1530, Uzumaki Manor, Konoha Zone Nine
"Lady Hokage, the Kumo and Ame ninjas in this zone are retreating!" Fu reported to the Fifth Hokage, the supreme commander of 10,000 Konoha defenders against the Neo-Combine 60,000 invaders.
"Yeah, they are heading for the front section to exit the village!" Kiba Inuzuka added between breaths.
Many Leaf ninjas across Zone 9 reported the same situation. Most of the Konoha ninjas defending the Manor cheered aloud, some of them collapsed to their knees and cried tears of relief. Kumo and Ame were the main forces on the Leaf village right section, the Combine's fierce attack on the section were now practically ceased. Victory, which had previously seemed like a far away dream was now a definite possibility.
Tsunade Senju sighed in relief and analyzed the situation. 'Is it because the Raikage was slain and Kumo panics and gives up? Hinata killing the Raikage and the news that Ancor Vantian's bridge is under attack by Naruto both are indeed turning the tide. Although the Neo-Combine is twice the size of the old Combine, but they are less cohesive.'
"Hinata, Neji, and Natsu," the Hokage radioed her Hyuuga ninjas at the manor. "Keep an eye on the enemy forces in case if they are feigning a retreat." She would not allow her people to be lulled into a false sense of security.
"Hai!"
The Hyuuga heiress returned to the Uzumaki Manor along with Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru after their fight and victory over the Fourth Raikage. Tayuya Uzumaki and Neji Hyuuga arrived back half an hour later. The six of them were all ordered to help defending the manor- the Leaf temporary central command when the Hokage Tower was taken down by the Neo-Combine in the first wave. The five Raiders plus Tayuya then learnt that Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze had taken Honoka Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno and Takuma Hyuuga to assault Ancon Vantian to rescue Karin Uzumaki.
Tsunade turned to her Katsuyu clone. "Lord Kazekage, can you hear me?"
"Yes, Lady Hokage?" Rasa responded from his slug clone.
"Kumo and Ame are retreating."
"Yes, I see it as well. I think that Kumo lost their leader and decides to retreat, but why Ame too?"
"We will investigate this later," Tsunade said. "If this retreat is real then timing is critical. Please take most of our forces here to help Shikaku in the middle section. Once we neutralize the middle section, we will make a final push against Orochimaru's Sound force in the left section!"
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"The Kazekage has done an impressive job," the Wind Daimyo remarked after he listened to his ministers' reports. "The enemy outnumbers us six to one, but Mister Sabaku and his ninjas manages to hold the line and makes the Combine forces here retreat. Impressive."
All the Wind ministers nodded. "Yes, Your Grace, not to mention he saved our lives in the arena."
"Indeed, we are in his debts," the Wind Country leader agreed while thinking about the unfortunate Fire Royal Family. "I will re-evaluate our annual mission budget for the hidden Sand village, and no more mission funds to these Combine ninja villages- Cloud, Grass and Sound. The money will be reallocated to my ninja village. We will mobilize the Wind Army and the Sand ninjas, and I will allocate war budget for Suna for our retribution campaign against these Combine countries and villages." The cowardly and dishonourable attack by the Combine forces needed to be revenged.
Hiding above the ceilings as the secret bodyguard for the Wind Daimyo, Yashamaru smiled. The Suna ANBU commander had been assigned to protect his country leader and he had overheard the Wind Court conversation. Suna's economical future was more secure than ever.
The Fourth Kazekage, who was his brother-in-law, had been worried about the village's economics since the Third Ninja World War conclusion. He would do anything for the village, even going as far as sealing the Ichibi inside his youngest son who was still in Karura's womb that resulted the mother's death and Yashamaru's secret deep resentment.
13 years ago Yashamaru was tasked to find more information about Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, the son of the Fourth Hokage and the Whirlpool Princess, when his existence became public. Much to Yashamaru's dismay, Rasa had even considered to offer Temari's hand in marriage to the Heir of Whirlpool, in order to access the vast Whirlpool wealth and resources for the good of the village until the boy's mysterious disappearance. Konoha had done a good job keeping the secret about the disappearance of the son of the Yellow Flash, even ally such as Suna didn't know the truth until two months ago the boy returned with the Hyuuga heiress from Kumo captivity.
Another prime example was that the Sand village leader planned to semi-retire a kunoichi-volunteer to film Icha-Icha movie series, to advertise and promote the village. He originally disapproved Icha-Icha but soon acknowledged its huge economic and political benefits for his village. Icha-Icha Tanuki brought many nobles' even daimyos' attention on Suna, and they began to hire the hidden Sand village for missions. The Wind Daimyo and the Fangs Daimyo were closet fans of Icha-Icha, and they respectively summoned Rasa to their palaces to enquire about the Icha-Icha Tanuki book. Yashamaru rarely saw the stoic Fourth Kazekage smile, and it was very memorable to see his leader did it after the meetings.
'The hidden Sand village will prosper.'
There was a thunderous cheer around the manor, and it confused Yashamaru, the Wind Daimyo and his ministers. "What happened?"
A Wind Royal Guard captain ran in to the chamber breathlessly, but his expression was of hope. "We just receive news that the hidden Mist village is coming to help us!"
