Chapter Eight: Recovery and Sinister Plots
The Hard Master calmly sat in a wooden chair as he waited for his student Snake-Eyes to wake up. He had to admit that it was more than luck that kept Snake-Eyes alive during his fight with Storm Shadow. After all, Storm Shadow had been at one point considered for the position of Godaime Hokage before he had wipeout his entire clan on the orders of Danzō and his two lackeys. But at the same time he was worried about how Konoha's civilian council would react when they learned that the village's jinchūriki had managed to hold his own against an S-Ranked rogue ninja. He knew that they would simply attribute it to the Kyūbi or to the idea that Itachi had gone easy on the young blonde. At this, the ancient Uzumaki's blood began to boil in frustration and anger at the harsh treatment and criticisms that Snake-eyes had to endure at the hands of the leaf village.
"Damn it, Sarutobi! I repeatedly told you that civilians wouldn't understand the complexity of Fūinjutsu, but you wouldn't listen!" The Hard Master mentally yelled at the third Hokage despite the man not being in the same country as him.
Before the Kyūbi attack, the Hard Master held Sarutobi in a somewhat high regard as the man had successfully led the village through two of the three Shinobi World Wars. But after the man told everyone in the village that Snake-eyes was the Jinchūriki of the Kyūbi mere hours after the attack, he had lost any respect that he once held for the man. The Hard Master knew he had no right to criticize the third Hokage for doing what he did as he was simply following the final wishes of the Yondaime Hokage. He also knew that he should have done more for his fellow clansmen when he was growing up, but he had foolishly promised Kushina that he wouldn't interfere until he graduated from the academy. And like all Uzumakis, he kept that promise no matter what.
"How's Snake Eyes-kun doing Hard Master-sama?" Yugito asked as she entered the room with a concerned look on her face.
While she was generally considered the ice queen of Kumo, Yugito couldn't help but worry for her fellow Jinchūriki. Perhaps she was developing genuine feelings for the mute fellow blond.
"Snake-Eyes, will recover soon. The Kyūbi will see to that." The Hard Master bitterly commented as continued to watch over his student without looking at the Kunoichi.
Yugito winced as she heard the Hard Master's tone. She could tell that he was upset about the current condition that his student was in and she couldn't blame him. At the same time, she felt guilty for abandoning him the way she did.
"Don't feel guilty about Snake Eyes' condition, child. He did what he had to and you would have only gotten in the way." The old man gently spoke in a reassuring manner.
Yugito blinked in surprise by his comment. Was she really transmitting her thoughts that visibly? It was slowly starting to spread amongst the village that she was spending large amount of her free time hanging around him. Even her few friends like Samui and Karui had noticed it which was surprising as they were often too busy training or out on missions to notice such things.
"Your developing feels for my apprentice are quite noticeable, Miss Nii. He'll be fully recovered when it comes time to seal the agreement between our two nations." The hard master calmly spoke like it was no big deal about what he just said.
But before Yugito could respond, Snake-eyes choose that moment to sit up straight with a droopy expression on his face. She then realized something important. This was the first time that she actually seen his face up close and Yugito could honestly say that she liked what she saw. His face was literally devoid of any baby fat that left his face almost regal looking appearance that matched his sapphire blue eyes and golden blond hair.
"Wait a minute…He looks like a younger version of the Fourth Hokage! That would mean..." Yugito thought to herself only to be cut off by the hard master who gave a light chuckle.
She looked at the Hard Master with wide eyes at her shocking discovery. How was it even possible that everyone in the entire elemental nations didn't know about the fact that Minato Namikaze aka the yellow flash had a son? Surely, one of Konoha's many corrupt government officials would have leaked that knowledge out into the intelligence community by now.
"I see that you have realized who Snake Eye's biological father is. But I ask you keep this information a secret from everyone including your Raikage." The Hard Master spoke in a way that made his order sound like a request.
Yugito was about to protest the fact that her leader had to be told about this information, but then she noticed that the look that the old man was giving her. It was the kind of look that left no room for argument, which was something that she extremely familiar with.
