Previous Translations: Yorokobi - Pleasure/Delight/Joy
Yokubo - Desire/Lust
Kajo - Excess
Shifuku no Kurushimi - Blissful Throes/Blissful Suffering
Tatakainouta - Song of Battle
Zeitakuna Kutsu - Luxurious Torment
Hentai-ryu: Erokenho - Pervert Style: Erotic Fist Art
Konton - Chaos
Kanzen - Perfect
Henka - Change
Harakainokeru - Dispel
Aka-en - Red Flame
Aoi-en - Blue Flame
Kiiro-en - Yellow Flame
Orenji-en - Orange Flame
Tankoshoku-en - Pink Flame
Maho - Magic
Chishiki - Knowledge
Unmei - Fate
Nozomu - Hope
Hoho no Chenja - honestly this one is a mess, but roughly means Changer of Ways
Ryuketsu - Bloodshed
Chikara - Strength
Meiyo - Honor
Budo - Martial Arts
Ikari - Rage
Jumon - Incantation
Himitsu no Sewanin - Secret Caretaker(Keeper of Secrets)
Sento - Combat
Same no On'na - Shark-Woman
Maebure - Harbinger
Shibari no Ashikase - Binding Fetters
Kanpeki - Perfection
Reikan - the closest English word would be Inspiration, but it specifically refers to 'a divine creative impulse'
Sekkyo-sha - Preacher
Aijin - Lover
Kaen Hosha-ki - Flame Radiator (Flamer of Tzeentch)
Himeiwoageru - Which Screams (Screamer of Tzeentch)
Shikkan - Disease
Ai - Love
Zetsubo - Despair
Mi Haito - Undivided/Not Divided
Shibo - Aspiring
Koki - Exalted
Chakra no Bato - Coruscating Chakra/Chakra of Coruscation
Gyokai - Industry
In case someone somehow doesn't know, Hi - Fire
Don'yoku - Greed/Avarice
Yokuatsu - Tyranny/Oppression
Yami no Chichi - Father of Darkness/Dark Father
Raimeiton - Thunder Release, what Naruto has decided to name his mix of wind and lightning chakra
Shuryoju - Hunting Beasts (same word for plural or singular), an alternate name for Fiends of Slaanesh, best word I could find for them
Konton no Omo - Lord of Chaos
Kemonojin - a very jank way of translating Beastmen into Japanese, basically would mean Animal-Human
Gyumao - Ox Demon King
Eiyu - Hero
Gyumahime - Ox Demon Princess
Kajomahime - Excessive Demon Princess
Renkinjutsu - Alchemy
Sakura couldn't help but feel it slightly unfair that she wasn't promoted, although she supposed others had their teammates promoted ahead of them she felt she'd earned and deserved it. She had horns and everything, she was pretty sure they were supposed to be indicative of authority among Daemons, and hers were pretty regal if she said so herself. Thinking that brought to mind Naruto's veritable crown of horns and soured her mood however.
The pink haired kunoichi was also annoyed and embarrassed to have fought completely naked and out of her mind, but she could only channel her anger into training, performing physical exercises until she felt it, her body heating up and getting feverish again. Sakura's eyes widened as she realized that berserker state would occur naturally as fights wore on, but she had to wonder where she got the stamina and chakra to push on in such a state.
Sakura tried taking Kakashi's advice, but meditating wasn't getting her anywhere so she was wandering around training fields, waiting to cool off so she could train more. By the time she was about to give up she found a small waterfall in a forested area, it seemed peaceful enough and there were no cicadas, mosquitos, and the nearby birds didn't make much noise so the pink haired girl figured she might as well take the opportunity to cool off.
"What are you doing?" Genkei asked dryly as he watched his master take her top off.
"I'm going to meditate under that waterfall, even if it fails at least I'll have cooled down some." Sakura answered plainly, leaving behind her weaponry, armor, and sandals as she stepped out across the surface of the pond. Genkei shrugged and sat down to wait, he thought the meditation was pointless personally but he let the ninja do their weird spiritual ninja training as long as it supplemented her physical abilities.
