Author's note – Kishimoto Masashi owns Naruto while Guyver is written by Yoshiki Takaya.
I make no claim to either, I am merely playing in their sandboxes.
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Chapter Sixty-Five
Clan Matters
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"This place is a mess!" Shion declared, stamping her foot at the sight of the half-collapsed shrine. Naruto nodded in agreement.
"I know, my clones have given me a full report. Half the walls are damaged, the lintel is smashed, the windows either have no glass or shards of it… and yet all twenty-seven of the masks inside are intact."
"We'll need to store the masks somewhere safe while we rebuild the shrine." Shion mused, then she looked at Naruto, her eyes briefly flashing in the kaleidoscopic pattern that showed that her gift had activated. "You have a…? Yes, I think that it will do very well indeed. I would suggest using that room just off the lowest level of the library."
"You had a vision of the base?" Naruto chuckled in disbelief and Shion nodded.
"I did. Leave some clones here to move the masks, then you need to apply lesser loyalty seals to myself and Hoki. War is coming before the end of the day and I can forsee four more warriors of the Guyver by the end. I am one, Hoki the second and the other two… you told me that I must not tell you…"
"When did I do that?" Naruto asked even as several dozen clones popped into existance and ran into the ruined shrine.
"When the final two took to the field." Shion said with a slight smile. "I had to obey your command… my husband."
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"NANIIIII!"
"The heck was that?" Ino asked in shock as she spun round, almost dropping her coffee.
"It sounded like Naruto." Hinata said worriedly.
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"…husband?" Naruto squeaked and Shion nodded.
"I saw Hinata-san say that I was welcome." She admitted as she started towards the Uzumaki clan-house. "I don't know when, though, the vision was once again fragmented."
"Alright…" Naruto said as he trotted to catch up to her. "Seals and armor?"
"Hinata for Hoki and Ino-san for myself." Shion stated. "You and Fu-san need to head north to save some allies from an army of those who died centuries ago."
Naruto gave her a blank look and Shion shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Sorry, I don't understand it either."
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"The land of Hot Water is now part of the Shinobi Empire." Orochimaru reported, his chakra-silhouette wavering slightly.
"I have felled Takigakure, but there is something about the Tree that intrigues me." Madara said. "I may have to leave some clones to investigate."
"Grass is no more." Pein stated. "The first stage is complete."
A new figure materialized, accompanied by a shorter one.
"Humpf, so this is how you communicate?"
"Indeed, Lord Tsuchikage." Konan said calmly from by his side.
"And the other thing you told me is true?"
"That Uzumaki Naruto is the son of the Yondaime?" Konan confirmed. "It is."
"If only you'd told me in private." Onoki grumped. "As it is, it'll be all over Iwa by now. Alright, you have your alliance since if I don't act, I'll probably be deposed. What do you need?"
"For Ishigakure to fall." Pein stated. "Once that is done, that flank will be secure."
"I'll have my forces moving by tomorrow." Onoki said before his image vanished.
"I don't think he liked being manipulated like that." Orochimaru smirked.
"It matters not. All that matters is that the plan is seen through to completion." Madara declared before his silhouette dissipated. A moment later, the cave was empty once more, except for the giant statue crouched in the darkness.
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Screams of agony echoed through the Uzumaki mansion as two figures writhed within masses of stabbing, winding tendrils as four people watched them. Soon, the tendrils had tightened enough that the shapes of the figures were visible, then the outer surfaces seemed to ooze liquid which rippled and hardened into suits of armor, one black and one a pink color almost the same as Sakura's hair.
"That. Hurt." The darker one groaned as he levered himself into a sitting position and held up one hand. "Huh, midnight black and… two blades?"
"I'm almost jealous." Naruto joked as Hoki extended and retracted his blades. "I see that the basic skill-upload worked."
"Ow, my head really hurts." Shion groaned as she managed to stand up long enough to shed her armor, then she let Ino lead her to a chair and accepted a cup of willow-bark tea from Kin. "Thank you."
"That looked really painful." Kin commented as she moved to behind Shion and began rubbing her shoulders.
"It was." Hoki said as he accepted his own mug of willow tea from one of Naruto's clones. "I think I now know what it would have been like to have had the Nanabi sealed in me… no offense intended, Chomei-san!"
"Chomei says none taken." Fu smiled, then they all looked round as a knock sounded on the front door. A clone scurried over and opened it, revealing an ANBU.
"Uzumaki-san, Team Armor is required to report to the Hokage at once." The ANBU stated.
"We're on our way." Naruto said, motioning for Fu, Hiata and Ino to follow him. "Hoki, Shion, stay here for now."
"I don't think I could move even if I wanted to." Hoki mourned as Kin directed a clone to take her place and started to massage his shoulders instead.
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"Naruto." Itachi nodded in greeting, his face set in the blankness of someone who has received terrible news. "Fu. I don't know how you'll feel about this, but Takigakure… is no more."
Fu almost stopped breathing and Itachi gave her a moment to recover.
"One of our border agents spotted a convoy of civilians and genin from Taki heading for us, but they think that whoever destroyed Taki is in pursuit. I need at least two of you out there as soon as possible and… why are Hinata and Ino wearing those expressions?"
"Clan-matters." Naruto replied. "They're going to have to finish the ritual with some meditation, but they should be flight-capable again in a few hours or so."
Both girls nodded in confirmation and Itachi's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Pack for a week, you'll be on overwatch. I've already dispatched teams seven and nine to provide flank and rear security for them, but it'll take a couple of days for them to get there. How soon can you head out?"
