TimeShifter: As a note, all shinobi seem to utilize at least a few time/space techniques, as evidenced by the Kawarimi no Jutsu. I'll leave the rest to speculation as the Danzo situation really is a mystery right now (especially in the manga, but for different reasons). Kakashi put away his...Icha Icha book... I'm dead serious... Excellent questions and guesses on Momiji... Now if only there was a way to answer without spoiling a huge plot point... I will reveal this, however, about the Aburame. Pein knows when and how they are a threat, and he still doesn't see them as anything major to ruin his plans.
samueltm2: I'd put Sasuke at somewhere between Waterfall and the Valley of the End; though, I may need to look at a map. We'll hear more of him soon, about the time Naruto and Kanaeru show up in Konoha...maybe next chapter. I have plans for him.
serin2: You are correct, sir! Gai doesn't know their abilities, but a generalized 'feel' for them has revealed that what he knows of their abilities mesh well. I thank you for the critique as I'll definitely look into refining how I say things like that.
Eggoboy4361: I'm curious what you thought of the plot twist the very next chapter (16: A Rivalry of Princesses), but I digress. I'm glad you caught up and have enjoyed the show so far!
Chapter 23:
Battle Preparation
Kakashi rushed through the streets of Konoha in hopes of helping whomever he could. He had mostly encountered small skirmishes between summoned beasts and fellow shinobi. He felt a weight on his shoulder and lazily looked to see Katsuyu resting there with her antenna-like eyes staring at him.
He came to a stop near a water tower atop one of the many rooftops of Konoha. His fingers twitched near his equipment pouch, but he dare not withdraw what he stashed earlier. It was no time for the last masterpiece of the great, late Jiraiya. "Are things really so bad that Hokage-sama needs to call you?"
She bobbed what could only be her head. "Too many shinobi are dead. Tsunade-sama's sending her chakra through me to heal anybody she can." She looked around, an eye witness to the destruction for Tsunade. "Battles are taking place everywhere, and our shinobi are running out of chakra faster than the invaders."
He nodded his head. He'd witnessed it himself and decided to relay the information he'd gathered. "Worse, I think the enemy can revive whoever falls. I killed one, and his body just…disappeared. A moment later, I sensed his chakra signature heading off somewhere else." He paused to gauge her reaction. "He was definitely dead."
She nodded her understanding and delivered the message to Tsunade. It was very troubling to think the enemy could be revived. Her eyes ticked after a moment as she received a message and passed it on. "Tsunade-sama says she expected as much. Apparently, Shizune-san reported that the bodies' 'aura' felt off, like they were dead."
She watched his expression as he soaked in the information and filtered it as necessary. After he seemed satisfied with how he could use what he was told, she continued. "Tsunade-sama has some more…troubling news." She saw a startled expression flicker in his visible eye for a moment before it was gone. "Several of our dead were found with little to no injury."
Kakashi acknowledged her words with a simple nod of his head. It was by far more troubling to learn shinobi with no life-threatening injuries were dead than to learn the bodies could revive. He could think of few techniques that could kill a man without leaving any sign of injury or combat.
They couldn't be genjutsu because they took too long to kill. Even the Mangekyou Sharingan's Tsukuyomi couldn't kill quickly enough without some form of finishing blow. There was a technique used in torture and interrogation where the victim was subjected to pain upon lying, and there was potential to alter it to kill with deceit.
He tilted his head back to watch a cloud pass overhead. He could also think of soul-stealing and soul-sealing techniques. They usually held steep repercussions, but the ability to revive potentially eliminated them. The strange abilities alone were difficult to deal with, but they were unreasonable when combined. Was Konoha in a position to deal with such well equipped invaders?
"Hey, obaa-chan!"
Kakashi recoiled as a voice rang through his head. He looked at Katsuyu, picking at the ear facing her. "Who was that?" He watched the slug shaker her head. "What's she doing on Hoka-…?" He didn't have the chance to finish his question.
"I'm sorry; Tsunade-sama says she has to deal with something for a moment." The slug politely stated with an apologetic bow. She went quiet and concentrated on her chakra.
"My, my…" He sighed. He shook his head with a shrug and looked around for the nearest skirmish. Finding one, he took off in that direction. He only wondered what was going on with Tsunade. He also had to wondering who the young-sounding female speaking through Katsuyu's network was. He couldn't shake the feeling that she sounded familiar…
Tsunade sent an icy glower to the small, pale girl standing before her. Bull and a squad of ANBU surrounded Konoha's leader, ready to defend her at a moment's notice. Though the chakra-suppressing seal on her abdomen made her a nonentity, they were still tense with anticipation.
Rikka swayed slightly under the bright, midmorning sun. Though the tattoo under her eye glimmered as it protected her from the harsh rays, she still didn't like being out in the heat. She stared defiantly at the slug sannin after calling her out. She knew Naruto enjoyed calling her that, so she decided to try out the nickname herself. The immediate effect pleased her greatly.
"What do you want, brat?" Tsunade barked, despite recognizing that the 'little girl' was truly her senior in age. She didn't like being disrespected, and the middle of the battlefield was no place to settle personal affairs. She didn't know what the pale-skinned girl wanted, but it was best saved for less dire situations.
