Chapter 30: Samurai Rendezvous
"EH? A Jonin?"
"Yup." Shoryu shrugged. Whatever meaning Ayako attached to the title he didn't. It wasn't an accurate gauge of strength – she and Kazuya were just as powerful as he was, and the Sixth Hokage himself was one of the most powerful known forces in the world whilst still technically a Genin. It was just a word. Sure, the extra pay was nice, but Shoryu failed to see exactly why he should be treated any differently.
Just as they'd promised, Hoshi, Jinga and Yuudai turned up at the foot of the chutes after being contacted right away. Unit Three Zero Nine Six came as well, and to Kazuya's disdain he was the first to arrive out of all of them. Now only the ninja from the Land of Fire were missing. Shoryu resumed his conversation as he awaited their arrival.
"Urgh." Ayako buried her hands in her hair, today a mesmerising shade of blue. "Overtaking me again. I'll never be Raikage at this pace."
"You're seventeen, not seventy," said Shoryu. "You've got plenty of time."
"There have been younger Kage in the past!"
"True, but they've been older ones more often than not. Look at Reizo-sensei, I mean he's only. . ." Shoryu trailed off, gazing up at the clouds wrapped around his village. "How old is he again?"
"Twenty-eight," said Ayako.
"Like I said: plenty of time."
Ayako sighed wearily and leaned against the rock face. She gave an absentminded check of her scrolls before letting it drop, muttering something like 'I guess you're right'. In her search for new conversation topics Ayako let her eyes wander the clearing. Kazuya, sat brooding at the hilltop, was a subject she avoided. There was only so much they could do to spur him on, and if this mission went successfully he'd be back to his old self in no time at all.
Instead Ayako diverted her attention to the young clone, sitting wordlessly away from the group. Openly admitting he was of their enemy's race gave them a cause to dislike him, yet there was something about his distant, pure persona that invited trust. In human years he didn't look any older than fifteen, but was that his true age? Yesterday he claimed to be only three years old.
"What do you make of him then?" she asked, nodding his way.
Shoryu turned to inspect him. "We've got no choice but to trust him, he's our only lead." It was a sad truth.
"There's something eerie about his voice don't you think? He should sound much older."
Shoryu had considered it too; despite appearing as a teenager, Unit Three Zero Nine Six's voice was that of a child. "I've got a theory about that," he admitted.
"Oh?"
"He uses his mind to speak right? I think he cut out his tongue before his regular voice would've matured," Shoryu explained. "Since he speaks telepathically, he can only communicate in the voice he remembers having."
"Ahh." Ayako nodded. "Makes sense."
As they waited Shoryu took out the briefing he'd received just a few hours ago, one handwritten by the Raikage himself. His orders were simple, to meet up with both the Hidden Leaf ninja and the southern samurai to raid the clone encampment in the Land of Sound. Hatori had vouched for the clone's credibility, and Saito Yukizawa confirmed that the area was secure – already Shoryu began to question that little piece of information.
Their primary objective was to rescue any surviving ninja from the Lands of Lightning and Fire, and to defeat any members of the Senmatsu family they might come across. What interested Shoryu however was their secondary objective: to bring back any useable material that might indicate the intentions of this base.
It made sense; after all, the Senmatsu family had never been interested in kidnapping ninja until now - their only objective was normally to kill. Unit Three Zero Nine Six mentioned that it was a research facility, but he had no knowledge of what exactly it researched. It seemed Reizo and Hiromasa were just as eager to find out as he was.
After re-reading its contents for a third time Shoryu rolled up the mission briefing and shoved it in his pocket. While they had time he figured he'd to spend another few moments with their clone friend. Part of him wanted to scout for any signal that he might be a traitor, and the other part was fascinated by him.
When Shoryu approached the clone stood firm to attention, meeting his stare without a flinch.
"Free, you got a moment?" Shoryu asked.
The boy arched an eyebrow. Free? He asked, his young voice echoing across Shoryu's mind.
"You don't seem to have a name of your own, and it's kinda grating having to call you 'Three Zero Nine Six' all the time, so I'm altering it – or shortening it really. I thought 'Free' might be a little more fitting. If that's okay with you."
Free. . . The clone repeated the name over a few times, and each time his smile grew wider. I like it, thank you.
"Don't mention it." As he spoke Shoryu watched Free's face for any trace of deceit. There was none – he seemed genuinely happy at the prospect of having a name. Then again, the best ninja could always conceal their true feelings. When the boy got over the elation Shoryu began again, "So anyway, do you know whether or not there'll be any Senmatsu at this place we're going to?"
I can't say for certain, though I believe Madoka will be there.
"Figures," muttered Shoryu. He shook away the image of the kidnapper who'd lead the assault against them. "She beat us once, but I still think we've got a chance. In a closed space she can't use that technique to escape."
That move is only the tip of the iceberg as far as her Jikogan is concerned – she's powerful, said Free.
"Yeah, but so am I, and so are they." Shoryu jerked his head towards Kazuya, now meditating in silence. "And he's on another level. I'd feel sorry for Madoka – managing to piss him off. Take it from me, you don't want to get on his bad side."
Noted, said Free. He studied the samurai for a few moments before suddenly blurting out: Is it true you've got a dragon?
