Author's note: This chapter will take us back to see how Tsunade and the others are doing on the Earth with regards to the crisis. We will visit every Five Great Hidden Villages. For those of you who are uncomfortable reading about lemon, I suggest you to not read. I don't own any of the characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. The original characters belong to me.
Chapter 21: Seeds of Hope
Somewhere in the Village Hidden in the Clouds, Land of Lightning
In wake of the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Village Hidden in the Clouds retained its status as one of the strongest, with the reemerging Village Hidden in the Leaves being one its main competitors. The village, still governed by the Fourth Raikage: A, was formerly one of the driving forces behind planning the execution of Sasuke Uchiha, as well as the formation of the Allied Shinobi Forces. With the pardoning of Sasuke, the Cloud Village dropped its persecution of the Uchiha, thereby refocusing on rebuilding what was lost. But unfortunately, the Cloud Village would not experience the peace it had hoped for. The Raikage had secretly been hiding something from the entire world: an internal conflict within the Cloud Village itself.
Before the outbreak of the world war, the Sado clan was the most influential of them all in the Cloud Village. Their members were known to be experts in lightning based jutsus, while possessing their own Kekkei Genkai: the Kaminaraigan. It is said that both A and his father the Third Raikage had distant blood relations with the clan. But highly influential and having seats in the Cloud Council was not enough. They wanted more. It had also desired to conquer other hidden village, including the Stone and Leaf Villages. When the Leaf Village was almost destroyed by Pain, the Sado clan wanted the Raikage to invade it in retaliation for Sasuke's actions. But A disagreed with their methods and refrained from crossing that line, something which made him unpopular among the Sados. Although A had resented Sasuke in the past, including having lost his left hand to him in battle, the Raikage had decided to let go of his hatred towards Sasuke and forgive him, believing that Sasuke was in fact remorseful for his crimes. But then again, A himself would experience a lifechanging day, something which made him even forget Sasuke as a whole.
After the world war ended, the Sado clan planned a coup d'etat against the Cloud Village's leadership, including the Raikage and the Cloud Council. This move was inspired by the one the Uchiha clan sought to carry out in the Leaf Village years ago. Once they were in control of the village, they could then launch the campaign to bring other hidden villages under their control. The clan head at that time was Hyakushige Sado once a strong ally of the Fourth Raikage, as well as his childhood friend. The two had built a friendly rivalry as they both reached adulthood, especially when they competed each with their respective brothers: Killer B and Hiruko Sado. B and Hiruko grew up as childhood friends as well, despite the different personalities between the laidback B and the reserved Hiruko. Together, they would often compete between each other to be the best combo duo in the Cloud Village.
The Sado clan coup attempt presented a major issue for A as the Raikage. He knew that he had to put it down, given he was the leader and protector of the Cloud Village. But to avoid a full-scale conflict, which would only result in the loss of many human lives, a duel to the death took place between A and Hyakushige. It was a deadly duel that raged atop the mountains in the Land of Lightning. In the end, A won, but this was hardly a victory worth celebrating. The Raikage had killed one of his closest friends, for the sake of protecting the Cloud Village. Furthermore, he had to decide what to do with the Sado clan, who had just lost their leader. Due to the Cloud Village's participation in the Hashirama-agreement, A ruled out executing them. Therefore, he was left with no choice but to exile the clan from the village. They were never allowed to set foot in their home village again. While A had succeeded in ending the coup attempt, it came at a great price.
"Hyakushige….why?" the mighty Fourth Raikage lowly asked as A was now standing before a grave inside a cave. This grave belonged to none other than his dear childhood friend. "Why did it have to come to this?" A asked the grave once again.
Ever since that crucial day, A would often come and visit the grave of his friend. Guilt was now over A, as it was he who had killed Hyakushige. Thinking about this even made the mighty A cry, as tears were streaming from his eyes. He would never think that he would have to make choices like this, between his village or his best friend.
"Our fathers were comrades in arms, as were we. But was raw power truly worth pursuing? What about the bonds of friendship?" A asked, slowly starting to sob as he asked the grave of his best friend. "I thought we could continue this friendship to our deaths" he added to his sadness.
The Raikage could hear steps coming to him from behind, yet A didn't pay attention to it. He was still focused on the tombstone of Hyakushige Sado. Those who had entered the cave were two close confidants of A: the easygoing Darui and the serious Cee. But they weren't the only ones. Also joining them was none other than Killer B, a Jinchuuriki and a hero of the Cloud Village. They all approached A, yet refrained from touching him.
"Lord Raikage. What a relief" Cee spoke up, trying to not raise the volume of his voice. "We were hoping we would find you here" the blonde-haired man added.
"The Cloud Council was anxious to know you were still here, so we decided to prove them by bringing you back" Darui said, before something hit in his head. "But then again, you don't have to answer to the council, boss. They only wanted to know whether you were doing okay in times like these. We can go back and tell them you're still here" he then said while scratching the back of his head nervously.
"I will always be here in the Cloud Village, Darui. Never forget that" A reminded his subordinates before letting out a deep sigh. "But sometimes, it feels good to walk outside and let the stress go away. In this place, I will always find comfort and peace" the Raikage told them.
Killer B only shrugged his shoulders. "Hmmm, isn't it too late to be seeking comfort and peace at a time like this? The Moon's coming down on us, ya fool" the rapper and poet told his adoptive brother what they were up against.
A looked over his shoulder to face B. "I have the situation under control, B! With our Chakra Cannons, we should be able to defend ourselves. It's just Tsunade and that damn Moon Expedition of hers!" he spoke up with his commanding voice and it rang bells in the cave.