Rikka stoically shifted her focus to Katsuyu. She recognized that the slug's fragments could communicate over long distances, but it wasn't nearly as fast as a direct psychic connection. They had to be told something, transmit it, and repeat it to the recipient. There was too much delay for the battlefield.
Tsunade was about to yell at the faux child when she felt an intimate connection in her mind. She blinked repetitively as she came to acknowledge other presences in a pseudo-mindscape. She looked to Katsuyu, Shikamaru, and Rikka all in turn. She spoke aloud and winced as it boomed in her head. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Rikka looked the buxom blond in the eyes as she answered. Her voice reverberated through the minds of all present but didn't carry over Katsuyu's network. "I can communicate thoughts much faster, but I can't make a network on my own because my chakra's been sealed. In this situation, I'm taking advantage of that slug."
Tsunade's brow twitched as a vein threatened to pop. "You're a student now! You should have evacuated with everybody else!" She rubbed her temples as, once again, her voice boomed inside the mindscape the pale-skinned girl created. She wasn't used to communicating through a psychic network.
As both women who looked nothing like their true ages stared each other down, Shikamaru decided to speak up. "Well…" His lips weren't moving as he communicated through the mindscape. "…at least I don't have to work any more than thinking about what I want to say." He eyed the buxom blond.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. She took his cue and only thought her words through the mindscape. "Leave it to you to find the laziest way out of a situation. However, Rikka should not be here. This is a battlefield, and…-" She squinted her eyes as pressure, angry and indignant, concentrated on her from the girl through the mindscape.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes and shoulders. "Troublesome." He looked at the young-looking girl. "You understand the risks." It was more a statement than question, but she nodded in the affirmative anyway. "She can transmit our battle plans to everybody faster than we can relay them to Katsuyu, and she'll need to deliver the message verbally anyway."
He looked to a passing cloud thoughtfully. "It's annoying to know that all your messages are repeated at least twice verbally when it can simply be sent mentally." He eyed the girl curiously. "Can you hear what people are thinking near Katsuyu's fragments?" She shook her head in negative. "Troublesome."
"I can, however…" Rikka started confidently, affixing attention on her next words. "…detect where those…abominations are and approximate where they're heading." There was a gleam in her eye speaking to her pride. A part of her was enjoying the prospect of the battle of wits.
Tsunade licked her lips. She simply couldn't ignore such a prospect. The Kagennotsuki clan could purportedly connect the minds of allies on the battlefield, but reports were far and few between of any but the youngest invading the minds of enemies and maintaining that connection for any length of time.
Taking in a breath and crossing her arms, she decided to gather more information before coming to a decision. "Can you read the enemies minds?" The girl shook her head. "Negative, huh?" She sighed. "Well, how can you make such strong claims? Whoever they are, this Pein character is strong."
Rikka screwed her face in concentration. She wasn't sure how to answer the question because she wasn't sure just how she could tell in the first place. She felt something like a pulse and looked up with inspiration. A smile curled her lips as her thoughts transmitted her words. "They move chakra similarly to a Kagennotsuki communicating psychically."
Shikamaru's eyes widened. "You mean those six bodies are communicating with each other?" He nearly cursed himself for not thinking about it earlier. He was already thinking the situation through, and several pieces were falling into place. With a few more pieces, he'd have everything he to build a game plan.
Rikka raised a brow. "It's possible, yes. However, I can't really tell the purpose, and I can't tell if there are any more bodies than the six within Konoha's walls. If my chakra weren't sealed…" She looked expectantly towards the Fifth only to receive a negative. "…I might be able to reach further and build a true communications network."
Bull watched the exchange, and he agreed with his leader. There was something to gain in freeing the girl, but the risk was too great. They didn't know what side she was actually on, and she hadn't done much of anything to prove her loyalty. At the same time, he couldn't discredit them for finding a use in her rather minimal powers.
Tsunade heaved a breath before announcing her decision. "Katsuyu, allow Rikka to connect this local network to your fragments' network." She eyed the girl warily. "Can I trust you to manage the network by relaying information to the right recipients?" It was a skill she took for granted as the slug could select one or a group or all fragments to communicate information to.
Rikka rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Of course, that's basic!" She huffed, insulted. Cheeks puffed, she continued. "I can read your intentions quicker than they can filter through your mind, so just leave intended targets to me. I can even fix trajectories in real time, so we won't have to worry about Pein noticing."
Tsunade scratched her chin. As soon as Pein noticed his movements were being intercepted too quickly for scout squads, he would most certainly target the strongest chakra signatures in the village. She knew she was a prime target, but the elite jonin of the village were too. Was it worth the risk?
She eyed her ANBU escort, Shikamaru, and finally Rikka. A smirk tugged her lips. Yeah, it was worth the risk. "All right Rikka, I think I'll take you up on your offer." She crossed her arms and looked down on the girl. Her imposing figure was highlighted by the midmorning sun, still climbing towards its noontime peak.
The girl really was a handful, but her usefulness was unquestionable. Even sealed, she had managed to find a way to level the playing field slightly. The small tilt towards balance was enough to fill the Fifth's heart with hope. Pein might be beyond their ability to defeat, but they could hope to hold him off until a senjutsu enhanced Naruto arrived.
