Chapter 30 A New Day Part 1
The sunrise was a welcomed sight on the last day of their journey as Sakura stood in only one of Naruto's T-shirt looking out of the small porthole toward the massive island which seemed to stretch on for as far as the eye could see. Its towering black rock face was intimidating even to a skilled ninja like herself.
"So this is our new home?" inquired Sakura as she felt a strong arm come to rest on her shoulder as Naruto moved to stand beside her.
"It isn't like that." explained Naruto "The valley is surrounded by those dark mountains but the valley itself is perfect."
"I hope so, we are just want a safe place to rest my head." explained Sakura as the ship made a turn as the city of Nadeje came into view. Naruto's and Sakura's eyes widened as they saw five other large cargo ships also from the land of Bronze unloading supplies. In the distance they could see a massive number of people working in one area alone.
"Looks like Ino has been busy." stated Naruto as he looked movement of thousands of people unloading supplies from the ships and even more where up near the gates of hell crossing working on something.
"Doing what?" asked Sakura
"Well Shikamaru was going to design a village and the other major village was in a horrible state however Shikamaru would be on the island itself and the human village looks like it hasn't been touched." explained Naruto as Sakura grinned.
"I guess we will just have to go up there and find out." stated Sakura as she looked down as her cloths "But we should get dressed first."
While the ships carrying the refugees from the Land of Fire was pulling into the crowed harbor of the land of Granite far to the North another ship was preparing to leave from the Land of Fire. Standing in line for a ticket dressed in a gray traveling cloak with a backpack full of her earthly positions was the former Hokage of the village hidden in the Leaves. Finally it was her turn as she moved to the ticket stand.
"One way trip to the Land of Fish." stated Tsunade as the man behind the counter quickly opened his book to see what rooms he had left on the boat.
"I have one second class cabin open other than that I only have third class or fourth class." explained the ticket man
"Second class is fine." stated Tsunade as she paid for her ticket before moving toward the ship's gangway. Faster than anyone could see she scanned the line of people behind her as her eyes focused on two figures standing about five spots in line behind her.
"They have been following me for almost a day." thought Tsunade as she started up the gangway, heading into the massive floating casino ship which would take her to the small island nation city state which was the land of fish "Looks like the New Hokage is keeping an eye on me. Then again there is the chance they just want to gamble at one of the casinos in the Land of Fish, I know that is what I am doing while I wait for any contact from the only family I have left."
While Tsunade was getting on a ship Naruto, Sakura and thousands were getting off ships of their own and onto dry land. When they step onto the old rotten wood docks they were greeted by hundreds of people working as fast as they could to unload the massive cargo ships full of food and building supplies from the land of Bronze.
"Who are you?" yelled a voice as a short balding man with a pot belly stormed up to Naruto and Sakura. Before either one of them could explain he spoke up again "Wait I remember you, you were standing behind the Lady Daimyo at the ceremony. You're her boyfriend or husband or something like that."
"Something like that." stated Naruto "Where is Ino?"
"Up at the new city we are building." stated Shikamaru as he walked to them offering his hand to both Naruto and Sakura. "I hoped you all had an uneventful trip here."
"As an uneventful as it could be." stated Sakura "Now what is going on?"
"Well Ino decided that instead of trying to rebuild the village down here it would just be easier to start with a clean slate so we are building the village for regular humans over there." explained Shikamaru "She is attending the dedication to the new city hall."
"They already have a city hall built?" asked Naruto surprised at the news.
"Well Ino made a deal with the workers at the stone quarries for every five stones they cut three of them go to building their new village." explained Shikamaru with a smile "And they cutting out stones as fast as we can place them, add to that one thing this nation was known for before this all started was stonemasonry and they are showing their skills now."
"And what about the other two stones?" asked Sakura
"Going to help build our village on the island." explained Shikamaru "Now why don't the two of you head up to see Ino while I lead the others toward the food bank for a hot meal and then across the water to their new home."
"Works for me but keep the ships here I need to head out as soon as possible to get the people in Lightening and Water." ordered Naruto as Shikamaru grinned "What?"
"You don't have to go anywhere." reported Shikamaru "See Samui led her people out of lightening country stealing some fishing boats to do so. When the Daimyo's called a video meeting to discuss our disappearance Ino found out where the Water is holding our people. The ships left within three hours, they should actually be back within a day or two. Temari is taking care of the people in the Land of Wind and Earth so you don't have anywhere to go."
"Yes he does." counted Sakura "We have to go see Ino."
