23
-Konohagakure-
Saturday, 5:52PM; Land of Iron
The frostbitten day was beginning to wane as Konoha's three jonin abandoned a scene of their espionage. Eventually stopping among the rolling bleached-bone hills, Rin procured a durable, specialized manuscript from within her hefty winter coat. Opening the fuinscroll, she began to notify her Hokage of the current state of her mission and the intel they have gathered thus far as the topless agent sighed to himself.
"Okay, so do neither of you think that was weird?" he asked expectantly, tilting back in an armed gesture toward the men they left in the snow miles away.
Rin held a finger up as she dutifully scribed onto the dimensional paper before Kiken responded brightly, "Their relief and willingness to help us, you mean?"
Rustling a hand through his stark white hair, Unzari nodded his snow glittered head, "Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who recognized it."
Vibrant green locks bobbed as the draconic shinobi shook her angular visage, "It makes sense to me."
"What do you mean?" he asked, perplexed as he folded his arms challengingly. "How?"
"I look at the whole situation," she responded with a casual shrug, meeting the fathomless gaze of her towering companion. "It just makes sense."
"Okay, yeah, but how?" the half-dressed shinobi pressed curiously again. Kiken cocked her head, inhaling as he turned toward their captain, "Sensei, did you have them in a genjutsu?"
Looking up from her persistent writing, Rin sighed as she turned to look her student in the eye.
"No, I didn't actually," the woman answered before enhancing her reply, "Well I started to. I made my connection when I checked their temperature, but I didn't want to press on them until they gave me reason. But then, well, you know what happened."
"Yes. But that is the part I am stuck on. Guys," he pleaded, arms falling off of his chest with palms raised in question, "why would they give their captain up so easily? You don't think that's weird? What if it's a trap, or what if they're lying?"
"I would know if that was a lie," Rin informed assuredly, raising her eyebrows slightly. She shifted in the powder to better face the Yuki clanmate, "Unzari, I believe they were purely relieved that we were not there for some other bit of information. Plus, you heard their reason for telling us; their beloved captain has left them estranged. She's up to something. Everyone who saw that woman could tell that she's suspicious."
"Even if they weren't lying, it could still be a trap. The capitol? Really? The most highly guarded city in every country ever is where they directed us?" he stated incredulously with a hand thrown in the capitol's direction, gradually moving in harsher motions as his anxiety grew. "Also, they're alive! We let them go, so now all of Iron will know that some ninja from Konoha kidnapped two of their samurai and are on their way to their strongest city to assault one of their esteemed Captains."
Rin paused in calculation, slightly disgruntled as she had gone back to lettering Minato.
"Actually, I think it is possible Oda and Sanada may have recognized us," the horned kunoichi admitted with a hand running backward through the ends of her dense, curly tresses. She blinked thoughtfully, "But there were so many of them I can't be sure. Although it's possible they don't know about the disgusting things going on down behind the hidden door like that wicked Akaike does…"
"Either way I'm not buying it," Unzari stated bluntly, questioning his position minutely but still certainly bewildered by the underwhelming encounter. "You'll be thanking me later."
"Well it doesn't matter," Rin sighed calmly, regarding the reply once again before rolling and tucking the fuinscroll away. "Minato-sama gave us our orders, and we don't even need to assault anyone."
"Huh?" Unzari grunted as his petit companion also regarded the woman in turn.
Climbing to her feet, the painted lady motioned for them to follow, "Come on, we're heading south to meet with General Mifune."
10:19PM; Land of Iron – Southern Coast
Rin's squad hiked steadily as passing hours threw Sol behind the earth, dipping the temperature considerably as the tiresome miles brought the unit to a burly garrison hugged by the night's shade. Tremendous walls and substantially imposing samurai warriors guarded the practical structures crowned with dancing illumination.
A stalwart pair of heavily armored guardsman stood shoulder to shoulder before two utilitarian, cast-iron doors.
Rin, puny in comparison to the hulking swordsmen, trudged straight up to them with casual determination in the gentle, torchlit breeze. "Hi. Nohara Rin, from Konoha. My cell and I were on mission and the Hokage sent me to discuss something important with General Mifune."
The pair passed a vague look between themselves before they guardedly hefted their weapons as the leftward man spoke up, "You are not one of those who arrived on the boat."
"Yes sir, none of us are. But we were already here on assignment. Naruto, Ino, and Hinata came as relief," she responded understandably, being rightfully polite as she listed the names of relevance, "and now we were told to bring our newfound worries to your General."
