Chapter 33
AN: Welcome back! It's… literally almost three months to the day since I've updated. In that time I've gotten writers' block, started three new stories for my hero academia, discovered AO3, and survived summer!
Anyways, onto the chapter, at the end will be an AMAZING announcement! Hold onto your seats.
Outside Konoha walls, two days before the exams…
Naruto leaped from tree to tree, not appreciating the last minute preparations that fell to him. Why Jiraiya didn't tell him weeks ago that the western forest needed extra traps for their 'visiters' he would never know, but the toad sage had his ire. Waking up before dawn on his supposed 'day off' before their last checks tomorrow was not the blond's idea of fun.
At least the sunrise was nice. Naruto bounded up the tallest tree in the area, breathing in the fresh morning air. In two days it would be coppery, smelling of death, misery, war. The genin on the training grounds, including Sasuke whose yell could be heard as Kakashi-senpai continued to kick him around, were clueless to the battles ahead.
'That could have been me, Kurama. I could have ended up just like them, naive to what was happening.' Naruto mentally mused. He heard a disgruntled snort.
'Must you be so loud runt? I was sleeping away Shukaku's stench.'
``Is that really something you can sleep off, though?' He cheekily replied. A roar loud enough to jolt him from the branch was his partner's response. Naruto was glad he could still have humor knowing there was a large chance he wouldn't be able to for a long while.
Casualties in war were common, after all. ANBU and genin- the top and bottom in ranks- had the highest chance of not making it out of an invasion unscathed. One because their higher skills demanded them face off against a horde of enemies, and the other because they were the weak links to exploit.
'I promise I'll do what I can to protect you all.' The blond ANBU vowed, gaze steeled on his village. Annoyance at the early morning was gone, replaced by protective instincts. Kurama snorted as his host headed to the head quarters with a plan to make yet another batch of seals. The fox didn't say anything though, as without them, Naruto would be a nervous mess not fitting of a Jinchuuriki.
"Naruto you've made fifteen explosive seals in the last hour for each ANBU agent; please stop. You need rest." Yugao had been called in by Hawk who was frankly freaked out at the speed and intensity of their kohai. Normally Dragon or the other members of Ro would deal with it, but their commander had just nodded approvingly at Mouse and Yugao was the only free member of their squad.
"I'm fine, Yugao-senpai" he protested.
"No, Naruto, you're not. Otherwise you wouldn't still be here at ten pm when you got here at what time again?"
"Before six am" Hawk quipped.
"Exactly. Now come back for some dinner and sleep or I'll knock you out myself." Yugao warned.
Naruto sighed. "Fine. It's just… what if we lose?"
"We've had months to prepare and our forests are death traps; how exactly would we lose?" This made Naruto just sag further.
"No, I mean what about our squad? You and Hikaru-senpai have to stay near wherever the Hokage is, Taicho is helping Dragon-sama on the main wall, and that just leaves Deidara and I. What if one of us doesn't make it back? Or the genin, or even Hokage-sama?"
All valid fears, Yugao realized. Naruto had never lost a squad member, never saw one of his academy peers stare glossy eyed at the sky. He never had someone close to him fall for the greater good. And that could change so, so easily in this invasion. Or the war sure to follow.
Not to mention Naruto himself had a high probability of death from fighting the Suna Jinchuuriki. He may have fifteen extra scrolls of water (leading Dragon-sama to cover up why the local hot springs were 'missing' their supply) and chakra chains, but what use were those when a lucky kunai to the heart could end it all? Konoha's Jinchuuriki may be an unknown entity (as they liked it), but that didn't make him any less of a target. And he would be fighting the trump card with orders to either capture or eliminate. The shinobi council made it clear that if he was able to cripple or kill Gaara they'd be 'very proud', and that failure would be 'most disappointing for a Jinchuuriki'.
In other words, Naruto had to win. Not only for the village but as a show of loyalty. And with the squad unexpectedly split up it rested more on his shoulders. They've known this from day one of planning.
