Thanks ABitterPill for betaing.
Disclaimer: reading Atlas will make you laugh, honest. Most of the time, anyway.
Chapter 11:
Invasion
The next couple of weeks followed a simple routine. Said routine involved training, training, kicking Hanabi's butt whenever she attempted to take revenge -which was on average once per day- for her previous humiliation, and preparing tear gas. And improving his flamethrower.
Then the day before the invasion arrived.
"According to my information, Suna's army will attack from the south," Danzo Shimura explained, examining the map of the Hidden Leaf with the rest of the people present. "Orochimaru will have summons destroy the outer wall, allowing the invasion force to advance unhindered. Meanwhile, agents of their will infiltrate the stadium and cast a Genjutsu on the audience, paralyzing them as Gaara transforms into the Shukaku."
Naruto, listening to the discussions in silence, briefly wondered why the Mizukage wasn't present, and quickly understood Konoha's higher-ups did not want her to learn of their plans. It made sense, considering she could easily betray them for Suna should she find an advantage.
"Tsunade-hime and I have already placed the traps," Jiraiya explained, his female teammate nodding. "This should take care of the summons."
"Jiraiya and Tsunade will serve as my bodyguards," Sarutobi explained. "Orochimaru and the Kazekage will probably attack me directly."
"The Hyuuga Clan as a whole will be present to witness the duel between Hinata and Neji," Hiashi continued, "We'll deal with the ninjas infiltrated in the stadium, alongside the Jounin teachers of the participating teams and the ANBU."
"The rest of us will deal with the attacking force, until Danzo-sama's reinforcements flank it," Shikaku Nara proclaimed, the rest of the Clan Heads nodding.
"Which leaves only one variable: the Shukaku." Sarutobi glanced at Naruto. "Do you think you can beat Gaara before he unleashes it? Or command the Kyuubi to restrain it?"
Naruto coughed. "Hokage-sama, it isn't Gaara that worries me the most. It's Sasori. If Orochimaru is present, his partner won't be far, and he will try to exploit the confusion to capture me. Perhaps interfere with our plans. An S-Class ninja of his caliber can alter the result of the entire operation. We can, however, trap him."
"You suggest we use you as a bait?" Hiashi asked.
"Yes. If I'm with Fuu-san, he won't resist the temptation." Naruto crossed his arms. "If you have the ANBU watching us…"
"But then, who shall take out Gaara?" Danzo replied, skeptical.
Naruto smiled. "There is a fourth Jinchuuriki in town, remember? He's pretty weird, but if I ask him to be serious just this once, Gaara will be toast."
After another hour of planning and discussions, the war meeting disbanded. Naruto found himself alone with Sarutobi. "I have something for you," he said, handing him over to him a familiar potion.
"The Samsara?" Naruto frowned upon recognizing it. "Why?"
"My labs finished examining the product, and it is impossible to mass-produce. The cells inside have been identified." Sarutobi inhaled sharply. "They belong to an Uzumaki."
"Sasori?" Naruto blurted out, before quickly realizing it was impossible, the man having forsaken his very body. "Akatsuki's leader?"
"Possible. Our attempts at reproducing the cell's special abilities failed due to an exceptionally potent, abnormal chakra. We suspect the cells are linked to their source, allowing the donor to influence them from distance. Use of the serum would allow him to control the victim to a degree. Periodic injections are needed, or else your organs start rejecting the foreign cells, with fatal consequences. Since an overdose would also be lethal, this serum is more trouble than it is worth. It's a glorified leash."
Naruto frowned. "Why give it back to me then? I don't want to use it."
"I pray you won't have to either. However, sometimes sacrifices have to be made. You have seen my teammate Danzo: he lost an eye and a hand for the Leaf. One day, you may have no choice but to use the Samsara to save the day."
"I won't need that. As long as I have a plan, everything will be fine." Naruto locked eyes with his mentor. "Old man?"
"Yes?"
"Don't die. You still have to take care of Perry."
"My grandson is taking care of it, and will adopt it should anything happen to us during the invasion," Sarutobi replied, before allowing himself a small bad joke, "Naruto, don't get captured, it would give me too much paperwork."
"You lazy bastard," the blonde snorted. "Bah, you'll bail me out, right?"
"Of course. But don't make a habit of it."
The morning of the third stage of the Exams, Naruto, walking down the street, picked up a small stone that was laying on the ground, rotated, and threw it at his stalker. "Ouch!" Hanabi complained. That hurts."
"If you are so obvious to detect in the field, it's a kunai to the head you'll get next time," Naruto scolded her, before sighing. "If I had known you would be so persistent, I would have approached Hinata on another day."
"It's your fault! You assaulted me!"