Naruto felt more antsy than usual, he was supposed to have some downtime before his next mission but even with the cannabis in his system and the combined music of two of his spoils of war he felt on edge. He realized he missed the Tatakainouta, the killing intent pervading a battlefield. He felt like even his teeth were on edge, like he was a coil wound too tight. The blonde wasn't sure what to make of it, but Hinata was clearly exhausted from the ordeal.
The four armed kunoichi would be off missions for a good bit longer than the healthy blonde hermaphrodite, given she was resting a broken limb even if she'd grown some to spare. Tenten had come around to return his Kiba while he was considering this, "Thanks, Tenten-chan, want to stay for some tea and smoke?" he offered with a smile, acting morose wasn't his style even if he didn't truly feel at ease.
Haku moved to go make the tea as Tenten shrugged and sat down, "I should be thanking you, those swords seriously saved my ass on the way back to Konoha." she said gratefully, gesturing towards the Kiba.
Naruto tapped ash out of his pipe and packed fresh stuff into it, "My magnificent self is just glad everyone got back alive." the blonde said sincerely, pleased with himself for the part he played in such a thing.
Tenten glanced at Hinata's arm, still bandaged up and in a sling, "Still, I wish I'd argued to stay behind and help." she lamented.
Hinata shook her head, "Don't feel guilty, there's no telling what might have gone wrong for your team without you there to help them." she pointed out as Tenten accepted the pipe and tried the soporific herb out for herself.
Tenten coughed on the smoke, not used to it, she had some difficulty seeing the appeal straight away, and she noticed Naruto didn't seem quite as relaxed as he should, "You good?" she asked the other recently promoted chunin.
The blonde nodded hesitantly, "Yeah, just kind of want to train." he confessed, "There are still enemies stronger and faster than my magnificent self, clearly this body still needs work to surpass them all." he said, the last part sounding oddly contrite.
Tenten blinked owlishly as Haku returned with some tea, "You matched one of the strongest of Kiri's legendary kensai, countered the most dangerous aspects of the Samehada, and proved kenjutsu mastery I've never even witnessed." she praised, prompting a blush from the blonde, "What are you going to accomplish that mastery for every ninpo?" she asked sarcastically.
Naruto frowned, "Why not?" he asked bluntly, "My chakra control still needs work, I didn't even really manage to fully block that Raiton no Jutsu with Futon chakra nagashi-"
"Oh that's how you did that." Tenten mused as she picked up one of the drinks, that had been bothering her a little.
"Yeah," Naruto confirmed with a nod, "anyway we'll be working on my chakra control more since my body is clearly in the physically threatening realms and the Tatakainouta lets me keep up with someone like bushy brows." he continued, "I don't think I've fully perfected kenjutsu either." he muttered thoughtfully.
Hinata was visibly surprised to hear that, "You what? Naruto-kun your kenjutsu was so good you convinced someone you were using ninjutsu." she pointed out before picking up a drink for herself.
"The man made it sound like Naruto-kun was striking three places simultaneously," Haku spoke up as he offered one of the remaining drinks to Naruto, "which shouldn't be physically possible without using chakra." he pointed out.
Naruto shrugged, "Well, we're always using some chakra for taijutsu anyway, right?" he asked as he took the offered tea.
"What? No." Tenten denied with a frown, "That's just something that happens when you open the Hachimon, and I guess Juken uses some, but actually doing that constantly would be a real chakra drain, almost like using shunshin constantly, so at most a short burst to save your life might be a good idea." she said as if reciting a passage from memory and adding her own notes.
"Oh," Naruto said, "well my magnificent self has chakra to spare so that's how that kenjutsu works y'know." he informed with a shrug.
Haku rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Hm, your Kekkei Genkai affinity does seem to enhance speed and it is made up of the two sharpest of the five basic affinities." he mused, wondering how the strange kenjutsu of the blonde worked as it was too fast for his eyes to follow. Maemi decided not to mention that mutation was actually a boon of Slaanesh, she got the feeling Naruto sort of understood that deep down.
