AN:
Disclaimer: Listen to Fabvl!
Hey, y'all! I'm not completely satisfied with this chapter but really wanted to get to the fun part. I wanted to tell yall that this fanfiction definitely earns the M rating so beware, nothing very descriptive (at least I don't think) but be careful. Also, there won't be any larger time skips nor do I plan to make any larger than a week. If I really must make the time flow quicker I will do it with little funny snippets followed by a cut sometime later, rinse and repeat.
(Also, the song at the end is We All Lift Together (Warframe) Cover
By Colm McGuinness Music)
Reviews: I thanks all of you for giving your opinion and pointing out some slight mistakes I made!
TheSlySage:
The Hashirama/Madara tree is something I found in a fic that I don't remember the name of. So it is canon?
I put quite some thought into the Hiraishin conversation so I'm glad you like it!
Right?! Redheads for the win!
I'm trying really hard with the platonic (and not so soon less platonic) love between the two, it is good it came across good.
I read a fic where Fem!Sasuke was called Biwako so it just kinda stayed with me.
I'm sorry but only Biwako will do the Demon Slayer breathing things, it's her thing. I will maybe give Naruto either chakra chains or sensory ability but that won't be for some time. I want them to build their own strength.
Who isn't ATLA fan?
This chapter won't be all that fluffy (sorry!)
Now, (grins menacingly) onto the next chapter!
"Man, this apple sure is tasty," just to prove his point he took out another bite. All the while ignoring Biwako's eye twitches.
"It really was worth skedaddling from Konoha. Just for this apple, I would have done it," her hands are moving to her wakizashi.
"All this juiciness, this taste," he moaned," truly, I'm blessed to eat this."
"Raiton: Hekireki Issen!" He had to duck under her way-too-fast blade lest he loses something from his shoulder, all the while cackling to high heavens and low hells.
'No motivation better than spite.' This whole situation came from Biwako's slight perfectionism. She decided that she needed to finally finish her first form of Thunder Breathing. Now, this wouldn't result in the current situation if not for one self-imposed rule.
Biwako refuses to eat while training. It would be pretty logical, but she is an overachiever. This results in several 5-hour long marathons with no eating, to motivate herself.
So Naruto, like a good friend, decided to help her. It worked – to her eternal mortification.
'She did it!'
"I did it," she whispered. Her face might have remained unchanging but he isn't an Uchiha-whisperer for nothing. Her eyes screamed pride, glee, happiness, and a myriad of other warm and fuzzy things.
"Congrats," he is genuinely happy, "you completed it!" He blinked down at the wakizashi embedded deep in a thick tree and sighed," and that's the fifth sword in six months."
She looked down at her blade and saw a multitude of cracks running through it. She tried to get it out of her misfortunate victim tree but-
Here is a question. What happens when you put a glass under high pressure? It brakes and is pushed out from the center. What happens when you brake a sword –that was under extreme amounts of electricity moments ago? Something similar.
Time slowed for the two. He could see how the sword was blown apart. He could feel the wind pushed back by it. He could hear Biwako's heartbeat.
10 milliseconds
'If those fragments catch her-'
7
He didn't think, he just reacted.
5
He pulled out one of his kunai and locked onto its twin on her thigh.
2
'Activate seal!'
0.5
Touched her shoulder.
0.1
And flashed away.
"Idiot," it's justified this time okay!?
"But gotta admit, it was cool," he gets extra alcohol for that, making him hiss, "okay, okay, sorry,"
She finishes bandaging his arm up. The arm that you hurt. She reminds herself. She is an idiot.
After he saved her from her own idiocy she noticed that he has a long cut running down his right arm. Of course, she freaks out –I didn't freak out, shut up Naruto.
Fortunately, it just looked horrible but was actually a superficial cut that damaged a lot of blood vessels making him look like he is bleeding out. They packed a lot of medical supplies when they left and even after so long it holds out.
The least she can do is fix her mistake.
'Stupid idiot,' she berated herself for the nth time, 'if you could actually think, like a normal person, you would have remembered what not to do-'
"Hey," his voice is soft.
She makes sure not to show her surprise when he cups her cheek in his left hand. 'He learned that from me,' shut up mind.
"This ain't your fault okay?" She hates this sometimes. How he is so damn forgiving when it comes to her.
"And besides," he grins down at her –damn tall people," if I'm lucky I'll get a cool as hell scar!" You call that lucky? 'Trust him to be happy about everything.'
