"It will be a new world... A world of truth, not lies."
Madara Uchiha
The surrounding terrain was bleak and treacherous as it had been since they arrived in the hellish land. Clouds moving in quick and overwhelming formations spurred on by the powerful gusts linked themselves together secluding the once smoldering sun in one simple swoop. The sand, compact and as hard as cement, cracked in spider web formations, and though the heat wasn't nearly as oppressive as it had been just days before it was still very warm.
It was a reflection of his inner thoughts. Turbulent and stormy.
Syrus cut an imposing and menacing figure. Standing at six foot and three inches, roughly two hundred and twenty pounds of solid muscle and not a single ounce of far with wild and abundant hair that hung down loosely as a flowing mane, with matching pitch black armor and attire, he'd make even the most determined of men soil their pants and turn in the opposite direction from which they had came.
Behind him stood the full force of the Subatsu, all of them sporting similar attire to his own as well as armor. Their appearances may have varied slightly, but it didn't take anything away from what a menacing sight they truly were. Their expressions cold and impassive, intense and glaring, the force of their expressions alone could make someone lesser tremble without ever needing to raise a single finger.
He could sense his brother's chakra as well as Tsugi's, Osen's, and Ryoku's. Like a bright beacon lighting up a dark pathway he zoned in on each one, around each beacon were dozens-hundreds of other chakra signatures-two of them were well above the others. This must have been Hajime and Koizuki, it wasn't like them to even bother to suppress their chakra levels wily and arrogant as they came they could never see the fatal flaw in their ways.
The chakras started speeding in their direction. Haji's and Tsugi's at the helm while Osen and Ryoku flanked off to the side and paced themselves a bit behind.
Hageshii were damn persistent.
Exhaling a stream of smoke with leisure lips he turned his eyes up onto the sky above. Gray and bleak, but it was tranquil and peaceful. He was accustomed to the dark and stormy rain clouds they always signaled the first rains, what would make his homeland even more abundant and verdant, it was a time to admire the change and celebrate for life was given in great abundance and nature took its course in full stride.
He took another drag from his smoking pipe. The cherry burned furiously.
He emptied it of the ashes, putting it away; letting out the thick stream slowly as he peered at the clouds with intent.
"When you see them running back to our location..." Syrus paused and turned his eyes onto the men and women beside and behind him. "We will attack them using a four pronged strategy. I will lead the first unit, Usagi will lead the second, Hesui will lead the third, and Asuna will lead the fourth. We will close them in around us as well as the units out there right now. As you've seen the Senju are not with us, they think of themselves above such a task and have no intention of helping us. With that said we may be outnumbered a good deal, but we will not let that daunt us. We will destroy this ragtag force! We'll lure them in with a four pronged attack, then perform the summoning jutsu."
Asuna looked at Syrus with her bright yellow-brown eyes, blinking them once as she raked back her thick and abundant light brown bangs from her line of vision slowly tying her knee length hair into a high ponytail instead of opting for it to flow like a mane around her. It was becoming a minor annoyance at this moment. "Syrus, are you sure we should do that?" She asked, voice soft tinging with a small amount of concern. She smoothed out a wrinkle on the sleeve of her low collared black shirt. "If we do that there may not be any Hageshii left."
"Is that so bad?" Hesui asked. "They are quite pesky."
"Besides, we get to go wild." Another Subatsu shinobi added in with a wolfish grin. "It's been a long time since we've done this."
"I understand that... But, we need to have at least one of those fools alive to question." Asuna pressed, her voice becoming a bit more firm than before. "Hajime is a wily man, he's always trying to get over on everyone every single chance he gets, he has an objective being in this region, and it's not just to clash with us and every other clan that's traveled here within the last few weeks. That will be foolhardy at best, and stupid as worst."
"Asuna does have a point." A young black haired kunoichi spoke up.
Syrus nodded slightly.
Asuna brought up a very good point, well a couple of good points for that matter he couldn't overlook. Hajime was a wily man and he was always looking to get over on everyone using deceitful methods as well as anything else to remain in control of even the most trivial of situations. He did have an objective and it wasn't just to clash with them any every other clan here, that was far too simpleminded for someone like Hajime, he was after something big, and that narrowed it down to a few things. "I am certain." He replied, looking at Asuna intently. "Their numbers will mean nothing when we do this. If you can help it spare one of those stupid bastards so we can drag him back and beat it out of him I suppose, but don't press the issue."
"I understand." Asuna nodded gracefully, allowing a small smirk to grace her face.
Syrus nodded and turned his focus onto Usagi. His sister standing nearly two whole heads shorter than him was oddly silent. A look of deep thought and concentration on her features, making her jade eyes even more sharper than usual.
It was odd, he silently mused this fact. Usagi was spunky and fiery. She had a habit of getting lost in her thoughts or when she was speaking, in that extent whatever she had to say always held great merit and was never a waste. But, now she stood silent, contemplative, not excited and jittery for the coming battle, and not making small quips to him about things in general.
She almost seemed dull. That couldn't be right though, Usagi had never been dull a day in her life. Even as an infant she was wailing her little lungs out, kicking and thrashing around whenever she saw it fit to wake up their entire household.
She wore the same attire as Syrus save for her armor which was a dark green, she always favored the color green more than any other color, and had the armor specially made since armor didn't come in green normally. Two swords were resting under her obi, with two more slung across her back which would be used as projectiles if the moment called for it.
I can't believe Tobirama didn't come with... She thought with a small scowl.
"Brother." She turned to him slowly. Jade eyes wide and almost... Vulnerable. She ignored the smoking pipe hanging from his mouth and the thick and heavy scent of the burning cherry.
there was something in her eyes that immediately made Syrus go into his over protective nature.
