here you go. This chapter will introduce some new characters and some familiar faces, some well known ones and not so well known. so please enjoy.
Chapter 18: The Standoff
A squad of cloud-nin ventured their way across bridges and walkways as they made their exit out of their village. They had been assigned a simple routine mission which they wanted to finish as quickly as possible. All of them, however tired of the same old missions, were especially eager this time around because soon after they would get the chance to get a piece of the real action going on in the war. The thirst of battle hung from their tongues and they all felt more than ready to cut down a few enemy shinobi.
As they neared the end of the village the eager squad decided to do a quick equipment check before they left. Being the cautious ones that they were they did not want to run the risk of running out of the necessary equipment that they needed. They emptied out their equipment pouches and backpacks and counted up the few scrolls they had along with, shurikens, kunais, smoke bombs, and feets of wire. After counting up their stuff and seeing everything was in order, the squad returned everything back into their pouches and backpacks in a nice and neat fashion. Gathering themselves they continued their walk out of the village biding farewell to the entrance guards.
The leader of the squad turned back to his team and said, "Alright guys lets finish this quick so Nozomu-dono will finally give us a taste of the real action."
"Hai!" the other three happily responded.
Making their way through an open mountain pass just outside the village, the leader suddenly noticed a difference in scenary ahead of them. Raising a hand to halt his teammates the leader looked forward with his stern small squinting eyes. Surveying what was rushing at them like a deadly storm with exuberant speed the squad suddenly had a feeling of shock run over them.
"ALERT THE VILLAGE! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!…," the leader was able to yell out before a zooming kunai came barreling into his throat.
The other three shinobi quickly rushed off back to the entrance of the village they just journeyed out of. Sparks of pain ran through them as several more of the kunais zipping toward them found a nesting place in each of their backsides. Blood splattered to the ground displaying their short hurried trek to the entrance of the village. The guards turned their heads up to the incessant shouts of their comrades as they came into the village. All of them collapsed to the ground as several of the shinobi on guard rushed to their side. One guard slid over to a fallen comrade and crouched down so he could hear them more clearly.
"Suna…gakure…," the gasping shinobi was able to get out before passing away.
The guard quickly jumped up as he hurriedly shouted out commands, "Someone needs to report to Nozomu-dono that Sunagakure is attacking! Everyone else stand your ground and take down as many as you can!"
A couple of them nodded and dashed off just as the huge swarm of sand-nin came charging in. The sounds of kunais striking each other rang through the air as sand-nin came swooping in. All the guards were quickly met with a foe while the other enemies went rushing into the village in every which direction. Many nearby cloud-nin swiftly performed hand seals as they lauched surges of lightning that bolted across the ground to disrupt the invaders. The sand-nin subsequently responded with jutsus of their own resulting with walls of earth rising from the ground to ward of the electrical strikes and others firing back all sorts of wind, fire, and water jutsus. Many jutsu attacks hit their targets while others were just repelled by another jutsu.
During the mass swarm of fights at the entrance Gaara, Kankuro, and a few sand-nin had made their way in making their way past and deeper into the village where explosions and sounds of more fighting were erupting. They ran up rocky paths and down smooth streetways taking out anyone who tried to stop them from their destination. Their path led them from the outskirts of the village to a vast valley that was the heart of the village blanketed with clouds. The architecture was similar to that of Konohagakure but with the added addition of many houses and buildings bearing several lighning rods so they could fully harness the powers of lightning. The size of Kumogakure could trump Sunagakure but lacked size compared to Konohagakure, yet despite that they still had a population that was just about the same as Konohagakure if not a slightly larger one. It was host to very beautiful scenaries, a place that had many advances in natural energy sources, and a vastly diverse population that only enticed more to move to such a welcoming village. Now it would bear witness to the sights and sounds of war.
After surveying the mass of the village and seeing where their final destination would be at, Gaara summoned his group forward. They rushed down through some clouds and rising black smoke into a middle-class residential area of the village. A team of cloud-nin quickly noticed Gaara's group running through the soft paths between the homes urging them to reach in their packs and pull out a handful of kunais with explosive tags tied at the ends of them and launched them at the enemy group. Before anyone could notice, a house next to Gaara and his group exploded releasing shards of wood, stone, and metal. Without hesitation Gaara's used his sand to shield the group from the large amount of flying debris. The cloud-nin that had tossed the explosive weapons suddenly appeared behind the group as they succesfully landed a deadly strike on one of the sand-nin before hardened spikes of Gaara's sand blasted out of his shield impaling the attackers. Another explosion went of near them launching more debris causing Gaara to extend his shield to further protect them and again more cloud-nin showed up as they squared up against the defending sand-nin. Gaara quickly dispatched them but not before more of his squad was injured. Seeing that some of them were severly hurt Gaara knew they needed to take a moment of reprive before continuing on.
