Chapter 7
"What are you smiling about?" asked Sakura
"Huh what ? No nothing it's just-" Naruto flustered
"Don't ride on your high horse yet now that we know you are the son of Hokage for us you will always be a loudmouth prankster." Sakura replied with a smile
"Hahaha yeah and I want it to be that way as well." Replied Naruto scratching the back of his head as the two teammates looked over the canopy from the top of a tree.
"Stop being exited just because of you are finally getting some unknown action , you do realize this is a bad thing right ." said Kurama
"Yeah yeah I know but you gotta agree going into a situation knowing everything that is about to happen is kind of annoying , especially if you can't even prevent shit, at least I am in the same boat as everyone with this." Naruto said to the fox
"Well you did save that Uchiha brat you keep rambling about so relax a little." Kurama replied
Naruto sighed "I know but by putting him in coma , and god knows what will happen when he wakes up."
"Naruto my side is clear looks like no one is flanking our rear " He was broken out of his mindscape by Sakura's call
"Oh okay let me check with Neji ." as he said that Naruto disappeared in a flash.
"Wow he was right that technique is cool." Said Sakura to herself as she began her descent from the tree.
Naruto appeared at the vanguard next to Neji and Sai, Neji who had his Byakugan active handed Naruto the three headed kunai back.
"Thanks, so what is the scenario here ?" asked Naruto taking the kunai back and putting it in his cape.
"I don't see anything." Said Neji deactivating his Byakugan.
"I did not find anything either , I have some reconnaissance birds in the air all times." Said Sai
"Great then looks like we can move on." With that Naruto put his hands on their shoulders as all three flashed out of the canopy back to the tents in the centre of the forest as sun started to set in the background.
"Alright that would be enough rest we will leave when the sun sets completely so start packing up I will go over the formation again, Neji and I will be at the vanguard because we need the byakugan in the dark, same goes for Hinata you will watch our rear Sakura and Lee will protect you, Kiba and all the rest will be in the centre, Kiba and Akamaru keep smelling for any foreign smell, I will have a clone in centre and one in rear if Kiba or Akamaru sense anyone my clone will teleport to the section accordingly. I will say it once again no loud actions if we run into anyone we take em out silently."
The group of 30 shinobis got up from their resting spots and started packing up as per Naruto's instructions.
The group continued the journey and reached the daimyo's palace at dusk .
Naruto, Shikamaru and Neji went to meet the daimyo as the rest stayed back in the castle halls having food and restoring their energy.
"Oh I am so glad you came Naruto kun." Daimyo stood up from his throne and walked down to the 3 shinobis as they walked in.
The three bowed "Daimyo sama".
"I am sorry my return is under these circumstances." Naruto said still bowing.
Daimyo came to him and put his hand on Naruto's shoulder "It's good that you are here now, There is no shinobi I trust more than you and Jiraiya."
"Well that's reassuring." Muttered Shikamaru as Neji elbows him in the ribs.
"Daimyo sama , Baachan has briefed us about the situation we would like to leave immediately don't worry they would not harm Nima chan we will bring her back in no time, 2 of our units must already be on the outskirts of the town by now. " Naruto said
Daimyo couldn't help the tears leaving his eyes as he hugged Naruto "Please Naruto bring my darling back safely I would forever be in you're and Hokage's debt just please –"
"Daimyo sama it's our responsibility to save our princess you just stay strong." He said as he broke the hug to nod at Shika and Neji as they started to leave.
"There is something else you should know." Daimyo said as they were leaving. "Before she left I had sent kageyami to guard Nima personally."
Naruto stopped in his tracks hearing about the name that he was closest to in the capital, the man who didn't just teach him Kenjutsu but also the man who he considered as a personal mentor with Jiraiya.
Naruto didn't speak his question was clear and Daimyo responded "They sent his head back yesterday."
Naruto closed his eyes hard and closed his fists tightly, he did not want to show emotions in the middle of the royal court especially when he was the leader of a village force at the moment.
But on the inside he was shattering yet again, he had known this pain very well at this point losing another person close to him.
He knew by now that he can't save everyone no matter what he do but the pain still felt like being stabbed a thousand times.
Shikamaru put a hand on his shoulder " You okay?"
Naruto let out a large breath and calmed down" Yes let's go." As the three shinobis left the court.
Next Morning
The sun was rising on the horizon as a group of 6 shinobis gathered in the middle of a dense forest.
Kakashi, Yamato, Asuma, Naruto, Shikamaru and Guy were discussing how to begin the assault on the town.
"So according to Neji and Sai the bulk of their forces are concentrated in and around this hotel so we can assume that the target is held there." Said Kakashi
"I say we go in full force from the west side, the hotel is closest to that side." Said Naruto
"No they will be expecting us to do just that, they might have trapped the whole place for all we know." Said Asuma.
