So, we're on to the eight chapter of this fic now. But I've started on a prototype story of Twisted Glory, which is a World War Two inspired story with the Nazis in the Narutoverse. So, before I start, let me tell you that there will be a so called Konoha Freedom Front, which will compose of anti-Ne shinobi loyal to Tsunade. This organization will also come into play in the Gundam Seed-led stories.
So, without a further ado, let the next phase begin.
Phase Eight: The Fruits of Our Labor
After Naruto and his friends got out of the hospital, they resumed his training regimen of the new army as Daisuke was touring the PLANT Supreme Council Representatives. Patrick was amazed at how the new shinobi were shaping up, since this method would be useful for training future ZAFT soldiers.
"I'm impressed with Namikaze-sama's training regimen with those men out there." Patrick said as Daisuke came up to the group and they bowed to him as they stopped.
"Well, before you all resume training, let me tell you that there are certain people that took the Jonin Exams and have passed. Let me call the names of the people that have passed." Daisuke said as one jonin handed out a jonin chakra armor. "Kentaro Akabane, Shinn Asuka, Shinosuke Asuka, Kojiro Haruno, ..., Amaya Musashi, Naruto Namikaze, and Yuriko Kana Seiran."
At the mention of the name Seiran, Patrick tensed up. At the heat of the moment, Mamoru explained to the elder Zala about her.
"She was kicked out of the family for speaking out against Blue Cosmos." Mamoru replied as Siegel asked a question.
"Well, I wonder why a former member of an Orb family would be stuck in the middle of nowhere." he asked as the said candidates came up to recieve their armors and Naruto received his upgraded exosuit. They placed the new armor on themselves as the rest of the shinobi clapped their hands together.
"I'm sure Naruto's leadership skills would be useful in our struggles against those Naturals." Patrick replied as Daisuke rejoined them and they resumed their training. "Yukikage-sama, they are impressive in their skills."
"Well, the art of a warrior is almost a necessity to them, you know." Daisuke replied. "Which reminds me, my village is on the verge of going to war with Konoha."
"What is that village?" Andrew asked as he and Jackson caught up to them. "I'm sure that didn't show up on the radar."
"Konohagakure no Sato is one of the five major shinobi villages. The reson why we don't count as the sixth is because we haven't asked for recognition yet. Konoha is the only village that actually cleansed themselves of coordinators." Daisuke explained. "It is heavily influenced by Blue Cosmos and its parent organization, LOGOS."
"Well, we'd better get back to the homeland and tell the others about this new relevant information." Patrick replied as the four men went back towards the village gates.
Naruto then went on with the training as they ran through the forests.
"Up, two, three. Up, two, three." he said as they jogged on.
timeskip one year
It has been a year since the four men from the PLANTs had visited Yukigakure. It has also been a year since the formation of the Hyakunijuu Shuutai Shotai, and its development into a strong force to be reckoned with. By the end of the year, the strength of the elite unit had reached nine thousand shinobi in arms. By then, a fifteen year old Naruto was a deadly adversary that would be avoided at all costs. The threat of war has lingered everyday for the past twelve months, with Konoha constantly sabre rattling at Yuki for its defiance of its ally's wishes.
Now, the next part of this epic story has been fast forwarded to the present time as the said fifteen year old jonin was briefed by the Yukikage.
"Naruto-san, since the formation of our elite unit, they have been untested and were not given the roles that they were assigned yet. Tell me, have you assinged them a role yet?" he asked.
"Well, the Nezumi (Rat) Battalion will be in charge of sabotage and behind enemy line operations. The Ushi (Ox) Battalion will be in charge of defense of the village. The Tora (Tiger) Battalion will be in charge of launching a spearhead blitzkrieg operations. The Usagi (Rabbit) Battalion would be the medical units that provide the medical needs of the other battalions. The Tatsu (Dragon) Battalion will be the major attacking battalions along with the Saru (Monkey) Battalion. The Hebi (Snake) Batallion will be the assassination squad, while the Uma (Horse) and the Hitsuji (Goat) Battalions will be the hunter squad. The Inoshishi (Pig), Inu (dog) and the Tori (Rooster) Battalions will be the reconaissance battalions that provide the scanning of the area first." Naruto explained as he gave Daisuke the list. "There will be jonin officers that will be in charge of every platoon that they will command, but it's so hard to pick the officers with the most potential, mainly because they specialize in two or more tactics."