"Quickly into that house," Gaara ordered everyone to a nearby house that appeared to be vacant.
They ran into the house picking up their injured comrades along the way. Barricading the front door and covering up the windows in the living room the group situated themselves in the temporary shelter. Gaara then told the medic-nins of the group to heal the injured as best as they can before they continued on. He then made his way to an uncovered window near the barricaded front door and cut a small hole out with a kunai. He then performed a series of hand seals before placing some fingers over one of his eyes. It resulted in some of his sand swarming together to from an eyeball which zoomed its way out the hole in the window.
"I'll keep an eye on the area and look for the best path we should take while everyone gets healed up," Gaara told them.
Kankuro moved next to Gaara and and spoke softly to him, "Gaara you know we don't have much time to spare. It won't be that long until they find us here and at that some of these guys injuries are too serious and will take some time to fix up."
"I understand that Kankuro but it's the best we can do at the moment. Let's give them a moment of rest. Some of them won't be able to continue on with us so when I figure out what course we are going to take then we will move along with whoever is still capable of fighting while we leave a medic here to heal the rest," Gaara explained to him.
"Alright," Kankuro assessed Gaara's response.
"Just sit tight and be ready."
The humble Raikage sat quietly as he listened to the explosions of destruction reverberating outside. He was nestled in his fancy throne-like chair that was resting in a conference room. His stern and placid face rested in one hand while he twiddled the fingers of the other as he eyed a couple of his advisors who were pleading for him to seek refuge.
"Raikage-dono we should leave now!" one of them pleaded, "It is not safe here. Let's us move to the safe zone and further decide on the next course of action."
Nozomu's only response was a cold blank stare as the advisors begged as well as argued amongst themselves. Slowly he took his gaze off them and shifted it to a very somber man that was standing next to his seat. He was a young looking man with short golden hair save for his long side-swept bangs that hung down above his eyes. His dark eyes were covered with a pair of stylish shades and he was dressed in a tight fitting dark blue long sleeve shirt that contoured to his defined muscles along with a pair of black pants that were loose fitting but not so much to where it would hinder movement. Slung over his back was a menacing sheathed sword. Despite the man's serious overtone he appeared to be enjoying the spectacle more than the Raikage.
"What do you think Arashi?" the Raikage asked him as the two arguing advisors continued on.
"I think they're fools niisama. Why would they even think that you would leave the village in such a cowardly fashion," he said in a soft yet abrasive tone.
"I agree otouto," the Raikage slammed his hands on the armrest, "Now listen you two quarreling worms, I will not leave here!"
"But Raikage-do…," they both said before being cut off by the wave of his hand.
"This is my village and I won't have any unwelcomed guests scare me away. This is what we are going to do," he stood up and directed them to the map of Kumogakure that was laid out on the table in front of him, "These areas right here are where the blunt of their forces are coming from making it plainly obvious that the target destination is where we are. It's very bold of them to try a frontal attack like this but the heart of the village is widely spread out which works to our advantage. Our forces will easily separate them thinly throught the area as they press on. So while that happens I want to have our most skill shinobi assembled in a few key places that will cause them to be driven back and barricade the ones who have gotten deeper into the village. This should send them into a confused frenzy."
"What about the reports of the Kazekage being spotted inside the village? What do you want to do about him?"
"Heh send Team Lightning to take care of them. I'm sure they will have their hands full with those three," he chuckled as he waved them away, "Now go do as I say and leave me be."
Both of the frantic advisors quickly bowed and left the room. Nozomu then casually walked over to a nearby window and looked upon the turmoil that was going on in the distance. Some would feel grave distress in situations like this but what was happening excited the thrill seeking Nozomu. This was his cup of tea and he was glad that an attack was happening to his village much sooner than he thought it would have been. His boredom was answered with this sudden strike and Nozomu could not contain the devilish smile forming on his face.
"So do you want me to shadow them?" Arashi jumped into Nozomu's inner joy.
"Yeah keep a close eye on them but don't make a move unless they manage to get by Team Lightning…I really want to see if the kid can actually make it here to face me again."
As battles raged inside the village the unopposed forces of the mist were making their way quietly outside the edges of the village to their destination. They trekked across the lower river paths and up towards the higher valleys that would lead into the now least likely guarded places of Kumogakure. Everyone picked up their pace as they listened to the many booms and blasts of the fighting getting closer and closer.
The core group that headed in with Harou came bustling onto a high enough mountain peak that surveyed over part of the destruction happening in the village. It was a good place to have a public showing of war at somewhat safe distances. The ever rising smoke stacks that rose from the village smothered the bright blue sky that watched over them. Flames danced elegantly as they stood watching for a moment on the wide and jagged overhang. It would soon be something that they would join in on.
