Chapter 35
Kakashi and Gai had seemingly changed their minds and were following Ryota's trail well. Hearing of his approach to Water Country, they followed suit and were nearly on the horizon. Ryota's destruction was apparent and the only ninja that seemed to still be here was the Mizukage, who fought valiantly with Ryota, but failed as Ryota again crushed her with his Judgment Hymn and Nocturne of Guilt combination, followed by the Symphony of Pain, which destroyed her indefinitely as he had Enishi. Kakashi and Gai were ready to face Ryota and stop him from getting to Konoha. Gai was the first to call out and gain Ryota's attention.
"Ryota! We've come to stop you and protect Konoha with our lives!"
Kakashi sighed and put a hand to his head, "You really didn't need to do that, Gai. We could've ambushed him."
"You know that would've just ended up in failure! We have to take the initiative."
Ryota then spoke, appearing behind both of them, his hands outstretched and ready to fight again, "Unfortunately for both of you, I took the initiative early on… And now…"
"Face our wrath, Ryota!" Gai cried out as he unleashed a powerful burst of chakra, striking back Ryota with a flurry of punches and kicks, as Kakashi began to develop his own strategy. It had been a day since they began their journey, so he could again use the Chidori to its full power, but he decided to hold that off and try something smaller. Luckily, he still had Zabuza's techniques from their battles.
He attempted a technique he had only done once before and succeeded in unleashing the power of the Water Dragon Missile. Gai sensed the power and ducked away as the force of water ninjutsu hit Ryota full power, pushing him into the depths. The battle seemed over, but both jonins knew of what Ryota was capable of. Gai began his forbidden technique, opening the chakra gates, while Kakashi created his strongest Lightning Edge yet, the power surging into the skies. Ryota levitated up from the sea and faced them both, laughing as he saw their feeble attempts at mimicking his power.
"Very well, then…" he said, while holding out his hands again, "If you wish to rush to death…then I suppose it is fate…" He then performed the handseals and stopped on monkey, a burst of red-orange light engulfing Kakashi and Gai. They both screamed out as the new technique performed its wrathful vengeance upon them. Ryota turned away, heading for his next destination, the Sand Village, as he spoke.
"You two should be honored… You're the first ninjas to face my Chaos Ballad. It's a pity you had to die, though…"

Naruto was exhausted, but happy at the same time. It had nearly taken the space of a day, but he was finally and officially the 6th Hokage. He didn't want to wear the ceremonial robes or even wear the traditional garb of the Hokage. He had developed his own outfit through his life for the day when he would become Hokage. It was very similar to the original, a cloak and a large ovular shaped hat covering nearly all his face. But the hat was slightly smaller and the cloak was less restricting of his movements. But the most surprising thing was the color scheme of the entire costume. It was a bright orange, black and red, combined with the symbol for Kyubi sewn on the chest.
Naruto couldn't be happier with his position, but he also knew about the note Jiraiya had left. He held it in his hands, still unopened, as its ominous threats dissipated when he opened it. It read simply
To the 6th Hokage, whoever you may be,
I first want to congratulate you on your new position and if it is Naruto, I especially want to tell you that I am proud of you. Next, I want to propose an idea to you. You know of the three leaders of the chunin squads, excluding Shikamaru's son, who I have no use for. I wish to train those two, as well as the one called Jotaro Uzumaki in the hopes that they may be able to tap into their full power. I have a theory I wish to offer to them, as well as other aids in terms of techniques and other things of that nature. My request is that at some point, you send a message to the three of them, telling them to meet me on the southern outskirts of Konoha, where our training will begin. If you don't agree with my proposal, I understand, but you must understand something as well.
The future of our land is in the hands of those children, and I doubt that anyone but them will be able to identify with Ryota as well as they can. Only they have truly felt outcast. I understand that you, Naruto, and Sasuke, and all the Rookie Nine can understand, but you understand on a fraction of what Ryota truly feels. He was unloved by everyone around him: family, friends, even his adoptive family that we trusted to accept him. Now…he feels that there is nothing to live for and that he must now destroy everything. And so, we must give the lands hope…let me train Hitomi, Minoru and Jotaro and give them their true powers. I beg this of you, and if you deny me this freedom…then you deny all of the Five Countries freedom of choice. Ryota will soon wreak havoc upon everyone and soon…the land will be no more. Just think on that…
Sincerely
Jiraiya-sama (hentai-sennin)
Naruto was still in shock at how wise Jiraiya had become. But he knew that even with his voyeuristic ways, he was powerful and could've easily been Hokage at any point. But he wanted freedom, which he wanted for everyone else as well. Naruto nodded and called to his best messenger.
"Gina…I need you to give two messages to the leaders of the groups, when they leave. One to Minoru Uchiha's team in the Sand Country…the other to Hitomi's team in the Earth Country… Tell them not to open them until they've arrived at their locations. Also, call a meeting of the six groups, including Kakashi and Gai."
The young girl of 16 nodded and left with a flash of light.
She was always so quick in that area, Naruto thought to himself. Now…we just have to put our hopes in her…as well as the others…

