Author's note – Kishimoto Masashi owns Naruto while Guyver is written by Yoshiki Takaya.
I make no claim to either, I am merely playing in their sandboxes.
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Chapter Twenty-Six
Foreign Events
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Danzo watched as Terai led in his genin squad. The Jonin still wore the same knee-length light jacket that he had worn during his days in Root, but his hood was down, allowing his long brown hair to flow over his shoulders instead of being restrained in its former ponytail. In addition, the jacket hung open, revealing the jonin vest underneath, a vest similar to a chunin vest at first glance, but with black trim down all the seams and around the pockets. The Uzushiogakure Hitai-ate sat low on his brow, shading his eyes.
"Uzukage-sama." Terai said with a deep bow. "May I introduce my team? Yuki Haku, Hozuki Suigetsu and Suchīrukuran Taromaru."
The three genin each bowed as they were named and Danzo nodded.
"I have sumoned you here because you are the the best team in Uzushiogakure. Each of you has a kekkei genkai that grants you a true advantage on the battlefield, Ice, Water and Steel. You have been trained to a level significantly above the normal genin of the Great Five and you will be the first of the Uzushiogakure Resurgent shinobi to represent our glorious village in the upcoming chunin exams being held in just over a month by our old ally, Konohagakure. Terai can brief you on their customs and geography later."
Terai gave a slight nod.
"Good." Danzo continued. "Your mission will be two-fold. First, prove that Uzushiogakure is once again a power in the shinobi world. Your secondary mission is to provide aid to any Konoha genin you encounter that needs it, but not at the expense of your primary mission. Under no circumstances are you to kill or permanently cripple a Konoha ninja. If you do, you may damage the renewing of the old alliance beyond all hope of recovery."
All three genin nodded and Danzo gave them a carefully-calculated smile designed to look as reassuring and unthreatening as possible.
"The hopes and dreams of Uzushiogakure rest upon you three and I have no doubt that you will uphold them. Dismissed."
The trio of genin bowed and filed out of the office while Terai remained behind, obedient to Danzo's hand-signal.
"Terai, while you are there, try and evaluate how many of my agents are still in place." Danzo commanded. "Do not make actual contact with them at this time, simply observe and report back. Make special note of any who are under surveillance themselves."
"Understood, Uzukage-sama."
"Dismissed."
Danzo waited until the door closed, then he turned to look at a row of pictures mounted on the wall, the middle one showing a younger Danzo with his two team-mates.
"Kagami." He said quietly. "Would you have stood with me on my long path?"
"I like to think that he would." A new voice said and Danzo half-turned.
"Torifu." He said in greeting to his old team-mate. "I am surprised to see you here."
"Meh, I had to fake my death on a mission before I could come." The elderly Akamichi shrugged, then he looked at the pictures. "Damn, I always knew I was handsome."
"Why are you here?" Danzo asked and Torifu shrugged.
"As soon as I heard the rumor of Uzushiogakure rebuilding and accepting fugitives, especially those from Kiri, I knew that it had to be you." He stated. "Remember when we got drunk and you complained that Konoha's best source of fuuinjutsu had been destroyed? Well, I put two and two together and came up with four. So, where do you need me?"
Danzo gave his old team-mate a small smile. "The supply situation is becoming precarious…"
"That would be something I'm good at." Torifu smiled. "We Akamichi can make a meal out of anything and make it taste good."
"So, tell me about what has happened in Konoha before you… left." Danzo said as he motioned for Torifu to take a seat.
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Terumi Mei sat behind her desk, the hat of the Mizukage on her head as she finished reading the message that she had been delivered. After a long moment, she looked up at her visitors.
"Zabuza-kun," She asked, "Do you believe that your team can compete in the next chunin exams?"
Zabuza glanced behind him to where the trio of genin were stood close to the wall.
"I believe that they would have a chance, Mei-chan." He said in a near-growl that caused the Mizukage to blush slightly. "Kimimaru has been my apprentice for years and is at chunin level or above in all but official rank. Chojuro is showing promise and Kajika… is catching up now that I've beaten some humility into him. They'll be a good foundation for the next Seven Swordsman, assuming that they survive."
Mei raised one elegant eyebrow as she looked over the three genin, her eyes pausing on Kajika's shark-like hood, then she nodded.
