Chapter 59 Unmasking
The train ride was nearing its end as Naruto looked out the window at massive grass fields, which made up the bulk of the land of Savannah. From the window, he had seen animals he had only seen either in photos or in a zoo. Animals such as lions, zebras and even some elephants he had seen them all from the window of the car. Even as he looked at the wild animals which called this nation home his mind was of the upcoming meeting in Celen, and he knew he was getting closer to the city as he started seeing more people out of the window. The Land of Savannah was the single largest nation on Earth but it had the second least population behind the Land of Wind, which apart from the coast was mostly desert. The nation's population was focused mostly along the coast and a single river, which marked the border between the nation and the land of Wind.
"Now the whole meeting takes place over a course of ten days," reported Temari as they went over the rules for the fifth and final time. "Now during those days there would be normally only two meetings a day and most meetings only last an hour to two hours each."
"That is it?" inquired Naruto
"This is more of a large vacation then anything else to most Daimyos," explained Temari as the former ambassador between her home village and the Village hidden in the Leaves she knew the protocols that would be followed. "Now the first event is tonight with a formal introduction and ball, than tomorrow morning will be the meeting between us and the great Daimyos."
"And why would they want to have a one on one meeting with me?" inquired Ino
"Simple you're a new Daimyo, they do that for all new Daimyos sort of a welcome to the club and it is kind of a show of how powerful they think they are." reported Temari
"Can we go over the Daimyo's again?" inquired Naruto
"Alright." said Temari as she put down a piece of paper with a photograph of an older man with a long face with a gray beard flecked with white and small narrow eyes.
"Gorou, right?" asked Ino "Land of Earth Daimyo has had trouble with the Land of Water and is highly impatient, no children next in line is a younger brother."
"Correct." said Temari as she placed down the next photo of a dark skinned man with a pair of thin glasses over his eyes. "Yosuke the Daimyo of the Land of Lightening and he is reportedly in pour heath and his son is likely to take over in a few years."
"And what about his son?" asked Naruto "Is he the drunk or the gambler?"
"Drunk." confirmed Temari "It is the new fire Daimyo the young Hayate. He is the gambler and womanize and we have some reports that he has three different women pregnant."
"Well Naruto did the same thing," laughed Ino
"True but you all knew about each other while none of them knew about each other." Explained Temari "Well he was the man the Hyuuga clan was going marry Hanabi to but it didn't work out for her."
"Lucky her." stated Ino
"Now we only have two more to go over, first the Water Daimyo Hiromu he is cautious and the only Daimyo who doesn't drink." explained Temari "That can't be said about Taira the Wind Daimyo, he loves his food and most of all having drinks with his food."
"And these are the most powerful men in the world?" inquired Ino
"In truth most of them don't really know anything about the nations they rule; only that they are rich and powerful." explained Temari "And most of them put almost total trust in aids most of whom are family of some kind or another."
"So these aids are the true power?" inquired Naruto
"No, they just follow the orders and try to do the best either for themselves or their nation," explained Temari as she looked out the window they had entered the finial part of their journey, the grassland had disappeared a while ago replaced on one side by the sea. However now she could not even see the ocean instead there was a busy city. Judging from the quick buildup of the building from one or two level houses to the high-rise building which she currently saw meant they would soon be in major resort town of Celen.
"Now as for guards each member brings a small protective detail but I would be amazed if they try anything. It would fly in the face of hundreds of years of tradition," reported Temari "They wouldn't dare attack while at the meeting, there have been many of times when wars have come to an end here and if they did attack someone here it would mean that people wouldn't come in the future and wars would go on."
"Still I am worried." admitted Naruto "But worst case we can summon our demons and then it will take an army to stop them."
"True, but let's try not to resort to that shall we." confirmed Ino as the train slowed down as it neared the southern train station where they would be getting off and heading toward the hotel.
Little did they know that less than ten miles away from them the current Hokage of the Hidden Leaf was lying on top of a beach towel with a small glass of iced tea. She had come down yesterday so that she could relax a little bit before the meetings. So she and her husband had the massive beach front mansion that the Fire Daimyo owned. In fact, all the major daimyo's had massive homes that went right up to the private beaches. Since all five major Daimyo owned beaches side by side making a giant one-mile online private beach.
"Ah Lady Hokage how are you doing today?" asked a voice as Hanabi looked up to see the older woman who was her equal in rank.
