Author's Note: This chapter is significantly longer than the previous one. In the editing process which has taken an unreasonably long time and was a massive ball ache, a large portion of this chapter was present in the previous one, but I felt it flowed better as part of this longer one. Starting off today, it helps if you are at all familiar with the Chernobyl disaster since aspects of it were utilized (and simplified) for creating the disaster in this story. Watching the HBO mini-series is a good way to learn even if you aren't sold on the whole historical drama aspect of the show. Certain aspects were fictionalized for the sake of storytelling and its theme of state lies. If you're not into that, a documentary or a read of the Wikipedia article will suffice. Enough babbling from me, onto the chapter!
Update: 5/20/21: Readers pointed out to me that the directions were confusing. Upon investigating, I found a couple instances where "west" was intended but "east" was written. I think I have corrected all of them, so thank you for bringing the errors to my attention, even if indirectly.
XXXXX
Chapter 5: Exodus
XXXXX
"You'll forgive me Lady Tsunade if this report is rather informal."
"Don't worry about it Kongou," Tsunade said.
The Hokage had taken over a small watch tower several kilometers west of the village. Looking back at the village, the fires had only gotten worse with the ten pillars of smoke having merged into one colossal plume which continued feeding into the storm clouds. Making everything worse is that the wind was picking up which bore the possibility that this disaster could spread even further.
"Kongou, feel free to take some time for yourself-"
"Lady Tsunade, with respect I will not be resting until everyone in this village is safe my own health be damned."
With that, the Akimichi turned to leave. Tsunade said nothing knowing that nothing would have swayed the stubborn old geezer.
Tsunade turned to glance over the report. There was no title; in fact, there was no polish to be seen in the brief look that she had given it. This was of course understandable seeing as it was written in less than an hour.
She began to read.
I will be covering two things in this report. The first is what happened at the reactor today. The second is an S-rank secret that has been rendered irrelevant with today's events. Specifically it is about the discovery of nuclear power and what implications it had at the time.
Meltdown
The reactors (known as Reactor, Bio-Shielded, Mark-1, Konohagakure, (RBMK) 1-10 internally) present at the Tobirama Senju Memorial Nuclear Power Plant are the first of their kind in the known world. Village intelligence tells us that everywhere else on the continent power needs are provided by way of coal, oil, wind, hydro-electric, solar, or geothermal. Being the first nuclear reactors ever made, our reactors have encountered a number of build and design flaws. We have been able to rectify most of these as they came to our attention, but the one that has killed Konoha today is the result of what is called a positive void coefficient. Suffice to say, any plans to reconstruct the reactors after the flaw was discovered were shot down by the previous administration. You will come to understand why this irks me later on.
Twelve minutes after Danzo was killed, (good riddance), Natsami Shimura and a couple of her clan ninja arrived at the power plant. Shockwave explosive tags were placed on the reactor housings in each of the ten reactor buildings. Simultaneous detonations followed. The reactor housings held, but the control rod channels were ruptured allowing water into the channels. The control room team immediately engaged the failsafe system. Control rods were inserted into the ruptured channels where they were halted by the damage. It didn't matter because the damage was already done. The water had since been converted to superheated steam, this being the (extremely simplified) positive void coefficient. Pressure built up within the channels and burst through the containment caps sending the two tons of material on top of each reactor through the roof and back down again faster than the speed of sound. The explosions revealed the superheated reactor cores to the open air. Oxygen entered the system resulting in the ongoing nuclear fires. Nuclear material is now being scattered all over the area by way of the rain clouds. Furthermore, a mixture of concrete, metal, graphite, and the uranium-235 fuel has formed a variety of superheated radioactive lava I am calling Corium.
Unfortunately, the only way to smother the fires is through use of boron sand. If it was just one reactor that needed to be smothered, I have little doubt it could be accomplished in a matter of a few days. Ten reactors however mean that the amount of material required likely exceeds the amount that exists on the continent. In short, the fires will continue to burn and everything within no less than 1000 kilometers will die over the course of several years. Additionally, the corium is melting through the heat resistant base of the reactor buildings (referred to as ground level bio-shields). By my estimate, it will take approximately six months for the corium to reach the soil beneath. A further two weeks will see the corium make contact with the Konoha aquifer beneath reactor buildings 5, 6, 7, and 8. The remaining six reactors will make contact with ground water deposits at around the same time. Once the corium reaches the water in either location, a colossal steam explosion will take place roughly equivalent to five million tons of high grade TNT, or approximately 15,000 type-s demolition grade explosive tags. Again, if it was only one reactor that went offline, it would be a "manageable" situation. A heat shield could be installed beneath the ground level bio-shield pumped full of liquid nitrogen to cool the corium such that it will cease melting through the reactor building. The amount required for only one operation would be the entire stockpile present in the Land of Fire.
It is my professional opinion that the only way to survive the current disaster is to move the village population no less than 3000 kilometers away. Whatever your decision is regarding warning other nations and villages while evacuating Konoha's population to a safe distance, all I can say is good luck.
Discovery
Tobirama Senju was at one point my mentor. My brother Torifu introduced us. People think of him now as the least powerful of the Hokage that our village has seen. I say that they are right to a degree. In terms of sheer fighting power, it is true. What most don't acknowledge is that Tobirama was an incredibly intelligent man. I would describe him as being a once in a civilization level of genius.
I was present for his discoveries of nuclear power. While he created the Hiraishin, he discovered the atom. I'm sure you know about those given your extensive medical background. In any event, he discovered the atom and two very key aspects about them. When two atoms engage in a high speed impact, one of two things happens. The most common one is that the atoms split apart and create a colossal amount of energy. The rarer occurrence is the atoms fuse creating even more energy.
Naturally, Tobirama believed he could use these phenomena to create two things: a weapon or a jutsu and potentially a means of clean sustainable energy for the village. He succeeded. To test the weapon which took the form of a seal, we went north. Tobirama, I, Hiruzen, and Mito Uzumaki journeyed to a small island in the northern ocean. Mito was needed to ensure the seal was stable and could be remotely activated.
I cannot emphasize enough just how terrible the seal we created was. When we activated it, the sun rose twice that day. It was a titanic explosion. The cloud took the form of a mushroom, and it went many kilometers into the sky. In that moment I felt nothing but shame. I had helped in creating a weapon that could only be used to indiscriminately kill thousands of people.