Far to the North the area of Wind country wasn't called the Dead Sand Sea for nothing, with 35 mile per hour winds being the average and constantly moving sand dunes some of which towered over a thousand feet tall. It was the massive impassable natural defense line which guarded the North West boarder of the land of wind and the ninja village hidden near the heart of the nation. Armies couldn't pass though it and any person stupid enough to enter the area which covered an almost a quarter of the nation normally never came out alive. Moving though the massive series of never ending dunes as a lone figure dressed in a long flowing sand covered traveling cloak. The cloak had been used by the humans in the land of wind even before there was a land of wind. As the figured reached the top of one of the sand dunes only to finally see the crystal blue water of the Mother river which marked the border between the land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
"Should only be a nothing few hours to reach the river." said Temari as she reached down to her belt and pulled out a metal canteen full of water. The ice cold water felt even better then sex at the moment to her she had spent days moving though some of the most deadly terrain in the world her muscles here aching but she knew she couldn't rest. "Then the hard part of getting around a thousand people alive through the largest desert in the world without being seen by anyone."
She looked around at the scene in front of her, all around her where towering mountains of golden sand which seemed to glow in the bright sun. In front of her was the crystal blue water of the massive Mother river and in the distance was the spot where the river split into three small rivers called the three daughters. In front of her was also the massive steal bridge which crossed the river and was the only way across the fast moving river on foot. The bridge was a key part of the road which linked her home village with the Land of Earth. She turned her gaze toward the bridge guard post, normally it had maybe a dozen to two dozen ninjas to keep an eye on the boarder and alert the Sand to any attack. The blonde hair former sand ninja lowered her head as she noticed several large tents located by the bridge.
"Crap, I am too late." said Temari as her mind started racing as she began calculating the number of Sand ninjas she was now facing from the number of tents and their size.
"I would put their numbers at between 175 and 200 ninjas strong." estimated her demon Anita
"I would have gone with 185 to 210." rebutted Temari to her demon
"Still that is a problem it would risky to take them all on." stated Anita
"Agreed, I had hoped Gaara would have been able to delay their deployment but they had the advantage of being able to use the road to travel." stated Temari knowing that the road was the fastest way to move but it would have meant discovery almost at once. Suddenly she noticed all the sand ninjas which had been around the tents rush toward the bridge.
"What is going on?" asked Temari as she turned her gaze in the direction which everyone was running. Her eyes widened as she saw a mass of humanity heading down the road.
"Shit I am too late." cursed Temari
Unaware of the fact that a follow jinchūriki was nearby the jinchūriki refuges from the Land of Earth where making their way toward the bridge. Near the head of the mass of humanity was the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi.
"We have moved all night can't we rest?" asked a young woman to the self-appointed leader of the refugees.
"We have to keep moving." explained Kurotsuchi "But the moment we cross the bridge we will rest."
"Why would crossing the bridge before we rest matter?" inquired the tired shore woman.
"Because it is a natural defense line, ninjas can't cross it without putting themselves in the open and once we are on the other side we blow the bridge with some paper bombs." answered Kurotsuchi as turned her gaze toward the bridge only to have her heart stop mid beat.
"Shit." cursed Kurotsuchi as she saw the massive number of sand ninjas rushing headlong toward them. Suddenly everything disappeared as she found herself standing in a brightly light round room with about three inches of water covering the marble floor.
"Do you have to keep doing this?" complained Kurotsuchi as she turned around only to come face to face with a giant five tailed demon turtle. The turtle had the appearance of a giant sea turtle only with deep violet eyes. "Damn you Ambi you could have just asked to talk to me instead of pulling me in for a talk."
"There isn't time for us to have true talk." stated Ambi "You are about to be killed by ninjas and you are the only real warrior in this group so there is only one thing for us to do."
"And what is that?" asked Kurotsuchi
"If I can join with you then in theory I should be able to separate myself from you as well." explained Ambi "Try and summon me, we have nothing else to lose."
Kurotsuchi opened her eyes again as the sand ninjas where almost on top of them. Reacting fast she bit her thumb drawing blood as she started to run though hand signs. As she ran though hand signs massive amounts of red demon chakra began to leak from her body. The sight of so much red chakra caused the advancing ninjas to stop in their tracks.
"Summoning Justu!" yelled Kurotsuchi as she slammed her palm onto the ground.
Up on the sand dune Temari was running as fast as she could but she knew in her heart there was nothing she could do. Suddenly she lost her footing as she fell forward and then began rolling down one of the sand dunes until she finally came to a stop.
