Chapter 6: Counter Strike
I'm glad you guys enjoyed it. Or those of you I heard from. After a lot of thought I've planned out the next few chapters.
I loved all the reviews they were very encouraging. Sorry about yesterday I put this chapter up for a second and took it off because I forgot to get it read by the stories beta, but then I felt like an ass so here it is.
Chapter 6-
The battle had ended and Minato was surveying the damage report. Minato shook his head looking at the statistics.
"This is terrible…" Minato said turning to Kakashi.
"Has no one been able to find Hinata or Naruto?"
Kakashi shook his head feeling regretful and guilty.
Minato threw the packet of reports on his desk letting his head fall in to his hands. 'Thirty Konoha ninja dead, twenty civilians killed. Uncountable amount wounded, estimated in the hundreds, one civilian lost and one ninja MIA.'
Kakashi did not no what to do. He wanted to apologize, or something to express the way he felt, but he was a ninja so he said the only thing that made sense. "May I lead a team to rescue Naruto and the Hyuga heiress?"
The Yondaime looked at him for a moment and turned away. "I… I will ask that you partake in the mission and join the team but I have chosen someone else to lead the team."
The two turned to see Jiraiya walk in. The white haired sannin for once did not smile as he entered the Hokage's office. "When do we leave?"
Minato's eyes looked at both the ninja standing before him, longing to go with them. "I wish I could go as well but I'll be expected to meet with the council to discuss our plan for battling the Village in the Rock."
The two nodded. Then Kakashi removed his mask, "Lord Hokage may I please have the debriefing now so I can prepare."
Minato's blue eyes shot down to the drawer and pulled out a file. "This is a double S-ranked mission. Your team will compose of Jiraiya as captain, Kakashi, Itachi, and as requested by himself Hiashi. Your objective is to retrieve both, Hyuga, Hinata and Naruto while eliminating or neutralizing any opposition you encounter. You leave in less than an hour. You'll meet the rest of your team by the gate."
Kakashi and Jiraiya disappeared from the office while Itachi entered. "Lord Hokage I wish to be a part of the team to retrieve your son."
Minato sat back in his chair. "I have already enlisted you as part of the team. The rest of your team is waiting at the main gate. Good luck."
Itachi's red eyes flashed and he was gone instantly.
Minato stood up and surveyed his office with cold disdain. 'Sometimes I wonder if the Hokage has any power at all. Naruto I swear to God if you don't come back in one piece…'
He grabbed his Hokage hat and turned the back of his robe lifting into the air a little. He set upon his face the hardened look of a veteran many time over and headed toward the councils chambers realizing that it was likely he would never see any of them again.
'An SS-ranked mission…is usually suicide.'
With Naruto
Naruto fell to the ground for the hundredth time blood running down his face.
The guards laughed at his efforts. The blonde sat in a cell with both arms tied behind his back and a gag in his mouth. His feet were tied up with a metal chain and every time rose he would be knocked down by a guard or trip.
Hinata was curled in a corner tears running down her face. She was also tied up.
Their captor walked up to the metal bars of the cell. "Hello children, I just came by to thank you. I can now retire if I desire… But you boy, child of the Hokage. I have warned the Tsuchikage about you. You are an extraordinary ninja and I have convinced him to not to give you back in exchange for the life of the Hokage."
Naruto eyes gleamed with hatred and a desire to kill. His look was so piercing it caused the rock ninja to look away.
"You child will be sentenced to a much worse fate. I bid you farewell." The rock ninja turned and fled the cell, chills running down his spine from the look he had received.
A few minutes later the cell door opened and the Tsuchikage walked in accompanied by two guards and a medical ninja.
"Hello children." The Tsuchikage said as the guards removed their gags.
"What do you want?" Naruto spat.
"My dear boy you shall soon find out. In the mean time you are going to be moved out of the village in case a ninja team is foolish enough to attack."
He glanced at Hinata who was whimpering and trying to hide behind Naruto.
"I am sorry about you girl, but we will have to kill you eventually in the meant time you will be moved with your friend."
Naruto growled. "How long do you think you can hold us!?!"
The Tsuchikage looked at Naruto with a bored look and chuckled not bothering to face the blonde. "As long as it takes."
Two guards quickly ran into the cell and blindfolded the two children and knocked them out and then proceeded to follow the medical ninja who was making his way down into the heart of the village.
In Konoha
Minato sat before the council controlling himself to the best of his ability.
"If we wage a full out war we will lose the position we have right now as the most powerful country. Unfortunately we don't have a choice we will be attacked again if we do not defend ourselves." Minato's statements filled the council's room with reason they did not wish to hear.
Danzou nodded, "Of course you are right… Lord Hokage." He addressed the Yondaime with cold disdain. "But are you suggesting we attack their village with our own forces?"
The Hokage was wary of the trap set before him but his passion and drive led him to attack the threat Danzou had set for him. "I would like to lead a force against the Village Hidden in the Stone and force them into an unconditional surrender. If we could do this it would secure Konoha's safety."