I was not alone. Mito claimed it could render jinchuriki obsolete, maybe even kill the bijuu themselves. If the fox sealed within her could see anything at all, it probably would have agreed. Tobirama swore us to secrecy under penalty of death. This seal would die with us. From then on, I chose to use the power of the nuclear reaction for good. I handed over my headband and went on to help design and build the power plant. My only regret is that Tobirama died before RBMK-1 came online. I know he would be proud to know at least part of his discovery was used for peaceful purposes.
Hiruzen remained scarred by the experience to such a degree that he refused to have anything to do with the power plant beyond its maintenance and defense against foreign adversaries. He saw the explosion and believed that any move made to rebuild the reactors would set them off like old paper bombs. I don't blame him but it still pisses me the fuck off.
So now you know. There is a reason that nuclear power is so tightly regulated within the village. I hope my breach of secrecy dies with us.
Kongou
Tsunade immediately burned the document. That was a stressful read. It also further added to her hatred of Natsami Shimura and her clan of imbeciles.
Tears came out of her eyes as she cursed the woman's name, "Damn you to hell you miserable cunt!"
Hokage Tsunade took over. Torifu Akimichi was one of Uncle Tobirama's guards right? It didn't matter. 3000 kilometers was a massive distance. How in the hell could they move the entire population that far? A convoy of wagons and horses could do short distances, but it was extremely vulnerable to being ambushed, and furthermore it was dead slow. The rain was rapidly becoming deadly, and there was no way they could outrun the storm.
Tsunade's thoughts were all doom and gloom, but she was the Hokage; she needed to be the strongest person in the world now more than ever. Scribbling away on a piece of paper, she crafted plan after plan to save the people of her village. The best one she had was teleportation, but nothing in inventory had the ability to do the vast distances needed.
Shizune entered the room bearing the forbidden scroll. Tsunade perked up at the sight of it. She couldn't believe she had forgotten about the jutsu and seal that had birthed Konoha's nuclear age. She finally had an idea. A crazy idea, but crazy was what they needed.
"Shizune, get me Jiraiya and Shikaku Nara!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Tsunade smiled. She now had hope. Konoha's people had hope.
XXXXX
"We've never had a better opportunity to strike! I don't understand why you are so against it old man!"
Ohnoki laughed in the man's face, "Bah! We have no need to do so. Let bygones be bygones. You may not know this whipper snapper, but war is hell. Now get out and cool your head, I've been planning this vacation for a month and I won't let you stop me."
Isuroko ground his teeth and stormed out of the Tsuchikage's office. Ohnoki sighed. That young man was unfortunately the face of the majority in the village. Had Iwa not suffered enough tragedy? Parents lost their children and children lost their parents. War was terrible when it was justified. War for the sake of war was even worse.
"Ugh, let him be mad. Kurotsuchi! Is everyone ready to head off?"
The Tsuchikage's granddaughter responded in the affirmative.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The pink eyed kunoichi grinned. She had been looking forward to this as well. Their family was headed off to a small family estate just north of the border with the Land of Grass where Kusa could be found. Hot springs, hikes in the thick forests, hunting, it was all to die for!
"Oi, Akatsuchi! We're leaving!" she yelled.
"No need to scream at me Kuro."
Kurotsuchi elbowed him in the gut before leaving. Kitsuchi and Kozuchi, her father and younger brother respectively sighed.
Ohnoki just grabbed his bag and flew out the window complaining of back pain.
XXXXX
"Bring me to your leader," the jonin said.
"But you already know who we are," Inari said.
"Not my choice kid, its protocol for those seeking asylum," the ninja said again.
"Ugh, fine."
The Land of Waves refugees were about fifteen miles away from Konoha. They weren't the only refugees present Inari observed. There were an alarming number of Konoha natives it seemed. Nervous mutterings spoke of Konoha ninjas fighting with Shimura clansmen and their supporters whoever they were. There was a bombing at the power plant and apparently it was dangerous enough to force everyone to evacuate the village itself. Inari felt a creeping dread form in his body.
The young boy led the Konoha jonin to where Tanzuna sat on an old log. The two men began to discuss the adult stuff that he didn't particularly care about.
"I'm gonna go walk around," Inari said to Tazuna.
"Let your mother know before you wander off," Tazuna replied.
Inari nodded before turning to his right looking Tsunami in the eye and saying, "I'm gonna go walk around."
Tsunami looked at her incredibly observant father and rolled her eyes before she caught the boy in a hug and told him to be back in an hour. With that Inari ran off into the crowd.
Elsewhere in the refugee camp, Naruto was on guard duty.
With Sakura, he brought Sasuke to the bunker where they were almost immediately evacuated from. Tsunade started to fix Sasuke's neck when the group reached what was designated as the temporary refugee camp. After he and Sakura were debriefed by the Hokage, she gave them a big smile and said that this was probably the best possible outcome for his mental state.
When asked why, she said that this action signified he had very likely severed all ties with Orochimaru and that this was the major first step he needed to begin overcoming the massive levels of trauma he endured at the hands of Itachi. The genin could not contain their excitement and hollered to the high heavens in joy. Something had finally gone right on this stupid day.
With that, she dispatched the pair to new assignments. Sakura was to assist in cataloguing everything she could for something Tsunade called liquidation. Naruto was given guard duty as a break from everything that was happening.
That is how Naruto found himself lazily wandering around the camp just happy to be alive. It was rare that he had a quiet moment to himself nowadays. He was routinely going on missions and training to be the very best like no one ever was.
Naruto's thoughts returned to the sham of a trial he endured. There was no doubt in his mind that he had escaped the kyuubi being extracted by the slimmest of margins. He had no idea what he would do if his friends hadn't shown up to express their… displeasure. Naruto had basically formed his entire career out of saying "fuck you" to the odds, but this one time he couldn't see any way he could have gotten out of that situation alive. It was a sobering reminder that he wasn't quite ready to take the mantle of Hokage.
"Hey Naruto!" a voice cried out interrupting Naruto's brief musings.
The blonde headed ninja caught sight of Inari running up to him. Naruto's smile returned and he raced to meet the kid half way.
"Inari! How are you doing?" Naruto asked.
Inari's smile faltered, "A whole bunch of Kiri ninja showed up and attacked us. We had to leave our home. There was no way the Mizukage would let us live after we pulped his goons."
