Author's Note: Man, look at that. One hundred chapters. I never imagined, not in a million years, that I would write so many chapters for a single story. So, upon reaching such a meaningful milestone, this story has:
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Thank you to everybody who read, favorites, follows and, of course, reviews this story. It's thanks to you that we reached this far. Now, enjoy the beginning of the very last arc of Son of the Sannin:
Chapter 100:
Prelude to the War
or
The Begining of the End
Island Turtle
Fu was admiring her new chakra armor in the reflection of the lake of the Falls of Truth, making several poses and shifting her position so she could see all of it. She changed poses with increased frequency, and the more he did it, the more upset she grew, something her Tailed Beast noticed.
"Fu? Something wrong?" Chomei asked.
"It's the armor..." she began, as she kept changing her pose.
"Don't you like it?" the giant beetle asked, sounding disheartened. "You think it's ugly?"
"Oh no, nothing like that, the armor is awesome!" she reassured, before growing a little more uneasy. "It's just... I don't know, it messes with my style. It kinda lacks something, and I can't put my finger what is it..."
"Oh, oh! I think I know what you're talking about!" the beetle said, excited. "Let me do a little adjustments..."
As soon as Chomei said that, the plates covering her midsection retracted, leaving her abs bare for all to see. Fu beamed upon seeing this.
"YES! Now it's perfect! Thank you, Chomei!" Fu cheered.
"Anytime, girl," Chomei replied, glad to make her host happy.
"You know, Fu, I think you're missing the point of an armor," Naruto said, as he walked towards her. "Your armor isn't going to protect you much if you have such a gap there. That's like wearing a sign that says 'please eviscerate me'." Naruto deadpanned.
Fu turned at him, frowned, and placed her hands on her hips.
"Sorry, but a Fu that doesn't bare her midriff is like a Naruto that doesn't wear orange. It's an immutable part of who I am," the green haired girl said. "But if you're so worried about me, go ahead and punch me in my gut."
"I'm not going to do that," Naruto replied, crossing his arms.
"You need an incentive, then? Fine," Fu said. "Punch me, and if you make me bend down, I'll treat you to ramen for a whole month."
This seemed to change Naruto's disposition, who clenched his hand into a fist. "Well, I don't like punching my friends, but who can resist such an offer?"
And with a loud crack, Naruto's fist hit Fu's stomach...
"YEOWWWWWWWWW!"
...and not only Fu barely budged, Naruto felt as if every finger in his hand broke at once.
"Hehe, told you," Fu chuckled. "You need to pack far more power to make me feel pain!"
"Just... what the hell do they feed you!?" Naruto cried, as he nursed his injured hand, which was starting to turn red. "It's like punching a wall of bricks!"
"I know right? I was super strong before, but after having access to all of Chomei's power, my strength and endurance are even higher!" she boasted, while flexing her biceps. "Now try stabbing my stomach with a kunai!"
"Hey you two, no more fooling around, let's start the training, or I'm going to beat you down!" Killer B called his two younger counterparts.
"Coming~!" Fu chirped, as she and Naruto walked towards the senior jinchuriki.
"You now can use your beasts' whole power, and that's great, but now you need to learn how to use it, you agree, mate?" Killer B began. "In order to master your power, you must first get used to it, so let's start little by little, learn to use only a whit."
"As you say, sensei!" Naruto replied.
"Sensei?" Killer B asked, as he rested his chin over his hand. "I would have preferred if you called me Killer B-sama, but guess that sensei would do. Okay, let's start already, let's see what you can push through!"
And thus, Naruto and Fu began their training under Killer B's eccentric yet surprisingly effective teaching method, while Hiruzen, Tenzo and the rest of the escort team watched them master their powers.
…
Allied Ninja Forces Main HQ, Land of Fire
The new headquarters building had been built in record time, mostly thanks to Rin and Kaida's Wood Release speeding the process –and it would have been done much sooner if their third Wood Release user, Tenzo, wasn't away–. From this building, the higher echelons of the Allied Ninja Forces would be able to coordinate the war effort. It was also where the Intelligence Division and most of the Sensor Division were located as well.
At the top floor of the building was the War Room. Like many of its kind, this War Room had a huge table with a detailed map of the Elemental Nations on it, that the Five Kages and their advisors would use to monitor their progress and plan strategy.
Around the table, some sitting, and some standing, were the Five Kages, Mifune, and some of their advisors, such as Shikaku Nara, Ebizo, Chiyo, Ao, or Onoki. Konan was also present as well, given her past ties with Akatsuki.
"Our spies already warned us of Akatsuki's mobilization," Mei began. "Turns out Obito wasn't bluffing when he claimed he had a massive army. My spies counted almost one hundred thousand effectives, split among smaller divisions."
"So, they outnumber us," Kurotsuchi gravely said. "Any suggestion on how are we going to deal with such a problem?"
"With strategy, granddaughter," Onoki intervened. "Numbers don't win war. We can beat Akatsuki if we are able to outsmart them."
"Numbers might not win wars, but they surely help," Rasa intervened, sending Onoki a challenging glare. "Plus, Akatsuki not only has quantity on their side, but quality as well. Reports also said that the battalions of Zetsu clones are accompained by undead ninjas reanimated through Impure World Resurrection. We have many tough battles ahead."
"How did Akatsuki managed to get their hands on that jutsu? I find unlikely that Orochimaru decided to share his knowledge with them," Jiraiya pondered.
"You told us that he had defected them, given his absence during the invasion of Konoha. Do you think there's a chance Orochimaru might have rejoined their ranks?" Mei asked.
