An: Again sorry for the wait. But work is eating up a lot of my free time. Let me thank all those who review as always, your humble author S. o. t. A.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and I'm doing this for fun not profit.
Chapter 59: Tora, Tora, Tora
Zabuza leaned against a tree the comforting sound of swords clanging against each other washing over the training field his team was using. Making sure the clash between Mugen and Jin didn't suddenly spiral into another attempt at killing each other, he allowed his mind to wander to the first two brats he had trained. He had received a pair of letters from them the day before and although he had made great fanfare of not carrying what they contained. The smile his wife had sported as he took them and stashed them roughly in his Kiri vest told him that she knew otherwise. He had read them privately that morning before Squad One had showed up for morning training.
Although he had known what recent events in his boys lives they would contain, and as far as he was concerned they were still his boys. As when Naruto made Hokage and Haku became a big shot clan head or whatever laid in his future. Zabuza fully planned to brag about how he was the one that started them on their paths to greatness, at least when he was an old man and no longer wanted to maintain his feared image.
He had heard about Danzou's attempt on Naruto, and the return of his mother from Mei long before the letters arrived, due to the constant stream of information being passed between Konoha, Suna, and Kirigakure. Hearing of them in Naruto or Haku's words made them seem more real. Naruto naturally put a positive spin on it focusing on how his mother had been returned to him. Haku though being more inclined to worry about the younger boy that he saw as a brother spoke more openly about his concerns that Danzou's escape meant he would make another attempt at killing Naruto.
Zabuza didn't doubt for a moment that was a possibility. The fact he contained the nine-tails all but guaranteed that Danzou would need to remove him from the board for whatever scheme of revenge he had planned against his former home. What bothered him about the fugitive elder's escape was that how effortlessly he had disappeared. That he could do so in what should have been a devastating turn of events for him told Zabuza that the man had already had something big in the works.
Mei's Anbu were working overtime to make sure that not only had Danzou not escaped to Kiri. But also attempting to locate the Sanbi, which was due to reform soon, as well as trying to find Utakata. He knew that Konoha was also looking for the Sanbi, and it was agreed that should they find it first that they would contact Kiri to help defend it from Akatsuki. He knew that Mei was also toying with the idea of creating a new jinchuriki with it, but he wasn't sure if she would go through with it. Mainly he felt she might not because a future host would need to be a very young child who in turn would have to be defended from those after the beast.
Utakata in Zabuza's estimates was a long shot of turning up anytime soon however. For one, Jiraiya's network of spies had turned up very little in the way of the man's movements. That told him that the Jinchuriki was keeping to himself and if he did appear in towns then they were probably little backwoods ones that had barely any outside contact with the world at large.
Zabuza had worked with the Jinchuriki on several occasions and had been impressed with his skill. He also knew the man had a deep love for his sensei Harusame. It had been after his failed attempt to kill Yagura that word had reached Zabuza's ears that Utakata had defected. It wouldn't be until his return to the village that he would learn why. That being that the jinchuriki believed his Master had attempted to kill him by removing his Bijuu. Most of Kiri had believed that to be true as well, popular opinion being that Yagura had ordered it for one reason or another.
However after Mei had taken office and in hopes of luring Utakata back to the village. She had ordered an investigation into the incident. Tsurugi, the hunter-nin in charge of locating Utakata, turned the popular theory upside down though when he uncovered notes that Harusame had left behind and Yagura had hidden away in the archives. In truth, Harusame had began to suspect that Yagura was being controlled and believed what was making it possible was the Bijuu he had sealed inside him. While unaware of whom the puppet master was, but afraid the man would begin to control his own beloved apprentice. He attempted to remove the Bijuu at a site simply known as The Henge. Sadly though Harusame's attempt failed and Utakata transformed in his Bijuu before killing his master in his berserker state.
Strangely enough The Henge remained all but unscathed. Leaving many to believe that the reason Harusame had selected the sight for his attempt were the rumors that it was created by the Sage of the Six Paths.
Zabuza shrugged such thoughts away as for the moment at least it wasn't his problem. Instead he focused on what was, making his team into a powerful force for his village. After passing them, Zabuza had read each of his students' files and although it confirmed much of what he had learned from the test. They had also told him what motivated each of them.
His eyes landed on Mugen, who was knocked to the ground by Jin but he blocked the bespectacled boy's next sword strike, who was using a dull sword of course, with the metal plates he had affixed to the bottom of his geta. Jin was forced to step back when Mugen swung at his leg giving the wild looking boy the opportunity to spin back to his feet.
Zabuza smiled beneath his wraps as Mugen resumed attacking. He knew the boy got by purely on instinct and the skill that could only be earned by a lifetime of fighting. If Zabuza could impart into him focus, he had little doubt the boy would become an unstoppable force. In truth though Zabuza hadn't needed to look at Mugen's file to learn what motivated him. The same thing had once motivated Zabuza after all. It was a desire to force an uncaring world that seemed hellbent on removing him from it, into recognizing that he was there to stay. Zabuza had little doubt that Mugen had already bathed in the blood of many who had seeked out his death. Growing up on the Ryukyu Islands as he did, Zabuza knew even the innocent born there had to become killers to survive. Whether or not Mugen would ever come to care about those around him remained to be seen Zabuza supposed.
