Hello all Storm here with a new chapter, a really long chapter! Here we'll be seeing Naruto's organization growing with some new, and familiar, members, some being more reluctant than others, as well as several timeskips showing their growing strength. I won't spoil anything, but this'll definitely show, Naruto is definitely not the hero here. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
After the encounter with Ameyuki and acquiring his Deiton Kekkei Genkai, Naruto and the girls continued on their way to Shangri-la. Which wasn't long, with them arriving at a ledge that's looking over the Valley of Lies after three days of travel. While seeing the mountain range surrounding it, along with the river that ran through the valley, with them being able to small the aroma it was producing.
"Karin. Use your Mind's Eye of Kagura and tell us where Shangri-la is, as well as how many people are within." Naruto said while looking at the redhead, wanting to see how good her sensing abilities were, along with finding out the exact number of people in Shangri-la.
"Okay." Replied Karin before she stepped forward and closed her eyes while opening her mind's eye.
Soon Karin began "seeing" several small blue flames appear around her, which soon spread out and took the shape of her teammates. With her then spreading her senses out as more Chakra Signature soon began appearing not far from where they were at the moment.
"I can see where it is, it's built inside that mountain over there." Karin said while pointing towards where she could sense Shangri-la's inhabitants.
"Good. And how many are within?" Questioned Naruto, with Karin frowning as she began quietly counting all the signatures she could sense.
"There's about…just a little over a hundred people within. Most of them have Chūnin-level Chakra Reserves, while I can sense less than a dozen that have at least Jōnin-level Reserves. And…there's a handful that have Genin or below Chakra Reserves." Said Karin, much to Satsuki and Yakumo's amazement at how powerful her sensory abilities are.
"You can tell all that just from sensing them?" Yakumo asked, having thought sensors could only sense a person's Chakra and where they are, while Karin opened her eyes and nodded.
"Yeah. My Mind's Eye of Kagura lets me sense anyone or anything for several kilometers. And if I focus on a specific signature, I can perceive their exact location and movements in greater detail. I can also sense fluctuations in a person's Chakra to tell if they're lying or under the influence of a Genjutsu, including myself. And unlike other sensors, I don't mold my Chakra, it just happens whenever I need it." Karin explained, much to their amazement, while knowing how useful such an ability would be.
"You can discuss abilities and techniques later; we still have work to do. Yakumo, would you be able to put up a Genjutsu to hide us from everyone in Shangri-la, while making it so they don't notice anything suspicious happening?" Naruto said while turning to the brunette, who nodded in response.
"Yes, I should be able to, especially with the help of the river as a medium." Replied Yakumo, knowing she'd be able to cast a Genjutsu like that on everyone in Shangri-la.
"Good. And make sure everyone doesn't hear anything either." Said Naruto, with the girls looking at him curiously, wondering why he's having them hide under a Genjutsu rather than using transformations like everyone else.
Though Yakumo nodded before she began weaving the Genjutsu around them, making it so they couldn't be seen or heard by anyone. Once that was done, Naruto had them head towards the mountain where Shangri-la was hidden. Having to scale up the side of the mountain to locate the entrance in the side of it.
Heading through the cave, the group soon arrived in a large cavern with numerous structures and buildings carved from the mountain itself. While at the center of the village, they could see a massive tree had been grown to support the mountain's weight.
"These people definitely take security seriously." Satsuki stated after seeing how nothing was built with supplies that could have been tracked back here, while the entrance didn't have any roads leading to it or was accessible to anyone who didn't know where to look for it.
"Given this place is a haven for anyone with bounties on their heads, it'd make sense they'd want to stay hidden where no one could find them. Though it's strange that they don't take better advantage of their situation." Said Karin, given that Shangri-la was a true hidden village, no one knowing where it was located, who anyone really looked like, their abilities, nothing about the village or the people who lived in it.
Even if it was to be found, enemies would still have to be careful since they won't know what anyone is capable of, and that's not counting the Genjutsu that could be used against them. She could see why Danzō would have his ROOT Anbu want to collect people from here to be turned into new drones.
"They choose to keep their heads buried in the sand, which will undoubtedly lead to their eventual destruction. Given Ameyuki's plan to betray them, they wouldn't have been prepared and then wiped out, simply because they didn't think anyone would betray them." Naruto said, knowing that while Shangri-la was a perfect haven for those that wanted to stay hidden, he still saw it as foolish for them to grow complacent and lowering their guard.
"Karin, use your Mind's Eye of Kagura again, except this time focus only on signatures that are Genin and below." Said Naruto, confusing the girls at why he'd want her to do that, with Satsuki looking at him with narrowed eyes.
"You didn't just bring us here to lay low and train. You have another reason for wanting to come to Shangri-la." Said Satsuki, making Karin and Yakumo look at Naruto, who didn't deny the accusation.
"No, I didn't. I didn't bother telling you three as I wasn't sure if I would be right, and while I'm now more positive that it is, I'd still prefer seeing if it's correct rather than share a plan that may or may not amount to anything. Now the location." Naruto said, turning back to Karin, who nodded slowly before closing her eyes and spread out her senses to get a better feel of her surroundings.
"I…sense two of them, near a signature that's Jōnin-level. While I can sense three others grouped close together, though one of them seems off, like it's been weakened. And…I actually sense three smaller signatures with them, definitely below Genin, but one of them seems more refined and near Genin-level, I'm guessing that one must have had prior training." Said Karin as she reopened her eyes, while Naruto smirked before motioning them to head where the six signatures were, with the redhead giving direction.
The group soon arriving at one of the homes that looked more out of the way than the rest, with Naruto then motioning Karin to sense what was happening inside. With the Uzumaki girl doing so, only for her eyes to snap open a moment later.
"Two of the Genin signatures just moved, taking the three smaller ones away, while the third looks like they're preparing to attack. They know we're here." Said Karin, making Satsuki and Yakumo tense that whoever was inside knew they were here, despite the latter's Genjutsu.
"Because they have a Kekkei Genkai that lets them see through things like Genjutsu. Karin, when the person tries attacking, grab them with your chains." Naruto said, with Karin nodding, while the girls didn't even question how he knew the person had a Kekkei Genkai that can see through Genjutsu.
Breaking open the door, not a moment later, someone dropped down from the ceiling and went to deliver a palm strike right to Naruto's heart. Only for them to be stopped and captured when Karin released her Adamantine Attacking Chains, stopping them in their tracks before tossing them into a nearby wall, with the impact also dispelling the transformation they were wearing. With Satsuki and Yakumo being surprised at who they saw, though the latter had a frown at recognizing the person.
"Hinata?" Satsuki said in surprise to see the shy Hyūga here of all places, even more surprising that she seemed ready to kill them when they entered, along with the glare she was giving them all with her Byakugan activated.
"Who sent you and how did you find us?! Are you with that damn warhawk?!" Hinata demanded, not believing it was actually Satsuki, along with not knowing what happened to Danzō.
"If you mean Danzō, then he's been dead for two weeks now." Said Yakumo, which only made the Hyūga get angrier.
"Liar! No one could even get close to that bastard and kill him, thanks to the shields he surrounds himself with! You're probably working with him!" Retorted Hinata, not believing that Danzō was dead when he already killed everyone that'd oppose him, including her father.
"I assure you that he's very much dead, I killed him myself, while draining away all his Chakra until he was nothing but an empty husk, along with destroying his head and body for good measure." Naruto stated, making Hinata turn to him, only for her eyes to widen in shock when she looked at his Chakra.
"N-Naruto-kun?" Said Hinata, being able to recognize Naruto's Chakra from all the times she's seen it before, despite it being darker and altered from the Kekkei Genkai he's absorbed, she still recognized it.
"Ah, you recognize me, I'm guessing from my Chakra. Good, that will hopefully make things go more smoothly. And I'm sure you have plenty of questions, but given that I'm sure your residence here has Security Seals in place, making it so any intruders who enter will alert the ones currently out. Who will likely be here any minute now." Naruto said, much to the surprise of Satsuki, Karin and Yakumo before seeing the look of shock on Hinata's face, making them guess that the former blonde was right as well.
"And I'm sure the ones currently hiding away right now can hear what's happening, then they know it will be in their best interest to come out now, rather than try anything foolish that would only get them a slow and painful death." Added Naruto, knowing the others in the home could hear what's happening.
With it taking a few moments before five people came out from another room, one of them being the same age as the rest of them, while the other looked to be about a year older than them. With one being a girl and the other a boy, while the other three were all girls that looked to be four-five years younger. While Satsuki recognized the older girl as Ino Yamanaka, another former classmate from the Academy. Along with one of the kids as Hinata's younger sister, Hanabi Hyūga, though she didn't recognize the other ones.
