Once again I want to encourage people to rethink their lives and consider what is really ahead for them. There is a shaking coming to America, where everything comfortable and safe is going to be shredded to pieces. God is trying to call His people back to Himself, but even the Christians in America (yours truly included) are so hard headed that it's going to take something to knock us out of our comfort zone to make us realize that there is something more important at stake. Whether you believe it or not, Jesus Christ will return, and when that happens it's going to be too late to say "yes." You have to turn to Him now before He comes back and separates the Christians from those who have said no to Christ. A lot of terrible things are going to happen, and I don't want myself or anyone else to get caught in it without Jesus being there to guide us through. The answer isn't "well, you believe what you want and I'll believe what I want" anymore. The point is; if the Christians are wrong and those who don't believe in Jesus are right, we have nothing to lose. If we are right, then those who don't believe in Jesus will lose everything. You have to think about that. It's no longer 'fun and games and ignore what's happening in the world.' I wonder with every chapter I write if I'll ever be able to write the next. I know I'm not a prime example of a Christian, but I'm saying it like it is; we have to wake up and realize what we believe and why, and we have to know its the right answer. Are you ready if you suddenly found that Jesus Christ is coming back? Can you face Him and say, "I believed in You and obeyed You?" Will He welcome you with open arms as His child, or will you face the realization that you never knew the God who has now returned to gather those who truly believed in Him? Just think about it. I know people think this is just religion stuff, but what if it's real?
So anyways, that's something I wanted to point out. I don't want to look back and say I never warned people about this. Whether you believe me or not is your own prerogative. With that said, onto chapter 26. :)
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"You wanted to see me, lord Hokage?" Itachi spoke up as he entered the room.
Tsunade was leaning over the parchment littered table, her hands pressed to her temples. An untouched mug of coffee was perched on a foot high stack of reports at one side of the desk.
"I don't suppose you realize how much trouble you and your brother have created for me," Tsunade complained bitterly. She sighed and turned in her chair. "It took two hours to sort through the technicalities with Miffune alone! I don't want to even think about the trouble I had to go to with the other Kages concerning Sasuke."
Itachi patiently leaned against the wall and waited for Tsunade's tirrade to end.
"I had to repeat myself at least six times concerning the reasons I wanted to consider putting Sasuke in the militia," Tsunade continued. "Don't tell me everything was settled back at the Kages summit. The minute I suggested allowing both you and your brother to lend your aid in the war the entire room practically exploded."
"I'm surprised you would even allow Sasuke to join your troops at all," Itachi's brow furrowed. "That's a major step you're taking, even in a war crisis."
Tsunade rubbed her forehead and grimaced as she peered at the coffee Shizune had left for her. "I was taking the same risk when I allowed you to fight against Nagato," she mused. "Perhaps I am going too far in so short a time, but we need all the help we can get."
Tsunade sat up in her chair and looked Itachi directly in the eye. "I am going to give your brother the same chance I gave you," she announced. "If Sasuke cannot withstand the pressure, I will do the same thing I would have done had you joined the Akatsuki. He will be destroyed without hesitation. If Sasuke does prove his loyalty towards the shinobi, then I will allow him to take his place in the village once more. This is your brother's test. See to it that he does not fail."
Itachi nodded gravely after some thought. "You do not need to concern yourself," he answered in a low tone. "If Sasuke does turn against Konoha once more, it is I who will have failed. If this happens, then I will be the one to do what is neccessary to stop him."
"That is what I needed to know," Tsunade replied. "If all goes well, circumstances in the future will not call for such measures." The Hokage rose to her feet and began examining the papers in front of her. "I will be assigning your brother to Kakashi's division, the close/midrange fighters. I do not intend to inform the village of this information until it is imperative that they know. I don't want a war to start out among our own troops because of this. You will be assigned to Inoichi's sensory company. I suspect your knowledge of the Akatsuki will be the most useful there."
"There's one question I have," Itachi mentioned. "How do you expect the different villages to cooperate with one another? The treaty between the Kages is not going to put an end to all rivalries."
