Chapter 75 Hammer and Anvil

Unaware of the battle which had taken place between the smaller force led by their Hokage the main force of the leaf landing force under the command of Shikaku Nara was heading straight for Black Snake Pass. Their goal was rather simple, they would take the wall from behind and then all they would have to do is hold the wall until reinforcements arrived from the North. Once that was done, they could march sweep down the length of the land of Granite.

"Still no contact?" inquired Shikaku Nara as he and multiple other leaders gathered near the center of the column of nearly 10,000 ninjas most of whom were from the Leaf. During the last war, they had only been able to field four divisions by the time the war ended. Since the other smaller nations had joined in they could field more ninjas if not better trained ones. The fall of the Mist into civil war and the heavy losses to the demons had lowered the numbers they could field but along with this force, they still had three more divisions' total.

"Not since we lost communication with them yesterday." reported the radio operator

"Could be that we are out of radio range?" offered another jonin

"Maybe, but I have a bad feeling it," stated Shikaku as he looked toward the mountains which had been loaming in the distance since they landed but now they were entering them for real. He had seen the maps and studied them on paper but seeing them up close and personal made the reason why the ninja forces could never get around it even more clear. The average height of the mountains was over 23,000 ft. with peaks as high as 28,000 ft. made the range a perfect barrier for this land.

Almost a quarter of a mile in front of Shikaku the vanguard of the Leaf force was moving toward the opening to the pass, the mountains where towering in front of the ninjas. There shadows of the black stone mountains fell over them all causing chills to run up their spins.

"This is an unnatural land," explained a chunin as they moved down the path toward the mouth of the black snake pass. Right now they still had semi open ground around them but soon that would disappear as they entered the pass which was less than a quarter of a mile wide.

"It is unholy spot." Added another "This is demon land."

"Yes it is." said a voice as the ninjas turned to see two figures standing on either side of the railroad tracks that the army had been following. One was dressed in black with a black cloak with red inlays, two swords hung on either hip. Beside him stood a slightly shorter man with a black cloak with orange flames dancing around the bottom. The hilt of a long sword was sticking out over one of his shoulders.

"Demons." cursed one of the ninjas as all of them reached for their weapons.

"So what do we have, four chunins and likely another team of chunin with ANBU backup behind them." explained the black haired man, "Almost not worth the trouble."

"True but its Shikamaru's plan and he has not let us down yet." explained the blonde hair man.

"Surrender or die!" yelled a chunin as the black haired man's hand moved faster than anyone could see. Before the chunin could even make a move a kunai impacted his skull. The other Chunin looked at their now dead friend stunned for a moment, and then they saw the paper bomb attached to the kunai. The explosion ripped into the others sending them flying.

"Did you have to use a paper bomb?" inquired Naruto

"He should know not to interrupt adults while they are talking," countered Sasuke with a shrug "Besides I thought it was part of the plan to get them to come to us, I mean the two of us did run all the way here just to talk to them."

"And I thought I was supposed to be the one who rushes into things." countered Naruto as those chunin who had made it through the paper bomb reached for their radios and the other two squads rushed forward to help the scouts.

"I just want to get this over with Tamaki-chan's birthday is coming up and I don't want to miss what Karin-chan and I have planned for her that day." explained Sasuke as Naruto shook his head. He may not want to admit it but he would do the same if he was Sasuke's place and it was one of his three wives birthday coming.

"Shit that is Naruto Namikaze and Sasuke Uchiha!" exclaimed one of the ninjas as more ninjas began to form a semi-circle around the two of them. "We need more forces up here! NOW!"

"So deadliest should we give the order?" inquired Sasuke to his Kage as both of them heard the sound of running feet. Naruto looked around to see multiple ANBU teams, Jonin squads, of course Chunin and Genin. None of them had made their moves yet, the look of fear was in the eyes of most of them, all of them knew what the two of them were capable of and none wanted to be the first to die.

"Alright." stated Naruto as Sasuke tapped his radio multiple times, as both of them pulled their swords.

"Want to have a completion to see who can kill the most?" inquired Sasuke

"That is your stick not mine," explained Naruto as he swung is white Aldhard sword around while Sasuke spun his two black blade swords. "Remember we need to keep the rails cleared."

"I know." confirmed Sasuke

"Here they come!" yelled a Chunin only to have his arm cut off by one of Sasuke's swords, the Chunin screamed as Sasuke moved on to his next target.

"How did he get there so…" started an ANBU only to have his legs cut out from under him by Naruto's legs which forced him off balance. Then with a single move Naruto brought his own larger long sword down on the ANBU's neck cutting the spinal column ending his life in an instant. The ninjas began to use everything they had against the two ninja but it was clear that they were outmatched in every way.