"I-uh, well I mean… I'm sorry."
"So what happened over here? Sounds like a civil war happened or something. They aren't letting us in the village."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "That was me. Some schmuck called Danzo didn't like that I completed a mission successfully and had a hard on for my head."
Inari gaped, "What?"
"Yeah you know, anyway Sakura killed him, like she totally just chopped off his head with an axe she pulled out of nowhere. His family didn't like that so the entire clan and some supporters revolted. Did a number on the power plant, but I still don't know why they evacuated us so I guess its real bad and stuff," Naruto laughed nervously.
"…"
"…"
"Oh."
"Yep."
"So you know that we named the bridge after you right?"
"Tazuna told me just before we left. Why?"
"We blew it up."
"…"
"…"
"Oh."
"Yep."
XXXXX
"That old fool will be the death of our village. Iwa is strong! Konoha is weak! And yet even today he would deny us our rightful vengeance? Not anymore," Isuroko screamed to the crowd from atop the Tsuchikage Tower.
Mutilated corpses hung from street lights as the denizens of Iwa were ripped into a frenzy. Ohonki's powerbase had fallen in hours, not that the Sandaime Tsuchikage had much after Isuroko had stepped into the village's politics. He was to Iwa what Danzo was to Konoha, except he had popular support from the village.
"Even now, after Konoha was sacked he refuses to act. Iwa will finish what Oto and Suna started! Our dead and wounded will have peace! Our forces will be made legendary in glorious battle! The five great villages will be reduced to four, and then to one! Iwa will rule the world even if it must stand upon a pile of ashes!"
The crowd wanted blood. The village population had been made into little more than a mob, and they were eating up the ultranationalist drivel being spouted by Isuroko. They loved his plan, but more critically they loved him. A chant began. It was quiet relative to the chaos of the mob at first, but gradually it picked up steam. Three words were all they said. Isuroko's plan could not have gone more smoothly.
"Yondaime Tsuchikage Isuroko! Yondaime Tsuchikage Isuroko!"
"Citizens of Iwa! I hear your demands! If it is the will of the people, than I will perform it to the best of my ability. Do you trust me to act in good faith as Yondaime Tsuchikage of Iwa?" he spoke to the crowd with a raised hand earning a rare silence.
A lone genin was the first to respond, "Lead us!"
The mob exploded, and Iwa's fate was sealed.
Isuroko smiled, "Then as my first act as Tsuchikage I demand the heads of Ohnoki and those that would defend him! Today, we go south my friends! Find his compound and kill him! We shall follow him to the ends of the earth! No matter where he runs or where he hides, we will have justice!"
If before the mob was an explosion of people on the village streets, they were now positively nuclear.
"Make yourselves ready comrades. We march in an hour," Isuroko had ceased yelling. His voice was calm, and everyone could see the Will of Stone inside him. Today, tomorrow, it mattered little, Ohnoki would die.
XXXXX
"This is insane."
"This is our only shot."
"It's the only way! You know as well as I do the gravity of our situation."
Shikaku Nara sighed. He did know, but that didn't mean the plan was any less insane, "I know."
"Shizune, summon Kongou here please. We need absolute accuracy as to the range of this radioactive rain," Tsunade asked of her assistant.
"Yes ma'am!" Shizune ran like a bat out of hell.
Minutes passed before Kongou arrived looking like death.
"You summoned me?"
"Have a seat," Jiraiya said, "We have a plan, but we need specifics fast otherwise it won't work."
The old Akimichi took a seat clearly very pained.
Tsunade beckoned over the guard, "Aoba, have all the messenger hawks been sent?"
"Yes Lady Hokage."
"Good, grab the nearest chuunin and have him await their return at the old aviary. Any responses come to Shizune, understood?"
"Crystal clear."
"Dismissed Aoba," Tsunade said shooing him away.
Jiraiya began, "Kongou, we have a plan to get everyone out. It's a longshot held together by tape and dreams, but it's all that we have."
Kongou winced in pain as he spoke, but his voice carried iron with it, "What do we have?"
"The Hiraishin," Tsunade said, "Tobirama's seal translated into a massive scale. Jiraiya has performed nothing short of a miracle."
"Truly?" Kongou asked skeptically.
Jiraiya gave a depressing yet full belly laugh, "Turns out a rapidly approaching demise can bring out the best in somebody's work. I'll tell you this much, I've still got no idea how the Nidaime Hokage or my old protégé managed to get this thing to work on such a small scale. What I can tell you is that it was alarmingly easy to upscale it, especially for multiple persons. Unfortunately, the amount of raw chakra required for what we need is enormous, like numbers that cease to have meaning huge. I think we can work around that however, but that's for later."
"You are telling me with a straight face Lord Jiraiya that the pinnacle of the sealing arts is something that becomes easier the larger in scale it becomes," Shikaku stated gob smacked.
"I am. I'd love to go into detail but we don't have the time."
"Lord Jiraiya," Kongou asked, "What is the destination, what are we locking onto with this giga-Hiraishin?"
"One of Minato's special kunai. I've managed to find a signature somewhere about 56 kilometers into the Land of Wind. That area is composed largely of rolling fields as the desert starts to take over, so we won't be lacking for room."
"Hm."
"Now, as to why you're here, we need your math skills and a weather report," Tsunade said.
"If you need arithmetic and meteorology, best ask Takashi. I'll help as best I can though."
"Noted. Shizune!" Tsunade bellowed, "Get me Takashi from the weather station!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Shizune chirped before scurrying off to her task.
"What are the calculations for?" Kongou asked, "We can start and lay down some groundwork before he gets here."
"Currently," Shikaku began, "We are outside of the rain zone by several kilometers. What's needed now is an estimate as to long that lasts. We absolutely cannot have that radioactive poison coming down on our heads as we're setting up the seal. We also need a minimum safe distance just in case the winds force those thunderheads in our direction."
Kongou guffawed as he looked up from his scribblings, but then immediately regretted it. He pulled out a small bag from a pocket on his vest and vomited into it harshly. The mood was rather dour from that point onward.
Gathering himself, Kongou looked at the individuals gathered before him, "There is no safe distance. There is no estimate that can be made that will have any meaningful accuracy. I will tell you all this now. If those clouds start pouring on us, we will be sent back to the fucking Stone Age! Quite frankly, we are at the mercy of mother earth and her divine winds. Regardless, I will help however I can."