"Yes?" He asked, staring at her with all intent. There were few things which could make her look like this. In fact he could count them all on one hand, and even this was scarce, because Usagi never put forth the energy into being in these sort of moods. She was always grinning or making some sort of joke, fussing over him and Haji, their other two siblings when they were alive before the constant wars took them away-Todou and Yume. It just wasn't in her nature to be this way.
In this case it'd be her going on about how they were going to tear through the Hageshii putting the bastards back in their place and chasing them out. How they'd run like the cowards they were with their tails tucked between their legs.
"Would you be mad at me..." She murmured, looking up at him with those same wide jade eyes.
Syrus met her eyes with a steady gaze of his own. He could never be mad at Usagi or hold something against her, she was his little sister, his flesh and blood which he endeared and strove to protect with all of his might-even if she was more than capable of holding her own, the instinct would never pass to protect her from physical harm or any other harm. She'd remain untouched and unscathed, there wouldn't be a single person who would cause her pain and live another second, only would they see the blade of his massive sword cutting them vertically like a sheet of paper.
"You know I can never be mad at you, sister." Syrus told her softly, carefully.
Because, he did have a temper, and he'd be the first to admit that. But, this was his flesh and blood, even if he yelled and screamed at her, he'd never be mad at her longer than five seconds. He wasn't so fickle and petty.
Usagi nodded slowly. Of course he couldn't be mad at her, and if he was it wouldn't last. They were siblings, and as much as they fought at times they'd always love each other without any reservations. That's what it meant to be family. "I..." She paused, nibbling on her bottom lip before she stopped. It was a horrible habit. "I don't kno anymore." She finally finished after a minute of silent contemplation, the words were so simple and concise but they carried their weight of the world and so much more.
Eyes slightly wide Syrus didn't take his focus off of her despite his startled an stupid expression. They were simple words. A concise statement, but he could read between the lines. He could feel what Usagi was getting at. "Are you sure about this?" His voice low as he asked, but not threatening, he eyed her with even more intent watching her fidget for a moment before kneading her fingers-gestures to work away her nervousness. "You know I will take your side with this, just like everything."
He'd always side with her. Regardless of what this choice would bring, what changes it'd very well entail, and how it would set things into a different motion for their future... He'd stand behind her completely, so long as this is what she absolutely wanted it would never be any issue in his eyes. And, if there was any sort of backlash he'd deal with it like he dealt with everything else that came his way, head on and tearing heads off of shoulders. He hung on her every word, waiting for her to continue. The silence was prolonged, and even their force despite looking indifferent listened with some intent.
"I am positive." Usagi nodded, jade eyes narrowing and flaring with the same fire that had always been present. She glanced behind her and off to her sides, watching the Subatsu shinobi and kunoichi anxiously or patiently waiting for the arrival of their enemies. They'd be together to the very end, in life and in death they'd always be together, it was what each of them put above everything. To be together. "They won't... They've shown as much."
"I support your decision." Syrus nodded firmly in return. He understood exactly what she was saying and not a single bit of it was a lie or exaggerated. It was all spot on. He had his own concerns from the very beginning and as time went on at its fever pitch those concerns only grew more abundant, nagging at him and the back of his mind like a flame attracting a moth, it was incessant and almost overwhelming. He was dealing with it, toughing it out the best he could, but even he had his limits. Usagi only confirmed his concerns and showed that she knew what he had been dwelling on this entire time wasn't just paranoia on his part. "We'll take care of this later, though. But, just know that it won't happen."
Usagi nodded quickly, a grateful expression coming over her face. "Thank you, brother."
"Did you hear the plan I put out there while you were spacing out?"
"I did, actually." Usagi nodded. She had been paying careful attention when he started laying everything out, even though she had been lost in her own thoughts. "Daji is just going to be so thrilled, but at least he won't be alone this time."
Syrus suppressed a chuckle. Daji, he could be quite the grump when he wanted to which was a majority of the time. "Yeah." He quickly turned his attention to the horizon, sharp eyes narrowing to slits and he spotted Haji putting on a sudden burst of speed unleashing a violent torrent of lightning that slammed through the ground and spread out in a frenzied spiral. There were thousands of Hageshii swarming around, the battle was already erupting.
"Let's go!" He shouted, turning towards Usagi, both of them sharing a wolfish smirk as the anticipation of battle overwhelmed them.
They all surged, darting forward slowly dispersing and sweeping across the landscape.
His muscles coiled tighter and tighter, like a spring compressing and wrapping over itself. He compressed inwards, drawing his chakra inward and letting in spiral before surging his chakra in a violent torrent letting it burst out from his pores, tearing the ground asunder. "RAAHHH!" With a wolf-like snarl erupting from within Syrus sprung off the ground propelled by velocity and momentum he speared across the terrain, swiftly drawing his katana in one motion and jutting it forward. Warm blood splattered against his sleeves and armor as his tip cleaved through a Hageshii shinobi's throat sending brittle bone flying upward.
"Don't let them scare you!" Hajime roared from the side. "We outnumber them, kill them all!"
"That's a lot of bark coming from a small man." Syrus grated out, putting himself in front of Hajime. "I'd say you're scared petrified right about now."
"Don't flatter yourself." Hajime spat. Jumping up and away, narrowly avoiding a fireball. "Sasuke, I'm getting really tired of you..."
"I'm not going anywhere." The goatee clad man growled out.
"Surround them!" Koizuki snarled as Syrus, Sasuke, and Hajime collided with blundering force their battle erupting off to the side. as their respective forces slammed together.
Somewhere, somebody died.
Koizuki beamed towards the battling trio, seeing his opening to stab Syrus right on the hip. "Keep them contained!"
CLANG!
Koizuki grunted, wrists rattling against the tremendous force that met them squarely, his feet dug into the ground struggling to get their purchase.
"Koizuki." Haji's cold tone made his eyes narrow. "Let's leave them alone. It'd be rude to interrupt them don't you think..."
"Haji, you wolf!"
