"You're late! I told you I don't like to wait!"
Sasori
The scene back at the Sand country was one of chaos and pandemonium. What civilians didn't run and seek seclusion were grouped together along the side of the roads, eyes glued to what was going on before them while parting a path. The guards at the gate didn't even nod in their direction as they hurried to quell the turmoil that was seeking to consume everything. Bodies were strewn across the entire length of the entrance and spread outward to where the fierce battle took place just moments ago, and the guards hastened to clean up what they could.
There were guards spread throughout the village with the most being located at the very front and in between. There had been many Hageshii and Shainingu to run away, and even some Sarutobi to run straight into the village trying to take advantage of the turmoil. Their bodies were strewn about pattering against the dirt and sand paths with eeriness, nobody dared to touch them save for the guards who did so unflinchingly and tossed their bodies along with the rest on the large carts.
Civilians, and anyone with an ounce of common sense for that matter parted a path for them. Fear and terror was evident as well as trepidation. Madara wouldn't strike any of them down, and he knew Mikito was of a like mind. Them parting a path was just perfect for him though, they didn't get in his way, and he didn't need to shove some moron from his path that was too ignorant or too stupid to know who he was. Despite all of this however, the civilians merely thought of them as killers, who would take their life if they looked at them for too long or whispered too loudly.
Madara couldn't help but smirk, staying a few steps behind Mikito as she quickened her pace towards Chiasa.
"How are things going here, Chiasa?" Mikito asked, stopping in front of the older woman with a passive expression on her features despite all the attention they were currently receiving.
"Everything is handled out here." Chiasa supplied, waving towards her side. "Bunji, Kagami and Shin are checking the perimeter."
"Good work." Mikito said, while Madara only nodded.
Chiasa just smiled gently. "Hikaku and Hiro took things over inside... It's a mess to say the least."
Madara kept his eyes narrowed his Sharingan glowing a stark crimson as he analyzed his surroundings. The tea house, what remained of it anyways was battered and tattered, the front doors had been completely torn off and the tell tale signs of a battle were very prominent. Discarded swords, kunai, and shuriken decorated the floors and around the front of the buildings, there were bodies, some without heads or limbs lying against the ground completely un-moving, while some remained whole only with a stab wound in the chest or throat area showing a swift and near painless death.
Hyper aware, Madara stepped forward with a long step, avoiding the disfigured body of a Shainingu shinobi right at the front, as he stepped through the entrance, sword clasped tightly within his hand. He turned his eyes up onto Hikaku, who was on the second floor. There were Uchiha and Domou leaning against the walls or standing, swords resting on their shoulders as they checked over everyone. "Hikaku, report."
Hikaku appeared on one of the few remaining staircases that hadn't been demolished or destroyed in the fight. His crimson eyes locked with Madara's and the two stared at each other for a long moment before Hikaku closed his eyes and swiftly sheathed his blade. His crimson eyes faded to obsidian. "There's no casualties on our side, though there are a few injuries none of them are too severe that they're life threatening." Hikaku supplied, landing a few feet from Madara with an impassive gaze on his face, eyes turning back up to the place he had been standing moments before.
"My medics can mend these injuries." Mikito said, confident and firm, crossing her arms over her chest.
Hikaku nodded in agreement. "The first four floors..." He paused, struggling to find a word, or context that could suffice. "They're nothing short of a mess. The highest concentration of bodies are located on these floors, and despite there being much damage it is still troublesome to navigate up beyond these floors." The fifth, sixth, and seventh floors had seen the beginnings of the battle as it spilled out traveling to the lower floors in an instant where much of the damage took place, though there was still damage on the three highest floors it paled to the lower floors where one couldn't even walk without stepping on some debris or a piece of skin.
The seven floors were completely demolished. The rooms were completely devastated, battered and withered, some ravaged beyond the point it couldn't even be considered a room anymore just a small little opening. Some places it looked like an explosive tag went off, and it wouldn't be far off to think a few had went off. The walls were gashed from the blades and impacts that carried through them.
Blood stained and smeared the floor, the once powerful wooden pillars were shadows of their former selves just mere chunks and segments, the powerful strikes and collisions tearing them in half and bashing them apart. Pitiful arms, fingers, heads, wrists and legs littered every stepping point with the continuing pools of blood spreading. Several bodies hung off from railing and segments of the wreckage, just staying balanced by a fraction.
The mats of the rooms were torn to shreds after Domou, Uchiha, Shainingu and Hageshii tore into them with their vicious attacks or were slammed into them.
The air was filled with the heavy and metallic scent that overwhelmed everything else.
Blood.
"I see, I'll go up and check." Souji said, nodding to a few Uchiha and Domou shinobi who quickly flanked him.
Madara nodded slightly.
He could tell just from where he was currently standing that these bottoms floors were going to be the worse when it came to actually clearing everything out, there were bodies grouped together, wedged with debris and practically blocking off a few openings. What used to be pristine rooms, tables, and seating areas were nothing more than torn and ravaged points in the overall destruction. It wasn't exactly their task and should be left to the damiyo or his guards, and he was never one for picking up bodies or tasks like this in general. "Everyone in here taken care of, are there any survivors?" Because, Mikito would always give one warning before she went on a rampage.
"No. All the Shainigu and Hageshii shinobi in here are all dead, we've found several dozen around our perimeter..." Hikaku replied with the same impassive expression, pausing. "We kept them contained within a six block radius in all directions, and the rest retreated trying to get out of here as fast as they could."
"Excellent work, Hikaku." Mikito said with a small smile. Uchiha were truly extraordinary.
He bowed slightly, a tad confused at the praise Mikito was giving him, but took it nonetheless.
"Where's Tunoichi?" Izuna asked.
"Back at the castle, Mitsuki is going to watch over him until he wakes up." Hikaku supplied.
Izuna nodded.
"Everyone! Clear the way!"
Madara and Mikito bristled at the sudden exclamation.