Away from the battlefield Shikaku and the rest of the command could see the explosions going off in front of them. The sounds of the battle caused those ninjas nearest to it to run toward it while those in the back waited for orders to see what orders would come down.

"Who are we facing?" inquired Shikaku

"Has to be units from their defenses at Black Snake pass." Explained the ANBU captain as the radio came alive.

"Sir, we need reinforcements we are fighting Naruto Namikaze and Sasuke Uch…" said a voice on the radio only to be replaced by screams for a second before static.

"Naruto and Sasuke but I thought they were suppose to be back in their main village?" inquired another aid "We had reports that Naruto's wedding was taking place, that is why we attacked now."

"Well clearly Naruto is here now and that makes me very worried about what is behind us." explained Shikaku as he turned away from the sound of battle toward the rear of the army. His mind was racing as he processed the information.

"Sir we have a battle going on right now in front of us." yelled the ANBU captain only to have Shikaku grab another aid.

"Activate your byakugan and tell me what do you see over there." ordered Shikaku as the Hyuga clan member turned her gaze toward the rear of the army. She squinted as she focused her bloodline ability to it's limit finally just as she reached her limit she saw shadowy fuzzy figurers moving behind the army. Most of them seemed to be on horseback and others where running alongside the horses.

"Sir, we have an enemy army behind us." Reported the aid

"How did they get past Lady Hanabi's forces?" inquired the ANBU captain

"That doesn't matter right now, what matters is that right now we need to kill Naruto and Sasuke and enter the valley." explained Shikaku as the ANBU captain blinked. "Naruto and Sasuke are trying to keep us in place and away from the more defensives position in the mouth of the valley. If we are caught in the open we will be crushed as they attack us in the rear while we are dealing with Naruto and Sasuke."

Ahead of them, a battle raged as Naruto and Sasuke fought side by side against the entire front rank of the Leaf division. Fires burned out of control and multiple dead bodies lied on the ground as the two of them fought, it had become clear to the Leaf commander in charge of the vanguard that while the two legendary ninjas where still fighting and killing their forward progress had stopped.

"We got them," said the commander with a smile, yes the Leaf would lose a lot of good ninjas this day but it would cost those demons two of their strongest members one of whom was their Kage. Suddenly there was a strange screeching sound. The commander turned his gaze toward the sound only to see a train heading out of the pass, the train was going as fast as any train he had ever seen. "What the?"

"Here it comes." Said Naruto as ran through hand signs before closing one of his eyes, for a moment nothing happened and then blood began to pour down from the eye. When he opened it again whatever he was looking at caught on fire with the black flames which couldn't be put out. To the amazement of the leaf ninjas Sasuke turned his gaze toward the oncoming train. Instantly the train turned into a giant fireball of black flames, which was shooting down the tracks straight into the heart of the Leaf forces.

The metal of the train had to stand up to the fires of hell and the only metal which could do that was pure Aldhard and the train wasn't made out of that. It was only a matter of time until the metal gave out. The train passed by Naruto and Sasuke close enough for both of them to feel the heat of the fire but far enough for the flames not to touch them. Some of the Leaf Ninjas where not as lucky as the black flames licked their clothing covering them with fire that would never go out. Instantly screams and the smell of burning flesh filled the air, the other effect of the flames was to cast the whole area into a black light, which bounced off the black stones.

The train left Naruto and Sasuke behind as it penetrated the heart of the Leaf forces. Naruto and Sasuke stood up from their crouching positions on either side of the tracks and looked at the area around them.The leaf ninjas who had had been touched by the flames had instantly either tried to get their clothing off or had rushed toward their nearest comrade for help. Only a handful had managed to remove their burning cloths saving their lives for a moment at least, those who had rushed for aid from their teammates had actually killed most of their teammates as the flames spread.

"Shouldn't be much longer." said Sasuke as they looked at the black fireball which was ahead of them, the flames had moved down the cars and both of them knew what was in the middle car. Before Naruto could say anything the paper bombs and other explosives charges in the middle car went off, this sent the train flying sky high, which caused the flaming black pieces fall on the main body of the Leaf forces. "There it is."

"I hate this," confirmed Naruto as he looked around at the burning bodies, the ones around them had finally stopped moving but the flames would burn until he or Sasuke did the simple gentle rain justu which could put out the fire. The Leaf ninjas in front of them had no idea that a basic genin justu, which was normally used to water plants could put out the deadly black flames, those who were trying to put the fires out where using advanced water jutus, which only caused the flames to spread. "But this is war."

"It is." confirmed Sasuke as the radio came alive.

"Naruto, Sasuke we are in position." said Shikamaru's voice over the radio "We will be the hammer and you will be the anvil, which will destroy this army."

