Naruto - Warlord

AN:

Heeeey, back again. Earlier today i finished chapter 23, so i figured i didnt really have an excuse anymore to not get this chapter out.

Last chapter got a lot of love, thanks for that. Got a surprising amount of guest reviews, who i unfortunately can't respond to personally, so the points that were raised that i found interesting enough to bring up, i'll do now:

While i agree that konoha bashing would fit in this story, im sorry to inform that no can do. Bashing makes me limper than a noodle and i think it's been done a million times already. That is to say, i am not hating on stories that bash, i just dont want to write such an angle myself. A confrontation between Naruto and his former friends and family is going to happen down the line though, as i've mentioned many times already, so stay tuned for that.

Someone also had some interesting theories regarding the elemental countries military forces correlated to the war going bad for the Shinobi nations. Without spoiling anything, this is a topic that will be explored further down the line, but that's still some ways off into the future. Just wanted to bring it up here so folks realize that we're not even halfway through the story and there's a lot more developments on the way. The relations between the Daimyo and the shinobi factions will also be explored further down the line when shit starts to get more political.

Lastly, there's been a lot of flattering reviews, but most of them i have been able to respond to personally so this is for all of the guest reviewers who i have not been able to address personally. Thank you so much for all of your kind words. I am grateful to those of you who took the time to critique as well, naturally.

Enjoy!

Chapter 17

'The Ivory Docks' burned in the wake of their invasion.

Upon Goro's death, the remaining defenses throughout the city had quickly crumbled and one by one, the forces eventually surrendered to their mercy. Shou had led the charge admirably, attacking the city's outer defenses with their main force along with the slaves they freed in the mines, angry and discontent to say the least with their former masters. The slaves within the city had rebelled, just as Naruto had hoped, but it had also caused a bloodshed of proportions that Naruto had, in his hubris, not expected.

It was a demure Naruto who trudged slowly down the eerily quiet streets of 'The Ivory Road', with only the sound of crumbling and burning buildings to keep him company. Corpses littered the streets as far as he could see, guards, locals and slaves all rotting together alike. Some of the locals which the surviving slaves had managed to get their hands on were strung up, hanged until death from the rooftops and windows.

By the gods, Naruto had walked past strangled children. Not even the innocence of children was spared the wrath of the slaves.

Naruto wasn't even sure he could judge them for it, considering what he had seen of their treatment.

The slaves had committed other gruesome acts of violence as well, which Naruto had been unfortunate enough to discover when he'd left the arena to join the fight to take the city. Making his way throughout the palace, he'd heard a horrifying scream for help. Normally, he wouldn't have cared much for the locals considering what he'd seen, but even this woman, noble and decadent in her tastes as she surely was, didn't deserve the fate of which the 4 angry slaves attempted to force upon her. Doing one wrong wouldn't right another after all, as hypocritical as that was of him. Naruto had killed the slave who looked like was taking lead and sent the rest on their way, with threats on their lives should they try something like that again.

Naruto had quickly made as many clones as he could and spread them out across the city to run damage control, but he could only do so much. He did what he could to herd all the locals of the city towards the palace, placing them in the middle of their beloved arena where he could keep control of them, but for many it was already too late as the slaves had already gotten their hands on them.

The night was dark, despite the orange tint from the burning city that marred the light from the moon. Smoke covered the sky, blocking any light from the stars that would have otherwise been easily observed.

Blood and cinders filled Naruto's nostrils as he walked through the city, alone. Shou and the others were surely looking for him, worried and afraid for Naruto's safety, but as he waded through the blood and the corpses of defenseless women and children, he just couldn't bring himself to care.

"...I have done...", Naruto whispered to himself, his eyes hollow and unseeing as his gaze went from one corpse to the other while slowly walking through the street. "...A terrible thing..."

With the help of En, their men and his clones, Naruto had eventually managed to gather the remaining survivors of the population inside the arena. While En had been unsympathetic for the locals plight, he'd bowed to Naruto's decision and aided as best as he could, much to Naruto's relief. After En's display against Goro, Naruto really did not want to cross paths with the former 'First Instructor'.

It was from the palace of which Naruto had sent his clones to link up with Shou and the rest, explaining the situation to them. Naruto had been greeted with victorious battle cries from his men and embraced as a long lost brother who finally made his way home.

