Chapter 31: A Race Against Time…The Shadow's Test

[Witcher OST: Seeking Resonance]

Within the Hidden Nations, the leaders of the Free People's looked upon the carnage that was left behind by the Dark Lord and his vampiric mistress. Bodies were drained to the point of severe dehydration. And those were the least gruesome deaths. Bodies ripped apart and their innards spilt. Bones snapped open and the marrow cleaned out.

The deeper they went in, the worst the carnage was. All the way to the woman's cell where they found the first victim mummified.

As they turned and began to head out they now saw a certain…aspect of the killing.

From the beginning, it was like a starved predator, feasting until its belly was near the point of bursting. But as the hunger was satiated…the gore changed.

Where there was once torn flesh and picked bones, it slowly shifted to a different kind of hunt.

One of Sport.

Guards and prisoners alike had fear frozen in their eyes as their throats were ripped open, claw marks where the blood would poor out just slow enough for prey to try and escape before they were hunted down by this demoness.

In fact it wasn't until this stage that they found blood left behind.

As they made it back out into the prison yard they saw the bodies being gathered by the Shinobi, with the last victim still left alone. With a somber look the Raikage knelt beside his Anbu and closed her eyes.

"I will find that bastard and destroy him!" he snarled quietly. Whether she heard this or via her own venting of rage, Tsunade's fist slammed against the doorway. Hearing the sudden noise caused every Shinobi to draw their blades. However upon seeing the source they slowly resumed their tasks.

As Shizune calmed her, the other leaders looked to the woman with sorrow in their mind. Along with a fair amount of fear. Even A had to admit that he feared her heart brokened wrath should she turn it upon him and his people.

Mithrandir's calm and kind voice reached through her grief and spoke to her, "Come my dear, I know your grief is great, but your people need their leader."

Tsunade looked to the kind smile and blinked the tears away, "Come."

Though they were silent until they reached the Raikage Council Room, their minds were far from quiet. The moment those doors closed, their voices rang through the room.

"Now, let us discuss what we know," Elrond began, "The Dark Lord waited until this moment, weeks after he escaped, to return for her. Why?"

Eltariel's information, "From my time watching the world, I have seen his dark hand alter and corrupt many a people, but it wasn't until this Age that the Bright Lord truly came out of hiding.

The bloody history and incredible power that mankind now possesses makes it the perfect time to take over the world. So much strength…yet so divided.

"But why kill Naruto in the first place?" Onoki asked, "We are missing something…"

Makarov stood upon the table, stroking his beard as he processed, "Perhaps he gained some knowledge that revealed the young man's connection with his Celestial self.

"And tried to kill him in order to stop his ascension?" Jura asked, but

Eonwe spoke at this, "No, that would be beyond the elf lord. Perhaps he saw him as a threat…he had already made himself quite the formidable warrior. Perhaps he worried about dealing with both mortal and maiar forms of his sworn enemy."

"Whatever the case," he continued, "If Mankind can face Sauron and Celebrimbor, than the White Council will guide them to victory."

Jura seemed to catch the unfinished statement, "And if we are not…"

Then the Hosts of the Valar will come down to destroy him and all of hordes.

At hearing this, all of the leaders went wide eyed at the concept, one that had Temari, who was standing in for her brother, rather angry.

"You mean to tell me that there is an entire ARMY up in Heaven ready to take him down!?" she snapped, "Why the hell won't you just call them down now and deal with HIM!?"

Before anyone could speak, Kankuro came to her sister and calms her, "Take a breather sis, I'm sure that there ate plenty of reasons."

As Onoki floats beside her, he painted the picture for her, "Think about it child…An ENTIRE ARMY of beings as strong as Sauron and Eonwe. The world would be scarred like the battles of Madara and Hashirama a thousand times over!"

Now she understood, and even in her rage she felt the horror at the truth. Now it was Makarov who spoke about such implications.

"Even our side of the world hasn't been plagued on that scale since the time of dragons," his mind flashed back to the dragons that attacked the capitol city…then the Anologia, "If such carnage could sweep across all of our world, we have no choice but to fight with all we have without him."

Now the group could comprehend why the White Council and before that the Council of Istari existed and why they don't want to resort to the

It would be the end of life as they know it.

They were all silent for a moment. As Tsunade leans against the table her hand brushes against the message sent to them by Sai. They had been so shaken and caught off guard by the attack, they had failed to see the rest of the words materialize upon the page.