It was Konan who answered. "I find that very unlikely. Our policy was zero tolerance for traitors and deserters. We were planning to send a team to kill Orochimaru for good, but our failure in capturing the jinchuriki of the Eight Tails forced us to drop such course of action."
A growled upon hearing Konan talking about his brother's capture in such a casual manner. Still, he decided it was for the best to keep his temper in check, and bit his tongue. Konan was a valuable asset, and they couldn't afford losing her. Once the war was over, though...
"But that was when your friend was the leader," the Raikage spoke. "Maybe Obito decided to be more lenient. Especially since he's going to need any asset he can get his hands onto if he wants to win the war."
"It's a possibility, yes," Konan agreed. "Orochimaru might have been able to buy his return into the organization in exchange of an army of undead, unkillable ninjas."
"Not as unkillable. While they're few, we have some ninjas able to destroy reanimations permanently," Jiraiya helpfully said.
"Still, this begets a question," Shikaku spoke. "Why did Orochimaru want to rejoin Akatsuki? What's in for him?"
"We don't even know why he left to begin with," Jiraiya said, looking at Konan.
"This merely conjecture, but if I had to guess, I'd say the promise of the Rinnegan," Konan said. "Orochimaru and Danzo worked together, and Danzo attempted to steal a Rinnegan from Konoha after Nagato's death. However, Obito managed to intercept it before Orochimaru could get it. It is possible that Obito promised Orochimaru a Rinnegan in exchange of his help."
"And... do you think Obito would honor that promise?" Jiraiya asked. The idea of a Rinnegan-wielding Orochimaru wasn't something he liked to entertain. It would be like a nightmare come to life.
"I find it unlikely," Konan said, as she crossed her arms. "The Rinnegan, even just one, is an incredibly powerful tool. If I were Obito, I wouldn't honor that promise. Plus, given that Orochimaru already betrayed Akatsuki once, Obito might have him killed once his usefulness reaches its end."
"Still, we can't afford to just wait for the best," Kurotsuchi intervened. "We need to know where is Akatsuki's main base. Orochimaru will be directing his zombie puppets from there. We send a team to kill him and one less problem to worry about."
"It's not that easy. We don't know where such base is located," A stated. "The White Zetsu clones come from different directions, suggesting multiple bases."
"Actually, the Zetsu Clones are able to travel underground. They probably dispersed and reemerged at different points in order to confuse us," Konan told the Raikage.
"That leaves us very little options," Kurotsuchi said, as she looked at the map intently. "Based on their movements, it appears that some battalions are moving towards the Land of Fire, while others are heading to the north, towards the Land of Lightning."
"The last three jinchuriki are under Konoha and Kumo's care, so such course of action is a sensible one," Onoki commented.
"For the time being, given our current situation, I think we should fight defensively," Kurotsuchi suggested. "Reinforce our positions, let Akatsuki come at us, and stall them in a war of attrition until their resources bleed dry."
"A good idea on paper, but I'm seeing some holes," Mei interjected. "We don't know how fast the Akatsuki can produce their Zetsu clones. If we aren't careful, it may be Akatsuki the ones bleeding our resources."
"The fact that they didn't use them until now suggests that they do take some time to be produced," Rasa deduced. "Which would make Kurotsuchi's strategy the more viable course of action."
"Still, this doesn't mean we can't change our strategy next," Jiraiya said. "Though focusing on defense might give us an opportunity to analyze the enemy better, and if possible, prepare a counterattack."
"Given our lack on detailed intel on the enemy, I also support Tsuchikage-dono's plan as well," Shikaku said.
"Then, there's nothing more to discuss," A said. "As we speak, hordes of enemies are invading our lands. It's about time to mobilize our troops and meet the enemy in the battlefield."
"First, let's address the army. They should be gathered just outside," Mei suggested.
"Given that I'm the Supreme Commander, I should be the one to address the troops," Jiraiya suggested. The others nodded in return.
As Jiraiya headed to the balcony, Onoki walked towards his granddaughter. It seemed she imagined what he wanted to tell her, and decided to ask him first.
"So, how was that?" Kurotsuchi asked, looking a little nervous.
"Very good. You did a fine job. A very sensible suggestion," Onoki praised her.
"Thanks," the black haired girl said, smiling a little. "I'm trying my best. I may not show it, but I feel a little overwhelmed. The other Kages have far more experience than I do, and I'm not as versed in playing politics as they are."
"Patience. That's a skill you will develop over time," Onoki reassured. "Besides, it's not that necessary now. Even if some of these people have been our historical enemies, we're on the same side now."
Onoki remember very well the day after Kurotsuchi's appointment. Deciding he was too old to continue as the reigning Kage, he decided to pass the hat to his granddaughter, so he could retire and a new generation could bring Iwa to the future. Everything went fine at first, with Kurotsuchi slowly but surely growing into the position.
Then those kumo ninjas arrived, with their letter requesting the Tsuchikage attend a Kage Summit to deal with the Akatsuki menace. Their timing couldn't have been any worse. Even if Kurotsuchi was a powerful kunoichi, one needed more than mere power to be a Kage, and his granddaughter was still too green to deal with the other Kages. But he couldn't retake the position so a more experienced ninja could tackle this crisis, not without destroying her granddaughter's reputation and credibility in the process. If Kurotsuchi was a Kage, she had to deal with this kind of things, experienced or not.
Upon returning from the meeting with the other Kages, the poor girl was on the verge of crying. During the creation of the Ninja Alliance, she was basically forced to handle all of Iwa's military might to Konoha, their greatest enemy. Despite her best efforts, she was bested by an alliance between the Hokage, Mizukage and Kazekage. Onoki had told her that it was okay, and that Iwa would remain independent once the war was over.