Haji shifted his footing, body compressing tightly as he took a stance. "If you've got something to say to me, say it with that blade in your hand... Otherwise shut up."
Koizuki leapt. Haji lunged, their blades colliding with deafening screeches.
"Kill her!"
Usagi swiped at the four attackers. Slicing one clean across the face, skin of the cheek spluttering. She twisted off on the balls of her feet, narrowly deflecting the shuriken sending it skittering off to the side. Shifting sharply, she lunged forward cutting the second across the neck in a violent arc. The remaining two sprung forward, stabbing and snarling. Their attacks precise and swift, and their form impeccable, but they kept their aim the same, never skewing.
Blood splattered against her. The sharp yank erupted, flooding and overbearing.
"We can overwhelm them!" A Hageshii shinobi shouted. A horde of shinobi swarming towards Sasuke, another horde swarming Usagi.
Mayhem.
Carnage.
Usagi smirked at the remarks thrown her way without regard. "If that makes you feel better about losing say it until you're blue in the face!" Her exclamation was punctuated by swift slashes of her sword, unable to avoid the blood hurdling towards her, she dived right into it drenching herself in the sticky liquid felling six Hageshii shinobi with keen movements, lunging off to the side, shifting forward, and slashing across another Hageshii shinobi's face tearing into the bone and sending chunks of hair pattering into the sand.
"It doesn't change that you're still going to lose! You're going to need a whole lot more people than this to stop me!" Usagi swiped to the side, hard pressed, she dodged a series of kunai, swiveling on the balls of her feet and felling three more Hageshii shinobi with a horizontal slash. She shifted her footing, clasping her hilt firmly in both hands as her eyes darted from left to right. "Don't tell me you're all scared!"
"Kill the bitch!" Several Hageshii shinobi roared. They lunged forward, Usagi dashed against them. The first couldn't even gurgle in pain as she sent his head flying high above the terrain, the second and third came with a stab only to be felled by one vicious slash that ripped their blades in two, four and five charged forward with vigor. Four was felled by a vertical slash ripping his body in half to the hip, and five couldn't react in time to evade the stab to his neck. Twisting sharply she tore her blade free from the delicate flesh sending another splatter of blood against her.
They shifted their feet, warily eyeing Usagi and the blood dripping from her blade.
"Don't relent!" A Hageshii shinobi yelled charging forward, his horde following after him in tandem.
Her sword. Her movements. They were all too swift and nimble, she was on the ground, she was spinning around them, darting through their tight quarters, it was poetry in motion. The way she moved was awe inspiring, it enticed fear and horror to swim through them, but envy as well. Their last image being the brilliant flash of one sword. One surreal blade that squelched flesh. The movement fleeting and dissipating just as her form as it vanished into hyper movements once again.
As fast as she erupted in movement she halted against the ground, blade drenched with the familiar crimson liquid, it's pungent smell entering her nostrils and slapping the back of her throat with an iron-like taste. She swiped her blade to the side, her attackers bodies plummeted unceremoniously, heads rolling like rocks kicked aside in the mayhem and carnage that threatened to tear the very landscape. and bodies slipping into several segments cut clean as their armor clanged into shreds brittle as nails.
Her blade free of blood and ready to be drenched once again gleamed against the sunlight as she turned her eyes onto the daring shinobi who led the charge. Slowly they narrowed, a fierce and ghastly glare becoming prominent on her features just as her sword seemed to glare against everything within its perimeter. "You sure do bark a lot."
"Die!" He roared. His movements were erratic, not as graceful and swift as her own, his attacks were bellied with anger and hatred lacking a crisp and clean edge as well as precision. Not telegraphed in the least, but more than thought out and revealed, she could spot the openings, where it began and how it'd skew. The intent of that attack itself.
Dodge. Dodge. Parry. His attacks became fueled with even more hatred, his intentions and emotions clear, it took her only the barest amount of movement to dodge each stroke, jumping over his hasty swipe for her legs she surged her chakra around her, letting it burst out behind her and carry her at rapid speeds towards the ground.
One swing down. Her blade connected with its target, the tip piercing through the man's skull gouging through his brain and gashing through the soft flesh of his chin. She grunted, pulling and twisting against the dead weight and yanking it out from his skull , another geyser of blood smacked across her, unable to avoid the splatter as she was pressed once more.
"Usagi!" Hesui and Ryoku snapped, swiftly sliding behind her as kunais screamed poising for her back.
Hesui batted them aside aside and sprinted forward with Ryoku mowing down the horde of Hageshii shinobi that tried to take the opening granted. Hesui swiping and lashing moving forward with concise stabs and slashes, just a mere blur of steel.
Ryoku took a more blunt and physical approach slamming his fists across their jaws twisting their necks grabbing them by the face hurdling them off to the side in a horrendous display of pure strength where Osen and Asuna completed the motion cleaving and cutting through their bodies, the warm splatters colliding with them and sliding down meticulously against their forms was but an afterthought as they were soon hard pressed and darting off to the side fending off their own hordes.
"Osen!"
Asuna sprinted off to the side with Osen trailing behind, suddenly veering off to the right.
Asuna took a quick glance. A familiar gleam, she swiped against it, painting her vision red and took a mighty lunge upward flashing through a series of hand seals and spewing out a series of fire streams that merged together in one massive whirlwind scorching through the horde's numbers and reducing some to black charred husks. The majority had enough wits to dodge or get out of the way. Three flashed through a series of hand seals.
BOOOMM!
A surge of lightning and earthen walls collided with the streams of fire, hissing in agonizing protest as it spilled its fury across the terrain with streaking smoke stacks of the once mighty wall of earth.
CLANG!
CLANG! CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG! WOOOSH!
CLANG!
