it's been quite awhile (which is an understatement) since I posted up a new chapter but I've finally had the spare to time to finish it up so here it is.

Chapter 17: The Calm Before the Storm

A bloodied ninja stumbled through a lightly illuminated corridor towards a small room. There was a flushed look of panic on his face as he clutched the left side of his torso while he frantically swung his head back and forth. The man stumbled into the small room slipping down to the ground. He picked himself up staring with wide eyes towards the direction he had just came from. Taking a few steps backwards he let out a quick sigh as he began to feel he had gotten away from what he was running from. Just as he turned around a slender sword came bursting through his chest. The red liquid from his mouth splattered onto the sword and then down to the floor. Then with a quick jerk of the sword the man fell to his knees

"Where are they?" the attacker questioned the death-bound man.

With glazed eyes the man stared up at a person with a white porcelain mask shaped like a bird that had flowing blue marks etched near the eye holes. The person was covered in the standard issue anbu uniform and a freshly marked tattoo could be seen on their left shoulder. He had long dark hair that flowed down past his shoulders. Standing there very firmly he held his sword towards the jugular of his prey.

"I-I…w-won't…t-tell," the man gasped for air.

"We could have done this the easy way so that where I would have made your death a quick one. But either way I can get what I want from you," he spoke softly and confidently.

He cleaned of his sword and sheathed it into the scabbard strapped on his back. Calmly raising up two fingers he began the process to extract what he needed. Suddenly a blood-curdling scream echoed throughout the room as the deathly shinobi prodded the mind of his victim. After some struggling from the weak-willed man, he finally let himself go giving out the information that the attacker sought for. He dusted of his hands and reached up towards his earpiece.

"I have the information we want Tenzou-taicho," he remarked into the earpiece.

"Good work Kiyoto," a voice echoed from the earpiece, "Relay the information to everyone else and proceed on with the mission."

"Gotcha Kiyoto," a crotched man said with bowl-cut hair clad in a green anbu motif bearing a simple porcelain mask with streaking green marks on it in a diagonal fashion and bandages wrapped around his forearms and hands, "I'm on my way to the destination point."

"Shunya I've already reached our destination," another voice popped in on the earpiece, "Swiftly deal with any stragglers on your way. I will try to wait for you guys before I make a move."

"Will do Akira," Shunya responded.

Shunya slowly unlatched a cellar door as he came up into what was a small shed. Moonlight rays shined in through the thin spacing of the sturdy planks that formed the walls of the shed. He creeped over to the door making extra sure he did not let out a single noise that could give off his presence. Placing his back to the door Shunya calmly listened to the sounds that were outside. The sounds of footsteps pitter-pattering on dirt, leaves, and stone walkways could be heard from out of the confines of the shed. So very cautiously he began to crack the door open just as an unware sound-nin walked by.

With a swift and slender movement Shunya swung behind the sound-nin and snatched onto his arm. Easily snapping the arm up and slamming the man down into the pavement with his elbow instantly crushing his skull, he quickly jumped off of him towards an approaching handful of other sound-nin. His first flying kick landed into the side of the face of one of them causing the guy's eyes to roll back into his head. Shunya then dropped to the ground leg sweeping another one off the ground before quickly flipping over an jamming his heel into him. A hefty shinobi came surging forward with his kunai pointed out but Shunya simply side-stepped it and latched a tight grip onto the guy's wrist. Still holding onto his wrist, Shunya jumped over the hefty shinobi lifting him off the ground as he flinging him effortlessly towards the final attacking sound-nin. The hefty one crashed down onto the much smaller shinobi causing them both to slap onto the ground. Without wasting a moment Shunya instantly dashed above them simultaneously smashing a deadly knee into the stomach of the big sound-nin and a rock hard fist into the face of the other. Finally finished in what was just a matter of seconds, Shunya dusted his hands off and continued on.