"How are we to trust you are not one of the rogue shinobi?" the behemoth to the right questioned, his voice the like of a mountain.
"I am not going to ask that you trust me just yet, but would you please summon General Mifune? We will stay put," the ninja captain promised firmly.
The duo hesitated before the first spoke once more, "Since it is Mifune-sama we speak of, we do not fear any attack on him by the three of you," he uttered sturdily as he lifted his thick free hand, giving a distinct signal before recomposing himself. "He has been summoned. Do not move, and keep in mind that if you try anything, Mifune-sama is the strongest warrior walking this land. He once killed a master dragon with a single swipe of his blade."
"Excuse me?!" a suddenly incited Kiken spurted as a feral expression started to overtake her. She took a mighty step forward before a shout was heard behind the gate. Chains began clanking before the heavy metal whined in protest as the broad castle doors retreated with a slow inward swing.
"Don't listen to these fools, all they do is exaggerate," an old, grizzly voice joked openly as an elder samurai with bandages covering the top of his skull emerged from within the hold. Even he was dwarfed by the monstrous warriors that quickly made way with unseen eyes locked alarmedly on their foreign visitors. "Oh, I'm sorry if my men offended you, young lady. You must be a descendant of the Ryu tribe. Please accept my sincerest apologies on behalf of their embellishments."
"Oh, no, it's fine- excuse me," the reactive kunoichi faltered embarrassingly as Rin lent her hand to the man.
"It's nice to meet you again General Mifune-sama, my name is Nohara Rr-"
"Rin. Yes, I believe we met briefly last Monday. And you, ah yes, miss Ryu; you must be from the day before. Kiken, was it?" the thoughtful warrior recognized, meeting the Nohara's grip before gesturing. "Come, come. It's cold as hell out here- let's get inside and you can tell me what you found."
Land of Iron – Southern Coastal Outpost
Steadily guided by a senior of the sword, the overseas soldiers patiently accompanied the sluggish man into his waterfront complex, diverting from the main leveled structure toward a lesser shoulder building within the walls.
As they entered the dry space, they were greeted with dusty rustic scents of solid wood and steel. The chamber was deep and rectangular, with a blackboard hanging opposite of the doorway. The room of conquest was dark and musky as the great war table sat unused, taking up much of the empty space.
Two winging samurai, hefty but not as massive as their guarding counterparts, assisted the group with clanking armor as they pulled dense wooden chairs to the table. Setting their torches in metal holdings on the walls, the escorts took their leave and remained outside, covering the door.
"Ahh, see? Much better," Mifune sighed comfortably, hand on his sheathed katana as he slowly relaxed across from his visitors. "So- ah, let us get down to business. Your arrival tonight means you've run into some trouble and have yet to solve our little rogue problem. Is that right?"
"Correct, General Mifune-sama," the Konoha captain admitted solemnly despite his welcoming conduct, continuing in stride, "Minato-sama told me of the contact between you two and when I informed him of our dilemma he instructed us to bring the matter to you. It would seem this issue has gone partially beyond our reach."
"One of your captains appears to be involved in…some apparently malicious dealings," Rin went on, leaning her forearms on the detailed table with her hands folded. "Last Tuesday, a team of five, including myself and Kiken, were inspecting a mountain northeast of here after many of my peers had battled a squad of Cultists,"
"Hold a moment. Cultists?" the General inquired seriously, deepening the dark circles under his eyes as his brow pursed.
"Yes sir. I have been granted permission to brief you on this classified information, but only you are to know, sir. No others, so the Hokage has declared," the jonin informed, maintaining her eye contact with the weary samurai.
Kiken watched inaudibly, hands holding her knees in unrealized suspense while Unzari laid back in his fraught seat, muscly arms crossed as he listened intently.
"…and so it shall be. Hahuh, I think I like that Minato fellow. Please," he gestured, stroking his fu-manchu slowly, "continue."
"Thank you." The kunoichi bowed her head in respect before she carried on, "Last Tuesday, several of our jonin battled the Cultists south of here, in the Land of Tundra. Kiken was there, and the rogue ninja who your people have suspected seem to be the Cultists my village has been after as of late. They are seemingly comprised of defected Konoha shinobi who have feigned death in order to remain hidden. Their goal seems to be the separation of a certain clan from our village. These extremists also mean to destroy the rest of the Leaf."
