Chapter 21.
(With Tsunade, in Hokage's office.)
Tsunade sighed. She seems to be doing it a lot of these days, while spending more and more time in this office doing paperwork and planning and scheming. For a moment, she thought that Naruto most likely did the same thing, before she squashed the thought.
She did not want to think about the boy who caused her so much trouble, and was also still causing the said trouble.
Just thinking about the reparations after his destructive run, and following two months after that were nightmare for her.
Managing the government, (A government of killers, admittedly,) still took a lot of effort.
Organizing the housing for the population of the Leaf, keeping the bureaucratic Chunin in control, while making sure that her field forces did not decide to murder them, almost taxed her patience as well.
All the while, the civilian part of their organization, tried to grab more power in the chaos. It was a wonder that they managed to get things on track enough that Leaf was once more taking missions, while she herself prepared to leave for the five Kage summit which is about to take place in just four days later.
Interrupting her ruminations, Shizune walked in the office of her teacher and current boss, and just by the body language of the woman, Tsunade knew that the news which she has brought is most likely not good.
"Lady Tsunade, the capital of Land of Claws is destroyed."
Scratch that. make it definitely the bad news.
(Ten minutes later…)
The most trusted people of Hokage were gathered within the office, discussing the latest development.
"Who exactly brought this news?" Orochimaru was asking.
"Let me check," Tsunade shuffled some mission reports on her desk. "Oh, its Hanabi Hyuga. Now I remember, I was there when she was assigned this mission."
"What was the mission, exactly?" Kakashi asked.
"Just a c rank for delivering a letter to join our alliance in the upcoming war."
"Really? What was his response? Did the girl include that in the report?" Orochimaru asked once again.
"Yes. He agreed."
"Wait, how did she survive?" Kakashi asked.
"Apparently, she was some distance away when in an explosion, the capital was turned into a smoking crater."
"Did she used those words in the report?" Orochimaru smirked.
"Yes. And given her rank and experience, I am willing to overlook that."
"There aren't any words to describe it otherwise anyway." Kakashi said.
"You people seems to be forgetting something." The snake Sannin said.
"And that is?" Tsunade asked.
"How exactly did Uzomaki found out about the response of the feudal lord?" the mad scientist pointed out.
"That… is a good question." Kakashi considered this.
"Actually, there is more information in the report. According to the Genin, Uzomaki before blowing up the city, said the following:"
"Let it be an example of what happens when you mess with my freedom. What you gonna do, when this demon run wild on you?"
"That proves it, that was Naruto alright." Kakashi said.
"There was no doubt in the first place. Remember how despite our best efforts, he nearly blew up the Leaf?" Orochimaru reminded.
"Even then, he destroyed the stone monument, killing all the people who were in the shelters under that mountain."
A moment of silence descended on the office, as they all contemplated the strength of this person against whom they were going.
"So, how goes the preparations of your summit?" the snake Sannin changed the subject.
"Well, all the villages have responded positively that they would attend. Rest, we will know once we go there."
"Guess you're right."
"By the way, while I will take two of you," Tsunade looked at Orochimaru and Kakashi, "As my guards, I would like if we take more Shinobi than that."
"Of course, do you even need to ask?" Orochimaru agreed, though the kind of Shinobi he had in his mind, know sane leader would agree to take with them.
But then again, Tsunade was not sane, not since the trial.
(With Raikage and Mizukage.)
Since both of them planned to announce their alliance in this summit, Raikage and Mizukage did not see any reason why they should arrive separately from each other. this was exactly why both of them were leaving together with their guards.
A has chosen B and Darui as his guards, while Mei chose Ao, a Shinobi with an eyepatch on his one eye, and a nervous boy Chojuro.
Both Kages were discussing the moves of their ally as they made their way to the Land of Iron.
"So, any reason why he's not even bothering with the usual cloak and dagger bullshit as he usually does?" the large and in charge asked.
"Maybe, because he doesn't see a reason? Or maybe he thinks hiding will not show our confidence or something. You can never guess with him." The woman answered.
"True. true. did you know that he nearly died by my hands just to prove that he was telling a truth, and I should ally myself with him?"
"He does have an odd way of doing things." Mei nodded.
"Correct. Let's just hope that it doesn't backfire on us." This was the concern which keeps the Raikage awake in night.
"Oh please, in eighty years, all the villages have pulled more backstabbing's than in the warring clan era combine, and yet, we're still here, warring with each other for smallest of things. I doubt this would change anything." Mizukage however, did not care about such things, since apparently, she thinks that she has the better grasp of things.
(With Tsunade and her team.)
Making her way to the Land of Iron, Tsunade was preparing herself for the no doubt difficult meeting ahead of her. There is a reason why Kages, the strongest Shinobi of their village, never gather on one place. The situation just blares loudly "Landmine which would start a war!"
Just as she thought, she has brought Orochimaru and Kakashi as her guards, while Sasuke, on Orochimaru's insistence was also brought with them. while Tsunade and Orochimaru walked ahead, Kakashi was keeping an eye on his wavered student, by walking aside Sasuke.
"So, you do know that I would have to use that, right?" Orochimaru asked.
Before they left, Orochimaru decided that it would be best if he revealed what sort of Shinobi, he had in his mind to bring with them in this trip.
It did not took as much arguing about morals as much as he thought he would need to do, for Tsunade agreed after just half an hour of convincing.
This of course allowed them more leeway in who they should leave behind in their absence to keep things in order, and the village protected. Since many prominent and big names have died in quite a short time, Leaf was struggling to maintain their power.
"yes, I know. You do remember that I did gave you the sacrifices in the first place?"
"Just checking. It is quite amusing how morals are thrown out of the window when they prove to be inconvenient, right?" he just couldn't resist that jab.
Tsunade did not reply. Of course, she knew that Orochimaru was referring to her righteous stance when he offered her lover and brother to be resurrected, and how she refused him. Yet, was now allowing the same thing to happen, to use the people to be summoned as a pawn.
(With Tsuchikage.)