It nearly brought tears to his eyes, but he couldn't help but feel undeserving of their affection. Even Ryu, who he'd left a month ago at odds with one another, embraced him with obvious relief. He was happy to see that his people, those who had come with them all the way from Kisara, had taken little to no casualties. Masaru, one of the officers who'd been left in the city to sabotage the gates, had managed to get himself a nasty cut in his side, but he'd grinned widely when Naruto visited him in one of the tents raised for the tending of their wounded.

Nao, the shy and nervous now 15 year old sister of Shou, was the one tending to Masaru, her hands lit up with the familiar glow of chakra as she worked on healing the wounded officer. She was still a bit too young to be exposed to the horrors of war, at least in Naruto's opinion, but considering how young he'd been when he'd first taken someones life himself...

He didn't really have the right to comment. If Nao wanted to help, then she was more than welcome to do so. The poor girl had been as intimidated by Naruto upon his visit to Masaru as she always had been around him, nearly messing up her technique which made Masaru wince in pain. Naruto had left them alone quickly enough, figuring it would be wise to do so before Nao accidentally made his wounds worse.

Working together, Naruto managed to quickly established a perimeter around the entire city, securing it as they began to sack the city for whatever it was worth while subduing the unruly slaves that currently ran rampant across the city.

They were all tired as morning came, but they couldn't rest just yet as they had to establish rotations and routines to do so in a manner that was sensible. Naruto had introduced Shou and his officers to En and the others at the palace, eager to rely on the slaves that were trustworthy to help them claim the city properly.

During the meeting between En's former slaves and Naruto's officers, En had given Naruto a long, inquisitive stare of appreciation and Naruto realized that he'd never made it clear to En that Naruto was the leader of their... group, or whatever the hell he was supposed to call them. En and the others had been more than willing to help since they provided medical aid to those in need.

It had taken them nearly 2 days to calm the city, subduing the rioting slaves as well as apprehending the unknowing caravans and trade ships who hadn't heard the news of the invasion. Those with slaves were quickly relieved of their wares under knife point while the rest were welcome to stay, although most made their way away from the city fairly quickly. It didn't take long for caravans and trade ships to stop coming there altogether, news of the city's fate probably traveling far very quickly.

Managing the recuperation of his people as well as the city was a logistical nightmare. Both himself and his officers were completely overwhelmed by the amount of work, but they somehow managed to ensure that nobody starved while they were there. They were also busy rationing whatever they could get their hands on, since their storages had been nearly emptied during the month they had stayed there while waiting and preparing for 'The Day of Silence'. Had they not managed to take the city, they would have been in a dire situation.

After a week, things were finally getting under control and people were able to get some proper rest. They had put many of the eager and motivated slaves to work and Naruto could already tell that many of them were eager to join Naruto and his people in their journey onward. The streets were eventually cleaned up, as Naruto had put the people to the grim task of carrying the bodies out of the city before they became riddled with disease. Bodies were to burn. A part of Naruto wanted to give them all a proper burial out of respect for those that remained after them, but there were simply too many corpses to do so.

Those originally from Kisara was mixed in opinion regarding the siege of 'The Ivory Docks'. Some were bitter regarding the bloodshed that had occurred while others were joyously feasting on the fruits of their labor. The slaves however, was mostly locked in joyous celebration. While they had the most casualties out of everyone in the siege, they were the ones who had nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Morale was high and Naruto was making sure they mingled with his people, since Naruto saw opportunity in their numbers. While they didn't have much to offer in resources, since Naruto claimed most of what he could from the city, he was very much interested in their manpower. After all, they did outnumber his own.

Sacking the city brought them all kinds of rewards. Foods, wines, armors and weapons, even treasures of gold and silver; it was almost more than what they could bring with them. They took horses and carts from the city and filled it to the brim with everything they could. It was more than enough to keep them all alive until they reached more forage-able lands and well beyond.

Naruto had taken a day to search through the palace and eventually managed to find Goro's personal chambers. Looking through the countless shelves and books that were there, Naruto had found what he discovered to be the man's personal journal. Considering all that he had learned from Nobu's journal, Naruto had packed the journal away, eager to read it later.

Rifling through the rest that was there, Naruto found little of interest that he wanted to keep more permanently, until he came upon a shelf in particular.

Even if it had been years ago, Naruto would never forget how a 'Jutsu' scroll looked like and Goro's shelf was filled with them. Looking over them with hungry interest, Naruto's eyes widened on reading one of the titles.

