Chapter 1: Fruition & ambition
The Village Hidden in The Leaves
The Hokage sat within his office reading the latest report from T&I that arrived on his desk again not twenty minutes ago; The village Hidden in the Rain's War Lord and psuedo-kage had been successfully assassinated, Hanzo of the Salamander, some eighteen months ago. This... was a disturbing event for the immediate future. Hanzo had been a formidable adversary, born before the founding of any major shinobi village, whom was well versed in the activity of ruling a country, his performance during the Second Shinobi World War solidified his rule, forcing all major village heads to recognize the strength held in the Land of Rain. The report mentioned the complete extermination of hanzo's closest allies, family, and subordinates: that had been well received until he'd read the list of deceased, the names were made public as a show of good faith by the countries new War Lord apparently. Dr. Mara was not on the list, Sarutobi would have to call for a meeting with his oldest comrades as well as send a messenger hawk to inform his student Jiraiya.
As he sent a chunin messenger to fetch his teammates, and as he wet his quill to write to Jiraiya he let his thoughts settle on the village Hidden in The Rain and the missing Doctor.
Like all villages, prodigies sprouted in every generation, from the Hidden Leaf's: Hatake Sakumo, Orochimaru, Itachi, or Hidden Sand's Sasori of the Red Sands and the Dessert Mummy, Pakura and even Hidden Cloud village's Raikage, Unruly A. Prodigies were everywhere even hidden rain-specifically Dr. Mara. Before Hanzo made his country a literal black spot for foreign intelligence and no-go-zone for spies, Danzo's private force had managed to create a decent spy-network in hidden rain before it was routed and exterminated. The information had been unwelcome, Hanzo had been mentoring a genius.
The reports he could remember spoke of Dr. Mara's high intellect being focused in statecraft, subversion, disinformation, torture and intelligence gathering, research and development, fuinjutsu, infiltration and psyop. Danzo would have a finer profile to digest the competency of those talents. His physical attributes the Hokage recalled immediately, during the Second Shinobi World War he'd met the doctor on the frontlines almost half-a-dozen times, his three students much more often; an elite close-range tai-jutsu specialists, highly proficient in nin-jutsu and a healthy education in gen-jutsu, not to mention his interest in iryo-ninjutsu.
Dr. Mara was a product of his country further molded by Hanzo. All major village leaders had a responsibility to recognize talent within their own ranks of shinobi and to cultivate that talent, but much more important is to recognize the potential talent in the enemies ranks of shinobi and dutifully kill them, Dr. Mara had managed to avoid death thus far. Mana was a war-criminal to boot. When himself, and the Tsuchikage, Onoki were at one another's throats tearing apart the Land of Rain to gain advantage over one other Dr. Mara had on multiple occasions committed terrorist attacks against the hidden leaf and hidden stone respectively. Covertly targeting important minor villages aiding in the war effort sitting on the Land of Fire's borders with the Land of Earth and the land of Wind, large civilian populations, hospitals, farms, noble families of both fire and earth country.
He was also a rapist. Dr. Mara's shadow didn't stretch as far as Hanzo's own, but if reached far enough, the corps during the second and third shinobi world war too recognized the sort of threat he was on the battlefield. Dr. Mara brutalized the enemy thoroughly. Done with his letter to Jiraiya he put it aside to be delivered to the aviary department, a knock at his office door alerted him of guest.
It was late evening, but not out of the ordinary for meetings involving high-profile shinobi who just so happen to be heads of a few Konoha departments. One by one his eldest teammates, rival, and counselors found a seat in his office: each looking just as old as he was but still carrying a firm air of ability, strength shinobi of his generation exhibited though now concealed in aristocracy. The day to day orchestra of shinobi, and civilians came to a low muffle as Sarutobi acknowledged his peers-activating the silencing seals artistically carved into his desk by, Mito Uzumaki during the Shodaime's rule, whilst buzzing his secretary to cancel any messenger's or appointments.
His pipe lit, and the attention of his comrades on himself he began, "Good evening my friends, apologies for receiving you so suddenly, but there's a situation I require for us all to be aware of." He greeted while blowing away his tobacco smoke, his reasoning illustrated and his voice coated in aged wisdom.
