Amidst the Hate: Chapter 54

"By the great Kami above, how have we NOT been to this establishment since we got here?!" exclaimed the second-oldest of the three apprentices between mouthfuls.

"Because we usually go right back to Minato and Kushina's house after doing anything, and we eat there most of the time...but I have to say, this is better than I thought it would be. By the looks of this place, you wouldn't expect something this well made to be put out so consistently and so fast." said Akira, who was eating at a far slower pace than his friend.

"I told you both Ichiraku's was great, but you didn't believe me! I think you owe me an apology!" scolded their small teammate, with two empty bowls stacked on top of each other in front of her.

"We don't owe you anything! Neither of us didn't know what to expect since we haven't had this place's food before, so excuse me for being wary."

"You should know by now if I have something positive to say about something, I'm usually right."

"...(sigh) you got me there, but my point still stands. It's food, not everyone likes the same things."

"...try telling that to Fu...and Sasuke...and Mito...and grandpa...and grandma...and-"

"I get it! I get it! Sheesh, you really want that apology, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Fine! I'm sorry for not believing you about Ichiraku's, now can we be done arguing and finish eating? I'm sure these two nice people would like us to pay them for their hard work." Haruka nodded, and once the duo downed the rest of their bowls, Ayame passed the axe-user his check. "Okay, four-hundred ryo...sounds about right." Reaching into his back pocket, he procured his bulging wallet full of the money Anza gave him, and gave the woman the payment plus tax.

"Wow, have we even used any of that before today?" asked Noboru.

"Nope. Today's the first day we've dug into it. We have a lot left to use…"

"Then why don't we go to the weapon shop and buy some supplies on our way back? We could always use more kunai and shuriken."

"Sounds like a plan." The three almost got up to leave, but the chef counting their money handed them a piece of paper, folded into a small square.

"Wait. I think this is for you."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, it was in the ryo you gave me."

Akira's eyebrows scrunched up, but he took the square nonetheless. "Well...thanks for letting me know. Have a nice day."

"You too."

With that little surprise out of the way, they left the ramen bar behind, and started their way back to their temporary home. "That's probably from mom. Could you unfold it? I want to see what's in it." asked the Uchiha.

"Yeah." Stopping in the middle of the road for a moment, he opened up the miniature package, revealing to them what was written inside.

'Hey, it's me. Just wrote this in case I didn't make one thing clear in my extremely tired state. As you know, you're not staying there forever, whether you want to or not, as your training isn't done yet and just the thought of all of you staying so close to my flesh and blood sister and our parent's makes my blood boil. You'll only be there for about a month, and when that time comes, I will show up to collect all of you, no matter what you're doing at the moment. Don't worry, I'll let you say goodbye and all that. Besides that...I don't think there's anything else I need to disclose. Enjoy your stay, make sure you keep up the exercises, tell Sasuke and Fu I said hi, and I'll see you all in thirty days. Sincerely, your sensei.'

"Huh...so I was right…but it would have been nice if she let us know about this before we left, though."

Noboru shrugged. "At least we know when we're going back. That gives us a definite amount of time to figure out the best way to phrase 'hey, we think it would be best if you came back to Konoha and fixed things with your family' without being punted back to Miramashi."

"I guess…man, this might be the hardest thing we'll ever do in our training, 'cause I don't think sensei will really listen to us."

"And that's why we have Haruka. She'll help us win over Anza-sensei." The dark-haired man turned to said girl. "Right?"

"Yep! Mom will certainly listen to anything I have to say. I remember her saying that my happiness is the most important thing to her, so if I say that seeing her family reconcile would mean the world to me, she'll at the very least consider and think about it."

Akira absently mindedly nodded at the reminder as he re-folded the letter and put it in his back pocket. "Yeah...she won't be able to ignore what we have to say if all of us think the same way. Okay...what were we doing? Oh, right, going back to the house. Let's go."


Not everyone was having an exciting day, or even a semi-eventful one. It was business as usual for the two gate guards Izumo and Kotetsu...and that means not a single thing was happening. "Why do we always take this job? Hardly anything happens besides our shinobi checking in to either report their return or telling us they're going out on a mission. We could be out there, doing jobs that could potentially improve the economy, or even relations with other countries." asked the bandaged one.

"Why are you complaining?"

"Because this is all we ever do now that the Chunin Exams two years ago ended. There is just more we could do besides sit here and write down who passes through."

"Kotetsu, what we do is so much more than simply watching the gate. We are the first line of defence if someone were to attack, the first to put our lives on the line in the protection of Konoha's citizens. Gate duty is one of the most important missions a shinobi could ever get, you should feel honored that the Hokage trusts us enough to let us continually take this job."

