Chapter 44
War at Home: The Destruction of Konoha Begins!
"Sorry we're late, but you wouldn't believe the traffic."
Kakashi's cool voice unknotted the stresses and concerns tying Amari's intestines in a bow better than any Medical Ninjutsu could.
Finally. Amari exhaled a soft, relieved breath that had been detained by the stress police since she first entered the stadium. Finally she could breathe that desperately needed sigh of relief and be rid of the constricting concerns that left her thoughts darting around in apprehensive uncertainty.
Gaara hadn't hurt or killed her mentor and clan-brother before the Exams began. They finally arrived. Safe, uninjured and with an excuse about being late to boot.
She exhaled another soft puff of air through her nose, the relief washing over her sore and fatigued body like a cool wave of Mimi's Water Style jutsu.
The corner of her lips lifted into a smirk. "Late as always, Kakashi-sensei. I sincerely hope you're not rubbing it off on Sasuke," Amari teased the pair.
"We made it back exactly when I meant to," Kakashi played it off cooly.
Sasuke snorted, eyes shutting briefly as he shook his head. "Don't count on this becoming normal from me."
Her fellow Uchiha wore a new outfit; in style it remained relatively the same, appearing as the same high collared shirt and shorts, but his new outfit was one-pieced and colored black. His left arm was covered in white bandages, as were his legs; small belts adorned his arm for one reason or another. Otherwise he appeared the same, the only slight difference being a bit more length to the front strands of his hair.
"I suppose I owe you and the Crows another one," Sasuke continued, glancing to her and Atsuko. "Without them coming to find us we would have missed your whole match."
Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck and laughed sheepishly. "I should probably apologize. I didn't mean to worry you so much. I honestly lost track of time."
"I wasn't too worried. I knew you'd probably pull something like this off," Amari deflected.
Her sensei paused in rubbing his neck to feign an offended expression. "Are you saying I'm predictable, Amari?"
She smiled. "Only when it comes to showing up on time. Otherwise you keep me on my toes."
Kakashi lowered his hand and eye smiled at her. "Well, I'm sorry I missed the first half of your match, and for missing yours completely Naruto. Still," he looked up to the crowd, who had stood up and cheered for their arrival, "despite missing half of it, I am still very proud of your performance, Amari. And though you are not my student, Mimi, I am proud of yours as well.
"All of these people—shinobi, civilians and Lords alike—stood on their feet to give you both a well-deserved standing ovation. You proved to them why your generation looks to the two of you for inspiration by battling on a level no one here expected to witness with your Will of Fires displayed for everyone to see."
Both kunoichi blushed at the praise of one of the Leaf's elite shinobi. Amari clutched her mesh arm and beamed at her toes, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride from her sensei's words. Mimi flicked her sapphire eyes away and rubbed the back of her head in a rare moment of shyness.
Kakashi looked back at the blushing duo and chuckled. "Don't be so bashful. Be proud of what you two accomplished together. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing you two light the way for your generation."
"Hey!" Naruto whined, a pout on his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Why do they get all the praise? I won my match too, you know."
The sudden interruption was all Mimi and Amari needed to recompose themselves.
"Sorry, Naruto. I'm sure your match was great too."
"It was!" Naruto exclaimed, throwing punches at the air in an enthusiastic reenactment of his fight. "You should have heard how loud the crowd reacted to my victory when I took down Neji! They were on their feet praising the future Hokage!"
Sasuke cocked a skeptical eyebrow up. Kakashi looked from Naruto to Amari and Mimi, silently asking for more information to gauge the honesty of his knuckleheaded student's proud declaration.
"Goofball isn't kidding," Mimi backed him up first. "He really took it to Neji. Backed his fist up with our wills," she motioned to herself and Amari, "and Hinata's and Lee's to knock Neji's destiny crap right out of him. Gave him a great speech defending all of us too."
"No Hokage fights alone, right, Naruto?" Amari repeated, smiling fondly at her teammate. "Even in one-on-one combat, a Hokage carries the wills of their comrades and precious people with them, because that's where we get our strength from."
Naruto grinned through a light blush. "Hehe! That's right!"
Kakashi took in the information with a small nod. He eye smiled at Naruto. "Well, what can I say? I'm impressed, Naruto. It sounds like you've really matured over this last month. Be proud over your victory here and use it as the next step towards your dream."
Naruto beamed at the praise. "I will, Kakashi-sensei!"
Amari reached up and gently ran her fingers into her wet ponytailed hair. Knots caught on her fingers, tugging a frown onto her lips. Knots were such a pain. She noticed Sasuke smirking at her misfortune and puckered her lips in an even more dissatisfied frown sent his way.
"Laugh it up, troublesome boy," she muttered.
He snorted and didn't remove that stupid smirk from his face. "We'll have to fight for real sometime, Amari," Sasuke said. "I was hoping to face you in the final rounds, but I guess I'll have my hands full with Mimi and Aoko this time. Maybe our next training session we can spar."
Amari opened her mouth to accept, but Naruto's loud voice struck faster. "Hey! I'm the one that's going to face Mimi in the final rounds!" he declared confidently. "You're not going to get through me, Sasuke. I'm going all the way to the end, and then I'm going to beat Mimi too! And then after that, I get first dibs on sparring with Amari."
"Don't I get a say in who I fight first?" she mumbled quietly.
"Ha! Don't get too cocky, Naruto. You may have beaten Neji, but you haven't beaten me."
The answer to her question seemed to be no. Amari sighed, resigned to her fate to deal with her two boy teammates egos at a later date when she had the energy and mental capacity to handle it. She really wanted a nap. Also a shower and an ice cream cookie—maybe two. Oh, maybe there were vendors here! Maybe they had cookies, or snow cones!
Snow cones… Amari felt her tummy rumble in delight at the thought of the ice cold treat.
"You guys are such a drag with all this energy," Shikamaru drawled to the debating boys. Boys she had tuned out as she dreamed of sweets and the most delightfully earned brain freezes. "I still can't figure out how you stand it 'Risu. 'Risu? Hey, you okay?"
Amari snapped out of her daydream of ice cream heaven, where all of her favorite flavors of ice cream were an infinite source of sweetness, and crushed chocolate chip cookies sat on mounds of vanilla ice cream; every bite magically full of healthy nutrients without compromise of flavor.
"Huh?" was her intelligent response.
It was a jolting wake up back to reality where no ice cream cookies were in sight.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at her, concern beneath the nonchalant action. "You okay?"
"I…" Her cheeks flushed and her eye fell to her toes. "I really want a snow cone," she mumbled in embarrassment.
Everyone, even Atsuko, took joy out of her response. Mimi at least had the courtesy to hide her snickers behind her gloved hand; everyone else openly laughed, chuckled or smirked at her expense.
Finally, Kakashi turned to Genma to get back on subject. "Sorry if we kept you waiting. Um…how late are we? I mean, it's not like Sasuke is…disqualified…right?"
Genma lowered his head and closed his eyes, a sly smile playing at his lips. "Like master like pupil, all the way down to your lousy sense of time."
"Well, what about it?"
"You were so late that we extended the deadline for you. It's lucky for you Amari and Mimi had such a long, back and forth fight because you just made it. No, he's not disqualified."
Kakashi let out a relieved laugh. "Oh. That's a relief, heh. You had me worried there for a minute." He looked down to Sasuke. "I told you we'd be okay."
With his eye back on the Genin, Kakashi finally saw all of their attention drawn to Gaara, whose intense gaze refused to leave the two Uchiha. Each Leaf Genin—including lazy Shikamaru—and Atsuko wore serious expressions, meeting his gaze head on without flinching.
The battle between Amari and Mimi had been without a doubt intense; the pair gave it their all to win, in the process finally defining the connection that continued to pull them towards one another. Amari had been thrilled by the fight, heartbroken by the painful memories her friend endured, joyous to finally define their connection.
When she stared at Gaara, however, she was reminded of their mysterious connection, of the warnings she received from Atsuko and Kakashi, of their encounter in the hospital. She hoped to never define their connection, to never face him in combat or for her worst fears to ever come true…but somewhere in her heart, where this unseen thread attached itself to her, she knew it was unavoidable.