As Tsunade picks it up and begins to silently read, and as she does they go pale.

"Gods no…" she mutters loud enough for the others to hear.

"What is it Lady Tsunade?" Mifune asked, the group turned to her, with wide eyes she turned from the scroll to tell them.

"Naru-…He's conquered all but the Northern Tribe of the Elemental Nations," she began, causing them to go wide eyed, "A new force of magicians, an entire empire's worth have joined him."

Makarov muttered a certain Black Wizard's name hearing this.

"And…someone or something called Gothmog has joined him."

Now the White Council, who normally were the calmest minds of the group were filled with eyes of terror.

Galadriel, "How is that even possible? She turned to her fellow Eldar, "Does your foresight confirm this?"

For a moment his eyes were closed, then he witnessed the truth: a beast of shadow and flame, with a city burned and melted away.

Elrond's eyes widened in horror as he returned to the present, "The World is Doomed…"

The Kage grow worried as their once calm advisors were now hearing as if the end was already upon them.

Mei's own confusion got the better of her, "Who is this 'Gothmog'?"

Elrond turns to them, "He is the leader of the Balrogs,The Demon's of Might. They are seven in total. And Second only to Sauron himself in might."

Balrog was a term that they knew, and the expression on their face explained the rest. The Blade spoke to give them an understanding.

"Only the White Wizard and the hero Glorfindel have defeated the Balrogs alone," she said looking upon the group from her seat, "Excluding the Bright Lord, the Dark Ranger with the Carnan. It took the Host of the Valar to take on the rest."

At this the group turned to them, "The Dark Ranger?" asked Tsunade, the woman turned to her.

"The first vessel of Celebrimbor, a brave Ranger who stood against Sauron with the Bright Lord. And when he was betrayed, he stood alone for decades, until eventually falling to join the Nine," Eltariel said gently, sharing her admiration of the man.

"He was a hero…then became one of the very worst alongside Khamul and the Witch Kind himself," she said, closing her eyes tightly as she recalled her battle with the man….those hellish eyes staring back at her.

She was snapped from her thoughts as Eonwe spoke, "If Sauron has just ONE on his side, not to mention your Nine Tailed Beasts…then we are looking at a force that had not been assembled since the First and Second Ages."

At hearing this…the fate of the world could only grow dimmer. The Banner Carrier rose to his feet, "I must go…" the group turn with fear at the thought of what this meant, "I must face him, we have come to the point that we have little options left."

The Maia takes his helm and marches toward the open courtyard outside. As he does everyone rushes after him.

Tsunade yelled after him, "Do you plan to take him on alone!?

Eowne turns to her, "And you must pray that I triumph, lest Dagor Dagorath begin!"

Gandalf called after him, "My friend, even should you take flight it would take too long to stop him before the Dark Lord begins."

Eonwe, "And I should sit here and do nothing? It is your charge to watch and guide Mithrandir, a feat that is honorable, and saved these people's once before."

"But Sauron no loner restrains his forces nor his own might," he continued, "Something spurs his action to be swift, his strategies are far more vicious than ever before. He must be treated in kind or else he will conquer all of Middle Earth before the Valinor could even assemble!"

Gandalf sighed before patting the man on the shoulder, "Not alone you will not, I shall accompany you."

The others look on in surprise, "With the One Ring once more upon his hand, his strength is vast. You will need my assistance in this my old friend."

Makarov spoke up, "And that's why we shall accompany you. My children are in danger, it is my duty as a parent to protect them."

Jura gave a nod, "Perhaps two Saints can assist in defeating the Dark Lord and his Forces."

Eonwe paused before nodding, "Very well. That still does not help our situation, we must make all haste if we are to stop him in time."

At this the Raikage's eyes lighten up, "There is a way, normally it would only be possible by me, but beings such as yourselves should be able to survive the trip, and it would be near instantaneous. The problem is it can only do two at a time and requires a thirty minute charge."

The group think on this for a moment, before Makarov speaks up, "Allow us to face him first, should we fail to defeat him we can at least get everyone out of the way when you arrive."

Eonwe looked to protest but Mithrandir spoke ahead of him, "This is your home, we serve to protect humanity. If you think it best, then we will stand by your choice."

Taking Mithrandir's lead, Eowne nodded, "I am grateful my lord Raikage."

