Chapter 37 Marching to War
"Hinata's information is right." Said Sai as he, Naruto, Sakura, Kiba and Tsunade stood over a faded map of the ninja world. "I spotted four large groups."
"Four? I was expecting two one wolf on cat." Said Tsunade
"No apparently they move as a family unit." said Sai as he pointed to pieces of junk metal on top of the map. "This is the wolves; they appear to be putting up fixed defenses around an old trading village on the road to the Earth Village."
"Appear?" asked Sakura
"They are also building a path though the woods around their defense ending only a ½ of a mile from the plain where Sasuke's forces will be marching in from.
"A trap." said Naruto "Lead Sasuke into the plan make him think the main force is in front of him and then using the path move a large force quickly to his flank taking him from the side."
"This has to be Shikamaru." said Kiba
"I would believe so." said Sai
"What are the other forces?" asked Tsunade
"Behind each line is a force made out of what appears to be a reserve force, dogs weaker cats and the like however they have a key function." said Sai "That is where the kids of the warriors are."
"They bring their kids to the battlefield?" asked Sakura
"Mothers need to care for their cubs and fight." said Tsunade
"Also wolves and dogs do almost everything as a pack, it isn't surprising." Said Kiba
"I also did a fly over the leaf and it appears that apart from my forces manning the walls and feeding the cow people the entire village seems to be empty." said Sai "I can't speak about the other villages because to do a fly over would delay my arrive with this information."
"We will just have to assume that they are all like the leaf." Said Naruto
"This may be a good thing with most of their forces gathered in one general area we can hit everyone around the same time, the warriors and their families." Said Sakura
"Yes, I would hate to see what would happen to the pups and clubs of those who we change back at the hands of those who haven't changed." said Kiba "They would kill them thinking they where a threat."
"However given the amount of cure we can make and dividing the cure up among the groups it will take…." said Tsunade as she started to run the number's though her head before getting out a piece of paper "It will take on average forty five minutes for an average adult to transform back."
"Will there be an order that people transform back?" asked Naruto "Like arms first followed by legs?"
"No it seems to be almost totally random; however in general the tails, ears and sometimes the animal claws or teeth remain."
"Well it will just have to do, now how do we do this?" asked Naruto
"The cure can be deployed from above from multiple canisters." Said Tsunade before looking at Sai "All you will have to do is fly down from time to time and replace empy canisters."
"How much does each weigh?" asked Sai
"Around 350 pounds each and you will two at all times one for the dogs and one for the cats." Said Tsunade as Sai began to think about how many canisters he could carryon his inc bird at any one time.
"I wouldn't risk carrying more then two at any one time." Said Sai
"Then we will have to reload you with new canisters." said Kiba "Somewhere near enough to the probably battle sight but still safe enough for you to land."
"Here." said Sakura as she pointed at the map "The first base we had…it seams approunrate that we use it one last time."
"That is close enough and is hidden." said Sai "It would be a good spot."
"Now how do we stop this fight?" asked Kiba "We don't want people to die right before they are cured."
"I don't think we can stop it totally." Said Naruto
"Summons? We could call out every summons we have." said Kiba
"I already tried to summon the toads and nothing happened…." said Naruto as he looked at Tsunade and Sakura.
"I tried the slugs and they didn't come." Said Tsunade
"Same here." said Sakura "Maybe the fact that we where animals for so long destroyed the summoning contract with them."
"Or they are afraid to come out." Said Naruto as Sakura looked at him "Summons where on the front lines during the infection they lost a lot of people, they have fallen back to save themselves."
"So we are alone." Said Sai
"We will just have to hope the cure is fast enough to save as many lives as possible." Said Naruto
"Well someone has to stay behind and work on growing more cure and taking care of the children." said Kiba as he looked at Sakura.
"Wait a second, I can fight." Said Sakura "Leave Ino and Tamaki behind they are pregnant."
"And you are what just over a month remove from giving birth to three kids." said Tsunade "You wouldn't have been allowed to return to the active ninja core for at least another month…reverse yes active no."
"But we need all the forces we can muster." Said Sakura
"Sakura-chan…please." Said Naruto as he looked at her with those blue eyes she loves so much "Stay protect our children."
"Alright, I will go to help you stage for the attack." Said Sakura as she looked at Naruto "I can help load containers of the cure and help with any wounded after the battle."
"She will be safe Naruto, I will stay with her." said Tsunade
"No, you are staying here." Said Naruto as Tsunade looked at him. "If this place is discovered then everyone of our family members will be killed."
"What about Ino?" asked Tsunade
"Normally I would say Ino could hold down the fort but she is pregnant and that doesn't help in a combat situation. Rin and Kane are not trained fighters and Tamaki is eight months along." said Naruto as he looked at Tsunade "You can stay behind work on growing more cure and at the same time protect everyone we leave behind."
"Alright." Said Tsunade as she smiled at Naruto even though she was technically still the Hokage, Naruto was acting the Hokage he should already be.
"What of me?" asked Kiba
"You protect Sakura-chan and the staging area with your life." said Naruto "I will deal with Sasuke."
"So this is our plan?" asked Sai "While I spread the cure from the air and Kiba and Sakura protect/prepare the cure you fight Sasuke."