This bloodthirsty boy, this child who had been shunned in a way all too similar to Naruto, this boy who killed the girl who considered him precious was somehow, someway, inextricably bound to her, as she was to him.
Inevitability was going to come calling, and then their wills would have no choice but to battle for supremacy. This feeling didn't come from her gut or her brain. She felt it in every bone, every muscle, in every expansion of her lungs and every beat of her heart. How could her fate be so entwined with his? What had bound them down this path towards inevitability?
Amari couldn't figure it out, nor did she want to. She wanted this tight feeling in her chest to go away, for this cold gaze of his to no longer linger on her. She just wanted him to leave her home and her precious people alone.
But you won't, will you? You're going to make this personal between us, more personal than you already did when you tried to kill Lee.
Another feeling she knew to be true in her being.
"Hey, Sasuke," Naruto spoke up in a low, serious voice. "Don't let your guard down around that guy. He tried to make a move on Bushy Brows a few days ago, and he's dead set on trying to kill you and Amari too."
"He tried to kill Lee again?" Sasuke questioned. All his peers nodded. Amari noticed his jaw tighten. "Don't worry about me. I'll take care of him."
"I can sense you've gotten stronger, and I'm not doubting Kakashi-sensei's training, but don't take that bastard lightly," Mimi stated firmly. "What Lee did to him, he should be permanently hospitalized or dead, but that freak of nature survived the Eight Inner Gates and walked off cleanly." She flicked her sapphire eyes to him. "I'd consider it a personal favor if you make him regret hurting Lee."
Sasuke didn't hesitate to nod. "Count on it."
"Be careful, Sasuke, and good luck. I'll be cheering you on," Amari said.
"As will I," Atsuko joined. "I'm intrigued to see the reactions of your peers when they learn what the famed Kakashi Hatake has taught you this month."
Sasuke nodded to the pair. "Thanks. And thank you for defending Amari in the Forest of Death from that other freak of nature."
"You are most welcome."
"All right, enough chit chat," Genma cut in. "We can't keep holding up the Exams. Sasuke, your match is next so you can stay. The rest of you head back up to the waiting area." Genma turned his head to look at Gaara. "Gaara! Head on down so we can start your match!"
The boy didn't say anything. He silently left his spot in the waiting area, disappearing into the shadows of the hall to head down the stairs.
"Come on Naruto, they don't need us here anymore," Shikamaru said, turning to leave. "And this time I'm taking the stairs."
Naruto frowned and chased after him. "Are you still mad about that?"
"Lazy bones. You could just jump up there," Amari muttered. Mimi and Amari followed after them, Aoko resting within Mimi's wet and burned hoodie and Atsuko riding on Amari's shoulder. When they neared the wall they both jumped up while the boys took the long way.
Mimi immediately set about healing her ankle again when they reached the waiting area, sitting down on the concrete floor to keep all pressure off it. Shino, who remained steadfast in his original spot, turned his head to look at the pair of kunoichi. "Congratulations on your victory, Mimi. I hope you will extend me the same courtesy as you did Amari and fight me at one hundred percent, should you and I meet in battle that is."
The Inuzuka grinned up at the boy. "You got it, Shino."
"I appreciate it. And Amari, one day I too would like to face you in combat. You have proven once more why you were the number one rookie of our year."
"Whenever we do fight, I'll give you my best, Shino."
"Of course you will. Why? Because: You never give less than one hundred percent."
"No, she does not," Atsuko agreed, a pleasant tone to her voice. "But that's what makes her special."
Amari blushed. "Atsuko!" she whined, failing to notice how rigid Mimi went from a sound she couldn't hear.
Gaara appeared from the entrance below and stalked towards the center of the arena. Mimi disengaged her Medical Ninjutsu, stood up and grabbed Amari by the bicep. The tight grip betrayed what she originally thought was her friend bracing herself.
"Hey Shino, keep an eye on the match for us," Mimi suddenly spoke up.
The Aburame merely watched them silently. The Inuzuka's features appeared casual, the upwards turn of her lips carrying the usual levity Mimi was known for. Amari and Shino saw right through the mask.
"I just remembered I was going to help Amari take her hair down and fix it up." Her gloved hand glided down her arm to snatch her wrist in a vice grip and began tugging her towards the exit. "Come on, Amari. Let's go have some girl time."
Shino gave a small silent nod and turned to watch the match as the Nara was "pulled" away. "Girl time? Mimiiii, I hate that stuff," she whined childishly to play her part.
This is strange. What the hell has gotten into her? Atsuko kept her balance on the Uchiha's shoulder, watching humorously at the look of horror Amari had put on. Yet there was a level of alertness in her black eyes that proved she too recognized the ruse played to keep the Sand shinobi unaware.
"It's not so bad once in a while. Stop fighting and come on." They made their way into the hall, down the first flight of stairs out of earshot of the waiting area. Mimi's mask fell to reveal a grave expression, her hand releasing the Nara's wrist as she hastened her steps down the next flight of stairs. "Follow me. I heard screams."
Without argument Amari nodded and followed Mimi at a run down the stairs. "Could you tell if it was Shikamaru and Naruto?" she asked as they moved.
Mimi shook her head. "The octaves weren't within their range, and Aoko can smell them in the same condition we left them in." She glanced over to Amari. "But she also smells blood…lots of blood belonging to two others."
Amari's eye widened. "You mean…"
"Yeah." She nodded, features still made of stone. "Gaara just murdered two people."
"Hmm. This bodes ill," Atsuko murmured. "While he may be a testament to the Sand's strength, this unstable child cannot continue to murder anyone he desires within our walls. The Kazekage has much to answer for. Gaara is his child, yes, but he is a legitimate threat to every single individual he encounters regardless of origin."
"Continue to murder?" Mimi inquired.
"I'll…I'll tell you later. Let's just get to Naruto and Shika first. I need to see they're unharmed."
"All the same, I will kill you. Just you wait. I'll kill you all."
The promise he made, the feeling that he would make this more personal…Had he already struck? Even with Aoko's reassurance she feared the worst. Her feet quickened under her unconsciously.
"You think Shino got the message?" Mimi asked.
"Definitely. Shino's smart, and he knows neither of us are into 'girl time' as you called it. We're fighters at our core," Amari said. "And because of how quiet he can be, I wouldn't doubt it if those two Sand shinobi forget he's there. He'll be listening very closely to anything they have to say. May even plant a beetle on them just to be safe."
Shino was pragmatic. He would have sensed the change in Mimi's attitude and the warning beneath the mask, and from it prepared for danger or to gather information to learn all he could. Shino wasn't just pragmatic, he was a fine shinobi. One Amari knew she could count on to be safe if her worst fears came true.
"Good, 'cause I've got a bad feeling about all this. Had one ever since we learned Orochimaru attacked you guys."
Amari remained silent. You're not the only one.
They made it down the stairs to pitch black hall smelling of death. Mimi crinkled her nose and brought her sweater covered arm up to cover it. "Naruto and Shikamaru are at the opposite end of this hall. Kami, it's going to take weeks to get this smell out of my nose."
The stench was intense even without enhances senses. Amari didn't want to imagine how bad it was with them.
"Atsuko, can you go find Naruto and Shika to make sure they are okay while we make our way down this hall?"
"At once, Young Haya."
Atsuko hopped off her shoulder and disappeared into the darkness. "Amari, think you can guide us using your Byakugan? I won't be able to see my hand in front of my face once we get in there."
"All right. Just grab onto my shoulder." Mimi followed her order. Byakugan! Her left eye's vision extended down the hall to the inverted black and white, allowing her to see the area ahead of them completely…along with the two dead bodies. "You were right, they're dead. I see no signs of life in them. I can't even tell who they used to be."
It was a grisly scene in her eye. A scene she wasn't sure she could ever forget. What was left of them…Someone was going to have to piece them back together like a puzzle if they were to ever learn who these two unfortunate souls were.
In silence the kunoichi moved forward hoping to reach the end of the hall.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
"Do you feel that?" Mimi's voice was muffled behind her sleeve.
