. Getting back upright he rejoined the others and signed.

[It's like it was built just last week...The entire bridge is made of stone. They fit together seamlessly. It was either a master builder that puts Tazuna to shame or someone with an incredible Doton Affinity. Even the wooden surface is secure.]

Mabui whistled for him, in this case. "No damage after all this time? That's impossible. It's a little worn by time but there's not even a pockmark from the Invasion. What the hell is goin on?"

Haku interjected, "Snake-sama? Do you know anything about this?"

Snake Eyes shook his head in the negative and shrugged. He had no clue.

Hiroku spoke up, "Well, we aren't going to get any answers standing here and debating it. Lead on, Snake." Her tone matter of fact though her thoughts were less so, Things aren't adding up...there's no way in hell BOTH Iwa and Kiri would just up and abandon this place. The natural resources alone would practically demand some presence be kept. Instead, we're finding nothing. Something's just not right…

Crossing the bridge took the group another twenty minutes followed by another thirty of them passing through even more jungle type vegetation. The increased time due to Snake Eyes's repetitively halting the group and surveying their surroundings only to resume a moment later. Each pause kicking the tension up more and more. Adding to that factor was the total lack of the usual sounds. Things like insects, birds, wildlife...nothing. There was a collective near sigh of relief when they emerged from the jungle to maintain their trek along the wide pathway with head high grass on either side. Grass that rustled and swayed.

[Four man defense!]

The signal was immediately responded to as they formed a diamond shape, almost shoulder to shoulder. Adrenaline coursing through their veins while their eyes began scanning for threats.

"Snake...report," Hiroku said and then her blood chilled as she nodded to his single hands signs of pure ANBU-speech. "Got it. Listen you two. We've been tailed. No...hunted."

"How can you tell?" Haku asked as he immediately drew three senbon into each hand, Chakra began moulding.

"No wind," Hiroku answered bluntly.

Mabui caught on and cursed under her breath, "Whoever it is has been tracking us through the jungle. Stayed hidden in the grass. We're surrounded." She quickly flipped one kunai into a reverse grip while her other hand simply tightened on the grip of another.

Falling silent, they could hear a strange guttural barking mixed with a near birdlike trills and chirping. Along with multiple sounds of sniffing and snarls approaching from various directions. All of them increasing in volume.

When the sources emerged, none of them, including Snake Eyes, could stop from gulping in a form of fascinated horror. Despite having seen Megalodons, despite knowing that the mere existence of Summons threw the rules out the window, they still wondered if they had stumbled onto a movie set of some kind.

Analyzing the sight before him, he pointedly ignored that his mind was telling him what he was seeing was impossible, never once breaking his part in the defensive posture. Bipedal. Small arms for grasping and holding prey. Three puncturing/slashing type claws on all four limbs. Central foot claw thicker and sickle shaped for shearing deep through muscle. Crescent shaped body from neck to base of tail. Long tail acting like ballast and balancer. Thick thigh/ upper leg muscles indicate high speed or leaping ability if not both. This can't be right...unique characteristics from four different species present in one? Coloring and patterning indicate a fifth species...this is impossible.

The two groups stood rock still, each studying and gauging the other. As though waiting for something...which soon revealed itself. A larger creature emerged from the tall grass, stalking forward with what could be described as an imperious grace. Its elongated head swiveling and snapping at those that dared to impede its advance to the small group of shinobi. It stopped a scant few feet from the black clad teen and turned its head to the side. Delivering a steady unnervingly intense and intelligent stare.

Meeting that stare without flinching was difficult for Snake Eyes. Sweat beaded up along every crease of skin as the staredown continued. Fight or flight instincts waged war within him as the moments passed and tensions rose. Ever so slowly, he put away the kunai and bared his right forearm. Showing the Ba Qua to the apparent leader of these...creatures. His eyes widened behind the visor at the effect.

The newcomer hissed loudly and jerked back, its yellow vertically slit eye widened then narrowed visibly. It shifted its weight from left to right several times while the one eye regarded the seal on the forearm. Then it began to back up slowly, a low growling clicking sound came from its throat. One of the others apparently didn't like that and snarled in response only to wail as this "leader" whipped aside and tore the one apart in a vicious mixture of rending claws and shearing teeth. Rising from its now dead opponent, it resumed staring at the group and clicking at them.

