Chapter 37; the lost tower
About a month and a half since, the battle with Hiruko Naruko is summoned to the Hokage's office for a mission.
"What's the mission Baa-chan" Naruko says as she looks around spotting Yamato, Sai, and Sakura.
"Your mission is to hunt down a missing nin called Mukade who has fled to the land of wind." the hokage says
"Is that all Hokage-sama" Yamato asks
"Yes that's all you're dismissed" the hokage says as the team heads out of her office and leave Konoha they make their way into the land of wind and manage to track Mukade to the ruins of Roran. They encounter Mukade's puppet's and are attacked by them Naruko uses her chakra blade to cut the strings of the puppet that explodes from being booby trapped. Naruko, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato makes their way into the ruins to find Mukade on ledge next to a tri pronged kunai and uses the peacock wisdom queen jutsu to active a temporal anomaly so, Naruko teleports to a Kunai she throws at Mukade and gets caught up in the temporal wake. She awakes to find herself in a green room and a young woman singing a tune. The young woman stops singing when she notices Naruko and makes a break for it as Naruko sits up. Naruko tries to follow her out of the room but, is ambushed by two puppets that attack but, they fall to pieces when they enter the green room and the room seals itself so, Naruko makes her way through a skylight in the ceiling getting out. She decides to look around in order locate Mukade but, she notices the young woman on a balcony waving to people but, she is pushed onto an unstable ledge and it collapses and the woman falls but, Naruko jumps and catches her but, the puppets notice her and give chase after her. The puppets start to fire bullets of chakra at her so, Naruko performs the shadow clone jutsu and sends them after the puppets and severs their chakra strings with chakra blades. But, more puppets arrive and are about to surround them when the puppets are attacked by bugs and Naruko with the woman disappear into a nearby building losing the puppets when the bugs disperse. Naruko meets three masked shinobi who notices his headband.
"Who are you?" Naruko asks with the woman in her arms
"That would be my question to you." the blonde masked man says before removing his mask revealing his face.
"Minato! What are you doing here?" Naruko asks confused as she puts the woman down
"Like I said what are you doing here?" Minato asks curious
"I'm on a mission to capture a missing nin." Naruko says
"Well it doesn't seem to have anything to do with our mission to deal with the weapons factory then." Minato says
"Yeah I suppose I was pursuing a missing nin here when I lost track of him and saw this woman be pushed onto a unstable ledge that collapsed. I rescued her and then was pursued by puppets." Naruko says
"First of all I wasn't pushed I stepped onto that ledge that gave way. Second they were after you because they thought you were kidnapping me." the woman says
"What's your name?" Naruko asks the woman
"My name is Sara queen of Roran" the woman says annoyed
"Look Sara I don't know why but, those puppets were aiming to kill you too along with me when I rescued you." Naruko says
"And why would they do that they're controlled by the minister Androkuzan who has been a blessing for my home." Sara says heatedly
"Perhaps because, he no longer has a use for you as rumor has it you've opened the ryumyaku to its maximum." Minato says analytically
"I just can't believe Androkuzan to be such a villain as you claim." Sara says knowing that it was true about her opening the ryumyaku to its maximum.
"We'll investigate further to learn the truth of the matter." Naruko says diplomatically
"Fine I'll stay with you until you can prove what you say is true." Sara says
"While, you're protecting Sara my team and I will destroy the weapons factory." Minato says
"Sounds like a plan." Naruko says as Minato and his team take off as Naruko grabs Sara and they head to ground level to look through the city. They come across a bunch of women and children sneaking around the city in hopes of meeting Sara. They plead with her to release the men that were conscripted to work in the weapons factory. She says that she never issued the order. One of the children calls her a puppet queen. Sara doesn't believe them claiming they're trying to trick her but, they guide her to a crowd of people that she was waving to and upon closer inspection turn out to be nothing but, puppets and up in the balcony is a puppet dressed as a queen waving back. Naruko and Sara follow the chakra strings to the weapons factory the women spoke of and enter it to find Androkuzan there with an army of puppets with the men slaving away.
