CHAPTER 56
HIDDEN LEAF VILLAGE
Shikamaru slowly opened his eyes and turned his head side to side. A doctor stood by his bed taking notes and a nurse was refilling his fluids.
"H-H-Hey doc…" Shikamaru said softly.
The doctor looked down at Shikamaru with mild surprise.
"Shikamaru-san! I wasn't expecting you to wake up so soon." The doctor said.
Shikamaru tried to sit up but was laid back down by a nurse.
"Shikamaru-san, you're still not good to move around yet! You have to rest in bed for a few days." The nurse said.
Shikamaru groaned
"What even happened?" Shikamaru asked.
The doctor pushed up his glasses.
"You passed out from your injuries. You were littered with a bunch of different burn spots. The substance that burned you had the properties of a heavy acid irritant." The doctor explained.
Shikamaru's eyes widened.
FLASHBACK
"Acidic birds!" Zayoshi yelled.
A ball of blue acid formed in front of Zayoshi and shot hundreds of small blue acidic birds at Shikamaru who took them all. When they hit his body they started to steam and burn his skin. Zayoshi just calmly walked past the suffering man.
"Because you were so nice to me for the most part, you'll just sit here and burn for 48hrs. Afterwards you will be fine. But these two days will be nothing short of hell for you young man!" Zayoshi said.
END OF FLASHBACK
Shikamaru shot up in bed, to the nurse's and Doctor's surprise.
"Shikamaru! You need rest!" The nurse yelled.
Shikamaru winced.
"No! I don't have time to rest… What's the status on Zayoshi and the village?" Shikamaru asked.
The doctor gulped.
"Well… while you were sleep the village was able to be calmed but there are still those who demand answers. And as for Zayoshi… well, he's gone." The doctor explained.
Shikamaru clenched his teeth and looked down.
"Damn… and nobody knows where he went?" Shikamaru asked.
The doctor shook his head. Shikamaru closed his eyes tightly.
"A guy like that can't be allowed to run around freely in the ninja world! His ability to become acid itself versus just covering himself in it is too dangerous…" Shikamaru thought to himself.
The doctor grew nervous.
"Sh-Shikamaru-san… you must rest."
Shikamaru looked up.
"I'll be fine. I don't feel much burning, although it does sting if I move too much. The man that burned me, Zayoshi, he said I'd be burning for two days… please tell me it hasn't been that long." Shikamaru said.
The doctor looked at his notes.
"No, it hasn't been that long at all sir. I'd say it's been about an hour and a half since you last passed out honestly." The doctor said.
Shikamaru took a big breath of relief.
"Thank god…" Shikamaru said, laying back down, "While I don't feel anymore burning it would be a pain to attempt to walk any long distances like this… Lady Hokage went to the Five Kage Summit with the others to discuss that Psycho guy showing his face again, I guess now that the village is alright somebody needs to see if they're okay." Shikamaru thought.
"Well, Shikamaru-san, if you don't need anything else…" The doctor said, walking away.
"Wait!" Shikamaru yelled out.
The doctor turned around.
"There are a few people I'd like for you to reach out to for me." Shikamaru said.
The doctor fixed his glasses.
"A few people? And who would those people be?" The doctor asked.
DEATH HQ (MARINEFORD)
"So, that's what the last 25yrs have been like to you, old friend. Sounds like one hell of a ride." Zayoshi said.
Psycho leaned back.
"It certainly has. Honestly, I'm surprised things have gone this smoothly for so long." Psycho said.
"I agree, having my samurai in the Ninja World sure turned a few heads at first, I was sure I'd be figured out eventually." Mifune said.
Psycho smiled.
"The Ninja World hm? And how has my homeland been all these years?" Psycho asked.
Mifune sighed.
"Well… there have been a few changes since you last visited…" Mifune said softly.
Psycho leaned forward and rested his mouth behind his intertwined hands.
"What kind of changes?" Psycho asked seriously.
Mifune gulped and clenched his teeth.
"The Five Great Nations have become allies." Mifune said.
Psycho's eyes shot open.
"What!?" Psycho asked.
Mifune put his hands up.
"Please calm yourself, Psycho-san!" Mifune said.
Psycho stood up.
"I was counting on them still being rivals for when we invaded again! What the hell did they team up for!? There had to have been a damn good reason!" Psycho said.
Mifune became serious.
"Oh but there was… but you won't believe it." Mifune said.
Psycho sat back down angrily.
"Surprise me." Psycho said.
Mifune sat up.
"A man who called himself Madara declared war on the Five Great Nations all at once, forcing them to team up to stop him." Mifune said.