"Snake...lead us forward," Mabui said in a tense voice. "We have to move slowly but I think its telling us to proceed."

Hiroku asked in a similar tone, "What the hell makes you think that? They all look ready to kill us at any moment." I don't know dinos as well as Snake but I'd swear that one was FEMALE...which means, this species is matriarchal. Hot damn! Even the dinosaurs know women rule! she couldn't help but smile slightly at the thought as her inner self made fist pumps.

Haku snorted lightly, unable to see what was going on literally behind his back. "Someone want to clue me in? I've got two staring at me as if they're trying to decide if I'd make a better T-bone dinner or rump roast."

Mabui could only shrug ever so slightly. "It's a hunch, alright. If that was the case, that one would have ripped Snake apart. Instead it backed up," she paused and clarified for Haku's sake, "The apparent Leader has arrived. Snake showed it...her...whatever, his Seal and it killed one of its own when it didn't agree with it...her...backing away and making space for us to advance."

Snake Eyes considered the argument and sighed. Only one way to be sure… he thought as he took two steps forward and saw the larger hunter nod its head before pointing its snout up and issuing a loud repetitive barking sound. One matched by all the visible hunters and several that remained hidden from view. He reached back, flicked his hand within Mabui's line of sight and made a "come on" gesture.

"Stay in formation but follow Snake Eyes," she said intently and couldn't help but smile inside as they moved as one in pursuit of their guide.

As they moved, the hunters slowly but surely disappeared back into the grass. Until only the one remained. It was nearly midday by the time they cleared the high grassy area, seemingly being herded along the path with that one larger creature constantly chirping and back-stepping. High walls came into view on the horizon until it was all they could see to either side and they stood before a pair of massive gates made of wood and iron. The quartet spread apart, easing themselves into a position where their collective backs were to the gate. Watching their "guide" circle with them before it trilled deeply and approached Snake Eyes. Its snout popping his hand upwards and breathed deeply before it back pedaled quickly and turned, disappearing back into the tall grass.

Leaning back against the gates, Snake Eyes tugged his mask off and only then did he let his legs give out. Hands coming up to run over his hair before he tightened his fingers into the blond strands. What the Hell have I gotten into here? he thought to himself as he stared wide eyed at his boots. He lowered a hand and held it out, watching curiously as it shook visibly. His head tilting slightly in consideration. After effects of adrenal response. Heart rate's slowly dropping. Pupils contracting from dilated state. Fight or flight impulses receding...

Hiroku eased down next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder and her eyes widened. "He's shaking," she said as she began trying to warm him up. Nodding in thanks as both Mabui and Haku proffered blankets to wrap him up in. "Easy, Snake...Just breathe. It's over. You can relax now. The threat has passed," she crooned softly. She looked to the others as they gathered around. "Battle Shock. It usually passes in a few minutes." When Haku looked at her curiously she explained, "We were in a heightened combat posture for an extended timeframe. All three of us have been through this kind of thing before at some point. This is his first."

Haku nodded and said quietly, "Take all the time you need, Snake-sama. It can only get easier from here, right?"

That seemed to snap him out of it. Sorta. He looked up and began laughing silently. At least he wasn't shaking in shock anymore...then his fingers began forming signs.

[We're past the Guardians, yes. The hardest is yet to come. For me, at least.]

Mabui sat down on the side opposite Hiroku and slid her hand into his. "What do you mean, Snake-kun? What's coming next?" She moved to try and gain eye contact, "You know what's waiting in there don't you? Tell us…"

Slowly getting up to his feet, he seemed to recollect himself before he answered. His expression was calmer now, settled.

[The other day? When I broke off training for a moment...It's because I know what's waiting in the actual village. You'll see soon enough. It's not a threat per se.]

Hiroku stood up and she leveled a narrow gaze onto her Apprentice. "You sent Shadow Clones in there. That's how you knew about the Guardians. Isn't it?"

Snake Eyes shook his head in the negative then signed.

[Clones entered via the evac routes used right before the invasion. They let out on the smaller Island just north of the atoll. They bypassed the Guardians altogether and entered the Village proper without incident. All I knew was that Uzu Island, the Village Island, has two major Summons as Guardians. I had no idea they were the Megs nor the...Raptors.]

