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Chapter 20: Blitzkrieg

"We are under - GACK!"

'Oh, really?' Ruby thought sarcastically as she pulled her katana back out from the shoulder of her latest kill. 'I'm sorry I didn't notice.'

All around her was pandemonium taking the form of flames with the occasional explosion. Shortly after her proclamation towards Mei and her resistance, Ruby and Shirou alone infiltrated the harbor holding the Mizukage's forward garrison. Well, they would say 'infiltrated', but it was more Ruby after making a squad of clones walked right up to the front gates. Shirou was not too far to breach through the defenses and flank the enemy with overwhelming power. Ruby purposely made a show to attract attention, lifting her cloak aside to reveal her sheathed katana where her hand was ready to draw it out.

"Who wants to face me, or are you cowardly dogs?" Ruby goated, her voice reaching all across the harbor.

Quite honestly, Ruby expected to be instantly blitzed by Kiri forces as soon as she made her intentions clear. She would have been ready nonetheless to defend herself. A shinobi would have admonished her for such reckless action, but she was not a shinobi. In her head, Ruby would rather take a more samurai approach facing the enemy head-on with a little flair of shinobi tactics. Whatever works of course.

It was a slight surprise when Kiri shinobi greeted her in kind as they accosted her from all sides. One took the lead, wearing a headband of his nation and the lower half of his face covered in a mask of cloth. Yet Ruby could sense the smug smile on the Kiri soldier's face as he brandished a kunai in each hand more than confident to run her down with them. To them, she was a vagabond having lost her mind and wishing for death. For how could someone not a shinobi ever be capable of defending themselves against the likes of them?

They were some rather... crass remarks towards Ruby, but she did not react to them. She kept her composure and laid her right hand on the hilt of her Ninchirin katana, her body tense like a coiled spring. The shinobi did not take the time to size Ruby up and instead went full speed towards her more in a show of his abilities to his allies rather than ending the fight quickly. His movements were only about bravado, but they were no less the expected speed of an experienced shinobi in his prime faster than regular folks could react.

Ruby of course was no ordinary person. Even without her Sharingan activated, the shinobi was moving rather slowly to her own perspective. So when the time was right, Ruby sprang her body into motion far faster than any shinobi drawing forth her blade in classic iaido. The arc of her blade whistled through the air creating an arc of silver in her swing as swift and brief as lightning, and along with came the splash of freshly spilled blood raining out from the killing blow.

Ruby had barely even moved when the shinobi that she cut down fell down dead by the sting of Mizutsune. To the Kiri forces seeing their fellow soldier cut down so methodically caused a wave of shock that made them stand in place. She could have taken the opportunity to cut them down in their moment of vulnerability, but Ruby instead waited for them to renew their attack. A point needed to be made and a show of an unstoppable force needed to be performed.

And more of them came one by one from the small crowd that surrounded her. Hardly moving an inch, Ruby cut them down in quick arcs of her blade singing in the air and slicing through their hold on life. Two fell behind her, then three, then four. Until finally, a fifth slumped to the ground behind her, muddying the air in the smell of fresh blood. As for the Kiri forces just beyond the gate having been shown off her masterful carnage, Ruby saw the seeds of fear.

It was a tactic taught to Ruby by Madara; by sowing seeds of fear through an overwhelming show of power. Keep pressing on that rhythm so their minds conjure up a force of nature instead of a human. When they perceive something beyond their scopes, it makes that fear fester and grow amongst their ranks. Fear makes them mess up whereas calm can keep them at their top form. Terror will make them crumble like brittle clay. Madara made it a signature tactic in his glory and passed it down to Ruby who made it into an art.

It wasn't long till they were calling her monster. By that point, she was literally cutting her way through the streets and methodically cutting down any that opposed her. An explosion rocked the outer walls of Shirou unleashing his Dragon Release, and that served as a signal for Ruby's clones to unleash Scorch Release Jutsu to turn the harbor into a hellish mess of smoke and red flames.

This brings to the now with Ruby and Shirou well underway of razing the harbor and especially its garrison down to the flames and blood. The Kiri shinobi had no idea what to do having been completely taken off guard by the blitzkrieg maneuver by both fighters and the issuing chaos kept them from immobilizing. As a result, Kiri fatalities started on accidents such as friendly fire and the occasional soldier running around whilst on fire whilst screaming their head off due to the flames eating at their body from a fire that got too voracious. It further spread terror through their ranks and crumbled their morale. With Shirou's destructive Jutsu and Ruby's clones' hit-and-run tactics, confusion spread through them wondering who was exactly attacking them and how many were there.

