Chapter Forty-One - Uzushio Strike
"Itori-kun!"
"Obaa-chan!"
Retsu giggled as her grandchild cried out from further in the house before the padding of feet could be heard rushing in her direction. She held her hands out for the running two-year-old who came around the corner with a chubby grin. The child was holding a teddy bear, which was raised into the air when he raised his arms.
Retsu smiled as she raised Itori into her chest and twirled around, her heart soothed with the giggling of her innocent grandchild. Who knew a woman like me could have a family like this?
"Kaa-sama," Isane appeared with her own relaxed smile, her eyes twinkling as she saw her adoptive mother holding her precious son. "Will you be staying for dinner?"
Retsu held Itori to her chest and nodded her head. "Yes, I have taken the rest of the day off. Naruto-kun wanted a large family dinner with his guests. He looks to Konohamaru Sarutobi like a little brother so has invited Hiruzen-san's family to eat with us."
"I heard," Isane nodded her head and looked distant. "Sarutobi-san's death affected Naruto-kun deeply. He's still quiet."
"Give him time, Isane," Retsu reminded the young woman lightly. "He lost someone that he cared about deeply. Like if you were to lose me. Let him heal at his pace in his own way."
"I know I just-," Isane paused to take a calming breath. "I just worry that what's affecting him will change him."
Retsu put a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Then it is a change he must have to move on. His feelings for his precious people will not change, I can guarantee that."
Isane smiled and held her mother's hand for a moment before walking off with renewed energy. "I must get back to cooking! Izumi-chan is looking after her twins who were playing with Itori-kun, and Tayuya-chan and Karin-chan continued preparing dinner."
Retsu smiled as Itori rushed out of her arms and ran back the way he came, two more giggles could be heard a few moments after he disappeared around a corner. Her smile remained on her face but her eyes began to unfocus as she thought on the predicament Naruto found himself in.
For all the knowledge of healing and of the human anatomy, she knows that emotional pains like this are something that can not just be stitched close. She knew of this pain but she knew that in time Naruto would be able to move on and accept the outcome and fate of the man he saw as a grandfather figure. But something her daughter said had manifested a thought in her head that she did not think of prior but was cause for concern.
Naruto made the zanpakuto spirit with the emotions of his adolescence as a way to have a new start without the burden of hate or judgement. It is a unique thing as not many had manifested spirits through the complete transfer of emotions - instead, most made manifestations of memories, of ideals, or of desires - but what the young boy did was something extraordinary. As such, he had been a content child who could enjoy a few more years of his childhood without the memories of his beatings, of his scorn, and of his stunted growth. But Khahrahk would always be there to remind him of who he was, and who he could have become.
Naruto had made it known what he would do and what kind of monster he could be if his precious people were threatened. He never boasted and very rarely would he threaten others. There have been quite a few instances where he showed a wrathful nature that was so similar to Khahrahk, especially ever since gaining a deeper connection with the sword spirit and becoming a Divine Being, and those were frankly the most concerning moments for Retsu.
Retsu knew that Naruto was not a wicked person, and she was the last to judge given her past, but it was the cold and calculating stare that gave the woman pause about the way the blonde may be healing. She knows that he collected the elder's soul with Khahrahk, she was the one who did the autopsy in preparation for burial, after all, but she knows that it was at the older man's request rather than the young adult collecting every soul. She can only assume the impact it is having on the blonde to have taken a proper afterlife away from one of the few people he looked up to.
But that led to her next line of thinking. His gaze has changed, so has his emotions around others. It does worry her that Naruto may be changing into more like Khahrahk than when he made the sword spirit. How much can truly change in the boy? Especially if they end up at war with another country. He can't protect everyone and if he loses another person, through no fault of his own but she knows he will take it personally, what next will change, and how drastically will it change?
Memorial Park
"So what's been happening with you, 'maru?"
Konohamaru smiled at Naruto as he rubbed the mask on his waist. "I was chosen as the next generation of Masked agents, and I was given Hastur-san. He and I are working well together and it seems that I lucked out with a more cooperative and understanding demon."
Naruto nodded his head vacantly. It was not all that improbable to have an easier connection with the Mask if there was something to bridge the biggest differences but that also could mean Konohamaru had more in common with his demon than thought.
