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Chapter 19: Endgame

In the aftermath of the battle, the trio of Ruby, Pakura, and Shirou find themselves welcomed into the Kiri rebellion. And by welcome, it is meant that in celebration for saving their collective hides from a battle that would have turned crippling for them the rebels herded the three within the local cell of the island. They were more enthusiastic when they overheard Ruby's intention to join them or, as she has stated, to end the civil war. Ruby could not keep track of her surroundings and she did not risk using her Sharingan in such open space even with her mask on. The best she could do was make sure that Shirou was in arm's reach.

The crowd of rebels dragging away the Ruby, Pakura, and Shirou had some semblance of order by Mei Terumi, just enough so that they weren't accidentally trampled. Soon, it all came down to Ruby, Shirou, and Pakura having been escorted to a more private chamber within the cell far from the majority of the rebels currently feasting after the fight for their lives or dealing with damage control. Before Ruby was what she presumed was the leading body of the rebels, with Mei at the very front seated before a desk with Ao as her right hand standing by her side. Jonin captains and even ANBU stood about the place with an air of professionalism and stoic expressions aimed at Ruby and her companions, but her eyes did not miss the excited gleam in their eyes to have a new ally. She smirked internally, knowing that her show of power earlier had cemented some good within the leadership already.

Any looks Pakura received were one of curiosity. While not in the same league as Kakashi or even Minato Namikaze, Pakura had earned much fame as one of Sunagakure's most powerful Jonin. Eyebrows among the Jonin of Kiri were bound to be raised in Pakura's direction, especially at the sight of her crossed-out insignia of Suna. None have yet voiced questions or concerns about Pakura.

However, there was of course some of the shinobi who gave Ruby and Shirou wary glances. Why would they not after seeing two children that would be Genin as shinobi ditch out power to cripple an army? Age did not come as a factor to them, and while they held the hope Ruby and Shirou can become allies they were still ready for any negative outcome.

And all that comes into play with why Mei brought them here before her and the leaders of the rebellion. It only took a few minutes for Ruby to piece together what was really going on. They were genuinely welcoming her group for their help in the battle and hoped to be allies, but it also came in the form of a pseudo-interrogation to find out their real intentions for coming to Water Country. Their show of Kekkai Genkai brought considerable trust, but even Mei had to concede with some cautions with the trio.

Behind her mask, Ruby let out a smirk as she thought. 'Alright, we'll play along. In the end, there is no way they could harm me or Shirou. Especially Shirou - cause I'll slice to bits whoever dares to take my Shirou away from me!'

"So then," Mei finally spoke, her voice a natural soothing purr, "let's first start off by giving my as well the rest of my colleagues the thanks to you for turning the tide in the battle. Without you, we would have suffered too many losses that would put us back years in this civil war."

Shirou was not the one to make a response, finding himself uncomfortable under Mei's stare. He was holding down a shiver down his spine and stop his arms from fidgeting. Ruby chose to stay silent, her silver eyes gleaming over everyone in the world on the lookout for any attackers. In the end, Pakura stepped up to answer Mei, and it was fitting since she was a veteran kunoichi used to these matters.

"It was our pleasure." Pakura replied with a small bow before the leader of the rebellion. "Our goals are aligned after all. It would be a tragedy to have a common ally as your rebellion falls."

For now, most attention shifted solely to Pakura. Familiarity gleamed in their eyes on the ex-Suna kunoichi and some murmurs were exchanged. There was even a flash of something deadly in Mei's eyes before it went back to its greeting visage. Their reactions were understandable since Pakura was a well-famed kunoichi of Suna throughout the land.

Ruby found worldwide fame, especially for ninjas, to be highly debilitating. Shinobi are supposed to be forces of deception and of utmost stealth. Having one's name, much less word of abilities, was tantamount to have said capacities of an individual shinobi to rendered moot by planned counters. A physical description of a shinobi in the Bingo Book can show an adversary who that shinobi is and make plans against them. Even Ruby had a few counters in place in the case she was to engage a shinobi from the Bingo Book.