"Hesui, handle things here!" Ryoku shot away from him, felling four more shinobi with brutal and savage stabs taking one by the throat and crushing it with a sharp and vicious yank. "Look behind you! You stupid bastards!" He goaded the Hageshii shinobi barreling right into the horde that were pursing Osen just as they turned and made to lunge at him, some completing the motion and spilling out across the terrain in a series of wild tumbles and tangles.
"Damn you, Ryoku!" Hesui shouted back, swiping away a slash that was aimed for his neck. Shifting his weight sharply and twisting downward cleaving off a part of his attacker's leg. Before the man could scream out a curse or in pain he jammed the tip of his blade through his armor. The ground soaked him in the metallic liquid.
A flash of movement sent him sprinting to the side, dozens of shinobi giving chase to his form. He turned, slashing across one's neck and kicking him off to the side before leveling two more with a quick vertical cut slicing through the faces.
"Got you now, Subatsu wolf!"
"I don't think so!" Tsugi roared, springing off of his back leg and skewing through three Hageshii shinobi in the same stroke, he pushed forward, blood gushing out from the gaping wounds and smoothing out around his fingers and the hilt of his blade, he turned yanking his blade free and swiped sharply feeling resistance only for a split second as an arm flew into his vision.
Before he could end the one armed shinobi's life Hesui took the opening slashing sharply across the side splitting the flesh on his neck, sending his head flying.
How many do you got?" Hesui asked. shooting Tsugi a wolfish smile.
"Idiot..." The older man replied, shifting his footing as he braced for another attack. "For every one I kill, another ten come back."
"It's going just as planned then..."
"Surround them!"
"Kill those Sarutobi around Sasuke!"
Tsugi and Hesui made to lunge forward, but halted seeing their own darting back towards them as the Hageshii gave chase. Their numbers were more abundant to their own, and even though they had killed many, they were still vastly outnumbered.
Looks like the fun can begin now. Tsugi smirked a wolfish smirk.
"Hrrghhhh..." Syrus growled, sliding back across the ground, slamming one foot behind him kicking up a mile wide trench blowing back debris. His massive blade slammed into the ground, a menacing sight as it plunged itself several feet deep with ease. His katana had been discarded halfway through the fight, using it as a feint to grab Hajime by the waist and throw him off of his feet and neck first onto the ground. "You're not half bad." Syrus admitted with a sharp smirk, wiping away some blood from his mouth.
"Oh, drop the bravado." Hajime sneered, gesturing around them with a strong finger. "We've got you outnumbered and surrounded. You've put up quite the fight, but your defeat was inevitable against a superior force. Sasuke is realizing that now." Wounded, and his attire torn and gashed, he raised his sword in a firm grasp settling into a stance. Koizuki and his men followed suit, all of them poising their katanas, kunais, and shurikens. With steps slow and wary they closed around them, cutting off any route of exit or escape there was.
"You're too willy for your own good?" Ryoku snarled, eyes narrowing in anger.
"We intended to take out the Domou and Uchiha first, but you'll do just fine." Koizuki said coldly, raising his sword. Blood dripping down his mouth from a cross he suffered from Haji, but returned it twice fold. "It's the least we can do since they killed Tomoyuki and his band of renegades, but there was one survivor... I'm sure you've heard of it by now, the whole world has, and you've already met Takehito." He shifted closer. "Any route of escape has now been closed off, and you are mistaken if you think we'll show any mercy to the likes of you."
Haji narrowed his eyes, recalling the scarred, stern and bitter man.
Recently appointed to second in command.
He survived the raid of Maison-ya. Had the scars.
"You're foolish to think you could even take out one of them." Syrus sneered with malice. Were they that deluded to believe they could take out the Domou and Uchiha? So deluded to think they could topple over these two clans? Just facing off against one would prove to be more than difficult, facing off against the two of them together and that'd be borderline impossible there was just no way around that. It was only fitting, in a sense, Hajime for all of his wily ways had a fatal flaw, those same ways would be his death. "I guess it's nice to dream, but you should know something..."
"Humor me."
"I've got you right where I want you! " Syrus snarled, eyes clouding over in a primal glare as he bared his teeth. "You won't escape! Not a single Sarutobi or Hageshii!"
"Tch, if you really-"
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" The ground shook for a moment, the reverberating shouts imploding against the terrain.
He slammed his hand down, everyone in his force following suit, one after the next, their chakra erupting for just a fleeting second. Small puffs gathered tying into each other and coalescing until there was an enormous cloud of light, but thick smoke surrounding them and moving out sweepingly around the terrain, desperately clinging onto its foundation against the turbulent winds as it spread itself thin and vast.
"Should we attack?" A Hageshii shinobi asked after several silent moments, the smoke had yet to clear and was clouding his vision.
"No, wait..." Hajime said in a clipped tone, taking a careful step forward as he focused on his line of sight. This smoke wasn't as thick as what he'd be used to, but they way it tied in together forming 'layers' or 'sheets' made it quite a hassle to see through. He could sense them, they were all in the same spot as before, just several feet in front of him. What could they have summoned... He thought silently, slowly narrowing his gleaming eyes, until he caught something. Amidst the smoke something pronounced itself.
Ghastly glares... Those eyes... All trained on him and his men.
Uncompromising and leering, there was no hatred or fury. There was only a predatory glint, the same way a cougar would size up a rabbit or the same a pack of wolves would size up a moose... Cold...
Savage.
Primal.
Vicious.
Just like wolves...
They were sizing him up. His men up.
They were prey.
And, then... Another set of eyes, even more ghastly, even more primal than their own joined them. Yellow and blue.
Wolves...
Wolves...
Shit! They grouped us together! Hajime realized in shock and horror, hastily taking a step back. "We need to pull back for now!" He roared with urgency.
"What!?"
"No way, I'm going to attack!"
"Fuck!" Sasuke cursed from somewhere close, and explosion rattling the surrounding landscape.
Somewhere several Sarutobi and Hageshii were bit straight through the throat.