Her eyes widened in realization. Naruto hadn't arrived yet! She bit her thumb nervously. There was no way he'd refuse her order. There was no way he'd refuse to help his friends. Therefore, something had happened. She could only hope he was okay and pray for his hasty arrival.
Rikka suddenly spoke up and shook the slug sannin from her inner musings. "I've finished preparations. The network is fully anchored, and I'm ready to relay orders as necessary." She sat cross-legged as she concentrated on the psychic connection, the light glow of chakra emanating from her.
Tsunade sat similar to the girl, and Shikamaru followed suit in his thinking pose. Bull commanded his squadron to be on the lookout. The battle was only entering its earliest phases, and Konoha had survived its foundations being shaken. They need to pull through and show their resolve beyond anything. Through extension, they needed their trump card.
Saiga bolted upright, startled. He looked around anxiously before laying himself back down. He wrote it off as paranoia and huffed. "Who wouldn't be paranoid in an enemy encampment?" He narrowed his eyes as recent memories flooded his consciousness.
Rikka was as good as a traitor. She had told him, in no uncertain terms, that their mother was dead. DEAD! She maintained that same, near emotionless form of mind-speak. She even reported directly to him that she willingly allowed tracking and chakra seals to be attached to her, and she had been 'adopted' by leaf jonin Yuuhi Kurenai.
Memories of his elder sister weren't the worst of events, however. The same night his mother died, he heard a scuffle from his brother's prison cell. Later, it was reported that the eldest of the failed Hyuuga blends was dead. After that, Saiga had been quiet and unresponsive for days, even needing to be spoon-fed.
He shook his head from his musings when he heard a loud clank. He looked over to his cell door and jumped at what he saw. A heavily bandaged man, hiding an arm and an eye that might not be there anymore, stood with a falsely friendly smile. To either side stood ANBU-looking escorts.
Saiga was at a loss for words. He hadn't sensed such bloodlust since being interrogated by that crazy snake lady. Even then, she didn't want to kill him. She got a sick pleasure from torturing him, and her bloodlust was torturous. The man standing before him had a different bloodlust.
He wanted the youngest failed Hyuuga blend dead!
Swallowing, Saiga backed up against the wall as the bandaged man drew a katana from the folds of his robes. His eyes widened as the door was effortlessly sliced to ribbons. He wanted to shrink away as the truly evil gaze drew closer with every breath. He recoiled when the man finally spoke.
"Though I agree that your bloodline could benefit Konoha, my master wants you dead." He scoffed. "To think, the one thing I agree with the Fifth on, and I can't obey her." He tilted his head. "Oh well, I'm sure I can still recover your father or somebody from Housekiyama with your kekkei genkai."
He inched closer to the helpless prisoner, finally resting the edge of his katana against the ice master's jugular. "Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Danzo, war hawk of Konoha. I serve the true Hokage, Uchiha Madara, and he'll make me the Sixth to reign over war-torn lands."
With a fluid slice, the last ashen eyed male fell. Only the ashen eyed female remained, and she was too well guarded at the moment. Danzo turned to his ROOT escort. "We should make ourselves seen. We'll show…effort in defending Konoha, but don't go out of your way for those who must perish."
He paused as images of peace-loving shinobi flashed through his mind. With a sneer, he continued. "You've memorized my bingo book on shinobi treasonous to Konoha. You're well trained and now how to take care of them without being noticed." His image flickered as a smirk broke his scarred face.
After a moment, they were in a quiet alley somewhere in the village. He signed them, "Dismissed. Disperse." His ROOT escort followed his orders instantly, and he sensed his well trained troops filter into the city. His cheek twitched as he fought a growing smirk. If things went well, Pein would take care of the Fifth, and he could effortlessly rise to power.
Gai came to a skidding halt, blood trailing down one side of his face. His breath was heavy as he panted to give his body much needed oxygen. He grudgingly admitted that his first assessment was right. Tendou and Gakidou were a well balanced team. One thing troubled him, though.
He couldn't find any pattern of weakness, and he suspect it was because of how they covered each other. Tendou could push or pull any object, including techniques. Gakidou could absorb chakra, even if it was dedicated to a technique. Worse, he couldn't surprise them!
He was fast. He could easily flank or reverse them. Several times, he thought he had the advantage of a surprise attack, and they turned it right against him. He was sure his eternal rival could figure out exactly what he was missing. Kakshi had the advantage of a Sharingan, true, but he was also somebody whose analytical skills were unmatched, not including Shikamaru.
No. Gai hated to admit it, but he was being pressed. He dodged, parried, and attempted to counter blows. He was being pushed back, and even the gates weren't working. It was a double-edged sword where the edge facing the opponent was dulled. His body was wearing down, but he needed everything he had just to keep from being mauled.
His eyes widened to a presence behind him. He ducked and rolled to one side quickly enough to avoid being captured and drained of chakra, but he realized his mistake a moment too late. He rolled towards the other enemy and was pushed harshly back.
He rolled past Gakidou and slammed into a wall. Air evacuating his lungs, he coughed to regain composure. He heard Tendou walking towards him, but he felt his limbs paralyzed. His pupils dilated as his muscles tensed. He couldn't move! He wasn't afraid, and he could feel his muscles constrict and relax.
He felt two hands rest just above each temple and looked up to see who was about to deliver the death blow. It was the one he thought the leader. He closed his eyes; glad he could save at least a few lives. He only hoped his students wouldn't morn like Asuma's and, instead, carry on in their springtime of youth.