Anoki the third Tsuchikage of the Hidden Rock, was having a bad feeling going into this summit. As if he was walking into a war in which the sides have been chosen already, and he does not have any option of neutrality.
Considering that he has been Tsuchikage for at least fifty years, and has the career of a Shinobi for seventy years, when his instincts scream at him that he is walking on a dangerous situation, he always listens.
"So, do you have any idea what Leaf wants?" Korotsuchi his granddaughter asked.
"Most likely some idiotic demand." Akatsuchi another guard said.
"Would both of you be quiet? I need to think." The old man said, grumpily.
Of course, the Leaf has taken a beating recently has been in the news all over the Shinobi world. That sort of thing cannot be hidden. But Anoki had heard even more disturbing things. Apparently, the Leaf's Jinchuriki has gone rogue, was brought into the village, and during his very public trial, caused wide spread devastation and loss of life, before fleeing once more.
This of course did not concern him much. Yes, a power like the Jinchuriki of the nine tails going rogue was a big thing, but not enough that Anoki would worry about it constantly, unless he has to face the problem himself.
The main point of concern was that the Cloud has closed the communications with Rock. While yes, both of these villages have stabbed each other in the back during the previous wars, it was all the standard practice of Shinobi. But during their existence as a Shinobi village, during all the big conflicts, Cloud and Rock have always teamed up together, or had the mutual benefit relation with each other.
But this time, things were seeming to be quite different, since the communications have been cut between the two villages entirely, and Anoki did not like that one bit.
"Did you hear though? They couldn't even contain their weapon." His request for peace, of course went ignored.
"I heard that he tried to leave peacefully, but they attacked him." Akatsuchi continued this game of theirs, about who has the most ludicrous information.
"Really? I heard that he has a living sword which tried to act as a lawyer on his behalf, but got refused. It was quite miffed." Korotsuchi revealed her trump card.
"Okay, you win." Akatsuchi has nothing to retaliate with.
Korotsuchi smirked.
Anoki just sighed at the behaviors of his 'Guards,' all the while thinking that he really should have stayed away from this summit.
(In an underground lab, Hidden Leaf.)
Neji entered in the lab, looking around himself as if something is going to leap at him from the shadows any moment now.
Walking out of another room, Kabuto noticed the arrival of the Hyuga, and his paranoid body language.
"Really, you are behaving as if I am going to strap you into a table, and do horrible things to you." The medic said, very amused.
Giving the medic an unimpressed look, Neji spoke. "That is your entire point for being here. Or did you forget?"
"Ah, how can I forget?"
Sighing, the Hyuga asked bluntly. "So, why did you call me here?"
"Oh nothing. you see, Naruto gave me a task to complete." Kabuto said, as if he was the employee complaining about their boss to another employee.
"What does it have to do with me?" said the other employee, who, of course did not see the things the same way.
"I need specimens for testing. And I want you, to provide me with them."
"What is this task anyway?" Neji didn't see anything wrong in the request itself, but he still needed to ask.
"Classified."
"You do realize that I have known him longer than you? He'll never hide anything from me."
"Are you sure? I mean, completely sure?" Kabuto asked with a confident smile.
"Yes, I am entirely sure."
"Fine. He wants me to research the way for other humans to turn into demons, through biological means."
"Makes sense. The process through which he turned himself is not exactly safe, or available for everyone."
"True."
"Fine. You will find a team of Chunin around the forest area at the south of the wall. How you take them out, is your responsibility."
"Not a problem."
Observing the Hyuga walking out of the lab, Kabuto muttered to himself. "How does he deal with him?"
Turning around, Neji replied. "Same way he deals with you."
"You weren't supposed to heard that." Kabuto was miffed that his whispered comment was so easily heard.
"Funny how things turn out, people think that I only have my eyes. But they forget that I have my ears as well."
"To be fare though, your clan's reliance on your eyes doesn't exactly give people reason to think otherwise."
"True. but you know something?" the Hyuga asked.
"What?"
"I know why you're hear." Neji said with a smirk, already knowing the reaction of the medic.
"And that is?"
Neji getting on Kabuto's personal space, whispered. "To find your purpose within his shadow."
Turning around, the smirking Hyuga left the shaken medic behind.
Entering into the compound as if he was not out for some traitorous purpose, Neji found Hanabi waiting for him outside of his room.
"May I ask why you are here?"
"Really? That is what you say when you meet me after all this time?" asked Hanabi with a little pout.
Neji, ignoring the pout replied, "Well, we weren't in the contact before exactly, outside of the lessons which your father asked me to give you."
"Yes. That is true. but I have something to show you." The girl said.
Watching as the former main branch member removed her forehead protector, Neji saw her forehead was clear, there was no sign of the seal which was supposed to be there.
"Hmhmhmhmhm." Chuckling the Jonin removed his own forehead protector, and said, "A typ. if someone decided to use the seal on you, act as if you are in horrific amounts of pain."
"Thanks." Hanabi nodded.
(In the Land of Iron, in the Kage summit.)
Five of the most powerful Shinobi were gathered in this one room, with their bodyguards of course. Though one might wonder why would these powerful people need guards in the first place?
The simple answer will be to show the forces present within their villages, and show off their highest ranked Shinobi at such a high stage.
As the Kages took their places at the round table, the place of their sitting announced their intentions.
At the left of the Tsunade, sat Gaara showing his villages support to the Leaf. At the front of them were sitting Mizukage and Raikage, which immediately caused alarm bells to ring in Tsunade's mind. At the right of the Tsunade was the Tsuchikage, reflecting his position in this whole situation. at Gaara's left, was the Mifune, the leader of Land of Iron, sitting at the head of the table, officiating the summit.
As far as the samurai was concerned, these Shinobi can take their problems somewhere else, and leave his country out of their argument, thank you very much. Of course, he kept these thoughts within his head, locked behind an impassive expression.
Looking at Kakashi at her right and Orochimaru at her left, Tsunade prepared herself for the summit. They left Sasuke outside of the building, keeping him a secret. As far as they were concerned, there was no Sasuke Uchiha with them, and anyone who was saying otherwise was spreading rumors, and would be dealt in the Shinobi manner, getting their throat sliced open in their sleep.