Tsunade smiled grimly. "Miffune came up with an answer to that." Bending down, Tsunade rummaged in a draw and pulled out three forehead guards. "This will be the symbol of our entire army during this time," she nodded as she handed one to Itachi.
Itachi raised an eyebrow at the insigna. "Shinobi?" he questioned dryly.
"It is what we are," Tsunade nodded. "It unifies us as one people fighting for the same right to survive. There will be no more separation of the villages during this time of war. We are all shinobi, and we will battle together to end the threat of Madara."
"Sounds reasonable," Itachi responded as he tied the forehead guard across the bandage covering his eye. "How are the others villagers taking this?"
"Times of crisis leave little room for argument," Tsunade answered with a slight shake of her head. "It's either cooperate or die. In short, everyone is taking it rather well."
A crash from outside was soon followed by explosive shouting, belaying Tsunade's words.
"I will say one thing, Lady Tsunade," Itachi remarked with a smirk, "I don't envy your position as Hokage."
Tsunade showed little amusement at the situation. "As you have already noted, the preperations for moving out are already underway. Report to Inoichi within the hour. The army will leave as soon as possible."
Instead of snapping to attention and carrying out his orders, Itachi swung a chair over and took a seat next to Tsunade's desk. "What are we really up against?" he questioned solemnly. "Tell me exactly what's going on."
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It was over an hour before Itachi left the Hokage's office. He mulled over the information and possible tactics they had exchanged, and found himself wishing he had been a part of the war council. There were too many possibilities in this war, where the slightest misstep could mean disaster.
"Itachi!" Sakura's cheery voice broke into the Uchiha's brooding.
Itachi looked up and raised a hand in greeting as the pink haired chunin ran towards him. "Is Sasuke here yet?" he questioned.
Sakura smiled and pointed over her shoulder to where a masked ninja was sulking in the shadows. "Tsunade put him in Kakashi's division," she whispered. "Only a few people know about this."
Sasuke looked up Sakura spoke. Catching sight of Itachi, he meandered over. Sasuke's face and hair were entirely covered in the head garb of a Konoha intelligence spy. All that Itachi could see were his obsidian eyes, which constantly flickered between emotional and completely void expressions.
"Still too serious, aren't you little brother," Itachi teased gently as he conveniently poked Sasuke on the forehead.
Sasuke slapped Itachi's hand away, but a bittersweet smile lingered in his eyes. He was too relieved to even have his brother around than to be angry. "What did the Hokage say?"
"She says I have to keep you out of trouble from now on," Itachi said in a pretend ruefull tone. "On top of that I'm expected to help Inoichi plan a war. As you can see, I'm going to be up to my neck in reports the minute the fighting is over."
Sasuke shook his head. "Sakura's right. You have changed."
"Don't worry," Itachi raised an eyebrow. "We'll work on you next. I'm sure Kakashi will be more than happy to train you in the insane region of the shinobi path."
"Don't even think about it," Sasuke warned. He smiled slightly, an expression which had been appearing more often in the recent days. "I suppose Kakashi will get his chance anyways. I've been assigned to his company. Tsunade says this is my chance to 'prove myself.'" Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance.
Itachi's brow furrowed as a thought hit. "They took the bandages off your eyes," he noted. "How well can you see?"
"Better," Sasuke shrugged. "That's enough for me."
"Try using the katana instead of your black flames," Itachi rolled his eyes and indicated towards the weapon tied at Sasuke's back. "I'm not going to be blamed if you blind yourself in battle."
"I won't," Sasuke swore.
"Besides, I'll be there to take care of things if he does go too far," Sakura reassured. "I'm one of the medics assigned to Kakashi's division, after all."
"Good," Itachi nodded. "Do me a favor and keep him out of trouble while you're at it."
Sasuke rolled his eyes while Sakura hid a giggle behind one hand. Watching the two interact, Itachi began to wonder if Kakashi's idea of setting up impromptu dates was completely worthless after all. It would certainly be something to look into after the war...