The only constant they had was Ruby, who was purposely drawing attention to herself. Already as she withdrew her blade from the body of her latest kill, she saw another shinobi taking the chance to land a killing blow whilst she was 'distracted'. A single hand sign brought Substitution switching Ruby with a pebble behind the shinobi and stabbing her blade through his heart. In the same second, she focused her breathing on the thoughts of crackling lightning, causing electricity to arc across her body.

Inhale

'Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunder Clap and Flash-'

"There's the intruder!" Called a shinobi to his allies, readying a kunai as he made a charge to skewer with his comrades mirroring him from behind.

Exhale

'-Eightfold.'

To a Jonin looking from the rooftops, the scene that greeted shook the soldier to his core. He was in the midst of preparing a water Jutsu to attack Ruby, but what he saw before his eyes made all his motions lock up. Ruby for all that Jonin knew was standing, but in the next instant, there was a bright flash blinding his vision followed by the crack of thunder. It was that flash and the devastation that left in her wake of his fellow shinobi culled down in the same moment. As a Jonin having been witnessed the Third Shinobi War, it triggered a terrifying sight that made him freeze up.

'Just... Just like him!' The Kiri shinobi thought in terror, the image of a blonde man brandishing a kunai decorated in seals.

It may have been a different color, but it was all too similar in that untrackable speed. The same flash of light signature to Minato Namikaze, beholder of the Hiraishin that brought down an entire army with speed so fast he only left flashes of yellow light. This same feat was being replicated yet again.

'We're doomed!' The Jonin thought in disarray.

They were his last thoughts to be the arc of slashing steel cut through his neck thus severing his head from the body courtesy of a clone of Ruby. In the meantime, Ruby continued cutting through the ranks throughout the streets, alleyways, and rooftops with the onlookers only able to perceive a flash of crimson light before their inevitable demise. Some even broke into a retreat screaming in terror at the coming of a new Red Flash. For what they could against a force so fast that heads rolled in Ruby's wake?

Ruby was only a significant part of the siege. Throughout the outer flanks of the harbor, Shirou laid down an artillery barrage of his destructive chakra. A clone of himself released fire on the port preventing any of the shinobi from escaping to the boats. As much as he didn't want to kill them as they fled, none of them could risk the chance of a single shinobi warning the Mizukage in advance. From within the harbor itself, Shirou unleashed Dragon Release thinning down the ranks from a high vantage point and spreading the fire to cause further chaos. Such destruction and elaborate ruin painted a hell for the Kiri shinobi.

Some would call it brutal or downright evil, but it was payment for the same evil of genocide these shinobi supported. The willingness to kill their fellow countrymen, ruin families and kill children over the superstition of a kage gone mad. A reminder of what they could still do to more innocent lives gave Shirou the resolve to continue blasting the roaring fires on the port. He dared not use his new Wood Release lest he causes more unnecessary drama in the midst of this civil war.

It was over before the sun could rise, and Mei's forces were treated to the sight of the port almost reduced to nothing. Blocks were burnt down to smoking piles of soot that dyed the ground in coal black. The only things partially intact were the harbor itself well enough for the rebel army to make their way to the mainland. Mei with acutely sharp vision could make out the forms of Ruby and Shirou sitting on charred timber before a blaze of burning bodies gathered from the battle.

All of the Kiri rebels were left in shared shock, including Mei and Pakura at the head of the army, but not at the devastation of the harbor. Some veterans of the shinobi war have seen similar levels of destruction from the Third Shinobi War, yet it was the fact it was done by two unknowns in one night to what it would take a few squads of ANBU to cause the same amount of destruction in the same time period.

For Mei, it was to put it humbling. She had more than half a mind that the two were going to fail, maybe at least cause enough chaos to leave a small skirmish to take the harbor. Not in her wildest dreams did she imagine two kids that completely decimate an entire garrison by themselves before the night. Seeing the results of their real strength struck Mei with an epiphany.

'Those are not kids.' Mei thought in realization. 'They're monsters. More monstrous than the Bloody Mist.'

"Ha..." Pakura forced out a broken chuckle, not properly able to take in the sight. "I was... I was running alongside them. I was... They... They could have done that all this time... and I..."

"Now let's calm down here." Ruby's voice spoke from behind them, and it took all of their willpower not to jump. "The way is clear for your forces to advance on the mainland."

"How did... Right, clone Jutsu." Mei said. "Well, Okami, it does seem you certainly live up to your promises. I am... thankful for your assistance."

"Don't thank us yet." Ruby said, a smile behind her mask. "You still have the main armies on the mainland before you can attack the Mizukage at the village. You need all the manpower you need if you want to face an army with a Kage-level jinchurriki leading them. So same as the first, we will clear a path for us by engaging the Kiri forces first."

