Chapter 45

Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Ninja Gaiden or DOA

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I'm still job hunting so I'm updating when I can. Here is chapter 45. Enjoy!

[ ] Signifies hand signs

Last time:

Mihama Nuclear Power Plant, Fukui Prefecture

The Fiend Hanran Kensuke was sitting in his self made headquarters at the Mihama -1 power plant. Plants Mihama -1 and Mihama -2 were crawling with fiends since they were shut down and scheduled to be scrapped. The problem was Mihama -3 that was scheduled to be refitted for a restart in 2020. The fiend had a simple plan: eliminate those in favor of touching the area at all. It was an ideal headquarters that Hanran had used for some time and it was easily defensible from his former superior Hōritsu Teiji. The only real threat Hanran Kensuke had was from his fellow usurper against Teiji, Chikara Chiyo. The two of them conspired to overthrow Teiji for a long time but couldn't agree as to who should be in charge after that….

Chikara favored a smooth transition from Teiji's reign and wanted to be the new Captain over Osaka under Lady Ishtaros. She was quite satisfied with controlling the Kansai Region. Hanran Kensuke was far more ambitious. He saw Japan as his goal and wanted to throw out Lady Ishtaros as part of the bargain. This split Teiji's former forces right down the middle. Teiji had about a fifth of his forces and Chikara and Hanran had the remaining four fifths split evenly in between them. Hanran concluded that showing he was a dynamic and bold leader to draw fiends to his cause was the best route to take. So far he had moderate success as "Quatrain."

'Human's ridiculous superstitions will keep them at bay but I need more power and I need it now if I want to take Teiji and Chikara out of the picture.' thought Hanran to himself. He looked over the map of Osaka that showed the areas he controlled. 'Old man Teiji's bureaucratic methods finally came back to bite him in the ass. Ruling with an iron fist is the only way to make your way in the world of fiends. Once I've knocked Chiyo out of the running taking Teiji out will be simple.' The ambitious fiend's eyes followed the map over to Tokyo. "Lady Asuka is the biggest threat because she's loyal to Lady Ishtaros. She's also incredibly strong….a lot stronger than old man Teiji."

Hanran nodded in self satisfaction. "It's only a matter of time before I control Osaka. Humans are a non issue and my fellow fiends will soon see the light. Fortune favors the bold."

….

Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka, Japan

Momiji entered the ring and saw a Canadian taekwondo practitioner that went by the moniker 'Rig" for some reason. He was a trim fighter with a buzz haircut. She bowed politely and said, "I am honored."

Rig's curt reply was, "Get ready for some pain." as he took his opening stance.

Rig was a formidable fighter but lacked Momoji's speed. She wasn't as fast as Kasumi or Ayane but her aerial kicks were simply too much for Rig to handle. Momiji soon finished him off with a kick square in the jaw. When Rig crumpled to the ground in defeat he had a look of total disbelief on his face….

Momiji said courteously, "Better luck next time." to Rig as the board lit up with "WINNER: MOMIJI!"

The defeated taekwondo fighter laid there to be hauled off by the medics. '….Dad was right; I'm not strong enough to fight on their level yet. I couldn't even get a cell sample off the Uzumaki kunoichi…."

….

Hotel New Otani Osaka

Naruto, Hinata and Maya were watching the fight via live streaming on Maya's computer. "Looks like Momiji-chan crushed that taekwondo user." said Naruto happily.

Hinata hummed in agreement. "He had strength but lacks experience and discipline. He could become very dangerous in the future."

Maya had seen how Rig blew away his earlier opponents and wondered how well she would have fared in Momiji's place. 'I need to train harder to catch up with the others.' She smiled when Naruto kissed her cheek….

….

DOATEC Tritower Headquarters, United States

Victor Donovan shook his head at the screen having watched his son Rig's performance. "She crushed him utterly." said Donavan disgustedly. 'He did manage to get DNA samples from his earlier opponents but he simply isn't ready for the likes of a ninja.' Victor looked over the samples they had gathered and several of his agents were harvesting what they could. Unfortunately it was low level fighters so far. Donovan's people (Rig included) could not compete with the Uzumaki or Mugen Tenshin ninjas whose cell samples Victor craved so badly….

