AN/ I was feeling inspired when I wrote the first halve of this partly by the new Demon slayer movie. Koyoharu Gotōge sure spoils us rotten. Her works are amazing. and Ufotable just adds onto it with their animation skills. So paying tribute to her work I have added in some characters in her work as members of the Uzumaki coalition. I have read the manga and can't wait to see the film. As always, enjoy and review would you kindly.
Chapter 33:Flood 4
It was in the counsel chambers that most of the collective that made up the Privy council of Uzu Gathered at the Behest of Hideyoshi Uzumaki, the current acting ruler of the coalition and acting Uzumaki clan head. Of those who could be there in person were five of the seven clan heads who were the retainers of the Uzumaki. And the eleven clans who joined the Uzumaki alliance after coming to Remnant. Of the five retainers present in person were Giichi Tomioka, who was the oldest of the Uzumaki retainers. He was a well built older man with streaks of gray throughout his gray hair, and with hard cobalt blue eyes.
Shizu Shinazugawa was next, dressed formally in an immaculate orchid purple and lavender blue, with two-toned sakura flower print kimono with patterns like starbursts, her long glossy ebony black hair traditionally styled into a bun. And with soft purple eyes. She, however, fooled none present with her regal appearance and soft smile. To the absolutely monstrous battle fiend hidden just beneath the surface. Utterly proficient in taking people apart. Just as she did to her former husband. When the fucker had the temerity to strike her children. Now the poor bastard was down an arm, completely crippled, wheelchair bound with severe brain damage. No one blamed her for her completely valid violent reaction to the abuse of her children. Kyogo was only alive now because it was a fitting punishment.
Next was Amane Ubuyashiki, who was a striking beauty with white hair, gentle lavender eyes. Acting in place of her husband Kagaya who tragically passed away last year of a sudden illness. Leaving her the widowed mother of five children. As acting clan head Until her eldest son Kiriya who is only six was of age to take over the headship at fourteen.
Following her was Shinjuro Rengoku, a tall broad shouldered man with unruly orange hair that shifts to red at the tips. Tied back so that it is out of his face. Thick black forked eyebrows and striking golden colored eyes with red irises. Finally was Muichiro Tokito, who was the youngest, having just turned fourteen the month prior. He had black long hair with mint green tips and light green eyes, and was acting in place of his uncle Yoriichi as clan head for the Tsugikuni clan. He was present in his position as Anbu commander Ōkami.
Next was Yukiko Amagawa, head of the Amagawa clan, a clan that originally hailed from Kiri. And his Jonin commander. She had the traditional beauty of the Amagawa clan that comprised long black hair, pale skin, the unique feature she inherited from her father was her captivating lavender Eyes. She was dressed in the typical uniform of a shinobi of the coalition today, comprising her headband, a long-sleeved tunic and pants, along with a black flak jacket.
Following her was a representative of the Hōzuki clan that originated from Kiri Chūnin Makumo, who had the distinct blue eyes and abilities of her clan. But had inherited the black hair of her mother. She was the second youngest, at just fourteen and a half years of age. Having taken over for her father as clan head at such a young age due to crippling injury.
The representative of the Hoshigaki clan that hailed from Kiri was clan head Masachika Hoshigaki. Whose distinct shark-like features bred true. Sabito Terumī was the clan head and representative of the Terumī clan for the coalition. Who had a distinctive scar on the side of his face and the Auburn hair typical of his clan. Lady Tamayo Kaguya was the head of the Kaguya known for her skill in the clan's bloodline limit, the Shikotsumyaku And Genjutsu. Tenma Uzui was the leader of his clan. Known for their extensive use of the Bakuton.
Clan heads Yushiro Kanroji, Gyomei Himejima, Yoshiteru Agatsuma, Jigoro Chinoike. Soon followed the others, taking their seats at the large round table. The last member of the collective followed them, elected representative Tanjuro Kamado who represented any minor clans or civilian families whose shinobi service did not exceed more than three generations. For his family having served only for two generations and where distantly related to the Tsugikuni his position was one of high honor.