The file on Jin was relatively simple as he was the adoptive child of Mariya Enshirou. Expectations were high that he would have a great shinobi career. What motivated Jin was hard to say as while being a son of a prominent man, Zabuza was left with the impression that it left him feeling conflicted. In part that while indebted to him, Zabuza believed that Jin resented his adopted father as well. Or perhaps a system were a good man like Mariya, would be forced to work for the monster Yagura appeared to be. Zabuza believed that Jin was looking for someone to whom he could wholeheartedly dedicate his sword to. That at times worried Zabuza, as there was no guarantee that his wife would be that person.
Fuu Kasumi, if Zabuza was to be honest had been the hardest to read from how she had acted during the test. Therefore her file had provided him with the greatest amount of insight. Of course he had needed to look no further than her family name for it, as she was the daughter of Seizo Kasumi. As a result she was what could be considered a member of a fallen clan and carried a great deal of resentment against the man that had caused her family's fall from grace, her father. Although Zabuza's rebellion had been the largest, it was by no means the last. A group of likeminded individuals lead by Fuu's father had attempted to ambush Yagura once while he had personally overseen the destruction of a village that had been suspected of harboring a Kekkei Genkai user.
Yagura had easily defeated the men and had then made an example of their families. The Kasumi clan had been razed, leaving only Seizo's wife and daughter alive to live with the shame. However, Yagura to further dishearten future attempts at rebellion stripped them of everything while allowing the mother to complete only the most menial tasks by which to support her daughter. Sadly she had died shortly before Mei's rebellion leaving Fuu nursing a hatred of her father for putting his honor before his family.
Seeing that the sparring match was reaching the point where the two boys would probably begin striking at each to seriously hurt one another he called, "Alright that's enough. Go pack your gear. I want to be on the road just after lunch."
Fuu quickly nodded leaving to follow his order. Mugen and Jin continued staring at each other as if expecting the other to strike if either of them dropped their guard. "Don't make me come over there," Zabuza warned. Although they listened, they lowered their practice blades slowly, as they knew all too well if they didn't that Zabuza had no problem seeing his threats through.
Convinced that Jin wouldn't attack him with Zabuza standing there, Mugen turned saying, "Oi, this C-ranked mission better be the real deal, and not more of these shit ones we have been getting."
Zabuza chuckled saying, "Who knows, but you will be put up against a ninja."
"Hell yeah," Mugen said excitedly snatching up his gear to get ready. Jin spent a moment more to study Zabuza before bowing and leaving.
Zabuza's smile grew even larger under his wraps since he doubted when Mugen learned what the mission entailed that he wouldn't be nearly as excited. Still he was forced to admit that being a Jounin-sensei again was growing on him much the same way it had during Naruto and Haku's time with him.
As opposed to the day before, Hinata had awoken that morning feeling as if she was as light as a cloud. So much so that even the task she was about to perform couldn't dampen her spirits, namely telling her father that she was dating the man of her dreams and sharing him with her best friend. After Sakura and she had approached Naruto with the suggestion and his agreeing, Hinata had asked that they keep it quiet if only to give her enough time to tell her father. She knew he would support her in her relationship, even one as unorthodox as the one she now found herself in, but was also aware that the Hyuuga Main Branch elders would no doubt raise some objections to it. Not that she cared. But she wanted to give her dad time to prepare himself for their inevitable complaints and demands.
Nodding to the two Branch Family members standing guard over the entrance to the Hyuuga compound she proceeded to head to her father's study. Knocking at the door, she waited for his permission before entering. Receiving it, she slid the door open to see him looking over some documents.
Hiashi upon laying eyes on his eldest daughter smiled slightly before saying, "Ah Hinata," noticing her beaming smile he added, "You appear to be in high spirits this morning."
Hinata nodded before asking, "Do you have a moment?"
"Always," he replied pushing the documents to the side. "What is on your mind?"
Feeling a bit nervous, Hinata began poking her fingers together while she tried to think of how best to put the news she was there to deliver. Her father watched her with a tight smile beginning to guess at the reason as she exhibited a nervousness that he hadn't seen in her in years. Finally, working up her nerve she said, "As I'm sure you are aware I've had something of a crush on Naruto."
Eyeing her orange jacket the smile on Hiashi's face turned playful as he said, "True, despite how well you havehid it."
Hinata blushed at her father's teasing but continued saying, "Yes well, I thought it prudent to tell you that I have begun dating Naruto."
Hiashi felt a small bit of nerves hit him as well. He knew the day would come when his daughter's would come to him bearing such news. But despite knowing such a day would come, still felt that it would be better if it had been decades from now. Reaching for his tea, he began to take a sip to calm himself when Hinata hit him with some knowledge that he never expected to hear as she said, "Sakura and I have also agreed to share him so she is dating Naruto as well."
"Mmhmm," Hiashi said as he sipped his team listening but not really. A moment later though his brain did process what his daughter said causing him to spit his tea in a fine spray as he stood saying, "What!"
"I said…"
"I heard what you said," Hiashi said cutting her off. Calming, he sat rubbing his temples as he said, "Hinata, do you really think the elders will let such a relationship stand. It'll be hard enough to convince them to let you date a boy from outside the clan."
Hiashi actually sat back in his chair as Hinata's smile faded to be replaced with a frown and a glare that made him think of his wife from when he'd put his foot in his mouth around her. Her voice sounded calm but carried an undercurrent of ice with it as she said, "Father, I came to you to tell you this not as a member of the Hyuuga but as your daughter. Also, I understand the pressure that the Elders will put on you, but let me be clear. I don't care what they think. I will not allow them or even you to get in the way of my relationship with him."
