Chapter 154
Vision of Utopia: Unnecessary Sacrifices and a Twisted Devotion
"Why didn't you consult us on this mission, Tsunade?" asked Homura.
Why didn't I consult you? The Fifth Hokage consciously fought against narrowing her eyes. I'm the goddamn Hokage, she wanted to say. I don't need your approval on every decision I make.
You are the Elders of the Leaf. It's an advisory role. Yet the two of you seem to operate under the impression you possess power synonymous to the Hokage's. And maybe under Sarutobi-sensei's leadership that was true. But I am not Sarutobi-sensei.
Tsunade didn't say a word of it. Though, truthfully, it was very tempting.
Nothing would have pleased her more than to watch their wrinkled, liver-spotted horror at someone finally mustering the backbone to challenge their sanctimonious façades. The Third Hokage obviously hadn't. But someone ought to. Someday.
"There wasn't time for a long discussion," Tsunade replied diplomatically, resting her left arm along the top length of the booth.
Seated in one of the Hokage Tower's administrative rooms, the Hokage was separated by a wooden table from the outspoken Elders—Homura and Koharu. They were two of the three last surviving subordinates to serve directly under the Second Hokage, and among the shinobi Tobirama sacrificed his life for.
Through them his ideals persisted, causing long-term complications despite the virus already running its course.
Through them, and the Foundation leader, his prejudice, his distrust and fear-mongering, and his blatant hatred for the Uchiha Clan finally reached its inevitable conclusion.
Tsunade wished to play a more combative role. It suited her style more naturally to pulverize and shatter annoying blockades obstructing her path. Besides, being diplomatic with Homura and Koharu was a real pain in the neck.
"Our Intel was solid," she went on to explain instead. "Raiga Kurosuki was at Katabami Gold Mine. We confirmed two shinobi of the Mist were headed straight for him, likely on an elimination mission, considering his status as a rogue shinobi. At the same time, three workers who managed to escape hired us to liberate the mine. All the pieces aligned in a perfect row. I couldn't pass up the chance."
Or allow you to muddle it with ill-intentions.
"Besides, we wouldn't have been paid if the Mist eliminated the Kurosuki Family," she added with a slight shrug. "If I waited too long, we would've missed a golden opportunity. Literally."
Why did she even have to explain herself? This was so annoying. They were treating her like a misbehaving child, demanding answers and explanations for—what exactly? An undeniably successful mission?
Team Guy's actions secured a deal with a prosperous gold mine and led to the elimination of a roaming rogue Swordsman, who was responsible for the unfortunate deaths of Atsuko's agents and countless civilians.
Additionally, Team Guy cooperated perfectly with the Mist shinobi, and through their actions laid a potentially strong foundation for their Villages to build on.
What more did these old fossils want from her? To claim the Kiba Blades and Hiramekarei as their own so they could create a squad of Leaf Village Swordsmen?
"Do not make excuses, Tsunade," scolded Koharu. "This impromptu mission could have had disastrous ramifications for the entire Leaf Village. As Hokage, you bear an immense responsibility to maintain the security and safety of the Village. The people of the Leaf depend on your leadership. You carry the weight of all of their futures on your shoulders; that is one of the many duties entrusted to the Hokage."
Not this speech again.
She'd heard the same tired speech about responsibility and duty at least a half a dozen times now since taking office. Like she wasn't taking responsibility as Hokage and fulfilling her duty already.
The old fossils just didn't like that her vision—her ninja way, as Naruto would put it—was bucking their precious status quo.
"For that reason, you cannot make rash decisions when the other Villages are involved," Koharu droned on. "They cannot be trusted, even when they have given their word. The Invasion and the Hyūga Incident are only the most recent, bloody examples of our previous mistakes."
"Had you come to us, we could have offered guidance and counsel on how to approach this situation," Homura added.
More like suspicion and duplicity, she thought, trying not to grind her teeth together.
"As I said, our Intel was solid," Tsunade replied patiently, avoiding a defensive posture. "And we've gained more through cooperation. Such as the existence and ideals of the Fifth Mizukage."
A half-truth. They had learned that kernel of Intel from Amaririsu's secret messenger bird, but the Elders didn't need to know of Kaito's existence. Or of Amaririsu's direct involvement.
Anything and everything spoken here would find its way back to the Foundation leader, doubtlessly.
Tsunade could almost feel Shizune's anxiousness irradiating from the nearby booth as her assistant organized the paperwork she'd be stuck doing as soon as this ridiculous meeting ended.
"You assume they aren't lying," Homura said.
"It's not like they gave us an estimate on their military strength or offered visitation to the Mist." Tsunade nearly rolled her eyes. Nearly. "From what we've learned, their goal is to rebuild and reform their Village so it no longer reflects the Blood Mist Era. It's the Fifth Mizukage's hope, one day, our Villages can know peace. A noble goal, all around. However, there were no guarantees given. Just a hope—a dream. One I share, honestly.
"Besides, even if I were to distrust their word, I trust my shinobi and their judgement. Assuming you read the report entirely, you know their feelings on the Mist shinobi."
"Yes. They seem to believe these two Mist shinobi are sincere enough."
"But two shinobi—two young shinobi—do not reflect an entire Village," Koharu stated. "It's likely the Fifth Mizukage sent loyalists. Idealists. But there are likely many more who hold ill Will against the Leaf."
Tsunade cocked an eyebrow. "You could say the same of us. I sent a squad I could trust to conduct themselves appropriately in peaceful talks or potential conflict. The Fifth Mizukage did the same. You don't send loose cannons on covert ops or diplomatic endeavors. That's basic strategy.
"However, unlike the Fifth Mizukage, I knew I was sending Team Guy to meet these Mist shinobi. She had no idea our paths would cross. In fact, they made it clear they had every intention of slipping in and out of the Land of Fire unnoticed for both of our Village's sake. Hell, they may have been successful if not for the vigilance of the Crows of the Leaf."
"And we owe the Crows a great debt for their service," replied Koharu. "But this effort at diplomacy, while profitable in the short-term, may very well be misguided."
Tsunade shifted her jaw. Misguided, huh?
"You say no guarantees were given. However, by simply approaching the Mist shinobi, you have opened a crack in a door that was sealed shut long ago," Homura picked up where his fellow Elder left off. It's like they had one mind or something. "You have made it clear the Leaf is open to negotiations of peace; this knowledge can now be exploited by the Mist, as it was exploited by the Cloud in years past. It's a silent sign of weakness on our behalf. We would rather negotiate than fight, that is the message it sends."
Beneath the table, she began to jab the tip of her pointer finger against her knee.
And what's wrong with negotiation? What's wrong with diplomacy? That's the only way our Villages will stop warring with each other. It's either that or we destroy one another completely.
What good will that do? How is that an acceptable end when peaceful negotiation is truly possible?
Tsunade held it in. Losing her cool now would do her no favors.
"This hope you speak of—this dream has been attempted before. It never holds," Homura shook his head.
So the pointless death and misery must continue? This volatile status quo is our only option, huh?
She dug her fingers into her pant leg. What a world to leave behind. Just another day in paradise, right?
"This time has the chance to be different," she responded firmly.
"Don't be foolish," Koharu reprimanded harshly. "What about this is different from any time before? What can you say is truly different about the Mist, who are known for their isolationism and betrayal of trusted comrades above all else."
What of Tobirama's betrayal? What of his legacy of suspicion?
"It's different because two sides are actively seeking peace despite no conflict at hand," she said, struggling to remember Atsuko's eloquent speech through the frustration headache thrumming at the center of her forehead.
"Just because our countries are not presently in open conflict does not mean our Villages are at peace," retorted Koharu.
Homura nodded while crossing his arms.
Again Tsunade nearly rolled her eyes. They hadn't changed one bit.
There was reasonable suspicion, and then there was stubborn paranoia. They didn't even want to try peace, it seemed. They would have rather sent someone to scare the Mist shinobis off. Or eliminated them entirely to weaken the Mist further.
Tsunade was glad she hadn't consulted them.