But now it was here. She expected her kohai- one she's had the privilege to train and see as family- a nervous mess. And he was. Until the glazed look indicating he was talking to the beast within happened and he laughed.
"Kurama says to just be glad we get to let loose and go eat ramen." Yugao snorted and pulled out her sword.
"So you listen to the furball and not your favorite senpai?!" She unleashed killing intent in teasing.
"Ahh no! Not at all! Uhh, gotta scram!" Using his chain of shunshins and hint of demonic chakra he escaped the incoming sword. Left behind was a chuckling purplette and rather confused Hawk.
Meanwhile, under Konoha…
"In less than two days Konoha will fall, and up will arise a darker one, one fit to overthrow the nations." A one-eyed warhawk looked over his ranks critically. Many had gone missing or died when fifteen bases were struck within a span of thirty-six hours. Then, they stopped with no indication of the perpetrators except remnants of weapons commonly found everywhere and lightning chakra. If he didn't know better, Danzo would have thought Sarutobi finally grew a spine to eliminate him or that Takeshi turned on him. Neither would make sense though, especially as his spies reported ANBU keeping the boy sedated with plans to have Jiraiya crack the seal after the invasion. By then the boy would be back where he belonged.
Nevertheless, to make sure there wasn't a different spy, they moved the survivors to the most secure base- one only those involved with the Neo-Uchiha clan knew about- and didn't allow anyone to leave. Soon though ROOT would rise with the fall of the diseased leaves.
"Remember your orders; wait until Konoha forces defeat the invasion, and then anyone who opposes us is to be taken out. While Orochimaru and Sarutobi murder each other I will personally face the commander if he interfears. On my signal take the lesser ANBU out in the post- invasion chaos. Once I'm Hokage, we go to war with the lesser villages. For Konoha!" Danzo's cane echoed throughout the cavern as hundreds of masked shinobi knelt from the ceiling. A flick of the wrist sent them all away, off to prepare for the spoils of war. All he thought about, however, were targets to take out.
Sai, the traitor.
Naruto Uzumaki, to be reprogrammed.
Dragon, the insufferable nuences.
Hiruzen, his oldest friend and biggest regret at failing to assassinate him decades prior.
Konoha would be saved, Danzo vowed. Even if he had to burn it to the ground completely and start again.
None noticed the crow poofing out of existence, having a location to verify with his master.
Day of the invasion, pre-dawn, ANBU HQ…
Dragon looked over his men and women, knowing some of the masks he saw would not be with them when the dusk settled. Heck, he might not be here depending on how the destruction of ROOT went. But that didn't matter.
For they were Konoha shinobi, the best of the best of them too.
Squads Gama and Slug were stocked to the max on medical supplies and guerilla warfare weapons. Deer was on standby for the Hokage's or ANBU's needs, even if Dragon wished it wouldn't be.
Hawk and his squad were leading five others in the stadium defences. Multiple battalions would aid the chunin and jonin in village protection as well as making sure the forests remained death traps.
And then there was Ro. The squad knee deep in everything this invasion stood for. Tenzou would be with him to slaughter ROOT, Kakashi joining them. Yugao and Hikaru had their own assignments unique to their skills. Then the two newest ANBU and hell cat with the largest role: stop the Jinchuuriki of Shukaku from unleashing itself on the village. Intel suggested it would try to do so in the forests outside, meaning their youngest kohai were likely on their own against unknown forces.
Dragon was certain they'd succeed. He did train them, after all. This would be Naruto's first assignment that Dragon didn't have a summons following, but Deidara and Angel should prove to be adequate back up. If not he'd eat his mask.
"Our objective is simple: ensuring the Oto Suna alliance fails. But, just as important: come back alive." Dragon paused to let that weight settle. "If I find out you laid down your life and there were any other options available to accomplish our objective, I will resurrect you myself and use your ghost as a training partner for a decade. This is not a battle for glory, but a tragic event to show what happens when you mess with Konoha. It's not about your honor, it's about keeping the village safe. Is. That. Clear."