With that said, Hinata rounded on her heel about to storm off. Feeling bad about ruining her good mood he quickly said, "Hinata."
She stopped at the door, her hand resting on it to slide it open. Guessing she was waiting to hear what he said before continuing to storm off or to stay in the room he said, "I'm sorry I reacted poorly. I am glad that you have achieved one of your dreams, even if the way you went about it was rather unusual. I will do all that I can to support you. But don't underestimate just how far the elders will go to make you submit to their will on this matter."
Hinata turned from the door saying, "I don't understand. You are the clan head."
"True and I remain such despite the fact that many would see me removed due to the support of the Branch Family. But if the elders were to all turn against me then without any allies in the Main Family. Chances are they would remove me for someone who would make you submit to their wishes."
Hinata nodded, but her refusal to back down was evident especially as she said, "Then you should make new allies."
With a polite bow, she exited the room leaving a stunned Hiashi to sink back into his chair. Shaking his head, he looked at a picture of his family from when his wife and brother were still alive. Despite the rather tenuous position he now found himself in. He smirked as he said aloud to himself, "They grow up so fast."
"Who does father?" The voice of his youngest daughter said surprising him. Looking up from the picture he saw Hanabi looking at him in confusion. Noticing that she was wearing a yellow shirt for much the same reason Hinata had worn orange he said, "It doesn't matter. Is something troubling you?"
Although something did seem to be bothering her, Hanabi shook her head saying, "No, but it is five minutes past our scheduled training session."
Surprised, Hiashi looked up at a clock to see that Hanabi was right. Guessing he had been lost in thought he told his daughter, "Let us cancel it for the day. Why don't you go out and play with your friends."
Hanabi nodded, but she didn't smile as he expected as she left the room. Guessing it had to do with young Konohamaru; he frowned realizing that much like Hinata had only a short time before. The day when Hanabi would come to him in a similar manner was getting closer not farther away. And if much like Hinata, she decided to pursue someone outside the clan it in all likelihood would remove her from a position where she could take over his spot as Clan Head. Not willing to deny his daughters the chance to follow their hearts, he decided that Hinata was right. He did need new allies in order to enact the plan he had begun formulating should his daughters decisions to pursue the boys they had set their hearts disqualified them from leading the clan to ensure that a fool like Hideki didn't assume leadership if he was left with no viable heirs. Remembering an incident in the past when he had first had his arrogance at being a Main House member beaten out of him, he decided that perhaps outside the clan would be an excellent place to begin gathering the allies he needed.
Asuma entered the Akimichi restaurant that Chouji's mother ran in search of two of his former students. Truthfully though, he had known they were there before he had crossed the threshold due in part to the enthusiastic cheering of the kunoichi of what had been Team Ten.
"Come on Chouji kick their asses," Ino shouted as Asuma caught sight of her cheering from among a group of spectators.
The people were watching five people lined up on one side of a table gorging themselves on eel rice bowls. Chouji was sitting in the center surrounded by two of his kin while the two people at the edges appeared to be simply taking advantage of the free food from Ino's training regiment for Chouji's upcoming mission of entering the Port City Big Eaters Contest. The contest was an annual event in which sponsored Big Eaters could enter to win rather large rewards for winning the contest. And much like any contest in which it wasn't against the rules for shinobi to enter people often did hire them to either sabotage their rivals or in Chouji's case win the event through a healthy appetite. As the reigning champ for the past three years, he was the man to beat, and due to his shinobi training it was very difficult for other ninja to get one up on him through cheating.
Ino went along to make sure that she caught anything that did escape Chouji's notice. Watching her as she continued to cheer, Asuma got the feeling that somewhere along the way her feelings for Chouji had changed from friendship to something stronger. Yet, for some reason she refused to act on them. Dressed similarly to how she had been when she had first been assigned to Team Ten, he knew that to Chouji though she had always been the girl of his dreams. It had made Asuma proud when he had heard how hard the Akimichi had fought to protect her during the prison break Mizuki had masterminded. It had also probably been the point in time when Ino's own feelings had changed. As she had stopped commenting on his weight and at times even insisted that he ate more.
Asuma chuckled as he switched his attention from Ino to Chouji as the blonde's encouragement had spurned some rather impressive changes in the Akimichi. Although still rather heavyset, it was easy to see that he had become quite muscular as well. Due to how hard he trained and the control he had achieved in the Calorie Control Jutsu made it all the more striking when the fat he did build up was converted to chakra.
Crossing his arms, Asuma leaned against a post in the restaurant watching as the contest came to an end. The two non-Akimichi had given up during his studying his former students. Although Chouji's fellow clansmen were giving him a run for his money it became apparent that Chouji was going to be the winner as the other two men's chopsticks were beginning to slow. One gave up shortly after with the final man trying to finish one more bowl but was unable as he collapsed backwards. Chouji finished the one he was on placing the bowl among his empties before standing and basking in the crowds' applause and was almost knocked over by Ino who was the first to congratulate him.
Moving towards them, Asuma heard Ino saying, "Great job Chouji. You were only one bowl away from what you ate during last year's contest. Keep that pace and you're a shoe in."
"Thanks to you Ino," Chouji said causing the blonde's cheeks to color slightly.
The color intensified as she noticed their old sensei approaching causing her to say, "Asuma-sensei?"
Chouji turned to greet him by nodding his head which Asuma returned. "Hey guys, you two got a moment?" When they nodded he said, "I've been picked to lead a team to look for the three tails."