With people like them in charge, was it really any surprise the Uchiha Massacre came to fruition? The Uchiha Clan's first real chance at a change in the status quo died in the Nine-Tails attack; Minato's election was a promise of change from the old guard.
Instead, the old guard swept in to wrest control after his death, rather than appointing the one Uchiha they knew would win an election by a landslide.
"I'm not saying it'll be easy," she said, jaw tight. "I'm not saying there won't be compromises negotiated if we ever reach that day. Compromise is necessary for diplomacy to work. And of course there will be people who resent the decision in both of our Villages. I know that. But—"
"But you would risk the safety and security of the Leaf for a childish dream?" Koharu accused.
Tsunade's eye twitched. "There may be a chance for our Villages to forgo future bloodshed entirely," she spoke evenly, but to the point.
Combat roles suited her better.
"In case you've forgotten, the Stone have a first-wave invasion force sitting on the Land of Grass's border. Any day now the Third Great Ninja War will be reignited between our two Nations. We don't need extra enemies. In fact, we need all the allies we can get if the Stone is capable of building a Shinobi Empire."
"True, but we don't need 'allies' who will stab us in the back, either."
"Now who's practicing isolationism," she scoffed.
"You may not like it, but this is the way the shinobi world has always been," said Koharu.
"…How many more?" she asked after a brief pause.
"Excuse me?"
"How many more generations must fight our wars?" Tsunade demanded. "There are children today who will fight in a war that began before they were even born. So, how many more children must inherit the status quo before something changes? I mean, it's easy for us. We're in the final chapters of our lives. We'll be gone in a few decades. But for those kids, if they're lucky enough to survive, they'll inherit everything we leave behind. Including war. Especially war.
"So tell me, how many more children must suffer from our quarrels before peace and diplomacy become acceptable?"
How many more like Nawaki and Dan's sister would have to die? How many more would be sent into the fires of war because of age old quarrels and bloodshed?
She wanted to know. She wanted to hear their answer to know what the future generations would face. Then maybe she could mitigate the damage to leave behind something more than an abject failure of leadership.
"We do not wish for the next generations to inherit bygone wars," Koharu replied. "Were the other four Great Nations willing to end all hostilities, we would be glad to join them. But they have so far proven themselves unwilling and untrustworthy."
"You know this to be true," Homura said, adjusting his glasses. "Do not forget, your election to Hokage comes on the tail of yet another betrayal of trust."
My election should have never happened, she thought, poking at her knee beneath the table. In a just world, one of two men should be seated across from you now. Either Minato or Kiyoshi.
There was no need to plant his name in their minds. They might actually begin connecting the dots, if they hadn't already.
"I am well-aquatinted with our Nation's history and it's strife, believe me." She'd seen enough for a dozen lifetimes. Unfortunately, more was coming. "However, you are basing your suspicion off of the previous administrations of the Mist—"
"We are basing our suspicion off of history—
"—and not the potential of a Mizukage who has seen the price of Blood Mist Village."
"—while you seem to make decisions based on dreams and hopes."
"Enough!"
The slap of Tsunade's palm against the table silenced Homura.
Sometimes diplomacy required a stronger hand. Luckily, her hands were famous for their might.
"I am well-aware of the Mist's history." She spoke with authority. "I understand the Five Great Nations have warred on and off again for decades now. I fought on the battlefields of a Great Ninja War, just as you have. So do not talk down to me like I'm some naïve child."
She stared pointedly at the Elders. "Yes, I am motivated by a dream. I want our Nations to close this book written in blood. I hope the Fifth Mizukage truly seeks peace. But do not mistake my dreams and hopes as a sign of weakness. Nobody is going to walk over me," she emphasized. "Nor will I allow anyone—Mizukage or Tsuchikage—to pass through me if they seek the Leaf's destruction."
And that includes the Foundation.
"We are balancing on a knives edge where, at any moment, we'll fall into war. If the Mist has finally gotten their heads on straight, then we need to seize this moment and start building that bridge," Tsunade stated firmly.
"Why is it so important to do this now?"
All she had to do was dangle the right carrot in front of their noses. Maybe then they'd get the hell off her back.
"First off, we don't have to fear this ending the armistice with the Stone—clearly they have no intention of upholding it anyway. Far as our reports go, they intend to conquer the Land's of Fire, Wind and Water. The Stone may even possess the forces to accomplish this bold ambition." She clasped her hands together on the table. "An Alliance could unite our three weakened Nations against a common enemy."
Self-preservation was one hell of a motivator.
"Furthermore, economically and militarily, the Mist and the Sand are in worse shape than our Nation. Between the Fourth's reign of terror, followed by a revolution, we can safely assume the Mist is likely at its weakest in decades. The failed Invasion, the economic strife, and the assassination of the Kazekage puts the Sand in a similar situation.
"We're in bad shape, too. Make no mistake about that. But we have the economic, political and military power to negotiate the terms of an Alliance. The Sand has shown they're willing to work with us; the next generation are already united. On this recent mission, the Mist showed us the same thing."
The next generation didn't hold their grudges. Didn't care for their old quarrels. They were possibly the most tired with the status quo. She remembered being that way once. Glories of youth, she supposed. Though it seemed those spirited kids had dragged her back into it again.
Little brats.
"I'm not suggesting we rush into this," she repeated. "We can't afford a careless mistake, even with the threat of an impending war. But we can't sit idly by, either. It's in our best interests to act while we have the advantage. While we can profit the most from it."
Much as she hated to say those words, in the end, Nations didn't truly possess morals. Not like people did, anyway. They were motivated by their own self-interests. That was apart of the burden a Kage carried, measuring the interests of the Nation—its security, its economy, its future—with personal morals and goals.
Mei Terumī faced the same burden. Though they both desired peace, at its essence was the calculated decision to ensure the preservation of their Nations for future generations.
Self-preservation was one hell of a motivator.
Homura hummed deeply. Koharu flattened her lips and lowered her head as they both carefully considered the carrot the Fifth Hokage dangled before them. Shizune glanced up now and then to read the situation.
Tsunade held her ground patiently. Too many offensive maneuvers wouldn't sway old tortoises like the Elders. They'd think she was a rabbit racing ahead, certain her speed and 'youth' guaranteed victory and untapped wisdom. In reality, she was a slightly younger sea turtle accustomed to swimming instead of roaming slowly across land.
"Do you truly trust their intentions?" Koharu asked.
"One mission alone isn't enough to build a significant level of trust," said Tsunade. And it was true. Their 'bond' was connected by frail threads. One wrong move on either of their side would sever them entirely. "But it's a crack in the door. As I said before, there's a chance here. A very real one. We could gain an ally and, with luck, end future conflicts between our Nations.
"It's not something that will happen overnight, I know that. It won't be simple, but we're talking about changing the history of two Nations." She shook her head. "We can't expect something like that to be easy. And we shouldn't ignore it because it's difficult. Let's at least give the Fifth Mizukage the benefit of the doubt. We can take her ideals at face value while staying vigilant."
"I suppose you are right," Homura acquiesced. "If nothing else, it may allow us to monitor the Mist more closely."
"About the envoy—Amaririsu Yūhi," Koharu began, "was it wise to send someone so young and inexperienced?"
"Would you rather I have sent an elite Jōnin?" Tsunade countered. "What kind of message would that send?"
"You're not wrong, in that respect," assented the old kunoichi.
Hook, line and sinker. Underestimating Amaririsu's influence in this situation was a bad move. But they couldn't be blamed. They didn't know what she symbolized to the Mist shinobi.
"However, Amaririsu's youth and inexperience could be interpreted as an insult."
"Amaririsu may be young, but she is still a Chūnin. By recent standards, earning that promotion at her age is rare. Only a handful of prodigies ever graduate early now. Even fewer make Chūnin before they hit fifteen."
It was diametrically different from the worst of the last war. During the worst of it, they were churning out as many viable soldiers from the Academy as early as possible. Kids like Kakashi, while prodigious, were out by age five, promoted by age six, and Jōnin by age twelve.