"You shrieked?" came a nasally voice.
"Takashi, thank you for joining us," Tsunade said, "We need your ability to predict the storm and assistance with some mathematics."
"Very well," the lanky meteorologist replied.
Takashi took a seat next to Kongou ignoring that the man appeared to be a cadaver more than a functioning human. Blackened skin was visible on Kongou's face as his arms peeled and blood soaked into the once white vest.
"Director Akimichi, is this all of what you have started?"
"It is. The situation is this. That torrential downpour hovering over the village absolutely cannot reach our position. If it does, we will be dosed with lethal amounts of radiation after ten minutes of exposure. We need a rough estimate of time on when or if at all it will come over here," Kongou briefed.
"Well that is a pickle isn't it? Hm. Let me observe the storm for a minute before you do anything irrational."
Takashi walked over to the door without hesitation and did exactly what he said he'd do. Sixty seconds passed and he returned to his place slipping a set of thick gloves on his hands.
"Without any equipment, I can only rely on the mark one eyeball. Currently the storm is content to stay where it is, but the evening winds are what you need to be worried about. Eight thirty is around when it'll hook west and head for us, but even then it'll be another ninety minutes before it reaches the camp."
"All that from looking at it?" Jiraiya prodded.
"It's all down to the seasonal monsoons. These happen every year. A storm rolls in and is caught by the mountain to which our Hokage Monument is affixed. Then the winds change, generally westbound and leave us to deal with the floods I constantly need to pay for d-ranks to fix," Takashi droned as he scribbled away on Kongou's paper, "Also, is this here at the top your work director?"
"It is."
Takashi mumbled something, but nobody could hear what it was while he wrote something at the top of the sheet.
"In any event, you have four hours to come up with something."
Takashi stood up and exited the room. Kongou began to study his sheet of paper with an unusual zealotry.
Jiraiya started again, "We can work with this. I'll need about two hundred or so minions to help with the seal. Fifty or so will be needed to clean up the clearing of plants living or dead and to level the ground. The rest will help create the seal."
"You'll have your bodies," Tsunade replied, "Jiraiya, if you have a short list of people, ready it now. Shikaku, this must go perfectly so you'll be administrating this thing."
"Of course Lady Hokage." The Nara quickly exited the room clutching Jiraiya's short list.
"Damnit Takashi. Shit, I'm sorry."
"Say again Kongou?" Tsunade asked.
"I've fucked up. I've fucked up so bad," Kongou said sorrowfully looking at his paper.
"You are not at fault for the actions of the traitors," Tsunade assuaged the old man.
"That's not what I'm talking about," Kongou grumbled.
"Spit it out then," Jiraiya said.
"I added a zero and forgot to carry a one."
"And?"
"The corium. It's significantly hotter than my calculations suggested. It's burrowing through the bio-shield at an alarming rate. That six month estimate I made about the time to contact the aquifer? It's not six months, it's seven days."
A brief silence hung heavy over the occupants of the room.
"I understand your concern Kongou," Tsunade began, "But we will be out of here before that becomes an issue."
Kongou gave a humorless laugh, "It's not us I'm worried about."
Again, the room was silenced. It was hardly the first time anyone else had thought about the rest of the continent. How many would die? Who would heed the warning? It all hung heavy on the conscience of those present.
Kongou gagged. He quickly pulled out another bag from his vest pocket and vomited again. Tsunade and Jiraiya both looked at the old Akimichi with pity.
"Kongou, look at me," Tsunade ordered.
He did just that.
"Look me in the eyes and tell me honestly. Can you think straight? How much radiation have you absorbed?"
"I'm fine my lady-"
"Don't lie to me Kongou."
Kongou faltered. He knew he was in bad shape, but had it really scrambled his brain that much? How could he really make such basic mistakes when everyone was depending on him? He couldn't be sure.
"I'm not sure. Too much. I've had far too much." Kongou looked to the floor pathetically.
Tsunade sighed, "Rest. I know damn well what you told me earlier. I'm speaking to you now as Hokage of Konohagakure. Rest. You've done enough."
Kongou did nothing for a while.
"Shizune? Make sure Kongou has a hot meal and a dry bed."
"Aye."
Shizune tenderly shepherded Kongou outside where she was immediately handed a note. Asking the old man to remain where he was for a moment, she returned to Tsunade.
"Ma'am, all of our away teams have responded. They are awaiting orders on where we shall regroup. More importantly, there was a battle along the northern border. Tsuchikage Ohnoki and his family have apparently been ousted. There is an Iwa army making its way here. Oto forces have been seen alongside it. At current speed, they will arrive in a week."
Jiraiya snorted.
Tsunade, ever the Hokage ignored Jiraiya, "To all away teams, tell them to regroup at Suna. As for Ohnoki and his brood, I would meet with them if possible. Orochimaru and whoever is heading Iwa can eat that steam explosion for all I care."
Shizune nodded and made her way back to Kongou.
It was now just Jiraiya and Tsunade. Silence loomed like the clouds of the storm. It would have lasted longer if the Hokage hadn't needed to continue leading the village through the disaster.
"What are we going to do with Judge Tojo and Homura?" Jiraiya asked.
"Tojo dies."
"Unsurprising."
"As for Homura, I don't know what I'll do with him. He surrendered immediately and has been on good behavior."
"He always was significantly more reasonable than Koharu. I'm still puzzled why he was among the prosecutors if he was silent for the whole thing."
"Ugh. That's because he is on the short list for overseers in village trials. What I do know is that he does not like Naruto. You saw his face. His kid died during the kyuubi attack, so that's understandable. Still, I don't know if I can make an unbiased decision. Silence is consent and all that," Tsunade rambled.
"Hm," Jiraiya pondered, "We could talk to him, gauge his reaction to this mess and decide after."
A moment passed as Tsunade considered the proposal. "Very well."
When Homura Mitokado was brought before them, his face was that of resignation.
"Do you know why you are here?" Tsunade drawled.
"To be interrogated. Not that there is much to learn much from an old man like me," the councilor answered.
"I imagine there is much we can learn," Jiraiya stated.
"Would it please you then to know that I regret my inaction?" Homura queried.
Tsunade replied with, "You have my attention."