Tenten and Hinata sipped their tea before the older kunoichi spoke up, "Have you tried a Hakai Reppusho yet?" the shurikenjutsu specialist wondered, knowing of how he decided to name any Futon no Jutsu he enhanced with his Raimeiton.
Naruto nodded, "I broke my hands." he announced, "They got better." he added at the horrified looks he received.
Hinata sighed, "Why are you such a threat to yourself?" she wondered with a shake of her head.
"At least he's more of a threat to the enemy." Haku consoled with a sigh of his own, Tenten nodded in agreement, "Still, I heard you dealt with a potential S rank threat quite well." the Hyoton bearer added.
Tenten was surprised to have that brought up, partially because she hadn't actually known what she was doing at the time, "I used Reppusho to throw a wadded up ball of kibaku fuda, he was the easiest target at that size." she confessed.
Naruto shrugged, "Sounds like it was just a bunshin, but good job anyway that Kisame guy still seemed really strong, we have no idea how close to the originals those are in strength, but apparently they lacked stamina or something?" he asked and Hinata nodded in confirmation.
Tenten hadn't considered that, she'd learned they were bunshin and assumed they were lacking in ability compared to the real thing, she didn't even actually know who she'd dealt with she just heard the jonin mentioned S rank.
"Kusagakure no Sato was destroyed."
Tsunade was not expecting that news, it had survived the last two wars but she supposed the new Shinobigashira must have opposed Iwa's Tsuchikage instead of siding against Konoha this time, she didn't like that it was technically a mistake. Jiraiya didn't look happy to be delivering the news, "There are still Kusa shinobi about, but they'll likely flee to find refuge in civilian life or seek out minor hidden villages if they don't attempt to join us or Iwa." Kakashi pointed out mechanically.
Neither Sannin expected that from the silver haired jonin, "You think some of them might join Iwa?" Tsunade asked, concerned since she'd assumed those who didn't go into hiding would attempt refuge with Konoha.
"They've sided together in the past, it's possible some might surrender themselves to Iwa to save their own hide, if Iwa is hiring." Kakashi pointed out with a shrug.
Jiraiya nodded with a frown, "Unfortunately he's right," he agreed, "the landscape between Tsuchi no Kuni and Hi no Kuni is changing." he continued, "Kusa's Daimyo is probably in danger if he doesn't strike a deal to become a land owner in exchange for swearing fealty."
Tsunade sighed, "This is a problem." she muttered.
Kakashi was silent for a moment, he still thought Naruto had some problems with authority that needed to be straightened out, but, "Send Naruto." he advised.
Jiraiya blinked owlishly, "Just Naruto? What?" he asked incredulously, Tsunade looked similarly baffled.
"Naruto isn't just himself, he has two contracts and can Kuchiyose an army in the blink of an eye." Kakashi pointed out, "His chakra seems to be nigh limitless, his chakra is powerful, and his senses are more advanced than anything I've ever encountered. He's more capable of stealth than we give him credit for." he explained as he praised his student, "Furthermore, the Akatsuki were there because of the Chunin Examinations right? Pretending to work with Iwa as if hired to have a shot at our Jinchuriki?" he asked.
Jiraiya frowned but nodded, "Yeah, that's most likely what happened. From what you said of their conversation they likely learned that Naruto would be there, and it sounds like they were interested in Gaara and someone else maybe too." he confirmed, "Which means Shukaku is likely a bit more of a big deal than we thought." he mused.
"I guessed that watching him fight, he and Naruto both get stronger and more dangerous the longer a fight goes on instead of getting tired, it's a terrifying advantage and I see why even mediocre Jinchuriki are considered a threat." Kakashi confessed, "Also, I'm guessing Fu probably holds the Biju that Shodai-sama gifted Takigakure long ago?" he asked.
Tsunade shrugged, "Good guess, I'd assume so as well but I won't go asking for confirmation." she answered, "That would be rude." she commented dryly.
"Right, this stuff is supposed to be a village secret, Shodai-sama didn't even gift Sunagakure a Biju though." Kakashi said, realizing the last part with some surprise.