But then again, scars are cool.
"Where are we?"
"Shouldn't you know that? With the map end everything?"
"Because it is easy looking at a map while teleporting," her voice was drier than Suna's sand.
They are currently in a slightly misty town after using a trick with Hirashin to fly. Basically, Naruto throws a kunai straight up, teleports to it then throws kunai in a straight line to travel in the air.
"Well, it's pretty cold and we haven't gone north so we are near the ocean?" He remembers this. Mist and cold winds mean seas or ocean. Probably.
"Hn," translates to 'probably yeah'
"But it sure is a gloomy place."
He isn't kidding, the place is like a graveyard. No one is out on the streets, windows are closed, the street is in disrepair, and there is something wrong in the air.
They walk on what seems to be the main road and reach a market. This time there are a few people around but the feeling is even worse. Not even speaking about the damn mist! He can taste Biwako's desire to bring out those beautiful eyes of hers.
They lock eyes and a conversation passes through them.
Conclusion? There is something fishy here, and it's not the smell.
They played this dance a few times before. Naruto would go around the town placing kunai just in case and find set up a camp. Biwako would go around fishing –HAH!- for info. She was always better at being subtle.
A Crimson Flash and he is gone.
Defensive sealing really is amazing. And a pain in the ass.
Naruto just finished setting up the camp. A simple campfire –Biwako would have his head if it wasn't safe-, a good quality tent full of quality-of-life seals. And of course, the many different seals encircling the place.
Naruto might have gotten a bit paranoid during their eloping –"Stop hitting me 'Wako!?". He once heard the saying "It isn't paranoia if they're out to get you" and he agrees. Really, it's good that they escaped only after they remade Hiraishin otherwise the Hunters and ANBU would have gotten them only three days after their escape. The only downside is that he is pretty sure they identified his escape route.
'Then again, they can't do much about it.'
Don't get him wrong, the Hiraishin does have weaknesses but they are quite easily mitigated with some common sense and liberal use of seals.
"How is your arm?" Naruto did. Not. Scream.
"Wha- Biwako?!" There, standing in the glory of dusk, was his companion wearing a simple black cloak, one could just barely catch flashes of grey under it.
"Hn." Who else?
"Didn't know you'd be back so quick!" She lightly shrugged and pointedly glanced down at his right arm, "Ah," scratching his cheeks he explained, " Don't know? Haven't checked yet."
Another glare, this time for not making sure it heals properly.
"Don't sweat it Biwako," he assured her while taking down the bandages, "it healed anyway. See?"
As the bandages unravel it reveals a long, thin scar running down from his elbow to the wrist. On a closer look, it looks a bit fuzzy around the edges as its little bits branch out.
"Huh."
"Hn."
"That was supposed to heal."
"Hn."
"Maybe it's 'cause of the lightning chakra?" The glare tells him he wouldn't get off scot-free.
"Hn."
" 'o, what'd ya fin'?" He slurs from his place on The Lap. He used up all his luck of the week for this.
She hums, "we are in Wave Country currently and a businessman is trying to gain control of it," there, quick and simple.
He tries to hum back but it comes out as a purr, "ba' guy?"
"Yes, his name is Gato, and owns a shipping company with a clean record. But that is a front for many underground businesses, mainly drugs, and smuggling across the waters. It was a well-kept secret until half a year ago, after that he was opposed before he executed his loudest opposer two months ago."
She can feel the anger now. He might not be a bleeding heart but he has a soft spot for kids. And when adults suffer it isn't rare for them to take it out on the young.
Still, she needs to make sure he isn't being an idiot about it," From what I know he doesn't trust banks."
His eyes gleam in unrestrained desire for a vicious prank.
'Good. He understands,' just to drive her point home she adds, "scum like him won't miss the money."
He grins up at her. It's not a nice one.
"We have been having problems with money nowadays, no?"
"Indeed, I am sure he has a lot saved up."
An important part of being a shinobi –even if they aren't officially- is information. Unfortunately, there isn't much about Gato's place so they just have to do it themselves.
"It's so damn early," he gets why being early is good but did it have to be dawn?!
Gato's home is more of a mansion if you asked Naruto. It makes an H-shape and has four levels above ground but they would bet on there being a few under as well.
The mansion is an obnoxious villain's lair. Thugs walking around the property between bushes and looking constipated –' or is it intimidating?'-, just being general cannon fodder.