'The Iron Fist Technique'

Naruto quickly packed all that he could, grimacing while he thought back on his battle against Goro. Had it not been for En's interference, Naruto might have been dead by now. He'd been lucky, incredibly so, but he couldn't claim that he'd been the one to win against Goro.

Admitting it made him feel disgusted and angry with himself. When had he grown so weak? When had he grown so comfortable with himself that he'd stopped pushing himself to evolve?

He swore to himself that he would never again allow himself to become complacent. From now on, he would be better. He would do better, if not for himself then for his people. He would take the strengths of their enemies and make it their own if he had to.

Their lives depended on it.

Walking out onto the separated stand where Goro's throne overlooked the arena, Naruto could easily imagine the power Goro would have felt as he gazed across the field, his people roaring for blood as the lowly slaves fought for their lives on the arena before him, safe and secure in his position as leader.

Now, the roles were reversed and Naruto was the one who looked down on the decadent locals who filled the arena. They were dirty and scared witless, understandably so since many of those who guarded them were the former slaves of which they had previously abused.

Naruto let his eyes roam over them. While hundreds had died, there were still thousands of them left. Naruto had no idea the exact numbers, but he could easily see that they were numerous. The stands around the arena was filled with Naruto's soldiers, many of them former slaves now barely kept in line through the discipline that was expected of those who followed him.

Leaning onto the railing in front of the throne, Naruto cleared his throat and pushed chakra to his lungs.

"Hear me!", Naruto yelled. His voice was clear and empty of amusement. While he didn't condone the blind violence the slaves had committed, he still had little to no sympathy for these people. The people heard him and quickly turned their worried eyes to him. While he had fed them until now, they had no idea if he was going to keep them alive or not for much longer. "For years you've enjoyed watching the people you've tormented killing each other upon the very fields you currently stand on." Many of them refused to look at him now and Naruto felt disgusted with them. A few looked resentfully at him, gazing up at him as if he was beneath them still, despite their reversed roles. Naruto was almost tempted in doing something about it, but chose to turn a blind eye to it. "Maybe I should do so now to you, force you to kill one another until only a few remain." A mother close to his position on the stands began to weep among the other locals while she clutched her child. Some traitorous sympathy reared its ugly head in his chest as her crying spread to several others when they heard his threat, but he reminded himself that these people were the same who jeered and laughed while innocent slaves tore each other to pieces where they themselves now stood. "Your vile city is burned and your noble leader lies dead at our feet. In a few days time, I will take myself and my own and leave you to your devices here." Naruto paused and let his words sink in on the attentive ears which listened. "I will leave some food for you, if only out of sympathy for your young, so that you may make a bid for survival on your own. What you do from then on is up to you..." Naruto took a deep breath before he moved to continue. He already knew he was going to regret his next words. "...For those of you who wish to join us, you may do so as long as you follow our ways." The crowd grew eerily quiet, looking at him with wide eyes. Some of his guards, especially those who were former slaves looked at him with disbelief, but Naruto put it out of his mind. "Nobody is allowed to have slaves and everybody will work for their living. Those who are unwilling to do so will be left behind while those who are willing will be able to make a place for themselves. We take care of our own." Giving the people a disdainful glare, Naruto rose and made ready to leave. "The choice is yours."

Turning around, Naruto ignored the intense whispering that broke out among the thousand people behind him, but a shadow emerged from the entrance before him. En, still clad in weapon and armor walked up before him, looking at him with an unreadable expression.

Naruto was a bit afraid that En would argue against his decision. Naruto had no idea what En's thoughts were in all of this, since En had made no mentions of wanting to join Naruto in his future travels.

Staring at one another awkwardly for a moment, En eventually cleared his throat.

"You got a minute?", he rasped. Naruto nodded and followed En as they walked into the corridors of the palace.

The halls were stripped and vandalized, its golden splendor now covered in dirt and blood from the former battle. They were alone in the corridor, their boots echoing eerily through the palace.

After a minute, Naruto wasn't able to handle the tense silence any longer.

"I've been meaning to ask.", Naruto began. En glanced at him with curiosity. "The technique you did. Dressing your blade with your blood. That was a bloodline ability, correct?"

