Bethany and Hashirama were once again sitting in the meeting room, discussing plans for the coming war. The other world leaders, with Riley and Cain among them were adding their own points, or asking questions occasionally, but it was clear to everyone that the two Mokuton users were the most knowledgeable about the coming threat. "Kaguya was the first person to have Chakra, after eating the Shinju's (Divine Tree's) Chakra Fruit, and she used this power to stop the many wars going on in her world at the time," Bethany explained, "eventually, she gave birth to twin boys, one named Hagoromo, the other named Hamura. Time passed, and the two boys discovered that they'd inherited their mother's Chakra, and became the strongest people in the world aside from Kaguya herself.
In an attempt to connect all the people of the world, Hagoromo came up with a religion that he called Ninshu. These teachings were meant to guide the world into harmony and peace by spreading Chakra to everyone and connecting them, making each and every person equal to each other," she paused, everyone listening intently. "When their mother found out what her sons had done, along with the fact that they had inherited her Chakra, she became enraged, merging with the Shinju to become a monster known as the Ten Tails. Using her new power, she was able to use the new eyes she'd gained, the RinneSharingan, which would one day come to be known as the Eyes Of God to cast the infinite Tsukuyomi on the world" Bethany explained. Everyone was silent for a moment, before Riley spoke up, "so, that's what she's going to do here- cast this, Infinite Tsukuyomi jutsu on our world and steal our Chakra while we sleep?" he asked. The young woman nodded, "that's about it" she replied.
Cain spoke up then, "but we can stop her, right? I mean, Hagoromo-Sama and Hamura-Sama were able to stop this woman, weren't they?" he asked, only slightly panicking. Bethany sighed and folded her hands together on the table in front of her, "both of them were regarded as gods in their own rights, and the reason they were able to stop the Ten Tails was because they sealed her Chakra inside Hagoromo and her body inside a sealing stone- the construct that would become known as the moon. However-" she paused and stared at them with a serious gaze, "we have neither the power nor the ability to copy them, so I really have no idea what we'll do" she said with a frown. Everyone sweat-dropped at the girl. Really, was she trying to make them feel better or even more hopeless than before?
Bethany took a breath, "even so, even if we're completely out-classed, I won't give up- I won't let that bitch win, even if I die- I'd rather die fighting for the sake of my precious people than spend the rest of my life as a chakra battery inside a fake world until I become a mindless drone for Kaguya" she said completely seriously. Everyone felt themselves sit a little straighter at her words. Bethany's face hardened, "I will do what I have to do to protect those precious to me, even if I die- I will die knowing I did everything I possibly could!" she exclaimed. The depressing atmosphere dissipated in the presence of the girl's conviction, and suddenly everyone believed in the girls words. There was silence for a moment, before a voice called out from all around them: "well, well, well, look what I've found," everyone shot up at the sound of the voice and looked around wildly. "You really think you'll be able to beat mother? You should just give up now- after all, even if you do fight, all that'll end up happening is that you'll lose more of your 'precious people' and you'll die, if you give in now, mother will make sure everyone you love is with you in your own personal dream world, where everything is just how you want it- it'll all be perfect, isn't that wonderful!"it exclaimed.
Bethany growled lowly, "what makes you think we'll just hand over our chakra and let ourselves get trapped in some fake world?" she hissed at the voice. "Ah, ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! You really think you'll have a choice, your Chakra belongs to mother, and she will have it back!" the voice cried, laughing insanely. Cain glared around, "who are you? Show yourself!" he exclaimed. Slowly, a black human shaped figure rose out of the table in front of them. It only had two yellow eyes and no other distinguishing features. "So, Black Zetsu, you've shown yourself at last," Bethany hissed, her hand tightening around her kunai that she had in her pouch, "I think I speak for all of us here when I say my reply to your 'mothers' kindness is something even she will understand: FUCK YOU, ASSHOLES!"
