Chapter 8:
Ino, Hianta and Sakura entered the room after buying some food; they were wearing brown, rusty coats to hide their identity from people. They rented two rooms for two nights when they reached the nearest village just so they can settle themselves for the meantime. Lee and Naruto went out to wander around for a while though separately. All of them were in one room; Kiba, Chouji and Gai were playing cards to pass time, Tsunade was watching while drinking something alcoholic, Shino, Sasuke and Neji were being their usual, non-sociable selves, Tenten was sleeping for she needed rest, and Kakashi was reading (wonder what book that could be).
"We're back. Hey, where's Naruto and Lee?" asked Sakura.
"Naruto said he'll be wandering around for a while and left shortly after you did, and not so long after, so did Lee." replied Kiba as he threw a card on the table.
"The news is spreading very fast." said Ino.
Kakashi placed his book down on the table "And what news might that be?"
"The news about the Konoha dynasty and what happened two nights ago."
Now all their attentions are turned to what they were saying "I see. Did you find any news about what happened to the kingdom?" asked Sasuke.
"Wei Yan is now claiming the throne and all the people have to obey him if they don't want to get punished; the elders and other remaining high ranked officers tried to rebel and because of their rebellion, they were put to jail such as General Kurenai, General Asuma and the others. Including--" Sakura found it hard to mention those who were caught.
"Including who Sakura?" Sasuke urged Sakura to talk.
"Including the officers that belonged to the clans of the Uchiha and the Hyuuga, which includes your father Neji, and Hinata's and even yours as well Sasuke," Sakura continued "but they're not the only ones, they also imprisoned you father Shino, also Shikamaru's, Ino's and your dad too Chouji. But that's not the last of it; they were also able to catch Master Jiraiya."
They were all surprised at what Sakura said "But how? I thought he left after the unlocking of our powers and he didn't fight in the war." said Kiba surprised.
Tsunade finally decided to talk "Yes, that is true; Jiraiya wanders a lot but comes to the dynasty to visit from time to time. He may have left after the ritual but I am pretty sure that he, too, fought in the war, after all, the Konoha dynasty was his home."
Kiba punched the table shifting all the attention to him "This is just wrong! How can we just sit here when people back home are suffering under Wei Yan!"
"Kiba's right, I'm tired of sitting here doing nothing, it frustrates me. What more now that I know that my family is being held captive by Wei Yan. We have to do something!" Sasuke exclaimed.
"Sasuke, I know how you feel, really. I'm scared of what could be happening to my family right now, but being in the state that we are will just get us in trouble if we go and charge them, if so, the more we won't be able to save them, so please calm down Sasuke." said Sakura, Sasuke knew she was right and sat down.
"Kiba, Sasuke, you both have to understand that not all things can be done by being aggressive," said Kakashi calmly "and you also need to understand that some things just take time."
"That's not the only thing we have found out, Wei Yan is also looking for us. He's giving money to anyone who can bring us to him, dead or alive, or who can give him any information on our whereabouts." Hinata said.
"Tomorrow at dawn we leave. We'll head for Mt. Tenjou up at the north, there is a person living there that we have to see. He will be of great help to us." Tsunade said.
Most of them wondered who this person could be "Who is he? What makes him such a great help Empress Tsunade?" asked Neji.
"You'll see when we get there." Tsunade turned to Kakashi "Kakashi, buy some weapons that we could use when we journey in the mountains, they don't have to be that sturdy. Kiba, Chouji accompany him." they nodded and then left at once wearing identical coats to what Sakura, Hinata and Ino were wearing.
They walked through different stalls in the village to find weapons "So do you really think we can beat Wei Yan and regain the kingdom?" Kiba asked all of a sudden with a tone of doubt in his voice, Chouji was surprised Kakashi however was totally calm.
"Why do you ask? Are you having doubts that we can win this battle?" Kakashi was looking at the quality of the knife.
"No it's not that. It's just… it's just, you know how powerful Wei Yan is, he was able to defeat the empress without showing the slightest effort." said Kiba.
Kakashi looked Kiba in the eye "Listen Kiba, you have to know that it's not always the strongest that will win, but those who has the strongest will to win."
"Then tell me General, how strong is our will to fight?" questioned Kiba.
"Sasuke is determined to protect his family as well as avenge his brother; Neji and Hinata both want to protect their families as well, the clan of Hyuuga; Chouji and Ino wants to protect their families who is now under the enemy's captivity as well as get back Shikamaru who is a very dear friend of theirs; Shino is reasons are the same as Chouji's but also, he wants to get back Zi Yan, and I think you already know why and the Empress wants to get back the dynasty, not only for the throne and title but also because she wants to protect the people of her kingdom, every single one of them, because to her the people is her family." Kakahsi said, but despite what he said, he can see that Kiba still doubts their chances of regaining the dynasty.
Kakashi placed his hands on Kiba's shoulders "Listen Kiba, the reason why you doubt is because you don't know why you are fighting."
Kiba looked away from Kakashi's eyes "Unlike the others, I don't really have much of a family to protect and as for friends; I don't have much of them either."
Kakashi removed his hands off Kiba's shoulders "Maybe now that's what you think but I'm sure in time, you'll understand and you'll find what you are looking for."