"Lady Mizukage." greeted Hanabi to Mei Terumi. The Mizukage was dressed in a blue bikini with a sun hat and a pair of dark sunglasses over her eyes.
"Mind if I join you? Maybe we can talk while we relax a bit," inquired Mei Terumi as Hanabi smiled before waving her to an empty spot where she could place her beach. Mei Terumi placed her towel down before lying down in the sun.
"So are you looking forward to these meetings?" inquired Mei Terumi
"Not really, we are just going to sit around and listen to the wind bags we call Daimyos talk about how different ways to line their pockets." stated Hanabi as she rolled over so that she could get some sun on her back. "My husband is looking forward to all the business contentions he can make for the village and the clan but beside that there really isn't much for me to do."
"Same here, there is talk about increasing our trading fleet which would mean building some more warships for us." reported Mei Terumi, since the land of water was made out of multiple island and as such they had the largest navy force out of any ninja nation.
"Well are you start building warships then I know our Daimyo will want us to do something to stay on top of you," stated Hanabi with a small laugh.
"Believe me we aren't planning an invasion of the land of Fire." stated Mei Terumi "That would be suicidal."
"I know, we have a larger population then you but when has the Daimyo done anything that make a lot of sense?" inquired Hanabi as the older woman laugh. "Maybe I convince him to build another railroad line."
"I heard he is afraid of the things," inquired Mei Terumi
"Yes he is." confirmed Hanabi thanking God that she did not have to call that man her husband. "He is why it took us so long to get a rail line in the Leaf village."
"Well maybe we should talk about something else?" offered up Hanabi as she got tired of this line of talk. "So what sort of food do you think they were serve at this dinner?"
"Likely the richest things you have likely ever seen." stated Mei Terumi "Last time we had one of these before the war they served a caviar which cost almost the same amount as a Chunin makes in a year."
"Wow…" said Hanabi "Seems like a waste but then again these people don't seem to understand that."
"No they don't." confirmed Mei Terumi "Well your see how far they go tonight, the Water Daimyo is hosting the opening ceremony in his home private ball room and it is by far the most outlandish thing I have ever seen."
Less than an hour later and few miles away at one of the higher end hotels Naruto and Ino checked into the top floor penthouse. Even though they were from a none big five nation they still Daimyos and protocol required that they stayed somewhere close to their station in class.
"Well I am not a huge fan of all the glass and metal," noted Ino as she looked at the more modern style penthouse. "But it is only for a few days."
"We have about three hours before the formal introduction dinner," reported Naruto as he sat down on the couch
"Just long enough to get totally ready." stated Ino
"Remember it is a masquerade ball." confirmed Naruto as he put his feet up on the glass coffee table top.
"Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze get your feet off that!" yelled Ino as she made her way upstairs to where the master bedroom and bathroom was. Naruto decided instead to take a quick nap on the couch while he waited for Ino to finish getting ready. About half an hour, later Naruto opened his eyes, as he heard Ino coming out of the bathroom.
"Shower is all yours Naruto-kun!" yelled Ino from above as Naruto moved up the stairs toward the master bedroom. Ino was in there sitting down in front of a mirror and working her long hair with a brush.
It did not take Naruto nearly as long in the bathroom as Ino but once he came out of the bathroom he found his outfit sitting out for him. Instead of the normal Kage robes or even a simple suit, the dress code for this ball was something different. It had a high collar with tuffs of fabric around the neck and a black coat with two long tails. He got dressed and checked himself out in the mirror before picking up the final part of the outfit, a long white mask, which covered up around half his face and had two long hock shaped coming off the mask, which covered his cheek birthmarks. Even the eyes where covered with a thin mess which hid his silted eyes which would mark him as a demon while still allowing him to see perfectly fine.
"Naruto we have to get going!" yelled Ino from downstairs as Naruto did one last check in the mirror before heading out of the bedroom. As he descended down the stairs he got to see Ino's dress, he stopped instantly as he gazed at her. She was wearing a silver white dressed which went all the way to her high heel shoes. The dress had a large open back and was tight all the way down to just below her hips before opening up slightly. The bottom of the dress had a slit, which granted her legs better movement. Her hands where covered with silver lace gloves which went about half way up her arms and she had the necklace he had given her on as well as a pair of earrings.
"You look beautiful," said Naruto as Ino smiled as the two of them met up in the living room.
"Thanks Naruto-kun." said Ino kissing him softly on the lips "But truth is I can't wait to have this off me."