"He, he, well, no matter, she will have your Chakra one way or the other, and if you want to sacrifice yourselves for no reason, then that's your decision- but never fear, for those of you who survive the coming war, mother will reunite you with your loved ones in the infinite Tsukuyomi- you should be grateful for her generosity"Bethany smirked, "you really are stupid, but I'll reiterate so that the message gets through to that thick head of yours- FUCK YOU ASSHOLES!" Black Zetsu began to sink into the table once again. Hashirama whipped a kunai out of his pouch and threw it at the dark construct faster than anyone could see, but it was already gone. Bethany's eyes narrowed, "bastard" she growled. She turned to the other leaders, "well, does that convince you of the reality of this threat?" the young woman asked. No one spoke, but they all nodded, now sure that they didn't want that jutsu to be cast.
Cain walked over to the wall where Hashirama's kunai had become lodged. He attempted to pull the weapon out, but the small knife was stuck fast. The man walked over with a smile, "it's alright Cain-San, I've got it," he said, effortlessly pulling the kunai out of the wall, "thank you for the thought though" he replied happily. Bethany sat down along with everyone else, "so, plans?" she asked.
ŚŅŸ
Since they had little to no real idea on what was going to happen, their main plan was to ready their forces for a large scale war against the Goddess in the near future- they could not hold anything back, or they would die, they all knew that much. Back in the Leaf village, everyone was training like crazy- literally. Even the adults had begun trying to unlock their Chakra. The frantic atmosphere was starting to grate on Bethany's nerves, in a different way from how the tense atmosphere had, so that she was dead tired by the end of the day. Well, at least she now knew for sure that Kaguya was their enemy, but that didn't help the overwhelming odds stacked against them.
Everyone spent even more time preparing for war. Stocks were counted and rationed, food supplies were gathered and the village was being more heavily fortified than before. This time the tenseness in the village was so strong even the civilians could feel it. It was as if the very air was charged with energy and heavy, so that no one could relax. To Bethany it felt very much like how she was when it was overcast, but the sky was sunny and cloud-free, the exact opposite to how everyone felt. In fact the mood was even darker than it had been during the first war. At least they weren't completely blind anymore. They knew Kaguya was here, and they also knew for sure that the war was coming. Bethany exchanged letters frequently with the other leaders via Minato's Toads and so she knew that the preparations were going well on their fronts as well. The only condition she had for the governments of the world was no bombs.
Other than that she gave them permission to use whatever weapons they deemed necessary to help them fight, as long as they were carful of her Shinobi of course. They'd met a few more times so that the young Hokage could inspect which weapons they intended to use and give advice on which she thought were the best ones to use in the war. Guns were alright mostly, as long as they all had targeting scopes to make for less accidents. Swords, daggers, scythes and all manner of other weapons were brought in for the Shinobi to use, as they really only had a limited number of them in the first place. Bethany got herself a new sword, a samurai's Shogun Katana, and after a few lessons, was able to acclimatise herself with her new weapon.
Madara decided to stick with his Gunbai and Scythe, and he also kept his own sword as well. Several of the other Shinobi mainly chose simple swords, as that was what they were most used to using. It was a long few weeks until the war started, but they all knew that once it did, there was no going back until they either won- or lost.
ŚŅŸ
Bethany sat with her three Sensei inside the Senju compound. While Minato wasn't technically a Senju, he was her teacher as well, and as the only one of them who wasn't related to them, Hashirama had decided to let the man stay. It had only been about three weeks since the war was announced, but it felt like years and now that the preparations were mostly complete, all they could do was wait. Bethany found herself increasingly nervous, despite everyone's attempts to distract her from the impending threat to the world. It was hard for her not to worry, but she still did her best to remain optimistic about it.
To take her mind off the soon to be present future, she spent more time with Madara when she wasn't training. The piles of paperwork in her office had been completely ignored, as she had neither the time or the patience to deal with them at the moment, but she was sure that once the war ended she'd be swimming in paperwork for the rest of her life, or at least the next 20 years. The thought was enough to send shivers up her spine, as she wasn't sure even her Wood Clones could complete it all as it was now, never mind after however long the war took. Bethany sighed. Minato looked at her questioningly, "what's wrong, Bethany-Chan?" he asked. The girl hung her head, "oh nothing, just wondering how long I'll be buried alive for after the war" she replied, depressed. Hashirama laughed, "I'm sure you'll be able to complete your paperwork, Bethany-Chan" he told her cheerfully.