"I see." Daisuke replied as he took the list and placed it into a folder. "Well, Naruto-san. Since you have been working hard with your new unit, I have taken the liberty of opening a bank account for you. You see, the payments that I gave you as a result of your training of the elite unit were so much, I had to open up the account. We're still using ryous, but there has been a sightings of Earth dollars and PLANT currency. So, I had some of the accountants keep track of the money."
"Thank you, Yukikage-sama." Naruto replied.
"Well, here is another assignment for you. Choose three squads from each battalion and scan Hi no Kuni and Kaze no Kuni. If you're attacked, don't hesitate to fight back, although that can lead to war." Daisuke said as he handed Naruto a slip of paper. "This is an A-rank mission because you are scanning a possible enemy territory for anything."
"I'll take it." Naruto said as the Yukikage nodded.
"After this mission, I want you to take a genin team and be their sensei." Daisuke said as Naruto left the office.
When the said jinchuuriki left the office, he ran into Shinosuke with his new team along with Amaya and the rest of the Yuki shinobi that graduated.
"Well, Naruto. It seems that you got us the first mission." Shinosuke said as he wrapped a cloth with the kanji for Inu. "I was assigned to the Saru Battalion, and Shinn was assinged to the Tora battalion."
"I was assinged to the Hebi Battalion, while Kojiro was assigned to the Hitsuji Battalion. Yuriko was assinged to the Usagi Battalion, since she practiced the medical ninjutsu, and Kentaro was assigned to the Tori Battalion since he can scan the area for anything." Amaya said as Naruto led them out of the Yukikage tower. "Mamoru-sensei was assigned to the Tatsu Battalion since he's got the experience as an ANBU Commander, and Mayura-sensei was assigned to the Ushi Battalion. Matsuhito-sensei was assigned to the Inu Battalion while Nadare was assigned to the Uma battalion."
"What about Kubuki-san and Midore-san?" Naruto asked.
"Well, Midore-sensei was assigned to the Inoshishi Battalion and Fubuki-sensei was assigned to the Nezumi battalion. We're all second in command since the Akatsuki were chosen to be battalion officers." Shinn replied. "But since I may leave with Mayu, there may be someone that can fill that void."
"Well, good luck with that." Naruto replied as he gestured for the chosen leaders to get out of the Yukikage tower. "Well, here it is. the mission that we're about to do is an A-rank mission. We just have to do a recon mission in Hi no Kuni. The reason why it's an A-rank mission is because it can be dangerous."
"I see." Amaya replied. "Can you just wait for us then? We're just going to pack our stuff."
"Bring your katanas as well. I might as well go to a swordsmith." he said as he turned around to see Pein and Konan looking at him. "What is it?"
"There is something for you." Pein said as he led Naruto into an old chamber where the Akatsuki gathered around. He looked around to see an old museum of swords and daggers that were displayed. "We have an old sword to give you. Two swords to be exact, and one for your everyday use."
"Wow." Naruto said as Itachi and Kisame appeared with the two swords.
"One of the swords that we acquired was from a phoenix that can emit the flames of Amaterasu." Itachi said as he gave the sword to Naruto. "It's known as the Fushichougakure no Honosha."
Kisame then gave Naruto another sword that had a dragon handle in it. "gaki, this sword was made from a dragon that also emitted the flames of Amaterasu. It's called the Tatsugakure no Honosha."
"These swords only choose the user by its sould and heart." Konan replied as Naruto grasped the two swords and suddenly felt a sensation of radiance. "They have chosen you well, Naruto-kun. the third sword is made from Kirigakure and the blade can even kill a single person if it was stolen."
"Thank you, guys." Naruto replied as he hugged his aunt figure and also hugged Pein. "I'll see you later."
"Good luck with the mission." Kisame said as Naruto left the old chamber. Little did they knew, a spy was eavesdropping on them and went away.
When Naruto and the squad that he's chosen to accompany him on this mission left the village, they hightailed it towards the coast where they saw a huge ship with the dangerous guns. They went to the harbor and paid for a boat to sail to Hi no Kuni, and also bought supplies. When they were finished with the supplies, they sailed for the colonies that bordered the enemy territory.
"We're almost there, guys." he said as the boat had sailed on.
When they landed in the territory that had once been a part of Hi no Kuni, they hightailed it to the border where a sentry sttod by and didn't notice them sneaking across. Just as Naruto and his friends were about to set camp in the clearing, his unit was ambushed once again by the Konoha shinobi.
"Dammmit." Shinosuke gritted his teeth as Naruto's newtype senses picked up a signal that belonged to one of the Konoha kunoichi. They managed to dodged one od their kicks as a purple dressed kunoichi revealed herself.