"You heard Hajime-sama, pull back!" Koizuki shouted.
"They lured us here!" Hajime roared out again, having no tolerance or patience for his men's folly he put on a burst of speed trying to get as much distance as possible. There was a flash, a glinting flash as the sound of bone splintering and chipping reached his ears. His men screamed, panicked and irate as chilling snarls, howls, yowls, and growls tore their way into the air echoing across their surroundings in a cacophony. They attacked foolishly, jumping into the smoke as the snarls and howls grew louder and picked up in tempo.
Wolves...They're wolves... Hajime gritted his teeth, fists wrapping themselves until they drew blood from his hand. The shouts and screams of violent agony from his men tore into him, ripping into him like a spear and skewing out his insides.
Blood... There was so much blood...
They were being hunted.
The Sarutobi were being hunted.
"Pull back!" He ordered again, wasting no time in speeding away from the carnage and mayhem. It was deafening, shaking, chilling. He waged war and profited from war, but even this shook him, rattled his entire being.
This was something... Primal. Primitive. Savage.
Instincts took over and he could only think to run, to get as far away as possible. They lost the battle but not the war, it was no good dying here. If they didn't pull back they'd all die here and now. If Sasuke was taken down, it'd provide him an advantage in the long run.
Another flash. a man's head rolled towards him before it exploded in a grizzly shower. Powerful jaws and sharp teeth tore it asunder in bits and pieces. Familiar glinting yellow eyes trained on him. Another pair of glinting jade eyes trained onto him in the same manner. They lunged in a flash, both snarling as they closed the gap in a heartbeat. Hastily he evaded a white flash that was almost too quick to be traced, skidding off to the side narrowly avoiding getting his head swiped off-a long cut running down the side of his face. Shallow...
He was pressed back once again. They lunged at him once more in tandem, one powerful mouth locked with canines ripping towards him, from another side the gleaming edge of a sword.
I've got no choice, to have to use this... He clenched his teeth. Tiger. Boar. It won't...
The jaws clamped down against the neck, tearing straight through the sensitive bone and skin severing the trachea. The sword connected with its mark, shredding and splitting through the armor and tearing into body with ease slicing it squarely down beyond the hip bone splitting open the chest. Slivers of wood flew across the ground, not blood, the body decomposing into a large log,dropping without a thud.
"Tch... Got away." Daji growled, swiping at the log with a paw sending it bursting off to the side in a fit of projectiles.
"Body replacement..." Usagi observed, a small smirk crossing her face as she swept her eyes around. Hageshii were running, some fighting only to be shredded down by powerful canines, their limbs torn and ripped out in nothing but a bloody and gory fashion sending them into screaming fits only for a sicking gleam or swiping limb to silence them once and for all squelching the ground around their fallen bodies and smashing their bones.
One couldn't contend with a pack of wolves.
"Heh, that fucker ran with his tail tucked between his legs, and after talking all that crap."
"Koizuki got away too." Daji noted with a glare. "They're going to be nuisances..."
"Let's finish off the rest of them along with the Sarutobi that decided to get involved." Usagi said sharply, brandishing her blood drenched sword that was ready to squelch. "We can worry about those two fools later. Next time they won't escape."
Yellow and Jade... Blurred.
The battle continued to rage behind them. Sounds of commotion, shouts of anger, fear, and protest reverberated through the air followed by the irate shouting of the damiyo's personal guards seeking to put order in the midst of chaos.
More guards stormed to the front gates, passing them by with clanging and banging armor halberds and spears poised to skew into flesh and shred it.
They didn't see any of it however, the conflict, but they could hear it, even as they got farther and farther away the sounds were all too familiar and piercing.
How could one monk-a woman disguised as a monk cause so much trouble? Granted the Hatake and Akimichi were a big part of it, the point still remained and couldn't be objected.
Ahiko halted on a dime, head whirling sharply to the right. I smell...
"Ahiko-chan, what is it?" Yuko asked, eyeing her carefully as she brought herself to a halt.
"It's nothing, sorry to worry you, Yuko-chan." Ahiko darted back into motion. "It's nothing."
"Are you sure?"
Ahiko nodded slowly. The Subatsu...
Ahiko and Yuko made it back to the castle in the span of a few minutes. It was a record time. They took the less busy streets and what could be considered the more shady and seedier parts where there were only abandoned homes and shops that were ages old with a few people wandering about too drunk to care about anything. Walking around with a monk-a woman disguised as a monk was a good way to attract much unwanted attention. Something they didn't need or want to deal with.
Ahiko pondered deeply as she entered the castle, giving a small absent nod at the guards who stood guard stoically, there was no visible reaction on their part but that wasn't unusual at this point. A monk all the way out here wasn't unheard of, there were many temples situated within this country and village, but no one strayed in this direction even traveling monks. It was just too much trouble and the weather was nothing short of hellish.
More importantly, why was a woman disguised a traveling monk...
There was no way she could be a kunoichi, her chakra levels were very low-that of a civilian and she lacked any type of breath control. Granted judging from her current state she had been running for a day straight maybe even longer than that. It wasn't out of the norm for a kunoichi to dress herself up as a man in order to get information if the situation called for it.
Nothing would call for it in this situation, unless it was to get across borders relatively unscathed and without bother. A woman traveling alone, across borders on top of it... That was just one giant disaster already in the making.
"What should we do with her?" Yuko broke Ahiko out of her thoughts with the simple, but complicated question.
They could kill her, but she couldn't bring herself to harm a civilian who had no degree of training in the shinobi arts. They needed answers to the buzzing questions and felling this girl wouldn't bring any answers to light. They could let her go, but then there was a high chance she'd be pursued the moment she got far enough away from this territory and the whole thing would play itself out over again. They'd have to hold her as a prisoner for the moment and then get the answers she needed, shinobi just didn't chase down civilians for no reason.