"Since all the five Kages are here, I, Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron, officially start this summit." Having said his piece, the samurai leaned back in his admittedly comfortable chair, and planned to remain quiet unless someone asked for his advice, or he has to look out for the interest of his country.
Having waiting for this cue, the fifth Hokage stood up, and began to speak. "Since I called this summit, I suppose that I should explain my reasons for doing so."
"Actually," the Mizukage said smoothly, "I think that Raikage and I have an announcement to make. After which, you can say all the things you want." The woman smiled charmingly.
Meanwhile, the slug Sannin was fuming inwardly having been cut off in such a fashion. The Raikage stood up from his seat along with Mizukage, towering over everyone in the room.
"We, the leaders of our respective villages, have allied ourselves, and abolished our villages in the process." This drew the looks of surprise from the people in the room, and some of them were horrified.
"As of this moment, the Hidden Mist and Hidden Cloud do not exist. Instead, there is an alliance called Storm Cloud alliance."
"Bullshit!" Anoki not able to contain himself anymore, stood up and hammered the table with his fist. "There is no way that the feudal lords of your respective countries would agree to this."
"Oh, trust me, Lord Tsuchikage. They did." Mizukage assured.
"Not possible." The old Shinobi dismissed the claim.
"Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant, the fact is that they did agree, and we have this alliance." Raikage asserted.
"Oh yeah? And who exactly is the leader of this alliance?" the old man questioned, "There is no way that any of you would work underneath one another."
"True." the Raikage nodded.
"But we have someone else for that role. All the Kages in this room," the Mizukage said grandly, "Allow me to introduce you to our leader."
Spinning flames appeared at the left of the Mizukage, causing the guards of three of the Kages to tense up in a preparation for attack.
Instead of an attack however, from the flames walked out a person. Though calling this strange figure a person is very generous.
It would be more accurate to call this figure a walking turtle. The Shinobi were all stunned at such an absurd display, many of them trying to release a Ninjutsu, which was not there in the first place. Some of them were even making strangled sounds of anguish, as this strange creature won't disappear even after releasing the illusion.
Raikage, was displaying his impressive capability of stone face, as if he was carved out of the rocks of the very mountains upon which his village stands.
In contrast, the Mizukage was grinning openly.
"Today," the creature said in a serious voice, "I begin the takeover of this world!"
"What?" the Hokage asked.
"From now onward, my kind would no longer will be subjugated by the filthy humans—"
"We're humans." Mizukage said in a deadpan voice.
"Or forced to participate in their silly battles. Today, I, Lord Kame, shall take over the world!" the turtle thing ignored Mizukage's comment smoothly, and finished it's declaration.
For Tsunade, nothing has been going as she envisioned when she called this summit. She thought that she would be able to convince the other three Kages to side with her in the matter of Naruto. Yet, when she began to state her reasons for calling this meeting, she got interrupted by the announcement of the Raikage and Mizukage.
And as if that was not enough, this silly creature came out of the flames, (Which was quite familiar, now that she thought about it,) and now it was claiming to take over the world.
"You will never succeed." This, surprisingly came from Gaara, who was very quiet up to that point. "The people who are gathered here, they are the strongest which the Shinobi nations has to offer. Even with the assistance of these two," Gaara said, while pointing at the Mizukage and Raikage, "You will never succeed."
Seeing her ally unaffected by the events of this summit, gave Tsunade enough strength to collect herself and support Gaara.
"Exactly. Leaf won't stand by as you make these foolish claims."
"Foolish you say?" the creature asked. "True. taking over the world is too much of a hard work."
The last line was said in an entirely different voice. In front of everyone's eyes, the creature shifted from its strange humanoid turtle like shape, into the body which Tsunade really did not want to see here in this meeting.
"But destroying you, that is something I can do."
Clenching her fist, Tsunade said, "Naruto."
"Yes. It is me. Did you honestly thought that a turtle would decide to take over the world?"
No one in the room replied, not even the ever sarcastic Anoki.
"Well, everyone is entitled to their nightmares." The demon assured.
"Wasn't it enough?" Tsunade asked.
"What?" where was she coming from?
"You've killed them. Jiraiya, Shikaku, and all the others. But it wasn't enough for you, was it? you have to tarnish their funeral as well?" the Hokage was vibrating with her fury.
"Hahahahahaha! You can act all righteous, as soon as you ditch that guy." Naruto said, while pointing at Orochimaru.
"And how can two of you support him? Didn't you hear what he said? He wishes to destroy the Shinobi." The Hokage turning to the Raikage and Mizukage, asked.
"But honestly, he curses at the Shinobi every day at least ten times. At this point, it is a background noise for us." Mizukage said.
"Besides, when he said destruction, he means the destruction of Leaf and all of its allies." Raikage continued.
"What?" the Hokage was surprised. Why were these two so hostile towards her village?
"Oh, don't be surprised now. It was bound to happen. You may have cultivated the image of a nice Shinobi village, but we all know how you are. Personally, I do wish to see you be taken down a peg or two, or disappear entirely." The Raikage elaborated.
"And, I happily would help him." Mizukage said.
"But didn't you want freedom? This is exactly opposite of that. they'll use you just like a weapon!" Tsunade, failing to get through the Kages, turned towards the demon.
"And that is different from you how? I asked nicely that you all leave me alone. But you couldn't let go of your own equalizer, could you? Well you don't even have that anymore."
"How could we let go? After all those people you've killed, Jiraiya—" Tsunade tried to iterate through the list of the people killed by Naruto, but the demon decided that once was enough.
"Ah yes, him. Funny how you always come back to his death. But let's ignore that. remember when I didn't kill anyone of importance?"
"Asuma—" Tsunade tried to say, but the demon was not pulling any punches, nor giving any chances to his opponent.
"Was overall a just a Jonin, you have more of them, some of them even better than him."
As Tsunade opened her mouth to reply once more, Naruto interrupted her. "Enough. I did tell you that you can forget I exist, and I'll do the same for you. But you couldn't do that. so, now it leads to this. I will start a war for my freedom from you morons, if I have to."