"But don't you love dresses like this?" inquired Naruto
"Use the thing between your ears for a second and think about it, what happens tonight when I have you take this off me." explained Ino as she ran her hands across Naruto cheek. She smiled as she put on her own silver and white mask "Come on let's get going we shouldn't be late."
It had just turned dark as the party began in the massive private estate of the Water Daimyo, there was just over 140 guests in the grand ball room. They ranged from the daimyo of the smallest nation to the largest and business leaders both large and small. While most where old man who would spend most of the time either smoking or eating, likely both. The center of the giant hall was empty to make a dance floor while multiple tables where set out for people to sit down and enjoy either some of the fine food or drink. There was a live string band with violins and cellos for those young enough to dance could. Ino was planning to take advantage of that band in the future for a couple of dances but now the white wine was calling her name.
"Well this is got to be the most over the top thing I have ever seen." stated Ino as she looked out at the white marble walls. It was not the marble, which was old but the fact that it was lined with Gold and silver. The metals where shaped into a floral patterns so that there was golden and silver roses on the wall. Giant mirrors lined one wall while the other had huge double doors which opened up into a private garden which lead toward the beach. Above their heads where giant crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling which was painted with the image of a massive garden with wild animals who had part of their bodies made out of rare stones. There was a floral peacock, which had to be made totally out of jewels including rubies and diamonds. Besides that, there were silver plated statues, which sat between the mirrors, which showed the great Water Daimyo's of the past. Opposite of them where golden statue of angels of some kind each one of them held a silver torch with golden flames. (I modeled it after the Hall of Mirror in the Palace of Versailles)
"Even the silver wear is plated in gold." noted Naruto as he looked at his fork, the fork like all the other silver wear was gold plated. The plate was also gold and the crystal goblet had a golden rim the cost of the dishware was likely more then the yearly income of multiple families. "Who needs all this gold?"
"I like Gold as much as the next person but this is over the top." agreed the other couple at their table Lord Drake Eastman who had the golden phoenix of his house on his chest and golden phoenix heads on top his shoulder with wings shooting down across the front and back of his shoulders. Even his masquerade mask was a golden phoenix. He had a sword belt on but due to tradition he didn't have a sword or any other weapon on it.
"That is saying something," laughed his wife and Queen Lady Avo, who was dressed in a flowing white dress with a white raven feathers forming a deep V neckline, she even had a short cape of the same white feathers. Then there her mask which was in the shape of the same white Raven with its wings shooting out to the side of her face ending by the ears.
"I don't understand the whole point of this masquerade," stated Naruto as he looked toward the far side of the room where the great Daimyo's where standing around talking. Like everyone else they had the masquerade masks over their faces however they had the giant hat with frills which marked them as being Daimyos. Since everyone knew who they were most of the people where gathered around them. "It isn't like we don't know who everyone is."
"They don't know who we are." countered Ino as she took a bite of her food before taking a deep drink of white wine. Everyone knew that the Masquerade would go on until 9 and then there was going to a great unmasking and then the party would go on for another 90 minutes or so ending just before 11. Then the cat will be out of the bag.
"We missed you at our wedding," said Queen Avo
"I am sorry about that but…" started Ino only to get waved off by Lady Avo
"No I totally understand your reasons beside your mother being in town there was the whole fact you had just had a child." said Avo with a smile "When I gave birth to our son I didn't want to move for a week."
"Our little Prince is already walking," said the proud father
"Well our little Daimyo aren't yet but she isn't that old age wise yet." explained Ino "Remember we age slower then you."
"I know I am envious in twenty years you will only age ten years." Laughed Lady Avo before thinking about it some more "But then again having to be pregnant for 18 months and having double the time for terrible twos may not be worth it."
"So any plans to have another kid any time soon?" inquired Lady Avo after they shared a laugh.
"Well right now we have three kids at home but we all want more, once they get slightly older," explained Ino as she looked around the room "And after we finish dealing with the likely war."
"Yes, the likelihood of war is high, I have sent out orders to all the smaller lords to call up the men they trained and prepare to move out if needed." stated Lord Eastman "However the first likely target will be your nation."
"And we have plans for dealing with that." confirmed Naruto as the music started playing. "But first Lord Eastman I think it is only right that we take our beautiful women to the dance floor."
"Well Naruto-kun I didn't think you would ask." said Ino while Naruto stood up, he took her hand and helped her up before moving toward the dance floor.