Asuma noticed that Ino's face fell at that as she realized that he was probably there to tell them that they would be accompanying him. Ino looked to Chouji quickly to gauge his reaction and although he seemed disappointed appeared resigned to missing the contest. Much as he expected Ino wasn't willing to let go of something she wanted without putting a few words in saying, "Um, we have a mission already."
Chuckling Asuma said, "I'm aware, and far be it from me to interfere. You'll be joining my team after you return from Port City. Hopefully by then we'll have found it and you'll be helping us to secure it from Akatsuki."
Both teens' faces hardened at the mention of the organization as they grimly nodded. Bidding them good day he caught Ino saying, "Don't think this is letting you off the hook for taking me bathing suit shopping after you win."
Asuma shook his head as he stepped out to look at the sky raising his hand as he though he caught something approaching in the sky but was being hidden by the sun, while thinking that maybe Ino wasn't holding back on her feelings as much as he had thought.
"Take it again."
"What!"
Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose at the petulant sounding reply before glaring at the person seated across from her. Much to her annoyance the woman didn't wilt under her glare so she said, "Take your Shinobi I. D. photo again."
"Why?" Kushina asked. "There's nothing wrong with it."
Looking at the card in her hand it showed Kushina except her face was done up in Kabuki face-paint. Feeling that the conversation she was currently engaged in should be with someone fresh out of the academy not a decorated jounin she said, "These cards are meant to identify the shinobi in question. How are we supposed to do so if your picture is of you in clown make-up?"
Kushina huffed but said, "Come on. You'd identify me by my lovely long red hair or gorgeous eyes. Of course, the whole point is moot if I'm beheaded in combat which would mean the card would be useless anyway."
Feeling the onset of a massive headache, Tsunade was about to put her foot down when an explosion went off in the middle of the village. She turned back to see Kushina right in front of her only to hear the woman say, "Yoink," as she took her I.D. card from her before running off to help repel the invaders.
Making her way to the window, Tsunade narrowed her eyes as she saw the people responsible for attacking her village were Sky Ninja as they flew about above Konoha. One of the invaders began hovering in front of the building and strafing the windows. When he reached the one she was behind she caught the kunai his contraption had fired and then with all the strength she possessed tossed it back at him. The kunai easily passed through both man and glider catching another Sky ninja as he passed behind his compatriot. Leaping through the window, she kicked a third into the ground before picking him up and tossing him and his glider into one of their larger flying devices that she knew could deliver powerful blasts to the village if left unchecked.
As the bomber began crashing to the ground she became aware that she had attracted several squads' worth of attention. As they bore down on her, she smiled knowing that everyone of them that targeted her was one less that targeted her shinobi and was determined to show them why she bore the title Hokage.
Kushina tucked her I. D. card into her pocket as she ran from the office and made her way to the roof. She had recognized the gliders almost immediately having encountered them during the Third Great Shinobi war alongside Minato. Although the country had been destroyed by Konoha in the Second, many of the shinobi or their descendents had survived to become semi-mercenaries in the employ of Iwa during the Third. Iwa had hoped that with their abilities to mold their chakra into a mist, which kept the gliders afloat, the shinobi would be able to strike Konoha thus crippling it. Much the same way the destruction of Kannabi Bridge by Team Minato had hampered Iwa's war efforts. The Fourth Tsuchikage, who had instigated the war, had hoped the Sky country assault would give Iwa time to regroup in order to launch a new offensive.
However, she and Minato had literally stumbled right on top of the fleet as it was restocking to attack Konoha. She smiled as she remembered the carnage they had wrought on the group of ships and although many had managed to escape. The advance warning they had been able to give Konoha assured that a follow up attack by a team led by her and Minato, due to her using one of the gliders to sneak aboard to throw one of his kunai, ended any chance of such an attack. Looking at the destruction being delivered to the village, she was positive that luck had been on their side that day. She only hoped it would be there today as they drove out the invaders. She reached the roof and from her vantage point could see the teacher who had graded her recertification test trying to get his panicked students to the shelters.
She watched as Iruka looked away as the first of his students made it to the path so missed one of the ones in back tripping and falling. An enemy glider didn't though and began making a dive on the scared students. Iruka looked back before following after the students to see one of his the first years holding his knee and crying. Stifling back a curse he charged forward to snatch up the student as the kunai launcher began launching its bladed projectiles at the child no doubt hoping to catch the teacher as well. Iruka reached his student but knew he probably wouldn't make it back as the kunai began impacting the earth near his position working their way towards him. Turning his back to the enemy to take the impacts himself, Iruka was surprised when he was suddenly hit from the side.
Directing his gaze to what had slammed into him, he saw Kushina already rolling to her feet taking up a position between him and the glider, which was banking away to make another pass. As it came around in another dive, he got to his feet as well carrying his student towards the path that would lead to the shelters. As he ran, he looked over his shoulders and saw the red-head standing her ground as the enemy's kunai launcher began firing at her. He wondered what she was playing at as the kunai began impacting the ground tracing a deadly path towards her.
At the last second however, she pivoted out of the way. As she did so she reached into a kunai holster on her leg and pulling the blade out by the ring. She spun it on her finger using the eyelet and then threw it up at the enemy as he passed above her catching him in the throat causing him to crash into the playground. Iruka watched stunned as it had happened so seamlessly that it appeared almost like a dance. The student he carried was also stunned saying, "Wow, did she really do all those calculations like wind speed and angles in her head."
