Hey there people, back with an update for Senju Scion this time. As usual we will touch on some points first and then get into the fic.
Alright first of all, I know I have hit on the pairings pretty much every update but here we are again. This will be the final time because I have made my final decision on who is with who. Our boy Naruto retains a very sizable harem with no less than seven members at its peak. No more than that.
Anyway with that done onto the next order of business.
A response to a guest review.
Review: Madara taking an interest in young Naruto scares me. Or worse. Zetsu. Unless Madara is already dead? Are the chakra reincarnations a thing in this world? Or is Naruto just Naruto? Because I don't think there's an Uchiha counterpart who's a little older than him yet?
Response: Yeah, anybody catching Madara's attention is in for trouble, thankfully he is not exactly active in the world right now. Hiding out in his little hole with Zetsu. He is still alive and because he is, the reincarnation cycle hasn't happened again yet. I imagine for it to happen both the Indra and Asura reincarnations of the previous generation have to die first. As far as them being a thing, Naruto is not a reincarnation this time around because Madara didn't die so they don't really have any part in the plot…yet. So Naruto is indeed just Naruto.
Now for those that are interested in joining a discord server with other readers and writers of fanfiction I am inviting you to join both the Triumvirate server hosted by myself, Kiege, and Madlad aka TheChamp123. A link can be found here→ /auc4PQjVtz and the Goat server hosted by AizenTheGoat found here→ /dV9hH5zd5F
I hope to see you there.
Anyway on to the story then.
Chapter Four
Ending the Conflict
The send off that Tsunade and Orochimaru had given their unit had been depressing. Tsunade was an emotional woman but not really a weepy one. She was practically sobbing as she embraced not only Naruto but Kushina as well. The little redhead wasn't sure what to think about that, but she has to admit it was nice to be a part of the Senju family.
The team, composed of both Jiraiya's squad and Sakumo's squad, would be deploying into the Land of Rivers where the first fighting had begun. A week prior and both the Village Hidden in the Valleys and the Hidden Leaf had been skirmishing with each other along the border. Now though they fought together against a frighteningly advanced force from the Village Hidden in the Sky.
Already the first three battles had taken place and all had been narrow defeats for Konoha. A handful of the Sky Shinobi utilized some sort of back mounted aircraft that let them strafe and assault Shinobi on the ground with near impunity. Thankfully they couldn't use ninjutsu while in their contraptions and in fact couldn't even throw kunai and shuriken having to rely on weapons mounted to their wings that launched rounds that appeared like thicker and longer senbon than a ninja might normally use.
The majority of their troops however came from odd large vehicles that simply dropped them onto the battlefield. They swept in over it and opened doors where the Sky ninja would leap out of and into combat. When supported by the air based Shinobi it was a nightmare for Konoha to adapt to.
Now though, there had been an opportunity that presented itself.
"Come on. We'll brief you on the road." Jiraiya commanded and the two teams fell into step behind him as he began walking down the road. They would take to the trees soon enough.
"You all know this isn't your usual mission, right kids?" Jiraiya asked, getting nods from all six young genin. He eyed his son a bit longer than the rest before he continued.
"If it was up to me you would all be running logistics missions like genin are supposed to but the Hokage himself has decided to place his faith into you. We will be joining up with a team of Jonin and Chunin that are launching an assault on one of the enemy's airships. They have to land to retrieve their troops after battle so we set up an ambush. Hopefully the fighting will be done when we get there and we will just pile into the ship with them. If not, then prepare yourselves for fighting Shinobi." The Sannin was serious and stern as he spoke, making it clear this was something they needed to take seriously as well.
"Fighting Shinobi is different from the bandits or other criminals you've fought before. They are far more deadly and they will not hesitate to kill you despite your young ages. Don't hesitate in returning that favor." Sakumo added in.
"You six are the best of your generation. After this scuffle with the Sky village is over and done with I am intent on getting you all pressed on to chunin. I have no doubt that you will deserve it." Jiraiya said with a proud smile as the kids stood a little taller at that suggestion.
"Sensei, where are we meeting the others at exactly?" Naruto asked.
"We'll be headed to the land of Rivers. It's the new frontline for this war. After we are on board the Sky Village ship we'll use it to invade directly into their flying fortress. It's more like a city really. Once there our objective is to destroy the sealing arrays and power source that keeps the city afloat and crash it. As much as having a mobile flying city adds defense to their home it also leaves a major weakness." Jiraiya explained.
