(c) Masashi Kishimoto. I think I was stressing myself out trying to figure out how to go about the biggest arc in the series. Do I want to continue to stress myself out with this? Hells no. but it wouldn't be fair to the readers if I continue to bullshit this, but according the reviews everyone is more interested in team 7 being reunited so I can safely say that I can cut some corners on the war and just cut to the chase. So here's a informative chapter, not much dialogue, just to move the story along, so skim to your eyes content and go read something else! So here's the next chapter and stop yelling at me! I'm delicate!
Reviews, favorites, and alerts: Stop it you guys! That means I have to update more!
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Natalie (guest) : I know everyone is waiting for the reunion of team 7 and i feel like skipping all the episode/ manga chapters just to get to that point just to make some people happy, but the teasing must continue! As for the movie, haven't seen it or even bought it yet. I only own three naruto movies that i got for my birthday and i did write a paragraph for the Stone of Gelel. ( I know, what the heck?) And I did promise in my previous story to write the movies...hm...either after this story is over or while i'm still writing this damn thing. ^.^ Oh and I don't know if i stuck this in an author's note (no one reads the author's note) but Ryoko looks however you want her to look. It's kinda a peeve i have with describing characters. Don't want her to have a feature no one wants. (Like every other oc i read about has blonde hair and smells like vanilla, there are tons of hair colors and scents and all i ever read is blonde and vanilla. No offense to blondes)
Waking-The-Dead
XXTakaraXX
Ali Kaulitz
.16547
Akki sprinted into the council room with the map and new intel in hand. She went to Gaara's side of the table and laid the map flat out for everyone to see. Taking out an inked brush she marked the map based on the intel that she had received, "The 'x' marks the enemy hideout. It's known as 'Mountain's Grave." She informed pointing to the long piece of land placed between the Waterfall and Sound village. "If they're coming by land they'll march right through the Hidden Mist and Hidden Hot Spring villages. We'll have to send word to them immediately."
Shikaku Nara looked at the map, "According to the advance recon squad, the enemy's forces number at about 100,000. Considering that, it's likely that only a small fraction will come by sea, but we're in grave danger if they manage to surround us."
"That means the victor will be determined by who strikes first!"
"Form an ambush squad! Then split the rest of the forces into multiple divisions and get them into formation!"
"Yes sir!"
"Make sure the medical logistics company is properly equipped! And Shikaku, make sure the intel squads are clear on their routes!"
"Understood!"
"Contact Ao in the sensor company, tell him they need to hurry!"
"Y-yes ma'am!"
"Tsuchikage, we finished this while you were away." Gaara took the maroon colored cloth from Akki and held it out to the Tsuchikage, "Here's yours."
"Oh-ho! Finished already?" He took the new forehead protector from him, "So this is our Joint Arm's Forehead protector! Not bad at all!"
Mifune smirked proudly, "I designed them myself. You all, who had been divided, today will fight as one Shinobi! And we Samurai will join forces with Shinobi! Let us begin!"
Shiori lazily tightened her new headband on her forehead along with the hundreds of other Shinobi. As requested by Kakashi and Tsunade she took her new position as chunin amongst the others rather than take her place with Anbu. She didn't have too many quarrels with it as long as she had a chance to fight.
"Hey." A gruff voice came from behind her. She turned around to come face to face with a Sand Shinobi with purple war paint on his face, "My name is Kankuro of the Sand and I've been made captain of the Ambush squad."
'Why are you telling me?' She wanted to say but then remembered she's supposed to be friendly. They're the Allied Shinobi Forces now. "I see. Nice to meet you. I'm Shiori of the Leaf and I'm vice-captain of Third Division."
"All headbands have been distributed and all supplies have been accounted for! Everyone to your stations!"
"Well Mr. Captain." Shiori started already giving Kankuro a nickname, "Here's hoping that I'll see you at the end of this war." That's a friendly thing to say, isn't it?
"Uh…right."
