The sun had not yet risen, an eerie feeling hung over the village. Darkness still prevailed in some alleys. Streetlights sprayed light in some areas. The streets were crowded. Civilians and shinobi alike were strolling about—perhaps just in case the village was attacked. Or, perhaps, it was just out of curiosity.
The damage was minimal, but the mark was left. Konoha was a taunted beast. The villagers would live in fear. There could be another one. And it could be much worse.
Itachi had not slept the whole night. Many of the shinobi had not slept either. To sleep was simply an open invitation for Sunagakure to attack again.
Once everything was secured, the villagers were released back to their homes and the lockdown returned in full force. Meetings were held. But there was no mention of attacking Sunagakure; it was all about assessing damage and securing Konoha.
Upon returning home, Itachi immediately went to the Naka Shrine. Standing on the staircase, he gazed up at the sky. In an hour, the sun would rise; another day would begin, and Suna would know of Konoha's response. Most importantly, the clan had survived this attack. The whispers of suspicion against them would cease.
The clan head was sitting on the stairs inside his house, as if waiting for him. Half-naked, he sat there, his partially hidden face visible even in the darkness. Itachi could see those glowing eyes, which seemed more intimidating than ever before.
Itachi knelt down on one knee and stared at the floor.
"I have a request." He said without emotion.
"Which is?" Naruto replied, with some amusement. Seeing Itachi kneeling, with a serious expression, was even something Naori would find amusing.
"You're going to demand the Sandaime Hokage let you leave for Sunagakure. I want you to convince him to let me go with you."
Naruto stared at the Uchiha for a long minute. Finally, Itachi lifted his face. He seemed convinced he was making the right choice and would not back down.
It hardly surprised Naruto, considering Itachi was a pacifist. Itachi loved Konoha and would fight his own family to protect it. More than anything else, he wanted to avoid a bloody war. The murder of ten was much better than the slaughter of a thousand. He obviously had no appetite for seeing the same scenes his father showed him during the Third War.
Naruto sighed. "Your love for Konoha is admirable. The past Hokages would be proud of you. It's a noble thing to protect your home." He paused, placing his right hand on his chest. "A little while ago, I'd have abandoned Konoha if it came to it. But, I don't think I could do that anymore." He chuckled. "Amusing, isn't it?"
Itachi shook his head. "Did you not love Konoha?"
"My love for the village has never been a question. It was a question of to what extent." Naruto's voice suddenly became serious. "You have an important role. The Sandaime must have already told you."
Honestly, he had no problem with taking Itachi with him. In fact, things would work better with the Uchiha by his side.
"He did."
"But?" Naruto asked with lifted eye lids.
"It means nothing. We must fulfill our roles. There will be no Konoha if we don't act."
"Assuming Suna is even capable of doing that," Naruto said with nonchalance. "I don't think there is an existential threat." He shook his head for emphasis. "I'd planned on taking Shisui." Naruto sighed, some emotion showing across his face. "But, anymore difficult battles, and he'll be completely blind." The disappointment in his voice was clear.
Itachi wasn't sure if Naruto was disappointed in Shisui's blindness or his own failure to force Shisui into countermeasures.
"What is his state of mind?"
"He'll advocate for disarming Suna. But, that would simply just delay the inevitable. We have shown weakness. We can be struck. Mercy means Sunagakure will eventually gather its strength and strike us." Itachi said in a determined voice. "If not Suna, another village. We'll be in constant battles if we do not take a firm decision right now."
"When it comes to Konoha, you'll sacrifice your limbs," Naruto said with a shake of his head. "He doesn't need to know what will happen to Suna. But I'll talk to him. You will come with me. It will be a good opportunity to show the might of the Uchiha, and Konoha. If people still have doubts about your strength, those opinions will be dispelled.
"But, it also means we'll become targets. People don't really know the power of a perfect Susanoo. They probably haven't even seen it. Once they see its power, they'll become threatened and a new struggle will arise. Such is how things function in this world."
It was one huge cycle that kept repeating the same things over and over again. Yet, nothing was ever predictable. Greed was not a new emotion; it had always existed. However, humans loved being shocked when they saw the greed in others.
Perhaps this continuous cycle was something Jiraiya wanted to break with his peace ideals. The Sandaime was going about it the wrong way with his naïveté.
"Thank you." Itachi said earnestly.
Naruto waved his right hand dismissively. "Go and rest. We'll leave soon," he said in a serious tone. "By the way, Izumi is the one you're going to marry, isn't she?" His tone switched from seriousness into genuine curiosity.
"It makes me uncomfortable when you ask like that."
Naruto chuckled. "Don't be like that. We were raised as brothers. Besides, it seems like Izumi brings out your emotional side. I think that's a good thing."
"Should you be asking that?" Itachi inquired with a raised eyebrow. "And Naori? I can sense her presence upstairs. Are you planning on marrying her?"
"I don't know," Naruto released a short breath. "I don't know. You and Izumi have been going on for a while. You like each other. That is obvious. It is good. These are things we should strive to protect."
Itachi stood up and stared at his clan head for a long moment. "I'd expected you to still be in a foul mood."
Naruto smiled. "I can't be serious for too long," he said.
Itachi simply shook his head and walked away.
Village Streets, Konoha
The day after the Kyubi rampage, the Uchiha clan found itself in danger. Perhaps if the villagers hadn't openly suspected them before becoming openly hostile, Inabi wouldn't have felt the need to pressure the clan into a rebellion. The snake that was Danzo didn't help either.
Naruto could remember it like it was yesterday. The Uchiha had never truly been the beloved like the Senju, but that day, the streets became deathly cold, and the clan grounds gathered clouds of a morgue.
Rage had boiled over for the likes of Inabi; a rebellion seemed the only way forward. It wasn't even the worst of it. The hammer had fallen when the village leaders decided to send them away from the village, into a prison.
With each day, Naruto thanked Minato for his discretion. If Danzo had sensed a whiff of the truth, it would have been over for his clan. Maybe he had a sense of it, which was why he wanted to get rid of them.
The situation had changed now.
The leaders couldn't do as they had done before. Naruto held power. He was conscious that any more growth, and he would frighten them. They'd speak in hushed whispers if he held power that could destroy the Leaf. Fear, he didn't need. Hence, he tried by all means to be civil with those who had ordered the deaths of his clan members.
Inwardly, Naruto smiled bitterly. He hadn't forgotten. He tried. But those people had blood on their hands. It was a pity; he couldn't order their deaths. But truly, he was a loathsome person, filled with grudges and contempt.
It was no wonder he was miserable. Sometimes he wondered why the weeds in Area 44 did not wither whenever he walked by.
Naruto bathed in the warm sunrise, watching as the villagers surveyed the streets, looking for damages to their properties and the village as a whole. They would be relieved that there was no devastating damage. The hospital was damaged, but not destroyed. The destruction of the Kage Tower could be seen as a fall of Konoha's power. After all, it represented the power of the Kage, hence it stood tall above all other buildings.
The villagers didn't need an invitation to surround him. No one was hurling insults at him or the Uchiha clan; they expressed concern for him. But that was merely a prelude to what was about to come. They demanded action be taken. They couldn't live in fear of another attack.
"Suna will pay."
That was all Naruto could say. He applauded himself for saying it without expressing any of his dark thoughts.