"I have to move." Cursed Temari as she got up to her feet only to see a massive cloud of smoke rising up on the other side of the river. For a moment Temari just lied there in the sand before a scaled covered tail came out of the smoke hitting a group of stunned Sand ninjas sending them flying upwards. Four more tails followed suit.
"What in the world?" exclaimed a stunned Temari as she stood up as the smoke began to clear to show a giant three tailed demon turtle on the other side of the bridge with a lone figure standing on top the highest point of the shell. "Someone summon their demon? Is that even possible?"
"It shouldn't be but clearly it is." confirmed Anita as the sand ninjas started fighting back with kunai and paper bombs however most just bounced off the scaly armor of the turtle. Temari jumped to her feet as she kept moving toward the bridge and the battle just on the other side of the river.
Unaware of the fact that a battle was raging on the border between the land of Wind and the Land of Earth, Naruto and Sakura had walked the distance between the old village and where the new one would be constructed. As they neared the area the number of people began to grow however instead of heading toward the new city they were heading away and then finally a building came into view.
"I guess Shikamaru wasn't kidding about the fact that they worked fast." stated Sakura as both of them stopped as the saw a dome poking its way over the horizon. The white marble stone seamed to glisten a bit in the sun light.
"I guess let's keep moving." ordered Naruto as the two ninjas began to move through the crowd of smiling people as fast as they could. Naruto and Sakura reached the base of stairs just in time to see Ino disappearing behind one of the massive seven stone columns which marked the entrees of the building. Moving fast the two of them moved up the stair case until they reached a stone landing which led into the city hall itself. The two of them entered the still uncompleted interior of the building, moving in front of them heading toward the center rotunda was the blonde haired female ninja they had been looking for.
"Ino." said Naruto as she stopped mid step and turned around with a large smile on her face.
"Oh…thank God." said Ino as the three of them moved toward each other, the moment the two of them got near Ino she wrapped her arms the two of them pulling them toward her. For a moment the three of them just stood near the center of the new city hall tears where running down Ino's face as she held them close "You two are safe."
"We are fine." confirmed Naruto as they slowly pulled apart.
"Yes, I even saved that stupid cat of yours." added Sakura as Ino glared at her for a moment, sensing a fight was going to break out between the two of them Naruto quickly changed the subject.
"I see you have been busy." commented Naruto
"You have no idea, the life of a Daimyo can be so stressful sometimes." Exclaimed Ino as she rubbed her temples "Every day I have to make all these decisions and every one of them have a massive effect on everyone's lives."
"You love it don't you?" replied Sakura with a grin.
"Yes, I do." Confirmed Ino with a smile "I also had the pleasure of pulling a fast one on those sexists old men daimyo, they told me pretty much everything I wanted to know."
"Good for us." Added Naruto as he looked at Sakura before taking a breath "But an issue has come up involving the three of us."
"Let me guess Hinata?" asked Ino as Naruto nodded his head. "Let's talk about it over an early lunch at the Daimyo's house. Then we can go see the other village."
"Sounds like a plan." confirmed Sakura as Naruto nodded his head in agreement.
Far to the North the dust was settling as Temari started walking across the bridge over the Mother River on her way into the Land of Earth. Before her stood a giant demon three tailed demon turtle with a lone figure standing on top of it. The battle between the demon and the Sand ninjas had just come to an end with the absolute defeat of the sand ninjas. Dead bodies covered the ground, some of whom had literally been smashed by one of the tails of the demons. The few luckily ninjas still able to move ran from the field with their lives and nothing else. As Temari stepped over the bloody remains of some of the same people she had fought beside with only months earlier.
"Who are you?" demanded the demon turtle, the turtle had done a massive amount of damage to the sand ninjas but she hadn't come out untouched. A large cut ran down her left arms.
"Temari of the….." started Temari before stopping mid word "Well I guess of the Sand isn't me anymore, I am Temari my demon is Anita and I have come to guide you to your new home."
"Oh thank the spirits." exclaimed Kurotsuchi as the demon turtle she was standing on disappeared in a puff of smoke causing her to fall toward the ground, however like any skilled ninja she landed on her feet. "I really hope you have a way to get us across this desert."
"I always have a plan." Explained Temari as suddenly Kurotsuchi grabbed her hand.