"I guess I see your point...I just wish that we could take a different job once in a while."

Izumo rolled his eyes. "We'll do a mission together when we get off gate duty later this week, if that'll make you feel better, alright?"

"That sounds great...but Izumo...I think someone's coming down the road." He pointed to the distance. "See them?"

The more serious of them squinted, and his friend was right. He could barely make out two dark outlines moving slowly towards them, but before he could see anything that could help him identify who they were, they vanished. "They're...gone? Maybe you're right...we might need to take a break from-" Without even being able to finish his sentence, a hand collided with his face and smashed his head into the back wall, sending small cracks splintering off the impact zone and knocking him out.

"IZU-" As quickly as the attacker neutralized his friend, a sharp object embedded itself into his neck, and the chunin lost all function in his body, making his cry die in his throat. Before he could hit the ground, a masked, green robed man appeared behind him, grabbed him, and threw him onto his shoulder.

"Now they can't call for backup...good. I don't need every ninja in Konoha to swoop down upon me just yet. You know what you need to do, take these men as hostages and start going to the destination. I won't be treated like a joke anymore." said the woman who took out Izumo.

"It will be done." Hearing the confirmation, the girl vanished again, appearing in front of a desk...and the Fourth Hokage, who after feeling her arrival, stopped looking over his papers and lifted his head, going wide-eyed once seeing the 'kari' and 'juyon' bearing mask and stark white hair.

"A-Anza?"

"...so I was right all along."

"...what?"

"For two years I mulled over what you said the last time we faced each other like this...two years I suffered for naught." Anza removed her mask, showing her father her normal purple eyes, but they were blood-shot. "I...wanted to be wrong. I wanted it to be true, that you didn't see me as...as some sort of spare, that you weren't lying when you said that I still held a place in your hearts...but now I realized...I'm nothing more than a problem to you, a threat to your rule. So I'm done skirting around the issue. I'm done with running, from hiding, from avoiding you any longer."

"What are you talking about, Anza?! What's going-"

"Silence. Wait your turn before speaking...Minato." The blonde felt everything he wanted to say leave his head at his daughter's saying of his name. "I tried to be someone that could be called...a hero. A hero that would always do their best to help the lesser man...but that all ends here. From now on, I'm taking up my new role…"

"W-what would that be?"

"...I am the villain of this story, what else could I ever be? This world continues to screw me over, to show me my path is wrong, so I'm finished with fighting it." She pulled a kunai out of one of her seals and stuck it right into the Yellow Flash's desk, next to his left hand. "Starting today...I'm declaring war on Konohagakure. I'm calling you out, and you better take me seriously, as I have two of your shinobi in my custody, and I'm fully willing to kill them and send their bodies back to get your attention."

"No...you didn't…"

"Oh yes, I did. You have three days: two to prepare, and on the third I expect you to show up to my choice of battleground. Bring as many of your shinobi as you want, I don't care anymore. As long as you are one of the men facing me on that third day, I'll stay complacent, but if you don't...I'll start burning down all of the Land of Fire until you decide enough is enough. So choose your poison...and I'll meet you where the Hokage and the greatest traitor held their final battle."

"Wait! Please, Anza, answer my-" Too late. As he reached out to grab ahold of her arm, she left him alone in his office in that void-colored Hiraishin, and for several seconds after, Minato just stared at where she stood. 'What...what just happened? I...I thought that from what Haruka, Akira, and Noboru have told me, she wasn't showing any signs of reigniting our conflict, much less declare war on everyone in Konoha!' He could feel his teeth start clenching in frustration, so he ran a hand through his spiky locks in an effort to settle down and sift through the new problem at hand. Minato didn't get much time to do that, though, as the kunai embedded into his desk started glow at the handle, and when he eyed it, he saw an explosive tag wrapped around it. 'Uh oh...' Without a second to waste, he launched out of his chair and broke through the window, crashing into the streets below. The sound of the tag releasing its stored up energy echoed above him, and in a matter of moments Anbu, civilians, and normal forces alike convened onto his position as he watched the top section of the Administrative Division burn.

"Lord Hokage, what happened?" asked a familiar scar-nosed instructor.

"...Anza happened…"

"What?!"

"I know…luckily there wasn't anyone on that floor besides me..." He shook himself free of his own shock. "Help get this fire under control. I...need to go home after what I just heard in there."

Iruka nodded. "I understand. We'll take care of this."

"Thank you, I'll make sure all of you get paid for your troubles." Minato teleported to his front door, where his wife was just leaving the house. Right before she could say anything, he held up a hand. "I'm okay, Kushina, but don't ask me what happened just yet. I'd rather everyone to be at home before I tell. It...will be much easier that way."