The first girl had fair skin, messy brown hair that went just passed her shoulders, and brown eyes. With her wearing blue Ninja sandals, black shorts that stopped just above her knees, a blue tank top, and a blue newsboy hat with a yellow brim as well as black and white circles on either side that resembled eyes.
The second girl has fair skin, orange hair tied up, with red elastics, into two very large pigtails, black eyes with a purple tint, and a perpetual blush on her cheeks. And wearing a red tank-top over a pink t-shirt layered at the bottom, grey pants, and blue Ninja sandals.
As for the only boy, he had shiny black hair in a bowl-cut, round eyes with prominent lower eyelashes, and very thick eyebrows, while wearing a green jumpsuit. With the group seeing both his legs were covered in casts and he was in a wheelchair that Ino was pushing.
They were also accompanied by a small white puppy, one that Naruto and Satsuki recognized as Akamaru, the Ninken partner of Kiba Inuzuka, another former classmate of theirs. Only they didn't sense anyone else in the home, so it was likely that the Inuzuka was dead as well.
"Smart choice." Naruto stated with a smirk before aiming his palm at the door just as it burst open with three people running inside, only for gold chains to shoot out of Naruto's hand and capture them, much to the shock of everyone.
"You have those too?" Karin asked, not expecting him to have Chakra Chains as well.
"Yes, I unlocked them during my captivity while upgrading them to their complete form, a rather useful ability to keep to myself." Replied Naruto, having unlocked his own Adamantine Sealing Chains while he was imprisoned, before he looked at the group he captured.
With him and Satsuki recognizing one as Shino Aburame, another former classmate from the Academy, while the other two were women, an adult and another that looked to be a year older than them, like Lee.
The first is young woman with a slender frame, fair skin, light brown, pupilless eyes, violet hair pulled up into a short, spiky, fanned-out ponytail. With her attire consisting of mesh armor that covers her from neck to her thighs, a tan overcoat with a purple in-seam and a pocket on each side, a dark orange miniskirt, a dark blue belt, and pale grey shin guards, along with a snake fang pendant around her neck.
While the girl had fair skin, dark brown hair held up into two buns, and matching dark brown eyes. While wearing a pink sleeveless qipao-style blouse with red sleeve trimmings and yellow fastening buttons, dark green pants, a pouch strapped to her right thigh, and blue Ninja sandals.
For a few moments, no one said anything, with both groups being tense, not sure what to do or who would make the first move. With the woman looking at them with narrowed eyes, hating at being rendered helpless and unable to do anything.
"Did that fucking warhawk send you?" The woman demanded, assuming they were sent by Danzō either to capture or kill them.
"Hard to be sent by a dead man, even harder when I'm the one who killed him." Stated Naruto, much to the shock of the others, aside from Hinata.
"Now then, if you all are capable of behaving yourselves, you'll be released and perhaps we can come to an understanding and perhaps an agreement." Naruto said with a smirk, with the others looking to the woman, given she's technically the leader at the moment.
"…Fine, but try anything and you're all dead." Warned the woman, figuring they didn't really have anything to lose, and if they were sent by Danzō, who she doubted was really dead, then they likely wouldn't be wasting time by wanting to talk.
"Adorable." Said Naruto, his smirk not leaving his face, before he and Karin released the four of them, who quickly moved and joined the others just in case this was a trick.
"Okay, first of all why don't you tell us what the hell is going on?! You're acting like you expected these guys to be here, how did you know?!" Satsuki demanded while looking at Naruto, wanting to finally get some answers, Yakumo and Karin also looking at the Jinchūriki wanting to get answers.
"Well first off, how about some introductions. Satsuki, Karin, Yakumo, meet Anko Mitarashi, Hinata Hyūga, Shino Aburame, Tenten, Ino Yamanaka, Rock Lee, Hanabi Hyūga, Konoka Sarutobi and Moegi Kazamatsuri. The last known surviving members of the resistance against Danzō." Said Naruto, with all of them tensing that he knew all their names.
"How do you know that?! And how did you find us?!" Demanded Tenten, glaring at the four of them while itching to grab her weapons.
"Simple, I was previously Danzō's prisoner and heard a lot of things, namely those that managed to survive his slaughter of the resistance, including all of you. After that, it was just a matter of guessing where you all went to, given you'd need to go into hiding as you have two Hyūga's with you, an Aburame, a Yamanaka and a Sarutobi. You couldn't go to Suna since they were, at the time, still allied with Konoha; Kiri was out due to the civil war and how those with Kekkei Genkai are being hunted and massacred; Kumo and Iwa are rather self-explanatory with Konoha being in a cold war with the former, while the latter have a very rocky relationship with Konoha, especially after how the late Yondaime Hokage decimated Iwa's Forces in the last Shinobi World War; while the smaller villages and nations were out as well since they don't make good hiding places. But when I heard about Shangri-la, I knew that's where you'd all go, given how out of the way and hidden it was. As for how I knew, with Anko being the former apprentice of Orochimaru, it's not farfetched that he'd be aware of Shangri-la's location, meaning you'd also know where it is. And now we see I was right." Naruto explained with a smirk, while everyone looked at him with wide eyes.
"H-ho-how?" Stuttered Ino, nervous that he was able to think of all that.
"When you're locked away for six months you can either go insane, try to escape, give up, or you can think, strategize and plan. Guess which of the options I decided to go with." Said Naruto, having had a lot of time to sort out his plans and preparations while locked away.
"Six months…you're the Uzumaki brat?!" Anko said, realizing that it was Naruto.
"Guilty, I am Naruto Uzumaki, with these being my associates Satsuki Uchiha, Yakumo Kurama and Karin Uzumaki. Who Danzō had also kidnapped and taken prisoner for his own purposes, and who I freed when I killed him." Naruto replied, much to their further shock before Hanabi glared at him.
"This is your fault! You stealing the Forbidden Scroll and going rogue, you're the reason Danzō was able to take over!" Yelled Hanabi, since Danzō had revealed Naruto's Jinchūriki status to the entire village after becoming Hokage, as well as the "crimes" he committed, having wanted to further turn the village against Naruto to further break him.
With Ino, Tenten, Konoka, Moegi, and Lee glaring at Naruto, only for them to be forced back when Naruto narrowed his eyes at them.
"If you're naïve enough to believe anything that decrepit, old mummy said, then perhaps this was a waste of time and I should simply kill you all right now. I could even give you a demonstration of what I did to Danzō, just before ending his miserable life." Said Naruto while holding out his hand as if to grab them all to absorb their Chakra and Kekkei Genkai, making them tense at the chance of a fight breaking out.
With Hanabi taking this as a chance to charge Naruto before jumping at him to deliver a palm strike to his chest. Her anger over seeing the one "responsible" for everything that happened getting the better of her, forgetting how easily he incapacitated Anko, Shino and Tenten.
Resulting in the Hyūga suddenly finding herself wrapped in a Chakra Chain, suppressing her Chakra and leaving her helpless. With the others soon finding themselves trapped as well by Naruto's chains, with the Uzumaki looking at them coldly.
"Pity; I had thought you all would be smarter than that. But since you're so eager for a demonstration, let me show you what happens to those that cross me." Naruto said before grabbing Hanabi's head before he began absorbing the majority of her Chakra and her Byakugan, with the girl screaming in pain as she felt her eyes burning and her Chakra being ripped away.
"Hanabi! Let her go!" Hinata shouted, struggling against the chain to save her sister, with Naruto soon removing his hand once he took everything from her, only leaving Hanabi with enough Chakra to stay alive and consciousness, while making it so she didn't have enough do anything else that was stupid.
"Happily, I have what I need from her." Said Naruto before tossing Hanabi at their feet as he released the remaining resistance members, with Anko, Shino, Tenten and Ino got ready to for a fight, while Hinata rushed to her sister to check on her, with Akamaru joining her and stood in front of the sisters, growling at Naruto.
Though the moment Hanabi opened her eyes, Hinata gasped in shock and horror, getting everyone's attention. Only for the resistance members to look in shock and horror as rather than the lavender-tinted pale white eyes, Hanabi's eyes were now a plain brown color.
"N-Nee-san…I…I can't…move…my Ch-Chakra…it's…so weak…and my eyes…my eyes feel…different…wh-what…what happened?!" Hanabi said weakly, feeling scared and confused when her vision was different, even more so when she tried activating her Byakugan, only for nothing to happen.