"All of you, Go back to what you were doing! This is none of your concern!" A voice boomed from outside, the crowd stepped further back, parting a path as murmurs began echoing carried by the gusty wind fading in and out.
Madara fixed the entrance with a deadly glare, whoever was brazen enough to even try stepping foot in here not wearing either his clan's attire or the Domou's they were going to suffer a swift death. He tensed spotting a familiar tall and muscular man from the damiyo's estate, and the damiyo standing a few inches in front of him as composed and collected as always, though his usual placid eyes glimmered.
"Sir..." Izuna started. "It'd be a good idea to leave the rest of this to us." Mikito had that... Look...In her eyes again.
"You've all done excellent." The damiyo said, voice smooth and eloquent. The damiyo gestured towards the tall man at his side with a simple wave of his hand, and with no hesitation on his part the tall man walked deeper into the inn doing his best not to stare too long at the grizzly scene all around him. Shinobi were beyond brutal. Domou and Uchiha were just merciless...
The tall man stopper stopped locking eyes with Mikito for a long moment before he turned away first, continuing in his stride. Dozens of his comrades clothed in dark armor from head to toe followed after him sparing a glance at the shinobi. "No need to be so alarmed Mikito-san, he is the leader of my army his name is Junichi. He is also the person who uncovered something."
"What has he uncovered?" Izuna questioned, carefully.
"We shall discuss that later." The damiyo said smoothly.
Which meant it was something privy and couldn't be said out loud.
Not good...
"We're still investigating." Mikito started, her tone growing harder as did her gaze.
"Shinobi don't clean up bodies." The damiyo chuckled for a moment, hearing grunts of agreement from the older men and women in the room including Madara. "You've taken care of the hard part. This is my village and country, it's only right that I inspect everything and clean the bodies up." He grimaced just slightly seeing the carnage surrounding him. Tables were broken and turned over, bodies were scattered across the floor, limbs and blood littered and marred the floor in grotesque streaks, the individual floors of the inn were ravaged; the wooden railings nonexistent even the walls were gashed and torn from whistling shuriken and kunai. This was just the first floor on top of it. He had seen many gruesome scenes but nothing quite like this... This shook him slightly.
The Uchiha and Domou...
He felt his heart quicken, barely visible beads of sweat making their way down the side of his head.
"We're conducting an investigation." Mikito repeated, eyes narrowing to slits as she leveled a gaze with the damiyo. She had missed her chance way back in the Grass village to investigate further into Tomoyuki's half mad plot, and by extension Tunoichi's. There was no way she was going to miss her chance, this had been the second time he pushed this far and put an entire village at risk-though Hajime, Koizuki, and Ajo were present as well this time, which put a whole different perspective on things. If she let this slip passed her she'd never get the chance again.
She wouldn't let this slip away.
"I understand, let us work together." The damiyo after a moment of consideration, replied coolly, giving a small nod of acceptance. It was clear Mikito wasn't going to be budging on the matter, and he didn't have in him to dispute it with her. There was no changing her mind. "Men! Collect the bodies, bring a few carts here to haul them away! Take them back to the castle!" He ordered swiftly, waving his hand out in front of him for emphasis, watching his soldiers disperse into the devastation with a solemn expression. "We'll meet tomorrow morning." He glanced at Mikito and Madara getting slight nods in return.
"Hikaku, Hiro, and Masa. Stay here and take over." Madara said, turning his gaze onto the both of them. Hikaku would always follow orders, and while Hiro and Masa complied with him enough, he still felt that he had to catch their gazes and wait for a response. Domou could be very stubborn.
So could Uchiha.
The irony...
"I got it." Hiro nodded in compliance. "If I find anything noteworthy I'll be sure to bring it to your attention." He turned his eyes onto Masa, sheathing his sword in one swift motion.
"Is there anything you need us to explicitly?" Masa ventured copying Hiro's action, and sheathed her sword, though more slowly.
"Just move things along and look for anything that doesn't quite fit." Mikito told her. "We have Tunoichi so we'll be able to get some information, not as much as I would like, but it will suffice. If you find anything that relates to him or Hajime I want you to make that priority number one." There was a good chance Tunoichi wouldn't speak a single word, and when that time came they'd need to have leverage that would make the old fool talk, or at the very least put him at a disadvantage so he felt more inclined to divulge information.
Masa gave a soft smile to Mikito before setting about her task.
"Upstairs is all clear." Souji said suddenly, jumping down from the fifth floor, landing silently. "Once some things get cleared out we should be able to move without any problem, but until then..."
Everyone nodded in acceptance, until everything got cleared away they weren't going to make much progress in here.
"How are you holding up?" Izuna turned his focus onto Yuko. She had been unusually silent, and normally he wouldn't pay too much attention to it, but given what just happened he felt inclined to ask.
"I'm fine..." She murmured, surveying the results of their battle and everything it left behind. So many bodies and limbs, there was blood staining just about everything and there were shuriken and kunai embedded in the walls and floor and sword protruding from any place imaginable. Blood dotted her form, and she badly wanted to wash it away. "What do you think the damiyo uncovered?"
"It's privy..." Mikito said softly. "It could be any number of things."
"I couldn't begin to guess, but it's probably important." Ahiko added. This damiyo wasn't so... Pompous like the others. He wasn't so confident and arrogant of his inner circle, but that didn't mean he wasn't so blind to those in his inner circle as to think they're above treason or anything of the like. His one universal flaw, like all damiyo. So long as there was power to be gained there'd always be foes, inside, and outside. This would be no different. "We're going to get a head start on you guys, that girl may be awake now..."
"That's fine." Madara gave a soft nod.
"I shall be going then." Ahiko gave a small bow before linking her arm with Yuko's and dragged the girl away.
"Izuna, stay here and watch over everything." Madara said carefully. It's no that he didn't trust the damiyo-he didn't trust nobles in general. Their false sense of honor that was totally hollow, and their habit of looking down on others just because they didn't have the same amount of jewels that they did, or any at all for that matter. Shinobi were just tools-damiyos' tools, and he'd be damned if a noble even slights the Uchiha or the Domou just a smidgen.