"Very well…I will keep this knowledge a secret." Yugito whispered out in defeat as she knew that it was only a matter of time before that information became public knowledge.
In Cobra-La
Deep inside the bunker that housed Cobra's Intelligence network alone kunoichi walked down the darken hallways with a bitter expression on her face as she headed for the bunker's weapon underground target range. Kin Tsuchi nicknamed Scarlett by her colleagues due to her wearing a wig of scarlet red hair when out in the field was mentally grumbling about how her superior officer had dismissed her most recent report over a certain high level target that lived in Konoha. So now she was heading to the firing range to practice shooting her XK-1 crossbow to let out her growing frustration at the lack of respect she was being showed.
"Now hear this, Now here this! All agents are to report to assembly hall nine for a debriefing! I say again all agents are to report to assembly hall nine for a debriefing! That is all!" A familiar female voice called out over the intercom system before hanging up.
Kin mentally swore to herself as she listened to the announcement. The only time a general assembly was called was when the Cobra Commander wanted to make an example of someone who had failed him somehow. So with great reluctances, she started making her way to the designated assembling area which happened to be all the way on the other side of the bunker. If she hurried, she would be able to make it on time.
Not twenty minutes later Kin was breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath from running to get to the assembly hall in time. Sadly she wasn't able to make it in time due to a brief security check from several guards searching for weapons in order to protect their glorious leader from any would be assassins. Luckily for her thought, the director of Cobra Intelligence had distracted the guards with his loud complaints about them searching him. So now here she was standing in the back of a Battalion sized group of Intelligence agents waiting for the appearance of their beloved commander.
She didn't have to wait long as Cobra Commander appeared in his full military glory wearing a blue high collared military uniform with knee high black leather boots and matching Calvary riding gloves with red trimming at the back of them. Over his basic uniform, he was wearing a buttoned up trench coat that had a black strap running across his chest. Around his waist was a back utility belt with a silver belt buckle that had the scabbard which the infamous Kusanagi rested in. On his left leg were two black leather straps while a pair of silver knee pads protected his knees. Resting on his shoulders was a blue cloak that was held in place by a red brooch that was shaped into the head of a Cobra that had its hood fully expanded and bearing its fangs. Finally the man's head was covered by a silver full-headed face mask and a blue helmet that had a steel grey strip running vertically down the middle of it.
((It's how Cobra Commander looks like in GI Joe Resolute. I thought it looked more menacing than the other incarnations of Cobra Commander and I definitely wasn't going to go with the Renegades version.))
"HAIL COBRA!" Kin and everyone in shouted as they performed the Cobra Salute in perfect unison that was mastered after months of training and drilling.
Cobra Commander simply waved his hand in a single fluid motion telling his gathered followers to move into the position of attention. Kin unwilling flinched at the way he had moved, it seemed like he was angry at them for some reason. Usually when he came on surprise inspections or visits, he would be more relaxed with his hand signals but the one that he just gave was crisp and precise. Her gut was telling her that something bad was about to happen to her and her comrades.
"It has recently come to my attention that some of you have not been performing up to the standards that I require from my intelligence corps. Therefore I have decided to purge the ones who have been slacking off from this unit." Cobra commander spoke giving a slight hissing sound when he spoke the letter "S".
Kin's blood immediately ran cold as the director began calling out names and ordering them to head to assembly hall Seven for reassignment. She watched twenty four of her colleagues were called and forced out of the room. Then the moment that she had been dreading the most had arrived.
"Kin Tsuchi!" The director shouted out causing Kin to drop her head in shame and walk out of the room.
Five minutes later, Kin stood at attention alongside the twenty four other wash outs as she waited for someone to come in to the assembly hall and reassign them to their new posts. She was beginning to wonder what she had done wrong to deserve this punishment. It was no secret that people who failed the Commander in anyway often times died at his hands. If she were to die today, then she prayed to whatever higher power that it was quick and painless. No doubt everyone else in the room was thinking the same thing as it was the only reason why they could think of that required the presences highly armed soldiers equipped with those new weapons from the land of snow. It was at this moment that Cobra Commander appeared from out of nowhere sitting on his throne in a more relaxed state then when he had ordered their dismissal.