"What is it, Hiruzen?" Koharu greeted, Homaru, and Danzo too showed a silent inquiry.
"The Land of Rain as we know it is no more, Hanzo of the salamander is dead," he revealed.
Reading the minute reactions of his counselors he noted a tenseness from Danzo, not surprising but worth recognizing.
"Himself, and his his entire family were slain as well as his allies, and immediate subordinates. Here is a list of known affiliates of Hanzo who have perished." Again Sarutobi informed while pushing forward the report from T&I, first Danzo skimmed it passing it along afterward: the mild annoyance crossed on his face was swiftly replaced with his stoic features.
"From where is this information, and how reliable is it?" Homaru questioned simultaneously pushing his glasses further onto his nose.
"An information broker three days ago was placed into T&I custody, his detainment was believed to lead toward the traitor, Rokushi Aoi." That name put a sour taste in all of their mouths, aoi was a traitor brought to notoriety due to his theft if the Raijin: Blade of the Thunder God, the personal weapon of the Naidame Hokage. Aoi using Morino Ibiki's younger brother as the scape goat for the theft inspired the junior department head of T&I to use his most effective skill-sets to quickly gain results. "This information has been vetted, and confirmed by the mind-walk technique of a Yamanaka agent within the department" the hokage provided.
Taking a moment for themselves to realize Hanzo was no longer alive let alone the village head of one of their bordering countries was shocking though there faces tried to minimize that fact.
"There is a problem though, Dr. Mara was not listed among the deceased" Sarutobi mentioned between nosily exhaling smoke.
All present recognized that name, Danzo especially, Homaru and Koharu spent brief stints in hidden rain during the second shinobi war and not at all during the third, Iwa, and Suna being the focus of their war-time efforts. Their knowledge came from the bingo book their hidden village published for their shinobi, Dr. Mara was listed as an A-rank shinobi affiliated with hidden rain he too was listed in hidden stones bingo book with a A-class ranking. His description was thus in the hidden leaf:
Rank: A-rank Jonin
Affliation: The Village Hidden in The Rain
Description: Elite tai-jutsu specialists with proficient use of nin-jutsu & gen-jutsu, believed to be Hanzo of The Salamander's protegee. A-rank threat. Proceed with caution, superior forces recommended.
Bounty: 900,000 ryo
Dr. Mara hadn't been active outside of the land of rain for decades so his profile had been moved to the back of Konoha and Iwa's bingo book for newer active threats. His photo, the only one available, taken by an anonymous source some twenty years ago was, subjectively, one of the best in the entire bingo book Hiruzen recalled. His clothing was foreign even by hidden rain standards: he was a short overweight man with a round belly, he wore black boots that kept the mud at bay, tucked into his tall boots were his breeches fitted for combat made wide in the thighs, a beige collard shirt fashioned with a neck tie under a navy blue single-breasted jacket which was all covered in a full-length multi-buttoned navy blue patent leather coat sufficient in keeping away the rain, on his head was a military visor cap navy blue in color decorated in tassels and a hidden rains insignia. The Uniform was decorated with medals and trophies, on his left arm was his headband identifying his hidden rain affiliation. His face was aristocratic, but he wasn't from any known clans, shinobi or civilian, and his skin tone was pale from the lack of sunlight in his country: behind him was a the fiery Raid of Takumi Village. His round bifocals recording the tragedy.
During the Third shinobi war Hidden Rain shinobi under the orders of Hanzo, and led by Doctor Mara, destroyed significant territories under hidden leaf's protection in the Land of Rivers that were responsible for producing weapons for Konoha. The attack had been incredibly effective. Konoha's consequences for failing to defend the region allowed hidden sand to swiftly occupy the village and take control of it's weapon manufacture and production.