Iruka was just glad that he was far enough away that she probably didn't hear the question. As the last thing he needed was for her to reply that she probably hadn't. Reaching the path he saw another chunin instructor heading towards him saying, "Iruka, are you alright?"
"Yes, my class?"
"Don't worry the rest of them are on their way to the shelters. When they said you came under attack, I came back to see if you were alright."
"Thanks," Iruka said handing his student to the man, "Can you make sure he gets there in one piece. I'll follow behind shortly."
The instructor nodded heading back the way he came so Iruka approached Kushina who was unhooking the glider from the dead Sky-nin. "Thank you," he said as she straightened placing the glider on her back.
"You're welcome," Kushina replied fastening the harnesses to herself.
"Can you actually fly that thing?"
"I'm sure it's like riding a bike," she replied having done so during the Third War once. Creating a hand-sign Kushina began turning her Water Chakra into mist and Iruka was surprised that she generated so much that he had trouble standing next to her. With a sudden powerful push that propelled Kushina upwards and Iruka skidding away along the ground, she shouted, "Sorry." As she flew off far faster than any of the Sky ninja seemed capable of traveling.
As she zeroed in on a group of enemy ninja, she promised to make them regret not learning the lesson of not messing with Konoha.
Naruto had long since come to realize that life as a ninja was filled with moments of strong emotional peaks and valleys. He just wished that sometimes the plateaus lasted a little longer as he only had a single night to bask in the simple fact that despite not knowing how he achieved it. He was dating the two young women that had always had a hold on his heart.
Unfortunately before he could think on the matter more, the current crisis demanded his attention as he avoided several kunai that had been fired at him by a passing squad. Cursing aloud, he pulled his sword and fired off a Wind Cutter that caught one of the men in the torso slicing him and his glider in half. The other three broke off their attack so Naruto looked around for another target. He spotted a low flying glider that was firing down the street at some civilians, but was unfortunately out of his jumping range. He created a clone that grabbed him and spinning tossed him at the shinobi.
"What the he…" the man began to say as Naruto landed on the back of his flying device. But he was silenced as Naruto charged his blade with wind chakra and then bisected the top half of the craft, man's head included. Before the glider fully lost power he was already running across it and leaping, jumped to the roof of a building. Landing roughly, he rolled to his feet as several more gliders began to converge on his position.
Naruto prepared himself as best he could ready to use the shadow clone jutsu to confuse them and to absorb some of the many kunai about to head his way. Just as he could see the shinobi bringing their weapons to bear a shout of, "Naruto," caught his attention.
Looking in the yeller's direction he said confused at what he was seeing, "Mom," as she was flying towards him at a high rate of speed. Getting over his surprise, he stuck his hand out and she grabbed it as she passed over the roof.
Kushina tossed him up towards the back of her glider where using chakra he hung on for dear life. Avoiding the fire of the gliders that had banked after them as they whizzed through the buildings of Konoha, Naruto asked, "How do you even know how to fly one of these things?"
Concentrating ahead she nonetheless replied, "They simply turn their water chakra into a mist. Me and your father had a run in with them during the Third War. I took one of their gliders to their ships where using one of the kunai Minato gave me. I summoned him and a task force to sink them before they could attack Konoha."
Before Naruto could comment he felt his stomach lurch as Kushina suddenly rounded a building sharply needing to avoid the kunai being launched at them. When one of the gliders appeared around the corner as well Naruto threw a kunai that impacted and dug into the man's glider seemingly harmlessly. His mother having seen it commented, "Perhaps I should take you to the throwing ranges to show you how it is done."
"Hey," Naruto said indignantly at his mother's teasing. But when the glider reformed with his squad, a devious smile appeared on his face as he made the hand-sign to ignite the exploding tag he had wrapped around the handle. The explosion engulfed two of the other gliders, and caused the third to be blown into a building where it carved a groove, no doubt killing the pilot as well.
"I take it back," Kushina said proudly.
"Like Zabuza always said, try and make sure your actions can take out as many chumps as possible," Naruto said looking over his shoulder to make sure nothing else was following them.
Kushina looked ahead sadly at that and at the fact Naruto needed to leave the village to find a teacher who had valued him during his childhood. Shaking off the melancholy as wasteful, since she had vowed to make up for all the lost time with her son, she regardless made a promise to thank the man for the job he had done in making sure Naruto was ready to face the challenges that came with being a shinobi.
"Hey mom, what's that?" Naruto asked pointing to the strangely shaped flying device in the middle of a pack of gliders.
Recognizing it as a bomber and aware of the damage it could do, she replied, "Its trouble and about to become scrap." Directing the glider towards it and with the help of her son, Kushina set about to make her words a reality.
A Sky Ninja smiled beneath his mask as he lined up a shot at a shinobi carrying one of his wounded compatriots. Just before he could pull the trigger that would launch the kunai something heavy landed on the back of his glider. Looking over his shoulder, he saw what appeared to be a puppet. But when it said, "I'll take that," before it pulled his kunai launcher out of his grasp, he realized there was a person inside.
His life ended when Ami asked, "Now how do you work this thing?" Accidently triggering the device it discharged in the gawking man's face causing the glider to dip suddenly throwing her off its back. Spreading the wings of her suit she shouted, "Sorry," behind her despite the man obviously being dead.