Psycho's eyes widened at the name "Madara."
"Only… the man who called himself Madara only used the name for the fear and respect it brought with it. During the war many shinobi were reanimated with the edo tensei." Mifune continued.
Psycho thought about Cyclone.
"If you're thinking about Cyclone, then yes, this is the same edo tensei that even Cyclone-san can use. In short, Madara was one of the shinobi revived by this jutsu." Mifune continued.
Psycho continued to listen.
"At one point, the jutsu was dispelled by the castor for some reason, but as you and I both know, as long as the revived person knows the hand signs they can remain on earth until they are sealed away. Madara used this to cause more destruction and eventually kept himself in the battle long enough until he literally brought himself back to life." Mifune said.
Psycho's eyes widened again.
"Madara… you dog." Psycho said with a smile.
"But that's not all!" Mifune said.
Psycho looked up with a serious face.
"Madara then became the ten tails jinchuriki and achieved his goal of the infinite Tsukuyomi, but his plan was thwarted by black zetsu, who used his body as the vessel to bring back…" Mifune stopped.
A small ball of sweat ran down Psycho's head.
"Kaguya." Mifune said.
Psycho's eyes widened to the max.
"Kaguya… came back!?" Psycho yelled.
Mifune stared, his eyes shadowed out.
"What happened next?" Psycho asked through clenched teeth.
Mifune cleared his throat.
"She was defeated again and sealed away by none other than Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha of the Hidden Leaf Village." Mifune said.
Psycho smiled.
"Those two brats huh?... Could it be possible that… you both share the blood of Hagoromo and Hamura?" Psycho thought to himself.
"After her defeat, Madara didn't have much time left since he essentially had the ten tails taken out of his body and we both know what happens when a tailed beast is removed from its jinchuriki's body." Mifune said.
Psycho nodded.
"Of course." Psycho said, "I appreciate the update."
"After that, there hasn't been many other problems. The Five Nations have been at peace for a while now… well, until they were stirred up by DEATH attacking the Sand Village." Mifune said.
Psycho looked to the side.
"Hey! By the way boss, how did that go?" Zayoshi asked.
Psycho sighed.
"We failed to accomplish the goal we went there for. We made ourselves known for nothing." Psycho said, "I'm sure since the villages are all on the same team everyone was informed of the attack in the sand and me being alive." Psycho said.
"That's not exactly true." Mifune said.
Psycho became surprised mildly.
"What do you mean?" Psycho asked.
Mifune crossed his arms.
"Well, while the attack on the Sand was put on paper and sent all around, nobody actually knew who was behind it. And…" Mifune paused to pull out a newspaper, "This right here was published in these lands and sent around the blue seas. The paper was never sent to the Ninja World, at least by their messenger system." Mifune said.
Psycho was intrigued and confused.
"What we think is that Cobra sent out this newspaper to the Ninja World as a way to ask them for help." Zayoshi added.
"This theory is proved even further by the Five Kage coming to the Five Kage Summit to discuss how they want to handle this situation and tell their villagers that you're still alive." Mifune said.
Psycho began to understand where this was going.
"As I'm sure you've pieced together by now… only the Kage of their villages know who's behind DEATH and that you're still alive." Zayoshi finished.
Psycho smiled slowly.
"So I still have the element of surprise on my side… even after all this madness?" Psycho asked.
Mifune and Zayoshi smiled.
"You'll be really happy to hear this sir… but… the Five Kage… were defeated by Mifune and I before we even came here to see you." Zayoshi confirmed.
Psycho's eyes shot open and he stood up.
"And with them beaten there's no one who can spill the beans! Is that it!?" Psycho asked.
Zayoshi and Mifune smiled. Psycho did as well.
"Things just got a whole lot more interesting." Psycho smiled sinisterly.
HIDDEN LEAF PRISON INFIRMARY
Shikamaru lay in bed awaiting the people he asked the doctor to contact for him. He looked to the side with surprise when his room door opened, and he sat up. In walked: Ino, Choji, TenTen, Lee, Kiba, and Shino.
"Oi, Shikamaru! What the hell happened to you?" Kiba asked.
Shikamaru winced.
"Yeah Shikamaru what's going on? The village was going crazy a while ago." TenTen said.
"Yeah we need some answers man!" Choji said.
Shikamaru put a hand to his head.
"I'll explain everything I know in just a moment… how's the village?" Shikamaru asked.
"It's better than it was… people were freaking out earlier." Ino said.
"But we calmed them down! You have nothing to worry about Shikamaru!" Lee yelled.
