Chapter Thirteen;
Hanzo paced in the office of his castle in the North Kingdom. The castle, that had once adorned the brand of the Lion, Serpent, and Dragon holding up a yin-yang symbol together, now had the brand of a spider devouring the head of a peasant. Yes, Hanzo had a spirit animal as well. He had been furious when he learned his animal's subordinate spiders hadn't kept the weapons protected. Hanzo himself had not been able to enter the cavern where they were hidden, but the spiders were able to. When he learned of their defeat he had punished his spirit animal, a spider named Kumo, harshly.
The man who took over Cadonia had been raised in a spoiled home. That meaning he was from a wealthy family, and had everything her could desire. When he turned eighteen he had killed his parents to inherit their money, and then had started his own army. He was a greedy man, and wanted all of Cadonia for himself. He never dreamed three little girls would start a rebellion. Taking over all of Cadonia had been easy, up until three years ago when they made themselves present. There was a knock on the door.
"Enter!" Hanzo barked. A soldier entered.
"Sir, we located one of the rebel hideouts. Apparently, three men who are the right hands of the rebellion leaders are staying in a cabin, deep in the woods not far from Dragon's valley." The man explained.
"Bring them to me!" Hanzo ordered. "I want them barely alive."
The solider saluted and left. Hanzo looked out the window. Surely these men would have some sort of information, and he would make them tell.
-Itachi Deidara Sasori-
The three men were sitting around the table in the cabin. They had just finished another training session. It was exhausting, and nothing like that had ever experienced before. They had learned how to connect their chakra to the spirit of their animal, and by doing so could control the animal or enhance their chakra ability by using the animal's strength. Six months had already passed since the girls were separated, and taken to their true spirit animal to train. They looked up as Tokala peered in the door.
"What happened?" Sasori inquired. In the past six months he had grown incredibly fond of the fox. More so than he ever thought he would.
"Hanzo's men are making their way here." Tokala explained. "We're going to have a test battle. Zev has informed his blood to allow the soldiers to pass."
"Very well." Itachi said.
The shinobi stood, and made their way outside. Itachi hopped onto Armel, Deidara onto Zev, and Sasori onto Tokala. The three animals bounded towards the direction of Hanzo's men. This would be their first real fight connected as human and spirit. This would decide just how far the men had come. Itachi himself no longer relied on his sharingan, but more on his fire jutsu's. Deidara's art was now ten times it's original destructive power, and now Sasori could easily control one hundred puppets at a time. Something no puppet master could ever do. As such, his third Kazekage puppet was now a last resort.
The men and their spirit animals stopped just in front of Hanzo's men. Itachi, Deidara, and Sasori jumped down, and each got into a defensive stance. Deidara reached his hands into his returned clay pouches, and Sasori pulled out a scroll of fifty puppets. There were at least a thousand soldiers. Apparently, Hanzo had been informed just how powerful they were. This was no ordinary fight. No, this would be the first battle of many to come.
"Keep sharp." Sasori stated. Itachi and Deidara just nodded.
Tokala, Armel, and Zev would not get involved. They would keep to the sidelines. Allowing the men to use their spirits as power, or they would join in if they were controlled by one of the shinobi to do so. Hanzo's men looked in shock that the three would so boldly confront them without any back up. They quickly regained their composure.
"Attack!" The leader of the troop yelled, and the fight began.
"Fire Style; Fire ball jutsu!" Itachi yelled as he made the hand signs.
As he cast the jutsu he connected his chakra with Armel's spiritual power. He could feel the spiritual energy flow through him as the fire roared from his mouth. It was twice it's usual size, and easily burned fifty of the men. The Uchiha ran forward, his chakra still connected to Armel's spirit. He leaped in the air, and kicked on man off his horse. The man rolled away, jumped up, and swung a spiked club at Itachi's head. Itachi ducked, and kicked his foot under the mans jaw. The man flew back into another solider. Itachi unsheathed his katana, and plunged it through both men with surprising force. Another soldier was going to impale Itachi through his heart from behind him, but Itachi just barely moved out of he way. Instead, the sword left a small gash on his arm, and as Itachi pulled his katana out of the two previous soldiers, he slice open the throat of the one who attacked him with the sword. The man choked on his blood, and fell forward onto his other two comrades.
Deidara had already created grasshopper shaped clay bombs, and was currently sending them after the enemy. The small figured attached themselves to the chest and faces of Hanzo's men. They were confused, and tried to brush them off, but the grasshoppers held on with surprising strength. When Deidara had connected his chakra with Zev's spirit, his hand mouths had not only chewed Deidara's chakra into the clay, but also a bit of Zev's spirit. Deidara grinned, and made the hand sign.
