Last Time:
"I hope you all enjoyed your three-day weekend," Kushina said. "I'm happy to announce that your instructors and I reviewed the footage from the exam and have awarded each of you your scores and official ranks."
Synchronicity: Chapter 43 – This Is Reality
"Ah, ah," Orochimaru cooed, "if it isn't the illustrious Grand Marshal Namikaze. You've finally decided to come and visit me. How long has it been? Two months?"
"Approximately." Minato approached and waved his hand. The guards standing by excused themselves and left Minato with Orochimaru, "You've been busy."
"You can get up to a lot in fifty years," Orochimaru chuckled. "Lord Hiruzen told me to do what I needed to do to ensure Eden survived, so I did exactly that."
Minato folded his arms, "Even if it means experimenting on the people of Eden?"
"Menial sacrifices," Orochimaru suggested.
"The Curse Marks," Minato struggled to remain composed, "what are they made of?"
"Terror Cores and Nightmare Chakra," Orochimaru happily answered. "It was complicated extracting Chakra from Nightmares, but if you find enough people who've lost hope, then it's easy to convince them to consume a Terror core. I have some scars, believe me, but once I collected enough Nightmare Chakra, I learned how to replicate it artificially."
"So, you wanted to defeat the Terrors with modified Humans?"
"I wanted to fight the Terrors using conscious Nightmares," Orochimaru argued. "People like you and I can't consume a Terror Core and maintain our sanity once the transformation into a Nightmare has taken place. However, I found a way to maintain that sanity through the Curse Mark. All the benefits of a Nightmare and none of the negative side effects."
"It's blasphemous," Minato argued.
Orochimaru rolled his eyes, "Believe what you will, but everything I did, I did for Eden. I'm helping people realize their true potential with those Curse Marks."
"You're taking away their Humanity," Minato exclaimed.
"It's cute that you think that one's Humanity is strong enough to withstand life in Synchronicity," Orochimaru chuckled. "We raise child soldiers, and we've done that for generations. We promise satisfaction to those strong enough to prove themselves worthy of becoming legends and tolerate those who can assist those we deem remarkable. As for those who aren't even worth looking at, we leave them to the monsters who taint this world and pray an attack big enough wipes them out, and they no longer become our problem."
Minato gritted his teeth.
"People want to survive above anything else, Minato," Orochimaru lectured. "If losing your Humanity means you can survive another day, then people are more than happy to make that sacrifice. You did it."
"What?"
"You're not that bright-eyed boy who came through those gates thirty years ago," Orochimaru snickered. "You've killed Terrors, Nightmares, and Humans for the sake of Eden."
Minato's eyes widened.
"Did you forget I was on Lord Hiruzen's Shadow Council? I know about all of your operations, Namikaze," Orochimaru hissed. "Those men, women, and children you killed had hopes, dreams, and the will to survive, don't you agree? Otherwise, they wouldn't have fought so hard."
"I never killed children," Minato sneered.
Orochimaru shrugged, "Just their parents."
"My hands are tainted, I won't deny that, but those people threatened Eden and these walls," Minato argued. "I did what I had to."
"So why is it that what you did is deemed acceptable but what I've done is a sin?"
Minato sucked his teeth, "Yamato told me everything."
"Oh? Did he?" Orochimaru didn't seem bothered. "Of course, he did. I always knew that he would be my downfall, and Danzou didn't do any better with him."
"Danzou?" Minato repeated.
"I'm sure Lord Hiruzen already told you about Root?" Orochimaru asked.
Minato nodded, "He did."
"Then you know that Root is the first inter-citadel organization established by Supreme Kaguya and run by Lord Danzou," Orochimaru explained. "Akatsuki was made by the Grand Marshals and approved by Kaguya. Despite the similar parties, their purposes are vastly different."
Minato eyed Orochimaru for a moment, "What are you trying to say?"
Orochimaru smiled, "I hope your tenure is better than Lord Hiruzen's. He has enough skeletons in his closet to fill Eden to the brim. I hope you have less and that you're revered as a remarkable Grand Marshal when you're dead and gone."
Minato wanted to say more, but he received an alert on his Aide. He saw it was a message from the lieutenant of the Survey Corps, and that took precedence. He left without saying a word to Orochimaru, and once he was out of the lower levels of the capitol building, he saw Kakashi, Obito, and Rin were waiting for him.