They believed it. Orochimaru had kidnapped someone from the Uchiha clan, and Naruto had hunted him down, even destroying his village. When he'd murdered many children in the village, the Sandaime did nothing. He allowed his former pupil to roam free, causing pain and dread wherever he went. Naruto wasn't like that. You provoked him and paid the price.
He didn't just say it for politics or comfort; Suna would pay. This provocative act was done to humiliate the Leaf and the payment would be by blood.
"You have nothing to worry about. I'm on my way to meet the Sandaime about it. You will sleep peacefully, knowing Suna is no longer a threat to the Leaf."
Politics—it was a disgusting game that nearly crippled his clan. No, they had been crippled and sent to the depths of the abyss. But, slowly, they'd crawled out. Even the devil couldn't hold his clan back. This game, would see them rise once more, to heights Tobirama robbed them. Maybe even Madara played a part in it by abandoning them. Had he not left, not even Tobirama would have dared to humiliate them in the way Danzo did.
"Will he? This happened under this watch." It was said in a whisper.
Naruto shook his head. They loved the old man, but sometimes, he spoke in hushed tones about his inability to make hard decisions. If he died, they wouldn't speak ill of him. He was alive, so they could quietly question him.
Naruto raised his hand to quiet down the whispers. With a smile on his lips, he spoke confidently. "He will."
Such simple words, brought the doubt to its knees, and their expressions were masked with relief.
Naruto continued on his path towards the temporary structure erected for the Sandaime Hokage. The structure was made of wood; he assumed Yamato had built it. It was laughable. Maybe he should have killed the man. Mokuton was what made Hashirama the most powerful shinobi in Konoha's history, and yet, Yamato was reduced to building houses. It was the filth that disgusted him.
The old man looked worn out as he sat behind a makeshift desk. It was still early, but paperwork already crowded the desk.
"Sandaime-sama." Naruto greeted the old man with respect.
"Naruto," Hiruzen said warmly. "I see the villagers are treating you well. It's unlike the last time Konoha faced an attack."
Anbu had already informed him of what occurred in the streets. He didn't think Naruto was plotting to oust him. It was unnecessary since Itachi was already going to succeed him. Even more so, since Itachi didn't agree with his passive ways.
"When you can offer something, it is only natural people treat you well."
"Sometimes, even when you offer nothing, people can still love you. Affection doesn't go away just like that, unless of course, you give them reason." Hiruzen said in a serious tone. "Please sit," he said.
Naruto shook his head. "I'd rather stand. I don't want to stay for too long anyway."
Hiruzen sighed.
Shisui had already warned him; in some respects, he had already expected this to happen. He had no other option. An army would face needless losses in the desert. Even if they camped in the River Country, it wouldn't necessarily make Suna come out. It didn't mean crossing the desert wasn't possible; Hiruzen just didn't want to face the losses he would surely suffer if he ventured.
"The attack was unfortunate, and had it not been contained, it would have had devastating consequences. We don't even know if Suna has learned to replicate that jutsu. We can only work under the assumption that they have. To simply dismiss the possibility would be dangerous. We have already taken a hit; I don't want another one.
"You want to launch an attack on the Sand. I know you're confident, but I don't want to lose you. The Suna is still a Great Nation. We can't afford to underestimate them." Hiruzen spoke in a serious tone.
"Your concern is noted, but unwarranted," Naruto said dismissively. "I'm not simply reckless. There are ways to return to life even if I'm killed. Though dying in the hands of Suna would be too much of a humiliation; I'd rather stay dead than come back alive."
Hiruzen stared, wondering if Naruto was truly serious.
"Abilities of the Mangekyo?"
"Yes," Naruto said, cocking his head to the side. "I'm sure you already knew that, Sandaime-sama." He stared at him. "But, I must ask, what is your end goal, with Sunagakure?" Naruto asked, his intense gaze piercing straight through the Third's.
Hiruzen felt a sense of discomfort, spurred by the question Naruto had asked him. "What do you intend to do?"
"I have been respectful towards you, Sandaime-sama. But, I wonder why Fugaku-sama held you in such high regard. I detest Danzo. If he had a grave stone, I would use it for spitting and pissing. But, I sometimes understand his frustration. Even Itachi held you in high regards, but he was still willing to listen to Danzo in an attempt to solve the "little Uchiha problem".
"You perhaps take after the Shodai Hokage. I hate the Senju, but in some respects, I like Tobirama. He always did what needed to be done, at least what he thought needed to be done. We shouldn't have allowed Suna to arm itself. If the situation was different, maybe we'd have become allies. I was even planning something much better for the Sand.
"I was going to go with Shisui, disarm Sunagakure, and then have him manipulate the Yondaime Kazekage into revealing the truth about Pakura. She would then freely return home and take over the Sand. That way, we would never have to worry. We could even arrange a political marriage, grooming her child into succeeding his or her mother.
"But we're at a point of no return. If we do nothing, the Raikage and Tsuchikage are watching. Suna has to pay for its grave sins. I'm not going to mess around." Naruto said and then paused, allowing the Sandaime to absorb his words. "Your successor mostly agrees with me and he wants to go with me to the Sand. I understand you may be worried for his safety, but, rest assured, on my life, the trust you had in Fugaku-sama, know that he will return."
Hiruzen released a deep sigh and took out a scroll. He handed it over to Naruto.
"I trust you will eliminate the threat to Konoha."
Naruto stared at the scroll with a raised eyebrow. "Shisui spoke to you?"
Hiruzen nodded. "He informed me that you were willing to be branded a traitor to Konoha if it meant protecting your clan and the village. I have one request, spare the lives of civilians, as you did in the Sound."
"It will be done."
Hiruzen sighed, and leaned back into his stiff chair. "But that isn't the only reason I'm approving this. I really don't have a choice in the matter," he conceded. "My first priority will always be Konoha. If there is an option that saves their lives, I cannot send them to their deaths. Even for a reign full of failures, to send men to their deaths when another method could be employed would be the pits."
Jiraiya didn't have the power. But Naruto and Itachi had the power with their Mangekyo abilities. There was no room for hesitation either. Suna had made its move; he had to respond with the powers at his disposal. History would not judge him harshly. A pity, he couldn't avoid the destruction of the Great Nation.
If Itachi and Naruto succeeded in crippling Suna, they would be deemed too dangerous. This could open up another point of conflict. Hiruzen had been trying to avoid such a situation, but fate wouldn't let him have his way.
"Such decisions must be made sometimes. Even when we don't like them. I accepted the decision to have my clan almost wiped out, because it was for the better. An exaggeration, but you could say, the decision you took was genocide against the Uchiha. They were brothers, people who protected the Leaf. Action against the Sand should be nothing compared." Naruto said without emotion. "Things could have been worse. But, they aren't. Itachi will cement his place as a protector of the Leaf. And we will rid ourselves of a nuisance."
Naruto left the Sandaime's office without saying anything else.
There was less activity on the rooftops than last night. However, Anbu were still present, lurking in the shadows, watching every bit of movement within the streets and alleys. The enemy could be among them.
By tomorrow night, the village would know peace. Shinobi would go about missions without fear of being attacked by the Sand People. Civilians would go to sleep without fears of their homes bursting into flames like the Hokage Tower, or a near miss like the hospital.
Later
The unexpected had occurred—word had spread through the streets that Itachi and Naruto would be leaving to pay Sunagakure for its violence against the Leaf. By the time they were at the village gates, several shinobi had offered to go with them, while hundreds of civilians wished them well.
The Uchiha clan has truly come far. And Itachi had wanted to conspire with Danzo to wipe them out. However, he would have died before he could do so with Naruto being the gatekeeper.