I was out of the Academy by age six. Orochimaru and Jiraiya were, too. Minato was out by age ten. Hell, Obito and Rin were out of the Academy by age nine and promoted at age eleven. The list goes on and on from that time period.
Generally, early graduations in the recent era of peace were out of the norm. Most kids stayed in until age twelve, mostly because there hadn't been any desperate need for soldiers to join the war effort.
The Fourth and the Third tried to better their education system, give the kids more time to learn and grow in safety, as was the intention of the Village System.
As long as it was in her power, Tsunade wouldn't send the current list of Academy kids into war. She'd try her damndest to uphold the purest intention of her Grandfather's and Madara's original vision for the Leaf.
"I see your point. It was an adequate middle ground." Middle ground. Uh-huh. "However, would we be able to speak with Amaririsu? I have read the report, but I have questions about these Mist shinobi and their behavior that was not specifically outlined. A discussion may glean a more thorough depiction of the Mist. Details she may have accidentally overlooked as unimportant."
"I would like to hear from her as well," Homura agreed.
Tsunade fought back a smile. It was difficult, but her youthful features did not betray her. Who knew years of gambling and learning a poker face had its uses.
Take that, Grandmother.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible," said the Fifth Hokage.
"Why not?"
"Amaririsu is out on a mission."
"A mission? Already?" Homura was visibly surprised.
"She's hardly been back for a few days." Koharu wore a similar countenance.
"Come on, you know the situation we're in," Tsunade pretended to be mildly exasperated. "I'm not running a daycare. Every mission gathers us funds to rebuild and refortify the Village. I can't have a talented Chūnin waste time sitting around. We need money. And we need it fast. And the job I sent her on is paying a lot of money."
That, at least, wasn't a complete lie. The nomadic tribe who hired them was willing to part with a surprising amount of money to find a lost ferret of all things.
Although, if Tonton went missing, there was a distinct chance money may suddenly vanish from the Leaf's reserves.
The Elders pursed or flattened their lips. "Well, that is the appropriate action to take, given our circumstances," Homura said at length.
"Yes. For now, rebuilding and refortifying the Leaf is a far more pressing concern. In time, though, I would like to revisit this."
"Of course."
And I'd like to win a lottery without an existential crisis happening because of it, but even I know that won't happen.
"Now, about this land-ship…"
Snow had officially fallen in the Land of Fire.
Along the higher elevations of the steep, rocky cliffs in the country's southwest region, a light powdering of white dusted the fields of green, giving off the appearance that Mother Nature was suffering from mild dandruff rather than an actual snowfall.
It was nothing dramatic. Nothing comparable to the regular winter storms Amari had experienced at the orphanage or in the Leaf Village, nor did it resemble the tundra of the Land of Snow. But cold was cold, regardless of glaciers or lack thereof.
Amari couldn't figure out who to blame for the accursed chill they faced.
Should she blame the Fifth Hokage? It was under her orders Shizune shoved them out the gate with minimal Intel of where they might end up. Neither bothered to mentioned her team would need winter gear and equipment to traverse the mountains.
Perhaps it was better to blame the ferret. The pesky fur ball had abandoned its last known location and scampered off into the mountains, where the chill nipped their flesh and possessed cutting power to rival an arrow launched from a ballista.
Or did the fault fall upon the nomad tribe? They'd lost the ferret to begin with, right? Then they went ahead and designated some small, sparsely populated mountain village as their meeting spot.
Amari was of the cold and annoyed opinion to blame every last one of them.
Presently, Team Seven were marching single-file through a narrow passageway, cramped by the sunless craggy cliff faces towering overhead. A wail whistled against the stone. Mother Nature's cold breath brushed past them.
Amari shivered. Gooseflesh climbed up her bare calves and shins. Where's the sun when you need it? Or, better yet, proper winter clothes, she thought, rubbing her arms.
Their only shield from the bitter air were a plain set of ponchos for the boys and shawls for the girls, colored like wisps of whitish-gray smoke, purchased by Amari after their mission to the Land of Snow. They were apart of a survival equipment scroll she was building, meant to serve as another layer to wear in addition to their thick cloaks and winter clothes.
Alone they were slightly better than a long sleeve. So, better than nothing, but still not enough.
We were ill-prepared for this simple mission, she thought, lips screwed in a frown. We were told this mission wouldn't take us far from the walls of the Leaf. Did Shizune or Lady Tsunade even read the planned meeting spot? We're right on the border of the Land of Rivers. It hasn't even been a week since I was here with Team Guy.
There must have been a small window to get one or all of us out, she theorized, burying her cold nose into her shawl. What she'd give for some earmuffs or a beanie; her ears were freezing.
Lady Tsunade isn't normally this careless. After all, she supplied us with an antidote to Aoi's poison on short notice before we left for the Land of Tea. Someone should have warned us of our final destination.
Additionally, since it was obvious no one intentionally sent them on this mission to gain tracking experience, a squad like Hinata's would've been better suited for it. Sending combat types on a wild ferret chase in the present circumstance was, from a purely strategic point of view, a poor distribution of resources.
Haste makes waste, I suppose.
There was no use complaining about it now. As soon as they crossed the dilapidated bridge ahead, they would have one last field to cross before arriving at the mountain village. Then the return trek would begin. It would be back home to training, and, with luck, to some answers about this weird mission.
"Hey Sakura, how is that stinkin' ferret holding up?" Naruto asked, visibly annoyed.
Being scratched in the face would do that to even the most patient of monks.
"Don't antagonize him again," Sakura scolded. She adjusted her shawl and unzipped the pouch of her over-the-shoulder pack, hanging on her left hip.
"Antagonize? I didn't do anything to that jerk of a rodent!"
Once unzipped, a tan and black head visibly poked out of the bag. Sakura pet the ferrets head before he ducked back into the bag.
The distinguishing traits of their target were his black socks and the dark markings around its head, which formed a tan diamond on his forehead. He also had red eyes resembling rubies. It made confirming his identity as the lost pet a whole lot easier.
"You were laughing at it and calling it stupid for getting caught in our trap," Sakura reminded as she zipped up the bag. "It's fine, by the way. I think it's just waiting to be reunited now."
"It was stupid," he huffed.
Their trap was nothing extremely elaborate. A box with a plushy cat toy stapled to its top for added weight, a stick to prop it up, and a trail of food pellets had brought the ferret right into their hands.
It'd seemed friendly enough, at first. It all but climbed onto Sakura's shoulders without a fuss once they let it out of the box.
Naruto, however, like with Tora, possessed a special, innate ability to piss off every animal he encountered. Everything from cats and ferrets to giant snakes had it out for the knucklehead.
Amari might've felt bad if she wasn't stifling a giggle when the ferret climbed onto her shoulders after attacking him.
"Apparently it's smart enough to know you're insulting it," Sakura retorted. "That's why your face is like that now."
Sasuke snorted.
Naruto spun and glared at the Uchiha. "Got something you wanna say, Sasuke?"
"Nothing you don't already know, loser."
"Trying to coyly say I'm an idiot, aren't you!"
"Hmph. Apparently you're as smart as the rodent."
"Grrrr! Why you!"
"It's so nice to have the team back together," Amari feigned an exasperated sigh. "Now let's dial it back a few decibels," she ordered instead of requested.
They were all tense or annoyed for one reason or another. Friendly banter was fine. Bickering was just bad for morale.
"Don't make this anymore troublesome than it already is," Amari said. "We're in the home stretch. Once we safely cross the dilapidated bridge, we'll pick up the pace and finish this mission."
"Not looking forward to this bridge, to be honest," Naruto said. "Even from here it looks ready to break beneath our feet."
"Don't jinx it, troublesome boy."
Unfortunately, Naruto wasn't wrong in his assessment. The bridge was constructed of rope and wood. Though no planks were missing, the wood rot and weathering was as plain to see as the sun on a cloudless day. Even the warning sign planted in front of it was old, its letters faded and illegible. But the message was clear:
Cross the bridge like you're crossing a room of sleeping infants you don't want to wake up. If you don't, have a nice trip falling through the bridge and into the river flowing a stomach unsettling distance below.