Looking at the third Tsuchikage, Naruto said, "And this is the only reason why you are here old man. Neutrality is not an option. either you choose our side, or theirs."
"First of all, I don't believe that two Kages would ally themselves with a brat like you. But whatever, that is not my problem. What my problem is, that you expect me to make a decision so quickly?" Anoki grunted.
"Very well. You can have two weeks to come to a conclusion. That is, if the other side doesn't have a problem with it?" Naruto said, smoothly.
"No, we don't."
"Good then. With all said and done, Raikage, Mizukage, let's go eat something. I hear that this country has some really good food to offer."
With a smirk, both of the Kages got up and left with the demon.
Just after that, Tsunade and Gaara, as well as Anoki and his guards also left, leaving Mifune the only one in the room.
Leaving the room quickly, the samurai tracked one of his aids, and ordered that the Land of Iron is officially in lockdown, no one is to leave without the permission. And all the five Shinobi leaders are officially not allowed to enter the country, as well as their guards and any other Shinobi they have brought with them.
After all those orders were send out, the general finally took a breath of relief. He did not want the war to break out in his own country.
Outside of the tower, Anoki was unlucky enough to collide with the group of Naruto and Tsunade, and both groups gave the old man shivers.
"Are you sure you don't want to make a quick decision? I offer great health benefits for the elderly." The demon was saying.
"Yes, I am sure." the old Shinobi left quickly.
Watching the old Kage in such a hurry, Naruto smirked, while Tsunade glared at him. Soon enough though, they were walking out of the Land of Iron, the samurais being unusually helpful in processing their documents so they would leave quickly. Of course, the Kazekage and Hokage were waiting for them at some distance.
"Did you honestly thought that you would be able to leave so easily, loser?" came a very hated voice.
"Kkukukuku. Weren't you going to enjoy the food of the Land of Iron, Naruto?" came an even more hated voice.
Turning to Raikage, the demon asked, "They were waiting for us, weren't they?"
"Yes. And you owe me." The large man smirked.
"Fuck!"
A yawning sound came up at that moment in the clearing, and a voice asked, "So Naruto, what did I miss?"
"Wait. You were asleep this whole time?" Naruto asked incredulous.
"Yes. Those girls you've sent me to, they really exhausted me." Said Yamato, very satisfied.
"And here I thought that you were so amazed by my wonderful performance that you were speechless."
"Nope."
"You missed the whole thing, Yamato." Naruto just could not let go this.
"You do realize I can watch it from your memories?"
"Yes, well, it doesn't have the same feeling." The demon said sadly.
"Oh, sorry Naruto. I will be awake next time, I promise." Yamato said, earnestly.
The demon was so moved by the honest behavior of his sword that he shed a tear. "Don't worry Yamato. Rest as much as you like."
While the Kages were busy bantering with each other, by which this incredibly hansom Narrator means that Tsunade and Orochimaru did most of the bantering, while Kakashi, Gaara and his siblings looked menacing in the background, Naruto's moment with Yamato was interrupted by a harsh chuckle.
"Hmhmhmhm. Looks like your sword is just as stupid as you, loser." The great Uchiha, of course could not let this moment continue any further, lest his attention would be taken away.
Three seconds of silence later, Yamato asked. "How were your teammates with this guy?"
"It was a complicated time." Naruto said in a monotone.
"And how complicated it was. I never thought that you would copy me, loser. If you really wanted to be strong that badly, you should have said something before." Sasuke said, a proud smirk gracing his face.
"Wait, me, copying you?" the nerve of some people!
"Didn't you leave the village?" Sasuke asked.
"Sure, I did." The demon answered confidently.
"Just like I did. So yes, you are copying me." Sasuke said, as if he knew all the truths of the world.
"That doesn't make any sense! True that I left the Leaf just like you did, but the similarities end there." Naruto exploded.
"How?" the Uchiha failed to see the similarity.
"You left because you wanted power, and you thought that the snake pedophile against whom the animal rights activists would make a case any time for animal cruelty performed on those poor snakes, would give you that power." The demon ranted.
"Honestly, you make 'Power' sound something like you can give or take away anytime you like." Yamato said.
"That is his thinking, not mine. Anyway, I left for I realized that I don't want to be a weapon for the Leaf, and fight their battles for them, thus for my freedom, I left. While you came back for whatever reason."
"Oh, trust me. They might think that I am on their side. But I will have my revenge with those elders when I have a chance." Sasuke said darkly.
"And I guess that Orochimaru said that you would have the chance to kill me if you join the Leaf, and just like a puppet, you believed everything he said, and joined the Leaf." The demon knew very well, which buttons to push.
"You! —" apparently, those inputs produced the correct output.
"Honestly, why are you even here? I mean I thrashed the Leaf pretty badly. So, it does make sense that the Kages of the Shinobi villages would consider me a threat and listen to what I have to say. But what have you done? You're nothing but a Genin." So of course, Naruto decided to overflow the system with input.
Naruto just did not press all the buttons of Sasuke. It was as if he had a keyboard in front of him attached to the Uchiha, and the demon just hammered all the commands which would induce the maximum rage at once.
and just like that, the first attack of the battle was thrown by the Sasuke.
Looking the Chokuto in the hands of the Sasuke, from which the demon has just dodged an attack, the demon said…
"Oh look, the child has a new toy."
Snarling, Sasuke channeled the lightning into the sword and prepared to cut the demon into pieces. But he was not able to do that, for the arrival of the Kazekage took both of their attention from the battle.
Sasuke was annoyed, he wanted to kill the demon, couldn't the Kazekage see that? but Naruto did not feel any annoyance, which he proved by greeting Gaara amiably.
"Hay Gaara."
"Naruto…"
Seeing that the teen wanted to say something to him, yet was not able to say so, Naruto asked another question.
"So, how does it feel to be alive once more?" Naruto asked curiously.
"I wasn't dead for more than half an hour." Gaara answered, still looking rattled.
"Was it that short? Strange. I thought it was longer than that." the demon mused.