"Yeah…feels like glass. He probably destroyed the lights before killing those two." There were a few murmurs from Aoko breaking off the silence that followed. "What did she say?"
"Whoever those poor saps were, they were crushed to death. None of their bones are intact. And…well, you can see it." She could, though she stopped looking. It wouldn't get out of her head. "Whoever they were, they did not go peacefully."
Amari gave a silent nod in the darkness and pressed forward. She guided them around the two corpses as quickly as their feet allowed them to the exit. This hall of horrors was better off left forgotten and abandoned, but it wouldn't be. Not for them. The reek of death, the scene itself, neither kunoichi would forget this for a long time.
Artificial light broke off the endless darkness at the exit to the hall, light the two kunoichi were extremely happy to step into. Atsuko stood perched on the guardrail of the staircase. She turned her head to peer back at the arriving pair. "They are here and unharmed, but they are in a state of shock. I do not believe they even know I'm here despite my attempts to speak to them."
Both nodded and rushed to the stairs. Further away from the darkness. Further away from the stench and sight of death.
Both Shikamaru and Naruto sat in silence together staring into nothingness. Mimi moved to Shikamaru's side as Amari moved to Naruto's, both hoping to break them out of their shock and back to reality. Away from whatever horrors they witnessed. Away from the fear still evident on their faces.
"Hey, Slacker, wake up. You hear me in there?" the Inuzuka questioned the Nara as she snapped her fingers in front of him.
"Naruto, come on snap out of it. You're both okay," Amari tried with Naruto.
Shikamaru was the first to shake the cobwebs from his head. He looked at them, bewildered by what must have seemed to be a sudden appearance. "Mimi, 'Risu? How did you two know?"
"I heard screams and Aoko smelled blood," Mimi answered. "What exactly happened?"
"Those two guys, they tried to talk to Gaara about…I'm not really sure. It looked shady. But then Gaara killed them without batting an eyelash…and then he just walked right past us like we weren't even here."
"But…why?" Amari asked in astonishment. It wasn't that she wanted Gaara to hurt them, but his promise to kill them all was running through her head on repeat. If he wanted to kill Shikamaru and Naruto, that would have been the perfect time. No one would have been able to stop him or interrupt; no elite shinobi could have saved them…yet he just walked by them without acknowledging their existence.
"I don't know," her cousin responded, sounding just as perplexed as she did. "It would have been the perfect time to fulfill that promise he made back in the hospital…but he let us live. I don't know," he said again, shaking his head, resting his forearms on his knees as he slouched forward. "Maybe we weren't good enough to kill."
"Or you didn't get between him and his match with Sasuke like those two did," the Inuzuka deducted.
"Maybe."
At this point Shika is happy to be alive. Making sense of this isn't something he is going to do right now, not to his full capacity at least. Amari looked back to Naruto, who was still staring through her as if she wasn't there. And Naruto doesn't even seem to be on this planet right now.
"Amari, Atsuko, what other information do you have that we don't know about?" Mimi probed.
"Gaara killed Dosu," Amari informed plainly.
"Aw man," Shikamaru muttered, shutting his eyes.
"It is highly possible Suna purposefully sent an unstable child such as Gaara to kill innocent lives," Atsuko followed. The Crow glanced back at the darkened hallway then back to the Nara boy. "Shikamaru, do you know which Village these shinobi were from?"
"The Grass."
"Hmm. Young Haya, are there any details you may have picked from your meeting in the hospital about this Gaara child? Perhaps his motives for murdering without thought? Or why he permeates darkness wherever he goes?"
There was one thing. One detail she hadn't told anyone.
"I…I wasn't sure if it meant anything. Or, I was scared, I guess," her chuckle and voice trembled. "Scared he was telling the truth and what it could mean for everyone here. When Gaara was born, he said they placed a demon inside him—a sand spirit—that killed his mother with his birth."
High levels of alertness shone in Atsuko's eyes. "Young Haya, did he know its name? Did it have a name?" she demanded.
Her questioning only tightened the fears around her heart. It meant the threat was real, no matter how much she wished it wasn't.
"He called it the Shukaku. Claimed he was meant to be his Village's savior, but people saw him as an old relic they didn't want around anymore. A danger. His father even sent assassins to kill him."
Atsuko exhaled a deep breath, but not one of relaxation. "I see. Then it is worse than I feared. Young Haya, from now on I want you to spare no detail when we speak, even if it frightens you. Even if it seems far-fetched. It could very well be a truth and a grave danger to the Leaf or our allies."
"I'm sorry," she apologized sincerely, eye lowering to the floor. She knew she should have told someone, but it scared her. The idea that Gaara could have something…something that sounded so much like the Nine-Tails locked inside him, it gave her chills; it made the possibility of him killing everyone she loved more than an empty threat. So she hid from it, tried to pretend it was bravado to focus on her fight for the Exams.
And in doing so may have doomed every single person she loved.
"Do not lower your head in shame, Young Haya. Even if this information has come late, it is still good Intel we can act upon accordingly. It is information we must act upon immediately, for I fear I have been hit by a sudden revelation on what the Sand plans to do."
"Gaara has something like the Nine-Tails in him, doesn't he?" Naruto finally spoke up.
Mimi and Shikamaru snapped their heads to face him, horrified, as if the Nine-Tails itself appeared in the hallway. Amari looked to the Crow with her teammate, the bow-tie knots in her intestines returning.
Atsuko nodded gravely. "You are correct, Naruto. It is imperative you four listen closely, for I must depart momentarily to investigate what the scouting parties I sent out have learned. It has been too long since I heard from them, and with this new news I sense a foul plot on the winds.
"There have been whispers of suspicions among the highest councils of the Leaf of Orochimaru's schemes aligning with the Sand. All of your guardians and teachers know what I speak of. And I fear we have all walked right into their trap." She shook her head. "We have allowed their greatest weapon to be placed in the center of the Leaf, where the most damage could occur."
"They're planning to unleash this sand spirit right in the center of the Leaf," Amari whispered hauntingly.
And she didn't say a damn thing about it to anyone.
"No way," Mimi gasped, stricken by horror. "If he unleashes something on the level of the Nine-Tails right in the center of the Village…The civilians, the kids! We can't let that happen!"
"Calm yourself, Mimi," Atsuko ordered sternly. "We will not let our enemies harm innocent children, I assure you, but we cannot act on sheer emotion. Even when we stop this Gaara child from unleashing the Shukaku, it will not be the end of what is coming. It will be only the beginning, and you four must be ready to face the horrors of war, because the horrors of war have found you."
Spoken like a true veteran commander. Yet another glimpse at the many years of experience Atsuko had over all of them.
"Atsuko, you really think this is war?" Shikamaru asked. He didn't sound like he wanted to believe it, but Amari knew he was hanging onto a mixture of hope and denial.
"Tell me, Shikamaru, when Kankurō forfeited his match, what was your first thought? Spare me the 'what a drag' regarding your match beginning."
Shikamaru hummed. "Thought it was suspicious. He looked nervous when his match was about to be called, like it was never meant to happen. Even Temari looked hesitant to do our match."
"And why might a puppet user avoid battle if a greater war was on the horizon?"
Shikamaru frowned, the last threads of denial being severed from him. He could see exactly where Atsuko had led him; it was a thought pattern Amari herself hadn't considered until now either. "To hide new tricks, new tools or something else altogether. His puppets are his best weapon; to show what they can do before a war is like giving his enemies a cheat sheet to his techniques."
"Exactly. I want you four to go to Kakashi and Guy, inform them of these two dead shinobi. Tell them of what Gaara contains within him. Warn them of Suna's plan to unleash this demon within the center of our Village."
"No offense, but who the hell is going to believe us? We're Genin. And it'll sound more like paranoid theories than fact," Mimi stated.
"They will believe when you tell them the Crows of the Leaf vow it is the truth." Atsuko swept her wing out. "Now go! This is of the utmost importance for the safety of our home. I will return as soon as I am able."
Atsuko vanished in a plume of smoke.
War. It hadn't even started yet, but Amari felt the nerves, the fear of the battles to come, the lives it could take. Jitters and trembles attacked her hands and body. But she was a shinobi with a duty to protect her friends and her home. She hadn't said anything before, that meant she had to do better now while there was still time to prevent as much loss of life and destruction.