"Our goals are aligned, you say." Mei spoke to Pakura. "And what 'goals' does Sunagakure have by sending their famous Pakura of the Scorch Kekkai Genkai all the way here to the Land of Water?"

The assumption that Pakura was still aligned with Suna made the ex-kunoichi's fists clench. Hard enough that Ruby could hear the strain on the leather of her gloves. A rage born of betrayal flashed in her eyes before it was squashed down, but it was enough for the experienced shinobi in the room to notice it. Frowns appeared on their faces while Mei had the most casual reaction with a raised brow.

"I am no longer a part of Sunagakure." Pakura almost let out in a hiss, her lips scrunching into a scowl.

The shock was shown throughout the gathered council of the rebellion. Pakura further proved her point by taking out the headband of a Suna nin with her country's insignia scratched off. Right before she dropped to the ground and blast it to ashes with a burst of Scorch Release chakra with the metal plate turning to slag on the floor. It was a clear message of how far Pakura had cut her ties from her home.

Mei just looked at Pakura in silence, not divulging a twitch in the facial muscles of Pakura's display. Her aide known as Aoi narrowed his one visible eye. The air became tenser at Pakura's sudden admission that she was a rogue kunoichi, much less bringing one at the heart of their headquarters.

"Why are you here?" Aoi demanded, not even hiding the disdain in his voice. "You are a rogue nin, a recent at that from Suna. Yet here you are across the continent. Why is a rogue nin like you here hope to gain interfering in our civil war? What is your goal here?"

This whole meeting was spiraling down into an interrogation. The tension continued to increase and Ruby didn't need a flash of her Sharingan to see some of the Kiri shinobi in the room reach their hands through their clothes to hidden weapons. She could feel the tingle of chakra releasing from multiple people, including Pakura herself, in preparation to cast jutsu at the moment of any violent action. A quick glance at Shirou showed that the boy had drops of cold sweat coming down his neck and his fingers were twitching to gasp his dao swords. Ruby needed to do something and the answer was not in the realm of violence as one expected.

"Goals?" Ruby spoke up, just enough for everyone to hear through the tense silence. "What do you mean by that? What goals could we possibly have?"

"Any sort of reason that you would come all the way to the Land of Water while we in a civil war." Aoi reasoned. "It could be wealth, a bounty, or whatever prize you want here."

Ruby's response was a laugh. It was humorous, but also dry in expressing her disappointment. The Kiri shinobi felt a slight chill up their spines and for a moment they thought a genjutsu was tricked upon them when their eyes conveyed the sight of a man of crimson eyes standing behind her looking down on them. It went away as soon as it passed, fast enough that it was forgotten the next second.

"How awfully... dull." Ruby drawled. "Is this how shinobi have become now? How does it come to a point where an act of kindness is automatically suspected to hide ulterior motives?"

"There can be no other reason." Aoi replied.

"Then we are sorry to disappoint you for there is no ulterior motive that we have in stopping this war." This time it was Shirou that spoke before Ruby could offer her retort. "Is it really so hard to believe that we are here to help simply because it is the right thing to do? That is the truth."

In any other way, such a statement would have been brushed aside without a second thought. Yet the sheer conviction in Shirou's words gave the room a pause in silence. Eyes were cast downward in momentary contemplation. Aoi curled his lips, but a glance to his superior made him step down from pressing the issue. The tension finally ceased, letting Pakura's shoulders relax and the many hands in the room retreat from hidden weaponry.

"Let's put the topic of motives aside; I am not going to be pushing away a swift ally gift wrapped for us." Mei spoke diplomatically. "So satisfy my curiosity. You are not an ordinary Jonin of Suna. You're their famed Pakura of Hot Sands, an elite Jonin of the Scorch Release Kekkei Genkei. Yet here you are coming to our aid, but as a missing nin."

Pakura took a deep breath to steady herself before replying. "Back in Suna, I was one of the only ones who voiced in providing aid to the Kiri rebellion, or at the very least provide asylum to fleeing clan members and civilians. They took all that I said and for all that I have, I was awarded the label of a warmonger. But I finally snapped when I overheard my own kage discussing plans in taking advantage of Kiri at the end of this conflict. The spoils of war he called it."