The group immediately turned towards Naruto, only to see his eyes had turned pure white with the veins bulging on the sides of his head.
"What…What did you do to her?!" Demanded Hinata while glaring at Naruto, who merely smirked wickedly.
"If she's foolish enough to throw her life away by attacking a superior opponent, then she didn't deserve to have such powerful eyes. So I took them for myself, her Chakra and her Byakugan are now mine, forever!" Naruto revealed, much to their shock and horror that he could steal Kekkei Genkai, with Hanabi taking it the worse as she shivered in realization that her Dōjutsu was gone.
Her Byakugan being one of the last things she had, something that'd been a major part of her identity as a person and a Hyūga since activating it, and it's gone forever!
While the others didn't dare try making a move against Naruto again, knowing he couldn't only just stop them with his chains again, but they all felt a cold shiver go down their spines as he looked at them with his new Byakugan. As if they were nothing but ants for him to step on at his leisure, seeing that he didn't even consider them threats. And why would he, given what they just saw he could do, they knew they weren't threats to him.
It also made them realize how he was able to kill Danzō, if he can absorb a person's Chakra and Kekkei Genkai, then they'd be dead before they could try anything.
"So, are there any more fools that wish to try something? Perhaps you need a more permanent example in the form of a dried up and empty husk? An extracted heart? A severed limb or two? Or perhaps I should just kill you all right now, if you choose to reject the kind offer, I have." Said Naruto with his chains coming out again, making the survivors freeze while shaking slightly at knowing there's nothing, they'd be able to do.
"Please forgive her Uzumaki, but given recent events, all of us are on edge and only seeking to make sense of what's happened, even if it's by blaming someone who was probably a victim themselves. There's no reason for any of us to fight or die." Shino said, wanting to defuse the situation and avoid a fight, fully knowing the only ones who'd die would be all of them at his hands, while the whiskered boy smirked.
"Ah, and there it is, you all lack a purpose. Given the fact you didn't know Danzō was dead, you also aren't aware that Konoha has been destroyed from a joint venture between Suna and Orochimaru, while the rest of the nations are now most likely preparing for war due to the power vacuum. And you all would be caught in the middle if you were discovered." Said Naruto, with the resistance survivors being horrified to know that their home was also destroyed, meaning that even if Danzō is dead, they couldn't even have a home to return to anymore.
'Damn that snake, damn him to the deepest pit of hell!' Thought Anko while cursing her former teacher, wishing for nothing more than the chance to hunt him down and kill him, even if she died in the end.
But she couldn't since the Tokubetsu Jōnin knew that she couldn't abandon the kids, with her being responsible for them after managing to get them away from the resistance being massacred.
"This brings me to why I chose to track you all down in the first place, I wish to extend an offer to you all to join us in the chance to finally put an end to things once and for all. To destroy the entire Shinobi System." Naruto revealed, shocking them even further, with the survivors looking at him in disbelief.
"You apparently went insane while locked up if you think that's possible. You just said the other villages are preparing for war and now you want to declare war on not only them, but all of the Elemental Nations. You and what army? And why the hell would we become your slaves if we sure as hell weren't going to be Danzō's?!" Anko said, now thinking Naruto was simply crazy if he thought they'd ever join him.
Only for them to once again be shocked when Naruto activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and channeled Chakra into the ground causing small roots to appear.
"Who needs an army, when all that's needed is a group skilled and powerful enough to get the job done. And with this power that I got from Danzō, my power has no limit, my potential is infinite. As you can see from the parting gifts, I took from the warhawk; two of the most powerful Kekkei Genkai in the world. Plus a third one I gained not too long ago, and now a fourth with the Byakugan. And as I said, I learned a lot while imprisoned, even more with what we took from Danzō's base before escaping. Giving me plenty of time and information to plan and prepare." Said Naruto, as the survivors looked at him in shock.
"And you got one thing wrong, I don't intend to declare war on the Elemental Nations, I intend to burn it to the ground to build a new empire, one dominant power under my control." Naruto said with a dark grin that sent shivers down all their spines.
"But of course, if that's not good enough to convince you, then how about…revenge. Revenge against the one that sold you out to Danzō, the one who got your friends and comrades butchered." Added Naruto, causing the survivors to stiffen at remembering who had betrayed them.
Neji Hyūga.
They could still remember how he appeared at camp, joined by dozens and dozens of ROOT Anbu that began killing everyone. All of them remembering what they'd lost and everyone that had been killed thanks to his actions.
Hinata and Shino remembering how Neji had tried targeting the former specifically, with Hinata having tried getting through to her cousin, only for him to move to kill her. The Hyūga girl only being spared by Kiba sacrificing himself to get her out of the way. While their Jōnin Sensei, Kurenai Yūhi, sacrificed her life to give them a chance to escape. Only being able to save Hanabi in the process while everyone else was being killed. With Akamaru whining sadly at remembering his now dead partner and friend, having gone with Hinata and Shino to protect them like Kiba would have wanted him to do.
Lee and Tenten got angry at remembering Neji's betrayal, not believing their teammate would really turn his back on them like that. With Lee being angry and bitter as he had tried to get through to Neji, still wanting to believe they were friends and comrades. Only for him to instead leave him to be attacked by ROOT Anbu, with his legs being permanently crippled. He'd only been able to escape thanks to Tenten and Gai giving his life to let them get away.
Ino shivered in fear and self-loathing at how she'd frozen up during the attack, forcing Shikamaru and Chōji to protect her while she stood by and did nothing as they were killed. She had only been able to get away because of Anko arriving to save her from being killed.
While Konoka and Moegi were saddened and angered since they'd been with the resistance after Asuma was able to smuggle them out of Konoha, along with their friend Udon. Not wanting anything to happen to his niece and her friends, given he already knew he was a dead man when Danzō became Hokage. With the three children having tried running to hide, only for ROOT to arrive, the two girls having been horrified and devastated when Udon had been mercilessly cutdown in front of them. Having only been saved by other resistance members getting the ROOT members attention, with Anko soon arriving and grabbing them as well.
And Anko, she'd actually been sorely tempted to use her Curse Mark, just as a chance to try and make difference. That it'd give her the power to help her comrades. But instead, she'd simply been told to run while saving anyone she could, which unfortunately was barely anyone. With her anger, sadness and hatred towards Danzō, the traitorous Hyūga and herself, for not doing anything more to help, only growing each day.
"Where is he?!" Demanded Hinata, now wanting nothing more than to make Neji suffer for what he's done and everyone they lost because of him.
"I don't know his exact location, but he's still alive, that I'm sure of. Given that once he learned Danzō was dead, he'd have no obligations to stay in Konoha and run like the traitorous coward he is. He's likely laying low, not wanting to draw attention to himself. After all, he's an unbranded Hyūga that's all alone with no village, no allies, nothing except himself. Making him a very tempting target for any village to get their hands on. But you can join me and you'll get the chance to find him to get your revenge, along with the chance to destroy the system that caused all this. After all, is it not the Shinobi System that helped create a person like Danzō and those like him? Who'd do anything for more power, not caring who they kill and what lives they ruin to get it." Said Naruto, seeing most of them looked tempted at the offer.
"And what makes you all any different?! You're planning to destroy one system and replace it with another, where you're in charge! While stealing the Chakra and Kekkei Genkai of anyone who doesn't agree with you, and taking it all for yourself! How are you different from Danzō and everyone else like him?!" Demanded Tenten, only for Naruto to give a chilling smile.
"Because I have no illusions of being the good guy." Naruto answered, making them all look at him in surprise.
"The Shinobi System started with Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha first building Konoha as a place where children didn't have to grow up to kill each other or die young. Then other villages began appearing, with the Shodaime having the brilliant idea to capture the Bijū and hand them out like trophies in an in vain attempt to create balance. Only for it to then lead into the creation of the Jinchūriki, human weapons to be used by the Hidden Villages and unleashed on their enemies, while being treated like the very beasts they contain for the most part. All while being expected to just take the abuse, unless they want to suffer a slow, agonizing death by having their Bijū extracted and placed in a more passive and controllable vessel. Since then, three wars have been fought with another one now currently on the way, and why is that? Because everyone believes they're the hero, the protector, defending their home and villages from threats and doing everything they can to strengthen them. Even Danzō had this mindset, believing everything he did was for the good of Konoha, when really it was for his own benefit." Explained Naruto as he gained a malicious smile.
