A/N: First, my utter, abject apologies for the wait... I've been bogged down with work (lots of it, working 2+ jobs, both of which require a fair bit of time), helping friends and neighbors move, and dealing with sick nieces and nephews in my little bit of writing time left. However, I did just post an update from my buffer on Sunday, and here's the (now finally complete) OH a couple days later.
As usual, the chapter title has a couple meanings, and a cookie to anyone who can figure out all of them this time. Hint: Four. Yes, four meanings, all at once. A new record for me (4 was my top, but never 4 meanings for just one word).

Hm... thanks, as always, to Mouse, my quick-working Beta, thanks for the many reviews and favs since I posted last (for any story), and so on... and review this one more, too. People keep telling me my stories should be in those groups that have 1000+ reviews or at least a lot more, but yet those same people don't review to get me there... Hint hint. :)

Enjoy!


Chap. 53 Sandstorm

The briefing was held a mere two and a half hours later, just enough time for Ino, Sakura, and Naruto to gather their extended-mission and combat gear, and rush to the center of Ootori. The staging area Shikamaru had directed them to was the only available space large enough to hold the throng of combat troops, and that only just.

And Suna has twice this number? We're screwed!

But he would never voice that thought, never even allow it to live for long. A lot of Suna's strength lay in their ability to adapt to various terrains and climates. Not just the desert, where they were the undisputed kings, but any climate and terrain. Even the arctic climes held more in common with the desert than the wind-swept crags of Kumogakure, yet even there stories were told of the things a Suna ninja could do using just a terrain advantage.

While they may not be used to trees, there would be no 'home field advantage' in this fight. At least, not from the field itself.

Then again, most of what they were facing were also not chakra-using fighters, but only highly-trained soldiers, rank-and-file combatants. The ninja forces Suna had arrayed against them, while a significant amount, was itself outnumbered twenty to one by Ootori's numbers... if only because Suna did not dare leave their borders and cities undefended, while the 'upstart' Hidden Village had nowhere else to go, and so were forced to commit all their forces to this battle.

It was a small battle just to force their way through the milling- though with purpose- crowds of men, women, children, some as young as eleven and as old as sixty or seventy, to the long line of registrations desks, where they were checked off long (but not long enough, Naruto knew, not for the long haul) lists of active combatants in Ootori's citizenry.

That process alone, the reporting for duty, being assigned their platoons, and being handed out small stocks- in line after endless, interminable line- of surettes for vaccinations, anti-toxins, and general healing promoters and anti-bacterials were foremost among those supplies, before being herded en-masse to the center of the large field between the Hokage's offices and the recently-finished Academy.

Naruto, surrounded by twenty men and women, mostly girls and boys, really, he didn't even know, alternately watched Tsunade and Jiraiya speaking with the other members of the Council, and used his height advantage to peer over the crowd for Sakura or Ino.
There were, he was glad to see, several glimpses of pink over to the right, where he knew the support corps were located. But even though Ino was taller, he couldn't make out her blonde, shining hair through the gathering clouds and dust raised by the army's feet on the still-grassless field.

And somehow, that worried him more than he could say.

"Alright, listen up," his mother figure's voice bellowed over the crowd once time, bringing an immediate shuffling of nervous feet as each and every person anywhere near the field brought their attention to her, their actions, no matter how important, coming to a halt.

"As many of you have heard, Suna's initial attack force crossed our border an hour ago, and they're still heading straight for us. Twenty minutes ago, a team of negotiators including Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hiashi left to negotiate a non-combat agreement... and to remind them that the old fart Kazekage's own daughter is here, and fighting with us!"

Tsunade's hand swept out to the side of the podium, where Naruto was surprised to see a now heavily-blushing Temari lift a weak hand in acknowledgment of the sudden cheers.

"However, I know old Tanaka pretty well, and I don't think he'll go for it... and nor does his own daughter. As a result, we're going to be ready to meet this invading force on our terms. The other Nations may think that Hi no Kuni is defenseless still, or that Ootorigakure is just a loose rabble of once-mighty Clans. But we aren't, are we?"

A resounding cheer of "No!" rang from the crowd, though Naruto himself was silent. What's the point of a motivational speech, Baa-chan? We know what we're fighting for...