Moping about how stupid she had been and letting the fear keep her firmly rooted here like a century old tree wouldn't help anyone. Right now she had to sheathe her fears behind a blade of courage; it was the only way to protect what she held precious.
Amari clenched her hands into fists, took a deep breath and stood up. She offered a hand to Naruto and Shikamaru while Mimi stood up. The fears she felt, all three of her friends felt it too. But they too hid their anxiety and concerns behind determined expressions.
"Let's go," she said, sounding more confident than she felt.
They took off back up the stairs, Amari at the head of the group on a new concoction of fear based adrenaline to shut out the fatigue and general soreness of her body.
When they made it to the spectator booths of the arena, most didn't pay mind to the four Genin sprinting by. Everyone was too invested in the fight going on below them; the fight between Sand and Leaf. A fight about to break out everywhere if they weren't able to counteract it. Amari glanced down to the arena, noticing an orb of solid sand in the middle of the battlefield. Sasuke jumped back away from it.
Sasuke…Be careful.
"They're right up here! Three rows over, on the stairs!" Mimi announced to the group.
Amari knew that head of silver hair and a black bowl cut anywhere.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto shouted as they arrived.
The group of four stopped at the top of the stairs; Shikamaru collapsed to one knee and Mimi followed his action to get pressure of her ankle, immediately applying more Medical Ninjutsu to the injury. Amari really hated herself for injuring her friend.
She braced herself on her knees while Naruto braced his weight on the guardrail. Further down the stairs was Kakashi, standing a few stairs higher than Guy and Lee, the latter standing with the help of a crutch. Nearby them in the seats were Sakura, Ino and Chōji—and every one of them turned to look up at the group.
"Naruto? Amari?" His eye took in the group, the worry in their eyes, the fear hidden behind courage.
"Mimi! Great work in your battle against Amari!" Guy congratulated. "I am so proud of—"
"What happened? What's going on?" Kakashi interrupted his rival, cutting straight to the issue he could see.
"Ka- Kakashi-sensei, please, you have to listen to us. Something very bad is going on," Amari said through heavy breaths.
"Sensei please! You've got to stop this match right away. It's for Sasuke's safety!" Naruto pleaded.
"What do you mean? What's going on?" Kakashi asked again.
"Naruto isn't kidding around." Shikamaru was the next to speak up. "As we were coming up the stairs after you arrived, two ninjas tried to speak to Gaara…and he killed them without blinking."
"Their bodies are still in the hall, and every bone in their bodies has been crushed." Mimi took it from the Nara. "I know…I know I've had personal problems with this kid, but this isn't some vendetta against him. He murdered those two shinobi."
"Who were the ninja?" Guy queried seriously.
"Two adult Grass ninjas who I've never seen until just a few minutes ago," Shikamaru answered. "I don't know if you'll even be able to get an I.D. off those two anymore."
They wouldn't. Not without a lot of work.
"Slow down you four," Ino tried to soothe them.
They couldn't slow down. This was about the safety of Sasuke and the Leaf. If they slowed down, if they didn't get all the information to the people who needed it, every single person in this stadium could die.
"Gaara, he has a demon within him, Kakashi-sensei. Like the Nine-Tails," Amari explained breathlessly.
That snapped everyone to attention. Kakashi and Guy both shifted from their normal personalities to that of the veteran shinobi. They had witnessed the destruction and death the Nine-Tails created. They knew what that kind of power could do.
"Explain, Amari. How do you know?"
"When Naruto, Shika and I encountered him, he told us how he was born, of the kind of life he lived. It's called the Shukaku. Claimed that the people of his Village saw him as a relic of the past they wanted to get rid of, and that his power became such a threat that his own father tried to kill him.
"Atsuko told me he killed Dosu. That's why he isn't here today. She said…" Amari shut her eyes and took a breath meant to calm her nerves. It didn't. These next words, to say them meant to make this real. It would cease to be her greatest fear and become reality. But she already made the mistake of letting her fear turn away from important information. For Sasuke's safety and the safety of all those she loved, she had to say it.
"She said this is a preamble to war."
"Who is this Atsuko you speak of?" The question did not come from either Kakashi or Guy or even their peers. It came from behind her, from a voice she didn't recognize and a presence she did not sense appear.
Amari let out a choked and startled "Eep!" as she tried to snap around. Her feet tripped and she felt gravity begin to carry her down the stairs.
The hand of the individual snatched her hand and caught her, pulling her gently back onto both feet and away from a painful and embarrassing fall. Shikamaru, Mimi and Naruto all tensed and pulled out blades at the sudden appearance of the individual, but they didn't move beyond that.
"I…can't move," Mimi growled.
"It's a Paralysis Jutsu," Shikamaru explained, his brow furrowed as he too tried to move.
"Easy there. I'm a friend," the individual informed in a calm voice, both to sooth Amari's fearful look and the three Genin.
He wore a beige cloak and an Anbu mask with a cat motif, flanked by two more Anbu who wore black cloaks.
"Lord Third's personal Anbu," Kakashi noted out loud.
Amari settled back onto her feet and sighed in relief. Allies, not enemies. That was good. But did they really have to move so quietly? Her heart nearly smashed its way out of her chest at his appearance. The three Genin were released of the Paralysis Jutsu and returned their blades to their tool boxes, though not without casting awe filled glances at the three shinobi.
"I assume you've already checked the bodies?" Kakashi asked.
"We have," he nodded to the Copy Ninja. "These children speak the truth of their fate as well as the fate of Dosu." His head tilted back down to gaze at Amari, his full attention being given to her. "Now, again, who is this Atsuko? Who has claimed this boy is to be the preamble to a war?"
"Th- The Head of the Crows of the Leaf," Amari stuttered out, heart still skipping around in her chest.
She sensed his surprise even behind the mask. "The Legendary Head of the Crows? You are her summoner?" Amari nodded hesitantly. "And you are certain you did not mishear her?"
"We all heard her," Mimi inserted on behalf of the startled Nara. "She says their plan is to unleash this Shukaku right in the center of our Village. That it was a demon like the Nine-Tails."
The Anbu nodded. "I see. And while the Shukaku is unleashed, the Kazekage and his guards must plan to prevent Lord Hokage from defending the Leaf. This is grave news indeed."
"That's why they delayed Sasuke's match," Kakashi realized, spinning around to look back at his student. "Unleashing the Shukaku must be the signal for a larger attack."
The screeching of what sounded like a thousand birds echoed in the arena. Amari turned to see what the source was, finding Sasuke's hand covered in Lightning. Her eye widened. "You…You taught him the Lightning Blade. Except his isn't as focused as yours."
Her left hands fingers began to twitch, the scars warming at the sight of the jutsu. You're okay. You're okay. You're okay, she reassured herself, clenching her left hand into a tight fist.
"It's called the Chidori," Guy explained. "A step down in focus from the Lightning Blade, as you noted Amaririsu, but still an incredibly powerful ninjutsu. That's why you were building his speed up, right, Kakashi?"
Kakashi didn't answer, eye drawn to the battle as he seemed to calculate every single detail about the battle, the Sand's plans and the situation at hand in an instant.
"We have to stop this match, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto pleaded.
"The match is already over, Naruto. What Sasuke's about to do is make the first decisive strike of a war," Kakashi replied sternly. "The Chidori will pierce through that impenetrable sand orb and disable this major threat to our Village, that's when we'll make our move."
Sasuke plunged the Chidori into the sand orb, through what seemed to be impenetrable armor and to the person inside. What followed was an unsettling silence, and then…
"BLOOOOD! IT'S MY BLOOOD!" Gaara's blood curdling scream reverberated around the entire stadium.
Sasuke appeared to try to pull his arm free, but when it did not work he surged his Chidori again, eliciting more horrifying screams from Gaara until he was finally able to pull his arm free…but not without pulling out a giant sand arm. The arm slammed against the ground and slithered back into the hole Sasuke had punctured. A feral roar of a beast Amari had never heard before replaced the cries of Gaara, the thunderous baritone of its roar rattling her bones.