The sound of thousands of birds filled the air, and Gai felt his hairs stand on end. The ground directly in front of him exploded, and he saw his eternal rival glaring off in the direction Tendou dodged to. "Successful." He heard that familiar phrase faintly and knew Shikaku was also there.
Gai forced his legs to work and was soon standing side-by-side with his eternal rival. He wiped sweat from his brow and tried to regain his vision. He heard mirthful laughing and looked to the large man made larger by family techniques. "Even without Inoichi here, I'm sure we can handle this. Kakashi, you ready?"
"Yeah…" He lazily looked the green-clad ninja over with a scrutinizing gaze. "You're wiped, Gai. Take a temporary break and recover your chakra." He turned his astute gaze to the two invaders who gave the elite jonin so much trouble. The toma of his Sharingan spun to life. "We'll handle them."
Gai was not going to miss the coming battle. Kakashi was a terrible force on the battlefield when he got serious, and he was joined by two-thirds of the most famed Ino-Shika-Cho team, Shikaku and Chouja. He also immediately noticed something he couldn't while fighting Tendou and Gakidou alone.
Each could see what the other saw!
The revelation sent his mind reeling. With Kakashi, Shikaku, and Chouja fighting, the battle should have been over in an instant. Instead, Tendou and Gakidou just barely dodged every attack. In watching, Gai noticed something else. Their weaknesses!
Tendou seemed to have some sort of 'recharge' time. He could only use his technique sparingly. Gakidou couldn't absorb chakra without concentrating. His technique only robbed techniques and people of their effectiveness if he had time to mold his own chakra. He was about to speak his revelations aloud when he felt a weight on his shoulder.
He looked over to see Katsuyu, and he felt his chakra already being replenished. He heard Tsunade's voice in his head. "Sorry you had to fight so long on your own, Gai. I sent these three over as quickly as I could. Oh, and don't say anything too loudly. Katsuyu can hear you if you just whisper."
Gai nodded and followed her advice as if it were an order. "Of course Hokage-sama, but I thought Katsuyu still had to speak your words for you." He shook his head. It was an unimportant and trivial matter. "Anyway, I noticed something about those two. Tell Kakashi that…"
He heard Tsunade laugh. "Oh no, don't worry about that. Kakashi already knows their weaknesses. Don't forget, he has the Sharingan." She then revealed everything that had taken place. Gai listened intently.
He was glad to hear they had found some use in the girl they had captured in Housekiyama. He would have felt bad if her youthfulness was squandered. He was saddened to hear that over a quarter of the village's shinobi were dead or unaccounted for, but relief flooded him to learn his squad was safe and still fighting.
When he heard that all civilians but Shion and her adopted daughter were accounted for in civilian shelters, he nodded in understanding. The proud shinobi of the leaf no longer had to hold back. Though damage to the village should be avoided, repelling the insanely powerful invaders was the top priority.
Gai turned his attention back to the fight and narrowed his eyes. There was something off about Kakashi. His movements were awkward, like he was trying harder to completely dodge, parry, and counterattack. It was as if he wasn't willing to accept being hit at all.
Gakidou stopped moving for a moment before the shadow under him wavered. A moment later, he was free. Shikaku huffed before ducking behind a massive fist. The chakra-eating body was knocked back, but the fist shrunk to its natural size. Chouja withdrew his hand and rubbed it. "Ouch, that's painful. Hey Shika, you think you can hold him longer?"
Shikaku managed to dodge a well aimed Shinra Tensei before he could reply from a safe nook. "Don't know. He absorbs chakra quickly, but he destabilizes elements faster." He noticed a shadow out of the corner of his eye and ducked to one side. He fought a smirk when he noticed a silver mane intercept.
A crackle and pop later, Tendou was thrown back by a powerful decoy. Gai was also feeling better, so he cracked his knuckles in preparation. A powerful explosion nearby drew everybody's attention as Tendou shrugged off the damage he had taken. After a moment to inspect the battlefield, he raised a brow looking at a pile of rubble. "Raikage Bushin no Jutsu, really?"
Kakashi emerged, looking a little worse for wear. His flack jacket was torn to ribbons, and his hitai-ate was on its last thread. As he stood erect, the thread snapped, and the leaf symbol fell to the ground. The spot he emerged from, the others noticed, was the epicenter of the explosion caused by Shuradou.
Kakashi analyzed the situation, Sharingan spinning wildly. As he looked at each body in turn, he whispered his findings to Katsuyu. "The leader seems to repel or attract anything with some kind of force jutsu. However, he needs to recharge at least five seconds." He quickly added a description, including placement of piercings.
"The stout one can absorb chakra and its nature, but his ability seems to take a good deal of concentration. He's not as fast moving, so he attacks like a shark." He described the second before moving on to the third. "The newest one seems to fire blasts of energy and…explosive projectiles. No data on weaknesses, but he appears to have a lesser range of movement."
With physical descriptions and a moderate understanding of powers, Tsunade relayed Kakashi's information to all shinobi connected to Katsuyu. A moment later, she replied. "Kiba and Shino report they killed that third one already!" Alarm was evident in her voice. Sadly, the information only confirmed something they discussed earlier.
