Sorry for updating after such a long time, I had lost my motivation to write new chapters. Consider this chapter as my new-year gift to all of you. I'll try to be more consistent hence forth. Anyway, lets get started.
The atmosphere was tense as the leaders of the 5 great nations sat facing one another, their guards standing protectively behind them.
Mifune cleared his throat to focus their attention on him, "Good morning everyone, we are gathered here to negotiate a peace treaty amongst the great nations and end the war. My name is Mifune and Its qmy pleasure to be host this meeting. Since you are all guests here, I believe you will all behave accordingly and show us the same courtesy we show to you." He paused and looked around, making sure they got the message. "As the ceasefire was issued by Konoha, I believe it would be fair in letting the Hokage begin the negotiations" he finished, motioning Naruto to continue.
"Good morning gentleman, My name is Naruto Uzumaki Uchiha, I am the Yondaime Hokage." He introduced himself, "My predecessor, the Sandaime Hokage, was the one who requested for the ceasefire, he believed that the war had ruined enough lives since the day it had begun, he wanted to put an end to the mindless slaughter and suffering and usher in peace amongst the Nations, keeping that in mind lets begin our meeting."
"Aren't you a bit young to lead a village", the third tsuchikage, Ohnoki commented.
"Aren't you a bit too old to still lead your village" Naruto remarked back, "What are you, like 70-75?, shouldn't you be more worried about your creaking old bones and slipping sanity".
His reply made the other kage release a small chuckle causing Ohnoki to turn red with embarrassment and anger, the third kazekage intervened before the situation could escalate.
"We are here to negotiate peace so let's just focus on that." He then motioned a ninja behind him to give him some folders which he then distributed amongst the other kage. "I'll start first, these folders contain details regarding Suna's conditions for the peace treaty. Please go through it and see if they are acceptable".
After few minutes of silence where all the kage read the details, Kazekage continued, "As you all have read, our conditions for the treaty are very lenient, we request 10% of the total missions from Iwa to be alloted to us, lower taxes on minerals and other resources imported from Kumo and Kiri and a small piece of land near the borders of Ame and Kawa(Land of rivers) for irrigation and plantation purposes by Konoha, we can negotiate the rates at a later date but those are the conditions we can't do without".
The kage's discussed the conditions with their respective advisors, then gave their response.
"We would like to fine tune the conditions but most of these are acceptable", the third mizukage replied, prompting the other Kage to nod in agreement
"All the other conditions are acceptable but I can't give you that land", Naruto replied "It is true that Konoha is now allied with both Ame and Kawa but that doesn't mean I have the authority to give their land away, on the other hand if you decide to formally ally with us then few compromises can be made".
The Kazekage discussed the prospect with Chiyo and Ebizo, his advisors. It brought a tiny smile on Naruto's face seeing them again.
"We would have to discuss this with our village council but your condition is acceptable to us".
"Hey now, that's very underhanded of you" Raikage commented, "using a piece treaty as an excuse to ally with other".
"I don't see how I am being underhanded, I am offering them a much better deal then they could ever get with a peace treaty." Naruto defended himself.
"But, if the treaty fails and the war continues, Konoha would have a whole nation as its ally to help them", Tsuchikage commented.
"Then, you better hope the war doesn't begin again" Naruto replied.
"Are you mocking me, boy!" the Tsuchikage thundered, causing their respective guards to jump in a defensive formation, "I have fought more battles than I can care to remember with much stronger opponents than you. I won't be disrespected by a arrogant brat such as yourself, I don't care if you are related to Madara himself, I'll destroy you if you cross me again!".
"Calm down Tsuchikage-sama, I am sure he didn't mean anything by it" the Kazekage replied, trying to diffuse the situation.
"But, Raikage-sama's point is valid. If the war does continue and Konoha and Suna ally with each other, then their victory will be assured."
"You could also ally with us?" Naruto replied, "Then, you won't have to worry about losing".
The Mizukage looked a bit taken back by the response but he shook his head negative, "I can't do that, it would upset the power balance of our world".
"Cant or won't?" Naruto pressed.
"What do you mean by that?" Raikage asked cautiously.
"You call me underhanded, yet, you and Tsuchikage conspire with each other, isn't that quite hypocritical of you?"
"I don't know what you are talking about?"
"Come now, no need to lie. I already know about your armies waiting for us at the borders." Naruto replied, "Did you plan to ambush us when we would return back to Konoha? Or did you just place them there as a backup?".
"What are you talking about?" Kazekage inquired, "what is he talking about?".
There was a tense silence for few seconds after which Raikage suddenly got up, prompting his and everyone else's guards to immediately ready their weapons.
