Welcome to chapter 5.
To answer eclipsegateserver's question. This story takes place 2k years pre game of thrones. Westeros is also heavily altered for the purposes of this world I've smashed together. Like I said chapters ago, the GOT stuff is just cause I'm not very original with locations and hence brought in other crossovers to fill out the gap in the world. They're not relevant beyond fluff and foreign details.
He didn't end up leaving. He'd been kinda wrong at the time which he'd been grateful for. While a great many disliked him now, others were thankful and even cheered him on. Apparently, the duke of Qi state wasn't popular. Even this backwater village hated him.
So, he was able to stay in his new home. But deep down, he knew things weren't over. His scholar friend, Zhuzi, her father, the villagers, they all knew.
A week later, more men came. This time, they brought a specialist, an officer of the army of some renown. He was tall, broad shouldered, skilled and strong.
He beat the officer senseless too. With what he's been to, the officer had been nothing special. He'd compare him to the average chunin. Stronger then Iruka sensei had been but that was mostly due to the teacher being inexperienced and rusty away from active missions. He'd give Iruka 50/50 against the officer.
It still astounded him how well these locals fought though. They did not know of chakra nor did they utilise chakra in the way he had. Their strikes were strong their taijutsu skills were top notch.
In the subsequent weeks, more people came to harass Shanxi village. He beat every single one of them with a combination of his shadow clones and rasengan. They weren't easy fights, but he was getting better as well.
With his victories, the villagers of Shanxi felt invigorated. Talks of rebellion were brewing with him as the figurehead. He shot that possibility down immediately, he'd seen what Danzo had done, he wanted no part of it.
As time went on, more villagers migrated into Shanxi, bolstering the settlement. They were from other villagers who'd heard about the strongman(him) living in Shanxi and wanted his protection from recruitment officers.
Duke Zhao Jun of Qi was a warlord among warlords. He forcefully recruited armies from peasantry to use as fodder in his wars against the states of Yan, Qin and Wei. He'd even went on skirmishes were Chu from far south on off shore islands.
When he'd heard of him and the reality of these villagers who'd simply had enough, of course he'd taken them in. No matter what, no matter where, he wanted to keep old man Hokage's will alive, the will of fire.
Within three months, a new village had spring up. One much larger than Shanxi, built stronger with the united goal of working together to stay away from Zhao Jun's wars. How naive he was back then.
…
"This is the rebellious village sir."
"Very well, let's see what these traitors are made of."
"Be careful sir, they beat lieutenant San, Fu, and captain Teng. Multiple squads were beaten."
He perked up. He'd been helping out with building a new house when his ears picked up sound from outside. Being here so long, he'd improved as well, enhanced hearing was one of them.
Horses, dozens, no hundreds. An army had arrived to pacify the rebellious village.
"Heh, I knew this will come. I warned you," the fox said.
"If you aren't going to help, then shut up," he snapped. He doesn't want to focus on the fox, he had to protect his people.
The fox sighed and retracted back into the cage. "So stubborn, just like Asu…no exactly like him. When will you learn? Even if this world we now live in is not the one we know, humans are all the same."
He stepped out, onto the grassy plains outside Shanxi's newly constructed walls. Him alone for he was the sole protector of these people. They didn't need an army for they had him.
"You the one they call Xuanwo Mingren?"
"I am"
"You are charged with treason and conspiring to overthrow his highness Duke Qi, Zhao Jun the thunderous. You will come open the gates and all will follow us to the capital for your punishment."
"These people are innocent, I am the one who beat your men up," He argued hoping to not drag others into it. Deep within him the fox laughed and snorted in the same breath.
"Shanxi is the site of rebellion, by law, all rebellious elements must be purged."
"That's just wrong!"
"That's the law!"
"You can't take him," the villagers shouted, barging out. "He's done more good for us than your lot ever did!"
"My son wanted to be an explorer, wanted to sail the world. But you dragged him to war and didn't even have the balls to deliver his remains back!"
"Yeah, how dare you take young hero away!"
He was touched. These people, these people were standing up for him. It was an amazing feeling. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"Revolting? Kill them."
He crossed his fingers immediately, "shadow clone jutsu". The fox within him observed all the going ons emotionlessly.
…
The next time, an army of thousands arrived at his doorstep. Zhao Jun led them this time. The hulking giant of a man with his halberd rode a horse unlike any he'd seen. A Kirin from legends, a horse with all the features of a dragon.
"You the one they call the orange hero? Xuanwo Mingren?" He demanded.