"We're going to hold her here." Ahiko said softly, setting the woman clothed in robes down on her futon before taking out a spool of ninja wire. "I'm not sure why the Hatake were chasing her, that clan wouldn't bother with someone like this unless there was something absolutely valuable that they could obtain." The Akimichi could be any number of any reasons, they could have been chasing her to the gates of this place just to antagonize them to attack-but the Hatake, well that was a mystery. "Hold her wrists and ankles for me." Ahiko told her.
Yuko nodded slightly, holding the unconscious girl's wrists together as Ahio went about tying them together in a complex series of loops and spins then moved onto her ankles repeating the same process and tying the segments together over her back connecting them in another series of complicated knots. Seeing that the girl was completely immobile Yuko looked at her soft features. "What do you think the Hatake want with her?"
"I'm not sure, but it is valuable in any case." Ahiko said warily. "It warrants our full attention, the Hatake are not a clan to sit idly by." They weren't stupid enough to launch an attack now, no far from it, they wouldn't even try to chink away... They'd wait until a moment presented itself, when another clan launched an attack and then they'd strike with the lethal force they were known far, truly, they were cunning. "Stay here and keep an eye on her."
"Where are you going?" Yuko questioned.
"To find my sister and Madara." Ahiko replied. "While I'm away you can change out of those clothes."
Yuko nodded slightly, she didn't want to exactly change out of this kimono she was rather fond of it now, but with these recent events she'd have no choice but to opt for something more robust. "Okay."
Ahiko nodded back at her quickly sliding their door open and leaving it just cracked by an inch before venturing down the hallway. It was strange that her sister and Madara weren't present right when they got back. Madara was always punctual if anything and Mikito was always ready to get down to business when the moment called for it; they could be out there battling the Hatake and Akimichi which were starting to retreat from the gates, but she would have spotted them without any trouble.
She turned again gliding down a series of stairwells nimbly before screeching around the next corner and skidding to a halt nearly running into Misaka and Aito head on. The two older people sensing her steady presence halted themselves several feet before she even turned to avoid the collision.
"Ahiko-san." Misaka observed her through careful eyes. It wasn't exactly unheard of for the girl to sprint full speed ahead, it was one of things that made Ahiko who she was, but the disheveled expression on her features as well as her disheveled appearance made her note the younger girl with more severity. "What's got you in such a hurry?"
"Have you seen Madara-san and my sister?"
"You just missed them both, actually." Aito scratched the back of his neck lazily, consciously running a hand over his stomach where Ahiko would have likely smashed right into. "They went out on a reconnaissance mission, but judging from the chaos at the front gates of this place right now, I'd say that mission has now taken a backseat. Or maybe that was their whole objective." He couldn't rush out there since he was on patrol within the castle at the moment with Misaka, even though he'd like to go out there and stretch his legs, orders were orders and he had to do his part in the bigger picture. "Why do you need to see them right now?"
No wonder the Hatake and Akimichi are retreating... Ahiko thought with just a hint of amusement. Nobody wanted to battle Mikito and Madara at the same time unless they were a fool and nothing short of one.
"Obviously it's important." Misaka chastised Aito softly, her expression though soft held much firmness. "Ahiko-san never wastes time."
"I'm just asking." Aito said a bit defensively. "We're on patrol now, and there isn't a damn thing for us to do besides walk around this castle, I thought we could help her out since she appears to need it."
"Did she say she needs it?"
"No, but she's running around looking for those two so I think it's implied."
"That is open to interpretation."
"We can do something worthwhile instead of walking around aimlessly." Aito scowled.
"It is not aimlessly." Misaka scowled back at him.
Their gazes remain locked, but there was no hostility brewing between them... It almost seemed playful and competitive.
Ahiko stared at the two of them. Hopefully they didn't start brawling like Mitsuki and Hikaku did.
"Fine, wait here." Misaka said looking at Aito with a serious expression until she got a nod out of him. Satisfied, she ventured several feet away where a group of Uchiha shinobi and Domou kunoichi were huddled together talking about something with great interest. "All of you." They snapped to attention giving her intent and steady stares, "patrol this floor, the four above this floor, and the five below this floor. Distribute it among yourselves, but see to it this is finished." She instructed, her tone breaking no argument.
They bowed quickly going about the task assigned to them.
"Why don't you lead the way." Misaka mused, nodding to Ahiko as she made her way back towards her.
"Of course!" Ahiko responded a bit too quickly. Seeing Misaka and Aito interact was quite... Unique, that seemed to be a growing trend with her kinsmen and the Uchiha as of late. Granted if they weren't glaring swords at each other, but thankfully that one little stint was the only time such a divide happened between them.
Ahiko gestured for them to follow with a quick wave of her hand, traversing the maze of hallways and stairwells with surprising speed the older man and woman easily keeping up with her hurried pace.
"Mind filling me in on what's going on?" Aito ventured as he flew up a stairwell.
"Long story short, me and Yuko were out, we seen the commotion at the front gate and I coordinated a quick defense to ensure the Hatake and Akimichi didn't push their way through. During this small time frame we both discovered a traveling monk who was trying to push her way through the guards that were stationed at the front gate, judging from her condition she had been chased for a good day maybe two or three." Ahiko put it as succinctly as she could, not bothering to include small details that had no real relevance in this case.
"What's it matter if it's a traveling monk?" Aito asked, slowing down his pace noting that Ahiko moved with more urgency but not as much speed.
"Aito, clearly the woman was in the disguise of a traveling monk... How many female monks do you know?" She gave him a blank stare. Aito shrugged carelessly. With a soft sigh she continued. "The Hatake as sharp as they are probably spotted her the second she tried to skate by them, and the Akimichi have been doing their hit and run attacks for a couple of months now and their leader is starting to come out in the open. The Hatake were after something and the Akimichi were in their way..."
Ahiko nodded steadily in agreement. "I was thinking the same thing, but I can't really put my finger on what is they could want out of her."