….

Surō Kobe's Office, PSIA Building, Osaka, Japan

The Uzumakis met up at JSDF Agent Surō's office that afternoon to plan their operations for that night. They were hoping to discover Quatrain's next target. "The PSIA has agents on standby to intercept several possible targets but the one who is most likely to me is Horikoshi Minoru." said Surō as he blew a smoke ring. "He's been very vocal about capturing or killing Quatrain and has contacted the authorities about it. There's some big money involved. I think he's pieced together that he and his pro-nuclear KEPCO cronies are the targets. The public hasn't figured that bit out yet."

"So tonight you want us to monitor the Horikoshi Estate?" asked Naruto.

"That's my hunch." said Surō in a tired tone. "-Unless you all have a better idea of course. This Quatrain character wants to make the biggest splash possible and Horikoshi would be the ideal way to do it to grab the media's attention. Horikoshi also has multiple security officers working for him so theoretically he would be very difficult to get at."

"We'll need plans of the estate for starters. A guard schedule rotation schedule would help too." said Hinata.

Surō grinned. "I already have them both but I can't account for the beefed up security he has now."

"That's awfully convenient." said Maya with a quirked eyebrow. "How did you get the guard rotations?"

"We have an inside man there because Horikoshi also deals in drugs –opium and heroin to be precise." answered the JSDF Agent.

Naruto frowned and asked, "Are you sure you aren't looking for a convenient drug bust? That would make a nice feather in your cap but wouldn't necessarily catch Quatrain."

Surō waved his hands in surrender. "Believe me when I tell you there aren't any drugs on that estate. We've searched high and low. Our inside man is trying to find out where Horikoshi has them hidden. It's probably in a warehouse somewhere under a false name. Unless you ninjas find a huge cache of drugs there you can ignore the whole drug issue. I was just fortunate to already have an inside man."

Hinata sighed. "Alright, let's have a look at these building plans. You know the area best so we might as well go with your hunch."

"I'm glad we agree." said Surō as he pulled out a plan of the estate and unfurled it on the table. "The whole place has a stone privacy wall to keep the public out. The main entrance is a wrought iron gate on the driveway…."

….

Nagoya, Japan

Kasumi entering the ring of a cage match. She was in her standard combat attire of her blue and white kunoichi gear with a white Uzumaki spiral on the back. Kasumi's opponent was in a skintight purple cat suit complete with a tail, ears and a facemask. 'She must be a fan of Cat Woman.' thought the Uzumaki kunoichi.

The feline dressed fighter said, "I hope you like being a scratching post."

"…." Kasumi was cringing at the bad opening line and assumed her taijutsu stance.

The announcement on the overhead said, "KASUMI VS. NEKO-CHAN! FIGHT!"

Neko charged in fast and attempted a foot sweep. Kasumi flipped over her opponent and mid kicked Neko in the back of the head. The woman flew forward and crashed into the barrier around the ring. The cat suit wearing woman tried to regain her footing only to be hit with a six punch combo followed by a brutal scissor kick from Kasumi. Neko flew backwards and hit the floor hard. Kasumi kept her distance in case Neko was playing possum.

Seconds later Neko stumbled to her feet and charged again. Her fingertips glinted with hidden claws. Kasumi simply kneed her opponent in the gut and Neko was down for the count….

"PERFECT! WINNER: KASUMI!" The crowd outside the cage went wild….

Kasumi looked at her downed opponent and thought, 'She should have been disqualified for those claws anyway.'

….

Horikoshi Estate, Osaka

It was dusk and Hinata was searching the estate area with her byakagan. Getting over the stone wall and passing the security cameras had been child's play for the three ninjas. Both Naruto and Maya had night vision goggles on to detect the multiple laser beams crisscrossing the outside of the mansion. Moving rapidly across the immaculately kept lawn in absolute silence; the threesome soon shot passed the guards on duty and ran up the walls to the roof to have a better look around.

Hinata whispered in the darkness, "There is no sign of fiends outside but the night is still young. We should scope the place out."

Naruto sat down in sage mode and started sensing the presence of those within the mansion. It took some time but Naruto sensed something abnormal on the lower levels. "Someone with high ki levels is moving through the building like they are checking room by room. It could be a ninja. Tune your radio to channel 143. Let's go."

