Youko no Kage
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters associated with it.
"Talking"
Thoughts
The Sound Four
~ Konoha ~
Kushina was hard at work shifting through documents. Most of it was just paper work that was related to the village from economics to mission assignments.
But on this day, she was waiting for something. Right on cue it had arrived.
Tapping on the window, a black crow was cawing trying to get attention as it shifted it's head looking at Kushina.
"About time you showed up" said Kushina. Opening her window, the bird hopped in. Lending her arm, the crow got on as she guided the avian to her desk as it hopped off. Setting up some water and bird food, the crow began to take it's much needed rest and relaxation.
This was one of Itachi's crows. As per their arrangement, the rogue Uchiha was now her informant within Akatsuki.
For their contact to work, several fail safes were put into place to guarantee their safety on both their sides. Aside from absolute discretion, the crows were marked with several complex seals for two purposes. One was to make sure that the only person to see these messages were her and Itachi. The second was that if somehow Itachi's crow was intercepted and captured, it would immediately self-destruct to prevent it's contents from being learned. Though it was cruel to the animal, it was necessary. Itachi's crow was both specifically trained and designed by Uzumaki's seals to only recognize it's master and Kushina through advanced biometric information and chakra analysis. So with these measures in place, it was impossible for the bird to be hacked or tricked.
Furthermore, they needed to come up with a completely secure method of communication that if by off chance something did happen. So instead of a complicated cipher system filled with endless riddles and clues, they made good use of the sharingan abilities and Uzumaki seals.
With the crow ready, Kushina looked into it's eye as Itachi's mangekyo tomoe appeared on it. Like a recorded message, Kushina relived everything Itachi saw, heard, and experienced along with a few of his private thoughts. Learning what she needed to know and taking notes, she recorded her own message into the crow before sending it off.
Watching the bird fly away, the ginger Uzumaki rested herself at the window frame before letting out a tired sigh. ". . . . This is getting quite complicated" said Kushina. She now knew every member of Akatsuki which accompanied background history and their abilities. However what was more frightening was the fact they were building an army. An army big and strong enough to attack any of the great villages. But concerning 'Madara', it was a mystery Itachi hasn't cracked yet as he was still trying to figure out who he was. However he did believe that 'Madara' originally came from Konoha to which she believed was true as well. Looking over the village registry this mysterious Uchiha could have been anyone. That was not including possible runaways and those who settled in other towns and villages during the ninja wars. Thus it was next to impossible in figuring out 'Madara' true identity without any other clues.
But seeing that masked man again, Kushina was instantly reminded of that terrible night fourteen years ago. Just dwelling on it, her blood boiled. She wanted to make him suffer in a way that would make Danzo's imprisonment look like a time out. So many years lost, and for what exactly? That she wasn't sure of yet. But she'll be sure to learn it as she's beating the life out of him. Till then she couldn't afford to be reckless.
Akatsuki had no real base of operations as they were free to move anywhere between the elemental nations making it impossible for them to pursue without inciting an international political nightmare. The only way to hammer them was to get cooperation between all the elemental nations.
"Tsk, fat chance of that happening" Kushina said under her breath. It would be difficult to get the other nations to cooperate as all the daimyos would have to be of the same consensus. But more importantly all the ninja villages would need to agree to this venture. Granted, reports indicated that Akatsuki was becoming a problem for all the nations. However distrust was a deep rooted issue with all the wars that had occurred between them.
She may be able to get sand and mist to work with her. But with stone and cloud, the likelihood of working that out was as likely as Tsunade winning the million ryo village lottery. They didn't have a very good history when it concerned mutual goals. Even if they somehow worked it out, there was going to be a lot of unsavory tension all around. She didn't even want to think how the Hyugas would respond after the tragedy they experienced.
But nonetheless this temporary truce/alliance was necessary if they planned on beating Akatsuki once and for all.
Now going back to her desk and flopping onto her chair, Kushina had other things on her mind to think about.
She was waiting for the right moment to tell the 'truth' about the Uchiha massacre. On one hand she was waiting till Itachi had finished his mission and was free and clear from any fallout when they go after Akatsuki. And on the other, she was constantly refining her story to be both believable and easy to sell to clear the Uchiha name of any wrong doing. Thus Itachi could finally come home and Sasuke can be vindicated of his dark path.
In the interest of full disclosure, she told Tsunade and Jiraiya her entire plan. In their wisdom they gave helpful advice refining the story constantly to paint the best picture possible. Though the Uchiha name will get a little dirty, it will be free and clear.
