All standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 11
Heigh Hoe, Army of Evil Dudes
It took the three of them a day and a half to run the distance between the little village they had overnighted in and Konohagakure. By the time they arrived at the gates they only had a few hours until the scheduled attack. Naruto and Kurama turned female long enough to get past the guards without a fuss, but as soon as they were out of sight they released the jutsu and took to the roofs.
Anyone watching, who was not battle trained and seasoned, would only see three blurs bouncing from roof to roof, one black, one red and one bright orange. The blurs raced towards the center of the village, to the Hokage tower.
Naruto led the way to a balcony several stories above ground, Hiei and Kurama hot on his heels. They landed, almost as one, on the railing, balanced for a second, then Kurama and Naruto hopped down to stand on the floor. Hiei stood on the railing, leaning against a post, and folded his arms, frowning.
"Baa-chan!" Naruto called, rapping on the door that led inside, "Open up! It's important!"
There was some grumbling, a hard thud, like someone falling, and the sounds of the door being unlocked. A bleary-eyed Tsunade swung the door open for her favorite troublemaker and his entourage. "This had better be good, brat," she growled at him.
"It's about Orochimaru-san," Kurama said bluntly. Tsunade nodded and stepped aside to let them in. She had to clear off some sake bottles from her desktop but she waved them into the waiting chairs.
"Explain,"
"Orochimaru is leading the Otonin in an attack against Konohagakure. They will be here in less than six hours" Kurama started. Tsunade sat down suddenly in her chair.
"Are you sure?"
"Are sure as I am that I was raised by a Yoko,"
"Less than six hours?" she bit her lip. Hiei snorted.
"Just get your minions on the alert. We'll handle the snake and his pathetic army," he said authoritatively. Tsunade looked at the diminutive youkai sharply.
"You think you can handle an entire army of shinobi as well as a Legendary Sannin with just the three of you?" she demanded, incredulous. Hiei nodded sharply.
"Hokage-sama, trust us at least enough to allow us the first strike. If we fail then at least we will have crippled them enough that you and your shinobi can handle the remainder," Kurama reasoned. He turned to Hiei, "Hiei, if you would, I would like you to inform Koenma-sama and Yuusuke about our situation. Also, could you ask Koenma for permission to fight in this battle. I have a feeling that there will be casualties and I don't feel like having to spring you out of prison for violating parole," he shrugged helplessly. Hiei scowled but vanished, stepping between worlds with practiced ease.
"Parole?" Tsunade asked, lifting an eyebrow at Kurama. Kurama nodded.
"Long story short, Hiei and I were involved in a little trouble with the Reikai and have been doing a sort of community service ever since. Part of Hiei's parole stipulation is that the killing of humans is forbidden," Kurama explained. Naruto nodded.
"And since we're going into war you want him to get permission to be able to fight properly, right?" he deduced.
"Exactly," the redhead beamed at his student.
"And what about you?" Tsunade asked.
"Since I spilt with Yoko I've been off the hook," he grinned.
"Well that's handy," she said sarcastically. Kurama grinned, showing off his unnaturally sharp canines.
"Isn't it just? But enough of that-"
"Hokage-sama!" Sakura burst through the door followed by Sasuke and Kakashi, "Hokage-sama! Otonin have been spotted –" she paused, "Naruto? What are you doing back?"
"We came back to tell Baa-chan that the Snake Dude and his Horde of Evil Minions were coming," Naruto grinned, sitting back in his chair, blue eyes twinkling. "You're kind of late with the news,"
"And how did you get here before them?" Sasuke asked darkly. Naruto grinned, preparing a cocky return. But Kurama knocked him over the head with a fist.
"Naruto, not now. Once Hiei gets back we are leaving and I don't need you wasting any energy on useless and pointless squabbles," he rebuked, "and I'm sure Chitose will say the same,"
:And I do. You can fight with Sasuke later:
Naruto pouted sullenly in his seat, amazing his teammates.