Carefully entering through the air conditioner ducts the three Uzumakis quickly infiltrated the building and started working their way down. Maya was the first out in the building proper through a ceiling panel. Closing the panel quickly she cast a genjutsu to hide her presence from any guards. She whispered over the radio, "I'm in. I'm headed towards the bedrooms where Horikoshi and his family should be."

"Roger." said Naruto. "Be careful Maya-chan."

….

Naruto made his way down an emergency stairway to the lowest level. He sensed no guards and entered the basement. Rapidly looking around for cameras he saw none. Naruto sensed the ki user a floor above him. Suddenly Naruto felt a bolt of ki energy and had to dodge the burst. The blonde ninja found himself surrounded by low level fiends. "The ki user is a summoner!" he said over the radio as he drew the Kusanagi. "Be ready to combat fiends."

Hanran Kensuke was in his human form dressed as Quatrain upstairs where Maya was prowling. The Uzumaki kunoichi felt his presence when he appeared in a summons. 'This one is powerful.' thought Maya sweating. 'Time to move.'

Quatrain had numerous fiends surrounding him and said, "Go and feast on all you see my friends!" he saw a distortion in the air and reacted like lightning. He held out his hand and his fingers extended to impossible lengths like knives. He hit nothing but air.

It was then Quatrain heard "Mirage blade!" whispered in a tiny voice behind him. Maya became visible as the fiend's outstretched right arm separated from his body and Hanran screamed in agony waking up the entire estate in the process.

All hell broke loose as the Uzumakis, the fiends and Horikoshi's security forces all lit up at once. Screaming and yelling was everywhere. Down in the basement Naruto finished destroying the low level fiends and was rapidly traveling upwards to catch the summoner.

….

Hinata found a hapless group of guards about to be killed by an arachnid like fiend and decided to intervene. 'They've run out of ammunition so at least I don't have to worry about being shot in the back.' she thought. Hinata appeared in a body flicker in between the guards and the monstrous spider like fiend with her kodachi drawn. The fiend recoiled at Hinata's sudden appearance. The Uzumaki kunoichi sliced off the creature's mandibles. It shrieked in pain and attempted to scuttle backwards but Hinata was already on the fiend's back. Extending her kodachi into an ice blade and bisected the creature.

It died with an awful groan and exploded into mystic ash. The dumbfounded guards stared at the beautiful kunoichi as she waved over her shoulder and vanished in a body flicker….

….

Maya was channeling her holy chakra through her chakra blade. The glowing pink edge had cut down a horde of lesser fiends that were protecting Kensuke. The kunoichi said, "So you are Quatrain." Hanran Kensuke cringed at the holy power coming off of Maya and retreated via teleportation.

Within the hour the three Uzumaki ninjas had eliminated the fiends that remained but the summoner Naruto was hunting and Quatrain escaped them. The exhausted ninjas vanished into the night….

….

Surō Kobe's Office, PSIA Building

Surō was watching the footage his inside contact at the Horikoshi Estate forwarded to him. He lit up another cancer stick and thought aloud, "Damn; these Uzumakis are better than I thought possible. Subaru Kimiko-chan wasn't exaggerating with her report." The chain smoking JSDF Agent saw the various headlines flowing in. 'Dark as a raven….Body of an angel….Has the strength of ten men….' "Well, Horikoshi's guards were certainly impressed. Quatrain dropped his calling card when he fought the Uzumakis." Surō held up the Quatrain that Hanran Kensuke had neatly printed up. "This little trinket cost him an arm….too bad."

The JSDF Agent was soon in a meeting with the Osaka PSIA Director Sumiyoshi. Surō said, "Well, you had two agents on site at the Horikoshi Estate as well. What did they have to say?"

Sumiyoshi growled. "I hate to admit it but they said the Uzumaki ninjas were far more effective than all the other forces combined against the fiends. They both admitted they would have died if the ninjas hadn't intervened." The PSIA Director sighed. "I just wonder how the Uzumakis knew to be at the Horikoshi Estate to begin with."

The chain smoker shrugged. "Maybe they had a lucky guess? They are ninjas after all." 'Like I'd admit they bet on a hunch by yours truly.'

