WAR NEVER ENDS – THE SENJU INHERITANCE
The Hidden Leaf Village
The people had thought the village was in a state of chaos previously. They were wrong. The village is now truly operating at full capacity. Shinobi who were promised their turn for a sleep have been woken. Weapons are being handed out. The arsenals are being drained and handed over to the military. Mirai runs around, barking orders on a scale she has never done before. Shikamaru tries to help her organise all the plans for action she has made. Of course the village has prepared many plans for situations like this, however, Asuma's daughter had never considered the logistics of implementing them all at once. It's like a nightmare.
The citizens are afraid, it's clear on their faces. Senior shinobi like Mitsuki and Inojin take responsibility for them. They are all crowded into the newly revamped tunnels. Frankly, if they are found there is no way the tunnels could protect them but in this situation, there is no choice. Clyde has confirmed the worst fears of the Hokage, a battle is coming. Not in the coming weeks, nor in the coming days, it will be in the next few hours. They have to throw everything they have at this battle, working hand-in-hand with their former adversaries. If they don't win here, it is over, they will all die.
An elite group walk through the streets, comprising of the villages Kage and the two highest ranked members of Clyde's force. Leaving the majority of his colonels to protect Naruto, Clyde has only brought Peterson with him. Peterson has reached the general level and can use a golden elemental cloak, he will be invaluable in the upcoming battle. As for the others, Clyde knows that they would likely not be too much help. They would be better served helping Naruto in the next world, guiding him in the toughest challenge he will have ever faced.
"How is your response time?" Peterson asks, leaning towards Tobirama as they walk.
"Our response time is good and always has been. Even before you arrived here we have endured years of conflict".
"Then your army is...".
"They are mobilising, just like you requested". Minato answers the question unwaveringly. "They should be fully for anything that can be thrown at them within half an hour".
In part he is still suspicious of the situation, of these men. He wants to know where his son is desperately; his grandson too. The 4th Hokage wanted to believe in the possibility of this alliance since the very start, he wanted to believe in a miracle that only Naruto could bring about. Now that miracle has happened he is delighted, he is only too happy to trust Clyde and Peterson. But he smells a rat. He knows that something isn't quite right but fears there is nothing he can do about it.
"Half an hour is an incredible reaction time. You should be pleased with your subordinates' performances".
"Ready for anything that can be thrown at them?" Clyde resists the temptation to tut as he shakes his head at the ground.
"What's wrong, General Clyde?" Kakashi asks.
He knows he shouldn't answer but he does.
"This battle isn't going to be like anything you have ever fought in before. This isn't one of your little shinobi skirmishes. This battle will be more intense than the captained-sic contest we fought against each other and that is only a step up for you. For your shinobi, for my captains, this will be the most devastating battle they have ever fought in".
Those who fought in the captained-six contest know all too well. The intensity that Clyde speaks of is no myth. To outsiders it may seem like it is a battle of greater abilities, of stronger energies and greater chakra reserves. There is more to these battles, once they have reached such a high level. Every time you attack or defend it hurts, it grinds away at body, mind and soul. This battle cannot be compared to anything they have experienced before. The captains have never fought on the level of colonels. The shinobi have never even fought on the level of captains. This will be an unparalleled shock for them.
"Is this really the strongest General we are fighting against?" Hiruzen asks.
"Yes".
"Without Naruto, can we really win?".
Clyde is about to speak, to reveal his true thoughts when Peterson interrupts.
"Hey" he passionately shouts. "I've seen how you all look at each other. How you put your faith in one another. And I think that's amazing, that belief. It's a quality Uzumaki Naruto extended to us".
"Now it's your turn to do the same" he continues.
"Believe in the General!".
"We can win this fight".
Kakashi is slightly taken aback. He didn't think that Naruto had such a profound impact on them. He thought they would be feeling just as scared as the people of the village, that they would anticipate their inevitable fate. Yet, without Naruto to help them, there is a genuine belief in Peterson's eyes. Has he simply discovered what it means to believe in a friend, or is there something more to his confidence?
"You talk about us placing our faith in you, what a joke". Tsunade spits the bad taste from her mouth.
Clyde looks at her, ducking his head slightly as if talking to a child. "Do we have a problem".
"You're damn right there is a problem" she answers. "Your military, every single time it has interacted with our people we have suffered. The people of your world have killed Dan, they have killed my grandmother, they have killed my grandfather. So, you tell me, how the hell are we supposed to trust you?".
Silence falls.
It's true, due to Naruto and Sarada's influences, the tolerance of the Hidden Leaf has already extended way beyond what is reasonable.
Peterson wanders how Clyde will react. Clearly Tsunade is a big player here, a very important player. Her cooperation and resolve is vital. He has to play it right when responding. Will he offer an apology?