"If you're good I'll let you go all out on Orochimaru. That includes letting Chitose out,"
Naruto perked up, "That's more like it!" he crowed.
:Of course I'm coming out. I'm the one claiming Blood Vengeance after all: Chitose sounded vaguely impatient.
"Wait," Tsunade interrupted, "You can't let Kyuubi out, it's too dangerous!"
Naruto's irises bled red and the blond boy stood and strode purposefully forward. "You can't stop me. I will take Vengeance for what that filthy snake did to my kits. Do not make the mistake that I plan to allow Naruto to fall in this battle. The boy is practically my kit and no more of what is mine will that snake touch,"
And with that Chitose sat down and settled back into the recesses of Naruto's mind. Naruto looked around at his wary teammates, sensei and Hokage. The only one who did not looked disturbed by the youkai's outburst was Kurama, who was currently perusing a bookcase filled with medical texts.
"Naruto?" Sakura asked hesitantly. Naruto tossed her an apologetic grin.
"Sorry about that, guys. Killing Orochimaru is all she's wanted to do all of my life. I guess that now that I'm a little more conditioned to using youki she's feeling more confident in taking over the fight," he laughed, scratching the back of his head. Kurama looked up from a book he was flipping through.
"Barely more conditioned, but I'm going to leave the limit up to Chitose," he warned.
"Is youki dangerous?" Sakura asked. Kurama looked at the pink-haired kunoichi.
"It can be very dangerous, Sakura-san," he said gravely, "it is different for every person, whether they are youkai, hanyou or a forced amalgamation such as Naruto and myself. For me it wasn't as bad because Yoko trained me in youki since before I could walk but Naruto's training has been stunted and held back because of the limitations placed on Chitose by the Seal so Naruto's youki pathways are not as well worn as they should be,"
"But you've been training him, right?" Sasuke asked. Kurama sighed.
"As much training as I could, but youki is dangerous, and Chitose's even more so since it's geared towards fire and seismic control. I admit that I was only able to teach the basics since my own youki is geared towards plant manipulation. Polar opposites," he apologized. "Since it seems that I won't be able to return for several months I hope to have Hiei teach Naruto the finer points of fire manipulation, if he has the patience,"
"Hiei?" Tsunade asked, "So he controls fire as well?"
"It's in my blood," Hiei said, stepping away from a corner. Kurama smiled.
"That was quick. Did you tell them?"
Hiei nodded.
"And did you get permission?"
Hiei scowled. "As if I needed permission," he spat.
"But you got it anyways?"
The little fire youkai tossed a rolled up document at his friend. Kurama caught it deftly and quickly scanned its contents. "A signed conditional pardon and a grant to aid in the battle against an…" he smiled at the wording, "'evil, evil dude.' Must have been Yuusuke breathing down the Toddler's neck, eh?"
"The toushin has his uses upon occasion," Hiei grinned at the memory.
"I have to admit that his power does come in handy, doesn't it? Expedites matters nicely. Less bloodshed in order to get what needs to be done, done."
"He asked if he could join us,"
"In our merry mayhem making?"
"There hasn't been enough interesting missions lately,"
"Poor boy. Can you bring him here?"
Hiei thought about it, "Probably, but there are no guarantees on as to whether I could bring him back, like you,"
Kurama mulled it over in his head. "It's not a problem with me if he comes over here but I guess you could ask him if he feels like spending a couple months in a foreign world,"
Hiei nodded and vanished. There was a faint popping sound from the air rushing to fill in the space he had just vacated.
"Dare I ask who?" Tsunade inquired blandly.
"Yuusuke is a friend of mine and is currently one of the Makai's most powerful toushin," Kurama explained with a carefree smile.
"Toushin?" Sasuke asked before he could stop himself.