The passageway opened up at the ridge, where the rope bridge was hung from two old and weather-worn wooden posts.
As Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke embarked onto the bridge, Amari paused at its entrance and turned to look beyond the field and hills separating them from the village. Ribbons of black and grey rose above the hills.
Those definitely aren't storm clouds. She clutched her cold hands into fists. Someone torched the village.
At her sudden absence, all three members of Team Seven halted on the bridge and looked back.
"Hey, Amari? What's up?" Naruto asked.
She gestured her chin towards the horizon. "Smoke. It's rising from the village."
All six of their eyes fell on the same sight. Brows furrowed and lips flattened together.
The mission had just become troublesome.
Amari embarked onto the bridge, feet carrying her lightly and swiftly past her teammates, who quickly followed behind her to the other side, where she removed her pack and passed out their headsets.
Once they had the microphones strapped around their necks and their ear-pieces plugged into their ears, Team Seven set off, concealing themselves in the trees as they leapt towards the fire.
"We'll split up into teams of two. Naruto, you and I will approach from the west. Sasuke, you and Sakura approach from the east."
"Got it. Sakura, let's go," Sasuke veered off.
"Right behind you," Sakura followed.
"Remember," Amari continued, "we don't know who or what we're dealing with yet, so gathering Intel is a priority. Keep to the shadows and don't lower your guard."
They met no resistance on the way to the village, nor did she spot any tracks leading to or from the village. Likewise, there wasn't a single villager in sight—dead or alive. The fields were empty. The village was razed.
Amari and Naruto halted on a tree overlooking the small mountain village. Over their headsets she heard Sakura gasp; they could see it, too.
"What the heck happened here?" Naruto was the one to ask.
Crouching, Amari furrowed her brow and scanned the destroyed village. The scent of smoke was thick, the ravaged earth black. Every structure—whether wooden or stone—was splintered, demolished, collapsed in on themselves, or smoldering.
Total destruction. Nothing remained intact.
"Looks like a raid," Sasuke considered.
"I would agree, but something very important is missing," Amari said, scanning the blackened skeletons of the destroyed structures with her unconcealed Byakugan.
"What do you mean?"
"There's no one here," she answered. "No dead villagers. No hiding survivors. No raiders who met their end on the prongs of a pitchfork. Nothing. It's like this village was abandoned before it was burned to cinders."
"Hm."
"But this is the place we were supposed to meet that nomad tribe, right?" Naruto asked.
"It is. This village should've been populated," Amari confirmed.
Did the villagers flee before the raid could begin? Possible. They may have been given a warning soon after confirming this mission, leaving no time for them to warn the nomad tribe or the hired shinobi of their departure. Even the best of Intel couldn't predict something like that.
But moving an entire village, even as sparsely populated as this, would leave trails. They'd have horses, livestock, carts, and the villagers themselves, all which leave some trace behind. We're talking about moving more than a dozen people—civilians—at once, who lack shinobi training. We would've run into something by now.
Amari checked the earth beneath the buildings for any manner of secret tunnels. There was nothing.
Were they taken hostage? Bandits and rogues had plenty of uses for living hostages. There was ransom, foul entertainment, or they could sell them like livestock to the vilest of monsters.
But all signs of a struggle were missing. Even had the raid been perfectly executed, the average coterie of bandits did not wield anywhere near the same level of skill and power as the Kurosuki Family. Civilians would've died in the heat of the moment, no doubt about it.
In that scenario, corpses would be lining the blackened earth, impaled or cut down. She would find people huddled in their collapsed homes, burned bodies frozen stiff in their final moments of fear and agony. There would be something.
Instead, all she could see was massive mystery without a hint of evidence to work off of.
Where did the people go? Who attacked this village? And what's our next step?
"Hey, calm down in there," Sakura said suddenly, clearly talking to the ferret.
"What's the matter?" Amari asked.
"I don't know. Something has him riled up all of a sudden."
Great. Now the ferret was acting up. Like this mission wasn't turning out to be a huge drag already.
Before Amari could suggest genjutsu, Sasuke's raised voice cut through the headset,
"Sakura, look out!"
A dull but noisy thud echoed in the distance.
Amari stood upright, hand shooting to her ear piece as she zeroed her Byakugan's vision in on her two teammates, sifting through the trees that separated them.
"Hey, what's happening over there?" Naruto asked into his headset.
"We've got company," answered Sakura.
"These guys aren't shinobi," Sasuke followed. "I've never seen armor like theirs."
Amari found Sasuke, Sakura and their two ambushers. The two enemies stood taller than Zabuza, with a heavy frame that appeared too big even for them despite their otherwise quick movements.
They were identical in every way, including their full, metal plate brown armor. They wielded heavy, two-handed weapons—a blunt metal club and a tremendously sized long sword.
"I have," she realized in mild horror. "Naruto, let's go. Sasuke, Sakura, we're on our way. Just hang on."
Amari had seen their armor before. But she hadn't read about them in any historical documentation of the shinobi continent or of their samurai brethren. No, those images were imprinted into her memories from her time in the Hero World, while studying the history of their pre-Quirk world and their other continents.
That left two very unsettling conclusions. Either someone from the Hero World—or another world altogether—had opened a door to their world to invade them, or these people were from another continent like the one she read about.
If these guys were Villains, or associated with the League of Villains, they wouldn't be wearing ancient armor. Knowing that man-child, he would've sent another Nomu, or more, if he found a way to our world just to spite me for taking his hand. Which means…
"Constants and variables," she muttered.
It all sounded farfetched. Invaders from an unknown continent? For all of shinobi history, the world was their continent and nothing else. In their arrogance they even referred to it as the "Shinobi World."
Now it seemed the sun no longer revolved around them.
Movement snapped her eyes left. Simultaneously, Naruto leapt ahead of her, bounding across three branches.
Chakra flooded the kunoichi's body as she leapt up to the underside of a branch, bending her knees and preparing to propel herself; words wouldn't help him, he was mid-descent on a leap.
She tried anyway.
"Naruto, watch your left!"
Then she was flying. Wind whistled past Amari's ears as she flickered through the air, shawl fluttering and whipping behind her.
Naruto turned his head left. His eyes went wide.
At the same time, Amari landed feet first against the metal chest plate of the foreign soldier seeking to cut them off, specifically by cutting them down.
The foreigner didn't see her coming. The speed and force she struck interrupted their trajectory, knocking the heavy blade from their hand, throwing the giant off course from her teammate.
These guys aren't like those books I read, though, she realized, startled by what her Sharingan and Byakugan witnessed.
The red mono-eye glowing beneath the brown visor did not glance her way how a human might. It slid inhumanly to the corner of the visor, like someone was redirecting the beam of a flashlight.
There's no one inside the armor!
Amari made to leap off the falling body, willing to let gravity have its way with the metal man.
As she made to leap, a massive hand gripped her by the ankle. She felt her heart jump into her throat.
Ah, hell!
Suddenly she was flailing through the air. An instant later pain blossomed from her back as she bounced across the earth once, then a second time off of her chest.
On the third bounce, Amari rolled across her back and onto her feet, sliding back on her heels out of the forest and into a clearing beside a steep cliff. A large shadow fell over her.
Amari rolled to the side, evading the second foreign soldier. The earth vibrated beneath her feet as he, and his weapon, landed.
"Don't bother trying conventional methods of combat," she ordered over, equipping three kunais attached with paper bombs. "There's nobody inside the armor."
"That explains a lot, actually," Sakura muttered. "They're not reacting to anything I do to them."
"At least it won't be boring. This will be a nice exercise," Sasuke commented.
As the foreign soldier charged, his partner crashed out of the tree-line on a gale of compressed wind, chest plate bearing indentations from a pummeling of blows. Even then it began to rise, though slower than normal.
"We're not finished with you yet, you big jerk!" a chorus of Naruto's voice bellowed, the sky becoming littered by orange as a horde of ten dove in from above.