Coming up behind two gliders she used the kunai launcher she had procured peppering the backs of their gliders in kunai. One kunai hit something important as the glider suddenly began shooting out black smoke before crashing into the ground. His partner banked sharply but Ami followed behind him catching up. Firing the launcher again it spit out two more kunai before running dry. Cursing she threw it to the side, planning to pick up more for another suit she was working on.
Her target apparently thought that her being out of kunai meant she was no longer a threat so pulled upwards and turned to face her. Ami smiled beneath the crying woman image her mask was at the man's foolishness. He brought his launcher up and began firing at her. But she effortlessly slid between the kunai and just before they passed each other pressed a button in her gauntlet that triggered the whips she had taken from Fuki during their match at her second Chunin Exam. Charging them with her chakra nature, she cracked it and watched as the whip passed effortlessly through man and machine due to her wind nature.
Letting go of the button she had pressed, the whips coiled back into the bottom of her gauntlet. Angling upwards, she climbed higher into the sky to get a good vantage point of the battle. Catching sight of a target of opportunity, she depressed another button inside the gauntlet that caused a kunai to shoot from the top of it.
The kunoichi the kunai hit grabbed at her neck causing her to crash into another of her fellow shinobi causing them both to crash into the earth. The two remaining gliders spotted her and turned to attack. Diving, Ami planned to use her greater maneuverability to lose them by flying through the village.
Haku created a mirror above a squad of shinobi as they guarded a bomber. Stepping through it he allowed gravity to do the rest as it pulled him to the earth. As he passed through the group he formed an Ice Blade that resembled Zabuza's sword. Cutting through two shinobi at once, as he passed between them, he then threw two senbon that buried themselves into vital areas of the other two members of the squad. Landing on the top of the bomber he cut away one of the wings keeping it afloat. As the flying device began spinning wildly, Haku leapt off and then created another mirror in midair which he fell into. Appearing at the roof he had started from, he skidded to a stop needing to kill his momentum.
He caught sight of Ami diving down the street near the building he was on top of. Knowing she would pass near him and that the two gliders following behind her would as well he created an ice clone. The clone ran towards the end of the roof and as the gliders passed by jumped onto the back of one of them. The clone then froze glider and pilot solid causing them to smash into the street below and shattering into pieces. His partner spared a moment to look behind him to see what had happened, but that proved to be a fatal mistake. Looking forward the man began screaming and threw his arms up as if to ward off the coming blow, but still died as he crashed headlong into the building as the street ended.
Haku watched as Ami tossed him a salute after having pulled up, before going in search of more targets. Following suit, Haku began running along the rooftops but was glad it appeared the enemy's numbers were thinning.
"It doesn't make sense," Shikamaru said from inside a building that had suffered heavily under the air assault. An enemy shinobi was hovering near the opening firing into it hoping to hit the shadow user with a lucky hit.
Unluckily for him, the kunoichi with him wasn't nearly as patient as Shikamaru was. Pulling her fan Temari sent a wind scythe at the flying shinobi that caught him in the midsection separating his legs from his torso. As the dead enemy fell to the ground she asked, "What doesn't?"
"This whole attack," Shikamaru said. "What purpose does it serve?"
Temari shrugged saying, "Perhaps they are hoping to soften Konoha up for an invading ground force."
Shikamaru nodded but replied, "But where is it going to come from. We're days from any enemy border and the chances that they could get here before we prepared defenses is pretty much impossible."
Temari nodded but countered, "Unless they plan to keep pounding the village until the ground forces arrive."
"A possibility true," Shikamaru conceded, "But it doesn't feel like it. Not to mention they've lost close to half of their attacking force it appears. Unless they have massive reserves they'd spend themselves before we did." Dropping to the ground from the second floor of the building he began running towards the Hyuuga district.
"Where are you going," Temari called after him.
"To find a Hyuuga," was the reply.
Confused, Temari dropped down as well to follow after him to find out what Shikamaru had planned.
As Sakura worked to repair a cut artery in the wounded civilian she was trying to save, she spared a moment to think about how this was the one part of her chosen field of expertise that she didn't like. Which was that during an invasion or battle, she was expected to remain in the rear while her friends put themselves at risk. However, upon mending the artery she knew it was a necessity in order to save lives.
Calling out she was finished two orderlies took the man away and she was surprised that another person wasn't immediately put in front of her. Looking up at the nurse in charge of the triage in confusion, she asked, "Don't tell me this is all?"
The nurse nodded saying, "The rest of the patients that have been shipped here appear to already have received medical attention."
Getting up from her work area, she moved to where the incoming patients were kept and was surprised to see the nurse wasn't exaggerating. Moving to a man with a tube sticking out of his chest Sakura knew it was to allow the man to breathe. Taking a moment to examine the techniques, she knew that it wasn't the work of a medical-nin of Konoha as none of the methods had used chakra.
Looking around the room in confusion she wondered who was responsible but a sudden influx of wounded from a different district forced Sakura to let the matter drop. Moving back to her work area she wondered if the benevolent healer was helping because he was in the right place at the wrong time, or if he was doing so with the idea of receiving something in return.
Tsunade stood atop a pile of wreckage of the gliders and pilots who had come seeking her life. Sensing another approaching from behind she allowed the man to think she was unaware to lure him in closer. However it proved unnecessary as a mane of hair in the form of a mouth grabbed ahold of the glider before tossing it away.
Jiraiya dropped down near her and knew better than to think she had been caught unaware by the pilot so remained silent. Still the smile he was giving her caused Tsunade to say, "That wasn't necessary I had him right where I wanted him."
