KG: Welp. I have nothing much to say. Enjoy.
Music of the Week: Immortality by Position Music
Quote: "Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come" – Rabindranath Tagore.
Warning: Character Deaths.
Naruto felt his blood run cold. His eyes narrowed as he turned his eyes to try and look behind himself. The three customers behind him continued to look at each other, but their killing intent was obvious. However, aside from that, his mind was full of questions. Even the Kyuubi and the other spirits that resided in Naruto were surprised.
"They know about what the brat's been doing? How?!" Wolf asked as he swirled aggressively around Lamb's body.
The Kyuubi snarled. He knew something like this was possible, but he never assumed that the Jashinsts would be this brazen. He didn't like it.
One of Mōryō's heads hissed as he continued to watch the interaction. He continued to observe Naruto and what his summoner would do. This was the boy who'd changed this evil dragon's ways. That said, he as well didn't like this brazenness of his enemies. There was something ominous about it.
However, none were more worried than Gari. He was under no illusion that Naruto couldn't feel his worry. Despite his attempts at staying calm, he wondered how the Jashinists knew that they were being followed? Could they see the dead?
No, that shouldn't have been possible. Deranged though they were, most if not all of the Jashinists didn't seem aware of their presence. Hell, all of them had been close to the leader of the cult. They'd given Naruto countless information and he in turn had been busy creating the map for the rest of the team to use. Even more than that, most of them were accomplished shinobi. They'd lived and died in the heat of battle. They would have known, or at least had a feeling, if they were being watched. How could they possibly know?!
Meanwhile, Naruto immediately filled up the entire barbeque restaurant with his aura. Despite themselves, the Jashinists shuddered in their seats. One of them saw the look of utter anger in Naruto's eyes. "You bastards touch anyone else in Konoha, and you'll be the ones taking their place. And don't think that just because you're spirits that I can't touch you. If I ask, the Shinigami will have a special place in his stomach for all of you. I think you've gotten a bit of a swollen head if you're making demands of me!" Naruto replied, his tone not even like that of a mortal man anymore.
However, despite the intense feeling of sheer death upon them, one of the Jashinists managed to hold his nerve… if only a little. "You'd make a good Jashinist, Uzumaki Naruto. And we thank you for thinking so much of us, but not even we bolster such numbers that you could revive every single person in the village. How many years would it take you to do that? Dare you imagine what people will think of the man whose path is paved in merciless blood? The man who was claimed to be Hokage?" he asked.
Naruto smirked. "You do know what profession I'm in right?" the blond asked with a sharp frown on his face, not letting the pressure go down.
"This can go on all night, Naruto-san. Let us be frank. This little war between us and your cabinet isn't going anywhere. We know all of your spies and you still haven't found ours. People already know our goal, the goal of our god, Jashin-sama. What will they think of you and Konoha? The village known for its peaceful ideologies?" he asked.
Naruto didn't say anything. However, his mind was already racing. Well, this was a good time to get into the midst of the Jashinist organization. Additionally, if this stayed for long enough then he'd also get every charge of his spatial distortion back. With fifteen minutes to do whatever he wanted, he could probably devastate the Jashin cult to the point where they'd never recover. All he had to do was make sure no news got out to outside forces. Hell, if it came to worse, he could also teleport the Konoha forces to wherever he was. It didn't seem like a bad idea.
Finally, Naruto released his pressure. "Gari, go back and get everyone else. Besides, there's no need for them to stick around. We've got what we needed. I'm also under no delusions that the spirits of Jashinits would enjoy gathering around there. On the off chance that one of them is powerful enough to try and overtake me, I'll need everyone's help," he said.
Without a word, Gari agreed. He flew off with great speed into the horizon. "Brat, remain cautious. It seems they're aware that you're the summoner of the Shinigami," the Kyuubi replied before Naruto shrugged.
"It's no surprise. Back when Kaa-chan and I were invited by Shin to that meeting of the gods, I actually saw Jashin. If Shin can communicate with me, then I've got no doubt that Jashin will talk to his fanatics. It's probably why they were willing to go into the Uzumaki Compound and target the others. Somehow, I don't think all of this is about the Jashinists vs Konoha at all," he answered back while Lamb closed her eyes.
"A battle of the authority of the gods."
The others looked at her, but none spoke further until the Jashinists finally breathed easily. "Good to see that even you can have some common sense. Please follow us, you and the other two," one said, causing Naruto to shake his head.
"Let one more body in Konoha fall and it's not gonna be your leader that I torment in the stomach of the Shinigami. It will be the three of you!" the blond threatened, which gave him a bit of satisfaction seeing the unease on their faces.
That said, it just pained him when Guren and Komachi returned. He stood up and sighed. "Sorry guys. It looks like we're gonna have to take a raincheck on that bbq," he said while Guren gawked.
"You too broke?" she asked, a grin on her face. However, that grin immediately fell when she saw her cousin's gaze back at the people at the other table. The trio of Jashinists stood up and bowed like servants, politely escorting Naruto, Guren, and Komachi out of the building.
"Naruto, what's going on?" Komachi asked, already reaching for her weapons. Though some of her ferocious personality had been lost since Danzo sealed up some of her memories, Komachi was no less capable nor no less sensitive to the gravity of a situation. She could see his eyes as he glared at the person leading them from the front. When she looked behind herself, she saw the two others at their back.
"Komachi…"
The blonde turned to Guren. "He'll explain it to us later. For now, just stay quiet," the blue-haired jonin said, her visage drowned in anger and unease. Komachi slowly fell silent with a nod as the three allowed themselves to be taken in the direction of the Jashinists' choosing. During that time, each of the spirits returned to Naruto. All of them with questions and no one with any answers.