Everyone's eyes widened, including Yashamaru's. 'Isn't Kiri still embroiled in her civil war? The war ended earlier than expected?' The Sand ANBU commander wondered. 'And why did they want to help Konoha?'
"Our ninja village has been mobilized, and Iwa, Taki and Nadeshiko are sending helps, and now Kiri…" A Wind minister thought aloud. "The tide is really turning- as long as our defenders hold the line, we can definitely win this war!"
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Five Minutes Ago
There was no better news for the severely outnumbered Konoha defenders then the announcement that more reinforcements were coming, particularly an unexpected one.
Asuma Sarutobi left two of his five battalions to stay help the Northern Garrison force defend against the Kumo army there. He and Kurenai Yuhi were on their way back to Konoha with the rest of his battle group at full speed. They received a radio message on the way.
"This is Mei Terumi the Fifth Mizukage of the hidden Mist village. I am bringing my 12,000 ninjas to help Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze and his allies in Konoha. General Jonin Zabuza Momochi and his vanguards- The Demon Brigade will rendezvous with you."
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Yesterday
On the top of the Mizukage Tower, Haku Yuki and Asuka Terumi hugged and cried in joy when they witnessed the latter's cousin, Mei Terumi, ascended to the Godaime Mizukage.
"People of the hidden Mist village, the war is finally over!" She announced. "I promise you all peace and prosperity!" Over 20,000 Kiri ninjas and hundreds of thousands of civilians applauded thunderously.
Peace had finally arrived the hidden Mist village and Water County. It was all thanks to a particular man- Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, who funded and armed Zabuza Momochi to raise a reinforcement-army to help the Kiri resistance against the Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi's genocidal rule.
There were two things Haku would remember for the rest of her life. First was her family tragedy- her father murdered her mother and attempted to murder her due to their bloodline limit. It still pained the Ice Maiden that she killed her father and his accomplices in self-defence. Her family incident that was a stark contrast to tearful reunions between the kidnapped Water girls and their families, including Asuka Terumi and her elder cousin Mei- the leader of the resistance. These was all due to the Fourth Mizukage genocidal policy against people with bloodline limits and this led to her second most important memory- the civil war showdown.
Using the Uzumaki fuinjutsu, the resistance force stormed and breached the loyalist's last stronghold- the fortified Mizukage Tower District. There, the Ice Maiden along with Zabuza, Asuka, Mei and her righthand-man Ao and three swordmen Chojuro and the Hozuki brothers faced the Mizukage, who was not going down without a fight. Red chakra energy had poured out of the tyrannical Mizukage as he attacked.
Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze had given Zabuza anti-jinchuuriki fuinjutsu seals. The group distracted Yagura, and Haku encased the Yondaime Mizukage with her Ice Release that created an opening that gave the swordman an opportunity to slap a tag on the Mist leader's chest. The jinchuuriki was stunned and paralysed, while his red chakra quickly receded.
There was no fittest end for the tyrannical Fourth Mizukage than that Zabuza separated his head from his shoulders with his Executioner Blade.
Most of the loyalist ninjas promptly surrendered upon Yagura's death, they were on the loyalist side due to the fear of the brutal Fourth Mizukage. Those refused to surrender were either killed or captured, and the civil war was finally over! The war was ended earlier than anticipated and less lives were lost.
As it was Zabuza Momochi who slayed Yagura Karatachi, and he should be the next Kiri leader. Yet the swordsman declined, saying he didn't want to be a "paper-pusher" and preferred to be out in the field killing Kiri enemy.
Therefore, Mei Terumi took the hat and became the Fifth Mizukage.
The Demon of the Mist was greatly rewarded for his part in the civil war. Much to Haku's happiness, her mentor and surrogate father was made a general and the Kiri Jonin Leader, and was given a seat in the reformed Kiri Council. Most importantly, Zabuza was made the leader of the Seven Swordsmen, leading Chojuro, the Hozuki Brothers and the other swordsmen.
The Ice Maiden was rewarded handsomely as well, her ability and effort in the war was acknowledged by the new Mizukage and the other Kiri leaders. She was made elite chunin and the co-leader of the new Kiri Medics Unit with Asuka Terumi. Most importantly she had been granted membership of the Mist Seven Swordsmen with the Nuibari- the sewing needle sword.
Haku and Asuka wore Kiri flak jackets which had the crimson Uzumaki clan crest on the back, like the Konoha flak jacket. Mei decreed this as the village's gratitude for the Uzumaki clan's invaluable contribution to their resistance for freedom, not to mention that them saving over a hundred Water girls who were held captive by Kumo to breed their bloodline limits.
Haku knew the history that Kiri formed The Combine with other ninja villages to destroy Uzushio in the Second Ninja World War. 'I wonder if this act as a gesture of good will and reconciliation between the two villages?'
This morning, the TV was supposed to broadcast the Konoha Chunin Exam, instead, but much to every Kiri ninja's shock it became a full-blown invasion on the host village. Much to Mei's grimace, several journalists reported the invaders were called The Neo-Combine and composed of many ninja villages, including the hidden Cloud.