"I was to be on a team with Moegi and Udon with Ebisu-sensei but because I was chosen they had to find a substitute to take my place," a small smile was on Konohamaru's face when talking about his friends but it was sad rather than happy. "Other than that, I've been training a lot and Hanabi-san is trying to help me be comfortable in our barracks- not like that, you pervert!"
Naruto began giggling at the boy's poor choice of words which earned the embarrassed shout that only made his giggling louder. "Konohamaru and Hanabi, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i- ah!"
Naruto held his hands up as Konohamaruo started striking him but he couldn't help but laugh as he blocked each hit easily. "Awww, is Konohamaru-chan blushing?!"
"I'll kill you!"
Naruto laughed even as he and his surrogate brother were getting looks from everyone else - which was really just Asuma and Kurenai as the Visored escort, Shikamaru, and Sasuke were all smirking and chuckling at the sight; even Mirai was giggling.
The first thing Naruto sensed was a large amount of energy being condensed into multiple locations within the city; it was like Chaos and chakra being used to condense into pillars of energy. One of these locations was right on top of him and Konohamaru and his body reacted out of pure instinct when grabbing Konohamaru and dashing to the side.
"Danger."
"Get away!" Naruto shouted over Khahrahk's whisper.
He couldn't have warned the group any sooner as a large pillar of blue flame shot up from the ground, completely engulfing a large area that would have consumed him and Konohamaru if they had not moved. It wasn't hot or all that powerful, instead Naruto could feel something else from the other side. It was like he was sensing a whole new world but it wasn't another plane of existence or anything.
It must be a portal of some kind. Advanced magic or seals could do this, or a special ability, but who could make something like this without having been here to place a destination anchor?
Before Naruto could think anymore, he sensed a group appearing through the portal before actually seeing them. He moved to stand in front of Konohamaru, protectively shielding him in case if need be, and he watched as the Visored took stances with Sasuke and Shikamaru to protect Kurenai and her daughter.
The first thing he noticed was the two differing uniforms among the eight men and women. Three wore a white cloak with an unknown insignia on the back, but underneath they wore variations of a white double-breasted trench coat tied with a belt over white trousers and white boots. The five others wore the familiar Akatsuki cloak - and Naruto stared at the leading girl whom he remembers from the Chunin Exams. Of the three unknown individuals, it was the blonde-haired blue-eyed man that led them just by judging his appearance and his latent power.
"Oi, Shika!" Naruto shouted to get the man's attention. "Ask Samyaza what the fuck that symbol on the backs of those in white are!"
Shikamaru is silent as he did that, communicating telepathically with his demon. "He says it's the symbol of the Wandenreich!"
"The what-now?!"
Naruto growled but focused on the eight invaders, noting that the pillar had yet to disappear.
"Prince Uzumaki," the blonde man greeted. "I am honoured to be the one to expose my Emperor's existence to you."
Naruto calmly looked through the invaders, ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach as he felt a group of invaders entering his home where his family was relaxing. "What is your name, invader?"
"My name is Jugram Haschwalth," the man bowed, almost mockingly even as his tone remained respectful.
"Well, Haschwalth-san, I'm sorry to say but," Naruto released Khahrahk from his scabbard, "you made the mistake of invading my home the day after the death of a man I considered my grandfather. I am in a piss poor mood and how quickly you and your people surrender will determine if you survive or not."
Owari, Fire country
Ameyuri took off her sandals right outside the entrance to the Oda household. She knew that no matter her power or the prior people she served, the Oda leader still cared for tradition even if she was the most accepting of using new technology. And the leader was not a woman she wanted to upset in the slightest.
"Ringo-san," a servant woman bowed before motioning with her arm to the side. "Oda-sama is waiting for you in her study."
Ameyuri nodded her head and followed the servant through familiar corridors that she had been through countlessly. She's been serving the Oda clan, the leader specifically, for the last three years or so. She first came under the occupation shortly after her fight with Raiga for the Kiba blades.
When she took the bounty for Raiga Kurosuki in Konoha, simply for the reason that she could both reclaim her blades and make money from the endeavour, she was confident that she knew the swords' capabilities enough to handle fighting them. She was, after all, the original holder of the swords until her disease and she was cast aside by that Jinchuuriki bastard. She was never happier than when she heard the Mizukage died at the hands of the rebels and the Uzushio-Konoha support.