The overwhelming response from the villagers made him smile; it made him happy to know they cared. That the clan no longer had a dark cloud hanging over its head. They had truly come to accept and respect them. More than ever, he respected his father for having such a great vision.
With a final wave, Itachi turned his back on the Leaf. Naruto walked in front of him, his back carrying only a scroll. It was those shoulders that carried the clan from the depths of the abyss.
Itachi walked a bit faster to catch up to his clan head. He reached him and walked side by side with him.
"I truly wonder why the Nidaime chose the Sandaime as his successor," Naruto said with disappointment.
Tobirama was a hardened man who took every measure necessary, without taking account into any ideals. It was ridiculous for someone who had seen three wars to be that naive. Age was supposed to bring wisdom, not decay the mind with such brutality it made some question if the Third Hokage was ever as great as he once was. If Naruto hadn't spared with the old man, he would have questioned history accounts.
Itachi said. "He was the strongest of his teammates." He continued. "Maybe he thought his teammates would support him. If Danzo had been selected instead, things would have been different. The Sandaime can be influenced, and Danzo thought only he was right."
"He disgusts me." Naruto spat. "You still value him?"
"He has taught me a lot," Itachi said earnestly.
"A pity, when the going gets tough, you've had to run behind his back."
Twice now; Itachi thought of it with displeasure. But his actions were forced. Protecting Konoha and avoiding war meant everything to him. If he'd been told to sacrifice himself for this mission, he would have done so—as long as it crippled the Sand and ensured Konoha was safe.
"Regardless, he is a caring Hokage who makes you understand things. It is easy for men to follow him."
"If it weren't so, the village wouldn't love him as much," Naruto replied in a flat tone. The shadows of the trees covered them. He glanced at Itachi and spoke again. "You ignore politics and only focus on protecting the village. But those are things I pick up on. And you should understand what this means for us, as a clan.
"The Sandaime has sent us because he has no other option. He doesn't want thousands of his men to die. But, once we succeed, our power grows. We become feared in the shinobi world, and Konoha holds us on a pedestal. Once you ascend to the Hokage position, Uchiha will have Konoha in a grip.
"And that creates a problem. You were chosen because you won't play favorites. But it doesn't change the fact that you're Uchiha. Our past is not noble. Too much power focused on one clan creates a problem. And without a doubt, the village will try to create some sort of balance."
No matter how things looked, there would always be a problem with the Uchiha. He didn't think deeply about it, but Itachi wouldn't allow politics to dominate his reign, should he eventually become Hokage.
"Aren't you going to stand down from the village Council?"
"It changes nothing. It's just optics." Naruto said with a wave of his right hand. "You will get to that with the Third, but understand the politics of it all."
Toward what end? Avoiding a collision?
"You'd not want the village to strip the Uchiha of every power it holds because an Uchiha will become Hokage."
"Indeed, Itachi. You understand me."
Indeed. They've known each other since their early days. The brotherhood connection wasn't there, but Itachi understood Naruto. He would do as his father told him, to be the bridge between the Uchiha clan and the village.
"The clan will still be powerful."
"We are blessed. We will be powerful. The other clans can curse their own existence if they have a problem. I'm saying I'd not want the clan to be curtailed because it's not our problem other clans cannot match us. We won't cripple ourselves just to lower ourselves to their level." Naruto said unapologetically.
Itachi sighed. With that attitude, he knew things would not be easy.
"I do have a small problem, which I hope you'll address promptly. The Anbu commander is becoming a nuisance in my presence. If he continues, I will break his legs and stuff them down his throat. Then, he'll have something to complain about."
He'd heard from others. Naruto had patience and tolerance, but they all had limits. And when those limits were reached, there was no going back.
"I'll see to it," Itachi said with a sigh. He glanced at his clan head and asked, "You won't ask me to put you on the village council, will you?"
Naruto smiled. His smile turned into a chuckle. "No," he said with a shake of his head. "I'm happy with you being Hokage because it limits ambition. And I know you'll be fair. You should understand; when it comes to clan and village, I'm rational to the core."
An Uchiha becoming Hokage—it didn't excite Itachi, not even a little. Maybe it was because he never thought it was necessary for the clan to be redeemed or find its place. Within the Military Police, the clan had found its place. But, he knew, there would be wild celebrations when he became Hokage.
His only regret was that his father would not be there to see it; after all, he owed his very existence to the man.
A smile graced Itachi's lips as he allowed himself to feel contentment at the thought of the future. In those dark days, he hadn't believed such happiness could be possible. He hadn't believed he had a future, let alone the clan. Even if he had a future, it would have been one filled with misery and regret.
Sasuke was alive, happy, and growing. The clan didn't have a dark cloud hanging over it; it had a clan head dedicated to it. And he would become what he always desired—a protector of the Leaf. On the side, he had Izumi. She was a different aspect of his life that truly made life worth living.
Itachi felt truly happy.
But Suna wanted to destroy all that. If Suna went to war with Konoha, Izumi would be sent to the front lines. The Sandaime wouldn't want her Sharingan wasted. She could die. He could die. Konoha could be destroyed. The bloody scenes of fields of corpses would fill his dreams once more.
To avoid it, the threat to them all had to be removed.
Shikaku and Hiashi came to a halt at the gates. The destruction was evident; an attack had been launched. There were more shinobi than usual in the outskirts, but not one of them had warned them.
"So, it begins," Shikaku said with a slight shake of his head.
"It began a long time ago," Hiashi said in a cold tone, his eyes stern.
It began the moment Sunagakure openly challenged Konoha. They had honestly tolerated this disrespect for far too long. Sunagakure should have been razed to the ground long ago. They were even afraid of conflict with Iwagakure because the Sandaime refused to take advantage of Minato's power to cripple the village. Had he done so, they wouldn't be in this situation.
"I can't argue with that," Shikaku conceded with a sigh. "I'd hoped we'd make a move before they could strike. But perhaps this was what was needed. We'll surely put an end to this."
"You're his advisor. Why didn't you advise him to do something long ago?" Hiashi asked, glancing at the Nara head with narrowed eyes.
"I can only do so much," Shikaku said with a shake of his head.
"It gives me displeasure to say this, but if Danzo were alive, this mess would have been solved long ago," Hiashi said, the displeasure and contempt toward Danzo written across his face. "Of course, he'd have gone about it in a roundabout way, but we wouldn't be in this situation."
Allowing Suna to do as it pleased only emboldened it. Not even Iwagakure would dare plot such a bold attack on the Leaf. Even without the details, there was no need to question who was behind this assault on their village. Even if it were some other force, Sunagakure would pay for it because it wouldn't be happening without its contempt for the Leaf and delusions about replacing it as the strongest of the Great Five.
As they walked about, it became clear that there wasn't much damage. It made no difference to Hiashi either way; a thousand or just one dead mattered not. The fact remained that the Sand had attacked the Leaf.
"I can't argue with that either," said Shikaku, his lips twisting in bitter amusement. "We brought goodness from the Cloud and were met with bad news. Regardless of what we say, we have to pause negotiations with the Cloud."
"Why?"
"We have taken an attack; our situation is not one of power, but of a wounded beast. There is no guarantee we will not lose limbs. If we negotiate with the Cloud while we are battling, it will put us in a weaker position. The Raikage respects strength above all things. If he sees us struggling, he will make some unreasonable demands."