"Understood." said Naruto as both he and Sasuke removed one of their gloves before biting their thumbs.

Ahead of them Shikaku was looking at the scene around him, the flaming train was something he had not even considered as a possibly and the black fireballs falling from the sky meant that it that his command and control was in total panic.

"Everyone make sure that no one touches the flames and if need be kill anyone who is on fire." ordered Shikaku as the ANBU commander looked at him for a moment. "A quick death is better than burning alive."

"I understand sir," confirmed the ANBU commander.

"Our one saving grace is that our flanks are still intact and with those flames they can't send those forces behind us in without putting their own men at risk of touching those flames," explained Shikaku as two massive clouds of smoke and dust began to rise from in front of him. For a moment it was if their was not a sound in the world, the screams of dying ninjas and the cracking sound of the flames stopped. Then twin massive roars filled the air as out of each of the smoke came nine long tails each. Then the smoke cleared away to show two giant demon foxes one orange with black fur which ran from around his eyes to its ears. The other looked as if it was a twin only it had deep black fur instead of orange with silver fur instead of black, which ran from around its eyes to its ears.

"Shit." cursed the ANBU as worse curse words crossed over multiple other lips.

"I get it now," said Shikaku as his mind raced to study the situation; he had thought that Naruto and Sasuke were the Anvil in the classic hammer and anvil strangely, but it was actual the other way around.

The army behind them would stop anyone from escaping while the two nine tailed demons and the black flames caused his forces to run into the waiting enemy army. He was running through all the different moves and he could not think of anything, his flanks where still strong but his center was gone and that meant the demons could focus on one flank each.

They had planned for dealing with the demons summons but that involved specially trained ninjas who had all been located in the center of his army so that they could respond to any summons. They were there but most had likely been killed by the flaming train, he had only one option the only question was which flank of his army would have to be scarified.

"Order the right flank to attack the demons, the left is to reform and strike at the army behind us." stated Shikaku "There orders are to bust through them and head straight toward the beach, the others will cover their retreat."

"Sir, they will die." Said the ANBU commander

"I know but it is either that or we all die." Countered Shikaku as the orders were sent out.

High over the battlefield Naruto and Sasuke stood on top of the demon foxes brothers Kyuubi and Katsu. Up here the wind was whipping as the heat from the black fires caused the wind to pick up even more.

"Why don't we do this more often?" inquired Sasuke as suddenly a pain ran up this arm. He looked to see that his skin was burning, quickly he ran through hand signs seconds after he finished a light mist fell over his arm. Just as his hand stopped burning the flames on Katsu's right leg went out.

"That is why, whatever happens to our demons happen to us." explained Naruto as he turned his gaze toward the field below. The right flank was moving forward to attack the two of them while the left was pulling back toward Shikamaru's forces. "Looks like they are doing what Shikamaru thought they would do."

"Well they are under his father's command and he knows how the man thinks." explained Sasuke as Katsu moved to take on the retreating forces while the Kyuubi moved on to take attacking force.

"Lets put an end to this." Said Naruto as the Kyuubi began to gather chakra around all nine tips of it's tails. The ninjas below where rushing toward him not realizing that their fellow ninjas where running the opposite way. Naruto closed his eyes, he did not want to see this happen but it had to happen. Above him, all the balls of Chakra came together before the Kyuubi swallowed the chakra ball. The chakra gathered between the Kyuubi's teeth before he opened his mouth. When that happened a deadly beam of chakra shot out and vaporized everything it touched. In this case, it was the bulk of the attacking ninjas.

Naruto turned his gaze away from the scared landscape littered with dead bodies toward where Sasuke and Katsu was attacking the other flank of the leaf forces. Naruto watched as Sasuke placed his hand onto the top of Katsu's head before closing his eye for the second time. Katsu did the same as blood began to flow from both of their eyes. Naruto knew what was coming but it did not make it easier to watch. Within seconds the entire retreating force of the Leaf ninjas where now engulfed in black flames. A chill went down Naruto's spin as Sasuke stood chuckling to himself in front of the burning remains of the Leaf forces.

"Don't feel guilty Naruto, they invaded our land." Confirmed the Kyuubi

"That is the thing, I don't feel guilty and that is what really worries me." explained Naruto as he looked at the scared landscape below him, then back at his watch. "A whole division, 10,000 people all killed in under 10 minutes, if this doesn't stop a war I don't think anything we do on the defensive will end the war. We may actually have to go on the offensive."

Sorry for the delay, life got in the way and then I had to deal with a flu bug, which has been traveling around my area. Still I hope you like all the developments that happened in this chapter. Now until next time please keep reading Thanks Wilkins75.