Hell will be raised.
"I got it." Izuna nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "I would rather go back to the castle though, and start questioning Tunoichi..." This was a task Madara ordered him to do, and he'd see it through to the end, but it didn't mean he had no...Misgivings about it. He was quite frankly above this in his opinion. "Couldn't you have Bunji stay behind and take my place or Yuto?"
Madara stared at his younger brother intently. "No, nobody can take your place. And, Bunji is too quick to let loose, this task doesn't suit him. Yuto is best utilized out in the field as well."
"Hn." Izuna agreed with slight reluctance. He was stuck doing something boring...
Of course...
Mikito ventured towards Misaka and Aito as Madara and Izuna continued their discussion.
She had seen Misaka and Aito split up once the fighting erupted, both going in different directions, Misaka went down while Aito stayed in the middle, and later on Aito lunged down three floors at least to provide back up. More often than not Misaka and Aito were together, normally Aito pursuing Misaka. For this reason it didn't really surprise her that they were seated together against a wall close by. "Misaka. Aito." She made her presence known to the duo. Aito turned to look at her while Misaka met her gaze for a moment before lowering her head. "You both okay?"
"I'm fine, just a few scratches." Aito said, flexing his muscles for emphasis before turning his gaze back onto Misaka. "However..."
"I was too careless." Misaka admitted a bit sourly, hand covered with crimson as she moved it away from the top of her right thigh. The cut was shallow and fine, but the way it was placed on her thigh would cause complications especially with healing. It had been Hajime that inflicted this wound at the very last second, he had literally appeared in front of her, and she was certain he wasn't expecting to be face to face with her blade. He was a wily man, and used two shinobi as meat bags just to get one slice in on her. It was a good thing the blade wasn't covered with poison. "I should have anticipated Hajime using such tactics, but I was right in his face..." If he hadn't pulled that one shinobi in front of him at the moment he would have been on the end of her sword, as it stood he got away by a fraction, and managed to wound her.
"Can you walk?" Mikito's eyes widened a fraction with worry, Hajime completely out of her mind at this moment. Her only focus on Misaka.
Misaka slowly shook her head. She'd be able to walk once it was treated properly, but as it stood she wouldn't be able to due to the wound, and slight exhaustion.
"Our medics in the castle will mend this in a few seconds." Mikito said confidently, though her worried eyes didn't lose their shine at all. Hajime was a slippery man, Koizuki managed to slip out of her grasp as well as Ajo, but neither of these two could quite stoop down to Hajime's level-these was nothing too low for him to utilize, and if that meant sacrificing some of his men, then he'd do just that. Misaka likely pressed him into a corner and he had a last second reaction, that gave him the slightest opening to escape. "Aito, you wouldn't mind carrying her?"
"Mikito-" Misaka started softly in protest.
"I won't let you make that wound any more worse than what it is." Mikito said, gently cutting her off and resting a hand on her shoulder. "Just until we get to the castle, okay?"
Misaka's cheeks tinted with red just the slightest as she turned towards Aito for a second.
"I can carry her, besides she's almost two and a half heads shorter than I am." He answered without hesitation, getting a light huff from Misaka and a soft nod from Mikito before she turned away and headed back towards Madara and Izuna. Aito hid his smirk as he turned to look at Misaka, taking note of the very small frown on her face. Very clearly she didn't want to be carried by him, she was always an independent and strong woman, being carried like a child must have struck a blow. But, she couldn't argue against Mikito's orders, and she couldn't put a fight against Aito. "Alright girly, hop on." He said squatting down a few inches in front her and bringing his arms to his sides with his palms turned up.
Misaka felt her jaw slacken before she hastily firmed it once more. A piggy back ride? Surely, Aito knew the implications behind this gesture, it wasn't just to offer her a helping hand. She pursed her lips, running her tongue across her bottom lip in trepidation. She'd feel his large and strong hands grasping her tightly, his body supporting hers as she rested against it, the steady beat of his heart...
"Come on." Aito drawled.
Pursing her lips, Misaka observed him carefully with her stark blue eyes. Aito wasn't like the other Uchiha.. He was more aloof than distant, and more open than cut off in his own way, he spent the majority of his time messing with her and as of recently expressing his more... Profound feelings in his own way. She had no qualms against the Uchiha, but Aito, he surely knew what this would lead to between them.
Slowly, she exhaled, letting Aito's strong and big hand take a hold of her own as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her torso against his back. He was quite muscular and his shoulders were very broad.
She felt her cheeks heat up again.
"Was that so hard?" Aito asked, a hint of a teasing tone becoming pronounced. It was just like Misaka to ponder about this, the implications of it, and what it would lead to. She was always reserved and mindful. But, he didn't really care to ponder this whole thing, didn't care about the implications, and knew very well what it would lead to in the end, but it's what he wanted. With both hands he cupped Misaka's toned and firm ass and hefted her up with one movement pinning her knees to his sides, causing what could be considered a yelp to escape the woman's lips.
"Aito!" Misaka tightened her arms around his neck on instinct. That one little grasp, brought out so many different feelings and sensations out of her she hadn't been prepared. "Put your hands lower."
"What does a few inches matter?"
"Your hands are not on my ass." Misaka stated.
"It is quite nice." Aito admitted shamelessly. "Besides, I can't grab your thighs, I could make your injury worse."
Misaka suppressed the scowl that wanted to grace her face at his little statement. Aito could always be such a smart ass, and he knew very well what it was he was doing. Where his big and strong hands were. Lecherous, pig headed oaf... She mentally stated, saying anything about it openly would only encourage Aito, and quite frankly she was too tired to even bridge that gap and give Aito even more reason to continue on with his tomfoolery. "Just don't do anything stupid..." She murmured, resting her head on the back of his neck.
"What? Don't trust me?" Aito smirked.
Score two for him.