Shoryu laughed, taken aback by the sudden question. At first he suspected his enemy was feigning interest to gather information. Then again, Kyoh was no secret – even ninja from other divisions had heard of the one commander who rode into battle on dragonback. "That's right," he answered.
I only ever saw one once. When I came into this world, there was one guarding our island – Teijo's dragon. I heard he has a few.
Shoryu shook his head. "Impossible," he said. "Save from me, my father was the only one in recent history to form a blood seal with them."
I never knew that. But I saw what I saw. It makes sense when you think about it – who do you suppose the Puppeteer got them from?
Shoryu considered for a moment. Teijo had been the one to slaughter his father – when Shoichi refused to adhere to his family's methods his own brother had been dispatched to kill him. Teijo's Genjutsu was second to none – he needed only a touch to take total control of his target's mind. It was safe to assume that creatures were affected by it the same as humans; he must've stolen Shoichi's dragons from him the moment they were summoned.
It was unfortunate, but at least it gave him hope for the future. For years Shoryu assumed Kyoh was the last of his kind – that somehow the dragons were all but extinct. If they could beat Teijo then the Genjutsu would fall; the dragons would be free again to repopulate their species.
"Kyoh should be pleased to know that he's not alone. I'll tell him next time we're in training," said Shoryu at last.
Free smiled. That's good to hear.
A bang interrupted their conversation as several chutes from the clouds plummeted to the surface. Ninja from the Land of Fire began to spill out onto the broken stone, led by a boy Shoryu had seen the previous day. He yawned and stretched out like a cat, then gave a look at his own mission briefing.
"I gotta go now, but let me just tell you one thing," said Shoryu, turning back to the boy.
The clone tilted his head, his eyes wide open in interest.
"If it turns out you're legit – if your story checks out, then I'll make damn sure you get to live comfortably – no being a guinea pig or living underground for the rest of your life. You'll be able to live however you want. However. . ." Shoryu's eyes lowered to a glower as he delivered the next part of his speech - the important part. "If you're lying to us then I swear to you, Kazuya will be the least of your problems."
Despite Shoryu's rare look of seriousness, Free's expression changed very little. He looked to the floor and nodded his head. . . Of course. I'd expect nothing less, he said.
Convinced that he'd made his point, Shoryu turned and strolled over to the Leaf's commander.
A year or so younger than Shoryu, this new Jonin sported a crown of flaming orange hair, spiked up to put a slight grin and a pair of icy blue eyes on display. A billowing jacket of the darkest black flapped down to his heels, lined with orange borders a shade darker than his hair. Kunai and shuriken poked from a weapons holster strapped to his right thigh – a textbook Leaf ninja.
He waved his men over with a lazy gesture, yawned one more time and drew himself up to full height before addressing the boy.
"So you're Shoryu huh?" he asked.
"That's me. . ." Shoryu waited for the boy to introduce himself as well. When he didn't: "And you are? . ."
"Oh, Commander Hotaru Shoharu at your service," announced the boy, proudly sticking his thumb towards himself.
"You're late," Shoryu noted. He was so nervous about this mission it gave him cause to worry; could this boy be trusted? He was a Jonin and a Commander, but how strong was he really? Could they count on him?
"You know how hard it is sleeping in a foreign bed?" asked Hotaru. "It's awful; I had to get all I could, we can't save the world on a few hours' sleep now can we?"
In spite of himself Shoryu laughed. Hotaru had a point. After all, their target wasn't going anywhere – whether he slept in or not, it made no difference. "Yeah, I guess you can't," he added, still chuckling.
"You're not one of those take-charge, power obsessed, follow-the-rules type of commanders are you? Because if you are then we aren't exactly going to get along."
Shoryu glanced about to find Ayako, who shrugged in return. Kazuya said nothing; apparently neither of them wished to answer, so he spoke what he felt to be the truth. "Nah," he said. "I think I can be pretty liberal."
"Liberal huh?" Hotaru raised an eyebrow. "Now there's a word for people who read more books than I did."
"As long as we get the job done, I really don't care how we do it," Shoryu explained. Since he and this boy shared responsibility, one thing bugged him. It was a redundant question; anyone with a speck of pride would answer accordingly, but he still had to ask. "So, you strong?"
"You bet I am!"
"Hmm." As cunningly as he dared, Shoryu feigned a tone that conveyed indifference, like nothing Hotaru said would convince him of his power. Unfortunately the young commander saw through his ruse, yet it seemed his cockiness compelled him to go along with it anyway.
"Oh? We're playing that game are we?" This time both his eyebrows shot up as a bloodthirsty look took over him.
"I have no idea what you mean," said Shoryu, feigning ignorance.
"I'm not a total idiot. Any day now the war might become so great that our countries go to war," he said. "You just want to scope out the competition – to get a glimpse of your enemy's capabilities."
For a third time Shoryu laughed. Admittedly, he did consider that an added bonus. "You got me." He threw up his arms in resignation.
"Then again, nothing wrong with a healthy show of strength to give your men some morale right? Tell you what, I'll show you mine if you show me yours. You've got nothing to hide right?"