"I have a plan." Shikamaru said
"About time." Asuma smirked
"Okay so Asuma from what I know you have the bulk of long range fighters so I want your team to attack from the east, clear out any patrol forces you can find on the streets." Shikamaru said
" Yeah take Neji or Hinata from our team you will need the Byakugan." Naruto responded
"That sounds good okay as for team Kakashi, you will attack from the west side and Naruto's team will attack from North the same way as Asuma clearing any patrol forces." Shika continued
"Um Shikamaru didn't Asuma sensei just say that west side could be trapped why are you sending Kakashi sensei's team there ?" Naruto said
"I know, it is necessary to attack from all ends to make it look like we are surrounding them." Shika said
"We aren't actually surrounding them?" Naruto questioned
"No we will push from all sides to make it look like a pincer attack but real attack will be done by you Naruto."
"Wait I won't be with my squad?"
"No Naruto the objective for the three squads is to fake a three sided attack to bring out bulk of their forces out of the hotel and into the garden surrounding it.
When that happens there will be less people inside the hotel and that's when we attack for real.
Hand one of your kunais to me, Asuma and Kakashi, whichever team gets close to the hotel first will throw it on the roof so you can teleport a patrol team there and take the princess and get out.
This way there will be much less casualties than trying to force our way in."
Naruto smirked "Shikamaru you really are a genius. Yosh I think the plan is great here take these kunais lets go." Naruto and Shikamaru left to brief their squad
Asuma and Kakashi who didn't get a chance to say a word still remain there as Asuma spoke up
"Look at those brats acting all big shot on us."
Kakashi eye smiled "Well they grow up pretty fast don't they pretty soon they won't need us at all."
Kakashi put a hand on Asuma's shoulder and dragged him with him as Asuma said "Oi Oi Kakashi don't say that it's too soon for me to retire."
An hour later three flashes went in the sky simultaneously as the defendants got alerted, not a minute later when they looked up to the dusk sky and saw that it was filled with a downpour of kunais from all sides.
The assault began from 3 ends simultaneously, Land of water defendants were in an advantageous position, they had already taken up defensive positions in houses and the large courtyard around the hotel but the Konoha task force had better fighters, higher numbers an much more competent and experienced leadership on their side.
From the west Kakashi and Guy led the group of more experienced shinobis to launch the first attack as ghost attack from west, the purpose for this unit was to make the defendants think that the bulk of the attack would be from the most predictable side of the town.
Kakashi made the squad make shadow clones of them as they launched long range elemental and weapon attacks, that a made it look like a large scale attack from that end.
While team Kakashi was busy attracting the attention, Asuma and Shikamaru/Neji led their teams from east and north, these 2 teams had more risky role as they got in up close to the defendants who were protecting that side as well because they had anticipated that type of an attack but due to Kakashi's distraction the bulk of the forces were west so they were at a big disadvantage on these sides.
Despite of that casualties were there on team Asuma and Naruto which was to be expected unfortunately. Meanwhile inside a tree near the edge of the city Naruto and Sai were waiting patiently for their chance.
"Dammit Sai how much longer there are people dying out there." Naruto said.
"Calm down Naruto, remember the plan we need to make sure that most of the Ninjas are out fighting we don't want a large scale battle around the princess." Sai replied.
"Tchh I know I know but I can take those chumps on I'm telling you." Naruto said with a pout
Just then an ink rat came to them.
"Alright we can move now." Sai said
"Yosh finally some fun." Naruto clapped his fist and threw a paper bomb kunai in the air as it exploded.
"That's the signal." Shikamaru saw the explosion and said. "But Asuma is closer to the hotel."
"Hmm looks like I'll have to do this one." Asuma smirked and took a drag from his cigarette before taking out a trident kunai slashing 2 incoming shinobis with it before chucking it right on the roof of the hotel.
"On you now brat." He said as he blew a fireball into the dusk sky.
"Okay it's show time." Naruto says as he puts his hand on Sai's shoulders as the two vanish out of thin air.
Sai and Naruto appear next to the kunai stuck in the hotel roof.
Sai immediately dropped to the knees "WTF that was not good for my stomach."
"Hehe yeah takes some time to get used to" Naruto said scratching his head.
"Well hurry Sai we don't have much time."
"Yeah" Sai said standing up " By my knowledge there are around 30 shinobis inside and hime is in the basement with just 1 of them." Said Sai as he looked at Naruto who was in thoughts.
A sweat dropped on Sai's head as he said "you're going to blast through every floor aren't you."
Naruto frowned " Oi oi Sai I have led daimyo's assassination unit do you think I am just a rash loud mouth." He shouted
Hearing that 2 shinobis came to the roof " Hey what was that sound…. OI OI OI they made it to the roof hurry ."
One of them said as 2 more followed them to the roof.
"Yeah no I definitely don't think you are a loudmouth." Sai said sarcastically getting into fighting position.
"Tcch when did you get such a big mouth." Naruto said with a pout unsheathing the sword out of his cloak.
"No I'll handle them you go in get the princess." Sai said as he took out his brush and ink.