Her fight with Raiga, however, went far from smoothly, and even after she killed the man and his crime family she was left debilitatingly injured. She was found clutching the Kiba swords while bleeding to death by the Oda leader, and if it wasn't for the young woman Ameyuri was sure she would be dead. She was dragged off to some camp the Oda leader was using and she was treated for her wounds enough to not die on the way back to Owari.
"Ringo-san is here like you desired, Oda-sama," the servant bowed after opening the door.
"You are dismissed," the raven-haired young woman waved her hand without turning her head to look at them.
Ameyuri glanced at the servant as she retreated without another word, leaving the two alone. The former Kiri swordswoman knew that the lack of security, or care to leave the clan leader with an ex-mercenary, was not due to any faith in her to not do anything aggressive - although she had no such fantasies. It all had to do with the fact that even if the woman in front of her had been known as the Fool of Owari in her youth, she was anything but that.
"Come sit, Ringo-chan," the woman beckoned the redhead over. "I'm assuming the mission went well?"
Ameyuri walked around the woman and her table and kneeled on the cushion, bowing her head quickly to the woman opposite of her. "Yes. Your brother is currently handling the rest."
"Good to hear Nobukatsu-chan is not sitting about," the woman's voice is overflowing with fondness for her little brother.
Ameyuri stared at the woman who finished inspecting the scroll on the table, likely a report but Ameyuri did not ask if that was true. The young woman has long black hair and ruby-red eyes. Her outfit consists of a black, double-breasted coat with golden buttons and a black belt sitting around her waist while over the jacket, and black loose pants.
To the woman's right, lying beside the table, are two of the woman's weapons. The first is the woman's ceremonial but nonetheless deadly katana, and the second is the most modern advancement of weapons; a flintlock rifle. A projectile weapon that is made to replace the bow most commonly used by peasants and samurai, made of both wood and metal while using gunpowder to fire a metal ball a little bigger than a marble.
To the Fire Court and many villages, this woman is known as the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. But to Ameyuri, she best knew her as Lord Nobunaga Oda, the Lady of the Oda clan. The older sister to Oda Nobukatsu, a young man that Ameyuri silently refers to as the siscon of the Oda. For obvious reasons.
"I have one more mission for you," Nobunaga said suddenly as she rolled up the scroll.
"What is it?"
"I'm sure you've yet to hear but the Oda are no longer loyal to or serving the Fire Daimyo. This has been a growing problem even before I became the leader of the clan, as my father had abysmal expectations for a young Yoshisada Ichijo." Nobunaga clenched her hands around the scroll as her eyes gained a darker glint. "That immature man insulted me and my brother, making a mockery of our honour in service to his family, even when we made it known we found it disgraceful for allowing our ally to die in the Second Shinobi War."
Ameyuri is silent as she knows that Nobunaga, and by extension her little brother, had been given their father's hate for that particular event. The Uzumaki were backers of the Ichijo family rising to prominence in Fire country and even protected the Oda clan on more than one occasion. Because of this, the clan had held a slight loyalty to the Uzumaki as it had been their actions that tied them together.
"And this bastard dares to join forces with a shadow empire that has been Uzumaki enemies for multiple generations." Nobunaga shook her head and rubbed her forehead. "When I claimed he is being used and will fall victim to not just this Wandenreich but to whoever they allied with next, that fool started shouting and insulting me and my family."
Nobunaga looked at Ameyuri now and she had a resolved look in her eye. "That's why we will help the Uzumaki. The Wandenreich are staging an attack on Uzushio with the assistance of Amegakure."
"May I ask why we have to assist them, Oda-san?" Ameyuri asked respectfully without coming off as disobedient. "I remember meeting the Prince, albeit it was in the past, but even back then he seemed very capable and he's only gotten stronger over the years."
"I've heard the stories," Nobunaga grinned as she remembered being in the Daimyo's court when the report of Yukigakure's massacre came to light. Yoshisada was pissing himself in his luxurious robes! "But I think this will be a good entrance into reintroducing the friendship our two clans had…"
Ameyuri raised an eyebrow as she noticed the pink tinge across the woman's cheeks. "I understand, Oda-san."