The last sentence sent a chain reaction of silent outrage through the rebellion leadership. While their professionalism kept any vocal reactions, Ruby and Shirou could feel chakra simmering from the anger. Aoi looked like his teeth were about to shatter apart, but Mei had the most composed facade. That didn't stop the visible cracks on her desk where her hands were gripping onto the wood.

"The Kazekage calls our struggle the 'spoils of war?'" A shinobi in Jonin attire seethed. "Why we have to..."

"No." Mei called out with a raised hand. "Steady yourself. We are in no position to enact on such a basis. However, I will make a note of this... slight from the Kazekage."

Those words carried with them an ominous aura surrounding Mei. It was like a shadow wreathed in crimson; it was pure bloodlust incarnate hidden under the skin of a beautiful face. It disappeared a second later, but most of the occupants in the room stared at the leader in abject terror.

'No wonder she's the leader of the Kiri rebellion.' Pakura thought. 'To lead a force from the former Bloody Mist one has to be the epitome of bloodlust themselves.'

Shirou and Ruby were seemingly ignorant of the atmosphere around Mei, possibly due to their odd upbringing by Madara and Obito. The former however did feel a chill down his spine.

"Well, I welcome you Pakura nonetheless to the Kiri rebellion." Mei said warmly. "Since you yourself are a possessor of a Kekkei Genkei, there is no doubt your assistance in this war is genuine. But what about these two little cuties with you?"

Due to their stature, it was easy for Mei to know that Ruby and Shirou were just barely adolescents. That did not mean she could see them less after seeing their display of power. While uncommon, Mei knew of child powerhouses throughout the continent with Kakashi Hatake being a prime example having achieved the rank of Jonin at age six. Others included Kiri's former shinobi Zabuza Momoichi having killed off an entire class of graduates without any former training and even herself to an extent. But even she wasn't that strong at the age Ruby and Shirou were, and it intrigued her no less.

"They're with me, so you don't need to question their loyalties." Pakura answered. "In fact, they are the reason I am even alive. If you need further convincing..."

Pakura glanced to Shirou and Ruby with a knowing gesture. It clicked in their heads of what Pakura intended and so they held their hands where they produced an orb of their respective Kekkai Genkei in the same manner they showed Pakura. The unbreakable composure Mei had put up finally faltered. She sat up from her chair quick enough to push her seat away and leaned her head forward to marvel at the chakra orbs of orange and purple. From Ruby, Mei could feel the signs of it being Scorch Release, creating the assumption the younger girl was a relative of Pakura. Shirou on the other hand interested the rebel leader more with its more potent and mysterious aura. At least now it proved they were on their side. There was no possibility of a Kekkei Genkei user actually working with the Kiri loyalists. The Mizukage would sooner have them executed rather than ally with any.

Ruby and Shirou canceled their Kekkai Genkei soon after, the orbs of chakra flickering out like an extinguished candle. Soft murmurs were exchanged between rebel leaders and elite shinobi, but the general mood was overly positive compared to their neutral position towards Pakura, Ruby, and Shirou. It also seemed enough for Mei as she stood straight with a welcoming smile on her face.

"Now that that is out of the way," Mei announced, extending a hand, "I would like to formally welcome you to the Kiri rebellion. Thank you for joining the fight."

"It is our pleasure." Pakura replied, stepping up to take Mei's hand in a handshake.

"But we aren't here to join the war." Ruby spoke up. "We are here to put an end to it."

"Getting a little ahead of yourself, don't you think?" Mei said.

"Who was it that saved your butts from nearly crippling your side?" Ruby playfully taunted.

Mei laughed melodiously. "Ara, you have quite the bite and the bark. I wonder if there is a little wolf behind that mask. So how would you go about getting us closer to ending this war?"

"That depends." Ruby said. "Now that you can still stand to go on the offense, what would be your next objective."

Mei turned to Aoi with a nodding gesture. Said shinobi sputtered in his words and hesitated to tell a child in his eyes their offensive plans. The intensifying glare from Mei and the chill of her rising bloodlust gave him no room to deny.