An emergency Kiri meeting was called, then the Mizukage announced: "We will go fight this Neo-Combine."
This shocked many jonins, and some were against this decision.
"We just end our civil war two days ago," a jonin protested with some anger in his tone. "And you want us to go to war again?" There were murmurs on this disapproval, clearly many people didn't like this idea. The peace they had built was still fragile, a wrong move could rip open the wounds from the civil war and Kiri would be plunged back into anarchy.
"I don't want to fight either, but this we have to. If Konoha falls, we will be the Combine's next target." The Fifth Mizukage reasoned. "The Fourth Raikage planned to conquer Kiri after Konoha, you have read his Ten Year Plan- Leaf first, then us."
The mention of the Yondaime Raikage made many Kiri ninjas' blood boiled. The hidden Cloud village had taken advantage of the Mist civil war and kidnapped many Water girls fleeing the conflict to breed bloodline limits. Thanks to Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, most were freed and brought back home, but there were still some Water girls trapped and enslaved in Kumo. Asuka and Naruto had compiled a list of kidnapped Water girls still in Kumo and those who would never come back to their families…
A senior jonin stood up with tears in his eyes and his fists shaking furiously. "My little girl Aiko was taken and died in the hidden Cloud village because of those Kumo bastards! I want justice and I say KILL THEM ALL!" Everyone roared in agreement, even those who previously disagreed entering the war. It was time to prove that the hidden Mist village was still a force and power to be reckoned with.
Their military was still not at full capacity. It took longer than they would have liked to gather up the necessary ninjas, equipment, and provisions. Nonetheless they had managed to scrape together two battalions to launch first as the vanguard in the morning, with Zabuza leading them. Eventually though at 1300, that was three hours later, the Mist fleet was ready to transport 10,000 ninjas.
Many people were greatly worried about Naruto Namikaze. They had watched his fights against powerful foes- the millennium demon Satori, Iwa Shingen "The Gravemaker" Hattori on TV. The fights were so epic that made Haku felt watching a superhero movie.
Haku overheard several senior Kiri ninjas quietly cursing at Naruto, and to her horror, a few of them even wished the Gravemaker kill the son of Red Death.
'Lady Kushina killed many of their loved ones in the Third Ninja World War in a vengeance for the Fall of Uzushio.' The Ice Maiden thought.
The cursing stopped when the TV broadcasted Naruto's words to the Gravemaker and Iwa. "…How many parents are on the line wanting to kill you to avenge their children you slain?"
She looked at those senior ninjas who were silent by the words. 'They also had killed other people's loved ones as well.'
"…War is ugly and creates endless vicious cycle of conflicts…"
Yes, war destroys families and brings homelessness, starvation, disease, rape, and death. Innocent folks suffer while the top become rich and fat. Her country and Wave were good examples. Zabuza had taught her several times that there were asshole leaders that manipulated people's hatred to make wars for their own benefits.
Even though the Kiri civil war ended, it had left deep scars to both sides. Many people had lost their parents, siblings, children and friends to each side. The Fifth Mizukage had been working hard to heal the wound on both sides, to bring unity in the village. She pardoned the loyalist ninjas who were forcibly conscripted to Yagura's army, while arresting anyone who had committed a war crime regardless which side they were on.
The TV broadcasted Naruto's words to the Hattori. "I will visit Iwa to pay tribute to their fallen, I hope this can build bridge with them…"
Yes, that's what the Fifth Mizukage wanted to do too- building bridges and making reconciliation and peace with the other hidden villages. The Ice Maiden supported her village leader and her endeavour with unwavering loyalty.
Haku, Asuka and some others shed tears at the sad reunion of Naruto and his undead mother before becoming angry at Orochimaru's cruel joke towards their hero. Then everyone became horrified when a bright light flashed on the TV screens before becoming static.
"Is Naruto OK?" Everyone asked worried. The son of the Yellow Flash was the most powerful ninja, but the Kiri people prayed for his safety.
Mei, Asuka, and Haku were aboard The Wind of Freedom, the ship that liberated over a hundred kidnapped Water girls from Kumo.
Naruto's ship had become the Mizukage's flagship as the symbol of freedom and hope.
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ROOT HQ, Zone Three
"Linked Lightning Cannon Strike!" Kumo jonin Darui and other Cloud ninjas unleashed countless electric currents that merged into one towards Danzo Shimura and his 300 ROOT bodyguards. Their leader the Raikage was killed in a gruesome way. They were filled with grief and rage, and they wanted revenge.
The devastating lightning bolt disappeared before the ROOT ninjas. All the Kumo ninjas' eyes widened. "What the hell?" They did not have the time to think about it when the 100-strong first row ROOT ninjas held AK-16 crossbows on their hands and opened fire.
Darui, Karai and Nigai blocked the fast-incoming kunai with their blades, but scores of Kumo ninjas were hit and dropped dead.
The firing stopped when the crossbows emptied their Cartridges scrolls. "Now it's the chance. Attack!" Darui commanded his ninjas to charge.
After emptying their Cartridge scrolls, the first row ROOT ninjas dropped to their right knees and began to reload their crossbow ammunition. The second row then began to fire their AK-16. This tactic fired non-stop like machineguns, and dozens of Cloud ninjas were killed every second.