"Besides," Tsunade continued, as if reading Naruto's thoughts, "this is our home! This is our land! These are our fields, our friends, neighbors, husbands, wives, and children we're defending! It doesn't matter that they outnumber us! It doesn't matter that they've had more time to train together!"

The crowd suddenly, for some reason Naruto could not comprehend, murmured in increasing agitation, "It only matters that we are the Phoenix! We have risen from the ashes of death, and if by some miracle we are defeated, we will rise again! The Will of Fire lives on, and we will not fail!"

Another cry, louder and longer than any before, rose from the gathered might of Ootori. Tsunade let it go on for several minutes, smiling widely, though Naruto knew the hint of darkness he saw in her eyes was worry. She hated, absolutely hated the very idea of war. She'd seen too much of it already. Truth be told, Naruto did too, but he was not about to let Ootori be destroyed... even if he had to do to this army what he'd done to Ishigakure.

No... what the Fox did to Ishi. That wasn't me, he reminded himself, It was the Fox... and he's never getting out again.

Somewhere, deep inside himself, there was a roar of defiance. It was, however, muted. Weak. Far-off, and, he knew, held chained by the very will he possessed.

In other words, the Nine-Tailed Fox was no longer just held by imagined (though powerful) seals of wood, root, and bramble... it was now also held by his mother's chakra chains, by iron, by earth itself, by the very power of his mind, and by the Will of Fire. It would not get free again. Not while Uzumaki Naruto lived.

"All right," Tsunade called out once the cheers had begun to fade, "You know your assignments and positions... get to it! We expect them to make first contact sometime after noon tomorrow, so you'd best be on your way to set up your camps and fortifications. Ninja and warriors of Ootorigakure!"

Once again, she had the attention of every person on the field.

"Remember what you're fighting for... I won't say good luck, because luck is a fickle bitch. I know that better than anyone. But I will say... For Ootori! For Hi no Kuni! For Home!"

Naruto's ears felt like they were bleeding when the cheering faded again.

"Alright, you guys," he said to his new platoon, "let's move out... grid 1-1-7, double-time. Move!"

(O)(O)(O)

Unfortunately, as Naruto found out, five members of his twenty (plus himself) man team were not ninja, and could not 'double-time' as a ninja could. In fact, the youngest was a boy no older than fourteen, and not a ninja at all. His only weapon was a small crossbow, what would be a hand crossbow on an adult, though he carried several dozen bolts for it and a determined expression.

The metal pot he wore on his head for a helmet kind of ruined the effect, though.

(O)(O)(O)

"Okay, team, everyone done?" Naruto spoke up once the entire group was settled around their camp's cook fire just after sunset, "It's time to get to know each other. I'll start, I guess, to show you what I mean."

Twenty faces looked up at him expectantly. Or at least, in an ideal world they would have. As things currently stood, however, only about half the faces were ready to listen. Of the remaining ten, they were perhaps divided between fearful, anxious even, or excited. In other words, having no idea how deadly war could really be. And unfortunately, Naruto knew, he was not the proper person to make them prepared. Especially not the fourteen year-old boy with the pot on his head, whose hands were shaking so badly his supposedly-calming tea was shaking all over the ground... and they did not expect combat until the next day.

"My name's Uzumaki Naruto. I was raised by two of the Sannin, and if I can say so, I'm damned good at what I do... which is beat people up. I've been told I have a bit of a martyr complex, but hey, when you can get stabbed in the heart and be fine ten minutes later..." Naruto shrugged, while the others, even the ninja, looked at him either disbelievingly or very impressed. "Anyway, that's not the point. I like Ramen, and my plan is to be the Nidaime Hokage, after my mom retires. So... I don't plan on letting anyone die. But this is still a war, and I can't guarantee anything. So watch your backs out there, just like I'll be watching them, too. I, uh... don't hate anything in particular except people telling other people how to live or think, or trying to force their beliefs on others in any way. Oh, and I love Sakura-chan, and Ino-chan, and Baa-chan, and Ero-sennin, and I guess I like Sasuke-teme and Shika-randa and Temari-chan. But mostly Ramen! All right, Spiky-kun, you're up next."