"I know, chill!" B tried to calm A down. "Listen, I'm happy you're giving Naruto and his homies a chance to sort this out. You know how the kind of guy he is. Didn't you see what he did during the war, fool?" he then spoke up about Naruto.
"But to what end!? By only delaying the inevitable!? This is a worldwide crisis! Actions speak louder than words! Never forget that!" the Raikage raised his voice once again.
"Why do you gotta give up hope so easily!?" B asked, this time getting more confrontational with his brother, which was a rare thing for him to do. "You dumbass fool! You're acting as if hope isn't a powerful thing, ya know!" the rapper added to his statement.
A got into B's face, the two powerful men facing each other sternly. "Hope isn't enough to save the world! If we do nothing! We are all gonna die!" A spoke up, yet B stood his ground.
Darui and Cee were incredibly worried for the two, as they watched it from the sidelines. But they could not let this verbal confrontation escalate into a physical one, so they decided to intervene, in hopes of mending the two brothers.
"Lord Raikage. Lord Jinchuuriki. Please don't fight! We need the two of you on the same side" Cee insisted to them.
"Yeah. Take a chill pill or whatever. Both of you need to calm the fuck down" Darui tried his best to mediate between A and B.
After having this glaring competition, A turned away from his brother. "I don't have time for this nonsense. Return to my office and tell the Cloud Council I will be there shortly. They are more than capable of standing tall in this crisis on their own" the Raikage told them sternly. "And make sure the Chakra Cannons are outside and operational. When the meteorite comes, we will do whatever it takes to protect the Earth" A told both Cee and Darui.
The two subordinates nodded their heads as a yes. "As you command, Lord Raikage" Cee said as he and Darui both nodded their heads at him in return.
But B was not finished with his brother yet. "But what about Naruto and the Moon Expedition? You're not firing those damn cannons at the Moon! Pronto!" B told him strictly, only for A to once again turn around and show his strict expression.
"I have already agreed to give them time, B! But if it's too late, we will fire the cannons! And then we must concentrate on defeating the giant meteorites that will appear once the Moon is destroyed!" A told B while making sure Cee and Darui got this as well.
"Damn bro! You realize how batshit crazy you sound right now!?" the famed Jinchuuriki of the Eight-Tails asked the Raikage. "Not only do you destroy the Moon, but you kill Naruto and his homies as well, fool! After all he's done, this is how you….." B was shut by A's enraging voice.
"DON'T MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF!" A roared, thus shutting his brother up completely. He soon sighed and lowered the volume of his voice. "I am this village's leader. And as such, I will do anything to protect it. Therefore, I won't be judged for defending the Cloud Village, let alone saving the world" A told B, his voice starting to feel less aggressive.
"Lord Raikage. It's best if me and Darui head back and inform the Cloud Council about where you are" Cee suggested to his leader.
A weakly nodded his head in reply. "Very well. Then inform the council that I'll be back shortly. I just need some time to reflect for a moment" the Raikage told them in a calmer tone, which only signaled how he had softened over the last few years.
Knowing better than to keep the Cloud Council waiting, Cee and Darui immediately headed outside to let them know of what their Raikage was up to. But B remained with A, the two adoptive brothers now glancing at the grave of Hyakushige. It was a silent moment between the two of them, since neither of them made a noise. But B broke it when he decided to ask A.
"You still regret what happened that day, huh?" B lowly asked the Fourth Raikage, yet he wasn't given an answer. "Well, I do that too. Things got pretty out of hand, and neither of us were able to stop it. A pretty damn shame, I must say" he added, still remembering what happened the day the Sado clan coup attempt failed.
"Don't try to humor or sugarcoat it, B" the low and regretful voice of A could be heard. "If you think that I took pleasure in ending this threat by defeating Hyakushige…then you're sadly mistaking" the powerful shinobi said, being on the verge of crying once again.
"I ain't trying to humor or sugarcoat anything. And you think you're the only one who lost a friend that day, huh?" B told his brother, thinking about someone he had known since childhood. "You fool. Because of your actions, Hiruko now also resents you. But he even resents me more, given that I "failed to hold you accountable" as he told me. It's no use trying to seek his forgiveness now. He'll never forgive us. And even if the entire village apologized to him, he wouldn't have bought it" the Jinchuuriki explained about Hiruko, who was Hyakushige's younger brother.
"You think I don't know that?" A asked B in a stern manner. The two brothers were still watching the tombstone. "He alone won't be the only Sado who will come to hate this village. The rest of the clan will follow as well. But as you said, the one most affected by this exile is Hiruko. I heard he had already fathered two boys not long ago" the Raikage then began speaking about the man whom B had once known.
Being a duo, A and B would often compete with Hyakushige and Hiruko, thus developing a natural respect for each other. This would last until before the times before the world war, when relations between the Cloud Village and the Sado clan soured.
Killer B could notice A suddenly moving out of the cave, thus surprising him. It would seem that the melancholy on the Raikage had vanished, as he would now concentrate on protecting the world from the Moon. A stopped to look at B one more time.
"Let's go, B. It's time we headed back home. The villagers need us" A told him before proceeding to exit the cave.
B looked at the grave one last time before heading out. Surprisingly, he gave it his trademark power gesture with his right hand. The Jinchuuriki of the Eight-Tailed Ox smiled at the one who was resting peacefully inside this cave.
"No matter what happens. I'll look after A, just as I promised you, Hyakushige" B told the grave before leaving it to catch up with A. Now as he ran outside, B glanced up to see the Moon. "Go get him, Naruto! I'm rooting for ya. We all are!" he told his fellow Jinchuuriki before heading back to the village.