Danzo and his bodyguards advanced, the third row casted Earth-style ninjutsu to seal the holes on the ceilings, lest the Kumo ninjas above dropping bombs on them. The ROOT leader's ninjas and associates scattered nearby quickly joined the group.
"Shit!" Darui cursed as he deflected eight kunai with his cleaver-sword. "Nigai, Karai cover me while I create a defensive wall!"
"Sure!"
"Will do!"
Kumo squads began to follow suit- Cloud ninjas covered their comrades who were able to cast defensive ninjutsu.
"Everyone fall back!" Darui ordered.
A little smile appeared on Danzo's face. He had equipped his ninjas with the Uzumaki anti-ninjutsu Shield seals and other advanced fuinjutsu from the K-15 platoon, stolen by his agent Sai.
Kumo's surprise attack had caused disarray among his force at first though. His sensor ability told him that 300 of his 1,000 ninjas were killed along with half the 800 Fire Royal Guards. However, he trained his ninjas well and his scattered ninjas across the bunker now held their grounds and the situation was stabilized thanks to the Uzumaki fuinjutsu. The red-haired clan's seal arts proved to be invaluable for Konoha's defense against the Combine, Hinata Hyuuga's victory over the Fourth Raikage, and now ROOT against the Kumo army.
The warhawk made a note to himself that he must secure the Uzumaki Clan Armory and their secrets and treasures by any means necessary. He must rally his scattered soldiers and associates quick to from an effective counterattack force to destroy the Kumo ninjas while reclaiming the Byakugan they took from the young Hyuuga Traditionalists. The Konoha's Darkness had his grand master plan to carry out. He had come this far, and victory was in his grasp.
If he and that spoiled useless Fire Crown Prince got out this alive, he would have the Kyuubi, the Nanabi and the Ichibi, Uzushio's powerful secrets and techniques, and a blank cheque from Fire Country to achieve world peace. Nothing would stand in his way for his ultimate goal.
Nine Grey-Kumo shadow clones arrived witnessing the massacre on Kumo ninjas and ROOT was regrouping.
'Watch this!' The kage bunshins tossed Iwa Mayhem bombs at the approaching ROOT force.
KABOOM!
"OUGH! OUGH! Ough! Ough!" Fire Crown Prince Masashi Madako was bending down coughing heavily at the explosion dusts. When the smokes were cleared, he was horrified to see many broken bodies and parts of his allies everywhere.
"MY KAMI!" The prince had participated the Third Ninja World War and had been awarded several high-level medals for bravery in combats, but in truth he never came under enemy fire or saw combat thanks to the ass-kissing Army Minister Itagaki who was his commanding general during the war. The minister wanted the Fire Empire Master of War position but didn't dare to challenge Danzo. Not to mention the prince wanted to use the Leaf elder to get close to Hinata Hyuuga, and only he knew how to properly use the jinchuurikis.
"Huh?" Something rolled to his left foot back, Masashi turned around and saw, and was then horrified that it was Itagaki's head. A brown spot appeared on the self-proclaimed Fire Emperor's pants. This was the last straw, the prince grabbed a radio from a ROOT agent's corpse and made a broadcast to Konoha.
"This is Fire Crown Prince Masashi Madako! I am in Zone Three along with my ministers, village elder Danzo Shimura and Hyuuga elders, we are surrounded by a large host of Kumo ninjas! I command all Leaf ninjas come to my rescue! I will reward you all lordships and lands!"
'You useless idiot!' Danzo Shimura turned around and looked at the Fire Heir Apparent furiously and murderously. The useless prince had just exposed them and their position.
The elder was certain that no help would ever come; the Konoha forces were all busy fighting against the invaders to come aid the spoiled little royal. Nevertheless, when the war ended, Hiruzen, Tsunade and even Koharu and Homura would then ask him a lot of inconvenient questions such as why he was hiding instead of fighting with his personal army. The ROOT leader wanted to slap the prince hard before killing him, but now was not the time.
Danzo collected his thoughts, he may still be able to spin this in his favour. He would say that he had the prince and his ministers taken to the ROOT bunker for protection so they could not be used as hostages, that was believable and understandable. Danzo could then say that his ROOT forces, with elements of the Hyuugas and the Fire Royal Guards had been engaged with Kumo forces, which was partially true. They planned on heading to Zone 9 to assist in fighting the Combine, however they had been forced back to the bunker to regroup and protect the future Fire Daimyo due to the arrival of additional Kumo ninjas.
Yes, he could make lie work. His ROOT would support him in passing the tale off as the truth. And Danzo was certain he could force the prince to parrot the right words as well. There was also a good chance that the other council members would not survive, the battle was still not over yet. If needed he could use the chaos to make sure his rivals didn't outlast this battle. Everything could still work to his advantage if he played his card right…
But first he had to deal with the immediate problem at hand. The Iwa bombs destroyed his phalanx and his many soldiers. The situation became worse when the Kumo ninjas were back on their feet and were beginning to charge again.