The rude, short-tempered, but (he'd heard) talented Genin who was apparently the grandson of Konoha's Sandaime Hokage (and who had protested most vociferously when he'd heard that he would be on the noisy blonde's team, and under his command), glared up at his immediate commander, but stood as Naruto sat on a quickly-summoned and -transformed shadow clone, leaving him with the only comfortable chair in the group... even if he had memories of sitting on himself for a couple hours, it was still worth it.

"My name's Sarutobi Konohamaru, and I'm the best ninja on this team!" the brunette, mask-wearing shinobi declared firmly, "I don't like Zankako-mesuinu, and Tenna-sama's a bitch, too," the white-haired young kunoichi next to him bristled at the first insult, and put a hand on her kodachi at the second to her aunt, but only huffed as the boy plowed on, "And I'm gonna be the Nidaime Hokage- and I'm gonna change Ootori back to Konoha, like Grandpa wanted, and like it belongs!"

Zankako waited until Konohamaru plopped back to the ground so that she could dig several long fingernails into his shoulder, rather painfully judging by the boy's wince, as she stood. "My name's Zankako-sama. You can call me Zan-sama to save time. Calling me anything else will be... unpleasant for you. And since apparently our commanding officer and this fool don't seem to know how this works, I'm a water- and earth-specialist as far as Ninjutsu, adept at Genjutsu, and can hold my own against a Jonin... although not Asuma-sensei in Tai- and Kenjutsu."

Naruto chuckled, "Oh, yeah, sorry... I'm a Wind-user, but I only have a few high-powered jutsu in that element since I wasn't able to train much in it while I was growing up. I'm good in Taijutsu, though Ero-Sennin can still flatten me, even with Shadow Clones, and I totally suck with Genjutsu. I can break out of anything I detect, though. No matter how strong it is. Oh, and I can summon about fifteen hundred Shadow Clones, though it makes me a bit tired for an hour or two."

The more knowledgeable ninja in the group, including those who had already introduced themselves, paled slightly.

"I, uh..." Konohamaru sputtered slightly, though Naruto noted with a smug grin he didn't retract his assertion of being 'the strongest ninja here', "I use Fire and Earth, like Tenna-sensei, and I know a bit of good Wind jutsu like Asuma-aniki. But I'm awesome at traps, and I know some super-powerful jutsu in Fire and Earth! And even a couple combo jutsu!"

A thin, petite girl stood up next to Zankako shyly, "I'm, um... not a ninja. I'm Shimi Karakui, and I, um... I am a good hunter. I make traps and hunt bigger game with my bow to feed my family... sorry I'm not more useful."

Naruto snorted as she sat, making her head fall further, but stared deeply at her, "Never sell yourself short, Karakui-san! We have to have someone who can read tracks on every team, it's an essential skill. If you can shoot, you can take down soldiers before they can kill us, right? And don't forget, laying traps is vital, too. You and Spiky-kun will be able to slow down and make the enemy suffer even if we have to retreat, right?"

The girl obviously felt a bit better after Naruto's words, though she was still filled with obvious fear and nervousness.

As the group continued to introduce themselves, Naruto's own worry grew, though he tried hard not to let it show. Not for himself; he'd been in a situation worse than this in Iwa, and had come out exhausted but unhurt. It was his team he was worried for...

"All right," he said about an hour after their dinner was finished, "Time for bed. Don't worry about a watch tonight, but after this we'll have to leave three people awake at all times to maintain combat readiness. Keep your gear close and ready to pack at a moment's notice, too... we expect their advance guard by noon. I'm gonna use the hundred or so Shadow Clones I have in the woods to keep watch tonight, but I'll need the energy tomorrow, so I can't do it after this. Anyway... turn in, try to get as much sleep as you can. I know you're nervous... but I'm gonna do everything you can to get you guys home alive. Promise."

(O)(O)(O)

"Good morning, everyone," Sakura explained to her reserve unit at their six in the morning briefing, "We're Team R3, and the primary non-critical medic team. Teams R1 and R2 are being lead by Lady Tsunade and Lady Shizune, respectively, and are the primary trauma teams. Everything that isn't life-threatening is coming our way first. If we get overwhelmed, they will go to R4 and R5 as needed for care. Expect to see a lot of broken bones, some cauterized limbs that will require operation, and lots of embedded shrapnel or weaponry that isn't going to kill the patient immediately- lower gut wounds will be the worst we see. Everyone with me so far?"