"It wasn't."
Meanwhile, all three of them saw how Tsunade said something which finally touched a nerve with the Mizukage, after minutes of back and forth, and a brawl broke out between the two Kages, while their guards could only see what was happening.
'Here they go.' Naruto thought.
'Hm, I thought that Mei chick would get under the skin of that busty blond, not the other way around.' Yamato provided his thoughts.
"Things do happen strangely in the world, Yamato." The demon couldn't help but speak such a profound sentence out loud.
"Naruto," Gaara said, "Did, did everything which you said to me after beating me, were all those things lies?" Gaara finally asked what was in his mind.
'Finally have enough guts to ask, eh?' the demon thought.
Naruto for some strange reason did experienced the urge to say "Yes!" but crushing that urge, the demon decided that even if he was at the side of his enemies, Gaara deserves to get an honest answer from him.
"At that time, I did feel those things. I really thought that by protecting people, I would get their respect. But things didn't turn out that way at all." Naruto said, sadness coloring his tone.
"Though, my problem is with the Leaf really. If you did decide to leave, I think I will forget that you were ever involved in this mess." Naruto offered for the sake of their old friendship.
Chuckling a little, Gaara replied. "I can't abandon friends. you taught me that, remember?"
"So, you don't consider me a friend anymore, is that it?" the blond asked with a pout.
"Yes." Was the flat answer of the Kazekage.
"Well, what can I say to that." Naruto said, while wondering what a great person Gaara is, to speak his mind so openly.
"Maybe for once give up and except your fate?" came a hissing voice.
"Ah, Orochimaru. Couldn't stay away from me for too long, could you? I do have to tell you though. I don't swing that way." The voice, of course was most unwelcome.
"As if I would have any interest in you." Orochimaru said, "Not that I have any such interests."
"Nice save." Yamato jibed.
"Exactly Yamato. I am sure that Sasuke over there would beg to different."
"You both have an inflated sense of worth, that anyone would take interest on you, let alone me." Apparently, the ego was still out of control in his old teammate, Naruto feels.
"And you have an inflated sense of worth that you think that I would take interest in you." Naruto said, much to Yamato's horror. "Though you really shouldn't hurt Orochimaru's feelings like that."
"Naruto, please don't participate on this anymore." The sword begged.
"Okay Yamato." Naruto obeyed the wishes of his sword.
"Once a child, always a child." Orochimaru, was of course amused to see the scary demon Naruto Uzomaki be so obedient to his sword of all things.
"Look who's talking?" of course, Naruto wasn't affected by the words of Orochimaru.
Once you put the entire military force on the ropes, and escape, it does tend to give you enough confidence in yourself.
"Today, I will end the menace of Uzomaki. Lord Kazekage," Orochimaru said the title mockingly, "I think you should leave."
"Fine." Gaara said, not wanting to get involved in whatever the madman has cooked up to defeat Naruto.
Just a little distance later, he was caught by his siblings and his guards, and was now getting scolded about how he should not leave his guards behind like that. as if he, who makes the sand of the desert dance at his fingers need any protection.
"You should leave as well, Sasuke." The Sannin advised.
"I won't. I am going to kill him." The advice, of course, fell on def ears.
"Maybe bringing you here was a mistake after all. Leave before I use more, drastic measures." Orochimaru said, planning to use the curse seal to bring the Uchiha to heal.
Sasuke, having been more than familiar what that fraise meant for the mad scientist, decided to cut his losses and run. He was completely confident that whatever they were planning won't work on the demon anyway.
"And, now to deal with you."
"Oh? Surprise me then. For your life depends upon it." and it really does.
The demon may have been escaping the last time, but now he was in the mood to kill his opponents, not run from them.
Then, Naruto saw how Orochimaru was making hand signs for summoning technique, yet some of the hand signs were different than the usual.
Then the answer came to Naruto. While he himself has never came across this technique, he did know which technique it was. After all, it killed his grandfather figure.
"Is that?" the demon blade asked.
"Yep." Naruto nodded.
"Summoning Jutsu, Reanimation!" Orochimaru called.
From the ground, one by one nine coffins came out, landing at the ground with a thud.
"You know, one would think that the travel at least would be comfortable." The sword said.
"Not with him." Naruto said, watching the coffins carefully.
One by one, the coffins opened, and the people who were occupying them walked out, alive once more in the world.
(With Raikage.)
Raikage was seeing how both of the women, despite being the Kages of their respective villages, were insulting each other like children, until it devolved into a brawl.
Mei used everything in her duel bloodlines allowed her, from the bursts of lava, to the spray of the acid, while Tsunade, Not having much of a long range offence, tried to disrupt her opponent through the tremors in the ground caused by her strength, while trying to take the other woman's head off with her punches whenever she has a chance.
All the while the guards of the Kages watched from the sideline, not able to stop their leaders, nor able to help them.
Well, Kakashi was watching disinterestedly, while the guy with an eyepatch and the nervous reck watched in horror.
Raikage did not knew this, but ever since Naruto left the Leaf, the only expression which Kakashi showed was either indifference, or outright disinterest. So, this was not very unusual for him.
By the end of the brawl, the area was covered with the sticky lime, holes filled with the lava and acid, and debris from Tsunade's rampage. Tsunade noticed that Orochimaru was not by her side, so she knew that he left to work at the plan they concocted, while the Kazekage was led back to them with a grumpy expression by both of his siblings.
"Bro, take a look, yo!" B pointed.
Darui and Raikage followed the gaze of B, where they saw Orochimaru making some hand signs, while coffins were getting out of the ground one by one.
Their eyes were widened, when people walked out of those coffins, and when they saw their faces. Right at that moment, Raikage realized why exactly they were isolating the demon from them.
"Mei, get over your pride. Naruto needs us." The man ordered gruffly.
"What?" the fuming woman asked.
"Yeah, he's outnumbered." Darui said in his usual lazy manner.
Quickly getting at the side of the Raikage, her guards following her lead, they started to move towards Naruto.
"We must stop them from helping him." Were the orders of the Tsunade.