"No one is coming to help you and your friends," Kurama chuckled darkly at the prince. Black had deployed anti-electrical Chaos seals around the area. "But hey I am helping the kid preparing a passionate eulogy speech for your state funeral as the Red Duke of Whirlpool." The fox sarcastically reused the crown prince's words that he ordered everyone to ignore a desperate civilian pleading for help.
"What is he doing?" Through Black and Grey shadow clones, Kurama saw Danzo was removing his shirt. "What the hell is that!?"
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Snow Cruiser White Wolf
"Fucking cowards…" Snow Jonin and the White Wolf captain Nadare Roga cursed at the Leaf ninjas. He had thought the war could be won easily as he and his peers were attacking Leaf ninjas on the ground with their air-supremacy zeppelin cruisers, until that damned Golden Slayer destroyed two of them and killed all those onboard. He had been hunting and killing every tree hugger he could find to avenge his slain friends Mizore Fuyukuma and Fubuki Kakuyoku as well as other fellow Yuki ninjas killed in the battle.
Leaf ninjas shot explosive kunai at the Snow ships with their toy crossbows and before running to hide in buildings. Had it not for those annoying flying teal-haired shadow clone-bitches interfering, White Wolf would have had killed all those tree huggers.
The situation was deteriorating when Kumo and Ame abandoned their area of responsibility on the village right section, and this allowed Konoha send her ninjas there to reinforce the other zones. Speaking of reinforcement, there was none from Ancor Vantian yet, even fresh Buzzard air support. Was it the Golden Slayer who invaded the fortress? There was a big explosion there and the communications were chaotic.
"The Neo-Combine had suffered great loss so far, but fuck Kumo and Ame getting cold feet!" Roga clenched his fists tightly. "We can still win this war without them. I want to avenge Mizore and Fubuki! I want to kill that blond brat personally!"
"Roga," it was Doto Kazahana's voice over the radio from the Snow flagship Dominion.
"Yes, my lord?"
"I am leaving you in charge of our force here."
The jonin's eyes widened and he saw Dominion was changing direction and heading out of Konoha. He had not expected Doto to retreat from the battlefield. The absence of their leader would lower the morale of the troops.
"My lord, why?" Roga asked, his response came in the form of the sound of equipment being smashed over the radio, it was then that he knew his master's mood was very bad. "What happened?"
"Sandayu Asama," Doto spat a name.
The Snow jonin knew that person; he was a high-ranking retainer of the former Snow Daimyo. "Isn't that bastard dead ten years ago?"
"He is still alive, and he has rallied at least two thousand samurais still loyal to my brother. My absence in the country gives him a good opportunity to start a rebellion, and tens of thousands of smallfolks joined his cause!"
'Oh no,' the Snow jonin thought. Doto Kazahana brought most of his army to attack Konoha while leaving a small force, and now the whole country was in rebellion against the current daimyo's rule.
"Our home guards have fell back to the castle, I have to go back to control the situation there," the Snow Country leader said angrily. "You will get the Neo-Combine to come to Snow Country as reinforcement to help crush the rebellion when this war on Leaf is over."
Before Roga could respond, three hundred orange-red beams shot up from the ground to White Wolf. At first the Snow cruiser absorbed the Bijudama beams with her chakra absorption devices, then they were overloaded before the ship were penetrated by the beams. White Wolf shook violently for nine seconds and then...
KABOOM! Roga and those along with him on the flying cruiser ceased to exist.
"NOOOO!" Doto Kazahana looked in horror as the last of his henchmen gone. He and the crew aboard Dominion didn't have time to think about their deceased comrades while the 300 Tailed Beast Beams now targeted the Snow flagship. Dominion was a stronger cruiser, but it was a matter of time before another...
KABOOM! Flaming wreckage from the Snow flagship began to fall to earth.
"That Snow usurper is gone for good now," Shadow clone Crimson confirmed his death.
"Now Snow Country owes the Uzumaki clan a big favour," Red said. He and fellow shadow clones Crimson and Scarlet looked at the exploding Snow ships with satisfaction.
"Sosetsu Kazahana's loyal retainers will bring the rightful heir to the Snow Throne."
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Zone Four
"Oh my kami…" were Sound Jonin Arashi Fuma's three-word response when he looked at the two Snow zeppelins blossomed into fireworks. The Combine now lost air-dominance.
He worriedly faced towards a smoking Ancor Vantian, which was a kilometer above the ground, avoiding the Konoha artillery fire. His sister Sasame was there, and her sister-wife Amaru along with the bridge crew survived the mega-explosion on the fortress caused by a furious Naruto (over the death of Karin's mother). The explosion killed many Combine ninjas aboard, most importantly over 300 elite Sky Buzzard pilot-ninjas. It became clear to Arashi that he would have no air and ground reinforcement from Ancor Vantian to help his army against the powerful Third Hokage and his ninjas.
"I must complete my mission," the Sound jonin said as he looked at the Hokage Monument with determination. "We still have those three aircraft carriers and six destroyers for respective air and artillery support."
He must capture the Uchihas for his master, for his sister and clan's sake. The Arashi was going to make one final push with his 7,000-strong force and the Sky air and artillery supports.
Then there was a series of "BOOM!" coming from the Hokage Monument.