"That's where I differ from them, I don't pretend to be the hero, no…I'm the villain, the monster they'll fear. When Ninja arrive to defend the village and the people feel safe, they'll feel hope that everything will be okay now that they are here to save them. When they see me arrive, that same hope will be ripped away, the feeling of safety will vanish, all they will feel is utter despair and dread because I have arrived. I want them all to look upon my symbol and know that to challenge me is to court death." Naruto said as he looked at their shocked, wary and uneasy expressions, while Satsuki, Yakumo and Karin looked at the Jinchūriki in amazement at how he spoke.
While feeling any doubts they may have had about joining Naruto be wiped away, the three now fully believing he's going to achieve his goal. And anyone foolish enough to get in his way really would be walking to their own deaths.
"Now then, your answer. Join me to get revenge, or stay here to rot in this hole in the ground until your discovered." Said Naruto, though knowing if they rejected his offer, he'd absorb their Chakra and Kekkei Genkai then proceed to kill them, or perhaps lock them away to see if they'd prove useful later on
For a few moments, the resistance survivors exchanged uneasy looks, none of them really sure what they were supposed to do. Before, surprisingly, Konoka and Moegi were the ones to walk up to Naruto first.
"I want revenge on that bastard Neji, as well as the system that helped make Danzō and got my grandpa, uncle and Udon killed, as well as those that destroyed my home." Said Konoka with a determined scowl on her face, with the orangette nodding in agreement.
"So do I, everything we cared about was taken away, and now we want to take something ourselves." Moegi added, with Naruto smirking at this before looking at Hinata and Hanabi.
"Why would we join you?! You attacked me, st-st-stole m-m-my B-B-By-Bya-Byakugan! Why would we ever think to join someone like you?!" Hanabi shouted, still shaken over the loss of her eyes, only to shiver and retreat back to her sister when Naruto looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"And who's fault is that? Who had the foolish idea to try and attack me? You did. You believed that you could attack me and there wouldn't be any consequences. Now you wish spit on the mercy I gave you by sparing your life, when I can just as easily retract that mercy if you're so eager to die." Said Naruto, holding out his hand towards her, making the sisters freeze with Hinata wrapping her arms around Hanabi to shield her.
Only to feel some relief when Naruto pulled his hand back with a dark smirk on his face.
"But…to show you I am rewarding to those that join me; should you prove your loyalty to me, I will return your Byakugan to you." Naruto said, much to their shock with Hanabi feeling a spark of hope that she could get her Dōjutsu back.
"You can really do that? Why?" Questioned a suspicious Hinata, since why would he return Hanabi's Byakugan when he could simply keep it for himself.
"I can and will, but only after you've proven your loyalty. As for why…there is still another Byakugan I can take from your traitorous cousin." Replied Naruto, making them stiffen while realizing he was right.
As far as they knew, Hinata, Hanabi and Neji were the only members of the Hyūga Clan left in the world, and Neji didn't have the Caged Bird Seal anymore. So his Byakugan could be stolen just like Hanabi's had been.
"Imagine it, he has no allies, no help, no village, no protection, not even the freedom he betrayed you all for. The only thing he has left is his pride and Byakugan. By taking away the latter, you take away the former and he will be left with nothing. You can watch as he breaks down at realizing in his final moments, he has truly lost everything he cares about. Wouldn't that be so much more satisfying than simply ending his life?" Naruto said temptingly, seeing the dark expressions on Hinata's, Hanabi's and Lee's faces.
"If…if you'll really return my Byakugan…then I'll swear my loyalty to you for the rest of my life." Said Hanabi, moving away from her sister and bowing to Naruto, wanting the chance to get revenge on Neji and make him suffer by losing his Byakugan, along with reclaiming her own.
"If it means you'll return Hanabi's Byakugan and give us a chance to find Neji and make him suffer, I'll join as well." Hinata said, eager for the chance to make watch Neji break down at losing everything.
"Of course, I'm a man of my word after all." Replied Naruto before looking at Lee, who looked very tempted to accept the offer.
"Will you really make him suffer?" Questioned Lee, wanting to know if he joins that Neji will be beaten, broken and empty when he dies.
"Him and everyone else that stands in our way." Naruto stated, with the crippled boy rolling himself forward, much to Tenten's disbelief.
"Lee?! You can't be serious about joining this psycho!" Said Tenten, still having doubts about joining Naruto, even with the temptation of getting revenge on Neji, only to see Lee look at her with a scowl on his face.
"Neji took my legs, my dream and Gai-sensei away from us! Even if I can't do anything personally, I want to see him die like the pathetic traitor he is!" Lee said bitterly, not caring if he's joining forces with someone who could be the literal Devil himself, since he had nothing left to lose and everything to gain.
"Wonderful, and I'm sure we can do something about your legs, in time. After all, I wouldn't deprive someone of their chance at revenge." Said Naruto, knowing Lee would be useless without his legs, something they'll look into fixing, with Shino and Akamaru being the next to step forward.
"While I'm hesitant in joining, I believe this is the most logical decision. To remain here would only lead to use growing complacent and weak, making us easier targets to capture should Shangri-la be discovered. And if we were to leave, we would be hunted down for the rest of our lives for our knowledge and Kekkei Genkai." Shino said, knowing this was really their only choice if it meant surviving, with Akamaru giving a bark in agreement.
"And you think joining with him is the best choice?!" Anko demanded, seeing Naruto as no different than Danzō or Orochimaru, probably even worse.
"Better to stand at the right hand of the Devil, than to be in his path." Said Shino, aware if they weren't with Naruto, then they were his enemies whether they actually went against him or not.
The whiskered blonde smirked at this, before looking at Anko, Tenten and Ino, seeing they were the most reluctant. Knowing that they'll either join willingly, or he'll simply use Kotoamatsukami to have them join as future experiments.
"…Fine, better than staying here forever or being captured." Tenten said, walking to join the others, not seeing any other option they had at the moment and figured she might as well get revenge on Neji too.
"If…if I can get revenge, then I'll join as well." Ino said wile stepping forward as well, still looking unsure, but also wanting to get revenge like the others.
Anko looked at them with wide eyes, not expecting them to really join Naruto, given what he plans to do and the chance they could be killed, only to let out a sigh and step forward.
"Fuck it, I have nothing left to lose and I guess revenge would be nice." Said Anko, knowing they really didn't have a choice, they had nothing left but the chance at revenge.
"Glad to have you all aboard. Now let's go, we still have much to do and prepare for." Naruto said before turning around and exiting the house, with everyone following behind him, all of them unseen by the unknowing residence of Shangri-la.
*Timeskip-Three Months*
After managing to recruit the resistance survivors, with some needing more convincing than others, Naruto and his growing group had gone back to training and laying low. Though despite the survivors having joined them, Naruto knew not to reveal everything they had, such as the Forbidden Scroll. Having made sure to keep that a secret, at least until they proved their loyalty and he rewarded them accordingly.
While having them merely work on what they knew and could improve on, with Hanabi being forced to build her style from the ground up with the loss of her Byakugan. Given she only knew the Jūken, she had to learn an entirely new style and techniques. With Lee being told to continue training his upper body, as while he couldn't use his legs, that didn't mean he should let himself get weak from not training.
As for Satsuki, Karin, Yakumo and Naruto himself, they'd looked within the Forbidden Scroll again; copying down several Jutsu, techniques and exercises for themselves to lessen the chance of the others discovering it. With Karin making a list of all the Fūinjutsu and Medical Ninjutsu, with the latter being for herself and Yakumo to use, with the Kurama Heiress copying down all the Genjutsu. Whereas Satsuki copied down all the Fire Style Ninjutsu, while Naruto copied down everything for Mokuton, the Byakugan and the Sharingan. Along with several other techniques he saw that he believed would prove useful, such as Kugutsu.
Though one Jutsu that they found that would be incredibly useful to all of them was the Shadow Clone Jutsu, which allowed the user to create solid clones. With it being when they dispelled, the clones would transfer everything they learned back to the original, making it a very useful training tool. But the Jutsu also required a large amount of Chakra to use, as the users Chakra was divided amongst all the clones evenly.
With only Naruto and Karin being able to effectively use it, given their Uzumaki heritage providing them larger Chakra Reserves, plus his Jinchūriki status also made his reserves even bigger. Satsuki was able to make a few clones, but not many, thanks to her own above average Chakra Reserves. While Yakumo wasn't able to use the Shadow Clone Jutsu effectively, which while annoying the brunette, she also didn't mind waiting until she was stronger to learn it.
After learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Naruto had begun creating seventy Shadow Clones each day, dedicating ten each to mastering his four Kekkei Genkai, ten to learning the new Jutsu and techniques he copied down, ten to create new Jutsu, with the last ten working on Chakra Control and Elemental Manipulation.