This wasn't good.
This was really not good.
A pop sounded off in her ear as the sand orb crumbled. "Young Amari, I bring grave news!" Every adult shinobi listened intently to the next words the Crow spoke, even if they did not look at her directly. Atsuko pointed her wing out towards the east. "My scouting parties are reporting platoons of Sand and Sound shinobi outside the Village walls. We have engaged the enemy shinobi and are passing this information onto the field commanders, but I fear they plan to summon giant creatures of an unknown kind as of yet."
"Man, today just keeps getting worse," Shikamaru muttered.
"They planned a full-scale assault on the Leaf," Amari whispered. "They used the Exams as a distraction to move our attention away from their gathering forces around our walls, waiting for Gaara to unleash this sand spirit."
"And amid the chaos of a giant monster like the Nine-Tails attacking, they would spring their attack and catch us between giant summoning creatures and the sand spirit, crushing our forces while the Kazekage battled against the Hokage," Shikamaru finished her thought pattern. "They played us right into their hands. Only they didn't expect Gaara to be unable to unleash the sand spirit, and they didn't expect the Crows to catch on. No doubt thinking they were some ghost story."
But it wasn't enough to prevent the war or loss of life. This war had only just begun.
Exhaustion began to take over Amari; her eyelids, weighted down by Kakashi's weighted seals, started to fall shut on their own, against her wishes. "Genjutsu," she realized tiredly. Someone was casting a powerful genjutsu, one meant to put her to sleep. Her hands moved quickly into a handseal. "Release!"
"Naruto, Shikamaru, it's genjutsu. Ah, crap. Release!" Amari, now fully awake and back under the pressures of anxiety, released the genjutsu on Atsuko as the civilians and shinobi alike all sitting in the stands fell asleep. This wasn't just a targeted attack on her or Mimi or even the older shinobi, she realized, eye darting first to the two boys—who collapsed and slept—then to the rest of the people around her. This attack was an area of effect genjutsu, meant to take down a vast number of people as quickly as possible while they were still unaware.
And it worked perfectly. The execution couldn't have come at a better time. Everyone's focus had been drawn to the fight like awe filled children chasing colorful butterflies in a field. Even shinobi with more experience than her hadn't sensed the attack; the entire stadium booth she was in, save around ten veteran Leaf shinobi she could see, all slept pleasantly as the second move of the war struck.
"Damn it," Amari hissed under her breath, pulling out a kunai and flicking her onyx eye around in search of enemies. She found them easily. Their enemies no longer saw the sense in concealing their presence, all too happy to finally engage the awake Leaf shinobi in the stadium. "And with all the foot traffic coming in and out of the Village, these Sound and Sand shinobi infiltrated the Leaf under disguise to strike from behind our lines."
Their execution of this plan had been almost one hundred percent perfect.
My chakra may be replenished, but my body is still fatigued from my battle against Mimi, Amari thought. And her ankle is broken because of me. Damn it. She ground her teeth together in frustration.
Amari noticed Sakura's pink head duck down low in the bleachers, moving the sleeping form of Ino and Chōji out of the way of the battle with her, and then gently moving Lee out of the walkway behind the bleachers.
"What a troublesome pest you and those Crows turned out to be," a familiar voice reprimanded from the bottom of the stairs. The person was hidden behind an Anbu mask and cloak, but Amari would never forget that voice. "But you were too late to solve the mystery. The destruction of Konoha has already begun," they taunted.
"Kabuto," she growled.
"Mm. We meet again, Amaririsu."
"How pleasant of you to reveal your presence, Kabuto Yakushi," Atsuko spoke with a deadly blade behind every word. "It will bring me no small amount of joy in eliminating one of Orochimaru's most loyal puppets."
"Hmph. Don't think it will be that easy. I'm not fighting alone this time," he said, raising his arms out to motion to the Sound shinobi flanking him. "What hope does one Crow have against several elite shinobi, I wonder. Will you alone kill us all when you still have to protect your precious little brat?"
"Your numbers do not frighten me, ignorant child, and your threat against Young Amari's life will only hasten your end, I assure you. One Crow is worth more than these toy soldiers you bring to war," Atsuko scoffed. "We Crows will descend upon you in legion, eclipsing the sun until all light around you has turned to darkness, and all you feel is the cold chill of impending death clutching your corpse."
Amari wasn't sure if Atsuko's killing intent scared Kabuto, but it certainly scared her.
A large explosion from the Hokage's booth snapped the gazes of the few Leaf shinobi not engaged in battle to it.
"Do you think Lord Third is okay?" she asked to anyone willing to reassure her.
"Don't worry! We're on it!" The group of Anbu to speak to her, joined by a few more members, jumped through the stadium hastily towards the Hokage. They were out of sight within seconds.
Two Sound shinobi jumped to attack the two kunoichi at the top of the stairs; their blades didn't get to touch Amari's or Mimi's kunais. A murder of Crows encompassed the two kunoichi, black feathers blotting out Amari's vision into darkness, and when it faded the two shinobi laid dead on the concrete floor, eyes still wide in fear.
"Holy hell…" Mimi muttered, nervously glancing to the single Crow returning to Amari's shoulder. Amari heard a soft murmur from Aoko. "Yeah, you said it, Aoko. Glad we didn't piss the Crows off."
Amari stood stiff, onyx eye wide and her blade still out in front of her for the block she intended. This…This was the power of the legendary Crows of the Leaf.
Incredible…
"I warned you, did I not?" Atsuko somehow found a way to sound dangerous even when her voice sounded smooth as silk. "You will all die for attacking the Leaf, I promise you this, but targeting these children will only hasten your demise. And it will not be a pleasant end." Even without seeing Atsuko's eyes, Amari could feel the look of death she pinned on their enemies. "You will know fear unlike any other before you perish. Fear the wrath of the Crows; fear it in every cell of your body, for our wrath will be the last thing you witness in this life."
Then, with all the casualness of someone discussing dinner plans, Atsuko turned her head to Amari and smiled warmly. "Young Amari, fear not, your lives are safely under the care of the Crows. If you will excuse me for but a moment, there are enemies who need to learn the error of their decision to attack our home."
"Uh- okay," she responded awkwardly.
"I will return in but a moment."
Atsuko hopped off her shoulder to join the battle.
Shaking off the moment, Amari hardened her heart and returned her minds commanders to battle stations. She trusted in Atsuko, but only a fool lowered their guard in the middle of a war. And she needed to think, to strategize on how to keep Gaara from unleashing a sand spirit with similar power to the Nine-Tails.
"Hey Amari, remind me to never piss off Atsuko," Mimi quipped seriously.
"Mimi, don't ever piss off Atsuko," Amari replied easily, a small smile twitching onto her lips despite the circumstances.
"I meant later, you little smartass." She could feel Mimi's grin as they stood back to back.
Naruto had amazing regenerative abilities, beyond that of any normal human. And Naruto wasn't secretly a Medical Ninjutsu master. During his fight with Neji, Naruto unleashed that second chakra belonging to the Nine-Tails. It increased his strength, yet his minor injuries also started to heal. Back after he defeated Kiba, when he used Hinata's ointment, his injuries healed faster than they should have too.
Once was a coincidence, twice was evidence. It wasn't the power of love, as entertaining as that might be, so it could only be the Nine-Tails. Which meant…
"Kakashi-sensei, if Gaara's demon gives him regenerative abilities of any kind, that single Chidori isn't going to be enough to stop him," Amari stated, voice firmer than she felt about the possibility. If Gaara had regenerative abilities like Naruto then he'd be able to withstand even more damage than the normal person, and that wasn't even counting what she learned about his sand defense.
Regardless of how fast or slow his wounds could heal—if they healed on their own—they couldn't leave him here in the center of the Village. If it was only inevitable for him to heal himself, he'd eventually be able to unleash his sand spirit regardless of their efforts. There was only one viable option then.
"We have to restrain him and get him out of the Leaf, away from where he could create the most damage should he still be able to unleash it," she said. "It may only be inevitability that he is able to release that sand spirit on our forces. No matter what, we can't afford to have that happen here in the center of the Village. The damage would be too catastrophic."