"Good!" The woman got to her feet with her two weapons; swinging the rifle over her shoulder and strapping the sword to her waist. "Maybe we can even gain the assistance of Prince Uzumaki to get payback against the Ichijo bastard."
Uzumaki Compound, Uzushio
"Retsu! Over here!"
Tsunade shoved some stone rubble to the side before she began lifting the largest piece that trapped Izumi, her two children, and Itori. The kids coughed violently when they were finally released and Izumi made sure all three of them were alright. It had happened so fast that the children were more stunned and scared than hurt, only covered in minor cuts and bruises that would not leave any permanent damage.
"Oh my Sage," Karin whispered as she looked over the kids. "Here."
Her hands began glowing and began using her chakra to heal the wounds rapidly. Even if they have a minor version of the healing genes they gained from their father, she wanted to make sure there was no possibility of infection to worry about. If this is an actual attack on their home, judging by how the First Division Visored were now searching around for the perpetrators, she did not think they would be able to get to the hospital in time.
Tsunade looked over Izumi, getting a small smile of gratitude, before finding her well enough to move. "Okay. Let's try to get to a safer spot."
However, three figures appeared by Shushin and they immediately moved to surround their group. The most notable thing about them was their familiar red and black cloaks; Akatsuki.
"This just got complicated," Tsunade muttered before she felt three more presences appear near them.
Turning around, she was surprised not by the two men in white uniforms and cloaks but by the purple-haired woman belonging to Akatsuki. Even if it was an older face and a more powerful aura, there was no mistaking that this was one of Jiraiya's old orphan brats.
"Lightreich."
Tsunade glanced at Retsu when she heard the woman growling out the words with a deep scowl on her face. "People you know?"
"A long story," Retsu released her zanpakuto and for once, everyone could feel an oppressive force weighing on them from the usually kind woman. "Just know that they should be a dead nation."
"Lovely, kinda like my former teammate's supposedly dead student," Tsunade turned back to Konan with a narrowed gaze. "What are you doing here?"
"We are here to take the Prince's children," the bald man with a third eye answered monotonously. "Everyone else may die."
Isane gasped and grabbed her son in her arms, glancing around to make sure the three Akatsuki shinobi did not approach them. Izumi had her Mangekyo Sharingan activated and was wielding a kunai with one hand and holding the hands of her twins with the other. She could cast Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu for long enough to get herself, her children, Isane and her children out of there.
"Amusing that you think we would let you do that," Tayuya growled before grabbing her flute from her belt.
With a simple cut and application of blood, she blew out a melody that was both commanding and ominous. The blood on the flute turned black and a familiar winged dragon appeared on her shoulder and breast. The air above them exploded in a cloud of smoke and a roar sent dust, rubber, and the smoke flying away to reveal a large dragon. A dark grey metallic exoskeleton, some reddish-brown spots that looked like rust, and dark blue eyes shone dangerously.
The oppressive gusts of wind sent the three Akatsuki members skidding backward and away from their targets. They were able to correct themselves and get a good solid footing once the dragon landed on the ground, protecting Isane, Izumi, and their children.
"I answer your call, Tayuya-san." Kushala Daora spoke while keeping his gaze on the enemies.
"Thank you, Daora-san," Tayuya grimaced at the pain caused by the mark as it took in more chakra. "Keep them safe."
"I will protect Naruto-sama's family with my life."
"Interesting beast," the masked man in the white uniform spoke. "What does it fear, I wonder."
Shopping District, Uzushio
"Damn," Kisuke rubbed his head as he stood outside his shop doors. "An invasion on the day I unveil some new products. Bad luck, huh?"
"Should we help?" Tessai asked as he exited the shop and stopped next to his boss.
"I think the Visored should have this."
Just as Kisuke said this, one of the Second Division Visored crashed into the ground in front of them. Heavily injured but still breathing, the two men just stared at the Visored.
"Hm," Kisuke hummed to himself. "Maybe you should lend a hand…"
"Yo, Kisuke!" Yoruichi landed in front of the two men with her hands on her hips. "We are being invaded and you both are just standing around doing nothing!"
"We are technically civilians, Yoruichi," Kisuke shrugged his shoulders with a relaxed grin. "We should be evacuating to the bunkers."
"Kisuke!"