"And here we worried we wouldn't get to fight anything," Amari quipped, twirling on one foot around the giant, throwing one, two, and then her third kunai to puncture the gaps of their armor. "Guess our infamous luck is working in our favor today. Can't say I'm complaining."
She ducked low to the ground in a deep lunge. Air whistled above her head as the foreign soldiers swung blindly, unfettered by the blades punctured where flesh should be.
No blood streamed out. It wouldn't. They were more akin to the Sand's puppets than people.
"I need something to vent my frustrations out on."
"Heh," Sakura exhaled an abrupt chuckle.
"Hmph," Sasuke snorted.
"I hear that!" Naruto called.
Amari sprang up, climbing its knee, its chest plate and then releasing chakra to fly out of the blast radius, flowing through a backflip. As she rotated, she clapped her palms together into Snake.
The air rippled and roared. Smoke and fire engulfed the soldier. From it, chunks and fragments of smoking armor scattered across the grassy field; the metal club crashed against the earth and fell inert.
At the same time, Naruto and his Shadow Clone's finished their barrage of blows, literally pummeling the other soldier into a heap of bent metal and limbs. It didn't rise again.
Power suddenly pricked Amari's senses. Raw, controlled, she saw its source through her Byakugan first, the individual dashing on the wind through the haze of dust and smoke their attacks had birthed.
Hand snapping up and gripping the hilt of her tantō, the blade hissed from its scabbard and became sheathed in flames. She slashed twice. Blades of fire sliced through the haze at the person—the man—on its other side. He evaded the flames with graceful movements, reminding her more of a dancer than a warrior.
Naruto and his Shadow Clones, once satisfied with their apparent victory, whirled towards the attack.
Out of the curtains a figure in resplendent steel knight armor emerged suddenly, cape the color of blood flapping behind him, long blond hair swaying in the wind. He darted past Naruto and his Shadow Clones.
His strides swift, his gait elegant, he charged directly for Amari, clutching a steel sword that was slightly longer than her tantō.
A knight targeting a girl in battle? So much for the gallant chivalry of shining white knights. An entire fantasy ruined. How dissatisfying.
Amari landed and sprang ahead in a flash, blades of grass flickering or bending beneath the wind or their boots and sandals, respectively.
Clang!
The piercing clash of metal on metal ruptured the air.
The knight's eyes, red as rubies, squinted at her from behind his visor. The hardened lavender of the Byakugan, bulging veins across her temple, and the crimson of the Sharingan, tomoes spinning, pierced his metal armor.
This power…
It wasn't chakra. The power, the…foreign energy, it was enormous! Greater in size than even Kisame Hoshigaki's chakra. Maybe even greater in potential than a Tailed-Beast.
She could see the source directly over his heart. Some manner of stone was implanted inside the knight's chest, and from the stone the energy flowed throughout his body. But the stone, she couldn't sense an end to its power. It was burgeoning, expanding infinitely, like the universe itself was growing inside of him.
They couldn't risk a drawn out fight. Too dangerous. They didn't have the slightest clue what this power was capable of or if it had any limits. She had to restrain him. And fast.
Their swords clashed four more times, with the knight pushing her into a retreat. Their blades met in another deadlock.
"What is the source of your power?"
Amari recoiled at the knight's sudden demand.
What is the source of your power, she wanted to reply. And how do you speak our language?
"You're not the one asking questions here," she said instead.
His helmet only protected him down to the tip of his nose. For that reason, she saw the arrogant smile curl onto his lips.
He didn't counter with a snarky retort. He attacked again, shoving aside her blade and bringing her to a knee. The tip of his sword rested at her throat not a moment later.
"Lay down your arms and submit to questioning," he commanded. "You are defeated."
Amari cocked an eyebrow, one corner of her lips tugging upwards. "Am I? You're very certain of that, aren't you?"
Even with his visor she could see his brow furrow. "Enough bravado. You are defeated."
"Then kill me, if you can," she dared.
"I will not hesitate if you stand in my way. However, your power could be better used," he said. "You could help us build Master Haido's utopia."
The knight's eyes went wide. He slapped a gloved hand over his mouth while keeping his sword to her throat.
"So, you're here to build a utopia."
Amari stood up. Against his will, the knight lowered his sword and slowly kneeled onto one knee.
"Building a utopia is a wonderful goal. More people should strive for it." She stepped closer, placing a hand on his helmet, tilting his paralyzed head to look directly at her searing eyes. "One problem with your vision: Utopia's don't torch villages because they happen to 'stand in your way.' Tyrants do.
"Now, where is your Master?"
Outside of the genjutsu, cast the moment they first locked eyes, Amari restrained the knight at a distance of five strides with her Shadow Possession. He stood, chin tucked to chest, half-lidded eyes, surrounded on all sides by Naruto's ten Shadow Clones.
Quick and clean. I may be curious about your power, she thought, but not curious enough to endanger our lives or the mission.
"Sasuke, Sakura, you'll have to regroup with us," Amari informed, red eye locked on the foreigner. "I've captured the leader of the scouting party."
"We'll be there," replied Sasuke.
"I won't," muttered the knight dully.
"He won't what?" Naruto wondered behind her.
The energy within the knight flared. Red rubies blinked awake. His furious gaze locked onto the kunoichi.
Amari grunted and felt herself hunch. Heat from muscle strain rushed across her skin. Suddenly it was like she was trying to tug Hokage Tower down with an old rope and nothing else.
Teeth grit, she strained to bind the knight as he, jaw tight and teeth clenched, began to force his sword arm up.
Such…enormous power. What…
Between them her Shadow thinned and widened. Amari felt perspiration forming across her skin.
What…kind of power…is this? It's almost limitless. It's burgeoning. I can't…
"Naruto, grab him! I can't…hold him…much longer."
"You heard her!" Naruto commanded his Shadow Clone's. "Dog pile!"
The Naruto's leapt and charged the knight. The foreign energy unfurled more and more of its limitless power. A sigil, shining silver, illuminated over the knight's heart and through his armor.
Too…late!
Amari's Shadow snapped back to her.
Green energy with a powdery constitution, appearing like an airbrushed aurora borealis, flared around the knight's short sword. Then, without a word, the blade extended to match the length of his arm.
Collapsing to her knees while weaving handseals, Amari said,
"Naruto, stay beside me."
The knight made a graceful slash at nothing. From his blade, the green energy, like elegant fountains of pure chakra, poured through the air towards the Shadow Clones, Amari and Naruto.
Amari slammed her hands against the ground. Cries of shock burst from the Shadow Clones lips as they dispersed upon being struck.
Earth Style: Mud Dome!
From the trembling earth the solid dome-shaped wall rose. Just in time.
Streams of green energy crashed against the dome, and like a stone thrown at a mirror, cracks split across the earthy walls; it would shatter at any moment, the potency of the energy was too much for her middling Earth Style.
They needed something stronger. Something to combat this strange energy.
"Naruto, we're going to synchronize our jutsus. Are you ready?"
"Yeah, you bet."
From opposing sides of the dome-shaped wall, Amari and Naruto dashed out into the open, racing two distinct arcs directly towards the knight. Eyes measuring their distance, he made another elegant slash, redirecting the aurora to crash into their bodies.
When the two Shadow Clone's dispersed into smoke, his red eyes snapped back to the dome-shaped wall. It was too late.
With the force of a volcanic eruption, the cracked earth exploded open. Through the opening poured a violent and vast stream of fire, enhanced by a howling gale.
The knight swung his sword again.
Combined Fire and Wind collided against the aurora, crashing together, fighting like opposing tides to assert their personal dominion.
As they fought, another stream of fire ignited, scorching the grass directly for the knight's exposed back.
The knight turned his head, glancing over his shoulder at the wave of fire pouring from Sasuke's mouth. With practiced and unfettered movements, he made yet another elegant turn and slash, unleashing a new wave of powdery green energy to meet the flames.
Fire clashed against an aurora on both sides. Wind howled across the plain, immense energy swirled and pricked their skin, but the barrier of swirling energy around the knight never once faltered. It never lost its potency or weakened.