However she did worry a bit that villagers would still think the Uchihas were traitors. But if everything went to plan, she had faith in the human spirit to be empathetic in understanding what happened that day and all the things that led up to it.
But aside from Akatsuki and clearing the Uchiha name, there was something else that had caught her attention. Courtesy of Jiraiya's intel gathering, Orochimaru was on the hunt for a new body. After his battle with Hiruzen, the snake sannin was severely inured in both body and soul. No matter how much time or medical support was given, Orochimaru would not be able to recover as the damage the shinigami did was quite permanent. Hence he needed a new body to recuperate in.
If Jiraiya's intel was good, Orochimaru had his eyes on Sasuke for obvious reasons.
More then likely he was going to be moving soon to claim him as right now he was at his weakest and in severe pain.
So at this time, Sasuke was her current priority in keeping him safe. If it was possible, locate and finish off that snake traitor before he can escape.
Knowing the attempt on Sasuke's life, Itachi deserved full disclosure. The trust he had in her was still a little shaky. If she tried to hide anything from him, it would cast doubt in their relationship. Though Itachi expressed his concerns, Kushina gave her word that nothing would happen to his brother while it was on her watch.
So now looking at the ceiling, "your move Orochimaru".
~ Unknown place ~
"Go" Orochimaru commanded. "It is time now".
"So we just need to rough him up right?" Tayuya asked.
"The brat is already on the path Orochimaru-sama has set for him" said Ukon. "All he needs is a little push as he'll fall right into our grasp".
"Still feels pretty lame to pick on a kid like that" said Jirobo.
"Oh shut the hell up fat ass" Tayuya then replied with absolute annoyance.
"Point being" continued Kidomaru, "we just need to show him how weak he is. From there everything else will fall into place".
"Now go" said Orochimaru, "and do not fail me". Watching his four elites leave, Kabuto returned to tend to him.
Going over test and monitoring equipment, Kabuto gave a look of concern. "Your condition is deteriorating at an alarming rate. We need to get you into a new body as soon as possible".
"I will hold off. Not until the Uchiha is within my grasp".
"Then it must be done quickly. I've done all I can to stave off your current condition. However the damage is far to great for me to do anything more. I doubt even Tsunade would've made a difference". As Kabuto looked over the charts, "you can only afford to wait a few days. After that you'll hit the point of no return as you'll be too weak to move to another body".
Cringing in anger, Orochimaru squeezed his fists as blood began to soak into his bandages. "Damn you old man! God damn you for what you've done!" After the failed assault on Konoha, it would take time to rebuild his military power. But regardless of how much time it would take, he promised to burn the leaf village to the ground if it was the last thing he would ever do.
~ Fire country ~
"Can't believe we're going through all this trouble" Jirobo complained. "Doesn't Orochimaru-sama have plenty of competent bodies to choose from?"
"If you haven't been paying attention fat ass" Tayuya retorted, "the Uchiha brat is in a completely different league of his own hence why he's so valuable".
"Then why not just take him by force? Seems a hell of a lot easier by comparison then for him to come along with us".
"It's for the unforeseen events" Kidomaru continued. "Better for him to cooperate during the 'kidnapping' then cause trouble when we have a shit load of leaf ninjas hot on our asses. This way we can better our odds at escape".
"By the way, you guys hear about the new hokage?" asked Sakon. "Heard she's a real pain in the ass bitch when she took over".
"Heard she took on two members of Akatsuki and lived" said Ukon. "Probably a dumb fluke".
"I don't know" then said Jirobo, "shouldn't we do something like recon or something?"
"Oh shut up" said Tayuya. "Who cares who this new hokage is. If she get's in the way we'll deal with her. So do us all a favor and shut the hell up. You're here to be the muscles and not the brains. So keep your trap shut and do what you're supposed to do" to which the large ninja grumbled a bit.
~ Konoha ~
Dozing off for a while, Kushina's eyes snapped open as her detection system was alerted. "Tsunade, wake up".
Stumbling out of her own nap, "what is it?" the old medic murmured. "I'm trying to sleep over here".
"We've got trouble" as Kushina quickly sobered up. "I got four bogeys that just appeared in fire country. I have no idea who they are and there are no records of anyone who is supposed to be here". Going over what her detection field was reading, "send ninjas to my position immediately. I'll head out first".
"Wait, I don't understand" said Tsunade, "what's going on?"