The Allied Shinobi Forces had been totaled to around 80,000 people both Jounin and Chunin and Samurai. The alliance base of operations is located south-east of Kumogakure, on the east coast of the Land of Lightning. In order to prepare for battle, the ninja have been divided up into nine divisions pooling together ninja with similar abilities. The Main Regiment is divided into five divisions that are each lead by a Commander. There are also sub-divisions that are led by Captains. The First Division contains shinobi that specializes in mid-range attacks, mostly dealing with weapons. The Second Division contains shinobi that specializes in short-distance attacks, mostly hand-to hand combat. The shinobi in that unit will be fighting on the front lines. The Third Division has shinobi specializing in short-to-mid-range who will provide support to the closer and mid-range units since they have the speed and strength. The Fourth Division contains shinobi that specializes in long-range attacks and not only that, they'll be acting as the link between the front lines and the Intel Units in addition to shielding the support units behind the line. The Fifth Division is the Special Units, they specialize in hidden tactics and provide support to other units that are at a disadvantage.
The Support Divisions are divided into four: The Ambush Division is comprised of shinobi based on their skills to trap their opponents. The Logistical Support and Medical Division are comprised of Shinobi with medical skills; they'll provide immediate aid to the wounded during the war. The Intelligence Division is comprised of Shinobi who can gather valuable information to aid in the war. The Last Division is the Sensor Division comprised of Shinobi with high sensory abilities; they can detect enemy chakra from great distances.
As mentioned earlier Kankuro is the Captain of the Ambush Division. Shizune, along with Ton-ton is captain of the Logistical and Medical Division. Inoichi Yamanaka is Captain of the Intelligence Division. And Finally, Ao is captain of the Sensor Division.
The Commanders are the leaders of the Main Regiment; the Commander of the Mid-Range Division is Darui, the Raikage's right-hand man. Commander of Short-Range Division is the Kazekage's fiancé, Akki of the Sand. (And because I can). Commander of Short-to-Mid Range Division is Konoha's very own Kakashi Hatake. Commander of the Special Battle Division is Mifune. And Finally the Commander of the Long-range Division as well as the Commander of the Main Regiment is Gaara of the Sand.
"It's a little overwhelming, isn't it?" Akki commented with a small smile seeing the nations gathered as a whole cheering for them. "Makes it seem like we have a chance that all of us will come out alive."
"That's a cheerful thought." Darui said sarcastically.
"Well, Gaara," Kakashi spoke over the cheering crowd loud enough for Gaara to hear him clearly, "You're the Commander in Chief of the Main Battle Regiment, please address everyone once they've settled down."
Akki squinted her eyes a bit to see that in the middle row was moving more violently than the other rows, "Hold on…I think they're fighting." The other Commanders saw this as well and couldn't help but deflate a bit. Was it too hopeful to believe that all the nations could stand together like this? Was it too much to ask for everyone to forget bad blood for a few moments and stand together against a common cause?
"Looks like you jinxed it, girl." Darui drawled, "They're going to kill each other before the war even starts."
The fight was silenced rather quickly when a wall of sand exploded between the two shinobi, throwing both of them back from each other. Everyone's attention went right back to Gaara.
"Three times now, we've fought wars for our own nations, our own villages. We've hurt one another. We've hated one another. That hatred bred a lust for power, and that lust for power created me. I was a Jinchuriki, the embodiment of hatred and power." If there hadn't been complete silence before, there was no doubt that there was now. They were transfixed as they watched him, a mix between fear and expectation flashing across their faces. "And I hated this world and all the people in it… I wanted to destroy it with my own hands, the exact same thing the Akatsuki is trying to do today." He spoke a little bit louder to get his point across even more. If he was truly going to make all the nations stand together he couldn't hold back, "But one shinobi from Konoha stopped me! I was his enemy, yet he wept for me. I hurt him, yet he called me his friend! He saved me! My enemy, my fellow Jinchuriki… he suffered the same pain as me, yet bore no ill will!"
There was no doubt that every eye was fixated on him. The crowd was hanging on every word that flew from his mouth, on every raw truth that he spoke. "There are no enemies here because we've all suffered at the Akatsuki's hand!" His voice had risen to a shout, but it was not out of anger or even malice; it was no less than simple determination. "So there is no Suna, no Iwa, no Konoha, no Kiri and no Kumo! There are only Shinobi! And if you still hold a grudge against Suna, then when this war is over, come and take my head instead!" Perhaps it was good for the purposes of a convincing speech, but most of Suna had no intention of letting anyone harm the Kazekage, now or later. "Our enemies are after the friend who saved my life! If they take him…" He paused, reconsidering his statement. "If we hand him over, our world is finished." Gaara spread his hands, his sharp green eyes sweeping out over the crowd. "I want to protect him and I want to protect our world! But I'm too young to protect it all on my own!" He closed his eyes and bowed his head, "All of you, please, lend me your aid!" Akki had never heard such a deafening cry of support since Gaara had been brought back to life. This is why he had been made Kazekage and Commander for the army. She smiled when she even saw those who were fighting earlier are now apologizing and shaking hands with one another. This is how the world should be. For everyone to forgive those who have hurt you even though you can't forget how and why they hurt. "Everyone who's with me, let's go!"