"I know Princess," Jiraiya said smile still in place both aggravating and charming her. Raising his hand to his eyes he said, "It looks like they've had their fill."
Tsunade followed Jiraiya's line of sight and was glad to see that the retreating enemy had considerably less shinobi then they had arrived with. Directing her gaze back to Jiraiya, she said, "Still unless they have a ground force nearby this attack avails them nothing."
"If invasion is their goal," Jiraiya said, "It could just be them giving Konoha the middle finger for their defeats during the Second and Third War."
Tsunade nodded but said angrily, "Then I'm going to break it off." Dropping down from the wreckage she began heading to the hospital to help in the healing. As she made her way towards it Shikaku appeared in front of the two Sannin. "Shikaku, I want a team to follow these bastards back to their base. We'll form a counter attack unit as soon as they report back."
"That would be a waste of time I'm afraid, milady. If they launched this attack from those ships they used during the Third Shinobi War. They'd no doubt have moved long before our assault arrived."
"Damn it," Tsunade immediately replied wanting to destroy something.
Sensing his Hokage's anger, Shikaku quickly supplied, "Although, perhaps instead of sending a team to follow them, sending the assault team instead would be preferable."
"A team able to keep pace would arrive unable to do anything because of fatigue," Tsunade said directing her gaze to the elder Nara.
"True, if the team needed to keep up with them. But thanks to Shikamaru's foresight he managed to calculate where the enemy is heading."
"How?"
"He had the Hyuuga gauge how much chakra the enemy needed to keep in order to make it back to where they came from. Coupled with how long the battle lasted and their direction of retreat, he's positive they are somewhere near the Southern Coast near the River Country border. If we send a team immediately, they should arrive before the enemy moves or can launch a second assault."
"Good," Tsunade said, "Put your son in charge of the team. He's to pull any shinobi he feels will put these bastards down. Also you're to prepare Konoha to repel them in case they already have more forces on the way."
"As ordered," Shikaku said leaving to fulfill his Hokage's orders.
Tsunade began moving towards the hospital again. Jiraiya quickly fell in step with her. Although she hoped she was jumping at shadows, but due to Sky's past history of working for a village that tension was currently high with. She said, "Jiraiya."
"Yes Princess?"
"I want you to find out what prompted this attack. If it's just a bitter enemy looking to settle the score then fine."
"If not…" Jiraiya said leaving the sentence open knowing what she was thinking. That Iwa may have been pulling Sky's strings.
"We'll cross that bridge when we reach it," Tsunade replied heavily. Jiraiya nodded and leaning in gave her a quick kiss and a grope before running away.
Too tired to raise much of a fuss, she shook her head as she continued on her way. By the time she reached the hospital, she'd already received dozens of status reports. Pleased that the village had escaped with relatively light causalities despite the damage it had suffered, she stepped into the hospital finding it to be in a state of the organized chaos she would expect. Almost immediately Shizune approached her giving her updates on how dealing with the wounded was progressing. She was surprised when Shizune told her reports were coming in that the medical teams tasked with finding the wounded were coming across people that had already been treated.
Before she could ask if there were any ideas on who it was. The doors to the hospital were pushed open. Directing her gaze to the young person holding it open she found herself struck with a feeling of recognition. Realizing that she was probably having difficulty due to the person being at the age where features changed rather quickly, she found her gaze moving to who the door was being held open for. Having no difficulty recognizing the man, she said, "Shinno?" her surprise easy to hear. Her gaze traveled from him to the young man that he was carrying.
Motioning to one of the nurses the woman quickly brought a stretcher forward and Shinno placed the wounded but treated civilian down. Again her gaze moved to his young charge and with the information of who her master was Tsunade realized the person was Amaru. However, instead of having blossomed into a beautiful young woman it seemed to Tsunade that she was trying to downplay she was a girl by wearing unflattering clothes.
Focusing on the traveling doctor she said, "I appreciate your assistance. But why do I get the feeling you're about to make matters worse for me?"
Shinno looked regretful but said, "I know this couldn't come at a worse time. But I need to call in that favor you owe me."
"What do you need?"
"Recently Amaru's village came under attack. We aren't sure by whom, but I was hoping you could lend us some shinobi. Naruto perhaps would be willing to lend us his aid."
At the mention of Naruto, Tsunade's eyes hardened and she feared the attack on the village was all a ploy to get at Naruto while her direction was focused elsewhere. She knew she didn't hide it as the man quickly said, "It's a matter of your choice of course. I just was left with a healthy respect for his abilities due to our first encounter."
Tsunade nodded, and guessed she did overreact since Naruto did tend to leave a lasting impression with people. She was about to okay Naruto's going along with Hinata and Sakura when Shikamaru entered the hospital. Quickly closing with the Hokage, he handed her a list. Reading over the names she smiled but addressing Shinno said, "Sorry, but Naruto's talents are going to be needed elsewhere. But I'll make sure the team, I assign to you is just as capable." Tsunade fought down a frown as something passed over Shinno's face. He reined it in almost immediately, but still it had been there and although she couldn't be sure exactly of what it had been. Felt it was probably disappointment and perhaps a little anger. Still when Shinno thanked her, he made sure to sound polite and gracious.
Telling Shinno to prepare for his return trip and promising the shinobi she sent would meet him soon she motioned Shikamaru to follow her. When they were far enough away that she was sure nobody could overhear her, she said, "Your team has the go ahead. Make sure these bastards know what happens when they pick a fight with Konoha."