Even if it might make her look like he was holding her hand, Kurotsuchi decided to bring her grandpa to following meetings, under the pretense of being a ver experienced man when it comes to warfare. Fortunately, other Kages also brought more people as advisors as well, so her excuse was easily bought. Still, Onoki wanted to make sure his granddaughter would grow more confident as a Kage.
"Plus, I think you earned their respect when you took the initative and suggested a course of action that was reasonable and sensible," Onoki said. "If there's a bright side to this awful war is that you'll come out as a much better Kage once it ends."
"Thank you, grandpa," Kurotsuchi said with a smile.
…
Outside HQ
Almost the whole army of the Ninja Allied Forces had been assembled outside of its main HQ. More than eighty thousand ninjas, coming from multiple different villages, spread in front of the HQ building, like a colossal mosaic of multiple colors. One of the largest armies ever gathered. And it was hard to believe that the enemy's army was even greater in number. Still, seeing such a multitude together inspired courage in each of its members.
The army was split into five shapeless masses of people, one for each division, which would be commanded by one of the Fiver Kage minus Jiraiya, and Mifune. Though technically speaking, there were more than five divisions, but those were dedicated to logistical roles, and were much smaller in number.
Given the size of the groups, it was only logical that many people who were close or at least have some friendship with each other ended up in the same division together,
"Choji!"
"Karui!"
The Konoha ninja and the Kumo kunoichi quickly went to greet each other, and shared a loving embrace, as Omoi and the rest of the Tactical Squad walked towards them.
"Heh, it's so good that we ended up in the same division!" Choji cheered. "Now we can fight side by side!"
"Indeed!" Karui agreed, but her expression then became deadly serious. "Though, given that we're going to fight a war of such scale, you better don't let me down! If your performance in battle is poor, I'll break up with you!"
Choji's face paled upon hearing it. "W-What!?"
"Ignore her," Omoi stated, as he walked towards them. "It's a coping mechanism. She tends to get like that when she's nervous or scared."
"S-Shut up, you dummy!" Karui lamely told her male teammate.
"No, I mean... if you threataned to break up with me... does that mean that we're a couple?" Choji asked.
Omoi chuckled as Karui's hands flew to her mouth, upon realizing what she just said.
"I mean... well, it's that... I guess not, given that we haven't gone on any formal dates yet, you know?" the redhead nervously explained.
"You two went to eat together a couple times when we were in Konoha," Ino pointed out. "And I don't mean going out with other people. The two of you alone."
"That sounds like a date to me," Omoi agreed with a nod.
Karui let out an exasperated sigh. "Okay, fine we've been going on dates! And yes, that means we're a couple! Will you dumbass shut up now and stop meddling in my private life?"
"Was it that hard to admit?" Omoi said with a smirk, as he and he left his teammate alone with Choji and his team.
"It's finally official, I have a girlfriend! Wohoo!" Choji cheered, as he pumped his fist into the air. "If we weren't about to fight a war, I'd be so excited!"
"Well, congratulations, Choji," Shikamaru said, as he, Asuma and Ino walked to the newlyform couple once Omoi was out of sight. "It's good to see something happy before heading into a war."
"Plus, Shika and I aren't that lucky," Ino said, shaking her head. "Temari is the Fourth Division with her dad and brothers. And Sai was sent to the goddamn Moon with Hinata."
"My wife is on the Fourth Division too," Asuma lamented, as he let out a sigh. "Then again, try to be positive about it. Absence makes the heart to grow fonder."
"At the very least, our teams weren't split," Ino said.
"By the way, where is your other teammate, Karui?" Choji asked.
"T is part of the Medical Division. She will be assigned to one of the main divisions as need arises," the redhead explained. "Though, I hope she doesn't end up with us. I already have to deal with Omoi's nonsense, and his teasing is going to be even worse now that we're a couple."
"Do they think I'm not boyfriend material?" Choji asked, sounding a little self conscious.
"Nah, there's nothing wrong with you," Karui said nonchalantly. "Let's say that I'm not exactly popular with boys. They say I have 'too much of a temper'. HA! What I don't have is patience for bullshit. And those two always have fun at my expense trying to hook me up with whatever boy shows any interest in me just to see me explode."
"Well, you do have a little of a temper," Ino said. Karui glared at her, but the blond didn't flinch. "And I know a few things about temper."
"Just ignore them, and they'll stop," Shikamaru said. "Or even better, show them how happy you're with Choji. That's bound to shut them up."
"I don't have much faith in that plan, but I'll keep it in mind."
…
Unlike Team Asuma, not all teams were lucky enough to stay whole. Sasuke was separated from the rest of the Medical Squad, given that his two other teammates and sensei were part of the Medical Division, and Sasuke wasn't made part of the ninjas that would escort them. Given his skill, power and record, they decided he would make better use of his talents in the front lines, a logic the younger Uchiha couldn't disagree with. The Uchiha found ironic that he actually missed them, given that a few years ago, he would have paid to get rid of them, if only temporarily, and have some peace.
Though, at the very least, there were some people Sasuke was close to, or at the very least, was on good terms with.
"YOSH! All the waiting is killing me! Hopefully our commnanders will give us the order to go to the front soon!" Lee energically shouted.
"I admire your enthusiasm, Lee, but this is a war we're talking about!" Gai replied, just as energic, but sounding a little chiding. "Don't get over your head, or you will get killed!"
"Don't worry, Gai-sensei! My performance in the battlefield shall be second to no one! You won't have to worry about me!" Lee replied.