Kakashi merely nodded. "Yeah, we knew the possibility existed." He paused for a moment, bowing his head. "By the way, do we have a final count on casualties at the Hyuuga estates?" He didn't have to wait long, even as he dodged a series of explosions from Shuradou.
"Right, I suppose you wouldn't have heard." Relief was evident in her voice. "Miraculously, it seems there were no casualties. All Hyuuga civilians were escorted safely to the shelters, and Hyuuga shinobi are filtering into battle zones across the village." Tsunade didn't need to see his expression to tell he was pleased.
Kakashi smiled and hummed a brief tune. Good news always enhanced morale, and he was sure news would spread quickly enough with Katsuyu's newly enhanced network. He'd have to ask how it was improved later. A nearby explosion caused the Kage Bushin to puff out of existence.
A moment later, a powerful ball of electricity was dangerously close to Tendou's face. The lead body looked on solemnly before lifting his hands and blowing the elite jonin away. Dispersing the technique, he brushed a hand through his silver mane. "My, my, I thought I timed that better."
Chouja picked climbed out of the rubble he had landed in and sent an apologetic look. He had hoped to coordinate the attack better, so Kakashi could take the lead body out with a well timed Chidori. He received a look that told him not to worry about it.
The leaf shinobi resisted looking when a massive crash threw up dust and caused a small tremor. From across the village, they heard what sounded like a pack of dogs break off from a single point. They, however, couldn't pay it any mind as the bodies they were facing soon rejoined the battle.
Lee emerged from rubble and jumped away just as a pack of wolves jumped at him. They tore apart the rest of the building's foundation, and it started to collapse from a lack of support. He held his arm, nursing a particularly nasty gash he'd received during the course of combat. Katsuyu was already working on his wound.
Tenten stood in a ready stance with a scroll unfurled. She was covered in sweat and panting, but she didn't look ready to quite. She carefully whispered to Katsuyu, who was helping replenish her lost chakra. "The female we've been fighting has been summoning creature after creature. She doesn't seem limited by one summoning contract, and they all have concentric rings in their eyes just like the other bodies."
Neji's clothes were badly torn, and his forehead was revealed. The enemy was slowly wearing them down, and he wasn't sure how much longer they could last. Every time they tried to get close to Chikushoudou, she summoned a new beast for them to contend with. They hadn't a moment's reprieve, and she still seemed fresh.
The teens weren't helped by the facts Tsunade had transmitted through Katsuyu. Their opponent had completely different abilities, and she was able to thwart their attempts to stop her by moving hordes of summon beasts upon them at a time. It was frustrating at the very least.
They had lost track of how many creatures they had killed, and they dared not count how many different creatures they had faced off against in combat. They were near their limits and could only keep fighting with Katsuyu's timely help.
As the dogs reformed and created the massive, multi-head creature again, they finally heard some good news. They heard Tsunade speak through the network Katsuyu's fragments created. "You've got some reinforcements on the way. Hold them off until they arrive."
They were alone for the moment, but the news was definitely welcome. They fought with renewed vigor and pressed forward. They managed to avoid the larger, multi-headed dog while taking out the lesser summons. It was still no easy task, but it was a manageable one.
It wasn't long before they heard the welcome shouts of a moving army. It wasn't long before a hope lost became a hope restored. They were quickly overtaken by allies running out to destroy the summoned army. They quickly learned the Hyuuga were still alive in vast numbers.
Lee released a premature victory cry that Tenten and Neji shook their heads to. They then joined the battle, ready to fight to defend the village. They knew they could hold the invaders off long enough to let Naruto arrive. He was their trump card, so they were honestly hoping to drive off the attackers without resorting to his latest training.
They also weren't stupid enough to hold their collective breaths. The Pein Rikudou were proving to be powerful adversaries. They defied shinobi logic and were ridiculously powerful. Just the one they were fighting, alone, could level city blocks with hordes of summon creatures. She seemed to have as bottomless a pit of chakra as Naruto, and that fact was worrisome.
Nagato watched the scene feeling indignation. Through some miracle or fluke, masses of Hyuuga marched the streets. With so many present, he doubted he had succeeded at all in eliminating a single one. Worse, he had to dedicate half his Pein Rikudou to fighting a particularly annoying group of jonin.
Briefly, he eyed Konan out of the corner of his eye. She wouldn't like his next plan of action, but he needed to see results, and he needed to see them soon. As he returned his attention to the battle, he steeled his nerves for a great expenditure of chakra. He first, however, had to deal with the annoyances before him.
Ningendou watched from a high perch as three groups split off. While two were heading for the Hokage monument, one was making a beeline for the tower at the center of the village. He was certain that group was one of the decoys, so he was deciding between the two headed towards the great monument.
He also knew he couldn't expect any help. Jigokudou hung back to revive fallen bodies, and the battle against Konoha had forced him to use his ability several times. Chikushoudou was locked in battle against a lot of Hyuuga and two others. The other three were struggling against a powerful group.
He was practically on his own. His only backup was revival. He could count on no other support. With a powerful burst of chakra, he took off towards one of the groups heading towards the monument. Again, it didn't even attempt to dodge. He had to wonder if they had set up the decoy differently this time around or if he had stumbled across them on his first try again.
