Blending in and Scouting Out
Within a few days Oda and Duan organized those that awoke from stasis and had turned the mountain into a center of activity. The situation for these strange folk, however, was grim. Chamber after chamber, dozens upon dozens of these caverns were opened, and shockingly few of the untold thousands awoken. By the time they checked the protocol was done, and after painstakingly checking every cavern, what was once a mighty city of people was now de facto only around two thousand. As they began to rebuild the spine of the mountain and what it contained, Oda mused upon one of the many craggy bluffs, buffeted by the thick sea breeze and trade winds. He heard through this the soft footsteps of someone approaching him.
"Come to proclaim to me that the gods intended for this great tragedy, Sato? If so, I am in no mood." Oda said, not even turning his head a millimeter.
"Faith has a powerful way to comfort and soothe the hurt soul. But, right now, you look more like you could use some advice. I've seen this before from you, brother." A male voice said behind him.
"The downside of longevity. Your family knows you to the point where you can't hide anything." Oda sighed.
"That's family in general, brother." Sato answered as the voice got next to him.
"Sato I… What am I supposed to do? We have no idea where the volunteer army is, why the stasis failed, and what these shinobi are. We can't even figure out what year it is." Oda sighed mournfully.
Sato sighed at that. "I wish I knew what to tell you, brother, but I don't. I do not have any answers this time. All I can tell you is to do what you think is best." He told his older brother.
"At least I can always guarantee complete honesty out of you, brother. Thank you." Oda answered.
"You're welcome, Oda. Just try to not do anything foolish." Sato replied.
"Never do. Father always praised me for it." Oda said simply as he started to stand up and dust himself off.
With that, the two brothers reentered the mountain, observing the work on high. All of a sudden an explosion rocked the level below and shook the ledge the two titans stood upon. Seeing the thick, black and oily smoke off in the distance, the two shot off with frightening speed. From the smoldering stone building, formerly some form of workshop, a much younger example of the regal, red haired specimen stumbled out.
"Shang Takoto. What did you get yourself into this time?" Oda asked, hands on his hips like a disapproving parent.
Coughing, the now identified Takoto waved the smoke away from him. "Nothing, Oda! Just working on the finishing touches of a new invention!" He reassured the taller figure.
"What was this time? Was it the oil-fired mustache trimmer? Or the wind fired clay launcher?" Sato asked, raising an eyebrow.
Takoto smirked at that. "Neither. I've already perfected those, and I am working on something new." He said with a mischievous giggle.
"Did perfect considering the inferno that your workshop now is." Sato answered as the meager fire crews came to battle the blaze.
"Worry not. I've already sent them to brother Oda's office for him to try out the completed models." Takoto replied.
"Naturally." Oda said dryly, annoyed at more of his brother's shenanigans in a time like this.
"Excellent! I'll go get the blades and the exploding rune inscriptions!" Takoto replied chipperly, picking a piece of shrapnel out of his hair.
"Why did father send him to Uncle Mikato again?" Sato asked older brother.
"It was supposed to straighten him out. I am questioning the results." Oda answered.
"You're just now questioning?" Sato asked.
"Believe it or not, I like to believe people can change for the better. Now I am certainly questioning that belief." Oda answered with a sigh.
Rushing back through the flames, strange fiery symbols glowing across his body as he did, Takato arrived holding a strange device. In his hands was a crossbow-like device, with a rail platform to attach to a gauntlet similar to Oda's shield. Resting on the other hand was a large spike of metal, somewhat like a kunai, with a massive and thick lettered kanji for explosion glowing in a warm orange light.
"That's an explosion rune on there?" Oda asked.
Takoto smiled excitedly at that. "Yes, it is! A concentrated explosion rune!" He replied.
"Dear brother, when I said you should make things easier for those going to the next life, I didn't mean it like this." Sato sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose over past advice.
"How else am I going to make it easier for them, Sato?" Takoto asked, genuinely confused.
"I'll explain when you're older." Sato answered with a sigh.
"But I'm not that much younger than you are. Only about a decade or so." Takoto pointed out indignantly.
"Well little brother, keep at it, and do try to minimize the collateral damage." Oda said, ruffling his brother's short, singed hair.
Takoto simply grumbled at that, the heavily scarred man not enjoying being treated like a child. With that, the two left their younger brother to his burning devices. Walking through the streets to get to the temporary command center, they had to navigate through the people as they cleaned up their homes. Though there was a variety of people in these masses, the main binding features were a predominance of red hair. Passing two heavily armored guards in similar armor to Oda's, they arrived in the command center. The two royals' sudden arrival forced everyone to bow.
"What have we been able to decipher from these shinobi's belongings?" Oda asked.
"Their level of technology has nothing standing out, though the level of craftsmanship is of higher standard than expected. Aside from weapons, field craft supplies, and rations, we were only able to find a map of what appears to be the current Geopolitical condition of the region. We had an enlarged version be made for easier viewing." A General explained as his aide spread the new map onto a thick, black stone table.
