About 2 years since the events of the last chapter
Konohagakure struggled for survival, most of the links to the other countries were taken off by the spreading rumor that the village drove its jinchuuriki into suicide. The village had been completely isolated from the general public. Otherwise things have gone from bad to worse. It was already bad when Sasuke Uchiha destroyed much of the village, however within the years attacks from the other members of the Akatsuki were also endured through, this excluded Hinata and Lore under the deal.
Despite all the attacks the leaf was barely standing, most families had been occupied with rebuilding the damage done by multiple Akatsuki members. The village commotion was at a constant work fixing and trying to strengthen defenses with each Akatsuki that attacked. After Sasuke, Orochimaru took a shot, Tsunade managed to wound him just enough for him to call his forces to retreat, however Tsunade spent the next week in the hospital. After Orochimaru, the others all did their individual attacks, however they were all repelled by the village's so called, 'will of fire.' It wasn't easy, it was a miracle the village was still standing. In reality the Akatsuki members after Sasuke and Orochimaru didn't need the village destroyed therefore they didn't fight in full strength, that was probably another cause of the village having not been completely destroyed.
In the 2 years Hinata's village had grown into an empire sizing up to about 5 combined villages. Hiatagakure was the center of the empire, both the center of power and trade. It had become armed with defense walls and had become 2 times the size of Konoha, along with multiple larger buildings and facilities like every village needed. To the south was Taiyogakure, a village covered in sunshine. It was mostly the empire's vacation area, many seas and lakes existed along the edge of the land of wind. It was a tropical village. To the north was Tsukigakure, the village on mountainous terrain. Many tough warriors were in that village, powerful missing-nins who turned into the army of the empire trained and lived in that city. To the east and west were Azumagakure and Hishigakure respectively, both were major trading and well built cities. They both welcomed anyone who may come into the empire.
As for Hinata the last 2 years were times of peace to her. She focused on building her empire larger and it worked nicely. She had an army that defended the empire. She was on good footing with the land of wind nearby and the land of water was also on allied terms. No one dared to attack the empire. She had undergone training from some powerful warriors she recruited to further her powers and skill. For the empire, Naruto was the emperor with Hinata as the empress. Naruto still didn't show his true face, everyone except Hinata knew him just as Lore. Naruto himself continued to manipulate things from the tallest tower in Hiatagakure, his injuries had healed and he could fight in the case his paths were destroyed, however that didn't seem like it was going to occur. Through his time only Naruto's animal path was destroyed by a battle with Kakashi Hatake during the time one of the paths was sent to the Konoha in order to give Orochimaru backup. Naruto replaced the path with the body of Konan, the third deceased member of the Amegakure war orphans, now having Nagato, Konan and Yahiko under his path control. Naruto was a good emperor, though some suspected the real him, but no one predicted that he was the dead-last Konoha ninja whom was supposed to be dead, he ruled with peace and prosperity. The people respected him entirely and they hoped he would keep them safe from those in the other countries.
Hiatagakure, Nikko Palace
Hinata, actually forget that name, Madara the empress of the now named Shiro-Akame Empire (white and red eye) walked down the halls of the giant palace of which she resided. People had spread a rumor around that Hinata was Madara's reincarnation because of the Rinnegan and Sharingan powers she possessed. She was in her normal outfit (The outfit she wears after the 4th shinobi war), a large black cape/cloak flowed behind her, it was adorned with the red cloud. It was a big day, it was the final day before the deal with Konohagakure came to an end. The next day, the challenge would be issued, and then Konoha would prove if it's worthy of being even called a village. Hinata arrived in a large hall, a large table made for seating many people was in the room. In the seats going left from Hinata. Lore the emperor of the Shiro-Akame Empire, Gaara the Kazekage of Sunagakure, Mei Terumi the Mizukage of Kirigakure, A the Raikage of Kumogakure, Onoki the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Hiroshi Yoshikura the Umakage of Azumagakure, Odin Sinajin the captain of military forces in the Shiro-Akame Empire and Sinkage of Tsukigakure, Deizo Henao the Ishikage of Hishigakure, Corin Dhamaka Karakage of Taiyogakure, in the last seat Tsunade, the Hokage of Konohagakure.
The kages all sat to await something to hear. Hinata started to speak making the kages look towards her, "Okay everyone. I have gathered everyone here to announce the final day before the deal between the empire and Konoha. I'm sure you want to know what type of challenge I'm going to issue. I have it here and now. Lore?" Hinata let Lore take the field to explain. Lore stands up and explains the challenge as the final part of the deal.
"In 1 week I ask that all the villages send their strongest warriors to participate in the Akatsuki Kumite, it's a festival we'll hold every year from now on. It will celebrate either the end of the deal and making of peace between Konoha and empire, or the day that Konoha is burned to the ground. How that ends out is your choice. The rules are simple, it will be a tournament style format, single elimination. No major kage is allowed in the tournament. You may enter up to 10 warriors per village, and the twist is that only 3 of the warriors can be older than 25 years old, it will test the chances of the new generations this way. The winner of the Kumite will win a grand total of 30 million ryo for their village and the title of champion, also the winner may request a battle with anyone in within the 6 nations if they wish. If Konoha wins the tournament the deal is in their favor, if they do not win they shall be destroyed. That was the deal. That is all. We will see you there and best of luck. Any questions?"
No one spoke, it was clear and cut out of what the circumstances were. 'Konoha has to win, this is what 2 years of planning was for.' Tsunade thought to herself.
"I will assume the conditions of the deal are fair and just?" Lore stated. Tsunade nodded, "Yes, the conditions are just." Who was she kidding, the conditions were far from fair. It was basically 5 different nations against 1, however arguing with Lore was something everyone in the room had known not to piss off.