Sasuke rolled his eyes. Of all the people from Konoha he knew to be grouped up with, Team Gai wasn't his preferred choice. Oh well, at the very least, Itachi was also in the same division as him. He looked to the side, and saw his older brother, a couple meters away from him. Talking to somebody. Her.
"I'm so nervous... I wish I had your temperance, Itachi-kun."
"I'm not as calm as you think, Natsu-san," Itachi replied. "I've been in a war before, and knowing what I'm going to face doesn't make it any easier. Quite the contrary."
This caught the Hyuga's attention. "But... how old are you? You can't be older than twenty five, and the last big war ended when we were children."
"I know. I was four when the Third War was going on. Sometimes, my father would take me to the battlefield, so I could see firsthand what it means to be a ninja," Itachi explained.
Natsu took her hands to her mouth in horror. "But that's... that's terrible! What kind of person would take a small child to a battlefield of all places?"
"Father would sometimes complain about people who become ninjas, but were unaware of the reality of the world we live in. Given that I was supposed to be the next Clan Head, Father wanted me to know that," Itachi said. "And... he succeeded. Probably far better than he expected."
"What do you mean?" Natsu asked.
"The night of the Uchiha Insurrection... do you know why I did what I did? Not only why I sided with Konoha over the clan despite my father leading the coup, but the fact that I decided to kill half the Uchiha ninjas myself?" Itachi asked. Natsu's face was starting lose what little color had, but nodded at him to continue. "Because they didn't think long-term. Even if they were succesful, an Uchiha-ruled Konoha was doomed to fail. Many people wouldn't accept their rule, and would start a civil war. That would weaken Konoha from the inside, and encourage other villages to invade us. It would be the beginning of the Fourth Ninja War.
"With every clan member I felled... I felt like a civil war and potential war was pushed further and further away... I didn't see them as family members, not even humans beings, just... obstacles to peace I needed to remove."
Once Itachi finished, neither of them didn't say anything for a few minutes. Natsu stared at Itachi, while Itachi merely stared at his feet. Then, after a bit of hesitation, the Hyuga woman placed a comforting hand on the Uchiha's shoulder.
"I... you must feel pretty awful when you think about that," she began. "But I don't want you to think you're a bad person. You did what it thought it was the best. Fighting against your family is never easy. They may hurt you, you hate them in return, but deep down, you know that it's your own flesh and blood, and wish things weren't the way they are. It's normal that you feel guilty for what you did, but it was also for the best."
"You speak as if you knew what I'm talking about," Itachi replied. "I'm really hoping you weren't forced to kill a family member."
"Fortunately, it never got that bad, but sometimes the thought crossed my mind," Natsu replied, as she removed her forehead protector. "My forehead hasn't been as it is now. Not even a couple months ago, it sported the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, which allowed the Main Family members to cause me unbearable pain with a mere hand gesture if I ever stepped out of line."
"At the very least, you got rid of it," Itachi pointed out.
"Thankfully, yes. Thanks to Hinata-sama," Natsu replied, as she put the protector back on. "It's ironic that a person I used to hate ended up being the one to release me from my yokel."
"You hated Hinata? From what I heard, she's a very kind girl. Everybody that knows her likes to some degree," Itachi said, a bit surprised.
"Not that I hated her personally," Natsu replied. "I hated the whole Main House. How I was forced into servitude, how I had to be Hanabi-sama's babysitter instead of improving my ninja career, like the Main House members did. Only the best of the Branch Members, like Neji, were allowed such privilege. I knew Hinata was kind and all the things they said about her, but despite her good intentions, I doubted she would change the status quo. Any other Clan Head with such power would have used it to consolidate their grip on the Clan."
"Right now, I'd love nothing more than swapping my place with a babysitter," Itachi noted, chuckling a little.
"It might sound stupid and naive, but I don't. I want to make a difference in a way that involves my ninja training," Natsu said, as she looked at her Konoha Chunin uniform. "Though I do feel a little odd right now. I'm so used to the maid uniform, these clothes feel strange on me."
"I think your maid uniform also looked better on you," Itachi said, smirking a little.
Natsu smiled back at him. "Why do I have the feeling that there's a hidden meaning to those words, Itachi-kun?"
Once again, Sasuke rolled his eyes. Of course it was his luck that the Hyuga that had been hanging out with his brother a lot for the past few weeks would be assigned to the same division as them. Itachi might deny it now, but it was obvious that Natsu was interested in something more than a friendship, and so was his brother. Guess neither of them wanted to rush things.
Sasuke knew his jealousy was unjustified. He might not express it as outwardly as Sasuke did, but the weight of Itachi's decisions wore him down little by little. Itachi deserved to find love, just like Sasuke did.
"I can't get mad at her for taking Itachi's attention. I'm not a little kid anymore. Plus, they seem to click quite nicely," Sasuke inwardly berated himself. "I guess I took Itachi for granted, and expected him to be there for me whenever I wanted. Or maybe I'm missing Sakura, and Itachi and his Hyuga are reminding me of her."
Sasuke discreetely activated his Sharingan, and scanned the crowd, hoping to see more people he knew. Given that the commnader of the Second Division was the Tsuchikage, about half the ninjas hailed from Iwa. In the sea of red uniforms, Sasuke also saw some white and navy from Kumo, and tan and white from Suna, but very little green and navy from Konoha. Oh well. The less people he knew, the less friends he had to see die in front of his eyes.
Speaking of Suna, there was also a certain girl that was also lamenting the fact that she wasn't grouped with the person she was hoping for.
"Man, I can't believe we were placed in a different team from Gaara-sama's," Matsuri whined. "Now I won't be able to protect him."
"I doubt he needs your protection," Mikoshi said, rolling his eyes. "Plus, it was inevitable. Chances were that most of us we will end up in another division."