"The fall of Hanzo is enough to merit a council meeting tomorrow which we'll discuss troop movement along the borders of our country and the Land of Rain, the possible re-installment of an information network, an investigation of rains activities in the last twenty-four months, and eventually the capture or disposal of shinobi like Doctor Mara if indeed any are alive." Explaining his expectations for tomorrow, Sarutobi crossed his gaze toward Danzo. "Danzo I'd like a for you to put together a dossier focused on Dr. Mara for tomorrows meeting, but I would a like verbal assessment of him here and now" the Third commanded. Danzo's face didn't change, but the grip on his cane tightened considerably in his seated position. Inhaling, and exhaling steadily he hid away his impatience, he wanted out of this meeting and back to his own reports. Dutifully, Danzo filled in his comrades on the prodigy in all things warfare.
"Twenty years ago during the height of the second shinobi world war Konoha became aware of the mentee of Hanzo, Doctor Mara. While the doctor is effective on the battlefield, his talents ranging in the most generic of shinobi skills his true talents lay off of the battlefield. My Foundation discovered the doctor to be a budding fuin-jutsu expert, applying that knowledge to build new technologies. His focus being weapon development: Kunai launchers, transportation, biological weapons, space-time nin-jutsu, and artificial intelligence. All of these projects showed forms of plodding success". Danzo's eye closed at some point through his explanation, he continued. "Dr. Mara's presence between the second and third shinobi wars has been confirmed in several countries outside of Hidden Rain. His talent in subversion have proven to be prodigious; do you recall the Sato-Ito conflicts, the Shimizu clans plot to replace the Land of Hot Water's daimyo, or the Furuta genocide in the land of wind?"
His audience nodded and hummed confirming their recollection, it too was getting later in the evening, Danzo still hadn't opened his eye.
"Doctor Mara's presence is verified in all of these events holding positions of influence, providing troops, weapons, and logistics. It's not yet understood how he benefitted from these theaters." Danzo had met the doctor once, a decade ago during his operations in the country of Rain he met the doctor; Mara had taken interest in his Foundation operatives, relating their affinity for following his orders as if it were the air necessary to breath and inquired why this was so, he had answered too, though now... he can't recall why.
"My foundation came into this world with nothing and will leave this world with nothing, but in the time between I will provide them a purpose."
The doctors long leather coat hiding away his rotund belly was slick with water, his military visor dripped from the rain just outside a ruined grey failing temple, his glasses seemed to fog over. 'Incredible' he recalled being the mans response. He found it interesting-the protegees curiosity, Hanzo was a paranoid, S-rank village leader; Dr. Mara no matter how talented would be killed if Hanzo became aware of the doctors question. The Foundation was that powerful a tool... Eventually Danzo would be rid of Hidden Rain, and the doctor was a capable asset, too capable to be killed for treason at that time. Danzo's thoughts abruptly ended, his assessment still not done.
"It was partly due to Doctor Mara's success' in information gathering, torture, and his appliance of psychological warfare he'd been able to rout a majority of Hanzo's interior enemies. Domestic, and foreign spies were subsequently discovered and put to death, their corpses lined hidden rains towers, nooses around their necks. Many spy rings all over the nations mentioned Hidden Rains rapid decrease of information brokers, he too is a rapist. Between the second and third shinobi wars he has raped eleven kunoichi and four shinobi from Konoha alone... " Vex lingered on the Hokages face longer than he meant for it, unbeknownst to his counselors Hiruzen decided to raise the doctors bounty to four and a half million ryo and have his photograph moved up several pages in the bingo book. If the doctor truly were researching space-time nin-jutsu he should die sooner than later though he should have died long ago "He's a war hero that has lead missions on the frontlines, has had multiple engagements against your students, and too has survived the battlefields where Onoki, Hanzo, and you-yourself have all shared."
Danzo's tone didn't reflect his irritation. Eighteen months had already gone by, Hanzo was dead, and Dr. Mara was an unknown, this was a incident waiting to happen.
"It was due to him we retreated at Takumi isn't it?" Homura asked in remembrance "that was the beginning of a long summer," Koharu cracked her neck and stretched her shoulder in a non-verbal agreement.