Misaka didn't dignify that with a response. She trusted Aito on the battlefield, trusted him to watch her back, but she didn't trust his hands. Judging from his expression alone he was up to something, and her butt was to not just be squeezed and touched whenever he so pleased or wanted to get a rise out of her. Even if he was very handsome, she wouldn't let him have his way completely. With a small sigh she nuzzled her head into his back, his thick hair becoming something close to a pillow, allowing her eyes to dim for just a moment. Just for a moment.
"We're going to head back!" Madara shouted, getting everyone's attention. "Everyone get in formation!"
"Yes!"
"Ready girly?" Aito, not so surprisingly gave her ass a small squeeze.
Misaka resisted the urge to smack him upside the head.
Feathers ruffled.
Score three for him.
Ajo grunted, tone thick with agitation, body tense and ready with his bloodied sword remaining firm in his grasp. His entire outfit was drenched to the bone, and there was a steady flow of water coming from his hair and going all the way down, in fact there wasn't a single dry patch on him. "Son of a bitch..." He cursed lowly, glaring behind him at the whole cause of his ire, and even though they weren't visible at this moment it didn't lessen his ire any. Tunoichi's and Hajime's plan seemed very sound and concise, one could consider it a bit too risky, there were too many what ifs and thinks that could go wrong, but it had been layered and layered just in case those what ifs did happen.
Kicking out the Uchiha and Domou was something that he wanted. It would benefit everyone when those two clans were kicked right out from their post. He wanted them gone as soon as possible, but he wasn't willing to take such risks no matter how calculated they may have been, forcing both of these clans to depart would be no easy feat and there was no need to throw his life away needlessly.
It was for this reason he agreed with Hajime and Tunoichi. Their plan may have been a bit skewed, more than a bit skewed, but the end result would be the same regardless of which way one would slice it. The Uchiha and Domou would be dealt with, and then they could put all their attention on the Subatsu and Senju and give them the same treatment. The Desert country would be wide open providing a path right to the Fire country, and the heart of the entire region-the Sand country would be within their grasp. All he'd have to do at this point is capitalize and take them out, then he'd have these two territories plus the Dunes.
However, he realized a few things. The first and most prominent being that his clan would be targeted eventually by Hajime and Tunoichi. The Shimura were skilled and very powerful, learning more than chakra natures and being born with more than one. With them taken out, one of the top dogs would be wiped out and their place would be occupied thereafter.
The second thing was Hajime was by all means using everyone before him, including himself, to further along his own agenda which he kept sealed or very much blended in with his explanations so nothing was really given away or even alluded to.
The third. Hajime and Tunoichi intended to take over everything within this region, take the reigns of power for themselves, and started laying waste to everyone they could reach.
The fourth was that these two were looking for a complete takeover and there was no excluding. They wanted to control everything within this region, and control the comings and goings or anyone that came into this region from the Fire country and Earth country, in effect it gave them a full view of their foes' strategies and movements allowing them to take their time and just wipe them out at a leisure pace. The Desert country held a straight path into the Fire country, and the Sand country was considered the heart of the entire region, having these two in their grasp they'd definitely turn things into their favor.
He had been just an accessory to be discarded... Hajime and Tunoichi were going to use him, and then use him as a meat shield. Then use the Shimura.
Not that he'd lose sleep if Hashirama was cut down by either of them... It was better if that idealistic and naive man was killed sooner instead of later.
He finally came upon the entrance of the Wind country. It was more like a gap or crevice that led into the city itself instead of an entrance like what most places had in this region. It took him five minutes to get to the damiyo's estate and slink into his room from the window under the cover of darkness. His outfit torn and charred, reeking of blood and burnt fabric, was hastily discarded and tossed aside for a pitch black garb.
"Ajo-sama."
"What is it?" Broken from his thoughts he turned towards the dark haired young man with a steady gaze.
"Daishiro-sama has just come back."
"Has everything gone according to plan?"
The young man smirked, a glint in his eyes. "Right down to the T."
He didn't need to be told anymore than that.
Ajo bolted out of the room leaving the younger man dazed and a bit confused before he exited the room himself and went in the opposite direction that Ajo headed in. He had a rough idea why Daishiro selected him for this mission in particular, and what Daishiro wanted him to do while on this mission. For all intents and purposes Hajime and Tunoichi believed he was their ally, but that couldn't be any farther from the truth. They weren't quite enemies, they merely tolerated each other just barely.
Navigating through the estate wasn't very hard or timely, he had gotten used to its vastness and the way it twisted and spiraled to and fro. This place was much more 'modern' than some places he'd been to. There was cement and stone in the walls, there were many doors with knobs on them, and there were even lights that dimly lit the hallways mingling with the lanterns posted above.
"Daishiro-sama." Ajo's tone rose just slightly as he spotted his leader with ten more men flanking him hauling a young woman with dark red hair through the nearest hallway. Knowing better than to repeat his name, Ajo sped after him, quickly catching up in several strides taking in his superior's disheveled and dirtied state. There were hardly any bruises or cuts, and he looked worse for wear, just as he expected out of Daishiro-there was hardly a scratch on him and he didn't look the least bit winded. He just looked more annoyed and angry having to haul the loud and thrashing woman.
"Put that stupid wench in there." Daishiro all but snarled as he kicked open a door, heaving forward with the men surrounding him. The woman's lithe but curvy frame crashed into the wall with a loud 'bang' thudding onto the floor where she directed a heated glare at all of them once she managed to recover, her green pupil-less irises glimmering with anger and embarrassment at being manhandled in such a manner.
"How dare you-"
"Shut your mouth, stupid woman." Daishiro snarled, drawing his sword in one rapid motion and had it against the side of her neck in the next second. "Ajo, shut the door. I want three of you to stay here, the rest of you disperse and make sure nobody followed us. If you even see someone take a step on this territory I want their head!" Orders were given swiftly, and he was satisfied as everyone dispersed in the shadows going about their respective tasks. "Ajo, what happened on your end?"