Jiraiya nodded, "Yep, meaning they wrangled that one alone. No wonder they're one of the major shinobi villages despite their current falling on hard times economically." the Sennin commented with some amusement.
"Kakashi," Tsunade began seriously, getting his attention, "do you honestly think Naruto-kun is ready to fight on the level of a fully realized Jinchuriki?" she asked, "I was impressed with his performance but-"
"I would like to request that my cell be given the mission to reinforce the scattered Kusa forces, rescue them and recruit them to Konoha." Kakashi interrupted, startling both of them with his dry delivery, "Even with Iwa potentially having two Jinchuriki, if it's those three they can do it." he assured.
"Without you?" Jiraiya asked.
"I assume I'll be needed for other missions, and they'll be fine." Kakashi affirmed with a nod, "Sakura is a genius despite her temper, Sasuke is smart and careful, and Naruto is smarter than we give him credit for, those three could probably take Hoshigakure or Takigaure as a team if they ever turned against us." he continued.
"Good luck convincing Naruto-kun to attack his friends." Tsunade muttered dryly as she rolled her eyes, "However, you speak with a lot of confidence, but if they request more than just the three of themselves, even if it just seems like Naruto-kun is trying to bring along a girlfriend or that Haku-kun, I'm going to try to grant them the extra comrade." she informed firmly, Kakashi shrugged but nodded to show he was unconcerned by that.
Jiraiya frowned, "Hang on, shouldn't I be on this kind of mission? Akatsuki might still be in the area." he pointed out, Kakashi shrugged again as Tsunade nodded in agreement. The white haired old man sighed in relief, figuring he might as well train the blonde on the way.
"If Naruto-kun asks to bring either Hinata or Haku, it's probably a good idea." Kakashi added, "I was worried about her out there, but she managed to stay alive despite everything." he pointed out.
"If he requests Hinata-chan inform him that I'll be needing her for a mission with her own cell." Tsunade denied, checking one of the scrolls on her desk, "Haku-kun is free for this mission though if you want to take him." she added.
Despite having flak vests now, Naruto and Sasuke were still not as heavily armored as Sakura. Naruto came closer though, wearing his golden lion fur mantle over the flak vest and the golden fur skirt technically counting as armor as well. Jiraiya had heard all three of them had horns now but he hadn't expected them to look like a mismatched group of oni, Sasuke looked like a karasu tengu with horns, Naruto really did look like a Gyuma hengeyokai, and Sakura just looked like a brass skinned oni with a monstrous left arm.
That Sakura's horns seems almost as bovine as Naruto's was an interesting thing, Jiraiya wondered if cattle were associated with both opposing Kami but set the thought aside for now. He also noted their weaponry, Sakura apparently let Genkei use her old axe and shield while she used a much larger axe, Naruto still had six swords although he carried the nodachi and let the other five be strapped to himself, and Sasuke carried a naginata now, "Alright you three, I'm in charge of your next S rank assignment." he announced boldly.
Sasuke looked intrigued while Sakura looked worried, Naruto just looked excited, "Assassinate the Tsuchikage?" he asked excitedly.
"No." Jiraiya denied bluntly, "We're reinforcing, rescuing, and potentially recruiting Kusagakure refugees." he explained, "Their village was destroyed." he added, to his surprise Naruto looked upset to hear that, he supposed the blonde must have made friends at the chunin examinations.
"I know you're a Sennin, but an S rank assignment for us three?" Sasuke asked curiously.
"Don't go fishing for praise brat, I'm not your sensei." Jiraiya retorted with a shrug, "He's the one who suggested this mission." he decided to add, "Now, I've been given leave to take someone besides you brats if you think you can't handle it?" he asked with a smirk.
Naruto grinned, "Hinata-chan!" he insisted happily.
"She's busy with another mission." Jiraiya refused and the blonde deflated.
"Neji has the same dojutsu, but I doubt we need the extra help." Sasuke pointed out with a shrug.
Sakura frowned as Naruto perked back up, "What about Haku-chan?" he asked, "We should bring Haku-chan." he decided with a nod, Jiraiya noticed the Haruno think about it and nod in agreement while Sasuke was shaking his head at the blonde.