"You twenty-five are the few operatives that had preformed your duties without question and with absolute diligence. That is why I spared you from the purge of traitors." The feared leader spoke in a calm and proud manner telling them he was pleased by their actions.
Almost on cue, the sounds of screaming followed by strange noises were heard that sent severs down everybody's necks. Kin was thanking Kami that she had been spared from suffering such a fate for now.
"Instead you will be reassigned to the Shinobi Corps to participate in the upcoming attacks against the other shinobi villages. Do not disappoint me!" the Commander spoke in a very menacing tone that left no room for argument or discussion.
The remaining intelligence officers dumbly nodded their heads and shouted out "Hail Cobra!" to keep their leader happy and prevent him from killing them. Some of them had seen firsthand of what would happened if you disagreed with him. Even former members of the sound four weren't exempt from this, as prove when the Commander tore out Jirōbō's heart in front of everyone for disagreeing with him. The only person, who was able to voice his opinion on any manner and get away with it, was Doctor Mind Bender.
Many people believed it was because Mind Bender was the chief scientist for Cobra and medical advisor as well as personal physician to the Cobra Commander. Both positions granted the good doctor a large amount of leeway when it came to his respective fields. Speaking of Doctor Mindbender, she noticed that the silver haired teenager was standing off to the side talking to the current heads of the Crimson guard Sakon and Unkon better known as Tomax and Xamot. Perhaps, she should tell them about recent discovery she had made involving the Fourth Hokage and the Hard Master.
"Kin Tsuchi, I request that you stay for a moment." Cobra Commander called out as he dismissed his remaining intelligence officers.
Kin gulped as she watched as her remaining comrades left the room to begin their new assignments. Leaving her behind to deal her with the man, who had turned Cobra from the terrorist branch of the Akatsuki into the powerhouse that it was today.
"How may I be of service to you, my lord?" Kin quietly spoke as she kneeled before Cobra Commander.
Cobra Commander said nothing as he looked down before his subject. He knew that the girl had been tasked with gathering information on his former home village, so he wanted to hear what she had discovered.
"I understand you have been the one, who has been spying on my former home village. I want you to tell me what you found." He ordered as he continued to look at the intelligence officer with some interest.
Kin trembled in fear as she heard the unspoken threat that he had purposely left off.
"My Lord, it appears that Yondaime Hokage had a son before he died, and now that son is the student of the Hard Master." Kin spoke quietly hoping that this information would be good enough that Cobra Commander wouldn't kill her.
Cobra Commander let an hmm sound showing that he was thinking about what she had told him. But it seemed that Mindbender had already formed his opinion about the information.
"Agent Tsuchi, you have wasted Cobra Commander's time with such trivial nonsense!" Mind bender started to rant at the intelligence officer, for bringing up such worthless information to their leader's attention, only to be silence by the commander himself.
"Quite on the contrary, Kabuto, this proves of what I have long suspected about Minato-kun and Kushina-chan. No doubt this child is the current Jinchūriki of the Kyūbi." Cobra Commander spoke as he brought his second in command to heel.
Mind bender looked at his superior with utter confusion about why he would be interested in such trivial information. But then again, he had always held those with connections to the Uzumaki clan with special interests due to their longevity and mastery of Fūinjutsu. The fact that some members of the clan were rumored to have possessed the mythical Rinnegan was also a reason why he had taken an interest in the clan before and after they were destroyed.
"Also the fact that he is the apprentice of the very man who fought both Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha to a standstill, despite the fact that he regularly lost to his older sister in their spars is also something that needs to be taken into account." Cobra Commander commented with a slight hint of fear in his voice as he spoke about the one person that he feared above anyone else.
Kabuto looked at his master with surprise, never had he seen the infamous Orochimaru show any signs of fear about someone. Granted he was talking about the legendary Hard Master, a ninja that even the mighty samurai nation of the Land of Iron held in fear and high regard.
