Chapter 34 Dawn
The day's seems to have become almost retune as Temari led the group of refugees from the Land of Earth across the desert using the oasis to supply the people with places to rest and refill their canteen as they crossed the desert. Temari who has spent her whole life climbing over the sand dunes was used to it however the shop owners and merchants who made up the bulk of the refugees had only climbed up mountains had no idea how to climb up sand dunes. Multiple times Temari had to stop at the top of the of the sand dune and wait as the rest made their way up taking two steps forward while sliding back one.
Finally after days of crossing the desert through terrain which would make even the most hardened ninja search for another way around they had reached the final thing standing in their way from the trains waiting for them in the Land of Savannah, the border town of Na Di. For a while Temari watched the movement of the Sand ninja border guards however luckily being assigned to the border post of Na Di was normally used a punishment for ninjas who drank too much while on duty. Also because of the war with the Akatsuki most of the ninjas where sent north closer to the most likely source of conflict with the other ninja nations. That meant that the small boarder guard force of four ninjas in the city where all drunks who spent most of the day drinking their life away in the bar.
"So how are we going to cross the border?" inquired Kurotsuchi as she looked down at the small unwalled city before them through a pair of binoculars. The single thing which dominated the city was the train yard which covered almost half the city on the Savannah side of the boarder. Most of the trains where busy being loaded up with salt taken from the desert mines which would be used in the southern nations however sitting there waiting there was a line of several passager trains.
"It actually will not be hard." stated Temari as she watched a drunken sand ninja boarder guard stumbled out of one of the bars before moving down the street. Finally he came to a stop as he entered a small guard house located on the border. The house had multiple windows allow a clear view of the three other guards inside. One of the guards was sound asleep and the other two were waiting by the door. The moment the first guard walked the two waiting guards walked out before heading straight toward the bar. Meanwhile the drunk guard sat down in a chair and put his feet up before passing out with a beer in his hand.
"We aren't dealing with the sharpest kunai in the armory." laughed Temari "We are just going to walk down one of the side roads and enter the train yard and get onboard."
"That's your plan?" inquired Kurotsuchi "That's it?"
"Yes, simple isn't it." Confirmed Temari with a smile.
While Temari was preparing to sneak across an almost unguarded boarder Sasuke Uchiha walked down a gravel include down into one of the multiple old open air granite mines which had been abounded. This mine had only been abounded a few months so unlike the other it hadn't filled up with water forming a manmade lake. However for being abounded there was a lot of activity as Tenten commanded teams of granite workers in the construction of her pet program. Her project was rather simple but grand in scale. A long pipe carried the Scandium from one of the old copper mines toward a large granite box which was forty feet high with an open air top. A metal tub sitting within the top and the front had a small door cut in it. Coming out of the side was a long pipe which came down to ground level.
"Someone has been busy I see." stated Sasuke as he looked up only to see Tenten standing at the edge of the tub wearing a gas mask. Tenten simply nodded her head before climbing down the in place ladder down to ground level. The moment she reached the floor she ripped off the gasmask.
"Yes, and everything is in place." reported Tenten "All we need is for you to use your Amaterasu to start the process."
"The strongest fire Justu known to man is all you need." chuckled Sasuke only to get a death glare from Tenten. "Alright then."
With that Sasuke turned toward the small opening in the rock face before closing his eyes for a moment he gathered his chakra before opening one of his eyes. Instantly huge black flames shot out of nowhere inside the container heating the metals and rock inside the tub blending them together into liquid Aldhard. Sasuke closed his eyes for a second time only to reopen them again.
"So what's next?" inquired Sasuke as he gazed into the black flames, the fire had begun to make the metal boil but luckily the stone wasn't melting and the fire was contained within.
"We wait and let the metals bond together and then I start making the weapons." Stated Tenten "That should take a few hours at least."
"Alright then I am off." Stated Sasuke as he started to walk away, only to be grabbed by Tenten.
"Wait is there any way to put out the fire if we need to and don't tell me there isn't a way to put out the fire?" inquired Tenten as Sasuke looked down for a moment considering the options either he revealed one of the greatest secrets of the Uchiha clan or he risked having the fire run out of control and possibly destroy his new home.