At the top of the Hokage Tower, Village Hidden in the Leaves, Land of Fire
Tsunade was now observing a satellite being erected on the top, in hopes of getting better signal to communicate with Naruto and the Moon Expedition. Looking up, Tsunade could see how the Moon was moving, albeit slowly. She was now accompanied by Shizune, Kakashi, Kurenai and other important allies of her, including the astronomers. Having just been informed about what had happened to the Shadow Squad, the Hokage know felt it was important to get in touch to see how Naruto was doing.
"Commander Yugao and Captain Ibiki said what?" Shizune asked her superior. "You say some members of the Shadow Squad entered the secret portal that existed on the Island of Tides, alongside members of the Divine Division and the Grim Guard?" she questioned her once again.
"Correct. And this only confirms our suspicions. There exists another portal that leads to the Moon, albeit differently from the one that exists in the Land of Fire" Tsunade told her, her eyes never leaving sight of the Moon. "But that being said, the three hooded criminals are now at the Moon, where Naruto and the Moon Expedition is currently dealing with Toneri Otsutsuki and his machinations. That is why we need to get in contact with them to see how the situation is going so far" the blonde-haired woman told her.
Shizune nodded her head, accepting the Hokage's wishes. "As you wish, Lady Tsunade" she told him.
"But something really struck me from what Yugao and Ibiki told us" Kakashi began speaking up. "It is true, one of these hooded men was an Uchiha. While another was a Sado. I can't believe my ears" the white-haired man remarked.
"No need for you to start searching, Kakashi. I've already dispatched the Cryptanalysis Team to figure out the identities of these hooded criminals. But right now, our main priority should be the Moon Expedition. As such, I have ordered both the Shadow Squad and the Interrogation Squad return to the Leaf Village as soon as possible. The Kazekage and the Mizukage has done the same thing with the Grim Guard and the Divine Division respectively" Tsunade informed Kakashi and her other assistants. She then fixed a smug look at Kakashi. "It seems Sasuke was the first one to jump into the new portal. He probably wanted to pursue that Uchiha. No wonder why Yugao and Ibiki were acting rather cold towards you" she told the masked man.
Kakashi recalled what he had heard both Yugao and Ibiki say. Both had been furious to know Sasuke had vanished without their consent. However, Ibiki was even more furious over the fact Ino had followed him to the Moon. She was the only one of the Interrogation Squad to do that. As such, Ibiki was now acting quite cold towards Kakashi.
He sighed deeply in annoyance. "I know they were. But like it or not, I can't decide what Sasuke does. No one can. Only he can control his own actions" Kakashi told Tsunade. "And besides, if members of the Shadow Squad such as Asami, Sai and Yamato followed Sasuke into the portal as well, then it is up to them along with the others to watch over him. Wasn't that part of the conditions of letting Sasuke join the Shadow Squad?" he questioned the Hokage.
Tsunade smiled at him in a more supporting manner than usual. "Glad to see you still remember it, Kakashi. While you would indeed be a perfect Hokage, I understand why you declined the offer" she revealed to him, causing the masked man to cook an eyebrow at him in return. "You don't have too feel guilty. You're not the first one to be in that position. Jiraiya was there once, remember?" Tsunade insisted to the jounin.
Kakashi's mind was drifting back into the past. It was during the time when his teacher: Minato Namikaze was made the Fourth Hokage instead of Jiraiya. Almost everyone had expected the famed sage to become that, but he declined and rather recommended Minato for the job. Kakashi could now see what Jiraiya had done at that time.
"Yes. I have figured out that becoming Hokage does not only require skills and talents from a powerful mentor such as Minato-sensei or Jiraiya. It also requires…acknowledgment" Kakashi spoke up, recalling the time when he declined the offer to become the Sixth Hokage. He looked up to the Moon while telling his comrades about this. "If I ever became Hokage, I would not just rely on skill and reputation alone to lead it. You must also have something else…something which I never really possessed…a strong willpower. The only one I know who possessed that, let alone opened my former eyes to what it really was, is Naruto. That is why I have entrusted the future of the Leaf Village to him. And I will do anything in my power to make him a better leader than what anyone before him ever were" the masked man was speaking highly of one of his students, having been mentored by Naruto's father during his youth.
"There is nothing we can disagree with you on that, Kakashi" Kurenai spoke up, the crimson-eyed woman also admiring Naruto's willpower. "Even my students look up to him. If only Kiba himself can let go of his stubbornness that is" she then added while letting out a sigh when mentioning her impulsive student from the Inuzuka clan.
"Believe me, Kurenai. Deep down, Kiba respects Naruto. It's just that he's been getting all worked up with what has happened recently. You know how he and Hinata were now starting to develop this relationship of theirs" Kakashi told his fellow jounin, who had to smile when hearing him say that.
"I guess you're right. Who would ever disrespect someone like Naruto?" Kurenai remarked, musing to herself over that fact. "Especially not Hinata, considering how he was once an inspiration for her, not to mention she dated him for a brief period. But in the end, Hinata realized that Naruto had outgrown her and that she no longer felt the same thing about him. That is why they ended their relationship, yet remained the best of friends" she then began explaining how Hinata and Naruto were dating, yet the relationship didn't work out.
"Then it's a good thing that Kiba has stepped in to fill that void" Kakashi told his fellow jounin. The masked man proceeded to glance up to the Moon, as did those who were standing around him. "But now's not the time to be dwelling on that. Many of the Leaf Village's heroes and defenders are up there risking their lives. It's about time we also did that since we're here protecting the Leaf Village" he then suggested.