Sneaking in is painfully easy. Most people don't realize but Naruto is pretty good at sneaking around, he just doesn't like to. A necessity he learned when he was younger. While Biwako is not only naturally sneaky but she was trained by Itachi and Shisui -fucking- Uchiha, you know, the person who took Shunshin farther than anyone. Apparently, they were friends but Naruto never met him. Anyway-
"Which way do you wanna go?" They are currently in-between floors and crawling around like caterpillars.
"Up. You have an easier time getting out of places," her eyes harden in a warning for a moment, "this is a recon mission."
"I know, I know. Get in, look around and get out," she nods and disappears in a blur.
'Now to find a way down,' fortunately, he has a few kunai around the property for multiple escape routes. He just has to teleport to one of 'em.
Pop
And he is in a vent above the ground floor.
'Man, these vents sure are dusty,' he starts looking around for a crossroad that goes-
-spider!
"Hey did you hear that?"
"Must've been a rat,"
'What are they? NPC-, oh right,' when he looks back to search for the Incarnation of Children's Fear he discovers that it disappeared!
"What's with these vents? They're shakin'."
"Probably 'bout to give out. You know the bastard, he is shrewd."
It takes a solid five minutes to find a way down to the 'Super secret levels where I make my evil plans. Muahahaha!' Takes another five to get around the fan blowing in his face.
He starts crawling around to find another way down but after thirty minutes of searching, he concludes that instead of multiple levels it is just a mega level. Like multiple ones were merged into one. He places another kunai here just in case and looks for a way to see into the room.
'Oh? Bingo~!' He looks down at the little holes he found close to the roof of the room and sees-
Oh.
He will die tonight
This is a lot.
The best way to describe Gato's vault is gaudy. Golden walls with half-circle marble spirals embedded into them. Many artworks that would be more troublesome to sell than get, jewels and, of course, the money placed in an organized mountain.
'No wonder he was trying to take over the country. He can almost support the economy by himself.'
But there isn't any blackmail material here. Strange, trash like him tends to gather them. Or maybe it is in his office? She hadn't checked that-
Voices.
It doesn't take a moment for her to hide back in the vents. The doors –a lot more obnoxious than the rest of the walls- opened and in walked the Man of the Hour comes in.
'Did I really think that? Clearly, I have been spending too much time with him.'
"And I'm telling you! Once I get that stupid shinobi into my ranks it will be only a matter of time!" Shinobi? "Yeah, yeah, he only cares about the money," missing-nin then, "do you really have that bad of a memory?! His name is Zabuza Momochi," that is not ideal, " he'll bring some brat with him too. You know, Demon of the Hidden Mist. You really don't know him? Oh well, he is strong, needs to be with how much I'm paying him," he mumbles that part, "the children?" Children? She can feel her blood cool, "don't worry, they'll be on the boats by tomorrow. I know I've been late with my first shipment! I needed time to get good ones. Hmm? Yeah all of them are untrained and untouched, just how you wanted it."
Her eyes burn into red.
He will die tonight.
Many people say Konoha is soft. That she only survived because of monsters like Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Danzo Shimura, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sannin, Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake, Itachi Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, and a dozen or so people.
They say that her academy is weak, that the students barely learn anything worthwhile. This is supported by the fact that most of the classes are composed of civilian children, especially now that Uchiha are no more.
These people are wrong.
They seem to forget that, despite how notorious their traitors are, there are barely any, and no famous missing-nin. They seem to forget how many traitors and missing-nin their own village has. If you want an example look at the Seven Swordsman of the Mist.
No less than five of them became missing-nin, one a traitor and the last dying to another traitor and almost took his sword. Only Hiramekarei, the Twin Blades, staying in their Village. If the rumors are to be believed the current wielder is puny so that is of no consequence.
Konoha's academy does something that others don't.
Teach how to live with blood on your hands.
Every shinobi academy teaches you how to kill. But they don't teach you what to do after that. They can teach you how to hide a body but they can't teach you how to heal your soul.
This is why so many Konoha-nin are extremely loyal. Well, one of the reasons.
The Will of Fire. A belief that says that people are connected through love. That everyone in the village is family. This is what gives Konoha her strength. This isn't the same as other villages that brainwash their children into being loyal tools. Konoha shinobi are loyal because they truly love the Village.
It is a philosophy that the two hate and love equally.
