Chapter 45 The Fall Part 1

The ground itself seamed to shake as four massive explosions rocked the Leaf village, the explosions where located half way between each of the four major gates. The explosions blew four potations of the wall apart opening gaps each around 25 yards wide.

"What happened?" asked Choji as he looked toward Shikamaru, the two of them stood in a command and control tower which had been set up on top of the Hokage tower.

"The team that got in must have planted bombs along the outer wall." stated Shikamaru

"If you knew why didn't we find it?" asked Choji

"We must have missed it, or they already have a team inside which planted it after we searched." stated Shikamaru

"How can you be so calm?" asked Choji "They already have holes in our defenses."

"Ones we figured and planned they would make, either by tunnels or by some other means and that had happened." explained Shikamaru as he turned to the Hokage.

"Give the order." ordered Tsunade as four chunin behind them started to use spot lights which had metal flaps in front of the light to send messages. They would send the messages toward the front using flashes of light in a code which could easily be translated. This cut down the time that orders could be sent out and on the battlefield time meant lives.

At the command center near the front gate, Sai was already sending the ninjas to defend the two closest opening.

'Alright I need group four and six to move to section to the right and send group five and seven to the left." ordered Sai "Get another ten teams from the reserves, and make sure you hold that line."

"Yes, sir." stated Konohamaru Sarutobi as he moved out as another jonnin ran up.

"What is it?" asked Sai

"Sir, the enemy hasn't launched any attacks though the gaps." Stated the jonnin "and Karin reports that she hasn't sensed any movement of the enemies lines."

"That doesn't make sense." said Neji as he activated his Byakugan "She is right they are not moving, in fact most are just sitting there."

"What are they up to?" asked Sai

Outside the walls Gamba stood along with several leaders from the different races on a small hill overlooking the Leaf village, they had all come to see the capture of biggest prize in the human world. The smoke from the bombers was already clearing as about half of the Leaf ninja reserved forces moved from their positions to fill the hole in the line.

"Everything is going according to plan." hissed the high chancellor Val as he held a plate of food in his hands. Most of the delectation of demon leaders had either plates of food or glasses of wine in their hands as they acted like it was just some dinner party with a live show. Only Gamba and the representative of the foxes Malik seemed concerned.

"The humans have no idea what our real plan is. Don't you agree Gamba?" stated Val with grin as he swallowed the live mouse eating it like a human would eat a potato chip. Gamba could see the mouse still moving as it traveled down Val's throat.

"I don't care if they see it coming or not, what matters is the number of people we get out without harming them." said Gamba

"You really do care about these weakling humans." stated Val

"They are the future of our races." stated Gamba

"Until they are demons they are nothing more than weaklings that need to be rounded up and if that means a few must die then so be it." stated Val "I would think the son of the commander at the battle of Keb would have a little more stomach for war."

"There is a difference and I am not my father or my grandfather for that matter." growled Gamba as he tried not to remember the stories from what he had named the massacre at Keb, not that he would call his father's signature victory what it was in front of his mother or her supporters.

"I can see that." laughed Val as he slithered away.

"Please be safe Hinata." Thought Gamba as he looked toward the Leaf, second part of their plan was going to begin.

Near the middle of the village Kida was biting at the bit to go and fight the demons which he was sure was currently attacking the holes in the wall.

"I will kill any demon I see." stated Kiba with a smile "Maybe we will run into that prince."

"I hope not." said Hinata without realizing what she was saying.

"What why not?" asked Kiba as he looked at the woman he loves.

"I think you know the answer to that Kiba." stated Shino

"He is a fucking demon." stated Kiba "He needs to be killed."

Before anyone could responded the house next door exploded causing the three of them to be thrown back by the explosion. All over the leaf houses where exploding, all of them the same distance between the outer wall and the Hokage building. Up in the command center Shikamaru and the other commanders were confused as they watched the smoke rise.

"What are they up too?" asked Shikamaru as he looked toward the nearest destroyed building. It had been blown in such a way to cause almost nothing to fall inward everything was thrown out causing the area to become clear. His eyes widened as out of the smoke appeared a creature he had only seen in the books provided by Itachi and Sakura. There standing on two legs removing dirt with their pair of hands making the opening bigger, was a deep solid red demon ant.

