A/N: Erk... my utter, sincere apologies? I know, no one wants to hear it, but I've still been working tons of hours (got $100 more the last paycheck than I've ever gotten previously from this job, so... that should indicate how much, since I get paid very little. Just over min. Wage...) That makes me not sleep, which makes me tired, which makes me not write much. Hard to write when you can't string a coherent sentence together verbally, or even in your head.
But, it's here now... and while it's not by any means 'all' of the Suna battle, it's most of it... though it's off-screen for the moment. Only a few key parts are covered here, and that's mostly lead-up, but there will be more in-depth and more of it next chapter. That should also wind up the Suna part of this whole fiasco... for now. They aren't totally done, but as a combative force they will be.
Anyway, I've rambled enough, distracted you (if any of you even read these) from the update long enough. Thanks to Mouse, sorry again it's (very) late, and enjoy!
Chap. 54 Obfuscation
"How's everyone doing?" Naruto asked, voice tense as he struggled to get a flare lit in the complete darkness, "Anyone hurt? Sound off."
It took several seconds longer than it should have, and three of his team reported injuries, but at least everyone answered under their own power. That's something.
"All right," he cheered quietly to himself as the flare sparked and lit, bathing the small, spherical chamber Zankako and Konohamaru had created in the earth for them. The two younger teens were slumped together in the central lowest point of the space, back to back and breathing heavily.
"You two did good... take a breather. Maybe eat and drink, if you can stomach it. Or wait a few minutes until you calm down."
The two normally antagonistic Genin shared, over their shoulders, a pleased look. Naruto wasn't sure if it was reacting to his praise, or realization that they had, in fact, saved several lives with their hard work. Not that it really mattered... they deserved to be happy about something.
Was I ever such a pissy teenager at that age?
(O)(O)(O)
Elsewhere, a certain white-haired Toad Sage experienced an unnerving flashback to Naruto's 'troubling teens', which, fortunately, did not distract him too badly from the battle he was fighting himself. "Stupid brat, bothering me even when I'm working..."
(O)(O)(O)
"Okay, most of my clones have been taken out by the storm, so we're probably going to be blind for a bit as to what's going on up there... at least we aren't fighting Iwa, so it's not likely they'll have the Earth-style specialists to keep a careful watch underground. That means we've got a few minutes to tend to injuries. Who's got medical training?"
Two hands went up, besides Naruto's, but one of them was the injured Karakui, the hunter-trapper girl. "I- I know basic first aid, but..."
Their leader looked her over, "But you have a sprained wrist... gotcha. We'll be alright, I think. Just one broken bone, and Shuki-san's a qualified med-nin, right?"
The young man in question nodded, "Yes... it shouldn't take more than an hour for me to knit it back together. Bring me your arm, Karakui-chan, and I'll do that first... it should only take a minute. I'm afraid more superficial injuries will have to wait."
Naruto nodded at the scowling, dark-haired young man who was holding a patch of his shirt to the bloody gash on his cheek, "Sorry, Minamoto-san... he's got to save his chakra for real needs. I can stitch that up, if you want... but I'm not an expert."
The vain young man's face paled further still, and he backed away shaking his head. "N- No! That's all right... better a scar then an ugly scar!"
Several of the others in the spherical space snickered, including Naruto.
Got to relieve their tension and fear somehow...
"So, I guess I have a plan... once Prince and Princess here recover," Konohamaru scowled at the new nickname, but at least it was a step up from 'Spiky', "We're still going to wait until the front line passes us by. Then we'll come up underneath or behind 'em. Those that can lay traps will for when we force a retreat, the rest will prepare to flank them from behind.
"So fire support and heavy combat guys, get ready... probably take an hour or so. The trap-makers should start getting things set up, as much as you can prepare ahead of time, so we can basically just slap the traps on and go. Sound like a plan?"
There was a rush of agreement and understanding, though the latter was mostly from the older members of the team, those who were aware enough to appreciate what Naruto was doing: Keeping them too busy to work themselves into an emotional frenzy.