"Yukimaru-san is free, so sure." Jiraiya agreed, figuring two to one was good enough reason to bring the oinin.
"So, I heard three of you know the Rasengan already?" Jiraiya asked dryly, a little annoyed that the blonde among them had decided to teach it so readily.
"I still can't form it one handed, but I've got it figured out." Sasuke answered confidently, a little annoyed that Naruto was better than him with it since he generally had the better base chakra control.
Haku shrugged, "Naruto-kun offered it, he said it would be good for my style and I would agree, although I find it a little scary to use on a person." he confessed, having taken to wearing the tachi Naruto gifted him on his left hip, he'd been hesitant but the blonde had insisted an expensive sword like that needed to be worn by someone as beautiful as Haku, which had earned blushing from the boy and jealous looks from the harem at the time.
"Softy." Naruto teased with a wide grin, amused by Haku's unwillingness to kill. Maemi was worried it would bite them in the ass someday, but she let Naruto enjoy what he enjoyed.
Sakura didn't look interested in the conversation, "So why'd you teach one teammate and not the other?" Jiraiya asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Traded it for Chidori." Naruto answered with a smug smirk, "Still haven't gotten the Chidori down yet but my magnificent self will perfect it beyond both Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei!" the blonde decided with a cocky laugh.
"I thought you said you performed it already?" Sasuke asked.
"It still tears up flesh and it's a lot louder than yours or Kakashi's." Naruto answered.
"Mine still tears up the flesh of my arm." Sasuke pointed out as he lifted his bandaged left arm for emphasis.
"Work on your chakra control then." Jiraiya advised dryly, he knew Sasuke's was better than Naruto's at base, but at the rate they were going Naruto might actually get better control than Sasuke. The Sennin's words were enough to make the Uchiha realize this and he did not like it.
The journey through Hi no Kuni was uneventful, it was at the border that things became a problem. Iwa shinobi were on the move, Naruto spotted them first and moved to engage without thinking, "Enemy ahead." was his only signal as he unsheathed his nodachi and left his scabbard to be carried by Maemi. Jiraiya cursed verbally and moved to back the hot headed young chunin up, but found the blonde had already taken one by surprise and clashed with another by the time he arrived.
The Iwa shinobi taken by surprise fell to the ground a moment after his head did as Naruto twisted his blade and swung down, disarming his opponent at the wrists and leaving two deep gashes in the shoulders of the older ninja. Jiraiya understood what Kakashi had meant about Naruto's speed with kenjutsu after seeing that. The blonde turned and activated his Kujaku Myoho, blocking a hail of shuriken with the feather-like pink chakra.
Senbon struck the remaining two down as Sakura and Sasuke caught up to Jiraiya, "Good work." the Sennin praised, although the speed of Naruto and Haku surprised him, "Now Kuchiyose something to get those two survivors to Konoha and store the corpses in scrolls with Fuinjutsu." he instructed, figuring they might as well learn how to do that.
Naruto shrugged and pulled up his hunting horn as Maemi approached him, blowing into it and prompting some Beastmen to emerge from the underground sniffing the air like hunting animals. The Muse explained the situation to them for Naruto as the white haired Sannin stared at the hunting horn in bewilderment.
"Is that horn your second contract?" Jiraiya asked and the blonde nodded, "Which hands have you signed contracts with?" he asked and the blonde held up only his right. The Sennin was silent for a moment, "You want to sign the toad contract with your left hand and learn more ninjutsu from the greatest Senjutsu masters in the world?" he offered.
"When you put it like that, yes." Naruto agreed as Haku tied up the two Iwa shinobi he'd disabled with senbon. Jiraiya used kuchiyose himself to call the toad with the contract, the massive amphibian unfurling the scroll to reveal the names.
"Yondaime-sama had terrible handwriting." Sakura commented, recognizing the name and who was the last student of Jiraiya easily enough from her academic knowledge.
"Can I sign it?" Sasuke asked hopefully as Naruto cut open his left thumb on his nodachi and started to write out his name.