Shikaku wouldn't even find fault in the man for making some demands. After all, this was the shinobi world and taking advantage of whatever situation for the benefit of one's village was the rational thing to do, even if it meant betraying the trust placed upon you. In this world, cold reason dictated over loyalty to another village.
"It's foreseeable for him to demand our bloodlines to help us." Hiashi snorted with contempt. "And we're making deals with the man," he shook his head, while suppressing the urge to spit. "We'd have no other option but to agree to it if Iwagakure showed interest in fighting against us."
"Yes."
"Which makes me wonder why the Sandaime had placed the village in such a situation. They could not afford to fight a war with Sunagakure; it was not due to fear of losing, but rather the fact that in war, everyone loses."
It didn't take long for an Anbu squad to stop them in their tracks. They were whisked away to an underground facility, where the Sandaime was, along with other noble clan heads. Jiraiya was also present, along with Tsunade, but the Anbu commander was absent.
Seeing that the Uchiha were not present, Shikaku had an itching feeling that they were not present in the village. The clan represented a formidable portion of Konoha's prowess. Their absence meant a decision had already been taken. And that pleased him.
"I was wondering why nobody said a thing," the Nara said, his tone quiet, and then sat down beside Tsunade around the rectangular table.
"We were preparing for this meeting. Other clan heads and the rest of the village will be informed of what is happening. Though, most already know. You can't keep all things hidden," The Sandaime said in a tired voice.
"What happened?" Hiashi demanded in a stern tone.
"The village was attacked by Hotaru, who we already knew had been captured by Orochimaru and given to the Sand. There were two more explosions. We now know they were caused by something dropped from the sky. We don't know by whom. We will figure that out once we confront Sunagakure."
"It is true then that Naruto and Itachi have gone to confront Suna," Chouza said, his voice shaking a bit. "Will they be alright? Itachi is your successor, if something happens to him, it will be a great loss to the village."
"Indeed," Shibi agreed with his fellow clan head. "If we lose those two, it will be a great loss. The loss of Itachi is even worse." The fact that Itachi was used to offset the threat that could be posed by Naruto was an unmasked secret. He didn't even need to mention it.
"If it was only Naruto who said it was possible for them to go and return, I'd not have approved it." Hiruzen said, pausing, for a moment, to gather his own thoughts. "But, Shisui convinced me. And if Itachi approved it, it means it is possible. Naruto is arrogant, and Itachi is not. Besides, they have the Kyubi with them."
"It would have been better if Shisui was sent instead."
It was a cold world. No one had to guess why Shisui would have been the better option. He was almost blind—and thus, could be used as a sacrifice. The village wouldn't suffer much if he died.
"Itachi and Naruto have already left the village," Jiraiya interjected in a rare stern tone. "There is no need to discuss who should have been sent; unless you're planning on calling them back and replacing them with more capable shinobi." His gaze shifted around the room, challenging anyone to disagree with his assertion.
A tense atmosphere settled over the room after the Sannin spoke. After all, they all knew better. There were no better shinobi in the Leaf than those two Uchiha. Famous as he was, Kakashi couldn't compete.
Shikaku cleared the tense atmosphere by clearing his throat.
"Jiraiya-sama is correct," he said, his voice a rare display of seriousness you rarely saw from the Nara. "What are they actually doing in Suna?" he asked with curiosity. "The Kyubi alone has enough power to destroy a village."
"Suna also has Three Jinchuriki." Chouza pointed out. "I feel they are facing less favorable circumstances."
"They are going to do what needs to be done to protect Konoha." Hiruzen said in a flat tone.
Nobody argued with that. And the conversation shifted.
"We must admit, we have looked weaker over the years. I agree we must not behave like the Cloud or Iwa. Konoha was founded to put an end to warring tides. We must not become a warring village. However, we must still put out the flames that threaten to destroy us.
"We desire peace," Jiraiya said. "Or perhaps I do. I've been called an idealist." He shook his head with bitterness. "Nevertheless, we cannot forget that others have ulterior motives. If we simply fold our hands, we will suffer. We could have suffered more. Imagine the situation without the Uchiha clan?"
An air of dread washed over the room. Konoha's military strength was only recovering due to the presence of the Uchiha. Unlike before, there were now three Uchiha who could take on an army by themselves.
Whatever anyone thought about the clan, it was clear Konoha now survived because of it. They'd be at war with Suna, supported by Orochimaru if not for the Uchiha. If Danzo had gotten his way, they wouldn't even have Itachi.
"It's an almighty fall we have to rely on just one clan." Hiashi said without emotion. "We have to pull our weights or the Uchiha will become too powerful."
"They are already there." Shikaku said. "None of our clans can match up to them. Itachi is loyal but once he becomes Hokage, they'll completely override everything."
Shikaku decided then, he'd have to have another chat with Naruto when he came back. It was a dangerous situation that called for the lazy man to fold his mat and step up.
"Military Police may not have the numbers, but from what I hear, the shinobi Naruto-san has trained can compete with Anbu. His academy students even did well like experienced shinobi during the attack," Shibi said.
"We're drifting into politics." Jiraiya cautioned.
"But an important matter." Hiashi said. "This is something we simply can't ignore." He said firmly.
How had the conversation even come to this point? They were going to end up talking about limiting the Uchiha's power at this rate. If Itachi became Hokage now, the Uchiha would undoubtedly dominate everything. It was far too dangerous for the village for just one clan to hold such dominance. Especially considering that clan's history.
They may not say it, but Hiruzen knew they were thinking about it.
"We can deal with the politics later," He said in a serious tone. "Kirigakure has about a thousand Jonin and Chunin coming to the Fire Nation. They'll be on standby in case things go wrong in Suna. We don't anticipate Iwagakure will involve itself, but they'll be watching. We don't know what happens tomorrow. Which is why I agree with Jiraiya's words. My policies are responsible for weakening the village. That I admit." Hiruzen said in a bitter tone, his eyes revealing regret. "How did things go in the Cloud?"
"The Raikage is willing to concede to his treachery. We could be looking for something special."
"Good." Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. "Suna will be dealt with to make a clear statement. If this is the sacrifice we must make for years of peace, then let it be so."
Wind Country
They had only crossed the borders of the River Country and ventured into the life-sucking desert for an hour before their enemy welcomed them in style.
In the windy desert, the scorching heat that threatened to cause excessive sweating, three giants stood. Their presence was overbearing; the malice of their chakra dwarfed any other presence. It just made the desert all the more suffocating than it already was.
Shukaku's maniacal laughter reverberated across the desert. Three Bijuu. It was a mad sight. The kind of scene that would make just about anyone turn back.
Naruto felt so excited that a smile split across his face. If he'd been alone, he would have lunged at the beasts without warning. Various scenarios played out in his mind; he just wanted to let loose.
Inwardly shaking his head, Itachi thought about how much he had seen this side of Naruto. This side that was reckless and loved to fight strong opponents. To anyone else, it would be a task, but against these kinds of opponents, there was happiness. A mad lust to see blood flowing and the landscape being reformed.
It wasn't a battle Naruto would enter and then go full throttle from the beginning. It was a battle he would enjoy. A battle he would use to test his physical limitations while reveling in the sight of his own blood.
"You should remember there is still a village behind them. We wear ourselves out with these ones, we won't be able to do anything in Suna."
Naruto shrugged with indifference. "Even if we wear ourselves out, we can simply take a break and go again the next day. It isn't like Suna is going anywhere."