"Shikyo-sama, Kushina-san has been warned. She's already making preparations to leave," Suiren said while Naruto nodded. He indeed felt his mother's presence leave the house. She was already heading for their location as fast as possible.
"Was she wanted about the problem?" he asked.
Suiren nodded. "Yes, sir. She knows to tail and observe. She's also sent Asuma-san to warn Tsunade-sama. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be having much of any reinforcements. We still don't know where some of them are located. Additionally, the recent murder is still fresh in the minds of the Konoha populace. Another murder could sent a panicked revolt through the village."
Naruto's lips thinned as Guren, Komachi, and him were led up to a building. It was the same building the spirits had trailed the first Jashinist to before he'd been killed. They knocked on the door in the code they'd made up. When the door was opened, Guren's eyes hardened while Komachi wished she'd bought her tanto. She only had a few weapons on her at all times while they walked inside to a room filled with so much killing intent and blood that it was a sheer wonder on how not Inuzuka or expert shinobi had located it.
"Inside!" one of the Jashinist said, pushing Guren into the building.
That proved to be the wrong move. The person instantly dropped dead, nothing but a tap on the forehead from a finger from the summoner of the Shinigami. "Don't. Touch. Her!" he warned as the ground beneath his feet cracked to pieces.
Those around them widened their eyes in shock, and some… in joyful surprise. Such quick, effective slaughter. It was almost poetic in its simplicity. That said, the attack didn't deter them. Some of them moved to attack, but the one leading them held up a hand for them to stop.
"That was their own fault. We'll make sure to keep our distance. Either way, you don't seem surprised to see this place. You must have discovered it at some point. In that case, please follow me," he said.
Naruto, Guren, and Komachi abided by his request and they came up to the room with the teleportation seal. They stepped on it. "Dan, go inform my mother. Tell her we're headed to the lands of Oto," the young summoner said.
Dan's spirit quickly flew out of the seal on Naruto's right hand. "At once, Naruto-sama!" He replied and flew off to go and inform Kushina while the Jashinist activated the seal.
Instantly, a bright light shone over the three Uzumaki before they found themselves surrounded by hundreds of Jashinists. From the memories that he'd received from the others, he knew that they were in the main hall of the cult, a place where everyone usually gathered.
Guren and Komachi quickly assumed defensive stances, but it became clear that they didn't need to be concerned. Despite the odd, rhythmic, almost demonic chants that seemed so maddening on the ears, the Jashinists were greatly terrified. Hell, some of them were actively not looking at them directly.
In a moment, the two women knew why. They'd been close to Naruto for months. They knew what he was capable of and had adapted to his great power already. However, that divine aura was exploding around the area, knocking out a few of the mortals too brazen enough to stare at him for too long. The two knew what he was doing.
"Heh, these bastards might have led us here, but Naruto's still more powerful than all of them individually. At least we can be confident they're not gonna mess with us so easily," Guren thought to herself with a hidden smirk. Nevertheless, she was still aware that they were in the middle of a literal hornet's nest. A bunch of crazed psychopaths, all in one place, surrounded them on all sides.
Komachi looked at them all, a bead of sweat fell from her face. Despite how scared the Jashinists were, she could sense their rising killing intent. It seemed to come from being so afraid that their fight or flight response had triggered. Clearly, they weren't looking to run away. Then again, psychopaths weren't known for picking the obvious option.
"Welcome, Summoner of the False God! Do give us the courtesy of easing your deathly aura from this sacred ground. We've been more than accommodating with you at this moment as well as your village's heathen ways. We suggest that you don't test our goodwill."
A voice moved through the air of the temple. Naruto watched several Jashinists bow their heads and pray before the elderly voice. However, the blond wasn't so quick to comply.
"Sure, I can do that. How about you and the rest of your people get out of Konoha and I don't throw you all into the stomach of Shin!" Naruto threatened. He then saw the Jashinists prepare their weapons. Insane smiles were etched on their faces, all of them prepared for their own destruction.
However, the voice started laughing. "Afraid we can't do that, young man. What we're doing is bringing the truth to the world, a truth which had long since been denied. That said, someone like you, is the greatest sin, a deceiver, a hell for those of us who pray for the mercies and blessings of Jashin-sama. Allow us to be clear, we hold no animosity with you, Uzumaki Naruto. Rather, were your eyes opened, you would become the great asset to Jashin-sama's great will," the voice said until Naruto's ears picked up on the sounds of slow walking towards him and his two family members.
"Like I'd ever join up with you guys," he said, but he received no retort.
"You also said the same thing about becoming Hokage. Now that door has been closed to you, both something not of your own will, desire, or circumstance. It is not about what you or I want, it's about what the gods who influence us want. What are we to them and who shall we serve that our own meager wills shall become one with theirs? The only true peace there can be for mankind is in the utter extermination of our lives as a species and that of the rest of all life. That is the will of Jashin-sama. We live to manifest that will, and yet you would dishonor our cause with the blade of death. You are a clear test of our resolve, one that we must either do away with or bring to our side and propel us forward."
Finally, the voice revealed itself. The sound of a stick hitting the ground banged around, creating some form of awkward ambience until an old man with red robes and a hood appeared. He was notably short, and he walked with a bit of a crimp. Naruto also noted that the old man was blind.
"However, we as well see no point in these cheap shots we're taking at each other. Come with me. It's best if you obey," he said.
Naruto increased the pressure of his aura, but even he was stunned when the old man's aura instantly exploded. In an instant, Naruto's death-like power was blown away by a state of sheer madness, bloodlust, and violence. The Jashinists around them hollered and writhed, all of them in almost ecstatic bliss. Guren and Komachi unknowingly took a few steps back. They never thought of it, but… this old man scared them. He scared them badly.