"Oh, come on, I simply put my fingers in your butt, nothing to-" He suddenly stopped, upon realizing passerby were staring at him with a shocked expression. Right, now they think I'm a pervert. Wonderful. "Look, if you keep pestering me I'll have to spank you so hard your ass will be red for an entire year!"
"Here you continue with the sexual harassment!" Hanabi ground her teeth in rage. "You humiliated me! Defiled me! I must regain my honor!"
Naruto glanced down at the bratty girl. "You know," he started, "I've got a friend who's a genuine pervert. He showed me a special technique he uses to defeat enemy Kunoichi. It's called 'Jiraiya's Heavenly Violation of Personal Space Technique'. It's as bad as it sounds. If you want to see a true master of sexual harassment, he's your man." He rolled his eyes. "As much as throwing stones at you is fun, you're giving me a bad reputation. Could you please stop bothering me?"
"Not until I defeat you!"
"Then come back in twenty years, maybe I'll take you seriously then." It further enraged her, much to his amusement. "In the meantime, why don't you go see your sister and cousin duel? When you reach their level, then I'll accept your challenge fair and square."
"Deal," Hanabi replied, pointing an index at him, "You're my rival now! When I've trained enough, I'm the one going to stick my fingers in your private areas!"
As she left him, Naruto briefly wondered why exactly he was attracting every psycho in the area. If Lee wasn't a crazy enough rival, now I've got that girl, the blonde whined inwardly. "Naruto-san, Tsunade Senju is approaching you," Apophis hissed to his ear, hiding under his clothes. The snake's scales were cold, and the contact had been slightly disturbing at first, until Naruto got used to it. The advantage was that the serpent was a powerful partner, and with his superior smell and ability to notice small pulsations in the ground, he could detect any sneak up attempt on the Uzumaki.
"Tsunade-hime," Naruto whispered, when the woman landed in front of him, "What can I do for you?"
"How did you notice me coming before I appeared?" she asked suddenly, having recognized the subtle signs in his body language. "No matter. Tenten and Hinata have told me a lot about you."
Naruto briefly narrowed his eyes. "See? I'm a decent guy."
"I wouldn't be so certain. I've been informed of the Hanabi incident." The blonde winced. "I blame Jiraiya's influence. Anyway, I wanted to learn more about my debtor, and I put the two and two together later." The Senju crossed her arms. "You're Kushina's brat, right?"
"She was my mom, yes, although I never met her, and don't know my dad either," Naruto replied, slightly surprised. "You were friends?"
"Yes. I figured, well, when the fighting is over... you might want to talk about her. About your family."
Naruto was at loss of words. "Isn't Konoha trying to keep me in the dark?"
"I want nothing to do with this political bullshit." The Senju sighed. "When this day is over... things will change, believe me."
"Good luck, boys and girls," Naruto told his fellow Konoha-nins, as they prepared to leave for the participants' lounge. The first match, Neji versus Hinata, would start within two hours. "And remember, don't forget to fight as dirty as you can."
"Nice advice." Tenten grinned at Shikamaru. "I will take it to heart."
"Troublesome woman," the Nara commented. "I think I'm going to give up before she beats me to a bloody pulp."
"Yosh, watch out, Naruto-san," Lee gave him the nice guy pose. "We're all going to make Chuunin in no time!"
"Will you be cheering on me, I mean, us?" Tenten asked with a sly smile.
"Of course," Naruto smirked, although inwardly he had the feeling it wouldn't be possible. "When this day is over, I promise I'm inviting you all out for a drink. Believe it."
The group accepted his offer politely, and left. Neji, however, stayed longer. "Nice Tanto," he noted, upon noticing the blade Naruto was carrying on his back.
"You think?" He unsheathed the blade. "It was a gift from a friend. She said since I had progressed in our lessons, I had earned my own blade. It's shorter than a katana but easier to use."
"Interesting." Neji scratched his headband, the seal underneath having been secretly removed. "Words will never be enough to thank you. I owe you a life-debt I'll never be able to repay."
"You're welcome," Naruto grinned. "Start by dragging out the fight with Hinata as much as possible. Make it look like an intense struggle."
"I informed Hinata beforehand. She will be cooperative." Neji locked eyes with his friend. "You are about to do something very stupid."
It wasn't a question, but a fact. "I'm gonna do something crazy, yes."
The Hyuuga frowned, weary. "Naruto, if you need help-"
"No. Focus on earning your jacket. I've dragged enough people into this mess to do the same with you." He smiled. "Everything will be fine."
Neji wasn't convinced.
When the Hyuuga finally left, Jiraiya emerged from his hiding spot. Of course, Apophis had informed the blonde long before he manifested... "Good luck, kiddo," he told the blonde. "When Orochimaru is toast, I will rush to your aid. Try to survive in the meantime."
"I will manage." He touched his left forearm. "How long will its effect last?"