"Kuchiyose contracts are an apprenticeship level thing kid," Jiraiya denied with a shake of his head, "Tsunade-hime, Kakashi-san, and Anko-chan might be able to help you though." he pointed out, trying to remember others, "We also might have lost the monkey contract unless one of the other Sarutobi's already signed it." he mused sadly.
Sasuke was annoyed to be missing out but didn't let it show, mentally cataloguing his other options for further versatility. He decided a decision like that warranted far more research, Sakura just looked bored. The Uchiha was surprised she was so disinterested, but he supposed she'd only recently gotten enough stamina to make use of the Daemons she could kuchiyose as it was.
Jiraiya decided to test Kakashi's hypothesis, and insisted the squad move silently through Kusa territory while maintaining some speed and keeping an eye out for potential allies. To his surprise Naruto actually was very stealthy, Haku had completely disappeared from even Jiraiya's detection abilities. The Sennin hadn't expected either of those, Sasuke was good for his age and Sakura was surprisingly good given the amount of armor she was wearing too.
Genkei however brought everything down, he was small enough to hide well enough if needed, but he wasn't very good at it. Nor was he particularly stealthy even when slow. So Naruto made a suggestion, "Why doesn't Sakura-chan just charge in as a distraction with Genkei and we all counter charge anything that goes at her?" he suggested.
Jiraiya shrugged to show it could work and Sakura used Kuchiyose no Jutsu, calling one of the bio-mechanical Daemon rhino's with an axe head for a horn and two Flesh Hounds. The kunoichi mounted up with her Imp and rode ahead at a good pace, faster than Genkei could go but easy enough for everyone to keep up with, especially since Maemi was just riding on Naruto's back and carrying his backpack of scrolls.
Soon enough the reptilian hounds smelled bloodshed and homed in on it, leading the Konoha cell towards a skirmish between Kusa remnants and Iwa scouts. Sakura took point and managed to get in before Naruto, swinging her smaller axe she took from Genkei into the guard of a dodging Iwa ninja as they scattered before her mount, one forced to die on the axe-like horn by a Kusa shinobi halting his evasion with a swift snap kick.
Naruto touched down lightly a moment later and smacked an Iwa kunoichi in the neck with the scabbard of his sheathed nodachi, following up by twisting the scabbard around to strike her neck in the opposite side and swept her aside before swiftly unsheathing his blade to meet and knock aside the slash of another Iwa shinobi. The blonde brought his heavier and longer sword back across the neck of his attacker before the man could raise his guard.
The final Iwa shinobi retreated, leaving the kunoichi Naruto knocked out behind. Sakura was sorely tempted to have her mount trample the woman and she got the impression her mount would enjoy doing so, but Jiraiya and Sasuke arrived a moment later, then Haku touched down with the unconscious form of the one who tried to get away draped over his left shoulder like a sack of rice. Naruto reached for his hunting horn again, "Are you trying to alert the entire area we're here?" Jiraiya scolded, "Use your new toads, get used to them, or rely on a Daemon you think can handle it." he lectured.
"Should have taken me as the apprentice, I'm the smarter one." Sasuke bragged competitively.
"My magnificent self has a harem, you have a yandere." Naruto shot back with a brag that had nothing to do with their capabilities as shinobi, the Uchiha and Sennin both thought that was a low blow. Sakura first fumed at the idea of some psychotic girl stalking her Sasuke, immediately decided she'd kill the girl, then slowly realized Naruto meant her in the first place.
She considered punching him for the insult but was secretly too pleased that no one denied she was Sasuke's, not even Sasuke that time!
"Naruto-kun, that was cruel." Haku pointed out.
The blonde grinned cheerfully and knowingly, and slightly smug, indicating he knew exactly what he was doing by now.
"Hey, thanks for the assist." One of the Kusa shinobi spoke up, Jiraiya thought the man seemed vaguely familiar, and assumed he must have thumbed past it in a bingo book at some point. Sasuke and Sakura recognized the man as the proctor of the first phase in the exams, and they were pretty sure the genin with him had been eliminated in the first phase, "I was trying to get these kids to your borders actually." he informed.