Now after three months of training, Naruto was ready to see how far his training with Shadow Clones have come, with him standing in a large open clearing.
"Wood Style: Nativity of a Sea of Trees." Naruto said while going through the handsigns before dozens of trees began growing out of the ground, until soon he was standing in a forest of his own creation.
Holding up his hand up, Naruto channeled a large amount of Chakra into his hand before expelling it from his palm. The result being a powerful repulsive force that ripped several trees out of the ground and sent them flying into the air. Now lowering his hand, the Jinchūriki then created a dark purple orb of Chakra with several white orbital rings forming around it that soon aligned together.
"Spiraling Ring." Said Naruto before expelling Chakra from his palm and sending the ring flying through the air, impacting one of the trees and triggering an explosion that consumed all the ones in the air.
"It's good, but needs to be stronger." Naruto muttered, wanting all his Jutsu to be powerful enough to leave a permanent reminder on anyone who sees them and knows how powerful he is.
Turning around to return to the others, Naruto began going through one handed handsigns.
"Mud Style: Bottomless Mud Hole." Said Naruto as the ground beneath the forest he created turned into a gigantic mud pit, causing the trees to slowly start sinking into the ground.
While hand emerged from the sides of the pit and started pulling the trees down much faster. It wasn't long before the created forest was completely gone, leaving no trace it was even there. With the Uzumaki smirking, knowing anyone caught in the pit wouldn't be able to escape, no matter how hard they tried.
Naruto also wondered about the progress his other clones were making in the tasks he gave them.
The Uzumaki had also begun sending out dozens of disguised clones throughout the Elemental Nations to start building up his powerbase. Along with searching for anything that'd prove useful to him and also spreading rumors about him, though not about Naruto himself.
Given something else Naruto had learned was that Ninja and the Hidden Villages didn't fear people. People they could hate, people they could kill. It was the unknown they feared, things they didn't understand or could control. Which is why Naruto was having his clones use a different names and aliases when spreading rumors about him in the criminal underworld. As well as making some examples to lend credence to the rumors and help build up his image as an unknown, shadow figure.
As for the name Naruto had decided to take to go with his new persona, it was also the name he came up with for the power Danzō had given him. A power that made it so he could take everyone's power for himself.
'And if they think my clones are bad, wait until they meet the real All For One.' Thought Naruto with a wicked smile, knowing when the time comes, they'll get to experience true despair and hopelessness.
*With Satsuki*
Meanwhile, Satsuki was getting her own training done, with it going much quicker thanks to being able to use the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Though at the moment, Satsuki was only able to make four Shadow Clones, which while not being a lot, her Sharingan helped make up for the lack of numbers. Allowing her to perfectly mimic Jutsu and handsigns her clones learn just by looking at them, lowering the time it'd take to get them down. Combined with the memory feedback, the Uchiha as able to learn several Jutsu and start mastering them in only a few days.
This also gave Satsuki time to focus on improving her other abilities when she wasn't learning more Fire Style Ninjutsu. Such as improving her Taijutsu and reaction time by having her clones attack her with the intent to kill her. Something that as rather easy to do since Satsuki already wanted to kill a lot of people, it was easy for her clones to just picture those people when attacking her. And while it was painful, it did help her in learning to fight multiple opponents and improving her Sharingan.
Along with training with Yakumo to get better at identifying and spotting Genjutsu, the different ways they can be cast, and learning to instinctually dispel them. Knowing Itachi excelled at Genjutsu, Satsuki wanted to take away one of his weapons for when she tracks him down.
With her also working on making her Fire Style Ninjutsu as strong as it can be, then making them even stronger by further mastering her Fire Affinity. While also looking into ways to make her flames stronger, knowing that Wind Style Ninjutsu makes them grow more powerful. And while the Uchiha would like to learn Wind Style Ninjutsu as well, she wanted to focus on Fire Style for the time being.
Instead, Satsuki thought of a different way to incorporate Wind Chakra into her flames, knowing that certain handsigns are aligned with different elements. With the Tiger Handsign being affiliated with Fire Style Ninjutsu, and the Bird Handsign was associated with Wind Style Ninjutsu. Leading the ravenette to watch her clones perform all the handsigns for her Fire Style Ninjutsu with her Sharingan. Wanting to perfectly memorize each of them and see where she'd be able to incorporate the Bird Handsign.
Now Satsuki was ready to put her theory to the test and see if she'd be able to enhance her Fire Style Ninjutsu with Wind Chakra by testing it out on a decent sized boulder to see how hot the fire would burn.
Taking a deep breath, Satsuki instantly began going through handsigns for the Grand Fireball, adding in the Bird Handsign just before the Tiger Handsign.
"Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Satsuki shouted before cupping her hand in front of her mouth and aiming at the boulder.
Though rather than the normal orange flames, or even more intense ones, coming from her mouth. What came was instead a raging inferno of blue fire that impacted the boulder. The sight shocking Satsuki, who was forced to narrow her eyes from how bright the flames were burning. Only to soon be forced to stop the Jutsu when the heat actually started burning her.
Panting and gasping for air, the ravenette quickly unsealed a water bottle and drank half of it before pouring the other half of her head to cool off. But despite nearly burning herself, Satsuki couldn't keep the smirk off her face that it actually worked.
'I've never made fire that hot before, nor had I been close to actually being burned by it in a long time.' Thought Satsuki, knowing the last time she burned herself was when she was first learning the Grand Fireball Jutsu.
'Though it definitely needs some work and I need to start working on getting used to the higher temperatures to not burn myself in a fight. Even better, once I'm able to successfully combine Wind Chakra with my Fire Style Ninjutsu, what effects will other elements have on it.' Satsuki thought, knowing she's gotten plenty of new ways to improve her fire.
Looking at the boulder to see the effect her flames had on it, the Uchiha's eyes widened in shock when she saw the boulder wasn't only glowing red hot, but part of it was actually melted. The sight soon bringing a dark smile to her face, knowing they'll only get stronger with the more training she does.
'And soon, you'll be nothing but fuel for my flames to help burn this world down, Itachi.' Thought Satsuki, imagining the sight of Itachi's burning body when she gets her hands on him.
*With Yakumo and Karin*
"Uh, Karin…remind me again why we're doing this?" Yakumo asked as she placed a Genjutsu over several animals, allowing Karin to grab them with her Chakra Chains and seal them away in special Storage Scrolls.
"Because I need test subjects to help improve my Medical Ninjutsu and learning more about how living creatures work. But more than that, with Naruto's use of All For One, his ability to take Chakra, Kekkei Genkai, as well as other abilities that people have and use them for himself, it made me think. Why I can't I do the same? Why can't I take the special traits of animals and combine them together, a rabbit's ability to jump, a bear's strength, a reptile's regeneration, a fish's ability to breath underwater. Then combine them all together into something stronger and more useful. Now imagine all that…but on people." Karin explained with an excited smile on her face, while Yakumo nodded slowly.
"And that's what you're hoping to do to the kid in green, Lee, to give him his legs back?" Said Yakumo rhetorically, with the redhead nodding in response.
"Yep, but I won't just make him useful, I'll be making him better. Whether he retains his ability to think for himself…" Replied Karin before trailing off, given Naruto only cared about Lee's ability to fight, kill and follow orders.
As long as she could do that, then he doesn't care if she turns him into a mindless killing machine, as long as it was loyal.
"…The fact you can say all that with a straight face, I feel like the normal reaction is to be terrified." Yakumo stated, with Karin merely giving a shrug.
"Naruto asked for results, I plan to get them for him. Doesn't matter to me who or what has to die or be broken to get them." Said Karin, knowing she sounds rather twisted and disturbed, but given what happened to her mother and herself, she'd became rather twisted.
Plus, once her experiments were successful, she hoped to turn everyone in Kusagakure into more test subjects to experiment on, starting with Zōsui. The redhead only being able to smile wickedly at the getting the chance to pay him and the rest of Kusa back for what they did to her and her mother.
'Even better, if they survive and become loyal monsters, I'll have them attack Kusa and kill everyone than tear the village down until only rubble is left! Ooooh, I wonder if I'll be able to find a way to keep their minds intact, so they know what they're doing?! That would be fun!' Thought a giddy Karin, before she and Yakumo went back to collecting animals for her experiments.
*Timeskip-Three Months*
Lee watched as Hanabi practiced the movements of her new fighting styles, with the young girl having come to him to learn new styles, given his knowledge on Taijutsu. As while Lee focused only on the Gōken, Gai had also taught and told him about several other Taijutsu Styles, ones he could fall back on; in the event he met an opponent that could counter the Gōken. With Hanabi having asked if he had any styles that she could learn in place of her Jūken.