As for Naruto, he gritted his teeth. He knew what type of aura this was. This too was divine aura just like his own. This old man was just like him. With that being the case, he steeled himself and pushed the divine spirit of the Shinigami against the divine spirit of Jashin. The aura of immortals, the aura of gods clashed against each other. The old man grinned as his fellow Jashinists fell down in worship. The ground beneath their feet cracked to pieces. Even the spirits that stalked the chambers lowered their heads to the ground in utter reverence of Naruto's status as the summoner of the Shinigami.
Guren and Komachi covered their eyes and their faces. Something strong and powerful seemed to be blowing them away, banishing them from the realm of gods as mortals. "What is this pressure? Is this even shinobi arts?" Komachi asked before the pressure instantly vanished away.
Stones and tiles crashed to the ground as Naruto and the old man glared at each other. "Hmmm, I see. You're not quite like me, but it doesn't matter. I can sense the great turmoil within you. You have yet to fully immerse yourself in the blessings of your inferior god," he said with a grin while Naruto frowned.
"I can't wait to see how inferior you think Shin is when send you to him. I'll bet he's judged better men than you," the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki fired back while the old man turned around.
"Perhaps, but I wonder if you have," he said as Naruto, Guren, and Komachi found themselves surrounded by Jashinsts. They urged them to follow the old man as he slowly walked away. They followed after him.
-x-
Yura sighed as she put down a piece of paper and rubbed her nose. She was so tired. She'd been out searching through the country of Stone for Danzo. Unfortunately, she hadn't had much luck without something from Naruto's spirits to guide them. She had been surprised when Team Gai was in the area, completing their own assignment.
As much as Yura had come to dislike certain Konoha policies, the good nature of the team made it simply impossible to hate them, especially Neji. He was her clan brother after all. In all but blood the Hyuuga and the Uzumaki were family, willing to die for one another should the need ever arise. It was nice to speak with him.
Unfortunately, their interests only aligned momentarily and before long they were gone, but Neji said that Konoha would try and provide support for the group. While that was thankful, Yura wasn't much for Konoha these days.
Now, one could imagine her surprise when one of Naruto's summons alerted her that four members of the Hinoken team would be coming to her. Unfortunately, it wasn't so much to help as much as a diversion. It seemed things were more complicated in Konoha than she thought since Naruto still hadn't returned.
She hoped she could get more information from the others when they arrived. Maybe someone could even give her some insights on what to do next. At a time like this she was thankful that Konan and Suigetsu were putting their skills to helpful use for this mission. The only real problem was… trying to keep Juugo's murderous rampages in check. Yura had gotten by with a few paralysis seals, but she doubted those would last forever. Juugo's body ability to adapt was inhuman sometimes.
Yura stared outside, the cooling night air offering her room some peace. However, she didn't enjoy the look of the blood red moon in the sky. There had been many civilians stopping to take pictures of it outside her hotel room.
"I bet Kushina-san would know what to do. Maybe even Yuri with her sharp optimism. Can't say I'm feeling very confident right now," she thought to herself as she tapped her finger on the table. She'd been keeping a log of sorts around the days and what the teams reported back to her. Maybe Yura should have paid more attention to those information-gathering classes.
After a moment, the lover of Uzumaki Naruto closed her book and stood up. She walked over to her bed and got on her knees. She offered her prayers to the Shinigami, thanking him for his great mercy and his blessings upon the Uzumaki clan. Ever since the time when Naruto faced Pain, she'd gotten into a daily routine of prayer. Unlike the first time, she wasn't sure if these were being answered or even heard, but she liked to believe they were. If anything, it made her a little happy that perhaps she had some aspect of her life different from others. Then again, maybe she should pray at the Uzumaki Temple like Shion.
After her prayer, the room quickly turned cold and the feeling of death came over her. Some might call her insane that this feeling actually comforted her. "Uzumaki Yura…"
The young woman turned around and stared at the great god of death. His eyes glared down upon her, making her so small and so insignificant. Even now, his face radiated with no visible expressions of mercy. His white robe as white as a cloud forced her eyes to not look directly at him, lest she go blind. She lowered her head. "Shinigami-sama," she said, putting out as much respect as she hoped to convey.
Unknown to her the god of death was amused by her mortal respect. Having been so close to Uzumaki Naruto for so long, she as well had gained the ability to perceive his existence, if only in a much more… diluted manner. "Why do you continue to pray to me, Uzumaki Yura? I have already blessed your family and Uzumaki Naruto. What makes you humble yourself before me?" he asked.
Yura, though confused about the question, answered anyway. "Because we wouldn't be as great as we are without you, Shinigami-sama. It is also because I'm grateful that I do it whenever I can," she replied.
"...And would you still pray to me if my blessings were cut from your family?" the god asked.
Yura opened her mouth and closed it. "I'm sure you have your reasons. I won't claim to know how or why you gods do some of the things you do. All I know is that I'll still believe in you," she said, her heart growing nervous though. What did he mean by what he said before?
"Even if the world is torn to pieces? Even if you lose everything important to you? Even if my summoner is potentially tested beyond what he can bear? Shall you still fall on your knees and offer me praise?" he asked.
Yura swallowed nervously. Why was he asking her all of these ominous questions? Was it to test her? She wasn't sure. "I'll try," she responded honestly.
The spirit continued to stare down at her for a little while. He then closed his eyes and stared back at the blood moon. "A test is coming for my summoner, Uzumaki Yura. One which not even I will be able to interfere in. It is a test that will not only affect him, but the millions of people which reside upon this planet. In that time, he will experience agony, defeat, loss, and great sadness. I will not be able to answer him nor his pleas and you must not inform him that I tell you of this. For everything that has come from henceforth comes from one higher than myself. However, do not forget that I have not forsaken neither you nor him, for I shall be with you both. And… stay who you are, for Naruto will find strength in your will."