What the hell is this power?
Something as simple as paper flickering on the wind couldn't be heard over the howling churn of power. However, the knight saw the incoming paper bomb, thrown by Sakura from his left flank.
He leapt away, towards the cliffs edge—the only space free from enemies.
Except, as he landed, a flicker of red and whitish-grey appeared out of a Body Flicker, pink hair whipping as she braced her hand on the ground and thrust her foot against his exposed back.
He'd fallen for the decoy.
Sakura kicked him off his feet, into the air, and right into position. Amari couldn't have planned the timing of it any better. The streams of Fire and Wind vanished.
A new power swirled into existence, and a blue hue cast it luminescence overhead. The knight spun to see Naruto flying towards him. Ruby eyes wide, he stared in awe, for a moment, at the Rasengan primed to punch straight through any barrier he formed.
Then, with a thrust of his sword, he created another barrier before him.
"Rising Thunder!" he called.
"Rasengan!" Naruto slammed the orb of concentrated chakra against the barrier.
Straight-line winds exploded across the battlefield. Earth uprooted across the mountainside.
Amari lowered into a crouch, connecting herself to the ground via chakra when she felt her feet beginning to slide. She raised her forearms up to block her face.
Earth shredding and cracking apart roared in her ears. Wind lashed her body. And then she was flying.
Ah man, what a drag!
Thrown aside like a pebble, she crashed and skipped against the earth several times, flipping and flopping end over end when something softer than a tree or a stone caught her. Something capable of grunting.
An air-rending explosion drowned out all else. It struck her chest, pounded her eardrums. The earth did not so much as tremble as it did shatter and quake beneath them.
Through a daze, ripping wind, and shimmering light, Amari witnessed a section of the cliff shear clean off the mountainside.
Worse, she saw Naruto and Sakura plummet towards the bottom right alongside it. The knight also joined them on their plunge.
"Are you all right, Haya?" Miss Anbu's voice helped clear the daze somewhat. Helped her reorient her position, presently caught in the seated woman's arms, who had taken the brunt of the tree trunk's impact on her behalf.
"Sakura and Naruto," she gasped, working to scramble her way out of the Anbu agent's arms. She was quick to offer a hand and help the woman up, and even quicker dashing to the edge of the fractured cliff.
Sasuke, who'd been knocked aside like her, appeared at the edge across the massive gap separating them.
"Amari, can you see them down there?" Sasuke's voice came into her ear piece.
"No. I can't see anything. Naruto, Sakura, can you hear me?" Amari asked, trying not to scream it down the mountainside.
Nothing. Could their microphones have been knocked off? Damaged by the explosion? Had they fallen out of range already?
"Dammit. You two better not be dead," Sasuke grunted.
No response came.
Again, without any warning at all, the shattered cliffside began to quake once more with the thunder of a million dwarves drumming in the deep.
Metal grinding against stone screeched from behind a nearby mountain peak. Trees splintered as loudly as cracking bolts of lightning, but the bellowing roar of a motorized beast nearly overpowered it.
"What now?" Sasuke questioned, as exasperated and concerned as she felt.
"Haya, Sasuke, get out of the open!" Miss Anbu ordered, gesturing them to follow her into the trees.
Amari hesitated. Sasuke, she noticed, did as well.
They couldn't just leave Sakura and Naruto behind. They couldn't write them off as missing-in-action or killed-in-action, regardless of what was responsible for shaking the earth. Sakura and Naruto were their teammates. Their friends.
Those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum.
But they couldn't leave whatever was responsible for this noise unattended. It was all too coincidental that it was showing up now, exactly in the area of the scouting party that came before it. Doubtlessly, they were connected somehow.
Jaw clenched, Amari brought her hands up into the Clone Seal. Two Shadow Clone's formed on either side of her. Immediately they dashed down the side of the mountain, flickering out of natural view in seconds.
Naruto, Sakura, you better be okay.
"Sasuke, regroup with Miss Anbu," she called, turning away from the cliff and leaping off into the trees.
"Right."
They gathered beneath the shady, yellow canopy, amid the tree branches and tree trunks. From there they had a perfect and terrifying view of the colossal monstrosity responsible for the trembling earth.
"What the hell is that thing?" Sasuke spoke almost too quietly to be heard over the cacophony of destruction the machine was causing.
Over the peak of the mountain, the roving metal tower's highest chamber emerged first as its wide base cleaved and sheared shelves of stone from the narrow gorge it was passing through.
The structure reminded Amari of a monastery, almost. A metal monastery, so unnatural and opposed to peace that it actively sought chaos.
Near its lowest point, being pelted by the dislodged shelves, was its massive engine, chugging along not at all unlike a coal-powered train. Attached at the bottom were massive drills, so obviously meant to carve openings into the earth or destroy obstructions standing before its metal wheels, which rolled on a continuous track.
Another shelf of stone broke loose, crashing onto the engine. The screech of metal and stone halted abruptly. The splintering trees, cracking with the ferocity of lightning went silent; they remained half chewed and eaten beneath the tread of its wheels. The bellowing roar of the monstrous motors died out, and black smoke began to rise from it.
The metal monster had a weakness. It wasn't as invincible as it appeared.
"It's engine is hardy, but delicate," Miss Anbu analyzed aloud. "They will likely begin repairs now. But who could craft this war machine? I've never seen anything like it before."
Sasuke caught Amari's eyes. "You said you've seen armor like theirs before."
She nodded once. "I did. In the Hero World, I studied their ancient history to see if we—the shinobi Nations—ever existed. Though we didn't exist, through my studies I discovered the history of their seven continents. Knights from fantasy novels you can find at a local bookstore actually existed in the Hero World's Middle Ages."
"Mm, so that's what you meant," Sasuke flattened his lips, squinting his Sharingan at the metal construct. "Constants and variables, huh."
"Yeah."
The constant was the existence of knights and another continent. The variable was the power they wielded and the technology they boasted. The engine and wheels of the tower resembled the Hero World's Pre-Quirk tanks, except scaled to match the size of several houses.
"I think we're being invaded by another continent," she said, and almost chuckled at how ridiculous it sounded.
"Unfortunately, you are right on the money, as you humans say, Lady Haya."
At the sound of beating wings, Amari blindly put her left arm out. Not a moment later Osamu in his feathered glory perched himself upon it.
"However, although I am always pleased to see you, what is Team Seven doing here?" queried the Crow.
"We were supposed to deliver a ferret to a nomadic tribe at the nearby village. A routine mission, we were told."
"I am certain that would be the case were these invaders not presently, ah, invading, as it were."
"Osamu, Sakura and Naruto—"
"I saw. I've already sent agents to join your Shadow Clones in their search-and-rescue efforts."
"Thank you."
"Fear not, Lady Haya, Sasuke. Naruto and Sakura are sturdy companions, just as you are."
Miss Anbu rose from a crouch and turned to face the Crow. "What's the situation, Osamu?"
"Dire, I'm afraid. Several small villages, like the one you witnessed, have been annihilated by these invaders. They've taken several hostages—it started as children, but has since grown into entire villages. For what purpose, I do not yet know. My infiltration into their structure was less than successful. It is a veritable maze, cramped and thoroughly patrolled. Without flight, I was reduced to hopping through their vents. I witnessed approximately less than one percent of their machine before I deemed it too inefficient to navigate.
"However, it does appear fortune has smiled upon us. I feel a new wind beneath my wings, as it were, now that you three are here. For who else better to aid my infiltration and investigation—and future rescue operation—than three who wield such keen senses."
"Using flattery to conscript us, Osamu? This situation really is dire," Sasuke said.
"Hmhm," Osamu hummed a dark chuckle. "As I said, such keen senses. I expect nothing less from the Uchiha." He turned his head to Miss Anbu. "May I count on your aid? We are running desperately low on time."
"Of course," she replied.
"Excellent. I would like to hear what you've learned from your battle, but first, allow me to brief you on everything we have gathered."