"Well said, Kakashi. I couldn't have said it better myself" Tsunade expressed her admiration of Kakashi's will before looking at the satellite that was being erected. "Once we get that thing operational, we should be able to contact Naruto and the others. But we must not forget what the Moon can do on it's way to the Earth. When the meteorites come, we must stand vigilant" the blonde-haired woman told everyone.
"Lady Tsunade, so far, the evacuation of civilians is going perfectly" Shizune told her superior with a hint of relief on her voice, having just been informed about this from two jounins that just arrived: Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamiki. "It may be a little chaotic, but such are to be expected" she added.
Tsunade faced both Kotetsu and Izumo with satisfaction. "Glad to hear it. And I take it you're not overseeing it alone, correct" the Hokage questioned to two.
"We've been helped by Ebisu and his students. They're doing a fine job" Kotetsu revealed to her. "And the same thing can be said for Iruka Umino. He along with Iwana Akame, Daikoku Funeno, Dango Mitsuki, Yatago Ryugen and Tsuzumi Sarugaku are doing well in evacuating the youngest villagers. Heck, they've also offered to take care of the oldest while we deal with the rest of the civilians" the man with the bandage running across his face informed her.
"And all the clans of the Leaf Village are assisting as well" Izumo pointed out. "Even though we don't have the Hyuugas right now, the Akimichis, Aburames, Naras, Yamanakas and the Inuzukas each contributes greatly this evacuation" he added to his explanation.
"Phenomenal work. Based on what I'm hearing, the progress is great. I suggest you continue helping the evacuation. But be on your guard. When the time comes, all able-bodied shinobis of the Leaf must be prepared to defend it. I also have a feeling that the clans will be needed for the protection of the Leaf Village. I will summon you back to my side when the situation requires it. But until then, keep up the good work out there!" Tsunade told them.
"YES MA'AM!" both Kotetsu and Izumo said in unison before vanishing from her sight. Tsunade then returned her focus on setting up the satellite.
For some reason, Kurenai was sighing deeply and her comrades took notice of it. "I'm not in the slightest worried about the lack of shinobis to defend the village. I'm more worried about those who are defenseless, including my son. But thank God, he's safe with Konohamaru and his friends" she said, feeling relieved over the fact that her son was safe. "Speaking of my son, is Anko around here as well?" she questioned Kakashi.
The masked man closed his eyes for brief seconds while listening to this. "She said she would come here as soon as Bunko was safe. I've heard that they both left the village to go one a trip. Bad timing, I must say" Kakashi answered Kurenai.
"Hmmm you don't say" the crimson-eyed woman remarked smugly after hearing this. But she soon returned her gaze to the Moon. "But even if we are evacuating the defenseless, it won't spare them from the Moon reaching us. All that we can hope is for the Moon Expedition to stop the madman who controls it and rescue Hinata and the Hyuugas. I just pray to God they're doing okay up there" Kurenai added, still feeling worried about the condition of her shy student and her family. "Hinata…...wherever you are…...be strong. That's what you always surpassed both Kiba and Shino with. Your strength is your greatest weapon, as much as you fail to realize it yourself. And as for you, Kiba and Shino. Promise me that you along with Hinata will make it down from that place alive. I can't bear to watch more shinobis being buried…especially after the world war" she was secretly pleading for her students to stay strong in that unfamiliar environment.
Kakashi had himself taken notice of Kurenai's behavior and he also had to admit he himself thought about his students, especially Naruto and Sasuke. "I pray that you two will unite to deal with whoever this Toneri is. And please make sure that Sakura comes with you alive. If not, she will definitely not forgive either of you" the masked man mused to himself while thinking about his students being on the Moon.
Inside the Mizukage's office, the Village Hidden in the Mist, Land of Water
Since the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War, the shinobis of the Hidden Mist Village could not only be relieved over having no more dangerous enemies to fight against, they could also focus on rebuilding its stability as a village. As such, they would try to put behind the painful past during the era of the Bloody Mist. Under the leadership of the Fifth Mizukage: Mei Terumi, the Mist ninjas believed that a new village was beyond the horizon, especially since it had opened up economically to the villages they had made better relations with: the Leaf Village and the Sand Village. As such, change was guaranteed. That was until the current crisis that was affecting the entire world.
The Mist Village, being located in the Land of Water, had a perfect view of the skies and the moonlights even managed to shine through the mists that dotted the village. In a way, it was both wonderful and scary for the civilians to see at the same time. People were getting uncomfortable and many of the islands the Land of Water was composed of had been evacuated. But still, the people of the Mist remained in their home, not willing to give up the battle of protecting the village they desperately wanted to change. It was their home and they would defend it.
Right ow, Mei was having a meeting in her office. Her most trusted associate: Chojuro was present, as were other high-ranking politicians of the Mist Village. The reason was that the infamous commander of the secret branch within the village's ANBU Black Ops called the Divine Division had now returned. Shachi Arashiro was now standing there along with other members of the group, like Ganryu, Kiri and Ruka. Apparently, the Mizukage had heard about what happened on the Triple Entente's mission to the Island of Tides. As such, she had summoned them back, and Shachi was now filling in for what happened.
"And that's how they vanished" the man with the metallic helmet informed Mei, his voice ringing hollow through the office. "Hyozan Ishiwata, Suigetsu Hozuki, Karin and Juugo all pursued Sasuke Uchiha through the portal we discovered inside the Island of Tides itself. It's most certain that they are on the Moon as we speak" he added to his explanation.
