Life was not fair. Nothing was fair in this world. But, more often than not, actions had severe consequences. Rasa was being robbed rewards for his hard-earned work. Countless hours. Sleepless nights dreaming of the day Suna would be pulled from the abyss and dragged into green pastures.
Everyone was allowed to dream. Even the blind dreamt of seeing; the crippled of walking again. Rasa couldn't have been faulted, not when he'd held the destructive power of three Bijuu.
That power could have wiped Suna off the map, leaving no trace behind. He had even succeeded against Shukaku because his abilities were the perfect counter to its sand-based techniques. He'd been certain of he'd succeed. Orochimaru had laughed like a madman, beaming with confidence. He'd dreamt.
As a Kazekage, he had failed. The fact that he spent the night evacuating civilians was a testament to his failure.
Not all left. Some refused to leave their homes; they'd rather die than abandon everything. Rasa had no intention of simply rolling over. The shinobi of Sunagakure would display their grit and fight the enemy to protect their village. It was a battle where there was nothing to lose. They could be suicidal for all they cared—as long as the enemy was killed.
More than a thousand men were ready for battle, standing outside the village in formation and awaiting the arrival of their enemy. Approximately five hundred more were stationed on top of the surrounding rocky outcroppings. A thousand more remained inside a village, to act as a defence of last resort.
It will not be easy for the enemy.
"Everything is ready," Baki said in a determined voice.
Rasa nodded. "Good," he said. "They seem to be underestimating us."
The scouts had already told them they were coming without the Jinchuriki they had captured. Rasa had immediately sent a team to try to locate the Jinchuriki.
Baki wasn't falling for it again. He had seen it the first time. He expected something big to be shown if the Uchiha came alone.
"They could come with the Kyubi."
"But none of them are Jinchuriki," Rasa pointed out. Orochimaru's information had been helpful, though it underestimated the power of the Uchiha to some degree. It was still reliable.
"Anything is still possible."
"They are here!"
Rasa looked ahead and then smiled.
They had indeed come without any reinforcements. It was just two men against an army. There was no way they couldn't take them down. Baki didn't seem convinced. But Rasa was hopeful that his village could pull through. The fact that they came as they were made him confident.
"Get ready!"
There was truly no grand strategy or jutsu they could use.
Naruto smiled happily as he saw the army gathered around Sunagakure. Various scenarios played out in his head. The jutsu he could use. Fighting in taijutsu against a multitude of shinobi just to see if his Sharingan could keep up. It was exciting.
The Yondaime was said to have butchered a thousand men in the blink of an eye. If a man without a bloodline could do so, then what about someone who was blessed with the Sharingan? He could do it on a massive scale.
Itachi said. "They are prepared for us."
"Well, this makes things easier," Naruto said, looking at the shinobi who were waiting for them.
Itachi looked over at the formations. There were five groups, comprised of hundreds of shinobi. There didn't seem to be any traps. But that could still just be to give them a false sense of security. They couldn't relax; there could be more Suna was hiding or had in its arsenal.
They could not fail. They had to succeed for Konoha's safety.
"Easier how? They are going to give us a fight now that we do not have an element of surprise."
It would have been much easier to dismantle them with the element of surprise. But, Naruto actually had them prepare for his arrival like it was some social event or a date. This was a battle of life and death. It didn't serve Konoha to warn the enemy.
Naruto glanced at Itachi through the corner of his eyes. "Strategy, strategy. I'm not here for that. I came here to display brute force." Besides, strategies ought to be reserved for worthy opponents. To strategize against Suna was simply bullying.
"You stopped me from using Susanoo, so, it will be fine." Naruto added with a shrug. "But, let us see how they react to this."
"Must we torment them?"
"You don't want the shinobi world to know we can summon the Kyubi in battle?"
Naruto gave him a plausible reason, but that wasn't it. His clan head just wanted to see how they'd react to the possibility of facing the most powerful tailed beast.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu."
A huge explosion occurred, and a cloud of smoke rose up. From within the smoke, a low growl escaped, and then the smoke parted, revealing the massive form of the Nine-Tails. Its chakra was just as menacing as before, and its contempt for humans was clearly visible in its eyes.
"Don't get excited, you're not going to fight." Naruto said as soon as he jumped over to Kyubi's head with Itachi.
"Why have you summoned me then?"
"I just want to show you off." Naruto replied with indifference. "Have you even been to this parts of the world?"
"How can I when you humans make this world uncomfortable for my kind?"
The hatred in the bijuu's voice was clear. But Naruto seemed to be talking to it casually. He mentioned it hated him. And with the way they were interacting, Itachi supposed it was true that bijuus were not just mindless beasts without any intelligence.
Itachi glanced at Naruto and saw him holding his spear firmly.
"What are you doing?"
Naruto replied, "I promised Baki he'd be the first person I kill. I'll take care of Rasa. But you must destroy the village. We send a clear message; nobody messes with the Uchiha."
Itachi was prepared for this part—it was for the sake of Konoha. He would not hesitate. They had been warned to evacuate their civilians. But he would carry the burden, even if innocent lives were lost. It would remind him of the price of peace.
"I'll get ready then."
"I'll provide cover by engaging the ants in front of us. The Kyubi will throw you into the air and you can be in sight of it without interruption."
"It's the Kyubi!"
Such simple words sent the panic sweeping through the men like a wildfire.
It was a collective cry from the men behind Rasa. Its hateful chakra swept through the desert, terrifying even those who'd experienced war. Baki had faced off against the Shukaku a handful of times after it went on a rampage, but he knew, there was a difference. He could feel the Kyubi was much more powerful than Shukaku.
Even so, Rasa would not allow his men to falter.
"Do not be afraid!" His voice rang out across the desert with cold confidence. "I will handle the Bijuu. You handle the Uchiha. They are just two men. They bleed and feel pain like the rest of you. They can be killed. There is nothing to fear. We will defend Sunagakure and destroy the enemy!"
Baki shook his head. Every inch of him wanted to tell Rasa he'd said so. He felt like a prophet. He'd seen this script before. And he'd had nightmares about it.
With simple words, the men's mood had changed. Baki had thought the Uchiha were just normal people. There was nothing normal about Naruto. Nothing. Not a damn thing. But, those words were needed to rouse the morale.
"Should I assist you?" He asked, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Rasa stared at the menacing beast in front of him as he pondered.
The Kyubi was a powerful beast. And to think Konoha had it in their arsenal. If they had known, the Uchiha could have used it to attack the three Jinchuriki, but they chose to attack themselves. Why hadn't Orochimaru mentioned anything about this?