Only in Sunagakure, would they go crazy. Here, it was a battle to see the might of the Bijuu against a mere human.
"How do we do this then?" Itachi asked. "We have to options that could end this without any fighting; Amaterasu and Genjutsu." He offered, but he knew Naruto would reject it.
"Let me have a go at them. We must capture all of them. I just want to test their powers. I know how powerful the Kyubi is, but not these others. It would be interesting to see my limits as well." Naruto explained, stepping forward. "It is just a pity this is a desert. There won't be a rewrite of the maps."
"I'll be analyzing them while you fight."
"Is there even a need?" Naruto asked, glancing at Itachi with a sharp look. "You already offered simple solutions to the Bijuu problem. Hell, we could even manipulate them into razing Suna to the ground."
That was the simplest thing to do, and Itachi knew it could be done. He didn't have to do anything but just send the Bijuu to their senders. Suna would have to stop them, or they would destroy the village. And Konoha's problem would be taken care of.
But, that wasn't something Naruto wanted to do. He wanted to display Konoha's power. At least when they reached the Sand. At the moment, he just wanted to indulge his love for bloody battles.
"We never know what we might face in the future. And I don't know if we can do as you say." Itachi said, sitting down in the sand.
Naruto stared at Itachi and then laughed. "I'm still your clan head, you know?" he said, in reference to Itachi's attempt to fool him.
Itachi smiled, but said nothing.
As Naruto stepped ahead while Itachi remained behind, Shukaku laughed maniacally. Baki, standing above the Three-Tails, was more concerned about the Uchiha's actions than the beast's laughter.
Itachi was known for his genius and strategic way of fighting. His clan head, however, was another matter. Orochimaru had said the Sharingan was capable of manipulating beasts. The fact that he was willing to stand back, and allow just one of them to confront the three beasts was ridiculous.
"Quiet!" Baki snarled at the beast.
"I'll kill you if you think you can tell me what to do, human!" Shukaku shouted in a loud voice, releasing a bit of its killing intent, followed by a shockwave that caused dust to pick up, creating a small sandstorm.
Baki ignored the Beast. Even as it yelled at him for ignoring it. He didn't even think, not even the Sandaime Kazekage could step forward to confront Three Tailed Beasts. He didn't even think the Sandaime Raikage, who faced ten thousand men alone, could face this might. Not even the Sandaime Hokage, hailed as the God of Shinobi, could confidently do so. The only man capable of such was Hashirama.
Baki laughed, sensing discomfort creeping into his heart. This was power that was supposed to make Konoha tremble, and yet, they had sent just two shinobi, and one of them wanted to face the Bijuu himself. Was this even reality?
It had to be some joke.
"You must be the Kazekage's right-hand man," Naruto said, looking up at Baki.
"You are the Uchiha's clan head. I see Konoha has sent its biggest trump card to face us. It is a pity you'll be buried in the desert." Baki said, dismissing the discomfort he felt. "You don't have to sacrifice yourself."
Naruto replied by laughing. "Sacrifice?" He cocked his head, expressing his amusement. "When bugs get to speak so loudly, it's quite a sight to see."
"You're the one who looks like a bug in my eyes."
Naruto said, "I'm offended." He paused for a moment before continuing, "If it weren't for the fact that I have a message I need you to deliver, I would kill you." His eyes grew colder, and his chakra began to leak dangerously. The intensity of his power was palpable even in the presence of the three beasts.
His discomfort spilled into nervousness, but he refused to show it.
"Run back to Suna. We will capture these Bijuu and then come over to your village. Tell your kazekage to have his people evacuate their homes; otherwise, they will all perish."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Baki burst into laughter. It seemed as if Naruto were an arrogant person, or possessed godly powers. Either way, he couldn't take the threat seriously.
Perhaps this confidence was the reason Konoha decided to just send the two of them. Although Itachi stared with interest, he didn't seem like he was about to enter the battle.
"Once they are done with you, they will destroy the Leaf. And the rest of your clan. Blame yourself for refusing my kindness!" Baki shouted, and then jumped away. "Kill them!"
He didn't rush back to Suna. He was going to stay and watch this until the end. He would take their heads back to the Leaf, without the sharingan of course.
Shukaku didn't need an invitation to attack Naruto. As soon as Baki was gone, the beast waved its right hand, releasing a huge wave of Stand Storm toward the Uchiha.
It was like a sea of sand, rushing toward him. Yet, Naruto stood still, watching intently.
He seemed a little too eager, he thought of the Bijuu. But how was he going to go about this? He smiled. "It doesn't matter. I'm against Tailed Beasts, so I can fight as crudely as I want."
Naruto darted toward the sandstorm before leaping into the air as it was about to overwhelm him. The storm splashed onto the ground below, allowing Naruto to get a better view of his opponents.
"Stand still!" Shukaku shouted, lifting up its giant tail. The tail pointed toward Naruto from above the Bijuu, before sand bullets shot towards him.
If he had his gunbai at hand, he would have quickly raised it. But he didn't have it at hand, and was forced to activate his Susanoo, only using the ribcage to protect himself from the bullets. The bullets came with such speed and power that some of them managed to pierce through his Susanoo.
Naruto used Shunshin while discarding his Susanoo. He blurred away from the path of Shukaku's sand bullets in a burst of flames, reappearing on the ground, a safe distance away from the Bijuu.
The Sanbi curled up and then rolled towards Naruto in a flash. He took out his scroll, drew blood on it, and then summoned three spears. As the Sanbi rushed towards him, Naruto leapt into the air and then hurled one of the spears towards the Bijuu.
The spear exploded into a burst of lightning when it collided with the Sanbi's scales. It seemed to bounce off before harmlessly falling away. It did no harm, not even a scratch, and the Bijuu continued to march toward him.
Naruto laughed in embarrassment as his attack did nothing. "That was supposed to be my fastest attack. It just bounced off." He laughed, scratching the back of his head. "I wanted to use more of them, but the results are just too embarrassing for me to even try again."
While in mid-air, he glanced to the side and saw Shukaku's large tail cutting through the air, moving towards him. The tail collided with the side of his body in a brutal fashion. It seemed like it was swatting away a fly. Naruto's body exploded with pain, as he was sent crashing onto the ground like a bullet.
Boom!
He crashed head-on, and was buried deep in the sand. There was no time to nurse his aching body; the Sanbi jumped into the air, curled up, and then started rotating before crashing down upon him. If it hit him, it would squash him like a bug.
"Doton: Chidokaku!" While lying on the ground with his back, he placed both hands on the sand, and two huge boulders sprouted from his sides, rising towards the Sanbi.
The boulders collided with the beast, and exploded under the pressure, crumbling. It gave enough time for Naruto to leap away. Sanbi rolled down, and hit the ground, causing an explosion of sand.
As soon as Naruto landed a short distance away, the second he touched down on the sand, he was forced to raise one of his spears, holding it with both arms in a horizontal position just above his hands. A miniature beast with six tails lunged at him, its right claw swinging toward him. The claw hit the spear, creating a clanging noise, as if metal had collided with metal.
The Six Tails wasn't done, while Naruto was holding his own, two of its tails moved towards Naruto's chest. The tails slammed into him, sending him flying backwards.
While he was airborne, Shukaku jumped toward him. Despite its size, it was deceptively quick. It lifted its huge right hand and attempted to swat him from the air. Naruto blurred away from the path of the huge hand, appearing above it.
