(Welcome back readers. Here's the opening of the war where Naruto and his allies get some inside info on where their enemies will strike and with what.)
At Naruto's place, the Avatar was up and about getting in some morning exercises. After doing some stretches, he stopped, "All right. That about does it." he suddenly saw appearing in his house was his spirit friend Gochi who looked tired, "Gochi?"
"Naruto!" he panted, "Been tunneling all night to get here."
"Where did you come from?" Naruto asked, as he scooped the tired spirit up and put him on the table.
"From the Hidden Sound Village. I have information on Orochimaru and Zetsu."
"What? What is it?"
"Please. I need a moment to catch my breath." Gochi finished before passing out and snored.
Naruto rolled his eyes, before speaking to himself, "I need to warn the others." he hurried out while carrying Gochi in his arms.
Later on, Naruto, his squad, his bending allies, the 3rd Hokage, the rest of the squads, and even the tailed beasts were all gathered in a private room at the administration building, where Tsunade, Shizune, and Jiraiya were waiting for them, "So what's the big emergency this time?" Kiba asked.
"A major update on Orochimaru and Zetsu's plans from what Gochi told me." Naruto answered.
"You mean the spirit has found some vital information for us?" Roushi asked.
"That's right," Naruto turned to his spirit friend, "Gochi tell us exactly what you saw?"
Gochi relaxed and spoke, "It's like this. I was tasked to keep an eye on the Hidden Sound Village, and I heard Zetsu and followed him into the hideout where Orochimaru and Kabuto resided."
"Go on." Jiraiya beckoned him to continue.
"Kabuto and Orochimaru were experimenting on the corpse of someone," he continued, "I couldn't tell who it was at first, until I caught a better view. And it's one of the baddest benders that ever lived."
"Who was it?" Tsunade asked.
"Fire Lord Ozai." Gochi answered in dread.
Needless to say the group was shocked, but none as much as Naruto, "Oh man. I should've figured Orochimaru would try to bring him back."
"Still he was dead even longer than the other benders he reincarnated," Jiraiya noted, "Getting living material of his had to be the hardest."
Naruto nodded as he signaled Gochi to continue, "It looked like the two were modifying Ozai's body through experimenting."
"No doubt trying to make him stronger for when he'd sick him after Naruto." Yami deduced.
Naomi nodded, "Ozai went toe to toe with Avatar Aang while being empowered by the affects of Sozin's comet."
"And since this is nowhere near the time where the comet would pass again, they're taking extra precautions to make him stronger to face Naruto." Sakura added.
"But Naruto has the power of the tailed beasts, sage mode, the six paths chakra, and the Avatar State," Mitsuki reminded them, "Shouldn't he be the strongest?"
"He should, but you never know what Orochimaru will do to try and give Ozai a power boost." Kakashi stated.
"What else can you tell us, Gochi?" Hiruzen asked.
"Orochimaru and Zetsu have broken it up into three strikes. First he's sending an army of White Zetsu clones that're going to launch a full scale attack on the border between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Frost."
"How many White Zetsu's make up this army, do you know?" Yuzuru asked.
"Approximately a hundred thousand of them."
"A hundred thousand?!" Ino and Tenten gasped.
"Oh, what a drag." Shikamaru groaned.
"What're these white Zetsus capable of?" Asuma inquired from the spirit.
"I don't know for sure. I never got the information about their abilities."
"What else are they planning?" Naruto asked.
"Second part of their strike is they're launching an armada of summoning snakes at Suna. And from what I learned some of the snakes they intend on using were living experiments made from the DNA of the Snake King Manda."
"As expected of Orochimaru." Jiraiya scowled.
"And the final part of his plan is he's going to unleash Ozai on the Land of Fire."
"Figured as much." Naomi replied.
Tsunade spoke, "But now that we have a clue as to what we're up against, we can inform the rest of the great nations. And once they're up to date we can rally our forces together with a counter plan."
"Gochi, how long do we have?" Naruto asked.
"They said they'd move out in two days."
"Can we really formulate a counter strategy in two days, let alone get all our forces united?" Utakata inquired.
"We may not have a choice, Utakata." Yagura answered.
"That's right," Naruto agreed, "We need to make due of what time we have."
"Then we better get started right away." Tsunade said, as they left the room to prepare.
After using the five way TV screens to speak to the other Kage and the Daimyos, they agreed to set up a meeting point at the Land of Iron asap. Kakashi, Guy, Naruto, and Sasuke accompanied Tsunade to the land with the two Jonin as the Hokage's guards, while Naruto and Sasuke being Konoha's trump cards were permitted to join. Same for the Jinchuriki.
Later on at the Land of Iron's Headquarters, the Daimyos of the nations, the Five kage, the Jinchuriki, Naruto, Sasuke, and several guards who accompanied their respective Kage were at meeting. Also accompanying them were the elder Benders like the children of Tenzin, Mako, Bolin, Opal, and Asami to give Naruto their support. They debated and argued for several hours, with some such as the Raikage getting antsy. Finally after much deliberation they all finally came to a conclusion.
Tsunade spoke up to everyone in the room, "So it's decided then. The shinobi from the Land of Lightning and Earth will be stationed at the Land of Lightning's Border to intercept the White Zetsu Army. The Shinobi from the land of Sand and Water will be stationed in Suna's desert to stop Orochimaru's snake army," Tsunade turned to Naruto and Sasuke, "And Naruto, Sasuke, and the Shinobi from the Land of Fire will deal with Orochimaru, Zetsu, and Ozai."