"Okay, that's it, then. Oh, if Ootori starts to push them back- which doesn't seem likely with that storm being maintained- we'll still pop up and help. Otherwise, our main target is the group of ninja who're keeping that storm going. Clear?"
(O)(O)(O)
Orochimaru scowled. Things were not going according to plan... "Kimimaro," he hissed at his lieutenant, "why are they not ready, yet?"
The pale-faced and white-haired young man frowned to himself, as well, "I have not... been able to ascertain, Lord Orochimaru. I reminded the men that everything had to be perfect, that each and every name given was to be gathered, that the rituals had to be done flawlessly... but the numbers are only about half what was required."
Golden, slit-pupiled eyes slid from his protege and possible future vessel to the rank upon rank of bodies in the chamber below the walkway they were standing on, "What is the new projected completion time?"
Kimimaro shook his head, "My apologies, Lord Orochimaru... I am not certain. The last figure I heard was a week from today."
There was a quiet hiss, "I see... you have four days, Kimimaro. Use the rest of the Sound Five, and... motivate them. Get it done... our window of opportunity is small enough as it is."
The white-haired young man nodded, scratching once more at the ever-present itch where his lord and master had given him his Seal... and then upgraded it beyond any others, and in so doing, gave Kimimaro the means to both save his life, and keep him useful to his master...
Eternally useful.
After all... an illness that could kill a ninja of any strength... can't kill a man who's already dead.
(O)(O)(O)
Nara Shikaku frowned. The enemy force's tactics were basic, yet highly effective. The majority had simply swept in through the tail end of the storm their Genin and probably at least half the Chunin had maintained for a day or two, carrying it with them from the edges of the dunes to the southwest.
Unfortunately for the Ootori defending force, the Kaze no Kuni interlopers had aimed and timed the attack perfectly, allowing them to sweep into and over the center of the defensive line with minimal losses on their side.
To make matters worse, the more powerful Chunin and Jonin ninja, as well as two units of archers, had moved to the southeast of the defense during the storm, had come around to flank the second line, and were currently in the process of decimating the command structure for the southeast wing of their own forces. His own son, he knew through contact with his old friend's daughter, had gotten through behind the enemy lines, and was currently in the process of infiltrating the enemy's own command tents in a gamble to rescue Inoichi. On one hand, they were apparently the safest unit in the army, since the Suna forces apparently had yet to detect them. On the other, they were totally cut off, and if they were detected, it would probably be the end of them.
But there was something else, something he was missing... and all his experience and tactical skill wasn't telling him what it was.
Their second and first lines were under attack already, and only the medical relief and support tents were left, but... Yes. That had to be it... if the enemy's right wing had swung around to flank them, no doubt the left would be doing the same shortly later, after they committed to defending their left... leaving the medical tents defenseless.
"Sarutobi-san! Get word to Tenna's force immediately, they are to divert northwest, to quadrant 1-2-6, and intercept a possible force moving for our support units! Your unit will move to reinforce the southeast after they are on their way!"
The oldest living member of the Third Hokage's family nodded curtly, throwing his cigarette into the dirt as he left the command post, giving a single gesture to the squad of Jonin he commanded, some that he knew from childhood, before the destruction of Konoha, and some of which had been promoted while he was in hiding with the remaining family of the old Hi no Kuni Feudal Lord.
(O)(O)(O)
A man frowned. This, despite assurances that everything would go well, that the enemy was unprepared, unfortified, that their defensive lines were amateurish at best, was taking too long. He was a little on the short side, with thick, brown hair that fell in thick locks to his shoulders. Over his armor was a white robe with light blue accents, a wide, mostly-white conical hat sat on his head, the kanji for 'Wind' emblazoned on the front.
"East, report," he commanded softly.
A few seconds later, the comm unit in his ear crackled to life with a hint of static, and the feeling of wrongness intensified. The sound of battle was thick. The sound of killing, less so. Especially since this was a long-range combat unit, and they should not have been in close combat to begin with. Surely, the enemy hadn't known they were coming?