"Hmph. I understand why your leaders would keep this quiet. How does this tie in with your arrival here?" the composed elder pressed, leaning in attentively.
"Well, that same day my partner and I were investigating a location where our intelligence suspected the fanatics may be located. Like I mentioned before, it's northeast of here within a mountain with a wolf-like cavemouth," Rin elaborated as the swordsman nodded slowly.
"Mount Urufu Kami…" the bandaged samurai added softly, eyes drifting away in humble thought. He looked back toward his guests, rolling his shoulders back as he continued to stroke his goatee. "A sacred site. Within it rests a place of honor for generations of the finest warriors. It's one of few remaining ancient tombs lurking among the north's eternal winter." Mifune's gaze hardened as he returned Rin's hazel stare. "…How far did you get into the Mountain? What did you find?"
She began hesitantly, clearly witness as the news saddened her host, "Well, my partner went in first. He was gone for many hours before some of the party that defeated the group of rogues joined me. Not long after, my partner emerged once he discovered a way into one of the sealed doorways-"
"Those are forbidden!" the fierce samurai shouted, rising in a blur with his hands pressed on the table. General Mifune imposed no ill intent on the foreigners, as his demeanor was obviously that of distraught fury. However, the trio were powerless to stop the adrenaline from pumping. He knew there was more to be said about their account, but the disgrace was an affront on his patriotic people, and he could not have it. "The crypts are only for the descendants of the past! None else may enter!"
"Sir, we understood that it would be wrong to infiltrate a place within your territory, but we had to know if the site was a resting place of great threat. More alarming, General, is that it seems someone…" Rin paused, unsure of continuing as Mifune's afflicted, unyielding stare bore into her, "…someone has desecrated the tomb. When we entered one of the sealed doors my partner was able to unlock, we were greeted with a trap. There were demons made of shadow, and prisoners. Oh, the prisoners- they were wounded, mutated- tortured even. They were starving. We witnessed this clear as day, but before we could rescue the poor people… Your captain arrived."
"…What captain…?" the fading man asked guardedly, peering down into Rin. She didn't fully grasp his intensity as she replied.
"Akaike."
Mifune shook his head in the subtlest manner, slowly placing himself back in the leather-padded chair as Rin woefully pressed on with conscious concern, "Captain Akaike arrived and told us we must leave under your orders. She brought us out into the main hall where her army waited and she forced us to leave. But we came back this morning."
"The three of us returned to find her. We arrived at the Mountain around midday and found her battalion stationed outside, guarding it. We created a…distraction before we kidnapped two of her subordinates. To add to the strangeness, they were at my mercy until they realized who I was looking for. Once it was clear what I wanted, they easily gave Akaike up, informing me that she was at your capitol, and that she had been acting more than bizarre recently."
"This can't be Yuko…" the troubled veteran sighed, running a palm down his face as he leaned back, rubbing his eyes before tugging at his wispy beard toward the end. Sighing gravely, he enlightened the estranged guests, "I gave her no such orders. She secured your colleague's arrival with me Tuesday morning, and once they left she requested to aid them in support. I granted her free reign to do as she sought."
"I grant this often, and always have," Mifune went on somberly. Languidly producing a flask from behind a panel of armor, he took a practiced swig. Expertly replacing the container, he lamented gruffly, "Yuko was my sister's only child. Her mother was lost to a terrible sickness before the poor girl reached womanhood, and her father had perished in a skirmish only months before. My niece has an angry soul, but it is good. I cannot believe she would be involved in any of these atrocities."
The guests sat uneasily around the grey-haired swordsman, unable to form any response as the intelligent military leader reflected on the disturbing news. None of the three were about to dispute or insist upon their own knowledge of the demon masked woman, especially as they learned of her familial acquaintance to the vastly experienced warrior.
Nearly an entire minute passed in sheepish silence before Mifune looked back up from his brief stupor, nodding to himself reluctantly. "Your words have been heeded, Rin-san. I will make arrangements; you may leave the rest to me. However, if our rogue problem continues after I take care of this I will call on Konoha to remedy the situation. Otherwise I will remedy them myself. Does that sound reasonable, Rin-san?"
"Yes sir, more than reasonable, thank you," Rin accepted gratefully, rising quickly to bend in a firm bow, palms pressed together. Her students easily followed her lead, "I will inform Minato-sama about our discussion right away. We appreciate your help, General Mifune-sama."