"The force the Mizukage had sent was meant to end us, or at least cripple us from the fight for a few years." Aoi informed, setting down a map of the islands of Water County on Mei's desk. "With their defeat, the tides have turned and we can press an attack on the main island itself. First, we have to take over the docks. No doubt a considerable garrison is stationed there in the off chance to block any of our forces trying to make a counterattack towards the Mist Village. These forces are not as large as the one earlier, but it is still enough that considerable losses may occur if we try a direct assault. We simply are outnumbered."

"What about reinforcements?" Pakura inquired, her eyes scanning over to the southeast of the map where blue dots marked rebel cells.

Aoi shook his head. "They would take too long. The other cells have their own battles to win, and this one is the main force against the Mizukage. We could wait for them to mobilize into a strike force to invade the Mist Village, yet that comes in taking into account of losing key positions and the timing required before the Mizukage strikes against us. It can be done, but the time it will take would be too long for a proper attack to finish the civil war. But..."

"The more we wait, the more innocent people will suffer." Ruby said. "The more that we try to get some measure of strength, the more men, women, and children are gutted under the sole crime of something that makes them unique, something they didn't even ask for. I don't know what individual motives you all have, but this rebellion was made to put a stop to this. Because all of you know that this genocide serves no goodwill for your country. You want to take this tactically for an assured victory, but the truth is it gnaws at you that time is being wasted because every minute a man that was once a farmer, a woman a soon-to-be wife, or a child stolen from their family will die. And that's why I am here, to have us stop wasting time and put an end to it?"

"Please, elaborate how would do that?" Aoi said with narrowed eyes.

"Answer me this then." Ruby replied. "If the force you have here were to make their way to Mist Village without any opposition along the way, would it be enough to defeat the Mizukage and his garrison?"

The only indication of surprise was the slight widening of his one visible eye. His gaze drew downward and he cupped his chin deep in thought.

"It is... doable." Aoi answered. "That is what this cell was made for. However, what you are proposing is simply impossible. Casualties are unavoidable in war. Even if the docks were to be taken with only a single loss, there is still the threat of defending armies at the coast of the main island. We would have to face at least two armies of shinobi before we could lay an attack at the capital itself. We will lose too many on the way."

"Then we make sure that there is no opposition to the capital." Ruby answered. "So the way I see it is clear. You and your army stay back while I and my partner clear your path."

"...You seriously can't mean to take on two garrisons of shinobi by yourself!?" Mei exclaimed, her eyes blinking incredulously.

"I won't be alone." Ruby said, pointing a thumb at Shirou. "I got him to watch my back."

Complete silence greeted Ruby's words that could only be said to be the height of arrogance. Yet the way she conveyed them spoke of confidence backed by abilities that none of them knew for certain. Even Pakura was giving Shirou and Ruby wary glances, wondering just how strong the two were if Ruby was confident to face such numbers.

Aoi broke the silence coughing into his hand. "While your... enthusiasm is admirable, you have to understand that what you are proposing is... unbelievable. Unless I am looking at two S-class nin in disguise."

"I mean, it's not a real problem for you guys." Ruby said with a shrug. "The worst that can happen is only Shirou and myself could die while no one on your side will suffer the casualties. But would you rather wait out this civil war knowing what is at stake, or are you willing to take the gamble to put an end to this by the end of the week?"

Faces were exchanged in silent conversation. Mei hung her head low with her eyes deep in thought. At least to Ruby she got them thinking in letting Shirou and Ruby take the brunt of the force. If she needed to, she can always pull out Agni to burn everything down. If all else fails, explosions solve everything.

"Besides," Ruby added her last two cents, "after what these... creatures support, just try to fucking stop me from gutting them."

(A few kilometers from Mist Village)

A woman opened her eyes again to be greeted by the cold cell she was locked into along with the various people. They were all clumped together with only rags to shield them from the damp, cold air. Rage boiled in her chest at the audacity of her own homeland's shinobi for imprisoning solely for the crime of being born different. Each one from the smallest child to the frailest elder possessed a Kekkai Genkei, whether it be the Ice Release or those of the Kaguya clan. They were not given chakra suppressing seals and instead they were hardly fed to keep their chakra levels low enough from any use.