"Right." Her allies nodded.
Thus, this was how Naruto's allies found themselves facing Gaara and his siblings, Tsunade and Kakashi, and Sasuke Uchiha, the Genin who was looking out of the place among such distinguished people.
All of them however, were prepared for this possibility. Thus, they all attacked the opponents which they can take out.
Mei along with her guards, engaged with Gaara, since her lava and acid would be able to deal with his sand, all the while Ao and Chojuro dealt with Kankuro and Temari.
Raikage, who was the only one among them who could face Tsunade in a competition of strength, engaged with her, while Darui kept Kakashi off his boss's back.
This, left Sasuke and B. B, of course, was not interested in fighting with Sasuke at all, but for Sasuke, this was a great opportunity.
"So, you are a Jinchuriki, you will prove to be a great practice for when I take out that wanabe demon." Sasuke said, lightning chirping as he prepared the variation of Chidori.
Unusual for the energetic B, he just sighed in annoyance.
(With Naruto and Orochimaru.)
Naruto saw what sort of team of undead Shinobi Orochimaru has gathered. There were dead members of Akatsuki, consisting of Sasori, Deidara, Kakuzu, Kisame, and Itachi.
On the other hand, there were four people dressed in the styles of various era of Shinobi, from the battle armor of the Shinobi warring clans, to the battle armor of a Hokage, and a blond man dressed in a modern-day clothing.
Naruto of course, recognized who they were. Orochimaru summoned the four Hokages of the Leaf, as well as the five members of the Akatsuki from the afterlife.
"It appears we're alive once more, Itachi." Kisame observed.
"Indeed. A very concerning development, since I was enjoying the vacation."
"Hahahahaha! I Deidara, will show my art once more!" of course, some people were excited to be alive once more.
"As if. I will prove my superiority over your art."
"Maybe, now that Hidan is not slowing me down, once we're done with him, I can collect some more money." Then, Kakuzu had some horrifying thoughts. "Those bastards at the bank, they better have not tampered with my money, otherwise I will have their heaaaaaaads!"
All the five members of the Akatsuki started to argue with each other, well more like Kakuzu ranted about how bankers are evil, and they should be purged from this world, and Kisame and Itachi talked like two college buddies on a vacation, while Sasori and Deidara were the ones who were truly arguing.
"Naruto, what am I watching?" Yamato couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"A circus Yamato, a very amusing circus." The demon said, wisely.
"Kukukuku! Once this circus starts to destroy you, you will be singing a different tune, Uzomaki." Orochimaru was very excited at the upcoming screams of pain and mercy.
"Right. I killed all the Akatsuki members, and assaulted their village and crushed it as well, if you remember. The addition of the Hokages, admittedly is a new combination, but it won't help you either."
"We'll see who needs help after this, Uzomaki!" Orochimaru screamed, no longer able to contain the excitement.
'Man, why does he sound as if he is having an orgasm just by the thought of your destruction?' Yamato said.
'Lalalalala, I can't hear you, lalalala, I can't hear you!' Naruto thought feverishly to block the images his sword's comment generated in his mind.
In an effort to block out more such comments from Yamato, Naruto decided to divert his, and by extension his sword's attention to some other matters.
"Oy," Naruto said to the Akatsuki members.
He of course was viciously ignored.
"Oy." The demon tried once more.
Still, the demon was ruthlessly ignored. Of course, this did not sit well with him. He had killed these people, they should listen to him, at least.
"Oy!" Naruto roared.
This finally got him the attention. Which he has been wanting for so long, for he, Naruto Uzomaki, shall not be ignored by the people whom he had killed in the past.
"Doesn't anyone want to know how exactly Orochimaru summoned you people?" the demon questioned.
"What?" Sasori asked.
"Well, as far as I understand, you need the DNA of a person whom you are trying to resurrect, isn't that right, great grandpa Hokage?" Naruto asked a brooding figure by Sarutobi's side in an armor.
"Yes." The figure said frostily. Meanwhile, Hiruzen was barely holding his laughter.
"So, don't you want to know how he got your genetic material?" the demon asked once more, looking at everyone pointedly.
"Now that you mention it," Kisame said.
"Oh, that was quite easy. For calling themselves S ranked, they are not as vigilant as they think." Orochimaru mocked.
"Say that again?" Sasori asked.
"Very well. I should start with you, for old times' sake."
(Flashback.)
When I joined Akatsuki, I was partnered with Sasori, who was a walking talking puppet.
Apparently, he has somehow made his heart encased in a puppet body, and has been operating his puppet body that way ever since.
This, as much as it annoyed me to admit in my thoughts, made him effectively immortal, as long as his heart was safe, of course.
Before my very glorious escape from the Leaf, where my Sensei could barely keep up with me, huffing and puffing all the way, I researched the impure world reincarnation. Seriously, the second Hokage must be madder than me if he created something like that.
I knew that technique would come useful, thus I decided that I will collect the DNA samples from all the strong Shinobi I came across, living or otherwise. Thus, one day I find my partner leaving his guard down long enough that I knocked him out with a creation of mine, which basically made his Chakra nonreactive, and his brain was for all intense and purposes, dead.
I took the samples from his heart, healed the superficial signs, (I was no slouch in the medic department, even though Tsunade was the one who was known among us for her medical knowledge,) and awakened his brain once more, and walked out of the room where I performed such an operation whistling, storing the samples in a stasis scrolls, which I sent in one of my laboratories, until I need to use it, at that point my esteemed partner would be dead.
Sasori later woke up, and asked me why he was feeling unusually groggy, I of course suggested that maybe in our last mission, he shouldn't have taken that poison mist at his face.
(Flashback end.)
Sasori, was so furious that he could not believe that it was possible to get any angrier from that point.
Meanwhile, Naruto was looking Orochimaru with horror. 'He just practically operated on his partner, and no one realized it yet,'
'Good thing that he couldn't use that against you.' Yamato said in Naruto's mind, the demon of course agreed with his sword.
Naruto saw how the blond, and the youngest person among the group of Hokages, was staring at him without blinking.