"The child is precious to you. This much I know," Homura began, "But my stubborn eyes could not see just how much Naruto has influenced the next generation of village ninja. I may not be fond of him, but I can finally see just how wrong I was."
Jiraiya and Tsunade locked eyes for several moments.
Homura began to laugh ever so lightly, "I allowed the pain of my loss to influence me. I shamed Konoha justice. There is one thing I would ask of you in light of this, Lady Hokage."
"We will see," Tsunade said.
"He is the container of my daughter's murderer. Nothing more. I ask that you tell him an old man is sorry for doing nothing when there was a failure of justice. Tell him that he has influenced his peers for the better, and that he is everything a young ninja of Konoha should be."
Jiraiya could see the truth in his eyes. Homura was genuinely remorseful. It was clear that the Will of Fire burned with a new vigor in him. It was sad that it took a tragedy of such a large scale to bring about this change.
Jiraiya nodded at Tsunade who then declared, "Naruto brings out the best in people. He would forgive you, so I will too. You are free to come with us when we leave Konoha today."
Homura bowed, "I appreciate the offer Lady Hokage, but I must decline. I shall remain here. Konoha is my home, its people can rebuild elsewhere, but I will not. I would stay here to atone for what I have done. Let the last thing I see be the Hokage Monument."
A few moments of silence followed.
"If that is your wish, then I will allow it. You are free to return to the village," Tsunade said, "May you find peace in the embrace of the divine."
Homura nodded and then left free of his shackles standing tall.
"Shizune, bring Tojo before us please," Tsunade asked of her ever faithful assistant.
Where Homura was rewarded for good behavior, Tojo consistently defied his captors and was punished for it. Tojo entered the room with a black eye, missing teeth, and several broken fingers and toes.
"Judge Tojo, thank you for meeting with us," Tsunade chuckled maliciously.
"Go to hell slut!" Tojo spat.
"Cry more," Jiraiya mocked, "You lost."
"Not only did you lose," Tsunade growled dangerously, her voice rising, "You are the reason we need to leave. You went straight to the Shimura clan with your lies. The death that they and their supporters inflicted is all on your head. You have succeeded in the one thing that the other villages have longed for, you killed Konoha! For that you die!"
Tojo screamed obscenities incoherently as everyone moved outside onto the deck of the watchtower.
Jiraiya picked up the traitor and unceremoniously tossed him over the edge. Tojo's chin impacted a crossbeam and his neck snapped before he fell to the ground. The corpse twitched violently before Shizune threw a senbon into the skull. Nobody payed the dead man any more mind as they returned to the temporary office of the Hokage.
Two things remained on Tsunade's mind.
"The refugees from wave come with us," Tsunade said.
"I wouldn't have suggested otherwise," Jiraiya answered.
"Mm hm. You still need to tell me what your plan is to circumvent the chakra cost of the seal activating."
"You won't like it," Jiraiya replied.
"I already don't like a lot about today; I think I can handle another punch to the gut."
"You misunderstand. You really won't like this. To the point you might disagree violently."
"Just spill it you pervert."
"Last chance."
"I'm certain. Beyond any shadow of a doubt. Jiraiya, I can handle it."
Jiraiya sighed, "Ok. I need to use Naruto like a battery."
Tsunade's face hardened instantly, "Elaborate. Your fate is determined by weather or not this will kill him."
"Naruto has a truly massive amount of chakra. Most of it is being used to shackle the kyuubi. I will need to loosen the seal so I can access the kyuubi's chakra. You have an ANBU with the Wood Style right, what's his name, Tenzo, Yamato, or something? Anyway, I'll need him to help regulate Naruto else he goes berserk and kills us in a bijuu induced psychotic episode. I'll have him set up on a different seal which has the purpose of storing that chakra and then feeding it into the hiraishin in controlled amounts. Once I've sucked up all I can from him, he'll be suffering from severe chakra exhaustion. If the amount I'm taking is anywhere close to my calculations, he'll be in a coma for days or even weeks."
"…"
"…"
Tsunade closed her eyes and wiped away a stray tear, "I'm sorry Naruto. For the good of Konoha."
Shizune didn't need to be told a thing. Naruto entered with her a few minutes later.
"You called granny?"
"Not now Naruto."
The genin gave the sannin present a quizzical look.
"Naruto," Jiraiya said, "I won't beat around the bush. The village is dead to us."
"What! Konoha can't be dead! It's right there! We survived when Orochimaru attacked! Why can't we survive a clan of traitors?"
"Naruto!" Tsunade thundered.
The boy flinched violently.
"Listen to me," Jiraiya said again, "I need you to accept this. Konoha is a dead village. The Shimura traitors have blown up the power plant. All that smoke you see going into the clouds, that's poison. If we go back, we die. It's that simple."
Naruto was silent for a moment, "Because of me. They hated me so much that when Sakura said no, they wanted revenge. They hurt my friends because they hated me… Our village because of me."
"Naruto, I'll tell you this much. This. Is. Not. Your. Fault," Tsunade interjected, "You get that self-hating bullshit out of your head right now. You are instrumental to the village people living. We need you at your best."
Naruto looked up at the Hokage.
"I need you at your best," she finished. Tsunade went in for a hug. Jiraiya allowed the tender moment to continue.
"You with us there kid?" Jiraiya probed.
Naruto nodded vigorously. His hand grasped at the Shodaime Hokage's necklace. "I'll take that hat from you yet granny, you'll see!"
Tsunade laughed hard, "I look forward to it brat!"
"Good," Jiraiya continued, "Your role in this is simple. We need the kyuubi's chakra, and a lot of it. This will hurt a lot. By the end of everything, you'll be unconscious and we will be camped outside of Suna."
"Ok. It'll be cool to see Gaara again!" Naruto cheered.
Tsunade and Jiraiya shared a look, but Naruto didn't catch it.
XXXXX
"Dust Style: Detachment of the Primitive World Jutsu!" Ohnoki cried.
The large squad of genin had a painless death when the cube reduced them to atoms.
Kurotsuchi spat out some of her quicklime lava onto a chuunin and trapped him in place. She threw a shuriken at him to dispose of the threat on her flank as she pivoted to re-engage a jonin. A flurry of fists between the combatants ended when Kurotsuchi suddenly jumped backwards and Akatsuchi turned the man's head into a pink mist with a stone spike that covered his fist.