Shoryu continued to stare at the boy as a deathly silence passed between the two of them. Five seconds elapsed; to him, those five seconds were slower than any Kazuya had ever experienced, but in the end he gave a smirk. All hell broke loose in an instant as both ninja weaved out a multitude of hand signs. As Shoryu palmed the ground and Hotaru formed his final seal a cloud of smoke enveloped the clearing.
Coughs from the legion of Genin and Chunin sounded through the commotion. Only Kazuya didn't move, still suspended in meditation as he prepared for the battle ahead. When the smoke cleared however, even he opened his eyes.
Stood between the crowd of ninja the two fighters remained poised. Shoryu sat atop his prized summon, both katana ablaze with a mixture of wind and fire-based chakra. Hotaru meanwhile had no creature, yet at the same time looked just as formidable.
Walls of flame topped with a wispy orange mist sprang up in a full circle around him. The air before him distorted, broken by a visible heat wave that made it hard to keep see where exactly the two trench knives in his hands were. Serrated and sharpened to a point, his two weapons slotted perfectly onto his gloves, glowing white with the heat.
"Not bad," said Shoryu.
"Yeah, they don't call me the Leaf's Phoenix for nothing. But you're not so bad yourself. I wonder whose flames burn hotter, mine or your dragon's."
"Think your fire could match mine human?" Kyoh rumbled, clearly offended by the ninja's flippant comment.
"Who knows?" Hotaru shrugged. "I wouldn't mind trying someday though."
As he spoke Hotaru allowed his flames to simmer out, and after sensing no danger Shoryu did the same. He sent Kyoh back to his home in a puff of smoke and sheathed both blades. Once both his arms were free again, he found Hotaru's hand extended before him. He shook it without hesitation.
"I think we're going to get along just fine," said Hotaru.
Shoryu gave a curt nod in response, and after deeming it enough the Leaf's commander turned and called to his merry troop of ninja.
"Alright guys let's go!"
As a single unit the Leaf ninja took off, perfectly synchronised to follow their captain's path at perilous speeds down the steep mountain slope. They left the seven remaining in a smog of dust as Kazuya finally got to his feet. Looks of bewilderment crossed each ninja; even Free looked troubled by the bizarre attitude of their new ally.
Hoshi approached, calm and stoic as always. "What was all that about? You know, he could be a problem," she said.
Smiling, Shoryu shook his head. "I like him," he decided suddenly. "We'll be fine."
"But if he makes a racket then any covert entry we attempt would be ruined," said Ayako. It was a valid point, but one that Shoryu had already taken into account.
"We're taking a band of samurai with us," he reminded her. "Just what chance of stealth do you reckon we have?" Shoryu took a moment to let the knowledge sink in for his friends – the knowledge that they'd walk into an unidentified base in full force. "Once we're inside we'll know exactly how many there are, and whether or not we can win."
"But by then it'll be too late to turn back," Jinga realised.
"Exactly, it's win or die here. You can still back out if you want to."
No one said a word, even as Kazuya stared down each of them in turn.
"Good. Then we'd better get moving too – we need to catch up. As strong as Hotaru might be, I don't think he's realised that without Free he has no idea where he's going."
Three Days Later
Forty-odd men moving through the trees would normally attract attention, but forty-odd ninja whizzing by could easily be mistaken might easily be mistaken for a passing gust of wind. The difficult part was stopping themselves from getting involved upon witnessing the dozen passing skirmishes, most of which the Cloud seemed to be losing. Each time Shoryu felt compelled to join the vanguard and do whatever he could, but such a move was against his orders - they had to press on no matter what they saw. The troop passed undetected through the Land of Lightning, spending their nights in first a damp mountain, then a sprawling canyon, then finally a dense forest.
Overcast clouds robbed the sky of stars and freshly fallen snow quilted the ground at their feet, somewhat masking the scent of the fresh pines littered about the clearing. Its presence told them they were getting closer to the Village Hidden in the Glacier, but how much closer only Kazuya knew. Its location was so remote that only its inhabitants could find it without a map.
Sat around a fire entertaining his men sat Hotaru. Whatever he may have been, Shoryu could at least see that his leadership skills were second to none. He laughed and joked and passed around food to alleviate the rising tension about the camp.
Seeing it from the outside proved to be captivating to Shoryu. Just one passing glance proved beyond any doubt that Hotaru's ninja had total faith in him, trust built over years of fighting on the frontlines day after day. They'd live and die for him just as he would for them.
Shoryu liked to think he commanded the same kind of respect, though in actuality he had no idea. He supposed Ayako and the others wouldn't follow him here if they didn't think he could lead them to victory, but maybe that was just wishful thinking. The doubt annoyed him to no end, so much so that when he and Ayako were charged with gathering firewood, he could think of nothing else the entire time.
"Hey Ayako," he asked out of the blue. "Was I a good commander?"
The girl only laughed, "Good one, oh yeah you sucked."
"I wasn't joking."
"Hm?" This time Ayako's face sobered. "What happened to all that confidence?"
"Honestly?" Shoryu breathed a sigh, placing both hands behind his back as he sank against a tree. "I think it died along with most of my men."
"Don't talk like that!" she insisted. "We've been over this already! You need to move on Shoryu. You seemed fine enough the other day."
"I was saving face. No sense bringing you all down; someone has to believe in me, even if I don't."