"Look's like Orochimaru just made his move" Kushina answered as she was instantly in ninja gear. Popping open a window, she activated one of her seals entering sage mode as she then flew off. Once high enough above the village, she kicked off breaking the sound barrier as she flew at mach speed. Following the detection system, she knew exactly where she was flying.
"That reckless . . . . !" as Tsunade quickly turned her attention back to her task. Accessing the system, "I need all available jonin and chunin to get ready as soon as possible. Our hokage just did something stupid again".
~ Fire country (forest) ~
"Why the hell aren't we going faster?" Sakon complained. "I don't like wasting time like this pointlessly!"
"We'll get there by night" said Kidomaru. "It would be the most ideal time to infiltrate the village and rough up our target".
"Ugh this is boring" Jirobo complained which then irked Tayuya.
Talking or rather arguing amongst themselves, they failed to notice what was coming right at them. Spotting them from the sky, Kushina hovered above them narrowing her eyes as she was going to give them one hell of a hello. Breaking into mach speed, she descended stopping right in the dead center of the group creating a typhoon just short of touching the ground.
"What the hell!" was the more or less agreed statement of the sound four as they were thrown from their feet crashing into trees and bushes. But looking up they saw a long haired red headed woman as she was still hovering above the ground.
Firmly planting her feet down, Kushina glared at the enemy ninjas before her. Recollecting, these were the ones responsible for the barrier that got Hiruzen killed. Knowing this, it made her all the more adamant in not letting them leave in one piece. So coughing clearing her throat, "greetings, I am Kushina Uzumaki. The fifth hokage of Konoha and I personally came to welcome you all in entering fire country. But unfortunately now that you are here, you will be permanent guests to the nice warm cells we've prepared for you. I hope you graciously accept".
Not wasting a second, they attacked.
Though they were the elite guards of Orochimaru and were skilled in their own way, they lacked the fundamentals of what made any team work. That was essentially teamwork. To put it simply they barely tolerated each other as the only thing that stopped them from killing each other was their master.
Due to this glaring weakness, it was something Kushina could easily exploit as she was listening to their arguments courtesy of the wind. However it would prove to be troublesome to fight all of them at once as she didn't want to chance they'd wise up and work together.
"Five enemy ninjas, four clones, five seals, twenty minutes a piece" thought Kushina as she calmly and quickly assessed her situation. "No room for error". Making a cross seal, she created four clones to equal out the odds. Each releasing a seal the five Kushina's were at full power in sage mode. Creating a blast of wind, the sound four were isolated for them to be dealt with individually.
~ Fire country (forest) ~
"So you're the new hokage huh?" said Jirobo. "You don't look so tough to me".
"Believe what you want to believe" then said Kushina, "fat ass" she ended with a smirk which enraged her opponent.
Going in swinging, the large ninja gave everything he got in terms of taijutsu. Punching and kicking, he just didn't seem to be able to hit his opponent no matter how hard he tried. Just to add insult to injury, Kushina had her arms comfortably folded behind her while giving a somewhat condescending smirk. "You're making fun of me?! I'll make you regret it!"
With her wind abilities coupled by her sage senses, Kushina could easily sense all incoming attacks. So long as she was faster, she could have actually fought while blindfolded. This wasn't arrogance as it was more so fact. Listening to her senses, they warned her of other dangers besides the obvious. Analyzing, she understood. "There's definitely something up with his body. Just me wanting to hit him is saying it's dangerous. Alright, let's give him a quick love tap". Ducking underneath a hook, the ginger Uzumaki gave one sharp uppercut giving Jirobo some air time before stumbling back holding his stomach as he was trying not to drop to his knees.
"What was that?!" thought Jirobo as he was still trying to comprehend what hit him. He couldn't understand why his opponent was so strong. With just one punch he felt like dropping. But getting over the shock of the hit, "I won't let embarrass me any further!"
From that exchange Kushina understood her opponent's abilities with being able to absorb chakra. But before her eyes now, her enemy was unveiling another ability. From the tattoo on his body, weird lines started to stretch all over him before slowly his skin tone started to change followed by a metamorphosis to a more demonic looking visage. But what got Kushina's attention was what she sensed now. "Nature energy?! Is this some sort of sage mode?!" But continuing to observe, she understood what it really was. While still connected to her others, the sound four all had this tattoo which seemed to have been allowing them to enter a kind of pseudo-sage mode state. However they truly did not understand senjutsu as they were simply wearing it with there change of shape and nothing more. That being the case, she was going to show them what a true master of senjutsu could do.