"Gravity." Minako said.
"Simple but effective, I guess." Kushina nodded as she spoke.
"Exactly. Now unless you have any more questions let's get into the canopy and get under way." Jiraiya said as he launched up into the branches followed by Sakumo and the rest of the team.
Back in Konoha, Tsunade and Orochimaru we're hard at work on their own tasks. Already wounded were beginning to filter in from the new frontline and Tsunade was leading the medical teams as was usual.
Orochimaru had been the one to get the exact location of the Hidden Sky Village. She had worked for a couple days straight on a young chunin woman from Konoha's newest enemy and gotten literally everything she had to offer.
Orochimaru knew more about this poor woman now than most of her former allies did.
Done with that she had moved to help her teammate in anyway she could in the hospital. She was no true medic nin but she had plenty of medical jutsu under her belt thanks to Tsunade's insistence and the necessity of keeping her subjects alive for questioning in her normal work.
That being said her bedside manner was worse than Tsunade's was. She was a bit prone toward the tough love approach and encouragement through mockery. How exactly being poked and prodded roughly while being mocked mercilessly by a beautiful woman was supposed to help patients was known only to Orochimaru herself.
Right at this moment though both she and Tsunade we're getting a much needed breather. The number of casualties was high but there was little outside of basic puncture or tearing injuries from the projectile weapons of the Sky Shinobi or from Kunai and swords on the ground.
"Take away their technology and these Sky ninja are weaklings. Barely even worthy to be called Shinobi." Orochimaru said to Tsunade while disgusted by the means that their enemies had decided to increase their power.
"It's effective enough though." Tsunade grumbled as she powered through a small meal to regain some energy for healing the wounded.
"It will only cause rot from within. Relying on this technology to replace the power of individual Shinobi. They can hardly even use ninjutsu. If they were to win their Shinobi would all grow lazy and fat in five years." Orochimaru said eyeing her blonde friend as she spoke.
"That is true. They can hardly throw a Kunai even…oh ho. I see what you're doing very good Oro, but you don't have to distract me with this. I know he's going to be fine." Tsunade said after realizing that Orochimaru was trying to play up how weak the enemy was to subconsciously ease her worry about Naruto.
"Of course he is. He is a different breed. Him and the little redhead and that blonde girl would chew through these Sky ninja like candy." Orochimaru said only to blink when Tsunade's expression changed to complete worry.
"Oh what if-" Tsunade began only for Orochimaru to cover her mouth.
"No, absolutely none of that. As much as I hate admitting it, Jiraiya is capable of protecting them. Especially Naruto. They will be fine." Orochimaru locked her eyes with Tsunade until the blonde woman slowly nodded.
When she released her, the Snake Sannin could only grin at the glare Tsunade sent her way.
"Don't do that again." She growled.
"No promises, Tsunade. When it comes to Naruto you tend to get worked up. Like I said they are in good hands even if Jiraiya is typically a completely idiotic fool." Orochimaru said.
Tsunade sighed but turned her attention back to her food. She knew the dark haired woman was right. For all of his faults her old flame was possibly Konoha's strongest Shinobi right now and Sakumo was in the running as well.
"You are being awfully nice today. Even complimenting Jiraiya. What's gotten into you?" Tsunade teased.
"Oh, well it was the day spent playing nurse. It's actually kind of fun. What do you think about me getting one of those uniforms? The really tight white ones with the little hat?" Orochimaru asked.
"Someone catch your eye?" Tsunade asked, very interested. She wanted Orochimaru to have a chance at a happy life in spite of all her odd quirks. She was her closest friend after all.
"Not yet no, but you are the only one I would ask this kind of thing about. I have an image to uphold." The snake mistress giggled.
Tsunade smiled faintly. It was nice to distract herself from always worrying about Naruto. She honestly wondered if she would still get as worried when he was older or if she would be more accepting of her son living as a Shinobi did.
The airship that was supposed to have been captured by the time Naruto and the others arrived, most assuredly was not.
The team of Jonin and Chunin had not expected that the airship itself had several of the weapon launchers that the Sky Shinobi used installed along it's ramp. While they had prevented the craft from taking off, the teams sent to seize the aircraft and take over command of it had been killed in the wide open space just outside the entrance.