"Hay. That explained him, but how did you got," Deidara has a disgusted expression on his face from what he is about to say, "My DNA? I was strong armed into shitty organization after you left, yeah!" Deidara grunted, while looking at Itachi and Kisame with evil intentions in his eyes.
"Ah, good times." The shark man said.
"Indeed." The sociopathic human agreed.
"Well…"
(Flashback.)
At that time, I didn't have such worries as Uzomaki, and concerns that Uzomaki would become a problem, or indeed Uzomaki was a problem.
I think you get what I am saying at this point.
So, there I was, getting ready for when the time was right, to take Sasuke's body, while enduring his childish tantrums. Honestly, several times I thought it would be better to extract his sperms, and make one of the girls in the sound pregnant with his child, while waiting for that child to grow up, and then take over that body.
Hm, now how to accomplish this? The biggest problem would be of course, convincing the subject.
I was contemplating all this, that suddenly I had an arm land on my desk, which was inside my lair where I would retreat to when I had enough of the stupidity outside.
Naturally no one has the guts to interrupt me when I am in such a mood, much less enter my lair. Even Kabuto doesn't do that. then, the question is, where does that arm comes from?
(Flashback end.)
"And I figure that since that arm landed on my desk in such a fashion, the Shinobi would have been strong, and dead as well. When I used the DNA from that arm to summon people, you appeared." The Sannin finished his tale.
Everyone was shuttering at the thoughts of Orochimaru.
"Man, he is one disturbing bastard, yeah!"
"Really?" Naruto said, "'When the time would be right,' What the hell were you planning to do to him?" Naruto asked for the sake of his enemy.
Hiruzen hung his head in shame. "Where did I go wrong?"
"Ah, there. There. Everyone has those moments." The first Hokage consoled the depressed third.
"Like you and Madara—" the second Hokage tried to say, but his brother cut him off in the middle.
"Every. One. Has. Those moments!"
"Okay, explain how did you got Kisame's DNA? B killed him at the Land of Rains." Naruto asked.
"I am very displeased about that, and am going to lodge a formal protest."
The demon looked at Itachi, the Uchiha explained. "He has been learning politics." Was the simple answer.
"Very easy. Considering his blood knight tendencies—"
"How the hell do you even know that term—" Naruto questioned baffled.
"It was very easy to goad him into a fight, and then collect the blood which he left behind." Orochimaru gave a look to the shark man, which screamed 'I am better than you.'
"Bullshit! I never bled anywhere near you." Kisame protested.
"Ah yes, what a headache that was."
"Ahem. Since everyone insist on asking the traumatic details, why leave me? How did you got me?" the second oldest person there asked.
"Yeah. He is nothing more than the stitched-up collections of threads." The demon said, "How did you got him?" Naruto smirked.
"Go die somewhere, Uzomaki." Kakuzu grunted.
"Oh? Uzomaki am I now? Last I known you, you insisted me calling the Nine tails."
(Flashback.)
Ignoring the pathetic attempts to intimidate each other, I began my illustrious tale of how exactly I got the DNA sample from the stitched up collection of threads, alternatively known as Kakuzu, also the bastard who won't share his heart steeling technique, which would have been invaluable for my quest of the search of immortality.
You see, before that madman Hidan, also another nutjob who has the immortality, (At this point, I started to hate this organization, they had something which I wanted, and each and every one of them refuse to share their secrets with me,) became the partner of the unhinged Kakuzu, who just killed his assigned partners at the drop of a hat, I was assigned as his partner for once when Sasori was out for some reasons, which I have nothing to do with, honest!
Anyway, we completed our mission, no problem there, as far as we cared anyway. But you see, Kakuzu, the paranoid bastard as he was, managed to get ill, not just ill mind you, get food poisoning, imagine that!
I of course, was close by, and since I knew enough healing, I knocked him out, found out that there was actual body beneath those threads, extracted a very generous sample of DNA freely given I assumed, after all it wasn't like he was protesting or anything.
(Flashback end.)
"You, you bastard!" Kakuzu, after just ten minutes of being alive later was already so enraged that he was frothing from the mouth.
"My parents were married, thank you, Sensei can confirm this."
"Very unfortunately. Besides, your mother and father told me—" Sarutobi tried to explain what his parents thought of Orochimaru in the afterlife, but the Sannin was not in the mood to listen.
"They are dead, dead people don't talk." Orochimaru said quickly.
This of course earned him the deadpan looks from all the dead, reincarnated Shinobi in the clearing.
"Wait," the demon said, "That still doesn't explain how exactly did you got the Hokages."
"Whatever do you mean? They were easy to acquire, given that their bodies were well preserved in the Leaf." Orochimaru asked, not understanding the question.
"Sigh, and this was the reason why I wanted to implement the cremation policy, but the damn fools at the council refused me. 'It would be an insult to our heroes,' they said. 'just think about the grieving families,' they said. Well look where it got us!" Tobirama ranted.
"Wow, looks like that guy did not survive the desk without some scars." Yamato commented, while observing the continuing rant of the second Hokage.
"Working at an office can be scarring, Yamato."
"Anyway, what I was saying was that the fourth Hokage," the blond man for a moment lost his stair and flinched, before resuming to stare at the demon once more, "The great, great grandpa Hokage, and the great grandpa Hokage were sealed by the grandpa Hokage, correct?"
"Right. Though, how did you know this, Naruto?" if Sarutobi remembered correctly, the boy was not anywhere near his battle to know those details.
"Simple. The details of your battles were not kept secret at all. And of course, from what I have managed to gather the information about the technique, your soul would have been also be sealed, right?" the demon saw how the mention of sealing caused more flinching by the fourth Hokage.
"Correct."
"Then how exactly did you manage to summon the Hokages? They were bonded to death in a contract."
"Ah that. Hmhmhmhmhmhm. It is an interesting tale, Naruto."
"What?" the demon said, not liking the tone of the snake Sannin.
"Your clan helped me."
"What, I had a clan? Wait. Why would they help you of all people?" Naruto asked, disbelief clear in his voice.
