Scarlet Justice - ep. 41
"After Burner"
[Chuunin Exams: Crushing the Leaf]
We have the tools we need. Time to execute.
"Hina, find Kurenai quickly and tell her what's happening. Asuma should be next to her, and with his reputation alone we should have some weight on our side."
"Yes!"
"Shikamaru, we're going to see the Hokage."
"Got it."
"Lili, good luck," Hina says to me. She gives me a hug that I return. "I'll see you on the other side...please, be safe. We'll save the Leaf together."
"We will. I love you, Hina."
"And I love you, Lili."
The three of us start our movement. As soon as we leave the stairwell, Hina takes off. We catch up to Temari on our way over.
"Oi...don't do anything too stupid. I've got a promise to keep," I say in passing.
"..."
We make it to the Hokage's box area, where a man with a strange scar on the left side of his face stops us.
"You. State your business," he says.
"Sir, I urgently request an audience with Lord Hokage. Please. It's important."
"Raido...stand down a moment. Let these children through."
"Yes, my lord." He lets us pass and I get to one knee in front of the Hokage, Shikamaru following suit.
"What is it that you children need?" he asks. "The next match will be starting soon, and I don't want you to miss it. You especially, Lili."
"My lord...it's a matter of national security."
"Hm..."
"We've made some observations in the past while, and wanted to quickly bring them to your attention."
"Stand and come closer, Lili. Shikamaru, you may rise as well."
"Thank you." He stands up and rolls his shoulders. I follow my orders and move so that I'm standing beside the Hokage's chair, facing the wall as I speak quietly. "I've relayed the information to Kurenai and Asuma by way of Hinata...but to say it briefly, the Kazekage present at this tournament is an impostor."
"A serious matter. Do you have proof?"
"Immaterial. Based on testimony from the real one's daughter, and the information that I've collected along with my comrades."
"Making this sort of accusation is an incredibly heavy charge," he replies. "How much do you know at this point, Lili?"
"That Orochimaru of the Three Shinobi is here in the village, and that he's plotting something. He's gotten involved with Sasuke and has been tempting him with a cursed seal, the same type as Anko has. He has agents inside of the ANBU and other traitors within your ranks, there's also the Hidden Sound to consider which may be an affiliate of his. They are the ones that are helping the Hidden Sand with their invasion plans. The plan is meant to start at the beginning of the next match...it seems that Orochimaru might be after more than just Sasuke in the end. Gaara was supposed to be part of the main battle force."
"Used as a weapon of war. No wonder that Baki fellow looked so agitated...I see. They were planning to use his madness to make him transform and devastate the village. If Orochimaru was aware of this, or orchestrating it, he could use the chaos as cover to do as he pleased. Hm. All very serious if true. Can you confirm the identity of the Kazekage?"
"Forgive me, my lord. I cannot. Hinata used her doujutsu to try and identify him, but it seems that his chakra network was obscured from her sight. Possibly with a technique. As for me, I can't make any connection with him as someone who is also a chosen snake summoner..."
"I see. It's no worry, my dear. You've done excellent work to uncover all of that, you and your comrades." He pauses a moment in thought. "If you could think back...is there anything else said that you can recall? Anything you might think that was important?"
I rifle through my memories quickly. There has to be something. "Importance...my lord, I don't know exactly how important this could be, but that man, whoever he might be, expressed disappointment in the development of the Nine-Tails...in other words, Naruto."
"Development...he knew about that? Then if what Jiraiya reported was true..."
"Lord Hokage, there's something going on...a disruption in the stands. Someone has set a fire," Raido interrupts. "We have our agents on the way to take care of it..."
"Seems like it's starting," I mutter. "From what I can sense, the Kazekage is returning. Lord Hokage, what are my orders?"
He lets out a breath. "You'll have to forgive me, Lili. This might result in your reputation getting blemished once more..."
"Mm...it's no trouble at all. Playing the villain is my strength."
He chuckles lightly at that. "I see, I see. Then please, give us your best performance."
I slowly turn around and face forward, hiding my hands behind my back. The subject of our discussion finally arrives.