Even when he turned back from the crowd, they still cheered.
"Very well said, Gaara." Kakashi praised, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Naruto placed the final cylinder shaped stone onto of the pyramid shaped stone and cheered when it didn't topple his tower, "I did it! Yeah!" He had been at this for several hours and even when he got it done the first time he wanted to try again to be sure it wasn't a fluke.
"Way to go, Naruto! In the next step will be our final lesson. Sad and true it's hard to perceive but time's come for the deed."
"Hm?"
Killer Bee lead them to another room similar to the previous one they had been in where Naruto learned to control the Kyuubi and just like the previous one he had to stick his head in the statue's mouth. The door opened and they proceeded inside the wide open space.
"Now I'll teach you the strongest move a Jinchuriki can learn, alright? You good to go?"
Naruto nodded. He wasn't feeling any exhaustion despite being in the other form for a few hours. "I have to learn to have complete control over this new power to make it on my own. What's the first step?"
Killer Bee morphed into the Eight-tails, "You turn into the beast itself ehilr in tailed beast mode! That's the first step down the road! Now it's your turn, time to explode!"
"It's not dangerous is it?" Naruto asked, his voice shaking a bit, "To be honest, I'm kinda scared to turn into the fox." In all his life nothing good ever happened when he got close to taking its form.
"I know you got this!" Bee rapped, "You pull out the pure chakra and it won't go wild, you can't miss!"
"Okay…" Naruto clapped his hands together and built up an abnormal amount of chakra. He must've been doing it right because Bee encouraged him to take it further. Naruto poured in more chakra and felt himself transform.
The moment the smoke cleared and Ryoko saw him she openly laughed and pointed at him, "Hahahaha! Aw! You look so cute!" Naruto had taken the nine-tails form alright, if the nine-tails was a cute plushy fox doll with blonde hair.
The transformation came undone leaving Naruto a panting mess. Bee grumbled seeing the problem, "That really blows. Since you're not actually friendly with the nine-tails, the transformation just implodes."
Naruto fell over on his back with exhaustion, "Man, I'm beat! I used a ton of the nine-tails chakra too and it was still no good."
"A'ight, teacher's tagging out!" Bee rapped from the eight-tails mouth, "I'll chill, you be the blabber mouth!"
"Naruto! This is the eight-tails speaking now, not Bee." The eight-tails had taken over, "I've got a lot to say so pay attention!"
Naruto sat up by his elbows, "Something tells me this is going to be complicated, but the lack of rap makes up for it."
"First things first, you put yourself in danger by using the nine-tails's chakra."
Naruto sat up a little straighter hearing that, "What? There are risks with using that mode?"
"Huge risk! While you're in basic tailed beast mode the nine-tails is sucking away your chakra! You're temporarily shelving your chakra to use nine-tail chakra instead. If he absorbs your chakra for long enough it'll run out and you get your ticket to the afterlife."
"What?!"
"Don't you think we should've known about this sooner before we went through this whole ordeal?!" Ryoko shouted. Naruto had been in that form for hours and they were just now learning the risks of that mode?!
"How come Octo-pops doesn't have to worry about this?!" Why does he always have the rotten luck?
"Just because you took the nine-tails' chakra doesn't mean you completely tamed him," Eight-tails said, "Bee and I used to be the same way – we went through the while 'chakra trade- phase. Oh, and you shouldn't use shadow clones while you're in tailed beast chakra mode if you know what's good for you. For every clone you make he'll be absorbing a portion of your chakra- you'd run out and die in an instant."
