Chapter 16 | The Last Strategy


Kuronuma Takuto observed the Ishiki Village from a safe distance in the company of an Amamori shinobi provided to him by Akihiko.

It had initially been decided that the Amamori accompanying them would take charge of surveying the Ishiki Village when they located it in the Earth Country. It hadn't been difficult for hunters in the Kuronuma clan to unearth the routes used by Ishiki shinobi to find their obscure village among the mountainous ranges of the country, but the trip had been treacherous and not without two casualties.

Takuto had volunteered himself to accompany the team of scouters to the disapproval of many.

"You are our most talented medic, Takuto-san," Akihiko had argued, polite in tone. "It wouldn't be wise to put you in any danger."

Takuto had laughed, heartily and without offense. "I am well aware that I am no Mio, but I am more than my skill in medical jutsu."

It had been an odd feeling for him to realize that among the crop of shinobi they had taken to the Ishiki Village the priority of his safety had been above all of theirs. Takuto's heart had warmed with the thought. However, he had not risen to his position without undergoing the necessary preparation that it required, which had been why he had maintained it without issue, despite the clan (himself included) originally pressuring Mio to ascend the vacancy.

He waited patiently on the return of the disguised shinobi he ordered to inspect the surrounding area closely. From his vantage point on a slanted road on a high mountain that wrapped itself around the outskirts of the village, he saw high stone gates securing the location from invasion and dozens of homes arranged in rows around a circular clearing that he assumed had the same function as a plaza. It was a large village and there were likely traps all around it ready to be triggered. He counted every Ishiki shinobi he spotted in his observations. There were more inside and they were dangerous.

They had no telling what affiliations they had with other Earth Country clans, but they were prepared to handle them. Their goal was simply to destroy the village before the Ishiki succeeded in killing the Guardians left behind in the Uchiha Village. If they weakened their forces there, Mio and Madara wouldn't need to worry about the arrival of reinforcements in the Sun Country.

The truth of the matter was that this task, as Akihiko had taken to calling it, was nothing more than an act of revenge. Takuto felt strongly about the Ishiki's transgressions in that he hated that they were targeting Guardians because it was likely that they did not understand their importance and the mistake they would be committing if the Guardians were killed. However, he had recalled a moment years ago when the Kuronuma clan had lived in peace and that memory had constituted the reluctance weighing him down.

Neutrality had once defined the Kuronuma clan. He understood that it was impossible to return to that peace completely because of the Artifact War, but they had acquired a semblance of it in the three years since its conclusion, so it had not seemed quite so hopeless.

They were rebuilding. Talks with the Swamp Country would have offered them a permanent home since Mt. Hyōga, children were being born after the war against Ayuka had stolen many lives, and Mio was in a better place since then. He was leader. Nako was opening up and developing a willingness to return home, though he was happy with this development, he was terribly attached to her that he'd miss her if she were gone. Yuuka and Noe were being raised properly surrounded by people that loved them, though it pained him to be apart from them now, he could be certain that they were being kept safe.

Mio returned to the Fire Country to ask Madara to marry her. Never would they have ever anticipated the sort of danger that would present or what that peril would become.

Despite his aversion to the plan, he had agreed to it because he understood the consequences they would face if they ignored what had been done. He anticipated that it wouldn't have been long before the Ishiki clan had found a way to corner every Guardian until only Mio was left. If the Ishiki clan possessed accurate information on the artifacts, they would know that she was the only one that they couldn't kill at the risk of rendering the artifacts obsolete.

Perhaps, Takuto thought, they had found a way to make them work without her. It could have something to do with that timeframe in which Mio had journeyed alone with Murakami's son, Keigo. Maybe they found a way through whatever secret dealings she had going on at the time.

Takuto spotted his scouts returning and informed the Amamori shinobi at his side, pointing them out in the labyrinth of stone scattered around the village.

The spies knelt before him as they recounted their findings. One spoke of the sizeable crop of Ishiki shinobi and kunoichi in the village—all capable fighters. Another described all potential breaches in their defense, but Takuto asked him to disregard that, as he trusted in the ability of the Kuronuma clan to be capable of destroying any resistance.

It took a group of them to overpower Kuronuma Fuyukichi, who accompanied Saori the night of her attack. Takuto brought half of the Kuronuma that had been left in his disposal. Five to one meant that they didn't possess nearly enough shinobi to accomplish that.

Taking the Ishiki Village would be easy and that bothered him.

Takuto reunited with Akihiko at the foot of the mountain where he was pleasantly surprised by Izuna's presence. They had not been expecting him and his army for another day given the distance. A smile appeared on his face as Izuna sprang towards him to clap him on the back.

"I ran into Kaya on the way here," said Izuna, gesturing to a slender woman with bone-straight red hair who inclined her head respectfully in his direction.

Kaya was an Amamori kunoichi tasked with passing information between them and the Uchiha Village. She was among the Amamori brothers' most trusted people, as such, they believed her presence to be invaluable given their current circumstances.

"How was the village?" asked Takuto politely.

"Well defended under Kane-san and Nako-san," answered Kaya. "There are no signs of Ishiki anywhere near the village."

"You should return as swiftly as possible," Akihiko told her. "Give Kane and Nako-san my update."

"Yes sir." Turning to the others, she bowed, and disappeared in a cloud of swirling smoke.

"And you, Izuna, I suspect Madara and Mio found safe passage to the Sun Country?" asked Takuto.

"It wasn't without trouble, but ultimately, yes," answered Izuna. "We captured Eishirou's castle, too. I doubt it'll be long before the Ishiki clan is defeated there or Madara manages to destroy the Sun Country in a fit of rage."

"Why would he do that?" asked Akihiko. "Even I think it's excessive. Think of all those people."

Takuto laughed. "It was meant as an insult."

"Oh."

"My brother can't do anything without me," continued Izuna jokingly.

"It's not good to speak of someone when they're not around to defend themselves."

"You're here to defend him."

"Fair enough," said Takuto. He gestured for everyone to leave with the exception of Akihiko and Izuna. "The Ishiki Village looked suspiciously easy to conquer and while none of the information gathered can confirm or deny if it is a trap, it is obvious that we need to destroy their base. We cannot allow the Ishiki clan to continue targeting Guardians."

Izuna and Akihiko agreed with a nod.

"Their defense is concrete," continued Takuto. "There are enough shinobi in that village to pose a problem, but with the approach I plan to address, I do believe that we can finish up here fast and capture a number of their leaders to interrogate about any further movements on their part."

Takuto went onto explain his plan. He wanted the Kuronuma clan, led by him, to tear down their defenses. The Uchiha clan, led by Izuna, would join them in the ensuing fight. The Amamori clan, led by Akihiko, would surround the village and block all escape routes, slaying all that intended to run away from battle.

"Understood!" echoed Izuna and Akihiko.

"Let us gather our armies and begin our assault," said Takuto.

Akihiko obliged.

Izuna approached Takuto with a glint in his dark eyes. "I'll watch your back, Takuto, so don't get yourself killed. You're the best medical specialist we've have."

"Thanks."

Takuto had a terrible feeling, but steeled himself to move forward.


xl: Thank you for reading! I'll see you next time~