"Naruto, surrender now, and we'll take it easy on you." Ino said as Shikamaru and Chouji stood beside her.
"We'll never surrender." Naruto replied as he made some handsigns. "Katon: Housenka Bakudan no Jutsu!"
He released small flames that exploded with contact as Shikamaru made one handsign. He realized that he was about to get into a trap, so Naruto and Shinosuke dodged the moves, but they found themselves even more surrounded as the rest of the squad had clashed over another set of Konoha shinobi.
"We are the ones that outnumber you, so don't even think about talking tough." Shinn sneered as he activated his Sharingan. "Katon: Ryuka no Jutsu!"
A huge burst of flames appeared as Shinn grinned maliciously. Ino realized that he was going to activate the cursed seal, so she then charged towards him. Amaya and her squad realized what she was doing, so they formed a manji formation to protect the younger Asuka. Shinn then lept from the formation with the cursed seal already in place and drew his katana.
Meanwhile, Naruto was still leading Shinosuke's squad when they were battling Shikamaru and Chouji. In an instant, his Newtype senses told him of the impending ambush and made another handsign.
"Futon: Daitoppa!" he yelled as the gust of wind knocked the ambushers out of the bush, who revealed to be Hinata, Kiba and Shino. Shinosuke gritted his teeth when he saw the Aburame.
"We'd better fight from a long distance, you guys." Shinosuke told his squad. "The bug user can suck our chakra like the Atlantic Federation can suck the oil out of the Western Eurasian Federation."
"Great." one of the chunin replied as Naruto analyzed about the Aburame's weaknesses. He then charged towards him as Shino got into his stance.
"Naruto, it's been a long time." Shino said as Kiba and a full grown Akamaru got into a taijutsu stance. Hinata then replied with aiming her fist into the ground as the ground cracked under her pressure. The Yuki nin panicked as they held their ground, plus that more incoming Konoha shinobi rushed in to smash the remaining said squad.
"This is just great." one Yuki chunin complained as he killed one shinobi wiht a kunai. Shinosuke then grabbed one of the kunai and came across the famous three pronged version. He threw it at one of the Konoha shinobi, and a minute later, Naruto reappeared and killed the reamining shinobi with his katanas.
"Heh, this old baby does the trick." Naruto said as he sheated the regular katana. A minute later, he and his squads were once again surrounded as Naruto saw the person he didn't want to see again, and neither did Kojiro. Sakura was accompanied by Tenten, Neji and Lee as Kojiro glared at her.
"So it was you that taught Naruto-baka to call me teme." Sakura yelled as Kojiro charged towards her with the sword drawn. He attempted to impale the younger Haruno with it, but Sakura replied by drawing her kunai and blocked the katana. Naruto then faced off against Lee while Shinn faced off against Neji and Hinata at the same time.
"Well, it looks like we're in a fight for our lives." Naruto said as the Yuki nin nodded. "Should we retreat right away?"
"We'd better, for it looks like we're about to get slaughtered if we stayed here." Amaya replied. "Even though we're the elite, we should try breaking out of enemy lines."
"Let's see." Shinosuke said as he analyzed the area. "Well, let's try this."
He chucked a grenade at the Konoha shinobi as it exploded in impact. The elder Asuka then pulled out smoke grenades as one squad had left the area to scan the next area. A minute later, they came back with some more bad news.
"Ne ANBU approaching from the north, Naruto-sempai." one chunin reported as Naruto looked at her.
"Well, throw the kunai that I've designed for you all, and I'll take them out." Naruto replied as he unsheated the two deadly mystic swords. The same chunin then left and her squad then left to engage with the approaching Ne ANBU, who were shocked at the ambush.
"Dammit! The demon brat must be somewhere!" one Ne ANBU replied as the dragon faced ANBU left, revelaing to be Sasuke. The yuki chunin threw the special kunai and a minute later, Naruto called out a move.
"Kamikaze Amaterasu no Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as he raised the two mystic swords and slammed it into the ground. Soon, there was a firestorm that blew through the ranks of the Ne ANBU as they each fell to their deaths. Sasuke then activated his sharingan as Naruto activated his rinnegan as well. "Let's dance, teme."
"As you wish, dobe." Sasuke snarled as he activated his cursed seal as well. He also made the handsigns as Naruto analyzed the move that he was about to pull. Naruto then made soem handsigns as well.
"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!"
"Suiton: Mizu Tama!"
Both attacks created a smokescreen as the last Uchiha scanned the area for the blond jinchuuriki. Naruto emerged from the smoke as he puched Sasuke in the face, causing him to fall back into the ground.