"Hey you're blocking my view," a sudden sharp voice arose out of nowhere
The whole group, except Harou, jumped around to see where the unexpected voice had come from. Their sights fell onto an innocent bystander that was nonchalantly hanging out on a nearby boulder. The blue skinned man smoothly slid off onto the ground and began a slow approach to all the wide eyed shinobi. His beady eyes and shark-toothed smile kept them frozen in place with shock by the unforeseen encounter of such a person in a place such as this. Completely ignoring the others the shark man approached the side of the unmoving Harou as he dusted off his black and red cloak.
"Nice view eh Harou-kun," Kisame commented, "I do have to say it is an enjoying sight to see wouldn't you say?"
Harou stood still and silent.
"The silent treatment huh?" he laughed, "Where is the fighting spirit? You don't expect to be going down there with that attitude and expect to win. You should know better than that Harou-kun."
"Silence yourself Hoshigaki," Harou softly spoke, "I don't know what it is you're doing here but I never thought it would be here of all places that I would see your traitorous face again. Why would you be in Kumogakure?"
"Don't worry I'm not helping out Kumogakure or anything if that is what you're thinking. I've just been here watching the show. It's been pretty wonderful so far but this surprise encounter has sparked my excitement even more," Kisame placed his hand on Harou's shoulder, "What do you say we have a go for old times sake?"
"I don't have time to mess with you," Harou slapped Kisame's hand off him, "We have more pressing matters to handle with than deal with a traitor such as yourself. My personal vendetta is of no importance compared to what's at stake here."
"Aw c'mon my old friend don't you wanna stay and play for awhile," Kisame sarcastically pleaded, "I was told to only be an observer through all this stuff but watching all this destruction has gotten me hungry for a fight and fate would have it that you would cross my path."
"I don't care how you feel. We're continuing on," Harou montioned to his group to move out.
Without any hesitation Kisame lifted his bandaged sword off his back and charged towards Harou who was walking away with the rest. Harou swiftly unlatched his jagged blade from his side and blocked the strike. The excited look in Kisame's eyes were met with a cold and livid stare, as he fully knew this major annoyance would not let him be and was jeopardizing the situatoin. Then in a quick response several of Harou's fellow shinobi charged from several directions only to be easily kicked away by Kisame's powerful legs as he still held his position on Harou. Harou pushed Kisame off and raised his hands to his comrades that were getting back up to try another strike.
"Stop! Don't waste your energy on him," he commanded, "You are all needed elsewhere. We've fallen behind the rest so just continue on the mission. Seeing as he won't let me go I'll handle things here."
Somewhat hesitantly the shinobi lingered for a moment unsure if leaving their leader was the best thing to do. On one hand they knew that he was being forced into a fight he could not avoid and the other was that they felt they would need him greatly for this epic battle in Kumogakure. Harou stood firm his hand clenching tightly to his sword as he took a last glance at his men as if to say that he trusted them all to get the job done even with him being held up. His firm eyes sprouted a newfound confidence in them and so they dashed off to their destinations. Harou then turned his attention back to a grinning Kisame.
"That's more like it, you and me one-on-one. I can just see the fire blazing in your eyes."
"I'm going to end you quickly Hoshigaki and rejoin my comrades where I belong," he affirmed as he took his battle stance.
Gaara's group darted across the inner workings of the shopping district. They jumped over charred debris and passed through half demolished buildings as they continued their way to the Raikage's administration building. As luck would have it they had encountered very few enemies along the way thanks to the majority of them being tied up with their fellow sand-nin. It was thanks to this that they were able to manuver so quickly through the village.
Gaara stood in the middle of the group while Kankuro led the way waving directions around each bend and corner that they needed to take. What seemed like a timeless winding trip through a maze of destruction was only trailing by in a matter of minutes. The path finally led into what looked to be the main square of commerce in the town. There was little damage to the area so far so the place still held its beauty. Rows upon rows of booths ran along the square filled with edible items, novelty products, game booths, nifty gadgets, household appliances, etc. It was an extravagant festival of sorts packed into a now deserted place. Smack dab in the center of the square was a marble fountain that was a statue of the Raikage. His open embracing hands had a gentle flow of water streaming down them into the small pool at the bottom. It was as if he was not offering a comforting welcome but an open challenge to anybody who would contest his power.