"Observant of you.", En responded, pursing his lips. "My bloodline is one which allows us a near unlimited control of fire manipulation. It was a...suppose you can call it a lucky mistake, long ago, that I found out that I can use my blood in the manner of which I did."

"But why cut yourself though?", Naruto pressed. He was extremely interested in the technique, since it easily bypassed Goro's defences which to Naruto had seemed invulnerable at the time.

"Fire needs fuel.", En shrugged. "If I'd had my old sword, which was made with a chakra reactive metal, I wouldn't have had to use my blood at all. I could have just used my chakra for fuel, but this..." He held up his sword with a grimace. The nodachi was an impressive sight in Naruto's eyes, but his enthusiasm was obviously not shared by En. "I care for neither the balance nor the non-reactive metal it was made with."

"But it was what allowed you to cut through Goro's defenses, right?"

"Aye.", En chuckled with a sadistic smirk. "Whatever he did, I think it was an earth technique. While a normal edge might not do the job against such a defense, my technique was stronger."

"Obviously.", Naruto drawled with amusement. They shared a small chuckle at that. "How are the others doing?", Naruto continued with a murmur, referring to the other slaves which he'd spent a month with. He'd made sure those that were wounded, especially the one he'd saved with an improvised tourniquet, received medical aid as quickly as possible, but it had been difficult to follow up on what happened after.

"Doing well.", En rasped with a shrug, his orange eyes looking forlorn for just a moment. "Only lost a few."

"Think I could get their names?", Naruto muttered and closed his eyes sadly. "So that I can remember them."

"Sure. We'll toast them over a bottle." They shared a wry grin, but it died quickly.

"What about the girls at the estate? Did they make it out alright?"

"Well...", En sighed. "Couple of the girls are missing. No idea where they are at, but I'm sort of expecting the worst."

"Mari hasn't heard anything?"

"Nah."

"How is Mari doing by the way?", Naruto questioned, suddenly remembering that Mari had been with their former master at the moment of the rebellion.

"She's...", En began with a frown, glancing at Naruto. "I found her in one of the corridors, after the battle with Goro. She was with Isamu."

Naruto took a sharp breath, looking worriedly at En. He was difficult to read.

"How is she? Is she alright?"

"Physically, sure." En rubbed his goatee. "She was on top of Isamu when I found her, stabbing a dagger in his face over and over again. No idea where she managed to get her hands on that."

Naruto looked to the ground in thought. It felt good to know that his former 'master' had met his end at the one who probably deserved the most to take his wretched life. He wasn't sure what he would have done if he'd seen Isamu still alive among the other locals.

"...I'm glad the fucker's dead...", Naruto whispered, not able to keep the growl out of his voice. En gave him a mirthless chuckle.

"You and me both."

"Don't worry about Mari though. She's a strong woman."

"I know.", En groused. "But you should have seen the look on her face after she'd killed him. Never want to see anything like that again."

Naruto glanced at his friend, noting the emotion of his words and his features. He had a sneaking suspicion that En was sweet on Mari and had probably been for quite some time, but he would keep it to himself. Considering how many years Mari had been forced to suffer Isamu's touch, it would probably be a painful subject for them both.

Even so, Naruto was growing tired of their superficial conversation.

"What do you want, En?" Seeing En's sharp glance made Naruto smile dismissively. "I don't mind your company, but I doubt you came here just for small talk."

"Aye, you're right in that." They both came to a stop beneath a dome, ripped decorative curtains barely hanging from its place above them. En looked at Naruto with a hard expression, but there was an intense and unfamiliar look in his eyes. "Did you truly mean what you said?"

"About?", Naruto snarked back at him, knowing full well what En meant. En threw him an unimpressed look.

"You know what. Do you truly mean to accept these locals, the very same people who enslaved those who now speak fondly of you and yours? Bringing both us former slaves and them together is sure to bring strife and conflict to your people."

"I know.", Naruto shrugged, his expression haggard when remembering what he'd seen the night of the invasion. "The slaves have suffered for countless years. While the scales is surely far from balanced out, the locals have suffered as well." Raising a hand to halt En's angry protest, Naruto looked at him harshly. "I am not asking you or anyone else to forgive them, but I waded through the corpses of women and children the night of the invasion. CHILDREN, En, even the children were butchered like dogs." Naruto shuddered. "Aye, the slaves in this city has suffered, but that doesn't excuse them of the crimes they did that night. They are far from innocent and I will not leave people here to starve and die, unless they choose to do so on their own."