Hate because shouldn't they have been a part of this family? Cherished like every child born within the walls? Loved and respected for the burden they carry? They would have died for their own! Was it not enough?!
Love because it brought them together. They forged a bond that has no name. Is it love? Maybe. Is it their desire for someone to share their pain? Maybe. This bond is above everything. It has no name, no real way to describe it. For to name it is to limit it.
The closest the two came to describe it is-
One soul in two bodies.
They understand each other perfectly. They are not just Naruto and Biwako, they are something more as well. Not a sum of parts but something new.
They know what will happen tonight. Their hands will be bloodied forever.
They will take this step together. Just like always.
Do not eat before your first kill.
Do not look into their eyes.
Do not choose a target you couldn't hate.
Do not prolong their suffering.
Out of these rules, one will be broken tonight.
They do not say anything. They know their mission.
They go in, kill everyone, rescue the children, and take some cash.
Simple.
Pop
They are in the vent above the treasury.
Pop
She is alone in the vent above the treasury.
She jumps down and gets to work, takes out a palm-sized scroll, and activates the seal. One-fifth of the money is gone. She takes out another, larger, scroll and seals everything shiny into it.
She doesn't go back into the vent. She cracks open the ugly door –' thanks Kami-sama that it is properly oiled' – and takes a peak. No one in the hallway but she can hear some footsteps 3 minutes away. She moves out and sticks to her natural habitat –shadows.
She distantly notes the rain pattering against the window. She finds it quite fitting, the world crying for the lost innocence of her children. But, they lost it a long time ago, so why now?
The hallway is lit by the –full- moonlight coming in from the large, filled-in U-shaped windows. Moving up to the ceiling she takes note that the footsteps are coming closer and looks in the direction.
'30 years old, male, white skin, unknown hair color, blue eye color, Kiri missing-nin, most likely water affinity, no clan markings, based on demeanor not higher than chuunin,' it only took a moment to assess the threat level,' zero.'
She waited until he is out of the moonlight then-
-Crack
'One down,' she brought out a forearm-sized scroll and sealed his body into it. Two birds with one stone. Not only did the body disappear –thus lessening the chances of being found out before it was time- but everything on it is theirs to take later. They don't expect anything valuable –otherwise, they would have been hunted down a while ago- but one can hope. If she was only going for the bounty then the head would have been sufficient.
'Now then, where to next,' half her job is done with the money pocketed. Now comes the other part.
Hunting.
The treasure room is located in the corner of the left-wing on the topmost floor. That means she doesn't have to retrace her steps.
Her eyes bleed into the Sharingan –and she thanks Kami-sama, once again, that the 'glow in the dark' is just a false rumor. There are no materials that can obstruct her view –in the mansion at least- fortunately so she concludes that there is absolutely nobody in these rooms.
She moves down the hallway –on the ceiling of course- in hopes of finding a new victim.
'No, wait, victim would mean they are human. They obviously can't be when they know what is going on down the basement,' she ponders on the conundrum, 'trash,' she decides,' they are trash.'
She arrives at what she calculates as the conjunction of the H when she hears new footsteps –two pairs- and she goes still in-between two windows.
"Hey," thug 1 starts, "have you heard of the war going on in Kiri?"
'18, male, copper skin, blonde, brown eyes, Suna missing-nin, most likely wind affinity, no clan markings, no higher than genin, threat level zero.'
"Kiri?" thug 2 questioned, "that's nothing compared to Iron."
'30, female, tanned skin, blonde, blue eyes, mercenary, unknown affinity, lower than genin, threat level zero.'
"Why? What happened there?"
"A full-blown rebellion is going on in there," really? She didn't know that, "rumor says that they want a more civilian regime," she raises an eyebrow in disbelief, 'more civilian hand? In the only real alternative to shinobi? Do they want to die that much?'
Thug 1 agrees, "are they that stupid? Mifune and his sword-waving nerds will slaughter them!"
"Don't know," thug 2 shrugs before slowly gaining a grin, "say," her voice is deeper now. For some reason thug 1 shivers, "We are alone here yes?" Why would she state-
Oh,
She can feel her ears burn. 'Are they seriously- yep, they are.'
Her thoughts are answered when thug 1 pushes thug 2 up the wall and they have a full-blown make-out session in front of a twelve-year-old.
'I have seen enough,' her ears are burning. She catches the eye of thug 2.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan," she mumbles.