A nodded with a grunt before Tsunade spoke up, "When you get there, seek out Kakashi Hatake," the others turned to her as she continued, "When we had realized the truth of Natsumi, I had sent him to take command of our forces over there."

For a moment the group looked to her, some with distaste at the lack of trust…but upon thought of the Land of Uzu they bit their tongues. Of course they were all taking measures without letting the others know…

Tsunade continued, "Per his last report, he is likely to make contact with them at any moment."

The two Maiar, perhaps the greatest and last hope of this Age, nod before turning to the Raikage

Eonwe, "Now…where is this device?"

[The Bloodied Halls of Ba Sing Se]

[Witcher 3 OST: What Lies Unseen}

Magi and Shinobi alike were still, their knees bent, their weight on the balls of their feet. Ready to move at the slightest hint of attack, bracing themselves for the worst.

And yet none came.

But the problem, was that apart from the knights visible below the torches, and the Nine hooded beings guarding the Dark Lord, all else was lost in Shadow.

Not even the Fire Lord could be seen now, who had rushed in only moments before.

Even with the enhanced sight that came with the Morgul Shard's within their chests, Darkness refused to betray it's allies to them. And yet their enemies were still.

The knights were locked at attention, akin to statues such was their stillness. As were the Nine, their haunting forms such a terrible sight. Yet nothing made their blood chill more, than the sight of their comrades.

Where Freya's vampiric visage and Mira's devilish form, one would think that Hinata's human state would be less haunting.

And yet those lavender-white eyes reflecting the torches made her appear all the more dangerous…or was that true hellfire within them?

However, despite all their fears of the unknown allowing the Shinobi to be cautious and looking into the darkness, the Magi had eyes only for the Deciever. Their rage nearly palpable, none more so than the dragonslayer who was quite literally steaming at the moment.

"Bastard!" he snarled as his hands began to spark, "Give us back our friends now!"

Despite the look of pure, unadulterated rage from multiple Magi capable to reducing the palace to rubble, Sauron remained unfazed, raising an upward hand to indicate the two women.

"They are free to leave…if that is their desire," a response that made their eyes widen. As the two stood with smiles, Mira returned to her human form and the two started walking to their friends.

The sudden response was so shocking that even Natsu's flames died down, "Oh my, you guys came all this way? I'm sorry that we caused so much trouble," Mira said in her gentle and friendly voice.

Natsu made effort to step forward but Erza stopped him, "We are no fools, you have them under your sway, you said so yourself when you took them!"

Sauron grins, "Did I?" he asked with mocking innocence. Natsu however was so riled up and filled with adrenaline that he couldn't here this conversation, only that his family member was coming to them. Pushing passed Erza he rushed to her and

"Come on Mira, your brother and sister are worried sick," he said taking her hand. In that moment however, when Mira looked down at his hand…was when fate took a dark turn.

[Witcher 3 OST: Mystery Man]

"Oh…well that's the problem little dragon," her voice shifting from kind to dark once more, and a bright light field the room for but a second as the Dragon Slayer was blaster back a few feet, his left hand sizzling. His eyes wide was Halphas Mirajane suddenly filled his sight as she prepared to strike once more.

"The Dark Lord said I could leave…if I wanted to!" as she drove her heel into his chest. As he flew back, it was Erza who caught her. As she did they heard Sauron's dark chuckle emit from the broken throne.

"You are learning Scarlett Warrioress," Sauron said with amusement, "The little dragon not so much."

Lucy growled as the flipped open her keys and brandished her whip, "You will return our friends traitor! Or I will summon every spirit I have to thrash you for hurting our family!

Sauron's eyes, the only thing visible of his face seem to glow brighter, "Ah yes, those pesky little spirits…not the mightiest of Maiar, but I will admit they have potential."

That statement made group's eyes widen, "But that they couldn't pick me out during the battle against the Zetsu's is rather pathetic…or perhaps it's been so long that they no longer remembered who I was."

"Perhaps you should summon them now? See how they fare," the Dark Lord taunted,

Lucy desperately wanted to, but she couldn't afford to expose their ace in the hole.

That was a hidden secret that she hadn't even told the others. Her friend Yukino had granted her the keys when they parted ways to return home and defend their own country knowing what Lucy was walking into.

Sauron sat back, "I gave you a choice, to help bring peace to this world. To end suffering and help build it strong and powerful. Already this side of the world is almost ready for my vision."

He stood from the throne, "You may not stand with me…but neither will you stand in my way."