"And you think yourself better?", En glared at him now, his rasp growing a dangerous edge to it while his hand tightened on his nodachi. Naruto couldn't help but be acutely aware of his positioning.

"Of course not!", Naruto growled at En, hunching forward into an angry stance. "Of course i'm no better! If anything, I'm WORSE!" His vehemence obviously surprised En, as his eyes widened by a small margin. "You think I came here out of noble sentiments?"

"Why then?" En tilted his head at him. "Why risk yourself in such a way?"

"I was... bribed, I suppose you could say." Naruto chuckled mirthlessly at En's disbelieving face. "A friend from my youth offered me something that was too valuable to pass up. All of the people, all the women and children, even the slaves and the guards that died on the night of our invasion, died because of my greed and lust for power. En." Naruto looked at him with a grimace. "I am a monster. I thought I could be a leader that was better than the ones we originally fled from, but I've only proven myself to be just as bad, if not worse." Naruto sighed. "So to answer your question, no. I don't think myself better." Giving En his back, Naruto walked away, giving a last parting shot over his shoulder. "No matter who in this city, former slaves or former masters, there's a place for everyone who truly wishes it. All they need to do is to accept their worth like the rest of us. That is all."

Naruto heard En sigh behind him as he left.

"...You're wrong...", En whispered softly. "...Monsters like our Lords and Daimyo would never have subjugated themselves to slavery, just to save the lives of those who are considered less than dirt..."

Naruto ignored him and refused to think on En's words. He would not, could not, forgive himself for the corpses that had littered the city because of his actions. Justifying himself would be to spit on the worth of their lives, despite the vileness of their traditions.

The silence that was left between them was deafening. Naruto was glad when he left the haunting palace.

When the day of their departure came, their numbers had swelled. All of the slaves had joined them with only a select few having chosen to go their own way, which was their right. Naruto wished them the best.

Temari and the few Shinobi that had remained with her was gone without a trace. Naruto found it a shame as he had wanted to say his goodbyes properly, but seeing as they wanted to remain unimplicated in the assault and destruction of the city, it was understandable that they now retreated.

A startlingly large amount of the locals had also decided to join them. Most of them were families with children who knew they wouldn't be able to survive on their own in the husk of a city that was left. Many of these were single parents who brought with them their children, but Naruto felt little sympathy for them, a sentiment shared by the rest of his people. While they would be given a chance to make something out of themselves with them, they would have to work for it like everybody else. Naruto suspected that many of them would leave their flock as soon as they passed other villages where they could migrate away.

While Naruto was thrilled by their new numbers, it brought along with it some administrative challenges. Before, they had been hundreds.

Now? They were thousands. While many of them would migrate away at the earliest opportunity, many would stay and they needed to be accounted for.

Naruto quickly decided that it would have to be an issue that they settled on the move. They were too many for him as the leader to worry about the numbers, he'd have to leave that to his officers and have them sort the new members out. This would take time and patience, seeing as this was untested waters for both himself and his men, but Naruto had faith that they would persevere.

As they began their long march east towards the 'Land of Rivers' ,which laid between 'Wind' and 'Fire', they followed the edge of the 'Nanmen Ocean'. This allowed them to forage plenty as the sea was full of life and some of their new members taught them how to condense the seawater to separate the water from the salt, making it drinkable. While it was a slow process, it certainly put a brake to their depleting water storage.

It took them a week to reach the nearest village; a small fishing hamlet. It amused Naruto to see a group of freed slaves waiting for them outside of the village, news of what had happened at 'The Ivory Docks' having frightened the locals into letting their slaves go in hopes of placating them. Seeing as they still had to sort out their numbers, it had made Naruto and his officers slightly frustrated, but the added manpower was, as always, more than welcome.

Travel continued like this for awhile until almost a month had passed. The pace of their march was slow due to their large numbers. As the terrain were finally beginning to grow some trees and bushes, Naruto decided that his people could have a well deserved break and feast in the shade of the forest.

The people had been delighted to see the colors of the forest again, seeing as it had been months ago since the last time. The slaves especially had been quite emotional and even Naruto had to admit that it felt good to be back in cooler and lusher lands.

It was night and the people mingled beautifully before the large bonfire in the middle of their encampment. They danced and sung, drank and ate, all the things that made them feel alive again after the grueling time in the deserts.