"Yeah! Let's be happy that our team remains whole!" Yukata cheered.
"You're right. Complaining like this is not befitting a ninja of my rank," Matsuri conceded, as she looked at her Chunin vest. "Now, let's do our best so we can end this war as soon as possible!"
"Yes!"
…
"Do you see anybody from Konoha? Anybody we may know," Zaku asked, as she looked at Dosu. "Or hear, in your case."
"With such massive crowd, all my ears pick is a nonsensical cacophony of voices and murmurs. I can't really tell one voice from the other," Dosu complained.
"I already told you guys that none of those guys were in the same division as us," Kin said, crossing her arms. "There's barely any Konoha ninjas here. All what I see are mostly Kiri ninjas."
"Natural, given that this is the division commanded by the Mizukage," Anko chimed in, joining the conversation. "Though, you should be glad that we got assigned to this division, given that we missed our chance to take part in the Kirigakure Civil War!"
"Are you sad you weren't sent to fight in a war, sensei?" Kin asked, raising an eyebrow. When she heard what had happened in their absence, she was glad that they were away on a C-Rank mission protecting a merchant caravan that was heading to the Land of Wind.
"I would have agreed with you if it was any other war but... it was the Kirigakure Civil War! We could have fought both side by side and against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!" Anko said, gushing like a schoolgirl talking about her favorite idol. "One of the most efficient, brutal and with the highest confirmed kill count squads in all of history! You have no idea how jealous I was when Shizune told me that she and her team got to kill Jinpachi Munashi, and Asuma and his team got to kill Kushimaru Kuriare! Not to mention fighting alongside the new wielders of the Thunderfangs and Hiramekarei! Fortunately, fate seems kind enough to give us another chance."
"I don't think if that's something worth celebrating either," Dosu said. "A division with the Seven Swordsmen will be assigned the fiercest battles."
"So? The better! That way we can show off our abilities and when the war is over, getting a promotion" Zaku confidently shouted.
"You're talking my language as well, kid!" Anko nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the Seven, or better said, Six Swordsmen of the Mist, were also talking among each other while they were waiting the Kages to end their meeting and give them the order to advance.
"I was kind of surprised that they allowed to keep the squad whole," Suigetsu commented. "I was expecting that they would split us to the other four divisions, so each division could have one of us at least."
"Mizukage-sama must have told them that our unit works better as a team," Miyako said. "Plus, seeing six of the seven Swordsmen of the Mist fighting together after so long will be quite the morale booster. At least for our fellow Kirigakure ninja."
"Yeah, whatever, just try not to get in my way when I'm cutting down those White Zetsu thing to tiny bits!" Ameyuri said, making a couple swings with the Thunderfangs for added emphasis, nearly cutting Chojuro, who jumped back with a yelp. "See? This is why you guys need to keep your distance."
"Don't try to play lone wolf, girl," Zabuza chastised, glaring at the redhead. "Wars aren't won by individually. No matter how strong you are, you will end up facing an opponent you can't beat on your own. And then, you'll find you have no backup to rely on."
"I thought you'd be on my side, Zabuza-taicho," Ameyuri said, sheathing her swords before crossing her arms. "You're somebody who tends to fight alone as well."
"While that's true, I fight alone because my sword has a long range and I can hurt my allies if I'm not careful, so my concentration isn't split," Zabuza explained. "That doesn't mean that I don't disregard my allies, given that I may need them at any moment. Go and fight alone if that's how you think you're more effective, but keep also in mind that all of us are part of a much bigger division, and we're expected to fight as one."
Ameyuri let out a snort. "Whatever keeps you from nagging me constantly."
"It's not the captain you'll have to be worried about, Ameyuri-san," Miyako told her. "Mizukage-sama herself will be leading this division, and we shall fight alongside her. We can't disappoint her."
"We already fought alongside Mizukage-sama during the Civil War, this is nothing new," Ameyuri countered, rolling her eyes.
"That's true, but this time, we'll be fighting alongside plenty of other villages, not just a hnadful of Konoha ninjas," Chojuro interceded. "If we did a bad job, it would not only bring shame upon us, but upon Kiri as well."
"Like how the previous generation got their asses handed by a Konoha Genin!" Suigetsu said, chuckling. "Though, with a bar so low, it's impossible to fall even lower!"
"None of you will bring shame to Kiri nor the swords you carry, because I'll make sure you put your best performance," Zabuza said in a commanding tone. "And remember, besides those White Zetsu clones, intelligence reported many Impure Wolrd Resurrection zombies. No matter how skilled we are, those things can't be killed with brute force alone."
"Don't worry, we have never brought shame to our blades or our village, and we never will," Suigetsu reassured.
…
Meanwhile, in another group, half of the members of the Assault Squad were talking with each other, while waiting for the others from the higher ups. On top of Kurenai and Haku, Yakumo Kurama had joined them as well, given that she was still under Kurenai's custody. The two youths looked a bit uneasy, Haku constantly looking at the division besides them, and Yakumo constaly shifting her position.
"Are you guys okay?" Kurenai asked.
"A little nervous, but otherwise I'm fine," the Ice Ninja replied, without looking at her.
"Me too. One good thing about being trained by Root is that I'm completely capable of controlling my emotions. Fear included," Yakumo stated.
"Controlling? Or supressing?" Kurenai prodded, raising an eyebrow.
"In this case, controlling," Yakumo assured her. "Trust me, sensei, I've done quite the share of dangerous missions while working under Danzo. I know the scale of a war is something I've never seen before, but I'm ready for anything."
"Remember, if you want to talk about anything, I'm here for you," Kurenai said, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. Then, she turned at Haku. "The same goes for you. Is there anything you want to tell me?"