Utterly confused, Yura just agreed before she found herself alone. The atmosphere in her room returned to normal and she felt her breath ease. "Nii-sama," she thought as she walked over to the window. Loss, pain, defeat, hopelessness, what was all of this supposed to mean? What did the god of death mean by all of those weird sayings? Stay who she was?
A knock on the door came to her room and Yura faced it. "Yes?" she asked.
In came Konan and Karin. "Not enjoying the red moon with everyone else?" Konan asked.
Yura shook her head. "We're not here to enjoy anything. We're here to find out about the mysterious circumstances regarding Shimura Danzo. If anything, I feel something strange about it. Where's everyone else?" she questioned.
The two other women looked at each other before Karin closed the door. "Doing who the hell knows. We've also been here a few days and haven't found anything yet. It could be that he's onto us and has ceased his operations. He was always a slippery bastard, just like Orochimaru. It's probably why they enjoyed working with each other on multiple occasions. We might have to come up with something else. I don't think we should stay here for too long. We've been getting strange looks recently," Karin warned.
Yura continued looking out the window. "Danzo?" she asked.
"No. It's not him, I wouldn't have forgotten the feeling since I've seen him before," Konan replied, hoping not to go into the comment more than she already did.
Luckily, she didn't need to. Yura and Karin didn't push her. "Iwa shinobi?" Yura asked.
Karin scoffed. "Please, the fuckers are about as stealthy as their country's name. Look, I dunno what it is, but I suggest we go back and go through our findings before we get caught up in something that's not a part of our problem."
Yura sighed. That was true as well. Maybe it'd be best if she didn't push her luck. After all, it was Naruto who was paying for this mission. The longer they got no information, the more it'd become a disadvantage for him. "Alright, we'll stay for a few more days. We'll see what we can find and if nothing turns up, then I guess we'll just have to abandon this assignment. I'd also rather not take the chance of us being suspected. How's that sound?" She asked.
"That might be for the best," Konan advised.
Neither received a word from Karin. They looked at her and saw her looking out the window. "Something wrong?" Yura asked which made the other redhead jump.
"Erm, I don't think so. Did you guys see something dark out there just now?" the former warden of Orochimaru asked. It was a little hard to see, but she could have sworn she saw something dark and long slithering through the night air. She also thought she saw a few unnatural shadows moving beneath the red light of the blood moon. She used her powers to sense if anything was out there, but she didn't feel anything specific.
"I didn't see anything," Konan answered. Yura shook her head that she didn't see anything either.
Karin stared back at the window very confused. Maybe she was more tired than she thought. "Nevermind then," she said before she brought herself back to the conversation. She too agreed that what Yura said was a good idea.
With that being the case, the two were dismissed from Yura's room. She watched them go. Unfortunately, she wasn't allowed to relax just yet because five minutes later, one of the hotel's attendants came to her. "Sorry to disturb you, miss. You have a couple of guests asking for you. Would you like to meet them?"
"Damn. That was fast," Yura thought to herself before she nodded. She was then led downstairs and, as expected, she saw the disguised forms of Kakashi, Sasuke, Yugao, Mikoto, and… another man in the lobby. After a few pleasantries to appease anyone watching, she brought them back to her room.
"Sorry, if it's not live-in ready. I've been a little busier since Nii-sama left me in control of the mission over here. If anything, I'd appreciate some help since I'm a bit at the end of my rope here," she said with a smile.
"It seems no messer than your own room," Yugao said, which made Yura gawk. Her room was not messy! Having to grow up with her sister, she'd always been the more responsible one. Someone had to keep that little fireball in check as they grew up.
That said, Yura didn't bother retorting. She was too tired. "So what's the story on that guy with you?" she asked, pointing a finger at the man Kakashi ordered to stand near the wall.
Sasuke leaned against the wall. "That's a story for another time. It's also a part of the reason why we had to run all the way here. What do you need help with?"
Yura chuckled and turned to Mikoto. "He never livens up, does he?" she asked. The mother of the Uchiha shrugged her shoulders.
"What can you do?" she asked with the same smile on her face. This got a bit of a chuckle out of everyone aside from the Uchiha heir. He just growled at them as they had fun at his expense. It seemed like a bit of peace had been brought to everyone at least for a moment.
The smile on Yura's face quickly fell before she started to tell the group of her situation. They also told her what they could about their own mission and the problems that faced Konoha. Beneath the glow of the moon's red glow, everyone maintained their blissful ignorance. However, before the sun rose the next day, everyone would remember this night as…
…The Worst Night of the Elemental Nations.
-x-
Shi sighed. His journey back to his home nation had been longer than he'd thought. In order to help his cousin with his problem, he actually hurried on his journey. However, he'd encountered a couple of troubles that he hadn't anticipated. Now, he was appearing a little later than planned. Still, he was incredibly happy to see the mountains of Kumogakure. The village hidden away deep in the clouds always seemed like home to him. Even when he was with his true family, the one denied to him for so long he still truly loved Kumo for all of its faults.
That said, he wished he could have returned on a better night. He too had seen the blood moon in the sky. Such a moon was usually considered an omen in Kumogakure. It was actually on a night like this that the Hachibi rampaged through the village, only to be stopped by the Sandaime Raikage in the end. Shi wasn't a superstitious man, but when your cousin was the summoner of Death itself, well… it was rather hard to not see the writing on the wall, wasn't it?
Nevertheless, Shi continued onward. He came up to the gates of Kumo and was admitted into the village. Since it was late, there weren't many civilians walking around. There also weren't a lot of shinobi either. Still, that was only on the surface. Luckily, Shi had built up a very good reputation with A, the Raikage. He'd been allowed to keep his memories of the village and all of its secrets. So far, Tsunade had remained tactful and not asked him to divulge those secrets, perhaps out of respect for his position between these political struggles. He just hoped it stayed that way.