"A long story short..." Ajo paused, glancing in the woman's direction, sneering once their eyes met. Fucking Uzumaki. "Hajime and Tunoichi intend to get the Uchiha and Domou booted out of here, once they do this they'll control the heart of this region and turn their focus onto the Senju and Subatsu. After they defeat them, they'll take the Desert country and the direct route to the Fire country. From there they'll be at their leisure to attack and destroy any clan-shinobi, mercenary, and demon... I say they'll turn their arms against us sooner or later..." It was a possible scenario, and he was kicking himself for not stabbing Hajime right through the neck when he had the chance. "As for my unit some were taken out once the Uchiha and Domou raided the tea house. The others were swept up in the conflict that soon followed outside of the walls..."
Daishiro nodded silently. "I was expecting Tunoichi and Hajime to be scheming something such as that." These two were always willing to take it to another extreme, Hajime always using deceit and manipulating others to do his deeds, Tunoichi brash and brazen he sought to use people in the same manner then dispose of them once they ran out of uses. The Uchiha and Domou raiding the tea house was something he had been expecting, as well as Syrus attacking, the three clans have been stirring more as of late, and they were pinnacle in assuring he made it back to the Wind country in one piece. In a sense. "I assume Hajime managed to escape, but I can't say the same for Tunoichi... Takehito may raise arms and try to foolishly rescue him."
"I doubt that. Mikito won't kill Tunoichi, she knows that if she does she loses valuable information." Ajo said.
"Hmph..." Daishiro chuckled softly, stern eyes closing for a moment as he processed the statement. Mikito wouldn't kill Tunoichi straight away, or even afterwards... But, Souji, Madara, and Izuna; these three wouldn't be so inclined to be merciful and would likely cut him down the moment he refuses to speak. Mikito could read the underneath of the underneath of the underneath, she knew Tunoichi was invaluable, and since she didn't capture Koizuki, Hajime, or Takehito... Tunoichi was all she had to get the answers she wanted.
And, she would get answers...
"Listen, you won't get away with this... You are making a huge mistake." The red haired woman's eyes were fierce as she glowered up at Daishiro, careful not to move a single inch less his blade tore right into her neck. Her voice was the same as her expression, pointed and direct, but she remained with a dignified air. "How foolish are you men to kidnap a heiress?"
"Shut your mouth." Daishiro sneered with malice. "You've been ranting nonstop since we got to the border of the Fire country. If you don't silence yourself I'll sew your mouth shut."
"I have something else to report." Ajo said, completely ignoring the woman shooting daggers at him, though her glare did weaken just a bit. The thought of her mouth being sewed shut must have done the trick. "I stumbled upon someone during the raid..." There was a pregnant pause. "It's a woman, I believe she's a Kizoku..."
"What!?"
Daishiro immediately turned his focus away from the red haired woman and pinned it onto Ajo. Glaring and almost violent. His steps quick and powerful, he closed their distance, swift as a shadown, with the blade still extended, Ajo already had his sword drawn and extended keeping Daishiro at a distance. Their eyes locked. The atmosphere immediately became poisonous,. Even the red haired woman stayed silent. "You lie!" Daishiro all but nearly erupted. Not quite furious or enraged. "That clan of monsters has been extinct for nearly twenty years. Even with their abilities there's no way they survived, you and I were both there." He seethed. "What is your proof, Ajo?"
"Amber eyes..." Ajo said sternly. He'd never forget those amber eyes, it was a trait common among the Kizoku.
Daishiro stiffened before he turned his attention back onto the woman.
No...
There was no way a Kizoku could still be alive, they had all but been wiped out, while wiping out several clans in the same motion. He had been there during the attack, seen the bodies, the carnage, the mayhem, it was impossible for a Kizoku to be alive at this very moment... None of them backed down, even the children were resolved and fought to the last breath taking out over ten clans with them. He had suffered a wound on his chest from a Kizoku kunoichi, that had nearly tore into his rig cage. "Listen carefully, because I am impatient and I will not repeat myself, woman..." His eyes glinted with a coldness that sent shivers down her spine. "Tell us where that Hyoton scroll is. Tell us where you are hiding it."
"For the last time! I don't have it!" The woman snapped, annoyance and anger evident on her features. "I'd never go near those barbarous Yuki!"
Ajo chuckled. So she was snobby and haughty too. "There's no sense in lying to us. We'll find it eventually, you can save yourself from a lot of pain if you just hand it over and don't make this so complicated..." He paused, allowing a callous smirk to cross his face. "You don't look that stupid."
This time, the woman sneered. "You abducted me for nothing. My clan will-"
Daishiro chuckled, his voice rumbling around the room as he unleashed just a fraction of his killing intent. "What are the Uzumaki going to do? You're all a bunch of happy go lucky idiots who have lived in peace on your little island for centuries! You all may be first class when it comes to Fuinjutsu, but that's where that line ends..." His eyes glinted with malice. "I'll cut you in half and you won't even realize it until you see the other half of your body ten feet away and your guts another four feet away." Yes, the Uzumaki were first class when it came to Fuinjutsu, but there wasn't anyone in that clan that could match him in kenjutsu, taijustu, and ninjutsu. Fuck no. "You're all sick and nauseated with your false peace, you've never been on the mainland on the countless war zones. I know Inuzuka that would skull fuck you and then hang you up for their Ninken to maul and not in that order. You're in the thickets now."
The woman smirked this time. There was something... Confident. Assured. Knowing, about the way she smiled, as if she had every answer there was to have in this and held the advantage. "It just won't be my clan, it'll be the Senju along with us. I'm the heiress and eldest daughter, there will be action taken against you Shimura."
"HA!" Ajo barked a laugh. Yes, the Senju who were allied with the Subatsu. It'd be extremely unfortunate if the three of them could all get on the same page, but that was impossible. The Uzumaki were considered the sister clan of the Senju and distant relatives. The Subatsu, especially Syrus's father-Hijikata launched many attacks on the Uzumaki, there was no way those ill feelings passed.