"What are these men doing here Androkuzan?" Sara says stepping into the room in front of him.
"They're building a puppet army for me." Androkuzan says uncaringly
"I didn't order such a thing, release them at once!" Sara orders but, Androkuzan laughs
"You're really a puppet queen you know that." Androkuzan says with a smile
"What do you mean?" Sara says unnerved
"You've been following my orders this whole time ever since, I killed your mother for figuring out what I was up to." Androkuzan says with a wicked and cruel smile.
"You...you did what?!" Sara says shocked
"Yes she became a hindrance and since, I had you my plans could continue without her." Androkuzan says
"Why?!" Sara shouts
"All of this is so, I can conquer the five great nations of course with the ryumyaku at maximum flow I now have a limitless supply of chakra to power my puppet army." Androkuzan says confidently
"That sounds like something a missing nin would say Mukade." Naruko standing between him and Sara.
"Yes I used to go by that name until about 6 years ago when I became Minister." Androkuzan says
"It doesn't really matter what you call yourself now I will stop you!" Naruko says getting in a stance as puppets begin to surround her.
"You can try but, how will you stop me?" Androkuzan says curious
"I'll start with this!" Naruko says pulling out a chakra blade
"You don't stand a chance against an entire army." Androkuzan says smugly
"Sara I want you to close the ryumyaku for the factory for me. While, I deal with him and his puppets." Naruko says as she creates some clones to guard Sara.
"Alright leave it to me." Sara says as she takes off running with the clones.
"Don't think you can get away Sara!" Androkuzan shouts as Naruko takes down his puppets with shadow clones wielding chakra blades.
"I'm your opponent and shouldn't take your eyes off of me." Naruko shouts as she punches him in the face. But, it doesn't draw any blood.
"I guess I shouldn't take you lightly." Androkuzan says as he regenerates with the power of ryumyaku.
"What have you done to yourself!" Naruko asks as she is surrounded by puppet parts that form into a giant puppet around her.
"I've perfected the human puppet jutsu and as long we're here you might as well be addressing a god." Androkuzan says as he transforms into an ant puppet.
"It doesn't matter what you've become I'll stop you!" Naruko says heatedly as she channels kyuubi's chakra and breaks free of the cage puppet and attacks Androkuzan who builds up his body with puppet parts. Just as they get into a fight various areas of the factory start to explode as Minato and his two teammates appear.
"I thought your mission was to guard Sara." Minato says
"I was originally supposed to locate a missing nin who took on the role of minister and changed his name so, technically I'm where I'm supposed to be." Naruko says
"What about Sara?" Minato says
"She had to see for herself what was happening to her people I assume you freed them." Naruko says
"Of course and as soon as she cut the ryumyaku we triggered the explosives around the factory." Minato says
"That leaves us to deal with Androkuzan." Naruko says looking towards the growing puppet
"We'll handle him you get Sara and the civilians to safety." Minato says as he throws his tri pronged kunai at Androkuzan's body.
"Alright got it just don't die." Naruko says as she takes off to evacuate Sara and the civilians who have gathered around Sara. Naruko leads them outside and through the towers as Androkuzan's puppet body becomes huge and rivals the buildings in size. However, Androkuzan uses chakra strings to take control of Sara's body and forces her to choke herself but, Naruko cuts the chakra strings.
"Sara you've been nothing but, a puppet that has outlived its usefulness." Androkuzan shouts
"He's right I've been a fool who has been used by him." Sara says
"You're wrong Sara you're strong and right now your people need you to lead them." Naruko says as she hands her chakra blade to Sara who uses it to cut up her dress to move more freely.
"There's a garden room where the power of the ryumyaku can't reach I'll lead my people there and then I'll seal the ryumyaku." Sara says
"Good I'll hold the bastard off as you do that." Naruko says as she runs toward Androkuzan and begins to throw a tri pronged Kunai and teleports to it as it comes into contact with Androkuzan's body and forms an ultra big ball rasengan that sends him stumbling back. As Androkuzan tries to get up he is swarmed by insects from Shibi and is punched back toward the ground Choza both of them Minato's teammates.