Kitsuchi ducked below the swing of a chuunin's sword. Dashing forward, he elbowed the woman in the gut hard forcing her to drop the blade. Grappling with her, he managed to turn her into a human shield. Evidently her teammates cared little for her plight as a series of shuriken were thrown at Kitsuchi. The chuunin took all but two yet remained alive. Before she could drown in her own blood thanks to her bloodthirsty team, Kitsuchi snapped her neck as a mercy and bull rushed the pair of chuunin. Encasing his right arm in rock, he delivered a haymaker that caved in the skull of one of the chuunin who dropped like a sack of rice. Shedding the stone on his arm, Kitsuchi made four hand signs.
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Jutsu!"
Emerging from beneath the last chuunin, an earthen dragon swallowed the man whole. Screams and the snapping of bone left the maw of the rock monster before it collapsed into a pile of rubble leaking red.
Kozuchi was too young to fight, so he settled for being the cheering squad in his mind. In reality, all he was doing was screaming every obscenity his nine year old mind could muster, some of which involved the creative uses of a cactus during the course of foreplay. Kurotsuchi only egged him on further.
When the last of the ninja fell, the Sandaime Tsuchikage's family breathed a sigh of release.
This was not the first assault from Isuroko's troops that they had endured, but the group desperately hoped it would be the last.
Ohnoki despite his age was still the greatest ninja Iwa had ever produced. These horrifically misguided children trying to kill him were little more than insects. However, his family did not yet share his power or experience. After ten separate engagements each with more than thirty attackers, they were starting to feel the strain. Kurotsuchi was doing the best, but even then her chakra was running on fumes.
They needed to find a place to rest, and unfortunately the most likely place to get respite was Iwa's oldest and greatest foe. Ohnoki famed for being a man who sat on the metaphorical fence was forced to swallow his pride. For his family, it would be a small price to pay.
"Hey, Konoha whelp, come on out. I'd speak with you," Ohnoki said to the trees.
Kurotsuchi ground out nervously, "Is this wise gramps? How do we know they won't attack?"
"Because we can recognize context," answered the jonin who emerged from the trees, "Somehow, I doubt your village is happy with you lot right now."
"They follow a man called Isuroko," Ohnoki replied, "He is popular in Iwa, and he seeks war for the sake of war. Konoha would be his first target if the amount of times he burst into my office after that scuffle you lot had with Suna and Oto is any indication."
"Isuroko, excessively tall, missing three fingers on his left hand, mangled left ear, dark green hair, black eyes, wanted in seven countries for theft and murder, that Isuroko?" the jonin asked flipping through his bingo book.
"Yes, that one."
"Well now he's wanted for instigating a coup in Iwa," the jonin said writing a brief note in the book, "I assume the five of you would like to rest somewhere he has no influence?"
It took a long moment, but Ohnoki eventually responded in the affirmative. It was clear to all present that it was not an easy decision to make.
"I can't take you straight to Konoha, but there is a small outpost nearby. I trust that you will behave yourselves."
"Yes."
"Good. Name's Asuma Sarutobi. It's a pleasure to meet you and your family Lord Tsuchikage."
When they arrived at the outpost, the Iwa refugees were offered showers, food, and a bed. None of them rejected it.
Sometime during the next day, Asuma received a message from Konoha. His mood until he had gotten it had been fairly jovial. Now it was one filled with worry. The Sandaime Hokage's son sent a message before speaking with Ohnoki again.
"Change of plans folks, I'm taking you to Konoha now. Pack your stuff and meet me out front," Asuma informed the group.
Ohnoki was not used to being ordered around, but he restrained any less than pleasant comments. Resigned to his fate, Ohnoki ordered the others to do as the Konoha ninja said.
The journey to Konoha was made with great haste. Kozuchi was incapable of maintaining the pace required, so Akatsuchi happily carried the Tsuchikage's grandson on his shoulders as they bounded through the large forests that made up much of the Land of Fire.
The once sunny day turned dark and ominous as storm clouds dominated the sky. Rain did not yet fall, but the group could see a downpour looming over Konoha as they exited the forest somewhat outside the village.
A pair of chuunin made themselves known to Asuma and spoke with him briefly. Funny looks were given to the Tsuchikage's party, but no whispers or comments graced their ears as the pair scurried off. Asuma rejoined the group and guided them to a tall watchtower.
"Lord Tsuchikage, the Lady Hokage will meet you in the office at the top of the tower. Everyone else, there is food in the tent to the left. A wash station is behind that in another tent, though I have been told that there is a line. Once you are done there, somebody who is not me will find you and take you to some tents. Again, I trust you will behave yourselves. Take care," and with that, Asuma ran off.
Ohnoki took one look at the stairs and scoffed. The old man kicked off the ground and flew to the top of the tower avoiding the long walk up altogether. He faintly heard Kurotsuchi say something akin to "lazy bastard". Who was he to argue?
Ohnoki entered the room with his head held high.
"Lord Tsuchikage, thank you for joining us," greeted Tsunade.
"Hrm… Lady Hokage," lightly snarked.
"Let's start with why you are here then shall we?" Tsunade asked, "I got a message, but I would rather hear the story from you."
"What is there to say little Senju? The shinobi known as Isuroko has slain loyal men and women of Iwa and turned the rest into a bloodthirsty hate mob. Unless you have a mass brainwashing jutsu you are willing to lend me, I am not welcome back into my own home," Ohnoki loudly grumbled.
"Is that it? Are you sure it's not something else? If it's the décor you're upset about, well we haven't unpacked yet," Jiraiya joked.
"Who are you to say what it is I am upset about whipper snapper? My problem isn't with your interior decorating; it's that your village is on fire hypocrite. Again."
"Well since you've brought that up," Tsunade said ignoring Ohnoki's less than subtle digs, "Yes, the village is on fire. Yes, we have evacuated. No, I do not have an estimated time as to when the fire will be out. In fact, the fires will continue to burn."
"Wait, what?"
Tsunade's false cheer was alarming, "See, Iwa and Konoha are not that different apparently. We both have suffered coups recently. Fortunately for us, ours was defeated entirely. Unfortunately, they blew up our power plant and it's now sending radioactive toxins into the sky. Toxins which are so deadly that everything on the continent is dead meat over the next few months and years!"
Ohnoki had walked in fully expecting to get in a couple roasts after seeing the Konoha populous in a refugee camp. He had not anticipated a world ending threat to get shoved down his throat. The man steeled himself as Tsuchikage.