After he took his seat, Ōkami locked down the room with the most extensive seals at his disposal. Sealing script snaked up the walls and across the doors. Locking them in sealed space. It would prevent anyone from leaving or entering until they were done. Even if it were just a precaution against any unaware eavesdroppers, intentional or not. One would have to be suicidally stupid to purposefully spy on council meetings not open to the public. Any attempt to do so was an unwritten warrant for disposal. The room flashed a bright blue, disabling any electronic surveillance and disrupting any seals designed for recording.
The clan seals of the two missing members glowed a blue projecting the seals in the place of the missing members. Clan heads Lady Kanae Kocho and Obanai Iguro, respectively. Showing that at the very least they were listening in on the meeting.
Once everyone was present was seated with Ōkami-dono and Amagawa-dono taking their places behind his old friend Hideyoshi as was their right, Giichi eager to know why they were gathered on such short notice, could no longer keep silent and asked, "So tell us Hideyoshi-sama, my friend what is it you have gathered us for at such an hour?"
The silence was maddening as the elder Uzumaki took out his pipe, slowly and methodically stuffed it with tobacco. Yet to so much as speak. Giichi saw that small shadow of a grin. It made his eye twitch. The cheeky fucker! He was doing this on purpose. Trying to get a rise out of him now? Really?! Well, two could play that game then.
Just to be annoying because he knew it drove the other man crazy. He cracked his knuckles. One by one the pop, pop, pop of cracking joints echoed in the wide room.
Hideyoshi flinched with a spine tingling shudder. Glaring at the smug grin on the Tomioka clan head. If he wanted to go, then fine, he would give as good as he got. He packed the tobacco nice and deep into his pipe, probably more than he should have if one were being honest. Taking a bit of small pride in the fact that the other man was turning a delightful shade of puce at his ministrations. He grinned, ha he had won it was only a matter of time now. And he would win this little war of theirs. In triumph he was about to light his pipe finally with a clever application of fire chakra. When a gut churning series of crack, crack, pop, pop, pop echoed in the sealed space. Hideyoshi flinched violently, almost setting his beard on fire. Quickly swatting at his singed facial hair.
In a fit of peak he chucked his now on fire pipe at the other elder man, harder than he should have. Not that he cared. He had plenty more of the damned things. Giichi ducked under the hastily thrown burning pipe. Avoiding a burning projectile to the face by the narrowest of margins. But still getting showered in the charred remains of the tobacco.
Oh, oh, ohohoh, the cheeky fucker that tears it, Giichi all but snarled as he was about to leap over the table. "Hide you little fuck-" much to the collective groans of everyone present. And a muttered, "like god damned children. The both of you" from Amane, failing to hide her amusement. The dainty hand stopped his advance on his shoulder.
"Ahem!" the blood in his veins turned to ice when he heard her speak up. "Sit down." her voice was gentle, not an octave above what one would call a normal speaking volume. But still he sat all the same. His face pale as a ghost. One listened when Shizu spoke up. Especially when she could use her clan's vaunted Taiton with the merest of a touch. An act that would eviscerate any poor sod. And turn them into messy, very messy chunky salsa. It was a wonder her hellions were not just as bad as she was when angered. Especially her eldest two, Sanemi and Genya. Twenty-three and nineteen respectively, the two had a mean streak a mile wide. Especially when it came to suitors who were after their mother's hand even now. Poor dumb bastards. Even if she did not look a day over twenty-one, thanks in part to the strong Uzumaki genes running through her veins. It still was not worth it, in Giichi's opinion. Even if she raised those kids of hers into respectable members of society. Fucking sociopaths the lot of em.
Still though that soft smile that screamed at him. I will do horrible, unspeakable horrible things to you if you don't behave. Sent a chill down his spine. He absolutely did not want to end up like Kyogo. No, sir! No thank you, that's a nope right there all the way to Nopeville.
The glare she directed at Hide. Causing the other man to become as white as a sheet. Still like an animal caught in headlights. And promptly sit down. Amused Giichi to no end. With the grin he had, it was an amusement he failed to hide. Until that hand on his shoulder tightened ever so slightly. Wiping the grin clean from his face. His blood drained from his face. Leaving him a pallid white.