"Lucky shot, dobe." he sneered as he made some more handsigns as the ball of electricity formed in his hands. "Chidori!"
"Rasengan!" Naruto yelled as he formed a ball of chakra in his hand. He and Sasuke charged towards each other as the attacks clashed. Soon, there was an explosion that occured and once again there were smokescreen that blocked both combatants. Meanwhile, Shinn was constantly dodging Neji's moves as he also scanned the areas for Hinata. The Hyuga heiress then lept from the bushes as Shinn had to jump again.
"Dammit, they just keep on coming!" Shinn said angrily as he spotted Tenten and Lee aiming their fists at him. "Counter this!"
Shinn then sidestepped as Lee's fists accidentally landed on Neji as both shinobi were knocked to the ground, but were still able to fight. Shinosuke then went up to one of the chunins and gave him a message.
"You are to report to my uncle and tell him that we're being ambushed and we need reinforcements right away." Shinosuke instructed as the chunin left the battle zone. He then went back on to fighting more Konoha shinobi as Kiba and the henged Akamaru started to spin.
"Gatsuuga!"
Their attacks almost hit the elder Asuka in the chest, but Shinosuke managed to dodge it. But he barely survived the next onslaugth as the Inuzuka punched him in the face. Shinosuke then activated his Sharingan as he charged towards him, katana drawn. His blade then met the kunai that was drawn by Kiba as Shino sent his bugs to infiltrate the said Asuka's chakra systems.
"Let's see, bugs get burned. So, let's try to do this." Shinosuke said as he made some handsigns. "Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!"
The ember flames then met some bugs, which instantly burned to crisp as Shino went back to supporting Hinata, who was still fighting the younger but outnumbered Asuka.
"Dammit, there's more of them!" Shinn yelled as his situation grew worse.
The chunin that went back to the village with the request for more reinforcements had made it back home as he rushed into the Yukikage tower. Daisuke was handling paperwork when the chunin burst in.
"Yukikage-sama, there's an urgent message from Naruto-sempai." he reported.
"What is it? I thought this was supposed to be a recon mission." the Yukikage said as the chunin nodded.
"Yes, but we were ambushed by Konoha shinobi." the chunin replied, causing Daisuke to slam his fist into the desk.
"Dammit! Those Konoha shinobi just had to keep on meddling, don't they?" Daisuke said. "Well, we'll deploy three squads from the Tatsu battalion and eight squads from the Tora battalion. Get to it!"
"Yes, Yukikage-sama!" he said as he left the office and into the headquarters of the Hyakunijuu Shuutai Shotai. The clerk that was in the desk was looking up to the visitor as he reported. "Yukikage-sama authorized me to request for three squads from the Tatsu battalion and eight squads from the Tora battalion."
"All right." the clerk replied as she went back to her paperwork. The chunin then went into the chamber where the rest of the battalions were being housed. He then went to the Akatsuki, who were just in the corner and discussing about something.
"I'm requesting that more reinforcements must be brought in." he reported as Kisame looked at him.
"Why is that?' Kisame asked.
"Because we were ambushed, and I fear that we're not going to make it. Our forces are being pushed to the limits, Kisame-san." the chunin said.
"We'd better go instead, Kisame." Itachi said as the Akatsuki and the requested squads had left the chamber and went into the Yukikage tower. Daisuke was still doing his paperwork when they went inside. "We'll go instead."
"Well, you can go along with the requested squads that were needed." Daisuke replied as they bowed and left.
When they were hightailing it across the sea, the chunin that were sent back to the village was praying to kami that they would enter the battle zone just in time. As they landed on the occupied part of Hi no Kuni, the Akatsuki plus the Yuki chunin rushed into the border undetected, and into the source of the battle. They had managed to save their comrades from being captured by the Konoha shinobi. When Hinata and Neji scanned the areaa for the Akatsuki, they were shocked at the numbers of reinforcements.
"Dammit, we'd better retreat." Neji said as the Konoha shinobi finally retreated. But not before Naruto threrw multiple rounds of the three pronged kunai and killed a hundred more approaching Ne ANBU shinobi.
"We'd better get back." Naruto said as he collapsed on the ground once again.
When the Hyakunijuu Shuutai Shotai went back to the village, the guards were at the gates and were putting the wounded on to the stretchers. The medic nins were rushing the wounded to the hospital as the Akatsuki were going to the Yukikage tower, only to see Daisuke rushing down into the hospital grounds and were frantically looking for Mamoru's team.
"Where are they?" he asked frantically.
"They're wounded, but they'll survive." Pein replied as the wounded were rushed inside to the emergency room.