"I take it it's serious if the three of you are here and not teaching?" Minato muttered.
"Marginally so," Kakashi replied. "There's a disturbance in the Outskirts. Marshal Yamanaka isn't sure yet, but the Survey Corps believes that a Horde has appeared just a little over seventy-five miles away."
"That close?" Minato arched an eyebrow, "None of our satellite citadels received an alert?"
"Their survey equipment malfunctioned," Obito revealed. "However, the Horde seemed to bypass the satellite citadels entirely."
That news concerned Minato, "I see. And what's the horde size?"
"A-Class, sir," Rin reluctantly announced.
Minato rubbed his face, "Very well." He tapped his Aide twice, and a screen projected off of it. He removed its attached earpiece and extended the microphone. He cleared his throat and hit the "LIVE" button, "Attention all Eden Hunters and Huntresses, this is your Grand Marshal Namikaze Minato issuing a Code Red Alert. All available report to the Capitol Building immediately and await further instruction. I repeat, I am issuing a Code Red Alert. All available report to the Capitol Building immediately."
"Should we get the Alpha Class students?" Kakashi asked.
"I'll contact Kushina and have her gather them at Genesis. I'll likely station along the Outskirts, so they're close to the walls. They'll serve as the last line of defense," Minato explained.
Rin, Obito, and Kakashi all nodded in agreement. Minato whistled and watched as Yamato appeared in front of him, "Stay here and keep an eye on Orochimaru."
Yamato nodded. He disappeared in the next instance, and Minato looked at his palm. He brought his index finger from the opposite hand and wrote out the kanji for "office" with a dull blue light. He crushed the wording in his hand, and then he was in his office.
He walked over to his desk, and before he took a seat, he saw his Aide light up. He answered, "I was just about to call you."
"Is it so bad that you had to call a Code Red?" Kushina asked as she changed into her combat gear.
"Seeing as a Horde seems to be heading straight for us that's been identified as an A-Class, I think Code Red is appropriate," Minato replied. He heard his office door open and saw his Council of Marshals filing in. "Kakashi should be there soon with Obito and Rin. I need you to get Alpha Class together and station them along the outside walls. They'll be serving as the last line of defense, so their contact with the Horde should be minimal."
"Okay." Kushina tied her hair back into a ponytail, "I'll see you soon."
"I'll summon you once you're done with your students," Minato assured her. They both hung up, and he stood up, "Inoichi."
"If they continue moving at their current speed, they should be here in approximately thirty-five minutes," Inoichi explained.
Minato rubbed his chin, "That doesn't give us much time at all, I'm afraid. Send the ESF out first to counter. Fugaku, Hizashi, Hiashi, we'll need the Hyuuga and Uchiha to catch any that manage to slip by. The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi will provide support behind the Uchiha and Hyuuga. Tsume, I'll need the Inuzuka to round out the sides on every line. Kiyoshi, the Uzumaki will provide a barricade between the Outskirts and Outlands. Lastly, Kizashi, the Haruno, will support the Alpha Class students in the Outskirts."
"Yes, sir!" the Council of Marshals chimed.
"All other available Hunters and Huntresses will provide support to the Tsume and take care of any strays," Minato ordered. "You're dismissed."
"Where will you be?" Fugaku asked.
"I'll be on the front lines with you," Minato answered. "I'm going to go get Kushina, and I'll be with you all shortly."
"Is that safe?" Shukaku asked. "You've only been Grand Marshal for a short while, and you haven't named a successor yet. If you pass, then what are we going to do?"
Minato shrugged, "I suppose you'll need to name an intermediate Grand Marshal until Supreme Kaguya makes her pick."
"No one knows what's better for Eden than its Grand Marshal," Shukaku suggested. "I think I speak for all of us when I say we'd feel better if you'd name a successor. We can't trust Supreme Kaguya to name an Edenite as our Grand Marshal considering our track record in recent months."
Minato sighed, "Very well." He ripped off the nearest piece of blank paper he could find and scribbled down a name, "This is unofficial, and in the event of my death, you have my permission to see whom I've written down. Fair?"
Shukaku shared a look with the rest of the Marshals. They all nodded in agreement, and Minato nodded as well.