"Why do you ask?"
"You've been looking at that other division for quite some time, " Kurenai pointed out.
"From what I heard, that's where Zabuza-sama and the rest of the Sworsmen have been assigned," Haku told her. "It's a pity we weren't assigned to that division. I would have liked to fight at Zabuza-sama's side once again. Or at the very least, being able to talk with him before heading to the front lines. It's been a while since the last time we met."
"It's understandable. But don't despair," Kurenai told him, as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be able to talk to him again. Zabuza is a strong ninja, and he won't die that easily. And you won't die either as long as I'm here."
Haku acknowledged Kurenai's encouragement with a smile. Then, he asked: "This isn't your first war, is it, sensei?"
Kurenai nodded in affirmation. "Correct. I took part in the Third Ninja War, about eighteen years ago. I remember I was only twelve, not even Chunin yet. As a general norm, Genin aren't send send to the frontlines, and they're usually keep as a reserve force, or for logistic tasks, but back in the day Konoha suffered from low numbers. So lucky me, I got a taste of what war is like when I was barely a teenager."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I had to be a crushing experience," Haku told her.
"It was. Though I doubt it was any worse than your childhood in the Land of Water. Or your years in Root," Kurenai sympathetically told her students. "Though, on the bright side, the next Chunin Exams became a joke in comparison, and I was able to nail a promotion easily."
"Still, I hope-"
"Haku-san!" a new female voice shouted. "Hey, Haku-san!"
Both genjutsu mistress and Land of Water native turned towards the direction of the voice, and they saw a girl with dark blond hair decked in a Kirigakure uniform running towards them, waving both arms wildly. While Kurenai didn't know who was this girl –she didn't remember seeing her during the Kirigakure Civil War– Haku immediately recognized her.
"Hotaru-san!" Haku said, smiling widely.
"Hey, Haku-san! It's so great to see you again!" Hotaru said, panting a little after stopping her run. "It's amazing we were assigned to the same division!"
"Indeed it is," Haku said. "By the way, let me introduce you to my sensei, Kurenai Yuhi, amd Yakumo Kurama, a friend and fellow Konoha ninja. Kurenai-sensei, Yaku-san, this is Hotaru, a girl we met during our mission to protect Utakata."
"Nice to meet you, Kurenai-san!" Hotaru said, shaking her hand. "Haku-san and his teammates told me quite a lot about you."
"Yes, I do remember that they also mentioned you when they told me about their mission on Nagi Island," Kurenai replied.
"And nice to meet you too, Yakumo-san!" Hotaru greeting, shaking her hand as well. "Though I'm afraid I haven't heard of you until now."
"That's understandable. Most people thought I was dead until recently," Yakumo told her. Upon seeing Hotaru's confused face, the last Kurama clan member added: "It's a long story. I'll tell you another time."
"So, you finally became a Kirigakure ninja?" Haku asked.
"Yes! And I secured a promotion during the latest Chunin Exams!" Hotaru said, proudly displaying her Kirigakure flak jacket.
"Congratulations. Utakata-san would have been very proud of you," Haku told her.
"Yeah, I like to think that," Hotaru said, as her gaze drifted down. "His memory is what keeps me going. And now, I'll try my hardest to stop Akatsuki and brings his killers to justice. Though, from what I heard, the leader of Akatsuki had already met his just desserts."
"You heard right. Pain died during the Akatsuki Invasion of Konoha," Kurenai told her. "It was Naruto who defeated him for good."
"Oh, speaking of which, what about him? And Hinata-san?" Hotaru asked. "I thought they'd be in the same division as you two."
"Naruto is on a secret location, training to master his jinchuriki powers under the tutelage of another jinchuriki," Kurenai explained. "And Hinata has been assigned a special mission far away from here."
"Oh. I see. Let's hope that they return from their training soon, because I remember that they were very powerful ninja," Hotaru said. "We might need their help if we want to end this as soon as possible."
"Yeah, let's hope," Haku agreed.
Not far away from there, in the same group, the Sand Siblings were also talking among each other, passing the time until the Kages finished their initial strategy and issued the orders. Gaara looked as stoic as ever, though Temari looked mildly upset, something Kankuro noticed.
"What's with that face, sis?" Kankuro asked. "Disappointed that you weren't put in the same division as pinapple head?"
Temari glared at her younger brother. "First of all, don't call him that. Only I get to insult him," Temari said. "And yes, I admit I was hoping we could fight together. Though that's not the only thing in my mind."
"Whatever troubles you, you can share it with us," Gaara said. "And you better do, it's not wise to go to the battlefield with a troubled mind."
"You probably heard about those reanimated ninjas that the enemy is using..." Temari began. "Do you think we might have to fight against somebody we used to know?"
"Like... mom?" Kankuro suggested. "I don't think so. Mom was a ninja but not a very strong one. If they resurrect anybody from Suna to fight us, it will be our strongest ninjas who died during the past years."
"Like the previous Kazekages. Or Pakura of the Scorched Earth," Gaara suggested. "She was powerful enough to be taken into account for the position of Fourth Kazekage, before father was appointed."
"Naruto and Hinata told me that when Orochimaru first used the jutsu, he resurrected the First, Second, and Fourth Hokages, as well as the latter's wife in order to destroy Konoha."
"Whoa, really?" Kankuro asked, surprised. "And how did Konoha managed to survive? Because from what I heard, the First Hokage was immensely powerful. No Konoha ninja would have been able to even make him fight seriously."