"Gentleman, are we ready to continue?" She asked, bearing a silken smile that belied genuine dangers.
"Yes," the pair meekly said in unison.
"Good, then tell us why we have gathered Hideyoshi-sama," she said in that deadly calm tone of hers, and a smile sent shivers down his spine. Kami, she was worse than her children. It was beyond him why she even terrified him. She was not even a half his age and yet something in his instinctual hindbrain. Bleated with sheer terror and fear that only death and suffering awaited. It made him want to run far, far away.
"Ah, yes, well, there has been a development. The mission Bakeneko's team was assigned to investigate, the possible rogue known as 'Kitsune' has turned up some unexpected results." the elder Uzumaki explained. "They were able to get a blood sample in their first encounter and from it. I naturally went to check the archives once I received the sample…"
"Forgive me for interrupting, honored elder, but I don't understand so is this boy a foundling or a rogue?" the young Muichiro asked, just as perplexed as the rest of them.
"He is our heir, of the main line." Hideyoshi explained. "That means for whatever reason he traveled here from the Elemental Nations. And he is not alone; he came with a companion."
The dead silence that pervaded the room was more deafening than any amount of shouting could have ever been. It meant many things for them, for the coalition and for their clans.
"I see, then we must make arrangements." the digitally distorted voice of the Iguro clan head echoed in the silence. They all knew he was right, too.
"Yes, quite," the soft-spoken Lady Tamayo agreed. "Hideyoshi-sama do you know what his current status is?"
"According to the last report, he was en route to Lower Cairn. It is supposed to be a basic resupply and Grimm elimination mission." Hideyoshi admitted.
"Ufufufu, Amagawa-Dono, Ōkami-chan do we have any active teams in the area." Shizu asked, clearly enjoying the way she unsettled Yukiko at the very least Ōkami had not even twitched in the slightest. "Any will do, be they Anbu or an experienced team."
Ōkami merely shook his head in the negative. Choosing to stay as silent as ever. Yukiko, however, spoke up. "We currently have two teams in the vicinity. Team Tomioka, led by Jōnin Giyu, and his subordinates Chunin's Nezuko and Tanjiro Kamado, and Zenistu Agatsuma. Then its team Kocho, lead by Jōnin Shinobu Kocho, her subordinates are, Inosuke Hashibirra, Kanao Tsuyuri, Genya Shinazugawa, and Susamaru Takada chunin all. It however would take at least a day if they run at full speed to get there."
"Mmm, then the course is obvious. Is it not?" the massive mountain of a man Gyomei Himejima said. "We must find our heir. If not to reunite him with family then for the nation at the very least."
"Yes, you are right, all the Uzui clan is behind you on this." Tenma agreed.
There was a unanimous call for their heir. From all the remaining clan heads. Making it quite clear that regardless of circumstances. He was their heir, their family. And they wanted him. Regardless of circumstances.
"As soon as we are finished here, I will send out a message. Amagawa-san, Ōkami I will need to see you in my office as soon as we are done." the coalition leader said aloud. "This is a matter of state secrecy, so I expect this information to go no further. Am I clear?"
The ominous tone, and the sheer dread, stilled everyone to the bone as the elder Uzumaki exerted the full extent of his massive reserves. Straining the wards, isolating them with the sheer deadly intent and force of his chakra alone. Proving to everyone here just why he was still in charge all these years later. He had not lost even a single step in power.
]|[
Like an arrow loosed from the very bow of the goddess Artemis herself. Her arrow soared through the night sky on swift wings. Guided by her power toward her target. It mattered not whether he was hidden from her sight, nor distance. Her aim was true. His life was hers to reap. The poisoner would fall by her arrow.
The arrow fired from her bow was not the one gifted to her by Laruam and Intrygant. But one of her own special makes its head loaded with a combination of fire and lightning dust.
Her arrow flew and struck true, lodging itself deep in his eye just as he was about to turn a corner. Just as he was about to confront his unwitting victims. The moment the arrow struck, it exploded, obliterating his head and most of his upper torso. In an audible wumph of displaced air and light. It was a sudden, violent, and unceremonious death.