"I still don't like the Uzumakis in my territory." said Sumiyoshi. "I can't argue that they are formidable though. Three of them were more effective than a virtual army of Horikoshi's security guards. Supposedly his security forces are top notch. Horikoshi Minoru is being loud about it too. He wants better protection from the city."

Surō smiled. "With all his money old Minoru thought he was invincible. It must have been quite a wakeup call."

"The question is where Quatrain will strike next." said Sumiyoshi.

"The fiend did lose an arm over this attempt. He might want to lay low and lick his wounds for a while." said Surō. "I don't know fiends like the Uzumakis but I can't see the guy growing a new arm overnight."

….

Mihama Nuclear Power Plant, Mihama-1

Hanran Kensuke was in agony. His right arm up to the shoulder had been cut off and the purifying chakra continued to eat away at the stump like acid. "Damn that kunoichi bitch. My followers are losing faith in me. –And I'm too injured to do anything about it!" He looked over the map and started rearranging his forces defensively. 'If Chikara Chiyo or old man Teiji find me in this state I'll be killed for sure. I have to keep them from finding out! I also have to find out who those ninjas are. Maybe I can wipe them out. I can't afford to lose momentum now.'

The rogue fiend found himself caught between a rock and a hard place….

….

Hotel New Otani Osaka

The Uzumakis were relaxing in their hotel room discussing things about their mission at the Horikoshi Estate. "You did an excellent job of crippling the enemy Maya-chan." said Hinata. "Without their leader active the fiends will be in disarray for a while."

"I just wish I'd taken his head as well as his arm." said Maya glumly.

Naruto commented, "I think there is more to this than one rogue fiend pretending to be a serial killer. We need to look closer into KEPCO and Osaka in general. What would a fiend have to gain by making himself public? They've hidden in the shadows for centuries. I can't see other fiends like Ishtaros approving."

"What reason would a fiend want publicity for?" pondered Maya aloud.

"Perhaps it's a demonstration of power to the other fiends." said Hinata in deep thought.

"If that's the case then his failure to kill Horikoshi Minoru is going to really make Quatrain look bad." said Naruto. "I just wish we knew Quatrain's actual 'human' name so we could track him down."

Maya smiled. "That's assuming he actually has a human name Naruto-kun."

"Mmm. Good point." replied Naruto.

….

Kenta Entertainment Offices, Osaka

Hōritsu Teiji was smiling for the first time in quite a while. He was reading the latest data about Quatrain. "So Kensuke lost his right arm to a ninja." he mused aloud. Teiji had an extensive information network and had his own spies within Hanran Kensuke's organization. 'I need to eliminate Kensuke from the playing field but how to do it? An anonymous tipoff to the right authorities about the Mihama Nuclear Plants would work but I need to leak that information to the right people….'

The crafty old fiend soon contacted the PSIA rather than the police. His contacts in the Ground Defense Forces were also alerted of the situation. Teiji was well aware that Sumiyoshi had strong ties with the GSDF because he retired a full Colonel some years before. Manipulation the GSDF Intelligence took a bit more effort but with the infrastructure Hōritsu had built up any kind of media manipulation was possible. Kenta Entertainment was a front for a massive media network.

Once Teiji finalized his disinformation campaign to leak to the appropriate sources he closed his laptop and thought to himself, 'Hanran Kensuke, I will wrest back control of Osaka from you and Chiyo yet.'

….

Director Sumiyoshi's Office, PSIA Building

"The Mihama-1 and -2 power plants are where Quatrain and the fiends are holed up?" asked Sumiyoshi. "Is this information accurate Lieutenant?"

"We have aerial surveillance over the abandoned plants now sir." said PSIA Lieutenant Koji. "There is evidence of activity there and they should be completely abandoned and sealed off. Something is going on there."

"I want hard evidence before we strike." said Sumiyoshi. "This seems too damn coincidental for my tastes."

….

Hours later Surō Kobe was sitting in Sumiyoshi's Office. "We've got Quatrain and his little army located." said the PSIA Director. "They are in the two shut down Mihama Reactors."

Kobe raised an eyebrow. "….And where did this information come from?"