The man know as Akira was hiding out behind a large crate while he surveyed a wide room filled with about fourteen or fifteen sound-nin. His hair was tied up and was also dressed in standard anbu uniform. The mask bore a slight snout, similar to a deer's, and had black marks that streaked down the top of the mask to the end of the snout.

It was a slightly large room with only one wide entrance in and out of it. A couple of light fixtures hung from the ceiling by cords swinging somewhat back and forth. Laid about the room were several other crates stacked up everywhere and a large table was sitting square in the middle of the room covered with hoards of all sorts of papers and scrolls. The sound-nin were busy sorting everything as they loaded them up into the crates laid out about the place. But Akira's focus was not on all the bustling sound-nin. His focus was gathered on a particular set of scrolls that stood out more than all the others. They were held firmly shut only by a simple yet complicated looking paper seal.

"Let's finish this up," Akira quietly muttered to himself as he formed the rat hand seal.

All of a sudden the busy sound-nin all came to a sudden halt. Looks of confusion shot across their faces as the eyes darted from comrade to comrade and around the surrounding area.

"What the..hell is going on?" one of them shouted.

"We have an intruder," another twitched.

"We gotta do some…guh," someone said as he started gasping for air.

Almostly instantly as they had been captured did a shadow of a hand surge up each one of them latching onto their necks. Every single one of them struggled to break free but it was no use. Soon all of them were released from the technique as they let out their last breaths of air and fell quickly to the floor. Akira slowly rose from his hiding spot to see his three other teammates already standing in the doorway.

"That was a success I would have to say," Akira complimented, "And I assume everyone else is taken care of."

"There is no one left alive in this place," Kiyoto responded.

"And this is what we came for right Tenzou-taicho," Akira walked towards the table and picked up one of the scrolls that had caught his eye earlier.

"Hai," he confirmed, "But we should be careful with it. No telling what would happen if it gets tampered in any possible way. We will take them back to Konoha as Naruto-sama instructed us."

"I'm sure Naruto-kun will like to hear that our first mission as a squad was a success," Shunya chirped in.

"Well let's get going," Tenzou ordered.

"You're picking this up quicker than I did. Heh you basically already got it down," Yasu spoke aloud.

A smirking Naruto stood a few feet away from him. His face was beading with sweat and was panting moderately. All around them were busted up trees and soft earth. Water glistened the trees like a morning dew and gentle drops fell from broken limbs onto the ground and deracinated roots. Both of them stood on top of a stolid sleeping pond that had embraced their presence.

"This technique took me months to even get the hang of it but you got this down in only a few days. You are an amazing shinobi Naruto," Yasu complimented.

"He-he piece of cake," Naruto beamed, "But don't count yourself out. You're a pretty good teacher."

"Yeah a teacher who isn't need anymore."

"A little more practice for me and it'll be like second nature to me," Naruto paused, "Thanks for showing me this technique. It means a lot to have something that came from my mom."

"She would want you to know this technique. It is a very special technique that was only taught to very few in the whirlpool country and it is a given birthright to you Naruto to know it as well…I know she would be so proud of the person you've become," Yasu added.

"I know…Her and my father both. I know they're watching over me," Naruto's smile grew, "But hey even if I am getting this doesn't mean you have to stop being by teacher. I'm sure there are a couple more things you could teach me."

"Then let's keep at. Heh while we're at it we can even put in a little sparring match. What do you say?"

"I say let's get to it," Naruto smiled as he took a fighting stance on the water.

"Don't hold back on me now."

"So we are only a few more days away right?" Kankuro asked.

"Yeah not much further now," the Mizukage answered.

"Hmm," he sighed.

It had been about a week since the meeting at the Kage tower and the army of Gaara and Harou were trekking their way across the wilderness towards Kumogakure. They had first met up on the shorelines of Kaminari no Kuni several days after each respective group left their own villages. Now they were only a day or two out of Kumogakure.