Mei had so far been listening, and her expression remained the same. "I see. I'm surprised how they had the guts to do this" the brunette told him before forming a smirk with her lips. "We may have to give them a little "punishment" once they return from the Moon. They did disobey an order after all" Mei suggested to Shachi. A chuckle could be heard from Shachi, indicating that Mei had humored him.
"Who cares about where Hyozan and Suigetsu are!?" the slightly paranoid voice came from Chojuro, the four-eyed man feeling distressed as he faced Shachi. "You said who the identity of this Azure Dragon was….Nagisa Sorui…..we're doomed!" he then exclaimed out of fear.
Shachi only folded his arms when seeing this. "What is it that is so scary about him?" he asked the Mizukage's assistant.
Hearing this only infuriated Chojuro further. "Are you kidding me!? You've forgotten about what kind of people those of the Sorui clan are!?" the four-eyed man snapped at the man wearing metallic mask, yet Shachi remained calm. "They are said to be the masters of the ocean! There are rumors that say members of the clan can talk to fish, let alone raise tsunamis without relying on nearby water!" Chojuro spoke up, his entire body shivering with fear, as well as sweating intensively.
Shachi was far from impressed when seeing Chojuro's antics. He let out a sigh of annoyance. "And this fool thinks he can become Mizukage one day? He has a lot to learn" he remarked, still not getting why Mei had high hopes for the four-eyed swordsman.
"Calm yourself, Chojuro. This is no time for us to be driven insane by urban legends. Whether or not the Sorui clan are capable of such abilities remains to be seen officially. But until then, they're just rumors" Mei told his assistant. "But then again, Nagisa was supposed to be dead. I understand that he died during a duel against Mangetsu Hozuki Yet he's still alive. Something doesn't seem to add up" the Mizukage remarked while thinking about this subject.
"I have dug up some important files that existed among the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist" Shachi revealed to her and the other high-ranking politicians. "You may have forgotten it, but not long after Nagisa's death, Mangetsu died as well. The small gap between their deaths seem to be linked in some way" he pointed out.
"Meaning that Nagisa was responsible for Mangetsu's death?" Chojuro asked him.
"I never said it was. But then again, given that Nagisa never really died that day, it could be a possibility" Shachi clarified his statement. The man with the metallic helmet then glanced around, eyeing the other politicians with his glowing azure eyes. "For all we know, Nagisa and his accomplices are now on the Moon somewhere. And as such, we best concentrate on the Moon. That blonde-haired bandit will have to wait" he then suggested to those around him.
Whisperings could be heard amongst the politicians, as they all began to speculate whether it was such a good idea to write off Nagisa so easy. However, Mei seemed more than pleased with this suggestion, fixing her azure eyes upon Shachi.
"Spoken like a true strategist, Shachi Arashiro. It sounds like a wise decision to me" Mei mused to herself over hearing the commander's suggestion. The Fifth Mizukage then faced everyone in her office. "Now as all of you may know, the Five Great Hidden Villages, minus the Cloud Village, has all given Tsunade's Moon Expedition their backing. We all see the value of the expedition, given that it's leader is Naruto Uzumaki. Therefore, we all trust that he will deal with the threat Toneri Otsutsuki pose" she informed them and once again, whisperings were heard amongst the politicians.
"Heh, heh, a wise decision, young Mei" the old and chuckling voice came from one of the most respected politicians of the Mist: Genji. He was an elder of the village, and considered to be the wisest of them all, having spent his entire life dedicating himself in the service of the Mist Village. As such, he was considered to be one of the greatest advisors to the Mizukage. Despite Genji being 92 years old now, he still refused to spend the rest of his days in retirement. He would serve the Mist Village until his dying breath, something he was greatly revered for. "That Naruto Uzumaki….is without a doubt a great inspiration for each and every one of us as shinobis. That is without question" Genji said before he started coughing, forcing the shinobis to come over to his side to help him.
Even the usually reserved Shachi stood with Genji and brought him a cup of water. "Elder…..please, drink this" the man with the helmet told him, yet Genji only chuckled to hear his concern.
"Eh, no need to worry about me, young Shachi. I may be old…but I am not helpless!" he said before chuckling, resulting him to cough once again. Once he took a sip from that cup, Genji was feeling much better.
Mei only smiled as the old man glanced at her with a smile of his own. "I humbly appreciate your guidance, elder. What would we do without you?" she expressed her admiration of Genji, given how she had always sought out his counsel with regards to the Mist Village's interests, like the Five Kage Summit a couple of years ago, as well as the formation of the Triple Entente with the Leaf Village and the Sand Village.
"Lady Mei, if I may interrupt" Chojuro began speaking to her and Mei focused on him. "If Hyozan and the other Divine Division members did in fact enter the secret portal and are on the Moon, then that means they're there along with the Moon Expedition, assuming they have stumbled upon each other that is" the four-eyed man told the Mizukage while she listened.
"I know, Chojuro. And that is another reason for why we must not let that stubborn Raikage fire those Chakra Cannons on the Moon" Mei said, making sure everyone got her loud and clear. "As much as I want to personally go over there and destroy the cannons, we can't do that. A is determined to destroy the Moon if necessary" she informed them all.
"That Fourth Raikage has gone insane! What is he thinking!?" the swordsman Ganryu spoke up. "Destroying the Moon, that would only leave a giant meteorite, which would then procced towards the Earth. I swear, he has changed since what happened after the war" he went on expressing his disdain for A.