"We must also divide up the tailed beasts to help our forces." The Land of Fire Daimyo suggested.
A spoke, "Yugito and Bee will help us."
"Same for Roushi and Han." Oonoki answered.
Gaaa spoke up, "I will be there to lead my shinobi against the Snake army."
"Utakata and Yagura will assist us as well." Mei said on behalf of the Land of Water Shinobi
Naruto spoke, "And Fu will be with us."
"Yes!" Fu pumped a fist.
"You must all be careful and be prepared for the worst." Mako warned them.
"Especially you, Naruto," Jinora warned him, "Ozai may or may not have as much power as you that we know, but he is still a zombie and a powerful fighter."
"Thanks, but I won't be facing him alone." Naruto assured her, as he turned to Sasuke who smiled and nodded.
"Then we must all hurry back and ready our shinobi." Gaara suggested.
"Agreed." Tsunade answered, "Everyone, I wish you the best of luck.
"And may the spirits be with you all." Naruto added, as everyone nodded and headed off.
That night back in Konoha, Naruto was at his place in a meditating form. He opened his eyes and saw an astral form of Korra before him, "Avatar Korra, the inevitable war is moments away. I'm going up against Fire Lord Ozai, Orochimaru, and Zetsu, and the others are facing threats that are equally dangerous."
"Yet you have faced obstacles before. Like the Akatsuki." Korra reminded him.
"I know, but this is for the fate of the shinobi world if not the entire world. Zetsu is an extension of Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Mother of Chakra. Because of him so many problems in the land occurred because he was playing puppet master. From Indra and Asura to Madara and the First Hokage. As long as he continues to roam free he'll try to turn more shinobi against each other leading them down the same dark path as so many others."
"Which is why he must be stopped," Korra replied, "If he does succeed in stealing your tailed beast chakra and uses Sasuke's Rinnegan to put his original plan into motion the entire planet will be doomed."
Naruto spoke, "I will do whatever it takes to stop him and Orochimaru. Even if I have to make the ultimate sacrifice."
Korra smiled and pecked his cheek, "I know you and your friends will do well, Naruto." she returned to Naruto. The Avatar boy got up and went to get some much needed sleep.
The very next morning bright and early, everyone had been assembled and were stationed in their respective platoons. In the Land of Lightning's border, A and Oonoki waited with their respective shinobi, Yugito, Bee, Roushi, and Han. In Suna's desert was Gaara and Mei with their own respective shinobi along with Utakata and Yagura. Then at the edge of the Land of Fire stood Naruto, Sasuke, their squad, the rest of their fellow squads, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Yamato, their bending allies, Fu, and about every Konoha shinobi available.
All three sides waited for some possible sign of trouble, until it presented itself. In the Land of Lightning, the teams from Lightning and Earth saw an entire battalion of Full White Zetsus approaching them. In Suna's desert, the groups from Sand and Water saw in the distance multiple giant snakes, with some being two-headed and some three-headed. Finally with the Konoha group, they could see in the distance Orochimaru, Zetsu, and Kabuto approaching.
"There they are." Naruto said.
"Any sign of Ozai?" Bolin asked.
"Nothing yet." Sasuke answered.
The villains got closer, as Orochimaru spoke, "My former Konoha comrades. It has been so many years since I last saw you. Now I stand here before you with new allies. And even more newer surprises. Like this. Summoning Jutsu! Reanimation!" he made a coffin rise up.
The group watched, as the lid opened up and stepping out from the coffin was Fire Lord Ozai. Naruto turned to Tsunade and Jiraiya, "Sasuke and I are going in. Be prepared to jump in should Orochimaru, Kabuto, and Zetsu try to make an escape."
Tsunade and Jiraiya nodded, as the boys went forward. As they got closer, Naruto looked at Ozai who spoke up, "Avatar, we meet again. Sort of."
Naruto answered, "Aang's time and your time has long since ended, Ozai. You do not belong in the living world anymore. Especially not like this."
"Though I am bound to this jutsu like a puppet, I still take any opportunity that presents itself for me to finally defeat the Avatar."
"I'm not like Aang," Naruto spoke, "I have more than just the power of the Avatar at my disposal."
"And he's not alone." Sasuke added.
"Neither are we." Zetsu answered, as the boys looked behind their enemies seeing a swarm of White Zetsu clones stationed.
"White Zetsu clones?" Sasuke gasped.
"You didn't think I'd send the entire squad of White Zetsu's to one place alone, did you?" Orochimaru asked rhetorically, "I kept some behind for myself. I wouldn't want the rest of the shinobi here to feel left out."
Kabuto crossed his arms and spoke with arrogance, "With our forces combined, you all won't stand a chance."
"We'll see about that." Naruto and Sasuke got ready with Naruto activating Tailed Beast chakra mode, and Sasuke activating his Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Ozai, do away with Naruto and Sasuke," Zetsu began, "But do not kill them."
Ozai powered up his Firebending, as Naruto spoke, "Seems Orochimaru has found a way to give you back your Firebending."
"Yes, and that's just part of it." Ozai answered.
Tsunade spoke to the shinobi, "Prepare to fight. If we die, we die with honor."
In the rest of the spots the other squads armed themselves as they were prepared to fight their opponents. They knew this would determine the fate of the Ninja Land if not the planet itself.
(And there you go. The three groups have been stationed off and ready to fight for their lives and the safety of their homes. Don't miss next time, guys.)