"But if you were to fall in battle who would take your place?" Danzou's voice withheld the curiosity of which he truly felt.
The Hokage sent him a glance offering a compromise. "You know as well as I do Danzou that it is up to you and the council to choose the next Hokage not mine."
Danzou suppressed a smile. 'If the Hokage dies I can appoint one of my ninja as the Hokage and insure my power. This was far too easy'
"When do you plan on sending in your assault group?" Danzou asked, while the other council members looked at him in shock.
"I will leave tomorrow taking with me twenty ninja, all jonin and ANBU units."
It only took one council members consent to approve any mission the Hokage approved of the die had been cast and it was time to see which ninja would end up on top.
The Yondaime spun around and walked to the door and opened it. "By the way, I don't plan on dying." Then his blonde hair disappeared as he slammed the door.
Danzou frowned.
Jiraiya's strike team
The sun was beginning to fade and darkness was rapidly falling upon the helpless village.
Jiraiya knocked out the guards on duty and before he could figure out to do with their bodies Itachi had killed them and used an earth jutsu to send their corpses hundreds of feet below the ground.
Itachi faced Jiraiya his red eyes glowed in the night. "Listen Jiraiya-sama let's get one thing straight this a double S class mission our enemies will kill us on sight we have to be willing to do the same or your putting not only your lives but ours in danger and even more so Naruto."
Jiraiya hesitated.
"He's right Jiraiya-sama. I don't like it but we can't leave any trace that we've infiltrated their village." Kakashi spoke in order to appease both Itachi and Jiraiya and he succeeded.
"Fair enough." Jiraiya said, glancing at Hiashi who seemed to enjoy the prospect of killing all who got in his way.
The four Konoha ninja quickly moved out and made their way to the Tsuchikage tower which was much more impressive than the Hokage's tower.
Jiraiya entered the building first and found the Tsuchikage's office empty. He signaled the others in and they entered the room as well. Hiashi's byakugan was on and he was surveying everything within a mile.
After thirty seconds he stopped. "The children are nowhere in sight. But I see the Tsuchikage making his way here. If he keeps his pace he'll arrive here in two minutes."
Jiraiya inhaled and exhaled softly. "Alright here's the plan. We're going to take the Tsuchikage hostage and get him to reveal the location of Naruto and Hinata. Any suggestions on how to do this?"
Hiashi cut off Kakashi who opened his mouth. "I'll disable him as soon as he walks through the door Kakashi you take out the guards and you two nodding at Itachi and Jiraiya will block the exits in case the target manages to avoid capture or one of the guards escape."
"Right no one must leave who sees us otherwise we'll easily be over run. We have thirty seconds left." Kakashi said. "Positions."
Jiraiya went onto the roof so he could guard all the windows, then he put a sound barrier on the room so the interrogation would be undisturbed.
The group swiftly got to their positions and all could hear the target and his bodyguards walking up the stairs.
As soon as the target and his bodyguards reached the door way the ambush began.
Unfortunately the bodyguards and Tsuchikage were extremely powerful and Hiashi was only able to disable the chakra point in his wrist disabling his ability to use ninjutsu.
The two bodyguards were also no measly chuunin and Kakashi failed to take them out in one go with the chidori.
Sensing they had failed, Jiraiya and Itachi used shunshin jutsu to get back to the office.
"Take them out quickly." Jiraiya ordered.
The Tsuchikage turned to retreat but was force to jump back as Itachi fired a kunai with an exploding tag attached to it into the doorway. The three rock ninjas jumped towards the Konoha ninja to avoid be consumed by the explosion. The explosion destroyed much of the door frame but the exterior which was made out of steel remained intact.
Itachi grinned, his sharingan already on. He formed some hand signs. "Great Fireball Explosion!"
He puts his hand to his mouth and fire a huge fire ball at the one of the bodyguards who ducked under it and began forming hand signs of his own when the fireball exploded into the wall behind him. This explosion was more powerful then the one caused by the explosive tag and put a dent in the wall.
The first body guard formed some seals and created a rock wall around himself to protect himself from the blast.
The other bodyguard was propelled by the flames toward Itachi who was waiting with a kunai and as the rock ninja came in reach, Itachi cut the enemy ninjas throat causing the rock ninja to watch his blood drip out of his neck.
The rock ninja looked up at Itachi, sucking in air which wheezed in his cut. Itachi smiled and kicked the dying ninja at his partner who dodged his comrade.
The dying rock ninja crashed into the desk and everyone in the room knew he was dead.
The Tsuchikage frowned at Jiraiya who began forming a ball of chakra in his hand. 'Wait I can't the Rasengan would break the walls and then we would blow our cover. I'd better leave this to Hiashi.'
"Hiashi take my place."
Hiashi didn't respond instead he walked over and began to attack. Hiashi opened up with some easy attacks to let the Tsuchikage get overconfident. Then he began to speed up his attacks.
Hiashi smirked, he had to give the Tsuchikage credit. The leader of the Rock village was fast and the Tsuchikage was dodging all his attacks in a very small confined area.