"I guess there is no need for deciption anymore, The Tsuchikage, Mizukage and I have decided to ally with one another to remove our greatest thorn in this war, you. With you dead, victory will be as good as ours. With our combined might, we will raze Konoha to the ground just like we did with Uzu."
"Charming," Naruto replied sarcastically, "But, are you ready to face the consequences when you lose because there will be no mercy from me, not this time."
"Do you honestly think you can defeat 8000 ninjas by yourself, you must be more delirious than I thought" Tsuchikage replied as he too got up from his chair and floated towards Naruto, cornering him between Raikage and Mizukage.
"Are you sure you want to go through with it" Naruto asked the Mizukage, ignoring Ohnoki's comment, "There is only one way this battle would end and I can guarantee you it won't be in your favour. There is still time-"
The Raikage interrupted, "The time has already passed, we have made our decisions, this will only end with Konoha in ruins".
Naruto sighed as he too stood up making everyone tense "Too bad, I really wanted these negotiations to go well but I guess it can't be helped", he then gave a subtle nod towards Minato, who along with his guards quickly flashed towards the Kazekage and his guards and teleported them away.
The Raikage tried to stop them using his superior speed but Naruto's quick intervention prevented that.
"Too slow" Naruto commented with a bloodthirsty grin, as he held back his fist , "Now, let's get this party started !!", with that he threw the Raikage towards Ohnoki who was preparing to launch his attack.
Xxx At the borders xxX
Minato, Kazekage and his guards appeared in a clearing where Naruto and his team were already waiting.
"So, I was right? " Shikaku questioned.
"I'm afraid so" Minato replied, "Should I bring in reinforcements from our village?" He asked Naruto, who shook his head in negative "That will not be necessary, I believe we all are more than enough to take them on", the 'guards' with them popped into smoke signifying them being shadow clones.
"What is happening here?" the Kazekage had finally had enough.
"It was a trap" Naruto replied, "Kumo, Iwa and Kiri had no intentions to agree to the treaty. They just wanted to bring us here so they could betray and kill us. I guess, the news of me being the new hokage had them concerned."
"How did you know that they had an army waiting for us at the borders" Chiyo inquired, still suspicious.
"Minato, Sakumo and I are some of the best sensors in our village, there was no way either of us wouldn't sense so many strong chakra signatures so close to us, they had masked their chakra quite splendidly but we aren't slouch either. Initially, I had thought the army was for backup incase the negotiations went south but Shikaku believed otherwise, their large numbers and combined forces seemed to smell more like a trap. So, just to be safe we decided to send Minato with clones henge'd as us, we planned to replace them if the negotiations went through else they would act as decoys to buys us more time".
"So, that was your shadow clone I was sitting with?, I had no clue"
"That was the plan-" Naruto suddenly winced, "My clone just popped, they are on their way here and seems like their armies are also moving in, Mifune isn't going to be happy with this. Anyways, it's time for you to make a decision." Naruto said facing the Kazekage, by now Sakumo, Minato, Dan and Kushina had left to face the army, leaving Naruto and Shikaku behind.
" What decision?"
" Will you join us and fight or will you run back to your village, either is acceptable by me, I won't blame you if you decide to retreat but remember, if Konoha falls, Suna will follow too, sooner or later, the choice is yours".
The Kazekage looked towards his advisors even though he had already made a decision.
Xxx On the Battlefield xxX
"We meet again" A started as he observed Sakumo and others come closer, "I had wished it would be under better circumstances from our last encounter near the land of snow but I guess it can't be helped."
"You can still help if you choose to" Sakumo replied, "this fight is completely unnecessary, we were ready to negotiate, the war was officially going to end but then you all pull this backstabbing ploy, and for what, just to kill Naruto?"
"The decision was not his to make" The raikage announced, as he flashed near A, "People with powers like Naruto.Uchiha and the nine tails jinchuriki can not be left unchecked, they upset the power balance between the Nations. This was the reason that Uzushio was destroyed, their power posed a far greater threat if left unchecked hence we had to take action, the same is now true for Konoha. With ninjas like you, the yellow flash, the Sanins and many others, Konoha has grown too strong for either of a single nation to take on alone."
"But, we did not wish to start a war, we were never the ones who made the first strike. We only fought to defend our nation, it was you who started this mindless war!" Minato exclaimed with compassion.
"And it will be us who will bring it to an end" Naruto continued as he flashed towards his group along with the Kazekage and his guards.
"Big talk coming from someone who is too soft to kill his enemies" Tsuchikage rediculed, "How do you plan to lead by letting your enemies live to fight another day."