"Naruto and Hinata didn't fight any of the reanimations, but from what I heard, they only had a fraction of the original's power. That's how they beat them," Temari explained. "The Hokage revised the notes they had on the jutsu, and if you try to revive a very powerful ninja, the caster must reduce their power, or else they risk losing control."
"Oh, then that jutsu isn't so great!" Kankuro said, visibly relieved. "Even if they send the past Kazekages against us, they will be shadows of their former selves. Even if they can't be killed by normal means, sealing them will be child's play."
"You have an awful habit of underestimating your opponent, Kankuro," Gaara chided the puppeteer.
"Hey, I'm just trying to see the bright side of a situation. But you don't have to worry, I'm not planning to drop my guard at any point," Kankuro assured him. "Though, I wonder if they will reanimate Sasori. I'd like to have a second round against him for that time he nearly killed us."
"You already had your second round," Temari reminded him. "You fought against him alongside Maki-sensei, Hinata and Kurenai,"
"Yeah, but I felt I didn't contribute that much to the fight, plus Hinata ended up dealing the killing blow," Kankuro replied. "Plus this time I have new and better puppets to fight with."
"While I try to be above such things, I admit I'd like a rematch against Deidara," Gaara confessed. "Now that I know the way he fights, I'm confident I'd be able to bring him down."
"Now that I think about it, if Akatsuki didn't take your Tailed Beast, you wouldn't be here with us, but training with Naruto and that Taki girl on a secret island," Kankuro said in realization. "I can't imagine how freakishly strong you would be if you had the whole power of Shukaku at your command."
"It's something I prefer not to dwell on," Gaara replied. "Even if they're a distant memory now, I still remember Shukaku's maddening whispers in my head, telling me to kill others. It's a power I wouldn't want unless I was able to silence that voice forever."
"So I'm guessing you don't want to become Shukaku's vessel again once we get the One Tail back," Temari said. "Understandable."
"I wouldn't mind to bear that burden again, given that I'm experienced with it. But this time, I'd prefer if Jiraiya-sama was the one doing the sealing," Gaara replied, crossing his arms. "No disrespect to Chiyo-baasama, but sealing wasn't her forte."
"Speaking of her, I heard that she wanted to rejoin active duty," Temari said.
"She wanted to, but father didn't want somebody so past her prime in the front lines," Gaara told the other two. "He allowed her to have a voice in the strategic and tactical meetings, given her experience in previous wars."
"It's probably for the better," Temari said with a nod. "This war has to be won by the current generation, and not let our forefathers do our jobs for us."
…
"Kakashi-sensei, are you okay?" Tamaki asked, looking at the silver haired Jonin a bit worried.
While most people have been doing some small talk among each other before the Kages would address them and issue their first orders, Kakashi had been staring into the horizon, his one visible eye not focused on anything in particular. Tamaki's voice, however, seemed to snap him from the trance he got caught in.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Kakashi replied. "I was just thinking... well, many things. Like how soon we've been embroided in another war. The Third Ninja War ended before you guys were even born, yet it felt like it was yesterday."
"The time between two wars is always too short, regardless of how many years pass between them," Shino sagely noted.
"My mom used to tell me about the Third Ninja War when I wanted to hear her past exploits. Though rather than combat, she did mostly scouting and tracking jobs," Kiba interceded. He then paused and crossed his arms, before adding: "I'm afraid this war will be even bloodier."
"Unfortunately yes, it appears to be the case," Tamaki sadly agreed.
"Hey, hey, don't be so glum, okay?" Kakashi told them, raising his voice a little. "If we stick together, we will all go home in one piece. As long as I'm alive, I'll make sure none of you will die."
"As much as we appreciate the thought, Kakashi-sensei, that doesn't depend on you," Shino said, as he adjutsted his shades. "During war, chaos and disorder reign supreme, which makes an ideal scenario for sudden and unexpected deaths."
"Yeah. Not to rub salt on the wound, but you end up losing two of your teammates during the past war," Kiba reminded Kakashi. "Even if the two of them turned out to be alive."
"Though, that doesn't mean that we think we're doomed to die," Tamaki added. "We will do our best to stay alive. But if we don't... well, we don't want you to think it was your fault."
"Except if you die, it is my fault. A subordinate's death is always the leader's fault," Kakashi stated. "I think both Rin and I told you the story of how we thought Obito died, and how I acquired my Sharingan, right?"
The three of them nodded.
"The reason the mission went the way it did was that neither of us three were ready to take missions in the middle of a war without sensei's supervision," Kakashi stated. "A leader must know their subordinates' capabilities, and what jobs are they fit to do, and which ones are too much."
"So... you think it was the Fourth's fault that Obito ended up the way he did," Shino guessed.
"Yes, and no. He's partly to blame, but there were other factors that weren't his fault," Kakashi added, then he let out a weary sigh. "You know, this is the reason I didn't want to be a Jonin-sensei to begin with."
"You were afraid to lose your students the same way you lost your tammates and sensei," Kiba replied. It wasn't a guess but a statement.
"Correct," Kakashi said. "When I was doing solo missions, or working with people of similar skill to mine at ANBU... I was at peace, knowing that everybody knew how to take care of themselves and that if the worst came to happen, it wouldn't be my fault. But if I had to take three Genin fresh out of the Acadmy under my care, I'll have to be much more careful. Even if they mostly do D-Ranks and the ocassional C-Rank, Genin deaths are far more common than you think. You'd be surprised how often a C-Rank turns out to be much more dangerous than initially assessed thanks to faulty intel.
"So forgive me if I sound too overprotective, or like I'm underestimating your skill, but as long as this war lasts, I'm not taking any risks. This squad will act, move and fight as one, unless we have no other option but split."
Contrary to what he was expecting, his three students nodded in agreement.