Naruto landed on the bijuu's hand, and then ran up its arm towards the head. Shukaku wildly swung its arm in an attempt to shake him off, but Naruto disappeared in a burst of flames and reappeared behind the beast.
He wanted to punch, but realized he was staring at a wide back. Trying to punch the tail of the beast was no different than a fly trying to punch him.
"Hahahahaha…" He laughed at himself.
The Six Tails, in its miniature form, materialized in front of him, twisting and swirling all its tails towards him. Susanoo came, but not quickly enough. He was only able to materialize just the ribcage before the tails slammed into it. The attack broke his Susanoo, sending him back flying like a rocket off into space.
Carried by the momentum, Naruto tried to regain his balance by flipping in midair. He flipped three times, then hit the sand and skidded a few feet before coming to a halt.
The Three-Tails launched a Bijuudama toward him. The black orb of energy sent waves of sand to the side as it sped towards Naruto. It was a ticking bomb that could wipe out an entire mountain.
Despite the incoming attack that would kill him and turn him to ashes if it hit him, Naruto lifted his aching hands. Blood dripped onto them from his mouth, and he grinned. He was loving this. He could take it up a notch and go on the offensive.
The Bijuudama seemed to hit him, and then explode. A loud boom echoed through the desert as a large mushroom of energy and sand rose high into the sky. Waves of sand were sent splashing to the sides, forcing even Itachi to leap back to safety.
Itachi was certain he saw Naruto get hit by the attack. He wasn't worried, since Naruto didn't seem too bothered. But he was hit. What impressed him was the sheer power of a Tailed Beast Bomb. If that thing had exploded within the Leaf, the destruction would be catastrophic. It was no wonder the power was so highly valued.
"Doton: Chidokaku."
The ground beneath the Sanbi shook, before sinking. The Bijuu fell into a deep hole. There was nothing but darkness, and no way out for the Bijuu. Naruto appeared above it, floating, while holding his gunbai, a rib cage of his Susanoo active.
He said, "Your shell appears to be very sturdy. I wish to test just how strong it is." Then he leapt to the edge of the hole.
He slammed his right hand to the ground. "Earth Style: Fire Canon!" A massive amount of chakra spread into the ground before several small earth-molded cannons formed around the deep hole. The Sanbi curled up, sensing the danger. Flames shot out of the cannons, rushing toward the Sanbi. The flames were so intense that the earth melted as they were being spat out.
Boom
A towering explosion rocked the ground, giving rise to a column of crimson flames that rose high into the sky. The flames only served to make the atmosphere hotter than it already was.
As the flames burned, the Six Tails appeared behind him, slamming one of its tails towards him. The tail hit the Susanoo, but didn't break it, and Naruto slowly turned around, with a blank expression on his face.
"You're being manipulated, I know, but it doesn't excuse you for doing the same trick over and over again." He said with displeasure. "It is boring, you know? Do something."
The Beast growled menacingly.
It opened its mouth and released gas, while grinning a bit. As soon as it touched his Susanoo, it began to corrode it, alarming Naruto. The beast's grin widened, and two of its tails swiftly crashed into his Susanoo, breaking through the ribcage.
Naruto was forced to use his Gunbai to defend himself from being pierced through by the tails. The collision with his fan sent him flying through the flames behind him.
The moment he burst out of the flames, a huge fist of Shukaku pummeled him to the ground with such force he was buried deep under the sand when he landed.
Naruto knew that a few of his bones were broken, he was bleeding, and his left shoulder felt like it had dislocated.
"I suppose this is as far as I can go," Naruto said, spitting out blood and sand. He didn't move from the ground, but stared into the sky. After a moment, he slowly got up, wincing as he did, and used his gunbai to balance himself. He dropped his gunbai and fixed his shoulder.
As he bent down to pick up his gunbai, the Sanbi burst out of its trap. The Six Tails flashed in front of him, but its body froze, as its eyes met his.
He created a fist, and chakra began to swirl around him. He didn't go all out, but instead created a humanoid Susanoo, with four arms, each holding a chakra blade.
Without warning, he swung one of the blades toward the miniature form of the Six Tails. The blade cleaved through the air, before slamming into the beast. A slight shockwave occurred when the blade hit the beast. While it wasn't cut in half, it was sent flying and crashing a distance away.
The Sanbi rolled toward him, forcing him to turn around and face it. He swung all four blades toward the rolling ball. The swords collided with the Sanbi, causing a huge shockwave that sent sand flying in all directions. The beast came to a complete halt, but the attack didn't seem to have any effect on it.
Naruto watched, fascinated by the defensive capabilities of the Sanbi. If it could withstand this much, could it withstand Amaterasu?
Without another word, he pointed a finger toward the Sanbi. "You've taken everything. But how about this?" He asked. "Amaterasu!" It's entire body ignited in black flames, causing the Bijuu to roll away, trying to put out the flames. The flames did not go out, and it continued to roll around, causing chaos that even Shukaku yelled at the Bijuu to stay far from it.
He glanced down, and frowned upon seeing more mist. No, it was the gas from the Six Tails. The Susanoo's legs were caught within it. Within a few seconds, the legs began to crumble and Naruto exploded into flames, leaving the comfort of his Susanoo.
Upon landing, Naruto glanced to his right, sensing a massive surge of chakra. As he turned his body, he saw flashing light racing towards him, sand being blown to the side. Swiftly, he held up his gunbai and the barrage from the Six Tails slammed into it. The force behind the attack forced him to slide through the sand.
Naruto disappeared without a trace. He reappeared inches away from the Six Tails, swinging his glowing gunbai toward it.
"Uchiha Return."
Boom
A massive explosion tore through the sand, creating a large crater even as Naruto stood there. The explosion hit the Six Tails, sending it flying away in a heap.
Naruto rushed toward the airborne beast, while strapping his gunbai onto his back. He appeared above it, and both his hands were enveloped in lightning. He held them together and slammed them into the beast. The moment his attack collided, an explosion of lightning currents occurred, sending the beast crashing into the ground.
While still in mid-air, Naruto sensed the wind moving and then quickly pulled out one of his spears. A large rock was hurtling towards him. His spear erupted with lightning as he held it tightly, waiting for the rock to reach him. The spear collided with the rock, shattering it into pieces.
Tails burst out from beneath him, grabbing his legs. The Six Tails dragged him and then slammed him into the ground. It didn't stop there; it lifted him once more and then twisted around. Naruto felt disoriented by the spinning.
The Bijuu hurled him toward the gleeful Shukaku.
The One-Tailed Beast simply caught him with one hand, and then lifted him up to his eye level.
"I finally caught you!"
It was obviously going to slowly crush him for its enjoyment. But Naruto wasn't really concerned about it. He glanced toward the Six Tails, noting that it was still unharmed. The chakra cloak was truly powerful. It could withstand almost anything without breaking.
"Are you ignoring me?" Shukaku asked, breathing hot air onto his face.
Naruto closed his eyes. "I apologize for that."
While the Bijuu attempted to crush Naruto, an immovable force stopped him. Susanoo emerged forcefully, forcing him to let go of the Uchiha. The chakra construct rose up tall, standing like a human once more. Before Shukaku could even curse the damned Sharingan, a chakra blade struck him across his face with such force that he fell over.
He quickly rolled over in panic, thinking Gaara might have awakened. But to his relief, the brat was still unconscious.
Naruto's completed Susanoo jumped into the air, bringing down its sword, attempting to stab the One Tail. The Six Tails, transformed, never allowed him to get close to its younger sibling. Its huge fist crashed into his Susanoo, sending him flying away.
