Chapter 45 Plans in Fire

The sun was high in the sky and the weather was warmer then it had been in months as Naruto sat on horse back overlooking the siege that the Golden Phoenixes where putting on the crossing at Sungai in the land of Animals. It had been almost three months since the signing of the alliance between the knights of the Land of Animals, the sailors of the land of Meteors and the demon ninjas of the land of Granite. They had spent the winter planning their assault on the samurai and now their plan was in full swing.

"So when do you think the Samurai will come?" asked the leader of the Golden Phoenix Drake Eastman as he rode up beside Naruto on his own warhorse. Unlike Naruto who was dressed plainly Drake Eastman was dressed in golden plate armor highlighted with red. The two of them stood on top of a hill overlooking the most important position in the land of animals. Anyone with half a brain and a map could tell the importance of the spot known as Sungai. It was where the major river from the mountains along the western coast and another great river coming from the mountains in the east which marked the border between Granite and Animal. The two massive rivers came together almost in the center of the nation before becoming a single massive river, which lead down to the sea. A giant Y shaped stone bridge had been built to link the three shores together and a three sided castle was built in the center of the bridge so it would control all three roadways.

"They will come sooner rather than later, if they lose this castle then they lose the ability to deploy forces to any of the three parts of this county from a single location." stated Naruto knowing it was key to Shikamaru's plan to bring one of the four samurai divisions to Sungai. The army that the Golden Phoenixes had assembled had the entire castle surrounded using boats to cross over rivers since the bridge had been shut off to them. "It has only been six days and the nearest division was a five day march away."

"So any time soon." stated Drake as he looked across the river toward the lands controlled by the samurai and the giant woods which covered the horizon as far as the eye could see. "I understand that you demons have multiple wives."

"Yes." confirmed Naruto with a smile "Well there are three females for every male."

"A good reason I guess," stated Drake "Did you bring any of your women on campaign with you?"

"Sakura-chan is here along with Hinata-chan but Ino-chan is back in the village," confirmed Naruto as he watched more massive stones fly through the air impacting the walls of the castle.

"We could have pierced those walls in moments if you let us use those Aldhard trebuchet rounds, they can break those walls with only a few hits." stated Drake

"That isn't the plan we want to take the castle intact and that is why we have members of the Shadow Swords in there to open the gate when the time comes." reported Naruto

"We could always rebuild it with that Aldhard of yours," offered Drake

"We are currently using all our production to make our defenses and weapons for both of our forces to us but once the walls are done we will start sending it your way to make your own defenses." confirmed Naruto as suddenly his radio came to life with two deep clicks it was the sign that he was waiting for.

"The samurai are here," reported Naruto as he held his breath waiting as he turned toward the woods.

Naruto knew that just over a dozen miles away from him a whole division of samurai their metal armor shinning in the spring sunlight marched through the dense woods on their way to crush the Golden Phoenixes on their side of the river. The soldiers were laughing and joking believing that the enemy was miles away and secure in the fact that they had never been defeated in the war. They were unaware of the danger they were walking in.

Flashback

"So we need the Golden Phoenixes to start a siege at Sungai," reported Shikamaru as he, Temari and Shino lied out their battle plan for everyone to see. They had gathered on the last day before the Knights would head home to prepare for the spring military operation.

"Sungai is a tough castle, it took the samurai almost 18 months of siege to force my forces there to surrender." reported Drake "I lost my own uncle when they took that castle."

"Which is why it will be totally understandable that you would send everything to take it back." reported Temari with a smile.

"And the Samurai will launch a counter attack with their only force in the area here." reported Shino as he placed his hand on the map, his informants had been working overtime gathering every last bit of information he could get "And the only approach will be through the woods here."

"What unit is that?" asked Drake as the Golden Phoenixes commander looked toward the spymaster Shino.

"The 1st division which perfect for us." stated Shino as Drake blinked.

"That is the most experience division of the five and they have never lost a battle," snapped Drake amazed that the ninjas wanted the 1st division. "You want them to march on us?"

"Yes." confirmed Shino "And we will use the cockiness against them. The Samurai only have four division now, you took down two divisions last year. They reformed one from the remains of the two plus new recruits but they is still in training by the capital."

"The moment my men see their banners they will likely break in fear." reported Drake knowing that the 1st was known for not taking any prisoners.

"They will never reach your men intact," reported Naruto

End flashback

Deep in the woods watching as the over 10 thousand samurai march by his command post hidden among the tree leaves was Sasuke Uchiha. None of the samurai had bothered to look up or else they may have noticed that the tree branches where full of ninjas ready for combat. The column of samurai stretched out for miles as they marched through the woods, the road through the woods only allowed the samurai to march ten men a breast.