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"Operation Skyfall ground mission accomplished," Tenten announced quietly. She was smiling looking at the smouldering Sky ship wreckages- all the cannons on the 6 Sky destroyers and all the launch towers on the 3 aircraft carriers were destroyed.
Chunin Tenten Mitashi and her Raiders: Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, Yakumo Kurama, Rock Lee, Sai, and Ranmaru were given an S-rank mission by the Fifth Hokage to sabotage the Sky ships that landed on the Hokage Monument. The Combine ships gave them enormous tactical advantages, and Konoha needed to neutralize them.
It took Tenten's team three hours to stealthily pass the Combine patrols and sneakily plant Uzumaki explosive Havoc seals on all the critical parts on the Sky ships. When all the bombs were planted and everyone was clear, the chunin immediately ordered Shikamaru to detonate the explosives with a quiet order: "Do it."
The timing was perfect, over 200 Buzzard-ninjas were on the launch towers preparing their sorties. The explosions and the subsequent collapse killed most of them.
Now the angry Combine ninjas would be hunting for the culprits- them. Tenten radioed her Raiders, including the backup artillery team. "Everyone, we are leaving!"
'This will stop the Combine shelling the village and attacking our ninjas and civilians. We will gain air superiority with Fu's flight in this battle, and the tide will turn in our favour.' The kunoichi chunin thought strategically. She looked at the enemy flying fortress.
'Now it's up to Naruto and his team to complete the air mission there.'
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Ancor Vantian
"We are getting close to Naruto and Karin!" Takuma Hyuuga told his team that was comprised of Honoka Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. The team could tell that Naruto had been here recently as the long corridor was littered by over 100 Combine ninjas' broken bodies, some were still dripping blood.
The Hyuuga's Byakugan scanned the area. "All clear! Just two hundred meters and two more gates!"
Naruto had cleared the path for his team to join him, but the four were still on high alert. The Combine welcoming wagon was exceptionally high, the Leaf four-ninja team had to stand their ground and fought wave after wave of Sound ninjas. They were able to advance when a Naruto's shadow legion codenamed Yellow arrived to help them.
They and the shadow clones once captured and interrogated a Sound jonin and discovered a shocking intelligence- Orochimaru desired both the Uzumaki and the Uchiha clans, particularly the young Uchiha children, ordering them captured unharmed no matter the cost.
'No way in hell you will ever touch my clansmen, Orochimaru!' Sasuke vowed as he tightened his grip on his AK-16. The Uchiha Corps had suffered a lot- they lost their families, and he swore he would protect them even at the cost of his own life. He had reserved four Havoc seals for a kamikaze attack on the Sound leader in the worst-case scenario.
Naruto easily beaten Jiraiya the Toad Sannin on his jonin exam, then the Golden Slayer should have no problem to kill the Snake Sannin. The Uchiha clan heir prepared the explosive tags just in case, nevertheless.
"Takuma, how's your Byakugan?" Sakura asked. "Can you now see what's going on with Orochimaru and Karin there as we are getting closer?"
The Hyuuga shook his head and sighed in frustration. "No, still can't see a damn thing there."
"Orochimaru is an ex-Leaf ninja and knows well about Byakugan. He wants to conceal himself and Karin there for the element of surprise. The Combine might have the technology or the fuinjutsu to block Byakugan." Honoka analysed the situation. She pulled out the Reclaimer necklace ruby and checked it before sighing in relief. "At least Karin is still alive. Thank Kami. Anyway, we must be careful."
"Yes," Takuma, Sasuke, Sakura responded. The two young genins held their AK-16 crossbows tightly. A scream made the team froze.
"KARIN NOOO!"
Everyone recognized the voice, it belonged to their commander- Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze.
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Ancor Vantian Arena
The python in the middle of the arena was the same one Naruto saw during his hostile interaction with Orochimaru a few hours ago. The snake's belly was swollen, and he could sense a life inside there and he knew what's inside.
"KARIN NOOO!" He dashed towards the snake with his full speed.
The big snake lunged towards the blond ninja with its large mouth and big fangs, but he sidestepped its attack and beheaded it with his Arashi katana without a thought. The snake's headless body shook violently and dropped to the ground completely lifeless. To his horror and confirmation, there was a human shape protruding on the reptile's belly.
Naruto wasted no time and gutted the snake with an Uzumaki dagger, quickly but carefully, nine seconds late a slimy naked Karin was revealed.
"KARIN!" Naruto shouted. He quickly pulled her out and gently put her on a ground. He put his right fingers on the girl's neck. "There are pulses… Thank Kami she's still alive!"
The red-haired girl opened her eyes weakly. "N-Na-ru-to?"
Before tears could come out of Naruto's eyes, his eyes widened as he sensed something and snapped to his survival instinct when projectiles were launched from four corners 100 meters away.
The Leaf ninja put his hands on the floor. "Futon- What the!? I can't use ninjutsu here!" He immediately grabbed Karin and threw themselves from the incoming kunai. The two Uzumakis successfully dodged the first wave.
"WHAAH!" Karin screamed at the attack.
