A/N: Apologies for the delay and a Happy New Year. Not much action in this chapter but I wouldn't skip this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and its characters.
Recipe for a Disaster
Enroute to Uzushio
It had been half an hour since Masaru and Hizashi left Hi no Kuni and they were yet to reach the coast of Uzushio. Normally Masaru would have Kaze zap over to Uzushio but that was before the rebellion.
To avoid alerting Kenshin and his allies, in case they were really present, Masaru applied a seal over them all to camouflage them and block their chakra signature as Kaze flew at normal pace while carefully following the cloud patterns.
"Are you certain the no one will detect us?" Hizashi asked.
"No," Masaru replied, "Which is why I will infiltrate the base while you and Kaze keep flying over," he then handed the Hyuuga a summoning scroll, "If shit hits the fan use this to get me out of there and then we'll zap to Hi no Kuni," Masaru said, "We've reached the coast."
Hizashi nodded activating his Byakugan and was shocked by what he saw.
"How bad?" Masaru asked frowning as he sensed some strong negative emotions that seemed suspiciously demonic.
"Foreign shinobis," Hiashi replied, "Let us circle the area."
After a few rounds above Uzushio Hizashi gave his report, "The Root base is on guard. It seems it was under attack. Kumo have set camp at north while Kiri at East. They even brought their jinchuurikis. But why?"
"Probably to navigate the eddies," Masaru answered with a frown, "It's almost impossible to navigate the eddies surrounding Uzu. What about the Root base? Did you see the captains? How many people have they got?"
"There seem to be only fifty ninjas at the base and there is no sign of the captains," Hizashi reported.
"And Kumo and Kiri?"
"Kumo has twenty shinobi including the two jinchuuriki. The Raikage is with them. Kiri has twenty four including the two jinchuuriki, one of them happens to be the Mizukage."
"A diplomatic nightmare just waiting to happen," Masaru said, "Well here comes my part." When Kaze got close enough to the camp Masaru jumped off Kaze and landed safely on the snow in the clearing of the thick coniferous forest.
Uzushio- Root's Outpost
Masaru sneaked in rather effortlessly, not because the base was poorly guarded. If anything the ninjas were very alert and all the spots were covered. It was easy for Masaru because he knew all the security perimeters and was in his old Root uniform with his mask on. After the flight with Kaze he knew where the sensor nins were and tactfully avoided them keeping his chakra sealed so that no one could sense him. It was a bonus that no one was keeping count of the number of ninjas at the camp.
'Damn this is so easy that I'm either too good or Inari needs to buckle up,' Within minutes he reached the main camp and hid behind the tent watching the inside from a hole he cut.
In the main camp, the captain of the base was watching a three-dimensional model of Uzushio with the Root Base marked in red, Kumo in yellow and Kiri in blue. The captain itched his shabbily cut beard contemplating Root's next plan of action. Just then a kunoichi with long red hair entered to give her report.
"Sir! We have confirmation of Kumo and Kiri sending for back up," the kunoichi reported.
"Are the two groups in some sort of alliance?" The captain asked.
"Unlikely but we don't have enough intel to be sure," the redhead replied.
"Then verify and also dispatch falcons to intercept their back up messages," The captain ordered, "We don't need the situation to get any worse."
"Oh it can only get worse," Someone agreed. They unsheathed their tanto and turned to the back of the tent.
"Who's there?" Inari asked. In reply Masaru cut the hole bigger in a vertical slash before entering and removing his mask.
"Inari-taichou, Honoka-kouhai, I'd say it's nice to see you but you have a lot of explaining to do," Masaru said.
"Masaru-taichou?"
"We will explain everything," Inari said.
"Good, but first," Masaru poked their foreheads with his fingertips and soon chakra dots appeared over their foreheads before forming seal patterns, "Kai."
Inari and Honoka felt their heads jerk a bit then the memory seals disappeared. With that done Masaru got down to business.
"Now first how about you explain what Kiri and Kumo are doing here?"
"According to sources it seems someone informed them about the base. We are assuming an outside source since Kiri arrived day before yesterday, just two days after the rebellion, and Kumo yesterday which rules out the possibility of one of our own ratting us out," Honoka replied.
"Are you sure this was an outside source and not a slip up on your part?"
"Affirmative."
Masaru turned to Inari, "So why didn't you inform us?"
"We heard about Danzo-sama's rebellion and defeat so we weren't sure how Konoha would respond," Inari replied.
"Even after receiving my message?"
Inari and Honoka looked blanked, "Now don't tell me you didn't receive my message, I sent a falcon who confirmed that you specifically received it."