The four standing up and heading for the dance floor did not cause anyone to turn their way, meanwhile only a few yards away from them Hanabi Hyuuga stood in a flowing black dress with a single strap over her shoulder held by a silver broach in the shape of the Leaf symbol. Overall she was bored out of her mind, the food was good and the whole room was over the top but all she was doing was talking business.
"Lady Hokage are you enjoying yourself?" inquired the Fire Daimyo
"Yes." lied Hanabi as she looked at her husband who was talking up some businessperson from the land of Tea about import taxes before looking toward the dance floor. She looked out at the floor full of dancing people wishing she could be out there.
Yes, her husband knew how to dance but getting him to do it was almost as hard as getting Lee and Guy from stop working out, they had only danced three times on at their wedding. As she watched the people dance her eyes fell on a couple about her age both of them with blond hair. The woman had long hair which reached down to her lower back while the man had shorter hair, for a moment she thought it could be Ino Yamamaka and Naruto Namikaze but she threw that idea aside. Those two along with the other demons including her sister were likely rotting in some back wood.
Ino lowered her head onto the Naruto's shoulder as they danced to the music, for a moment she was in paradise. She was dancing with the man she loves with his hands wrapped around her, the only thing missing was her other two loves Sakura and Hinata. She closed her eyes for a moment as she breathed in Naruto's scent. Suddenly he dipped her causing her to laugh a bit before he pulled her back up.
"Next time give me a little bit of a warning," laughed Ino as they kept dancing.
"Oh…what fun would that be?" inquired Naruto as he did it again causing another laugh.
Sadly, the music did not last forever and the song ended but before they another song could start a small man walked toward the two of them.
"Excuses me are you the Lady Daimyo of the Land of Granite?" inquired the short man as Naruto and Ino blinked at him confused at the interruption. The man was a good six inches shorter then Ino making him a hair over five feet and had a potbelly which made him look wider then he was tall. He was dressed in deep purple and lime green cloths, which made him, look even worst then what he already did.
"I am and who are you?" inquired Ino
"Lady Daimyo I am the Son of the Great Earth Daimyo and it would be my honor to have a dance with you." Inquired the man, he reached for her hand to pull her away from Naruto and take her as his own. His eyes widened as Ino slapped his arm away from her as if he was a child trying to take a cookie from a gar.
"What was that for?" inquired the man in a voice too load, more than a few people turned and looked. "I am the Son of the Earth Daimyo and according to my father I am supposed to woe you and win your heart."
Both Ino and Naruto blinked at the man who had just walked up to the two of them.
"You will find that I am both of noble blood having come from a long line of Daimyos from the land of Earth on my father side. On my mother side I come from the blood line of the noble Water Daimyo." said the man as if he was if the simple fact that he was born as if he was on the same level as winning a heroic battle in a war. In the corner all the other Daimyo and their sons where watching the exchange. "We will make a perfect couple and we will make beautiful children together, you will raise them while I manage the affairs of state."
Naruto had held back but it was too much, he wanted to rip this so-called man apart and feed his body to wolves but before he could say anything something no one expected happened.
Ino actually laughed in his face, which caused more than a few eyes to widen as the other daimyos, their heirs and even the Kages moved forward to watch the scene. Ino had just insulted the bloodline of the Earth and Water Daimyo by laughing in the face of one of their family members and to make it worst it was in public.
"Lady Daimyo if my son is not to your liking then maybe another of our sons." Offered the Earth Daimyo "We have been talking about this among ourselves and you need help ruling your nation, the burden of leadership can be very hard on anyone most of a women."
"You have got to be kidding me." laughed Ino as she looked at the actually Daimyos "Tell me what you all know about leadership? How much Gold do you have stored up in your vaults, how much grain how many of your people are unemployed? What are the states of your roads and everything else in your nation?"
The daimyo's blinked as if they did not understand what those had to do with anything.
"You don't know that do you?" inquired Ino as she shook her head, the music had died totally and the whole room was watching the extended between the Daimyo "I know the state of my nation and the improvements in it are remarkable."
"There is always room for improvement and you need help with procal." Said the young Fire Daimyo "You do not wear the proper head attire for a Daimyo you have no sense of tradition."
Ino looked up at the very unwieldy looking hat that all the Daimyo were wearing, the main Daimyo's had very large hats which were held on with straps so that they didn't fall off while the smaller Daimyo's had smaller versions.