The rose-haired medic-nin was pleased to see that while her team of fifteen counting herself was nervous, most were too happy to be away from the frontline fighting to be too worried. There were only four other ninja on her team total, with five surgeons, and four more were at least dentists, though three of those five were practicing nurses or surgery techs. The people who handed the operating surgeon the equipment they asked for, anesthesia, and so on. It was a good team, Sakura knew, and one Shizune had worked with her to put together out of the available personnel, just like they had with the other teams. The only wild card she had to deal with was Hyūga Hinata. The girl was mild-tempered, she knew, but had also been pulled from the first night of her honeymoon to a wartime hospital set-up that she likely had no experience in.

Being a member of her Clan, and an heiress besides, she had at least minimal chakra training. Sakura had personally seen her use her family's combat style to disable Sasuke, who was as skilled in Taijutsu as Naruto himself... perhaps even better. But did that mean she could keep her composure? A hospital was not the front lines, but it had a high level of stress all it's own. Could she handle holding lives in her hands? Especially with what she was on the team for...

"Hy- Wait, my apologies," Sakura corrected, "Uchiha Hinata, you will be our primary Triage specialist. Incoming wounded will see you first. You are to use your family's dojutsu to analyze any injuries, and report, with the wounded, to the next available surgery team for operation and healing. Report the exact injuries with as much accuracy and detail as you can, then move on."

Hinata nodded resolutely.

Sakura gave her a small smile, "Finally, if me or one of the other surgeons asks, you are to assist in operations. The Byakugan is invaluable for a medic to have, since it can give us lots of information we can't tell even when operating. Are you up to that, too?"

Again firmly, Hinata nodded, "Yes, Sakura-san. I... am prepared. I may require rest at some point during the day or night, because I have not fully developed my chakra pathways, but have been able to sustain prolonged use of my eyes for up to four hours. It may be sufficient in smaller bursts."

"Good to know, thanks, Hinata-san. All right, Shizuka, Ayame, Tenchi, Kofuku, you'll be on tables two and three, and you can figure out who the surgeons are... a hint: They're wearing their kits already. Sukami, you're with me, by the way. Tetsu and Kenta on table four, and Ruri and Gina-san will float, assisting as needed. If we get really backed up, there's another table, but it doesn't have full equipment. It only has oxygen, blood, and IV units... though there's plenty of actual operation tools. I hope. All right... I think that's everything. Get something in your stomachs while you can... it's almost six-thirty, and even if we don't expect contact until noon, we might need all the energy we can get."

(O)(O)(O)

"I hate this," Tsunade said quietly, even earlier in the morning. She was naked, the stench of old sweat and sex surrounded her and her lover, while she nestled in his muscular arms.

Jiraiya grunted his agreement, but also muttered, "Not much choice... we knew what we were getting into when we decided to reveal the prophecy in the first place. Better now while we're here to guide 'em and keep them safe."

"Yeah... still hate it, though."

There was another sleepy grunt.

"I've gotta go, Jiraiya... I'm meeting my team in thirty minutes, and I need to eat."

"Mm..." he groaned, then reached with sure fingers between her legs.

She tried to resist, she really did. "Come on, you old goat! Again?! That's five times in a night!"

In response, one dark eye quirked open, "You think that's all I've got? Just one more for the road, just in case. I waited almost fifty years, I'm gonna make up for it while I can. You might have gotten younger, but I'm still almost an old man!"

Suffice it to say, it was a panting, sweaty (again) and still-smelly Tsunade that lurched, bleary-eyed, into the room of the hospital she had set aside for her team's meeting... fifteen minutes (and another session with Jiraiya) later.

(O)(O)(O)

Ino frowned at one of her teammates, and out-right scowled at the other. "How come you're in charge?" she asked the dark-skinned, darker-haired Chunin who had been put in command of their two-cell rescue team, while still glaring at the chubby, red-haired boy he'd quickly befriended.

