Life as A Fox
Chapter 76
NSW-The Forsaken Author of the Lost Story (see my bio for explanation)
Also I have a new story out called 'A Forgiven Father' It is something I have written on the side for a while, and it's chock full of OC's but..you might enjoy it, it's kind of hard to explain...so just check it on your spare time.
Silence, heavy, gripping, swallowing them for a long span of time. Stillness, edging and grating, keening with a grotesque momentum. The two masses stared off at each other. Both armies faced each other. Naruto studied these creatures, these Lumenion, he felt a shudder go up his spine, these things...they were not natural, they were not normal, something about him put him on edge, made him fearful of them.
He was not the only one, all demons felt the presence, the fear, an unnatural unexplainable fear, tremors and fidgeting violently hitting them in random moments. Naruto shook himself he had to get his mind straight had to! He turned to Kakashi, who stood next to him. "You're okay Naruto, I don't know what it is Naruto, but you all seem to sense something."
Naruto nodded another shiver down his spine "those...creatures, they set us all on edge, their very presence compels us." Kakashi nodded "I see, well have faith, be strong, you demons are not alone, remember your kids Naruto, they need you." Naruto nodded, strength filled his limbs for now. He looked back down, his eyes spanning across the pale earth, the rubble and ruins that splayed out in front of him that stood for a battlefield.
The sun beat down, but no warmth was cast. The wind blew sharply but none felt it upon them. No the thing they felt was the sharp sounds of a person shuffling his feet, someone coughed, a single bird cawed randomly. Naruto looked back the air units covered the buildings and whatever span of a perch they could find.
All of them ready, all of them adamant. Naruto glanced down to the trench. All the demons hidden and safe, kept secret until the last second. Kakashi studied the scene before him "war Naruto, is a terrible thing, but also something that is needed from time to time, when something is worth fighting for...it damned well better be worth dying for, is your freedom worth it?"
Naruto turned to Kakashi, "If I die, I do not die for my own freedom, I die and fight for the freedom of others...always have... always will." Kakashi nodded "good then" Kakashi turned to his men, turned to his army, he was the hokage, their leader, the one the trusted most. "We have waited and prepared for this moment a long time, but the world itself has been yearning for this moment even longer, it is time, to take a last stand, we will tell everyone in this land, we will tell everyone in this world..no, we will tell the very heavens themselves!" He paused building momentum. "That demons are good and just! That we humans will stand by our friends and companions! That we will sacrifice our sweat, blood, and very lives to prove, that once and for all, that no matter what hellish creatures the gods throw at us!"
Kakashi paused looking into the instilled eyes of all around him, he looked to Naruto who in this rare moment looked up to him like he once did, back when he was a genin and Kakashi...his teacher. His eyes captivated and shining as he absorbed the wisdom that Kakashi had to give. "No matter what they do to us! We will stand together and fight! Our inner fire's will burn brighter and hotter and scorch anything that they throw at us! Now let us show them our weapons, show them our courage! Show them our fangs, claws, talons and horns and show them just what they are facing against! They are not fighting an army of humans and demons, they are fighting an army of Konoha!"
A roar went up among all the men, Naruto wanted to join in, but the element of surprise was a must. Kakashi waited for the roar to descend "It is an honor to fight alongside all of you brave souls, now all of you! To your positions!" Naruto leaped down and ran for the built tunnels to the trench, efficiently and without confusion everyone made it to their positions, Naruto took his place beside Fenrir, armored and ready they waited once more, this time in impatience, they longed to hear the command to go.
Shinjin studied the fortress that was Konoha, a mighty and pristine place, it would be fitting and perfect for a tribute to their god. He turned to his generals. Then to Suki, her boy cowered at her legs. "What is wrong with the child?" he asked. The child was distressed it was easy to see, his hands clapped tightly over his ears.
Suki glanced to him "nothing, he is just afraid is all, too much going on, don't worry sweetie" the women said bending down. "You can go back to the tent and stay there, all your toys are ready and waiting for you, wouldn't you like that? Along with all the sweets you want?" The boy nodded eagerly his distress ignored and forgotten.
Shinjin tisked the boy was growing up in an unhealthy way, he would become a pampered prideful being, a sinner in his god's eyes. Suki turned to the line of servants "you there, old women take him to the tent." A women stepped forward, she was not that old, fifty maybe, and she still had a elegant beauty to her, she seemed familiar in a way, but he pressed it from mind, she was probably a long time servant that he had only just seen on occasion.