"I am," he declared, standing before the ruler of Qi.
He was expecting the man to attack immediately. But instead, he merely guffawed. "Nice, you've got strong arms boy. Let's see how you deal with this."
Zhao Jun released his arms back and punched. The mysterious energy of these lands, qi enhanced his blow to such an extent that just that one strike would've red misted him.
But his prisoner wouldn't allow that.
The fox's reaction was always faster then his. His sense of danger far greater. Though he had grown stronger in the past months, the fox was far superior and as such noticed how dangerous Zhao Jun was.
A red cloak of chakra encased him, strengthening him. The bubble like cloak allowed him to tank the blow head on.
Zhao Jun's eyes widened in shock. "Not bad, heh, you're like a wild animal when you stand like that," he smirked. "Almost like a fox."
He stood on all fours. Hi cloak flaring around in with four tails swishing behind him.
"Right that's enough," Zhao Jun said. "You passed my test boy. Now then, I want you to join my army."
He stood there, confusion marring his face. "No!" He declared. He argued against the violence Zhao Jun brought. He'd seen the people who suffered, those who lost their loved ones.
"You've only heard one side. Come with me and I'll show you how great the threats we really face," he said outstretching his hand.
He hesitated. Without him, the people would be in danger. But Zhao Jun should be heard as well. He agreed under the condition that the village remains safe.
…
He came back with a final denial. Zhao Jun toured him around Qi for three months. He showed him all the border sites and old of unspeakable horror from the foreign countries. The ambitious Duke of Qin, the frivolous Duke of Yan, the arrogant Duke of Wei, and the self titled Azure Emperor from Chu.
But his training as a ninja paid off. For once, the fox's warnings had also helped.
In the dead of night, he snuck out and questioned others. Civilians and soldiers under the guise of one of their own. The espionage training the academy taught him, though half remembered, served him well.
He denied Zhao Jun's request. The man was a warlord. Conquering territory of after territory. He was a man who was very much unlike his father, a weak man pushed around by his neighbours and servants. A man he didn't want to fight for.
He said as much to him when he declined once more. He left the furious duke behind. A duke who felt insulted by his words. A naive decision that he'd come to regret.
Oh how naive he was back then. But he trusted the duke to keep to his honour. An honour he'd heard his soldiers relay.
He came back to a village in flames.
…
"Oi Liu Han, are our baggages packed yet?" Natsuo asked rubbing the sleep out of his eye. Lord Ye's hospitality was really good, days of joyous feasting and partying as repayment for defeating a threat like the Taotie. How could the prince say no to so much fun.
The city lord had really proven himself. He may've held controversial views regarding the law, but he was an inviting man.
Natsuo understood that much of the nobility still held a superiority complex compared to the peasantry. He deeply hated it but it was ingrained since he was a child. But oftentimes, as his father had taught him, to ensure peace, compromises had to be made.
"No my prince," the warrior grumbled. "We're just working on new transport for the things you bought. We won't be ready to depart for another day."
Natsuo winced with the annoyance in Liu Han's voice. Okay, so he was a spoiled brat who threw around money. But those sculptures the artisans made were so good though.
Carved my martial arts masters from a stone magically raised by Lord Ye. Nan Chen had always been famed for exotic artistic goods produced by sorcerers and sculpted by martial artists.
Since Lord Ye was a sorcerer of renown himself and a man interested in the finer aspects of life, this was a natural outcome.
When the prince saw the artisans already at work depicting his battle with the Taotie, he naturally became interested. While he had initially wanted to leave after a few days, he ended up staying for more than a week.
Lord Ye was also more than willing to host him. His generosity allowed the prince to move out of the merchant's small by comparison manner and into Lord Ye's palace.
But even all good things must end. Liu Han had been getting a bit impatient waiting for the prince and as such Natsuo decided to leave in the early morning the next day.
Currently, his retinue were busy packing his things which required additional wagons to be purchased.
Natsuo nervously looked away from the visibly irritated warrior god. "Well, sorry," he wined. "But you have to admit, these people have an artistic flair."
"I know, most of the architects that built Weijin came from the south," Liu Han grumbled. "But we've also been stalled by you longer then we had to."
"I should've taken the assignment to Kuresh," a celestial dragon guard moving boxes int he background complained. The prince could only look downcast at the nagging.
Looking around at the his own accommodations, he felt a bit guilty making elite soldiers do boring chores.
"So, have you picked out our next destination?" Liu Han asked.