"Lord Kazekage! Welcome back, did everything go well?" the Hokage asks. I watch from one corner of my eye as the Kazekage takes his seat, flanked by his two guards. The strange feeling from before returns, and I feel more and more sure of what we're up against.
"As well as it could be. It's a shame, seeing my son in a state like that. Your little red devil there did some good work. I assume you've called her up to praise her before the next match starts?"
"It might be so, Lord Kazekage. She's one of the children that I am most proud of in the village. A fine talent in every respect, and an example of the shining future yet to come."
"Grooming a successor quickly, are you?"
"Not too quickly. I intend to do this for at least another five years, you know," the Hokage says with a laugh.
"Hoi, wait-!"
Temari suddenly stomps up the stairs and throws a kunai at the Kazekage, which is promptly deflected by one of the guards. I see the Hokage silently signal Raido to stand down.
"Temari...what is the meaning of this? You would attack your own family, here?" the Kazekage growls.
She gives him a malicious grin. "It's called a distraction...you damn faker."
"What?!"
"Hit it!" Shikamaru yells. His shadow is attached to the three ahead of me, and this moment is all I need. I turn to face them and open my mouth.
"False Darkness."
With nowhere to run, the three spears of lightning hit the Kazekage and his guard, tearing through them and the seat ahead. A cloud of dust forms where they once stood.
And now that feeling is hitting me full force. It's a piece of a wavelength that I felt over and over...from the Grass-nin in the second round...from the sensei in the prelims...from the Kazekage just now.
The dust clears, and I finally see him.
"Orochimaru," the Hokage says from his seat. A man that is truly serpentine in every way. Unlike Midori who has embraced a more human form, he has gold snake-like eyes with purple markings around them, and skin that's pale like chalk. His hair is long and black. His face, gaunt like one of the dead. And while his dress seems plain enough, he has a flamboyant purple rope belt, tied into a big knot at his back. He throws away the remains of his triangular hat and tattered robes as four figures stand in shadow behind him.
"And to think, I had it all planned out...only to be ruined by three brats. I must be aging like you have...Sarutobi-sensei..."
"Not just Uchiha...you were after my head in the end, weren't you? You orchestrated this plan to crush the Leaf...and the Hidden Sound is your village, allied with the Sand for that purpose."
"You caught me," Orochimaru says casually. "But you know...I won't let you escape, old man."
"!"
The four in the shadows make their move. I dodge down towards the arena below us as the walls explode outwards, following the Hokage and Raido.
"Orochimaru is my responsbility!" the Hokage yells. "I'll take him on, the rest of you need to defend the village!" As he speaks, I can hear explosions sounding off one after the other, along with the sounds of fighting and panicked screams from civilians. Everyone is moving, Leaf shinobi rushing in to counter the Sand and Sound fighters while protecting the vulnerable. Emi...she's safe with Midori and Luna, so I don't need to worry on that end.
"Good work, Hina," I say to myself.
"Seems that Kabuto was found out...oh well," Orochimaru says with that same languid tone. Our group lands together in the middle of the exam arena. "That alone won't diminish my enjoyment here. Do it!"
"Yes!" four voices reply in unison. ANBU storm into the area along with more Hidden Sound attackers, and immediately start to clash in the stands above us. The four freaks from earlier are making handseals while positioned at the edges of the arena. The Sound attackers are moving further away at the same time, bringing the ANBU with them.
"Isolation!" I yell.
"Shit...what the fuck is this?!" the pink-haired one roars.
"I can't hold it much longer! They're trying to box us in with a barrier!" Shikamaru yells. His shadow is holding the other girl in place. "Make a move, dammit!"
"You fucking trash! I'll kill you!"
"All of you, move a safe distance away! Orochimaru is my opponent!" the Hokage shouts.
"Hahaha! Why not take all the help you can get, Sarutobi-sensei...you're going to need it!" Orochimaru taunts.
Going from bad to worse...but the play is obvious. Let's keep the party an open one, shall we?
"Fine. Let's erase you quickly." I charge my jutsu in my right hand, and point it towards the woman with pink hair. Her eyes widen as she notices me. "Lightning Release..."
"Fucking shit...!"
"Mobius."