"Tell me something Tsuchi did you find out the brat's name?" Cobra Commander demanded from his subordinate, who was still kneeling in front of him.
Kin nodded her head as she trembled in fear.
"His former name is Naruto Uzumaki, but his current name is Snake-eyes Arashikage, my Lord." Kin answered as she refused to look at the form of her terrorist leader.
Cobra Commander nodded his head in acceptance of this newest piece of information. So the village's Jinchūriki was indeed the offspring of the Fourth Hokage and that Uzumaki whore. He shouldn't be surprised by the news as Minato was always the idealistic fool believing in the best of everybody. That was one of the very first things that had been beaten out of him when he was growing up in the streets of Konoha. That corrupt village always preached about how everyone within its walls was family to each other, but that was nothing more than propaganda developed by the First Hokage. The truth was most of the villagers would quickly sell their own children if it suited their own purposes.
"Mindbender, I want you to place Snake-eyes inside the Bingo Book with all the information that we just learned. Let us see how the world reacts when it learns that the Fourth Hokage's legacy still lives on." Cobra Commander ordered to his head of Research and Development.
Mind bender gave off a quick Cobra salute, before leaving to care out his orders. Then Cobra Commander turned to his intelligence agent that was still kneeling before him. She had proven her worth by telling him this important information and he would need her services later.
"As for you, Agent Tsuchi you are to report to the medical bunker for genetic modification for your next undercover assignment in Konoha." He ordered before getting off of his throne and leaving the room to deal with other issues in his kingdom that required his attention.
Soon he will plunge the entire Elemental Nations into a war that will end all wars.
Okay, here is the current lineup for Naruto's Harem and their code names
Tenten= Jinx
Kin= Scarlett (I know that Scarlett is a redhead and Kin was a black haired girl, I will deal with it.)
Yugito= Cover girl
Hana= Mutt
Samui= G.I. Jane
Kurotsuchi= Lady Jaye
Shizuka= Ophelia
Pakura= Shooter (that's an actual Gi Joe. If you don't believe me then go to Gi Joe wiki and look it up.)
Here are the members of the New GI Joe.
Kamakura= Rock Lee
Neji= Long Range
B= Roadblock
Gaara= Dusty
Kiba and Akamaru = law and order
Shikamaru= Lt. Falcon
Kakashi=Flint
Darui=Duke
Might Guy=Beachhead
Chōjūrō=Shipwreck
Tsubaki= Chameleon
General Hawk=Mifune
Fu= (?)
The people who will form up Cobra
Orochimaru= Cobra commander
Kabuto= Dr. Mind Bender
Karin= Baroness
Sasuke= Fire Fly
Itachi=Storm Shadow
Dotō Kazahana (The main villain in the Clash in the land of Snow) = Destro
Sakon and Unkon= Tomax and Xamot
Madara Uchiha= Serpentor
Sakura= Zarana
Obito= Zartan
Kakazu= Major Bludd
Nadare Rōga = Wraith
Zetsu= Fred the series
Mizuki=BlackOut
(?) A special surprise character
As you can seen no one has guessed who the surprise character is yet. I'll give you a hint they were in the GI Joe animated movie.
And finally, the various weapons that the new Gi Joe will be using during their fight against Orochimaru's Cobra.
Confirmed weapons:
The Thompson submachine gun model 1928A1, Uzi Submachine gun*, M1 Garand rifle, Colt 1911A1 .45 pistol, Winchester Model 1897 "trench Gun"
(*) Only Naruto/Snake-eyes will be using it
Unconfirmed weapons**:
M3 Grease Gun, MP40, type 100 submachine gun, SMLE Mark IV bolt action rifle, 1903 Springfield rifle, Kar98k, Gewehr semi-automatic rifle, Ithaca model 37 pump action, Walter P38, Beretta M1951
(**) Needs to have a certain amount of reviewer votes to be given a guaranteed place within the story, if not then I'll flip a coin to decide.
So there you guys have it a new chapter and the current roster of characters and weapons. So please leave a review and don't forget to check out my other stories.
So until next time readers, Oorah to Ashes.