"You sure?" asked Naruto
"Oi gaki don't get any funny ideas you are not going anywhere we will be picking bones out of you skinny faggots here and—" The thug in front of the door couldn't say another world as all he saw was a jet of purple lightning blast through the terrace door behind him towards the stairs as his comrades saw his upper body falling off his lower.
"Y..YOU BASTARD!" the three men shouted as they turned to rush behind Naruto only to be blocked on the door by an ink lion.
"Where do you think you are going I am the one you'll fight." Sai said
Meanwhile in the village fighting was getting to fever pitch. The Konoha forces were winning overwhelmingly.
The long civil war, persecution of kekke genkais and unstable leadership had taken a toll on the fighting standards of the soldiers from Land of Water.
While the fighting was mostly in favor of the Konoha task force, the position of defendants gave them edge in some areas and losses were being dealt on Konoha side as well.
Ino fires a paper bomb through the building window as it exploded a man leapt out of the smoke and fired a water canon at her which she barely dodged.
'Dammit he is too mobile for me to use shintenshin.' She thought
Ino reached her pouch and threw smokes on the ground. She then crept though the smoke and attacked him with a kunai.
The two shinobis exchanged kunai strikes and were locked into a close range battle but Konoha's better training style showed as Ino dodged a strike to her head and used the opening to slice the man's hand off.
After that opening she kicked him in the stomach and went for the killer blow but couldn't .
She stopped inches from his eye unable to kill the man. She had been a shinobi long enough to know the trade but this was the first time she was to physically strike a man dead and that was easier said than done.
She hesitated for a second but that was enough , the man kicked kunai out of her hand and headbutted her on to the ground before taking the kunai in his only hand .
He went in to strike.
"Gentle Fist !" the man was slapped into the rubble by Hinata who leapt out just in time.
"You okay Ino ?" Hinata came to Ino to check
"Yeah but I am useless as ever." Ino said dejected
"No you are not Ino infact I feel you are mentally the most strongest woman of our age." Hinata said with a smile
Ino smirked while getting up "Could you stop ever stop being a perfect goddess?" she said as both laughed .
Meanwhile Naruto had created shadow clones to silently clean the building off the pests and let's just say he is good at silent killing.
"Okay that was the last of them." He said standing in front of the door to the basement hall as he got the feedback from his last clone.
Naruto opened the door and saw a large hall with a chair in the centre and princess Nima strapped to it, she had her mouth covered but she started to cry and mumble when she saw Naruto.
"Nima chan!" Naruto said as he started running towards her.
He untied the princess who immediately jumped to hug him holding on to him for dear life.
"Arigato Arigato Arigato…." Was all she said crying into his chest.
"I will get you out of here but first you will have to tell me where that 1 guy is at that was here."
"Looking for me ?" A man came out of the shadows wearing a black hood and a fox shaped mask to cover his face.
The man was of average build and not much could be made of him as he was covering most of his body.
"I will not let you harm the princess." Naruto said as he moved in front of her facing the man.
"Who said I want her, I have no interest in her you can let her go if you want my interest lies with you Uzumaki Naruto." The man said.
"You know me?" Naruto said as he signaled Nima to leave the hall as she did.
"Oh I know you alright." The man said walking around with his hands behind his back.
"So how is the mission going?" he asked
"Well I will complete it by killing you." Naruto said as he lunched himself with high speed to slash the man but to his surprise he passed through the man, he turned around to strike again but was stopped by the man who caught a hold of his hand.
Naruto saw one of his eyes turning into a sharingan and other was a normal blue eye.
"I should've known so it you , Obito."
The man let go of Naruto and walked back a few paces laughing mildly.
"It hurt me that you compare me to that idiot, his ideologies are driven by lost love and loneliness please don't compare me to that weakling."
Naruto was surprised at this, 'It's not Obito? It has to be why is he lying there is no way he knows so much about him .'
"I know what you are thinking, that I have to be Obito and how do I know so much about him right? Well I know way more than you think Uzumaki Naruto " the man said.
Naruto was now getting agitated by this man, he was throwing him off in many ways.
"Don't fret Naruto I am not going to fight you, in fact I want you to try continuing to save the world and I want to see you fail miserably again." Man said
Naruto's eyes widened " What did you say?"
"I told you didn't I , I know a lot more than you think, In fact I know things even you don't know , I did this whole thing to see you face to face once and tell you this."
The man walked up to Naruto facing him who was now sweating hard " I wanted to tell you that you cannot change your destiny no matter what you do you are not going to fix anything, on the contrary you will suffer even more."
"Next time you see your sage tell him that there are repercussions when you play with time."
The man said as he disappeared in a swirl.
Naruto stood there rooted in shock for minutes.
'K..Kurama what just happened?'
'I think that was the unknown variable I was worried about, but there is something more to this. I cannot point my finger at it but something seemed very off about that guy, this could be very bad Naruto.'
'What do we do?'
'Lets go back for now, it looks like fighting is dying out outside as well we will talk about this when we return home.'
'Okay'
Naruto walked out of the hall before giving a final glance back to where the man stood
'Who are you ?'