Amari spotted the two Sand Genin jump down to Gaara. She squinted a glare at them. They're going to move him. It's what she would do. Move your big weapon out of sight and out of mind during the heat of a battle that way it can be unleashed without anyone ever knowing where it went. No one could stop it then.
"His siblings, they'll probably try to move him to a safe location in the Leaf or on the outskirts, but with all this fighting going on no one will be able to stop them." Not unless they sent a team after them…a team comprising of Genin who weren't necessary to the main defense here in the stadium.
She hated herself for silently volunteering to go, because that's what laid beneath her calm analytical breakdown of the situation. She was volunteering to go after the Sand Genin to stop them from unleashing the sand spirit; despite her fears, despite how her hands and body fought to tremble against her calm outer shell, she was volunteering to be a soldier in this war.
Because it was necessary, because it was her duty, because it was the only way she could think of to defend those precious to her.
"My thoughts exactly, Amari." Kakashi fought off two enemy shinobi, one Sand and one Sound. The third attempting to attack from his blind spot met Guy's hard fist before he even realized the bowl cut shinobi had appeared.
"Send me," she said without even thinking.
"You're not going after those three without me," Mimi interceded. "I can track those three wherever they decide to go, and my Water Style theoretically should be able to make his sand too wet to be of any use."
A murder of Crows swept through the stadium, attacking and killing a group of Sound shinobi about to overwhelm one of Leaf shinobi fighting closer to the bottom of the stairs, five rows over from their group. So far none of the enemy shinobi had gotten near Amari and Mimi, but it was only a matter of time before they became a liability to the older shinobi.
For all the Crows powers and the skill of their Sensei's, they couldn't fight a war and protect the kids at the same time. Remove the kids from the equation, however, and they could fight without having to monitor them.
"Mimi, Amari, listen up. I'm authorizing an A-ranked mission for you two: Join Sasuke and stop those Sand Genin from getting away. Whatever happens, watch each other's back and don't be afraid to retreat if the fight looks hopeless. You're each forbidden from dying, do you understand me?" Kakashi ordered.
"Yes sir!" the duo sounded off.
"Even if you don't have a choice, are you really going to strategize in front of an enemy?" Kabuto taunted. "Do you think I'll let them just go?"
"You're not going to have a choice, you arrogant brat," Kakashi shot back. "Sakura, take cover. I have a mission in mind for you as well, but right now I want you to stay safe."
"Right!"
"Now go you two. Guy and I will cover you!"
Amari activated both of her dōjutsu and grabbed Mimi's arm, running up and around the main battle. Kabuto cut off their escape straight to the battlefield below by positioning himself at the bottom of the stairs—an intentional plan, obviously.
"Stop those two Genin! Kill them both!"
Amari's Byakugan eye caught sight of a group of five enemy shinobi dashing to attack them. Do I have enough strength to stop them all with a Shadow Possession? She hadn't had nearly enough time to rest between her fight with Mimi and this one. The technique would be significantly weaker, and it might not hold back these five long enough for Mimi to take them out.
"Mimi, duck!" Guy shouted. Mimi halted, grabbed Amari and forced them down to the ground. The medic positioned her body to protect the smaller girl. "Dynamic Entry!" Guy flew into the battle faster than she had ever seen him move, foot crashing into the face of one of the enemy shinobi. Amari swore she heard his jaw break.
The kick sent the enemy shinobi slamming into the concrete wall at the back of the stadium, actually cracking the concrete with the force he hit it with. Guy, still floating in air in front of the two kunoichi, was surrounded on all sides by the remaining four enemies. The hot-blooded shinobi spun his body and shouted, "Leaf Hurricane!"
The attack happened so fast, Amari's eyes were the only ones capable of witnessing it. The second, third and fourth enemy all flew away from the two kunoichi, the blows dealt putting them down for the count temporarily. "All right! You two are clear!" Guy landed and gave the pair a thumbs up. He shot a grin over his shoulder, but the hardened look in his eye betrayed his usual exuberance. "Now get moving and keep each other safe!"
"Allow me to help." Atsuko landed on Amari's shoulder. "Young Amari, do not let go of Mimi. I warn you, this may feel disorienting."
To everyone awake in the arena it appeared as if Amari, Mimi and Aoko burst into a murder of crows. The crows swept out of the stadium, down to the field below where they reformed the two kunoichi and ninken next to Sasuke. For the trio, the entire experience did feel disorienting, dizzying even, but the entire transportation passed in a few seconds.
Unbeknownst to them, Kabuto clicked his tongue in annoyance at the Crows interference.
Amari and Mimi got off the ground, shaking the disorientation from their heads and taking in their new surroundings. "Good move, Atsuko," Amari complimented. She honestly couldn't wait to be taught by her.
Her eye traveled up to the Hokage's booth, where a giant purple barrier had been erected on the roof. Using her Byakugan eye, she searched for the Anbu, finding them on the outside of the barrier, while within Lord Third stood in the grasps of…
"Orochimaru," she gasped.
"Where? Where is he, Young Amari?" Atsuko questioned.
"Within the barrier with Lord Third. He was posing as the Kazekage this whole time!"
"How the hell did none of us sense him?" Mimi growled.
"Orochimaru is one of the Legendary Sannin. If he did not wish to be sensed, you will not sense his presence," Atsuko said calmly. "I know you two must be worried, but Lord Hokage will handle his former student. We must stay focused on the task at hand. Sasuke, are you injured?"
He shook his head but looked troubled nonetheless. Surprised by their appearance, worried about the Legendary Sannin who planted his mark on him being within the barrier with Lord Third, unsure of why chaos was everywhere around them.
"Nothing serious. What the hell is going on?"
"The short version: War just broke out between us and the Sand and Sound." His eyes bulged at Mimi's short explanation. "Long version: War just broke out between us and the Sand and Sound, we have a mission to stop those three and these Sound and Sand shinobi have officially pissed me off."
"Kakashi-sensei gave us an A-ranked mission to join you. We have to stop those three from escaping and get Gaara as far out of the Village as we can," Amari explained. Gaara was no longer transformed into whatever that giant sand arm had been. His left shoulder had a splotch of blood staining his clothes where the Chidori hit, he sat on his knees, breathing heavily with eyes wide in astonishment at the sensations of pain.
None of the Leaf shinobi knew, but it had been the first time Gaara had ever been hurt.
"He has a demon like the Nine-Tails in him. We can't let him unleash it here in the Village."
Sasuke didn't speak at first; the shock of the situation fell over him. War had broken out in their home, people were fighting and dying to defend their home, and this enemy of theirs had a demon like the Nine-Tails in him, waiting to break loose and destroy everything they had left to care for.
Finally, he exhaled a breath through his nose. "An A-ranked mission, eh? This was not how I planned my day to turn out."
"You're not the only one, Broody," Mimi quipped.
"Heh."
Gaara tried to push forward to continue fighting with Sasuke, only to be stopped by their Jōnin Sensei. "What are you three doing? Can't you see that the operation has already begun?" he reprimanded.
Genma appeared protectively in front of the three Leaf Genin. Gaara collapsed to his knees, grabbing his head in apparent agony.
"Gaara is the trump card for Suna. He has to play his part no matter what. For now you two take Gaara and tend to his wounds. As soon as his chakra has replenished, the operation will continue."
War had finally found them.
"What about you, Sensei?" Temari asked their sensei.
"I'm going to take care of them," he replied, looking back at the group of Leaf shinobi.
"You think your plan will succeed?" Genma spat.
"I'll make sure of it."
Silence filled the air the two groups just staring at one another, waiting for who might make the first move. Amari could feel her heart hammering in her chest.
This was real.
"Go!" the Sand Jōnin yelled.
The trio took off up and over the stadium walls.
"Sasuke, I'm sorry, but this is the end of the Exams. You now have a mission with Amari and Mimi." Genma kept his voice calm and to the point. "All three of you have achieved Chūnin level; you're now Konoha shinobi. Put your training to good use. I want you three to follow whatever Kakashi's orders were, but be careful. This is no longer a match. It's the real thing."
"Right," they said in unison.