It was true. Takumi was a industrial powerhouse-still is, exporting lumber, fish, gold and steel. It too had the unfortunate location of being settled in the Land of Rivers: a buffer country between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Suna declared war on Konoha and the Independent Takumi village was suddenly in the way, Konoha invaded sending two company's of leaf-ninja north and south of the eastern border to occupy villages; surrounded the Daimyos residence, imprisoned the-then governor of takumi, and installed one with the hidden leaf's endorsement. With the nations eastern territories occupied the production of weapons flowed directly to konoha, those territories alone were able to fully arm, and finance several warfronts. The loss of takumi village forced konoha to scramble to the negotiation tables of the Land of Canyons. Konoha paid double wartime-market price and had to supply a garrison of shinobi at the weapons factory to as deterrence.
Danzo's explanation over-everyone reflected on the doctors threat assessment. While dangerous there were no reports of foul play outside of wartime operations by the doctor, the man was obviously dangerous but he didn't require the resources of ANBU trackers or assassins right now. Hiruzen would have Jiraiya work toward locating the doctor and trace his previous movements over the last year. His larger concerns focused on the new unknown country leader and their international ambitions, relationships, and capability to make war; topics for tomorrow. His chakra buzzed alerting him that someone beyond the silencing seals radius was trying to gain his attention the familiar chakra patterns revealed it to be anbu.
"Thank you, Danzo" The Hokage offered-simultaneously emptying the burnt ashes of tobacco from his smoking pipe. "Let's continue tomorrow, I fare you all a good night". He offered, his friends rose from their seats, bowed and made their exit. He would see Danzo again later this evening at the Hokage's Estate, there was still the matter of the surveillance teams monitoring the Uchiha clan to discuss, perhaps he would burden him with capture of Dr. Mara too. Alone again he allowed the anbu agents entry to hear their mission report.
Land of Steam
Sitting in a cafe patiently waiting for her guest, Terumi Mei sipped her coffee as she took in her surroundings. The country was gorgeous she appreciated, the setting sun burned orange over the steam filled skies. She did not get a great many moments of peace lately: being the leader of the rapidly emerging resistance force against the fourth Mizukage, Yagura. They called themselves separatist, Yagura called them bottom-feeding-terrorist, the Land of Water called them 'Salt and Blood Guerillas, SBG, for their traditional Mist politics and their crusade for a bloody impeachment. Yagura's genocide of bloodline citizens forced the dual-bloodline user into a position she had not ever imagined, Mei hefted a substantial amount of responsibility on her shoulders. Even now as she enjoyed the view, her coffee, and the passerby non-combat inhabitants in the cafe she was still vigilant: her chakra ready to be called upon at a moments notice. Yagura's reach was significant even outside of the Land of Water, it's rumored his Hunter-nin ANBU division were famous for tracking and eliminating their prey seemingly no matter the whereabouts. If he had discovered her plans to travel here he'd assuredly make designs to have her assassinated. She wasn't a fool the resistance didn't start yesterday, of course she had her own agents on stand-by hidden away in case they were necessary.
The cafe's entrance bell chimed, looking in its direction made her heart drop to her stomach.
Her reason for being in the land Land of Hot Water was to make contact with a arms dealer; her troops needed weapons, scrolls, medical equipment, medicine, tents, and more. Mist's Civil War through out the country was draining their supplies. This contact had done well to supply the resistance in the past, their biggest achievement was making supply drops covertly, and on time which was a difficult thing to do even for natives who knew how to navigate every island in the Land of Water, it was especially difficult for anyone who was not a native. This arms dealer delivered on time far away from Yagura's territories, and spies. This new shipment was a major order which is why it was necessary to meet in person, before orders and deliveries were made through proxies but now the weapons dealer had interest in something other than gold it seemed. Never had she expected her contact to be Doctor Mara, The Devil from Rain, the older mist-ninja called him she recalled.
If he were here had Hanzo taken notice of the blood-line purges in her country? Had he decided to involve himself... it would require investigating. Doctor Mara entered with four agents in tow, two at either side and two to his rear. Over their faces were two-hole black balaclava masks, fitted brown mountain camouflage tee-shirts covered by similar designed thick long sleeve shirts and matching pants tucked into shin high black boots, sabo straps across their upper bodies, empty kunai holsters, and black gloves on their hands. No weapons were present.