"All I can do is apologise for the hurt we have caused to your people" Clyde admits helplessly. "I can't give you many reasons to trust us but I can give you one…".
"… Uzumaki Naruto does".
The Portal
Brooks looks between the other generals. There seems to be a clear tension between some of them. Elliot feels mild irritation towards them all, other than Lara, thinking them a nuisance to deal with. Blackburn dislikes their attitude, annoyed that all the talk is of killing and not fighting. Georgia is eternally acting high and mighty, considering all but Lara below herself; she despises her own inability to get her younger brother's revenge.
Martin, she looks towards him. He is exceptionally lucky. He was born with talent that he didn't deserve. Early on his life he understood the element of poison, just as his sister did. The timing was impeccable, both could ascend to be members of the military. While they had been trained to forget their family at home, they had not been trained to forget one another. As such, Martin and Georgia are a rare breed, members of the military with family, family they hold onto no matter what. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in Martin getting spoilt.
"What are we going to do next?" Brooks asks, her high-pitched voice drawing the gazes of the colonels.
She scowls at them. Her child-like looks putting them off. This appearance of hers, understanding her element so young should have been a blessing, signalling her to the world as a genius. However, it has done nothing of the sort, it has isolated her and drawn the curious gazes of her inferiors everywhere she has gone.
"What do you mean, General Brooks?" Martin asks in a respectful tone. He thinks it obvious, they should kill Clyde.
"We are obviously here to punish Clyde and the other traitors but what is their punishment to be?".
Blackburn steps forward, his enormous frame and deep voice immediately irking Brooks. "Clyde has always been an honourable man. I think we should hear him out".
"Does it matter?".
"Brooks?".
"Many honourable men and women have fought and died because they didn't know what was good for them. Why should Clyde be any different?".
With the exception of certain generals such as Clyde and Blackburn, colonels and captains always treated their superiors with respect and caution. Lara is a good example as to why, she could kill you out of boredom if nothing else, it would be a good idea not to anger her. Brooks youthful looks also exclude her, robbing her of the initial aura other generals carry. These words change that. They are words of someone who has lived for many years and travelled the world. She has fought many fights and killed many people. The colonels quickly realise they must change what they are doing. They must not catch her eye.
"Clyde is a great asset to the military, not only in terms of power but also in terms of morale" Blackburn declares confidently. "He is popular with those he leads and he has always produced good results".
The military life has been good to Blackburn. He has never cared much for honour nor valour. All he wants to do is fight. He considers that is the last true leisure that can always be guaranteed. Even if the gods chase after you and kings and emperors pursue you, you can always turn around and fight. That is fun.
Nevertheless, Blackburn has a great respect for Clyde. Clyde is just behind Lara on the list of people he wants to fight. Both are incredibly strong, pioneers of the modern military. However, unlike Lara, Clyde is popular amongst his followers, he's easy to talk to and very likeable. Over the years Clyde has been Blackburn's superior. Clyde has earnt from Blackburn a respect that can never erode.
Georgia snickers. "What nonsense. Popular with those he leads? He nearly led my brother to his death when he should have left Peterson to his".
"If I recall your story Georgia, Peterson has reached the general level now. It seems that it was more worthwhile saving him than your brother".
"And what was that other thing you suggested? Good results?" Georgia laughs aloud, mocking Blackburn. "What a joke. If he produced good results, none of these monkeys would be alive. Instead, not only are the monkeys still alive, they even went so far as to fight against you".
"Shut up" Elliot says bluntly.
"But Elliot…".
"I said shut up, need I remind you two who is in charge here? The final decision rests with Lara".
Blackburn doesn't have much confidence of a merciful decision upon hearing that. If a lost child approached Lara, the general would likely hit the child and blame them for wasting her time. Mercy towards her rival of many years, a man she considered to be a hinderance, who hung onto her coattails, that is something very unlikely.
She gestures to one of her colonels who quickly runs over to the chest and gets the items she requests. Many look away as she indulges in her disgusting habit.
She knows they find it disgusting but that's the best part. Blood doesn't have to taste good to enjoy drinking it. What tastes sweetest to her is the reminder of past victories and the terror of those who would even consider standing in her way.
She swigs the blood of her fallen enemies from a shot glass before smashing it violently on the floor, just as she did previously.
She smiles, a red-stained smile, "I want to hear him scream as I crush him beneath my boot. I went to add his blood to my collection, to enjoy its taste in my finest moments".
"We're going to march on Clyde and we are going to kill him".
Georgia smiles, just the result she wanted.
Brooks and Elliot care little about the decision. They would be content regardless of what she chose.
Blackburn is the most reluctant recipient of the news. He sighs, stepping back from Georgia and preparing himself for action.