"Then you will go and represent Kirigakure at the upcoming exams. I expect you to do well. And Zabuza, see if you can find out just what happened to Tsurugi while you are over there."
"As you command, Mei-chan." Zabuza smirked. "Anything else I can do to serve you?"
"Why, yes." Mei purred, then she waved her hand. "You three are dismissed. Zabuza-kun, perhaps you can reassure me again that you aren't compensating with that sword."
"It will be a pleasure." Zabuza grinned. "Brats! Move!"
The three genin darted through the door and Zabuza locked it behind them.
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"Why would they chase us out?" Chojuro asked as he pushed his glasses back up his nose. "I mean…"
"Kirigakure no jutsu!"
All three genin turned and looked up at the Mizukage's office which was filled with mist so dense that whoever was inside would be hard-pressed to see their hand six inches away from their nose. A moment later, a pair of lace panties briefly adhered to the inside of the window and Kimimaru grabbed his team-mates, pulling them away.
"I believe that Zabuza-sama and Mei-sama wish for some privacy." He said calmly. "Perhaps we should spar for a while?"
"Oh, kamis above." Kajika groaned, looking ill. "Sensei and the Mizukage? Bumping uglies? Urgh!"
"I believe that intense sparring is called for in order to stop you from being distracted." Kimimaru mused, causing both genin to blanch.
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Orochimaru frowned as he looked at the ring pulsing on his finger. Moving to one corner of his laboratory, he settled down in a cross-legged meditation pose and closed his eyes, reopening them as his chakra-form materialised above a cylinder-like rock formation in a dark cave.
"Orochimaru." A second chakra-silhouette said in greeting from its position above a similar rock pillar and Orochimaru bowed, glancing with well-disguised envy at the eyes of the speaker, eyes that had a ripple pattern spreading out from their pupils.
"Pein-sama. To what do I owe the honor?" Orochimaru replied.
"Konoha." Pein replied. "Zetsu has been watching over it and Konoha is about to become stronger than any other nation."
Orochimaru raised a quizzical eyebrow. "How so?"
"It would seem that the Uzumaki clan had been running a project so secret that only one who survived the fall of Uzushiogakure knew of it." Pein stated. "The project was the Uzumaki Armour…"
"Uzumaki Hiro." Orochimaru realized. "Yes, I have perused his entry in the Bingo Books. His armour is certainly… intriguing."
"Except that he is no longer the wearer." Pein stated. "The wearer is the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi."
"Wait." Orochimaru breathed. "Are you telling me that the son of the Yellow Flash and the Habenero is using the Uzumaki Armour?"
"I am." Pein confirmed and Orochimaru growled.
"The armour is immune to the Sharingan." Pein added and Orochimaru jolted in shock. "In addition, a report from Wave indicates that it houses a chakra cannon capable of destroying a forest with a single blast."
"That… is quite a feat." Orochimaru admitted. "What is your plan, Lord Pein?"
"You will have your Oto Shinobi infiltrate the Konoha Chunin Exams, alongside my Ame shinobi. They shall map out any changes in the defenses of the village and when the finals are in progress, Konoha shall be reduced and the Great Five shall become the Great Four."
"Will you send one of your Paths to aid?" Orochimaru asked and Pein tilted his head before replying.
"I shall send one of my Paths to strike Konoha into rubble. In addition, my forces will aid yours in the attack."
"As you command, Pein-sama." Orochimaru said with a deep bow before his image vanished. As it did, a new image formed just to the left of Pein's.
"I still mistrust the snake, Lord Pein." The new figure said, its voice revealing it to be a woman and Pein turned slightly to look at her.
"So long as he knows that any attempt to betray me will lead to his final death, Orochimaru will remain, if not loyal, then at least obedient. He will not turn against me, for he values his life too much for that, Konan. Do not worry."
"I still do not trust him." Konan stated, then her shoulders slumped. "But as you say, he will be obedient. For now. But what if he manages to seize the Uzumaki Armour? The armour of your former clan?"
"No matter how powerful a weapon, it is the shinobi who wields it that gives it its true strength." Pain said as he turned to stare at the looming form of the giant statue upon whose finger his projection was perched. "Orochimaru cannot stand against a single one of my Paths, against all six, he could not hope to survive, even if he was wearing the Armour. I am not worried."
Konan opened her mouth to protest, then sighed. "As you say… Nagato."