"KATSU!"
The grasshoppers exploded, and blood splattered everywhere. Nearby soldiers looked in surprise. Deidara paid no mind as his hand mouths set to work chewing more clay. While they did so he used a dagger to block, and kill anyone who got near him. Words couldn't even describe how ecstatic he was to once again show off his art.
Sasori kept up in the tree branches, his puppets flying swiftly through the enemies. With his chakra connected to Tokala's spirit it made his puppet faster, stronger, and easier to manipulate. This is why he was able to effortlessly control fifty puppets at once. They gracefully wove through the enemy. Some had swords, others had spiked clubs, and some were elementals. Being able to shoot water jets so harshly that it could decapitate a man, or a jet of fire so intense that it melted their skin right off their bones. This confused the soldiers, since they couldn't see the chakra strings, and had no idea where the puppets were being control from.
"They've come a long way." Armel observed.
"Indeed." Tokala agreed. "Especially for only being around nine months."
"How do you suppose the girls are doing?" Zev asked.
"If there was anything wrong surely Ryuu, Tau, or Hebi would send for us." Tokala assured.
Zev nodded, and they continued to observe as the three shinobi tore into the enemy. As they were once ninja, the spirit animals understood that these men were used to killing without mercy. It showed as they disemboweled, decapitated, and blew the enemy into pieces.
-Evelynn-
Evelynn panted as she collapsed onto her knees. Ryuu's spirit emerged from her's, and he rested beside her. They had been training relentlessly for the past six months. The red-head never took a day off. Ryuu noted with admiration that she truly did have the heart of a dragon. Suddenly, both Evelynn and Ryuu felt uneasy.
"Ryuu.." Evelynn looked up at him.
"I feel it, as well." He confirmed as he looked to the sky.
"It's Sasori, Itachi, and Deidara. Enemy are attacking them. I can feel it." Evelynn jumped up, and looked out over the mountain they were training on.
"Aye. What do you want to do?" Ryuu looked to the young woman.
"Summon Tokala when the battle is over." Evelynn ordered. "Give him a message that the men are to gather all the rebels, and get them to just north of Serpent's Valley. Get them ready for war. This is a direct attack from Hanzo, and by now our troops should be ready."
"As you wish." Ryuu smiled fondly at her. She truly was a great leader.
"Also, I want us to meet up with Shoto and Mira. It's been six damned months." Evelynn paced as she spoke. "I want to discuss with them a battle plan."
"Very well." Ryuu replied, and then soared off to summon Tokala, Tau, and Hebi.
-Shoto-
Shoto and Hebi were just getting ready to begin their training when they suddenly felt a sense of unease. Shoto looked up to the ceiling of the tunnel. Hebi studied her, waiting for her reaction.
"The cabin's been attacked." Was all the raven haired woman said. Hebi nodded. "Evelynn will be summoning us then?"
"More than likely." Hebi confirmed.
"That means we'll be heading it battle soon." Shoto noted.
"That's correct."
"Good." Shoto smirked.
In the past six months she trained as tirelessly as the other two. She could now tract and retract the septum blade with the hidden chain with ease, and she could merge with Hebi in an instant. Hebi took note of how quickly she learned, and was pleased to also note that she did, indeed, have the cunning of the serpent. When she was merged with Hebi not only was she stronger, but she could move with ninja-like speed.
The war was upon them, and Shoto was ready.
-Mira-
Mira was studying a medical scroll when she got the uneasy feelings her comrades had also felt. She bit her lip, and looked up. Within her six months of training her stutter had almost completely gone, though she was still very soft spoken. Her healing abilities were at their peak as well, and when she merged with Tau she could heal someone, even if they were only an inch from death. She had also gotten more skilled in combat, and the curved dagger she now wielded proved to be a deadly weapon. Being able to cut through the largest boulder, and the thickest of metal.
"Mira." Tau called out to her as he approached.
"You felt i-it too?" Mira asked as she stood.
"Indeed." Tau nodded. "Ryuu is summoning us. We must go."
"Very well." Mira nodded, and her face fell into a worried expression.
Their cabin was attacked, she could sense that much. Though she also sensed the boys victory. Was this was power of the bond with the great spirits and Cadonia? She assumed so, as she had never felt all the anguish and hope the land held until she had started her training. With determination she climbed onto Tau's back, and the two took off to see Ryuu.
-Itachi Deidara Sasori-
The men panted as they approached each other. Only about fifteen men escaped, and the rest lay dead at their feet. For two days they had fought relentlessly, and they were exhausted. These men had been much more skilled than the previous ones they fought. No doubt Hanzo's had his men training as well. Zev and Armel approached them.