"Battle youkai,"
Tsunade's head hit her desk with a loud thud. "My village is being overrun by youkai and there's nothing I can do to stop it," she moaned. Kurama patted her on the shoulder.
"It's alright," he said comfortingly, "Chitose only wants revenge on your common enemy, I've got the ethics of a well raised human, most of the time, Hiei's under strict no killing rules and Yuusuke only fights people who are asking for it. He's half human too. All in all you couldn't have asked for a better group of youkai. And this group of youkai is going to fight a war for you with almost no charge, so sit back and have some dango,"
"The Fox is right, woman," said a newcomer beside a newly arrived Hiei, "at least you won't have to worry about casualties on your side of the fight,"
The shinobi in the office stared at the teenaged punk. His hair was slicked back and he was wearing jeans, which, although they were clean, had a nasty rip in the knee and an untucked shirt with the first three buttons undone. When Kurama had talked about a toushin, this undisciplined, human-looking punk from the wrong side of the tracks certainly was not what they envisioned.
Yuusuke flopped in one of the empty chairs, hooking a leg negligently over one of the arms, and grinned at everyone. He waved, "Morning, all!"
"You seem well, Yuusuke-sama," Kurama commented.
"And you don't look like a woman. Hiei was spreading this story around that you managed to pull off the world's best gender bend," Yuusuke almost sounded disappointed.
Kurama grinned. "I had to release the transformation for the upcoming battle. If you want I could demonstrate, but I think that Keiko would object," he said teasingly. Yuusuke grinned.
"Not like Keiko's in my life anymore. She's hooked up with some soccer jock. Try me,"
"Kagome then. She seems to be calling the shots ever since you and Keiko broke up,"
Yuusuke scowled, but did not say anything to the contrary, "Just do it, Fox,"
Naruto and Kurama grinned wickedly. Kurama's hands formed the seal and he muttered "Sexy no jutsu!" underneath his breath. The resulting cloud of smoke strategically covered everything important, while at the same time revealing everything. Everyone but Naruto and Hiei started in dumfounded shock at the busty, pouting, smoke-clad, red-haired WOMAN who tossed a flirtatious kiss in the toushin's direction. After a second Kurama released the jutsu and grinned at the expression on his lord's face.
"Yeah," Yuusuke said after a minute of stunned silence, "you're right. Neither Keiko or Kagome would like that. Don't tell Kagome-chan you did that, she'd kill me for forcing you. And then take you out as well. Then she'd burry our bodies out behind the well house,"
"I warned you, Yuusuke-sama," Kurama shrugged. He glanced over at the shinobi still in the room. Sakura had a stunned look on her face, Sasuke was trying to cover up a nosebleed and Kakashi was…well, Kurama was certain that the pervert was grinning.
"Yeah, you warned me. Now, where is this Army of Evil Dudes that needs to be cleaned up?" he asked, cracking his knuckles.
"A couple hours from here," Hiei answered.
"We'll go head them off in a few minutes now that the entire party is here," Kurama decided.
"Who's all coming? Not them, right? I can't fight and protect them at the same time," Yuusuke jerked his thumb at the fully human members of Team seven and their sensei that were standing behind him. Sasuke and Sakura bristled, but Kakashi held them back with a hand on their shoulders.
"It will be just us and Naruto-san," Kurama assured. Yuusuke eyes Naruto.
"You an avatar too?" he asked, sensing the youki mixed with reiki.
"Container," Naruto corrected, "A jinchuuriki,"
"Jinchuuriki?" Yuusuke frowned.
"Chitose-san is sealed inside Naruto, not simply residing within his body," Kurama explained. Yuusuke nodded.
"Right. But can you fight, brat?" he asked suspiciously. Naruto bristled.
"Of course I can fight!" he declared, "I'm the best shinobi in this village!"
Yuusuke snorted, "Like that's much to say. The best fighter in a human village? What are you to a youkai, Blondie?"
Naruto hesitated. "I've been able to hold my own if I am allowed to fight all out," he admitted.