Naruto thought on that piece of information for a moment before casually placing his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner, "Eh, I've got plenty of chakra. So even if we're doing some kind of 'exchange' or whatever-"
Eight-tails white eyes narrowed at his over confidence, "You idiot! Don't take the nine-tails' power so lightly! He'll devour every bit of chakra you have! It'll take time to recover any chakra he takes from you! Be vigilant! If you're constantly using the fox's chakra whenever you're in battle, which is a lot, you will die! Mark my words!" Naruto gulped fearfully. "Normally you'd negotiate with the beast as to how much chakra you'd both give, but the nine-tails isn't the type to sit down and talk things out and there's a limit to the chakra you manage to pull away from him."
"So he's screwed." Ryoko surmised, taking a seat next to Naruto who had slumped over.
"This is too dangerous." He moaned, "And if I can't do it I can't use the Jinchuriki's ultimate move…"
Eight-tails nodded, "Right…forget about the tailed beast bomb. Your time would be better spent honing your own techniques."
"Tailed beast bomb?" Naruto repeated, "What kind of move is that?"
"You simply gather your chakra, use shape manipulation to form it into a sphere, compress it in your mouth and let it rip. It's almost like you're throwing up."
Ryoko placed a finger to her chin in thought, the description sounded familiar, 'Didn't he nearly use that technique in his battle against Pein? Not just then either, the nine-tails performed it when we were in Naruto's mind-'
"I'll try it like this!" Naruto powered up his beast mode and jabbed his fingers in his mouth.
"Naruto! Gross!" Ryoko screamed and jumped away from him when vomit spewed from his mouth, "Not literally, you dolt!" Now it was going to smell in here.
Eight-tails sighed, "You can't do it if you're not in full beast mode." He shifted a bit, "Anyway, I said what I had to say, here's Bee again." The Eight-tails slowly morphed back into Bee's body, giving Bee full control but leaving two octopus tentacles coming from his backside.
"Well, that's it, gotta give it up!" Bee smirked, "We'll practice your own moves in beast chakra mode, see if they can level up!"
"But I can't use Rasengan without shadow clones." Naruto argued, his only two signature moves are now useless if he can't use them in this mode, "I can't do it in this mode – to release all the chakra and do the shape manipulation to rotate and compress it, I have to have to sets of hands."
Bee waved his finger at Naruto, "The illusion's all in your head. That the chakra's actually your own arms and legs."
Naruto was stumped, trying to translate what Bee was trying to say in his own head. 'The illusion is in my head…my own arms and legs…' Then he remembered what he had been doing hours earlier, "Oh yeah!" Using the chakra he morphed two clawed hands from the shroud, "Like this?" It wasn't perfect but they were an extra pair of hands nonetheless. "Here I go!" He moved his own hand to start the form of the Rasengan before the orange shroud hands took over. Bee and Ryoko's watched closely to see blue chakra mixing in with black chakra in a form of a sphere. The sphere grew larger and then shrunk in almost an instant before it popped in Naruto's face. "Argh!"
"That didn't look like the Rasengan." Ryoko commented.
Bee shuddered, "R-ra…Naruto that jutsu…who taught you that?!"
Naruto slowly got to his feet after being blown back, "Huh…Pervy Sage…I mean Jiraiya-sensei…who learn it from the original creator the Fourth Hokage."
"Rasengan!" Bee shouts, "It's the same process as the tailed beast bomb in full! A technique made from observing the tailed beast's own special attack! That's what Rasengan is!" Naruto and Ryoko's eyes widen as the startling news. "It was made just to pass the tailed beast bomb on to you!"
"Amazing!" Ryoko gasped, "I've heard of the Fourth not only being fast but quite a genius as well. To create such a strong jutsu based on a tailed beast attack…"
"It's easy enough to do when you're transformed, but the shape manipulation's too hard to do in human form but add the rotation and you stabilize the storm!"
Naruto looked at his hand in thought, "I dunno, it doesn't feel like a normal Rasengan in this form."
Bee held up one finger as he explained, "Tailed beast chakra consists of positive 'black' chakra and negative 'white' chakra, they need to be balanced! When you compress it, keep a 8:2 ratio of black to white and the ball will form!"
"…"
"…"
"Go for it!" Bee cheered.