It was still a relief. One Bijuu, no matter how powerful, was much easier to deal with than three.
"No," Rasa shook his head. "I'll handle it myself. Focus on leading the man to attack the Uchiha. We must take them down. It doesn't matter how many we must sacrifice to do so. I—"
The words died on his throat as he sensed lightning currents. It was like a bolt of lightning striking the ground. The bolt flashed through his very eyes with such speed; no one could do anything to avoid it. The lightning pierced through Baki's throat, leaving a gaping hole before piercing through four more men behind him.
Blood exploded from his throat. It gushed out, spraying even Rasa. On instinct, Baki attempted to close the wound on his throat, to stop the bleeding. But blood continued to freely leave his body. He started to gasp for air, unable to breathe, and then he collapsed onto his knees. His skin turned pale, and in a moment, his face hit the sand with a thud.
He could see nothing. But he could faintly hear Rasa's cries. He could imagine the shock wrecking havoc in the group. It came to him, Naruto had promised him he would be the first person to kill.
If killing him was so simple, why hadn't he done it before? Had he been trying to see if he could get Suna to change course? Either way, Baki had no more energy to think—his energy fled from his body with such haste he didn't even have the energy to say his last words.
"Medic!" Rasa shouted, his voice shaking with fear.
It happened too fast for him to do anything; one of them was dead before they even had a chance to fight.
Was it so simple to kill them? If that had been aimed at him, he wouldn't have been able to stop it. It could have been him lying on the ground. On reflex, he wrapped his hand around his throat.
The medics weren't on the front lines, but back in the village, for safety. Rasa knew that. But he called for one anyway. He couldn't just stand there and watch a friend die. But not just any friend, the second most powerful shinobi in Suna. If he died, the morale would hit rock bottom.
Boom
Dust flew into their faces as Naruto crash-landed in front of them. The Uchiha straightened up and fixed his gaze on him.
The one visible Sharingan seemed to have a cold grip on Rasa's heart. His frame was as imposing as the rumors. The Kazekage was certain, he was staring at someone who didn't even have an ounce of fear and looked at them as if they were nothing more than insects.
Despite his thoughts, Rasa did not take a step back. He merely thanked Naruto for moving closer to him; he would have no trouble crushing him. There was no need to waste his words on the Uchiha; he simply had to be crushed.
"Kazekage-sama."
It was laughable that the Uchiha were addressing him with respect, even in this situation. He was almost tempted to respond.
Rasa held out his right hand.
Naruto didn't move from where he stood. His eyes glanced down, watching as gold dust and sand wrapped around his legs. Within seconds, his entire body was engulfed in the sand-and-gold mixture.
"Gold Coffin."
Naruto protected himself by unleashing Susanoo, blasting the sand away from him. He did it so effortlessly; Rasa reconsidered talking to the Uchiha.
Naruto stared at the Kazekage. "That's rather unfriendly." he said. "And insulting. If you're trying to kill me, try something a little better."
Rasa felt insulted because the Uchiha felt his attack was beneath him. He was facing thousands of shinobi and he dared him to try a better attack in order to kill him?
Rasa said, "I have nothing to say to you." He then jumped back, motioning for his men to take positions. "You only have to die."
He then glanced at Baki's body. His plans had included him, but the man was dead even before the battle began. The sight of his corpse sent shockwaves through their ranks and shattered their morale. All plans that included the man were gone in the blink of an eye.
"That is not going to happen," he said in a cold tone. "But dreaming is okay. Just be a little more realistic."
"You think you can take on Suna without the Kyubi?" Rasa asked, just to gauge the Uchiha's motives. The Kyubi had disappeared along with the other Uchiha.
"If I came to ask you to surrender?"
"You told Baki it is not an option and I can sense your blood lust. You want to murder us all."
Naruto blinked and then laughed. "I let go of myself there. But you have to understand, your actions have threatened my clan. There is no forgiveness for such actions," he said in a dead serious tone. The Suna shinobi only intensified their murderous glares. "Why did you even take this path when you had the option of accepting Konoha's peace plan?" Naruto asked Rasa.
"I don't have to answer you." Rasa replied with contempt.
"You're going to die. You might as well try to extend your life by talking to me." Naruto said to the Kazekage with indifference.
"We're not so sure about that. If I die, I'll at least take you with me," the Kazekage said confidently.
Naruto remained silent, wondering if the man was being serious or just trying to save face in front of his men. He realized, Rasa was deadly serious, and then burst out laughing. The sound of his laughter was so disheartening that it forced the men to attack him.
"Wind Style: Wind Breakthrough!" Those carrying war fans swung them toward the kunai. The gusts increased the kunai's speed and potency, sending them toward Naruto in a hail of sharp objects.
Naruto did not move, and the kunai seemed to hit him before exploding. Crimson flames burst out, creating a huge dome of burning inferno around Naruto.
When the inferno had died down, a large crater had formed on the ground, and Naruto stood there, surrounded by his Susanoo. It was the upper body of a fully formed Susanoo, with its hands clasped together, as in prayer.
As soon as Susanoo disappeared, Naruto found himself surrounded by more than ten shinobi. They were all jumping toward him, and he wondered what they could possibly do rather than trying to intercept them.
Boom
One by one, their bodies ignited into crimson flames. There wasn't even blood splattering, or entrails. The flames consumed everything, turning the bodies into balls of fire that threatened to incinerate the Uchiha. He was surrounded by a huge pillar of flames.
Rasa shouted, "Get ready!" as he stepped back to allow his men to attack the Uchiha.
When the flames died down, Naruto stood still, unharmed, in what appeared to be a small crater.
"Sacrificing yourself, huh?" Naruto said with a smile. "Well, I applaud your dedication to the cause. There's nothing to lose. You might as well take me with you."
One of the shinobi said, "You can still turn back." Hopeful than trying to threaten the Uchiha.
Naruto didn't even spare those words any attention; he simply ignored them.
"I wish I could test more of what you have planned, but there are more important things to do. You're here to protect your village. Will you still have the same fighting spirit when the village no longer exists?" Naruto asked in a cold tone. He pointed his index finger at the sky. "Look."
A powerful explosion of chakra occurred above. It erupted like dark crimson flames, forming a gigantic figure. Itachi's perfect Susanoo completely took form in mid-air, and then flapped its wings. As it did, powerful gusts of wind hit the ground, causing sand to rise.
The sun shinobi were forced to leap away for safety onto the sand.
The majestic form fell down, hitting the ground and causing a shockwave that spread out wide. The men were flung to the sides like the sand by the shockwave caused by the Susanoo hitting the ground.