The former Genin having told her about the Scorpion Style and the Praying Mantis Style, both of which focused on speed, evasion, and powerful strikes to take opponents down. Seeing them as styles perfectly suited for Hanabi to learn, with how similar they were to the Jūken. Plus the Scorpion Style is most effective when used with curves blades called Scorpion Claws, due to them resembling half of a scorpions pincer. Which would allow Hanabi to further branch out and learn Kenjutsu as well.
It also gave Lee some measure of comfort to be able to pass the knowledge he got from Gai, given he's now unable to effectively use it himself. Especially with seeing how Hanabi had been doing rather well with her training, katas, and exercises to build up the necessary strength to use her styles.
"You seem to be a rather effective teacher. But I suppose that's to be expected when one has been trained by one of the strongest Taijutsu Specialists in the world." Stated Naruto, making Lee tense slightly, something all the survivors have begun doing whenever he appeared, still getting use to his growing dark presence.
The green wearing boy turning in his chair to see Naruto and Satsuki standing behind him, watching Hanabi's training before looking at him.
"Uh, thank you Naruto-sama, though I'm nowhere near the instructor Gai-sensei was, I still wish to do my part." Lee replied, another thing the survivors learned is to refer to Naruto with proper respect as their superior, given he didn't fully trust them yet as they still had to prove their loyalty.
"Yet you're showing to effectively train a Hyūga in learning two completely new styles, even if they're similar to the Jūken and she's still a relatively blank slate. It's still impressive, and perhaps you'd be able to also give us some advice on improving our own Taijutsu training as well." Satsuki said, given both she and Naruto didn't really have time to work on their Taijutsu, even with her prior knowledge.
"Oh um…I suppose I could give you some advice on how to improve your Taijutsu. Are you looking for any specific style or form you want?" Questioned Lee, not expecting them to actually come to him for insight on improving their training.
"Little movement, fast and lethal strikes, and overpowering strength." Naruto said, wanting his Taijutsu to be where he doesn't have to move much to let his enemies come to him and kill them once they're close enough before they can react; both as a statement of what he can do and to not have to reveal too much.
After all, being able to kill without moving with only a few precise hits, all while looking like he isn't even trying, will go a long way in letting people imagine what he can do if he does try.
"Something that lets me move fast, deliver quick crushing blows to kill or incapacitate, and able to incorporate my Sharingan into it." Said Satsuki, preferring a style that let her move around faster than her opponents can see, then deliver crippling injuries as right now, everyone she wanted to kill, she wanted to kill them painfully while making it hurt as much as possible.
"I see. Well for you Naruto-sama, I suggest learning more about the human body to find the best places to strike and deal the most damage, as well as working on your reaction time and being able to instinctual strike opponents when they get near. Perhaps also a weapon that's unnoticeable, making it seem like people would simply die when they get near you. While for you Satsuki, I think incorporating the Gōken into your current style will give you the results you want." Lee said, giving them the best advice that he could, with Naruto and Satsuki humming in thought before they both nodded.
"You have our thanks for the advice, Lee, we'll be sure to alter our training to better improve our Taijutsu." Said Naruto, with Lee nodding in response.
"I'm glad I could be of assistance, and I'll be sure to help Satsuki with the Gōken when I'm not helping Hanabi." Replied Lee, making the Uzumaki smirk.
"I'm happy to hear that. Just one more thing…what exactly would you give to have your legs back?" Naruto said, stepping closer to Lee and looking down at him, his eyes glowing slightly, making the boy gulp as he considered the question.
"Wh-what would I give…to have my legs back? Anything, I would give anything if it meant I would be healed and able to fight once again." Lee said, knowing there isn't anything he wouldn't do to be fully healed, while Naruto's smirk gained a sinister edge.
"Good answer, I want you to remember it when the time comes." Said Naruto before he and Satsuki took their leave, with Lee watching them go with wide eyes.
*Later - With Hinata and Hanabi*
"How was your training?" Hinata asked while looking at her sister after she arrived from finishing her training with Lee for the day.
"It went well, I'm getting much better at building up the strength to use the Mantis Style. Lee said I'll be able to shatter wood with just a finger once I've mastered it." Replied Hanabi with a proud smile, starting to feel more like herself after losing her Byakugan, making Hinata smile slightly, glad that her sister was feeling better before turning serious.
"Are you alright? Really alright with everything?" Hinata asked, having been asking her sister that every day since she lost her Byakugan, still worried she'd suddenly have a mental breakdown.
"Yes, I'm fine Nee-san, really. While it…it still hurts not having my Byakugan, but I have to accept it's my own fault that it's gone. Now all I can do is train to grow stronger, to prove my loyalty and be able to get it back. And I guess…in a way, it's a blessing to not rely on the Byakugan and Jūken anymore. Since I now have to branch out and adapt to not having it, which will be helpful when we finally find him." Hanabi said darkly, eager for when they find Neji and she can show him everything she's learned.
Hinata nodded in agreement, having been working on her own surprises for when they find Neji, wanting him to see what the "failure" can do now. Wanting to see the confusion, fear and hopelessness on his face when they beat him down, showing him who the real weak one is.
"You were Kurenai's student, weren't you." Stated Yakumo, getting the sisters' attention as they saw the brunette standing behind them with a neutral expression, making Hinata tense and stand up.
"Yes, I was Kurenai-sensei's student, along with Shino. How do you know her?" Hinata asked, making Yakumo scoff.
"Figures she'd choose to forget me." Yakumo muttered bitterly, not surprised that Kurenai didn't say anything about her to her team, figuring she didn't want anyone to know about her dirty little secret.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Demanded Hinata, refusing to let her speak ill of her dead teacher.
"None of your concern. Just tell me one thing, as I've just imagined all the different ways it could have happened, but I have to know, did she suffer before she died?" Questioned Yakumo, wanting to know if Kurenai was in pain when she was killed, with Hinata glaring at her in anger.
"Don't say anything about Kurenai again or-" Hinata said, only for Yakumo to return the glare, her eyes turning a solid dark purple while her teeth sharpened.
"Or what?" Retorted Yakumo, her voice sounding deep and demonic, making Hinata take a step back in surprise before Yakumo's features returned to normal.
"I'll talk about her however I want, given everything she took from me, now even taking my chance to pay her back. The least I can do is imagine all the painful ways her life was ended." Yakumo said, making the bluenette clench her fists but didn't try anything.
"What're you talking about? Kurenai was a kind and caring person who cared about me, Shino and Kiba. She even gave her life so we could escape." Said Hinata, making the Kurama Heiress scoff.
"Maybe to you three, but to me the only thing she was, was a liar, a traitor and a thief. She never told you I was her student before she even met any of you, as my Kekkei Genkai allowed me to create powerful Genjutsu, so it only made sense my sensei was also skilled in Genjutsu. But unfortunately, that was all I had, as I was born with a weak body that prevented me from becoming a Ninja, but I didn't let stop me, though Kurenai had other ideas. She tried pushing me to become something else, to choose a different path in life, she even refused to train me. I didn't quit though, refusing to give up my dream, only now I wanted to spite her, to show her who the real Genjutsu Mistress was! Then she took that away from me too! She put a seal on me, sealing my Kekkei Genkai away on the order of the Sandaime Hokage, ripping my dream away from me!" Said Yakumo, much to Hinata's shock to hear Kurenai did something like that.
"That's not the best part though, oh no. The truth was the seal was meant to lock away another personality in my head, the Ido, something that only cared about destruction. It even burned down my home and killed my parents. But did Kurenai or the Hokage tell me this?! No! They let me believe they killed my parents to try and kill me, then planned to kill me if I became uncontrollable, leaving me to live in fear that any day I would be killed! But you wanna know the funniest part, I only learned all this from Danzō! The same bastard who planned to turn me into a weapon and a breeding factory to create a unit of super soldiers that can create life-like Genjutsu! He was the one that told me the truth over my own mentor, and he only did it to break me! He even put a new seal on me, one that did let me use my Kekkei Genkai, but also forcefully merged the Ido with me! After all, why get rid of a monster bent on destruction when he could just direct it towards his enemies?!" Yakumo said her features changing again, a result of Danzō forcefully merging the Ido with her, which happens whenever she loses control of her emotions, before she calmed down and glared at Hinata.
"So yes, I'll talk about Kurenai however I damn well want, because she took everything from me and then didn't even bother telling me the truth! And for that, I hope she got to feel the same pain I felt when she died." Said Yakumo coldly before turning to leave.