"It's a tunnel." said Choji before smiling "Perfect they are right in front of our reinforcements and those tunnels are a bottle neck we can hold them."

"We sent most of our forces to fill the holes they blew in the walls." stated Shikamaru "The forces there can only slow them down and if we send forces to stop them from coming in the tunnels then they will just come in through the openings in the walls, either way they get into the village."

"Order all forces back from the wall form a new line of defense around the tunnels." ordered Tsunade as Choji and a few of the other ninjas looked at her.

"That is what I recommend as well." stated Shikamaru "If we try to hold the wall most of our forces will have to fight enemies in front of them and behind them. They will be overrun within half an hour; it would also cut about three quarters of our forces from the villagers. Either way the demons have entered the village at least if we fall back then we have our forces not having to fight an enemy behind them."

"I get it." said Choji as the order was sent.

"Shikamaru send the order for the operation to begin." ordered Tsunade

"What operation?" asked Choji

"The operation that will save the Leaf." stated Shikamaru

Underground the blast caused by the exploding houses which opened up the tunnels rocked even the ANBU base under the Hokage building.

"What was that?" asked Ino

"I think you know what it is." said Sakura as she wrote down the last theory she had about the transformation process. "There that is the last idea I have."

"Are you sure?" asked Ino

"No…I could think of something five minutes from now but by then the demons may be storming the base and this needs to get out of here." explained Sakura as she looked at her best friend with her demon fox eyes. "What group are you leaving in? I am sure you are going to be one of the first out."

"No. I am list among the last group that is planned to get out of the leaf." Explained Ino

"Why? Your one of the best ninjas." asked Adria "Aren't you?"

"I like to think I am and that is the problem, according to Tsunade and Shikamaru agrees I would likely be one of the people they would be after." said Ino with a sigh "If I get away too early then they will start looking for me and there for draw attention to people leaving the village. I am a living decoy."

"Sorry." said Sakura

"Don't be, at least I have a chance to make it out most a lot of people in the bunkers aren't even on the list." said Ino "Come on I'll take you back to your room and then get this out of the village."

"Thanks." said Sakura before she pulled Ino into a hug "And good luck."

"Thanks forehead if I do end up a demon first I hope I am with Sai second I hope it's a fox like you." said Ino

"I hope you get to decide that for yourself." answered Sakura

"Well I think I would show you off as a fox." laughed Sakura "But a cat or wolf wouldn't bad either, just not an ant or a snake. I couldn't stand that."

"I am with you there." said Sakura as the three of them walked out.

Outside things where not as calm as it was in the bunkers, Hinata and her team had been the closest to the tunnel entrees being on the roof next to the building they had blown up and where now just getting back on their feet. Hinata held her hand to her forehead as she stumbled around on the rooftop a bit as the world came back into focus.

"Hinata we need to move." yelled Kiba's voice as Hinata put her hand on the remains of the building to steady herself. Finally her eyes adjusted as she looked down the side of the building to see several demons pushing out of the spot where the house used to be. She looked around to see Shino pinned under a piece of wall which had flown up and landed on the rooftop.

"We need to get Shino out first." stated Hinata as she, Kiba and Akamaru moved to their friend side.

"Leave me." said Shino under the piece of roof.

"Never." stated Hinata as the sound of battle began to be heard coming from the street below.

"One three…one…two…three." said Kiba as together they free Shino, when he was free they could now see how hurt he really was. His leg was bad, blood was pouring out and a white bone was sticking out from the flesh.

"We need to get him to the medics." Stated Hinata

"Akamaru can carry him." said Kiba

"You need to leave me." said Shino as he looked past Hinata. "They are here."

"What?" asked Hinata as she turned around to see a figure standing on edge of the roof nearest to the tunnel opening. It was a tiger with deep orange fur and black strips forming a pattern all its own. A strip of white fur ran down his chest. His deep blue eyes locked on Hinata; there was something familiar about the tiger.