It took a couple of seconds for them to regain their bearings and the sand to settle down. Once it did, the giant before them became much more apparent.
"Oi… oi!"
"What the hell is that!?"
"How are we even supposed to even fight that?!"
"It could be an illusion…" one of the shinobi said in a hopeless tone. "The Uchiha are famous for their genjutsu."
Rasa stood wide-eyed. This was the Susanoo of the Uchiha. He now understood why Konoha had chosen to simply send these two. They didn't need a Bijuu with something this huge.
"Don't give up like that!" he cried. "We won't know what happens unless we try." His words fell on deaf ears. Nobody was listening to him; they were all fixated on the majestic form before them.
In the blink of an eye, a flash occurred, sending shockwaves through the desert.
Everything happened instantly. Itachi released a blade from his Susanoo, and swung it toward the village. The swing was swift; the huge blade cut through the huge rocks surrounding the village. A chain of explosions rocked the village.
Thousands upon the top of the massive rocks surrounding the Sand were sent flying in loud cries. Their cries were drowned out by the explosions. The sword had cut through the rocks, clearing a path through the village. It didn't just cut through the rocks, but everything on its path.
As a result, buildings were cut in half. People inside the village were sent into the air. Not only rocks but also people were sent flying by the powerful strike. Furniture, clothing, and everything else were sent into the air as well.
The huge rocks that had protected Suna were erased in the blink of an eye. The village became buried in rubble once everything settled. No tall buildings stood; it was just rubble. Those who remained in the village were buried within the rubble, along with some of the men who'd been on the rocks.
Cries for help rang from the rubble. Blood stains became visible, and body parts lay scattered amidst the debris.
Some men began to laugh with hopelessness and dread. The village of Suna had been buried in rubble. A sandstorm would soon cover it up, and you wouldn't be able to tell there had ever been a village there.
How were they supposed to fight that thing? It was just one swing and Sunagakure was gone. What could they hit it with? What wind jutsu could they use? They couldn't even use a jutsu that could reach the Susanoo's knees. If the Shukaku was around, maybe they could do something.
But it was gone. Baki had been killed right before their very eyes. What could they do? This was a fight they couldn't win. You were supposed to fight with a shinobi. Throw a kunai and an explosive tag. What could a kunai do? What could an explosive tag do against the majesty of a perfect Susanoo?
Rasa stood, stone-faced as Suna was destroyed in a blink. A single swing of the blade, and the rocks that had once proudly protected the village were gone. If it had been a mountain, it too would have vanished. Even Shukaku could not have stopped the Uchiha.
There was no winning this battle.
They couldn't win. There was just no way they could defeat the Uchiha. If Itachi could do it, then it was likely that even Naruto could do it. Was he even saying he hadn't needed this monster to fight off the Bijuu? Was he some kind of a monster?
It was over. There was no hope if these people if they continued to point their sword toward them. But they had destroyed Suna. What else did they want?
Even though the situation seemed hopeless, Rasa refused to give up. He knew he had made the wrong choices. And he had to face the consequences. If he had known, he would have begged the Sandaime to continue peace talks. He would have even thanked him for taking Pakura and the missions the Feudal Lord was sending to the Leaf.
He was ignorant. Even that fool Orochimaru had been ignorant. Rasa cursed the Sannin. He wished he was still alive so he could rip him to shreds for sending Suna into this disaster.
His heart slowed as the Susanoo dispersed and Itachi dropped down beside Naruto. He felt relief wash over him; a sense of hope filled his chest. He could feel the collective sigh of relief from the men still standing and those on their knees.
Perhaps there was mercy.
"There will be no mercy; you will die."
Anger swelled within him, and his men. He was glad he had sent some people away. His children would live to see another day. The memory of Suna would not be buried deep in the desert.
"Have you not done enough?!" one of the shinobi shouted.
"You've destroyed our village. Thousands could be buried there. Please let us live."
"Trying to go to war with Konoha was a grave error. Let us bury the ones we've lost. Konoha has not suffered as much. Please show mercy!" They pleaded.
The expression on Rasa's face showed no emotion, even though the anguished cries of his men echoed through the air.
"I can forgive any other sin, even destroying the hospital, but threatening the Uchiha is a sin I will not forgive. We've suffered enough and you dared threaten us. The Sandaime was just short of crawling all the way from Konoha to this village to beg you to stop with your delusions.
"You believed you could destroy us. But your delusion was futile. There will be no mercy. Your actions have consequences, and you will all face them."
Itachi remained silent. If the Sandaime were present, he'd cry out for them to be spared. Shisui would offer up his abilities to ensure they focused on rebuilding rather than revenge.
To be honest, he wasn't completely indifferent to their pain. He felt their cries, their pleas for mercy. But the fact remained—if they had their way, it would have been Konoha in this position. They even tried to drag Iwagakure into their quest to see the Leaf destroyed.
"So, Baki was right." Rasa said calmly. "You heard him!" Rasa shouted to his men. "If you don't get up, you will be slaughtered. They have destroyed our village; we cannot let them get away with it. If we must, let us be buried in the desert with them!" he shouted in a powerful voice.
One by one, the Sunagakure shinobi stood ready for one last battle.
"I understand the Kazekage must die, but everyone else?" Itachi said.
"Don't get all soft-hearted on me, Itachi." Naruto said sharply, without sparing the Uchiha a glance. His eyes stared at Rasa. "Why don't you tell your people what you did to Pakura? After all, they're all just expendable like her."
Rasa narrowed her eyes. "There is nothing to tell. Pakura betrayed us and turned over to the enemy. If she were here, things would be different. She brought shame to our village."
"You'll tell them the truth, and then I'll let them kill you. Then I'll strike at them all. If they manage to survive, they will live."
"Are you forgetting about the mission?" Itachi reminded Naruto.
"Ah, yes…" Naruto smiled. "Who did you hire to drop that girl on the Leaf?"
"What benefit is it to me?"
Naruto shook his head. He took a couple of steps toward Rasa. The other shinobi didn't do anything. He stopped, and glanced up into the sky. No attack came. Were they just waiting to die? It was disappointing.
"You don't have a choice, Rasa."
For the first time, the Uchiha spoke to him with disrespect and contempt. Rasa smiled. "You're not going to make me talk. But, I'll admit, it would serve me well if you find him and kill him. After all, he failed to do a proper job after betraying Suna. If he hadn't betrayed us, things would be different."
"You colluded with Kirigakure to get rid of Pakura." Naruto suddenly said. "And now, your delusions have led this village into this mess. You've doomed everyone here."