"It's OK, don't worry," Naruto threw a kunai tagged with a Hellfire seal to the southern corner that was closest to the gate he came from. The area went ablaze and there was a human silhouette appeared screaming in agony. One corner was neutralized, and Naruto wouldn't need to face his enemies from all directions. He shifted his back to that corner and moved Karin behind him before unsheathing his Arashi katana from his back.
Naruto used his sword to deflect the second wave of projectiles, while dropping a small scroll in front of Karin. The scroll glowed brightly for half a second and a robe appeared.
"Wear it," the blond Uzumaki told his naked clanswoman as he kept deflecting scores of incoming kunai. He turned on his radio.
"Team, Karin is secured." He heard cheers from Sasuke and Sakura. "What is your ETA?"
"60 seconds less, Naruto!" Honoka said over the radio. "Everyone on the double!"
Suddenly Naruto felt a sharp pain on his left back, feeling a huge loss of his strength and blood. He turned around and was shocked to see Karin still naked but her both hands were holding a kunai that was embedded into his back.
"Karin… Why?" Naruto asked weakly as he looked into her eyes and realized it. 'Oh no, she is under genjutsu…'
"Kukuku," Orochimaru and his two remaining Sound Four bodyguards- Sakon and Kidomaru emerged from the shadows. "Well done, Karin, the Golden Slayer has fallen into the trap."
The hidden Cloud village had provided Orochimaru intelligence about Naruto's favourite tactics and approaches, even his blind spots. The kunai Orochimaru and his henchmen had been firing non-stop were actually not to attack Naruto, but they served as a distraction and weapons for Karin to pick up and deliver an unexpected fatal attack on her fellow clansman. These kunai were dipped in special anti-jinchuuriki poison, a product from the Namikaze-Hyuuga Incident happened 10 years ago.
The incident sparked a crisis that Konoha being the only hidden superpower village without a jinchuuriki, and Danzo Shimura secretly commissioned the development of anti-jinchuuriki paralysis poison, in the hope to capture jinchuurikis and subsequentially extract tailed beasts from them.
It pleased Orochimaru that his poison worked as it nullified the jinchuuriki's unique fast-healing ability and the Kyuubi was rendered useless to help his host.
"Do it," the Snake Sannin ordered, and Karin pulled out her kunai from Naruto's back. Lots of blood poured out from the wound, and Naruto dropped to the floor.
"I defeated the Golden Slayer!" Orochimaru proclaimed while laughing manically and triumphantly. "Even Jiraiya and Itachi couldn't defeat him! I am the strongest ninja in the world! I AM A GOD!"
Honoka and her team had arrived. They couldn't believe what Orochimaru had claimed, but Naruto indeed was face-lying on the floor in his own pool of blood. 'How could he lose?'
The Karin Rescue Team had finally met their objective in flesh, but much to Takuma's and Sasuke's embarrassment she was naked.
"Kukuku, Sasuke and Honoka, you are here…" The Snake Sannin "How lovely, you have saved me a great deal of trouble." He snapped his fingers, both Sakon and Kidomaru then activated their respective cursed seal preparing to fight the four Konoha ninjas.
Takuma, Sasuke and Sakura raised their AK-16 crossbows and Honoka made hand sign to release chakra chains, only to be stopped when the Snake Sannin stared at them and released a powerful killing intent.
"AWK!" The killing intent was so powerfully sinister that Honoka, Sasuke and Sakura dropped to their knees trembling and breathing heavily, and even ANBU Takuma couldn't move. They were feeling like preys in front of an enormous snake.
Satisfied that the team being subdued, Orochimaru took a communicator from his pocket and broadcasted: "Dear Konoha ninjas and citizens, this is the supreme commander of the Neo-Combine, your Lord Orochimaru. I am informing you that I've defeated your champion the Golden Slayer Naruto Namikaze! Yes, he has fallen to my power and now your greatest weapon is gone."
The Neo-Combine supreme commander then issued an ultimatum: "I have no wish to spill any further blood, if you lay down your weapons and surrender now, you will be shown mercy. However, if you continue to resist then you will know my wrath. I will destroy you with my powerful Yamato Cannon. You have already witnessed what the cannon has done to your Chunin Exam Arena and Shelter E2. The cannon is now ready to fire. I give you one minute to respond, if you don't then you will all be de-"
A kunai flew towards Orochimaru, the Sound leader moved his head to dodge it, but the kunai grazed his left cheek and cut several hair strands. A small amount of blood came out of the sannin's wounded cheek.
"A god huh? If you can bleed, then I can kill you."
"Naruto!" Honoka, Sasuke, Sakura and Takuma shouted. It was the blond who threw the kunai at the traitorous sannin.
"Are you OK?" Honoka asked. She and her teammates noticed that it was Karin lying on the floor with a robe covering her naked body.
"No," Naruto used his katana to move himself up steadily. "I've used up all my Bloodbag scrolls, but I can still skin this asshole alive even at my current state. I am gonna pay him back for what he has done to me, with interest."
'Really?' Honoka, Takuma, Sasuke and Sakura doubted it and were worried about Naruto's blood loss. He ran out his Bloodbag supply after many battles today- Satori, the Gravemaker, the Undead Uzumakis, the Sound Berserkers and the assault on Ancon Vantian.