"Hey, I'm done paying for the weapons, are these all that we're bringing to Mt. Tenjou? Are you sure they'll be enough to sustain us?" Chouji said as he placed the weapons in a bag.
Kakashi covered Chouji's mouth "Keep quiet Chouji, people might recognize us and if they do they could tell the enemy our location. We'll have to play on the safe side." He then took his hand away "That will be enough for now, these are just temporary for our journey to the mountain. Well then, our business is done here, shall we go back?" they left the store without knowing that a certain person was observing them, and listening to them.
Naruto (wearing the cloak/coat) was walking down the street in the town when he heard two men talking "I can't believe empress Tsunade was beaten and overthrown." said one man.
"That just proves how weak the dynasty is when she was ruling, she and her army let those people conquer the kingdom. That is so pathetic." said the other; this annoyed Naruto and was getting ready to punch the man anytime now "But the thing is the one who placed the empress out of power was the other student of late emperor Lui Bei, Wei Yan, who went disappearing after the coronation of the Empress."
"Does that mean that late Emperor Lui Bei made a mistake in choosing his successor?" asked the first man.
"Looks like it. Look at what happened now, Empress Tsunade couldn't even protect her people."
This angered Naruto and was about to punch the guy "Why you!" but was stopped before he could have even gotten close, the guy covered Naruto's mouth and dragged him into an alley (not the ones you can likely find in a city), the two men luckily didn't notice.
When Naruto turned around and found out that it was Kakashi gripping him and Chouji and Kiba was right behind him. Kakashi took his hand off Naruto's mouth "What were you thinking Naruto, you were about to punch a civilian and totally blowing your cover!" scolded Kakashi.
"If you heard what they said I bet you would have done the same! They don't have any right to speak that way about us or the empress, they don't know how hard we tried to protect the dynasty, they don't know how many lives were lost in the process, they don't know--"
"And they don't have to know!" Kakashi cut off Naruto, Naruto fell silent "Look, I know how you feel, but punching that person won't make you feel any better, trust me. And blowing your cover won't either, if people recognized who you were, hey could rat us out to Wei Yan, destroying our chance of getting back the kingdom."
Naruto didn't talk nor did he look at Kakashi or anyone "We'll be going back to the inn, tomorrow at dawn we'll leave for Mt. Tenjou. Now I'll leave you to whatever you want to do, you can continue your strolling or you can go back with us, anyway I'll be seeing you." and with that Kakashi, Chouji and Kiba left Naruto.
Naruto punched the wall really hard "Damn it." he mumbled, he was very annoyed, not at the man, nor at anybody else but at himself.
Dawn came the following day, it was very early in the morning and nobody from the village was up yet, the place looked completely deserted compared from yesterday. All of them were there except for one, it was Naruto, and they were waiting for him to come. "So do you think he'll show up and come with us?" asked Chouji.
"What do you mean by that, you don't think he'll abandon us do you? He can't do that, we need him here." said Ino.
'Naruto, where in hell are you, I know that you, more than all of us here, want to protect the kingdom you consider your only home.' thought Sasuke.
Just then, a figure was walking toward them seen from a distance, he was wearing the same cloak they were all wearing, all of them (except for Sasuke, Kakashi and Tsunade who were leaning of different walls) looked. Most of them smiled, Sasuke and Kakashi (without even looking) grinned, Tsunade turned around. "Hey I'm here." said Naruto as he caught up to the group.
"Well then, let's go." said Tsunade as they started to journey going to the north.
-In the Konoha Dynasty-
Shikamaru was in a prisoner's cell. He was chained to the wall and is badly beaten; he was beaten up by the enemy's soldiers. He did not struggle that much knowing he did not stand much of a chance and there are a lot of guards around.
Wei Yan entered his cell accompanied by Zei Shu and Chin Chin.
"So how's one of the proclaimed Captains of the old dynasty?" asked Wei Yan with a mocking tone.
Shikamaru did not respond. He did not look at him either. Wei Yan got pissed but grinned instead.
"Hn. You must think that you're all that don't you just?" said Wei Yan "So how about we negotiate?"
Shikamaru grinned and looked at Wei Yan "I don't negotiate with assholes."
"Why you little runt!" Zei Shu was about to punch him but Wei Yan stopped him.
"If you think that your comrades will come back and get you, then I suggest you let go of the thought because that will not happen."
"Yeah, you would certainly know." mocked Shikamaru.
Wei Yan sighed "Stubborn aren't we? I'm offering you a high position in my army young Captain. I heard that you are one of the greatest strategists in the whole country. I'm sure that we'll find use for you."
Shikamaru spitted at Wei Yan's face "I don't think so. Not going to happen."
"Suit yourself." he wiped his face "But I will have you."
He turned and faced Chin Chin "Give him the pill."
"As you wish your highness." said Chin Chin as she left.
"If you won't work under me freely then I have other ways." he laughed as he retreated outside the cell.
Before Zei Shu followed he gave Shikamaru a punch.
"That'll wipe your smug face off." he said as he grinned.
Shikamaru smirked "Asshole. You probably can't punch other that aren't chained can you?"
"We'll see who'll be laughing at the end of the day." Zei Shu then left.
END OF CHAPTER