"What if I did? I've only done what was best for Suna."
"A pity, you did not know your limits." Naruto said with a shake of his head. "Who is it?"
Rasa said, holding both of his hands together. "You have to make me tell you." He added. "I'm not going to make it easy for you."
Hidden Cloud
The Yondaime Raikage stared at the report he just received about Konoha with an expressionless mask. It seemed, Konoha was going to go to war with Sunagakure. The attack had occurred, and the Leaf had no other option but to respond. They couldn't send their strongest ninja to continue with diplomatic talks with the Cloud.
A few months ago, A would have considered sending Bee to the Leaf, to hold a gun on their heads and demand a Hyuga and Uchiha in exchange for sending them his Jinchuriki to assist them in battle. But things were different now. He wanted to see what Konoha had in its arsenal before making any moves.
The leaf today was not the same as he had threatened years before. He was sure if he performed the same trick, they would declare war. If he made a reckless decision, he would regret it.
He glanced at Mabui and then back at the letter. "Suna attacked Konoha," he said.
Mabui didn't display any emotion. "Konoha has truly fallen. But this was expected. It seems Suna wants the Leaf to enter the desert, where they will hold the advantage."
"Indeed." A agreed. "I still think Suna is being stupid. It is a small nation that cannot possibly defeat Konoha in war."
Despite the losses it had suffered, the Leaf remained strong. It would take more than Sunagakure to cripple it. It didn't mean that if they went to war, they wouldn't win; but everyone would suffer in the end. In that sense, A understood Hiruzen's resistance to launching an invasion. But the refusal had brought about this result.
"Perhaps they have something. We've heard rumours."
"It is still a weak village." A dismissed the idea. "What do you think we would do?"
"Konoha probably won't send anyone until this is settled. I wouldn't be surprised if they just remain silent on not say anything."
"Should we send a message to ask if they want help?"
Mabui smiled. "You like testing things."
"It's not harmful to ask a future alliance partner if they need help." Of course, with an ulterior motive. "They'd of course reject it. But their reaction is important."
"Despite your desire to be reckless, you do play the game of politics rather well," Mabui complemented her leader. "It doesn't matter if Konoha rejects our offer. The fact that we were kind enough to offer them help when they were in a difficult position allows us to use it to score some points and soften their stance a bit."
"We must all do what we can for our village," A said without any emotion.
Mabui suggested. "We'll see how Konoha escapes this war. It can either come out weaker or stronger. For the latter, nothing really changes. We've already agreed some terms with them. They are far too kind to suddenly change. But if they come out weaker, we can always change. They'll need us. Iwagakure is watching."
"I was thinking the same, and holding off in sending that letter of admission."
"I'll prepare to the Leaf, offering it assistance if it requires it." Mabui said. "If it happens they are losing, and Iwagakure decides to launch an invasion, what do we do?"
Iwagakure will plunder Konoha and take its bloodlines. This would just make the village much stronger than it was. There would be no balance and everyone else would be at the mercy of the Tsuchikage. Knowing its history, this would not bode well for the Cloud.
"We'll stop them." A said in a firm tone. "Prepare another letter and tell the Tsuchikage that if he dares enter the battle, the Cloud will enter as well. We can't afford to have Konoha destroyed."
"Should we prepare in case Konoha is falling?"
"Yes. We'll swoop in and save them."
"What of Kiri? I heard there were vessels in the sea heading toward the Fire Nation."
"Don't mind them. They are not going to send a large army and they don't have any of their Jinchuriki." A said in a dismissive tone.
Mabui sighed at her leader's dismissive attitude. "We should not be so dismissive of the Mist." She warned. "They still have good shinobi. And if Konoha succeeds in retrieving their Jinchuriki, they will form an unholy alliance."
A leaned back to his chair. Konoha has done much for the Mist. If it ends up returning the Mist's Jinchuriki, he couldn't possibly see the village failing to defend the Leaf. If the Cloud were to do anything, it would have to he wary of attacks from the Mist.
"Konoha wants us to be part of an alliance. Let us send someone there and see how things are," A said.
"C would be appropriate. He is a sensory type and for such a mission, his abilities will work well." Mabui suggested.
"Summon him."
River Country
The Lord of the Country had come to welcome them. Perhaps seeing that they had returned, he decided Sunagakure no longer existed. During their stay in his country, he hadn't said anything and they hadn't bothered.
"You're going back home?" He asked, smiling through his wrinkled face. His belly was bloated, and rings adorned all his fingers. But his eyes remained as sharp as those of an assassin.
They were in the middle of nowhere in the countryside. The man arrived in a carriage, accompanied by a handful of shinobi.
"Yes." Itachi replied.
"It is over then."
"Was there something you wanted?" Itachi asked.
The Feudal Lord smiled and said, "I just wanted to send my regards." He continued, "You'll pass my regards to the Sandaime Hokage, will you?"
"Why?" Naruto asked with a cold stare. "You haven't bothered to say anything before. But now you want to send regards? Are you playing politics?"
The Feudal Lord didn't seem bothered. He didn't even blink at Naruto's stare. "We did not impede you. We've welcomed you and now wish to send you off. Is that wrong?"
"There message will delivered." Itachi said in a polite tone.
Naruto wasn't going to be polite. Of course, he wouldn't consider scaring the man into submission. A fine game of politics could be played. Control by fear was something he hated, even if it showed his supremacy.
They walked away from the Feudal Lord. The journey was peaceful. The Jinchuriki had been sent back to the Leaf; they could walk in leisure. After all, the problem in the Leaf had been solved without loss.
"He really didn't waste any time thanking the stars; no battle had occurred. It would have ruined him. Makes you wonder if he didn't consider helping Suna." Naruto said in a thought. "Well, if he did, we'd have to come back and deal with him. Or maybe just leave him; it's a little fun to watch them toil, knowing they can't do anything."
Itachi did not respond to this. "When we first went to Kirigakure, Mei-sama mentioned she'd seen you, but said she didn't speak to you. Knowing you, I considered it a possibility without suspicion. But, what if she lied and you actually spoke to her?"
Naruto glanced at Itachi, his lips curling up in amusement. "Conspiracy theories now?"
"It is a fact," he stated in all seriousness. "You are unforgiving. I wouldn't be surprised if you actually loathe the clan heads and the Sandaime for the decision they made regarding the clan." He paused before continuing. "Yet, you willingly let go of what Zabuza tried to do. You've not even mentioned it once."