"I think is the wisest decision. We might have grown stronger during the past years, but we are a tracking squad, not a combat one," Tamaki acknowledged.
"Even if we fought against Akatsuki before," Shino said. "They proved to be formidable enemies, and we were unable to win without external help."
The Aburame recalled how Hidan and Kakuzu dominated the battle –and almost lost Kakashi-sensei– even with Fu and Shibuki's help, and it wasn't until Naruto and his teammates appeared that the battle took a turn in their favor. And to say nothing of Obito summoning the Nine Tails in front of them.
"And hey, we don't want to worry you," Kiba added. "There will be time to show you our full potential once the war is over."
"Hey, that's very mature of you, Kiba," Tamaki complimented. "I was expecting you to protest and complain that you're ready to kick ass on your own."
"My thoughts exactly," Shino added, corssing his arms.
Kiba stared at his two teammates with eyes full annoyance. "Sometimes I feel you guys don't give me enough credit. Listen, we already fought against Akatsuki a couple times, and those guys are some tough nuts to crack. If they're going all out, we better be careful."
There was a moment of silence following Kiba's statement. However, before any of them could continue their conversation, the cacophony of murmurs around them grew much louder all of sudden. Kakashi looked up, and saw the source of the commotion.
"Oh look. There he is," the masked Jonin said in a bored tone.
Because on the highest balcony of the Alliance HQ, Jiraiya, the other four Kages, and Mizune were standing right now. Jiraiya took a step forward.
"EVERYBODY, BE QUIET!" the Raikage roared, and the chatter stated to die down almost instantly. "The Supreme Commander is going to speak!"
"Thank you, Raikage," Jiraiya told the temperamental man, before turning at the massive crowd below. "Greetings everybody. People of Konoha, Kumo, Suna, Kiri, Iwa, Ame and Taki, as well as the Samurai from the Land of Iron. You know, if somebody told me a mere year ago that all Great Villages and some of the minor ones would put their differences aside and join their forces to fight a common foe, I would have laughed at them in their face. But alas, there is an enemy powerful enough to merit such alliance. Said enemy is Akatsuki.
"As somebody who has been researching and fighting Akatsuki for years, I couldn't even imagine the true extent of their resources, and the way they infiltrated our nations, and how far are they willing to go to make sure their goals are fulfilled. They're an enemy unlike any other, and thus they must be fought in a way not seen before. Together. As one.
"In the past, we've been enemies. All of us have fought pretty much each other in every past war, even if many of us weren't even born when some of those wars begun. But now, seeing all of you gathered here before my eyes... I like to think of this not of just a crisis to avert, but an opportunity to take. Akatsuki believes the world is hopeless as it is, that it will be doomed to a state of constant warfare between ninja villages. That only they have the means to achieve peace, but their peace will come at the cost of thousands of lives, not to mention our freedom.
"However, we shall prove Akatsuki wrong! From this point onwards, we aren't ninjas fighting on behalf of our villages or our nations, but our own future! From this point onwards, we become comrades, brethren, fighting for what we know is right! Because once this war is won, we won't return to the status quo, we will create a better world and a better tomorrow for all of us to live!"
Jiraiya's speech was met with a roaring ovation. The white haired Sannin smirked. He always took pride in his ability to write inspiring speeches.
"You guys must feel antsy. I'm a veteran of two wars, so I can tell that the wait before the first battle is even worse than the battle itself. But fret no more! Multiple armies of White Zetsu Clones, Moon Puppets and Impure World Resurrection zombies are coming from the west towards the Lands of Fire and Lightning as we speak. Now, we shall go to the front, and protect our lands from these invaders!"
Once again, the crowd erupted into cheers and shouts declaring their imminent victory. Yes, their morale was now at their peak. Nodding and satisfied at a job well done, Jiraiya turned towards the other Kages and Mifune.
"Alright, time to move out. You know your orders, so you know what to do," the Toad Sage said. "Now go, and return victorious. And try to come back alive as well."
"You won't have to worry about us, Hokage-sama. I mean, Supreme Commander," Mei corrected herself.
"I still have a settle to score with those bastards for nearly killing my children," Rasa seethed, clenching his hand into a fist.
"I'll make sure that they get their just retribution for Yugito and Killer B as well!" the Raikage added.
"I may be the youngest Kage, but I'll show you guys that I'm your equal once you see my results!" Kurotsuchi proudly declared.
"You can leave it to us, Supreme Commander," Mifune replied.
...
A few minutes later, the five Division Commanders joined their divisions, and all of them headed towards five different directions. Jiraiya, still in the balcony, watched them go. His head was now filled with one thought, the same thought he had just before he took part in the Second and Third Ninja Wars, as well as their participation in the Kirigakure Civil War.
How many of them would return home alive.
Author's Note: And thus begins Son of the Sannin's version of the Fourth Ninja War. I'm very much aware that this is easily one of the least liked arcs of the entire series, so I know I have the work cut out for me. Still, I'm going to work hard to make sure the chapters to come are as enjoyable as possible.
Many characters made their return. Some like Karui or the Sand Siblings weren't away that long, but how many of you did expect to see Hotaru again?
And I know that the middle of a war might not be the best moment, but I will try to develop some of the couples that need more screentime, like Choji/Karui or Itachi/Natsu. There's little wonder as why I put them together. I would have liked to have more couples together in the same division (like Gaara/Matsuri) but alas, it couldn't be.
Thanks a lot to Ookami88 for betareading this chapter.
The war will begin next chapter. Which Division will get to fight? And what zombies will Orochimaru choose for the opening battle? In the meantime, leave a review! Reviews make me really, really, really happy!