As Shikamaru took off to gather his team, Tsunade smiled at who the Nara had picked. She was sure that if Sky Country had regretted facing one Uzumaki the last time they had appeared. Going up against three was going to make them regret crawling out from under whatever rock they had been hiding beneath all these years.
Hinata waited patiently next to the Main Gate of Konoha with Sakura and their client. She was also trying her best to ignore the dark looks Amaru was sending their way. She wondered briefly what her problem was, and if her hostility was against the two kunoichi or their profession. Before she could ask she noticed a third person making their way towards them. She smiled at the kunoichi in recognition saying teasingly, "It's nice of you to join us Ami."
"I thought so too," Ami replied good-naturedly, "But I wanted to collect some of the toys these clowns left behind before it was all gathered up."
"Why?" Sakura asked.
Ami shrugged saying, "Never know when it'll come in handy." Turning towards the client she said, "Hi nice to meet you."
Shinno inclined his head while Amaru continued to glare. Not nearly as polite as Sakura and Hinata, and wondering why some boy was staring her down, Ami asked, "What the fuck are you staring at?"
"A killer," Amaru responded gruffly.
"Why you motherfucker," Ami said taking a step forward but was restrained by the other two kunoichi.
Chuckling attracted everyone's attention causing Sakura and Hinata to smile as they let go of Ami. Naruto stepped up saying, "It seems you're still as warm and friendly as I remember Amaru."
"And your still just a paid thug," Amaru replied angrily, "Not to mention last time all the trouble that surrounded that village came about to draw your precious Hokage out."
"True," Naruto conceded with a shrug, "But we dealt with it."
"Wrong," Amaru quickly countered, "Master Shinno did. You and Tsunade were too busy fighting and killing."
"I suppose you have a point," Naruto said, "How are you old man?"
Shinno chuckled as Amaru sputtered at the disrespectful way Naruto addressed him. Sounding kindly he said, "Well, Naruto. But I do admit I would feel better if you were coming with us."
"Don't worry, you have two of our best kunoichi with you," Naruto said directing a smile at his girlfriends.
Ami shouted, "Hey," when he didn't include her in the count.
Naruto ignored her as he got close enough to whisper, "You two be careful. Amaru's village is South of here so it's possible these assholes are causing her village problems too."
"We will," Sakura said.
"But don't forget you're actually part of the group that is going to fight them," Hinata supplied.
Naruto smiled saying, "Don't worry they won't know what hit them." His girlfriends nodded, and despite not having told anyone yet both leaned in kissing his cheeks. All three sported blushes afterwards, but Ami stared on with her mouth hanging open. She turned her attention to Amaru who was also sporting a blush but when she felt eyes on her focused on Ami. Both of them quickly turned away from each other.
Having watched it all Shinno felt a dark smile wanting to form as he thought, "My, how very interesting."
Kushina teased Naruto upon his arrival to where the Assault team was meeting, although she made sure only he could hear it since she wasn't sure if Hinata had informed her father yet. Watching on was Sai who stood back behind them several feet with a smile.
Shikamaru cleared his throat saying, "Alright, now that we are all here, let me explain the plan. Basically the goal is simple; we cripple any chance they have of attacking us again." Directing his gaze to Shino as well as his clansman Muta Aburame, Shikamaru said, "Your task will be to take out the enemy ships if they are indeed using them."
The two Aburame nodded causing Kushina to ask indicating her clan, "And our role."
Smiling Shikamaru said, "Is to make sure the enemy is too busy to notice his fleet being eaten from underneath him."
Kushina nodded, but asked, "What if they aren't using a fleet but based their attack from land?"
"Then I guess your role is still the same. Just do as much damage as you can."
The way Kushina and her son smiled at each other caused Shikamaru to feel a small pang of sympathy for the Sky Ninja. As something told him that when they put their minds to it, the Mother and Son team would be fully capable of fulfilling his order. Perhaps to an extent that even he couldn't truly imagine.
A wheezing cough filled the small chamber as Kabuto watched his weakened Master. "Lord Orochimaru, it's time we consider preparing for your ascension."
"All in good time Kabuto," Orochimaru said, "Now have you managed to get in contact with the good doctor as I asked."
"Yes, however he refused Tsukino's request that he come here to meet with you. He told her that his goal was finally within reach, so couldn't be bothered."
"Then I'm afraid we're going to have to insist. With his help I'll be able to master to my Reincarnation Jutsu to such a level that this tiresome need to change bodies every few years will be a thing of the past. I'll be able to live forever in my perfect host body. Make it happen, Kabuto."
"I already have," Kabuto said sounding pleased with himself for guessing Orochimaru's will on the matter. "I've sent Sasuke to retrieve the good doctor. Although our last report put Sasuke's target in the vicinity of Konoha, I directed Sasuke to wait near the village he kept returning too."
"Good. Soon Kabuto…cough…I'll have everything I've ever desired."
"As well it should be Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto said leaving the room to grab some more medicine for his master. As he entered the hall, Kabuto hoped everything happened as his Master expected, as he truly doubted that Sasuke was going to just hand over his body to Orochimaru when the time came.
Pushing past his doubts, Kabuto headed to his lab to fetch the medicine. Then once Orochimaru's condition stabilized he'd have to meet with the detestable woman Guren in order to inform her of Orochimaru's plans for her involving the Sanbi. Shaking his head that there never seemed to be enough time in the day for all that needed to be done. He smirked as soon Orochimaru would have all the time in the world to impart his will on the Shinobi Countries.