"And you're going to fight all out in this battle?"
Naruto's eyes once again bled red, "Naruto will turn the privilege of fighting Orochimaru over to me,"
"And you are?" the toushin asked, surprised at the change in personality.
"Chitose, toushin-sama," she bowed respectfully.
"And just how powerful are you?"
"I have reached nine tails but I fear that I am not as powerful as you and your companions," she admitted, shocking the shinobi at the confession. Yuusuke considered her, a smile tickling his lips.
"That's got to be weird, you being a female and all and stuck in a boy's body," he grinned.
Chitose grinned a little. "It is interesting,"
"Well," Yuusuke hopped to his feet, "Let's get this party started. I haven't had a good fight in ages, ever since you disappeared, Kurama, and I had to start looking for a way to get you back,"
"Forgive me," Kurama apologized, bowing a little, "it wasn't like I planned on this little jaunt,"
"Eh," Yuusuke waved it away, "I'll forgive you if you point me in the direction of this snake dude's army,"
"I guess that means that we shall be on out way," Kurama grinned and bowed to Tsunade, "Hokage-sama, we shall return when this little interlude has been taken care of," and the four fighters threw themselves off the balcony and raced over the roofs of the still unaware Village towards their battle.
"A village of human fighters, eh?" Yuusuke commented as they vaulted over the wall, completely bypassing the gates.
"They are most interesting, like nothing I've seen before. You should be wary that they mould ki quite adeptly into anything they desire. It would be best of you ended your fights as soon as possible," Kurama advised.
"No matter what they create, they're still weak humans," Hiei snorted.
"Humans with dangerous weapons? Sounds like fun," Yuusuke laughed.
Naruto just shook his head.
After they had entered the forest Kurama pulled them to a halt. He placed a hand on a tree trunk and closed his eyes. It was not long before they were able to make out a murmured conversation.
"No, I can't blame you for not liking them. They are rude. No respect, I know… They have entered? That close? Would you like to help?" the Plantmaster grinned and looked back at his companions. "The forest is willing. Yuusuke-sama, please allow me to dispose of the minions,"
"Knock yourself out. Minions aren't any fun," Yuusuke nodded. Kurama turned back to the tree and waited. Suddenly he sprung forward into the foliage of the waiting forest.
Kurama jumped from branch to branch, heading straight for the enemy army. Every so often he would pause to get an update as to their location from the forest. When he considered himself suitably close he preformed a familiar jutsu – with clothing this time – and quickly grew a reed flute.
Kurama arranged the yukata neatly and she sat down on a fallen log. She checked to make sure that her hair was neat, not that it mattered to her plan but after spending so long as a woman she had developed some habits. Taking a deep breath she put the flute to her lips and started to play, drawing the enemy closer.
The forest did not stop speaking to her. The words were quiet and slow but thanks to the trees she knew just how close her enemy was. It did not take long. The Otonin were drawn by the pure, natural melody and soon Kurama was surrounded by hidden shinobi.
Pretending to pause, Kurama lowered the flute to her lap and ran a hand through her hair. Placing that same hand on the log beneath her, she uttered a single command to her army.
"Strike,"
Lunging branches, choking vines, razor sharp leaves flying through the air. The terrified last screams lasted not even a minute as the forest was painted red with the blood of the Sound. Kurama offered up a prayer for their souls and released the jutsu when the forest confirmed that the invaders had returned to the natural cycle.
"That takes care of the advance army," he dusted off his hands and started back. "Some things are just easier to do as a woman,"
AN: Well, that took care of them. Sorry, got the idea from Magic's Price (by Mercedes Lackey. it's a very good book in an even better trilogy) and expanded on what she insinuated. But ick! Can you picture the results of that? Plantfood, here we come!
And yes, I dragged Yuusuke into the mix, but don't worry I won't do anything terrible to him. Yet. If at all.