"Hm? Well we've already passed Chu's capital on the way here. So I'm thinking of heading back up north towards Qin, cross the Yangtze River and towards Xiangyang. Haven't been there for a while after all," the prince said.
"I'm sure Ying Zheng will be more than happy to accommodate you," Liu Han said. "Hm, judging by our speed, if the weather is good then we can make it in a few weeks."
"Weeks? Why didn't we travel by dragon horse chariots again?" Natsuo pouted.
"Because someone wanted to see the beauty of the countryside," Liu Han reminded. "Now stop complaining and either help out or read a book or something."
"Nah, I've already seen all of Nan Chen ya know," he said before sitting down and watching the servants and men work. "Yeah I think I can read a book.
He picked up a book and began passing the time. Time passed slowly as Natsuo read through his back catalogue of reading material. For him, this vacation around Huaxia gave him plenty of time to familiarise himself with other parts of the country that he didn't often visit. Books of history, legends, and culture were among them.
The state of Chu he was reading about and currently visiting was one of the oldest states that has remained since ancient times. After the first invasion of chaos was repelled, the land of Huaxia was broken.
The final visages of the once mighty empire crumbled and many gods fell. The Crow god of the sun, the spiritual elephant god, the nine headed lion, the Kun Peng, the Bone god, so many of Huaxia's deities perished. Civilisation was essentially reset.
From there, mortal men had to pick up the pieces after that. The disappearance of the gods forced mankind to protect themselves from the many monsters from the world. The establishment of wulin held out against such monsters.
For four thousand years, martial artists protected the Huaxia. At least that was so until the war against chaos four thousand years ago.
The Chu state was a remnant from that era. Its ruler was a dependent of one of the greatest generals from the Golden Empire of Dawn that existed prior to Wulin.
Natsuo turned the paper pages with interest. There were many names and events recorded in the thick tome he read. Many of them were likely bloated out of proportion and exaggerated as propaganda, but they did make for an interesting read.
The sun grazed the prince overhead. He looked up at the fireball and yawned. "Man, it's only just past noon?" His eyes trailed down down.
"Hm?" He narrowed his eyes and recognised a name. "Ye Longyi?" He muttered. It was the same Ye as Lord Ye's name. Even the land granted to this Longyi was the same as Nan Chen.
Out of curiosity, the prince Called out to Liu Han. "Hey Liu Han, ever heard of Ye Longyi?"
Huaxia's strongest martial warrior stopped what he was doing and turned back. "Ye Longyi? Which one?" He asked walking over.
Natsuo pointed at a name in his book, one that was apart of a block of text that described early Chu history.
"Azure flame sect, elder Ye," Liu Han read. "This is the time of Wulin's downfall. My prince, you're interested in Wulin?"
"Just found a similar name is all. Is this person related to the city lord?" He asked.
"Should be, it would make sense considering Lord Ye's abilities. Is he that famous?" Natsuo inquired.
"Not particularly no," Liu Han shook his head. "He's a sorcerer of great skill in Chu but he was often overshadowed by heroes of his era like Hong Wuying, Ying Zheng, Gu Lingxin, and your father. He didn't even play that big of a role in the demon wars a year ago."
"He was there? How come I didn't hear about it?"
"Like I said, he wasn't particularly important in the battle. I think he fought against some of the Changer of Way's demons in the siege of the Turtle gate but that's about it. Much of Chu's personnel were slaughtered and they exited the war soon after that," Liu Han sighed. "Wasn't a pretty time."
"Yeah, I remember. Demons penetrated Huaxia and attacked Weijin," Natsuo shivered at the memory. Although the invasion had been over for a year, scars still ran deep.
The sight of his father hunched over, bloody wound through his stomach, still haunted him. His invincible father, who in less then a decade united Huaxia suffered more wounds in that one battle than his entire life.
Uncle Kurama's titanic figure lying in the open plains. Uncle Ye Fan's figure cratering the mountains north. His own mother lying motionless in a pool of blood.
Hundreds of thousands of demons, red, blue, green, and purple. Monstrosities that should've never been born poured into Huaxia like a flood. Their dark god's presence spreading across the very lands itself.
That demonic face that appeared. That twisted demonic face facing him down. The horrifying tongues, pincers, teeth, and eyes. Twisted sadistic eyes.
"…ince, my prince, my prince," Liu Han's voice snapped the dragon out of it. Natsuo calmed his breathing yet still shivered from the memory.
"Are you alright my prince?" Liu Han asked. "Do you need water, or…"
"I'm fine Liu Han," Natsuo said. "I'm already over it."
