"And that is our true fighting strength," Sai informs.
"That much?" Tenten asks in shock.
"We have to remain strong somehow," Sai shrugs.
"You have been busy," Naruto says in disbelief.
"I don't slack off in bed just thinking, you know," Sai says knowingly as he smirks at them.
"So the trouble with River…that was your doing, wasn't it?" Sasuke asks.
Sai nods. "Yes. It is because they were fucking with my wife through diplomatic channels."
"Oh, hear that?" Hanabi asks smirking.
"You protective of us?" Tenten asks.
"Have to be. If you get hurt…well…" Sai explains shrugging before grinning wickedly.
"What are you planning?" Itachi asks.
"A few things," Sai says being vague on purpose.
Sasuke clears her throat as she taps the table with her nails. "Gaara must have told you about hiding this and other things from us."
"You're one to talk Sasuke. You were in on all of this," Sai reminds.
"I saw no reason to mention it yet until asked by who I know to be the closest and most trusted," Sasuke pointed out.
"You're both in the doghouse at this rate," Hanabi informs.
"Quiet," both of them muttered looking away.
Naruto, seeing this, chuckles as they both seemed to pout.
"So…back on the plan?" Hanabi spoke up.
"Right, Fire and Wind will apply a lot of pressure and will nearly go to war, then we in Whirlpool will come in and mediate this, making us look like the good guys wanting to prevent war," Sai says.
"And the offer them the bonds to tie them to debt?" Hanabi asks.
"Oh no. Their leadership will be ousted," Sai informs.
"Will there be a new Daimyo?" Hanabi asks.
"That depends on Gaara and the fire Daimyo," Sai informs.
"And she says?" Sasuke asks.
"I don't know what she will choose," Sai informs.
"And you're not going to ask?" Naruto asks.
"She is busy as she and Temari left for Wind last night," Sai informs.
"So she probably hasn't even decided," Itachi says.
"At the moment," Sai points out.
"And what if they don't comply?" Naruto asks.
"Wind, Fire, and maybe even Rock country versus them in a war," Sai says.
"And it falls to the fighting. How are the forces going to be handled?" Hanabi asks.
"We have as of now five finished Iruka class ships which we will lend to the war effort," Sai says.
"So we will lend them naval dominance," Hanabi says.
"Yes, and if that comes to past, we can open up many more military ports in noodles and tea countries to increase our ship production and recruit more people to crew them without them really catching on and they can disappear to the south for our next stage," Sai says.
"An island takeover?" Hanabi asks smirking.
"Island nation takeover," Sai says holding her now.
Hanabi hums as she taps her chin teasingly. "Suggestions accepted?"
"What is yours?" Sai says before kissing her.
Hanabi giggles into the kiss before pushing his head away with a finger. "You're going to need to give…suggestions to the other countries and have a sneak attack at night. Destroying their chance of winning a battle easily. Take the ports from behind, distract by sea."
"I mean which island?" Sai says before setting her on his lap.
Hanabi giggles as she wiggles herself on his lap. "Nagi. Start there. And then loop around to the other islands, then head back to Water. Put the squeeze on them."
"Can't seize water yet," Sai reminds holding her.
"After idiot. At the end of this sea campaign," Hanabi reiterated.
"Ok, so save Nagi and the rest for the end, right?" Sai asks as Kyuubi walks in.
Hanabi sighs as she softly facepalmed while Kyuubi walks up to them. "I am not even going to argue with that," she voices as Kyuubi crosses her arms and her tails wave behind her.
"Alpha and kit bearer," Kyuubi greets.
Sai smirked at her. "Yes, my mate?"
"Came to see you and you should be preparing for that kit you now have coming," Kyuubi informs Hanabi.
Hanabi blinks. "Kit?"
"Kitsune term for baby. I think she is saying you are pregnant," Sai informs.
"Okay. Now you are being you are not kidding, are you?" Hanabi asks, seeing Kyuubi's expression not changing.
"Kyuubi is not a big joker, but how would you know?" Sai asks.
"Kitsune," Kyuubi says smirking.
"Chakra," Hanabi shot back bluntly.
"Both are beautiful," Sai says complementing both.
Now they both stare at him before Kyuubi sighs. "Look, you control the lands, you can have a handle on the sea, slowly pushing them back to their own lands."