"By that, I assume you mean the Sado clan coup attempt" Kiri asked his comrade, and he could tell that by the look of his face. "Right. That episode has pretty much damaged his image in the world. People now see him as some kind of strict ruler who would resort to killing a leader and exiling a clan to solve a problem. He made humanitarian crisis because of that" the Mist ninja added to his disbelief.
Feeling that she could not be silent amidst this talk, Mei decided to step in and stop this backtalking. "Ganryu, Kiri, let me tell you something" she firmly said and both shinobis looked at her with raised eyebrows. "You can have whatever opinions you want of A, but you know better than to backtalk someone" the Mizukage spoke up.
"Lady Mei…" Ganryu uttered out those words slowly.
"What are you….." Kiri was also confused by why Mei was berating those two.
"I'm just telling you this for your own good. Talking trash about A won't get us nowhere near him" Mei informed the two members of the Divine Division while facing her desk. "But then again, I harbor no love for him either. And his handling of the Sado clan coup attempt was disgraceful. And he has yet to make up for his errors" the Mizukage remarked as she thought about the Fourth Raikage.
Chojuro adjusted his glasses. "I think the Sado clan coup attempt was one of the main reasons the Cloud Village started to draw itself more inward. I mean, he had broken the main principle of the Hashirama-agreement" he told her superior.
Mei sighed when she heard him say that. "Yes. I suppose it could be" she told him. Mei was now wishing to have everyone's attention once again. "But we have more pressing matters to worry about. The surrounding islands of the Land of Water may have started their evacuations, but we of the Mist Village will stay here and protect our home! I swore an oath to carry out my duties as the Fifth Mizukage. And I intend on keeping that promise. I believe in change. And a change in the Mist Village will make us all forget the horrible past and move on to the future. No madman who controls the Moon's movement is gonna prevent us from changing the village! So what do all of you say? Are we in this together or not?" the Mizukage was determined to let her subordinates and allies know if they were willing to follow her until the end.
The first one was Shachi, holding up his knives and saluting himself before her. "I'm with you, Mizukage. You can count on me" he told her.
"I'm too!" the determined but geeky voice came from Chojuro, although those in the office had to resist laughing at his meekness.
"Long live, Mei Terumi, Fifth Mizukage of the Village Hidden in the Mist" the elderly voice came from Genji, the old man still having enough strength to speak.
Mei was completely satisfied by hearing these praises and pledges of loyalty. "Good. Then let's get on with this mess" she said to them smugly.
Inside the Kazekage's office, Village Hidden in the Sand, Land of Wind
Gaara was now having his own meeting with his closest advisors. Ever since Shikamaru had joined the Moon Expedition, Temari had returned to the Sand Village, in hopes of assisting her brother with the protection of the villagers. Everyone who lived in the Sand Village had a clear view of the sky, especially now since there was no sandstorm. The Fifth Kazekage had learned about what happened with some members of the Grim Guard from a letter sent by Baki. He had yet to return home from the Island of Tides. But Gaara had been stunned to hear, and had called over Ebizo to share his news.
Around Gaara's desk stood Kankuro, Temari, Matsuri and Ebizo. They all wanted to hear what message the Kazekage had received from Baki and they were all stunned to hear what the Commander of the Grim Guard had written.
"THEY WHAT!?" Kankuro asked as his jaw almost hit the floor over hearing what Gaara had to say. "THERE'S ANOTHER PORTAL TO THE MOON ON THE LAND OF TIDES? BUT WORST OF ALL…THE NEWBIES OF THE GRIM GUARD…..THEY WENT THROUH IT!?" he then asked in outrage.
Gaara calmly nodded his head towards his brother. "I am afraid it is true, Kankuro. Apparently, the thee hooded criminals the Triple Entente was pursuing went through the portal. And given that those newcomers were near it, they chose to pursue them. Yutaka is with them, but Sari, Ittetsu, Mikoshi, Komaza and Nejiri are also on the Moon as we speak" the Kazekage informed them, much to their shock.
Temari slammed her handpalms on the table, yet Gaara remained unfazed. "This is preposterous! How the hell can they simply ignore Baki's command and go chase a trio of thugs!?" she asked out loud. "With the exception being Yutaka, none of them have enough experience in the ANBU Black Ops! At this rate, they've walked straight into a viper's nest!" Temari added to her frustration.
"Yeah. This is indeed terrible" Matsuri noted while feeling very uncrtain about how to cope with this. She looked at Gaara. "Lord Gaara, where there any other members who entered that portal? I mean, what about Satetsu, Isago and Maki?" the brunette asked him.
"They are with Baki, that I can confirm. The same thing can be said of Shira, Sen and Yome" the red-haired man assured her and the others. But Gaara began moving over to look at Ebizo, wanting to know whether the elder was feeling uncomfortable hearing this. "Honored Grandfather…..whatever you are thinking, I am sorry for what has happened to your grandsons I cannot imagine how painful it must feel" he told him.
The old man looked at the Kazekage, surprisingly smiling at Gaara. "Now who ever said it was your fault, Lord Kazekage? You didn't force them into going through the portal" he told the Kazekage before sighing deeply to himself. "Yes, my grandsons have free will, yet they have done a foolish mistake as to travel to the Moo. I am especially concerned for Komaza given how impulsive he is" Ebizo expressed his feelings about this unexpected episode.
Kankuro was now glancing out the window to see what was happening outside. He looked up to the Moon, which shined on everything in the Sand Village, not just it's buildings. "Damn. Each day the Moon keeps getting closer to the Earth. And now we've got some Grim Guard members stuck up there" he noted with a scowl before turning around to face his younger brother. "Hey Gaara. It's a good thing you voted against the Fourth Raikage's suggestion to blow that damned thing up in bits. Otherwise, I don't know whether he would've killed whoever's up there" Kankuro told him.