Liu Han sighed dejectedly. "If you say so my prince."
…
That evening, in the northern gates of Nan Chen, a caravan arrived discreetly. A thin misty veil cloaked them in an illusion that distorts the vision of any who viewed them.
Lord Ye stood at the front of the gate waiting. He didn't look particularly happy and instead appeared annoyed. Seeing this, the head cultist of the sorcerer cult headed forward towards him.
"Finally, do you know how expensive it was keeping the prince here?" Lord Ye projected his frustrations at the crew who arrived.
In the darkness of night, the sorcerer cult from the Shadowlands arrived with their cargo in tow. Various artefacts and personnel dismounted from their steeds, monstrous creatures known as Taowu.
"If you have time to wine, you have time to help. These artefacts are fragile and need to be moved with utmost care," the head cultist spat.
"Hmph," Lord Ye snorted. He waved his fingers, signalling his men to help the cultists out.
"Is everything you need done?" Lord Ye asked the head cultist. "The prince is primed to leave early tomorrow."
"Everything is done, we just need to get to the Cloud Serpent. How many men do you have at your disposal?"
Lord Ye didn't even hesitate to answer, "700, most of them are veterans from the demon invasion. Came here for support when I offered. They are aligned with my views. You?"
"There are thirty sorcerers among us but we can muster a few thousand from the faithful in the city," he said.
"Fucking fanatics," the voice of one of Lord Ye's men grumbled as the head cultist said so. Many of Lord Ye's men also nodded their heads and opening frowned. The head cultist mere scoffed at their words.
"Ignorant children who knows not the ways of the one true god," the cultist sighed in disappointment. "R'holler shall guide you from the darkness that clouds your mind."
"My lord, why must we work with these fanatics? Their god is the arch betrayer!" One of Lord Ye's men said before a chain of shadow gripped tightly onto his neck.
"Control your men less I tear out their tongues for speaking such sacrilege," the cultist threatened.
"He will not be an issue. He knows the importance of our partnership," Lord Ye said looking at the man. "Jin, return to the barracks and cool your head."
The alliance was rocky but a necessary one. The emperor was an ill omen for Chu. If Lord Ye had to consort with Shadowland sorcerers then so be it.
Lord Ye shifted uncomfortably as more and more magical artefacts were unloaded. They were all placed under cleats that dampened their magical properties but standing this close, someone as attuned to magic as he could feel it
But he held firm, he was certain he made the right choice. Never again will Chu need to suffer for the emperor's decisions. Never again will sons and daughters of Chu walk to their deaths to stem the tide of chaos.
Let the monstrosities of the far north be the north's problem, he wanted non of that for his people. He was certain Duke Zhang thought the same. The former Azure Emperor may've kept silent all these years but he knew better.
He still remembered when Xuanwu Mingren marched into Chu more than half a decade ago. The mighty Qin had fallen and they were next. He'd ridden into the battlefield bravely on his warhorse, his hard earned magic ready.
As a young hero, he fought at his emperor's side against the foreigner. He fought and he fought, even coming into direct blows with the foreign emperor. But in the end, he could only wallow in his own defeat.
What came next was worst. Laws after laws that disrupted the stable order of life. The destruction of ancient clans and lineages on a whim. The constant eyes of the daemons and monstrosities the empress employs. Worst of all was the forced conscriptions that went north to defend lands that weren't their own.
"AH, LITTLE CHILD, WE SHARE DESTINY!"
The extended claw that held his throat still caused phantom pains on the sorcerer lord's neck. He'd wish non of that hell on the sons and daughters of Chu on anyone ever again.
That crooked beak and bright blue feathers. Those glowing eyes filled with untold horrors of another dimension.
"My lord, the Shadowland cult is nearly done," one of Lord Ye's men said approaching the city lord.
"Good, go to your positions and wait for our command, get your crossbows ready," he commanded.
"By your will. For Chu," the man said cupping his hands and bowing.
"For Chu," he answered back.
His man scurried away, rejoining his fellow soldiers and various other recruits. The way they were headed to were to high places that surrounded the departing route the prince will take. Their crossbows were already enchanted with iron and fire magic to be lethal.
Lord Ye nodded his head at his men's bravery. Chances were, all of them will not see past the battle. The prince's retinue had included near a hundred celestial dragon guards, overkill for any army in Huaxia.
If not for the extensive amounts of magic the cult had brought with them along with veterans he'd recruited long ago, these hundred men could probably take the entire city in minutes.