The Yamanaka had to admit to herself that she might have liked the boy too, he was sarcastic and lazy, but also quick-witted and had a surprisingly deep sense of humor about him, had he not interrupted her sexy-time with Naruto before it had even begun. Why did life have to be so unfair? Sakura had known him longer, she'd gotten her sexy-time (Nine times! Nine! The gloating had been horrendous!), so how come Ino couldn't get hers? It just wasn't fair!

"Because of certain circumstances," Shikamaru said calmly, "beyond any of our control. Believe me, the last thing I want is to be responsible for your lives... but I am, so you'd better listen turns out our dads were a team way back in the day, yours mine and Choji's, here. Ino-Shika-Cho. Now, they expect us to work together again in this generation, I guess."

"But I already have a team!"

Shikamaru nodded, not bothering to look up at her, "I know, noisy woman! I know! It's just for the battle, not forever, geez! Calm down and quit yelling in my ear! We're supposed to be covert, you know?"

Ino sniffed angrily and turned her head away in a huff without deining to respond.

"Anyway," he said, "the Hokage felt that you deserved to be on this mission, because of those circumstances, but also felt that you shouldn't be in the lead for the same reason. I, however, am apparently a skilled tactician and strategist, even if it's entirely too troublesome, so I was put in charge. And I kind of promised mine and Choji's dad that I'd take the lead in rescuing the primary captive... your dad, Yamanaka Inoichi."

For the span of several seconds, Ino was certain her heart had stopped beating.

Her father couldn't have been captured, he was too good. Too strong. Too good. He'd mastered to the highest level every technique their family had! Every single one, including some that the Clan-at-large believed precluded one from learning the other of a pair if one was learned! How could he...?

No... it couldn't be true. There had to be a mistake. Naruto-kun had sexed her into unconsciousness, and this was all a terrible dream. That's it...

"I'm sorry," Shikamaru said with surprising sincerity, "but he is our first priority, and I promised. We're getting him out... and you're the key to that."

"I... I... huh?"

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, the genius explained, "Suna would recognize your father. He was famous in the last War, and did a lot to defend Konoha after the Fox attacked, even after most of the rest had already fled. Iwa and Kumo have a kill-on-sight order on him... but Suna has a capture order. They want him, need him alive. But they also know the Yamanaka and his abilities, so they'll have him under chakra-binders. We need you to contact him, using your own jutsu, to find out where he is in their camp, or if they've moved him already, where in Kawa or Kaze no Kuni he is, so we can intercept the group moving him. Our job is to get in, get your dad, and get out- not to get in a fight. Does everyone understand that?"

The other four members of the group, the chubby red-head, the tall brunette with chocolate eyes and several sealing scrolls on her belt, Tenten, the tall, longer-haired brunette who was the oldest son of the Hyūga Clan Head's twin brother, Neji, an Uchiha woman she didn't recognize a few years older than they but still a Chunin, a lanky, but muscular boy with a large, white-haired dog with hair slightly less shaggy than the boy's own, and a small, mousy-haired girl with thick glasses that warped her light blue eyes until they were almost unrecognizable.

"And who're you?" she asked that girl.

"I-I'm, uh... sorry, I'm not used to talking to people... I'm Shiho. I'm a cryptologist..."

One of Ino's eyes widened, and she sent a look to Shikamaru, who shrugged.

"If we're going into their camp anyway, why not take a look at anything we find? She's here so we can use it... she has an eidetic memory, so she has to go with us. She's a Genin... probably the weakest on the team, but highly essential. Just so the rest of you know, Yamanaka-san- the older one, our objective- and Shiho-san are mission-critical. The rest of us are to be sacrificed first, including the younger Yamanaka. Is that clear? Anyone who is unable to do that can report to the brig now so we can find your replacement."

For a brief second, Shikamaru was worried Ino would be doing just that, that for some reason she was unwilling to die for her father, when she stood.

Instead, and to his pleasant surprise, she turned to glare at the others seated behind her in the actual briefing room, "If you're in the room in ten seconds, you're staying. No backing out... there's no time to waste."

No one left, making both Shikamaru and Ino smile, both a little angry at the situation, and pleased that their hastily-assembled team seemed to be up for it. So far.

(O)(O)(O)

I should have known, Naruto groused to himself, and the day was going so well!