"Hey, what's the prob-"
-Crack
-Crack
'Another two down. I didn't know that Iron is in a civil war,' she hums slightly while sealing away the bodies and moving forward, ' it would be nice to get my hands on those Nichirin swords. If even half of the rumors are true then it wouldn't get damaged by my chakra,' there are not many things known about Nichirin swords because of how rare they are. The only confirmed people to wield one are the Taishos –Generals- of Iron Country. Not only are they durable but they are also extremely chakra-conductive. And if the rumors are true they tailor themselves to the user once someone touches, and runs chakra through, them. Depending on the chakra used they may also become an almost-perfect conductor to the element.
'But how could I get one?' Stealing is out of the question. She is not suicidal enough to try nicking the sword of the Strongest Samurai, and the 'how' and 'where' of the making are unknown. Buying is impossible as well.
That leaves earning one, 'But how?' She won't become the Taisho even if she wants to. Then how-
'-Ah,' the possible answer hits her luck lightning –"More like Thunder eh, Biwako?"- 'Iron is a meritocracy. If I were to perform exemplary in the war I could maybe request one?' They need to brainstorm on this.
It seems like during her pondering her feet brought the body to an office.
'Or maybe this is The Office?'
-She stares at the camera-
After confirming there is no one in the area –or the room- she opens the door.
'A lot of paper,' there is also a bookcase filled with books for decorative purposes. Maybe she can find the supposed purchaser of the goods.
The wooden handle in her hands cracks.
It takes approximately 30 minutes to find an agreement between one Tarozaemon Hisamatsu and a Gato –no family name?- and it all clicks to her a moment later.
'Is there something worse than trash? Scum?' it has been a while since she felt this much raw desire to simply burn someone alive.
Tarozaemon is a traitor from Iwa, that would not mean anything usually. But this particular traitor decided to fashion himself after Orochimaru.
'Those children would have a fate worse than death.'
With renewed resolve, she finished her floor –three more bodies sealed- and move downwards. The third floor goes much the same just with more bodies and she sees that the moon reached its peak and is below it a bit.
'Six more hours until dawn. Enough.'
On the second-floor things get a bit more interesting with a Jonin evading her first strike, only to fall to a quick genjutsu-taijutsu combo before he makes a peep.
The first floor is even more interesting in the fact that there are bedrooms –she catches two of them doing it- and many are asleep making it easier for her to take care of them.
'Hm. twenty. Only eleven more,' she does not pity them. They are with Naruto if they are not with her. He might not make them suffer but they will be scared out of their mind.
The ground floor is when things take a new turn.
The level is mostly occupied by a disgustingly ornate and large staircase that splits down in the middle and curls into an interior balcony. The rest of the floor is occupied by necessary rooms and various secret –it took a glance to identify them- passages that go downward. One such opening is built into the staircase's side closest to her.
From there emerged Naruto.
With a trail of children following him like genins their Jonin?
'Adorable,' shut up mind.
The Islands of Wave haven't felt hope in a long time.
It first began when a new and promising businessman, dealing in shipping, began rising. At first, Gato was like Kami-sama sent down a savior to them. Wave Country was always a portly place. Less of a country and more of a union of four medium-sized villages on each of the islands. Then he came along. Promising advancement, more resources, better boats to fish with –they are proud of their fishermen okay?- and more trading.
Look where it got them.
Wave is nothing but a bloated corpse of a country now. A place where the only reason they awaken is to work. To feed themselves and their children so that they may work once again. A vicious cycle.
They tried to break it, oh how they tried.
It took their hero, Kaiza, to die in front of them to break. They abandoned their pride, valuing their family and lives over it. Oh, how it burns.
And yet, today brings something new.
It is the early hours, and the sun is barely up. Fishermen tend to wake early –the early bird catches the fish- so this isn't unusual. Said early birds trudging through the mud until they stumble upon a message, drawn across the whole village.
Gato is dead. The children are with their families. The money is with the Daimyo.
Simple, straight to the point. Unbelievable.
Yet, when they look there are none of Gato's henchmen around. His mansion is closed. Families are screaming with joy. Their lost children were found sleeping in the houses.
The Islands of Wave haven't felt hope in a long time.
Now they do once again.
She can't sleep.
It's okay, he can't either.
They have been back at their camp for four hours now. Before coming back they made sure to find the children's homes, broke in, and left their sleeping children somewhere comfortable. They quickly teleported to their unofficial mission giver, the Wave Daimyo, and left the money and Gato's head, along with the agreement Biwako found, on her desk.