Ryota was getting steadily closer to his destination and he sensed a great disturbance in chakra levels in the general area. He smirked, realizing the true powers of the area.
Yes…Gaara of the Desert…he is waiting for me…with the powers of Shukaku, I may very well have my first real opponent. Let us see what the bloody desert ninja has to offer me after 15 years of isolation and training…

Chapter 36
Naruto had called a meeting of all the groups and was waiting for Basho's group, which was late as usual. Kakashi and Gai were missing as well, but Gina returned only half a day after she had started the mission to report that Kakashi and Gai were missing in action. ANBU members were still searching, but had yet to turn up anything. Naruto understood. This was progressing faster than he had expected.
Basho's group arrived and Naruto began the meeting.
"Alright, here we go. You're all aware that this war is getting out of hand, as well as the fact that Ryota has just completed his first mission: the destruction of the Hidden Village of Mist. He's reported to be heading towards the Hidden Sand Village next. We've warned the Kazekage and he reports that he will guard the village as best he can until Minoru's group arrives to give him backup. The Kazekage just happens to be an old friend of ours. Gaara of the Desert, the one possessed by the demon sand priest, Shukaku, has been granted the temporary title of Kazekage until the ceremonies can begin for real.
While Minoru's group is supporting Gaara, we need to have Hitomi's team give backup to the Tsuchikage's armies. As bad as it may sound, we need to give them help when Ryota arrives. And Basho's team will aid the Raikage in the Lightning Country. Shikamaru's team will be the first line of defense in the Sound Country, and…it seems as though Kakashi and Gai won't be able to help us. From what our sources tell us, they were killed by Ryota in the Village Hidden in the Mist. So…Sakura, Sasuke and I will be the final defense against Ryota. If all goes as planned, the other four teams will weaken him enough so that our Triad Summon attack can finish him off once and for all… That's what we're hoping. So…dismissed."
As Minoru and Hitomi left the conference center, they were both met by Gina, who appeared in a flash of light, handed them the message from Naruto and disappeared just as quickly. The confusion was only temporary, as every child was used to surprises. Hitomi was especially shocked to hear of Kakashi's death, but overcame it quickly, as the mission was the most important thing. She knew it would take about three days for every team to get to the corresponding villages, except for Shikamaru's team and the summon triad of Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto.
The three teams said their last silent goodbyes and left in three different directions, some teary-eyed, others focused and stolid. But everyone was suffering through the deaths of Gai and Kakashi. Even with all their faults, they truly were powerful in both body and spirit, exemplifying what it meant to be a ninja. And now…they were gone.

Gaara stood waiting at the edge of the village for the one called Ryota. He had never had any ill feelings towards the boy, only finding a kindred spirit in a boy sealed away by his caretakers. He remembered his days of suffering in childhood and nearly cried, but he remembered his place and resumed his stony gaze. Behind him, his siblings Temari and Kankuro, both older, but maintaining their old habits, walked up to him and spoke.
The oldest, Temari, pulled out her huge fan and grinned as she spoke to her youngest brother.
"Well, Gaara… It looks like you'll finally get some action…"
Gaara nodded and looked onward, his eyes closed and yellow chakra rising around him as he spoke, "I'm preparing to summon all my power at once. He won't stop me…"
Kankuro, pulling the bandages off of Karasu, his ninja puppet, spoke in protest, "But Gaara, if you use your strongest moves at the beginning and he predicts them…what will you do then?"
Gaara opened his eyes and glared upwards, "…I will fight, regardless of any shortcomings…I will win… When he meets my eyes…he will die…"