It had been. Breakfast had been a leisurely affair, with only a stiff breeze to remind them that they were not on a pleasant camping trip amongst somewhat antagonistic strangers.

But by the time it was over, the wind was howling, even without a cloud in the sky.

Five minutes later, while they were trying to break camp in preparation for combat, the first tent had blown away, ripped to shreds by a tree three dozen yards back toward Ootori.

"Hunker down!" Naruto had ordered his team, "Leave the tents! Nothing essential in there!"

To their credit, despite the reluctance in some to have him as their leader, everyone obeyed at once. Some ducked down behind wide trees, others in shallow depressions. Konohamaru and Zankako worked well together, and sunk themselves into narrow trenches which they then widened as they walked, pushing chunks of earth to either side as if parting simple sand with their hands, to connect them to each other.

Naruto had thought the nearly-instant trenches were a great idea.

Then the screaming started from the south end of the battle-line.

Ten seconds later, he knew why.

Vision had suddenly dropped from a dust-filled thousand yards to maybe two feet... and that only if willing to get hard, gritty sand in his eyes.

"Shit, they're coming!" he cried, knowing it was too late for many of their army, "They must have gone through the night!"

"Konohamaru, Zankako! Deeper! Dig deeper, we have to get as deep as we can, down to bedrock, and make a little bunker! Now, now, now!"

Brows furrowed in concentration, the two Earth users complied, and ten minutes of painfully load roaring, the screams of now-blind warriors, and all other sounds except their own breathing cut off with a quiet whump as the ground moved over their heads, leaving them in darkness.


A/N2: Not much to say, but there is a glossary. I'm going to 'try' to again have OH chapter this Sunday, but if that fails, I'm going to have to go back to a bi-weekly update schedule. If I'm not working too much, I have so much free time I almost can't help but update weekly (because I spend more time writing than all my other leisure activities combined), but the way things have been going... Anway, again review, folks... keep me motivated regardless of work to do that whole weekly-update thing. You know you want to. ;)


Glossary:

"Grid 1-1-7": That's a quote from a video game (amongst other places, I believe), and a second cookie- and an in-AN Shoutout or possibly in-story shoutout (as one of Naruto's squadmates) to anyone who can tell me what game it's from correctly. There's robots involved, and that's the only hint you get. Yes, that makes it hard- you'll get over it. On the other hand, it is an actual military (not a U.S. one, as far as I know) mapping style. It's not Cartesian, however... though it's similar if I'm using it right. From right to left (Japanese, remember, they read top down and right to left naturally), it's alphanumeric, 0-G (as in, Hexadecimal) for the first section, then from 0-G down in the second, and the third is a "Z-Axis" vertical/elevation indicator, where 9 is 'neutral', and as the numbers go up (through to G), elevation rises. Notice that's not 'sea level', just from the start point of whoever is running the mapping/scouting units in the command center. Yes, that's needlessly complicated... but there's a lot of anachronism in Naruto already, so... I'm just trying to simulate that.

Examples: Star Arc, either episode 182 or 183, it shows an oil-wick candle and a laptop on the very same bedside table. So... yeah. Not to mention cross-country power lines, air conditioning units... and no cars. But whatevs there, I just play in the sandbox. I'm not responsible for cleaning it. Lol

Shiho: Yes, that's 'canon' Shiho, with some assumed info. Yes, she's a cryptologist, yes she can (kind of) fight, but she's not going to be essential to the story- and won't even have a crush on Shikamaru in OH. Sorry, Shiho-shippers. I like her too, what little we know of her, but she's just not that important to the story, and OH is a monstrous beast as it is. Lol


Tally:

Just useful info for anyone that is interested:

As of this typing, One Hour (not counting any Glossary, which itself is turning into a good-sized file) is just onto page 998 in 12-pt Courier New (the default standard for measuring how a document would be in paperback). That's a thousand-page book... and I still have more than a dozen chapters to go by my count.

Also, word count: 239,108. It's not the longest story I've read (I actually just finished one that capped out at over a million words, nearly 1.25 mil, and is still just getting started), but it's up there.

And I started it... 08/2009. Wow, it's been that long? 2.5 years! Still, getting closer to done... I'm guesstimating having around 75 total chapters if the length doesn't go up or down too much.