"The way we came should be clear." Naruto said confidently, he certainly hadn't heard anyone but wildlife back that way, "Part of our mission is to recruit any Kusa shinobi we rescue." he added.
Arahashi nodded, "Yeah that figures, but we're not down for the count yet, I'll be back once I've gotten these brats out of the war zone." he declared proudly, "You Konoha folks should head to Mokuno-gai." he added with a wave as he and the genin left.
Naruto waved cheerfully as Jiraiya considered the advice, to his knowledge the blonde had left behind a rather large force of Daemons and those bestial humanoids so it wasn't impossible that Kusa's remaining forces had moved to occupy the fort Kakashi, Sasuke, and Gaara had constructed. The magma might have even cleared if that Yoton using ninja had been pulled back. It sounded like the real threat was the one with Futton, but apparently Sakura could match him, although she lacked memory of having done so.
"So, back to the fort then?" Sasuke asked, lowering his naginata blade to hover near his left hand, at Jiraiya's nod he cut himself and performed kuchiyose, calling a single disc for himself to ride above and ahead of the group. Naruto similarly mounted up on a Serpent and rushed to attempt to overtake his teammate. Sakura rolled her eyes at the competitive duo and urged her own Daemons to follow as Jiraiya moved to try keeping up with the two young chunin mounted atop very different Daemons.
Jiraiya was not able to keep up entirely, he was able to outpace Sakura's mount easily enough at least, but Naruto's serpentine mount pulled ahead despite Sasuke's head start and arrived at the fort before any of them. The terrain had settled since the team had last been there, the lava cooled back to rock but where the ground had been charred by the intense heat of the battle was obvious. It was like the fort itself was scarred.
Naruto seemed to find it completely normal that Daemons still manned the fortress, Jiraiya was baffled at how long the Daemons could maintain themselves, and it seemed they had indeed allied with the Kusa remnants, many of the genin who survived the attack during the chunin exams were present, as were some chunin and probably some jonin from the Sannin's guesses.
The arrival of the Konoha ninja, particularly the way Naruto and Sasuke raced to the fort, caused quite the stir, but seeing the Daemons deferring to Naruto and the blonde looking pleased assuaged many of the Kusa shinobi concerns, "Hey, Shinobigashira-chan!" the blonde greeted casually, surprising the Kusa ninja with his gall, "Sorry my magnificent self wasn't personally holding this place, but it seems Slaanesh-kaasama's handmaidens did fine with Kemonojin assistance." he said proudly.
Aiko raised an eyebrow at how familiar the young ninso was acting already, "The 'exalted handmaiden' you left in charge has been a powerful ally and worthwhile advisor." she confessed gratefully with a nod. The Daemonette in question smirked and waved proudly to Naruto, practically preening already.
Jiraiya wasn't sure what to say to that, "You managed to hold off the Tsuchikage?" he asked.
Aiko shook her head, "Fuck no," she said crassly as she turned on her heel and gestured to be followed to a tent, "we escaped him, but his Bakuha Butai lead by the old bastard himself demolished our 'hidden' village." she spat, "Figures he knew where it was." she grumbled, "Our Daimyo has been taken into hiding and the villagers who once occupied this town are working on constructing a new hidden village." she explained, "We've held this position barely, but it's only a matter of time before the Tsuchikage himself comes to deal with us." she informed.
"Have you encountered Yoton or Futton users yet?" Sasuke asked, and when Aiko shook her head he cocked his to the left, "Curious, they must have been pulled back for something." he muttered, "Those two were strong, but I know I can deal with the Yoton user." he informed those who hadn't been there, namely Jiraiya and Aiko as they followed her into a tent that had a map of the area on a small table, some chairs were present but not enough.
"Thanks to those, uh, Kemonojin?" Aiko asked and at the nods she received continued, "They've been instrumental in holding the town from the adjacent forest, effectively forcing the enemy to attack from other avenues." she informed quickly, gesturing to the units positioned in the forest, "I don't know how many of them you summoned, but there are more of them than there are those handmaidens of yours left." she said, taking note of how surprised everyone was to hear that.