He wasn't taking his chances. Ningendou launched towards them and immediately noticed they weren't as powerful as the last time he faced them. They were slower, and their responses weren't as acute. It was obvious they had worn themselves out to create the elemental clones and give them the ability to separate by such distances.
He noticed the problem when the medic with an unusual defense style met an untimely end. Her body reacted like it should when his hand pierced her heart, but she popped and crackled with sparks from a Rai Bushin. From then, he didn't bother trying to keep the Hyuuga girl alive. He had found another group of decoys.
They still tried to stop him, and the dignitary clones turned out to be combatants ready to strike. As he crushed the chubby boy's spine, he flew into the clones for the Hyuuga girl and small child. A Tsuchi Bushin and two Mizu Bushin crashed out of existence. The remaining clone was crushed under falling rubble, and he didn't bother finding her composition.
Nagato grew annoyed with the additional failure, but Ningendou continued his course. He rushed for the next group as quickly as he could. As he grew nearer, he noticed they weren't even attempting to dodge either. For a moment, he looked over his shoulders. Either the second group headed towards the monument was another decoy or they had given up on dodging.
Whatever the case, he was going to handle them quickly. He doubted they were really moving towards the tower. They had civilians they had t get to the safety of the monument. Though he knew it was absurd, he couldn't dismiss the possibility. They had played to his beliefs and knowledge last time and ruined his plans.
As he landed in front of the third group of two girls and a chubby boy, he took note of the surroundings. They were significantly closer to the Hokage monument. The area seemed like some sort of part, very green and fresh smelling. There was a pond nearby, and he could clearly sense shinobi nearby. They were likely guarding entrances to the shelters.
He also felt three smaller presences and paid them no mind. Their chakra was inconsequential, and he could handle them if necessary. In the meantime, he observed his quarry. They were tired and sucking in breath like their lives depended on it. Sweat was thick on their brows. They didn't appear ready for combat.
Ningendou settled into his stance and inched forward. The leaf shinobi flinched before setting down their charges and settling into their own stances. Just before rushing forward, he felt chakra surge from one of the insignificant gnats. He looked over to see two, identical faces heading his way. He saw one powering the technique of the other, and his eyes widened ever so slightly.
He was blown away by a powerful Rasengan to the gut. As he tumbled through the underbrush, he heard a female voice call out worriedly. "Konohamaru-kun, you should have stayed hidden."
As he stood, he saw the boy who attacked him. His clone dispersed as he answered. "Can't you see we had to, Moegi-chan? They're tired. Besides…" He pointed to the Hyuuga and held out his pinky. "…she's Naruto's…" He flexed his pinky. "…you know."
Another boy, snot trailing out of his nose, palmed his face. "You're following another rumor; aren't you?" He looked up, startled. "Konohamaru, behind you!" His warning was too late as his friend tumbled into Chouji's waiting arms.
The large teen set the boy down and whispered something in his ear. "Moegi, Udon, help me get these two…" He indicated Shion and Momiji. "…outta here!" As the three picked up the dignitary and her adopted daughter, he was surprised they were allowed to escape so easily.
When they were out of sight, Ningendou turned his attention back to the group he decided had to be his real quarry. "I see. If you're concerned for the safety of those visiting dignitaries, you must be real this time." He shifted his battle stance. "It's time I eliminated you."
He rushed forward and prepared to deliver the fell blow to the annoying group once and for all. He had 'eliminated' them far too many times for his liking, but they had surprised him with their skill in elemental clones. The clones were far weaker for it, but they had traveled a fair distance from their creators. The choice to use them in such a manner, however, had cost them dearly by forcing them to dive dangerously deep into their chakra reserves.
Kanaeru arrived at Konoha's main gates to see a sight she had never expected to see. Isaribi and Sasame arrived a moment later, and the three gawked at the odd scene. They didn't know why they were there, but a large force of regular soldiers lay unconscious just beyond the gates. By the looks of the encampment, they had expected a long stay.
A moment later, Kanaeru looked over her shoulder to see Gayt and Star arrive. With his heavy armor, they were slower, but they had kept pace very well. Acknowledging his presence, she ordered Isaribi and Sasame to check the soldiers. She wasn't sure how many of them there were, so she couldn't use her chakra sense to determine how many had perished.
She walked cautiously to Gayt's position. "I don't sense Naruto in the village, and a lot of chakra signatures are significantly weaker than I was anticipating. It looks like something really is going down in Konoha." She paused a moment to watch the teenage kunoichi work. "We should go into this prepared."
Gayt merely nodded as he clenched his fist. A light glowed around his hand before taking the vague shape of a large sword, heavy sword. To anybody else, it would have looked cumbersome. He handled it easily as he hefted it and test it with a swing. "What are we up against?"
She closed her eyes and concentrated. Within her mind, a map of the area formed. From what she could tell, six powerful enemy signatures were within the village. A seventh was hiding somewhere in the vast forest surrounding the village, but she couldn't fix his position. She screwed her face in concentration. No, was there an eighth? She couldn't tell for sure.
As Isaribi and Sasame returned somberly, she revealed her observations. "I think we should concentrate on those within the village. There are six powerful opponents, but they share the same chakra signature. I'll have to get closer to give a more detailed description, so I think it's obvious that we need to proceed with caution." She turned to the teens. "What did you girls find out?"