After gathering a good view of the place, Gaara and the rest proceeded to continue on their path. Just as they took a few steps forward several kunais, with explosive tags latched onto them, planted into the pavement around them. With not much time to react the tagged kunais released their destructive power causing chunks of concrete, stone, and wood to dart of in every which direction. The sounds of impaling objects and agony shuddered in the heavy smoke of the debris and was then followed by soft thuds hitting the ground. The smoke slowly cleared releaving a well-sized dome of sand and a handful of lifeless sand-nin. Gaara released the hard sand dome that receded back into his gourd. He looked over the remaining people that he kept safe and held a inner mourning for the ones he could save. His gaze then met with Kankuro as they both knew that more enemies had discovered them. Both of their heads, as well as the other sand-nin, darted from spot to spot trying to uncover the culprits on hand.
"Over here," a burly voice echoed out.
Everyone turned their attention to the Raikage statue that was still standing firm inside the square, despite that newly made cracks running along it. Standing there very serenely were three confident looking cloud-nin holding bright grins on their faces. The one on the right appeared to be the youngest of the three. She was a radiant beauty with soft creamy skin and intense black eyes that could pierce one's soul. A pair of lip piercings shined brightly under the midday sun and her headband hung loosely around her neck. Her dark purple hair was tied back into a ponytail leaving a few locks free to dangle over her face. The tight fitting black pants and white vest, that showed off her midriff and looked as if it could barely conceal her rather large bustline, flaunted off her slender figure. She also sported some fishnet arm warmers that only furthered her sleek style. There was also a belt that hung off her waist at an angle that displayed several scrolls and a weapons pouch attached to it.
The quiet male of the left looked to be the most laid back. His short spiky silver hair drew little attention away from his deep dark blue eyes, shiny headband around his head, and perfectly formed face. He wore a set of black fingerless gloves and had an armguard on his right arm. The navy blue short sleeve jacket showcased a set of buckles instead of a zipper. It was opened freely revealing a black shirt that was fit snuggly under it. A pair of matching shorts hung slightly past his knees. Each leg had a respective weapons case wrapped on each side, the right being a case for shurikens and the other displaying a sheathed dagger. His attire was finished off with a set of bandages wrapped around the rest of his legs from his knees down to his shinobi shoes. The man's well toned body and pale skin even added more onto his majestic standing.
The final one of the three, who was obviously the oldest and the leader of the three, stood proudly in the middle. He had silky sable hair styled into a fauxhawk, deadly brown eyes that killed on sight, and evenly tanned skin. The leader wore his headband in the same fashion as the other male. He wore a simple short sleeve black jacket that was zipped right up to the creases of his defined chest and some black pants that had several loops running down the side each fitted with a kunai. There was a large equipment pouch that hung off his back waist and a pair of omnious butterfly swords were strapped onto his back. A tribal designed tattoo ran along his right arm from his shoulder down to his elbow. He was a powerfully built person and it only fueled his foreboding persona.
"Unfortunately for you guys," the burly voice, which belonged to the man in the middle, said, "Raikage-dono sent us on an important mission to intervene on the Kazekage's group…We are Team Lightning. I am Hayao."
"Name's Kuuya," the laid back guy gently spoke.
"And I'm Kimiko," the sultry female followed suit.
"Ha lucky for us," Kankuro sarcastically huffed.
Gaara waved his hands to his remaining group to split off to his right and left flanks to even them out better against the three attackers. Kankuro stepped over to Gaara's backside as he placed his hands on one of four scrolls he had located on his back. As everyone prepared to attack Team Lightning another unprepared occurrence happened as a large flash bomb landed between the two groups. A flash of bright light blinded them as it went off letting neither of the groups see what was going to appear next. Then as the light started to fade Gaara, as well as the rest of the group, could make out the shapes of another set of three figures that had arrived on the scene. His eyes slightly widened as he began to recognize the three newcomers.
"You're…," he started to speak as he addressed all three.
"Yo what's up Gaara-kun. Long time no see," a dark-skinned male slightly slurred as he sucked on a lolipop, "Team Samui is here to lend a hand."
"You got that right Omoi," Karui agreed.
"Stay focused you two," Samui ordered, "We can't forget that Team Lightning is no push-over."
"This means that the renegade cloud are here with you guys," Gaara stated as a fact rather than a question.
"That's right," Samui responded, "Now is the time we give this village back its honor and respect that these lowlifes took away."
"Just leave these guys to us," Omoi smirked, "Go take care of Tobikuma Nozomu."
"Arigato," Gaara smiled.
"Thank us after this is all over," Karui looked back at them.
Gaara, Kankuro, and the rest nodded their heads and quickly rushed off.
"Hmm it looks as if we have ourselves a little standoff here. Feels like olds time huh," Hayao shrugged, "Alright then shall we have at it?"
"Yeah let's go," Omoi was the first to step forward, "This is for the man who was our true and rightful Raikage."
I had fun writing this chapter. I usually have a hard time making new characters but they seemed to roll of my mind pretty easily this time. Getting better as I go along. I'm off to write the next chapter which I will have up as soon as I can.