"Okay, okay, calm down," Kisuke sighed at the woman before motioning to Tessai. "Why don't you go help the Visored? I'll go get the civilians out of here."
"You're being lazy again taking the easy task," Yoruichi crossed her arms but sighed when the man disappeared without another word. "Stupid blonde bastard."
"I will follow your lead, Shihoin-san," Tessai said after the woman finished insulting their boss.
"The fighting is at that blue pillar," Yoruichi told the man before jumping onto the roof. "We should make our way there and help the Second Division."
"Understood."
Memorial Park
Naruto stared at the group of invaders before glancing at Konohamaru. The boy was watching with a narrowed gaze while his hand ghosted over the Mask on his waist. He looked like he was talking to his Demon. He looked over at the other Konoha shinobi and saw that both Sasuke and Shikamaru had already donned their masks.
Sasuke was now shining with golden light, a flaming cracked halo above his head, and two black wings covered in chains sprouted from his back. He held a flaming longsword that is as long as his legs and he wore a lightweight cuirass and shin guards. This is the Demon Mask transformation when channelling Samael, the Great Accuser.
Shikamaru, however, did not shine like Sasuke. His skin is now pale, almost alabaster or marble, and two large horns sprouted from his head; they slanted across his forehead over his eyebrows and around to the back of his head and curving back outwards. A silk robe covers his pure form and he holds a winged staff in his hands. This is the Demon Mask transportation when channelling Samyaza, the Endless Watcher.
The Visored awaiting orders or a sign of aggression, not moving from their protective positions even if this group are invaders.
Naruto felt a draw on his summoning tattoo, glancing over in the direction of his home in time to hear the roar of Kushala Daora. Tayuya…
Naruto felt anger bubbling inside of his chest and he turned back to the invader, his nose flaring and eye twitching whenever he heard an explosion or felt the loss of life. He now knew that they were here not just for him but to harm his people. Not only that…
"You dare target my family!"
Naruto burst into flames and ash, his skin shrivelling in the transformation into his Bankai form. Even so, the red halo crackled with a lit fire and a red smoke bubbles from his snarling mouth. Khahrahk is now in his released form, doubling in size and changing the air red from his power.
"Feed, Khahrahk! Feast and replenish!"
Black shadows bubbled violently around Naruto and screams can be heard begging in the wind. Then, hands can be seen reaching out from the shadows. Last were heads appearing as the bodies took form and left the bubbling shadows. All were geared from their death, but they did not look human. Ghastly black eyes and pale skin, they were more nightmarish than anything else.
Most were various village shinobi but there were others. Leather armoured men with large swords similar to Samael's fire sword. Barbaric men with ponytails and wicked curved swords. As they left the shadows, it was like there was no end to them. There were already over five dozen undead within moments and there seemed to be no end.
"Call in the soldat."
Naruto narrowed his eyes at Jugram's command but his eyes widened as within moments, waves of soldiers in full-body white uniforms came through the pillar. Not just at his location but at the others as well.
"An invasion of this magnitude is eradication!"
Naruto growled at Khahrahk's declaration and he expanded the shadows. "Spread and cleanse my city! Kill everyone! Take their souls! Officers! Do your duty!"
The undead began running out into the city, and confronting the soldat coming through the pillar in front of the Prince. However, twelve more figures appeared near the blonde for a few moments before leaving out into the village as well. The only ones who stayed were Maya Kazagumo and a one-eyed purple-haired woman.
"Oh, ain't this a treat," the woman grinned as she noticed the invaders in front of her. "I thought we killed all of you two hundred years ago!"
Jugram scowled as he noticed who the woman who taunted them was. "Saito Furofushi, former Lieutenant of the Fourth Division. A murderer and a psychopath. I will enjoy punishing you for your actions in the past."
"Wah, wah, wah," Saito mocked as the man finished speaking with an eye roll. "Cry somewhere else! It is a blessing to kill you pigs again!"
"Try to keep the Akatsuki alive," Naruto commanded the former Fourth Division Lieutenant. "I have questions."
"Yes, Prince-kun!" Saito grinned before jumping forward with her sword.
Jugram waved his hand forward and the soldat rushed forward against the Soul, but his companions charged different opponents.