"Why did you join Naruto then?! Kurenai's dead, the Sandaime is dead, Danzō's dead, everyone you'd want revenge on is dead! Why did you join Naruto?!" Hinata said, wanting to know why Yakumo joined Naruto when anyone she'd want to kill is dead, making the brunette stop and turn to her.
"You mean besides the fact he freed me and has so far been the best mentor I've had in that he's actually helping me get stronger? It's because I support and agree with his goal. The Ninja System had its chance to succeed the Warring States Period and create peace, but look at how well that's turned out. Look at all the wars that have happened, the war that'll be starting soon even without us, how long until there's no one left alive to kill each other? Or until the entire worlds reduced to a wasteland? The Ninja Era had its time, but now it's time for it to end. But truthfully, for me personally…I want to be the one inflicting pain for once. And I have so much to give. After all, aren't you the same, you want to find your cousin to make him feel the same pain you both do, so don't try acting like you're better. Like Naruto said, we don't have illusions about being heroes." Said Yakumo as her features slowly became more demonic, with a malicious grin on her face before she returned to normal.
"…I'm not denying anything or pretending to be something I'm not. I don't know what I even want anymore, only that I'm going to make Neji pay and suffer." Hinata stated after a few moments.
"And I doubt it means much…but I'm sorry that happened to you. Both what Kurenai and the Hokage did to you, then being captured by Danzō." Added Hinata, knowing she couldn't defend Kurenai's actions against Yakumo, with the brunette merely looking at her with a raised brow.
"Save your sympathies, they won't do anyone any good. But…they're noted. And I suppose we have a lot in common, we all lost everything we cared about, while now only being left with anger, rage and vengeance against someone. While you and I know what it's like to lose something that's part of us." Yakumo said while looking at Hinata before turning to Hanabi, knowing they were similar to each other after everything that's happened.
This surprised the sisters, before they nodded since Yakumo did have a point about them being similar.
"…Would…would you be able to help us with Genjutsu?" Hanabi asked since it never hurt to expand their skills beyond Taijutsu, with the Kurama Heiress looking at her before turning to Hinata who gave a shrug.
"…I suppose since I'm already helping Satsuki in casting and dispelling them. But don't expect me to wait since I train on my own time, whether you show up or not isn't my concern. You want to learn Genjutsu, then you'll find time to learn it." Replied Yakumo, with both sisters nodding in understanding.
*Timeskip-Three Months*
Naruto and Karin walked through a large lab, looking over all the equipment within while around them were a few unconscious bodies of the Medic-Nin that had been here. The Jinchūriki's clones having discovered this laboratory a week ago, on an island off the coast of the Land of Waters, before learning it was one of Orochimaru's hideouts. His interest having been peaked at learning of all the medical equipment that was within the lab, knowing it'd go a long way in Karin's experiments. Especially with the human test subjects within she could use, leading to the two setting out for the island to take it for themselves.
With it not taking them long to incapacitate everyone within, before they began looking over all the equipment, with the redheaded Uzumaki feeling like a kid in a candy store.
"This is certainly an impressive setup, I'm sure all this will prove useful in the coming days." Naruto stated, looking in one of the rooms that was filled with ceiling length shelves stacked full of jarred experiments, books, scrolls, crates and tools.
"Useful? This isn't just useful; this will be exactly what I need to take my experiments to the next level! This especially will prove valuable!" Said Karin while looking at a machine in the center of the room, recognizing it as a blood extraction machine, something she'll be able transfuse blood into another person.
But knew she'll need to make some modifications to it to better suit her purposes and inject blood into multiple subjects at a time.
"Good, I look forward to seeing the first successful batch of human-based Nomu soon." Said Naruto, having decided to call Karin's experiments Nomu, given that after the experiments, if they survived, they really became mindless killing machines who only knew how to follow orders.
Just the kind of fighting force he wanted, one entirely loyal, while also being effective killers that couldn't be interrogated or tortured for information. Plus if one Nomu were to be captured, they planned to place Explosive Seals into all of them, powerful enough to kill the Nomu and anyone nearby. Ensuring none of their secrets could be discovered or recreated.
"I'll do my best, as long as you make sure to pass along any useful test subjects, otherwise all you'll be getting is a bunch of musclebound attack dogs." Karin replied since while she can infuse animal DNA into humans to give them unique abilities and traits, it'll only do so much in making stronger Nomu.
Naruto merely nodded in response, since he'd have to at least let Karin take some Kekkei Genkai users they encounter for her experiments. Though hopefully they could find a way to somehow replicate the Kekkei Genkai he takes, so she can have copies to use while he'll have the originals.
Though Naruto's head suddenly snapped in a random direction, getting Karin's attention.
"Did one of your clones dispel?" Questioned Karin, knowing that usually only happened after a clone dispels and he gets the information it sent.
"Yes…how would you like another island lab? One dedicated to a very similar experiment as our own? Complete with a sleeping Nomu-like creature filled with DNA?" Naruto said with a smirk before looking at Karin, who had an excited and dark gleam in her eyes.
*With resistance survivors*
Meanwhile, the resistance survivors all sat together in their current hideout, all of them remaining silent with their being a noticeable tense air around them. With Hinata, Hanabi, Konoka, Moegi, Shino, Akamaru and Lee all seemed to be sitting a little ways away from Anko, Ino, and Tenten.
Given the fact they'd joined Naruto without much issue, while the latter three still had their doubts. Though were at least smart enough to only talk about them when Naruto and the girls weren't around to hear them.
"…Okay seriously, we need to think of something to do!" Anko said in frustration, getting tired of how they were basically just waiting for the Kyūbi Jinchūriki to declare war on the entire world and destroy everything they know.
"I was under the impression there was already a plan, find Neji, kill Neji." Said Hinata like it was obvious.
"And then what?! You think that's going to solve our other problems?! We could find him ourselves, instead we're letting that kid lead us around, and don't think for one second that he's not going to hold that over all our heads! That we were only able to find that little traitor thanks to him!" Said Anko knowing that if they find and kill Neji because of Naruto, then that'll just further tighten the nooses he has around all their necks.
"So? Who cares how it happens, as long as we get revenge for him betraying us and getting everyone else killed." Moegi said, not caring how they find Neji, only that they do.
"Moegi, you're just a little girl. You, Konoka and Hanabi are still much younger than us, so you still don't really understand what joining him will do." Ino said, only for the three to glare at her.
"We're not kids, we stopped being that after that bastard got our friends killed, and when the mummy killed my grandfather and uncle! At least with Master, we'll get revenge and he's helping us get stronger!" Retorted Konoka, with Moegi nodding in agreement.
Given that when it was discovered that Moegi, shockingly, had the Mokuton, Naruto had started taking a personal interest in her training. And given he's the only one who could really help her master it, there was nothing Anko could do to stop him from training and influencing her. While Satsuki had given Konoka some help on mastering her Fire Affinity and incorporating her Wind Affinity into it after she'd mastered her Fire Affinity and developed her own Wind Affinity, while also mastering her Elemental Shifting, as she's come to call it. Drawing both girls further into their influence and way of thinking, much to the Tokubetsu Jōnin's dismay.
"Would you stop calling him "Master" or "-sama", or even that stupid name he gave himself! Seriously, what kind of name is All For One, anyway?!" Tenten said while shaking her head, thinking the name was rather stupid.
"The kind people are starting to fear. I have sent my insects out occasionally to keep myself updated on what's happening and it's rather…disconcerting. Everywhere we go, I have heard rumors about a crime boss who's growing influence in the criminal underworld is spreading each day, along with the examples he's made of those that cross him. Yet no one has ever seen him in person, only hearing of him and feeling his influence through his followers. Some don't even think he's real, but that doesn't stop the fear that's induced when they hear the name All For One." Shino explained, making them all look at him in shock and nervousness.
"Now just imagine that fear being multiplied when they learn All For One is very real…and doesn't know the meaning of the word mercy?" Shino questioned rhetorically, with Anko soon letting out a sarcastic laughter.
"And that's the person we decided to join?! Fucking great! And what do you think is going to happen when the Hidden Villages learn of this and decide to come at us with everything they've got?!" Anko said, believing they were either going to die or, if Naruto's plan somehow succeeded, they'd really be no different than Danzō and everyone else like him.
"We were dead anyway in Shangri-la, it was just going a lot slower! At least now we're doing something instead of sitting around waiting to be found and killed, or worse. More than that, we can get revenge and make it so we never have to run again. If doing that means watching the world burn, so be it. Everything we care about is already gone anyway." Said Hanabi with a shrug.