Haku looked back towards the tall grass. "Those were Raptors? As in Velociraptor..." He turned back to their leader.

Naruto made that "sorta kinda" expression complete with hand and head movement.

[That's what has me confused...I call them Raptors but they're not run of the mill. I recognized specific traits unique to four different species. I suspected a fifth and that was confirmed when the leader arrived. The truth of it is, I don't know what they are. With those combinations, they're unlike anything in the known fossil records.]

Mabui reached out and took his hands. "That's enough Naruto-kun. We have a couple of days before we have to return to Konoha. I'd rather get to the village proper before nightfall. Okay?" At his nod, she smiled, "Good. Now get us inside." She then looked at the walls and gate, "Please tell me why these walls and gates look brand new."

They all looked at them and could only agree. The sixty-something foot tall dome-like walls were unmarked as was the obviously thick wooden gates with iron straps.

Hiroku covered her hand in chakra and slapped the wall. Immediately seals appeared on every vertical surface within a few feet of her hand. "That's why. The walls of Uzu are literally covered in seals. From what few accounts Kumo could gather after the fall, by any and all means," she smirked grimly, "There are repair seals, strengthening seals, barriers, chakra sumps, you name it."

Haku whistled as the Jounin removed her hand and the seals disappeared. "Then how in the world did they get in?"

Hiroku answered softly as she looked at the gate, "Preponderance of firepower. Tightly focused, overwhelming attacks against specific keys points that overloaded the seals in that area. To the point the repair seals couldn't undo the damage without a lot of time." She swiped her hands against one another briskly, "Still took them four days to break through. They lost a lot of people by then."

Snake Eyes ran a hand over the hewn wooden gates in admiration, feeling the sheer power flowing through and around them. He spied the panel and looked it over. Placing his hand on it impulsively, he nearly panicked when his arm was sucked in almost all the way up to the shoulder. He felt it clamp down, pressing with almost cutting pressure against his suit. He waved the others off as they got close. He knew this...he recognized this and he couldn't help but smile as he shoved his hand even deeper. The smile grew when his fingers closed around the lever and he pulled it back, causing the jaws to release his arm. Pulling back until there was a click. Letting go and removing his arm from the hole and watched as it changed back to a blank panel.

Mabui rushed over and smacked him across the back of his head. "How could you just do that?! Don't you realize…" she shook her head, crossed her arms and turned away, "You know what? I don't want to know…" She looked over her shoulder with narrowed eyes, "Do that again and you mister," she turned around and poked him hard on his chest, cheeks red and slightly puffed out, "you will…oooohh!" Anything beyond that was cut off as the large gates opened fully inwards, allowing them entry.

Rocked back by the poke, Snake Eyes re-donned his mask and headed inside. Not needing to look back to see if they followed. Emerging on the other side of the wall, he heard the groans of his group and he glanced behind him to see them covering their mouths and noses. He simply nodded in agreement.

Haku's words muffled by his hand as he tried to breathe normally, "What is that smell?"

Snake Eyes replied. [Thirty-five years of neglect and fruit rot. It will get stronger as we approach the orchards. Just need to get past them.] Passing through the tree line, he paused as they crested the ridge that overlooked the interior of the Island. [Welcome to Uzushiogakure.] Pulling out a reed whistle, he blew a series of notes. Waiting until it was repeated from a wide number of locations before he put it away and headed down the sloping path.

They stood overlooking what was, in essence, a bowl shaped valley. Everywhere their eyes turned, there were signs of repairs either freshly completed or nearly so. The base of the path wound from the south west and turned due north once it reached a center point. Vegetation at the "ground" level started with neatly set rows of trees. Obviously the orchards mentioned. Set on each side of the path. Beyond them, on the right, laid what appeared pasture or fallow ground as figures cut high grass and others tied the cuttings into bundles while more tossed those bundles onto a cart. On the left, progress was being made cutting back more grass while a different section of that was being tilled and fertilized.

Beyond the orchards, pastures, and fields, four large depressions were visible on each side of the pathway. Each one showing signs of being cleaned out and prepared while movement went from one to another as they rose along the gentle slope upwards to the back. Right behind the final depression stood a stone wall that encircled the innermost area, the village proper presumably.