"YES, DRAGON-SAMA!" Rang out in HQ. Ever since Dragon came into power, ANBU became a well oiled machine with fewer casualties. But war made the younger shinobi do stupid things, things that led to unecessary death. Dying to save your comrade from certain death was one thing. Dying because you rushed in like a rookie drunk on blood lust was another. Dragon had seen too many shinobi die to stupidity during the Third Great Shinobi War, he refused to let his men join those ranks.
A comfortable silence latched onto the room until the commander snapped.
"What are you waiting for, an invitation?! Go, before I use your lazy asses as a shield."
Seconds later the room was empty save Tenzou, who just gave a respectful nod. It was time to bath the great tree in blood once again.
With Naruto and Deidara….
Two masks, a fox and a mouse, hung upside down from the stadium's guard tower ceiling completely concealed, a shinobi cat joining them along with dozens of summons.
Deidara was stewing, waiting with clay bombs to make art out of Konoha's invaders. He knew this was a sort of test, a final show to see if he was loyal when push came to shove. The older blond swore to not disappoint the Hokage or commander.
Naruto was planning with Kurama. Neither would accept a loss, though only one wanted to kill the host. The other sat in conflict, hoping it wouldn't come to that. If he could take the other Jinchuuriki out quickly, he could focus on what he really wanted to do- protect his home at the front lines.
Both ANBU, regardless of their thoughts, gazed at their target, the trump card of the enemy:
Gaara no Sabaku. Fellow Jinchuuriki and known psychopath. Currently standing in the sun listening to a carefully neutral Hayate give instructions for the upcoming battles.
"The first rounds will be ten minute match ups in the following order:
"First match: Hinata Hyuga V Sakura Haruno.
Second match: Kiba Inuzuka V Rock Lee.
Third match: Kankuro no Sabaku V Shino Aburame.
Fourth match: Tenten V Temari no Sabaku
Fifth match: Neji Hyuga V Sai
Sixth match: Gaara no Sabaku V Sasuke Uchiha.
If I say stop, you stop, or I'll make you." Hayate coughed. "Now, will everyone but Hinata Hyuga and Sakura Haruno leave for the contestant box?"
Naruto tuned the rest of the explanations out in favor of glancing over to the forest a ways behind them knowingly. A certain pair of chakra signatures flitted in and out of his range. One of which he knew all too well, like an old pain that never quite leaves.
'Things just got more interesting,' The blond mused with dread. For waiting like a mocking predator was none other than the crystal user that destroyed him and his summons all those months before.
Looks like he was getting a rematch sooner than he thought.
End! This is actually just part of the original chapter, but apparently people don't want me cutting off the invasion- specifically Naruto v Shukaku- halfway so I'm uploading that this weekend (by that I mean before Tuesday to give time for me to edit it) while posting this nugget now. This is basically the more introspective side of invasion prep. I left out many parts on purpose to not give away post invasion plot (ex: What happened to the Iwa nins, Takashi's real imprisonment instead of what Danzo thinks, and some other...stuff). Instead I put in what the different sides would be feeling knowing they're going to war, and knowing things were going to get bloody. Especially Naruto. He wants everyone- especially his squad- to be safe but he's fighting a Jinchuuriki and possibly the Bijuu. To him, knowing things always tend to go wrong, he's preparing for the worst. Same with Dragon.
Thanks to Dragon, my beta! You're awesome dude, this is a late happy bday gift.
Join our DISCORD! Seriously, for updates, spoilers, fun places to hang, and a better place to chat, feel free to join (PM me if you need help with the link/setting up a discord account).
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Anyways, apologies for the suuper late update but look on my profile to see what I've been writing! Finally, for those of you who have sacrificed or know someone who did for 9/11, know you're in my prayers and that this is a day we'll never forget.
See you guys Tuesday,
-Riku