It was common knowledge that the Subatsu didn't get along with the Uzumaki. They actually hated the Uzumaki. "Is that right? I know you spend all your time on that little island of yours so I'll fill you in. The Senju have allied with the Subatsu. We've been at war with the Senju and Subatsu for months now as well as the Uchiha, Domou, Hyuga, Akimichi, and Sarutobi. Just to name a few clans, as of recently it's been the Hatake. We are not concerned about the Uzumaki clan or Senju clan, and besides what hope do you have... No one from your clan has the guts to came all the way over here." Ajo sneered at the woman. "They'd need to trudge through every single war zone that plagues the Fire country and then cross the borders to here which only see bloodshed, you Uzumaki are cockroaches, and will get squashed like the insects you are."
Daishiro smirked. The edging of anger was creasing prominently on this woman's features. Her fingers clenched, knuckles pulling against her skin. Emotions were so... Dangerous, enticing, and volatile. It was very easy to get lost in them, be overcome by them, this is why shinobi suppressed all emotions and trained for an early age in order to do so. One couldn't be blinded or lost in the heat of battle, one couldn't feel rage or hate, sorrow or pity. There was nothing. But, they were insulting her clan, insulting the Senju, insulted her, by all rights she should be mad.
He turned his eyes onto Ajo.
The smirk remained on the woman's face as did the dignified aura. "My father won't allow you to have your way. He's already sent word to the Senju clan's leader, Hashirama. It'll only be a matter of time before he comes to get me, or he takes action against you."
"Yes, I am afraid of that old, senile, decrepit fool." Ajo said mockingly.
"You are awfully confident that Hashirama will come to your rescue. Need I remind you that the Senju have allied with the Subatsu. How many times have they mowed through your island?" Daishiro said calmly more than asked. This woman took the bait, there were always ways of getting information, some violent, and others-like this not so much violent. There were only a couple of things that could happen if these three clans actually got together, and Daishiro already had a rough idea of how it'd end. The Subatsu were wolves.
"It doesn't matter, we've been long time allies of the Senju clan." The woman sounded resolute.
Ajo felt anger pulse through his veins. "If you think the Sentimentality trumps what the Senju and Subatsu have you are mistaken. Their respective Councils are behind their alliance and Toka Senju and Hesui Subatsu have been married for quite some time now."
"The Subatsu are nothing more than bloodthirsty cannibals, beasts, monsters, and animals! They only thirst for mayhem and carnage and revel in it! They are a savage and wild clan!" The woman's voice rose, anger echoing from the back of her throat. "Their ideals are in direct opposition with that of the Senju who believe in love, and by extension the Uzumaki who also believe in love."
"The Subatsu aren't allied with your clan." Daishiro stated plainly. "Your ideals are as good as garbage."
"The Senju share the same ideals as us."
"And, again it's nothing but garbage."
"You preach love and yet you still kill and try to look down on everyone else..." Ajo growled through clenched teeth. "You should be glad you're so useful, otherwise I'd skin your little ass alive!"
"Facts are facts." The woman retorted smartly. "The Senju and Subatsu may be allied now, but it won't last, and it won't stop Hashirama from taking action." She laughed softly. "Even if their Councils are all for their alliance."
"Daishiro-sama, I'm going out for a bit..." Ajo glared at the woman. "I'll be seeing you again real soon, stupid bitch, and we'll see if your keep that condescending look on your face when I have a kunai a centimeter away from your eye..."
"I understand." Daishiro only nodded, watching Ajo exit briskly, killing intent and chakra rolling off of him so much so that the walls quaked under his aura.
This Uzumaki woman was really pushing her luck. Did she really believe she had any type of advantage in her current situation, and did she really think the Senju's and Subatsu's alliance wouldn't hold firm-if they didn't stay allied they'd be going against the Uchiha and Domou at the same time, not to mention his own clan and the others that were gathering here. This was something their respective Councils didn't want in the least.
Either this woman was so misled and snobby that she thought she had all the answers, or she wanted him to slash her throat in two. The Uzumaki and Senju were long time allies, but the Uzumaki weren't here-the Subatsu were, and the Subatsu have been here with the Senju since this whole thing started-before it started. There was no way they'd throw out an alliance just like that, even if their ideals did conflict greatly, it was only pragmatic to stick together. They couldn't afford to throw the alliance away.
It was interesting at the very least, this woman had quite the imagination. If it so happened the Senju and Subatsu reached an impasse it provided him with just the opening he needed, and it couldn't come at a better time.
He'd give this woman a little reprieve, let her gather her bearings and center her emotions.
If he pushed anymore it'd only be counterproductive.
"Well, that's an interesting take." Daishiro concluded, slowly drawing his sword away from her neck and sheathing it quickly, he vaguely wondered what Syrus would have to say about that one. What he would do more than say... This woman was really something else, she had a mouth on her, but remained dignified and never really lashed out. She was more snobby, haughty, it was like she was looking down on him like some wild beast while she was just some refined noble. She already made the notion with the Subatsu, it was implied with his clan and every other clan that wasn't the Uzumaki or Senju. "You Uzumaki..." Daishiro's eyes narrowed dangerously, cold fury emanating from his figure. "You're just like the Senju... You make me sick. The world will be a better place when every last one of you are exterminated, you cockroaches. Then there will be peace and not a second before you're all wiped from this face of this earth!"
"Shut your-"
"What's the matter?" Daishiro questioned mockingly, slamming his hand across the side of her face before she could even blink and finish her retort. "This has been very interesting, a real eye opener, I must say you have quite the perspective... But, we're going to get that Hyoton scroll... We will get it... Even if I have to skin and scalp your haughty ass alive..." Daishiro paused, glancing at her before opening the door. "It in your best interest to reconsider... I'll give you ten minutes, and if you as much incline your chin at me when I return I will send your head flying for the next ten thousand yards and send it back to your decrepit father or that fool Hashirama to spite him. If you even try to escape... Have any thoughts about doing it... You'll wish you've never been born, I can promise you that..."