"Around nine minutes after activation. Afterward, it will take a full day for it to recharge. Remember this is a prototype, not the final product, so there may be... glitches." The Sannin told him goodbye, before vanishing. "Go."
Once he was gone, Naruto opened his bag and put on his equipment. Trading his jacket for a black suit full of pockets, reinforced plates of ceramic, and black metal gloves, the blonde then proceeded to check out his hidden weaponry. Once he had finished, he left the stadium.
Sasuke and Fuu were waiting outside. "You seem ready," the first deadpanned, having traded Han's ridiculous shirt for common black clothing. The Kyuubi's container was fairly certain he was hiding weapons underneath the ensemble.
"I've got enough weapons on my person to deal with a small army." Flash bangs, flamethrower in the bag, tear gas, kunai, experimental grenades… Naruto was armed to the teeth. "I doubt we'll wait long when the invasion starts. Wanna go to Ichiraku's?" He wanted to convince Ayame and Teuchi to barricade themselves at home, preserving their life.
A few minutes later, the trio sat at the ramen bar, much to Ayame's excitement. "How nice of you to have come! Are you going to watch the matches too?" She suddenly noticed the Uzumaki's attire. "Naruto, why are you wearing that?"
"Because I am the Law," Naruto deadpanned with the deepest tone possible. "And the Law is cool."
"We're going to the stadium after the meal," Fuu added. "Where is Teuchi-san?"
"He's discussing with a friend behind the restaurant," she explained, "They don't want to be bothered. So, how do you see the matches playing out?"
"I do not gamble," Sasuke replied.
"I do, but unfortunately many of my friends are participating and it would be bad taste," Naruto continued.
"Gaara is going to win," Fuu shrugged. Or rather, the Ichibi would crush the competition, if Gaara was pushed too far. Not that it mattered, as the tournament would be interrupted.
"Hey, Naruto?" The blonde locked eyes with Ayame. "Would you mind if we were to sit next to each other?"
"Euh…" Naruto struggled to find a way to explain her she would better barricade herself inside her home with her dad. The strange glance she was sending him didn't help either.
"There is a strange heartbeat nearby," Apophis whispered lowly, only Naruto hearing him. "This is... I have no word..."
"Sorry, he's going to sit with me," Fuu smirked, giving a light tap to Naruto's back. "Correct?"
"Really?" Ayame glared at Fuu confusing the blonde. "I wouldn't be as certain if I were you."
Naruto scratched the back of his neck in genuine confusion, and glanced Sasuke, hoping he would explain. Instead, the Uchiha was giving him a 'know-it-all' smile. Why do I have the feeling he's inwardly laughing at me? "I thought you would prefer to sit with Shino," the blonde told Fuu. "From what I could say, you got along well."
"He's a nice friend, but you and Han are my best friends," the female Jinchuuriki chirped.
"Hey, Naruto!" Teuchi's voice interrupted the conversation. "Nice to see you. Here, I've someone for you to meet. He's an old friend of mine."
Naruto and his two companions absentmindedly glanced at the newcomer, and paled in dread.
"He's a bit shy," Teuchi explained, unaware of what was happening, "But he cooks well. I'm sure he's going to prepare you nice ramen today."
"Hello," Sasori of the Red Sand greeted the terrified trio with the flattest, most deadpan tone possible. "Would you like salt ramen? It is the only kind I have learned to prepare."
"So, Tsunade?" Jiraiya smirked, as the two teammates met before reaching the Hokage. "He isn't that bad, is-"
The Senju slapped him. She didn't use her surperhuman strength to do it, considering they would have to fight soon, but the slap was still powerful enough to hurt. "How dare you?" the kunoichi hissed.
"W-what?"
"He's Kushina's son, you moron," Tsunade snarled. "A Uzumaki. My grandmother Mito was one. Senju and Uzumaki are cousins, he's a relative of mine. And you let him live alone? You didn't inform me he existed? He was Minato's son and you-"
"I know." Jiraiya locked eyes with her. "I've got no excuse, as much as it shames me. I'm not exactly the best parental figure."
"Better a flawed parental figure than none at all," Tsunade countered. "Now I realize why you're so interested in him. You want to 'catch up on lost time'. You're doing wonders at it."
"Your sarcasm will change nothing. Sensei wanted to give him a normal life, and we realized only too late it wouldn't work."
"Why didn't you send him to me then?" Tsunade clenched her fists. "You-"
"You left the Leaf at a critical time in a fit of selfishness. You have no right to criticize my failures when you are just as irresponsible as I am."