"Hard to imagine that by the end of the day all of them will be dead." reported Konohamaru Sarutobi to a man whom he would have wanted to kill just over a year ago during the Akatsuki war.

"It happens." reported Sasuke calmly before turning to Karin who currently sat on a branch with her eyes close sensing the samurai march all around her. "How much longer?"

"They are well within the trap but they are not in position yet," reported Karin Uzumaki to her soon to be husband "I estimate that we have 45 minutes."

"Then we wait and hour." ordered Sasuke as Konohamaru turned and looked at him.

"Sir by then some of the samurai will have left the target area." Rebutted Konohamaru as Sasuke rolled his eyes at the younger ninja.

Flashback

"So you want me to lead this force?" asked Sasuke as he walked around his stone garden with Naruto at his side their breaths frosting in the air. The harsh winter was still in evidence with the snow covering the stones and ice the fish pound, however today was strangely warm for winter.

"Yes." confirmed Naruto "I know you would rather have a different assignment but that is where you will be the most good. Do you understand the plan?"

"It is the sort of plan I like." confirmed Sasuke with a Uchiha smile on his face "None will survive this."

"You will let anyone who surrenders live." Ordered Naruto as Sasuke rolled his jet black eyes at Naruto's mercy.

"Very well but I want Karin under my command." Insisted Sasuke as Naruto placed his hand under his chin but before he said anything Sasuke spoke up "Would you want your wives under your protection on missions."

"Well, we aren't married yet," admitted Naruto as he placed his hand on the back of his head like he always did whenever he was nervous. "I didn't know you, Karin and Tamaki where engaged."

"We aren't, I am having the rings fitted right now." explained Sasuke as he looked at Naruto "I am somewhat surprised you haven't asked, considering you normally jump head first into things."

"Well marriage is a big step." explained Naruto as Sasuke looked at him for a moment before titling his head.

"Let me guess you are saving up for the rings yourself?" inquired Sasuke as Naruto laughed.

"Three rings are costly and there is paying for all the things we need in our lives." Laughed Naruto as Sasuke rolled his eyes knowing full well that if he asked for it Ino would give him the money since as the Daimyo she controlled a lot of the gold but Naruto wouldn't do it, he would pay for three stunning rings himself even if it meant having to force all three women to wait.

"Well I don't have that problem; in the records I got from the Leaf I got my mother's engagement ring along with my grandmother's. I only had to decide which one gets which." explained Sasuke

End Flashback

"Watch and Learn." stated Sasuke as he leaned back against the tree trunk and watched as the samurai kept marching by under him.

Hundreds of miles away from the battlefield Ino Yamamaka knelt in fresh turn soil, her gloved hands where covered with the same rich dark soil. Resting on the ground beside her was the tool of her favorite trade including a hand shovel and a watering can. A large hat covered her head and back of her neck from the sun beating down on her from above.

"So as I was saying we are still running in the red." reported the head economic advisor for the land of Granite Samui as she stood over Ino with a report in her hand. "But the latest forecast looks good considering the weather has finally broken and the Land of Bronzes has started to ship their toxic waste down to be destroyed."

"Good." answered Ino even though she was more interested in the placement of the flowers she was planting then the economic forecast. She knew that they were running in the red but they were building public works and infrastructure at the moment and they had to get done. The walls of the villages where going up fast and construction on the bridge had once again going in full force after the winter delay. "Tell me once we finish the walls what is the next project?"

"Black Spear Point defense is next followed by the Black Snake Pass." reported Samui "Each of which will cost a lot but are key to defending our nation."

"Question why is everything named the black something?" inquired Ino "I mean is it just because the rocks in this area is black or is there some other reason?"

"You have to ask Omoi about that, he makes the maps not me." Reported Samui as Ino shock her head and laughed a bit to herself.

"She still will not admit that they are a couple." Laughed Ino to herself knowing that it was an open secret that those two while not "dating" where sleeping together whenever both of them where in town together.

"Ok, how are the fields going?" asked Ino as she turned to her old teammate Choji, they had made it through the winter with some difficulty because of the abnormally long and harshness of it. No one had gone hungry but it had come close and no one wanted that to happen again. In her eyes, Choji just like Shikamaru was more of a brother then a teammate. Choji was the head of the planning for the new farms which at the moment were being planted with fresh seeds.

"Good, we need some more machinery since the field hands are now all building." reported Choji as he took a drink from his glass of ice tea.

"Sakura told me you're dating a nurse now," inquired Ino as she placed being the Daimyo aside for the moment and talked to her friend and brother. Choji shifted a bit but said nothing as Ino smiled "Kind of wish you had told me."