In the shade of the canopy, the three shinobi listened to the Crow's report regarding the invading force before them, and those the Hokage had learned would soon invade the Land of Wind, if they had not already.
Had the tower been closer, Amari could have seen the man in the flame mask lounging inside the throne room of the invaders, an ancient book opened in one hand and his fist propping up his chin, as if rendered bored by the text.
But it wasn't closer, and so they debriefed with Osamu without ever knowing the Masked Man was a stone's throw away.
They never saw him casually raise his red eye from the book as the leader of the invaders entered, nor did they hear his welcoming and menacing salutation.
"Ah, there you are," greeted the Masked Man, catching the invader and his female subordinate off guard. "Welcome back. I've been expecting you."
Sprawled out on the cushioned stone throne, the peak of its back standing as tall as four grown men stacked in a column, the Masked Man flipped the page of the ancient tome—the Book of Gelel, as it was titled.
He'd never heard the name before. Until today, that is. And what a curiosity it was.
"How did you—" The invader's voice caught in his throat.
"How?" he interrupted without lifting his gaze. "How is quite the question. How did I slip through your security? How did I come to sit upon your throne?" he wondered, sounding intrigued by his own queries. "I'm certain you would find those answers interesting. After all, you were seated here some minutes ago. And as all Lords do, you were observing the Land you intend to rule over, as you ground them beneath your wheels of war like pebbles and twigs.
"Although," he added casually, turning the page again, "were I in your position, I would be more concerned with why I am here, as opposed to the irrelevance of how I came to be."
The invader was disappointingly average. Truthfully, he was everything you would expect from the caricature of a greedy warmonger. Shorter than the woman beside him, a chin round as it was fat, he attired himself in ostentatious and richly woven robes to match his tall hat, appearing like a peace-loving priest.
A peace-loving priest trailed by smoke, destruction and death, of course.
He was blessed by a broad-nose and brown, bushy sideburns he framed along his jawline. The Masked Man nearly chuckled at the ridiculous monocle he wore, which gave off the appearance of two different colored eyes—one green, his natural color, and the other a darker shade.
He would fit right in with those flamboyant Feudal Lords, the Masked Man thought, actually chuckling softly as he turned the page again.
The invader's ally, a tall, brown-haired woman attired in blue plated armor, snarled like a beast as she stepped closer, in front of her master. Her violet eyes seethed with murderous intent. Clearly the invader trained his dogs well.
"Why you're here won't matter once I crush you, trespasser."
The Masked Man didn't lift his gaze. There was no need. He held all the cards already.
"Trespasser?" he repeated.
At first, a short chuckle broke from his lips. But then it evolved into a hearty laugh that shook his shoulders for a moment, echoing across the vast hall and along the tall ceiling of the cathedral-like throne room they occupied.
Snarling, the woman clutched her hands into fists, then spread her fingers out, as though preparing to claw him. He found it curious. Just as curious as the power he sensed in both invaders.
"Something funny?"
"Only the irony of being called a trespasser by the likes of you," he replied calmly, and venomously. Lowering his hand from his chin, the Masked Man leaned forward, tome still open in his opposite hand. "However, this verbal jousting has also answered another curiosity of mine—you speak our language perfectly. You can read it, too," he said, with a light gesture of the tome.
They had no shinobi training. Their physical and verbal reactions were far too honest despite the veil of dishonesty drawn over their intentions. But even that, he knew, would come to light in time.
"But perhaps I shouldn't be surprised," the Masked Man continued. "Whenever a Clan migrates, whether across land borders, or, in this circumstance, an ocean, they bring their culture and language with them. Now, drawn by the knowledge you gleaned from their Clan, you invade our continent in search of the power they abandoned—the Stone of Gelel."
"You talk too much," growled the woman, taking another far more aggressive step towards him.
"Am I mistaken?" he asked despite knowing the answer. It was plain as a summer day.
"Fugai, calm yourself," the leader spoke again, his tone stronger and carrying authority.
"But Master Haido—"
"Pointless violence will solve nothing, my child. We must seek peaceful dialogue whenever possible."
The Masked Man hummed a menacing note, smiling a mirthless smile behind his mask.
"What a noble ideal," he said with insincere sincerity. "Though what should we call the destruction of the villages your tower has caused? Accidental violence is still violence. For one side, it may be unintentional; they may even abhor such senseless destruction!" he added with a hint of dramatic flair. "But the victim, whether by mere accident or not, is still a victim. In order for you to achieve your ideal, they have been forced to lose something. Without a chance for peaceful dialogues, I might add.
"What, then, is your noble ideal worth? Should we even call it noble, when faced by such contemptible hypocrisy?" he wondered.
The invader, Haido, gave a long hum, shutting his eyes. "Contemptible hypocrisy, you say. Yes, I can see how it can be perceived in such a light. Perhaps there is even truth to it."
"What other light should I see it in?" he wondered. "You stand at the throne of your tower, far from danger and destruction, while beneath you your metal wheels ravage the Land without a care. Beyond," he gestured to the panoramic windows at the far end of the room, "smoke rises from yet another destroyed village. Torched by your subordinates without provocation."
He shook his head. "I fear there are scant lights to cast this in. But please, by all means," he made a small gesture to Haido, "enlighten me."
"We do not come to these Lands as destroyers or conquerers," claimed Haido, fully composed. "The continent we hail from, our home, has been ravaged by war for decades now. Entire towns and cities have collapsed. People are left homeless. Starving. Oppressed. Often it is a hopeless existence. But not all hope is loss.
"Within that book," Haido explained, "I learned of an ancient power. One which, according to its passages, could heal this world ravaged by war, and through its power, we could build a true utopia. We could build a world without war. Without hunger. Without strife or oppression. It is on that dream and that dream alone we have come to your continent. To build a true utopia, that is our dream."
"A true utopia? Now that is quite the noble goal," the Masked Man said.
"It is clear you are a talented and well-traveled man," Haido continued. "Why not join us?" Despite the distance between them, the invader outstretched his hand and smiled a kind smile. "Together we can save this world. We can end wars."
"Building a world without war is certainly worth striving for," said the Masked Man, feigning thoughtfulness.
"Does that mean you will help us."
The dull thud of the book snapping shut penetrated the vast chamber.
"No."
Haido's composure faltered, but only slightly. Fugai narrowed her harsh eyes. How quick they were to anger for those who claimed to walk beneath banners of peace.
The Masked Man rose, setting the thick tome down on the velvet-covered arm of the throne.
"You see, I do applaud your noble intentions. Curing the world of war and sickness, of hunger and strife—if only more people thought so selflessly, the world would be in quite the different state."
He began to descend the tall stairs leading up to the throne slowly. One meticulous, powerful step at a time.
"However, you've failed entirely to answer my question. I asked what your noble ideal is worth, seeing as you have thus far built it upon destruction. Rather than answer me directly, you explained why you crossed the sea, then expressed your noble dream. Such passion you speak with. Such fervent belief. I can see how you gained followers. You're quite good at misdirection."
He descended another step. Fugai stepped in front of Haido.
"Though you dress as a sheep and veil your words in righteous and charismatic fervor, it takes a wolf to lead a pack of loyal dogs."
Fugai snarled. Haido narrowed his eyes and shifted his foot ever so slightly in retreat.
"Let's speak honestly, shall we? You don't want to cure the world."
Another step.
"You don't even want to help your own people."
Another step.
"You only want to help yourself."
Another step.
"It's not your fault, of course. It's human nature. People are inherently selfish, but you, you want it all, don't you?"
Haido smiled nervously. "We can't truly know the worth of our ideal until it is achieved."
"Assuming you ever achieve it," the Masked Man countered. "Should you fail, what will you say of the lives you damaged or destroyed?"
"In order to change this world ravaged by war, necessary sacrifices must be made."
"Necessary?" he repeated incredulously, nearing the bottom of the stairs. "Those people were of no threat to you. All they did was live along the path you decided to carve through their homeland."
Haido raised his hands in a nonchalant shrug. "These things happen. This is why a utopia is necessary, in order to stop such senseless destruction, wouldn't you agree?"