As planned the First Division, which is the mid-range battle division, was stationed in the northern part of the Land of Lightning in order to prevent the Akatsuki from using the small gulf to infiltrate the area from Mountain's Graveyard. The Second Division, or short-range battle division, is on the border of the Land of Lightning and the Land of Frost, sealing a northerly path into the Land of Lightning.
The Third Division, or the short- to mid-range battle division, was advancing fast through the middle of the Land of Frost and just when they are just beyond the Land of Frost's border they spot a red flare belonging to part of the Ambush Division, indicating that they require immediate assistance.
"We better go swiftly." Shiori stated as the entire division started running towards the flare. "Moments before the flare we received intel the other divisions have encountered the enemy as well and that there's something strange about them."
"Strange?" Guy repeated keeping pace with Kakashi. "Did they explain more?"
Shiori shook her head, "They couldn't explain more. They say what they're encountering shouldn't be possible."
"Shouldn't be possible?" Rock Lee repeated. Relaying messages is the same on missions as it is in war, short and to the point. Almost too the point that it leaves confusion.
"We're about to see for ourselves!" Kakashi's tone grew tense when he saw the Ambush squad through the thicket of trees, "Move in!"
The Third Division heads in their direction and arrives in time to save them from a reincarnated Haku, Zabuza Momochi, and two unknown ninja.
"Kakashi?" Questions Haku.
Zabuza was fending off Kakashi's kunai with his, "I knew I'd end up fighting someone, but I never imagined it'd be you, Kakashi. I should've been sent to hell after your group finished me on that bridge. Next thing I know, I'm standing next to Haku and I thought something was off…I guess this really isn't hell or heaven."
"No." Kakashi confirmed, but never giving Zabuza an inch, "This is the real world and none of you belong here."
"Zabuza Momochi." Shiori whispered standing before the rest of the squad, "I've heard stories of him. He and his partner Haku were killed by Kakashi's squad on a mission years ago."
Rock Lee nodded, "Yes, I recall Naruto telling me of that mission, but how are they here?"
"That must've been what the intel was trying to tell us. The other divisions must've encountered this as well, fighting the living dead or reincarnations."
"You sure haven't changed, Kakashi." Zabuza rasped through his bandaged mouth, "I'm sure your little students have grown up. How's that blond kid? He doing okay?""
Haku chortled in remembrance.
"He must be pretty famous these days, after helping you beat the two of us."
"Yeah. They named that bridge after him and these days the villagers call him a hero. Thanks to the two of you, Naruto found his path in life…his own 'ninja way' and swore on both your graves that he'd always follow it." Kakashi nearly smiled with pride, "And he did. He's become an admirable shinobi."
Haku smiled fondly, "Then I'm sure he'll continue to grow even stronger."
Zabuza suddenly flinched and mumbled something to Kakashi before a dark aura overtook his body. Kakashi sensed the malice and jumped back to his comrades.
As Zabuza used the Hiding in Mist Technique, Kakashi orders his squad into a formation around the sensor ninja. When Kakashi's division is about to mount a counter-attack, he watches in exasperation as the previous generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist is summoned to the battlefield.
As the swordsmen begin to thin the division's numbers, the many deaths causes morale to drop amongst the less-experienced shinobi but Might Guy reminds them of their duties. Kakashi comes up with a plan to neutralize the Hiding in Mist Technique used by Zabuza. He tries to impale Zabuza with a Lightning Cutter, only for Haku to take the blow. Just like he did all those years ago. Zabuza then seizes the opportunity to attack the immobile Kakashi.
Recognizing the danger they are now in, Kakashi quickly organizes a team to try and turn things around. While he does so, the rest of the Third Division bombards the Seven Swordsmen with a variety of weapons and attacks. The Swordsmen, because of their reincarnation, instantly recover from any damage. Mangetsu Hōzuki then summons five of the Seven Swordsmen's blades, which they use to silently pick-off the shinobi. With casualties mounting rapidly, Kakashi devises a strategy to eliminate Zabuza and the mist he is producing: with the help of Santa Yamanaka he will locate Zabuza and have Ensui Nara restrain him. Once this was done, Maki will capture Zabuza, thereby ending the mist. He sinks another Lightning Cutter into Zabuza, distracting him long enough to be caught by Ensui. Maki then binds Zabuza and Haku and places seals on the two to prevent their summoner from recalling them. With the mist now gone, Kakashi openly thanked them for being Naruto's first opponents. Also remembering how Kakashi had grown to respect and like the two rogue ninja, Kakashi became determined to free them from their undead prison in respect for the way they chose to die. Kakashi picks up Zabuza's sword and requests Shiori's help: to provide backup with his sealing techniques while Kakashi - the man that copied a thousand techniques – plans to go on a rampage.