As it was, now was not the time to concentrate on frivolous matters. "You two be careful," Itachi warned the younger shinobi gravely. "I mean that. Look out for each other as much as you can."
"You take care of yourself too, Itachi," Sakura ordered. Sasuke's fervent gaze echoed her words.
"Seeing as Kakashi, Lee, and Guy are all on your team, I suspect I'll actually be able to survive this war," Itachi shot back as he began heading towards his own company.
Itachi's face grew serious as he approached the sensory group. The tension was palpable, it was so thick. Some of the shinobi made light jokes in an attempt to ease their growing apprehension. Others started fights over past village rivalries. A few wondered aloud if any of them would reach home alive. The leaders attempted to break up the quarrels and keep up morale by encouraging the soldiers in the promise of victory, but even that seemed a far off dream.
"Captain Yamanaka," Itachi nodded as he approached the company leader.
"What took you so long," Inoichi grumbled as he studied the battle plans with the other captains of the division.
Itachi ignored the complaint as he caught up on the details of the current situation. The army would be separated into two divisions; one led by Darui and the other by Gaara. Upon reaching their destination, Darui's division would separate into separate squadrons to prepare for any direction Madara might send his troops in. Villages in the path of Madara's onslaught had already been evacuated, and with luck no danger would present itself to the defenseless citizens. Further protection would also be supplied to villages' Feudal lords by means of Mei's battalion. There was little hope that it would be enough, but the warriors of the Shinobi villages would fight to the last man to protect their land.
The outbursts and anxious murmers filling the air were silenced as a calm, slightly rasped voice began to speak. Looking up, Itachi shielded his eyes and caught sight of the Kazekage standing high on a cliff, his shillouete appearing more powerful against the backdrop of the sun's rays.
"Three times now," Gaara spoke, "We've fought world wars for our own nations, our own villages. We've hurt one another. We've hated one another. That hatred bred a lust for power, and that lust for power created me. I was a jinchuuriki, the embodiment of hatred and power."
Itachi leaned back and shook his head in wonder at the authoritative air that Gaara had obtained at such a young age. First a Kazekage, and now the General overlooking the entire war operation, the sand jinchuuriki had come a long ways from the cruel, anger filled child he had been during his first visit to Konoha.
"And I hated this world," Gaara continued, "And all the people in it... I wanted to destroy it with my own hands. The exact same thing Akatsuki is trying to do today."
Itachi ignored the furious glares a couple of shinobi shot in his direction.
"But one man, one ninja from the Hidden Leaf stopped me. I was his enemy, yet he wept for me! I hurt him, yet he called me his friend! He saved me! My enemy, my fellow jinchuuriki... He suffered the same pain as me, yet bore no ill will!"
Gaara's voice rose in passion as he stated, "There are no enemies here because we've all suffered at Akatsuki's hand! So there is no Sand, no Stone, no Leaf, no Mist, and no Cloud! There are only 'Shinobi!'"
A few cheers rose, but Gaara wasn't finished yet. "And if you still hold a grudge against the Sand, then when this war is over, come and take my head instead!"
The surrounding shinobi fell shock silent at the statement.
"Our enemies are after the friend who saved my life!" Gaara continued. "If they take him, if we hand him over, our world is finished! I want to protect him, and I want to protect our world!" He bent his head, his voice still ringing with the same authority. "But I'm too young to protect it all on my own! All of you, lend me your aid!"
The crowd erupted with shouts of support as the villages rallied to Gaara. Itachi caught sight of Sasuke in his own squadron and gave his brother a quick wink. If Gaara could have come so far despite his tragic past, then what was there to hold him and Sasuke back now? They would redeem themselves once more. Itachi knew it.
"Everyone who's with me, let's go!" Gaara shouted.
As one the shinobi raised their fists in the air and swore alligience to their new Commander General.
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Shorter chapter compared to the last few, but at least it's a double update. Yay, we're finally getting to the war! :D (P.S. You will hate me.)
This will not be a one chapter deal. I plan to have everyone screaming at me to update by the time I get to chapter 29. Please enjoy the last non-angsty chapter you will get for a long time... Muahahaha!