As Lore finished explaining the rules the meeting was adjourned.
Lore and Hinata had another small conversation in the central towers of the city. "It's finally come." Hinata stated to her fellow emperor. "Yes, the plan we've had for so long has come to fruition. The Akatsuki's goals for peace have finally reached the peak, all the cards are ours." Hinata stared out the window to the empire that she built. "Our empire is flourishing, the Akatsuki grows in power. Soon peace shall be established, with or without Konoha." Lore nodded back. "Has anyone figured out my true identity?" The corpse emperor asked. "I don't know, from what I can tell no one thinks or suspects your true identity is what is really is." Lore shrugged, "Excellent, when the time comes I will reveal my true self, but until then 'Lore' is the emperor." Hinata nodded and left the room to go attend to more matters in preparation for the kumite in 1 week.
Konohagakure
Tsunade had gathered the Konoha 11, or whoever was left of them, and all the most powerful warriors of the leaf.
"Okay everyone, this meeting is crucial, we have just gotten the results of what this so called 'challenge' from the deal with Hinata was. It's a tournament between the best warriors of the 6 great nations. It is important that we win this tournament if Konoha is to survive."
Sakura nodded and then spoke, "Okay, who is going to enter this tournament?" She asked. "A maximum of 10 shinobi will go. On my recommendation the strongest of the shinobi here should go to the tournament. In my interests, Kakashi Hatake is a must."
"Well okay." Kakashi bluntly agreed and then went back to his book. "And the nine others, you all can decided among yourselves who goes." Tsunade left the crowd of shinobi to decide who would participate in the tournament.
XXXXXX
Hiatagakure, Imperial Arena (1 week later)
A giant crowd gathered around the arena, fans from anywhere and everywhere gathered to watch fights for the century. The crowd roared in cheering for the fights to begin. In the crowd included clans from all over the 6 nations. Some were the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Aburame, Inuzuka and more. Empress Madara walked into the viewing room where the other kages were seated ready to watch the matches, she turned to her fellow emperor and gave him a list of the competitors in the competition, some were surprising. "Lore, look at this list."
32 fighters all together all listed below.
Konohagakure:
Kakashi Hatake
Sakura Haruno
Kiba Inuzuka
Shino Aburame
Shikamaru Nara
Might Guy
Rock Lee
Tenten
Asuma Sarutobi
Kurenai Yuhi
Kirigakure: All members of the next 7 swordsmen of the mist
Kujira Hoshigaki
Daruza Momochi
Raigetsu Hozuki
Rajiri Kurosuki
Yoshiro Munashi
Saiko Suikazan
Amesura Ringo
Kumogakure:
Darui
Karui
Omoi
Samui
Iwagakure:
Kurotsuchi
Akatsuchi
Sunagakure:
Kankuro
Temari
Shiro-Akame Empire:
Sasuke Uchiha
Menma Uzumaki
Kagura
Bando
Toneri Otsutsuki
Odin Sinajin
Unknown:
Hanabi Hyuga
Matches predetermined by random shuffle
Kakashi vs Kagura
Akatsuchi vs Darui
Karui vs Menma
Odin vs Kankuro
Toneri vs Raigetsu
Daruza vs Sakura
Tenten vs Temari
Kiba vs Yoshiro
Rajiri vs Shino
Saiko vs Sasuke
Kurenai vs Amesura
Kujira vs Lee
Guy vs Kurotsuchi
Bando vs Omoi
Shikamaru vs Samui
Asuma vs Hanabi
Lore skimmed down the list of names of fighters in the kumite. Some of which were very familiar. The remaining members of the Konoha 11 had entered the tournament. "How interesting, all your former friends." He said to Hinata. "Yes. My former teammates, and sensei." Hinata didn't know whether to root for them or kick their butts single handedly. 'Shino, Kiba, Kurenai. I hope you win, not for Konoha's sake, but even now I would hate to see you injured. What am I saying? I'm Madara now, I shouldn't care, but then why do I still crack at the thought?' Lore thought to himself. 'Interesting. If I were in the tournament all the members of team 7 would be in it. But that's not an option. I can only hope that they don't get themselves killed. Knowing Sasuke he'll try and kill Kakashi or Sakura if they are faced in a match. They better pray that doesn't happen.' Hinata seeing the last name on the list of competitors surprised her. Hanabi Hyuga was listed as the last competitor. 'So, Hanabi has entered as well, if she's faced with anyone from Konoha she'll have no mercy taken on her, I might have to intervene if that occurs. I hope she's learned enough to defend herself.'
"Lord Emperor, Lady Empress, it's time." One of the shinobi organizers said to them. Hinata nodded and went to a microphone to make some announcements.
"Everyone!" She said in not a yelling voice, but her voice boomed over the arena making the crowd settle down. "I thank you all for coming to this event, since ancient times shinobi have battled for peace and honor. This is one of the things this kumite is for, but mainly it is to celebrate, in mere days from now the shinobi world will be at peace at last, that is a guarantee! This ancient arena is built on the land of a warfield, let us battle for the honor of our ancestors and make ourselves known as shinobi of the new generation. I wish good luck to everyone who is participating, without further delay, let us begin!" The crowd cheered as the first 2 competitors Kakashi Hatake and Kagura emerged from large iron gates in the arena.
Kakashi was clad in a white cloak that was now Konoha's signature cloak for the tough times it's been through. Kagura wore the Akatsuki cloak adorning the red cloud.
"Let the matches begin!" The crowd cheered and the match was on.