'My blood type is AB, but Kurama can convert it to Naruto's B type; I can give my Bloodbag scroll to him.' Honoka took a scroll from her pouch, but someone beat her to it.
"Naruto!" Sasuke Uchiha shouted as he tossed a scroll to the blond. "Use my Bloodbag!" The blond Uzumaki was the only ninja between Orochimaru and the Uchiha clan, and he was Itachi's future and safety. Sasuke was deeply grateful for the Uzumaki clan's help on his mother's recovery and the Uchiha clan. Giving his Uchiha blood was his small gift in return, hoping this would give the Golden Slayer the strength to defeat the Snake Sannin.
"Thanks, Sasuke," Naruto grabbed the Bloodbag scroll and held it tightly. The scroll glowed on his hand and he felt rejuvenated.
BOOM! The explosion blasted open a wall in the arena, the dusts cleared three seconds later and Mikoto Uchiha and her hawk Tatsumaru appeared. The Uchiha jonin had received exfiltration radio request from Honoka prior their arrival at the arena.
Naruto made a few hand signals to his team. Understanding what he meant, Honoka, Takuma, Sasuke and Sakura pulled out a scroll from their own pouch.
"They are leaving! Stop them!" Orochimaru angrily pointed his Kusanagi sword towards the Leaf team, ordering his bodyguards to stop them. "The Uchihas and the Uzumakis are mine!"
Kidomaru, with a third eye on his forehead, casted his most powerful technique "Spider War Bow Terrible Split!" He shot a one-hit-kill golden arrow towards Naruto.
Before the arrow could reach the blond, it hit something and dropped to the floor. A shocked Kidomaru and his master saw an orange barrier before the Leaf ninjas.
"It's Firewall!" Orochimaru realized.
The Karin Rescue Team had erected a Firewall fuinjutsu after team leader Naruto signalled them, putting a temporary safe zone between them and the Sound ninjas.
Now it's time for the team to leave. While Naruto was standing guard, Honoka and Sasuke together quickly put an unconscious Karin on Takuma's back and Sakura put the robe on the naked Uzumaki.
Angrily looking at his prizes starting to mount on that giant hawk, Orochimaru pulled out a device from his pocket. "If you leave, I will destroy the Uzumaki Manor with the Yamato Cannon now!"
The Karin Rescue Team and Mikoto paused and looked at the Snake Sannin horrified, but Naruto raised his hand to his fellow ninjas in assurance.
"Don't worry, leave it to me. You are all leaving now, and don't worry about me. This is a direct order."
"Your fiancée's death is on you, Kyuubi brat," Orochimaru smiled sinisterly before he pressed the button.
Nothing. He pressed again and there was no response. He pressed again in frustration but there was no response.
"What happened!? The cannon should have fired!"
Naruto smiled looking at Mikoto's hawk departed and turned around to see Orochimaru's angry look. Unbeknownst to the sannin, the Chaos seals disabled all the electricals here, including that controller.
"You don't need to know," Naruto answered, "Because tonight, you all dine in hell!"
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Fire Country East Coast
When the news of the Raikage's death reached the Turtle Island, every Kumo ninja there was shocked and mourned for their leader with tears, except Professor E.
'I lost count how many times I had advised him that he needed to control his impulsiveness, or it would one day cost him dearly.' The elderly ninja thought angrily as he recalled that the Raikage always smashed his tables for some bad news (a prime example was during the 44th Hell Storm test two months ago) and charging far ahead of his backups and bodyguards.
Now the tide was turning against Kumo and the Combine, and Kumo had lost two thousand ninjas in the war on Leaf. Professor E had intercepted radio messages that several hidden villages were on the way to help Konoha. He immediately ordered the Turtle Island and its escort fleet to sail southside to avoid the incoming Mist and Nadeshiko fleets; there were only less than a thousand Cloud ninjas here. The last thing the Kumo elder wanted was his Hell Storm- the village secret weapon of mass destruction fall into enemy hands, as well as the loss of her army still fighting in Konoha.
The Turtle Island and the fleet would pick up Darui and the other 8000 ninjas participating the Konoha campaign.
Once all the Kumo force evacuated Konoha with their Byakugan prize, Hell Storm would be fired again, and the hidden Leaf village would be obliterated.
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Author Notes:
*Beta: Knight-Bishop.
*Proofread and consultation: Ookami88.
*To all my beloved fans who love this story, I thank you for the patience. I got a job last November and been very busy as a full stack mobile software developer and a committed family man. But I'm much freer now because I lost this job due to my employer's unreasonable demands. I'm very bitter about this because I had been working very hard and this was what I got in return.
*Because the Kiri civil war ended earlier than in canon, more lives were saved, and the hidden Mist village had more ninja population than in the canon. So was Suna, as the village didn't participate in the war on Leaf this time.
*Operation Skyfall Arc ends here. The next arc is the epic showdown with Orochimaru and the Neo-Combine, as well as Danzo Shimura and his associates. The next arc title is Konoha Venom, a nod to video game Red Dead Redemption 2. You can listen to this RDR2 OST for the next TMS chapters.