Naruto didn't bother dispelling his damaged Susanoo. He simply vacated it, leaping into a safe distance and landing on the sand on one knee.
"It is all raw strength but not used properly. Perhaps you may take offense, but a Bijuu's power is better utilized by a Jinchuriki."
Maybe it just felt insulted, so Shukaku slammed a fist into its stomach and then released a powerful gust of wind. The wind slammed into Naruto, lifting him into the air.
Shukaku held its hands together.
It happened in a flash; sand flew toward him as if it had been fired. Naruto managed to use his Gunbai as a shield to protect his upper body, but his legs were riddled with holes. Sand poured into them, filling his legs. He ignored the pain as blood began to trickle down his leg.
"Oh?" he said, his eyes turning toward the beast. His body phased out of existence, completely disappearing.
Shukaku was surprised when Naruto appeared above its head, standing next to Gaara.
"I've been curious about this for a while. Why is your Jinchuriki visible like this? And why is he sleeping?"
"When did you..?"
How? Well, I flew." Naruto said, trying to grab Gaara by his head, but the beast danced, trying to shake him off. Naruto held firm and then slammed Gaara's head with his gunbai, causing the Jinchuriki's eyes to flash open.
Shukaku cursed, shouting threats loudly. Its body began to crumble like dust.
Naruto fell down with Gaara. He hit the ground and glanced up at the sky. "That's disappointing. Anticlimactic if I must say."
After a moment, he turned to face the Sanbi. He closed his eyes and dispelled Amaterasu, causing the Bijuu to come to a halt, and then completely stop.
Only the Six Tails remained.
"You're the strongest, and I've taken some beating. You won't complain if I unleash all my might, will you?" Finishing with Perfect Susanoo was the next step.
There was no response from the Bijuu. In fact, its form crumbled, its chakra disappearing within its Jinchuriki, and it fell to the ground harmlessly.
"Itachi."
He felt as if someone had just ripped away his happiness. He was about to go loose and Itachi just entered the Jinchuriki's consciousness, forcing the Bijuu's chakra back into the seal. It was day light robbery that robbed him of one last dance before Suna saw flames.
Baki stared in disbelief. He fell to his knees, his body trembling with shock. He could have understood if an army had won, but after the desert was covered in dry blood. But there was no blood. No dead bodies waiting to decompose or be eaten by vultures.
It was THREE Beasts. Three beasts!
And yet, they were all out. The Jinchuriki lay, not dead, but not in a position to fight either. Just one person. It was incredible. Baki couldn't believe his eyes. He thought he was seeing an illusion and tried in vain to cancel this reality. This was the power supposed to destroy the Leaf. It was the hope of Suna. They placed all their bets in this power. They had drunk and celebrated when they got their hands on it.
And yet, just one person blew out the candle.
Once more, Baki found himself laughing in despair. How was the Sand supposed to compete without the Bijuu? Who could take on the Uchiha? Who could take on Konoha? Had they made the wrong bet?
Without the Beasts, Suna had no military power. Perhaps that was why the Tsuchikage refused to join them. Baki had believed too much in the powers of the Bijuu; he thought they could grant him miracles. The three of them were Suna's three wishes from a genie. They were supposed to bring them fortune, but instead, they lay flat, eating the gold sand.
Was this it? Was this the end? If he'd just run back to Suna, he wouldn't have had to witness this much.
When Naruto stopped just inches away from him, Baki knew all his efforts were useless. There was no hope. Even when Suna depended on him, he had no fight left in him. He could only try to bargain.
He glanced up at the Uchiha; the visible eye stared at him without emotion. The bruises on his body, the blood all over just made his image a little more imposing.
Baki opened his mouth to speak but no word came out.
"If you'd not attacked Konoha, I'd have given Suna a chance. But you've shown your delusions. And I'm not a very forgiving person. Even if you rush back and get the Kazekage to crawl before me, I'll still kill him and destroy Suna."
Baki's shoulders slumped. "What do you want?" he asked in a defeated tone.
"What do I want? To slaughter all of you for putting Konoha at risk, and daring to attack it." Naruto said with contempt. "But I assured the Sandaime... Go back home, deliver the message I gave you. Tomorrow, we will arrive to destroy the Sand. And you'll tell us exactly who you sent to try to destroy us. We will hunt them down, and kill them."
"Will you not consider a surrender?"
"You're not permitted to surrender. You started it, you must finish it." Naruto stared. "What did you say? After those Bijuu kill me, they were going to destroy Konoha and my clan." He snorted. "You threaten my clan and want to surrender? Ridiculous. Go home, deliver the message and I'll come tomorrow, and kill you. You won't suffer for too long. You'll be the first person I kill."
Baki laughed. What kind of cruelty was this?
Gradually, Baki stood up on his feet and turned away. He ran. Without glancing back, he continued running toward Sunagakure, determined to deliver a vital message that could potentially save countless lives in the village.
Naruto's expression loosened, and he released a long breath he had been holding. His body ached. Between Susanoo and the Bijuu beating him, he didn't know which was worse. The pain made him feel alive, nonetheless.
"You sure we should let him leave?" Itachi asked, walking up to Naruto.
Naruto's strength was nothing to scoff at. If he really turned against Konoha, Itachi wouldn't be able to do anything to stop him, unless he too was willing to die. It was a good thing, though, as his clansman did not want to see the Leaf destroyed, especially not by his own hand.
Naruto slowly turned around, his expression cold, his eyes a dark glare. But Itachi didn't flinch.
"You saw it, didn't you?"
"Your unique ability, yes."
"Why did you interfere?"
"We don't want to give anything away. We don't even know if Suna has other surprises planned for us. It is best to be on the side of caution." Itachi replied in a firm tone.
"Don't do it again." Naruto said. He then slumped down, feeling tired. But the heat and a dusty wind made him stand up. "Let us return to the river. We'll give the people of Suna a chance to say their prayers."
"And them?" Itachi said, glancing at the fallen Jinchuriki.
"Trophies. The other two we'll return to Kirigakure. And the other... we'll just take him." Naruto said with indifference.
Itachi nodded, finding it acceptable. "I'd always wondered if you were blind or there was something special about your Sharingan. Or maybe it has to do with your parents. I've had a lot to think about it; my father wouldn't have told you to take his eyes unless there was some relation."
"Let us leave things in the past," Naruto said, shaking his head. "I gave you the Eternal Mangekyo because it was the right decision. Besides, whether my eyesight deteriorated or not wouldn't matter. But for you, it would matter."
Itachi wouldn't be where he was without his father's eyes. Like Shisui, he'd be struggling to even see the sun by now. And the Sandaime wouldn't be considering him as his successor. Who would pick a blind man to be Hokage?
"Have you even considered the possibility that your father said what he said to test me?" Naruto asked Itachi. "Sure, I'd have a pair of eyes, but you'd be held back. You'd never realize your true potential."
If Sasuke manages to awaken the Mangekyo, he won't struggle but will have Itachi's eyes. Perhaps Fugaku's sacrifice was not for nothing.
"That is a possibility," Itachi said. "If so, then, he would be proud." Itachi paused for a moment before continuing. "Your Mangekyo ability is curious; I've always wondered if you had one and what it was."
Everyone had unique abilities, well, almost everyone. Then again, Naruto's Sharingan operated differently. Still, the ability he displayed was extremely powerful, but at the same time, its chakra demands appeared to be heavy. It wasn't the sort of ability one could use repeatedly.