Now both sides were at a standoff. While the Sky ninja lacked any formidable jutsu to truly defeat the Konoha Shinobi trying to gain entrance, the Konoha ninja lacked the numbers to make a direct assault on the ramp.
At least until the likes of two of Konoha's most legendary Shinobi and their students arrived. The tide quickly turned after that with Jiraiya catching the sky ninja in some sort of mucusy glue, that was mostly made of water. A perfect conductor for Sakumo to easily finish them off. Unable to fight back they were easy pickings for Konoha's White Fang.
"Move in and wipe the enemy out! No prisoners." Sakumo barked and the Jonin and Chunin that were no longer pinned down rushed inside ready to pay back the defenders.
The fight was short. The airships had a small crew in exchange for plenty of space to carry their soldiers into battle. Luckily the troops meant to fill the cargo hold of the Sky ninja vessel had already been handled and in their place Naruto and his friends and their two teachers joined a small collection of other Shinobi for their planned attack on the Sky Shinobi fortress.
"You've all done well to get us this far, but it's only the beginning. As you know, our plan is to take this ship and use it to directly assault the enemy's home base. Our scouts have put it out over the Land of River's coastline. We hope to be able to land this airship onto their flying base uncontested, however you all well know how plans like that work out in reality." Jiraiya explained.
The Shinobi gathered nodded their heads solemnly. After all, they had already experienced their plans being fouled up on this mission. The loss of their comrades in taking the airship was felt profoundly.
"It has been decided by the Hokage himself that the technology of the Land of Sky cannot be allowed to be recreated. Even among our own forces. We will destroy whatever power source the enemy's home utilizes to stay aloft and evacuate on the civilian airships that our scouts have spotted buzzing around. There will be a short window ladies and gentlemen so we need to evacuate quickly once we achieve our objective." Sakumo took over from Jiraiya.
"Any questions? Get them out of the way now, because there won't be another chance." Jiraiya said.
"Actually, Lord Jiraiya, Lord Sakumo…why are you bringing your genin teams? Isn't this a bit too risky for them. Not to mention who they all are." One of the Shinobi asked. His comment not exactly directed at Issei and Minako but more at Naruto, Kushina, Tsume, and Shibi.
"Our genin may be young, but I think you will find them more than capable for this mission. Unless you are doubting the wishes and commands of your Hokage?" Jiraiya asked sharply.
The Shinobi balked slightly at the insinuation and wisely backed off. Jiraiya felt a little bad at telling the kid off like that, especially when he agreed that the genin should not be there. Especially his son. Orders were orders though and he needed to impress upon the others that they could rely upon Naruto and his friends. They couldn't risk a breakdown in unit cohesion due to doubts springing up at the fact some of their force was still half a decade from even starting puberty.
"Alright. If there are no more questions then we need to get started. This is normally where an officer blusters up with some sort of emotional and passionate speech to get everyone riled up for a fight and to bolster morale. I'm not going to bullshit you though. This is going to be a brutal fight and a hard mission. However, if we pull this off it will be all the show of force that Lord Third needs to drive the final peace treaty home with the other major villages and end this war. I have faith in you. The Hokage has faith in you, and Konoha and the Land of Fire all have faith in you. With that kind of backing we can't fail. So let's just get this job done and go home for a victory round at the bar!" Jiraiya was bellowing by the end, getting cheers from the troops.
Naruto clapped for his father while his two teammates shared the same reaction as Sakumo and his team. Flat stares and unimpressed looks.
"I thought your sensei said something about not blustering up an emotional and passionate speech." Kushina said.
"I believe that was a ruse of some sort. Perhaps to allow the listeners to be stirred up by an impassioned speech when they don't expect one." Shibi hypothesized.
"You make it sound like he ambushed everyone with his words or something." Tsume scoffed.
"You're looking too much into it man. Jiraiya sensei is just kinda weird." Issei commented.
"Like he's any better." Minako and Kushina mumbled quietly to one another.
"That is enough standing around kids. Let's run a check again to make sure we have everything we need when we land. Ku-" Sakumo began before his head turned to where one of the Shinobi left in the cabin of the vessel came bursting into the room and made a bee line for Jiraiya and Sakumo himself.