The burst goes right for her, but at the very last moment I see something happen. It tears into her flesh and rips apart the wall behind her, with Shikamaru falling backwards.
"Damn...sorry, Kobayashi."
"Don't worry about it," I say.
"You...f-fucking...aaaah!" The woman is bleeding from a hole in her shoulder, but the most striking thing is that she now has strange, jagged black lines all over her exposed skin. Is that...the cursed seal? Shikamaru's shadow binding was overpowered at the last moment, so it has to be an effect of the seal. The same power that Orochimaru gave to Sasuke and Anko.
Or...
It's one of the two strongest seals.
Right. There are variants, then. And Sasuke just got one of the better ones, so that he would be tempted to seek out Orochimaru for more of that sort of power. Would he give in so easily, though? Despite what I think of him, I don't want to believe that. But if an inferior version could give that much power in a pinch...
"Tayuya's down! We can't perform the barrier like this!" the fat freak says. I can see that the ANBU are cleaning up the weaker fighters and soon have the upper hand. Several of them join the Hokage as the background fighting starts to wane. We're looking better than before.
"Formation C," Orochimaru calls out. He still looks confident even as we shut his plans down over and over. The remaining three goons move, with the effeminate one grabbing that Tayuya girl as Shikamaru keeps his distance. The fat one stomps the earth before pulling up a massive chunk of it, throwing it at the ANBU and Hokage. Two ANBU launch lightning techniques and destroy the attack in midair; the skinny goon chews before jumping into the air and firing a web from his mouth. Several ANBU are temporarily caught in it. Orochimaru tosses a smoke bomb ahead and it creates a thick veil in front of him.
Buying time for a jutsu, then.
"It's been a long time coming...have a taste of my power, old man!"
I can feel two new sources of chakra emerge, and they're strong. But this smell is also...it reminds me of a grave site. Resorting to unsavory tactics already, then? Seems like something this Orochimaru would do, given his corpse-like appearance. I move to the Hokage's side, seeing if I can offer any help.
"It seems like he's using corpses as puppets," I say to him.
"Corpses...?" His brow furrows for a moment, before his expression changes to that of shock. "No. No, that couldn't be...! Orochimaru! You monster!" he yells.
"?" What is happening?
"Hehe...you've raised some shitty brats this time around, sensei. So you could recongnize the characteristics even in this cloud of smoke. Yes, that's right...I'm using that jutsu. The one created by your mentor, the Second Hokage. I told you earlier that you should have chosen the Fifth already, because you're going to share the fate of these two today."
The smoke clears, and I can see something. Two coffins that have...emerged from the earth itself. The lids shift and fall to the ground, then two figures step out. The Hokage puts on a mask of calm, but is clearly distressed. And my own eyes are widened in horror.
"This...but this is..." I have no words for it. Midori...it's no wonder she hates this man so much, and calls him garbage. Something like this...I can't believe it.
"Yes, my child," the Hokage says. "What you see in front of you is no illusion."
"What the hell kind of jutsu is this...there's just no way," Shikamaru says, shaking.
"To think that we would come back to the living world, and especially like this...but it's been a long time, Hiruzen. You've aged gracefully, I see."
"Saru. Looks like we meet once more."
"I'm sorry that it had to come to this...Lord Hashirama, Lord Tobirama."
Standing in front of me, somehow...are the Shodai and Nidaime Hokage. The men who brought the Hidden Leaf into existence. They wear their armor and retain their appearances from what I've seen in history books.
"Was it this brat who summoned us here? Hoh, cheeky," Tobirama says as he looks back at Orochimaru. "Using taboo arts like this...there's a reason I sealed this sort of jutsu away."
"Looks like we're fighting our man Sarutobi and these kids...you youngsters should get out of the way before you get hurt. There's no telling what this guy will have me do with my Mokuton," Hashirama says.
"Wood Release...that lost secret art used to build the foundations of the Leaf," I say. "Hmph. I suppose trash like this would need every advantage that he could get."
"That's correct! Wow! I like this one with the red hair, she's feisty! Hahaha! Reminds me of Mito!"