"Well, not entirely…also should check in on Tsunade as she may wake up soon," Sai says thinking about it.
"Ah yes, the cow," Kyuubi says bluntly.
"And how that will interfere with the Hokage we now control," Sai says.
"I'm surprised she isn't kicking your ass," Kyuubi voices before climbing up into his lap and leans back against him, partly pushing Hanabi out of the way.
"We should check in with our friends in both courts to see what we got," Sai says.
Time passed and Gaara personally leads her nation retaking the territory illegally taken from them. Fire in the meanwhile agreed to deploy shinobi to the border as well. Kakashi leads a force of a thousand shinobi to it and made sure they were seen. Sai waited a few weeks before sending a team of diplomats to them to talk and find a peaceful settlement which, while the military of River and several parts of the domestic were starting to look favorably on, the Daimyo ordered the diplomats to be seized and imprisoned to the horror of those in favor of peace. The Daimyo then claimed he will have the reparations they deserve and the combined might of River and the Earth country shall wash Fire and Wind away.
The earth country never showed up to help them, saying that their treaty is a defensive one and by being the aggressors, they were not obliged to aid River in any way. But Sai immediately knew they didn't want to alienate him or Wave as they were sharing many technological advancements with them.
Fire, Wind, and Wave Daimyo all met face to face to make a formal declaration of war, but before they could even finish it they received a report that River had erupted into civil war and the letter was from the one who instigated the uprising. General Yoshiyaki pleaded to give them time to oust the fool trying to lead the country to ruin and discuss apologies after that.
Sai was silent, though Gaara could tell he was surprised and hadn't planned the daimyo's response or this civil war. So later that night, met with him in secret.
"Honestly, I was thinking the people would just follow the idiot," Sai voiced as he scratches the back of his head confused as they stood on a quiet dock to the sea.
"You didn't expect him to refuse, did you?" Gaara asks.
"Let me see. Almost an entire armada and shinobi behind it all, ready to invade…no," Sai sighs before sitting down on the end of the dock. "I should expect stuff like this."
"Are you going to launch a rescue mission for you people?" Gaara asks.
"Of course," Sai says before snapping his fingers and several shinobi, all at least jounin appeared at the beginning of the dock. "I don't have to tell you what I expect, but your orders are to bring back our people unharmed. I want no deaths on this as we don't yet know who is rebelling or who is loyal," Sai informs.
They all bow before disappearing as Gaara sits next to him. "So what now?"
"I will commit more and more of my navy as they are made. They will blockade them in the gulf while the rest work to establish camps and positions along Noodle and Tea," Sai says.
"Alright. Temari is confirmed pregnant," Gaara informs.
"Really?" Sai asks looking at her.
"She has been checked out," Gaara says.
"They giving you grief because she has and you aren't yet?" Sai asks before running a hand through her hair.
"Yes," Gaara repeats.
Sai hugs her now and holds her there. "You disappointed?" Sai asks.
Gaara just leans against him now and stays there.
"I love you my little desert tunuki," Sai says before trying to tickle her.
Gaara slaps his hand away with a frown as she turns her head to him.
"Yes?" Sai asks.
Gaara rolls her eyes and leans against him again.
"What should we do now?" Sai asks.
Gaara shrugs her shoulders against him and only nuzzles more into his chest.
"Shall we have some fun?" Sai asks.
Gaara only looks up to him now.
The next few weeks were very chaotic in River as the civil war happened. The rebellion and loyalists at first seemed very evenly matched, but with the unexpected capturing of a fortress where the diplomats from Wave were supposed to be was taken, the loyalists lost their best-fortified position and the general launched a wave attack strategy at the capital, defeating the defenders and capturing the now former daimyo of River.
The man, even after being captured and brought before the leaders of the three other countries he had basically declared war on, still refused to surrender, having convinced himself into the delusion Earth would arrive any moment to aide him.
"And the biggest idiot ever," Sai notes sighing as he watches from a bit away.
"I suggest we execute him," Gaara says, obviously still mad at what all he did as some handmaidens wrote something for her.
"And yet I want to see him suffer," Sai sighs.
"Danzo, what do you think we should do?" the fire daimyo asks.
"I think we should kill him as well as recompense for what he has done," Delilah says.
"Then let it be so," Sai spoke up and glares at the daimyo tied up before them all.
"Public execution then," Gaara says as the fire Daimyo nods as he gets up as the guards dragged him away.