"Damn it Lee tone it down a bit… I'm still hurt." Shikamaru said, with a cold stare.
Lee backed off a little.
"But good… the last thing we need is them to keep freaking out, now… let me tell you all what I know." Shikamaru said.
Everyone in the room listened carefully.
"Zayoshi, the man who broke out, spoke to me and told me a lot of things. I'll sum it up for you best I can." Shikamaru said softly.
Everyone nodded.
"Centuries ago there was a war that lasted 100yrs. In this war, the shinobi of that time period played a crucial role and actually stood their ground, but once the war reached its end one of the armies, the Marines, refused to share land with the shinobi and forced them into the lands we inhabit today." Shikamaru explained.
The shinobi were shocked.
"What!? So we haven't always been living peacefully here?" Choji asked.
"There's still more out there?" Ino asked as well.
"Wait this doesn't make any sense!" Kiba added.
Shikamaru grew annoyed.
"Just let me finish… there's more." Shikamaru said.
Everyone nodded again. Shikamaru grabbed the newspaper next to his bed.
"Do any of you know who this is?" Shikamaru asked, holding out the newspaper with Psycho on it.
The shinobi looked at the newspaper and became filled with shock.
"Th-That's!" TenTen stopped.
"I cannot believe this!" Lee exclaimed.
Shino was filled with shock.
"This guy!" Kiba said.
"This guy fought in the shinobi world wars didn't he!? How the hell is he alive!?" Choji asked.
"Reanimation? Shikamaru?" Ino asked.
Shikamaru put the newspaper back on his table.
"No. Reanimation has nothing to do with it." Shikamaru said.
"Then… then what the hell is he?" Kiba asked.
"He's legit. He has the appearance of a man in his early 20's and Zayoshi pretty much confirmed that even though chronologically he's hundreds of years old, biologically… he's only a few years older than us." Shikamaru said.
"So… that means…" TenTen said.
"It's like he was born just recently… with the experience of a man who's lived through generations…" Lee finished.
"That's terrifying…" Shino said.
"Also, not only did he fight in the shinobi world wars… he was responsible for two of them, the first two I should say. Both with the intention to control the ninja world as its supreme leader." Shikamaru explained.
"So if I had to guess… he was behind the attack on the sand village then?" TenTen asked.
Shikamaru nodded.
"Ughhhh good grief." TenTen said, face palming.
"Now he's back and terrorizing the same lands we as ninja aren't even allowed to go into. That peaks my interest though." Shikamaru said.
Everyone looked at Shikamaru.
"What're you thinking, Shikamaru?" Choji asked.
Shikamaru sat up.
"If we're truly banned from stepping foot in those lands then we aren't usually notified of what goes on over there… this newspaper wasn't meant to be seen by anyone other than the kage. Psycho, being a former shinobi probably knows that the kage won't drop news like this on their villages right off the jump…" Shikamaru explained.
"Wait, are you going with this where I think you're going?" Ino asked.
Shikamaru looked at Ino with a serious face.
"I think it's time… we started getting ready for another war." Shikamaru said calmly.
Before everyone in the room could even react a shinobi ran in.
"Shikamaru-san! Er um… sorry to interrupt." The shinobi said.
"You're fine… what's wrong?" Shikamaru asked.
The shinobi straightened up.
"Um, a prisoner wants to see you!" The Shinobi said.
Shikamaru and the others were shocked.
"A prisoner?... Who?" Shikamaru asked.
The shinobi held a nervous face.
"R-R-Raku… Etsuko!" The shinobi said.
Shikamaru and the others all became incredibly shocked.
"Raku Etsuko!? For what!?" TenTen asked.
"That man is insane! Shikamaru, you can't go see him! I won't allow it!" Lee yelled.
"I second that, Shikamaru!" Ino said.
Shikamaru clenched his teeth.
"Did you ask what he wanted?" Shikamaru asked.
The shinobi nodded.
"We asked him what he wanted to see you for and he… actually begged us to come get you so he can talk to you. He seems sincere." The shinobi said.
"Just because he seems sincere doesn't mean it's not a trick. He might be trying to take advantage of this situation." Shikamaru said.
The shinobi saluted.
"Yes! Understood! I'll decline his meeting." The shinobi said, attempting to walk away.
Shikamaru thought about what he had said just a moment ago.
"I think it's time…. We started getting ready for another war…"
Shikamaru winced.
"WAIT!" Shikamaru yelled.
The shinobi stopped.
"Take me to him." Shikamaru said.
"Shikamaru what are you saying? You can't be serious!" Ino said.