When they decided to kill Gato they went to the Daimyo to speak. Fortunately, she hated the bastard just as much as the next person. She was tricked into a check and couldn't move, he basically held the village around his mansion hostage and she couldn't move a muscle.
So when two willing shinobi –not officially- came into her room with a flash and asked her opinion on Gato she told them.
Long story short they were given a mission to deliver Gato's head and clean out the house so to say. The children's safety was heavily encouraged.
Their payment was one-fifth of the money and what they could find on the henchmen.
Everything is done now. They can't take it back.
Now they are lying in their tent, Biwako playing with his crimson locks while Naruto holds her close and thinks. He has been quiet ever since they left the last child home. She knows him well, he will speak when he needs answers. Until then she shall offer any comfort she can.
"Am I a bad person?" Ah, it is time then.
"Why would you be?"
"I don't feel anything." So that is why he was so quiet, she should have known.
She hums, "We are shinobi. We never had a chance for something else nor did we want to. We are not children from the capital that are taught killing is bad," She takes a moment to collect her thoughts, "Both of us are familiar with death. There is a saying, do you want to hear it?" He hums back, "Bandits taunt death, samurai find honor in death, shinobi dance with death. We have always known death so it does not bother us."
"But," he hesitates, " not to feel anything?" He has no desire to turn into an unfeeling something. To feel is to be humane.
"Let's look at this from another angle. Why have we killed them?"
His little thoughtful frown is heart-melting, "It was originally for the children," he pauses," after that, for the mission?" He tilts his head like he isn't sure.
"You would have killed Gato regardless right?" He nods.
"What would have his henchman done if their money supplier disappeared?" Eyes shining with understanding he looks up at her.
'Beautiful eyes,' shut up mind.
"They would have ravaged the village."
"Exactly, it was necessary," she doubts it really is but he needs to hear these words.
He buries back close to her. But there is still a weight on his shoulders, 'Why?'
"What about you? Are you okay?" She is lucky he doesn't look at her face. Her ears are burning.
"Yes," she tries not to show how much she likes his concern, " I was always taught how to deal with killing," 'and after that night I'm desensitized to it,' is unsaid but not unheard.
She wants to say his tight hold is uncomfortable but it is not, "I will be here okay? That is a promise, dattebayo!"
It is okay now. As long as they are together they can take on the world.
'It was worth it,' that was his first thought upon entering the village after dusk.
It is no longer a place where people exist. People live here.
Song, shouts, laughing, dancing, children playing!
'It was worth it! The blood on my hands has meaning!'
He looks at a Biwako and closes her jaw for her –she shot a glare but couldn't hide the pride over their work. He interlocks their hands –ignores her burning ears- and drags her around.
"Come on!" He can see his own eyes reflecting on hers, "this is the first time I've been to a festival! Let's look around!" She pretends to try and get away only for him to tighten his hold.
Colors! Music! Dancing! Food! What else would he need!?
"Oh! What's that?" He shouts over the noise and points at a random stall that seems to sell something octopus according to his nose. He wastes no time dragging her through the sea of people towards their –his- destination.
"Hello!" Manners are important, people, "What'cha selling!" It is completely necessary to shout.
The pretty lady behind the stall agrees, "Hi! Want some Takoyaki!"
"Yup! Make it two!" He doesn't even look back at Biwako to feel her glare. It is quite ineffective since she is smiling
Pretty lady smiles down at them and shoots him a wink, "They grow up so fast," she sighs wistfully.
He refuses to blush, "What'cha talking 'bout lady, dattebayo!?"
She just laughs, gives them their food, and shouts over the noise all around them, "If you two want to stretch your legs go down to the water!"
He takes the plates and starts running –dragging Biwako all the while- away and back into the sea of people taking extra care to protect their very late dinner. After marching through what felt like the entire population they arrived at a place with fewer people standing around but more singing and dancing.
"Come on," he doesn't need to shout anymore, she is already rather frazzled anyway, "let's feast!" He chuckles and is rewarded with a little smile.
They sit down on a bench and just start munching while listening to the sounds and looking at the sights.
He hadn't felt this much pride since he first got Hiraishin to work. He just has to look around to see what his work really reaped. People laughing, people dancing, people singing, oh the music. One of the greatest things humanity has ever made –right up there with Fuuinjutsu!-, a shame he doesn't have the voice for it.