Sasame answered heavyhearted. "Most of them are alive, but several died from sever chakra exhaustion. I think some died from animal attacks, but I can't be certain without a more thorough examination." She wasn't surprised to see the red-headed kunoichi recoil from hearing chakra exhaustion.
"Well…" Kanaeru started. "…they weren't just regular soldiers." She studied the field for a moment before coming to a conclusion. "It's time to move out. We can't worry about them right now. As callous as it might sound, we have bigger fish to fry." She paused to study the teens' faces; she knew where Gayt stood. "We must help repel invaders!"
Kakashi curiously watched as Tendou attempted to withdraw. He avoided a massive swing from Chouza without using Shinra Tensei. The overbalanced giant barely managed to right himself, so he didn't plant face first into the ground in front of him. He cartwheeled over yet another shadow bind attempt.
His eyes widened at the implications. Thinking the powerful opponent might be trying to tactically withdraw, he concentrated on his Sharingan and morphed into the Mangekyou. Before he could concentrate on Kamui, Shuradou interjected between them. Losing sight of his intended target, he concentrated on the explosive body.
In an instant, Shuradou was permanently without a head. The sudden and irreversible loss of the body sent obvious feedback on the other bodies, as they recoiled and concentrated glares on him. He fell to his knees in exhaustion, covering his chakra-wasting eye.
His vision blurred as Gakidou rushed him, but Chouza stepped between them and threw the chakra-absorbing beast away. Tendou was out of sight before they could figure out where he was going; let alone what his plan might be. He was breathing hard as he forced his muscles to cooperate, and he was soon on his feet.
He looked to either side as Shikaku and Gai surrounded him. The former spoke up first. "What's the plan, huh? They didn't seem to like you extinguishing that creepy one this time, and we hadn't noticed any limits on revival before. What's so different this time?" It was the first possible weakness they had seen in the revival ability, but they had no solid evidence.
Kakashi panted in answer. "If they need every part of the body to revive it, they might not be able to with part of his body wiped from existence." He watched the body for a moment as Chouza bull rushed Gakidou. "I don't have any evidence, but the body's not fading away this time."
Chouza's body flew over them, and they were forced to stare down the chubby, chakra-absorbing body. Alone, he was difficult, but they had a better chance against him while he was alone. They prepared to rush forward.
"What?!" They stopped in their tracks when they heard Tsunade through Katsuyu's network. A moment later, Gakidou was gone. Elsewhere, Chikushoudou and Jigokudou vanished from where they were. Only Ningendou remained where he was, facing off against one last group of Hyuuga, Akimichi, and Yamanaka.
Tendou stood before Tsunade, Rikka, Shikamaru, and Bull and his ANBU squad. He stood confidently as he stared down the last, remaining sannin. Elsewhere, all remaining bodies but Ningendou gathered. He knew appearing before the slug sannin was a bold move, but he knew it wasn't stupid maneuver.
He was stronger than her, and she had been forced to aid in the rescue and relief effort. He wasn't fighting and delivering Pein to all shinobi in the village for no reason. It wasn't just revenge, and it wasn't simply to interrogate them. He knew most of them knew little to nothing about Naruto's whereabouts. No, his true intentions were to physically and mentally harm Tsunade.
Her last remaining friend, Jiraiya, had died by his hands. A large portion of Konoha's shinobi was dead, and a larger portion was injured. He looked at her empty forehead and knew he had gained at least one victory. He looked into her eyes and saw what he was looking for. "You know true pain, but your Pein isn't deep enough. Tell me Hokage, where is the Kyuubi."
He was aiming to strike a nerve, and he struck it hard. Tsunade clenched and unclenched her fists as she fought to keep her composure. She couldn't engage him without endangering her shinobi. "Go curl up in a grave and die!" She felt the hatred boil up in her. He had taken Jiraiya from Naruto, from her!
Tendou tilted his head to one side. "I'm afraid you're a bit late. I already have curled up in a grave and died. Several times, in fact." His tone was serious. "I'll only ask one more time, Hokage. Where is the Kyuubi?"
Her lips curled into a wicked smile. "You're too late! Naruto's already escaped your grasp. He finally listened to me and ran off to save himself. The brat finally realized it was for the best because, if he stayed, he'd only endanger the village." She hoped he'd buy her bluff.
He didn't fall for it as he shook his head and looked directly at the pale child. "Hokage, bringing an innocent child to the battlefield? This is no place for such an innocent." He looked directly at the Fifth. "Do I need to kill her to make you experience deeper pain?" Her expression hardened. "I see. Then I'll destroy this village you hold so dear."
An instant before the ANBU could respond, he was gone. Their knees nearly buckled before Bull turned to Tsunade. "Hokage-sama, are you okay?" He cursed his luck. ANBU were highly trained to deal with genjutsu and bloodlust, but they were still frozen by Tendou's presence. No, they were frozen because he just didn't feel like fighting and had just held them off.
The buxom blond nodded her head. "Somehow…" She caught a toad out of the corner of her eye and sighed. "He didn't believe me when I said Naruto ran…not that I expected him to." She faced Bull directly. "How many and how quickly can you have squads mobilized and ready to move out?"