The women walked over and led the child kindly away. Shinjin turned to the generals again. "I see movement on the enemy lines, prepare the army, they know who they fight for and why." Shinjin turned back, it was time.
Once more there was a silence as the two ready armies faced off. The army of the twelfth god lined up, Men first, Lumenion behind them. Naruto turned to Neji in the trench "Neji...I...I have faith in you okay? Someday I will free the whole of your clan from that seal." Neji nodded "I know Naruto, I know, but...I am prepared Naruto, besides, this is Neji you are talking to, nothing can break through my defense."
Naruto nodded, he still couldn't help worrying, he worried for all his friends and comrades, they were lucky in the first war, few of them died, but now...now they were the jounin and main fighters, they were the ones making names for themselves, they were going to be the ones who would teach the next line of ninja, they only first had to survive this war.
The signal went through the enemy army, they moved together as one, the earth vibrated from the mass of them moving. Naruto closed his eyes, this was it. Neji and the ninja in the trench rose and stood as one, a command fell down upon them but the did not need it, they all glanced to the man or women next to them and nodded, some...some would not make it, this would be the last time they would run towards an enemy, the last time they shared something with a comrade.
They all knew this, but they also knew it was a risk all of them took, and that each and every one of them would fight to try to make sure they lost none, even though it was something that would be impossible. Neji rose up, walking away from Naruto, Naruto turned and looked away, he couldn't bear to watch his friend walk into that danger alone, but he had to, he had to.
Naruto and some others quickly and quietly sneaked up and spied as the enemies began to move towards each other. First they walked, then, a choppy jog, that soon built into a dead on run, both armies screamed as they drew closer and closer to each other, but then it happened. The switch instead of humans fighting humans, the enemy nin ducked down and the lumenion leaped over them, their bony limbs and long jaws open at the ready for the soft pink flesh of humans.
Naruto had to be pulled down by three wolves to keep him from going out, Fenrir ended up sitting on him. Their was a sickening cry as the lumenions' growls and jaws met the konoha nin. The beasts tore into the feeble flesh easily, going for the face and whatever was open, few could react fast enough, there was no time to take a step back and do a jutsu, all of them were being attacked, all of them were fighting for their own lives.
A cry went up as the air units rushed to the rescue, dive bombing in they sliced and attacked the Lumenion. The lumenion turned to the demons, their nature kicked in, their true enemy was the demons, humans were ignored. This gave ample time for the Konoha line to assemble once more, only to be hit by the enemy line once more, but the konoha nin were angry,pissed, they couldn't believe the cowerdice of the enemy nin, the two armies hacked at each other.
The enemy had an upper hand at the moment, numbers, surprise and a weakened foe. But the Konoha nin had better training, and well...they were pissed off, what more need be said, sometimes a good old thirst for revenge was what shifted the tide of battle.
A howl went up from Konoha, it was time to bolster the main line, push the enemy back. Naruto eagerly accepted this, Fenrir and the others spanned out and the wolf brigade led the demons line charge.
It was surreal, the enemy nin were not expecting it, they had no idea...the demons...there was hundreds of them! Thundering towards them, heads shaking massive antlers, or tossing wild manes, canine and felines in all shapes and sizes snapping and growling, roaring as their claws dug into the earth. The enemy nin backed up, fear hitting them.
But the Lumenion ran forward, ignoring Konoha nin they ran towards the demons, but their line was weak and full of holes they had no order they were following basic instincts. But even during that wild charge, when Naruto glanced to either side of them, the world seemed to move in slow motion, noise seemed to lessen and lessen until nothing was heard a calm descended across him, he closed his eyes, listening to the thudding of his heart in excitement like a drum.
He breathed in and out, tasting blood and leaves on the breeze, this was it, the battle was finally here. He let his breath out as his legs reached forward and dug into the warm earth, claws digging in as he matched stride for stride with every other demon. He could feel the beat of the charge, the beating of the their hooves, and the beat within each others hearts, this was it, he opened his eyes.
'O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered'
Sorry I love Alfred Lord Tennyson, and cliff-hangers.
Enjoy :3
NSW