Even Ayako found it hard to conceal her worry. She hadn't seen him like this in years, back when he was the scrawny runt of the litter with no achievements to his name. "Did you speak to Kazuya about this?"
"Nah. He's got bigger problems at the moment don't you think?" said Shoryu.
"Then how about I spill it out for you? What happened wasn't your fault. You took up that rank when no one wanted it – even though you hate responsibility – all because Reizo-sensei asked you to. Every man and woman in Division Two was grateful to you for keeping them together and alive for so long."
Shoryu scoffed, "That hardly lasted did it?"
"So all those years just meant nothing? Shoryu, we're at war. It sucks but people die. Those ninja wouldn't have been there if they weren't prepared to make that sacrifice – they chose to defend their country, and most of them were happy to have someone like you at the frontlines with them."
The Jonin took a moment to take in Ayako's words. If what she said was true then he had nothing to worry about – all those people serving under him had no qualms about going to their death, and they wouldn't resent him for it. It was an encouraging thought, and it cheered him a little, though he suspected he'd never have his solace until this mission was over, one way or another.
Still, Shoryu gave a smile and pressed up from the tree. "You know I couldn't have done it without you."
"Awww." Ayako cocked her head and made a face. "Is Shoryu getting sentimental now?"
"I'm just saying! You make it sound like I did all the legwork! I'd be dead if it weren't for you!"
"I did save your ass once or twice."
"Well yeah, there's that, plus the fact that yours actually gives me something to admire on the battlefield. Keeps me going y'know?"
At this Ayako giggled, modestly covering her mouth as her sweet laughter filled the air. "That's more like it. You almost sound back to normal," she said afterward.
Shoryu shrugged, whistling innocently as he gave a glance around. "You know there's no one around here right? I'm thinking-"
"-Save those thoughts for your dreams big shot." Still laughing, Ayako gave him a playful shove as both returned to collecting firewood, this time in much higher spirits. The pair bantered for a while, barely taking notice of how many sticks filled their arms. In truth Shoryu figured they had enough, but these days he seized any excuse for time with her. With his best friend in a stupor of depression he had no one else close to him but Ayako, and though he'd never admit it, his feelings for her had begun to intensify lately. After seeing what happened with Kazuya and Fujiko, Shoryu quickly developed the urge to seize what he already cherished.
Their gathering was cut short when the two walked through an incredibly familiar set of trees. Since déjà vu passed between each of them, Shoryu deduced that they must've both been here before, a theory confirmed by the next opening in the trees.
It was a minor piece of evidence – something that would barely register to any passers-by. A red mark, faded with time, had been blasted into a single unremarkable fern, leaving a circular denture six inches deep into the tree. It took Shoryu a few seconds to realise what it was, but Ayako noticed immediately.
"Hey," she said. "I made that mark! This is where I fought with Fujiko four years ago."
"I remember that." Shoryu thought fondly of the memories of his youth. In a time without war, those missions with Squad Thirteen had been the best of his life.
"I guess we must be real close to the village then."
"Right, let's go tell Kazuya."
It was past midnight by the time a hooded man reached the bottom of the glacial drop. By then the clouds had broken apart, revealing moonlight so intense that it lit up sections of the glacier in a deep blue glow. Shadows shifted about the multitude of thatched, straw houses, and as always the mist meandered through the paths and over bridges like a snake.
The village was asleep. Only a few dim candles shone from the windows of the visible homes. The chimneys gave their final puffs of smoke to the night, courtesy of a few smouldering coals left in the fireplaces.
As its name implied, what characterised this village most of all was the temperature, so cold that in winter, sweat drops froze on the faces of training samurai. In severe snowstorms one could remove their gloves to scratch their nose and end up losing a finger. It was a calm night, but mid-October in the glacier was still nothing to sniff at.
It had been a long time since the man came here, so long that it took some getting used to. He pulled his jacket tighter and hugged his body as he made his way underneath the giant arch of ice that loomed like a gate over the village. He removed them, however, when he noticed the two sentries stood at the foot of the only watchtower – the entrance inside. He couldn't show them any sign of weakness.
As soft and soundless as the snow beneath them the man managed to walk right up to the two samurai before they noticed him. Startled by his sudden appearance, the pair drew their blades in perfect synchronism.
"Not another step!" one said.
"Who goes there?" demanded the other.
The man gave them a few moments to think about their actions before lifting his head. Moonlight spilled across his sombre expression in an instant to illuminate the familiar face, eyes flashing to a dangerous spiral.
"L-Lord Kazuya!" The two men dropped to their knees and sheathed their katana. One of them fumbled so much that he ended up missing the scabbard and nicking his thumb on the blade, such was his surprise that their future leader had come to see them.
"Forgive us my lord," begged the second. "We were not informed of your arrival."
"There's nothing to forgive. Get on your feet; you know how I feel about all these frivolities."
At Kazuya's request they leapt back up to his eye-level as fast as their legs would permit them. The first scratched his head, clearly unsure of what to do with him at such a late hour.
"I need to speak with Bishamon," said Kazuya.
The two samurai spared each other a nervous look. Eventually the man with the bleeding thumb spoke, "He'll no doubt be in bed at this hour my lord. We'll find a nice room for you, and then we can see him in the morning."