Either way, Shi was in luck. The lights were still on in the Raikage's Office. The blond man wondered what was going on that they'd still be open. It was well known how much the Raikage hated working late. That was one of the things Mabui complained about when Shi and his group of friends could get her out for a gathering, which wasn't very often.
The former Kumo shinobi entered the admin office. Greeting the receptionist, he spoke about the diplomatic mission between Konoha and Kumo. After a moment, he was led away into the waiting room. Never did he think he'd be led here. He used to remark to Darui that anyone stuck in the waiting room would be in for the worst time of their life. Funny how such a situation made its roundabout.
Shi continued to sit in his chair for a little while. He felt something off about the office. It seemed way too quiet. Knowing the Raikage, there was almost never a dull moment with the dark-skinned man, especially with him jumping out of the windows from time to time. If there was one thing between the Godaime Hokage and the Yondaime Raikage, they were both short-tempered and brash. Granted, he thought the latter even more so.
Since his wait seemed to be taking longer, Shi took out a fuinjutsu book that he'd been studying on his way here. He'd been neglecting his studies and the heritage of his family's techniques in favor of more missions. Unfortunately, their clan wasn't very large just yet. They needed to preserve and adapt the culture as much as possible.
Shi didn't know how much time passed, but he was soon brought up from his readings by a familiar friend. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes,"
Shi looked up and smiled when he saw Darui standing in front of him. "It hasn't been that long," he replied as he put his book away.
"Perhaps not, but it's always nice to see your former closest coworker. That said, I have to apologize to you. Raikage-sama can't meet with you right now. He's been in meeting after meeting for the past week. There's been a sequence of strange murders in Kumo over the past two weeks. We're busy investigating them."
Shi found that strange. There were reports of the same things happening in Konoha. Of course, a lot of it was hush talk, but anyone could see it if they read between the lines a little. "I see. I can come back tomorrow if you'd like," he said while Darui nodded, rubbing her neck tiredly.
"Nah, no need for that. It's a little bothersome, but I was tasked with receiving you. Trust me, Raikage-sama wanted to see you just as badly, but the integrity of the village comes first. However, he's granted me the temporary authority of the Raikage for our meeting just this once. For now, my voice is that of Raikage-sama," he said while Shi laughed.
"You as the Raikage makes me all the more anxious," he replied as Darui led him to an empty meeting room. The two sat down and the night went on even longer as Shi spoke about the cooperation between Kumo and Konoha.
It was long and tiring but once they finished, they both visibly relaxed. "Not like I want to be the Raikage either if this is what I have to go through," Darui said with a small chuckle before he noticed a hesitant look on Shi's face. Known to most, Darui was the Raikage's right hand man. There wasn't much that escaped his notice, even if he thought it was too bothersome to deal with. However, he could see that there was something his former associate wanted to ask him.
"Something wrong?" Darui asked.
Shi sighed. He'd gone over this conversation numerous times in his head, but being here now fel rather unnerving. He was aware of the gravity of the request he was asking for to help Naruto. There was no way someone with the Raikage's temperament wouldn't do this for nothing. He just hoped it wouldn't be too overbearing on the clan or Konoha.
"Listen, Darui. You have my word that I've spoken with no one else about the location, but I hope you can…"
"Darui-san!"
Shi's words were immediately interrupted when a jonin Kumo shinobi crashed through the door. "Sorry for the interruption, but Raikage-sama needs you outside immediately! Look at the sky!" the man warned as Shi and Darui glanced at each other.
"What's going on?!" Darui asked, the lethargic aura around him quickly disappearing into a strong epitome of a Kumo shinobi.
"You have to see it for yourself! Couldn't even describe it if I tried!" the jonin said as Shi stood up as well, his concern for his former village showing itself. The three dashed out of the meeting room and sped through the hallways. Once they stepped outside, Darui and Shi stood in shock.
"What the hell…" Darui thought aloud as he, Shi, and the Kumo jonin stared at the sky. Above their heads, above the body of Kumogakure, a large upside-down triangle encased in a circle of blood appeared over them. Its ring hummed menacingly as the circle pulsed like it was alive with the beating of a thousand hearts, all of them singing of… Jashin.
-x-
Kushina had long since left the village. She could sense the ominous, murderous aura rising in the air. She could sense the panic in the realm of the dead. All of the spirits were greatly disturbed, some of them even going so far as to wail in the depths of her ears. They were so wrought with grief and distress, the matriarch of the Uzumaki clan thought even she might go mad from their screams.
"Sochi, hang on. I'm coming!" Kushina thought as she dashed from tree to tree, breaking apart branches without remorse.
When the symbol of the Jashinist cult appeared in the sky above Konoha, Tsunade quickly locked the village down. No one except for authorized shinobi could go in or out. Kushina had gone home and powered up the defense seals for the compound before she grabbed all of her gear. She ran out of the village, whether Tsunade liked it or not.
Ever since Kushina had followed the group of Jashinists that were leading Naruto, Komachi, and Guren away, weird things had started happening. It was only when they went into the house where their first captive had gone that she knew what was going to happen. She quickly ran to Tsunade. That was when the weeping and wailing soon came through Konoha, thousands of people commenting on the Jashinist seal in the air. It hovered ominously over the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
Kushina left under the circumstance of Shinigami business. Even if Tsunade could offer a retort, she wouldn't hear it. Kushina would not lose her son for a second time.
The Red Death continued to dash through the blood red night, pushing her body as fast as she could to make it into Otogakure. She'd also cut down anyone who got in her way. "Really wish I could teleport right now!" she thought as she ran into the night.
-x-
"Please tell me you have a plan," Guren whispered as she, Naruto, and Komachi remained surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands of Jashinists. Like roaches, they came out of the woodwork, some of them licking their lips maniacally at the trio.