"Not a word more of that, dear," the well-seasoned chief abated kindly, rising with his left palm dutifully secured at his katana's guard. "Now, let's get you some rest. I'll have my men make a space for you to sleep; there will be food in the morning."
"You're too kind," the leading kunoichi acclaimed appreciatively, praising him once more, echoed by her pupils in turn, "thank you!"
"What did I say about that?" Mifune teased with a cool chuckle. He opened the door with a tug, greeted briskly with the biting night air as he shouted commandingly, "Alright men! Would ya find our honorable guests a decent place to sleep already?!"
Sunday, 10:59AM; Konoha – West Gate
The rounded territory rested peacefully under a stark cobalt sky, occasionally decorated with shade in the semi-overcast weather. The white sun was beginning to roast the citizens as the day seared toward its summery zenith.
A lone traveler approached the Leaf's large westward entrance, all but boiling in the heat under his black outfit and gear. The trail was swathed by innumerable trees but their shade mockingly neglected the long road. The visitor was outfitted with loose black pants that tightened naturally just before the ankles where uniquely matching high-collared, open-toed sandals covered his feet.
His loose, congruent top was long-sleeved and had slack hems on the front and back that reached his mid-thigh. Around his waist was a thin red belt of cloth that matched the three red and green scrolls he carried – stacked horizontally on his back.
Atop his head was a cowl that reached past the neck but allowed his face to be seen from below the top of the brow. Securely fastened was a metal forehead protector with the engraving of an hourglass etched in the center.
A reddened hue of purple face-paint silhouetted his eyes and lips, with four filled triangles pointing at the center of his visage from his forehead, chin, and cheeks. Sharpened streaks accented his brow, thinning down his nose while a curved, jaggedly pointed line ran below his coal-black eyes about the cheek bones.
"I didn't think this place could get so hot," the traveler sighed quickly, nearly reaching the dual guards sitting lazily in their booth as he made his way. "It's not even midday yet, huh. I'm impressed."
"Hey," the foreign shinobi greeted lamely, raising a hand in salutations.
"Mornin'," the woman with her feet propped on the counter hailed, not bothering to open her eyes as she fanned herself with a clipboard beside her mustached coworker who merely glanced at the newcomer before returning to his notebook. "Need your passport, babe."
"Oh, duh," the painted stranger grunted awkwardly, rustling a hand in his pocket before producing the small, lusterless blue booklet of question, "here ya go."
The tanned guard opened her chocolate-brown eyes, shifting to receive the required item. Inspecting it briefly with an optic flash behind her glasses and a pleased nod, she glanced back up at the itinerant ninja and offered his passport. "Whatcha visitin' for?"
"Oh, well my sister's been staying here for something like a vacation, or whatever," he informed, retrieving his identification, "I'm here to escort her home I guess, and see what all the fuss is about with this place. If it's as nice as she hypes it up to be, maybe I'll just stay a couple days; or maybe not. Who knows," he shrugged, hands buried in his pockets, "I got nothing going on."
"Cool. Kankuro, is it?" the guardswoman asked frankly, nestling back into her previous position before closing her inquisitive eyes. "You single?"
"Wha- yeah, but-" the outsider stammered, bewildered by the kunoichi's blunt nature.
"Good, 'cause you're pretty cute. Go head babe, go have fun with sis," she concluded, waving him off curtly as she continued fanning herself.
Kankuro grumbled to himself about the kunoichi being weird and stupid, but otherwise smoothly continued his stride into Konohagakure.
Wandering lazily through the sunny village, he eventually came upon the hotel his sister said she was staying at. Recalling the room number, the shrouded ninja made his way around the pale blue building.
Arriving at room seventy-seven, the puppet master gave the wooden door a few hard raps. Listening intently, there appeared to be no one in the sweet. Deftly checking for civilians, Kankuro picked the lock and entered to find a note on the humble coffee table.
"If you show up and I'm not here, I went to relax in the fresh hotsprings this place brags about.
Just wait for me to come back, I shouldn't be long.
idiot"
"Tch, bitch…" the brother muttered to himself before idly turning around to leave the hotel. Marching for Konoha's hotsprings, he readied himself for a pissy sibling.
Hotsprings
Billows of mineral-scented steam wafted up at the man as several naked women began to shriek in surprise, causing a dirty blonde woman to jerk around at the collared sandals by her face.