The Senju princess felt as if she had been slapped. "Don't you dare-"
"Yes, Nawaki and Dan were great people and I would have willingly died in their places so you could have had a happy life with them. They died to protect the Leaf, and I have seen you spit on their sacrifice by abandoning the Village without saying a word. But no more." Jiraiya's tone was cold and flat. "You were the best medic in the Elemental Nations. Do you know the number of people who die in our hospital each year because the one Kunoichi who could have saved them spent her time drinking and gambling? Yes, you have suffered, but everyone in this damn city has lost a loved one. You acted as if you were the center of the world and whined as if only your problems mattered."
Tsunade was astonished by the response, and couldn't find the words to reply. Jiraiya continued his verbal assault. "As if sensei would give our only Jinchuuriki to a woman who would have been labeled a missing-nin in any other country and has as many psychological issues as Kakashi. If you had felt an ounce of responsibility, you would have returned to help the wounded of the Kyuubi's rampage. The fact I had to blackmail you to help defend the thousands living in this town did nothing to change my opinion of you."
The Senju narrowed her eyes. "You don't love me anymore, is that it?"
"I never stopped. But it doesn't mean I'm blind to your flaws." Jiraiya inhaled sharply and turned into an ANBU with a henge. "I want to turn a new leaf, so to speak. To restart from scratch, to atone for my mistakes. One is called Orochimaru and is waiting for correction right now."
"Yes," Tsunade replied bitterly, disguising herself as well, "We'll work out our differences once he's gone."
As he observed the match, Gaara became progressively convinced his father's plan had been discovered.
It wasn't a suspicion. The match between the Hyuuga was staged. Their movements seemed fluid and professional, but Gaara wasn't a normal ninja. He could feel killing intent, he could sense if one wanted to harm another. It was a sixth sense he developed after surviving countless assassination attempts. These two were doing their best to drag their fight as long as possible. At this rate, the invasion force would reach the walls before the Ichibi's vessel had the chance to transform.
Having stalked Naruto Uzumaki and Fuu for days, Gaara had seen the two Hyuuga with the blonde Jinchuuriki. It didn't take him long to guess it was a trap. Naruto Uzumaki is aware of Father's plans, he deduced. He wants to take me out before I can release the Shukaku. If so… I accept the challenge.
Joining his fingers, Gaara vanished in a cloud of sand. He reappeared in the middle of the arena, much to everyone's astonishment. The two Hyuuga stopped fighting, and the proctor approached, with a hint of fear in the voice. "Sabaku, back down or you'll be disqual-"
With a thought, Gaara ordered his sand to crush the man's head into a bloody pulp. The crowd shrieked in horror at the spectacle. The crazy Jinchuuriki cracked his neck. "Uzumaki, show yourself! I am waiting!"
A red ninja kicked his face so hard Gaara crashed into the opposite end of the arena. If his sand armor hadn't shielded him, he would have been killed instantly. Rising back to his feet, the redhead observed his attacker.
"Back off, his life belongs to the Han," the ninja told the Hyuuga, who vanished with a Shunshin. The newcomer was a giant in red armor, his body releasing a shroud of steam around his limbs. "Now, it's just you, and the most marvelous Shinobi in the world."
"Where is Uzumaki?" Gaara shrieked, his sand swirling around him. Mother was craving for blood, and she would not be denied. "Where is he?"
"Sorry, Foxy was occupied… so he sent the most awesome warrior ever as replacement!" The giant charged. "Prepare to become the Han's punching-bag!"
The second Gaara entered the arena, the Yondaime Kazekage attempted to kill Sarutobi with a kunai.
The old man dodged it, his two ANBU bodyguards and the Mizukage instantly reacting. The treacherous leader of Suna jumped on the roof, followed by the four ninjas. The Kazekage's bodyguards activated a barrier ninjutsu, trapping the four S-Rank ninjas inside a square-like formation. Walls of purple energy manifested out of thin air, preventing the ninjas outside it from interrupting the battle.
"Sarutobi-sensei…" Orochimaru hissed wickedly, upon removing his Kazekage's mask. His expression was twisted into a vicious sneer. "Always so tricky. I see you prepared an old family reunion. How long has it been, Jiraiya, Tsunade?"
The Hokage adopted a serious expression, his two students dropping their ANBU disguise. "It has been a while," Jiraiya noted with venom in his voice. "Still the falsely polite prick, eh? You disposed of the Kazekage?"
"A puppet having served its purpose is trash," Orochimaru sneered, "Trash deserves only fire."
"I hoped not to meet you again for the rest of my life, but I guess when this day is over I won't have to see your face any longer," Tsunade whispered.
"Ah, yes, I missed your rudeness, princess." Orochimaru glanced at Mei Terumi. "Sorry to have dragged you into this, Mizukage-san. Since we have no quarrel, I would suggest your to stay out of this."
"Akatsuki ravaged my home for a decade, so I have a quarrel with you." The lady glanced at Sarutobi. "I would like to keep him alive, if possible. I need to interrogate him."