"Is that Gamba?" asked Kiba

"No, I am a member of his royal guard sent to get Hinata." explained the tiger as he changed into a human form. Including a black robe that caused Hinata's hair to stand on end as she remembered attacking him before only his eyes where different and he didn't have metal rods in his body.

"Pain." stated Hinata

"No my name is Yahiko, you met the demon clone body controlled by Nagato." explained Yahiko "Now if you surrender we will get your friend to a medic."

"Kiba take Shino and get out of here." stated Hinata as she stood between Yahiko and her team.

"What?" asked Kiba "I will not leave you!"

"It's the only chance, he wants me and if I try to fall back with you he will just follow I can buy you time." explained Hinata "Now go."

"Never." yelled Kiba

"Do it!" yelled Hinata with such force it took Kiba aback. "Go now, I'll be right behind you."

"You better." said Kiba as Akamaru took off carrying Shino with Kiba following.

"So are you going to fight me?" asked Yahiko "Because I will gladly not go after them if you surrender."

"I never surrender." said Hinata as she activated her Byakugan and got into a stance.

"Can you just surrender I know you say Gamba's name in your sleep." said Yahiko as Hinata's eyes narrowed.

"You have been following me." growled Hinata

"The Prince ordered me to keep you safe and capture you." explained Yahiko "He cares about you."

"He just wants a member of his harem, another trophy on the wall." stated Hinata as blue chakra danced around her.

"You just don't get it do you?" asked Yahiko as he rubbed his eyes only to have Hinata launch an attack.

"Eight trigrams thirty-two palms." stated Hinata as she tried to shut down the chakra network inside Yahiko. As she jumped back after hitting the chakra points on Yahiko, her eyes widened as she saw all the chakra points she had shut down start moving again. The flow of chakra was as strong as ever.

"Surpised?" asked Yahiko

"How?" asked Hinata

"Your gentle fist style works but putting your own chakra inside a person shutting down their chakra network." explained Yahiko "Demon chakra is stronger than human chakra, now if you had demon chakra I would be in trouble but not right now."

"Crap." said Hinata as Yahiko ran though hand signs. The next thing Hinata knew rain started to fall on the rooftop. The rain picked up to form a downpour before finally each raindrop felt like being stung by a bee. Hinata almost fell to her knees placing her hand on her knees just to stay up under the attack.

"Amazing no one has been able to stand while I use this." stated Yahiko as the rain poured down. "Then again if I wanted to I could turn this into acid rain and kill you in an instant."

"Take this." stated Hinata as Yahiko's eyes widened as Hinata ran toward him. Each step toward him caused the rain to hurt more until every drop hitting her skin felt like a punch to the gut. Her skin was turning red from the hits but she kept coming. Had no time to react as Hinata jumped into the air before delivering a round house kick to Yahiko's head sending him flying off the roof breaking the justu. The rain stopped instantly as Hinata caught her breath, she turned to leave only to come face to face with Yahiko, blood ran down from his mouth.

"Nicely done." said Yahiko as he punched Hinata across the face sending her to the ground knocked out. For a moment Yahiko just stood over Hinata rubbing his jaw where Hinata had hit him. "Good thing your tough, a future Queen will need to be."

Under the Hokage building a group of ninjas most of them were up and coming ninjas in the core. Most where jonnin with only a hand full of highly trained chunin. Most were wondering why they hadn't been assigned combat positions.

"Attention." yelled Lee as Captain Yamato stood before the almost fifty members of the Leaf ninja core.

"As you well know the Leaf village is under attack." stated the former leader of team seven "The Leaf village will fall tonight."

That statement got everyone's attention.

"Our mission is to make sure that the spirit of the Leaf carries on." stated Yamanto "In a couple of moments we will head out and leave the village behind. We will be the first unit in a resistance that will fight the demons and retake our world. Now most of the people you know, your loved ones your family will not escape this night but we will carry on in their name we are the guardians of the spirit of fire. Now move out for every moment we spend here talking we aren't getting another person out of the Leaf."

With that the Leaf ninjas moved into the maze of underground tunnels which where the remains of old underground rivers which had turned into a sewer systems until it had been replaced with a modern one over twenty years ago.

"Nice speech don't you think?" asked Ino as she walked up to Lee and Guy.