"This is not something you would lie about," Ohnoki stated flatly.
"Some things just can't be spun as propaganda," Jiraiya said.
"I assume that you have a plan to contain this radioactive disaster or whatever you called it?"
"Oh this is the best part Lord Tsuchikage! You see the amount of time and resources needed to do so would mean that the village populous would be dead before any meaningful change could occur," Tsunade chirped.
"You can't stop it!" Ohnoki squawked.
"Not even a bit!"
"…"
"…"
"Oh," Ohnoki barely choked out, "You are telling me, that poison is going to rain down across the continent and kill everything it touches."
"It will be a complete wasteland by the time those fires naturally extinguish," Jiraiya interrupted, "We have sent messages out to every city, town and village we could to warn them. I'm confident that pretty much all of them will ignore it."
"Then what about you?" Ohnoki asked, "How do you intend to live if you know that it can't be stopped?"
"Oh, we're leaving. First to Suna, then far west of there I imagine," Jiraiya answered.
"Into the Grey Salt Wastes? You will die. All of you."
"If we made the journey on foot maybe," Jiraiya pondered.
"Do not tell me you are going to fly across. The five great villages destroyed all of the machines used by the Land of the Sky. Unless you have several hundred thousand of those things lying around, you will need to walk. Again, I emphasize that you will die doing so."
Tsunade's mental episode appeared to have ceased, "No. I'm afraid that our solution is quite a bit more… yellow."
Ohnoki squinted at the Hokage. Yellow? What could that possibly-oh by the sage himself, they couldn't possibly mean that?
"Ye olde Yondiame's signature?"
"Indeed."
"…"
"…"
"So where can I sign up my brats on this potentially less suicidal escape plan you have pulled out of your ass?"
"Not even gonna try and warn your own village?" Jiraiya implored.
"The first group of Isuroko's attackers opened up their assault by throwing the heads of my most loyal at my grandson. Iwa is fully in that lunatic's hands now," Ohnoki replied disgusted, "What do I have left but a couple of snot nosed twits?"
The Tsuchikage's head hung low. For the moment, it looked like the soon to be exiles would have five more heads to their number.
"So what's radiation?" he said looking up.
XXXXX
The hidden villages of the world are a strange beast. Ninja villages need to be entirely self-sufficient or they can be strangled by their rivals during an armed conflict. Villages forge their own weapons, manufacture industrial equipment, grow their own food, produce their own power, and any number of additional needs. If such things are not conducted within a village's walls, they will be within a ten kilometer or so sphere of influence near the village itself.
For the Konoha populous to be able to migrate somewhere else and rebuild within a reasonably short period of time, they would need to take as much of the village infrastructure with them as possible. To this end, Tsunade formed the liquidators.
The liquidators were the name given to the ninja sent back into Konoha to salvage anything that wasn't bolted down. Priority was given to village and ninja secrets, food and water, industrial equipment, appliances and every manner of tool they could find. In short, they were collecting all they could that was not leisure related.
It was a job performed by volunteers. With the radioactive rain pouring down, everyone involved knew that they could very easily die. Earth users created moving huts that acted as moving camps from which liquidator teams operated as they entered buildings and sealed away whatever they could into scrolls.
"Are the last of the liquidators back?" Tsunade asked.
"We lost five to a collapsing building Lady Tsunade," Hiashi Hyuga replied, "It was the old arms warehouse on the north side. Otherwise, yes."
"They will be remembered."
The return of the liquidators meant that it was time to enact the plan.
"Jiraiya, we're ready," Tsunade hollered.
"Then let's go, we have about one hour before the storm moves towards us. That is a two and a half hour hard limit," he answered.
At the seal, Naruto could be found eyes closed lying on a barren patch of earth. A set of red colored wooden posts connected by a large winding branch leading to a masked ANBU surrounded Naruto. An intricate line of kanji led from the young ninja to a small circle of symbols on the ground all glowing red. The circle itself had another line of kanji leading into the hiraishin that dominated the clearing.
"How are you doing kid?" Jiraiya asked.
Naruto opened his eyes and gave a pained smile, "Hurts like a motherfucker."
Jiraiya nodded, "Any change you've noticed?"
Naruto shook his head no.
Jiraiya walked over to the ANBU, "Anything we should be worried about?"
"He's the easiest patient I've ever had," the ANBU called Yamato chuckled.
"Scream if you need me," Jiraiya said.
The toad sage went and inspected the hiraishin. Everything seemed to be in order, so he made his way to Tsunade.
"We are live."
"Good," Tsunade said, "First group, form up on the seal!"
The first group was composed of around five people. Around ten thousand could comfortably fit on the hiraishin seal, but the first group was small so they would know if it worked at all.
The group walked onto the seal and signaled that they were ready.
Jiraiya returned to the seals around Naruto and pushed a small amount of chakra through one which activated it. The red glow shot down the line of kanji and symbols into the hiraishin. Jiraiya pushed some of his chakra into another seal, and the five ninja on the hiraishin flashed away in a blink of crimson light.
Silence took over the clearing as Jiraiya's eyes stared unblinking at one final seal. This one was a simple seal. It would blink if an identical seal was crafted and chakra pushed through it. The first group if they made it through the hiraishin would make a seal on the other end to let everyone know that they made it. Estimated time of completion was around two minutes.
It took only one. The seal lit up in a brilliant indigo.
Jiriaya yelped with joy to any that could hear him, "The eagle has landed! We are green on the other end!"
"Oh good. I'll be here. Dying. You're welcome," Naruto drawled as he finally went unconscious.
Jiraiya rolled his eyes.
Tsunade started to issue orders, "Next group, you're up!"
Over the next two hours, around 140,000 people were shoved onto the hiraishin and teleported away. Only two chose to stay.
"Is this your final choice Kongou?" Tsunade asked.
"It is Lady Hokage," the dying man said.
"Then go with grace."
With that, the Hokage and a select handful of individuals stepped onto the hiraishin. Looking back, the group could see Kongou Akimichi and Homura Mitokado with fists full of explosive tags ready to destroy the seal once its last users had passed through.
A flash of crimson light enveloped those on the seal, and they found themselves in a grassy field.
Tsunade and Jiraiya celebrated upon arrival. The long day finally caught up with them so they allowed themselves a couple hours of sleep before they made their way to Suna itself.