"Indeed, however we won't make an immediate offense on Yagura." Mei explained. "Once we have secured our place on the main island, we would like to take a pause and take an approach on Yagura's programs. Mainly the trafficking of bloodline captives, either to the death camps or to the black market for illicit deals. It's only hearsay and barely above rumors, but I would like to save those people before I take down Yagura. I hope you can help me with that."

Somehow, Mei could tell that Ruby's smile grew more warmly behind the mask. She gave a deep nod before the clone puffed into smoke and the information relayed back to Ruby. Those shinobi led by Mei witnessing the aftermath of a total victory by two 'unknowns' seared into their minds. It was the start of a legend the likes of which haven't been told since the days of the First Shinobi War and before then.

The tale of the Punishment Samurai and the Avenging Inferno.

(Time-skip; Invasion of Water Country's Main Capital)

Like before at the port, Ruby and Shirou alone dealt with Kiri's army, clearing a path for Mei towards the Hidden Mist Village. They had found Kiri's shinobi stationed in an encampment just a little ways from the shore. If Mei's rebellion had proceeded without them, the enemy would have seen them coming. Unfortunately for them, they would not notice a pair of walking nukes sneaking past their senses.

It's ironic really when the heavy mist the Kiri regarded so much was used against them in an ambush. With Shirou and Ruby using Shadow Clones to surround the encampment, it took one single Jutsu from each to blast the encampment in a glorious fire. They only had a second to scream in the anguish of their fate before the flames of countless fire Jutsus going off at once reduced them to ashes. Yet despite the ruthless slaughter of an entire army, Ruby still felt pity for their fate. If they had taken a more honest instead of this pointless slaughter they revealed then none of this would have been necessary. In Ruby's eyes, this was deserved.

Now Mei's army had taken their place and made a considerable outpost thanks in part to their division of Ninjutsu specialists using a combination of earth and water Jutsu to fortify themselves. Camps were built stretching from the shore to the forested terrain, hidden by a summoned mist courtesy of rebel shinobi.

That comes to the now with Ruby, Shirou, and Pakura standing amongst Mei and her commanders surrounding a table laden with the main island's map. A kunai was stabbed on the location of the Hidden Mist, right through the wood nonetheless. Compared to Ruby's first time meeting the leadership of the rebellion, they were much higher in spirits. Their previous stoic looks now sported confident smirks of victory. Outside, Ruby could hear the morale of the Kiri rebels outside as some were already in boisterous celebration. She couldn't blame really; they were now so close to their goal of ending the civil war.

"I knew I would find myself here," Mei said under her breath, "but I only thought it to be quite a while in the future."

"Just one more push, and it will all be over." Pakura added. "However, you had us stopped in for a reason. Don't think I didn't miss that scouting party you sent out. From the looks of it, they returned with something that has you stopping before the siege."

"And it's worth the effort, trust me." Mei said, her gaze focusing on Shirou and Ruby to grab their attention. "Okami, Tetsu, I request to take on this mission. While I know you would be a great help in the siege on the Hidden Mist, I feel it is better to have you on this based on the extensive skillset you've showcased. Case in point, we have found where they are keeping the remaining families of Kekkei Genkei."

There was a moment of silence for Ruby and Shirou to understand the implications of the news. A wide smile stretched behind Ruby's mask. This was an opportunity to save whole families from extinction. To save the very people that have been butchered. Shirou and Ruby didn't need to nod to agree with Mei's plans for them.

"Please continue, Mei-sama." Ruby said eagerly.

"From the intel that we have gathered, the last of the unfortunate families are being carried by train to their so-called 'cleansing' camps." Mei informed. "Normally, their train network uses private tracks managed by the military and our bastard of a Daimyo. However, the pressure in the civil war has forced them to use unconventional means since we as former Kiri shinobi know of these military routes. And so, they use public transportation in transferring prisoners and other illicit things. Civilians could be on one of these trains and be none the wiser. What we have been informed is the current train they are using and the station it will be stopping. After that, it's a whole night's travel to the other side of the island."

"I have an idea what you want Tetsu and I to do, but please share this mission you have for us." Ruby said.

"Your objective is simple." Mei replied, planting her finger on a spot on a map. "You are to infiltrate the train, posing as regular travelers, take control of the train, and free those families themselves. Expect shinobi in disguise as well, probably ANBU. Remember, you have a whole night to finish this because after that those people are going to on the other side of the island where we can't reach you. We can dedicate our whole forces for a rescue lest we take some losses and warn the Mizukage of our arrival. Is that clear, Okami, Tetsu?"

