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-Seven

War

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The chain made from sand lashed out and the last few links seemed to shatter against the ship sailing just a hundred paces off the shoreline, then the ship itself suddenly disintegrated with the thousands of fragments and pieces of the former crew flying away from the shore at a high fraction of the speed of sound.

"Impressive." Danzo admitted as he watched the first Uzushiogakure Jinchuuriki at work on the shoreline. "The application of seals through the medium of sand… truly a force to be reckoned with."

"My Lord." Fuu said as he materialised behind Danzo. "Ambassador Karin has arrived at Konoha while the Mizukage has sent her greetings through the relay tube that was dispatched to her. Also, Ambassador Karin reports that Konoha now has two more Armor users, a former Priestess called Shion and her bodyguard Hoki. My staff are researching them now."

"Girl has style." Akamichi Torifu stated from Danzo's other side. "Good news, our warehouses are now at optimum levels. Bad news, with war breaking out, we're going to need them. My agents report that the last shipment from the Land of Rice Paddies never made it past the border… not surprising given that Orochimaru effectively runs that place."

"And our spies?" Danzo asked.

"Embedded and secure." Torifu answered. "Thanks to the message tubes, our communications are totally secure. Recruiting the civilians descended from those who fled Uzushiogakure was brilliant."

Danzo briefly smirked, then turned his attention to the dozen ships floating out of range of Honoka's sand-chains.

"We may need to strengthen the defenses still further." He mused. "If only we could re-activate the whirlpools that once protected this place…"

"The seal-stone that controlled them was smashed by infiltrators in order to open the island to attack." Fuu reminded him. "I have a team trying to work out how it was made, so that it can be replaced, but they are not making much progress."

"Maybe I should assign Honoka to help." Danzo commented as he turned away from the window and strode back towards his desk. "Maybe I should ask her to make a seal that would help with this kami-damned paperwork…"

Fuu and Torifu exchanged bemused glances, uncertain of whether or not the Uzukage had been joking about the seal.

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"My forces are invading the Land of Frost even as we speak." Orochimaru gloated, his gaze flicking round to the other chakra-silhouettes. "Once Shimogakure has fallen we will be able to hold the area and deny Kumogakure any chance to strike at us."

"Excellent." Madara stated. "How is the siege of Uzushiogakure progressing?"

"We have confirmed that they have the Ichibi." Orochimaru grumbled. "Their Jinchuuriki is able to utilize fuuinjutsu through the sand it controls, allowing it to apply seals at a distance. My forces lost four ships that way before we changed our tactics."

"My forces entered the Land of Rivers this morning." Pein reported. "Four of my Paths lead the way and combined with the advanced base that we established seven years ago, the forces of Tanigakure have been unable to mount any true resistance."

"The Zetsu Army is ready to begin the assault on the Land of Fire." Hidan smirked. "We'll make the land run red with blood for Jashin!"

"Once Wave is secure, we will be able to stop Kirigakure from reinforcing the Land of Fire." Madara said with satisfaction. "All is proceeding as planned."

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"Yosh! We are here!"

"Yes, Gai-sensei! We have arrived!"

"Indeed my beloved student! Now we are here, we shall see these youthful people safely to Konoha, or I shall run a hundred laps around Konoha carrying a boulder!"

"And I will help you or I shall run a hundred laps around Konoha on my hands while balancing a boulder on my feet!"

"What the hell?"

Fu managed not to laugh at Yoromaru's disbelieving exclamation at the antics of the first two of the Konoha Shinobi to arrive.

"Just ignore them." Said the third arrival, shaking her head. "They're insane."

"Maito Guy is the greatest taijutsu fighter Fu has ever met." Fu explained. "Rock Lee is his apprentice. His other two students are Hyuuga Neji and Chunin Higarushi Tenten."

"…huh." Yoromaru finally managed.

"And here come the others." Fu continued as a second group of four appeared. "Jonin Hatake Kakashi, genin Aburame Shino, genin Inuzuka Kiba and chunin Uchiha Sasuke, the younger brother of the Godaime Hokage… and another Shino?"

"Wow, that's quite an honor." Shibuki said in awe.

"Aha! My team and I have beaten yours here, my eternal rival, thus proving our greater youthfulness!"

"Hmmm, did you say something?"

"Curse that hip and too cool attitude of yours, Kakashi!"

"They are mad!" Yoromaru whispered while Shibuki burst out laughing.

"It's a manzai partnership!" He snickered and Fu froze, her mind racing through all the interactions between Kakashi and Gai that she had witnessed.

"It is…" She finally gasped. "It really is!"

Naruto stared at them, then at the two Jonin, one of whom was reading his book and giggling while the other was shouting about unyouthful behavior.

"Well," He said after a few moments, "It may be a manzai partnership, but it's like no manzai I've ever seen…"

"Shino," Fu asked as she got her giggles under control, "Why are there two of you?"

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Deva Pein gave a small smirk as he landed by the seaside.

"So the Forest is ours and Konoha is surrounded from the south-east, all the way up and round to the south-west." He declaimed, then he paused as a shape appeared out of the mist. "What the…"

"What a ship!" One of the elite ninja accompanying him gasped as the grey slab-sided vessel moved closer. "It's… huge!"

Suddenly, the side of the ship was engulfed in smoke and Pein frowned.

"Shinra Tensei!"

A wave of gravitational force lashed out and a moment later, the water around the ship was punctuated by giant splashes as the projectiles it had hurled towards them and which had been deflected back exploded.