"Also, Amari, I need you to send clones or Crows to Ibiki. He needs to know the situation here, so give him all the information you have. He's on the main wall, quadrant three."
"Okay."
"Good. Now go!"
The trio took off at his command, following the Sand shinobi's escape route up the wall and into the Village. Mimi caught their scent and got them on the right track, following the fast moving trio towards wherever they planned to take Gaara to ground.
"Amari, what were Kakashi-sensei's orders?" her teammate queried.
"Simply put: we have to stop these three by any means necessary, restrain Gaara and get him as far as we can from the Leaf to stop them from unleashing their trump card. Our main objective, however, is to stay alive. If the mission becomes hopeless and our lives are in danger, we have to retreat and wait for further orders."
He gave a nod. "Got it."
Amari brought her hands up into the clone seal, creating four clones among their group. "I want you four to go find Ibiki and give him all the information you can. From there, do what you can to protect the village."
"Not without my clones you don't." Mimi brought up her hands into the clone seal created four Shadow Clones herself. "They're going to need backup in case they get into a fight on the way."
"You learned Shadow Clone Jutsu?" the Shadow user questioned curiously.
"Four is my limit. I prefer to use Water Clones; I can use them more effectively than Shadow Clones with less of a toll on my chakra, but Water Clones can't travel far away from me. We're not going to be able to stay within range if we want Gaara out of the Leaf."
The eight clones dispersed, heading in the direction of the first exam proctor.
I just hope…we all survive this.
"Atsuko, you said they planned to summon large creatures of some kind. Since Orochimaru is here, it'll probably be those giant summoning snakes he used on my team. Could you lead your Crows in defending the Leaf? If Gaara unleashes the Shukaku, I'll summon you so you can get us the hell out of there, but right now me, Sasuke and Mimi can handle his siblings. And you can do more good aiding the escape of civilians and unleashing the wrath of the Crows on our enemies."
"A sound strategy. I will also send agents to the Academy for evacuation. Please be safe you three. War is not to be taken lightly, nor is this Gaara child. Should he unleash the Shukaku, I want you to summon me immediately, Young Haya. It is not a battle you three have any chance of winning."
Amari nodded once. "I will. But don't worry, we won't let it come to that."
"Of course. I will join you three once the tide of battle changes."
With that the crow hopped off her shoulder and dove into the main war being waged. The three Genin continued to follow after the Sand Genin, jumping across buildings on the trail left behind of their enemies, unaware of the silent shinobi following them on a mission of her own.
Even though all three Leaf Genin focused their minds on the battle ahead and hardened their hearts to face it without fear, a cold, clawed hand clutched their hearts. This was not a training exercise or a spar. This was war. They witnessed on their chase some of the major destruction already wrought; heard the battles taking place and cries of terror from innocent people caught in the cross-hairs.
They wore their brave faces for each other. Fear was a poison; if they let it spread through their veins, it would afflict the rest of their team and set them up for failure. They could not risk failure. To fail here, when the Sand clearly meant to play Gaara as their trump card could lead to many lives perishing.
Even if they did not fail, people they cared about were fighting in this war, defending the Leaf and its people with their lives. No one had a guarantee of coming out of this alive, not them and not their precious people.
No one spoke of this shared concern. The burden behind it was too great when the mission at hand required their very best.
Failure and backing out wasn't an option.
"From here on out, we're all we've got you two," Amari tried her best to rally her team. "We can't depend on one of our sensei's to save the day for us; this battle is in our hands, and it'll be ours to finish. As long as we stick together and watch each other's backs we will stop this trump card of theirs from being played. And in doing so we will ensure their inevitable failure."
"Hmph. They'll regret crossing the Leaf," Sasuke stated confidently.
"Damn right they will. We'll teach these bastards a lesson they'll never forget," Mimi followed.
"Agreed. Let's show them the power we Leaf shinobi wield."
"Right!" her current teammates sounded off.
War at home was not something she was prepared for, in her heart or her mind. But now there was no choice.
It's kill or be killed, she steeled herself, and I have no intention of dying.
Kakashi took down two of the Sound Ninjas with his kunai blades, spun and blocked another strike from a Sand shinobi. Kakashi glared hard into the eyes of his enemy, then kicked him away, sending him right into Guy's fists of fury.
"I wonder," Kabuto mused from the bottom of the stairs. Still hiding. Still letting all these other shinobi do all the dirty work. "Is it your foolish belief that your students can overcome any obstacle that made you send them to their deaths, or is it just out of habit?"
Kakashi hissed out a breath but said nothing.
"I'm just curious is all. If you really listened to your student's words, then you understand exactly what Gaara is. You know exactly what kind of weapon he is, and what he will do to them when they inevitably fail to restrain him. But you sent them anyways. I wonder how you plan to explain poor Amaririsu's death to Kurenai. How you will justify it as necessary, as she sobs and curses your name for sending her precious daughter to her death."
The Copy Ninja had been thinking over his decision ever since he made it, and this arrogant brat's accurate strikes to where his thoughts traveled didn't soothe him at all.
Had he made the right call? Or was this another faulty decision that would lead to those three kids dying? All because there hadn't seemed to be any other choice. Kabuto was right; he knew what Gaara potentially was. How it could make him more powerful than those three together. What kind of death and destruction the monstrosity he contained could bring about.
And still he sent them.
"Don't let him get in your head, Kakashi," Guy retorted. "Amaririsu, Mimi, Aoko and Sasuke can handle themselves. We've trained them to be excellent shinobi. They won't die; no, they will overcome the obstacle placed before them or they will follow your order to retreat to safety. Trust in their abilities!"
"Trust in their abilities?" Kabuto mocked, laughing. "What nonsense! You Leaf shinobi are so ready to believe the impossible on false hope as if this life is some kind of fairytale! It'd be funny if it wasn't so tremendously sad. Is that how you'll tell Kurenai? That you trusted—"
The three men beside Kabuto collapsed in cries of terror, but the masked brat jumped up onto the concrete column, narrowly dodging a blade about to slice his throat. "So the Mother Bear herself appears," he taunted. He sounded confident, but Kakashi heard the concern in the intonation of his voice.
Kurenai's red eyes seared into the masked enemy. "I've heard enough out of you, kid," she warned lowly. "This battle will be your last."
A shinobi tried to attack her from behind, but she turned into a haze. Kakashi couldn't see it, but he knew the enemy had fallen right into her genjutsu when he started to panic then stood as if restrained in the middle of the battle.
The Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death, one of Kurenai's most powerful genjutsu's. Kurenai appeared behind the shinobi and ended his life without blinking. She glanced over her shoulder to Kakashi, who had finished fending off another Sound shinobi. "Kakashi, trust in Amari, Sasuke and Mimi. They'll be fine. I believe in them, as should you."
"How touching—" Kabuto barely escaped unscathed from Kakashi's thrown kunai.
"You're beginning to annoy me, but you won't get in my head," Kakashi stated firmly, equipping a new blade. "I trust in the abilities and judgement of those three. Unlike you of the Sound and Sand, we Leaf shinobi have strength that doesn't just come from physical prowess or jutsu. We have the strength of our comrades and those precious to us always at our sides; that's why I know those three will succeed, and why your plan to destroy the Leaf will end in utter failure."
Kurenai smiled and nodded at him before reengaging the battle. The Leaf shinobi among this section of the stadium, bolstered by his words, brought the fight to their endless enemies even harder than before.
The silver-haired ninja jumped up and kicked two Sound ninjas in the head, knocking them away. He landed on the set of bleachers in front of Sakura, who remained the only Genin awake in the area. "Sakura, it was worth teaching you genjutsu. You've improved so much since Amari took you under her wing. I wish I could say it was I who helped you get to this level, but I can't. You are truly talented. I'm sorry I have not taken the time to help you as much as the others."
All of his students had grown so much during these Exams. They realized their mistakes, trained harder to become better shinobi and matured more than he ever imagined they would in such a short time. It was time for him to follow their example. To admit to his own mistakes and, when this battle ended, work harder to become a better teacher.
"Kakashi-sensei…it's no big deal. You set me on the right path and taught us the most important lesson of all: teamwork."