She sunk into an even deeper depression, "easy for you to say- I'm the one who has to do the damn work!" she sobbed. Suddenly Bethany calmed down, "hey, do you guys want to hear a song I know?" she asked happily. The three Hokage looked curious, well, at least Hashirama and Minato did- Tobirama just looked as impassive as ever. The First and Fourth Hokage nodded, while the Second just crossed his arms and closed his eyes, in the now known to be the 'do whatever you want, I don't care either way' pose. Bethany smiled and began to sing: "did you know, I am a pioneer, I'm out on a secret mission, I travel the galaxy, and far beyond," she started slowly, the soft piano music playing in her head.
"Can't you see that I am a pioneer, unlocking the greatest mysteries, my key is a fearless heart, so pure and strong, people laugh when you are a pioneer, not walking the straight and narrow, they tell you the way things are, they swear you're wrong. You can't be a hero hiding underneath your bed, got to live the life, you create inside your head, so I opened the window, caught the wind, one, night, now I sail with the birds, in their flight," She sung faster now, pausing momentarily to take a breath then kept singing, "if you're tired of everything, come hitch a ride with me, you'll cry out with joy, when you realise you're free, it's a trip like no other for your heart and mind, leaving all but the future far behind- some will say, you're safer here, never mind them- be a pioneer! Can't you see that you are a pioneer, not one of the endless talkers, who tell you the same old rules you've heard before- I can tell that you are a pioneer, you want to be facing danger, not happy to hide your big dreams any more- you are a pioneer, the same as me," Bethany paused to take breath.
"You can't be a hero hiding underneath your bed, so we'll live the life, we've created in our heads- we'll wake up, every morning in a whole new place, on a road, reaching out into space, some will say, we're safer here, never mind them- we are pioneers! Hand in hand, we'll journey as pioneers, unlocking the greatest mysteries, don't listen to anyone who say's we're wrong- they can't stop you when you're a pioneer, for truth is your greatest weapon, out there in the cosmos where we both belong- a place for pioneers, like you and me! Through the ages we will be pioneers! we'll go out on secret missions! We'll travel the galaxy and far beyond! It's our destiny to be pioneers, we'll always be moving forward- our courage is what we will be counting on- we will be pioneers, forevermore!" As she finished the song, Bethany smiled at her three teachers, "well, what do you think?" she asked happily.
Hashirama grinned, "it was awesome, Bethany-Chan!" he exclaimed with a thumbs up. Minato nodded, "it was a cool song" he said happily. Tobirama shrugged, "it was alright" he replied quietly. The girls smile stretched into a grin, "heh, arigato" she said quietly. Slowly the sun sank low on the horizon, and, just for that moment, there was no fear, no pain, no bitter future of war, death and suffering ahead. All there was, was contentment and peace, if only for a single moment.
ŚŅŸ
After that, the time seemed to fly by, while at the same time creeping slowly from day to day. It was partly a relief and partly a pain to wait, but there was nothing else they could do. Everyone was as ready as they could be, and the wait was the least of their worries. It was like the calm before a storm, or when sitting in the eye of the storm. The lack of any action was beginning to drive everyone insane, but they bore with it, knowing that it would be the last reprieve they had for a while. They should enjoy their peace while it lasted after all. As they didn't exactly know when the war would start, it was hard for them to prepare effectively, but they still did their best to be ready for that moment, when it came.
From the message exchanges she had had with the other leaders, Bethany knew that they were ready as well, waiting, just as the Shinobi of Konoha were. Even if she didn't want to think about it, war was now imminent, and, no matter what she did or didn't like, it was either fight for their freedom or end up trapped in an illusionary world with fake versions of her family and loved ones. As much as Bethany loved the idea of a war free world, a fake one was most defiantly not what she wanted, nor was she just going to accept being trapped inside one while her Chakra was slowly drained until she became a mindless pawn for the Rabbit Goddess. Hell would freeze over before she accepted that as something good. Still, there was nothing she could do about it until it happened, and if she did end up dying, at least she could say that she fought till the very end to stop the Infinite Tsukuyomi from being completed.
The war would be coming soon now- very soon-.