He knew the plan was simple... rush under cover, divert with a flanking maneuver, and send a second division to flank on the opposite side a short while later, as soon as the first and second groups were engaged.
That did not mean it should have been easy to counter. While Ootori's pathetic standing force might have twice the ninja his 'training force' had, the Kazekage's army was much larger overall, and his men were largely better trained.
Yet... "Damn that girl," he whispered as the Captain in charge of the long-range units finished his report, "Traitorous bitch... leave your father, your brother, and your whole nation behind to chase after a phantom from the past... We needed your help, Temari, to keep Sunagakure strong!"
And, while he was loathe to admit it, they really did. True, wind-specialist ninja in Suna were a zeni a dozen... but his oldest child and daughter was good. Truth be told, in the last couple of years she'd passed him up in long-range attacks, and the only reason he hadn't suggested she try for Kazekage was because she still had weaknesses up close... weaknesses his Gold Dust jutsu could exploit to the fullest. Kankuro... he was just as skilled in their nation's other main style, the Puppet Master techniques, but lacked certain... qualities. Qualities necessary for being a good Kage.
Motivation, for instance, to do something besides tinker with his weapons and nudey mags.
Tanaka sighed. This might be more trouble than it was worth... but they had to try to seize the opportunity. The other, larger Hidden Villages would certainly attack soon, and Suna could not stand up to Iwa or Kumo right then. Oto, yes, and maybe Kiri, but... they had to strike while the iron was hot, so to speak. A thumb on the control set created more static. "Squads nine and up... double-time. The long-range squad is heavily engaged. Your time-line is now critical. Engage support units ASAP."
"Aff," was the half-word reply. Tanaka nodded... at least some of his commanders were still both loyal and capable. Kankuro and Baki would make short work of the relief units, and that would make the overall battle for the upstart Village much, much harder for the defenders.
"Now," the Kazekage said, voice dripping with barely-controlled frustration, "let's see what our spy has to say..."
(O)(O)(O)
If they had but known it, the Jonin kunoichi the Kazekage had been griping about was a safe harbor in the storm of sand the Suna ninjas had brought in to mask their forces and provide an additional layer of assault against Ootori.
True, she was panting and sweating with exertion, but to the four or five dozen Genin, Chunin, and Jonin around her, the Kazekage's daughter was swiftly proving her true loyalties. They had been attacked my no less than sixty trained combatants, mostly heavy troops of the type Suna didn't usually favor for 'expeditionary forces', but nonetheless well-trained, well-equipped, and capable of taking down ninja en masse. That is, if they had not been going up against ninja of their skills.
Because while Temari was reluctant to attack her own countrymen, which showed in her purely-defensive moves until now, she did not hesitate to defend herself or others, either. She had hoped to convince the enemy leaders to release their captives, if any, and return home... convince them she was here of her own will, not a prisoner or under duress.
But the sandstorm had struck quickly, twenty minutes before the first wave of men had, so there had been no chance for parley.
As a result, she had spent a good deal of her chakra reserves just keeping the storm at bay. It swirled around a quarter-mile stretch of the rocky terrain, broken only by scraggly trees and a few bushes, that sat on the border of the Land of Fire, and the Land of Rivers. Swirled around them in a tornado, a cylindrical, spinning wall of sand more than a mile high. But inside that thin tube, the only wind moving was that caused by jutsu or the movements of bodies inside it as the people fought.
And the Ootori defenders were doing pretty well, all things considered. There had been a few injuries among the fresher Genin, but because they could see, they could fight back... and as far as Temari could tell from her vantage point atop a rocky spire, no one on the Phoenix's side had died. The loss of life on Suna's side was depressing, but they were the aggressors, here.
Their blood was on her father's hands, not Ootori's.
"Okay, time to mix it up a bit," she sighed, debating taking one of Sakura's special Soldier Pills before using the technique. She'd been assured the after-affects and side-effects would be minimal, yet that it would provide more than half the boost normal pills did.
It was a risk... after all, right now, Temari didn't need the chakra. But there was a good chance she would later, and even the best pills took a few minutes to really kick in.
But if it didn't work...