"The hats mean nothing, it is the purpose of a Daimyo to help their people. Look around this room how much gold and silver do you think is in here? Likely enough to support a lot of families who are going without food tonight." Answered Ino as she brushed the whole idea aside knowing they would not get it. They saw the lower classes of only steppingstones to improving their own lives nothing more. "Tell me while you all were trying to figure out which one of your so boys would attempt to win me did any of you bother to find out if I was married in the first place?
The Daimyo simply blinked and looked at each other as Ino shock her head, before placing her hand on Naruto's chest.
"This is head of our village defense force, my fiancée, father of my daughter and God willing more children later." reported Ino as the other Daimyo turned their gaze toward Naruto. "Next time do your homework please."
Naruto did not know if he wanted to kiss Ino or curse her for how she was acting in front of all these men who believed falsely that they are only a step below God himself when it came to power. The look on their masked faces where priceless at how this woman Daimyo from what they saw as a backwater nation had done to them publicly. On the other side he knew that if there was any hope of avoiding war they needed these people and themselves to come to terms and that would be even less likely if they felt insulted.
"I vote that yell at her and then we kiss her." added Kyuubi as he spoke up for the first time in hours. "Angry sex is always fun."
Before Naruto could say anything to Kyuubi, Ino spoke up again as she pushed her attack.
"Tell me did you even bother to find out my name?" inquired Ino
"Ino Yamanaka." answered a voice as Naruto's head snapped toward the source only to see Hanabi Hyuuga standing there. "I thought it was you before but I brushed it off thinking it impossible but who else in their right mind would do something like this to the Daimyos of the great powers. Then again having a demon inside you and Naruto behind you tends to make people bold."
For the longest time no one said anything then slowly Ino laughed as she reached up and pulled off her mask. For a moment she just stood there with her eyes closed before finally opening those deep sky blue eyes up and looking back at her fellow Daimyo with silted demon eyes.
"Very good Hanabi." said Ino with a smile as she looked at Hanabi.
"How did you become a Daimyo?" inquired Hanabi "If I remember correctly the old Daimyo was bought off by you."
"Yes, and before you ask we used the Gold which was stored away by the demons before they sealed themselves away." Explained Ino
"So the demons show themselves, arrest them and prepare them for death." Stated the short fat man who had tried to dance with Ino.
"We can't do that." grumbled Omni as the oldest Kage spoke up "While here they are the leaders of another nation and cannot be harmed and like it or not she is the Daimyo of another nation, so she and her party is protected."
"She isn't even human," stated the young Fire Daimyo
"True but it would set a bad standard so lets discuss this in a more private setting." Stated the water daimyo as he and the other daimyos turned to leave. As he left he nodded toward the band which started playing music again.
"Well that was interesting." stated Naruto as he took his own mask off.
"Yes, it was." added a voice Naruto knew all too well as the current Kazakage and a close friend of Naruto moved forward toward him.
"Gaara long time no see." greeted Naruto with a slight smile.
"I wish it was longer." Added Gaara "I would say of all the people in this room I am likely the only friend you have from another nation."
"That is where you would be wrong sir." said Lady Ava as she walked up and stood beside Ino followed by her husband. "The Knights of Land of Animals stand with our friends and Allies from the land of Granite."
"And so does the Land of Meteors." added their leaders as the old warrior sailor who led the Green sea Dragons moved forward with a plate of food in his hands. "I just wish I had a better view of that smack down Lady Ino did to those Daimyo, but this is just too good of food to pass down."
"So you are not alone, good." said Gaara "However three nations against the rest of the world isn't good odds, I will do everything I can to try to stop a war but I would have better luck trying to stop a sand storm without using any chakra."
"I know there is a meeting with the five Kages tomorrow, do you think I could come since I am a Kage of my village now?" asked Naruto already expecting an answer.
"I am not sure, but I will try." Reported Gaara before lowering his head "I will not be able to stop this war and even if I resign in protest which I might the Sand will still go to war against you."
"I understand and if that happens then I pity you all." stated Naruto that caught Gaara off guard as he raised an eyebrow in confusion, which asked the question without saying a word. "We have spent four years preparing our defenses and we have some surprises which will cost anyone attacking us a lot of lives."
Well the masquerade is over and the world now knows where they are at. Now I wish you all who celebrate it a happy Easter. Now until next time please keep reading. Thanks Wilkins75