"Water drip justu." Whispered Sasuke as Tenten blinked before glaring at him.
"Don't pull my fucking leg Sasuke, there is no way that the simplistic water justu that old ladies use to water their gardens can put out that." stated Tenten as the roaring flames caused massive lines of sweet to roll down both of their faces "That flame has got to be over 3,000 degrees."
"Actually it's over 4,000 and yes the water drip justu is the only thing that can put Amaterasu apart from several hours of natural rain fall." Stated Sasuke as Tenten blinked at the idea of a justu which caused a light gentle mist like rain to fall could possibly put out the hottest fire justu in the world, then the reason why hit her.
"I guess is someone is on fire they aren't going to use that justu to try to put them out." Admitted Tenten as Sasuke nodded his head "Alright."
"Also if you tell anyone else how to put out Amaterasu I will throw you into that boiling pit of metal and watch you melt." threatened Sasuke as he gave the master weapon user a death glare beyond anything which she had ever seen. "It is one of the most guarded secrets of the Uchiha clan."
"I understand even though I am not from a clan but my family has secret metal working technically that I will not share with anyone apart from mine and Neji's kids." explained Tenten
"Good." stated Sasuke as he pulled a small piece of paper from his black Aldhard jacket "Now since I helped you make this Aldhard stuff I need something from you and you cannot tell anyone. I need these weapons made and they have to be perfect."
"A secret project for Sasuke Uchiha." stated Tenten as she looked at the piece of paper as she read the list, most where nothing out of the ordinary kunai and the like but the last two items caused her to raised her eyebrow. "You want these?"
"Yes and they have to match my designs to the letter." confirmed Sasuke as Tenten shrugged.
"Ok, I will put you on the list of projects." Confirmed Tenten as Sasuke blinked "I have six other secret projects I am working on for different people."
Across the straight from the mainland on the island Naruto stood before a gathering of most of the ninjas which had made it to the valley so far. They stood in prefect rows as Naruto as he looked into the faces of the ninjas gathered before him.
"Now listen up, this valley is going to be our new home and the day may come when we have to…" stated Naruto only to pause for a moment "We have to fight our former comrades and to do that we must learn to work together. Now in a few days we will be making new three men teams based around each person's skill set."
No ninja said a word since the news that new teams would be formed wasn't unexpected.
"You will each keep the ninja rank you had in your old villages however I have selected Neji Hyuga of the Leaf to be head Jonin and Sasuke Uchiha to be the head of the ANBU core." reported Naruto as more than a few ninjas glared at the idea of having one of the men they had fought against be the head of the ANBU core. "I know some of you may like the idea of having Sasuke be head of the ANBU core but I have to ask which one of you want to fight against him one on one?"
For the longest time no one said a world.
"Sasuke is a son of a bitch but he is a strong son of a bitch which will cause anyone coming at us to shit themselves in fear." stated Naruto as ninjas laughed at the comment "Now we are currently in the process of making weapons for training and combat but in the mean time we need everyone to start sharing your old village Justus with each other."
The ninjas looked at each knowing that each ninja village had a small list of general Justus that almost every ninja knew and while most of the Justus where common among every nation somewhere secret not to be shared with anyone outside the village.
"Now, if you have a justu that belongs to your clan you may keep it to yourself if you wish or share that choice is up to you." explained Naruto "Also I require everyone to report to Neji any Kekkei Genkai that you may have so that we know the skills we have whenever we are attacked."
Once again no ninja had a problem with that since most villages had a list of Kekkei Genkai of their ninjas.
Far to the North in the Land of Fire a cold chill was filling the air as the unusual warm fall disappeared and cold returned. Sitting beside her father at the monthly meeting of the Hyuga clan was the new Hokage Hanabi.
"This has been a month of untold lost and untold victories for our clan." Reported Hiashi to the elders of the clan as they all sat at a low wooden table with cups of teas in front of them. Standing behind each elder was an aid normally from one of the lower house. "We have lost two of our most promising members in the form of my oldest daughter Hinata and Neji but we have gained a high position with my second child gaining the Hokage's position."