Standing at the edge of the water, Kankuro crossed his arms as he peered down at the wide-eyed woman below him, "Come on already, Temari-baka. We've got work to do!"
The surprise of the ladies rapidly shifted to blatant rage as they covered themselves, climbing out of the springs to enclose on him.
"I told you to fucking wait, asshole!" the abashed fan user growled, readying herself like a feline predator about to pounce on its game. Before she could rise from the steaming bath, her fellow spring-goers collapsed in on the insensitive intruder.
"Step aside ladies, I'm only here for my sister," the stoic invader promised, unmoving before the women quickly reached him and grabbed at his clothes. "Tch, I'd let go if I were yu-"
A dense bumpff was blazingly muffled into his abdomen before Kankuro found himself hurled into the air, over the locker-room building, and into the tranquil brook running alongside a street beyond the spa walls.
Uncupping her breasts, Temari leapt from the pool and thanked her sibling's assailant before she dried off and donned her clothes, ninja mesh, and armor. Finishing her quadruple ponytail set, the emerald-eyed diva swore to herself and stormed out into the street where she found the small river to be empty, with a damp trail leading toward her place of stay.
Cursing again, she crossed the small, red-railed bridge as she ran for her hotel.
Bursting through the white door, Temari grabbed her brother from the bathroom by his spikey brown hair, interrupting the reapplication of his face paint. "You can read, can't you dumbass?"
"Ow! Get off me- yeah I can read, can you?" Kankuro griped as she shoved him down onto his rear.
"Of course I can read, idiot! I told you to wait!" she scolded fiercely, stomping away to sulk on the couch. "You just had to go and ruin my morning; once again!"
"Quit your bitching, you're the one who's gonna make us late," he rebuked with irritation, getting to his feet, "if you weren't illiterate you would know we need to get outta here by twelve."
"YOU-!" the kunoichi blurted in exasperation, claw-like hands raised in a deathly strangling simulation before she stomped up to him. "Twelve A-M. In thirteen hours! Look!"
Kankuro stared defeatedly at the paper she raised to his mostly painted face, chuckling awkwardly with his hands propped defensively, "Hey, shit, my bad sis- eheh…"
Temari lurched, grabbing her shirtless brother by the arm with her first raised before she wavered and settled on kneeing him in his already bruising stomach.
"Fuck off, I'm going out," the eldest Sand Sibling vexed, storming out of the hotel before shouting over her shoulder. "And damn it, we'll leave when I say so!"
6:09PM; Konoha – Brittle Leaf Hotel
Level snoring greeted a sun kissed shopper as the blanched door creaked under her hand. Stepping into the quaint space, Temari shoved the snorer's feet off the couches' armrest with her free hand, "Wake up, let's go home."
"WaAgh-!" Half off the sofa, Kankuro collapsed the rest of the way due to his sudden start and jumpy reaction. He thought she would use up every last second of her week-long vacation before his discourteous awakening, "Ugh, get the fuck out."
"Consider it payback, idiot," she hissed in return as she gathered her well collected belongings. "Let's go, this place is starting to depress me."
"Kh, whatever…" the jonin grunted, lazily climbing his way up and eventually out the door after they retrieved their possessions, leaving a peculiar scroll behind tucked under a loose board covered by one of the stiff mattresses.
Before long, the duo came upon the gate facing diagonally toward their home. Passing the weary Konoha hosts, Kankuro spotted movement in his peripheral as the woman from this morning tilted forward against the wooden desk, squishing her cheek leaning against a delicate hand.
"Aww, gone so soon, stranger?" the jonin flirted as she slowly blinked her cheek-lifted eyes, grinning coyly. "What a shame, you were kinda handsome."
Temari laughed in a repeated "kinda" at her sibling's expense as they slowed somewhat to regard her among the elongated shadows.
"So this is your sister," the drowsy guard quipped, peering over her lenses as she acknowledged the dirty blonde in what seemed to be a slight of challenge. Removing the spectacles, she shifted her attention seductively, "I guess you hogged all the good looks, didn't you babe?"
"Say what?" the Suna kunoichi snapped, biting off her laugh with emeralds that squinted in studious contest. "You should stop calling him babe, my brother isn't interested in boys."