"So that means all the Five Kages know about the Moon Expedition led by Naruto, yes?" Temari asked Gaara who calmly nodded his head at her. "Well, Shikamaru has been appointed as his second-in-command, so they're probably off to a good start up there" the dark blonde-hared woman told those around her.
"Indeed. And I am willing to put my trust in Naruto and his ability to end this crisis. But I pray that we're not too late before A decides to unleash his Chakra Cannons" Gaara informed all of his advisors.
"That hotheaded son of a bitch! Why should we even listen to him!?" Kankuro asked his siblings. "For all we know, that bastard broke the Hashirama-agreement when he resorted to killing to stop the Sado clan coup attempt. There's no way in hell that we need to do as he says" he added.
"Kankuro, enough of your smartass talks" Temari told him, thus shutting him off. "True, what he did was a mistake, but that does not mean he's a bad guy" she insisted to her brother.
Kankuro responded by folding his arms and snorted. "Tch, well it doesn't mean he's forgiven either" the puppet master told Temari, still feeling distaste towards A.
"Temari has a point" Gaara spoke up, thus surprising Kankuro. But Matsuri or Ebizo were never surprised to hear that at least. "I fought alongside all the Kages during the world war, I know each of them. And the Triple Entente was not established as a military alliance between the Sand, Leaf and Mist Villages against the Cloud and Stone Villages. It was a cooperation to battle crime and injustice within our borders. Never forget that" the Fifth Kazekage pointed out, thus making Kakuro see the bigger picture.
"We all know that, Lord Gaara" Matsuri spoke up, her mouth slowly curving itself into a smile. "You also said the Triple Entente will become quite beneficial when dealing with domestic issues. That and the sharing info part between the Grim Guard, Shadow Squad and Divine Division only makes it more tempting to continue with it" she told the Kazekage.
Gaara had to smile when hearing Matsuri say that. "I am glad you see the value of it, Matsuri. And soon, the rest of the Sand Council will that as well" he told her before facing Ebizo.
"It's not that the Sand Council opposes this cooperation, Lord Kazekage. But some of the councilmen are slightly worried about the Grim Guard sharing intel with it's sister organizations in the Leaf and Mist Villages" the elderly man told him. "Please be a little more understanding towards their concerns" Ebizo then advised Gaara.
Hearing this made Gaara roll his eyes slightly. "I will let them know as soon as I can" he assured Ebizo. "Now listen up, everyone. While Komaza, Yutaka and the others may be on the Moon, there is some hope that they will make it out alive. Once they regroup with the Moon Expedition, they will be able to defeat Toneri Otsutsuki and end his madness. Therefore, I believe that there is hope to avert this crisis" the Kazekage informed them.
Temari had to smirk when hearing this. "I know. With a smartass such as Shikamaru being with them, they are bound to figure out something" she remarked before something hit in her head. "Oh, that reminds me. Remember to always watch the Armageddon Countdown Clock the Hokage gave you. It will help you in knowing the situation better" she told him.
"I will, Temari. I will" Gaara assured his sister.
Inside the Tsuchikage's office, Village Hidden in the Stones, Land of Earth
Like the Cloud Village, the Stone Village was also quite distant and isolated from the other hidden villages. Located somewhere in the mountainous and rugged terrain of the Land of Earth, the village was built in a valley. The rocky mountain ranges that surrounded the village provided a natural stronghold that the Stone ninjas were very proud of. The village's infrastructure was built from much of the surrounding rock and stone, shaped into tower-like structures that were inter-connected by a network of bridges. In a way, this village was similar to the Cloud Village and the Sand Village, although compared to the Sand Village, the Stone Village had not yet improved it's living conditions.
The building where the Tsuchikage resided was the tallest structure with a cone-shaped roof on top of it. There resided Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage. Despite his old age, the tiny stubbornly held onto his mantle, refusing to step down in favor of a new leader. Although he was popular among the Stone ninjas, especially for his actions during the world war, Onoki was now getting older as the years passed by. And the Tsuchikage himself had made poor choices in the past, such as hiring mercenaries, criminal gangs and terrorists to further the Stone Village's interests. Among them were the Akatsuki.
While the Stone Village's participation in the world war had redeemed them from it's wrong choices in the past, peace had not yet come to the Land of Earth yet. The war had taken a toll on the nation's economy and it affected the Stone Village as well. That, coupled with Onoki's traditionalist policies, prevented the village to either grow or modernize itself. The Stone ninjas envied the transformations that had begun in the other Five Great Hidden Villages. So in the wake of the war, the Stone Village and the country drew more inward, just as they had done before the Five Kage Summit.
Right now, Onoki was now on his way to a meeting, accompanied by two of his trusted associates: the jovial and laidback Akatsuchi and Onoki's granddaughter Kutotsuchi. Having accompanied the Third Tsuchikage on various trips, they still continued to be his assistants. Onoki greatly appreciated their help, although he rejected their advices when it came about him stepping down.
"We are almost there" Onoki said while stopping before the door that lead to the room he was having the meeting in. The tiny man turned around to look at his associates with his usual stern eyes. "Now remember, if you want to say something, please raise your hand. Speaking without permission is disrespectful to the Stone Council" he told them both.
Akatsuchi responded by giving Onoki a thumb gesture. "You got it, sir. I'll do my best" he cheerfully told him.