"Screw it," she muttered, tossed the large, brown-black ball into her mouth, and chewed.
Then her face scrunched up in distaste, even as she could feel the liquid center start to ooze down her throat, and chakra begin to flood her system.
Ten seconds later, she'd forced most of it down... only to vomit it back up. There was, indeed, a large chakra boost... but damn, those things were nasty! "Tch, fine," she grumbled, taking a swig from her canteen and checking the battlefield once more to see where she could do the most good.
The storm would be at bay for at least another minute, at the rate her chakra was being drained, so she could afford to turn some to offense now before having to redo the cyclone jutsu.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Kamatari!"
A moment later, with a shrill cry of, "Itachiiii!", a black-and-white blur streaked from the small cloud of smoke, accelerating to speeds almost impossible to see within moments. Two minutes later, when Temari had finished the jutsu ritual which would keep the defensive cyclone going for another ten minutes yet again, there were no more Suna attackers in fighting shape... and her summons appeared to have obeyed her command for non-lethal attacks, because it was smirking confidently when it appeared before her again.
"Good job, Kamatari," she wheezed, "you can go back home... I'll probably need you again later, though."
The weasel gave a quick salute and a bow, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
All around the circle of clear land, the Ootori forces were binding or capturing the wounded, treating those with more lethal wounds, even on the Suna side. This would help their position immensely... if the Kazekage ever heard of it.
Too bad he was probably safely at home, avoiding any possible hint of impropriety...
(O)(O)(O)
A long, long way to the northwest, an old man fumed. "How dare they... leave my city in a mess... leave it infested with vermin... kill hundreds, hundreds of my shinobi with just a small force... I'll make them pay. They're all going to pay!"
With a mighty roar, the man sent a fist flying into the stone pillar that marked the mass grave for those which had died in Yugito, Naruto, Temari, Ino, and Sakura's combined attacks on his Village. The Tsuchikage, white robes grayed by the dust from the falling pillar, strode from the cemetery, issuing orders in a gruff voice as he did so, "Get that thing fixed! And get the Council ready! We're going to war!"
There was a subdued cheer... many in Iwa, who had watched the ceremony just as he had, wanted vengeance for the deaths of their countrymen, family, sons, daughters, husbands, mothers, brothers, and sisters.
And he would give it to them... one way, or the other.
(O)(O)(O)
An equal distance from Ootori, but north-northeast, a much larger man frowned in disappointment. "They aren't ready? Still... not ready? It's been two weeks!"
The also-large, but not nearly as-large, white-haired, dark-skinned man nodded, "My apologies, Lord Raikage, but there were... incidents, in the supply distribution. It seems we had been infiltrated, and someone was able to sneak large numbers of white-clay explosives into them... which were remotely detonated, all at once. I'm not sure how it was done, but I have my suspicions."
"White clay, you say?" Ei asked, voice dropping another octave into the truly threatening range.
Darui nodded, "Yes, sir."
With a sigh, Ei leaned back in his chair, and the other man breathed a sigh of relief, "We can't do anything to Iwa just yet... Jiraiya and Naruto-kun both told me they suspected a rogue member of that Clan had joined up with the Akatsuki. It might have been him... I don't see Iwa daring to make such an attack against us in their current disorganized, or weakened, state."
Darui nodded again, but said nothing.
"Still... send a message to the Tsuchikage, whoever he is. Still haven't confirmed if Oonoki lived or not?"
This time, the other man shook his head, "No, sir. Not much word has been coming from our contacts in Iwa. It's possible they were injured or killed in the attack by the children, but more likely they're just laying low for the time being."
Ei didn't bother responding, he'd already surmised as much. "Tell him or her that I want answers... and if they aren't to my satisfaction, I will send my men to defend our new allies, Ootori, and that I will attend to the Iwa matter, if there is one, personally."
"Yes, sir!" Darui said, with a powerful salute, "Shall I tell Bee to be ready to defend the city?"