"This can't be good." Issei bemoaned.
Sakumo and Jiraiya took the man's report before jumping into action. They sprinted back to the cabin, the genin hot on their heels to see what the matter was and help their teachers if they could.
Upon arriving back at the cabin though an odd sight awaited them. The Shinobi present worriedly held a pair of flags while staring across the open expanse of sky toward another Sky Shinobi airship that had revealed itself from the clouds. On the other craft's deck a pair of Sky ninja stood. One waving the pair of multicolored flags in his hands in clearly specific order to send some kind of message.
"They are trying to signal us." Sakumo ground out through gritted teeth.
"Shit." Jiraiya said running a hand down his face.
"Oh! Ooh ooh I heard of this. Uhm Seminole! It's a Seminole message!" Issei announced proudly.
"I believe you mean Semaphore." Shibi corrected him.
"That's what I said! Sigmaphone." Issei replied.
Jiraiya tried not to sigh too heavily but gently grabbed his eldest student's shoulders. He turned the boy to face him and gave him the most serious look that any of Jiraiya's pupils, even his own son, had ever seen.
"Issei, can you use this…simallone?" Jiraiya asked.
"Sigmaphone sensei." Issei tried to correct him.
"No, it is semaphore. Communication through the use of flags to signal someone in specific orders is called semaphore." Shibi said in a surprisingly agitated tone from his usual stoic one.
"Alright semaphore. Can either of you understand and use it?" Jiraiya asked.
The two boys turned to look at one another for a brief moment before slowly turning back to Jiraiya.
"Sorry sensei, I can't." Issei admitted with a sad expression.
"I also must apologize, why? Because I too cannot utilize semaphore to communicate." Shibi added in.
Jiraiya huffed a defeated sigh before regaining his composure. He turned to the Jonin and Chunin in the room and waved them over.
"Let everyone on board know we are about to fight." Jiraiya said as he turned to watch the enemy ship slowly ascend above them and begin moving into a place directly overhead.
"Go now!" Sakumo barked sending the younger two ninja racing back to the others to get them ready.
"Kami forbid it ever be an easy day." Jiraiya complained as he began directing the genin to prepare to repel boarders.
The Konoha Shinobi quickly realized that their numbers would make it difficult to defend the airship adequately. The Sky Shinobi would be dropping en masse directly on top of the commandeered vessel and forcing their way in. So most of the Shinobi were spread through the narrow halls of the ship. Something to negate any superior numbers that the sky ninja had.
Even the genin were placed into a position to ambush the enemy. Sakumo and Jiraiya were the only two that intended to fight the enemy head on in the main cargo area. Naruto and the others hoped they didn't overdo it and tear the airship apart in their fight.
As for the actual genin themselves Naruto and Minako were placed outside of the pilots cabin. They were the last and best line of defense for the airship controls. Kushina and Tsume were placed outside the engine, an odd device covered in all manner of seals that kept it running, and lastly Issei and Shibi were placed within the armory across the hall. If the enemy Shinobi attacked the engine room the two of them could sweep in from behind and hit the sky ninja where it hurt.
Soon the first of the sky Shinobi began landing on top of the airship. They used chakra to cling to the craft as they scaled down to the various avenues of entry available to them. Some performed a powerful utility jutsu that created a small but incredibly strong jet of flame. Hot enough to cut into the hull of the airship and gain entry that way.
Moments after the first sky ninja gained entry the battle began. Ambushed by hidden Konoha forces the sky Shinobi were clearly outmatched in terms of skill and ability. Their numbers still made them one hell of a threat though.
Slowly they pushed further in. Only for their hapless forces to run into Jiraiya and Sakumo lying in wait for them. In a flash the cargo area was engulfed in flames. Hot enough to kill but nowhere near strong enough to melt steel beams. The craft held together easily even against the onslaught of fire that Jiraiya was using as a weapon.
Sakumo wove in and out of their opinenta. His blade flashing white and then red with every strike. The sky Shinobi attempted to retreat from the cargo area only for their path to be blocked by several of the other Shinobi that butchered them as they ran for the door.
Needless to say, the cargo area of the ship was secure and the bulk of the sky Shinobi forces were dispatched.