"No, I wouldn't," the Masked Man replied firmly. "But don't take it personally. I merely don't make a habit of agreeing with snakes."
Change the world? He mentally shook his head. No, you will only maintain the status quo, should you gain this power. The only thing that will change is who stands at the top.
I can tell what kind of man you are by looking into your eyes. You know nothing of hell. You do not see war for its suffering. You revel in it. You revel in power, for that's all you seek. The power of Gelel. The power to rule the world beneath your mighty fist.
The Masked Man's lip curled beneath his mask. Necessary sacrifices, huh? No. The sacrifices you make aren't necessary at all. They aren't even sacrifices. A sacrifice would require you to give something of yourself, but you haven't sacrificed anything. You're just another cog in the machine. You aren't capable of changing this world.
"Then help me change this world."
You are nothing like Haya.
"A snake?" Haido laughed. "You've misunderstood me, stranger. You see, I've offered those people shelter as recourse for destroying their homes. At least until we build a utopia."
"You've made them your hostages, you mean." He reached the main floor of the chamber. "It's basic strategy. Should you face resistance of any kind, you'll use them against the military forces of this continent. Along the way you will speak to them of your dream, of the power to heal this land, manufacturing consent among the local populace. Someone must stand against this senseless destruction, after all. War has ravaged the world for too long. And who better to stop it than you. The one who will lead us to utopia."
A dark chuckle escaped the Masked Man. "Indeed, you are a wolf in sheep's clothing. However, I should warn you, you've invaded a continent of wolves. And they protect their territory and pups quite fiercely."
"I've heard enough from you," snarled Fugai, fists and jaw clenched.
"My, my, what a temper you possess," mocked the Masked Man. "What happened to a peaceful dialogue? Here I thought you wanted to avoid senseless violence."
"Who are you?" Haido demanded.
"I am nobody of any consequence. Not yet, at least," he added offhandedly. "Anyway, I think this discussion has run its course. Truthfully, I simply have nothing left to say to you, and nothing more to gain by listening to your lies. I have everything I came for."
"Is that so? I can tell you aren't carrying anything on you, so it seems you've gained nothing at all."
"A common misconception. You see, not everything of value has physical mass or glitters gold. Not that I'd expect a man like you to understand that," he drawled darkly. "Nonetheless, this investigation has enriched me with something more valuable than gems, books, or your blood."
Fugai was one more push from lunging at him. He could feel it.
"However, fortunately for you, I've decided to let you live. For now."
"Funny. Because I've decided to kill you."
Suddenly Fugai was upon him. The knight was quick, he would give her that. But to his eye she may as well have walked over.
He heard her sharp inhale as she passed through his intangible body. Expecting a solid blow, and a body to react to it, Fugai lost her footing, stumbling towards the stairs.
The Masked Man exhaled a bored sigh.
Whirling around, Fugai lunged in again. For a second time her whole body passed through the Masked Man.
When she whirled around again, he placed a hand on his hip and tilted his head to the side.
"Are you finished yet?"
"What are you?" she snarled.
"Out of your league," he replied, eye crinkling in a venomous smile.
She let out a guttural growl and tried to attack again. The Masked Man exhaled another sigh.
How dull.
He didn't bother to move. Why entertain a child's fantasy of challenging an adult?
Fugai attacked at his legs first, attempting to sweep them out from beneath him. When that failed, she flowed into a combo of two punches and a spinning kick, aiming for his thighs, torso and head. It was almost depressing to witness such miserable futility.
As she spun through her kick, the Masked Man made his move. He gripped her swooshing cape and yanked the off-balance woman towards him, simultaneously stepping forward. Closer.
Fugai, of course, tried to retaliate. She threw an off-balance elbow, but once more she passed through him.
Once she was on the other side, he planted his front foot and kicked with the other. The powerful impact resounded across the chamber, but was drowned out by the shattering of stone.
Fugai lay in a crater shaped after her body on the stairs, gasping for air, armor cracked and a streak of blood dripping out the corner of her mouth. Crimson began to mix with her brown hair at the back of her head.
"Now sit, like a good dog," he chastised.
The Masked Man sensed a surge of power. When part of the stairs suddenly ruptured at the hands of an invisible force, he sighed again and turned his head.
Blazing crimson glared through the hole in his mask, fixating upon Haido, who held his gloved fist out. Secured on it, an aquamarine gem slightly larger than an egg glowed.
The invader could only stare in bewilderment.
"Well, well, I thought I sensed power from you, but I didn't expect this," the Masked Man commented. He turned around entirely and began to walk towards the robed man.
Fugai trembled and flinched in the crater. She couldn't move. From his inspection, it'd be a little while before feeling returned to her hands and feet.
Blast after blast ruptured the chamber. Nothing touched the Masked Man. And with every step closer, Haido took another step back. His façade of kindness collapsed beneath primal fear.
"Why can't I hit you? What power is this?" Debris rained around the intangible body of the Masked Man. "Who are you!"
Looming over the would-be priest, the Masked Man caught his offending hand by the wrist, and broke it with a single move. Haido's scream was suffocated by the death grip he clutched around his obese neck, all but bulging over his gloved hand.
"A man who has lost everything to war, and now isn't afraid to make necessary sacrifices to bring true peace to this world," he purred sinisterly, hand tightening.
He began to lift the would-be priest off the ground. Haido kicked and gasped. Tears trickled down his cheeks in a display of vulnerability and fragility.
"You wouldn't understand," the Masked Man said. "Sacrifice requires you to give something of yourself, but you could never do that. I, however, gave up what little I had left for this dream of mine. And I will see it completed. I will change this world one day, it's only a matter of time."
He watched his face turn red, then purple, thrumming as he watched the greedy warmonger's life flash before his own eyes.
I want you to remember this. Remember how close you come to death. Remember how it feels to have someone else take everything from you, as you are powerless to stop them. Never forget that I could've killed you right here. Right now.
The Masked Man threw Haido aside before he could suffocate. He watched him crash several meters away on the cold floor, coughing and gasping for air with all of his greed and primal instinct to live. It was like watching a toad that narrowly escaped a vipers constriction.
"However, today I'm forced to make one more sacrifice—I'll let you live. You're more useful to me alive. At least for now."
"U- useful?" Haido rasped.
"You haven't the faintest idea of what your invasion is about to cause," the Masked Man explained to the warmongering fool, stepping closer. "Were you a true man of peace, you would be horrified to know your actions will destroy the peace this continent has savored. But, alas, war is nothing more than a game to you. One you seek to stand atop the peak of. Truthfully, your mere existence sickens me."
The Masked Man crouched before him. "However, the dominos are perfectly aligned; it's even better than I initially planned. And you, Haido, you and your people, whether you wish to be or not, will be the pawns I use to knock them down. You should celebrate while you can," he said sinisterly. "Soon enough the wolves will be at your throat. Then we'll see who's ideals are stronger—yours or theirs.
"Anyway," he rose, "it's time for me to depart. But as you proceed I want you to remember one thing:
"I will be watching."
Review Response to wijesingheamesha: Glad you liked the hypothetical scenes! I'd like to see scenes like those and a few others in the story drawn out, but I don't know anyone personally who draws, and if I searched for someone on another site, like deviantart or something, I'd at least like to pay them for their time and work, since I imagine it talks a lot of both, but I don't really have money to spare on selfish desires like that right now. Unless there's someone reading this that would like to draw fan art for Amari and gang for free, or knows how to animate a scene like the ones described, but I'm afraid the only thing I can pay in right now is applause you can't hear and calling you a rockstar.
Anyway, the temperature has definitely risen again, and, assuming all goes well, there won't be much cooling down in-between arcs as we ramp up towards the finale. Dominos are about to start falling, as our favorite Masked Man mentioned. Glad you are enjoying this story and thanks for reading the updates.
Never imagined I'd breach two hundred follows and favorites, let alone a thousand, so thanks to all of you for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following!
Anyway, thanks for the review and hope you enjoy the newest update!