After a moment's thought, Ei nodded, then rose from his desk to stare out the window, "He is not to leave the city limits under any circumstances while I'm gone. I don't care how much he doesn't like it. His place, while I'm gone, is here. Yugito's alive, from Ootori's reports, but has elected to stay there to help them defend against Suna. But that means Bee's the only one left, so he doesn't have a choice."
A part of Darui wanted to tell his leader that they, the elite Jonin of Kumo, would be more than enough to defend their home... but he also didn't want to be punched by the Raikage, who was the only living ninja the legendary Fourth Hokage had actually respected in battle.
With another salute, the Jonin Commander was gone, leaving the Raikage to stare out over his village, mind racing.
Would it be enough? Had their preparations, years in the making in some instances, be enough? Or would they fall like a house of cards, after the other nations turned on them as they had on Hi no Kuni?
But what choice did they have? Things couldn't remain as they were... Oto was too treacherous, but gaining too much power too fast. In one short decade, they had gone from the weakest of the 'Five Great Villages' to the fourth of five. Two years later, they had gone to the third. Now, arguably, six years after that, they were number two... although neither Kiri nor Iwa would admit it.
But Kiri had been embroiled in a civil war, a very bloody civil war, for decades. Iwa had just had a major ally in Ishi decimated by a single ninja, and then lost, if the initial reports were true, nearly an eighth of their force in an attack by a few more ninja plus the Ishi killer.
A ninja, Ei was pleased to note, who had been a staunch ally of Kumo ever since the snot-nosed brat had been placed on Ei's knee during yuletide of his ninth year, and been told by his adoptive father to tell 'the old man' what he wanted for presents.
And, against his better judgment, Ei had done his best to deliver, too. That kid...
Sure, he had wiped out an entire, if small, Hidden Village alone. Sure, he'd fought back against some of the giants of the contemporary ninja world and won. But...
The fate of everything rested on him.
How did Ei know this?
Simple, really... Namikaze Minato hadn't just respected Ei as an opponent... they had a small friendship. If Ei had friends at all, Minato would be one were he alive. True, it was a friendship based on antagonism, on rivalry, but...
When your rival stoops to ask for your help, to ask you to keep an eye on their son once they're gone... what do you do?
"Damn it," Ei grumbled to himself, "You help the kid... no matter what it costs."
All indecision gone, he turned back to the desk, and summoned Samui and her team. He would, after all, need 'escorts'... if they could keep up.
(O)(O)(O)
"All right, Shikamaru," Ino groused, "When are we moving out?"
An eye cocked open, "In a few minutes. We're safe, for now... you sure you don't want to find your dad?"
With a frustrated sigh, Ino explained, again, "I can't from in here! I'm not that good at the jutsu, and going through the walls of... whatever this is, isn't working."
The Uchiha woman, Henna, answered the unspoken question quietly, "It's stone, Yamanaka-san. A special kind of stone that blocks Chakra. Sensor-types won't be able to tell where we are, so only a unit specifically stumbling across us in the storm would be able to pinpoint us. The only downside is that we won't know if they are out there, either. We should be ready for a fight."
The others nodded grimly. The red-head, slightly chubby young man started stuffing his face faster with one hand, while the other worked to loosen the straps on his customized armor.
The black-haired, lanky one with the big, white-furred dog smirked, "Gonna do us some damage, right, boy?"
Lazily, Shikamaru's hand whipped out to slap the other boy on the back of the head, all without opening his eyes or taking his head away from the wall of the artificial structure, "This is a covert mission, Inuzuka-san. If you and Choji are going to 'do some damage', please do it after we've rescued Yamanaka-san."
The others chuckled, but Ino only scowled at the dog-ninja. If he ruined their insertion... ewww! She hadn't meant it like that! Eww, eww, eww! Dog-breath, and dog- Ewwww!
A/N2: Not much to say... next chapter will be as soon as I can get it written and edited. That might be a few days (I have tomorrow off, too! Yay!), it might be a month. Can't say, unfortunately, because it looks like my hours are sticking where they are for a while. More money for me (I could use it), but less time to write (which sucks).
I'll have to deal either way, though.
Until next time, kiddies, don't forget to read and review!