Similarly to the events in the cargo hold, Naruto and Minako proved to be a perfect team as any enemies that approached their position met a rapid and violent end. Between Minako's natural flexibility, speed, and pinpoint accuracy and Naruto's overwhelming jutsu and unpredictable movements they wiped any attempt on the airship controls out entirely and without any support.
The other two pairs of genin were not having such a successful time. Tsume and Kushina kept their objective safe but the enemy attacking them proved to be a bit more skilled.
Most sky ninja seemed practically untrained in using jutsu but this man, easily in his thirties broke that mold. He utilized lightning chakra with incredible ease and took both Tsume and her ninken down with ease as they launched an attack against them.
He hadn't the Inuzuka heiress or her cabin companion but the way Tsume screamed and they both convulsed told Kushina they were out of the fight.
As was typical with Kushinashe didn't think, just acted on instinct. Thankfully it was enough. The adamantium chains that she had worked so hard with tore out the shoulders of her clothing and sprang to life like a pair of golden chained tentacles.
The sky ninja attempted to send a current of lightning chakra down the length of the chains only to gasp as they absorbed every bit of the attack. The redhead girl pressed her advantage before she could react to the development and wrapped him tightly in her chains before the twisted painfully and eviscerated him on the spot.
Across the hall Issei and Shibi had tried to jump in to the girls' aid but we're caught in the hall by a handful of Sky village chunin.
Either Issei or Shibi were skilled in direct combat and instead found themselves fighting for their lives in the hall. The Sky ninja showed no mercy toward the two boys and came at them with everything they had so the two of them returned the favor.
The fight was brutal and dirty. Issei's genjutus proved invaluable and he limited the enemy numbers by confusing them. Shibi's kikaichu went to work as well, chewing through what reserves the Sky ninja had and weakening them for the two boys to turn the tide of battle.
Eventually they managed to defeat a of their opponents. Sadly the two of them would learn never to turn you back on a downed enemy until you were certain they were dead.
They both turned away to go help Tsume and Kushina in the engine room, only for one of the downed ninja to use his last breath to fire his kunai launched. The blade shit out of his weapon with enough velocity to pass cleanly through Shibi's shoulder.
The boy screamed in agony as Issei tried to staunch the bleeding as best as he could. Thankfully by this point Sakumo, Jiraiya, and many other Shinobi had arrived to help.
They got Tsume, Shibi, and Tsume's ninken gathered up with the other wounded before they returned to the cabin where Minako and Naruto awaited them.
"Where's Shibi and Tsume?" Naruto asked. He was a bit worried for the other genin even if he didn't know them well.
"They were wounded but both will pull through." Jiraiya reassured his son with a small grin.
Sakumo was less on board with just brushing their injuries off though.
"Jiraiya, things have to change. The plan has to change. Some of us will need to get the wounded to the evacuation craft while the rest complete the mission." He said seriously.
"I know. They're both your genin so you lead the wounded and those that we can spare to the evacuation. Loan me Kushina and my team will take the rest to hunt down the power system for the floating fortress." Jiraiya replied.
Sakumo looked like he might argue in regards to Kushina but knew that the elders and the Hokage wanted Kushina and Naruto to make noticeable impacts on this mission. He could argue that their tasks defending the airship so far might be enough but he knew that with those old bastards in charge it wouldn't be.
"Very well then. As soon as we land we'll-" Sakumo began but was interrupted by the airship shaking.
"What the hell is going on?" Jiraiya bellowed into the communication system that was pipes through the rest of the ship.
There was silence for a time before another voice came back.
"One of the Sky Shinobi played dead sir. He used himself as an improvised bomb to try to destroy the air ship engine. This engine core thing is beyond fucked. We'll be losing altitude soon." A Shinobi replied.
"So much for landing. Will we be able to at least make it to the target? As tough as it was to capture this thing, it won't be near as easy next time." Sakumo commented.
"We will land. It will just be a crash landing. Relax White Fang it will all work out." Jiraiya placated the man.
"Just get us there, Toad. I don't want my genin to suffer any more than they have to. Let's get this damned mission over with." Sakumo complained.
"After all that Tsume got hurt for nothing. They busted the engine anyway." Kushina grumbled unhappily.