"I'm afraid we never did get any message, you can check our memory seals again," Inari said.
Masaru nodded and checked their memory seals again, they were speaking the truth, "But then who got the message?"
"Perhaps someone disguised as Inari-taichou," Honoka mused.
"But then that means someone infiltrated this base," Masaru noted.
"This person could still be here," Honoka said.
"Assemble everyone at once! Verify each one's identity," Inari instructed, Honoka nodded and left.
"By the way did Feng, Hikari, Nin or Kenshin contact you?"
"No, none of them contacted us yet," Inari answered.
"Well ask Honoka to keep an eye out for them and after that you'll be coming to Hi no Kuni with me," Masaru said.
"Yeah."
Former Root Base Near Otafuku Gai
It was evening when Masaru and Hizashi returned to the camp with Inari and reported their findings to Okami and Shikaku.
"Troublesome...," Shikaku sighed, "This person who received the scroll instead of Inari could also have tipped Kumo and Kiri about the base."
"Who do you suspect?" Okami asked Masaru.
"It was either someone from Root or someone from Akatsuki," Masaru mused.
"Akatsuki? How could they be involved?"
"About four years ago, two Akatsuki members infiltrated the Uzushio base in search for the legendary vaults. Then there's also Orochimaru who worked closely with Danzo-sama."
"So Akatsuki definitely knew about Root," Shikaku contemplated this stroking his goatee.
"We need to act swiftly, you must go to Hokage-sama this instant," Okami told Shikaku who nodded.
"Let's go Masaru-san. Inari-san, you should come along with us," Shikaku said. The two former Root nins nodded and followed him.
Konoha- Uzumaki Mansion
While night just fell, Kushina served Ramen at the dining table even though it wasn't yet dinner time but hunger and ninjas strike without warning.
"Your ramen is really good, you could start your own business off this stuff," Shizune praised Kushina.
Tsubasa didn't say anything but he was already on his third bowl.
"Thanks but where are Tsunade-obachan and Jiraiya-sensei?" Kushina asked.
"Well Jiraiya-sama said he had some business to tend to and Tsunade-sama is currently at the Hospital," Shizune replied.
"What for?"
"Well, the real reason we came here was because Hokage-sama offered Tsunade-sama the position as Konoha's Head Medic."
"And she agreed?"
"She had to. With all the debts Tsunade-sama has accumulated she would eventually have to sell all the Senju fortune. With a stable income especially at the position she was offered she should be able to pay them and continue gambling," Shizune chuckled a bit at this, "Besides travelling all the time does get tiresome."
"Now don't go thinking my patriotism suddenly compelled me to return," Tsunade said emerging from the hallway, "I'm just being practical, that's it."
"Well it's still good to have you back," Kushina replied, setting another bowl for Tsunade.
"Yeah, I've also sorta missed your Ramen as well," Tsunade replied before putting her hands together, "Itadakimasu!" And then she chowed down.
The dining table went silent for sometime as they all ate peacefully but then Kushina and Tsubasa paused eating for a moment feeling a familiar chakra.
"I'll get it," Kushina got up from her seat and rushed to the door. She opened and found Cat in her Anbu uniform.
"Hokage-sama has summoned you and Tsubasa to his office," The Anbu informed.
"We will be there," Kushina replied. Cat nodded before shushing out of sight. Kushina sighed to herself realizing whatever Hiruzen had called them for was serious and would put their peaceful days to an end.
Hokage's Office
Kushina couldn't help but note that a lot of people were present at the office. This was never a good sign. After explaining the situation at Uzushio the Hokage explained the orders.
"Daimyo-sama has given his permission and orders to secure Uzushiogakure. I intend to meet the Raikage and Mizukage to negotiate terms. We have selected the group that will accompany me to Uzushio. Tsubasa, I want you to accompany us to deter Kumo and Kiri from using their jinchuuriki and in case negotiations breakdown engage in battle. Is that clear?"
"Hai," Tsubasa replied. Hiruzen waited for Kushina or Jiraiya to retort. Though Kushina seemed stoic, he could see Jiraiya was quite annoyed at his decision to take Naruto despite Masaru's warnings about the Akatsuki. But since no one retorted he continued.
"Kushina-chan, I understand that you must be apprehensive. You just reunited with your son after years and we just got out of a war. Rest assured I will make sure he returns safe and sound," the Sandaime promised. And while Kushina knew the Hokage would give his life to keep that promise but, even though she knew she shouldn't think this way, the other times she left Naruto in someone else's hands had been disastrous. Especially since Akatsuki was possibly involved, the group with Orochimaru and Madara.