That was the scene that Velvet and Yatsuhashi came upon. It wasn't like they had not seen a dead body before. Such things were inevitable in their chosen line of work as Huntsmen. But had they come across something that was just… just so visceral, so violent.
It was such that even the normally stoic Yatsuhashi paled in disgust. Right alongside Velvet, who gasped in shock at what they found. One trembling hand covering her mouth.
They knew they could not linger. At least one group had to make it to one of the communication towers. One was in the castle's inner keep itself, the other was in the castle's gate house.
"Come on Velvet, we can't stay here" Yatsuhashi said, placing one hand on her back to urge her onward.
"R-right, let's go then."
A beam of light not unlike what the pair saw during that spar with NNPR shot off far in the distance, only it was far more powerful than before. Such that it was visible from where they stood. The ground trembled and quaked with the aftershocks of the blast.
]|[
Naruto was impressed as Stinger tumbled out of the gaping hole in the church. Skipping along the ground and collapsing into a quickly spreading pool of blood. Somehow he had avoided instant death by the skin of his teeth. His left arm was missing from the bicep down. What little remained of the stump was a blackened, scorched, rapidly bleeding mess.
The ground trembled, and not from the aftershocks of Pyrrha's attack, as the psychopath groaned in agony. Breaking out in manic laughter as he felt the rumbling ground. Pavement all around them cracked and groaned.
A surge of malice, hatred so potent, took his breath away. Nearly driving the Uzumaki to madness under the sway of its effect. Almost crippling him with inaction under the heady weight of what felt like thousands of souls. All crying out for revenge, for the suffering to end, lashing out at anything and everything.
It was so potent that the sage stumbled from the shock, reactions dulled under the onslaught. Too slow to react. Too slow to stop it. As a black flood of ichor burst from the catacombs beneath the city. Lashing out at anything, at everything. It almost cost him an arm, had he not instinctively used a shinra tensei. pushing it back briefly.
Naruto had only just avoided a fatal misstep. Jumping clear of the epicenter by the narrowest of margins. The immobile Shipman and Stinger were not as fortunate. Consumed under the tide, bound and immobile as they were, they never stood a chance at escape. Shipman let out a sudden and abrupt shriek as he was devoured. Stinger, on the other hand, could not, would not, stop laughing the entire time. Even as he was devoured, consumed utterly.
For a moment the entirety of Naruto's concern went to Pyrrha. To her wellbeing. To if she had fallen prey to whatever the hell this was, as Stinger and his accomplice had. At least until he saw a flash of silver strike back at the wave of inky black. Forcing it back, holding the line. And preventing it from entering the church.
That was when he had seen her transformation. A glow of silver black surrounded her as she took flight. The case with the 'antidote' in hand, directing her flight path to join him on the roof of a building overlooking the square.
"Naruto," she called out. "What the hell is that?"
If he was honest Naruto would say he had no idea what the hell that was. But he knew what it felt like. To his empathic senses. It felt like a brand filling his head with mind melting agony if he focused on it for too long. Like a black hole of hate and malice. It consumed everything, leaving only hatred and despair in its wake. And he knew what the many emotions of people felt like. People were messy, filled with a mix of emotions. Not this indescribable hate and rage all magnified a thousandfold.
"I do not know. But get ready, whatever it is. It's coming." he warned, stilling for just a moment. But that was all he needed to achieve the honoured sage mode. His senses expanding, the life signs of his allies like starlights on the black canvas of the inky blackness before him. The telltale marks denoting sage mode appearing, the orange markings around his eyes and bar shaped pupils.
"Right," Pyrrha nodded. Latching the case to her back.
Sure enough, just as Naruto said, from the black mire. Emaciated skeletally thin misshapen humanoid creatures emerged, shambling out by the dozens. All with blackened skin like pitch, covering all but their bone white skulls with a lone eerie glowing red orb resting in the center. Their maws filled with jagged sharp teeth, along with a jagged set of spikes that went down their spines, ending in a long tail, along with disproportionately long arms with claws made to rend flesh.
Slowly at first, each headed in a different direction. Almost mindless in their meandering. Letting the pair observe from a distance. Until one of the few spotted them that did not leave the square. And heard the most bloodcurdling of roars.