The abrasive native's well-groomed coworker couldn't stifle a sudden laugh, accruing an offensive look from his ostentatious shift-mate. "Eh, sorry…"
Turning back to her objects of interest, the flaunty sentinel laughed amusedly before shaking her head, "Have a nice trip, ya'll. Hope to see you again soon, Mr. Kankuro." Finishing with a wink, she leaned back in her seat with a wave of impolite farewell.
Kankuro shook his head as he moved on beside Temari, who scoffed arrogantly after sizing the local. Turning her attention to the blushing horizon, the two children of Suna began their journey home.
Konoha's chocolate-eyed guard replaced her bifocals, throwing her hands behind her head as she watched the Sand shinobi disappear against the celestial glare.
"Rieko," there was a vague change in the environment before a voice that was neither hers, nor her partner's spoke up, "anything suspicious?"
"You tell me, Anbu," the woman countered derisively, sighing as her silence failed to prompt them further. "No, nothing. They both left as they came. Why are you even asking me? Weren't you tracking their every move?"
"Personally," was the masked individual's only comment to descend from the overhanging branch which gently swayed, signifying their lithe departure.
"Then why are you eve-! Errgh, I hate Anbu!" Rieko snarled angrily, not realizing she had stood. Relaxing back down, she shifted in frustration, no longer capable of comfort. Jeering, she shook her head in ill humor, "Arrogant asshats."
11:10PM; Konoha – Military Police Headquarters
Electricity buzzed within a tidy room. Well-lit and quiet as a middle-aged man patiently waited, sitting at a cold metal table with his left arm lain atop its worn surface.
He faced the reflective side of this room's one-way window, taking a sip of his black coffee in thought. He languidly smacked his tongue on the bitter, lukewarm beverage as he stared through the dull cement floor.
The man had spikey brown hair that jutted in several vertically inclined directions. He wore a metal faceplate that only covered his right side which also displayed the Leaf's insignia. The medaled individual hadn't gone home from his newly expired shift, as he still boasted his crisp uniform which was deep blue with a congruently black, lightweight flak jacket faintly reminiscent of the green protection many jonin often displayed.
The signature Uchiha influence made its mark upon the mandatory shirt, but no longer overtook its appearance with the clan's unique high collar, eventually fading from the uniform under a mandate declared by the Fourth Hokage which prompted non-Uchiha shinobi to uphold the law if they so desired, thus causing an eventual rework of the ensemble. However, the Uchiha clan's insignia-inspired logo still marked the headquarters and policeman as it grew into the substantial establishment of present day.
The Military Police was a preferable career choice for plenty of women and men with families, and generally acted as an alternative to the simple life of a civilian, the harsh duties of a shinobi, or the fiercer commitment of an Anbu operative.
Looking up, the harshened man stood expectantly as the door retreated and another member of the Military Police entered, pulling the steel door shut behind him. "Evening, Setsuna."
"Evening." They shook hands sternly before taking their seats, facing each other. They were close in age, but the newcomer was younger; even if he didn't look it.
The officer shifted uncomfortably in the collapsible chair, casting black eyes at his reflection. His mane was unkempt without the hat but its soft nature did not bar his Uchiha heritage. There was a sword-like streak of grey hair blooming from his left temple, and he placed his cap on the table, gesturing toward the one-way pane, "Just occurred to me that we should be on the other side of that glass."
"Heh, don't worry. No one's here," the experienced lieutenant appeased, waving off their mirrored duplicates. "Your contact… How did it go?"
"Just as planned," the greying lieutenant elated, sighing as he dazed through the table in memory. "My contact did everything by the book. He got it. It's extraordinary Setsuna; the very suspicion we caused provided the exact opportunity for them to pull this off."
"Ahh, Inabi. There's a source of pride to be found in a perfectly executed strategy," the elder Uchiha sighed contently, relaxing in his chair as he lifted the off-white mug to his face, swallowing more of the disagreeable liquid. "So where is it? Does the Anbu still have it?"
"Damn it, that's the beauty," the younger policeman exclaimed, reaching into a pocket beneath his armored vest. With great elation, the officer produced a scroll of provoking unfamiliarity. It was of average thickness, and maybe a little longer than the standardized scrolls so commonly found, but the general style of the thing was unknown. He placed the foreign object on the table with eager suspense, "this is it."
"You can't be serious," Setsuna almost whispered, looking between the scroll and his compatriot in shock. He made the double take once more before lifting the item in his hands which began to quiver with nervous adrenaline, "This is… This is it?!"