A whistle cuts through the air like thunder followed by humming.
"~Cold: the air and water flowing.~" Woah, definition of a deep voice.
"~Hard: the land we call our home.~" He starts looking for the source until he feels Biwako tugging on his hand and interlocking them again.
"~Push to keep the dark from coming.~" They arrive at a crescent of people blocking their view.
"~Feel the weight of what we owe.~" Biwako cuts a way through them.
"~This: the song of sons and daughters.~"
"Hide the heart of who we are.~" A band of orange-haired triplets sing
and play their strange instruments.
"~Making peace to build our future.~" the audience slowly starts humming along
"~Strong, united, working 'till we fall.~"
A breath later.
"~Cold: The air and water flowing!~"
"~Hard: the land we call our home!~"
" ~Push to keep the dark from coming~"
"~Feel the weight of what we owe! ~".
"~This: the song of sons and daughters!~"
"~Hide the heart of who we are.~"
"~Making peace to build our future.~"
"~Strong, united, working 'till we fall!~"
"~And we all lift, and we're all adrift together, together.~" Only humming and taps on the ground accompany them.
"Through the cold mist, 'till we're lifeless together, together.~"
They lock eyes, 'Yes, we've done the right thing.'
Have you ever wondered who is the strongest Hokage?
Some would say it is the first. Hashirama Senju was the only person to hold Mokuton, he was his generation's best medic, an absolute chakra powerhouse, and founded Konoha. He brought down every Biju singlehandedly. Not only that but fought Madara Uchiha and Kyuubi at the same time. He more than earned his title as a God of Shinobi
Others would say the second, Tobirama Senju. The man who killed Izuna Uchiha with a style made specifically to kill Uchihas. Suiton Master unlike any other. Add to that he is one of the three honorary Uzumaki in living memory –though Minato would have earned the title if the clan still stood- and you get a terrifying person. Hashirama might have made Konoha but Tobirama solidified her hold on as the Strongest. His most well-known move to strengthen Konoha was the ANBU. His inventiveness and intelligence are unquestionable. Rumor has it that half of Konoha's forbidden techniques came from him, although only the Kage Bunshin and the Hiraishin are confirmed. Even minutes before his death he dictated the future by choosing Hiruzen as his successor. Sage, in his last battle he wiped out no less than 30 S-rank shinobi! You know, the S-rank that is affectionately called Army Killers. Rumors even say he resurrected his dead foes to fight for him! Ludicrous.
(In an unspecified amount of time they would curse for a whole day for thinking that.)
Most of the previous generation would scream Hiruzen Sarutobi and not without reason. Student of the first two Hokage –more so of Tobirama than Hashirama- placed him in a prime place to grow. And grow he did. He amassed many titles during his long reign as the Third Hokage, but he took the most pride in Hokage, The Professor, and the Second God of Shinobi. His second and third titles came from his extreme talent for everything shinobi. He could deduce, recreate and improve a technique only from seeing the hand signs. He learned every jutsu in Konoha –including some Hiden. One of the few people to be able to use all five basic natures, and the only to use them in conjunction with Yin and Yang natures. And we are not even talking about his close combat abilities, most notably his capability to cut with a staff. He taught the Sannin –all Kage level fighters in their own right. And millions of little things that make him the most powerful of his generation. And one of the most powerful in general.
For the two of them, it is the fourth, Minato Namikaze. An orphan with nothing to his name but clothes on his back and his mind. Seal Master of the highest caliber, genius tactician, Fuuton master, and one of the most annoying people to fight against. He knew physiological warfare like the back of his hand, whether that be intimidation, goading, demoralizing, or something else, he knew it. That fateful battle against Iwa wasn't just to win. It sent a message. He used one jutsu to basically neuter Iwa, nigh scaring the other nations into submission, earn his monicker, solidify his position as a Hokage candidate and tremendously boost Konoha –and allies- morale.
I reiterate, one jutsu.
And now that Naruto and Biwako know Hiraishin so well that only two, dead, people could say to know it better, they can tell you that Hiraishin only played a small part in the victory. Because Hiraishin is not an offensive jutsu. It is the pinnacle of Fuuin-type Space-time jutsu but it isn't inherently damaging. The true danger is the users. While not much is known about how Tobirama used the Hiraishin, it is well-documented how Minato used it. One moment he is in front of the army like an unmovable mountain, the other he is stabbing you in the back, next, he is surrounded by corpses. If someone saw the battle –massacre- from above the only thing they'd see is a yellow flash appearing and disappearing between bodies falling down. For the carnage he sowed, he only used two moves. Flash and cut. That's it.