"Tokala was summoned by Ryuu." Armel told them. "No doubt we'll be receiving an order from Evelynn soon. Please get some rest. You've all done very well."
"Alright." Sasori nodded.
The three shinobi helped each other back to the cabin, and they each tumbled onto a place to sleep. They were exhausted, wounded, and it didn't take a second before they were asleep. Armel and Zev kept watch that night.
"The war is going to start soon." Zev stated.
"No.." Armel frowned. "The war as already begun."
-Ryuu-
Hebi and Shoto, Mira and Tau, and Tokala arrived within minutes of each other. Tokala bowed respectfully at the three great spirits. They smiled fondly at the fox. Evelynn was perched on top of Ryuu's head. A serious expression had replaced her normal carefree grin.
"I take it you sensed it too?" Shoto asked.
The girls studied each other. They had changed spiritually in the last six months. Each could sense this, as well. The girls now each more similar, new outfits as well. They each wore a pair of black, skin tight pants, knee high, open toed sandaled boots, black belts, and black chest bindings. Shoto's belt had a black travel back on the left, and on the right, in it's holster, was her septum weapon. Mira had a travel back on the right side of her belt, a medical pouch attached to her left thigh, and on her left side, in it's sheath, was her curved dagger. Evelynn only had the travel pack on her belt, on the left side. On her hands she no longer wore the knuckle spiked gloves. Now, she wore the black, fingerless gloves made of dragon scales.
Without another word the girls ran to each other, and embraced. It had been six months they had been apart. Never had they gone so long without seeing each other in the nearly four years they knew each other. The spirit animals around them waited quietly as the girls had their moment. They pulled away and studied each other again. All three were more toned from the tireless training, and their hair was just a little longer.
"You guys have been alright, then?" Evelynn asked.
"Never b-better." Mira smiled softly.
"I take it you as well?" Shoto inquired.
"Of course." Evelynn half smiled, then the girls got serious again.
"We need to plan. Hanzo is already having his men move out, and it'll be a matter of time before he starts attacking the outlaws hideouts separately." Evelynn turned to Tokala. "Tell Deidara, Sasori, and Itachi to gather all the rebels south, just north of Serpent Valley. I don't care if they have to split up, just tell them to get it done as quickly as possible. I'll have Ryuu summon you, if I have any further instructions."
Tokala nodded, bowed, and then took disappeared. Evelynn turned back to Shoto and Mira.
"We need to finish our training that has to be done together. Quickly. So I figured we'd start today. Hanzo is on the move, and that alone is a dangerous thought. We've never met him, and don't know what he's capable of." Evelynn started to pace.
"When our training is done we should have Itachi, Sasori, and Deidara start moving the troops North east and North west. Some of the rebels can attack from the east and west sides. We can move a head of them, and attack Hanzo head on." Shoto planned out a strategy. "In fact, Mira can head completely north with a few rebellion troops, and attack from the back. Evelynn, you and Ryuu can attack directly from the sky. Hebi and I can attack from underground. We can leave some of our troops south of Hanzo's castle, and any of his troops that try to escape from that way we can have the rebel troop left behind obliterate them."
"Very well." Evelynn nodded.
"Are you ready to begin the final training?" Ryuu asked.
The girls turned to him. They gave each other one last worried look, and then nodded. Their hearts were gripped with fear, as was Cadonia's. They could feel it, down to the very depths of their souls.
-Hanzo-
The tyrant was pacing back and forth in the battle council room. He was working on a plan to protect his kingdom. Well, what he claimed as his kingdom. When they fifteen or so men had returned, they had been wounded, hungry, and battle worn. Hanzo had been furious to learn of their defeat, and sent them to the prison to be tortured for their failure. After he was done pacing he turned to the other men in the room. They were generals and chiefs of his army. He studied them carefully. Each one was loyal, he knew that much. Only because they were promised power. Power that they didn't know they were never going to receive. No, Hanzo was far too greedy of a man.
"Get the borders lined with soldiers. Keep guards posted at all times, day and night. I don't want any chance that rebels might slip into the kingdom. Also send out three hoards of soldiers to each the other kingdoms. I want them scouting for rebels, and killing all who get in their way. Move!" Hanzo snapped.
His men jumped into action, and he sat down, rubbing his temples with agitation. How the hell had three men beat nearly one thousand of his best? He growled in frustration. Not to mention those damned wenches got their hands on the sacred weapons, and now who knew what kind of powers they possessed. He had found it curious, though. The fox, the wolf, and the panda had been the girls spirit animals. What had they been doing sharing their spiritual powers with those men? Unless the girls had new spirit animals, but that wasn't possible, was it? Hanzo stood, and left the battle council chamber to make sure his orders were being carried out. If they weren't, heads would roll.