As her form flickered out, Pein continued to stare at the giant statue before finally speaking.
"Four more years and all will be prepared for the opening of the Eye of the Moon. Four more years, and all will know everlasting peace."
For another long moment, Pein stood motionless in the silent cavern, then his projected form faded and the cavern was left once more in stygian darkness.
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Oorochimaru opened his eyes and a thin smile spread across his face.
"At last." He whispered to himself. "A chance to reclaim my archive."
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"Team Baki reporting as ordered, lord Kazekage." Baki said as he led his three genin in. The Kazekage nodded in greeting as the siblings lined up.
"I have summoned you here to inform you that you will be participating in the next chunin exam." He stated. "However, the exam is not your primary mission."
Gaara remained impassive while the other two shifted slightly, showing confusion.
"I have made contact with… an ally, and Konoha is going to be humbled at the finals, reduced so that it is no longer one of the Great Five. With Konoha all but destroyed, our Daimyo will have no choice but to fund us enough to raise us back to full strength, lest his country be sundered due to lack of protection. In addition, with Konoha unable to support the small countries on its borders, we will be able to seize the Land of Rivers with all of its resources and use it to strengthen ourselves further."
His audience remained silent and the Kazekage turned to face Gaara.
"Your mission is simple. You are to kill the user of the Uzumaki Armour, Uzumaki Naruto, during the actual exams. Do so under cover of the second stage, if you can, or in the run-up to the third stage. Failing that, he is to be your first target once the attack starts. Do not hesitate, do not falter, just kill him. You may also be called upon for another task in the finals, Baki will tell you your mission closer to the time."
"Yes, lord Kazekage." Gaara droned and the Kazekage turned to his other two children.
"As for you two, you will act as my eyes and ears in Konoha. When Konoha falls, there will be many clans seeking a new home. Report which ones are most likely to move to Baki and he shall approach them with an offer of sanctuary. The Aburame in particular would be a great asset to our forces."
"But… they're the natural enemy of us Puppeteers!" Kankuro protested and the Kazekage nodded.
"Indeed. But imagine a puppet that can deploy kikkai as it attacks, one that can inject the little bugs into an enemy. An Aburame Puppeteer would be an unstoppable force on the battlefield."
Kankuro slowly nodded. "Yes, Father."
"And imagine having the Hyuuga clan aiding us, sandstorms would no longer be an issue as they could use their eyes under a mask to see enemy-nin trying to conceal themselves." The Kazakage continued. "The Inuzuka ninken can aid in tracking fugitives across the desert… with the fugitives from the burned leaf joining our ranks, we will become the strongest of the new Great Four!"
The Kazekage turned and stared out of the window.
"And eventually, we will be strong enough to become the only Hidden Village in the world." He finished with a proud sneer. "The others will fall before us."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage." Baki said.
"Dismissed."
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"Fu!" Suiren shouted and a moment later, the Jinchuuriki landed in front of him, remaining on one knee and bowing as he had taught her.
"Fu is here." She said quietly and Suiren sneered at her.
"You are being given a mission." Suiren stated. "You will travel to Konoha under my command, along with two other genin, to compete in the Chunin exams."
Fu tilted her head slightly. "Fu does not understand… Fu is being given a chance to be promoted?"
"Konoha will fall." Suiren stated, one hand caressing the pocket in which the message that he had been given was stored. "Takigakure will seize the relics from Konoha's corpse and we shall use them so that we replace Konoha as being one of the Great Five."
"And Fu's orders are…?" Fu whispered.
"Obey the other two and survive the exams." Suiren sneered. "When they have the relics, you will use your Hiden Rinpungakure no Jutsu to cover their escape, then return here. Do you understand?"
"Fu understands." The Jinchuuriki said quietly and Suiren sneered again before vanishing in a shunshin. After he left, Fu stood with a wide grin on her face.
"Yes, Fu understands that she can join her niisan." She whispered. "Fu will become Uzumaki Fu of Konoha."
An excellent plan. Chomei said approvingly. But we should practice more for now. You have my wings, arms and face, but you need more if you are to fight against those who will be sent to control you.
Fu's grin turned feral, then she seemed to vanish in a blur of speed.
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Author's afternote – Fu's Level 1 technique can be found on my DeviantArt page.
And the location of Orochimaru's archive first appeared in the prologue…