"I can't promise anything." Sarutobi prepared a fire technique. "Jiraiya?"
"Yep!" Instantly, Jiraiya projected a stream of oil toward Orochimaru, the Hokage combining it with a fireball. Orochimaru was engulfed into a deadly inferno, yet made no effort to dodge.
When the dust and smoke settled, Orochimaru's opponents discovered two coffins of earth had shielded the rogue Sannin from the blast. They opened, revealing their occupants: two warrior clad in traditional Senju armors. Two former Hokage. Tsunade blanched. "G-grandfather? Granduncle?"
"Edo Tensei," Orochimaru smirked, the Shodai and Nidaime protecting him. "It's only fair play: you're four against one. I have to even the field a little."
"I was aware you had lost whatever morals you'd left, Orochimaru, but I would have never imagined you could sink so low," Jiraiya whispered.
"He must be stopped here," Sarutobi told the rest of his group. "If he is allowed to flee with this technique, he would be unstoppable."
"Do you agree, Tsunade-hime?" Orochimaru smirked viciously. "If I can bring your relative back from the dead, I could easily do the same for Dan and Nawaki. Interested?"
Tsunade spat on the ground. "And sacrifice someone for it? Nawaki and Dan would never forgive me if I were to sink to your level."
"Too bad then. Hashirama, Tobirama, please kill her."
The mindless automatons charged silently, their movements betraying not a hint of hesitation.
"Jiraiya, Tsunade, take these two down," Sarutobi ordered, preparing a new jutsu without wasting any breath, "Mizukage-dono, would you mind teaming up against my old student?"
"I would have preferred someone younger." Mei sighed, readying herself. "I guess beggars can't be choosers."
As he walked inside Root's hideout, Danzo Shimura smelled the scent of fresh blood.
The walls were covered with it. As he progressed deeper into the complex, finding no corpse, Danzo continued walking, until he reached a large, black hall. A man was present, surrounded by his victims.
"You're late," Madara whispered, as he finished absorbing dead bodies into his Sharingan. "I've been waiting for you far too long. Have you grown slow in your old age?"
Danzo tightened the grip on his cane. "So you finally made your move."
"There won't be reinforcements today. Your comrades will have to survive on their own." The masked man shrugged, glancing at the Root leader. "For an elite group of underground assassins, your agents were surprisingly easy to deal with. Then again, the true power of the Sharingan is mine to command."
The two thousand troops supposed to help the main force had been crushed by a single man? Impossible. "You brought back-up with you," Danzo guessed. "Itachi-"
"Has another target," the masked man snorted. "As for you, where did you put the Forbidden Scroll you dog? I want an answer before I kill you."
"In a place you'll never find." Danzo approached. "If we are to fight, can you tell me what game are you playing? Why help me at all? Why are you seeking Edo Tensei?"
"I need Edo Tensei because there are a few dead people to which I need to apologize." Madara shrugged his shoulders. "As for why I helped you… have you any idea just how powerful Pain is?"
Danzo clenched his jaw. He had seen for himself what the Rinnegan's wielder could do when threatened. "Yet," Madara continued, "He does nothing. He meditates, studies a civilization long dead, when he could have crushed the Leaf and captured the Tailed Beasts as we speak. I knew of your common history, and I figured if I stressed the threat you presented, I might kick him out of his comfort zone and subtly push him into action."
Root's leader let go of his cane. "So I was nothing more than a way to motivate Pain… and I failed."
"You have outlived your usefulness, and I hate useless pawns," Madara intoned in a threatening manner, warping space itself. "Time for you to sleep, forever."
"I will not be so easy to kill," Danzo replied, releasing the seals on his hidden arm. The Uchiha took a step back, as the Konoha-nin revealed the Sharingan implanted on it, before getting rid of the bandages around his head. "My roots run deep."
"This eye… do you have any idea of its power?" Madara chuckled. "But you can't use it, can you? No matter how hard you try, you cannot master the power of Shisui's Sharingan."
"I don't need to." The old man started making hand seals. "For the sake of Konoha… I will put an end to your life here and now!"
When Gaara started attacking the proctor, Tenten's first reaction was to move and help Hinata. Shikamaru prevented her from doing so, pointing an index at Han. "He's taking care of him," the Nara said, before glancing at the stairs. "We have a more pressing problem."
Tenten blinked. The stands had quickly turned into a battleground opposing Konoha's ninjas and Suna-nins against each other. "Ah, finally," one of the genin from Kiri grinned wickedly, "The bloodshed can start!"
"What's happening?" Lee asked him wearingly.
"You haven't been informed?" Suigetsu Hozuki chuckled. "Your town is under attack. Don't worry, we're with you." He glanced at his teammate. "Hey, Chojuro, time to slice stuff in two!"