"Remain here." Pein ordered as he rose into the air and flew towards the unusual vessel. As he drew closer, he saw a group of five people appear on the upper deck. Four of them, three women and a younger male, wore armor of a style he had never encountered before while the fifth was a chubby man in a blue high-collared jacket and a monacle perched over his left eye.

"Identify yourself and your reason for trespassing here!" Pein ordered.

"My name is Haido and I seek a world without conflict." The apparent leader said with a smile. "I apologise for our unprovoked pre-emptive defence, but we have been fending off enemies for many years."

Pein lowered himself until he was floating at the same level as the deck that the five were standing on.

"I am Pein of the Red Dawn." He responded. "And I am the one who is prophesied to bring peace to the world."

Haido smiled benevolently. "Then we share the same goal and I am honored to meet you."

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"Alright, we've got this now." Kakashi said with an eye-smile. "Between our two teams, the Takigakure shinobi and the patrols that are scheduled, we should be able to get them to Konoha safely. And if we can't, we have two message scrolls, so all we have to do is hold on for long enough for one or two of you to get here. Not a problem."

Naruto nodded. "If you say so, Senpai."

"I do… kohai."

Naruto looked round, then stepped closer to Kakashi. "How does the situation look?"

"Not good." Kakashi replied just as quietly. "Every single land border save the one with Water is closed against us and Konoha's getting refugees from the Land of Rivers. Uzu is holding the sea-lane between us and Water open, but there are enemy ships trying to form a blockade. Wave hasn't reported any problems yes, but it's probably only a matter of time."

"And the other Hidden Villages?"

"Iwa is part of the alliance against us, apparently they've seized Ishigakure. With Suna gone, Wind is just a large target. Kumo is currently out of it since the land-link to Lightning is closed."

"So basically, it's just the Alliance against the rest." Naruto said with a nod of understanding.

"Thank goodness for the two new Armors." Kakashi added. "Now, gather your team and head back to Konoha, I believe that the Hokage has new missions for you."

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The man behind the desk didn't even bother to look up from the paperwork he was perusing, instead barking out a command as the door slammed open. "Report!"

"Hey big bro, ah will not lie / the situation just ain't fly.
"The people from the Land of Frost / are all right but the place is lost.
"So ah had a little look around / there's lotsa ninja all from Sound
"Ah questioned one and things are dire / They're about to strike at the Land of Fire."

The Raikage paused, then looked up at his (adopted) younger brother, the Jinchuuriki of the Hachibi.

"That fits in with what my other spies relayed. Any idea who's leading them? The snake-sannin?"

Bee shook his head. "Orochimaru this force commands / but not the ones in other lands.
"Ah got two names that lead their crew / And one will be a shock to you.
"From Amegakure we have Pein / Has powers of the Sage which is insane.
"The other leader your mind will bend / Killed by the Senju at the Valley of the End.
"But he's come back so we gotta be brave / 'cause Uchiha Madara is back outta his grave!
"Word!"

A blinked as he decoded the rap, then he frowned.

"Madara? Are you certain of this?"

"The Oto Jonin we interrogated was, Raikage-Dono." A new voice said and A blinked as Samui slid past Bee, giving the Jinchuuriki a glance that combined respect with annoyance. "Of course, his defiance didn't last all that long as Bee-san here… disarmed him."

Bee smirked. "Nice pun!"

Samui rolled her eyes and turned back to face the Raikage.

"My team managed to capture and interrogate several other Oto chunin and genin, but all they could provide was effectively confirmation of what we already knew. Oto and Amegakure have allied and launched an invasion on all of the smaller countries. Apparently Iwa has allied itself with them as well."

"I'd received reports that the old fence-sitter had some dealings with the Akatsuki and that the Snake-sannin was a member." A mused. "For him to throw in on someones side like that this quickly, they must have been very persuasive."

"So it would seem, Raikage-Dono." Samui agreed.

"There was one other thing ya gotta know / about a kid named Naruto.
"A Konoha ninja and a Jonin too / there's somethin special ah'll tell to you.
"'cordin to the ninja that ah did ask / the kid's hiding something behind his mask.
"Got powerful armor that changes the game / and is the son of Konoha's Yondaime!
"Word!"

A froze, then a slow grin spread across his face. "Minato-san had a son? I'd like to meet him in battle sometime. If he's even half as good as his old man, it'll be a match for the ages."

"Does that mean that we're joining forces with Oto, Ame and Iwa, Raikage-Dono?" Samui asked, her voice carefully neutral and A shook his head.

"No, but unless Konoha approaches us, we're not going to try and help them either. We don't know just how bad their situation is and jumping in may be a good way to get ourselves stabbed in the back. Then again, if we open a passage through to Fire, we may be able to convince all their clans to evacuate to Kumo. Forget just getting the Byakugan, we play this right, we could get the Sharingan as well!"

"Should I see about preparing a diplomatic party, sire?" Samui asked.

"A diplomatic party? That would be cool! / Tis a job at which I would truly rule.
"Nibble on the snacks and sip at the drinks / while listening to find out what the…"

"Iron claw! Hebīsutairu kekkai!"

Bee vanished through the new hole in the wall and vanished into the distance as A lowered his hand. Glancing behind him at the now-shattered desk, he paused at Samui's questioning gaze.

"I love my brother dearly, but the day I let that rapping idiot lead a diplomatic party is the day that I'll be removed from office for being a bloody moron." He explained.

"…as you say, Raikage-Dono…"