"Maybe it's not her in specific, but what-who she decided to disguise herself as." Aito concluded, crossing his arms over his chest as he nodded his head once, assuring himself that this was a definite possibility. "They say that in the Wind country there's priests that are rarely seen, and if they are they don't even look in your direction let alone speak to you directly. They are said to keep the peace within the walls of the Wind country, holding something... Or things at bay." The story always changed between those who told it, but there were enough concrete similarities.
Ahiko skidded to an abrupt halt, partly due to shock and realization, and the other part since she was in front of the room she shared with Ahiko and was in the process of sliding the door open. "Aito, you're a genius!" Ahiko exclaimed. Yuko who had been waiting patiently quickly snapped her head to the entrance spotting the trio stepping in. She quickly stood up.
"At your service." He drawled in a cocky manner.
"Must you be such a pig head?" Misaka asked, folding her arms under her breasts, fixing him with a stern gaze.
"You wouldn't have me any other way now would you?" Again, that cocky smile graced his face.
"I guess not." Misaka murmured.
"Misaka-san and Aito-san, we-" Yuko started but was gently cut off by Misaka.
"Ahiko-san told us what happened." She smiled at Yuko for a moment to put her at ease. "How about we all take a seat. Aito here offered something very insightful and it could offer much clues and perhaps answers." She made herself comfortable on a nearby cushion just a few inches from Ahiko while Aito took a seat close to Yuko giving her a small smirk when she looked in his direction.
"Aito-san, could you say what you said over again?" Yuko ventured, her voice steady.
"Sure thing girly." Aito replied, slowly pressing his back against the wall to make himself comfortable, and then crossed his arms over his chest. He peered at the unconscious woman before him, tied up in an elaborate series of knots and twists that even made him dizzy just looking at it. Her robes were scuffed and dirty, definite signs of being chased for several hours, and though soft, her face was a bit flushed, another sign that she had been through something quite strenuous.
He raked a hand through his hair, choosing his next words carefully. "She made a mistake choosing to disguise herself as a monk, while normally no one bothers a monk, even us shinobi... In this region in particular monks are kind of coveted for lack of a better word, in specific the Wind country where the highest concentration of monks can be found..." He paused for effect. "They are said to keep the peace in the Wind country and hold something... Or things at bay. They never speak to anyone, nor do they look at anyone. Some people fear them, others worship them, and some just don't care one way or another, but... They keep the peace, and have for centuries, so they say at least."
"Knowing this, the Hatake are trying to gather information on what it is they could be holding at bay... Or what keeping the peace really entails." Yuko muttered with a light frown.
"Exactly." Aito nodded in agreement. Yuko caught on very fast, quite uncanny on her part. "There are also the rumors that the One Tail has been somewhere in the Wind country-this entire region for centuries now, though I really think this is doubtful and just a mere rumor. A beast such as that couldn't be tied down in chains for even a second, whether it's a monk chanting or actual chains, those beasts and their power are beyond comprehension. And, even with his army at his disposal nothing could be done to stop that."
Shukaku... Ahiko thought with a guarded expression.
"Should we really just brush it off as a mere rumor?" Yuko asked.
"At this point in my life I know not to second guess anything, but even I know there are certain things which are completely absurd." Aito mused.
If the One Tail was there prowling around they would have seen it by now-like the rest of the Bijuu it was giant and could be seen even from a far distance without any issue. The rumors just kind of fit... The One Tail being a pale brown just like the sand, and the Wind country being the second most populated place in the region-it gave a sense of awe and mystique to the place, it drew people in and kept them far away.
"It wouldn't be a good idea to brush it off, but right now it'll only open up more questions than answers. Which is the last thing we need." Ahiko said softly.
"I agree." Misaka nodded slowly. They couldn't just brush it off, and even though it was indeed absurd, they just didn't have enough to go off of pertaining to this in particular. "We can't deduce much from this other than the fact that the Hatake are now in this region as well as trying to obtain privy information that would otherwise be unknown..." It was an unsettling thought to the say the least. They had enough to combat against between the Shimura, Sarutobi, Hyuga, Subatsu, Senju, Hageshii, Akimichi, and Shainingu... The cunning and sharp Hatake being added in just brought another series of problems. "This girl, do you have any idea where she is from."
"Judging from her appearance I'd say either the Monsoon country, Lightning country, Hurricane country, or Earth country." Ahiko replied kindly. "I can't say with certainty which one she is from, but she is definitely not from the Fire country or this region of that I am most certain."
Aito sighed. "We have more questions than we do answers."
"I'll look into the influential families and clans that are prominent in these countries." Misaka ventured with a mild tone. There would be well over a few dozen for each respective location, but she'd be able to narrow it down based on appearance and which traits are more abundant in these clans and families as opposed to others. "You've done very well Ahiko-san and Yuko-san. And, to think this whole mess happened on your day off."
"It happens." Ahiko didn't seem the least bit downtrodden about it.
"I'm just happy to help." Yuko said earnestly.
"Well, you two can relax for now." Aito said coolly. They did their part, even though it was their day off, and they were supposed to be enjoying themselves. Now, they had to wait until Madara, Souji, Izuna, or Mikito came back and report this to them, but in the meantime he could get a head start with Misaka; then they'd have at least something to go off and know this girl's identity. "There's not much more you can do at this point." He noticed Yuko's small pout. "Just stay here and make sure she doesn't do anything stupid or cause a commotion when she wakes up, it'd be a shame if we had to kill her before we can get anything worthwhile out of her."
"I understand." Ahiko nodded affirmatively. "Make sure to work hard, Aito-san!"
"As if she'd let me slack off for a second." Aito drawled out, jabbing his thumb at Misaka.
"Do you have anything to report to Mikito-san or Madara-san?" Misaka ignored Aito's remark.
Silence.