"Good." He clapped his hands together, "Let's move out. We need to defend our citadel."
At Elemental Academy, all of Alpha Class was changing into their combat uniforms. For many, it was their first time facing a Horde head-on. For few others, they'd survived the practical exam in the Hundred Devouring Forest. This was different, however. Though the Hundred Devouring Forest wasn't necessarily a controlled environment, the instructors were on standby. The students knew they were safe the minute things became life-threatening, but this wasn't an exam or an exercise; this was reality. This was the very thing they'd been training towards.
"All certified Hunters have already received their orders directly from Grand Marshal Namikaze through the Council of Marshals," Kushina began her address, "and your instructors are as follows: protect the Outskirts and these walls. You are the last line of defense, so, fortunately for the lot of you, you won't face the brunt of the Horde directly.
"Despite knowing that, I'm sure a lot of you are scared," her tone and expression softened, "and that's all right. Many say you're born with the short end of the stick if you're incapable of using Chakra, but that's not entirely true. We, those of us born with the ability to do superhuman things, are those born with the short end of the stick. We are born to fight, and we don't get to choose a life of safety.
"So, if you're afraid, it's okay," Kushina assured them. "However, don't let that fear cripple you, but let it fuel you. Let that fear of death or failure be what motivates you to see tomorrow's dawn. You are all capable, and your Grand Marshal wouldn't be asking this of you if you weren't qualified. I wouldn't be allowing you out there if you weren't capable."
Kushina's words of encouragement settled in on the students, and their nerves seemed to calm down. Kushina could feel a lot of their nervousness subside, and she was relieved that her words resonated with them. The last thing they needed was a group of scared students running in without thinking and losing their lives.
"5th Years," Kushina continued, "you'll be guarding the Main Gate. The 4th and 3rd Years will guard the East and West Gates, while the 2nd and 1st Years will guard the North and South Gates. You're dismissed."
"We'll more than likely just be handling stragglers and strays," Shikamaru muttered.
"That's good at least," Temari chimed.
While the Alpha Class students went to their posts, the rest of Eden prepared for the impending Horde. Citizens of the Outskirts were escorted inside and into the bunkers with those of Eden who couldn't fight. Students of Elemental Academy were stationed in these bunkers and lined the streets to handle any strays that made it past the walls, so it was the coziest job of the assault.
"Some final words of encouragement from your Grand Marshal," Minato spoke, and his voice resonated through every soldier's earpiece. "As you all know, this isn't the most straightforward job in the world, but it's one we've burdened ourselves with for the sake of those who are unable to protect themselves. We do what we can for those we love, and all of our sacrifices go to support those here and those to come. Everything we do is for the prosperity and longevity of Eden. Now, let me hear those war cries!"
Together, they let out a war cry that resonated across Eden. It carried their nerves, fears, anticipation, and courage. Their war cry bonded them, and no hierarchy or caste divided them. They were all fighting for their home.
Not long after that, Minato could see the Horde coming over the horizon. The sun was beginning to set, which escalated the difficulty of their coming battle. They didn't know what Terrors were in the Horde, they were fighting blind, but he was hopeful they could relay the information once they were identified.
But then, they disappeared.
An uncomfortable chill radiated down their spines, and then fear settled into their stomachs. Minato reacted quickly enough and projected a barrier similar to the one that got him into Eden and Elemental Academy in the first place and blocked their pending fight.
"Come on, come on, come on!" the Nightmare battered impatiently against the barrier separating him and Minato. "Let us in, Grand Marshal Namikaze! Let us in! Let us in! Let us in! We want to play."
Minato's blood ran cold. Nightmares were the epitome of human desperation as they were people like Minato and Kushina who'd devoured Terror Cores. It turned them into Terrors, and ninety-nine-point nine percent of the time, it left them mindless and having lost any sense of themselves. What was standing in front of them wasn't possible, or so they thought.
"Let's play, Grand Marshal Namikaze!"
From what the front line could see, it was a mixture of Terrors of varying grades and classes as well as Nightmares. Most of them didn't seem as sane as the first, but some were aware—a new classification of Nightmares.
"Get the kids back behind the walls," Minato sneered. "Now!"
That didn't happen, however. They hadn't realized it at the time, but it was too late.
To Be Continued…