Kurotsuchi had to facepalm when seeing Akatsuchi's personality. "Honestly, Akatsuchi. When are you gonna give up on that nice guy act of yours?" the black-haired woman asked her.
"Nice guy act? You're only sticking your head in the sand again, Kurotsuchi" the tall man told his colleague.
Onoki chose to ignore their antics and proceeded to enter the door without hesitation. Seeing him enter, Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi soon followed him. The old man smiled once he could see the table where the Stone Village's elders and other prominent figures had already been seated. At the edge of the table was a chair reserved for Onoki.
"Stone Council. How delight I am to see you once again" Onoki spoke up, his elderly voice disguising his bad-tempered attitude. "Forgive me for not arriving here faster. But you know how these old bones can't take much as they used to during my prime" the Tsuchikage tried to play humor with them, yet they all glanced at him with stony glances. None of them thought it was funny.
Cursing himself, Onoki found his seat and faced those who had gathered around him. Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi each stood beside his seat. They had to guard him, as well as the other elders who had showed up for the meeting. These men wore the same clothes as Onoki and were considered to be the most influential of politicians in the Stone Village.
There was the elder with grey hair that reached to his shoulders, as well as having a grey moustache underneath his nose. This was Kenshi, one of the more arrogant and stubborn elders. He and Onoki shared similar personalities. Another elder had curly white hair and a long beard that stretched from his chin. This was Mitaki, who was one of the calmer of the elders. The tallest of the elders, the one with the shaved head on the top, was Ishiyama. The eldest of the elders, the one with curly hair on the sides while being bald on his head was Yakin. He was technically older than Onoki.
"Why have you called for this meeting, Onoki? What good is there to have one when you arrive late as usual?" Kenshi sternly asked him.
Onoki grunted in reply. "Oh, shut your trap. We all the importance of the Stone Council. You may want to reconsider that statement as well, Kenshi" the Tsuchikage told him.
Kenshi only rolled his eyes and pretended he never heard what Onoki said to him.
"We gather you have summoned us for a discussion about the recent talk you had with the other Kages regarding this crisis" Mitaki told him, recalling what he had heard. "The Cloud Village has already readied their Chakra Cannons, preparing to destroy the Moon if necessary. I must say that the Fourth Raikage is ludicrous" he told his fellow elders.
"Yes. But we Kages did have a vote on whether to destroy it now or not. And of course, I voted against it" Onoki informed him. "One can never know the consequences of destroying something as large as the Moon. The Earth will soon be attacked by meteorites. Destroying the Moon may only cause bigger meteorites to fall upon us. That is a gamble I am not willing to take" he informed them.
"But can we trust Tsunade's Moon Expedition to end this global threat?" the voice came from Yakin. "So far, the Moon has not slowed down since we were informed about this expedition. And what if it were to fail in stopping whoever that madman is?" he then told them.
"I agree" Yamaishi said while clenching his fists. "Naruto Uzumaki deserves respect as a great hero, but this is not like the war we all fought in. Here, the end of the world is upon yes, yet we do nothing to prevent it. In this scenario, actions speak louder than words" the tall elder said.
All the elders began turning their attention on Onoki. "We hope we can trust your judgement, Onoki. But as the situation currently stands now, the people are afraid. They need guidance. They need determination" Mitaki informed the Tsuchikage.
"Agreed. And we all know that hope alone will not save the world. Actions will also" Kenshi said before narrowing his eyes at Onoki. "Know this, Onoki. We will give the Leaf Village's Moon Expedition a chance. But if times runs out, we will have to make our own move and not rely on Tsunade or the other Kages" he told him.
Onoki slowly nodded his head as a yes. "That's what I told the Kages back then. And I know for a fact that I won't be alone in proposing it. The Raikage will without a doubt act out on his own" the old man said while thinking about his counterpart from the Cloud Village.
"Yes, but destroying the Moon is madness" Ishiyama said. "What if we combined our powers and strengths. Together, we could push the Moon away from the Earth" the tall elder suggested ambitiously.
Onoki had to smirk when hearing this. "You mean like what I did against Madara's tricks during the world war?" he asked the tall man before chuckling to himself in amusement. "Sorry, Ishiyama. But your plan is all but an amusing delusion. While it sounds tempting, such will require that we all sacrifice ourselves to push the Moon upwards. That is risky" the Tsuchikage told him.
"Then what is your suggestion, Onoki?" Yakin questioned him before coughing slightly.
Somehow, a cunning smile could be soon on the tiny man's face. It only confirmed to them he was up to something. It didn't take long before Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi took notice of it as well. They all wondered what the stubborn Tsuchikage could now be thinking. Hopefully, he would come up with a plan to protect the Stone Village, as well as saving the world.
To be continued…..
Authors' note: That was chapter 21. We got to see how the Five Great Hidden Villages were doing with regards to the crisis. Given that I've been focused on Naruto and his gang, I thought it was time to let Tsunade and the others be given a time to shine. Since there are few characters from the Stone Village, I've decided to make some OCs, with some of them being the elders in the Stone Council. The next chapter will take us back to the Moon. We may also be able to see Sasuke, as I want them to come into the picture. We will also be able to get a glimpse of Toneri and how he plans on dealing with the intruders. In the coming chapters, thing may become similar to The Last: Naruto the Movie, but I have other plans. You see, Toneri is not the bad guy in this story, and neither is Saizo. They're both part of a bigger game. I'm trying to bridge this story and A New Generation without retconning. I thank those who read this story. It may not be good (I will save the lemon scenes for later chapters), but it fun, which is the idea.