The bald man charged Shikamaru but his forehead eye turned to look at Asuma, and the man transformed into the older Sarutobi man. Unlike a Transformation Technique that the Konoha-nin suspected, this was something much more complete and the Wandenreich officer looked like an exact copy of Asuma. Shikamaru was already calculating the exact extent that this type of ability could copy, if it also copied skills just by a glance or not, and he was already thinking of ways to combat Asuma's signature techniques.
Sasuke had to use his radiant flames to disintegrate the kunai and explosive tags before they could land on or around him. Each of them exploded upon being consumed by the flames, alerting him to their explosive tags. He turned to look at his opponent and found the purple-haired Akatsuki woman was facing him with more seal tags in her hand. He was sure that by the fact she was working alone, unlike the three-man squad, she was much stronger than the average shinobi.
Asuma stood in front of his wife to protect her and their daughter from the approaching soldat but he was stopped when the Visored used various unique attacks. Each was nowhere close to the capabilities of normal chakra and he felt a small shiver crawl up and down his spine as he realized that these were the people he was aggressive to years ago when he first came here. The enemy dwindled drastically, but that was a short-lived solution since more just replaced the dead.
"Konoha-nin, get your wife and child to the underground Safety Vaults. We will cover your retreat." The squad leader commanded the bearded man.
"What about Konohamaru? My escort?"
"We are preoccupied if you cannot tell," the Visored glanced at the man over his shoulder with a narrowed gaze. "Think about your own safety. Do not risk your child's safety over your misguided thoughts of chivalry."
The man did not leave room for rebuttal as he and his squadmates met the charge of the soldat, leaving the man to grit his teeth and grab his wife to leave.
Naruto gave note of the man's leave and turned towards Konohamaru once more as they were surrounded by the Akatsuki squad. "You think you can take on a team of B-rank and above mercenaries alone while I handle the ringleader?"
Konohamaru nodded his head seriously and slipped on the mask. "I can."
"Good," Naruto's lipless mouth curved into a sadistic smirk at the younger boy. "Go wild and show me your progress."
Naruto marched past the Akatsuki, grinning wider as the young boy dashed towards the enemy and gained their attention away from him. He felt something off about the Wandenreich leader, something unique and dangerous, but he continued forward. He needed to confront the man before he used whatever power he had to harm the ones with him.
"Such an unsightly appearance," Jugram commented as he took in the transformed Prince. "This is why we did not and do not incorporate demons' powers into our way of life. It is corrupting and now you look more like them than us."
"This is the reflection of my soul. I am an all-consuming being who subjugates others." Naruto raised his nodachi and held it horizontally across his body. "You blame demons for this sight, lumping all of them into one basket, yet it is not demons that invade and harm innocents. The evil of this world is us ourselves."
"Such blatant heresy," Jugram sighed and raised a large white shield over his left arm in time to block a sudden slash aimed at his chest.
Massive wisps of chakra swirled around Naruto as his sword clashed with the shield, sparks shooting out from the opposite forces. Naruto flicked his opposite hand forward and thrusted into Jugram's lung, causing the man's eyes to widen and gasp. However, a light flashed and an invisible force sent the transformed Prince backwards skidding across the dirt grounds.
He was able to dig his heels into the ground and came to a stop a few dozen yards away from his enemy, and he looked at the blonde man to see him completely fine. He had no hole in his chest and not even any blood covered his pristine white uniform. However, the shield shone an ethereal glow.
"Interesting trick," Naruto's mouth curved more as he felt a new pain in the right side of his abdomen. "And it looks like my right lung has been punctured. Just like yours before."
"My Schrift granted to me by my Emperor is the Balance," Jugram informed the Prince apathetically. "It lets me maintain the balance of fortune and misfortune."
"So any damage done to you is able to be reflected back," Naruto tilted his head. "Such an… annoying ability. But can you still activate such a thing when your soul is ripped from your body?"
Jugram's eyes widened when the man suddenly appeared before him with his sword poised to strike his abdomen.
Spellsword Academy
"Oh my," Irene smiled pleasantly as she stood across from the four intruders. "You do not look like you belong here. What could you children want with my school?"
A blue pillar of light made of a combination of Chaos, Chakra, and Divine energies. Irene can sense all of the swirling components but the only way such a technique or spell could be powered is by an immensely strong ritual circle. The fact there were multiple within the city, they had plenty of skilled magicians with them wherever the spell was originating.