(Flashback.)
Ignoring the pathetic attempts of getting an answer out of me from the demon child in front of me, I began my tale once more.
Uzomaki clan and the Leaf had a tight relation since the inception of the Leaf. It mainly has to do with the fact that the Mito Uzomaki was married to Hashirama, the first Hokage. The woman had a very long life, she was alive until my Genin days, while her husband was dead long before that time.
Later, when I left my beloved village which has just gone downhill ever since the end of the third war, I learned about the Uzomaki clan. And what a wonderful clan they were, they would have been perfect for my experiments, since they have very strong life force. Too bad their clan was wiped out, and the surviving members scattered all over the world. What was strange, however was the fact that none of them came to Leaf, which I am sure would have been happy to take care of them, aside from few people of course. (You all know who I am talking about.)
Whatever the case, the Uzomaki clan never came to the Leaf for the help. But they left a very important thing behind.
A temple, more specifically a temple which has several masks inside it, right at the outskirts of the Leaf. I never understood why Sensei, or Danzo didn't dismantled the thing for its secrets, but it did become very useful to me.
You see, out of the several masks stored within that temple, one mask held the most importance for me. For wearing that mask would invoke the death god from the dead demon consuming seal, the same technique the Sensei tried to use on me.
Wearing that mask gave me something of a power trip. I could not believe that there was such a new way to look the world, or the chance of immortality was just here in my grasp.
Alas, the entity tried to take control of me, the attempts were weak, but I can feel it all the same at the back of my mind. So, with its own scythe, (Wasn't that amusing?) I slashed open my stomach, from which four bright lights flew off.
Of course, it did not matter whether those lights flew at the sky and disappeared. Once I use my summoning technique with their DNA, their souls would be under my control once more.
(Flashback end.)
After the tale was done, the demon stayed silent for three seconds. Then, he spoke to his sword…
"New plan Yamato. Hunt the bastard Uzomakis down, for leaving their important stuff lying around, and inconveniencing the demon member of their own clan."
The first Hokage had a horrifying look on his face. "You will do no such thing to my wonderful Mito's descendance, I forbid it!"
"You're dead, you can't stop meeeeeee!" the demon sang.
"Naruto," came the voice of Itachi, silencing Naruto. "Aren't you forgetting something?" the Uchiha was appeared to be quite annoyed.
"Forgetting what?"
"You've asked about everyone, but for me. Do you hate me that much?" Itachi tried to pout, but the only thing which he managed to do was to traumatize the demon again.
"Yeah Naruto, do you hate him so much? Hahahaha!" his sword did not help either.
"Shut up Yamato. As for hate, I think your brother would be a better candidate to answer that question."
"That is a low blow." Itachi complained.
"And I shall fulfill your desire, Itachi." Orochimaru said, sounding as if he was turned on once more.
"Seriously, you Uchiha are the turn on for him."
(Flashback.)
Now, at this point I was thinking to leave Akatsuki. Not that I didn't like the organization or something, but the members with whom I have such a wonderful time collecting samples were getting suspicious. And as great as I am, I really don't want to face all of them at once.
But the problem was, there was no such thing as parting on good terms with Akatsuki, nor there was any retirement plan. When I will create my own village, I'll be sure to not repeat their mistakes.
Getting back to the point, I needed to get out of here. But there was one last thing which I must do before I leave this organization: acquire the Sharingan.
How would I do that? you may ask. Why, simply possess the nearest source, Itachi Uchiha.
Now, I get that he killed his clan and all, but really. He's not that old, around fourteen or so. While I am Orochimaru of the Sannin, the veteran of two Shinobi world wars. There is no way anything could go wrong.
(One hour later…)
How could everything go so wrong?
Not only the teenager proved to be too strong, but he was still actively resisting me. How I am supposed to become immortal when such people are constantly getting in my way?
"Get out of my body!" the teenage Itachi snarled.
"Noooooo!" I gave a forlorn scream.
(Flashback end.)
"And then he threw my possession attempt aside as if it was nothing, cut off my hand, which luckily had the Akatsuki ring on it, and that was the final day in the Akatsuki for me." Orochimaru finished his tale, as if he was teaching about himself in a class.
Hearing about the hand caused the eyes of the demon to shine, and he asked, "Any chance you would give me the ring?"
"No." the Sannin refused.
"Please?" the demon asked nicely, just like those people from orphanage taught him so.
"No." the answer was still flat refusal.
"Pretty please?" Naruto tried again.
"No." now Orochimaru was getting impatient.
"Pretty please, with cherry on top?"
"No! what meaning of this word don't you understand? No means no." Orochimaru exploded.
"Fine. you will be singing the different tune when I am done with you."
"Naruto…"
Instantly, everyone started to pay attention towards the blond man, who has still not taken his eyes off from the demon, not even for once.
Ever since he stepped out of the coffin, and saw who was standing opposite him, he has been staring at the demon, while the other three Hokages argued about various things around him.
"Why won't you talk to me, Naruto?" the man questioned, as if he did not understand the world.
"Sensei, I am having a really bad feeling about this." The third muttered to the second Hokage.
"Sarutobi, they don't know." Hashirama reminded.
"What—oh. Shit." Realization dawns on the third.
"Tell your student to release him now." The second Hokage ordered.
"Orochimaru—" the chuckle of the fourth cut off the order of the third.
"Hmhmhmhmhm. You can't send me back so easily, not until I have my answers." The fourth Hokage said darkly.
'This looks like descension in their ranks, why aren't you taking advantage of this?' the demon blade asked, since his wielder would have been all over that weakness by this point.
'As if. They were never united against me. Look how they are standing? Orochimaru at the center, Akatsuki guys at one side, and Hokages at another. Besides, the Hokages did made their intentions clear, they do not wish to fight me.'
'Then why?'
'Because this is disturbing me, Yamato.'
"Ah crap." The sword said out loud.
"Exactly." The demon agreed.
(End.)
Author's notes:
In the honor of all those authors updated today, (gifting me on my birthday unknowingly,) I am uploading this chapter.
See you on the next chapter.