"Let's talk to the general," Sai whispers to Gaara as the handmaiden looked like she wanted to say something but doesn't.
"Very well," Gaara says before following him as the handmaidens followed her.
Later, in the old castle of the late River daimyo, Sai and Gaara met with the general there. They offered him a choice. Either the River country would have to pay reparations that would leave the entire country destitute or the entire country would become a client state to then and the general and his army would work for Wind and Wave.
Needless to say, the general accepted and after months of talking, the people of River decided not for a new daimyo and formed a republican oligarchy which was something new to most of the ninja nations.
While this was happening, very few caught wind of much of the fleet heading for River to help blockade disappeared and thanks to some tight information control, the fact that Ringo leads the navy on a campaign on the Taro and Jiro islands in a matter of days and starting to besiege Sea country and Kiko island.
This all was slipping under the radar of the other five major nations of the shinobi nations as a new conflict was raising between lightning and water over naval dominance and the Tsuchikage finally relented and allowed his granddaughter Kurotsuchi to marry the wave daimyo with her consent after much pressure from his own daimyo.
"Honestly, this also was a surprise for me as well," Sai voices, looking to his new bride.
"Same to you mister who goes from a normal genin to daimyo," Kurotsuchi says.
"Didn't I flirt with you?" Sai asks confused now.
"You did," Kurotsuchi says before smirking at him.
"Well then, follow me," Sai says leading her inside.
"To what? The bedroom?" Kurotsuchi asks, still holding her smirk.
"No. The war room," Sai says smirking, making her smirk more.
'With this, we own the southern seas and have a lot of pull with three of the major nations of the shinobi world,' Sai thinks as Sasuke walks in, her stomach showing obvious signs of pregnancy. "Hello dear. Having trouble going on four months now?" Sai asks.
Sasuke smiles. "No. No trouble at all."
"You satisfied then?" Sai asks.
Sasuke nods and sits down near him.
"We have a power base now in the south. How is your 'little' sister?" Sai asks.
Sasuke smiles. "She is fine. Adjusting well."
"I noticed she no longer is a little girl now. Your doing?" Sai asks.
Sasuke smiles a little more. "Well…she did have to grow up if she wanted a child of her own."
"You're turning her back the moment she has her child, aren't you?" Sai asks knowingly.
"She's cuter in her smaller size," Sasuke admits.
"She has the whole mature older sister feel now," Sai says as Sasuke looked over what he had labeled and conquered.
"Another step closer," Sasuke notes.
"We now own the southern islands and your friend, I hear, conquered Jiro and Kiko island. Tayuya, you can come in," Sai calls.
Tayuya opens the door smiling at them. "Yes, lord Sai?"
"My mother spoke well of you and how you lead the conquest of those two island," Sai says beckoning her to come in.
Tayuya smiles greatly. "I pride myself, sir," she accepts as she walks in.
"You also show you aren't a commander in my forces for being my concubine alone," Sai says smirking.
Tayuya blushes a little and looks away shyly. "Well…I do work hard."
"So you have shown. That is why you have been chosen for the next phase as a commander. We have word that Fang, Claw, Grass, Waterfall, Hotspring, Frost, Sky, Wolf, and Honey countries have been meeting in secret meetings. Truth is, this has the working of two of the last members of the Akatsuki. Obito and Zatsu wrote all over it since Kabuto hasn't had the chance to make contact or gather enough for his dead revival jutsu yet. They hope to weaken the ninja world with a war before declaring war on the ninja world with their army of Zetsu. That is why they are even getting those three countries across the sea in on this. But we will be ready for them, won't we Nagato, Konan?" Sai asks and both enter in as well. "You both know what you are to do about Grass and Claw the moment the war breaks out, right?" Sai asks.
"Yes, master. We shall subjugate them with our forces in rain and show them the pain of war," Nagato says, now confined to her animal path as her original body and other paths were destroyed.
"Good. Because now we are really stepping up this conquering. If we fail at any step, it could show to the rest of the lands what is really going on. So try not to fail at any moment," Sai warns smiling.
"We will we have also informed earth and wind countries like you told us to via secret messengers," Konan informs.