Ryota arrived on the horizon and sighted a towering burst of golden chakra and grinned
"Perfect…the tanuki sand priest has shown himself… I must oblige his welcome…" Ryota plummeted down at breakneck speeds, the air splitting in two and shattering as he continued falling without stopping. When it seemed he would dash himself into the sand, he stopped, facing the three sand children and smiling.
"Well…I knew that Gaara of the Desert would be here…but I didn't expect his weaker counterparts to be here as well…"
Kankuro grinned confidently and thrust out his hands, Karasu following suit. Ryota was intrigued, but simply grasped at the wooden legs, splitting the puppet into splinters with a single motion. Temari blew a powerful gust of wind with her fan, which Ryota took, the chakra infused winds ripping at his clothes. He stood confidently without a scratch on him, his shirt torn to shreds. Ripping it off, Ryota simply laughed and performed his Judgment Hymn on Temari and Kankuro, both of them destroyed in an instant, their blood raining down on Gaara.
One would think Gaara would have flashbacks, due to the memory's clearness, but he looked unconcerned as the golden aura of chakra rose even higher. Ryota looked on, impressed at the fortitude of Gaara, even without sleep for nearly twenty years.
"I am truly in awe at your power, Gaara. Join me in destroying the ninja villages and I will grant you a portion of my power. What do you say?"
Gaara glared and began to scream, the chakra flaring up and engulfing him in a cloud of sand and spirit. As the duststorm settled down, Ryota was impressed at the sight before him.
It was as large as Katsuyu was, only much more interesting. The golden tanuki's tail flailed around, causing another sandstorm. Ryota noticed Gaara standing on Shukaku's shoulder, waiting for him to make a move.
He dashed his fist into the tanuki, realizing that the sand demon's powers were far greater than Tsunade's. He grinned and unleashed the Judgment Hymn upon Gaara. The power seemed to erupt from Gaara, but he suppressed it, the power exhausting itself in a huge burst of chakra from every pore of Gaara's body. Gaara sighed and used the False Sleep Technique, making Shukaku even more powerful, the energy seeming to be everywhere. Shukaku struck down Ryota from the sky and began laughing, but stopped at Ryota's return to the sky, his power also flowing outwardly. Ryota was prepared to use his ultimate power now, against a truly worthy foe. The handseals were familiar to Gaara he saw a pattern, but gasped at the realization of how they were performed.
Reverse order…and all the seals are mirror images…that's almost…that is physically impossible… What kind of attack is this?
Ryota seemed to be able to read his mind and responded.
"This is the Rhapsody of Light and Shadow. It will destroy you indefinitely. And no one has survived it yet… I think the Hidden Mist Village can attest to that, as well as the Mizukage. And now…I'll have killed the Kazekage as well."
Shukaku's anger was apparent as he rushed towards Ryota, no fear in his eyes as Ryota flashed his palms out, his thumbs and index fingers linked together to form a triangle shape. Everything disappeared as a blinding light flashed before Gaara's eyes. He began to twitch in his past insanity as he saw his battle with Naruto and Sasuke, as well as his childhood memories, and the battle with the Rain Shinobi in the Forest of Death. Everything was coming back to him at full force. He couldn't stop them from flowing and he began to break down. Ryota laughed and laughed, but stopped as the scene shifted to absolute darkness. Everything was silent and Gaara couldn't feel, hear, smell, taste, touch…not even sense chakra. He then gasped at a pain through his being as the attack completed.
Ryota stood behind Gaara, his hand soaked in new blood, sprinkled with sand as well. He ignored the dust, licking the crimson liquid from his hands as he laughed. Gaara's summon had been cancelled out and he was frozen in midair by the blinding light. In the darkness, Ryota had impaled him through the chest and now…he was dead… He couldn't change that…He looked at the sun as it set and began crying, his hand stretching out, trying to grab the light he had lost… But he failed and collapsed, Minoru and his group watching on in horror. Minoru's Taigan Left flared up, but died down at the memory of the note Gina had given him. He pulled it out of his pocket and gasped.
"This…this can't be… But…it must be done…Choji…Tenten…you're in charge… I have to go and get Hitomi and Jotaro. We have a new mission. I trust you…get Ryota…Kill him if you have to…"
Choji held out a hand, stopping Minoru, "We've been in life and death situations before… you go on, Minoru. We can handle this…"
Minoru nodded and left in a burst of chakra, Choji and Tenten speaking silently to Kenta and Natsumi as Ryota looked on in surprise.
Well…they've given up, have they? Or…maybe…a new plan is beginning…