"He'll be awake," Kazuya said as he pushed past. "I'd like some privacy, make sure no one enters his quarters."
"C-Certainly my lord!"
Without another word the samurai set off down the familiar winding paths of his home. Here and there sculptures and monuments propped up from the half-frozen streams, decorating the place with a look of splendour. There was one in particular – that displayed the names of each Taisho of the Takashi clan; Kazuya noticed it had been updated. It wasn't finished yet, but the first few characters of his name had already been etched into the stonework, courtesy of the village's master stonemasons.
After passing through a final column of mist Kazuya finally reached the centre of the village, a small shrine of white columns that housed the Taisho. As he predicted, the lights were still on, and the powerful smell of incense drifted through an open window: Bishamon was still awake.
Kazuya took a moment to steel himself; professional meetings with the Taisho had always been awkward. He'd been raised as virtually the man's son, yet that was precisely why business matters and disagreements came at such high a cost. The samurai slowed his breathing to calm down, his every exhale in the chill a small mist that fled to the darkness. Once he was ready, Kazuya rapped hard on the door.
Bishamon answered almost immediately; Kazuya had never seen him look any worse. Though still a giant hulking machine of a human being, Bishamon Takashi looked tired beyond his years. Bags formed under heavily lidded eyes, and his every movement seemed sluggish compared to its usual spring. It seemed he hadn't slept in days; Kazuya wondered how much he'd had since Fujiko was kidnapped, if any.
"Kazuya!" Even in such a state, the Taisho's eyes lit up with enthusiasm at the sight of his beloved successor. "Come in, come in!"
The samurai bowed before doing as instructed. He settled to a plush seat surrounding a boiling pot of broth, its scent mixing with the incense from the next room. Although he'd never been particularly spiritual man, it didn't take a mastermind to spot that Bishamon had been praying – clutching at any hope he could.
"I won't do you the dishonour of avoiding the issue, so I'll get straight to the point," said Kazuya. He tried a tone normally unthinkable to use towards a Taisho, yet Bishamon's silence prompted him to continue. "You told me that when the time comes to rescue Fujiko you'd lend me all your strength."
Bishamon's mouth hung open; it seemed he didn't quite believe what he was hearing.
"Well we think we found her, so I've come here to take you up on your offer."
"We?" questioned the samurai.
"The ninja of the Cloud – the Leaf too."
"The ninja have been trying to get us on their side for years. Did they simply send you here to use me - in the guise of rescuing Fujiko? Why not come here themselves? Do you fight all their battles?" said Bishamon.
Kazuya shook his head. "I suggested the alliance. And you know how well our two worlds get along. Me leading a battalion of ninja down here in the middle of the night might not end well for either party. I came to check whether you'd be cooperative."
Bishamon looked thoughtful. He'd be forced to compromise his principles in exchange for a chance at seeing his daughter again; Kazuya watched as his mind suddenly jumped to another predictable alternative.
"We can handle this ourselves," he decided. "You can lead us to her can't you?"
"Impossible." Kazuya shook again. "Only one person knows where she is, and he's in the custody of the ninja. I don't think we could survive going there alone anyway; more than anything, I think this is how it should be done. I don't need a reason to go there and save her, but if doing so with the ninja could help us end this war then I'll take all the help I can get."
"The ninja started this damn war, they can get themselves out of it. And you want to get us involved?" Bishamon snorted in disapproval.
"Not us, just me – I'm only sorry you have to be dragged into this, but the ninja believe that going here might get us one step closer to putting a stop to this – all of it."
"And why does a samurai care for the outcome of the Fifth Shinobi World War?" said Bishamon.
"I've seen it every day for the last four years – I've seen how many people it has claimed – how many families it ruined," Kazuya explained. "We'd be better off without it."
"Liar." Bishamon saw through the falsehood immediately. Kazuya might've been able to read him perfectly, but apparently the inverse was also true. "Samurai are bred for war. Enjoying it is a part of being samurai, and you don't strike me as anything else."
Distant and vaguely amused, Kazuya permitted himself a smile. The Glacier's leader called him out perfectly; he stared down at the boy with eyes cold as winter, his gargantuan figure casting a shadow so intimidating that Kazuya couldn't bear to lie anymore.
"Alright, but this might be a little embarrassing," he said. "Bishamon, do you still believe in the old ways?"
"The old ways?" The Taisho looked confused. "The old ways say we ought to kill ourselves at the shame of losing a battle – they're old for a reason."
"Surely you still hold some of the ideals though. There's one in particular that I can't shake: that a man inherits the sins of his ancestors. . ." Kazuya paused, the image of those vile people running through his mind. "My family started this wretched war. . . As far as I'm concerned, if it's in my power, then I've got a duty to end it. . ."
Bishamon suddenly stood, walked a few paces about the room, and then gazed from the open window at the Village he ruled. Kazuya froze as rigid as the glacier itself, plastered into his seat, waiting anxiously for the answer of his mentor. For once Bishamon was unreadable; not a single hint of emotion crossed his face as he stared out.
The kettle of broth began to bubble. The ice caking the inside of the window began to melt with Bishamon's breath. He stood there for a while, too wrapped up in his thoughts to speak – Kazuya on the other hand was too scared.