"Good, my concubines. Now Tayuya, you will be with my mother for the first part of the war, you will sail with her to Hotspring and start seizing ports for our land invasion. After that, you will move and secure the northeastern half of the country while we give Fire the south-west. Delilah will ensure they annex all of that land and, if there is time, you will move to secure as much as Frost as you can while Lightning is distracted fighting the three countries across the sea with Water as that is they are the main targets of them for this stage. Don't push our troops though. I don't want to fight Lightning. We are entering the war on their side here," Sai says.
"Right," the three say as Sai finishes showing them the areas on the map that are to be their operation areas.
"Good, you leave in forty-eight hours to go to your troop or country to see your forces and rally them or get them ready," Sai says.
"Yes, master," they all say together.
"Good. Sasuke, you and the girls are in charge. I am going to Leaf real quick to see the Hokage and get two," Sai says getting up.
"Got it," Sasuke says rubbing her stomach.
"Send a messenger as soon as something happens," Sai says.
"Like going into labor?" Sasuke asks.
"Especially that," Sai says before disappearing.
"He would kill to get back to the labor," Sasuke says proudly.
"Quite literally," Naruto says, leaning against the door frame, her own stomach showing the same obvious signs as Sasuke's.
"Lord Danzo," a root says, entering the office.
"Yes? Report," Delilah says, looking up from the scroll she has received.
"Sir. It's the Wave Daimyo Saimatsu. He has shown up without a word and wishes to speak to you," the root says.
Delilah hums. "Bring him in. Let us see what he has to say," Delilah says, but inside, she was giddy to see her master.
Sai soon enters and sits with her alone. "So tell me lord Hokage, how much do you know of what is happening?"
Delilah smiles. "A bit. But I figure you have finally gotten to the point of attack, or rather to the point of consolidating forces where you want them in each area. So…quite a bit," she answers almost as a know it all.
"I want two shinobi from you for the upcoming battle," Sai says putting a folder onto her desk, containing the battle plans.
Delilah immediately grabs it and opens it up. "I'll get the best for you."
"I want Shikamaru Nara and Shino Aburame," Sai informs immediately, surprising her he would pick those two. Even though they were jonin, they were still young and had barely had a taste of war, especially from the war against Tea.
"Are you sure?" Delilah asks.
"Yes, I need those two for their intelligence and specialties," Sai informs.
Delilah looks at him and smiles a little before digging through her desk. "I think I can rework assessments and raise their clearance a bit."
"Thank you lord Hokage," Sai says smiling back, being formal in case someone was spying.
"Head," a female Nara says, rushing in to talk to Shikaku and his wife.
"What is it?" Shikaku says yawning.
"A message from the acting Hokage. Shikamaru is to be transferred to the Daimyo of Wave's service temporarily," the kunoichi says, handing him the message.
Shikaku hums as he looks at her. "A transfer to him?" Shikaku hums before shrugging. "Would probably help out his experience. Maybe make some more yen for less work. Heck, recognition at times and maybe finally getting those blasted naysayers off my back," he mutters at the end to the side.
"You said that my son was specifically requested?" Yoshino asks.
"Yes. The daimyo of wave asked for him personally," Nara explains.
"Isn't this great dear? Our son is already being personally asked for. His effort instead of slacking off like you did pay off," Yoshino says smirking.
"Hey. I got here pretty good on my own," Shikaku argues.
"The daimyo is currently waiting at the temporary Hokage office area," the kunoichi informs.
"Quickly, go get Shikamaru. We don't want the daimyo to be offended by our taking too long," Yoshino says quickly.
Sai sat and waited politely, even turning down the tea, not expecting to be there too long. His judgment proved correct as well as within twelve minutes, Shino had shown up and now they just waited for Shikamaru.
"That is one. Only this next one…you are going to compensate them for the trouble, correct? This is a dangerous level mission?" Delilah asks, wondering how to keep this as official papers as possible.
"The war that is coming," Sai informs.
Delilah sighs. "Okay. I'll put it down as an emergency mission. Pay would be usual and so the other paperwork is as well."
"Now if only Shikamaru would show up," Sai says.
A few knocks on the door answered that.
"There he is," Sai says as Shikamaru enters and nods to Sai who gets up with Shino. "With this, we are off," Sai says.
"Don't step into the fire," Delilah says before giggling.
"Did lord Hokage just giggle?" Shikamaru asks in disbelief before Sai teleports himself and the two jonin away.
Delilah stops for a few seconds. "I have to fix my time around him."