"Y-yes!" the boy meekly nodded, as the two Kiri-nin vanished via shunshin.
Grabbing both Lee and Shikamaru, Tenten quickly joined her jounin sensei in the stands. Maito Gai was occupied pummeling a Suna-nin to death when he noticed the trio. "Tenten, Lee, with me," he ordered, his voice turning authoritarian. "Shikamaru-kun, you will join Asuma-san and the rest of your team. Evacuate the civilians first, then join the fray."
"Understood," the Nara whispered, immediately leaving.
Neji and Hinata reached Team Gai. "What is happening?" the two asked in perfect unison, an event that caused Tenten to briefly chuckle.
"We are being invaded. Someone was supposed to cast a Genjutsu on the audience, but I suppose Gaara's actions caught him off-guard. We will defeat any Suna-nin we run across, understood?"
"Funny, I intended to do the same with Konoha-nins," a civilian shot back, getting rid of his clothes to reveal a grey uniform, and a headband with a sound note symbol. He was carrying a syringe, injecting the product into his veins. "For Orochimaru-sama!"
Much to Tenten's horror, the man started to grow horns.
"I present you Sasori-san," Ayame began. "He's quite shy, but-"
"Ayame, Teuchi." Both civilians glanced at Naruto, surprised by his cold, serious tone. "Go back home. Barricade yourself. Don't open the door until the explosions are over. Leave. Now."
"What-" Teuchi put his hand on Ayame's shoulder, interrupting her. The young woman noticed the glares the four Shinobi exchanged. Understanding a fight was about to break out, she left, after sending one last glance at her friend.
"Do not worry, I simply want to talk," Sasori whispered with absolute nonchalance. Naruto had to admit, if he wasn't aware of the man's identity, he would have mistaken him for a random traveler. But his brown robes weren't made for travel, only to hide the inhuman body underneath. "We have one hour left before the operation 'Konoha Crash' starts and destroys this cursed city. If you don't like the unoriginal name, blame Orochimaru. I would have preferred operation 'kill everyone with a Leaf-headband', but you know my partner…"
Naruto tightened his fists, putting two and two together. "You were observing me through Teuchi all along?"
"Yes. Although neither his daughter nor Teuchi himself are aware of his purpose." Sasori shrugged, continuing to prepare the salt ramen as if they were having a good time. "Through special seals implanted in the brain, I can implant hypnotic suggestions into the mind of an individual. To put it simply, I can make my thralls do anything, without them being aware of it. The best strings are the invisible ones."
He placed the bowls before the group, who of course refused to it. "A quarter of the restaurant managers, barmen, and prostitutes in this city work for me, directly or through proxies. Most ninjas, when having a good time, drop information they would never reveal elsewhere. When Teuchi created his ramen bar, it was at my command. He quickly attracted a clientele among Shinobi, then transferred any useful piece of information back to me, all without being aware of his role as deep cover spy. When you started frequenting this establishment, I couldn't believe in my luck."
Naruto suddenly felt like the biggest moron in the Elemental Nations. "I brought nearly all my friends there at least once," he realized in horror. This is how he knew who to target!
"Yes. Your cooperation was most appreciated." The redhead smiled mockingly. "A ramen bar has another use. It can be used to smuggle goods inside the city. Like, incendiary bombs or the Samsara serum, to fuel a war inside the walls."
Fuu's eyes widened. "You… you smuggled weapons inside the city's walls?"
"I have been planning the destruction of the Hidden Leaf ever since it survived the Third Shinobi War. This invasion is simply the culmination of a decade of efforts. Granted, Orochimaru helped me a lot."
Sasori started washing the dishes. "I spent years destroying the Counter-Intelligence department from within. After a time, I could work relatively unhindered. I told you I had agents in many businesses. They identified people with grudges against the Leaf, and contacted them. You would be surprised how many civilians and minor Shinobi resent the current status quo. Why should they pay exorbitant taxes to a useless Daimyo, simply because his great-ancestor happened to be a warrior? Why should they let the clans monopolize the important posts? Why should they live in fear of superpowered killers who could go crazy any time due to improper psychological care?"
Naruto had asked himself these questions more than once, and it troubled him. "Many people do not act on these thoughts because they fear reprisals. Because they do not have the power of trained Shinobi." He shuddered. "But if they were to receive this power-"
"You grasp the situation quickly. By promising everyone the Samsara's power, physical enhancements, and great societal changes, it was child's play to turn these disgruntled individuals into closet rebels. In fact, most of Orochimaru's subordinates are former farmers and orphans he made such promises to."
Since it was too late to warn anyone, Naruto started focusing on his surroundings. He quickly located Yugao and Kakashi, wearing their ANBU masks and uniforms, watching the scene from atop a roof. Cat nodded at the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki, silently telling him they were ready to attack anytime.