Eventually the Taisho acted, whirling around as he drew his blade in a manner fitting of his status. He looked like a leader now; zeal and vigour returned to his eyes, previously abandoned in his stupor of self-pity. Kazuya's heartbeat tripled as he prayed for his answer.
"I'll rally the men at daybreak. If fighting with the ninja is what it takes to save Fujiko then I'll do it, and if you think it's the best option then I'll trust your judgement. In a few months you'll be Taisho. You'll be the one making decisions for every man, woman and child in this village. I say it's about time you prove you're ready."
The time for words was over. Kazuya stood and drew his blade, lightly touching its edge to Bishamon's. Everything went as well as he'd hoped; he'd successfully recruited the samurai he promised to Shoryu, and his own Taisho would be at the battle's forefront. For one brief, fleeting instant, Kazuya pitied the Senmatsu.
Four Days Later
When Kazuya showed up with thirty samurai at his heels the camp was in shock. Shoryu and Hotaru each greeted the Taisho humbly, with Shoryu silently hoping none would realise he was the same boy who'd gone to the Glacier and tried his hardest to show up Kazuya all those years ago.
A handful of fights broke out within the ranks, yet thankfully Bishamon and Kazuya were as strict with their men as the only the most domineering sensei. Any attempt to topple their alliance – anything that could put Fujiko's rescue in jeopardy – was instantly quashed by her husband or father with a stern show of discipline.
Unfortunately Kazuya's command meant that Shoryu saw little of him over the following four days. A system had been quickly worked out to avoid the samurai giving their position away; such was their fervour and love for intense battles.
As they passed through the lands of Snow, Hot Water and finally Sound, five ninja would scout two miles ahead for any traps and enemy legions that might bar their way. At the same time their small army of ninja and samurai would trail behind, Kazuya at its vanguard following the trail left by Shoryu – one of the five scouts.
Also assigned were Ayako, Hotaru, Hoshi and surprisingly, Free. They stayed within eyeshot of one another at all times as they dashed their way along the rolling hills and shadowy canopies of the Land of Sound.
For Shoryu it quickly became one of the most unsettling places he'd ever visited. Strange noises from thickets at dusk were only the tip of the iceberg – the whole place seemed to suffocate them, its gnarled trees bowing down as if to close their path before them. Here it never got any brighter than a bleak dawn, staying cloudy and shaded until night finally fell.
The Land of Sound's past as a hideout for criminals wasn't hard to spot. The scouts often came across abandoned, well-hidden facilities, along with caches of weapons and chemicals unknown to even Jinga. Tunnels and catacombs went on for miles – labyrinths on such a scale that Shoryu reckoned the biggest ones might take whole a year to map out.
Hotaru mentioned that Orochimaru, the Leaf's famous traitor, made his hideouts here, silently taking over the whole country without the rest of the world noticing. Upon hearing this Free even suggested that their destination might even be one of Orochimaru's abandoned facilities – one that the Senmatsu had somehow managed to uncover.
Woods, savannahs and tunnels however paled in comparison to the challenge of the bog. A swamp, ashen grey and bubbling with stink, was presented to them on the following afternoon. Manoeuvring in the muck became an ordeal; as the five ninja waded through sludge Shoryu suspected an ambush at any moment.
It was simply too inconvenient an obstacle. Wall and water-walking techniques only made the grime reach their ankles rather than knees, making every step a test of endurance across a thousand metres of open marshland. Every strange noise made Shoryu jolt, convinced an enemy ninja was about to spring from the swamp and bury a kunai in his skull.
Even with all Shoryu's paranoia, they managed across it without incident. As the commander waded through, panting and sweating head to heel, he suddenly came to a useless realisation: they should've waited. Kazuya's samurai could all use the Ice Style, meaning it would be child's play for them forge a path. Instead they'd walked all the way through, soaking and soiling their feet whilst exhausting themselves in the process.
Once he was at the other side Shoryu hauled himself onto dry land in a heap – the swamp took as much out of him as a day of training. Hotaru had already landed; he looked only marginally better off, still guzzling from his flask by the shore as he enjoyed his well-earned rest. Finally Shoryu's anxieties calmed; if they were attacked in the middle of the swamp it would spell doom for them all, but they'd made it safely across.
AYAKO! Down!
A scream inside his head made Shoryu duck for cover and whirl his eyes around. Ayako dropped just in time too – just in time to avoid a flurry of senbon flying at her right flank. A troop of over fifty clones had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Perhaps they hid in the underbrush or used some jutsu to conceal them; whatever the case, all Shoryu knew was that they were under attack.
He understood their plan immediately, cursing himself for not seeing it sooner. They wouldn't attack in the swamp; it was there simply to slow them down – to tire them out so that when they emerged puffing and panting they'd be easy prey for the opposition. Shoryu realised it too late, yet it seemed Free had been on his guard the whole time. He'd just saved Ayako's life.
"Form up!" roared Hotaru.
Within moments all five ninja had forgotten fatigue and flocked together like a defensive pack of wolves. Ayako's orange clapped into existence to shield them all from the next barrage. Projectiles hit the solid wall like a rain on a window, yet they only bounced back to their owners.
"Counter!"
Hoshi loosed three kunai as Shoryu hurled a windmill shuriken.