The village in the desert had undergone a change in leadership since Orochimaru's deception. Baki was the acting Kazekage until a more permanent replacement could be found.
"So we may have accidentally killed the continent," Tsunade opened.
"I beg your pardon?"
Baki was unusually understanding of the situation when its various complexities were explained. On the condition that the willing Suna populous be allowed to accompany the refugees on their journey far, far away, the Konoha and Wave populations could camp outside of Suna's walls. With the diplomacy settled, the refugees were once again sent through the hiraishin to Suna.
Runners from Suna were sent out into the Grey Salt Wastes to identify places where the soon to be refugees could take refuge. Over the course of history, previous explorers reported that there was nothing but grey salt flats for two hundred kilometers. This in combination with numerous deaths had discouraged explorations beyond the immediate border. Now however, there was significant motivation to find literally anything beyond the wastes. The runners were loaded down with survival gear and a truly ludicrous amount of food and water. Twenty eight runners were sent out in pairs. Miraculously, eleven pairs returned. Ten of them found nothing.
"There is a shield volcano five hundred sixty seven kilometers away. The wastes continued for as far as I could see beyond it. Rei journeyed further west for another two hundred eighty kilometers and found no more landmarks, just more salt flats. She said that it got colder the further she went. There was apparently snow to the north, but she didn't investigate further. Anyway, there is a small lake near the volcano full of clean water. It has made a modestly large oasis with trees and wildlife."
"That sounds excellent!"
"There are a few complications."
"Do tell."
"We found remnants of an old settlement nearby, I'd wager over a century or so. Stone hut ruins are partially submerged and some wooden wagons are down at the bottom of the lake. There is evidence of a mass grave. My opinion, I think the village was raided and its people killed. There was evidence of foot traffic about a year old in a dried up stream bed. Rei found a group of thirty five cannibals when she went further west. She did not make contact per instructions."
"Do you realize what this means?"
"Uh… That we might have competition? And you know… the cannibals?"
"You two have discovered the first evidence of people west of the Land of Wind! I'm pretty sure that means you get to name them!"
"Uh… They're the, um, Cannibal Volcanites?"
"That's dumb. You're disowned."
"…"
"…"
"Oh."
"Yep."
XXXXX
Orochimaru looked upon Konoha for the second time in a year. He found it wanting.
The snake sannin's instincts warned him of danger, yet there was nothing he could see beyond two old and dying men.
"Look, it's the Inferno," an Oto kunoichi observed.
"That one is the Sandiame Hokage's teammate," an Iwa shinobi mentioned.
Orochimaru and Isuroko marched up to the pair as they sat on lawn chairs at the open village gate drinking sake straight from the bottle.
"This is all Konoha sends to face us?" Orochimaru mocked, "A washed up ninja turned politician, and a fat scientist playing with fire who finally burned himself? Spare me the indignity."
"If you are here to take the lives of Konoha's citizens in some perverse form of vengeance, you will be disappointed," Kongou rasped.
"Beyond the two of us," Homura said, "You will only find corpses and flames."
"Above ground maybe," Orochimaru replied.
"All hidden villages have emergency bunkers. I don't care for whatever games you are playing. Know this worms, I will find them, and then I will kill them. It matters not where you slimy cretins hide," Isuroko boomed.
"You want a guided tour?" Kongou quipped, "There is an entrance to a bunker near the Tobirama Senju Memorial Nuclear Power Plant."
"Nucular what now?"
"I assume the dead man is talking about a power source of some description. I confess that is one form of science where I do not possess any form of knowledge," Orochimaru answered, "Jutsu and biology is just so much more… exhilarating."
Kongou and Homura finished their sake, stood up, and began slowly walking down the road to the power plant. Smoke that was black like the night scarred the sky with its foulness.
The leaders of Iwa and Oto ushered their armies into the village. Doors were smashed in as glass shattered and more fires were set to the poor village of Konoha.
The Konoha natives arrived at the power plant.
Kongou looked at his watch and consulted a sheet of paper.
"Is it time Director?" Homura asked.
"It is," Kongou said.
The sound of groaning metal could be heard over the anarchy inflicted by the enemy ninjas.
"Land of Fire indeed," Isuroko said looking at the reactor buildings unimpressed.
"The smoky aroma does grow on one," Orochimaru snarked, "Though the metal taste is new. It's not unlike blood."
"I'm sure you won't have to deal with it for long," Kongou replied.
"Threatening us already?" Orochimaru oozed out maliciously.
"Your mistake is in thinking either of us will kill you," Homura said.
"That will though," Kongou mentioned.
Kongou Akimichi, the Inferno, director of Konoha's nuclear power plant pointed at the earth rising alongside four of the reactor buildings. Orochimaru finally realized what his instincts were warning him about.
"And so night descends on Konoha."
"May its people march forward unto dawn."
Before them, the earth below RBMK 5-8 bulged upwards cracking. Steam escaped small pockets in the ground. The world exploded with a tortured roar as Konoha perished from the face of the earth.
XXXXX
Author's Note: This chapter wraps up the introductory Konoha arc. This one is also just shy of 10k words, which again is because I felt this flowed better as part of a larger chapter. The hiraishin is probably going to be the most divisive element of this chapter so I'll say right now that this was planned from the start. Plus I wanted to add my own spin on that particular jutsu, so there you have it.
During the editing process, the Iwa and Ohnoki centric parts changed significantly. The country where Kusa is located does not have a canon name, so I've gone and called it the Land of Grass. The Land of the Sky comes from the movie called Bonds which to my knowledge most people forgot about. And yes, the Grey Salt Waste is the easterner's name of the Grey Waste which if you look at the world map featured in the Lands of Ice and Fire is more or less the furthest known location east. Given that in myth the Yi Ti Pearl Emperor built the Five Forts sometime before the Long Night to defend against attacks from the Grey Waste by the Lion of Night and his demons, it is heavily implied that this is where the Others conducted their attack on Essos.
Anyway, next we move to Westeros for what will be two or three chapters. After that is going to be the journey west which will end in The North. I don't know how many chapters that arc will be made of, but I do know that I really am looking forward to writing much of that. Essos, particularly the further east you go is just so damn interesting, and I hope that the journey west will adequately convey that. Thank you all for reading, and have a lovely day.