"All that is true however we are very open at the moment, Hinata's Byakugan wasn't sealed so any children she has would have would process the Byakugan." Reported an Elder as he sat across from Hiashi his white hair pulled back and his cane resting across his knees. "Our clan has always maintained its strength due to the fact that we keep our secrets and the two of them have them."
"That isn't even counting the fact on top of the Byakugan between Hinata and Neji they know all our clan ninja techniques and other clan secrets." Stated a female elder
"That is an issue that every clan in this village is facing." Reported Hanabi as everyone turned their attention to the young Hokage "Between clan secrets and Justus the intelligence department believes that the demons now have access to between 75% and 90% of all secret justus of the Leaf village."
"That puts our entire village at risk." stated another elder "They could sell the Justus to another village and make a fortune."
"Wouldn't happen." Rebutted Hanabi
"You trust the demons to keep a secret? When they are on the run likely starving to death due to lack of food?" asked Hiashi as he scolded his daughter.
"Yes, because they don't have anyone to sell it to." Rebutted Hanabi as the elders blinked "Every ninja nation in the world is in a similar state so I ask you father who they would sell the secrets to? No they may teach the justus to each other but they will not sell the secrets."
"We still have to find them." Stated Hiashi
"And we will." Confirmed Hanabi as she took a drink from her tea cup. "They can't hide forever and some day we will find them."
While Hanabi was in a meeting far to the South Ino and Sakura where sitting down for a late lunch in the Daimyo's mansion. Sakura had spent most of the day walking though the newly finished hospital on the mainland, it was amazing how fast they had gotten the building built, however it was still far away from being ready to be used as a medical center. None of the equipment and drugs had arrived yet and until the tidal force windmills where in place to create electricity it only had a generator for power.
"So do you think you will be home tonight?" inquired Sakura as Ino nodded her head.
"Should, I had to deal with the land owners last night and by the time I finished dealing with them I was too tired to go anywhere so I crashed here." Explained Ino as Sakura nodded her head. "They were all pissed that I got rid of their special court but I told them to suck it up since having a special court only pisses off the regular people and I wasn't going to have any of that."
"We missed you, I don't think either one of us slept as good while your spot was empty." Explained Sakura
"Same here." admitted Ino as suddenly the door to the dining room opened up as two human village aids walked in.
"Lady Ino we have some issues that need your attention." reported one of the aids.
"And what is that?" inquired Ino as she leaned back a bit as Sakura studied her friend and lover. She seemed to be enjoying the position of Daimyo even though until a village council was elected it came with all the headaches of any village leader.
"Some of the people are starting to complain." Explained the aid as both Ino and Sakura blinked.
"I thought the people where extremely happy with the deal we have for food and money for work on building a new village." Stated Ino as she tried to hide the small facial tick that told Sakura that she was beyond pissed off.
"They are my lady in fact they love you however some are wondering when and more importantly who is going to get new housing first in the village." Explained the aid as Ino looked down.
"This is a no win situation you will be seen as rewarding some people while punishing others." advised Sakura "Maybe the best way is to not give it to anyone."
"What are you talking about forehead?" inquired Ino
"A lottery." Offered up Sakura "Have every family pick a ticket with a number on it and use that to decide who gets the first houses. It's in fates hands not yours or anyone else's."
"I like it. The spirits decide who gets the first homes." Confirmed an aid as Ino smiled.
"Smart move forehead however it needs a small change, I want every adult to have a ticket so that families have a higher chance of getting a home first." ordered Ino as the aids nodded their heads. "Anything else?"
"Yes, some of members of the police force and the medical core are upset that you appointed two outsiders to lead them." Reported a second aid
"Alright I want to speak with the head of the police force and the medical core." ordered Ino
"They are just outside." Said an aid as she stepped outside only to walk back in with an old fat man dressed in a blue uniform which was straining to contain his gut. Beside him was a skinny man dressed in a dirty white coat, with a long white beard and wired rim glasses over his faded blue eyes.