Erza snarled, "We don't just stand in your way, we will stop you!"

She stepped forward, passed the shaking dragon and defiantly against the Dark Lord, "I have suffered from men like you before, you play with and dominate other's lives like pawns."

Activating her Re-quip, she bellowed within the hall, "And I swore to NEVER AGAIN allow myself or others to suffer the same fate!"

As the light died down, the angelic armor of Heaven's Wheel stood before him, thirty blades hung high above her head, "You threaten my family and friends, and I will cut you down!"

The Knights grab their blades and prepare to defend their master, her fury ready to cut them all down, "And anyone who tries to stop me!"

Sauron sighed, "Very well."

The Dark Lord remained still, yet the scene was not lost on any of them.

It looked akin to an angelic warrioress taking on the epitome of evil. Such a sight was encouraging, morale rising among her comrades and friends. And yet, the Darkness was unphased.

With a wave of his hand the Shadows in the Dark emerged. Their blades coming down upon their foes. But there were too many without for her friends to take alone, forcing her to send her blades to their defense.

Getting a closer look there too were Shinobi, but their black robes, hood, and armor hid their visage…only glowing crimson eyes glared back at them.

At that same moment the Black Numenoreans joined shields and took a defensive stance blocking them from the Shadow. However…one was able to slip through, having seen what lay in the shadows during that one moment of light, and was able to maneuver around the obstacles to make it to the steps of the throne.

And so Neji stood alone against the Shadow.

The three women leapt back to their master's side, but made no other move.

"You will not fool my eyes again Naruto!" he declared as his eyes narrowed. Assuming his stance he prepared to attack all of the Nazgul who's blades now pointed at the Hyuga prodigy.

To hear the old name, however, made Sauron growl angrily, "Careful little bird, or I'll hurl you back into your cage!"

Sauron made to rise, but stopped…and then his voice changed from that of rage and ferocity…to a voice of delight

"No…I have something much more fitting in mind," he grinned as he turned to the Princess who in turn looked at her, "I do believe now would be the perfect time to even the score."

Her eyes widened for a moment, "Deal with this bird my dear."

Shock filled Hinata's eyes at those words, then the words she heard him speak further in her head.

"Here is your test my dear…prove your loyalty."

The look of Horror on everyone's face, Neji most of all, filled their eyes as she took her on.

And yet he turned to face the Dark Lord with a smug grin.

"Naruto, you may have changed since we once fought alongside each other. But perhaps it was too long a time," he said with a grin, "You have forgotten who we are. Your friends, and you have forgotten who Hinata is."

He looked to her with pride, "The only one of the Main House who showed compassion to the branches. The woman who fought harder than any other to grant us freedom and equality."

"And one who is as my little sister," he finished with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Sauron emitting a low, guttural laugh as he finally lays his head back against the broken throne, allowing some light to reveal the predatory grin upon his pale visage.

"Oh my old friend," he said with amusement, "And they said you were a genius. You see the truth of people even without your Byakugan."

"And yet now…are you so blinded by emotion and pride, that you do not see the truth."

"Look at her again. Look into those eyes," he held an open hand in her direction, "Tell me that she is the same woman you hold in such high regard."

At those words, Neji's arrogant smile slowly faded away as he truly looked upon Hinata's face. For behind the hair draped across her face, he saw conviction in her eyes, conviction of the terrible act she was prepared to do.

Had Neji blinked, he would have had his chest caved in. Thankfully he was able to slap Hinata's hand away and leapt away from her.

He expected the knights to attack, but they merely kept the others at bay.

Erza roared behind grit teeth and sweat covered brow, her will keeping these unknown Shinobi from killing her family and comrades.

"HOW DARE YOU FORCE HER TO ATTACK HER OWN FAMILY!" she roared, however all she received in return was Sauron's booming laughter.

"Oh my dear Scarlett Beauty…I force her to do nothing," he spread his arms as he spoke with a mocking pleasure, "Love, truly is the mightiest weapon of all."

All others were filled with horror as they saw the Lavender-Eyed Beauty take a stance before declaring words all too familiar to the Shinobi.

"Defend yourself…my brother."

AN: HAPPY NEW YEAR! Sorry for making everyone wait, have had a lot of new things going on that have kept me busy.

But I hope you like this chapter!

The Dark Lord has made yet another cruel twist in their lives, but he will have company soon!

Let me know what you think, may you all have a blessed week!