Walking down along the pathway, the group was silent as the smell did indeed get stronger, nauseatingly so. Making past them, they took a few minutes to clear their noses of the sickly sweet smell. Drinking some water to rinse his mouth, Snake Eyes replaced his canteen and signed to the others.

[One of Uzu's exports was citrus fruits. A mainstay on any vessel as the vitamin C intake was necessary to prevent scurvy. They provided a wide assortment to fit the needs of the ship.]

Haku nodded at the explanation as he turned to regard them. "How do your Clones stand the smell?"

Hiroku answered for her Apprentice, already having a good idea, "He used an ointment right under the nose," she smiled at his nod. "It's generally used by medical examiners or morticians to block out the...aromas of their profession." She placed a hand on her hip, "How many by the way and how long?"

Snake Eyes sighed sheepishly.

[At any one time, I guess 500 in the orchards, 100 working on the pastures and fields. Each. Another 100 working on the rice fields and the rest in the village itself. I've been sending roughly 800 each morning. And each 'group' works a half day in 4 hour shifts, one on and then one off. So right now there are roughly 1600 Clones present at most.]

Hiroku's eyes narrowed as she walked over to him and smacked the back of his head, or at least tried to as his arm whipped out to deflect her swipe and his fingers locked onto her wrist. She had to blink as she was met by that fast-becoming-infamous silent stare. Hiroku knew she couldn't look away, or lose some of the respect he held for her, but… damn if this isn't harder than I thought… she thought as she wrangled her arm loose and stepped back. "Even a day spread apart, that is way too many Clones to have active at once. I've told you...outside of combat situations never more than 500 active!"

[I said...at most. A Clone dispelled just a moment ago. There are exactly 600 Clones total in play. The Orchards are finished after almost a week. Or will be by tomorrow. The pastures and fields will be completed by the day or two after. The rice fields are finished, just need to slowly open the water locks to fill them. As for the village…] a pause as though he had to use care in his choice of words, [Everything needed there will be done by tonight.] he finished and continued to stare for a moment then turned abruptly. Following the winding pathway as it went back and forth even as it slowly took them in between the rice fields that awaited filling.

Haku followed along, his eyes intently watchful of his surroundings ever since the near ambush by the Raptors. Yet he suddenly asked aloud, "Snake-sama? Why follow the roundabout pathway? Wouldn't it be simpler to just go up the middle to the stone wall and what I think is a gate?"

The answer was as demonstrative as it was blunt. Snake Eyes summoned a single clone and grabbed it despite its silently vehement protests and hurled it straight up the middle as suggested. Within seconds, earthen spears erupted from the pathway itself and areas of the field closest to the Clone's flight path. As the Clone dispelled, there was no sign of where those "spears" had come from.

Haku shuddered and he could almost feel the sardonic stare he received from all three of them. Then he had a new question. Seemed he always had those… "Okay, what the heck?"

Mabui shook her head and almost answered when she was cut off by Hiroku. "Combat seals. I'm betting Uzumaki make, since there wasn't even a hint of Chakra usage and they immediately reset themselves. This entire valley is one giant death trap. Filled with landmines."

Mabui then interjected, nodding, "And the only truly safe way to traverse this place is by the pathway. With a certain security measure present of course." She grinned as their "guide" paused and tapped the side of his head and nodded to her. "If we can figure it out, so did Iwa and Kiri. So what kept them from being able to just walk along the path in relative safety?" She waited a full minute before she laughed, "Someone in the group has to have the Ba Qua. Arashikage or not...if we had come in without one of us having it, those seals would have been firing nonstop the moment we entered the first gate."

Giving a short nod, Snake Eyes resumed the trek and finally reached the stone gates the would open up to his true homeland. He stared at the gates a few moments, feeling that tingle of anticipation build along his spine before he placed a chakra laced palm against the stone. A moment later, a small door, only large enough for two people to fit through shoulder to shoulder, opened up to the far side. Realizing the gates were probably secured manually from the inside, he led them single file through the smaller portal.

((A/N: Thanks to everyone that offered support as well as being patient with me about the whole thing. This chapter is a little shorter than my usual but this was the best place to stop. Anyways...thanks again!

Noted the bold at beginning of chapter and fixed it. 3/25/15))