"I killed him. The score was settled. If the others had anything to do with it, then, I'd have killed them as well." Naruto said. His amusement disappeared, replaced by a stern mask. "You should ask about the important things. Your head is filled with protecting Konoha; you don't even look at things at large. You're a genius, yet sometimes your decision-making disappoints me." His voice was cold as he spoke. "Tell me, Itachi, who do you think controls the shinobi world?"
"The Kage. But, I understand Feudal Lords also hold some power. In fact, in times such as these, they can order the Kage to do something." Itachi said, and then changed his answer. "The Feudal Lords."
"Indeed." Naruto said with approval. "Ignorant shinobi think they all the power because they know the Jutsu. But it isn't that simple. We're at the mercy of Feudal Lords because of money. Shinobi villages make money through missions. That alone isn't enough to support a Great Nation such as Konoha. The Feudal Lord has taxes, and thus has money to send to Konoha."
Even with all its might, Konoha would always be susceptible to influence from the Feudal Lords, as it had no economy to support itself. Even Suna was forced into this situation because of its Feudal Lord's power. Hell, even Iwa has invaded neighbouring nations because its Feudal Lord ordered it.
"To be ordered by a mere civilian because of money is insulting. We have power to level the Fire Nation, yet stand in the whims of indecisive fools." Naruto said with contempt.
"You know him then." Itachi said of the Fire Lord. "Konoha would have to fundamentally change in order to wean itself off the influence of the Feudal Lords."
"You're going to be Hokage, you should make Konoha self sustainable."
"We're shinobi," Itachi reminded Naruto. They didn't have time to think about economics. Perhaps, it was because of this that many Kage were not always great leaders; they focused on raising armies, rather than improving economic circumstances.
"And there lies the problem."
The two had only crossed into the Fire Nation borders when they came across Pakura. She had a worried look about her and seemed worn out.
They didn't exchange many words with her. She was rushing to the Hidden Sand to see what was left of it. The Sandaime had given her permission.
"Love. Raw feelings of loyalty and affection bring this much." Naruto said. "It's frustrating. Even with my power, I could plot to make the whole world bow to me. In the end, I'll only cause hatred. Few will die for me. And the majority will be plotting my downfall."
The Sandaime Hokage might have been naive in some ways, but people truly loved him. Naruto would think twice before speaking ill of the old man among the shinobi. Pakura ran back to Sunagakure because she loved her village. Even after being betrayed, she still loved Sunagakure. Loyalty like that cannot be bought with money, and fear cannot instil it.
Naruto hated it. He hated the game of politics. There was no artistry in battle. There was no blood. It was merely shrewdness and backstabbing. He hated the way the human heart operated. He always had to swallow something to shape things the way he liked. He was proud of his power, but he simply couldn't push through doors with it.
It was embarrassing; but that's just how things worked.
"You've always chosen a sensible approach over such things despite being you."
"I've seen it with the Uchiha," Naruto said, his voice devoid of any emotion. "If we simply push for power, there will be envy and fear. Once people fear you, they won't trust you. A little wild rumour, and they are easily influenced."
Being powerful was not wrong. There was no downfall there. Hashirama had been powerful. So powerful he captured eight Bijuu and then sold them off. Great nations had tried and failed to capture them. But that man did it. And yet, nobody feared him. But they were wary of Madara.
The reason was simple; they didn't know him. He was unapproachable. But Naruto always made sure people could approach him. Enemies would fear and run from him, but friends would swarm around him.
"This mission has been eye opening." Itachi smiled—a tiny bit of a smile. "I've learned bits about you."
"This is the only way we can work together. My role is to advance the Uchiha and ensure their place in the shinobi world is cemented. Your role is to ensure Konoha is safe. There must be harmony. You're Uchiha; that won't change."
"It is going to be something when the Hokage still has to show some respect to his clan head."
Naruto laughed, thinking about it. "Your attempt for amusement? Well, a good one."
Iwagakure
Kitsuchi looked at the report with disappointment. The spies had returned quickly, but their findings were filled with disappointments. A part of him had hoped for something a little better, something that would weaken the Leaf. He was sure, even his father would agree with this.
But, Sunagakure had failed dismissively.
He glanced at his father with a deep frown, and then tossed the report to the side of the desk and released a deep sigh.
"Even with all the misfortune it has suffered, good shinobi just continue to be spawned out of nowhere."
Kitsuchi could stand tall, proudly saying they could have defeated Konoha without Minato. It hurt his pride to admit just one man stopped them from victory. But it was the truth. That man was dead. The Kyubi rampage had done a number on him. And the Uchiha had fallen to Danzo. Konoha had been severely weakened.
It was supposed to stay this way. Yet, within a few years, even more monsters had spawned.
The best thing we did for Iwagakure was to refuse to partake in their little war. Onoki spoke in a dead serious tone.
He'd seen the report. It had him on his feet, standing with shock and disbelief, and then fear, before accepting the truth. Suna was gone. The once-great nation was now just like any other small country, with vast lands. But, there was nothing attractive about it. It was just a coffin after all.
"Indeed," Kitsuchi agreed wholeheartedly.
Just one man had destroyed Suna and with a single strike. Naruto alone had faced three Jinchuriki in the desert and won. He didn't lose an arm or a leg. He simply won. He would later show he had the Kyubi, but didn't need it.
Onoki had thought he had seen it all when Madara showed up. The power the Uchiha displayed in the Sand was nothing compared to what Madara displayed. In fact, he was starting to think Madara had not gone all out against them.
He understood why Naruto had said Konoha wouldn't go to war with Sunagakure, but rather, discipline it. One of them had the power to destroy a Great Nation. Konoha had three shinobi like that. Nobody could be comfortable with that kind of power lurking in the shadows.
"What do we do about it?"
"What can we do?" Onoki asked. "The Raikage had already warned us to stay away. Konoha has an ally, and now that they have demonstrated their strength, that man will be more than happy to go to bed with them."
"Do you think they might attack us?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "The alliance is unholy, nonetheless. At least to us. Stopping it from happening might be the best solution for us."
"But if we're discovered, we're in trouble."
"Deep trouble." Onoki conceded in a mild tone. "But our immediate problem is the Feudal Lord. Once he hears about this, he is going to make a fuss and demand action. Konoha will now have four Bijuu in its possession."
And the Uchiha... Kitsuchi still couldn't believe what he'd read. He'd faced Uchiha before. But quite nothing like this. A gigantic Susanoo capable of destroying an entire village with just one swing of its blade? Not two, but just one swing.
"We'll have to try to pre-empt him if we are to avoid a catastrophe."