He nodded his head. "Just say the word, a-…" His words caught in his throat as they looked up to a massive collection of chakra in the air. The scale was far larger than it had been over the Hyuuga estates, and the oppressive feeling paralyzed even the slug sannin. Tendou's words made perfect sense as they looked upon horror given form.
He meant to tear a deep, irrevocable gash in their hearts. He meant to fill them with pain and, by extension, fear and hatred. They had to wonder if there really was anything they could do to stop the force of nature known as Pein Rikudou.
Rushing past Tsunade, a toad recognized the buxom blond as Konoha's Fifth. He didn't have time for pleasantries, however. He had a job to perform. He had one scroll left in hand, and things were getting tenser by the moment. He knew the small contingent of toads sent ahead could do nothing to help Konoha on their own. They needed to make the temporary anchor to summon a more substantial army.
He set the scroll down before stabbing his palm. Wiping blood on the parchment, he started the short ceremony. He erased all other thoughts from his mind, but he couldn't stop feeling worried about the large accumulation of chakra just over the village. It was the most oppressive feeling he'd ever had the displeasure of enduring.
He had to endure it, however, same as his other two companions. The temporary array of six glyphs was almost ready. He felt each point as intimately as the parchment he focused his chakra into. Invisible lines connected the glyphs in a complex array of seals and connecting lines.
As the anchor solidified, the oppressive chakra grew in size and power. The sounds of battle had long since ceased. Shinobi scrambled in the streets to evacuate injured and valuable support crews, like medics. They were all running out of time.
If the technique was released before the anchor could be completed, at least two points would be obliterated. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't find another anchor point. It took somebody of far greater skill to plant temporary glyphs where there were none to begin with, and it was too late to move anyway.
Their eyes went wide as the anchor pulsed and solidified. The three toads wiped their brows almost simultaneously despite being unable to see one another. In a massive plume of chakra smoke, Naruto and the most powerful toads were reverse summoned to Konoha's center.
Naruto looked around expectantly. Though the village was damaged, he was glad to see it wasn't in ruins. He breathed a sigh of relief before the chakra smoke cleared enough for him to plainly make out the taint of bloodlust-soaked chakra. He looked to the sky in horror as a massive Shinra Tensei neared completion.
It seemed to shift in the sky, and the blond genin could tell it had moved very slightly, a short distance from him. He planted feet and concentrated chakra, but it exploded before he could move anywhere. The lines of horror deepened on his face as he watched the oppressive chakra carve into his beloved city below.
He felt life at the epicenter snuff out completely. His senjutsu enhanced senses screamed at the massive death he witnessed. As if they were mere candles, Pein Rikudou had decided so many lives were useless. He had decided that the village buildings and center was no more than an eyesore.
Before the battle could even start between toads and their summoner and the enemies they sought, three toads died from the recoil on the anchor array. They were thrown back from the point they occupied, and the array collapsed as if it had never existed. The glyphs burst in a spectacular expulsion of chakra.
Naruto set his hard eyes on where he felt Pein's chakra. The dark lines highlighting his eyes showed he was using senjutsu, but the lines highlighting his face showed his unadulterated anger. He forced chakra to his feet and rushed in the direction Pein was waiting.
As he rushed forward, he focused on locating his precious people. He felt them scattered about, but he could count most of them. He worried about those extremely low on chakra, but he couldn't afford hesitation. He narrowed his eyes as he felt Kakashi. He was no genius, but his chakra signature seemed low enough to be fatal.
He took a calming breath when he noticed Hinata's chakra. She was definitely alive and with friends. He also felt two chakra signatures he didn't quite recognized, but he'd worry about it later. He was more concerned with the toads following him and Pein Rikudou ahead of him.
Yay, the manga introduces something new to gripe about. I was tempted to write up a omake just to complain and submit this chapter late, but decided against it. Seriously, think about this. Danzo convinces Fire-daimyo to promote him to Hokage because the Third's ideals and student taught Nagato how to fight like a ninja, but nobody speaks up about how Danzo's deceitfulness and traitorous actions created Pein? Everybody in Konoha heard the story from Katsuyu and recognizes Naruto as a hero. Now, it's not mysterious that Danzo became Hokage or was plotting to be. It's mysterious how Fire-daimyo made the decision without listening to one of the most intelligent clan heads in the village! He obviously values the council's opinion if he's going to call them together, and there are a lot of other concerns.
Think further on this. The Fire-daimyo's court is separate from the affairs of Konoha (cannon established) which explains the need for jonin to come to a vote on the finality of who the Sixth is. However, that also implies that some sort of vote or at least political showdown is going to occur in council to determine who gets to be seated. The entire chapter shows a general lack of knowledge or at least insight on fanbase intelligence. Ugh! Sadly, it killed a lot of my spirit to write some of the characters, so I'm afraid this chapter wasn't nearly as good as I had originally planned.
On to more serious matters, this is pretty much the entrance I was planning for Naruto. Kanaeru...not so much. Her return diverged the most from my original plans, not as epic.
As always, reviews are appreciated, and flames outright ignored.
Story Word Count: 8,046
Story Page Count: 17.5
Terms and Jutsu:
Tsukuyomi - God of the Moon: A powerful genjutsu utilized by the Mangekyou Sharingan to inflict severe mental trauma.
Kamui - God's Majesty: A powerful doujutsu utilized by the Mangekyou Sharingan to void whatever the user targets.