The place was filled with hundreds of tents filled with many upon many shinobi. Some got their amount of rest while some others had a hard time sleeping as they all thought about the big attack. Gaara, Kankuro, and Harou, who were all around a small campfire, got the least amount of sleep compared to the rest. Their minds were too alert for them to be able to even get an ounce of sleep. This was going to be big for them and it could either pull the war to their advantage or break them and spell the end for everything.

"Hopefully we won't be seen out here in the open," Kankuro commented.

"We have a few shinobi out of the camp on lookout and a couple others maintaining a barrier around us to keep the place hidden with genjutsu," Gaara reassured him, "So to anyone passing by they will only see what would be plain old trees."

He tossed a couple of pieces of wood into the fire, "Hey so what's the story behind Nozomu. I haven't heard much about him except that he just recently became the new Raikage two years ago."

"It was really just coinciding ideals that helped get him the opportunity to take over. Being the son of a local daimyo Nozomu was already placed in a spot to attain power. His father was a former shinobi so he quickly put him into the ninja academy in Kumogakure. He quickly excelled through the ranks reaching jounin at the age of fifteen," Harou went on with the story, "After time he started delving into the politics of Kaminari no Kuni and eventually became part of a group daimyos lead by his father whose goals were to eliminate the current Raikage and head daimyo."

"What for?" Kankuro asked.

"Remember Kankuro that we had met the previous Raikage," Gaara added.

"Yeah I remember."

"Well the Raikage and head daimyo were on very good terms with most of the major countries like us and Konohagakure. But many daimyos were jealous of others who had more power and despised the allied countries so they formed a group to overthrow the current power so they could gain control of the country."

"And Nozomu was the exact person that they needed to get the job done. Being raised by a corrupt daimyo Nozomu naturally grew disdain for the current people in control and being the type that had a constant craving power added on to it as well," Harou continued, "So with his unique abilities and strong leadership skills they were able to gather many followers in secret for their cause. So with time and a little luck things managed to turn to their side thanks to the then situation created by Akatsuki and the death of the Raikage's brother, the Hachibi."

"So Nozomu took advantage after the whole Akatsuki thing while the country was recovering from losing jinchuuriki as well as strong comrades," Kankuro sighed tossing more wood into the fire.

"Precisely. About a year after Akatsuki had been eliminated Nozomu led a coup d'état that resulted in the death of the head daimyo, the allied daimyos, and the Raikage. Nozomu was soon after established as the new Raikage and his father the head daimyo."

"Why didn't any of the major shinobi countries do anything about it? I mean did we even know what was going on?" Kankuro asked.

"All of us were aware of some kind of internal conflict but beside the fact that most countries learned of what happened after we really are not in the position to interfere with a countries own affairs," Gaara answered, "It is only proper to not mess with things where we have no right to be involved."

"But we are dealing with him now when something could have been done then right?," Kankuro protested.

"It's true that we are now but back then if a country tried to act it could have caused political turmoil and there could have had been a potential war on that country's hands. It's foolish to think that it would have been smart to do something when no current acts of war were brought upon another country. A country's main priority is to care for their people not to cause anything that is unnecessary and potentially destructive to one's own country and people."

"I think I understand a little," Kankuro hung his head down a bit.

"Well there is something else that even fewer people know about that happened," Harou jumped back in.

"There's more?" Kankuro looked up at him.

"Soon after Nozomu become Raikage he furthered his position of power by murdering his own father."

"He…killed his own father," Kankuro was taken aback, "So in a sense he inherited his father's position which means if we eliminate him we eliminate the head daimyo. But wait weren't the other daimyos concerned by this?"

"The new daimyos in power did indeed respect his father but they feared Nozomu even more. Either way it was even more beneficial to them because Nozomu focused most of his time to his position as Raikage which gave the daiymos free reign and more power. It was a win-win for all of them."