"Yes. He has always been sensitive about these issues. We cannot do anything reckless without first considering things properly. In terms of pure destructive power, the Leaf edges us out. Until we figure a way to counter that, we must not do anything."
"I'd suck if he ordered us to go to war with Konoha."
"We'd have to fight."
"What are we going to do about the remnants of Suna?" Kitsuchi asked. "They hate Konoha right now. They could be used to disrupt things within the village, and we would never have to take responsibility. After all, their home was destroyed. They have legitimate hatred towards Konoha."
Onoki found his smile for the first time since he read the report. "We must send someone to round them up." he said. "In the meantime, I'll write to Konoha about them holding four Bijuu. It is dangerous and upsets the balance of power."
"Their alliance with Kiri is strong; they're likely to return them to Kiri."
"This unholy alliance is going to be the death of us," Onoki said, shaking his head in discomfort. "We can also use it to scare the Feudal Lord into increasing funding so we can improve our military power."
As long as this shinobi world was ruled by power, there would always be discomfort when one nation held all the power. After all, none of the Great Nations had ever truly been allies. Occasionally, their interests might collide, but never a lasting friendship.
When it came to the interests of their own village, they would kill each other.
Sometimes, Onoki wondered if the wars and bloodshed would ever come to an end. Despite his nature, he wasn't a lover of war. The interests of the village often just dragged them into such a path.
At least this time, he'd made the correct choice
"If those three gather at one place, we'll be the only nation on the outside. It is really a scenario we can't allow to happen." Kitsuchi agreed that the unholy alliance would be the death of Iwagakure. "It's either we become part of it, we destroy it."
"It might be easier to get inside this alliance and destroy it from within. We don't truly know what they are thinking or planning. They could even be planning to destroy us."
Land of Wind
Pakura had dreaded coming here. But she had to. She'd imagined the worst possible outcomes in her mind. It had frightened her to death. She'd thought of turning back, not wanting to witness the death of her beloved village.
Despite the havoc within her, the gut-wrenching emotion tearing through her heart, she had mustered the courage.
From afar, the rocks that surrounded Suna were always visible, but not today. Her heart raced with palpitations. Every inch of her body trembled with fear. If the rocks were gone, and her village with them, then the Hidden Sand would be lost. The report had simply said her village was destroyed. She'd begged the Sandaime, and he'd let her come here.
Despite slowing down, each step felt like a giant leap. Pakura continued to be dragged by the winds toward her village. As she neared, she heard the dreadful melody of vultures singing.
Thousands of bodies lay lifeless, some buried in the sand. There was no one standing, not even a cry for help. It was a scene of death. Hundreds of vultures circled overhead, tearing through the flesh. Some methodically picked at the guts of their victims, while others plucked out eyes and swallowed them whole.
Dead Suna shinobi. Dead people she'd sworn to protect. If she hadn't been saved, she wouldn't have been able to see this. This was worse than the betrayal. Worse than anything she could have imagined.
In defeat, she fell to her knees. An intense level of heat seeped from her body. The vultures noticed. Some cried and flew into the air, while others continued their feast. Pakura would not let any of them escape.
In a blink, the entire area erupted into flames. The vultures didn't have time to swallow or cry out. They didn't even burn; the flames consumed them, even those who tried to flee. Even the thousands of bodies in the sand vanished in the blink of an eye.
Her brothers and sisters.
Pain engulfed her. Had everyone been destroyed? She panted heavily, placing her hands on the ground, and stared down at the sand. Sweat formed on her forehead. Yet not a single tear escaped. She had expended a significant amount of chakra, but she didn't feel the exhaustion; only the pain of loss.
She heard a single voice. One became two. Two became three. Three became four. People. Alive. Pakura lifted her head and stared toward the village. There were people, her people, alive. Not all was lost.
A tear crept out, but she quickly wiped it away.
Pakura jumped to her feet. She took a step and then felt the strain of releasing such a disastrous jutsu. She grimaced, and propelled herself forward. She didn't walk; she ran. She ran toward the voices. Toward people she recognized as her own.
Survivors
"It's Pakura-sama!"
She heard the loud, happy voices of lost sheep. Without a leader, without a protector. She had come to rescue them, but there was nothing to rescue. Would they even accept her?
The rocks had been so cleanly cut it look like a work of art. There was no building that stood. Survivors were helping others. The wounded crawled about. Shinobi lifted rubble to check for survivors. Some wept with their injuries, the loss they suffered. Some looked dead in the eyes. Others just continued to work, stone faced.
There was no medic to heal the wounded.
"Pakura-sama!"
"Pakura-sama!"
"Pakura-sama!"
Anguish. Relief. Pure joy - it was all there.
"We're so happy you've returned!"
So was she. But, she couldn't protect them. She couldn't protect the children. Her village had been destroyed. If there was no massive relief program, they would either starve or be eaten by vultures while still alive.
"How nice of you to show up," Temari said with pure contempt. Not just to Pakura, but to everything. "You abandoned this village and joined the people who destroyed our home!"
There was silence. Even those lifting rubble stopped. Everything came to a halt. Nobody spoke. The ones who were crying stopped. The ones who were wincing seemed to feel no pain, only for a moment.
Slap!
A huge man hit Temari across her face, sending her falling down. As she hit the rubble in a thud, Kankuro jumped to her defence, appearing in front of her.
"Make another move and I'll kill you." He warned.
The huge man snorted.
"I don't need you to protect me," Temari said, standing up with a cold look on her face and clutching her war fan tightly in her hand.
Daiki, the man who slapped Temari, spoke in a loud voice, full of contempt. "You have no right to speak to Pakura-sama like that!" he said, and then spoke in a tone, devoid of any emotion. "We heard him; your father plotted with Kirigakure to kill Pakura-sama. And then drove this village into this mess. Our brothers are dead. Yet, he decided to send his children away to safety.
"You came back, so what? Our home was destroyed because of your father. He ruined us. And you dare attack Pakura-sama? If you want to curse someone, curse your goddamned father!"
"If you didn't want to follow him, you shouldn't have!"
"Stop!" Pakura shouted. Tears streamed down her face. Her voice quivered with anguish. Those who had stopped crying continued to do so. "Please stop fighting," she pleaded. "Look around you; our home has been destroyed, and our brothers and sisters are dead. Can we afford to fight among ourselves?"
"Pakura-sama is right."
A chorus of agreement ran through the rubbles.
Temari gnashed her teeth and walked over to Pakura. She fell to her knees. "Is my brother alive?" She pleaded in a whisper.
"Gaara?"
"Yes."
"He is alive in Konoha."