En masse, those that did not leave rushed the building they were perched upon. In just a few short bounds. Claws digging deep into the masonry. The foul beasts were upon them.
With swift and efficient movements Naruto beheaded the first to make it up the building with a knife hand strike enhanced by his wind chakra. Sand burst forth from his gourd, riddling the foul creatures below with holes. With a pulse of chakra, Samehada flew through the church. Like a scaled buzz-saw of death ripping its way through the horde. Making a path straight to Naruto's outstretched hand. Samahada in hand. He spun with the momentum of the blade, cleaving his way through six more of those ominous creatures.
Just as efficiently Pyhrra kept up, locked in step with the blonde sage. Her enhanced spear cutting through one monster after another, as if they were little more than paper. Despite their appearance, they were frail and weak. The only thing they had going for them was their speed and numbers. Spears of iron lanced out from her wing. Utterly obliterating those before her. The pair worked seamlessly together to repel their attackers. Dueling with blade and sand alike.
There was a sudden and abrupt shift in the mire's heart. From where the creatures spawned. It crystalized, pulsing with power, seeming to draw all of its available biomass into itself. Shrinking rapidly in size. Before raising up, up, and up, reaching towards the sky like a cursed tower of Babel.
From the base it spawned several shifting blackened masses that ruptured once separated from the main body, the mucus-like sac peeling away to reveal a hairless bulky bipedal creature with a bone white mask with red lines tracing it upon its head. Along its back was its exposed bone white spine lined with vicious looking spikes ending in a long jagged pensile hooked tail.
All seven in total let out an inhuman roar. Then they seemed to blur. Tearing a path straight through the weaker of their ranks. Adding the biomass of the trampled to that of their own with their cannibalistic nature. Gaining dense armour and wicked bone claws in seconds.
In what seemed like less than a second, they were upon the pair.
In a flurry of claws and blades, the foul beasts matched skill with ferocity. Refusing to back down no matter how their armour was crushed and pulverised. Nor when their claws failed to reach tender flesh. Blunted as they were upon walls of iron sand. It mattered not the limbs they lost nor the often swift decapitation of their heads. The pack closed ranks around the most injured. Buying vital time for them to reabsorb vital biomass to regenerate. Be it from severed appendages or from their own ranks.
Throwing Samahada like a spear, Naruto impaled one of the Grimm like hounds, just seconds before Naruto's hands blurred through the seals, Tiger → Snake → Ram → Snake. 'if you do this then there is no hiding anymore,' Kurama said. The hand seals unique to the jutsu Mokuton Hijutsu: Jukai Kōtan.
'Even so, I can't help but act.' Instantly a forest sprouted where once there was none. Battering away the foul beasts with sharp spikes of wood and pinning branches. Collapsing the building they were on. Bringing it down around them.
'Then no more hiding.'
Naruto could not help but agree, 'yeah Kurama, no more hiding.' seals long since holding back the bulk of his vaunted Uzumaki chakra came undone with just a thought. Such that his chakra flowed off of him in visible waves of golden light and azure flame. For the merest of moments. The Kama like sun mark on his arm glowing a brilliant yellow.
Pyrrha was Still stunned with shock when he directed his attention to her. "Pyrrha, go get the others. I'll handle this."
Even now those foul monsters were working themselves free, ripping and tearing flesh, and devouring each other. And the shambling horde. Growing stronger, bigger, smarter, tougher.
Glancing to them, the growling slathering pack. blinking away her shock and hesitation, Pyrrha nodded her affirmation, "R-right, stay safe." she kissed him. It was brief and chaste. But nonetheless she poured all of her emotions into it.
She departed his side, taking flight. Before any of the monstrous pack could get free.
A beast now with two heads lept to follow. Was stopped by a golden claw of chakra. "Oi, your fight is with me!" Naruto declared. Disappearing in a blur, just as another hound pounced on where he had just been.
Reappearing high in the air above the pack, twin Rasenshuriken in hand. "Let's see how you handle this!" he yelled. Releasing the powerful deadly attacks. Into their midst. Utterly consuming them in the devastating attack of innumerable microscopic blades of wind.