"So we really are dealing with a cold and heartless person here," Kankuro said to himself.

"Now don't get the wrong idea Kankuro-san," Harou responded to his comment, "He may be those things but he will put all his might into defending his country and its people. He is a powerful ruthless tyrant but what good is a tyrant without people to have control over. It is a twisted fashion of selflessly defending his people but he will protect them till the end nonetheless. But with that in mind there is also something in this country that is to our advantage."

"And what is that?" Kankuro said.

"There are people that still hold an allegiance to the former Raikage and head daimyo that will fight by our side," Gaara quickly answered him.

"And now that time has come where they will no longer have to live in fear of their own leader," Harou said coolly, "By seeing the few of them that will stand up by our side will set an example to the rest that they all can make a difference by fighting for what they believe in."

"There is no telling if we will even succeed in stopping him," Kankuro sounded worried.

"As long as we give it our best we will leave nothing to question on the battlefield," Gaara looked up at the now dawning sky, "We will risk everything to succeed…and I guarantee you Kankuro that I will not let him go unpunished for what he has done to our village."

Kankuro nodded his head firmly as his worries were washed away by Gaara's firm eyes. The time was approaching as the sun slowly rose higher and higher. They would soon began there march to Kumogakure. A march to what will be most of their biggest battles they would ever be a part of. Kankuro surveyed the camp seeing his comrades emerging fromt their tents. The serious looks on each one of them warmed Kankuro's heart. He was proud to go into battle with so many courageous people. So many people willing to give it everything they have for what they believed in. A flat smirk grew on his face as he continued looking on at everyone.

"So you remember the main points of the strategy we talked about right Kankuro-san?" Harou asked as he and Gaara stood up.

"Yeah me an Gaara will head a frontal assault on Kumogakure getting the attention of most of their shinobi and work our way to the Raikage's administration building that is on the highest peak inside the village while you lead a faction through the lower mountain ranges in and around the village as you likewise take a different route to the administration building. This way it will probably cause their forces to spread out to account for ya'll who appear to be trying to take a easier more quiet path to the Raikage which will give us a better window to get to him," Kankuro answered sternly.

"Hai. So then let's round everybody up and get going. We have an important task at hands."

"Is Sasuke actually serious about these guys?" Suigetsu pointed at a group of cloaked people that were receiving orders from Sasuke, "What is the point of sending several expert assassins to go after one person that is heavily protected? Is he really that dumb?"

"Shut up Suigetsu," Karin snapped, "I'm sure Sasuke-kun knows what he is doing. So what if Naruto is safely guarded it still doesn't mean they can't get to him, especially since he won't even be expecting it. And besides like you say they are experts. They are even from the Black Assassin's Society at that."

"Pfff," Suigetsu puffed.

Sasuke rose from his seat that was a few feet away from them, "Return his head to me and I will greatly reward each and every one of you," his voice echoed.

The one at the very front nodded his head in confirmation as all of them dashed out of sight. With his business finished Sasuke began to slowly walk towards the direction of Karin and Suigetsu. As he slowly made his way past them he noticed that Suigetsu had a perplexed and angry look on his face.

"Is there something on your mind Suigetsu?" Sasuke came to a stop right next to him.

"Do you actually think that those guys can succeed?"

"No," Sasuke flatly answered him.

"Then why spend all the money to even hire them. It's just a waste," Suigetsu contested him.

"Suigetsu don't question what Sasuke-kun is doing," Karin barked.

Sasuke raised a hand to Karin, "It's fine. I would rather have everyone speak honestly than be silent."

"See Karin I can say what I want so shut your annoying trap," Suigetsu chuckled, "So Sasuke? Why bother?"

"To humor myself," Sasuke flatly said, "And maybe put a little fear in him."

"That's it?"

"That's it," Sasuke nodded as he started to walk away.

"Ha well then I guess it's alright then," Suigetsu huffed, "It would be kinda nice to have the little blondie fearing for his safety. That would surely throw him off his game."