"Oi, Hashirama. This is really no time to laugh," Tobirama says, exasperated. They really are brothers, aren't they.
"Our Saru's raised some good kids, though...we should appreciate them while we can."
"Unfortunately, Lord Tobirama is correct, Lord Hashirama...this is no joking matter," Orochimaru says smugly. He produces two kunai with talisman in his hands. "I'll have you end the old man chatter now...time to get to business." He quickly shoves the kunai into the backs of their heads, and steam starts to rise from their bodies as they become more complete in appearance. They now look as if they were alive the entire time, save for those strange eyes.
"This is the technique created and sealed away by the Second Hokage. Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation," the Hokage says.
"Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei," I repeat. "And he chose these forms...these people who meant so much to you, simply to bring ruin to you and the Leaf itself."
"Yes."
"Lord Hokage...can you forgive something like that?"
He throws off his formal robes to reveal his black battle dress. "No. I cannot this time."
"I see." The conditions have been met for 'that'. It might be a good idea to get out of the way, if it's come to this...but I can still be useful in some capacity. I just have to figure out where I'm most useful in this sort of clash.
Everything has escalated incredibly quickly. The battle has largely moved away from the arena, and we have at least a dozen ANBU on our side backing us up. The trash named Orochimaru is on the other with his four freaks guarding him, two of them out of the picture for now. Temari is thankfully long gone, attending to other matters, and Hina has to be somewhere safe with Kurenai and Shino. Shikamaru is here with me, and I can't sense Naruto in the vicinity. Hopefully he's keeping an eye on Sasuke like I asked, but Anko is around as well...
"I may not be the same as in my youth, but I will end this strife her and now. Lord First, Lord Second...prepare yourselves for defeat. And that extends to you, Orochimaru!" the Hokage yells.
"Haha! Come and try it, old man!"
"We can flank and take out the summoner," one of the ANBU says.
"No...that's not how it works," an ANBU in a white cloak says. I assume he's the leader, and he wears a cat-like mask. "From what we know, you have to make the summoner release the jutsu themselves in order to stop it. Killing them means the technique will never end."
"Damn! What do we do, then?" another ANBU asks.
"They had their own wills when they were first summoned, right?" Shikamaru asks from beside me. "If we can get them back to that state, we might have a chance. Orochimaru seems to need to concentrate on their movements now that he's apparently assumed direct control. Breaking that control could level the playing field enough so that the Hokage can take him down."
"That's high level combat, though...the openings will be extremely tight," the cat mask says.
Shikamaru looks at me. "It's definitely insane...and hazardous to my health..."
"You think that Mobius will do it?" I ask him.
"If we're dealing with off the wall stuff like this, why not go for broke? Huge pain in the ass...but we might die either way, so..."
"Hm. So you're not just a lazy slacker in the end," I say with a smile.
"I appreciate that...sorta."
"We'll deal with the other freaks over there. I'm assuming they all have the curse mark, if they're part of Orochimaru's personal guard," the cat mask says. He takes note of me and nods. "Call me Zo."
"Yes. Senpai, what are your thoughts?" I ask him.
"Normally...I would tell you to run away and deal with lesser members of the invading force. But it's as Nara there said...we've seen your ridiculous power against Gaara first hand, and you've already made a legend of yourself as a genin. We need every advantage," Zo says to me.
"Understood, senpai." Advantages, then. If that's the case, then the next move is obvious.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Missile!"
Not much time. The Hokage weaves seals in response.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!" A massive wall appears to shield the Hokage and everyone behind him. The water dragon slams into it, sending a spray over the top. Generating that much water from nothing...the Second is just as frightening as he was said to be in texts.
I'll use this borrowed time to call my older sister. Her strength will mean a lot in this time. I close my eyes and concentrate, feeling a pulse from the seal that covers my left arm.
Midori-nee. If you can hear me, I need your help right now...
...
There's a long pause. Is she okay?
I'm sorry, Lili. I was just taking care of Emi with Luna here. It's that trash, isn't it? Is Sarutobi in trouble?
Not just yet, but we have a big issue. There's a technique active, called Edo Tensei-
You have to be kidding me. That's Tobirama's...ugh. I thought he sealed that away!