"What? No witty remarks?" Jirobo taunted. "I can see the scare in your eyes. Let's see you laugh at me now when I rip your jaw out!" But like before his opponent proved to be a slippery one easily dodging his punches with minimal effort as she bobbed left, right, ducked, and half-stepped out of the way. Though it enraged him, his anger slowly started to turn to fear as he began to understand just how out of his league he was. For the tipping point came with what happened next. Throwing a punch, his opponent had disappeared as he lost sight of her. "What? Where did she go?!" But instinctively, he sensed where she went. "Behind me!" as he span around with a back fist. But once again she wasn't there as she was once more behind him to which he span again into a kick only for it to happen again.
Just to make a point, Kushina crossed her arms in front of her as she was back to back with Jirobo. Still holding a serious face. No matter what her opponent did, she could easily out maneuver him getting right in his blind spot before going to his back again.
Heavily breathing as anxiety took hold, Jirobo started to sweat bullets as his eyes dilated. "How the hell does she keep doing that?" he stuttered in his thoughts. "Why can't I hit her? Why is there so much of a difference between us?" as his thoughts continued to drift trying to understand just how powerful his enemy truly was.
Now feeling it was right, it was time to end this. Kushina shot her arm up as a blast of wind threw Jirobo high into the air. Easily catching up to him, she gave herself a couple feet in distance above him as she started to form a rasengan with both her hands. As Jirobo began to fall back to the ground, he was looking up to which Kushina wanted him to see what was going to be coming next. Shooting back down at mach speed, she balanced the chakra bullet in her right hand. "Rasengan!" she cried out nailing Jirobo in the chest as he went into a downward spin and becoming hammered into the ground.
With the damage fully sinking in, the large ninja coughed out blood as he reverted back to normal form.
"That's one down".
~ Fire country (forest) ~
Kushina was waving her arms in a constant circular motion as torrents of wind blew through her part of the forest. Her current enemy was a user of sound genjutsu as noted by her flute and her own sage senses. But as with how sound works, for anyone to hear anything it has to vibrate through the surrounding molecules before reaching the ears of those around. But with how violent the air was, good luck with anyone hearing anything right now.
"Total b**ch move!" as Tayuya was clinging to a tree just trying not to get blown away. With how strong the currents were she had no choice but to go to level two just so that she could hold onto the tree. Frankly she didn't have any tactical moves left but hope Kushina would run out of power eventually and stop. Her genjutsu was useless so long as the wind was around. Her summonings were impractical as they would only get swept up as well as they were unable to do anything. Frankly all she could do right now was hold on tight and wait for the storm to pass. "I'm just lucky she doesn't know where I am".
However that was far beyond true. Kushina knew exactly where she was right down to which tree and branch she was holding dear life too. Though her sage senses gave her pin point accuracy, just her breathing was a dead give away as she felt it in the wind. "Alright, time to take this up a notch" as her arm movements became wider and faster as the wind became more violent.
"Ugh!" as Tayuya was now struggling just to hold on as she dug her fingers into the tree. But soon the bark gave away as she was now a leaf at the mercy of the wind.
"Got you now" Kushina thought. Using the currents, she guided Tayuya into one tree after another effectively rag dolling her as she pelted her against whatever was in the environment. But after a while, she decided to stop.
With the air finally still, Tayuya landed on the ground below. Shakily getting to her feet, the sound kunoichi was badly bruised and bleeding. Heavily breathing, "about time that b**ch stopped that. Once I get her in my genjutsu I'm going to make her beg me to kill her".
"I'd love to see you try".
Before Tayuya knew it Kushina had her by the neck in a vice grip with one arm. Lifting her up against the tree, the sound the kunoichi had no where to go.
Tayuya was too weakened to put up any real fight as she clawed at Kushina's hand just trying to breath. But even if she was at full strength she highly doubted in a contest of strength she'd win. With her body screaming in pain, everything started to fade to black as her brain was being deprived of oxygen. Soon enough she passed out.
Making sure she was down, Kushina dropped her like a sack of potatoes. "That's two now".
~ Fire country (forest) ~
Kidomaru was breathing heavily as he was at this time playing an intense game of cat and mouse. Gauging his opponent he decided to play it safe choosing distance over close combat. With his spider summonings, he figured this would've been over quickly. But more so, this would've been an interesting game as he has never hunted such an interesting target before.
When it came to long range sniping he was one of the best there was. Within fifty meters, he'd never miss. Yet here he was now up against an opponent that he was ill equipped to fight.
All his spiders were easily slain.