"We at least still had our principles, honor, kindness and humanity. Going through with this plan means we'll lose all of that and more." Tenten retorted.
"And where did any of that get us?! We had to run from our own home, we were betrayed by our own teammate, we all lost people we cared about! I lost my legs, and we were forced to hide away just waiting for the day we were found, all of us knowing it would have eventually happened! Now we're getting the chance to take back our lives, to make it so we don't have to run ever again, to take back what we lost! And I for one am not losing it, no matter what." Said Lee, not caring what price had to be paid if it meant he could get his legs and his revenge.
"But at what price?" Ino asked hesitantly, only for Hinata, Hanabi, Konoka, Moegi, Lee and Shino to look at the three with deathly serious expressions.
"Whatever it costs." Stated Hinata, all of them knowing there wasn't anything they wouldn't do at this point, while seeing this as their best and only option.
With Anko, Ino and Tenten looking at them uneasily, not sure what to feel or do upon seeing that all of them were fully on board with Naruto's plan. The three could only hope for something to happen to finally knock some sense into them before it was too late.
*Timeskip-Three Months*
With the discovery of the Island Laboratory and the Summoning Island lab, Karin's Nomu Project progress had been quickly sped up. Both with the equipment from the Island Laboratory and the research material from the Summoning Island lab. Plus with the restrained and pacified Ultimate Summoning Beast giving her plenty of new genetic material, allowing the redhead to create her first successful batch of human Nomu.
Leading to all of Naruto's group and the resistance survivors gathering together in the Summoning Island lab, where Karin was ready to repair Lee's legs.
"I hope you're ready to finally get rid of that wheelchair, Lee." Karin stated with a smile, while the former Genin's eyes widened with hope in them.
"D-does that mean you-" Said Lee, hoping to finally be able to walk again.
"Ah, ah, ah. Not just yet. Remember what I asked you months ago?" Naruto said, cutting Lee off, wanting to see if his answer's changed.
Lee looked at the Jinchūriki, before remembering the question, what would he give to have his legs back.
"Anything, I would give anything. That hasn't changed and it won't, as long as I'm able to use my legs once again, there's no price I won't pay." Lee stated, only for Naruto and Karin to gain matching wicked smirks.
"Say that again after you see this. Bring them in." Naruto said while looking at Karin, who nodded before making a handsign with several puffs of smoke appearing behind her.
And to the shock of the survivors and amazement of Satsuki and Yakumo, with Anko, Tenten and Ino being horrified, several monstrous creatures appeared. Some looked vaguely humanoid but were incredibly huge and bulky, others looked limber and able to move quickly, some had animal parts like wings, and some just looked like horrifying amalgamations of flesh and machine.
But one thing they all had in common were their brains being visible on top of their heads and the completely dead and empty look in their eyes, for those that had eyes anyway.
"I'd like you to meet the Ultimate Ninja Killers, the Nomu. With the material I got from this lab, I've made it so they can absorb Chakra, cast Genjutsu, use Elemental Ninjutsu themselves, and even consume other beings to gain their abilities, which at the moment is limited to summoning animals. They don't feel pain, can't think, don't run, they only follow orders and kill anything they're pointed at. And should any of them be captured, they'll blow up and kill anyone dumb enough to be near them." Karin said with a pleased look on her face, with Satsuki and Yakumo being impressed at what the Nomu can do, the survivors looked at them warily but couldn't deny they were impressive creations, while Anko, Tenten and Ino were simply horrified at these monstrosities.
"Wh-wh-wh-wha-wh-what a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ar-are th-th-th-they-the-they?" Ino stuttered, while Karin looked at her with a raised brow.
"I literally just explained what they are, they're Nomu. Unless you meant what they were, they were human, along with some animal DNA and parts I threw in." Said Karin, which only seem to horrify them further.
"You turned living people into those things?!" Anko demanded in anger and horror.
"Technically a few were just dead bodies, well they were alive, but died during the experiments. But I still found a use for them, turns out the subjects don't need to be alive to become Nomu. But I'm not sure about the condition the body needs to be in, I may need to go gravedigging for some decaying bodies to see if they're useful." Karin replied, before she started muttering to herself and taking notes, the trio now feeling sick at how casually she's talking about graverobbing.
"So Lee, the procedure Karin will be performing to repair your legs, it will also result in you being turned into a Nomu. Now tell me, what would you give to have your legs back?" Naruto said, much to the survivors shock that Lee would be turned into a Nomu, with Anko, Tenten and Ino not believing this was happening.
With it being even worse when they looked at Lee and to their shock and disbelief, he actually looked like he was contemplating it.
"Lee! You can't actually be willing to accept this?! To be turned into a…a…a monster or whatever the hell those things are!" Tenten shouted, refusing to let her teammate throw his life away like that.
"It's my choice Tenten. And my answer hasn't changed, if doing this allows me to be healed, I'll do it, I'll become a Nomu." Said Lee, much to their shock, while Naruto's smirk widened before snapping his fingers getting Karin's attention.
"Karin, looks like you just got your first volunteer." Naruto said, making her smile in excitement.
"Excellent! Let's get you prepped up and ready!" Said Karin before going over to Lee, eager to see the kind of Nomu he'll become, only for her path to be blocked by Anko, Tenten and Ino.
"Okay that's it! I'm putting a stop to this right fucking now!" Anko shouted, refusing to let this continue, not after seeing they're now performing human experiments just like Orochimaru.
"You honestly think you three can stop us?" Questioned Satsuki in amusement that they thought they were a threat.
"Maybe not all of you, but we can at least try to take you down with us! Especially that psychotic bastard right there!" Said Tenten while glaring at Naruto, who merely continued smirking.
"You three really aren't that bright, as in case you forgot, you're outnumbered, outclassed, and you're under the impression we'd waste our time fighting you three." Said Naruto before activating his Mangekyō Sharingan while looking at the trio and activating Kotoamatsukami on all three of them.
Implanting the suggestion in their minds to be completely loyal to him and lose any ideas of rebelling, causing all three women to drop their stances and gain blank looks on their faces.
"But I do thank you for your sacrifice in furthering Karin's research and building our numbers." Naruto added with an evil smile, knowing they'll make very unique Nomu, at least Anko with her Curse Mark, Ino with her mental and sensor abilities, while Tenten he supposed could be outfitted with plenty of weapons.
"Once you're finished with Lee, get started on them." Naruto said to Karin, who nodded, happy at getting three new test subjects.
With the survivors looking at their now former comrades, not having made a move to help them or try to sway Naruto from turning them into Nomu, knowing it'd be hopeless. Knowing they only had themselves to blame for the fate that's now befallen them
While Naruto looked at them with a smirk, before taking his leave, knowing there's still so much more work to be done and preparations to make.
*Timeskip-Two Years*
Sitting within his throne room, Naruto's appearance hadn't changed that much in the past two years, with him still wearing a dark black business suit and matching black dress shoes. Though he now kept his jacket buttoned up along with adding a black tie, white gloves, and unique black metal collar around his neck and a metal respirator mask covering his lower face.
Tapping his fingers on the arm rest, the Uzumaki smiled wickedly beneath his mask while his eyes glowed bright red.
"It's time." Naruto stated as he stood up, adjusting his tied before exiting the room.
Knowing the time had come for the Elemental Nations to finally witness to the true power of All For One.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruto's group arriving at Shangri-la and encountering some familiar faces with Hinata, Hanabi, Ino, Lee, Moegi, Konoka (Fem!Konohamaru), Anko, Tenten, and Shino, before revealing another part his plan and what he'd been doing during his imprisonment, using the time to think and strategize, with him having an offer for the survivors. Only for Hanabi to attack him in anger, blaming him for what's happened, with it ending in her losing her Chakra and Byakugan, much to everyone's shock and horror. Then Naruto makes his offer to have them join him, explaining his plan and offering the chance of revenge on Neji, getting them all to join him, with Anko, Tenten, and Ino being the most reluctant. Next we have several timeskips showing their training and growth, along with the cracks forming between the resistance survivors. Before we then get the reveal of the Nomu Karin's created, with Lee willing to become one to have his legs healed, causing Anko, Ino, and Tenten to finally try to rebel against Naruto, who simply uses Kotoamatsukami on them before handing them over to Karin to be turned into Nomu as well. Finally we get a final timeskip of two years (three in total with all the other timeskips put together), showing Naruto's new attire (which is Izuku's from the fan-manga "My Villain Gang", if you haven't check it out, it's really good) and initiating the start of his plans, with more reveals to come of what else has happened in the past two years. So, review if you liked go away if you didn't.
Storm out