"I don't know how those desert fucks managed it, but that's it. That's our war," Inabi finished soberly, almost choking up at the realization of the imminent terror that was about to ensue. "Well… Now that it's here, I guess-"
"It's time. All this power…right here? I'll get it done as planned – another midnight walk, just like the last fourteen months…" The lieutenant and officer hesitated a moment, sharing a dark-eyed stare of final resolve. They were nervous, "…Inabi-"
"Save it, I know. Don't worry," the greying subordinate offered as they found themselves standing, gripping each other's forearm, "we'll see this to the end."
Setsuna paused before nodding in temperate realization. The ranking officer nodded solemnly once more, clasping his partner on the shoulder with his alternate hand before releasing the grip to make his way out of the room, glancing over his shoulder, "Go home, Inabi."
With that, Uchiha Setsuna slipped from view. Departing his station a little later than normal, the sharingan user kept his composure as he said goodnight to a few remaining officers wrapping up their final reports.
Greeted by yet another cool, breezy Konoha night, the reliable lieutenant took in a deep breath, freeing the air to relinquish an irrelevant fraction of his suddenly infinite anxiety. Looking toward a moon in full lunar radiance, the unsteady Uchiha faced onward to begin his quiet, comfortable trek home.
Monday, 1:47AM; Konohagakure
A foreign parchment's metallic trim glistened sleekly under the platinum moonlight. Pinned to a tree and carefully unfurled, the lengthy paper hung open, displaying strange glyphs of chakra manipulating design. Gently dancing in the soft gust, the scroll's internal timer finally ran out, launching a quiet huff of smoke that procured something of sizeable weight from its mysterious inscriptions. Whatever it was, it crumpled to the ground on a few dull thumps.
Stirring in the grass, a pained, muffled wheeze sputtered as a figure gasped for more air than the many wrappings covering it could provide. Tiredly attempting to stand, a dim sizzling was eventually heard, activated upon its summoning. The bound alien scrambled briefly, but before it could rid itself of the burning paper a great cacophonic explosion bloomed, shattering the adjacent trees as the concussive blast echoed between the many buildings nearby.
As the dust continued to rise, ninja and civilians alike emerged from their homes and offices to investigate. However, the dust plumed high and wide, obscuring the wreathed figure within.
Hovering above the meter-deep crater was a solid formation of matte sand and crystalline refraction, roughly shaped in a humanoid form. Descending, the fine sand parted and pulled from the figure before its feet touched down. Smoke continued to trickle from the red-hot grit as glass fell in irregular chunks, stabbing into the dirt. The being trembled under its own, freed weight, and its jagged breathing began to deepen and heave. As the abrasive protection was lifted from its face, the deprived insomniac revealed violently bloodshot eyes of hateful aqua.
Staggering again as the curious voices reached it, the tortured jinchuuriki grabbed fistfuls of scarlet hair as another voice, maniacally senseless and bloodthirsty, screamed deafeningly for the slaughter of innocents. Neglected and decrepit, Gaara succumbed to the torment, powerless to resist the evil consciousness that sought to engulf him.
Giving in to his unrelenting hate and agony, the poor young outcast merged his many years of suffering with the demon's putrid violence after a single beat of his pulse.
A sudden clearing was created as a black and purple energy emitted a godlike shock. Devastating the surrounding area with the sheer force of Shukaku's realization, the bijuu manifested itself exponentially, powered further by the grace of Luna's fruition.
The jagged colossus heaved with raw, unbridled power and freedom. Its black, star-like eyes seethed and scanned, thirsty for the many lakes of blood there were to be spilled.
Opening its tongue-less maw, the Ichibi released a sound Konoha would never forget.
The tectonic expulsion of wind knocked the nearby pedestrians away, tumbling them like helpless ragdolls thrown by children. Many of the thrown citizens were injured as several perished with a splattering of their skull against the earth or a backward breaking around a structural support beam. The homes closest to the beast began to crumble, some even collapsing in the thunderous grating of wood, steel and concrete, dreadfully adding to the ghastly scene.
The chaos was instant, slowing the nearby shinobi as they attempted to recompose themselves in efforts to discover the cause of such an upheaval.
Jerking around in murderous fervor, the spiked behemoth dashed in a blurry leap toward another sect of buildings, several blocks from its origin of arrival. Shukaku easily leveled entire complexes, unleashing hatred with brutal slashes of its vile claws and cursed tail.