"You don't have to wonder about it anymore." Naruto's expression loosened and he glanced at Itachi. "Must have been fun for you."
"No," Itachi shook his head. "It is just the way things are—no technique is truly perfect."
"My perfect Susanoo is perfect."
"On some level," Itachi said, looking ahead to see if there were no more enemies. "Should we even be standing here?"
Naruto shook his head. He was already sweating profusely from being tired and the heat. "Let's go back to the River Country," he said. "Suna will have time to prepare."
"We'd be walking into a trap."
"We're going to surprise them."
"With the Kyubi?"
"Yes." Naruto smiled at the thought of seeing Suna tremble under the glare of the Kyubi. "But it isn't going to do anything. Does this make you feel comfortable."
"Yes."
Naruto stared up to the heavens and closed his eyes. "You know, some times I wish your father had used Izanagi."
Itachi stared at Naruto. He couldn't see his face, but he was certain there was raw emotion in it. His father had always been there for Naruto. The loss must have been much greater than his own. Itachi still had Sasuke and his mother, but Naruto had lost the only parent he had.
If Shisui had also died, Naruto would have been devastated.
Every day was a reminder; Naruto was even more emotionally invested than people realized. He was just good at hiding it.
"If things had been different. He could still be alive. But he is not. We are alive. He's given us this opportunity and we cannot waste it dwelling on his death."
"It bothers me because there was truly no need. And I permitted it to happen. They'd always listened to me. But I kept quiet. Even when I finally spoke, I didn't go about it the right way," Naruto said with regret. "Well, that is about that. Tomorrow, we cement the Uchiha's place in history and make the sacrifices others made worth it."
Sunagakure
The rocks surrounding the village provided protection from the most violent sandstorms. They also served as a barrier against enemies. There was only one entrance to the village, and if Rasa chose to follow Naruto's message, the route would be crowded with civilians, all fleeing to safety.
But where? Suna was truly doomed. Small neighboring nations were their only hope. Even as they attempted to work with Iwa, the animosity between the two nations was deeply rooted. Their civilians would be slaughtered if they went there.
Unlike other great nations, Suna didn't have a massive population. They could be evacuated. This would be the first time the village had been faced with such an existential threat. There could be no tomorrow. No Sunagakure to speak of in the future.
They picked battles with the wrong nation. They should have accepted the Sandaime's peace offer. They shouldn't have listened to Orochimaru's fancy words. The man was dead. They were about to follow. Even if they survived Naruto and Itachi, Konoha still had more. There was no escape.
The villagers went about their business in peace and happiness. Suna had no idea about the impending attack on Konoha. They were ignorant and blissfully happy.
But that was all about to change.
Baki had left armed and confident. And now, he returned stripped naked with a cloud of shame. He and everyone who led Sunagakure had created this situation. They had ruined their village, its people, and its future. Perhaps they had become drunk on the little power they wielded and grew too greedy.
Was he about to let this be destroyed? Didn't he have any fight left in him?
He was stopped in his silent stroll across the village by Temari. The elder child of the Kazekage was glaring at him, holding tightly onto her fan.
"Where is my brother?" She demanded.
Baki knew Temari loved her brother dearly. If he told her the truth, she'd march out, even if it was hopeless. What could he do? He had no other option but to lie.
"He is in position to defend Suna in case Konoha attacks."
"You weren't supposed to come back alone, and you look spooked." She kept her stare, trying to peer into his soul.
Spooked? Baki chuckled. Maybe he was, or maybe it was the message he had to deliver. On another day, he'd just laughed it off and called it ridiculous. But the message was coming from someone who'd confidently told him to run back home before he faced three Bijuu, and then reinforced the message afterwards, with all three Jinchuriki lying unconscious behind him.
That was spooky.
Baki placed a hand on Temari's shoulder. He tried to reassure her with a smile, but he miserably failed. "Go home and get Kankuro. Come to the Kazekage tower."
That would at least give him enough time to speak to her father. Temari didn't move; she kept staring for a long minute before turning her heel and leaving without a word to Baki.
He was thankful she didn't say anything else.
Baki jumped to the rooftop and then hopped from one building to another until he landed on the Kazekage tower. Rasa was already waiting for him, looking grim as if he had seen what Baki had seen.
The Jonin had no energy to stand. He slumped down towards the edge of the roof, and stared down at the streets. If nothing was done, Suna would cease to exist. This had never been a possibility. Not even during the wars. Suna had faced down Iwa in the last war. And now, a threat loomed over their shoulders, and it was ominous.
"We lost," Baki said hopelessly in a whisper. "We lost. We lost."
Rasa replied harshly. "What do you mean we lost? Did they take one of them?"
He didn't know? Then why did he look so grim? Was it because he had some sort of sixth sense as a Kage? Baki wondered, but didn't press for an answer.
"All three of them were defeated by the Uchiha. They captured them and said they would be coming here tomorrow. I was told to pass on the message that we had to evacuate civilians because Suna would be destroyed tomorrow."
Baki applauded himself for managing to say this with a straight face. Perhaps his confidence had returned upon seeing his home. Hopeful, perhaps, but you never know. Seeing his people, the home his ancestors built, he couldn't simply fold his hands and allow it to be destroyed.
As Baki fell silent, so did Rasa. It became deathly silent. The Kazekage had no response. The Bijuu were his ace. But it was all gone. What frightened him was the possibility of the three Bijuu being unleashed against Sunagakure. To wreak havoc on his beloved village.
Rasa fell on his butt. Sat beside Baki and stared down the street. "You're sure it wasn't just an illusion you saw?"
Baki chuckled. "I wish."
"How?! It was three Bijuus. How could they have been captured?" The Kazekage shouted in anger. "Useless. We'd pinned our hopes on them. Our entire strategy was based on them causing so much havoc in Konoha's lines that our shinobi would have little to do."
The truth was that Konoha had a much larger shinobi force than Sunagakure. If they were to meet up in an open field, they would be slaughtered.
"What are we going to do?"
"Defend our nation, of course."
"Rasa-sama," Baki said in a stern yet calm tone. "I have always thought we were on the right path. Orochimaru misled us. I should have known when he too couldn't defeat Naruto. But, our aces have been stripped from us. The Uchiha are coming. They might come with our aces to destroy us. If the three Bijuu attack Suna, do you have the power to protect this village?"
Rasa stared at Baki with contempt. "You've lost your value, Baki."
"I may be so. But please listen to me. Let us allow civilians to and others to evacuate toward the capital. You can send your children with them and other shinobi. Leave some men behind to face the Uchiha."
"Why would we run? And where would we run to?"
"They said we're not allowed to surrender."
"Why should we abandon our home?"
"Homes can be rebuilt. But lives lost can never be regained, Rasa-sama."
"If they don't have the Bijuu when they come, do they have the power to destroy us?"
"I don't know. Maybe. But don't get me wrong, Rasa-sama. I will give my life for this village. I will fight to protect Suna. I won't fight without hope. They are still jut human, they bleed like the rest of us. What I am saying is that in case we fail, let us at least allow others to live. To keep the memory of Suna and perhaps, get revenge."
Authors note
The fight wasn't as grand was I imagined. It would have been chaotic if I'd chosen to write the Bijuu in their miniature forms.
Anyway, the response to the last chapter was just overwhelming! I enjoyed reading your reviews. Thank you!
The Omnipresent Sage