"It wasn't for nothing. You two protected the engine so we could continue the mission. We wouldn't have gotten into range of the floating fortress if it wasn't for you two." Naruto reassured her, causing the girl to smile lightly and place a peck on his forehead. She couldn't believe she used to be so awful to such a sweet boy.
"Hey look. It's coming into view now." Minako said pointing out of the window.
"It's massive." Issei whispered in shock.
The floating fortress really was massive. The size of the Hokage Mountain but flying in the air. It bustled with activity that they could easily see. People moved across its surface rapidly and dozens of not more of airships of all sizes moved around it.
"It's almost sad to have to destroy something like that." Minako said solemnly.
"Maybe, but it's for the best. Things like that will only make war worse in the future of they aren't destroyed and forgotten forever." Jiraiya said seriously, completely committed to their mission.
"So how are we going to land this thing on there? Especially with the engine about to go out." Kushina asked.
"Well, let's just say land is a subjective term open to various interpretations." Jiraiya joked getting a mix of flat and horrified looks in response.
"You're going to crash us…" Naruto quietly commented.
"Right through the buildings…" Minako added with a frightened voice.
"You have got to be kidding. You're kidding right, Jiraiya Sensei?" Issei asked growing more worried as the man refused to acknowledge him and instead set down at the controls.
"Better tell everyone to strap on and get buckled up yourselves kids. We are about to have a hell of a ride." Jiraiya said with a cackle.
"He isn't kidding." Issei paled.
The genin rushed to warn everyone and strap themselves in. Jiraiya just continued to chuckle as he angled the airship for a sudden and rough landing in the Village Hidden in the Sky.
Or rather into the Village Hidden in the Sky.
It was a rough landing. Naruto was thankful both for the surface walking exercise that let him grip his seat without actually having to let go of both Minako and Kushina's hands, and the Sky Village engineer that had the forethought of installing safety harnesses to keep from ejecting passengers out of their seat.
For instance if said passenger had a possibly unhinged father that decided that doing as much damage with their crash landing as possible was the best course of action.
When the airship impacted it smashed through rows of buildings, likely houses and the like for the citizens of the Land of Sky. Building burned and collapsed in their wake and Naruto ignored the definite screams of terror, pain, and fear that seemed to only grow worse as their own air craft came to a stop.
"Sakumo, you know what to do." Jiraiya called over.
"You don't have to tell me Jiraiya." Sakumo said as he bolted out of his seat and back to the wounded. Hopefully the crash landing hadn't worsened their conditions.
"Alright you six, you're all with me. Let's go." Jiraiya said turning to the four genin and tge pair of older Shinobi accompanying them.
"Be ready for a running battle all the way to the core. Stick together and let me handle any real bruisers we come across. I have the firepower to beat anybody on this hunk of junk so stay with me." The Sannin said before shooting off toward an exposed hallway.
The path they too had once been completely interior hallways, but the impact of their landing ship and the subsequent collapses of buildings had made sure that every few hundred yards a gaping hole had been ripped through the wall. Some just wide enough to let in light, others big enough to act more like doorways than just windows.
"The floating fortress seems built similarly to the airships, Lord Jiraiya!" One of the Shinobi with them said.
"That's my thoughts exactly. We'll head for the center of the complex and that will most likely be our objective." Jiraiya said.
Naruto listened but kept his attention on his surroundings. Besides several burnt or crushed corpses they hadn't come across any Shinobi. The civilians they found fled in terror when they neared them.
That was for the best. Though if they were smart these people would realize what Konoha ninja being inside their home meant. They would start looking for ways to evacuate themselves.
"Look out!" One of the Shinobi screamed just before he and his comrade took the specialized launcher kunai to the throat and face.
The blows killed them instantly and Naruto felt a bit bad that he never even knew their names. He didn't have time to really dwell on it though. His hands flew through a series of and signs and he stunned their enemy by expelling wood from his hands in a shape not all that unlike the one their own kunai launchers fired. The wood tore them apart in a shower of gore but the team continued past them without slowing down. With the numbers so heavily against them they had to work quickly before the Sky Shinobi could retaliate properly.
"I think we're almost there, kids just a little bit further." Jiraiya said before he pulled up short. Ahead of them a diminutive man, perhaps half the height of the abnormally tall Jiraiya stood alone in the hallway. Behind him the door to the engine room clamped shut.