Earlier, the woman had fallen asleep from hunger pains but the scream of a man and the screech of bars doors woke her up. Despite the darkness of night, the moonlight through the barred windows was enough to illuminate the scene before the prisoners. One of the jailers had come, dressed in all black similar to ANBU attire that left no patch of hair or skin visible and complete with a pale mask to hide away the face. He had entered the cell on the other side, causing the occupants to shuffle away in fear. It was an occasional occurrence where one of the guards would come unexpectantly and drag away a random person. No one knew of their fate, but everyone that was taken away by the guards was never seen again.

The guard's target this time was a man, who was literally kicking up a fuss. He did not surrender easily, constantly kicking at the approaching Kiri shinobi in a vain attempt to ward him away. When he actually got in a kick at the ANBU's shin, it only served to aggravate him and was earned with a nasty right hook that tore off several teeth.

"Would you stop squirming, ya insect?" Growled the man underneath the mask.

His arm snapped on the victim's ankle and without a shred of care started to drag the poor man out of the cell. Even still the unfortunate one continued to kick at the shinobi to no avail. The more he resisted, the more desperate he became until it was only do or die.

"No!" The man screamed. "No, I can't die! I still have to find my family!"

There was a soft tingle in the air, like a cool breeze. Some widened their eyes in recognition of the change in the air. The woman who woke up saw the scene clearly of the man on the ground lurching up enough to get in arm's reach. To her shock, the man managed to summon the meager amount of chakra to create ice at his fingertips. His gamble proved fruitful as the claws of ice were sharp enough to dig deep into the side of the shinobi's skull, eliciting a cry of pain and a splash of blood to paint the wall and ceiling.

The shinobi then fell limply on the floor. For a moment, hope was flickering in the eyes of the prisoners. That perhaps with the dead guard there was a chance to be free. That was ruined when the shinobi soon got to his feet. A collective thought of impossibility ran through everyone's head at the sight. They could all clearly see the claws of ice digging deep into the shinobi's skull to fully ruin his brain, yet there he was fine but with growing rage.

"You fucking bastard!" The shinobi cried, practically ripping half of his scalp off without a care to get rid of the ice shards, causing more blood to spill everywhere. "I may be immortal, but that shit still hurts! You are gonna pay for that, meat!"

"W-What the-" The Ice Release user stammered in fear. "Get away, you monster!"

"I don't think so!" The shinobi said wickedly, smashing the victim's thigh into a meaty mess. "You see, I was gonna be the nice guy and give you a quick death. But with all that complaining and shit you pulled, I don't give a damn about hiding this anymore."

In one swipe, the shinobi had taken off his face. Instead of the visage of a man, what greeted everyone was the sight of monster from their nightmares. Pale skin shined in the moonlight as if having not touched that of the sun. Grizzled markings that gave a more twisted look etched on features along with bulging veins, and cold crimson eyes bored down with no little amount of sadism. Worst of all was the sickening grin showing an array of sharp teeth and a long tongue licking his lips in saliva.

"And I am just so damn hungry!"

The shinobi all but pounced, and the prisoners could only watch in muted horror as the Ice Release user was torn to shreds. He wasn't given a chance to scream as the 'shinobi' mauled off his throat and quite literally chomping down the contents. With every torn fresh, he continued to eat and eat, uncaring of the blood splattering on the prisoners whether they be men, women, or children. No, they couldn't be called prisoners anymore. They knew that their fate was to be food for this creature.

Suddenly, their visions began to blur and their consciousness drift to Nirvanna. The woman who had awoken tried to resist, but it was an unseen force affecting her mind. Words intangible to understand seeped into her mind like poison. Just before her consciousness gave out, she was only able to see a pale face look back at her with cold blue eyes. Only instead of pupils, they held kanji spelling out a title.

LOWER MOON ONE

Oh shit, motherfucker! We got demons in Kiri feasting off the clans of Kekkei Genkei. Led by Enmu himself to guide in this wonderful buffet of suffering. The dangers keep increasing, and one can only hope that they shall not increase. Ah, who are we kidding!? It's probably gonna get worse!

Up next is Chapter 20.

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