"It was youthful but I feel we should stand and fight." stated Lee

"We can't just think of the Leaf, humanity itself is at stake. We may fall but our sacrifice may save humanity." said Ino as she held two small scrolls. "You know your orders?"

"Yes, I am to take one of the scrolls to Kakashi sensei and Guy sensei takes it to Lightening country." Said Lee "Guy sensei should meet Kakashi sensei together they can organize together better."

"Shikamaru wants it compartmentalized." explained Ino "Kakashi is in charge, followed by Yamanto and Guy. Having two commanders together means one hit will take them out. Besides Lightening country will listen to Guy more then you Lee."

"I understand." stated Lee as he turned to his sensei with tears in his eyes "Good luck Sensei."

"May your youthfulness shine." stated Guy with his own tears running down his face as the two of them took off down separate tunnels.

"God, if I become a demon please don't let them become the same...I don't think I could stand millions of years with them." said Ino as she walked away as the first group of villagers came in.

Outside the walls of the Leaf village Gamba watched as the ninjas formed a new defense line around the area where the tunnels had come up. The ninjas had abandoned their defenses along the outer wall and now the ninjas where blowing up their own buildings making a makeshift wall around the inner part of the village.

"They are acting just as we believed they would." Laughed the wolf leader Caden as he looked toward the main gate where they were just bringing the first batch of captured prisoners to be processed. "If everything goes right then we will have the village within three hours."

"You forget that they pulled almost all of their forces back and they are moving faster than you thought." stated Gamba

"So what?" asked Caden

"Underestimating your enemy can be fatal." explained Gamba

"You think we will lose?" asked Caden

"No but it may not be as essay as you think." explained Gamba "Remember the Sand was suppose to be easy and that cost everyone dearly."

"Maybe I did underestimate the humans." said Caden "But I don't think so."

"I guess we will find out in time." said Gamba as Fay walked up and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"My prince Yahiko is back and he brought her." said Fay as Gamba placed his glass of water on the nearest table before moving off, a move which didn't go unnoticed by the other representatives of the demon feline kingdom Vachan.

"Where is she?" asked Gamba as the two of them went down to where some of the humans where being processed. Gamba's silted blue eyes widened as he spotted Hinata knocked out on the ground, she had a few cuts on her from the explosion and her skin was red from being hit from Yahiko's attack. Gamba knelt down beside Hinata moving some of her hair from her face.

"What the hell happened, Yahiko I ordered her to be brought in safely." growled Gamba as he jumped to his feet and grabbed Yahiko by some of the fur around his neck.

"I tried my prince but Hinata put up one hell of a fight." said Yahiko as Gamba let go "She is a ninja after all and a strong one at that."

"Sorry Yahiko I shouldn't have grabbed you." said Gamba as he turned back to Hinata. "It's just…."

"My Prince If I saw Konan in the state Hinata is in now I would be doing the same thing. I should have tried better to bring her in unhurt." said Yahiko

"No…you did good." said Gamba as he smiled at Hinata "I hope she forgives me for what I must do."

"Sir, you should know when I watched after her, she said your name in her sleep." said Yahiko as Gamba smiled a bit and rested his hand on Hinata's check. She unconsciously moved toward Gamba's hand. "I think you have a real future queen on your hands."

"That is if she takes me." said Gamba as he kissed Hinata's forehead.

"I'll walk her though processing and make sure she becomes a lioness." said Fay

"I don't want her waking up in some cold unfeeling transformation room." said Gamba "Take her to the palace place her in her own room."

"Inside the harem?" asked Fay

"Sadly it is probably the safest place from my mother at the moment." said Gamba as he remembered the traditions stating that the king or prince can choose whomever they want for their harem and they are welcomed for as long as the king or prince wants them not even the queen can remove them. "If she is at another room outside of the harem then my mom can order her death."

"I will stay in the harem with her and keep the others away." said Fay "Those weaklings are scared of me anyhow."

"Thank you." said Gamba

"The way we see it we are only helping the future king and very possible our future queen." said Fay

Well Hinata has been captured and is on her way to be turned. I hope you liked this chapter and the first part of the battle for the Leaf. I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and I ask that you keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75.