"It was from an anonymous call and we have confirmed it." said Sumiyoshi. "We're going to take them out with ground forces and an armored detachment of the Ground Self Defense Forces. I want you to send those ninjas of yours in first as a spearhead because they are used to fighting fiends. They can show the troops how it's done."

Surō's tired eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets. "That's not the way ninjas operate Sumiyoshi. They are mercenaries. I can't just order them to do that."

"Then convince them to." commanded Sumiyoshi.

"I'll do what I can." said the JSDF Agent. 'I may have to call the old man Ishigami Ken about this. Sumiyoshi may out rank me but the Defense Secretary outranks him.' Surō went to make some phone calls….

….

Surō Kobe's Office, PSIA Building

Hour and a few phone calls later the chain smoking JSDF Agent was talking to the Uzumakis in his office. "You're not going to like this. The PSIA got an anonymous tipoff that Quatrain and his fiend army are hiding in the abandoned KEPCO nuclear plants Mihama-1 and Mihama-2. Sumiyoshi wants you as part of a frontal assault on the two power plants."

All three Uzumaki's frowned and Naruto said, "Ninjas are all about stealth and infiltration. Sumiyoshi is insane if he thinks we are going to march up to the firing line. He needs regular soldiers for that."

Surō shrugged. "I thought as much but Sumiyoshi wanted me to order you to be involved. I told him I couldn't do that because you are technically mercenaries. I did tell Sumiyoshi I'd ask though."

"You do realize that Quatrain's forces will rabbit as soon as they realize their base is discovered." said Maya. "A covert operation to kill Quatrain himself would be much more effective."

"Sumiyoshi already has tanks from the Ground Self Defense Forces on standby." said Surō. "He's convinced nothing can escape that." The JSDF Agent lit another cigarette and said, "I told you that you wouldn't like it."

Hinata sat back. "….And what did the Defense Secretary Ishigami Ken have to say about this travesty?"

The JSDF Agent buckled under her withering stare. "The Defense Secretary says that you are under no obligation to obey Sumiyoshi as you are not under his command."

"We'll be on standby then." said Naruto with a tone of finality. "If you ask me there is a much bigger picture than just Quatrain. He's just a piece of a larger puzzle."

….

Mihama Nuclear Power Plant, Mihama-1

Hanran Kensuke saw the writing on the wall when civilians were barred from the Mihama Plant property by armed guards. He saw tanks were rolling into the Fukui Prefecture on the news and got wide eyed. "Old man Teiji is behind this. I just know it! He was always good at manipulating the powers that be but tanks?! We've got to pull out of here!"

….

Hotel New Otani Osaka

The 'Live firing tests at Mihama' were a huge spectacle on the news. Naruto, Hinata and Maya all watched as the tanks and troops assaulted the 'abandoned' power plants. From the point of view of the public it was simply a military exercise at some deserted buildings but in reality the Ground Self Defense Forces took out about two thirds of Hanran Kensuke's forces over a 48 hour period. They also suffered hundreds of losses. It was a victory but the core of Quatrain's forces had already escaped. All the fiends slain at Mihama were low level fodder….

With his forces largely decimated Kensuke felt his best option would be to go underground but there were others that planned to take this opportunity to eliminate Hanran for good….

….

Umeda Railway Station Corporate Headquarters, Osaka

On the third floor of Umeda Railway Station's Headquarters was a private Security Firm simply named Umeda Security Systems. This was where Chikara Chiyo ran her very successful business to provide her with capitol to run her branch of the fiend empire. She was watching the news about the Ground Self Defense Force's little incursion into Hanran Kensuke's base of operations at Mihama Nuclear Plants. Chikara was quite pleased to hear the news of her former co-conspirator Kensuke's string of bad luck and was eager to eliminate him. She was chortling to herself from her business offices at the pathetic plight of her fellow fiend. 'First he runs headlong into a group of fiend hunting ninjas and then the bloody GSDF attacks his base and wipes out most of his army. This opportunity is too good to pass up. Nothing personal Kensuke but your time is up.'

"Time to strike while the iron is hot." Chiyo thought aloud. "Kensuke is retreating to the northeast. I'm in the northwest and have enough forces to crush him." Chiyo was quite excited and started mobilizing all of her forces to eliminate Hanran Kensuke forever….