"You are right" Naruto replied, "I guess, it was my own decision to show mercy that has led to this moment, so it is my own responsibility to correct it" He finished, as he came to stand in the front, facing the combined might of Kumo, Iwa and Kiri (Kiri had only bought the Seven swordsmen of the mist as their army).
He unsealed a katana and slowly began to unsheathed it, his chakra level climbing higher while slowly manifesting as a dark shroud around his body as he continued to pull it from its sheathe. Kushina gasped in shock as she laid her eyes on the black blade, it had been years since she had seen it.
"Naruto that's -"
"Yes, It's Mugetsu, it's finally time to use them in actual combat, I hope you were able to successfully master your blade to."
Kushina nodded as she too unsealed her blade, Shinku konton (Crimson chaos) and followed Naruto's lead.
"Let's go!!!" Naruto exclaimed as he lunged towards the Raikage and Tsuchikage but he was intercepted by A and Denji, a ninja from Iwagakure who was the leader of the explosions corps and possessed the Bakuton(Explosion release), he was widely known for his fighting prowess and was said to be next in line to be the Tsuchikage.
"We meet again" Denji started, his hands struggling to hold back Naruto's Katana as it slowly cut through his reinforced kunai.
"We should really stop meeting like this" A continued as he tried to push his lightning covered hand into Naruto's chest but was straining to overpower Naruto's grip on his hand.
Naruto didn't reply, instead, he yanked his katana free and kicked Denji in the chest, blasting him into the approaching army and repositioned the blade back to his side just in time to block another blow, the Katana clanged loudly as it stopped the giant axe from decapitating Naruto.
"Hooo?", the ninja sounded impressed and intrigued, "It has been several years since someone has managed to sense my silent killing technique. I guess what they said about you is indeed true" Naruto pushed the axe away with little effort and kicked A in the same direction as Denji.
"I am Jinin Akebino" the ninja introduced himself, "and we are the Seven Swordsmens of the Mist", Naruto was suddenly surrounded by six other ninjas boring the same headband as Jinin and a unique sword in each's hand.
"Its a pleasure" Naruto replied sarcastically, but before anyone could make a move Sakumo flashed besides Naruto, stunning the seven swordsmens since they didn't even notice his approach.
"I'll take care of them" Sakumo spoke in an unnaturally serious voice as he brandished his white chakra sabre, "I have a bone to pick with them".
Naruto straightened and gave a curt nod. As the seven moved to converge on them, Sakumo raised his sabre and exclaimed,
"Divine Flash!"
There was a bright flash from his sabre which momentarily blinded the seven, giving Naruto just enough time to leap over them. They tried to follow after him but Sakumo intervened again and managed to stop 4 of them successfully.
"I guess you four will do" Sakumo started as he cut them off, "My name is Sakumo Hatake," he introduced himself, "and you all are going to pay for what you did to Duy", with that he lunged towards them.
Xxx With Minato, Kushina and Dan xxX
The three were fighting with their backs to one another, each killing ninjas left and right.
"There are too many of them" Dan started as he pulled his kunai out from an enemy's throat and thrust it into another's forehead , "We won't survive if we keep this pace, sooner or later they will overwhelm us".
Minato nodded his head in agreement as he killed 3 more ninja with a the slash of his special kunai, "I can use my hiraishin to reduce their numbers but I haven't bought enough to fight off these many."
"Then go and get more!" Kushina snapped as she beheaded and gutted ninjas all around her, she was the bloodiest of them all, soaking in the liquid from head to toe, "I'll handle them till you return".
Minato wanted to argue, not wanting to leave them alone but after seeing her cut a man in half, from the groin all the way to his head, he decided that she would be fine on her own.
"Was sending him back necessary" Dan asked in concern, "As good as I am, I can't take on an army by myself."
"Don't worry" Kushina reassured him and took a step forward, "Retreat when you get the chance and let me handle them, I can't guarantee your safety if you interfere".
Dan looked unsure but nodded none the less and took few steps back to give her more space and got ready to retreat.
Kushina stood still for few seconds while holding her Katana parallel to the ground and her palm laid over its blade. Meanwhile, the enemy had used the brief pause in the battle to surround them again and were slowly moving in.
Dan worriedly glanced at Kushina as he observed them getting surrounded, the enemy were now only few meters away.
"Kushina..." He whispered but got no response.
The enemy were now only few feet away, Dan nervously held onto his kunai in a reverse grip, waiting for Kushina to finish whatever she was doing.
"Kushina!!!" He warned and jumped up just as the surrounding shinobi lunged at them with their weapons drawn, he was able to avoid most of them and reach a safe spot since they mainly focused on the motionless Kushina.
"Shit", he cursed as he saw Kushina get stabbed and slashed from all the sides. He prepared to jump in and help her but stopped in his tracks when he sensed a disturbance in her chakra.