Naruto remained seated at his table, reserved for himself and his officers. He drank and ate alone, as all the other officers had long since joined the festivities or retreated for the night.

While Naruto had kept the armor that Isamu had so generously donated to him before his death, he'd changed back into his old leather armor for comfort while he traveled, storing the rest of his possessions in one of the many carts they dragged along with them. However, his new halberd was always at his side an arms length away, just as his old one had been.

Naruto couldn't help the warmth that filled his eyes as he observed his people. The slaves had integrated nicely, but many of those who remained from the locals had formed their own groups within their society, keeping mostly to themselves out of fear. Naruto's 'People's Guard' had been put to work in order to keep the peace, but there had not been any cases of violence against the former inhabitants of 'The Ivory Docks' just yet.

Even so, everyone could see the hateful glares of the former slaves whenever they were around. Naruto and his guard would have to stay vigilant to stop anything from happening. If the people got into their heads that the former slave masters were unprotected, then some of them would flee quickly and the former slaves would grow bold with their anger. That could get ugly real quick.

Laughter interrupted him in his thoughts. Naruto looked up to the side where Masaru was currently being coaxed into a dance by a pair of girls, former slaves by their looks, but he was obviously less than willing. Ryu and Hina were nearby, dancing before the bonfire while they threw Masaru amused yet sympathetic glances.

Naruto smirked and shook his head; there were worse things to suffer than the attention of some interested and well meaning girls. He took a swig of his cup, letting the sweet wine flow down his throat before slamming the cup back onto the table.

Considering if he'd had enough for the night or not, movement to his right caught his eye. Glancing over, Naruto was pleased to see En, now clad in leather and cloth like the rest of them, seat himself next to Naruto.

"Shouldn't you be in bed by now, old man?"

En scoffed at Naruto, grabbing a cup for himself which he poured some wine into.

"Sod off, you little shit."

Allowing a comfortable silence to emerge between them, Naruto ignored En as he drank, instead letting his eyes continue to roam the celebration. Masaru had given up and joined the girls in dance before the bonfire, but it was obvious he had no idea what in the world he was doing. It provided an amusing sight if nothing else, at least to those sober enough to observe properly.

En hadn't given any words yet as to whether or not he was going to stay, but Naruto hoped he would. En was a powerhouse, insanely dangerous, and had valuable experience as an instructor. Naruto could use him for nearly anything imaginable, but it would have to be his own choice, same as everybody else.

While many of the former locals had migrated away to the villages they had passed, it seemed like most of the slaves would remain, at least for now until they got further away from 'Wind'. Those of Isamu's former fighters were all staying and like many others had already joined Naruto's army in varying capacity.

Naruto just hoped En would stay as well. While Naruto hadn't confronted him about it yet, he suspected that En shared Hono's bloodline. Their eyes were the same, much like their powers, but it wouldn't be appropriate just yet to question him about it.

Speaking of Hono, the former slave girl, was looking much better than she had when they first met. She was currently dancing a bit intimately with Shou, and even a blind fool would recognize the fondness in her gaze when she looked at Naruto's right hand man.

"I've been talking with the folks here.", En interrupted his thoughts, dragging his eyes away from the festivities.

"Yeah?", Naruto murmured. "About what?"

"About how you all came together.", En murmured, rubbing his goatee like he often did. "Ugly business, the Daimyo's army killing and pillaging the innocent folk of 'Earth'."

Naruto realized he was talking about the people he and the rest of those from 'Kisara' had picked up when they first began their travel.

"Yeah, not the best first impression of 'Wind', i have to admit."

"Aye.", En chuckled without much humor. "And before that?"

"Kisara." Naruto paused for a moment, smiling as he remembered his home. "A small village, in 'Kisara Valley'. In the 'Land of Earth', near the border of 'Stone'."

"You fled your Daimyo's wrath i hear?"

"Yeah.", Naruto chuckled. "Was mighty angry that we killed his previous noble as well as the army he sent as a result." His smile disappeared. "We burned the valley to the ground around them when we made our escape. Killed each and every single one of them."

"And now you're here, freeing the slaves of 'Wind' while pissing off another great Daimyo." En smirked at him and gave him a toast. "With a couple of more months, do ya reckon you'l piss em all off and complete the set?"

"I hope not.", Naruto snorted with amusement. "Life is exciting enough as it is."