"Blue!"
"Fire Style: Blaze Darts!"
Ninja Art: Pulse Justu!
A wave of destruction hit the clone legion as a tempest of different attacks. Shoryu's guided shuriken tore through a trio of clones as Ayako's javelins impaled them in turn. Tongues of Hotaru's flame stuck to their mark, superheating the targeted areas to make his enemies unable to fight, whereas Free's sudden blast of mind-powered chakra knocked a dozen to ground like battered dominoes.
"Defend!" cried out Shoryu, quickly adapting to the battle.
"Fire Style: Pheonix Vortex!" This time repelling attacks was left to Hotaru. As he formed the final tiger seal a flame burst forth from his very body. It shifted, twisting itself into multitude of shapes before it finally became apparent that it took on the form of its namesake. The bird of flames squawked a high-pitched caw and spread its wings, shrouding the quintet in a burning cloak that sucked in every attack headed its way.
"Again!
More techniques and shuriken surged from the five in the momentary opening, killing a great number before the battalion recovered once more. If nothing else, clones stood firm until the very end. They retaliated with an even greater cluster of jutsu and bladed projectiles, and this time Free took responsibility to defend, stringing together a number of seals and closing his eyes.
Ninja Art: Seize!
Shoryu watched in amazement as Free was almost thrown off his feet by an invisible force slamming into him. He skidded back five paces, his glowing palms out in front as though he'd just slowed a charging bull with a handful of lilac chakra. In reality that wasn't far from the truth; through some form of telekinesis Free stopped every attack homing towards them – kunai, fireballs, water shots and strange jutsu Shoryu had never even seen before stopped still in mid-flight.
Visible beads of sweat trickled from Free's temples; Shoryu wondered if he could handle it. To his credit though, when the clone let his arms fall to his sides the storm of attacks mirrored him, dropping harmlessly to the ground.
"Nice!" said Shoryu. Now that the enemy looked positively terrified by their display he felt it time to act. "Ayako, Free, cover us! Charge!"
Shoryu, Hotaru and Hoshi broke the formation without a second thought. They ran as fast as they could, crossing the open expanse of dry grass and darting away from the bolts headed their way, only ignoring those that sailed over their heads.
Sparks of shaded red peppered the vanguard and Free's odd blasts of chakra wrought destruction on whatever battle formation the clones could hold. By the time Shoryu reached them they were as unorganised as amateurs, falling over one another, flailing on the ground or still recovering from the last attack.
Hotaru reached them first, twin trench knives a searing flame as he dived straight into the fray. Thinking he might need help, Shoryu followed closely after. With both swords spiralled each by a vicious gale he hacked at anything that came close. Blades of wind leapt from his swords as he cleared the path with a Cross Slash, then span left to cut the throat of a standing clone.
To his right Shoryu noticed Hoshi. With nothing but her fists she pummelled men into the ground, and after every attack blocked she could add a clone's strength to her own and punch with such force that they often died on impact.
Ahead, Hotaru formed a hand sign to douse half a dozen in his flames. Shoryu ran up to meet him, ducking under punches and deflecting projectiles from the clones left standing. Once he was finally there, the ninja took his place beside the Leaf commander and crossed swords to an x-shape.
"Cross Slash Jutsu!"
The effect surprised even Shoryu. As his own cross of bladed arcs combined with Hotaru's flamethrower it produced an effect almost identical to his ninjutsu with Kyoh. The twin crescents set alight, swarmed and accelerated by the heat of the flames as they effortlessly ripped apart a number of clones.
A green claw suddenly protruded from the chest of the man to Shoryu's left as Ayako entered the fray. Surrounded, the three of them held off until Hoshi smashed her way in, followed closely by Free, who entered juggling two clones in the air before slamming them to the ground in backbreaking force.
By forming a circle in the centre of the legion the five ninja stood back to back, defending every angle as they hacked and punched their way through the final wave. Even before Free joined them, the battle was already won. Puffs of smoke sprang up over the field; a mixture of those killed and those taking their own life as Teijo disposed of them without mercy.
Once only a few remained, the five began to break off to finish off any stragglers. Only two faced Shoryu, who met their end as a shuriken ripped through one and a blade cut up the other. It was Hoshi who finished the final clone, her arm of gigantic proportions meeting its face before passing through nothing but smoke and air.
Right as they won Hotaru fell to the ground, spread out his arms and closed his eyes, letting the wind rush through his clothes as he joined the rest in laborious breathing. "Damn right!" he called out. "Bring it on! We can take anything you can throw at us! Try a hundred next time; see if I break a sweat!"
Laughing at his partner's attitude, Shoryu slumped to a sitting position atop a nearby rock. He felt a sudden pride at being a part of the group; everyone had pulled their weight and their teamwork went flawlessly. Even fifty clones didn't stand a chance against them alone.
That must've been a patrol unit, informed Free. He assumed a space next to Shoryu as he allowed his breathing to return to normal. With any luck they still don't know we're coming, but it means we're close – an hour or two's walk at the most.
"Should we look ahead?" asked Hotaru.
No. We should wait for the rest. We need to restore our chakra and get ready for another fight. Whilst we wait, I would also like to pay my respects.