….

Kenta Entertainment Offices, Osaka

Hōritsu Teiji was watching his former subordinates maneuver on the map. "So Chiyo is on the move and Kensuke is trying to hide from her." thought the old fiend aloud. "Director Sumiyoshi has exhausted the local PSIA Forces and can't very well ask for help from the GSDF in the city. His only option is to turn to the ninjas. I don't know if they are Hayabusas or Uzumakis but with a little luck they'll take out Kensuke and Chiyo." Spreading information to the PSIA about Quatrain's escape and retreat into northeast Oaska's urban areas was simple enough to do. The tabloids were eating it up and according to Teiji's intelligence network PSIA Director Sumiyoshi was as well….

….

Surō Kobe's Office, PSIA Building

Surō was quite befuddled with the situation. He'd seen the headlines that Quatrain was still loose in the northeast of Osaka. 'Who is pulling the strings behind the scenes?' thought the JSDF Agent. 'Whoever it is; they are a master of subterfuge. Sumiyoshi is virtually dancing to whoever's tune is behind it. I ought to look into Sumiyoshi's PSIA information network. I think there is a breach in his security.'

PSIA Director Sumiyoshi had called Surō's office less than an hour ago demanding the Uzumaki's get involved in the fiend hunt for Quatrain. Previously the PSIA Director claimed that Quatrain was dead. Now Agent Surō was less than thrilled about the leads Sumiyoshi had. It wasn't that they were inaccurate; it was a matter of them conveniently popping up every time Sumiyoshi lost the trail.

The chain smoking JSDF Agent had little choice now but to call on his ninja allies given a fiend battle in the city streets was a virtual powder keg ready to explode….

….

"So all you know is Quatrain is supposedly in the northwest after he withdrew from the Mihama Nuclear Plants?" asked Naruto.

Surō nodded his head. "Someone is playing Sumiyoshi like a fiddle. I can't see anyone having such accurate information on Quatrain unless they have a mole inside Quatrain's group."

"In other words it's another fiend." said Maya.

Hinata sighed and said. "Our job is to eliminate fiends but I feel we are working for some other unknown fiend."

"The area in question is very urban." said Maya as she looked over the map of northern Osaka. "We'll have to search like we did in Tokyo and just use dead reckoning."

Naruto nodded. "Then we'll be moving out tonight at dusk."

….

Umeda Sky Building, Osaka

Hanran Kensuke had connections with the Toshiba Corporation who owned 35% of the massive Umeda Sky building which stood forty stories tall. It was here he intended to mount a defense with the two hundred or so remaining fiends under his command. He suspected old man Teiji might attempt to attack him but he knew the old Captain wasn't the type to come at Kensuke openly. Hence hiding in a very open, public place was preferable. 'I have no intention of dying anytime soon.' thought Kensuke to himself. 'Hōritsu Teiji doesn't have the courage to attack me openly in a place like this. He can't call in the military either without martial law being declared.'

Hanran laughed. "I'm as safe here as in an underground bunker…."

….

Umeda Railway Station Corporate Headquarters

Chikara Chiyo looked at various photos of the Umeda Sky Building. "It's a shame to wreck such a lovely piece of human architecture." she thought aloud. 'Kensuke thinks that hiding in plain sight is going to protect him. I outnumber his forces by over two to one. We're not holding back either. After I snap Kensuke's neck Captain Teiji is next. Then I will be the new Captain for Lady Ishtaros.'

Chiyo looked towards the Umeda Sky Building. "Tonight I will crush you Hanran Kensuke…."

….

PSIA Building

Director Sumiyoshi was speaking to his agents he'd pulled from the outlying regions. "Tonight we will eliminate Quatrain and the remaining fiends from our fair city. This will be the last time a fiend sets foot in Osaka." The first fiends were spotted at the Umeda Sky Building just after sunset. After that all the forces including the local police converged on the forty story structure and Kensuke was about to find out just how close he was to his end….

….

POSTSCRIPT:

A short chapter but I set up everything for the next one that I wanted to. Next chapter will be more action oriented and is called Hot Rails to Hell. See you next time. Blue out. 8/6/17