"I'll have to send an ambassador to Konoha to discuss this incident." Daisuke said as he and the Akatsuki went back to the Yukikage tower and summoned a council member whose name was Miyakawa.
"How may I be of service to you, Yukikage-sama?" Miyakawa asked the Yukikage.
"I want you to go to Konoha and place your grievances to the Konoha council. they may understand you since you are a Natural." Daisuke replied as Miyakawa nodded and left for the capital. Miyakawa traveled to the capital in a snowmobile and also a train to boot. By the time that the ambassador had reached the capital, he went straight to the palace where the Daimyo was working. Miyakawa gave out his name to the sentry that guarded the palace and went inside to see Koyuki engaged in a paperwork.
"Koyuki-hime, I have come to get your concessions for my diplomatic hearing with the Konoha council and the permission to enter the unoccupied part of Hi no Kuni." Miyakawa reported as Koyuki looked up to see him.
"Well, that can be arranged. Tell me, is this got to do with the rumors about the shinobi in the village in here that got ambushed by Konoha shinobi?" Koyuki asked tensely. "I can't do something if I don't get the details."
"You see, the Hyakunijuu Shuutai Shotai were ambushed by the Konoha shinobi while doing a reconaissance mission in the unoccupied part of Hi no Kuni." the ambassador replied.
"Then, there must be something that we can arrange on." the Yuki princess replied. "Very well, this is a passport that will allow you to get into Hi no Kuni, and an envelope with the letter that is addressed to the Hokage form me on behalf of the Yukikage. And you will travel to Hi no Kuni by a frigate."
Koyuki presented the passport to Miyakawa as he pocketed the document in the suitcase. He then left the palace and into the harbor where a battle scarred warship was anchored. A ship captain was there to greet him in a formal way.
"Well, Ambassador Miyakawa, you must be the one that will travel to the mainland, right?" the captain asked.
"Yes, sir." Miyakawa replied as they boarded the ship and sailed out of the harbor.
When the frigate had arrived at Nami no Kuni, the ambassador then went into a carraige that was provided by the locals there, courtesy of one ceratin bridge builder. He crossed the bridge that was named after the leader of the elite unit that was ambushed in the country that he was about to go inside. The carriage then took him to Konoha, where the Konoha elders were waiting for him. Miyakawa then followed Koharu and Homura throughout the village and into the Hokage tower, where the council chamber was located.
"Thank you for the pleasantries, Utatane-sama." Miyakawa said.
"Don't mention it." Koharu replied as they entered the chamber. The council was eageer to solve this incident through diplomatic means, although with a rigged and corrupted favor of the aggressor. Tsunade then gestured for the ambassador to sit down and she started to speak.
"Well, we have come to this meeting because the Yuki shinobi were mainly ambushed by our forces for no certain reason at all. Given the political climate that has lingered between our two villages, we have almost come closer to war than ever before." Tsunade replied as Miyakawa stood up.
"It has been known in Yukigakure no Sato that the hero there was once shunned by the people here in Konoha, but I want to ask this question that I have kept in mind: why would you people want to ambush our shinobi when they are doing a reconaissance mission there?"
"I don't know." one civilian member lied as Miyakawa spoke again.
"It may be that you people want to start a war so that you would have a chance to exterminate us and you would take over our colonies and our homeland." Miyakawa declared as the civilian prtion of the council shoted out.
"Idiot!"
"Kill the traitor!"
"I may be a traitor to this new order, but I am not a traitor to humaity itself, because the Outside world has seen two bloody wars that redefine their world. Do we want to start that bloody war in our world? No, but even in Hi no Kuni, the weak Daimyo there was playing the role of the Outside world's version of a man they call Kaiser Wilhelm II. He lacked the means to keep up the peace, and this country is failing to keep up the peace." Miyakawa replied as Danzo came up to him and stabbed him in the chest.
"You have gotten in our way of our new order, and for that you must die." Danzo replied as the ambassador fell tot he ground, dead. Little did they knew, there was a Konoha shinobi that was an impostor that watched the entire thing. The impostor unmasked his henge to reveal Mamoru and rushed back into Yukigakure undetected.
An ultimatum has been given as Konoha struggled to respond to the demands that Yuki had given to them. The unspeakable murder of a man taht can bring forth peace was the last hope that the world would ever have a chance for peace. But it is not only the shinobi that will go into war, as ordinary soldiers will reenact one of the bloodiest wars that were fought in the trenches.
Next on Masked Hero With the Frozen Heart: War Declared
Yuki no Kuni, to arms!