"Give me when the sun rises and I just might," Naruto returned, cursing himself for using up his attempts earlier in the day. Well, he had a lot of plans, but not ones where Konoha wouldn't come out unscathed. Plus, he was getting nervous from where he, Guren, and Komachi had been led.
"Brat, you might not want to hear these words, but… you'd better start making a choice before you don't have one anymore. What good is it gonna do if Konoha stands and the rest of this dirtball is a wasteland? I've been sensing something strange and powerful for awhile now. You have to stop it," Kyuubi urged as Naruto wholeheartedly agreed. He then smirked. How many times had he been in a situation like this?
"You know, I envy you, Uzumaki Naruto-kun."
The blond turned back to the old man, walking in front of them. The smile on his face never faded, the tapping of his cane against the floor pushing through everyone's ears. "Both of us, favored by our gods. One genuine, the other a filthy heathen. And yet, I find myself closer to you than any of Lord Jashin's followers. We are the select few who are allowed to bend the wills of mortals and yet, unlike you… I am not bestowed with the voice of my Lord whenever I desire. I cannot just summon him whenever I desire. How I'd love to bask in his presence and study beneath his guiding light from day to day. It is also that relationship with your god that also makes me wretch," the old man said, his steps still slow.
"What better disciple for Lord Jashin than a member of death itself? You would easily bridge the divide between our respective gods. If there's one thing Jashin-sama is, he is resourceful. Even a heathen can become of great use to him. Yet, instead of fulfilling his grand mission, you walk the opposite path, you spit in his face, you mock our Lord. There can be no greater offense than this. And so, you can rest assured that anything that happens when the sun rises the next morning… will be because of you. I hope you appreciate this divine lesson," the old man said strangely, making Naruto glare at him as the three Uzumaki were escorted through a series of winding tunnels and hot hallways.
"I don't like this," Lamb said from within the shared mindscape of all of Naruto's summons.
"To think we wanted to get here and find their hideout, but not like this," Wolf said next.
Naruto, Guren, and Komachi were then led into an area known as The Prayer Room, a place the blond had seen when his spirits did their reconnaissance. This was a place filled with everything one could think about a deranged cult. Crazy, demonic symbols, praying mats lined with razor-sharp blades.
Guren scrunched up her nose in disgust when she saw a few men and women writhing in either orgasmic pain, or demented pleasure. Priests and priestesses, all of them stationed at separate parts of the room. More often than not, worthy victims were taken here, whether they be men or women, the most heinous things done to them.
Komachi just watched, controlling her breathing to not inhale the odd stench purveying the air. It made her feel so dizzy.
However, Naruto was also feeling strange. His vision kept blurring. In fact, the old man in front of him seemed so far away suddenly. A thousand angry voices seemed to rage in his ears, each of them more violent than the last. He couldn't even properly hear the Kyuubi's voice. Just… a lot of anger, rage, demented words.
That said, Naruto also felt very oddly powerful. In fact, this power could only be described as… addicting. Something strange, wrong and good filled the essence of his being. The Cult Leader's words seemed so very far away as did everything else. Naruto seemed drowned in a sea of red malice that threatened to take him over, and yet… he was oddly fine with that. Tsunade wanted to take away his dream of becoming Hokage. Well… he could take away everyone else's desire for the position as well. After all, all this political nonsense because people couldn't get along, too involved in their own pettiness to maintain the good of everyone.
Jiraiya always believed people would come to understand each other one day, but would there be a world even left for them if this route continued? Maybe… maybe Naruto could lead them. After all, he was so powerful now. He could lead them all into true peace. Hokage? That was a worthless title. What did Naruto need it for? He was better than all of them. Why he could even…
"BRAT!"
Naruto widened his eyes as everything suddenly became clear again. Every thought aside from the situation had been blown away. With the clarity in his eyes, Naruto only steeled his resolve and grabbed his blade. He didn't care who he merged with at the moment. Instead, he attached Pakura, Gari, Kimimmaro, Dan, Suiren, and Yahiko's souls to his own.
"Guren, close off the entrance!" Naruto suddenly shouted as his hair immediately turned silver. He roared as his Honshou exploded. The blond couldn't stay here. He also couldn't wait any longer. Whatever the Jashinists had planned for Konoha, Naruto would have to deal with the aftermath later. The longer he stayed in this room, the worse he'd feel.
Without another word, Naruto charged at the Cult Leader.
Guren, stunned at Naruto's sudden initiative, she and Komachi turned back to the door. Both were ready to combat the cult, but they stiffened. None of the cult were attacking them, instead their eyes were shining as if they were witnessing the birth of their god about to descend down upon them. Guren cursed and quickly slammed her hands together.
"Shōton: Shōheki (Crystal Release: Crystal Encampment Wall)!" She cast, closing up the wall with a large wall of purple crystal. She and Komachi then squinted their eyes as the ground viciously split into two. Seas of stone and rock blasted in their faces as Naruto appeared in front of the man. With a shout loud enough to shake the cavern, he swung down and sliced the cult leader in two.
"Do you believe in fate, Uzumaki Naruto? I do."
The blond heard those last words from the old man before his body split into two pieces. The men and women in the prayer room suddenly hollered like rampaging demons. Each of them clawed at their own throat, begging Jashini for their great sins and his everlasting grace. They fell at their points on the upside-down triangle. Naruto, Guren, and Komachi watched their blood fill in the grooves of the symbol. Naruto took a step back as all the blood came together and filled the triangle and the circle surrounding it.
"...Is that it?" Komachi asked, still cautious.
"I think so. Though crazy bastards behind us are still praying even though we killed their leader. I thought they'd be more upset. Still, I hope we can get out of here. Something in here's messing with my head," Guren replied.