Then couldn't Naruto do the same? Couldn't he kill an army if it is as simple as that?
HAH!
Minato doesn't do things without reasons. When the two got their hands on incomplete documentation of the battle –written by Minato Namikaze himself- Biwako quickly understood something hidden in the lines.
Minato understood everything on the battlefield. From possible formations to their nature affinity from sight alone. This, combined with his knowledge of warfare, made him terrifying to fight. Biwako once likened this to know all the outcomes of Shogi. Around 10^224 for your information. He methodically picked out the people whose death would grant him the best advantage. Demoralization, reduced combat effectiveness, rage, fear, and damage in the command structure. By the time someone realized the kunai are used as beacons almost everyone was dead. They still died but they got the information back to HQ.
But as they said, Minato doesn't do things without reason. The two agree that the info got back because Minato let it.
Hiraishin isn't supposed to be used in quick succession as he did. The human body isn't made to endure being in one place only to be in another without a twitch. The only reason Naruto had only thrown up the first five times is due to his Uzumaki vitality. Either Minato had something hidden in his blood or he was just insane.
Naruto would lean towards insane. He gets Tobirama not being overly bothered due to his Senju blood but still.
So no. Naruto can't take down an army by himself. It's good a thing he isn't alone.
"So," stretching out he stared at the sleepy Biwako, "where to next?"
He really wants to leave this country, his mind had accepted the blood he spilled and its worth but his heart hasn't.
"Hn," her voice has that slight raspiness that he always loves in the morning, "there is a rebellion in Iron."
He can feel his eyebrow shoot up while Biwako starts stretching, "Iron country? As in the opposite side of the continent?" he finally processes the other thing in the statement, his eyebrow flew past his skull, "a rebellion?!" he gets an Uchiha-grade glare for the loud voice," Sorry," he scratches his cheek," But a rebellion? With the samurais?" He is rather confused about that, they don't tend to be a rowdy bunch.
"Hn. The civilians want a larger hold in management," she is as bewildered as Naruto.
He mirrors her earlier thoughts, "A civilian hand? In the only alternative to shinobi?" he chuckles slightly, "do they want to die that much?" his brows furrow, however, "but isn't Iron like the Hidden Villages? That the strongest lead them?"
She hums while helping him prepare for take-off, "Indeed. I think the civilian hired missing-nin and ronin to fight for them."
"So quantity over quality?" It kinda makes sense but-, "Why hasn't their Kage-"
"-Taisho, his name is Mifune."
"Why hasn't their Taisho smacked 'em down?" That is the point he doesn't get. If this happened in Konoha even the calm and kind Sandaime would execute them.
She lightly shrugs while taking down the tent as he unravels the seal matrix around the perimeter. He might not see her but he understands her.
"So you want to go there? To participate?" it would be a lie he wants to join but he'll follow her until they die. And after if he has any saying.
"Hn. There is something there we need."
"Oh," his curiosity is piqued, what would they need from there? Better swords? Even if they manage to get their hand on a high-quality one it is doubtful it would survive for longer than a few years. The amount of strain she puts on her blades is insane!
"Nichirin," she relishes in the sound of a smacked forehead.
"Of course! That Orochimaru of a material-" did he just use Orochimaru's name as a substitute for monster? "-can probably withstand Tsunade-sama's fist!" Huh, that's one way to put it, "but isn't it impossible to get one though?" His brows are back to that adorable furrow.
"Iron is a meritocracy," she still nods, it is almost impossible, "if we, or I, perform exceptionally in the war I believe a request for a Nichirin sword would be accepted," it is purely her hope of gaining one.
He pulls out their map as everything is put away, "It's cold there right?" she nods, "then we need some better clothes too," she sighs lightly, she and shopping don't agree. Though she perks up at a random thought.
"Can you not make a seal for temperature regulation?" She tilts her head at him.
"Ugh," that was the wrong thing to say apparently as he has the same look when he is depressed about not getting a seal, "It's so damn complicated though!" Great, now he is whining, "whoever made that damn seal deserves to rot in the Shinigami's stomach.
She is very awkwardly patting his back," So, shopping?"
"UGH!"