"I understand, Naruto is a shinobi now, a jounin at that. It was only a matter of time before something like this would come up. But I'm still not ready to lose him yet which is why I request that I be allowed to accompany Naruto."
"Very well," Hiruzen nodded expecting this, "We will leave tomorrow at the crack of dawn be ready by then."
"Hai!" Everyone said before leaving.
The Next Day- Uzushio- Kumo Camp
Kumogakure set its camp at the northern shore, where the Raikage was waiting for the reinforcements despite the cold wind and mist. Normally it would take upto a week to travel from Kumogakure to Uzushio but A solved this problem by using the power of Hachibi and Nibi, to cut the journey short to just two days. With Konoha busy searching for remaining Root members across the Land of Fire and the whole world focused on Konoha, no one noticed their movement. Except for Kiri. A left majority of his troops as reinforcements in the neighbouring Nami no Kuni, personally leading a smaller group for reconnaissance before running into trouble with Root and then Kiri. Fortunately it was just some short skirmishes without any casualties on any sides with all sides held in a stalemates of sorts. But the Yondaime Raikage planned on gaining the upperhand when his reinforcements would arrive.
"Boss, I see them..." A dark jounin with white hair said passing the binoculars to the Raikage who used it to spot the silhouette of what appeared to be a giant ox with eight octopus tails, dragging a ship across the unpleasant ocean navigating them through the eddies. Thus using a force of nature to defy another force of nature.
"About time!" A huffed, "Darui! Tell the others to prepare!"
But Darui didn't react instead looking in the direction of the ship with a widened eye. A turned around to see a cast of giant falcons emerging through the mist and flying overhead in matter of seconds faster than sound. Each falcon had three persons on its back.
"What the hell?" Darui cursed and a scroll dropped from the flock in front of Darui's feet who picked it up and read the contents.
"It's Konoha, it seems the Hokage wishes to negotiate," Darui said.
"So Konoha is here," A smirked, "You got the better of me last time Hiruzen, but this time I'll be taking the prize."
Uzushio- Kiri Camp
In a tent lit only by a single candle a boyish man with messy grey hair and a stitch-like scar running over his left eye meditated while masked shinobi guarded him. Soon a bored looking young Kiri jounin entered followed by a bearded man with long black hair and hunter nin mask. The jounin boy had unusual orange eyes and silky black hair that covered the left side of his face.
"Mizukage-sama, we received a message from Konoha requesting negotiations," The young jounin placed a scroll in front of the impassive kage.
"Have the reinforcements have arrived?" Yagura asked.
"Yes," the young jounin replied with a bored expression.
"Tell the troops to stand by and be prepared for negotiations to fail."
"Yes sir," The jounin was about to leave when Yagura asked one more question.
"By the way Utakata, did Konoha bring their jinchuuriki as well?"
Utakata turned slightly looking into Yagura's empty purple eyes, "Yes."
"Then be prepared for the fight of your lifetime, because right now a clash between us and other jinchuurikis seems inevitable."
"I will Yagura-sama," With that the jinchuuriki of Rokubi left.
"Mizukage-sama, we must settle this matter as quickly and peacefully as possible," The hunter nin said.
"I do not recall asking for your opinion, Tsurugi," Yagura said.
"But Mizukage-sama, the rebels may use your absence to their advantage. There are already reports of more shinobi reneging and growing support for blood-limit users. While we waste time on a deserted island our people dying ba-"
The Mizukage grabbed the hunter nin by his neck, "I said, I did not want your opinions. When I return I will deal with the rebels and purge Kiri of the blood-limit scum, after I raid the Uzumaki clan's Hidden Vaults. Do you understand?"
"H-Hai!" Tsurugi choked out squirming in his grasp. Yagura dropped him letting him tend to his neck.
"You are all dismissed!" Yagura ordered and everyone left.
"That was lame!" A blue skinned man stepped out of the shadows, grinning like a shark, "I'd expect a racist dictator to be a bit more scary."
"Don't be so harsh on him Kisame," A man in orange mask stepped in, "Mizukage-sama does try his best."
The Mizukage did not react to the presence of either rogue nins, he just stood like a puppet waiting for his strings to be pulled.
"So you have managed to bring five jinchuurikis into one place,"Kisame casually placed an arm around Yagura's shoulder, "And Sanbi is somewhat already in our pocket, but with so many shinobi roaming around and itching for a fight just how exactly do you plan on capturing them?" Kisame asked Tobi curious about the man's plans.
"My friend, there could be no better time than this..."