Temari felt relief wash over her; she had lost him for some time. She never got to enjoy things with him because of their father. How happy she was that he was alive!
"Are there more survivors?"
"Yes. But we have no where to go. The Feudal Lord turned us back."
"No worries," a voice called out. "The River Country will provide you with a home, a place to settle down and start over. You don't have time to decide. I've heard a team from Iwa is on their way."
Pakura demanded, "Who are you?"
"A missionary from the River Country."
Hidden Leaf
"Welcome back, Naruto-sama, Itachi-san," the guards greeted them in unison. Their happiness was apparent. They seemed proud even.
News should have swept through the village—Sunagakure was destroyed. The enemy who had them jolted from their sleep, threatening to destroy their beloved village had been put down. The happiness and relief would last for a little while longer.
"The Sandaime-Hokage is waiting for you in his office."
Both Uchiha nodded in response.
"Thank the stars we don't have to go to war."
The two guards whispered to each other as both Naruto and Itachi walked through the gates.
"Even the shinobi population will be glad. Some still have nightmares about fighting the Third War," Naruto said with a slight shake of his head. "Shinobi are willing to die when called, but everyone really wants to live."
The machinery of war was a dreadful grinder. Nobody had to tell Itachi this; the horrors were burned into his mind. The images haunted him at night. Bodies piled up. Seas of blood. Vultures thirsting and feasting on the corpses of those left behind.
Konoha had sent their children into the war. Many did not return. Their parents still wept, even to this day. The scars of war took time to heal. For some, they never healed.
He had stopped Konoha shinobi from experiencing the dread. He'd stopped his village from shedding blood. Suna bled. Itachi didn't worry; he'd not lose sleep. The important thing was that the enemy who threatened to kill them all was gone.
There were no flowers or a red carpet laid out to them their success. But the return was welcomed by the village. The streets lined up to new heroes. The waves went through the streets.
They'd done something nobody had ever done—brought a great nation to its knees. It was just the two of them. They'd done it. They had protected Konoha from the enemy. Some were just happy; their children would not have to go to war.
This was a great achievement for Naruto. For the first time since Konoha's founding, the Uchiha had contributed something. They would always be recognized as the clan that subdued Suna. Their place in history was now fully cemented. Nobody could take it away from them. Even if Danzo rose from the dead, he could do nothing.
A happy expression plastered itself across Naruto's face. He wasn't delighted at being recognized; he was delighted that he'd managed to put the Uchiha exactly where he wanted them. Things were moving. He hadn't expected progress to be this quick—but things had moved so quickly, he could even consider peering into the Land of the Dead, to tell Fugaku that the clan was set for the future.
Even if lightning were to strike him down, the Uchiha clan would remain perfectly in place.
"Our happiness comes out of the deaths in Suna. It's sad that the shinobi world is like this." Itachi said. He couldn't celebrate the destruction of the Suna. It had to be done out of necessity to ensure the Leaf's survival.
"This world is filled with winners and losers," Naruto said in a cold tone. "To survive, we must be winners." He paused for a moment before continuing. "We don't know what tomorrow will bring, so maybe we need more power."
The pursuit for more power was not going to stop. Then again, Naruto hated weakness. Itachi could certainly understand his sentiment; this world was full of mysteries. They didn't even know how either Iwagakure or Kumo would respond to their show of strength.
The Hokage Tower had been rebuilt. They'd only been gone for a week, and yet the structure stood. Then again, with Yamato around, rebuilding it had been simple.
"We're happy now. We must make sure nothing destroys this happiness."
The Third seemed to have aged a bit more. His shoulders were slumped. He didn't look relieved; he looked regretful. Regretful for having done everything possible to stop what had happened, even putting Konoha in harm's way. Some things just couldn't be changed, no matter how hard you tried.
"Sandaime-sama." Itachi greeted the old man with a bow of his head.
Hiruzen smiled; he at least appeared happy that they had returned with their full health and no missing limbs.
"Itachi-kun," the third acknowledged with a warm smile. "Naruto-san," he pointed to the chair in front of his desk.
Naruto shook his head. "I'm exhausted. I just want to go home and get some sleep."
Hiruzen simply nodded. "Thank you for your service. You have kept Konoha safe. I'm sure, Fugaku-san would have been proud."
Hiruzen was certain that questions would still persist as to why Fugaku had tried to hide Naruto from the village. No, he'd never wanted Naruto to be controlled. He'd been there, just under the radar and controlled by Fugaku. What would have happened if he hadn't died?
"Itachi will brief you..."
"We'll have a meeting tomorrow."
Naruto nodded. and then walked away from the office.
"I hadn't seen you there, Jiraiya-sama," Itachi said as soon as Naruto was out of the door. The Sannin had appeared through the window.
"I just arrived."
He stared at Itachi with narrowed eyes. He was loyal and powerful. It was just what Konoha required. Yet, there didn't seem to be any mountain or depths too low for the Uchiha to dive into in order to protect the Leaf. His personality was curious.
"How did things go? We just read the brief report." The Sandaime asked.
Itachi settled down, knowing it was going to be a long conversation. He then explained about the battle with the Jinchuriki and the destruction of the Sand.
"Couldn't you have stopped him from going that far?" Jiraiya asked, a bit shocked by the power of a Susanoo.
Suna was ready to surrender; there was no need to destroy it. This was in stark contrast to the Third War, when Danzo had advocated for the destruction of Iwagakure once they had gained the upper hand. His sensei had rejected that idea and accepted Iwagakure's plea. The fact that he would agree with something like this shocked the Sannin.
"We could have," Itachi said but chose not to elaborate. He didn't think there was a need. The fact that Suna had threatened Konoha with destruction meant its very existence would always cause Konoha discomfort.
The Third said to ease Jiraiya's worries. "There are survivors." He added. "Perhaps this act will stop future wars. We're all greedy for the benefits of our villages, but we also fear destruction above everything else."
Hiruzen hoped Konoha's present history would be enough to ease the worries of others. There was a saying in the shinobi world—too dangerous to be allowed to exist. The Uzumaki had suffered from this fate. He didn't want anyone ganging up on the Leaf for that reason.
"We came across the River Lord and Pakura."
Hiruzen smiled. "Well, he is probably trying to enter our good graces. He may fear we'd turn on him."
"Fighting could have also happened to his nation," Jiraiya said with a shake of his head. "You planning on letting her leave?"
"If she wants."
Uchiha Compound
Naruto literally fell to the ground in front of Fugaku's grave stone. He felt weary, but happy, yet sorrowful. It was a whirlwind of emotions running rampant within him.