It seemed Free hadn't reacted with as much enthusiasm at killing clones as Hotaru did. Shoryu could barely believe his eyes when the mousy-haired clone kneeled at the centre of the blood-stained battlefield and bowed his head in respect. With his lips he seemed to be muttering something, yet without a tongue he couldn't speak.
"Are you serious?" said Hoshi. "They just tried to kill us and you want to pay your respects?"
'They' did not try to kill us, Teijo did. These clones were trapped in their own bodies, unable to move of their own volition, he explained to her. Could you imagine what that feels like?
When Hoshi didn't reply Free nodded, knowing she'd understood. Even Hotaru seemed sorry about unintentionally being so offensive.
We do not leave behind bodies as you do, so I will mourn my brothers and sisters in my own way. With this Free began to move his lips soundlessly again in some kind of mantra. He closed his eyes and bowed his head to the ground, remaining in that position for a full five minutes. Shoryu watched him in intrigue; he seemed to be honouring those lost who never had a chance at life, as he did.
It was unavoidable, I know. They were being used, he said once he was done. But that doesn't mean it isn't a shame – all those lives just wasted.
The significance of a clone life seemed to suddenly dawn on Hotaru, who narrowed his eyebrows and nodded thoughtfully as he began to wrap his head around the situation.
"How is it that you're so much stronger than they are?" Ayako asked. Free looked up. As all eyes turned to her she explained, "Well, it's just that we've never come across a clone with that kind of power." It was true; just now during the fight they'd seen him single-handedly dispose of four of his own kind at once using nothing but Taijutsu, and to top it all off his powers were incredible when compared to the average clone.
I had time with my own mind to train my abilities, something which they lack. Also, Teijo can only use any of his subjects to about eighty percent of their capacity. He doesn't know their jutsu and bodies as he knows his own, so the pinnacle of their strength is out of his reach.
"That explains why he couldn't activate the Seventh Gate with Kamiko," mused the girl.
That seems likely. We don't know if he's aware of this weakness just yet, but it's something to keep in mind, said Free.
A soft rumble in the distance like incoming thunder made Shoryu raise a hand to silence the others. As they listened the others began to hear it too, until far over the last hill a body of troops began to appear on the far side of the bog. Kazuya's crimson armour was noticeable even from such a distance as he led the main force of both samurai and ninja alike.
Much to Shoryu's dismay the samurai acted exactly as he suspected. After seeing them talk it over for a few moments, Shoryu watched as Kazuya, Bishamon and a handful of skilled samurai began to freeze the muck before them to create a path. Hotaru groaned at their ease of it; even as a giant legion they crossed the swamp in a third of the time it took the five rapid ninja.
After emerging triumphantly Kazuya marched up to meet them, armour clinking as he clasped hands with Shoryu. At this Bishamon looked surprised; his own heir had forged bonds of what appeared to be brotherhood with a ninja. Still, he said nothing in complaint. Just as promised he'd trust Kazuya wholly; with the Village prospering, Bishamon no longer had any right to question Kazuya's motives or decisions – if his heir thought of Shoryu as a comrade then it was good enough for the Taisho.
"I should've figured you'd take them all for yourself. We heard the battle from afar. . ." Kazuya looked around, taking note of the blood smearing the costumes of each ninja. "I take it we're close."
"Yeah," said Shoryu, "we should be there in a matter of hours, make sure you've got the energy."
"Me? Speak for yourself, are you sure you've got enough chakra left?"
"I'll be back at full strength before we get there."
"Good. I'd hate to leave you so far behind that you don't even get to see an enemy."
"Keep dreaming Kazuya – I don't lose so easy."
As Kazuya passed him by and stared over the next rise Shoryu got a good look at his expression. It was faint – innocuous and brief – but Shoryu could've sworn he saw a thin hint of a cheered smile. The samurai gazed to the distance for a few moments, knowing he was close. In those few moments Shoryu quickly understood his friend's change in attitude: If only for an instant, Kazuya allowed himself some hope.
"Alright guys be on your guard!" Shoryu called out, addressing the small army. "There might be more ambushes nearby so keep your eyes open for scouts!"
The Jonin allowed hushed murmurs to descend through the ranks. Five of them had already been attacked. They were approaching the point of no return; everyone sensed it.
"Alright then! If you're all ready then let's go rescue our friends."
Author's Notes: Here we are folks. Your faithful readership is about to be rewarded, because next time is where shit gets real – those weak of heart turn back now!
Seriously though, I can't wait to write this battle out. Been anticipating for this for a long time – virtually everything after this point is something I've been looking forward to writing. The stakes get higher, the fights get tougher, the tone gets darker and the story gets WAY more dramatic.
Anyhow not much to talk about here. This was one of those exposition chapters that's just necessary for the progression of the story, but the fight was pretty cool and I liked writing Kazuya's little scene.
Free is quickly becoming one of my favourite characters but it's annoying to write because he speaks like this and I have to press CTRL+I every time he starts and ends his dialogue. Honestly, I'm not sure how much further I can go without making a mistake – it's just instinct to type speech marks. So yeah, if you notice speech marks on him in the future then that's just me screwing up, and if you could let me know then that would be awesome ^.^ I hate mistakes but they slip through when I'm not paying attention.