"Yeah! You do remember why he's locked up don't you?" Choji asked.
Shikamaru painfully turned to hang his feet off his bed.
"Yeah… but… I'm curious as to what he wants." Shikamaru said.
"Well, we'll come with you!" Kiba said.
"No." Shikamaru said.
The Leaf ninja were all shocked.
"You all go pack your things and get ready to go to the Land of Iron to look for the kage… I'll meet you all at the village gate later." Shikamaru said, getting in his slippers and walking over to the shinobi.
Shikamaru and the shinobi walked towards the door to the infirmary. Shikamaru stopped at the door.
"I'll let you know what happens." Shikamaru said without turning around.
The Leaf ninja stared at Shikamaru left.
LEVEL 5 OF THE HIDDEN LEAF PRISON
The elevator lowered Shikamaru and the shinobi down to the 5th level to speak to the prisoner Raku Etsuko.
"I feel like I'm getting into a Zayoshi situation all over again…" Shikamaru said to himself.
The elevator door opened and Shikamaru walked out, the shinobi followed.
"I have to follow you, Shikamaru-san, in case he tries something funny." The shinobi said.
Shikamaru nodded.
The two walked down the hall until they came along a cell with a man in it sitting Indian style facing the wall.
"RAKU! Shikamaru is here! Tell him what you need to so we can get out of here." The shinobi said.
The man inside the cell wore a full body black straight jacket and had a black band over his eyes with the word "seal" written on it with Japanese characters. He had short spiky yellow hair as well, with a brown skin tone. The man weakly turned around.
"Sh-Sh-Shikamaru-san…! It's been a while…" Raku said.
Shikamaru stared at him.
"I didn't come here for casual conversation. Truth be told, I'm on edge right now with talking to a prisoner." Shikamaru said.
Raku put his head down.
"I see." Raku said softly.
Shikamaru and the shinobi stared at the man.
"I'll cut to the chase then… you and I both know that Psycho is back… you do know that don't you?" Raku asked.
Shikamaru was filled with shock.
"How the hell do you know that!?" Shikamaru asked.
Raku didn't speak for a moment.
"I heard Zayoshi broke out… there's only one reason he'd do that…" Raku said.
Shikamaru stared at Raku.
"You and I both know that Psycho plans to do again what he did all those years ago! Don't you! Shikamaru!" Raku began to yell.
"Hey, take it easy!" The shinobi said.
Shikamaru clenched his teeth and stared at Raku.
"So what if I do? What are you saying?" Shikamaru asked.
Raku put his head down and started to dry heave. Tears began to fall from under his mask. Shikamaru and the shinobi were shocked.
"15 years ago… the village elders sentenced me to death for supposedly getting every team I had sent with me on missions killed on purpose… I knew this wasn't true, but my loyalty to the Leaf Village kept me from arguing their decision!" Raku yelled.
Shikamaru was still shocked and confused.
"Raku…"
"They told me… that I would only actually be killed when I chose how I wanted to die… if I don't make a decision I might as well consider this a life sentence…, but!... SHIKAMARU-SAN! I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT! I FOUND OUT HOW I WANT TO DIE!" Raku yelled.
Shikamaru and the shinobi waited for him to finish.
"I want to die… PROTECTING MY VILLAGE FROM PSYCHO'S FUTURE ATTACK! PLEASE, SHIKAMARU-SAN! ALLOW ME TO TAKE THE FRONT LINES AS THE HIDDEN LEAF VILLAGE'S HEAD GENERAL!" Raku yelled.
LAND OF IRON
What used to be the snowy land of samurai, was now an acid filled, toxic waste dump as the result of Zayoshi's awakened devil fruit powers. On a large circular rock mass the Five Kage lay unconscious. One of the kage, Mei Terumi, the Mizukage of the Village Hidden in Mist started to slowly get up. She sat up and put a hand to her head.
"Oh… my head… what the hell was that guy?... He and Mifune beat us… the Five Kage…" Mei said as she looked around.
Nothing but acid and foul smells all around. The rest of the kage were still unconscious
"He was a logia. Mizukage-sama. He can't be beaten by conventional means." A voice said.
Mei flinched and turned around to speak but choked on her words when she saw who the man was standing before her.
"It-It-It can't be…! You're!..." Mei stopped and put her hand over her mouth, tears falling slowly.
The man stood over her with a cool breeze following him and icy winds surrounding his body. He looked down at the woman and her reflection bounced off his shades.
"Oh my… surely this isn't the same Mei I grew up with is it?" The man said.
Mei's tears fell even heavier.
"K-K-Kuzan!" Mei yelled.