"It is sort of on the fence if we are dating or not." Explained Choji as Ino laughed a bit as Samui rolled her eyes.

"I must admit this is the strangest meeting I have had." admitted Samui it wasn't often that a meeting where the fate of the nation and all the people who lived in would happen in the middle of a half-finished gardens. Aside from Ino, Choji and herself there were members form the different governing areas, including the small villages and from the Aldhard factory and the granite mine. Ten people all stood around watching the Lady Daimyo work on her garden while reporting to her about the situation in their area.

"Believe me this isn't that strange." reported the mayor of the human village with a laugh "The old Lord Daimyo once had me give a report to him while he sat on the toilet. Working on a garden is normal."

"Wow that is sick." reported Ino as she stood up and looked around at the ten people who were all looking at her for leadership, they had taken their turn and had reported everything of importance while she worked on her, Naruto's, Sakura's and Hinata's garden. "Is there anything else?"

"Only some invitation to local events." explained the mayor as he pulled a long list from his pocket "You are very popular and people want to see their lady Daimyo."

While Ino stood their listening to all the different invasions back in the land of animals Sasuke sat with his eyes closed and his arms crossed over his chest as he waited, while it appeared that he was resting but his mind was alert.

"They are in position," reported Karin as Sasuke's jet black eyes snapped open before turning toward Karin and Konohamaru.

"I assume everyone else is far enough back?" asked Sasuke

"Yes, only the three of us are within the strike zone." Reported Karin as Sasuke nodded his head before moving toward a small seal, which rested on the tree bark above his head.

"Run." ordered Sasuke as he ripped the seal as the timer began.

Down below near the middle of the samurai column on top of the white stallion the General in charge of the 1st division was smiling. He had every reason to be pleased, his 10,000 men were marching toward yet another victory and hopeful the end of one of the rebel Knight Factions. Since that fool Drake had placed a 1/3 of his army on their side of the river, his forces would appear out of the woods a then he would smash the army on his side before marching forward to take on one of the two other armies sieging the castle from three shore banks.

"Sir." reported an aid as he rode up on his own horse dressed in the shining armor, which was standard amongst all his men.

"What is it?" asked the General as he closed his eyes and let the few rays of sunlight which evaded the tree coverage fall on his face.

"Sir we had a report of figures moving in the trees jumping from tree branch to tree branch." answered the man as the General turned to look at him. "One of the men saw them when he was relieving himself off the road."

"Was this one of the drunk men we had to calm down last night?" inquired the General as the man struggled to answer but the General spoke up again. "The Knights don't use chakra they use that armor of theirs to protect them. Only ninjas jump from tree to tree like some stupid monkey and there is not a single ninja within thousands of miles."

The general closed his eyes again as he let the singing of the birds calm him down even more then he already was but as he fought the temptation to nod off in the saddle an explosion rocked the ground and his eyes snapped opened. Smoke and fire could be seen coming up from ahead of him just behind the position where the vanguard would be. Already a towering wall of fire shot upward over the tree line licking the sky.

For a moment the general was confused because the blasted screamed to him paper bomb not neither the knights nor his own forces used paper bombs those where the tools of the ninjas. Before he could give any orders, another explosion ripped through the air this time coming from behind them. He spun his horse around to see a column of black smoke and red flames shooting up in the distance about the place where the rear guard would be. Next came a nearing deafening series of explosions as a ring of fire began to encircle his army. His head spun around to see that the bulk of his army was trapped and the fires where coming closer.

"Try water justus." ordered the general as the samurai tried to put out the fire but weak water justus that the samurai knew had no hope of putting out the flames. Suddenly a kunai flew through the fire and smoke hitting a nearby man, he had just enough time to see the red paper tag at the end of the kunai before it went off engulfing the man in flames. Within moments more kunai were flying out of the flames, they did not have to hit anyone to do their job. Any place or anyone which was hit was engulfed in flames.

"Sir what are your orders!" yelled an aid as the general spun his head around trying to find a way out, the fire was too high to jump even if his samurai could jump as high as ninjas. Then a series of secondary explosions of flames happened as the flames reached hidden supplies of fuel in the brush. Within moments the fireball was so hot and everyone was starting to bake in their armor.

"10,000 warriors almost a fourth of our entire strength." stated the general with great sadness in his voice, he did not know how many where left outside the wall of flames which would claim his and his soldiers lives. The bulk of the army would burn inside their armor or die from the kunias that were still flying out of the fire at random. He never said another word as he reached up and undid the straps that held his breastplate on.

"Sir what are you doing!" yelled the aid as the general pulled out a short sword from his belt before driving it deep into his gut. The aid's eyes widened as general pulled the sword across his gut before slumping over dead in the saddle.