"Within a quarter hour." Naruto stated as a small puff of chakra marked the formation and dispelling of a clone. "My clones are already putting together our mission packs, all we need to do is pick them up and head out."
"Do it." Itachi commanded.
Naruto and Fu both bowed before leaping out of the window, Naruto shouting "Guyver!" as he did so. Itachi didn't watch them leave but instead concentrated on Ino and Hinata.
"How long before you are ready to deploy as well?"
"Tomorrow morning at the absolute latest, Hokage-sama." Ino admitted and Itachi gave a slow nod.
"Then report back tomorrow morning at eight so I can get a report from Naruto before you head out to join him."
"Hai, Hokage-sama!"
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Fu maneuvered to a point where she could grab hold of Naruto's shoulders as they flew away from Konoha, then she pulled herself as close to Naruto as she could, letting Chomei grab hold around Naruto's torso with her six legs while her wings retracted.
"Ready?"
"We are." Fu replied, then she ducked her head as Naruto accelerated. Only the mandible-mask closing over Fu's face allowed her to breath at all as they raced across the Land of Fire, leaving a rippling roll of thunder in their wake.
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"What was that?" Tenten asked as she looked up from the campfire over which her squads meal was cooking.
"Naruto and Fu." Neji said as he deactivated his Byakugan. "Moving faster than I've ever seen before."
"Their flames of youth must be incredible to be able to move that fast!" Lee shouted and Tenten slammed into the spandex-clad boy, clamping a hand over his mouth.
"Lee. Shut. Up." She growled. "It's been a long and tiring day and having you shouting is making my headache worse."
"…sorry…"
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"Shit!" Shibuki cursed as a white figure appeared at the top of a hill a mile away. "They've found us!"
"This is bad." Yoromaru agreed, looking at the humanoid that was watching them in return. A long moment passed, then the entire hill seemed to be outlined in white as the pursuing horde crested it.
"We're not going to make it to Konoha, are we?" Shibuki asked and Yoromaru shook his head.
"No, we're not. Not unless we get a miracle. All ninja, form line! Try to buy time for at least some of the civilians to escape!"
The other genin and the three semi-crippled adult chunin overseeing the evacuation quickly formed up, their line of under two-dozen looking totally overwhelmed by the approaching mass of inhuman enemies.
"Hold the line!" Yoromaru shouted as the mob closed in on them. "Hold the line!"
The features of the white beings became more defined as they charged, their arms rippling and forming into clubs, blades and other weapons.
"May the Kamis aid us…" One of the chunin whispered as he tried to brace himself.
Shibuki unsealed his spear and prepared to defend himself.
"Fu, fly!"
Shibuki gasped and his head snapped up as an armoured figure plummeted down to slam into the ground in front of him. The new arrival barely registered as he saw the other being swoop overhead on green-and-orange insectile wings, her green hair rippling in the breeze.
"Fu's alive?!" Yoromaru gasped. "How?"
A massive blast of light almost blinded Shibuki and he threw up an arm to shield his eyes from the beam of light erupting from the armoured man's chest. As the light faded, Fu hurled a half-dozen odd chakra-spheres at the few survivors of the once-large enemy force, spheres that exploded as they hit, shredding their targets.
"Fu?"
Fu landed, her visored gaze fixed on the gouged-out valley that had once been a plain and a hill.
"Fu and Naruto are here to get you to Konoha." She stated. "Fu's friends are also coming, but we need to keep moving. More might be on their way."
"Right." Yoromaru responded, snapping out of his shock. "Everyone, keep moving! We need to keep going!"
The other ninja sped off to catch up with and direct the fleeing civilians and Yorormaru turned to the new arrivals.
"I saw your corpse." He half-complained. "How are you still alive?"
"Is that a bad thing?" Fu snarked and Shibuki snorted with laughter at Yoromaru's expression.
"Well, no, but… I thought… you… how?"
"A special form of clone." The other person said as he shed his armor and created several dozen clones that promptly ran outwards to set up a scouting perimeter. Shibuki stared at him.
"How did you fit those shuriken inside that armor?"
"That… is an interesting question."
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Kin watched as the four armoured figures sat in a circle, the metal spheres set in their foreheads glowing with a soft, flickering radiance.
"Ino-sama and Hinata-hime are giving Hoki and Shion the skills and knowledge that they need to use the armor properly." One of the clones said from behind her. "It'll take a while. In the meantime, it's time for you to learn something new about this place."
Kin followed the clone down into the basement work/storeroom and halted in shock as he moved to a wall and pressed against a specific spot, causing a hidden door to open.
"Come on."
Kin shook herself back into motion and followed the clone through the door, round the corner and down a metal ramp. As she descended, she found herself descending through the ceiling of a giant library filled with scroll-racks, book-shelves, suspended walkways and dozens of clones reading or sorting the contents.
"Our secret base, now believed by Orochimaru to be destroyed." The clone said smugly as Kin stared at the scene before her in wide-eyed shock. "Since you did such a good job with the secondary library upstairs, the boss decided that you should be placed in charge of the main library as well."
"But… but… I was part of Oto!" Kin protested. "I helped to attack Konoha! To attack Naruto-sama! How can he…?"
Kin trailed off as the clone tapped her back above the seal that now adorned it.
"Boss knows you can be trusted." The clone said, the amusement absent from its expression, then it grinned. "Come on, the sooner you know the system we use, the sooner you can re-design it into something better."
"You know me too well." Kin sighed. "Alright, let's have a look at what you lot have done so far."