"Maybe..." It was a bit strange for that placed to be closed, but there had been a shortage, and it did get a lot of business.
And, it was seven stories.
"Be sure to report it to them once they return." Misaka instructed, getting a soft nod from Yuko in return. "Aito, let's go."
"Now, hold on-" Aito immediately protested.
Misaka dragged him out by the collar of his shirt.
Yuko broke the moment of silence with a quiet laugh. Things seemed... Unique between Aito and Misaka, but the closer she looked the more she noticed that they seemed to bond... They were getting closer and closer, even though they had their little spars like just now. "I'm happy to see our clans getting along so well..." She blinked once, quickly adding. "Well, you know."
"It is quite wonderful." Ahiko nodded in earnest agreement.
The Uchiha who were stubborn, and the Domou who were equally stubborn bonding and getting along better as the days went on... It showed there was a common ground they found and held firm to, even if that couldn't be seen or put into words. It was there... And, maybe it had always been there they were just too stubborn to realize it.
There was reciprocation between them at last.
At last.
Ajo grimaced.
This damiyo was a real piece of work.
Honestly, he was long tired of shinobi being the personal lap dogs to the pompous and self indulgent nobles. There was a system in place, and it did work, but he seen the fatal flaws and wanted to change it.
Overthrow it.
The shinobi would own the land. The damiyo would be at their mercy.
There wouldn't be a damiyo.
"Those Subatsu, They're wolves!" The damiyo cried out in outrage. Word traveled fast, an the recent battle had long reached their ears. "I've heard the rumors of course, but now I'm starting to think there is some merit to it all!" He fumed, usually stoic and calm, his expressions changed and twitched. Evident fury and terror flooding through him. "And, the Domou and Uchiha are no better! With their recent battle with the Hatake and Akimichi, they revel in mayhem and carnage, and there's the Hageshii and that wily man Hajime, and then there's Sasuke! This is exactly why everyone village and country has to become unified under me!"
Daishiro's eyebrow twitched.
Ajo visibly scowled.
"They have their mission just as we have ours." Daishiro spoke calmly, but the glinting threat in his eyes froze the damiyo in his place. "While we are fighting to unify every village and country, they are fighting for their freedom and their autonomy."
"More over, it just shows that we've been too lenient." Ajo said, steering the conversation back on course. The damiyo couldn't make any objection to what his leader said, and rightfully so he couldn't. There was no way to justify taking away a person's freedom and/or autonomy. "We outclass any and all villages and countries in this region in sheer military number and strength."
Daishiro nodded in agreement.
"Yes. Perhaps I should have taken swift action from the beginning." The damiyo muttered, slowly composing himself once more.
"Yes, that should have been our priority." Daishiro mused. Going on the attack, with this army, about half the villages and countries would just surrender. However, now there was Sasuke taking every opportunity to attack, Hajime, and their respective forces. There was Daiki, that callous man... They had a lot more to deal with now.
A rebellion.
War...
Their next move would sweep the tides.
But, he wasn't surprised. There were many clans being contacted, and others just moving their way through. In the chaos, frenzy, paranoia, and darkness. This is where he and his kinsmen reigned supreme. He'd just improvise. "Send a letter out to all the villages and countries, every single one of them." His eyes narrowed, a terrifying air about him as he spoke. The damiyo nodded swiftly. "This will be a notice..." Daishiro continued. "Tomorrow at midnight we will launch a full scale attack. The first two hundred and eighty thousand soldiers will mobilize, my force of twenty thousand will work in tandem, we'll stretch their borders." He locked eyes with Ajo, it was inevitable. "Our focus will have to be on the Sand country and Desert country. Both of them are crucial."
And, he'd have the chance to stab Daiki and Sasuke.
It put them in direct conflict with the Senju, Uchiha, Domou, and Subatsu. The Dune country would be swept into it-they may be the first to attack.
More importantly.
He'd get the chance to settle the score with her.
"If you excuse me then, I must go and prepare." The damiyo said stoically, rising up in one motion and exiting.
"That man..." Ajo broke the silence.
"He is lucky to be so useful." Daishiro muttered coldly.
"I have an update."
Daishiro turned towards him, automatically. Eyes crucial with a sharp gaze.
"That force of Sarutobi we've pushed back, we've also made contact in the Water country." Ajo said stoically, putting all his anger aside and focusing on this objective.
"Send reinforcements."
Ajo nodded. "We've also managed to do it..."
"Where?"
"Near the neighboring town on the way to cross over into the region. She will be here before the sun rises."
Daishiro stood up.
Ajo nodded.
"Do those fools still intend on going through with it?" Daishiro asked sharply.
"Yes, they have the perfect cover." Ajo replied.
"I see, make contact with Tunoichi and Hajime. They will make the perfect distraction." Daishiro took long strides to the door, sliding it open with a quick push leaning against the frame. A smirk crossed his face. The Shimura flourished in the shadows, assassinations, information gathering, spying... There wasn't very much that could escape them. "The Domou and Uchiha are stirring... The Subatsu are prowling around... Now is our chance."
Hajime is wily, and Tunoichi is brash and shortsighted. He'd use this to his advantage.
I get to stretch my legs. Ajo nodded, a small sadistic grin coming over his face. He thrived in this. This was just the type of thing he had been waiting for.
"It is a tea shop, but also a sweet shop, it is seven stories in total." Daishiro told Ajo, handing him a small scroll, unrolling it swiftly. "The code is "leopard koi. Take a small or large unit with you."
Ajo nodded understandingly. This building was very established and distinguished, it wouldn't be hard to spot it. Perfect cover. As far as the people were concerned it was only a shop.
"That damiyo gave us an ace. What a foolish standing order." Ajo remarked with a wicked smirk. "I'll be taking my leave..." He vanished... Somewhere in shadows.
Everything was going their way, now they just had to pounce on the opening and seize it with an iron grip.