A moment of silence passed between them, before En gave him an inquisitive glance.

"They tell me that you intend to return one day. To Kisara."

"I do.", Naruto confirmed softly. He would do everything to fulfill his promise.

"Then you intend to confront the might of a Daimyo for his own lands."

"I do."

En frowned now, looking at him with a hard expression.

"Such a thing hasn't happened in...Fuck, i don't even fucking know if its ever been done." En shook his head. "The other Daimyo wont accept it, you know. They CANT. If they let you succeed, a commoner who come from nothing, it will mean that their so called 'noble bloodlines' mean nothing. It would mean that the nobility isn't necessary to lead, and THAT is a dangerous message to send their people."

"I don't care if they accept it or not.", Naruto muttered, a dark look falling over his gaze. "In 'Earth', our Daimyo let his nobles rob and abuse us as they pleased. In 'Wind', innocent men and women are enslaved and used for the amusement of the privileged few. As far as I am concerned, the Daimyo of 'Fire' and 'Lightning' are just as bad until the opposite has been proven to me. A legacy built on the backs of those less fortunate isn't a legacy worth preserving."

"I see.", En murmured quietly. His expression was unfamiliar to Naruto as he gazed at him quietly for a moment. "So what is your goal in all of this? Do you just want to return to Kisara, make a home for you and yours and that's it?"

"Started out that way, sure." Naruto frowned and considered his answer. "But I don't think for a single second that we'll be allowed to resettle in Kisara in peace. The Daimyo of 'Earth' will contest our claim."

"Aye, and the other Daimyo will consider him just."

"I'm sure they will.", Naruto scoffed. "But I doubt that they will give much aid, if any at all. While the Hidden Villages are currently in a state of union, the Daimyo are another matter altogether."

"True.", En conceded. "But should you succeed in making lands for yourself, the Daimyo will fear and resent you for doing so."

"Good."

Glancing at Naruto, En chuckled when he saw the dark smirk on his expression. En seemed to steel himself for a moment, before he shuffled his posture to properly face Naruto on his knees. Naruto raised a brow in confusion at him.

"If you intend to throw the political landscape of the 'Elemental Nations' on its head, you're going to need soldiers.", En rasped. Naruto's eyes widened in pleasant surprise as he recognized En's intentions. "I can help you with that. I served as an instructor in the previous Daimyo of Wind's Royal Army, until his son, the current ruler of 'Wind' shackled me in slavery."

Pursing his lips, Naruto couldn't help his curiosity as to the reason.

"May I ask why he did so?"

"I called him a cunt to his face.", En scoffed, ignoring Naruto's barking laughter that emerged at his words. For some reason, Naruto could imagine it perfectly, although he severely doubted that En was being completely forthcoming. "Let me serve you."

Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, it was all Naruto could do to hide his immense pleasure on having En's loyalty.

"In what capacity do you intend to serve me?", Naruto questioned calculatingly. "Do you intend to serve as one of my officers?"

"Fuck no.", En snorted, much to Naruto surprise. "I trained the 'Elite'. The best of our nation's best. Your officers will handle the army at large, but give ME the best men you have." Before he could interrupt, En leaned forward, his eyes filled with passion that Naruto had not yet seen of the man. "Let me train a 'Royal Army'! YOURS! You're going to need bodyguards, loyal men to guard you both in the field of battle and beyond. Let me stand behind you as a vanguard and train those worthy of the position."

It was in that moment, looking into En's passionate eyes, that Naruto realized what sort of man En was, the desires that drove him. En was a man of passion, duty and honor. Whatever madness had claimed the mind of the current Daimyo of 'Wind' to think it wise to remove a man such as En from duty, Naruto would never know. Meeting his gaze with one of his own, there was no doubt in Naruto's mind that En would gladly give his life for him, as long as it was a cause he deemed worthy to die for.

En was a warrior, honor bound and filled with a sense of duty that very few could claim the like. He would do anything to have a purpose again, and En saw his opportunity to be a part of something much greater than himself.

The answer was a simple one.

"I accept.", Naruto murmured, smiling at En who lowered his head to the ground as a sign of subservience while the people continued to celebrate in blissful ignorance.

It served yet another reminder of how alone he truly was.

And done. Let me know what you think and il try to update in not too long. No promises.

MiNdZeRo here, signing out.