"Commander Akki!"
"What's the word?" Akki asked cutting straight to the point. She could sense the enemy upon them and wanted to know when and where they're going to strike.
"There's 20,000 of them underground, ma'am!"
"Then we'll flush them out." She decided turning towards her division, "Iwa group!"
"Yes ma'am!" The Iwagakure shinobi in her group lined up beside her and used their earth jutsu to unearth the enemy.
Grabbing her big boomerang she shouted, "Attack!" She swung her weapon over her shoulder, taking the first hundred from bottom to top in an arch. Others soon follow suit in their own attacks. During the battle, Akki receives the order that she and her Division were to mobilize and back up the First Division.
"There are still a good number of them left here." Akki caught her boomerang when it came flying back to her, "Who's not dead?!" She shouted and was responded by uproar from her division. "Good enough. Half of you, I don't care who, back up the First Division!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"The rest of you hold your ground here!"
"Yes!"
Akki swung her weapon straight down the middle thinning the ranks there just enough for a half of her division to run through and assist the First Division. She caught her weapon when it came back and used it to block a direct attack. 'Gaara, I hope you're better off than we are.' Even though war has no room for such thoughts it's hard to lock those kinds of thoughts away during war.
"Argh!" Naruto was knocked back again by his own attack. Panting in exhaustion he stayed on his back for a few minutes longer than usual when his attack blows up in his face.
"Taking a break?" Ryoko asked. She had hoped so; he has been at this for what feels like several hours. He burned through most of the chakra and energy pills trying to master this technique.
"I've had something on my mind…" He released his tailed beast mode, "The others have been gone a while…and we've haven't heard a word from either."
"Should we investigate? They were pretty adamant about you staying here and not going outside." Ryoko comments.
"…hm." Naruto turns to Bee, "Is there a bathroom here?"
Bee nodded, "Plenty of bushes outside…"
Naruto stood up with Ryoko who decided she had to go too. She tried to hold it in as much as possible to be there for moral support for Naruto during training but it was getting increasingly difficult with hearing the rushing waterfall in the distance.
"While we're out there I should grab more rations from-" Ryoko stopped dead when she and Naruto saw shinobi from Konoha standing at the entrance. Even more shocking was that Shino's dad is among them!
"What's going on?"
"Naruto…I'm afraid we can't let you pass. Please go back to the training room."
"Why are you all guarding me?" Naruto retorts. He had a small feeling earlier but apparently there's something bigger going on.
"We'll talk inside." He insisted.
Ryoko's eyes narrowed, "Why can't we talk outside?"
The small crowded parted to allow another Shinobi to step through and to their hearts stopped when they saw it was Iruka! "I'll talk to him."
"You're here too?"
Iruka nodded, "You've been given a second mission on this island. We're just here for support."
"So why can't we go outside?" Naruto asks.
"They've just discovered a completely new species here and we need to confirm what it is, you see-"
"How is that relevant to the question?" Ryoko butted in. She smelled something fishy and it wasn't the fish swimming in the water outside. "If there's a new species and you want him to investigate he'll have to go outside and yet you all seem strongly against it."
"You know as well as I do how most creatures hate Naruto. We need him to stay here while we investigate it first, once we get it under control then we'll have Naruto here try to convince it to help with the coming war."
"Is that why Captain Yamato's not back yet?" Naruto asks.
Shino's dad nods, "Exactly, we need his wood-element abilities to keep it in check."
"…"
"…"
"So let's all go back inside." Iruka suggests.
Naruto's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Iruka would never lie to him unless it was for the sake of his former student's safety. He casted Ryoko a look out of the corner of his eye. She caught his look instantly and he saw that she would follow through with him. Gathering chakra in her arm she charged them first, nearly bowling them all over if the taller and thicker guards hadn't taken the brunt of her charge. Naruto followed quickly after her, jumping over the pile of bodies and broke through the waterfall, his headband falling off from the force of the water. However the second his foot touched land, his body stopped immediately and vivid images of brutal fighting flashed through his mind. "What was that? What the heck is going on out there?!"