Meanwhile Kakashi was facing off against the guard and having a difficult time.
"Rock impalement." The bodyguard said, as several pikes appeared out of the ground and flew at Kakashi and Itachi.
Kakashi took out three shuriken and fired them at the guards who dodged them.
Itachi who was by now very impatient fired a few shuriken of his own and the rock ninja was forced to dodge by approaching Kakashi.
Kakashi had predicted his enemy's moment and was waiting with the chidori, impaling the rock ninja on the spot, killing him instantly. 'That is for my sensei!'
The three Konoha ninjas turned to Hiashi who had landed another hit and had the Tsuchikage pinned against two walls.
The Tsuchikage in desperation kicked a whole in the wall leaving himself open to attack.
Hiashi began a combo of hits that took down all the chakra points in the Tsuchikage's arms and legs. Pulling the Tsuchikage back Hiashi tied him into a chair which ninja wire.
Kakashi then moved to the wall and put a genjutsu on it to make it look like there was no hole.
Jiraiya looked at the genjutsu that was now in place and groaned. "There is no way a decent shinobi will not be able to tell that is a genjutsu, let's find a better location for the interrogation. Hiashi you carry the Tsuchikage. Now let's move!"
Hiashi closed a chakra point in the Rock leaders head putting him into a temporary coma. Then he lifted the Tsuchikage onto his back turned his byakugan on and followed Jiraiya and Kakashi while Itachi brought up the rear.
After a few minutes of sneaking through the rock streets of the village Hiashi spotted an abandoned warehouse.
"There that building is where we'll get our information." Hiashi whispered to his teammates.
The group proceeded cautiously but quickly to the building. Upon arriving Jiraiya placed another sound barrier on the building.
The interior of the building was completely black. And the windows allowed little light from the waning moon. Hiashi bent down and leaned the Tsuchikage against the wall and then leaned over and released the chakra point in the Tsuchikage's neck.
"Where are the two children you captured?" Jiraiya asked his tone merciless and ravenous.
The Tsuchikage smiled. "Though I have been called a coward by some, I am not, and no amount of torture or threats will get me to reveal the place of the two children we have captured."
Jiraiya face contorted in anger. "Will see about that!" He said taking out a kunai. 'I WILL RESCUE NARUTO!'
The sennin was about to take out his frustration on the captured leader when Itachi put his hand on the old mans shoulder.
"Allow me." 'Naruto I will bring you back.'
Jiraiya stepped aside and Itachi walked up to the Tsuchikage. "I hope you enjoy pain."
Itachi then plunged a kunai into the Tsuchikage's thigh.
The Tsuchikage groaned at the pain but that was all. Itachi observed the Tsuchikage's reaction and shook his head. "He's not going to tell us anything. Let's go back to out village and see if we can make a trade. Maybe the rock village council will be more agreeable."
The Tsuchikage frowned, 'The council will definitely make the trade. This isn't good I had such plans for the Hokage's son and that Hyuga girl as well. Hopefully they will already be in our ally's hands. If they are then my life may be sacrificed… But it will certainly be worth it.'
Hiashi walked over to the Rock village's leader and again put him in a coma by blocking the chakra point in his neck.
"Let's head out. Full speed." Jiraiya said opening the door and beginning the sprint back to Konoha.
With Naruto
Naruto was in a dungeon hanging from the ceiling by his wrists which were shackled together. Naruto was a mess. His hair was dyed red in places where his blood had dried. He couldn't help but pause for a second and think of his father. 'Dad I promise you I will find a way to get back to you.'
Hinata was next to him also hanging from the ceiling her pale eyes dry and sad. She had given up crying hours ago and now would not speak.
Naruto on the other hand had not given up and was struggling to break the chain that held his shackles in the air. He didn't need to worry about being spotted since there were no guards stationed outside the cell.
It was especially good that there were no guards on duty because he groaned and moaned every few minutes due to the pain. He was in A LOT of pain. The medical ninja had put a paper seal into his back and to do so the medic had removed all of the skin on Naruto's upper back and afterwards put the skin back on.
Naruto was still not aware of what it was used for, but he still felt the tremendous pain which had left him in tears.
It was after the procedure he was brought to this cell. There were many other cells in the hallway and Naruto was thinking about how to release the hundreds of other prisoners in the huge dungeon.
They had been moved a lot once they had reached the center of the village they had been thrown in a carriage and blindfolded. All Naruto could remember were the bumps of the carriage rolling over a rock or into a ditch.
After a few hours they had been tossed out and picked up and moved by foot. They had been brought to the building they were now in. After that he had lost consciousness.
His thought drifted back the pale eyed Hyuga who was hanging next to him.
"Hinata." He called to the girl again. "We'll be alright; you just have to trust me okay. I'll get us out of here."
The girl did not answer. He sighed and continued to struggle against the pain. He was not sure where he was except he did think they were no longer in the village hidden in the Rocks.
He once again lifted himself up to the shackle and began to cut the chain with the metal filer he had pulled out of his sleeve.