"You Konoha Shinobi are too bold for your own good." The man said before his body seemed to crackle as chakra swept over him.
"Shit, Naruto, all of you. I'm leaving it to you. This guy is Kage level. I am going to fight him to buy you time to get into the engine room and complete the mission, understood." Jiraiya asked, getting nods.
"That's fine with me, Jiraiya of the Sannin. Your students will die to mine just like you will die to me. Take solace in the fact that none of you will live to see your home destroyed as mine and my people's were." The man called over to them.
"What do you mean?" Jiraiya asked.
"You didn't realize it? Don't you find it strange that such a place as the Hidden Sky could come into being seemingly overnight? We are the dispossessed. Children of a dozen hidden villages wiped off of the map from the wars of the great villages. Even now your five nations are hardly damaged while entire smaller countries cease to exist." He monologued.
"Go on, kids. I'll handle this mouthy bastard." Jiraiya said as he and the other man approached each other.
"You heard him. Come on." Naruto said as he drug the others with him toward the door.
Inside three young adults stood waiting for them. Each clearly far more skilled than the typical Sky Shinobi they had faced so far.
"Children?" One asked.
"Konoha must have lost more troops in the war than our reports indicated. Scraping the bottom of the barrel…oh what is this." The female of the group and apparent leader said before dispelling the genjutsu that Issei had attempted to use with ease.
"Oh shit." The boy said in worry.
"I was hoping for more of a challenge. Something worthwhile to use all that sensei has taught us but these brats aren't worth it. I mean look that one is barely out of diapers." The final member of the team said as he gestured toward Naruto.
Naruto and his teammates didn't respond. They didn't have an opportunity to, their enemy seemed to want to get things over with as soon as possible.
Thankfully they completely underestimated their team. Launching into basic taijutsu with their kunai only to come away with several small injuries all their own.
"Hmm, more than meets the eye then." The leader said as she and her comrades fell back momentarily. "You two take the girls, the boy and the pipsqueak are all mine."
Once more the two teams clashed. The older Shinobi using their size and reach advantage to great effect. It didn't last long though. Kushina had enough of this mission and these assholes looking down on her. With a shout her uniform's back was torn as six chains burst free this time rather than just two.
It took incredible focus to maintain the constructs as she lashed out against her enemy, but it was effective. Her opponent died quickly. A four inch wide golden chain crashing through his chest right where his heart would be.
Minako's opponent didn't even see Kushina's chains coming as they tightly wound themselves around his throat and yanked him off of his feet roughly enough to snap his neck in two.
The Sky Kunoichi saw the deaths of her team and howled in animalistic rage. She plunged her blade forward toward Naruto, only for a body to shove him out of the way. Issei took a graze across his jaw to save Naruto but the Kunoichi didn't care who her victim was as long as they wore the symbol of the leaf village.
Issei attempted to defend himself but the young woman overpowered the thirteen year old with ease. Her kunai stuck halfway through his neck and he dropped to the floor.
Dumbfounded by the sudden death of his teammate, Naruto saw red. He rushed forward toward the Kunoichi and punctured her stomach with a long thin rod of wood he had formed. He used no hand signs for the attack, the blade had just formed by his own will.
The woman stumbled back as blood quickly drenched her lower half. However what caught the others, including Naruto off guard was the screaming as she clawed at her stomach. It first seemed like the pain was too much for her before a thick tree branch burst from her chest, followed by another and another until a new tree had grown suddenly. It's bark was painted red with blood and the horrific sight of her remains decorated it's canopy.
While both Kushina and Minako stood dumbstruck at the horrific sight, Naruto turned his attention to the objective. Briefly hesitating as his eyes drifted over Issei's body.
Unlike before Naruto ran through a series of hand signs. Ones he knew but rarely used in before he called out the jutsu that he had read so much about.
"Nativity of a world of trees." He whispered rather than roared and his chakra obeyed. Out of nothing massive overgrowth sprouted forth, expanding over the room and tearing the engine apart. They didn't stop there though. While portions of the Village Hidden in the Sky suddenly looked as if they had been devoured by a forest. Like they were ruins left to rot and be consumed by nature.
Once again Minako and Kushina were awestruck at the power of the boy before them. That awe turned to worry as he teetered on his feet before collapsing from chakra exhaustion.