"So be it".
A Long Way Outside the Hidden Leaf
It's a large force. Not as large as the one assembled for the 4th great shinobi war but certainly stronger. Gathered are large groups of shinobi. Shinobi who have trained harder in the last three years than they have in their entire lives. Also present are captains, veterans of several campaigns. Each time they have successfully eliminated all chakra holders in the corresponding pocket world, except this time, except these people.
There is a good distance between them and the hidden leaf. This is the spot Clyde has chosen for the battle. They don't want the proximity to be close enough to endanger the villagers. The backlash from the clashes of raw power in this battle may be too much for them if they stood close. Everyone knows the truth though, if they lost this battle the distance won't matter, everything will be lost.
The crowd is restless, as anyone would expect. They are former mortal enemies.
"I don't like this Inojin" ChouChou says, their comrade Shikadai having taken a place at the front.
"I know what you mean. Fighting alongside these guys seems wrong".
"Hey, do you think they are going to stab us in the back" one captain asks her friend.
"I wouldn't put it past them, we have to be on our guard" he answers.
Shikamaru stands with his wife. Shaking his head at the familiar scene. "Nobody here trusts one another".
"Of course they don't, can you blame them?".
"I'm not sure I trust any of these people" Biwako adds.
One of the enemy captains takes offence at this. "Hey, we've come here of our own will to fight for you".
"Before that you spent years trying to kill us" Kushina retorts.
"Why can't you focus on the now?".
"One of you guys took our shadow Hokage, that's why".
"Idiot, that wasn't us".
The bickering spreads like a pandemic. Who could blame either side? One of them is risking everything for the sake of smuggling one person through a portal. They are selflessly forfeiting their lives so that everyone in their home world can live. The other side are having to ignore years of suffering and turmoil; they have been tortured by these invaders for as long as they can remember.
At the front of the force are the leaders, closely followed by Shikadai and Mirai, the strongest shinobi they have at their disposal.
Clyde and Peterson represent the former invaders.
Representing the shinobi alliance are Tobirama, Hiruzen, Minato, Tsunade, Kakashi and Shinki.
These representatives alone are enough to cause tension. They have nearly killed each other in the past. Additionally, the three most recent Hokage, Naruto, Konohamaru and Sarada are not here; something most attribute to the actions of the invaders.
"Nobody is going to get along in this fight" Clyde notes.
"Of course not. We have spent years trying to kill one another". Hiruzen has dealt with this before. He spent so much of his tenure as Hokage trying to mend bridges whilst they burnt. Sadly, it often wasn't as successful as he would have liked.
Most of those burning bridges have been attributed to Tobirama at some point in history. The 2nd Hokage knows that. That is why he surprises even himself when he feels he has a solution to their problem. Lead by example.
He approaches Peterson, "Hey".
"What is it?".
The two of them battled in the captained-six contest. Retrospectively, Tobirama realises it is a miracle he was able to win.
"My brother wanted to kill all of you when we won the captained-six contest. A lot of people here agreed with him but I am not among them".
Peterson doesn't know what to make of Tobirama's speech, he allows the silver-maned Hokage to continue.
"I honestly believe that neither of us have a chance of surviving if we don't work together. So, let's work together to survive this battle".
The 2nd Hokage extends his fist to Peterson in respect.
Peterson sniggers. He feels far too old for this. He is far too old for this. "After we have fought each other so much, I guess that goes a long way towards building a level of mutual respect".
The scarred-man bumps fist with his shinobi ally. "Yeah, let's fight together".
As if sending them a lightning bolt of energy, Peterson and Tobirama seem to inspire a unity amongst the arguing forces.
"Did you see that?".
"Yeah, Colonel Peterson is willing to work with that guy".
"If that guy isn't going to stab us in the back then there is no way the others will?".
One captain looks to Kushina, "Do you see what I meant?".
She nods. "Yeah. Let's focus on winning this battle together".
"That's right, we can win if we fight together".
Shikamaru knows this is a deliberate manipulation by their leaders. He also knows that the best action is for him to deliberately fall into their trap. "Yeah, we only stand a chance if we work together".
"Alright, everyone, let's beat these guys".
"Yeah".
Hiruzen looks back at the crowd and smiles. He hadn't anticipated that such a small action would be able to move people in such a profound way. It is something he has seen before, a unification of enemies. He has seen this incredible gift granted to another person, to Senju Hashirama.
Hiruzen smiles cheerfully, 'I guess it must be a gift of the Senju clan'.
'Look at this power you have to move people' Minato thinks to himself, 'Tobirama, your brother would be proud of you'.
The Kage share a common thought.
'Now all we have to do is win'.
Sadly, the action is never quite as easy as the thought.