Apparently Orochimaru has been making good use of it. And the worst part is that he's summoned the First and Second Hokages...
Fucking unbelievable. How far will that scum go just to get himself off? Alright...Emi is in safe hands, so I'll be on my way to back you up. We'll talk to her over a nice dinner later. See you in a moment, Lili.
Thank you, Midori-nee...
I open my eyes and sigh. "Lord Hokage, Shikamaru, Zo-senpai. We won't be needed at the front for the next while unless asked. Support is coming shortly."
"Support?" Shikamaru asks. "Who?"
"Onee-sama is making her way over."
"Huh?" He looks at me like I've lost my mind.
I watch as Hashirama, under Orochimaru's complete control, weaves handseals. Something begins to sprout from the ground in front of him.
"Oh no...! All of you! Fall back!" the Hokage yells.
"Wood Release: Sea of Trees!"
In the next instant, a massive wave of trees and roots shoots towards our position, tearing the earth apart as it moves.
"Oh, what the hell...we're so dead," Shikamaru whines. "We are so dead-"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
"Wind Release: True Blade of Wind!"
An invisible force combines with the incoming fireball, turning them both into an unstoppable burning blade that slices apart the approaching mass of trees and instantly turns them to ash that floats in the wind.
"Ye of microscopic faith..." A hand pats Shikamaru on the head, to his annoyance. "Did my cute imouto not say that help was arriving?"
"Midori-nee," I say with relief. She smiles and winks at me. There are gold bands around her wrists today. She wears a pair of jeans that sits on her hips, paired with a red blouse that has a few frills on the front of it.
"Sorry to cut it so close, loves. That sort of art...so it really is him. Hashirama Senju. My goodness, what a mess we seem to be in this time." She walks towards the Hokage and kneels before him respectfully.
"Miss Lilith, my apologies for being late."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Luna. You're as brilliant as ever." I give her a smile as she appears by my side.
"There's no need for any of that," the Hokage says to Midori. He smiles as she rises to her feet. "I should be the one bowing to you, Princess Ryuuchi."
"Oh, come. No need for such formalities with me." Midori draws and opens her fan in a single motion. "It seems like you're prepared to go all in this time, Sarutobi."
"Yes. I have made mistakes in the past...but now, I intend to correct them."
"I've always admired that about you. Allow me to assist."
"It's very much appreciated...as much as I don't like admitting it, I am getting up there in age."
"Nothing to be ashamed of, you know? You're still as handsome as ever. Maybe moreso, hmhm."
He chuckles. "You always did have a way with words, Midoriko."
"Ufufu~ Now, let me see...Lili, young Shikamaru. I want you with me. You masked children, if you're not terribly busy, watch over us from a safe distance."
"Let's do as she says," Zo commands before anyone can protest. "And we're keeping an eye on Orochimaru's little entourage." The ANBU quickly vanish from sight.
"You won't be of any use here," Orochimaru says to his group. "Tayuya, I assume you're still eager to go."
"Fucking right...I only need one arm to pound these Leaf trash-"
"I want you to work on securing the legacy...he didn't make it to the stadium, but I know he must be around somewhere. Make sure he doesn't come to harm...when I'm done with the old man, that will be the most important project. Sakon, follow her."
"Yes, sir."
"I will see you once I finish here. Scatter."
The four freaks leave. The legacy...I wonder if he means Sasuke. Naruto should be around, and Kakashi definitely isn't letting that idiot out of his sight. Hopefully they'll be okay. This in front of us is a much bigger problem.
"So that's your big sister?" Shikamaru asks me.
"Yes."
"Man...she's gotta have some serious balls to jump in the middle of this."
"You don't know the half of it," I say to him.
I have to wonder what Midori is up to...she wants me and Shikamaru around, so there's a plan in place. But what the hell am I going to do against the Founder and his brother? Not to mention an S-Rank criminal who can summon snakes like me.
"..."
There is something, even if I can't see it just yet. I'll believe in myself, just as Midori believes in me.
An aging warrior, a snake princess, a maid, and two genin...up against two legendary Hokage and one of the Three Shinobi.
This is going to be a ride for sure.