-a few minutes later-

"ANZA/SENSEI/MOM WAS HERE?! AND SHE DID WHAT?!" yelled Anza's former teammates, team leader, mother, and her students, making the older man wince from the sheer volume of their voices.

"Quiet down a bit, please...but yes, she was the reason for the explosion and the plume of smoke coming from the Academy."

"But...but why...why would she do that? Did she say?" asked Haruka, getting a shake of the head.

"No, not at all. All she did was ramble on about how she was right all along, that she was done running, and how she's going to be embracing her new role as a villain. Then she declared war on us, and now I have to meet her in three days."

"That makes no sense...she has no reason to attack Konoha...something's wrong! I know it!"

"That's the feeling I was getting, but she didn't bother to explain what's caused her to become hostile, so I'm left with nothing to go on."

"Where is she wanting you to go to?" asked the redhead.

"She said 'where the Hokage and the greatest traitor held their final battle', so my guess would be the Valley of the End...an unfortunately fitting place, and to make matters worse, if I don't show up at all, she will start killing people until I do...so I'm going to classify this as an S-Rank mission, and I'm going to bring a team with me so I can lower the risk of her dying while trying to win."

The flame-colored Noboru stood up, and put a hand on his chest. "Then take us with you! I know if she saw us with you, she won't risk us being injured, giving us the time we need to get her back to her usual self!"

The Hokage pinched his nose. "...I'm sorry, but no."

"Why?!"

"Because the risk is too great. We don't know what's wrong, or even if something is wrong. For all we know she's somehow being mind-controlled and won't be able to tell if you are really who you are, so while we're dealing with this, you will remain here, away from the fight." Knowing that what he was saying was logical, the sword-wielder plopped back down on the bed next to Akira, muttering 'damn it'.

"Mind control? Minato, that doesn't make any sense either. Anza can't be put under a genjutsu, not with her Sharingan and the biju she has." reasoned the eldest Uchiha.

"I know it sounds unlikely, but we have to consider everything, Sasuke. At this point, nothing is impossible. Now, I do have a question for you, Fu, and Mito: will you join me in detaining Anza?"

"Are you kidding?! Of course we will! We would go with you even if you didn't ask!" exclaimed his blonde daughter, getting him to nod.

"I figured as much. Kushina, what about you?"

"Gladly. It would seem as if our daughter needs some tough motherly love, and I would be more than happy to give it to her. Are you going to ask Kakashi, as well?"

"Yes. He wouldn't want to miss this chance at bringing her back."

Mito put a hand on her chin. "That would make a six-man team...hey, dad? Can any more join?"

"The more we have to divert her attention, the better. Who do you have in mind?"

"I think it's time the Rookie Nine got together again."

-three days later, Valley of the End-

On the coast on the Land of Sound's side, Anza and Haku sat next to each other, eyes closed as if they were meditating for the oncoming battle, while their hostages were lying behind them, unconscious due to the needles in their necks. "...are you scared, Anza?"

"...no. I am not afraid of the storm that comes our way. The only thing it'll do is make us stronger than before."

"You know that if we do this, there's no turning back. We will never be hired again, as our names will travel throughout every country."

"I know...but I don't care. The world has been against me from the start...a few countries won't make much a difference to me. I'll stand against them all if I have to."

"So we're prepared to deal with the consequences of our actions?"

"...no, but I'm certain that we can get through them." The snow-haired teen opened both eyes, Sharingan activated for combat. "They're here." No sooner than she said that her father dropped onto the opposite side, next to Hashirama's statue, followed by her mother, Kakashi, her teammates, and her old clan heir friends. "So...you've come after all."

"What else was I suppose to do, Anza?! You threatened Konoha and the entire Land of Fire with death! I wasn't going to let you murder innocent lives just so you could get a chance to fight me!" yelled Minato.

"Indeed, what else could you have done?" Anza and Haku both stood up, and with a small wave of her hand Kotetsu and Izumo vanished from sight. "And you've brought my graduating class with you. Smart."

"Where did you send them?"

"Oh, the gate guards? Back to Konoha. You're here, so I have no need for them any longer. Is this everyone?"

"Yes. We won't need anymore to beat you."

"So you think...better make sure that you protect them with all you have, because I won't be holding back." Simultaneously, the mercenary duo vanished, and reappeared on the top of the stone Madara's head. "Let's get one thing straight...after today, there will be no more fights between us. This...is our final battle!"

"Sounds good to me!"

"Excellent! Haku, let's show them what we can do!"

"Very well!" He began going through hand seals...with one hand, an action that his leader mimicked, and they ended on the 'tori' seal. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Lava Release: Magma Dragon Bullet!"


A.N.: Almost an entire week since the last update...sorry, I had a surprise family reunion, and I opted to spend some time with them.