Of course, the bigger problem was the man constantly beside the prince. Liu Han was not a simple figure. Though he may be a peasant, he was one of exceptional martial skill.
There was a saying in Huaxia, 'magic before martial arts.' Magic was a superior discipline only accepted those with aptitude. Their always produced elites. But martial arts was something anyone can participate in, their warriors were far weaker on average.
Mages were always superior to martial artists. They freely manipulated the power of nature to their own whims. They were both more difficult to find and train, as well as superior fighters on the battlefield.
But that isn't always the case, martial artists cannot be underestimated. The era of Wulin proved this fact perfectly. Though easier to train and thus numerous, they were also harder to master.
A true master of martial arts would exceed most sorcerers, himself included. Someone like Liu Han, a god among martial artists was even more dangerous.
Lord Ye walked towards his own family compounds. The empty stone pavement met his footsteps. He had no real family after his fathers death during the foreign emperor's wars.
He twisted his head and saw the cult leader following behind him. "What do you want?" He asked rather harshly. He didn't particularly like his partner and hence never bothered to show much respect.
"You were breaking away from your men. Just wanted to make sure you don't pull a runner," the religious leader said.
"You can be assured, I want to succeed just as much as you," he said.
"Hm, you know, you'd make for an excellent priest of R'holler," the cultist said. "You have all the drive and conviction to serve the true god's will. What say you…"
"I declined once and I decline again," Lord Ye spat. "I want no part in your little cult. This alliance only lasts until the foreign emperor's regime is overthrown."
The cultist leaned back and muttered something in another rabble language Lord Ye hadn't bothered learning. "Of course," he said. "A shame, you are all ignorant to the lord's light. The shadows still yet cloud your judgement. The four idols your worship are merely spirits mistaken as gods."
"Are you simply to lecture me on theology?" Lord Ye spat.
"No," the cultist shook his head. "But it does make me curious. Your emperor supposedly carries the approval of those four and the mandate to rule. His family also counts Cloud Serpents among them."
"Not all dragons are good, the great flood told as such," Lord Ye snorted. "The August Ones are special but they hardly represent the monstrous demons of the lands. The foreign emperor's fabrication is just that, a fabrication. I can run down to the embroider and have one made for myself."
"Hm, I'll admit to not being familiar with that legend," the cult leader said. "But anyway, are you confident in your preparations? I hardly want to lose my own for your folly."
"And I you. Are you confident in holding back Liu Han and the celestial dragon guards?" Lord Ye asked.
"We have elementals prepared for that," the cult leader said. He flicked his robes up to show a sheathed sword on his hip. It had a fierce hilt guard with curved blades carved in. "My god's will is with me."
"That man will not be an easy opponent. Greater demons have fallen to his spear," Lord Ye said. He looked towards to horizon, the sun crow was just beginning to show his flying form. "Dawn comes, let's take our positions."
A few hours, that's all he had left. A few hours and everything will CHANGE!
…
A woman whistled strolling on roving clouds. Occasionally, she'd caress her flat belly as she walked. Her long flowing silver hair was tied up in a neat tail.
Accompanying her was an elderly man with a hunched back. He appeared incredibly old and tired. His wrinkles were ugly and his dark skin was evidently sagging.
In the woman's free hand was a circular talisman that had long lost its light. In the early hours of the morning, when the sun had not risen yet, she turned her head to look left.
Mortal eyes cannot view this distance, but her ethereal ones caught a figure moving in incredible speed across the country. An orange blitz that resembled a comet shooting across the still dark sky.
The old man beside her followed her actions. "He recovered quick, not many can shrug off a god's blow like that."
"Your majesty, should we hurry along as well? His highness' live is at stake and his majesty is already past us," he inquired the woman.
"With this kind of firepower? Hardly," the woman said without a change in tone. "Answer me this Gao Lingbao. Who on this side of earth can challenge the combined might of my husband and the god of war?"
Her confidence was unshakable. The old man nodded in understanding. "This servant was dull, please forgive me."
The woman, empress Xian Yin of Huaxia however took no notice of him. Her gaze cast themselves onto the southern city of Nan Chen thousands of kilometres away. "Birth of a god, or is it the return of a hero? Either way, the magic involved is a generation in a lifetime. I'm so excited," she smiled.
End Note: So this first arc is what will lead to the barrier around the Elemental nations being lifted. The subsequent battle will involve a series of escalation that will result in the Elemental nations being unveiled and then we can move the plot that way. However, Naruto himself won't step foot there for a while and there are specific reasons for this.