He knelt down, bowing his head.
"Father, I have done it. I have placed the Uchiha in the right direction." He said with deep sadness. "Yet, I'm sad that you're not here to see what your children have achieved."
He fell deep into silence, keeping the same posture, his head bowed, in silent prayer.
What more could he have asked for? Just that Fugaku was alive, to see this. To see that his sacrifice was not for nothing. Inabi would surely have died with anger and hatred. But if he could see what had become of the Uchiha, he'd surely feel peace, and thank Fugaku for his foresight, and curse his own stupidity.
Naruto shut his eyes, deactivated his Sharingan, and then lifted his head.
"It's rare to see you so fragile and human," Mikoto said in a soft tone.
Naruto glanced at her and then settled down gracefully. "I'm happy," he said.
Mikoto sat beside him, put a bottle in front and then leaned on his right shoulder.
"Your heard?"
"Everyone is talking about it," Mikoto said happily.
Naruto glanced up into the sky; his expression was soft. "I don't think I'll ever stop missing him," he said. "Shisui always told me to make friends. I guess this is what happens when your life revolves around one person."
Mikoto gently placed her hand on his thigh and rubbed it lovingly. "You'll fill the void a little when you have kids of your own."
"Perhaps."
Later that night
The streets were brightly lit with red and blue colors. The Naka shrine had few BBQ stands lined up, a bit of smoke rising. The dark cloud that once gathered above the Uchiha clan had finally dissipated. The stars were clearly visible in the night, and maybe, the rest of the village celebrated with them. Of course, they'd never admit the Uchiha clan has always been put at arms-length. It mattered no more. The reality was that everyone in the clan was at peace. Their lives were no longer tied to a dreadful fate.
As clan head, there was nothing else satisfying. Sometimes, Naruto thought he wouldn't blink if someone in the village died, but let anyone in his clan die. The Uchiha were the love of his life; they were his first love, and nothing would ever mean more to him than these people. For him, the clan was not some ideal, but the flesh and blood he watched over.
Happiness filled him, at least inwardly. If anyone looked at Naruto, they would think he was indifferent. The only difference was that his Sharingan wasn't active, as it always was.
He'd gathered everyone to share a meal together. The children played games around them. The adults barbecued the meat while a few groups formed. But they were all one in mind. They were all Uchiha, celebrating a revival of their status as the powerful Uchiha clan and finally holding a firm grip on the politics of the Leaf.
"We should do this often," Shisui said as he sat down beside Naruto on the stairs leading to the Shrine.
"Are you going to pay for everything?"
Shisui glanced at him and then laughed. "Since when did you start caring about finances?"
"It's not like the clan makes a lot of money through other means. With Military Police no longer our sole discretion, we can't fiddle with its funds," Naruto pointed out. "A clan in financial ruin cannot prosper."
"You've learned a lot about politics and economics."
"For the sake of the clan."
"Always." Shisui smiled and then stared down toward everyone. Itachi was mingled with others, with Izumi tied close to him, and of course, Sasuke. Mikoto was with the elders, and Naori was busy making others uncomfortable. "We see these events a lot more. Had we done this before, the clan wouldn't have been brought to this situation."
"We don't know, Shisui. We don't know. But our brothers died so that we could see such moments. There is nothing more we can ask, for now. Our clan has been recognized by the leadership, and an Uchiha will finally be cemented in the Hokage Monument."
Naruto still planned on pushing for its destruction. The villagers would certainly be in an uproar over the inclusion of Madara. The Uchiha had abandoned the village and then fought Hashirama to the death. These people loved the good-natured First Hokage; they couldn't stand seeing him standing next to the man who betrayed and then tried to kill him. But Naruto didn't really care about any of that.
Hashirama did not found this village alone; he did so with Madara. A large monument that overlooked Konoha had to be built in order to acknowledge this. The Uchiha's place as founders of the Leaf must never be removed from history.
"Worth celebrating," Shisui smiled. "But I'm happier to see you finally relaxed. How long has it been since you stayed this long without your Mangekyo Sharingan activated?"
"I don't recall. It has always been active. Then again, it hardly matters if you're blind."
"Yeah right," Shisui said with sarcasm. "What's in store for the future?"
"Still a few things to sort out."
"After that?"
Naruto shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe I'll continue with training Military academy students. For now, there won't be training while we scout for new students. Of course, there is the politics. but a matter without concern."
"Naori?"
Naruto glanced at Shisui. "What of her?"
"Are you going to make it official?"
"I'm still waiting for you to introduce someone, Shisui," Naruto said in a serious tone. "At this point, even if she isn't Uchiha, I'll tolerate it. The grannies are dying soon. The mothers have no husbands. The children are still too young. Our generation has to hold out until the children are able to hold fort. If you don't start making a serious effort to give us a child, I may have to order you." Naruto paused and took a deep breath before continuing. "And I won't expel you to run off to Mei if you don't do it. I'd rather strangle you to death than allow you to leave the clan."
They may be famous, but their numbers were thin. If Konoha goes to war, their current numbers would be reduced to an alarming rate. They would be close to extinction. This was the biggest existential threat they faced. And as clan head, he had to make sure they procreated to ensure the clan survived the future.
They were not invincible. The three of them might be extraordinary, but the rest of the clan was cruelly weak. It had always been this way, and Naruto didn't want his legacy or the Uchiha to suffer the same fate as the Senju.
"It makes me feel nervous that you're dead serious."
"I never joke about the clan." Naruto said with a shake of his head. "We could go to war with Iwagakure. That village is huge, and unlike the Sand. The Tsuchikage is a wielder of a powerful Jutsu that could rip through a perfect Susanoo in the blink of an eye. If we go to war with them, the Uchiha will be forced into the front lines. There will be deaths. Look at them," Naruto said with a cold look, staring at the shinobi with Naori. "They are weak. It maddens me, but some of them seem to have reached their limits. If they are thrown into war, they die. Who are we left with?"
Shisui understood the risks. He understood war with Iwa could still happen. Even with the Cloud it was possible. It wasn't just war; missions could end in death. "I understand," Shisui said. "I'll take someone from the clan."
"That is preferable. We've had full blooded Uchiha unable to awaken the Sharingan. If you're Uchiha, you have to at least awaken the damn Sharingan. We mustn't take risks with our futures," Naruto said in a dead serious tone. He then smiled. "Naori, huh? Perhaps I will make it official. Young, but we don't have the luxury to be selective."
End of chapter
I'm sorry to announce that I'll be taking a small break. I've got other things to focus on. I'll return probably toward month end September.
The Omnipresent Sage