"Now that we cleared that up let's get back to what's next on the agenda," Sasuke commanded.

"Hai!" they both responded.

A fatigued Naruto danced around his private training field as he worked himself to the bone. It was his normal routine after the daily tolls of being Hokage to take some alone time honing his skills. Aside from the times he spends with Hinata, this was his other way of finding an escape from everything that ran through his mind. This was what helped him keep some kind of inner peace.

As he commenced with some kunai throwing the presence of another person made Naruto halt his training. He turned his head to see Anko leaning against a tree chowing down on some dangos.

"I see your still as active as ever," Anko commented before taking another bite of her favorite food.

"And I see that you still gobble down those treats," Naruto hurled his last kunai at a nearby target, "So did you look over the intel that Yamato and the guys obtained?"

"Of course I did that's why I'm here."

"What are your thoughts? Does the information look legit?" Naruto asked her.

"From the looks of it all the secret documents they obtained are real. It took the code breakers quite some time to break the seals and decipher them but they're finished with all of them now. Some of Sasuke's hideouts have already been confirmed by the Anbu squads I sent out on reconaissance…So what do you want us to do from here?"

"Well I would expect that Sasuke will learn that we've discovered the whereabouts of some of his hideouts so send out whatever Anbu squads you can spare and relay to the others that are already out there to thoroughly search the locations for any information possible that they can gather before Sasuke does away with it."

"Done," Anko finished her dangos, "And what will you have Yamato's squad do next?"

"They should be in Oto no Kuni by now gathering any information they can on his current location and his next plan of action. I need to pick up some kind of trail to go along with. Anything at all right now no matter how small will help."

"Hmm indeed…Well I'll leave you to your training then and get started right away," Anko disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Naruto turned and made his way to the last target he had hit. He latched onto the single kunai and with a swift jerk he pulled it out. He spent a moment examining the simple toll before launching it straight up into the fading night sky. After a few seconds it came zooming back down and just before it hit the ground Naruto caught it with the a single finger right through the loop at the end of the weapon. He gave it a few spins before sliding it into his weapon pouch on his back waist. Taking a deep sigh Naruto decided to cut his training short and call it a day.

Before leaving the grounds Naruto looked off into the direction of where Oto no Kuni was giving out another deep sigh, "I'm ready when you are Sasuke."

Dawn was breaking upon the waking village of Kumogakure. It was a beautiful and peaceful looking village that was spread out through the high mountain tops and low valleys. The village fit its name perfectly as the many clouds blanketed the lands like a warm and snug blanket. It was a pretty large village covered with all sorts of buildings that bore similar architecture to Konoha with slight varitions to adjust to the rigors of high elevations and unsturdy grounds. All around everyone arose to their daily routines little aware of what was about to happen.

Off in the outskirts of the village hourds of mist and sand-nin gathered into their respective factions ready to commence their attack. Some of them were experienced in the arts of war while others would get their first taste of a battle of such high magnitude, but regardless everyone was more than ready.

"So this is it guys," Harou said to Gaara and Kankuro, "It's all or nothing."

"Everyone good to go," Kankuro shouted out to everybody who nodded their heads in confirmation, "Ready Gaara?"

Gaara firmly confirmed, "Let's do this for every innocent life that has been taken."

"For every fallen comrade," Kankuro added on.

"For everyone that believes in what we are fighting for," Harou included.

"We will stand until the very end," Gaara concluded, "We will not fail."

"Everyone move out!" both kages roared as one faction went surging head on towards the forefront of the village while the other faction bursted down into the lower parts of the mountains. A lethal storm was on its way.

I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. The next few ones will be a whole lot more eventful an action packed with the major battles that is coming up. I know I'm going to enjoy writing them. There will sure to be some new OCs to come in the following chapters. Oh an don't forget to drop some reviews. I love me some feedback.