"It's the best plan we have." said Naruto as he looked at his black sharpened nails. "I will kill Sasuke and the world will return to what it was suppose to be. We leave at once."
Meanwhile at the Cat base camp Hinata and her team walked though the camp toward Sasuke.
"No luck my mate." said Hinata as Sasuke glared at her.
"Really, no luck?" asked Sasuke as he crossed his arms
"Yes, the foxes have eluded us." said Hinata "Once we crush the mutts we should renew our search for them."
"Very well." said Sasuke "The children want you."
"I will tend to them." said Hinata as she gave a slight bow before walking off toward a large tent. As she entered she found all five of Sasuke's mates tending to their own children only the newest one Samui didn't have a kid however she was taking care of the two left behind when the original female from Kumograkure died in childbirth. Her six kids sat waiting for her in the center of the tent on the large bed. She couldn't help but smile when she looked at them, no matter how much she wished her children hadn't been born from the product of what for the lack of a better term was rap she loved them. There where the twin boys with their twin sister born 10 months after the turn, then a year after that came the next set twins one boy one girl and lastly the little guy only just a year old. He was the smallest of the four boys and seamed the weakest maybe it was also the fact that his twin sister had died that caused her to care so much for him. God knows Sasuke didn't care for the weakest of his twelve sons from five different women.
"Mommy." said the youngest girl who had the same jet black fur as her father "We missed you."
"Well I am back, now let's get some sleep." said Hinata as she lied down on the pillows, instantly all her kids came to sleep beside her.
"Tomorrow we are going to crush those bad mutts right mom?" asked the eldest son who was possible the most favorite of Sasuke.
"Tomorrow will be a historic day son, now get some sleep." ordered Hinata
The sun was rising over the land as Naruto and Sakura stood by the opening to the bunker where they left their humanity behind so many years ago. Lining the wall where a dozen large metal canisters.
"Today it all ends." said Naruto "We may actually go home to the leaf."
"Maybe." said Sakura with a smile as she turned and walked down the hallway into the darkened base.
"Sakura-chan where are you going?" asked Naruto
"Follow me." ordered Sakura as Naruto followed her into the bunker. The years hadn't been kind to the place as a stack of dead leaves and underbrush filled the hallway, blown in from the door that Shikamaru and the wolves had busted down. They walked past one of the rooms where Naruto could just make out the remains of Ino's cloths when she transformed the purple had faded but was still visible. The walls where covered with claw marks and there were wires coming out of the ceiling panels.
"Where are we going Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto
"You will see." said Sakura as they walked down the darkened staircase, somehow the emergence exit signs where still glowing after all this time. As they walked down to the second level of the base. Past some destroyed doors where Shikamaru, Kakashi and the wolves had pushed their way in. Finally Sakura turned into a side room, Naruto entered to find the room full of destroyed computer panel and remains of clothing on the wet ground. Sakura was bent over messing with something.
"What is it Sakura-chan?" asked Naruto
"Something I almost totally forgot about." Said Sakura as the sound of a lock opening caused him to jump a bit. Slowly Sakura stood up before turning around, Naruto's eyes widened as he saw what was in her hand. There was his ninja headband totally intact, sitting ontop of it was also the necklace of the 1st Hokage.
"I took them when you where transforming, seams only right to get them back now that you are you again." said Sakura
"Thanks Sakura-chan." said Naruto as he reached for them only to have Sakura pull back a bit.
"Can I put them on for you?" asked Sakura
"Sure." said Naruto with a smile as Sakura unhooked the back of the necklace before moving in closer to Naruto pressing her body against his as she locked the necklace in place around his neck. Slowly Sakura went to tie the headband on his forehead only to have him yelp a bit.
"What is it?" asked Sakura
"You tied my ears down." said Naruto with a laugh
"Well looks like we will have to move that." said Sakura as she took the headband off and tied it to Naruto's arm, "There now you look like a leaf ninja."
"Sakura-chan." said Naruto
"You don't have to say anything." said Sakura "I love you and I will keep the kids safe."
"It isn't that Sakura-chan." Said Naruto as he brushed his face across her cheak earning a smile from Sakura as he tail moved back and forth happily. "I already knew you would do that."
"Then what is it?" asked Sakura
"Sakura-chan….I want to tell you something I always wanted to tell you but we have always been too busy focusing on the problems that come up I haven't gotten around to." whispered Naruto into her ear. "Now I know we already have three kids but I still want to ask you….will you be my vixen Sakura-chan…will you marry me once this is done."
Sakura just stood there for a second, she was stunned this was the last thing she expected to happen today. With so many things happening she didn't even think that technely she and Naruto while together where not legally human married. She looked at Naruto, his eyes told the story he was worried that she would say no to him, like that would happen.
"Yes." said Sakura as she pulled Naruto into a deep kiss.
"Sorry I don't have a ring." said Naruto
"Don't worry about it Naruto-kun." said Sakura as she kissed him again.
"NARUTO SAKURA IT IS TIME TO BEGIN!" yelled Kiba's voice from somewhere else in the base.
"Well looks like we will have to celebrate some other time." said Naruto
"We will celebrate with all our friends when we are all human again." Said Sakura with a smile as she kissed her fiancé.
Well I hope you liked this chapter and how I ended it. Now until next time please keep reading and reviewing. Thanks Wilkins75.