"It appears, my liege, that the region has greatly fragmented since we last saw it, as we were able to count at least a dozen nations. Though only five seem to be potential major players, given their greater size than average." Another official added.
"Immediately going to one of these great powers for diplomacy sounds far too risky. Considering the ones that attacked us, the Sound I believe they said, was a minor nation, then I doubt the larger ones will be any less hostile." Oda explained.
"We have set up a proper perimeter around our work area and have sent teams to revitalize the defensive network to prevent further incursions like that, milord." A second, much older general said.
"Once that work is done, we will keep a low profile, and send out individual agents to scout this new world. I am not taking any chances. Though these shinobi were not the greatest threat we have faced, I do not want to risk the wrath of the more powerful of these enigmatic warriors." Oda said solemnly, everyone in attendance bowing their heads in acknowledgement of his decision.
"We will begin the process of selecting agents at once, my lord." A female minister said, but Oda stopped her by raising his hand.
"I will be the sole agent sent out in the first wave." Oda explained.
"My lord, that is far too dangerous in such an uncertain situation!" A guard yelled.
"It is my solemn duty as King to perform any and all duties that would be a risk too great for my people to bear! I swore this great oath of my position on the eve of my father's sacrifice, and I will not dishonor his memory and the sanctity of my position to shirk such duty!" Oda roared in a shockingly firm and stable tone, shocking everyone at the sudden rebuke.
"As you wish, my lord. Forgive my interjection." The guard meekly said, bowing their head in shame.
"There is no shame, you simply were performing your duty. For that there is only respect and commemoration from me. Anyways. Return to your duties and continue the vital work put before you. As soon as Seaheart is restored to a minimal working order, the sooner we can free our kin from the locked stasis condition and reestablish our trade networks. You are all dismissed." Oda said, waving them off, and they all began to scatter and return to their functions.
"There is a slight problem with your plan, brother." Sato said.
"And that is?" Oda asked.
"Your mere size alone would make you stick out like a freed Jinn. Prey tell how you plan on not drawing attention to yourself?" Sato asked, crossing his arms.
"I have a plan for that." Oda answered simply.
Sato waited for 10 minutes as Oda got to work in a changing room. To the monk however, the prospect of changing into a disguise, or even a more elaborate set of clothes than a training gi was frankly a chore of an act. If it wasn't for using the time for mediation, waiting for his brother to perform such tasks was insufferable.
"Alright brother, how do I look?" Oda asked as he walked out, forcing Sato to open his eyes.
Striding out upon tall wooden geta sandals, Sato was immediately struck by the color. A red trimmed kasa hat with a wide enough brim to keep his face mostly covered. Looking down was a red silk sleeveless hakama with no iconography and exposing his torso, and a striking, sleeveless black muscle shirt underneath in the style of the shinobi. Poking out of the hakama was a hint of mesh, before leaving mostly bare arms till his gauntlets. Underneath were forearm length fingerless gloves, again in the style of the shinobi. Finally flowing azure pants held up by a great white belt and decorated with a light blue corded rope.
"Explain to me how exactly this is going to keep you off the radar? Someone could see you a mile away." Sato asked skeptically.
"The best way to hide is in plain sight, my dear brother." Oda explained.
"That only works when you're not decked out in the most obvious and flashy colors in the world." Sato said.
"No, that's bright orange, brother. Though I was considering that…" Oda mused.
"We are all going to die." Sato sighed.
"No, only I'm going to potentially die brother. That's the point of me going solo, remember?" Oda reassured him.
"Do please come back in enough pieces to put you back together. The last thing I need is to become king after your woeful death." Sato moaned.
"Not to worry brother, I will spare you from missing out on your quest for enlightenment. Anyway, please look after mother for me. I have a long way to go." Oda explained.
"Where are you going, pray tell?" Sato asked.
"I'm going to try the nations from the southern portion of the map first. I think the Land of Waves will be a good start. Haven't been on the ocean in years, and long for a good sea breeze again." Oda explained, before grabbing a pack of field supplies from a servant, and began his trek out of his mountain, and into the wider world.
You all have no idea how good it feels to finally be writing this story. I have been sitting on this idea for I'm pretty sure a few years now. Regardless, with the gears properly in motion, the ancient world and all its trappings I have constructed, and we get to see the clash. And the first stage for this clash will be the land of waves. And if you saw the show, you know what might be coming next. And now a word from my cowriter.
Uzumaki Ricky- Hello, true shinobi fanatics and newcomers alike! Uzumaki Ricky here, coming to you from the Land of Aloha! I gotta say, like what MHG said, it feels so good to be back in the Naruto Fanfiction saddle. We look forward to showing you all how we've improved as writers. Be on the lookout for the first chapter of Shy Fox Chronicles, which will be going up in the next eight days.
With that, we bid you a good day.