"I thought you were protecting Sara?" Minato says as he appears next to Naruko.
"She is leading her people to a safe place while I hold Androkuzan at bay." Naruko says as Androkuzan pushes Choza away and gets up and performs great dragon fire towards them but, Minato and Naruko both teleport away. Naruko then forms Adamantine sealing chains and attempts to bind Androkuzan who is bound up in chains as Choza gives a punch and Kick to him. Forcing him back further from the direction of Sara. Androkuzan draws more power from the ryumyaku causing the chains to break as he moves forward. Naruko forms the hand signs for wood release: wood dragon jutsu that binds and ensnares Androkuzan as it bites down into the puppet. But, he continues to move forward until they enter the area where the garden is and they fight their way down the stairs to the Ryumyaku vein. As Sara goes to the vein and seals it off with her power closing the Ryumyaku. Androkuzan sends Naruko flying with a punch from his puppet body as they reach the bridge connecting to the vein. Minato appears next to Naruko.
"Do you know how to make a rasengan Naruko?" Minato asks
"Yeah but, It's going to need to be bigger than one than I can create to severely damage his body now with how big he is." Naruko says with a huff
"Hold out your hand." Minato says as Naruko does so, and Minato begins to form a rasengan with Naruko making the rasengan taking on a different shape.
"What's this!" Naruko asks holding the rasengan
"This is rasengan that is formed when two similar chakra's form together to create an even more powerful jutsu." Minato says as Androkuzan closes in
"If I can hit him with this we'll win." Naruko says with confidence
"Good just don't miss you know the hiraishin to right." Minato says as he throws a tri pronged kunai and uses shuriken shadow clone jutsu on it hitting Androkuzan. Naruko recognizes it's one of kunai he through with her seal on it so, uses it to teleport in front of Androkuzan and hits him with a supreme ultimate rasengan drilling straight through him right of center tearing a huge hole in his chest. The puppet body plummets of the bridge into the ryumyaku vein and explodes.
"We did it." Naruko says to Minato as Naruko begins to glow
"What's happening?" Naruko asks Minato who is stabbing a tri pronged kunai into the ryumyaku vein.
"Quite simple you're returning to your own time now that Androkuzan who initiated the jutsu is dead the jutsu is coming undone." Minato says
"Then, I need to tell you something important about the future." Naruko says in a hurry
"Don't bother I've set up memory erasing seals to remove our memories of the incident since, time shouldn't be meddled with." Minato says with calm
"Even if it could save your loved ones from a terrible fate." Naruko says
"Naruko do you believe in destiny?" Minato asks
"No I don't." Naruko says heatedly
"I wish I shared that sentiment but, I believe we are all born for a reason." Minato says with a smile
"That's a coward's way of avoiding responsibility for their actions." Naruko says frustrated
"If I had a daughter I would wish she grew up to be like you." Minato says with pride
"I'm not your daughter. But, you had a son that died a horrible end." Naruko says grimly
"Still it doesn't change anything he had a purpose and I believe he will fulfill it." Minato says with hope
"You fool...you're a really stupid fool to give up this chance to save your family." Naruko says tearfully
"I may very well be a fool but, one that sees hope in the future you've shown me." Minato says at peace with his decision.
"A fool to the end that is what you are and will always be then." Naruko says as she fades away completely as the memory seals activate erasing minds of the people in Roran. Back in the present Naruko wakes up to Sakura shaking her from her slumber. She explains that Mukade disappeared into the light and they found lying on the floor when it ended. Naruko explains she was sent into the past and dealt with Mukade. The team is shocked at what she admits but, they accept it knowing she wouldn't lie about something like that. They head to the surface where they meet a caravan that was passing by and a girl who sensed the ryumyaku asked what happened. Naruko explains that a missing nin tried to activate it but failed. The girl is relieved as she holds onto a chakra blade that she explains she got from her mother that explained she gained it from a dream she had of a brave warrior who saved her life. Naruko recognizes the blade as hers that she gave Sara. Satisfied that Sara was ok and moved on with her life. Naruko Hiraishin's the team back to Konoha to give a report to the hokage.