"Hai." Confirmed the masked warriors.

"What about me, Mei-sama?" Pakura interjected.

"I know you of all people want to be on this mission." Mei admitted to the former Suna kunoichi. "However, I want your strengths in a scouting party. I know enough about you that you're a specialist in stealth and saboteur. Those skills are needed in scouting out Yagura's garrison and the defenses around the Hidden Mist Village. That way, we can plan accordingly instead of charging like a bunch of Genin fresh from the academy."

"...As you will." Pakura relented in agreement.

"Don't worry, Pakura." Ruby assured, meeting the kunoichi's eyes with her own gaze. "I will save those people. I didn't come all the way here to fail on that promise."

"You better." Pakura responded with some fake bite. "I didn't go rogue on my home just to let those families down."

Ruby couldn't help but let out a light chuckle. "Trust me, they'll be free by dawn. Let's head, Tetsu-kun."

(Train Station; Hidden Prisoner Checkpoint)

Shirou and Ruby left Mei's outpost towards the station where their target was predicted to stop. Once far enough away from prying eyes, they had forgone their masks and decided to use a more inconspicuous guise. They stored away most of their armor for more civilian wear, leaving only Ruby's signature red hood, their kasa hats, and their dual katanas strapped to their waists. At least on commercial transport, people would look over their weapons as something of a commodity or label them as mercenaries.

The pair went along the main road, blending in with the usual caravans and wagons of Water Country's civilian folk. Eventually, they came in sight of a large suburban town, possibly the main residence of the civilian population of the whole island. After that, it was simple to ask the folks for directions to the train station, where they waited until the time was right.

By nightfall, the sound of train wheels screeching to a halt roused Shirou and Ruby to full attention. They followed the citizens into the residential cars. It was above average in terms of commodity with the sole purpose of giving the most comfort for the passengers. At the same time, shadow clones of Ruby and Shirou disguised as twigs and stones dispersed across the top of the train in order to search the more restricted areas for the prisoners.

Ruby and Shirou took a seat together, with Ruby having taken the window seat with her silver eyes staring out to the scenery. With the sharp whistle of the train, they began to move and the outside began to rush past her vision. Thirty minutes into the ride, Shirou perked up indicating that one of his clones dispersed with the news.

"What did you find?" Ruby asked him.

"In the last three cars down the train." Shirou informed. "They were disguised themselves as standard storage with Genjutsu to deter away civilians. Despite only three, they are all stuffed in there behind bars and held by chains. There were children too, the youngest being only five years old. By the estimate, there are at least a dozen families locked in there."

Ruby had to suppress herself for not growling in utter rage before replying. "What about the guards? Chunin? Jonin? ANBU?"

"That's what has me on edge." Shirou answered with a complicated expression. "They were known I could find. No ANBU in disguise. No Jonin posing as any of the passengers. The fact I can't sense anything out of the ordinary is... unnerving."

Behind her mask, Ruby bit down on her bottom lip and her left index fingers began scratching against the wooden wall. A habit Ruby made when trying to think through a situation that left her stumped. There was no way these Kekkei Genkei families would be unguarded with all the racism against them. She ended up with the suggestion of investigating the cars herself.

However, as she was about to flex her chakra, she was suddenly caught in a wave of exhaustion. Her mouth opened wide out of her control to release a long yawn. Stretched arms relaxed back with a lazy weight to them, and she could already feel her eyelids weigh down.

"Wha..." Mumbled Ruby, scratching her eyes to keep herself awake. "Sh... Shiwou... Huh..."

When Ruby looked beside her, she was stunned to find her partner had fallen into a peaceful sleep. His chest heaved up and down in a calm rhythm while his head leaned back into the cushions to sleep away. Admittedly, Ruby took a moment to drink in the sight of Shirou's peaceful sleeping face before her mind righted itself.

"Why... am I... so sleepy..." Moaned Ruby as by the second it was becoming harder to stay awake. "Maybe... I should..."

Her vision continued to darken and soon enough her eyelids were closed into a deep sleep. Ruby's head leaned to the side, using Shirou's shoulder as a makeshift pillow. Such blissful slumber was shared throughout all the occupants on the train, including the prisoners. The source of it all was a hand stretched out from the ceiling of the train with palms displaying drooling maws stretched in a mad grin.

"Sleep tight, our precious cattle..."

Lower Moon One has struck! What sort of evil plot run afoul with the demons in the middle of Wave Country's civil war? Do they seek to use the slaughter to fill their bellies of blood and flesh? Can Shirou and Ruby make it out and save everyone from this monster that has put them into a sleep?

Up next is Chapter 21.

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