"Lady Daimyo, thank you for seeing us." Said the fat man
"No problem Chief I want to have as smooth as transition as possible between the old Daimyo's rule and mine." Reported Ino as she stood up and moved toward the police chief and the doctor. "Now I understand you two are upset at the idea that you two have been replaced as heads of the Police Force and the medical core however I don't see why you are upset."
"We have been here for years and then you just come down here and kick us out of our positions." Stated the doctor as Ino nodded her head.
"See the thing is I have replaced both of you with some of the most highly skilled people in the world. Kakashi Hatake is a legendary ninja and while he is new to police work his ninja skills will make up for that. See I had one of my friends look over the crime rate reports for this country and we are the most crime ridden state which isn't in the middle of a civil war." stated Ino as the Chief's eyes widened with anger at the insult by the young woman "Now that is all your fault, you can't put out a wildfire with a garden hose, you had no money but even then something needed to change. Now either you can accept that and help Kakashi cut down on crime or I will find someone else to be the police chief of the new village."
"What? I thought this Kakashi was head of the police force?" inquired the Chief
"He is but he is in charge of the entire country as a whole and he can't be everywhere so he will assign local police chiefs for different areas." explained Ino as Sakura smiled as she fought a need to jump up and kiss Ino. "I would imagine that you would likely be placed in command over the local police force for the city while Sai takes the new village we are building on the island while Kakashi looks over the entire nation."
"She is very hot when she is being dominate." Thought Inner Sakura
"True." Thought Sakura
"Same goes for the medical core, Sakura here is the most skilled doctor and medical ninja in the world taught by Lady Tsunade herself." Stated Ino as the doctor blinked. "I see you have heard of Lady Tsunade's skills so now you understand why she is in charge?"
"Yes, Lady Ino." Confirmed the doctor
"However since we are building two hospitals and there are two highly trained medical doctors I don't believe you will be heading the hospital. Will he, Sakura?" inquired Ino as Sakura was brought into the conversation.
"The current plan is to have myself run the hospital on the island and Shizune on the main land." Confirmed Sakura as she studied the old man, he had to be in his mid-sixties or even early seventies. "However we were planning to ask him to be head teaching new doctors. With his age and wisdom he could train new generations of healers."
The old doctor's eyes widened a bit at the idea of being an idea of being a teaching doctor, easier hours and even more pay. Their smiles told the answer but Ino asked none the less.
"Are we good?" inquired Ino as they nodded her head.
"Yes, Lady Daimyo." confirmed the Chief as they along with the aids walked out.
"You enjoyed that didn't you?" laughed Sakura as Ino sat back down.
"Every minute of it." confirmed Ino with a laugh of her own as they went back to their lunch.
To the South of the Land of Fire in the Land of Wind Temari walked through a side street with about twenty people behind her. Most people paid them no mind a few looked at them for a moment before simply moving on with their day.
"This is crazy." reported a young woman as she walked beside the former Sand ninja "They will report us."
"And why would they do that? We are just a small group of travelers heading toward railroad station." Reported Temari "It is a forgettable event."
"But our eyes, they can see our silted eyes marking us a demons." rebutted the woman
"And how often do people look directly into the eyes of another person?" inquired Temari as they neared the border checkpoint where the drunk Sand Ninjas border guards slept. "We will be forgotten about within an hour or two."
"I hope your right." confirmed the still unsure woman as they neared the guards, time seamed to slow down as they walked closer and closer to the guards. Then with one quick movement they walked right past the sleeping border guards and entered the land of Savannah.
"Told you." gloated Temari with a smirk as they turned the corner as the guards disappeared from view and the trains which would take them to the Land of Granite appeared. The trains where already full of people as steam shot out of the pistons. Temari watched as the last refugee got on one of the trains as she waited looking back over the boarder at her homeland.
"We are all onboard." Reported Kurotsuchi as Temari nodded her head before stepping on the train just as it started pulling away heading south toward the Land of Granite.
Well I hope you liked this chapter, I have gotten some PM saying that nothing is happening in the story and I admit from the outside it may seam like that. However I am setting the stage for events that will happen in later chapters. Now until next time I ask that you keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75.