His web traps were disarmed.
For the first couple minutes of their fight, his prey simply stood out in the open for him to take shots at. But even with his best archery skills, he couldn't hit her with how casually she dodged. Even with multiple arrows, for those she did dodge the others she caught before throwing them aside.
After a while, the game completely changed.
It wasn't a real technique as it was more out of improvisation. But Kushina located her opponent pointing her hand at his direction. From there a small ball of wind formed at her finger tip. On her command, it fired off. It wasn't anything fancy. However it got the job done. Of the five elements, wind nature at it's highest potential was the sharpest capable of cutting about anything. For the sake of naming, "kaze dangan no jutsu". Traveling quietly faster then the speed of sound, the wind bullet punched through several trees till it hit it's intended target.
"Ahh! Sh*t!" Kidomaru cursed out as a hole was made in his leg. It soon proceeded with several more shots as little holes riddled the tree as the spider ninja needed to move. Providing medical aid, he wrapped his webbing around the wound. However the damage was done as he had trouble jumping let alone running around. But that was his only choice as he was under heavy fire as those same holes were popping everywhere. Needing the extra boost, he had no choice but to go to level two just to get mobile again.
Jumping from tree to tree, Kidomaru realized he was no longer the predator but the prey as he was now the hunted. As he continued to move, he was still taking damage. Though they were minor flesh wounds, it started to add up as he was bleeding out.
But after a while, the spider ninja could no longer run as his body was weakened from blood loss and fatigued from pain. Now leaning against a tree, Kidomaru could now only sit there waiting to die.
Body flickering in, Kushina stood before her maimed opponent as she pointed her finger at him.
". . . . Huh . . . . Game over".
Firing an air bullet, the gingered Uzumaki struck him with a concussive shot knocking him out. "Three down".
~ Fire country (forest) ~
Kushina trusted her senses.
Though she only saw one person, she felt two. She knew to trust her senjutsu as that was why there were two of her to face off against her current foe.
Seeing the odds, Sakon and Ukon separated.
Now a two versus two battle, it was still incredibly one sided.
Though the sound brothers were well coordinated, it couldn't compare to Kushina. As they were direct clones of each other, they were perfectly synced both physically and mentally without any exploitable weakness in their teamwork.
Like Jirobo, her senses indicated extreme danger but greater. She didn't know what ability they had up their sleeve that would set off her senses like a blaring alarm. Frankly she didn't dare to try her luck. So she was going to have to fight him without touching him.
But truth be told she could have easily ended this fight rather quickly. Hell she could have beaten the other sound four without this much effort. However she was a very vindictive human being. She wanted these scum to feel powerless and isolated the same way they made Hiruzen feel when they sealed him in that death match with Orochimaru.
Thus she wanted to inflict as much fear and pain into them as possible. Even well after this battle in their most private moments, she wanted the memory of this day to continue to loom over them till the day they died. As easy as it was to out right kill them, she still held onto her ideal of justice as they will live to face their punishment.
Running low on sage energy, Kushina made her point as it was time to finish this. Weaving several seals, "kaze keimusho no jutsu!" as a sphere of wind imprisoned the sound brothers. Without hesitation, the air was sucked out as the brothers were close to asphyxiation. But the moment they were out Kushina let up sparing them from death.
Dragging the sound four together to a clearing within the forest, Kushina and her clones began weaving a complicated Uzumaki fuinjutsu. Placing her hand on each of them, her clans signature spiral appeared as well as some insignias. "That ought to seal away their abilities for now".
Moments later leaf ninjas were on the scene with Tsunade as there lead. "That was just terribly stupid of you" the old medic grumbled.
"Yeah sorry about that" Kushina chuckled. "Just something I needed to deal with personally". Looking to her ninjas, "take them in for questioning and put a rush order on it. They have valuable information concerning Orochimaru as this is extremely time sensitive. Now move out".
"Yes hokage-sama!"
To be continued . . . .
Author's notes: Hope this chapter was OK.
Still trying to figure out the abilities of a wind sage without pushing too hard into the suspicion of disbelief.
But seeing as Kushina is a wind sage, she would exist as a natural enemy to the sound four. Now I don't truly understand the full abilities of the heaven seals besides what they showed when they fought Naruto's group in the canon. But as revealed near the end of the manga, they naturally draw in nature energy and manage it without any sage training. Now whether or not they had any of the senses that came with it that I do no know.
Now if there are any questions or questions feel free to ask.
So thank you for reading and I further extend my gratitude for reviewing as well.