Just outside the wall of flames the commander of the rear guard rushed forward to where the fire line cut off his unit from the rest of the army. Already he could make out men being burned alive within their armor.

"Get someone who knows water justus up here now before they are all dead!" yelled the commander only to suddenly have a black kunai go through his gorget neck armor piercing his neck killing him instantly. The nearby horses reared up as three figures landed in front of them dressed in ninja style armor only with harden plates built into the armor. The lead man stepped forward pulling a long black sword from a strap across his back. The sword was slightly curved but not enough to call it a true saber and it was pure black. Beside him the woman pulled out red senben needles beside him the second younger man had an ax with a strange almost sky blue color in the metal. For a moment the samurai blinked at the strange color of the metals, it was clear it was not paint it was as if the metal itself was that color. They did not know that Aldhard was naturally white and with a few simple adjustment it could become any color. It allowed the ninja to personalize their weapon.

"You should be more worried about yourself at the moment." Stated Sasuke as the black Aldhard reflected the flames almost as much as his sharingan eyes. Suddenly all around the 648 surviving samurai ninjas appeared from their hiding spots in the tree, all of which were either armed or already running though hand signs. "Because you are not leaving this place alive."

On the far hillside Naruto sat a horse watching the towering wall of flames in the distance, even from here on the other side of the river he could hear the screams of burning men. It was as hell itself had opened up in the middle of a forest and more than a few people where turning away from the sight, but they could not outrun the screams. Suddenly his radio came alive with Karin's voice.

"8815 enemy trapped and burning, we are engaging the rear guard of 648 now, 537 men in the vanguard outside of the fire for the knights." Reported Karin as Naruto lowered his head a bit. He knew that Karin's sensory ability was arcuate down to the last men.

"Almost nine thousand men burned alive on my orders." Thought Naruto as he lowered his head in shame as the smoke rose higher and higher blocking out the sun and casting him in shadows.

Flashback

"This is a bold plan," reported Sasuke as he studied the battle plan in his own office while Naruto stood looking out the window his hands behind his back. Sasuke's office was nothing like his own, his had photos of his friends and loves one even some photos from his days back in the leaf. Sasuke's office had a dark menacing feel with swords and different weapons hanging on the wall, two crossed swords hung over the door and the only photos was one of Karin and Tamaki on his desk and a small image of team Taka. "I like the idea of burning the enemy while they are marching through this wood."

"Shikamaru's and Temari's idea." admitted Naruto calmly as Sasuke grinned as he leaned over the map of the plan.

"Not a fan?" inquired Sasuke before laughing a bit "What is it Naruto don't like the idea of a trap."

"I have no problem with a trap but burning those men alive…" started Naruto "It just doesn't feel right. It is not honorable. If it was a kunai strike it would be different at least then they would have a chance to fight back but they will never escape that."

"War is cruelty, there is no use trying to reform it." stated Sasuke "In order to end this war in the time we need it to end we have to do this. The samurai there have four divisions of 10,000 men each, most of them are just men they put into uniform and shoved a spear in their hands but this is their top men. You have seen the reports about this division and how many towns they have totally destroyed down to the last child."

"I know, not even Orochimaru did some of the stuff they did." Grumbled Naruto the report Shino had shown him had included photos of multiple pyramids of human skulls almost 10 by 10 by 10 which sat outside of the town and villages that this unite had destroyed. "But that doesn't mean I have to like it."

End Flashback

"Drake." Said Naruto as he turned toward where the leader of the golden Phoenixes "We have 537 samurai outside the fire trap on your side, I assume your Knights can handle them."

Drake simply smiled as he responded to Naruto. He had close to five thousand men on that side of the river and even more on the other two riverbanks.

"They are trapped between the fire and our new steal, it will be fun." reported Drake with a smile "The first phase appears to be a complete success, when night falls those Shadow Sword spies in the castle should open the gates and the castle will be ours."

"Yes, now I must inform the others." explained Naruto as he disappeared in a puff of smoke as the clone spread the information back to the original and the other clones.

Hundreds of miles away another Naruto sat on a different horse as the information gathered by the clone joined with him.

"Phase one is done." reported Naruto as he turned toward Neji who sat on his own horse with a pair of knights from the Black and White Ravens behind him.

"So we are up." reported Neji as he reached into his pack and pulled a flare gun, he lifted it up and with a pull of the trigger the compressed air sent a red flare arching high into the sky for all to see. The samurai looked up confused while the hidden Black and White Raven forces began to move as the second phase of the operation began.

Well I hope you liked this chapter and the action in it. Now until next time I ask that you keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75