Elsewhere
Minato bolted upright as a numbing roar echoed about his village, unable to hear what Kushina had asked beside him. Instructing her to retrieve their daughter, the Hokage was outfitted in a nanosecond before he vanished as the very earth quaked beneath their feet.
Arriving atop a taller apartment near the center of the Leaf, Minato's blue eyes whipped about, easily locating a being that made his heart sink. Looking on in horror, the blonde leader recognized the terror as Suna's Ultimate Weapon. Gritting his teeth in shaken, defensive anger, the Yellow Flash blinked into action.
Within the confines of a rounded second, the Fourth appeared to and roused his predecessor, jonin, Anbu, and Military Police.
In a moment following, the Hokage materialized beside the Ichibi where he threw one of his special kunai toward it. The monster didn't notice its challenger until he appeared, devastating it with dual odama rasengan. Leaving a remarkable crater in its shoulder, the veteran teleported to safety before a massive sandy claw collided roughly with his previous position.
Locating the Leaf's protector with two dark stars of golden malice, Shukaku destroyed a water tower the shinobi stood upon before continuing to lunge for the Flash as Minato dashed and incessantly pelted the creature with ninjutsu. While helpful, the distraction was nearly fatal as the bijuu whipped, catching the teleporter with a hook of its horned tail.
Thrust into hazardous rubble, the man quickly emerged as he was joined by some terribly needed reinforcements. However, their arrival stirred Shukaku's hate, and he dove for the densest formation, scattering and crushing many shinobi and buildings as he landed, turning with a cruel swipe of his tail.
Elsewhere
Awful moments of confused dismay were all that the beast offered before Yume dazedly woke, scattered mercilessly with the remains of her hospital's upper levels.
She came to in the abysmal shadows, coughing in thoughtless confusion. Attempting to fidget and stand, a scream inducing pain welcomed the Uchiha to a torturous awakening. Grabbing onto a steel rod, she wiped some grey powder from her dark eyes before she stared at a glistening white bone protruding from her thigh.
Agonizing tears had swelled as she studied the bar she grasped under the dim light pouring between chunks of artificial rock. The steel emerged from her abdomen, coming through the small of her back to exit below the ribs. Her throat was dry, and she made cracked attempts to join many others in their shrieks for survival.
Shukaku
The Fourth was directing his grim jonin and disheveled Anbu as several others joined him. Close to his left appeared the previous Hokage, grumbling an angry remark as the old-timer assisted in directing the creature's terrible attacks from the quickly organizing village.
Among the shinobi at his side were two of the three sannin, unwilling to summon their large allies just yet as their titanic fighting would probably level the hidden village.
"Tsunade, round all the medics now! Start tending to the wounded!" Minato commanded, speedily releasing a powerful wind jutsu. "Jiraiya, Kakashi, gather the chunin and jonin into mixed squads! Work in unified attacks – defend against its outbursts!"
"Yes sir!" the men shouted, disappearing in a haze to secure their armed forces.
"Obito! Your team?!" the tactical Hokage urged, realizing in sudden congruence with the lack of Sasuke where his son currently was. Their mission was in vain.
"Right!" the expert Uchiha obeyed, leaping away with Shisui and Itachi in tow as they unleashed a unified fireball of blazing enormity.
Frantic, Minato summoned a familiar blue-green toad, "Gamagosu!"
Appearing nonchalantly, fear quickly struck the amphibian as his bulging eyes witnessed a great curse-marked monstrosity wreaking havoc before his summoner repeated himself harshly. "Wh- Yes Minato-sama?!"
"My son is on a fatal mission in the village that caused this!" the fearful father shouted, grabbing the toad by its thin shoulders. "You have to warn them! Now!"
"Y-y-yes sir!" Gamagosu stammered, bursting into smoke.
Recalling another jonin on mission, Minato instantly pulled out one of his fuinscrolls before destroying it between his rasengan filled hands.
While the commander directed his units, the invading bijuu had peered past its distractions, locking eyes with the blonde defender as bits of parchment were scattered in the wind.
Growling with wrathful menace, the Ichibi arched its back, lifting its tail as its great jaws opened wide toward the nocturnal sky. To the chilling dismay of the surrounding shinobi, a great orb of dark chakra started to form, swiftly drawing debris from the area toward it with its immense density. As the pulsating orb rapidly increased in size, Minato prepared himself as he stared Shukaku in the face.
"Don't fuck with me!"
End
Who can you trust?
-Kyzer-