Sasori spotted the duo as well, and waved at them cheerfully. "They won't save you," he warned the trio with absolute serenity, as the two ANBU winced.
"We'll save ourselves," Sasuke replied, glaring at the puppeteer venomously. "You owe me two deaths."
"I had nothing against your teammates, they were simply in the way." Sasori exhaled sharply. "Why do you care? They were mere grunts without any special ability or blood bond to you."
The Uchiha clenched his fists. "Five years ago, I promised myself I wouldn't see any person close to me die, ever again. No one hurts my comrades and get away with it."
"You shouldn't make promises you cannot keep." Sasori shrugged. "No matter."
"Sasori." Naruto interlaced his fingers. "Why are you there? Obviously, you thought we would stop at Ichiraku's. While it may have been easy for you to enter the town undetected, with all the foreign dignitaries present to watch the tournament, it would have been wiser to stay under the radar until the invasion throws the Leaf into chaos. What do you want?"
The redhead gave him a strange glance. "Is it so astonishing," he began, "That I would try to convince a relative to see reason one last time?"
The admission actually stopped Naruto's heartbeat briefly. Could this man truly care? Or was it an attempt at manipulation?
"You can deny it all you want, this is true." Could Sasori read minds? "All I wish is to witness the rebirth of the Uzumaki clan. It would be such a wonderful event. You, me, Leader-sama, we are exceptional. The masses fear you because they can understand what potential sleeps in you, in your belly, in your bones. I do not understand why you crave their affection. They did nothing for you. Akatsuki can turn you into one of the greatest ninja the world has ever seen. Why stay loyal to the Leaf?"
"I am not loyal to the Leaf."
The rest of the ninjas present glanced at him in genuine surprise. "Since we are being honest people, Sasori, let me ask you a question: why did you fight for Suna? And why did you abandon it next?"
"I fought for Suna because my parent were loyal Shinobi, before the Leaf took them away from me," the puppeteer admitted, genuine sadness in his voice. "Afterward, I did not have any bonds left to that place, besides my grandmother. Only my ambitions and revenge remained. Since I couldn't fulfill either goal in the Hidden Sand, I defected."
"Then we are more alike than I thought." Naruto took a deep breath. "I don't fight for the Leaf. I fight for my ambition, and the happiness of my loved ones. I have no love for the Leaf as a whole. Being a Konoha-nin is my job, point. I do not believe in the Will of Fire. I believe in my own will alone. But unlike you, there are people I care for still living in this city. I have bonds binding me to the Leaf."
The blonde cracked his neck. "I do not oppose you because the Leaf does. I want to stop you because Akatsuki threatens the lives of my loved ones and countless innocents... because you led Anko to her death. If I did not have these bonds, I guess I could have followed the same path as you."
Sasori and Naruto were a reflection of the other. They were both orphans and the remaining members of the Uzumaki clan. Both had been mentored by a grandparent figure. Both aimed to become the best in their field.
With a little difference, their positions could have very well been reversed.
"You can create new bonds elsewhere. I wasn't twenty when I met Leader-sama. He would love to see us together. He can allow you to fulfill your ambitions." Sasori snorted. "What if your friends were to become obstacles on your way to greatness? One can't reach the top without cutting a few strings. There shall be a time when former friends turn out to be a burden, and new ones will help you fulfill your dream."
"I won't join you or Akatsuki. I won't work alongside people like Orochimaru. I will forge my own path."
Sasori decided to try convincing the blonde's teammates. "The offer is the same for you. Akatsuki can give you the power you desire, or anything you wish for."
"You can sugarcoat it as much as you wish, redhead, the truth is, if I join you, I will become a weapon for Akatsuki to use. I enjoy my freedom thanks." Fuu bit her lips. "How long will it take before you extract the Nanabi and kill me, once I outlive my usefulness? I refuse."
"The power I will gain, I will earn it. I won't have others give it to me. I won't be anyone'stool." Sasuke activated his Sharingan. "I won't sink to his level."
Explosions started resonating around them, coming from nearby streets and the town's outskirts. None of the ninjas present made any movement, continuing their discussion. "The summoners loyal to the Leaf placed summoning arrays nearby," Sasori guessed. "Smart, giant summons will help your fellows deal with the invasion force. Unfortunately, they won't help fight the traitors inside the walls, nor will they be able to fight the soldiers Orochimaru brought back with Edo Tensei."
"Edo Tensei?" Fuu asked, genuinely confused. The puppeteer ignored the question.
"Sasori… it's not too late. It's never too late." Naruto seized his tanto's pommel. "You can back down and walk away."