Suddenly, the shinobi surrounding Kushina were impaled by red spiked tendrils emerging from the ground and thrusted them up in the air where they stayed hung as their blood spilled on the ground, staining it red.
Kushina stood up from her crouched position and slowly unsheathed her Katana from the ground, the second the blade was removed, the red tendrils lost their form and fell down with the mutilated shinobi as a red liquid.
Dan widened his eyes in shock and disbelief as he laid eyes on Kushina, she was covered in blood from head to toe, multiple weapons ranging from kunais to katanas were sticking out of her body, her stomach, her heart, her neck, all the vital organs were impaled, though it didn't seem to bother her as she slowly started to move towards the understandably horrified enemies.
Slowly removing the blade wedged in her neck and tossing it aside, she gave a sinister smile as her injury healed immediately, leaving not even a scar behind.
"Bloodbath of the Crimson princess (Shinku- hime no chi futo)"
Xxx with Kazekage and his guards xxX
"Is it wise to involve ourselves in this fight" the young red headed boy questioned as he raised his arms and guided his attack into a group of shinobi.
"It is the duty of the kage to protect the village from any danger, in present or in the future and our future is bleak If their alliance manages to defeat Konoha, we will stand no chance against them when they inevitably set their sights on us. So, yes, we have to get involved in this fight since the future of our village depends on it", the Kazekage replied as he stood still with his arms folded, his iron sand moving on its own, slaughtering ninjas left and right.
"Just a yes would have sufficed" the teenager quietly retorted as he moved away from the group.
"That boy really needs to learn some manners" Chiyo replied, "he is way too disrespecting of his elders".
"Rasa is still young and has much to learn but I believe his heart is in the right place. Its his teenage hormones that must be blamed" Ebisu replied as he supported Chiyo with his puppetry.
Chiyo grunted in annoyance "I blame you for his behavior, you were always too soft on him".
"That's enough" the Kazekage interrupted, "Looks like we will be having our hands full for a while".
Chiyo and Ebisu diverted their attention onto the arrival of the new enemy.
"A jinchuriki huh?" Ebisu stated as he removed few scrolls from his pouch,
"I am getting too old for this"
Xxx With Naruto xxX
Naruto was making his way towards the kages who had all decided to hang back and let their army handle Naruto and his group for now.
As Naruto rushed forward leaving behind a trail of bodies in his path, he suddenly stopped and jumped back and not a second later the area was engulfed in explosions.
"I told you he wouldn't fall for such an obvious trap" A muttered as he appeared before Naruto followed closely by Denji.
"It was worth a shot".
Naruto opened his mouth to retort but had to quickly bend back to dodge a steam covered fist, it missed his head by only few inches, he could feel the intense heat and pressure as it passed over his face with insane speed and strength. He was not given any moment to react as A suddenly appeared besides him, clad in his lightning armor, his fist already in motion to pummel Naruto's face in the ground. (Imagine Naruto in the same infamous pose as Neo from the matrix movie)
It looked like they had finally got him but at the last moment Naruto did an impossible spin with his body still parallel to the ground and grabbed A's extended arm, using his momentum from the spin, he threw A face-first into the ground, cratering it from the impact but before he could take advantage of the situation, he once again had to jump back as a giant sword made out of chakra crashed onto his position.
"How is he reacting so fast, he is not even using his sharingan" an irritated voice called out through the settling dust.
"He is an SS-ranked shinobi with a flee on sight order, did you really think it would be easy to catch him off-guard Kujira-senpai"
"Shut it, Mangetsu, I don't want to hear anything from a newbie like you"
"He is right though."
"You too Zabuza!, both of you are a century too young to criticize me".
As the dust settled, Naruto spotted a huge man who resembled an whale, lift up the giant sword and rest it on his shoulders, besides him he spotted 2 boys around 13 and 15 in age, one was obviously Zabuza and the other looked like a splitting image of Suigetsu.
'Must be his older brother' Naruto thought as he straighted himself, A seemed to have recovered by now and was now standing a good distance away from him with Denji, Bee and the red clad shinobi, whom he now recognized as Han.
Flicking his sword to gain their attention Naruto spoke, "7 against me seems a bit too unfair".
"Considering who you are, it seems fair to me" A replied as he stretched his neck to the side to remove some kinks from the impact.
By now, he was surrounded, again.
"Let me rephrase that" Naruto replied as he got into a loose stance "Only 7 S-ranked ninjas against me is very unfair, not for me but for you. You should have atleast bought 70 more S-ranked ninjas to stand a change against me"
With that, for the first time in the fight, he activated his Sharingan.
"Lets dance!!!"