"Oh shoot, we didn't get to surprise you," the woman with blonde hair and purple highlights smirked. "We came to educate you and your school about your proper places."
Irene's eyebrow raised at the statement but her smile never changed. She chuckled and asked, "What could you possibly teach me? As the elder, I'm sure it is actually I who will be doing the teaching."
"So you think." The woman waved her hand and the three black-cloaked men disappeared into the windows of the large academy.
"We just cleaned those this morning," Irene pouted as she glanced back at the three broken windows. "I guess not only trespassing, but the intent to harm is one of your added crimes."
"Do not worry," the woman scoffed and grinned derangedly at the redhead. "We will be comparing crimes with you heretics!"
The blue pillar behind the woman flared and a mass of white-armoured soldiers came rushing through and charged the school. Irene stood her ground and looked apathetic as she regarded the new enemies.
"Disappointing."
The first few rows of soldiers were massacred immediately in a blazing inferno explosion that sent the rest flying through the air. The flames that roared with the wind dispersed into three dozen four-foot sections and dispersed through the leftover soldat ranks. As soon as the fire landed on the ground, they moulded into an imp-like elemental with yellow eyes and two flaming pointed ears.
"Sosaal niin!"
With Irene's unknown command, a loud screeching noise could be heard from the fire elementals before they began attacking the surrounding soldiers. Despite being made of flames, their finger-like claws were able to slice through their protection easily. They had no fear of bleeding out as the wounds were cauterised almost immediately but that only meant they were suffering on the ground.
"Now, my first lesson is discipline," Irene scolded the uneasy woman.
Irene waved her staff and black chains rose from the ground and wrapped around the arms and legs of the blonde Wandenreich officer.
Berenice grimaced as her movement was restricted and pulled her limbs painfully apart. "D-do you really think it is a good idea to do this to me? My first objection is- urk! Is to your teaching methods!"
"You object to my teaching methods and that it isn't a good idea to do this to you? But my dear, how will you learn if you are rambunctiously running amok?" Irene asked the question back, gaining a surprised look on the bound woman's face. "Oh, don't think I didn't notice the magic power with your question. Should I fail to answer appropriately then there are some consequences, am I correct?"
"Then my second objection! Your loyalty to the Prince! Why be loyal to someone so young and as murderous as one that put an entire shinobi village to the blade?"
"Hmm," Irene tapped her chin as she thought about that question, noticing the slightly triumphant look on Berenice's face. "Well someone powerful like that would have been a fantastic son-in-law but that is no longer on the table. Why not follow someone who not only has divine authority but also the happiness of his people and the world in his mind? Would you not do the same?"
The bindings tightened around Berenice's arms and legs, snapping bones that made the woman scream out.
"Uh oh, looks like you're running out of time," Irene smirked. "My spell slowly constricts until… snap! Kuheheh!"
Berenice shook under not just the pain but the evil giggle that came from the deranged redhead. "M-my third objection! Your life! How have you lived this long? Have you not suffered an- ah! a mortal wound when you were younger?!"
Irene raised an eyebrow at that question. It was so far from her youth that now she knew this woman was just grasping at straws and hoping to gain something that would make her question her existence. Sadly for her, she had suffered only one wound in life and that was to Erza's father.
"Nope! I had only been wounded once in life and that was with my daughter's father," Irene giggled now as she saw the defeated horror on Berenice's face. "Considering my daughter was born years later and we're both alive, I am perfectly healthy. Can you say the same?"
Ssssnap!
Berenice's eyes watered and widened before a bloodcurdling scream resounded through the academy grounds and the students looking out the window winced at the sight. Many of the troublemakers were now thankful they never brought the Archmagus to the point she would teach them in such a harsh way.
"And that is the end of lesson one," Irene smiled kindly as she looked around to see the elementals cleaning up the last of the soldat. "Now, what happened to those Akatsuki?"
Three bodies landed behind her, each dead, but the noticeable black cloaks with red clouds can still be seen. One was slashed efficiently and mortally, ending his life within three slashes. The second was charred to the point that he was more like coal than a human being. The last one could not even be called a body as it was so mangled and ripped to shreds that Irene had only one person in mind for doing it.