"Letting our dead relatives remain unavenged? The Leaf, no, the entire Shinobi World deserves to be purged. It is a corrupt system built on suffering and mediocrity. I will not suffer seeing the destroyers of our family prosper when we have lost our very past to them." Sasori locked eyes with his cousin. "Your father killed your mother. He ripped the Kyuubi from her and sealed it in you. For Konoha."
The statement caused Naruto to startle. "It was the Yondaime who-" He paused.
Sasuke's eyes widened. He glanced at the Yondaime's head on the Hokage Monument, then back at Naruto.
"What?" It was impossible, Sasori couldn't imply… "It makes no sense."
"Really? Have you never wondered why the Sandaime Hokage refused to tell you about your father? Why your mother lost her Tailed Beast?" The puppeteer snorted. "Minato Namikaze, Yondaime Hokage of Konoha, was your biological father. You were born as Gaara was, a weapon of war he could train from birth to be loyal to the Leaf."
"The Yondaime would never…" Naruto ground his teeth. "You're lying."
"Naruto… Jinchuuriki are chosen among the relatives of the Village's leader," Fuu whispered sadly. "This way, their loyalty can be secured… most of the time."
"Namikaze wanted a weapon, so when you were born, he attempted to rip the Kyuubi from Kushina and seal it inside you," Sasori explained coolly, "The perfect Jinchuuriki, tamed from birth, perfect to hold the fox. But the ritual backfired, and the Kyuubi rampaged, killing your mother and forcing the Yondaime to sacrifice himself trying to seal it inside you."
"That's a lie!" Naruto ground his teeth in rage. "This is a complete, utter lie!"
"Do you have another explanation? This is the most logical conclusion I reached, with the information I managed to gather." Sasori rolled his eyes. "Whatever the truth is, the consequences are the same: the Leaf lied to you. Manipulated you. Spat on the Yondaime's grave. For all their talk about putting the Village first, they were surprisingly quick to betray Namikaze's legacy. They treated you like an outcast, when they should have revered you, cared for you. Jiraiya, especially, since he was your godfather."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "What?"
"Jiraiya was Minato Namikaze's teacher, and he was chosen as your godfather before you were born. Then he abandoned you." The ground trembled, a bomb destroying a house nearby. "Kakashi Hatake isn't any better. He was your father's student, and he didn't lift a finger to help you when you were a kid. Tell me, why are the people inside these walls worth protecting? None of them are truly your friends."
Naruto struggled to find an answer. If this was the truth, why struggle indeed?
"I am his friend."
Sasuke's Sharingan locked with Naruto's blue eyes. "His father could be the Yondaime, the Sandaime, or Orochimaru for all I care. He's Naruto Uzumaki, the ninja who never gives up… and my friend. The Leaf may hate him, but I surely don't."
"Yep. Naruto doesn't need a godfather," Fuu smirked. "He has us."
Guys… thanks. "I'm going to beat you," Naruto declared boldly to Sasori, "Then, I will confirm if what you say is true or not. Finally… I will decide what to do with the truth."
Sasori smirked viciously. "I am afraid to crush your hopes. You see… I am tougher than all of you put together."
Instantly, green wings materialized from Fuu's back. She grabbed both her teammates by the collar and escaped, while Sasori calmly watched Kakashi throw a fireball at him from his roof. The Ichiraku's exploded in smoke and debris.
"Are you alright?" Yugao asked the trio, as they landed next to the ANBU duo.
Naruto wasn't fast enough to answer. A blast of air almost caused him to fall to his knees. A cloud of smoke filled the street, as a giant creature materialized on the ramen stand's former spot. It was a red scorpion the size of a building.
"You thought you were the only Uzumaki with a contract?" Sasori said from atop his summon's head, "Shall we begin?"
Naruto snorted. "Bring it."
A/N: finally, the Invasion of Konoha starts. Took me forever to reach it. The next two chapters will cover the main fights (Tobi vs Danzo; Han vs Gaara; Sarutobi and co vs Orochimaru; Naruto and co vs Sasori), and then the aftermath of the attack. The first half of the story will be concluded at the end of the arc.
For Tobi destroying Root, I think I dropped a few hints how he managed it, but you won't discover it until next chap.
The canon events having resulted in the Kyuubi's attack haven't been modified; Sasori simply reached the wrong conclusion it was an attempt at creating another Gaara which backfired. Considering there was no witnesses (beside Tobi) to tell him the truth, it seemed to be the most probable theory in his mind.
And yep, I made Teuchi (one of the most underdeveloped character in the manga) a spy. An unwilling, brainwashed spy. The best moles are the unknowing ones.
Sasori follows the tradition of making Naruto's great enemy of the moment a reflection of our favorite blonde. Much like Gaara, he's more or less how Atlas' Naruto could have turned out if he didn't care about anyone else but himself.
Would you kindly review?