Seeing that there was no point in lying anymore, Iruka confessed first. Naruto may be dense some of the time but most of the time he picked the wrong time to be intelligent, "War. Madara's making his move."
"?!"
Ryoko broke free from the tangled bodies she had created, "I thought we had more time! How long has this been going on?!"
"Lady Hokage sent on a fake mission to hide you here on this island. The moment you left the village we began prepping for war."
"So why am I still here sitting around when my friends are suffering and dying?!"
"Because we're fighting this war to protect you!" Iruka explained, "Madara's hitting us with the full brunt of his forces. He's determined to capture you and Killer Bee once and for all. If he gets his hands on the Eight and Nine tails, he'll complete his technique and the world will be doom! By protecting you we're protecting our future!"
Ryoko gritted her teeth, "But what kind of future will it be if they're all dead because they refuse to let Naruto fight?"
Iruka turned to her, "We just couldn't risk it. Now let's go back inside."
Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously, but with determination, "No. I'll end this war myself."
Iruka whirled around. He knew how Naruto can get when he sets his mind on something. It's always nearly impossible to deter him when he gets so focused on shouldering everything himself. He couldn't let Naruto get involved with the war, "Are you listening to me?! You have the Nine-tails inside you and you can barely control it! There are some fights you have to stay out of!"
"You were the first person to recognize me with the nine-tails inside me! Why are you worried about the nine-tails now?! Why can't you trust me to do this?!"
"This isn't just about you Naruto! Do you know what you are to me?"
"…"
"…"
"I think you're one of my most precious students… and… you're like a little brother to me." He confessed much to Naruto's astonishment.
He had no idea his old mentor had felt that way. When he was a kid he always gave Iruka hell with his pranks and failing all his classes, and even though he always acknowledged him and treated him to ramen he didn't know that Iruka thought something of him beyond of that of a former student. To hear that he thought of him of all people as his little brother…
"The enemy leader is personally coming after you…how could I even fathom letting you go out there to face such a monster?" He asks him, trying to get him to see his point of view, "You know you don't have to shoulder this kind of burden alone. You don't have to settle this war on your own."
"I understand that, but when you gave me that forehead protector I wasn't a kid anymore…I'm stronger than I've ever been before."
Silently Iruka picked up the headband and handed it to Naruto. The second Naruto grabbed hold of it Iruka tried to place a barrier to keep Naruto from leaving. Naruto easily broke free while in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and made a break for it with Ryoko following closely in tow.
Ryoko wasn't going to let Naruto go into war alone. Naruto was like a brother to her too no matter how much stronger he is than her. They had been through much together and she refused to stay behind now even if the thought of war scared her. Plus she was sure the guards wouldn't follow if they also had to protect Killer Bee.
"Hm?"
"What?"
Naruto had found a note tucked in between the cloth and metal part of this headband from Iruka. Opening it he began it read the message, "I expected you'd try to rush out to the battlefield right away. I know you're ready to fight. If you're reading this letter it means I couldn't stop you. Lady Tsunade ordered us to Kumogakure's secret island to guard you and delay you from leaving as long as possible. I'm writing this letter just in case things don't work out like I want them to… which is pretty pathetic considering I'll be on an official mission. But if that's how it goes… I don't know if I'll manage to give this to you or not, but there's something I need to tell you. In fact, now that you've left, it's the only thing left to say. Come back alive, Naruto!" Smirking he tucked the letter safely away and tightened his headband on his forehead, feeling more courage than ever to get into this war and end the hate and pain.
"Let's go, Ryoko!"
Ryoko could feel the confidence radiating off of him just like in his chakra mode, she could feel is in her heart, spreading to all of her limbs, "Yeah!" Still in the back of her mind is a scared little voice saying, 'We're going to war….we're all going to die…'
Alright, again sorry for the delay. Work has been a pain in the behind with hours constantly changing and customers just being...customers, but the chapter is out so here's to show I didn't abandon it yet. Trust me you all don't know the power you hold over authors sometimes, your thoughts reach some of us, we hear voices in our heads telling us to update even though we don't feel like it! I don't handle pressure well! Stop it!