"Naruto!" They both cried running over to him just as Jiraiya stumbled into the room. The corpse of his opponent left in the hallway, impaled on a tree branch that had suddenly ripped through the wall behind him.
"Give him here. I'll carry him and Issei both. We need to book it, this whole place is going down now." Jiraiya barked.
The girls ran after him as they all rushed to link back up with Sakumo and the others. The fortress had fallen to complete chaos. Warning blared and people screamed as they tried to evacuate. It was terrifying but it also meant victory.
Now all that was left was to go home.
When he woke back up again after the ordeal in the Village Hidden in the Sky, Naruto realized he recognized the room he was in. It was one set aside by Tsunade for the explicit purpose of tending to Naruto…or now Naruto and Kushina, whenever he was hurt or ill.
Tsunade insisted that she had faith in the doctors and medical staff of her village but she was the best there was and her baby only got the best. Even if that meant she was taking care of him herself.
His mother had clearly had Jiraiya place some sort of seal on him because almost the moment he awoke she was already there with Orochimaru, Kushina, and Minako all in tow.
"You're finally awake." Tsunade said teasingly but the obvious note of relief in her voice gave her away almost as much as the act of suddenly snatching Naruto up off of his bed and into her arms.
The others giggled at the action as Naruto simply returned the hug, happy to be in his mother's arms after his ordeal. It ended soon enough though and Naruto turned to look at the others.
"How long was I asleep?" The boy asked.
"Over a week. I don't think you've ever used so much chakra before." Kushina said.
"Anyone else would have died. Be very thankful you are who you are, Naruto." Orochimaru said in a somewhat scolding tone. That was surreal, Orochimaru never took a tone like that with him. Then again he did almost kill himself with that last jutsu.
"Yes, it seems we are going to have to have a discussion about how much is too much." Tsunade said with a sigh. She dreaded when her son became a teenager and she really had to worry about what he got up to.
"So the Land of Sky is gone then?" Naruto asked.
"There's a couple of airships that attacked near the border but they were defeated. We think that the Land of Sky is destroyed once and for all." Minako said.
Naruto nodded before his thoughts went to Issei. They weren't especially close by they were friends. He had also died after saving Naruto's own life. That would take time to come to terms with for him.
The women and girls seemed to understand his feelings. They all placed comforting hands on his arms to soother him a bit.
"What about the treaty that Lord Third wanted to show force for?" Naruto asked.
The others glanced at one another.
"Your father left with the Hokage and Sakumo for the summit to discuss the treaty today. We weren't sure when you would wake up so he had to leave with the Hokage. Otherwise he would be right here." Tsunade replied.
"So we don't know if the war is over yet?" Naruto asked.
"Even if the other nations don't agree, things are winding down. Iwa and Suna have already agreed to peace. Neither is strong enough at the moment to take down the other and Kumo and Kiri are both too weak to make any gains against us. Right now we are the only ones that could attack the other great villages, but that would weaken us a lot too. Treaty or not, the fighting for this war is over." Orochimaru explained.
The boy nodded. He didn't fully comprehend the geopolitical aspect of it but anyone could understand they don't have enough people to attack us and we don't want to risk the people that we would need to attack them.
"I don't really remember before the war." Naruto admitted, a bit confused about what it would be like without the conflict hanging over them all the time.
"You weren't even born yet. That's why." Orochimaru chuckled.
"Hopefully the peace will last." Minako said.
Orochimaru and Tsunade looked doubtful but they didn't want to ruin the mood. They knew that even in peace time there could be conflict for Shinobi. They were both born before the first war after all. Just a couple years before but still before it had started. The first Hokage had even died in peace time.
They didn't want to think about the fact that with Issei Kurama killed the teams were being reorganized as well. Jiraiya was getting Naruto, Kushina, and Minako all on one team. It was a strong team but the Hokage had refused to promote them to chunin yet even after what they had accomplished in the Land of Sky.
The old monkey was up to his games yet again.
That is a wrap. I hope you enjoyed. We saw the end of the Second Shinobi war and are now stepping forward into some peacetime or at least as close to peacetime as Shinobi can pull off.
Anyway Issei has died and Naruto has experienced war at an incredibly young age.
Next chapter will have a time skip, a small one but still a time skip nevertheless.
Anyway
Till Next Time.