He smirked sadly behind his mask, remaining silent. I wish I could believe you, Sakura. But I know deep down I've failed to help you. When this is all over, I'll do my best to become a better teacher for you and Naruto. After all, you each filled a hole in my life and have become precious to me.
"In any event, I want you to release the genjutsu and wake Naruto and Shikamaru up." The Copy Ninja forced a chuckle. "Naruto will be ecstatic to be going on a real mission after such a long time."
"A mission? What kind of mission?" his student asked.
"You'll have to be careful on this one," Kakashi continued. "It's the first A-ranked mission since the Land of Waves."
His eye scanned the area, monitoring Kabuto's position and that of his allies, picking apart the greater threats among them as his fellow Leaf shinobi clashed against them. He spotted Genma down below in an intense battle against another Sand shinobi; one of their elite from the look of it. Unfortunately for that Sand shinobi, Genma was one of their elite.
There isn't any end to these guys no matter how many we kill.
How many shinobi had the Sand and Sound put towards this effort?
An enemy ninja appeared right in front of him, intending to go for the kill. Kakashi had seen him coming long before he appeared. Using his kunai he cut him down, Kakashi sent him over his shoulder and past Sakura into a higher bleacher with a hard kick.
"But Sensei, with this battle going on…why send us on a mission too?"
Telling her that she was his backup plan probably wouldn't help. The facts were he needed Sakura, Naruto and Shikamaru to chase after Mimi, Amari and Sasuke to ensure they had enough strength to take down that Gaara kid.
He trusted in the abilities of the first three he sent, but he wasn't going to risk letting those three die or the three with him now.
With this battle going on, Guy, Kurenai and I will be limited to taijutsu and genjutsu. Otherwise we'll end up hitting civilians with deadly jutsu. On the same note, Sakura has been targeted more than once by these ninjas because she's awake. Staying here isn't safe for her, not against these ninjas and not if I get drawn away from her.
Ino, Lee and Chōji won't be targeted unless we are killed because they are out of the way. On the other hand Sasuke, Amari and Mimi may need all the help they can get considering they aren't in the best of condition.
Kakashi hissed out a breath. Either way I'm sending my students and other Genin into great danger without a Jōnin to back them up… He closed his eye and shook his head before opening it again. I have to believe in their abilities and hope the numbers will help them.
"Amari, Mimi and Sasuke are going to need help. You're also going to ensure that if things go bad they listen to my orders and retreat. Staying alive are your top priorities." He brought his kunai to his finger, pricking it for a small stream of blood. "Sakura, release the genjutsu, wake Naruto and Shikamaru then follow your comrades."
If that creature is like the Nine-Tails, the Village is in great danger while Lord Hokage is stuck in that barrier. Without having the Fourth Hokage here… The silver-haired Jōnin closed his eye again. Minato-sensei...am I doing the right thing?
"What about Ino and Chōji?"
I have no idea what would happen if Ino tried to use her Mind Transfer Jutsu on Gaara. It might be futile with that sand spirit inside him, and that'd put her in more danger than normal. If she were to get one of the others…
He bit back a sigh as the calculations of the Genin moved through his head. But she needs Shikamaru or someone else to back her up. I don't know if they'll be able to do that, not with Gaara and that sand of his. On the other hand, if Chōji was caught in Gaara's sand his Human Boulder technique wouldn't be able to save him.
The team I send needs to be fast. Normally I wouldn't consider Shikamaru to be quick, but with Amari in danger he'll be motivated.
"No. I know they've trained hard, but your team needs to move fast in and out of battle. With Gaara's sand, their jutsu's could leave them open for attack. Besides, according to Atsuko, many Sound and Sand ninjas have already infiltrated the Village. Any time wasted can be deadly."
"Guy-sensei!" a voice cut through the arena. Kakashi looked up to the top of the stairs to see none other than Tenten standing there. She had on a similar outfit to what she usually wore only her top was a dark emerald and her pants were wine red. On her hips she had two medium sized scrolls inside holsters and in her hands was a wooden staff.
A set of kunai were aimed at her but she easily deflected them all using her staff. Tenten? Well…Sakura and Naruto are used to there being four Genin as is Tenten, and she's definitely skilled with ninja tools. She trains with Lee, Mimi, Guy and Neji so she'll definitely be quick.
The Sound ninja who tossed the ninja tools at Tenten appeared in front of her, thinking her an easy target. He received a hard swing from the staff right along his head for his actions, sending him flying away.
"Good one, Tenten! Now, stay on guard near Shikamaru and Naruto! Sakura's coming up to you! Hiyah!"
"Okay, Guy-sensei. But what about Mimi?"
"You're going on a mission to help her!"
The ninja tool user didn't argue, instead choosing to continue guarding Naruto and Shikamaru with her pole staff at the ready.
"So, you'll be coming with us?" Sakura questioned to Kakashi.
Kami knew he wanted to. The spirits knew he didn't want to send these Genin alone without a Jōnin to guide them…but that choice was no longer in his hands. "No, I dare not leave this place so long as there are so many enemy ninjas here." This was the frontlines, and they'd need shinobi like him, Guy and Kurenai to keep that frontline in a deadlock.
The older ninja put his kunai away and moved through the Summoning Jutsu hand seals pressing his hands against the back of an unconscious civilian. "Summoning Jutsu!"
Out of the smoke appeared his faithful companion Pakkun. The small ninken wearing his forehead protector and jacket looked rather tired but ready to go nonetheless. "Pakkun here will track Sasuke, Mimi and Amari by scent."
"Wait…seriously? You're making our fifth member a puppy?"
His companion hopped across the bodies to Sakura; in the meantime Kakashi took care of a female shinobi with a slash of his kunai and a hard kick to send her body to the bottom of the stairwell. Kabuto remained perched on the cement pillar he connected himself to. Still waiting for an opportune moment to strike while these forces did his dirty work.
"Okay, its time Sakura. Go release the genjutsu." Sakura and Pakkun moved up the stairs while Kakashi jumped back into the fight to protect the Genin and lower the number of enemy shinobi.
After killing a few more shinobi, backing up Kurenai against a large team, he made his way back to Sakura and the others. Guy plowed a Sound ninja through a wall with a hard and fast punch, smashing a giant hole straight through the thick cement.
That's their escape route.
Landing at the edge of the stairs between his students, Shikamaru and Tenten with his two kunais in hand, it was time to brief the group on their mission. "Now, I'll explain your mission. As soon as I do, go through that hole and complete it. First, track down Amari, Mimi and Sasuke and join them on their mission." His eye flicked in all directions, tracking all the movements going on in front of him.
"If that mission is no longer viable, then you are to stop them and find some place to hide until you receive further orders. On top of that, you four are forbidden from dying. Understood?"
"Did something happen to those three?" Naruto asked.
"I'll tell you on the way. Now let's go Naruto." Sakura grabbed Naruto and jumped out the hole in the wall with Shikamaru, Pakkun and Tenten right behind them.
"Do you think they will be okay?" Guy queried.
"Yes, they'll be fine. They're all skilled and they have Pakkun to protect them."
I hope it's enough… He looked back only once. Be careful you guys.
He had always hoped nothing like a war would ever break out in their lifetime. He had seen the horrors war wrought firsthand; he had seen the death and pain it brought with it. People he cared for torn from him as he was completely helpless to stop it. He had hoped this generation wouldn't ever experience it, but in the end this war had come.
Please…don't let them be torn from this life too.
"What did you find Sasuke?" Mimi asked as the two kunoichi came sliding to a stop next to the Uchiha. He stood up and showed the two the sand he had just found in the grass. "Looks like they aren't attempting to hide their trail then."
"We're catching up," Amari stated. "We may be able to stop them before Gaara has enough chakra to defend himself."
Sasuke let the sand fall out of his hand and the trio nodded to each other in agreement to continue pursuit.
They were closing in on their target. They just had to hope they could really put a stop to the Sand's master plan before it was let loose.
Review Response to MewLover9000: Thank you for the best wishes, and best wishes to you as well in the goals you hold! I'm happy the bonds between these characters and the plot have you and others so invested. Thank you for reading! :)