Morning came hard and fast. The incident last night was still highly discussed among the citizens in this country, things like the the 'Uchiha and Domou are bloodthristy', the 'Domou are nothing but monsters', the 'Uchiha revel in bloodshed' were all being said. Despite the damiyo telling all to forget what happened and he'd handle it personally, they all felt the need to continue on with their gossip.
Then somehow it turned into the Uchiha and Domou attacked Hajime, Tunoichi, Koizuki, and Takehito. How and why it took such a twist was anybody's guess, but things were always skewed and jumbled when it went from one ear to the next, when one mouth passed it onto another.
Though, one could simply chalk it up to the tea house being ravaged and ripped apart in the battle. The Uchiha and Domou who raided it were to blame, with their eagerness to shed blood and raise hell, the fact Hajime and Tunoichi were scheming to take them over went completely over their head-though to be fair they didn't know what it was they were plotting, or how it was their intention to use their gripes to their advantage.
Ignorance is bliss as the saying goes.
Madara found himself seated next to Mikito, a few inches from him was Izuna and Souji. They all wore solemn or impassive expressions, nothing that could give away what they were thinking or feeling.
"You're all early." The damiyo said. In front of him were various stacks of papers and scrolls, the leader of his army, Junichi, was standing just behind him composed and stoic as always, a few feet from them was another man. Beaten and bloody he sat on his knees, struggling for breath.
"This seems important." Izuna said, as if it explained everything there was to explain.
"This is privy information, we believed it was in our best intentions to see you early." Mikito added softly.
"I see, well then I shall begin." The damiyo indicated the beaten man off to the side. "First I figured you'd like to know just what you faced off against to last night." A composed pause. "The owner of tea house had been in contact with the Hajime for a few months now, and actually hails from the Hageshii clan. A worker there, that my guards interrogated has revealed that much. In total we found over 400 bodies...And several dozen more throughout the village and at the gates." He hid his grimace.
It had been a bloody and gruesome scene, he seen many things, but never something quite like that. There wasn't a single person left alive that was plotting with the wily duo, and there was such widespread destruction that some places were nearly impossible to access unless one had shinobi training, and even then some of the debris was just too hazardous and required much caution to remove. "We checked if anyone could be alive, but there wasn't a single person even on the brink of death." He managed to smile, honestly relieved his village was safe and not scorching away in flames or something much worse. "This has been a true success."
"I'm not so keen on leaving just yet." Mikito said.
"I don't want you all to leave..." The damiyo's face took on a mysterious expression, one of... Vulnerability. "Right now I need the Uchiha and Domou more than ever, if you all leave then my village will undoubtedly suffer."
Junichi frowned. "We've found a traitor in our midst." He told them all, staring unflinchingly into their eyes. "This beaten man you see here. He was one of my lord's most trusted advisers within his inner circle, there was no man who my lord put more faith in than him..." There was a pause. "The standing order here has been that anyone can enter these walls without being searched extensively and what they bring with them-this place is somewhat a safe haven for anyone wary. I was originally against this, but this man here pushed for it.
The quartet listened intently
"After interrogating this man, we've found out something terrible." Junichi continued. "His support for the standing order was nothing more than the beginnings of a coup, he had been in talks with Hajime and Tunoichi for quite some time now. Once those two struck and killed my lord, he'd rise to take his place along with Hajime and Tunoichi getting exactly what they wanted."
"It was foolish on your part." Izuna said, frowning slightly as he crossed his arms over his chest. "It puts us all at a disadvantage and gives any possible enemy, within, or outside an edge over us. Last night we were quick enough to put an end to their plot, next time we may not be so quick, next time we may not even know..." Worse yet, they may not even get the chance.
"Izuna-" Madara started. He'd never candy coat words with anyone, damiyo or no damiyo, but speaking in such a manner wasn't in their favor.
"I agree with you, it was foolish on my part." The damiyo nodded once, pressing his palm to his forehead as he exhaled softly. "The citizens are not happy with the recent turn of events, the tea house has been destroyed, and they fear your very presence..." He paused, glaring at the beaten man off to the side, his teeth lightly gritting before he smoothed out his features once more. "I know this was the objective of Hajime and Tunoichi, what kind of ruler would I be if I didn't listen to my own people... But, I can't listen to them."
Mikito's eyes darted to him.
"If you all leave now the Hageshii and Shainingu will move in to take your place, with force if they must." The damiyo said slowly, carefully. "I can't allow that to happen, Hajime is far too wily and only seeks to control everything possible. My days will become much shorter if that man was to rise and claim your spot, he can't be trusted. The citizens will gripe and cry out that you all remain here, but they don't know what we know... All they know is that the tea house was raided by all of you and nearly destroyed. The Shainingu and Hageshii disguised themselves as civilians to sway their minds even more... "
"Okay..." Souji nodded, just barely. "As it stands things can't keep going as they have. Us staying will surely sour everyone's moods and there will be resentment. The first order of business would be you remove that standing order and allow us as well as your guards to search everyone that enters these walls and their goods." He wouldn't deal with another situation like this, if this damiyo was so stupid and naive to keep the order in place, they'd all be better off leaving than indulging his folly. "They've taken advantage of your kindness, such a mistake cannot be repeated."
"I agree." The damiyo said firmly. "You have my full blessing."
"There is also one more thing..." Madara's tone was low, and almost dark. His eyes, no longer pools of crimson, still held the same sharp edge they always did. There were several ways to deal with such situations, one could dish out punishment, continue on in their foolish ways and lead the situation until it was ten times worse, one could use the swelling oppressiveness of fear as well, but simply put there were too many ways to deal with this. Some would work. Some wouldn't work. He was always straightforward and went for the most effective route.
Mikito and Izuna looked at him intently. Madara used this tone rarely, and when he did raging storms always followed.
"What is it, Madara-san?" Junichi asked.