"They must have erected a herdstone." Genkei muttered darkly, practically grumbling.
"Whatever the case, I've got fourty-two of your handmaidens left, not including Yoro-chan there," Aiko continued with a gesture to the horned Daemonette, "and barely a hundred of my own shinobi left, including those injured or out on missions." she informed with a scowl.
Jiraiya frowned, he was sympathetic but, "Our mission was actually to recruit you all if we can, and it sounds like you barely have enough shinobi to rebuild a hidden village anyway." he spoke up brazenly, surprising the shinobigashira.
"Have a heart, ero-sennin," Naruto scolded lazily, too casually for the situation, "having a strong ally powerful enough to help protect our borders from Iwa so we can deal with Orochimaru is the best bet y'know." he said as if it was obvious. Maemi couldn't resist a smirk, proud that her tutoring really was paying off.
Jiraiya was surprised at the logic, mostly because it was so sound, but it wasn't their orders so he had a slight problem, "I'd appreciate you not poaching what's left of my forces, ally." Aiko said dryly, spitting the word ally sarcastically at Jiraiya.
The Sennin sighed, "Our information on your forces was incomplete, we'll save recruiting for any refugees." he agreed, not wanting to make enemies of the Kusa remnants and push them right into Iwa's hands. He'd have to send an encoded message back to Tsunade to explain the situation, but he'd worry about that after the war meeting.
Aiko nodded at the concession to show she accepted it, "Iwagakure's forces mostly come from the north, so that forest is actually our best defense, we've gone in to back up the Kemonojin a few times against Bakuha Butai and Doton no Jutsu specialists, but otherwise it seems like as long as that forest stands we can hold this town." she informed, "However, those afformentioned attacks have been shaving it down, and they coordinate these attacks with probing assaults at this fort." she explained quickly, "Plus, if the Tsuchikage actually shows up, this encampment is done for, along with that forest if he decides to sacrifice the lumber." she explained.
Jiraiya nodded, "I'm guessing a need for lumber is the sole reason he hasn't gone all out against the forest to get rid of the Kemonojin yet." he assumed as he considered the map and what he could remember of surrounding geography further than the map showed.
"Isn't there a bridge north of here?" Sakura asked plainly, "That's probably where they funnel in from." she pointed out.
Aiko nodded, "Yeah, but at this point they've likely got it completely under control, we'd be lucky if any surviving Kusa shinobi are still holding out near Tenchi-kyo in hiding." she answered morosely, "It'd be a good target if we could hit it." she muttered.
Jiraiya could tell it was about to happen the moment she said it, "We can do it." Naruto said confidently, "Just give us time to craft some extra kibaku fuda, my magnificent self has the supplies in a scroll." he bragged proudly. Jiraiya wondered what kind of lunatic carried everything they owned with them in scrolls, it seemed a bit excessive but he didn't interfere as Maemi made to pull the appropriate scroll from Naruto's bag.
"No need, I have enough explosives to deal with it as we are." Sasuke interrupted with a dismissive gesture, which Jiraiya found even more concerning.
"So, we're taking an Iwa held location, blowing up a bridge, and crippling Iwa's entire advance." Sakura asked, sounding a bit more eager than she probably should.
Aiko frowned, "This is easily an A rank assignment, we currently don't have the funds to outsource such a mission." she muttered, ready to turn the Konoha ninja away and come up with something else.
Jiraiya understood the problem immediately, technically speaking their mission, S rank as it was, hadn't been a complete success, "So?" Naruto asked curiously, "We're supposed to be allies, let us assist and put a stop to Iwa's advance so you can help us in turn." he negotiated plainly.
Aiko was surprised the young blonde was the one offering and glanced to Jiraiya, the actual leader of the Konoha cell, "Is that okay?" she asked.
Jiraiya sighed, "I guess it should be fine, I'll stay here and write down a report in cypher for Hokage-sama and send it off." he decided, "I'll catch up with you four." he dismissed them with a wave.