Naruto leaned against the wall and exhaled slowly. "W-What happened?" he asked, oddly short of breath.
"You blanked out, brat. The bastard was preaching about Jashin this, Jashin that but you weren't paying attention. You then started grinning like that snake sannin. Took a lot of us to snap you out of it. I suggest you get out of here. In fact, you better kill the rest of them while they're in their little praying mood. Who knows how long they're gonna stay that way before they threaten the village," the Kyuubi advised as Naruto firmly nodded. He wanted to get out of the room as well. Despite killing the Jashinist leader, he still felt uneasy.
"Right," he said before he turned around.
However, the trio weren't ready for the ground to suddenly start shaking. The blood in the circled triangle quickly started to pulse. "What the hell?" Guren said before the ceiling above their heads started to split apart. Komachi jumped away from a large piece of stone falling to the ground. The Jashinists behind the crystal wall hollered and banged on it. Like a collected hive of violent beasts, they started maiming themselves, tearing apart their robes with gracious praise.
The shaking got stronger. Guren quickly let down the crystal wall. "The whole place is coming down! We have to go!" she exclaimed as she and Komachi headed for the door, killing any of the Jashinists who dared stand in their way. However, they noticed Naruto wasn't behind him.
"Naruto, what are you doing? Hurry up!" Guren exclaimed, but Naruto continued to stare at the blood in the triangle. Almost like it was alive, it started to pour out and stick to the walls. Like a group of living veins in the human body, they stretched out until they reached the cracking ceiling.
"Naruto-sama!" Suiren called out as Naruto unconsciously took a step back. The Summoner of the Shinigami heard the sound of violence and destruction in his ears. The divine hand of wrath to fall down upon the earth itself appeared in front of him. Though he didn't know it, his body shook like a massive wave of cold rushed over him.
Suddenly, his head whipped to the side when Komachi smacked him. He touched his cheek. "Come," she ordered.
Naruto looked at her. Light seemed to return to his eyes and he nodded. He ran out with them, cutting down anyone that they could find. "Where's the exit? Can we go back the way we came?" Guren asked, stabbing her kunai into the head of one of the zealots.
Naruto kicked another away. "Assuming they haven't tampered with the sealing matrix when we were gone, it's possible, but they could have known about that. I'm not trusting anything they use. Don't worry, I've had a lot of surveillance on this place. I can find the exit. Stay close to me!" He said as he channeled the Honshou into his body. He sped off with Guren and Komachi close behind.
The underground tunnels continued to come down, shaking with terrible anger that it felt like the very earth itself was coming down. Unfortunately, the trio couldn't have known that this was exactly what was happening. In Kirigakure, massive waves crashed and raged. In Sunagakure, violent sandstorms buffeted its people. In Iwagakure, buildings crashed into others from the numerous earthquakes that tore the base of the village into pieces. In Kumogakure, clouds struck the ground with fierce lightning. In Konoha, people screamed when powerful winds formed into tornadoes. The winds pulled up houses by the hundreds, hurling them and anyone in them miles away from the village.
For all the Elemental Nations, every corner of the earth tore apart. Those innocent and those guilty, none were spared as they fell before the might of the disasters falling upon them.
-x-
Yura widened her eyes along with Mikoto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Yugao. The three stayed in their hotel unable to comprehend the sight happening in front of them. Just as the four were about to leave, they saw the symbol of the Jashinist cult in the air above Iwagakure. Then came the earthquakes. They were strong and relentless. The maw of the ground opened up and swallowed a handful of Iwagakure shinobi and civilians. There were so many screams.
Yura never thought she might feel sympathy for Iwa shinobi, but… at the end of the day they were all a part of humanity. She could only close her heart to the suffering of a child as their parents had been crushed by a building, or when someone screamed for help before they were swallowed up in the earth, buried beneath its suffocating dirt.
Once the earthquakes stopped, Yura thought it was over, but… it wasn't. Beneath the blood moon, the sky turned a deep red. The Jashin symbol in the air pulsed like a scarlet ruby. Then, the blood of those killed leaked through the ground and into the air. Iwa shinobi were ordering civilians and visitors to not leave their homes. Those that did would be arrested. When she thought back on it, Yura was glad she and the others listened.
Blood from the victims channeled itself through the Jashin symbol and into the clouds. Then, the skies started to rain with the same blood from before. That was when the true chaos came. Yura would never forget the sight of the Iwagakure massacre for as long as she lived. When the blood fell down on their bodies, it seemed like the gates of hell had opened up. Hundreds of Iwa shinobi dissolved into pools of their own blood, mixing with that of the victims who died earlier. Not even their bones remained and the weeping and wailing surged through the Village Hidden in the Stone.
"They were here too?" Yugao asked, watching as the streets ran red with Iwagakure blood. Yura turned her head away, but even if she closed her ears she couldn't drown out the screams of the people.
"It seems they were planning something even stronger than what we'd envisioned. They weren't based just in Konoha. We have to try and get home," Mikoto replied as she watched a chunin scream in terror before his skin was peeled off and his bones dissolved.
Sasuke stared at the seal in the air. "And how are we supposed to do that when walking outside might have us end up like that?" He asked.
Unfortunately, no one had an answer for him. Then, there came a knock on the door. When Yura opened it, Karin came through. Despite seeing Sasuke in the room, her mood spelled dread. "Yura. I… Kotohime… she…"
The lover of Uzumaki Naruto widened her eyes before she looked out the window. Kotohime had gone outside for a walk. "W-What?" Yura asked, not willing to know.
Karin clenched her fists. "She… didn't make it back inside," the redhead said dejected. It all happened so fast. She was in the lobby of the hotel reading before all the chaos happened. When the rain fell, she saw Kotohime running for the entrance. The Fuma kunoichi never even made it to the door.
Yura fell to the ground. What the hell was even happening?