"We need to make a statement... So that anyone with any notions or ideas will think twice before executing them." Souji spoke up, his tone almost the same as Madara's. "An internal attack such as this shows weakness on our part, even though we've quelled the threat, it'll always remain in people's minds that Hajime and Tunoichi slipped under us and got in."
"We will kill this traitor and then put his head on a stake." Madara said icily. "We will cut off the heads of the Hageshii and Shainingu shinobi that have been carted and put them on stakes as well. We will put them right at the entrance gates, and we will put them on the borders of this territory..." Greeted with only silence and critical stares, he continued on in the same icy tone. "They'll get the point once they see this. The consequences they will suffer for treading near this territory with such foolish plans."
"I agree." Souji nodded.
"Brother, that's a little too extreme." Izuna protested. While there were...Benefits going with such a method, there were a lot of drawbacks. "It cold have just the opposite effect that we want."
"I am in agreement with Izuna. This may be the wrong message to send." Mikito added, quite sternly as she stared down Souji and Madara.
"We're not trying to send a positive message." Souji said, narrowing his eyes just the slightest. "If anyone comes here with ill intentions.. This will be a warning to them."
"And everyone else." Mikito retorted. As if the civilians here needed anymore reason...
"I understand why you're so hesitant with this, but it is the best course of action." Madara said coolly, eyes never wavering before Mikito's smoldering gaze. It was quite unrelenting, but he wouldn't concede to her point, not this time. It was time for brute and measured force to be used, time to use fear and strike it into everyone's hearts, and this would spread the message perfectly to everyone within the region, and even the world. Don't tread near this country. Mikito may have favored less severe and extreme methods, but those weren't going to do any good at this point. "Mikito..."
Mikito pursed her lips, resisting the urge to clench her teeth. Madara was all for this, Souji was all for this, and judging from their expressions both the damiyo and Junichi were for this though they may have held some reservations about it-the reaction of everyone within these walls and outside, those who would come here to rest, and those who would pass the word on. Izuna wasn't for it, but he'd go along with it in the end. It was senseless arguing over this, it was four against one, and they weren't budging. "Fine..."
Madara took her 'fine' for what it was, her conceding and not putting up a huge fight. "My question for you is..." Madara turned towards Junichi, then the damiyo. "Do you intend to make his execution a public one?" It'd be good, in the sense that the local populace would know what really happened, and it wasn't just the big bad Uchiha and Domou raiding their little tea house and nearly destroying it in the process. But, on the opposite side, it'd show weakness on their part, and other villages and countries could pounce on that chance.
Would they try and save face...
"No, this is an internal affair and it will stay that way." Junichi started, tone clipped and deep. "If we make this public it'll make us look weak in the eyes of the other countries and villages, no doubt they would try to seize the chance to attack. We can't afford to lose face." He'd be damned if they appeared weak because Hajime and Tunoichi were too wily and ambitious for their own damn good, his lord would not appear weak kneed and incompetent, and more importantly news of this traitor would be kept in strict silence.
"What do you intend to do with him then?" Izuna questioned. He very well couldn't be spared, he went against his lord, put his village and country in direct danger, in direct attack, just for power, it was treason... Treason was dealt with in one way and only one way. Death. If there was a traitor in the midst it's very possible he'd infect everyone else, and that couldn't happen. "Keeping him alive is a danger to us all, there's no telling what information he leaked out to Hajime and Tunoichi..."
"Kill him here and now." Junichi replied coldly, his expression stoic and unflinching. "I'll burn his body afterwards." He looked at the four shinobi. "You can decide among yourselves who will do it."
"I won't..." Mikito said sternly. There's no way she would cut down an unarmed, beaten, and tied down man who had no hope of even defending himself. Who had no resolve to keep on living or the resolve to die. He had no resolve at all for that matter. She wouldn't cut down anyone in such a state, it'd only soil her blade. This was the worse sort of man, no conviction, no resolve, he was a total waste. An eyesore. And, this man had been in the damiyo's inner circle. She couldn't expect anything less fro a noble.
There were many misconceptions about shinobi and the biggest was they had no honor-which was completely wrong. Shinobi did have honor, they just weren't snotty and holier than thou like those fat headed samurai who served their lord first. Shinobi served their clan-their family first, found honor in living on and serving their clan, where the Samurai found honor in death. The Samurai were truly fickle, just like the cherry blossoms. Beautiful, but short lived and rushed. "I have to go and question Tunoichi, Mitsuki told me before I came here that he was starting to stir and that was two hours ago, if you'll excuse me gentlemen." Mikito bowed slightly, rising up from her seat soon after and headed for the door.
The damiyo just nodded.
Madara glared back at the door for a moment before schooling his expression, facing the damiyo. "Izuna. Souji. Assist her. I'll handle things here and meet with you once I am finished." He said calmly.
"You sure?" Izuna ventured, a skeptical look on his face.
"Positive. Tunoichi will be stubborn."
Souji simply left with a slight nod, followed closely by Izuna who turned one gaze back to his brother before he exited completely.
Did something just happen?
"Do you have anything you want to say?" Madara asked coldly, striding towards the beaten traitor with a cold expression. He really didn't want to kill this man, he was defenseless, at the very least if he had a weapon he could put up a fight... No matter how slight it may have been. But, he had no resolve to live or die, no conviction, he was just wasting away waiting to be slain.
How... Pitiful... How.. Pathetic.
This is why he hated nobles...
The man smirked, his teeth bloodied, but his posture remained strong. "All will fall to the Wind country, there's nothing any of you can do to stop the tides... Hajime and Tunoichi merely accelerated things. "
Madara swung down without reprieve. Blood splattered, slamming into the sleeve of his shirt and tattering against his pants. A head rolled across the room leaving droplets of blood in its wake coming to a stop against the wall. With cold precision Madara swiped his sword to the side, and sheathed it slowly. "I'll let you handle the rest." He glanced at Junichi who gave a nod in return. "I'll be taking my leave now."
He had something to deal with right now...
Someone...
Mikito...