"What the?" asked Kurotsuchi as she looked at her hand which now had a massive gash which was pouring out blood. Temari's eyes widened as she remembered that the demon turtle had matching cut on her arm. "I wasn't even hit by anything."
"You weren't but your demon was." Explained Temari as Kurotsuchi looked at her.
"Are you saying that because she was hurt I got hurt?" asked Kurotsuchi as Temari nodded her head. "Well I guess that makes sense we are joined with our demons."
"You don't get the full picture." stated Temari as Kurotsuchi raised an eyebrow "If the demon's injuries then it likely goes both ways."
"So? What is your point?" asked Kurotsuchi
"If either of you die both of you die." Explained Temari
Thousands of miles out former Daimyo of the Land of Granite rested in a poolside bar onboard the most high end cruise ship that he could find in the Land of Savanah. As he rested pool side under the shade of a large parasol he couldn't help but smile at the idea of the new life which was before him. He had 650 million dollars' worth of gold bars and even with though he had to pay 300 million of it to the creditors of his late father he still had enough to live his life in luxury and start a side business if he wanted.
"Life is good." said the former Daimyo as he took a large of champagne from a crystal glass. As he sat under the golden sun he suddenly found that he couldn't move as his muscles froze in place he was only able to breath and move his eyes and lips.
"You know this was a lot easier than I thought it would be." Stated the man who was lying on the pool chair beside him. "But then again you did treat your guards like shit for years so they were easy to turn."
"Who are you?" said the former Daimyo as he turned his gaze to the shirtless man with black rim glasses. The four guards which had been standing around him simply left leaving him alone with the man.
"My name is Kabuto Yakushi and I am the new Daimyo of the Land of Sound." stated Kabuto as he put on button down beach shirt however he left it open before pouring himself a glass of Champaign for himself using the same bottle the former Daimyo had gusted used. "And see, I was on my way to your former country to get what your father owed the former leader of my new nation when I heard you sold your nation and got onto this boat. See originally I was going to take my share but then I heard that you got 650 million worth of gold. See my new nation needs all the gold it can to start our new enterprise."
"So you are going to kill me?" asked the Daimyo "You put poison in my drink."
"Not poison…well not fully at least. It is a paralyzing agent and I could kill you with ease." stated Kabuto as he took a drink "It would be so easy I could make it look like an aneurysm in the brain that was always one of my master Orochimaru's favorites of killing someone when he didn't want it known it was a murder."
The former Daimyo's eyes widened at the name of the snake Sanin as he realized who he was dealing with really.
"But I always found that killing someone is such a waste not when you can turn the target into an ally." stated Kabuto "See I could kill you and take your 650 million in gold and be done with it. However I am missing one key player in my plan and you may fit the part perfectly."
"And what is that?" inquired the former Daimyo
"See unlike my former master I am not interested in physically controlling the world, too much of a hassle but I am interested in controlling the money flow for the nations of the world. I would have control of the world without pulling a kunai." stated Kabuto as he put his hand under his chin "And your gold will be more than enough to start me down that path but I require a front man to convince the other Daimyos to put their money in my bank because who would trust me with their money."
"So you want me to work for you? As head of a bank you control from the shadows?" asked the Daimyo as Kabuto smiled
"Why yes and in return you will not only keep living but you will have so much money that 650 million will be nothing but pocket change to you." stated Kabuto "So what do you say? Live and become one the wealthiest men in the history of the world or die and be nothing more than a former Daimyo who had an unforeseen natural death on a cruise ship? Your choice."
"I'll take the money." stated the former Daimyo
"Good." stated Kabuto as he formed a hand sign as he channeled his chakra into his left hand. Quickly he tapped the former Daimyo's hand as a seal formed on his hand. At once he regained the ability to move as the Daimyo lifted his hand up to watch as the seal disappeared into his skin "Don't worry it is just a safety net for myself. See the paralyzing agent I put in your drink can't be removed and in time it would kill you but that seal is holding the poison back. To make sure you don't try anything I have linked the seal to my life, as long as I am alive and I don't release it the seal holds the poison back"
"I see." stated the former Daimyo as Kabuto walked over and poured a new glass of Champagne for the Daimyo
"Now let us toast to our new partnership." stated Kabuto with a smile as he held up his glass.
Well I hope you liked this chapter and the developments that happened in this chapter. Now I have received a small handful of emails saying that if I make this a Naruto/Sakura/Ino/Hinata story that they will stop reading. Now truth be told I haven't fully decided if I am going to add Hinata or not but I hope that if I do decide to go that way that you all will keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75.