-x-
Shi could only helplessly watch as one of the buildings embedded in Kumogakure's mountains fell off and crashed into the ground. "Why? How is this happening?" Shi asked as he could only watch his former villagemen die screaming as rivers of blood flowed through the Village Hidden in the Cloud's stony hills. He tried to help where he could, but Darui told him to stay where he was. From the building he was under, not even aware of the fate of his friends, he couldn't even open the door to help those screaming people outside. The blood was too large and flowing too fast. He even tried to put carpets under the crevices of the door just to make sure that nothing got in.
Shi boarded up the windows and just put his head down, cursing every god that watched the earth. What kind of nightmare was this?
-x-
Naruto ran up the stairs with Guren and Komachi close behind him as the stairs fell down behind them. The blond turned down a hallway and they quickly followed after him. An explosion collapsed one of the cave tunnels, but the summoner quickly slashed the debris apart, opening a path.
He ran up another flight of stairs and they followed his leadership. However, within the young summoner's mindscape, the Kyuubi narrowed his eyes as did some of the others. "Do you hear that?" he asked.
The Kindred and Mōryō slowly nodded, getting the attention of everyone else. "What's wrong?" Yahiko asked.
"I hear screaming outside the walls," Wolf said with a deep snarl while Lamb nodded. She could hear the wailing of souls moving through the spiritual plane. Each of them was in severe anguish.
"There is also the smell of blood. Lots of blood," Lamb replied next. The human summons shivered.
"But why would people be screaming and blood?" Suiren asked as Pakura frowned. She didn't like this.
Finally, Naruto, Komachi, and Guren came up to a door. The blond opened it and they found themselves under what seemed to be some type of theater in Otogakure. They cautiously stepped out just before everything started to come down again. The stage collapsed and so did the chairs around it.
The trio ran outside beneath the theater's overhang sign. When they stepped outside, the building crashed to the ground. Naruto quickly summoned ten clones to help him hold up some of it so it wouldn't fall down on their heads. Guren then formed another crystal wall, covering the rest.
Finally, Naruto, Guren, and Komachi dropped to their knees in exhaustion. They panted and huffed, their chests threatening to burst with the adrenaline rushing through the veins in their bodies. Nevertheless, they quickly picked up on screaming just as the Kyuubi and the others did.
Komachi looked up and her eyes widened. "By the grace of god," she said in a stunned, subdued voice as she and her cousins watched a river of blood crash against Guren's crystal. Violent and terrified screams ran off in the distance. In the river, they saw piles of bones slowly being disintegrated into the red, sticky ooze. "When the hell did this happen?" Guren asked.
"It's possible it came about as a result of the sacrifice from below. Somehow it's affecting everyone, but… where's it going? It doesn't look like it's flowing aimlessly. It's going somewhere," the former Anbu reasoned while Guren cleared her throat.
"How about we figure this out somewhere else instead of where we are now?!" Guren asked before the Jashinsit symbol in the air hummed. Then the red ski rumbled. What could only be described as a violent red spear of light broke through the clouds. It crashed through the seal and into the ground.
That was a time that Naruto would never forget, and neither would anyone else in Otogakure or the Elemental Nations as a whole. Within four of the five great nations, the same thing occurred. Red beams of divine light broke through the Jashinist seals in the air. Then, it could only be described as the end of the world.
Buildings were blown away. The ground ruptured into a thousand pieces and the shockwave ripped trees from their roots. Before the eyes of friends, family, and loved ones, victims could only watch as they were blown away. Flesh was torn off and bones were broken. Soon, not even those remained. Wind blew the dust from bones away. Those who survived were probably lucky that the buildings which fell on them were enough to cover the blast.
Nevertheless, all of the Elemental Nations felt the rumbling of the earth as if it were torn into pieces. A great and powerful, yet hopeless reckoning had come down upon them.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes and coughed. Red dust flew in his face, obstructing his gaze. "Guren, Komachi, are you guys alright?" Naruto asked. The summoner of the Shinigami slowly got up to his knees. He received no response. Instead, his head kept ringing as if he'd been hit by a thousand temple bells.
When his vision cleared, Naruto stilled. The Kyuubi stilled. His summons… stilled. The sky was raining down blood. Guren and Komachi were nowhere to be seen. Black spikes pierced out of the ground, each of them towering high into the air. In most of them, Naruto could see the human remains of various men, women, and children protruded like branches of a tree. The sky was dark and the clouds were filled with dread.
Horrified into silence, the only thing Naruto could bring to mind was the Cult Leader's words. Due to his connection with the Shinigami, the young chunin saw the vengeful spirits of those who died. Each of them seemed to wail on in agony. Their usually white, ethereal forms turned black and tormented. Some of them seemed to be fusing together, growing and roaring. Their decrepit claws snatched those still wailing out of the air and devoured them. Never had the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki seen so many spirits at once. Among them, Guren and Komachi.
Before Naruto could even process the fact that two members of his family were dead, a deep, powerful voice came up from behind him.
"So… you're Shinigami's little pet."
Those words seemed to pierce through the void in Naruto's mind, causing him to slowly turn around. Behind him stood a tall man with long red hair. His eyes were like a cauldron of fire. His pupils were like those of the Jashinist symbol that Naruto had become acquainted with over the month. Lastly, the aura of sheer divine energy radiating off his body… like that of the God of Death was chilling to the bone. In fact, Naruto had seen this man before at the meeting between the gods.. A look of uncertain horror on his face, slowly replaced with the deepest anger he'd ever felt.
"I like that look on your face. It shall be a fitting trophy in my world. In the world… of Jashin!"
KG: I actually had a lot fun writing this chapter. Despite how killing off some people made me feel. And if you think, 'haha, Naruto can just revive them.' Well...
KG: CREAM SODA!