"We caught them on their way to the classrooms," Erza told her mother upon landing in the clearing. "There were quite a few injuries during the fights but no one died."
"That's good," Irene smiled as Natsu and Gajeel arrived. "What of the old man? Why wasn't he around to take care of things?"
"He's taking a nap in his office," Natsu answered and cracked his knuckles. "Good thing too, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to fight!"
Erza's eye twitched and she punched the back of the pink-haired boy's head. "This is not the time! Take this more seriously! Our home is being invaded!"
"Owwww!"
Enforcers Joint Command Centre
"Alright." Renji cut down the last of the soldat that stormed the command centre with his released zanpakuto. "Is that all?"
Ichigo walked up to his friend from another room after taking care of his section, shrugging his shoulders. "No idea, I doubt that's all they will send if they want to take out as many of us and our officers as they can."
"Any casualties?"
"Five dead, thirteen injured," Ichigo sighed as whatever these invaders were using was able to bypass many Visored abilities and defences.
"How about you two," Renji asked as Rukia and Nanao ran into the room. "What's your side looking like?"
"Cleared them all but a few retreated," Rukia answered her husband. "My squad suffered one death and five injured."
"Three dead and two injured," Nanao answered as she caught her breath. "What about the Captains and Lieutenants? Have they appeared yet?"
"No," Renji shook his head. "They're still in the command room running damage control of the rest of the country. I doubt we are the only target, or the true target in that case."
"Hey, rookies!"
Three bodies landed in a heap on the floor and the Enforcers turned to see Lieutenant Toshiro and Rangiku approaching from deeper in the command centre.
"Whoever let these three pass will be reprimanded when this invasion is done," Toshiro warned everyone as she cleaned her blade.
"I apologise deeply, Lieutenant Hitsugaya," Rukia bowed as she apologised.
"Whatever," the shorter girl scoffed before looking at Renji. "So what's the report?"
"All of the invaders were killed and are just waiting for the Captains' orders," Renji answered. "More may come but we should be good for now."
Toshiro nodded her head. "That will not be a problem. The Captains are erecting the Peace Dome right now. If it works, we will be able to clean this mess up easily. If not, we will continue as planned."
I'm not entirely satisfied with this chapter but to be honest it's difficult to capture the scale of this entire invasion. Just know that the entire village/city is affected by this but we will be focusing on the Memorial Hall, Uzumaki Compound, and the Enforcers Command Centre. The next chapter is coming slow as well but hopefully I can do well with that one too but if not it's fine.
Thank you for reading, as always.
TigrezzTail: The Fourth Division under Naruto is not responsible for the defense of the mainland as the other three divisions are there, but Aizen believes that if anyone is responsible for the Prince's safety it is him. He believes that he is the most capable and most loyal of the Captains (or the village) so it is likely that even if he arrives to help mop things up he will internalise his "failure".
Primarx: I've abandoned quite a few stories that are still up on my profile due to losing the files (back when I saved everything on a 3gb flashdrive) but also due to bad reception / lack of interest. I believe this story and Lord Fishcake are the only stories I am still writing for. The latter not so much mostly because I backed myself into a corner with the storyline lmao.
PraetorXyn: I love lore and story. Any game I play I love if they have lore aspects. Overwatch, League of Legends, and quite a few games that don't focus on a "story" but have a background lore is my favorite thing.
WindCitySlayer1: Glad you are enjoying the story
Dzerx: This whole story has been building up to world threats. Demigods, the gods themself, etc, all exist as "World-level threats" and Aizen being added is no different. He isn't an enemy, just a zealot.
Trace Reading: Ryo was a real-world currency made of gold coins. I keep forgetting the difference so I apologize that I did not fix or catch my mistake. As for the Sarutobi clan, most clans that are powerful have died out or dwindled so I see them as no difference. Other cases of this are the Senju (more like they just went their own ways), and the Kamizuru clan (due to falling out of favor). Naruto's statement on Hades is literally within the first ten paragraphs: "[...] as well as Hades who is another god of the dead." Most gods "of death" are actually of the dead. As for the "Pain" vs "Pein" debate lies in which media you know. Pein is the japanese stylisation when Romanised. Thank you for reading and leaving comments though :D