The Village Hidden In the Mist had not received any bingo books from its neighboring hidden villages in recent years, but no matter, the ones at her disposal she'd studied and familiarized them years ago. Which is why she recognized the overweight-short man. Doctor Mara wasn't your everyday household name enemy-shinobi from a foreign country-no. From what she discovered before her defection from Yagura, during a lull in the Second Shinobi World War Doctor Mara may have infiltrated Kiri's ANBU after, Niadame Mizukage, Hozuki's death, and plotted a kidnaping attempt on Kiri's Six Tails Jinchuriki. He allegedly escaped with a space-time ninjutsu-the details sealed. That bit of information was fatally, hush hush. The news of his prowess in the Land of Rain, an active piece in the World Wars and had come out no worst for ware, painting him as formidable opponent and skilled taction. If her meeting with Doctor Mara were to become public knowledge it could be ruinous for international relations when the resistance eventually outed the mizukage, let alone what it would do to her relationships with her allies and countrymen.
Mei's arms folded across her lap she raised one hand revealing a paper-silencing-seal to her guest. The Doctor nodded his consent, and she activated the paper-seal on the cafe table.
"Good evening miss, Terumi!" Doctor Mara greeted energetically as he sat down. His attire was the same as it had been in his photograph in the Bingo Book with the addition of black leather gloves. Mei wasn't able to see past his round glasses, his smile looked venomous, his smile... his teeth were gold? It surprised her, a pretty shade of gold she'd admit to be honest. Steeling her composure she began a dialogue.
"Hello Doctor Mara, I'm surprised to see that it's you whose supporting my comrades, and myself. Your vicinity near the Land of Fire surprises me more-tell me! Has Hanzo taken interest in the Land of Water?" She asked sweetly leaving lipstick on her cup of coffee.
Mara leaned back in his chair, his four-man-squad nearby, uninterested in the conversation, and focused on their surroundings. The two at his sides didn't move much, their individual chakra's jounin and chunin respectively in her estimation, and the rear two shinobi-sentry, which were constant in strolling motion she noticed.
"Seeing as the Land of Water is the fatherland of Hanzo, yes! That would be interesting, but... seeing as Hanzo has been dead for almost two years I would say no. He has no interest in the land of water..." The visible shock Mei displayed widened the doctors smile "The hidden rain as we all know it is no more, not as far as its ruling class." Doctor Mara said mockingly. "If I've told Hanzo once I've told him one-thousand times, kill them all!" His face now frustrated "But peace-this & peace-that!" he bellowed! "They threw his corpse into the street! Like some...! Like some dead dog!" Finally he finished bitterly, his face flush with aggression he threw his fist down onto the table! One of her comrades partially revealed themselves then instantly retreated back: Somewhere in a vertical alley across the street. His rear guard noticed them, halting their roving. Now focused on the alley.
Looking at the doctor closer she saw now that his headband, and the visor's hidden rain insignias were slashed. The four-man bodyguard squad in his company didn't have the marking at all.
"But me..." the doctor's gold-teeth smile was back: his arms raised above his lap spread wide. "How could I say no? and as for my choice of travels, I'm simply stretching my legs." Mei stared, she could see her reflection in his glasses, she'd put his age near that of the Legendary Sanin his voice having a older-masculine smoothness to it.
"I am willing to fund these weapon orders you have requested," Doctor Mara sat upright in his chair, leaned in closer and negotiated with Terumi Mei. "There is a stone that grows on the island south of Nadeshiko village, on the land beneath the sea this stone is abundant, I want the ability to mine them. They're not jewels, or gems, and have to no economic value in your nation or else where." Doctor Mara explained, there was now a small map of the Land of Water between them, he pointed to the southern island.
Mei tried to think of the particular stone he was interested in, her face adopting a look of curiosity, "we don't currently occupy this island, Yagura's military maintain these territories, Kiri's navy patrols here as well, and there's a operational port to make repairs that doubles as a barrack for the local mobile force." She was pointing to several areas on the map identifying kiri's military assets. "There's a small military base as well on the west-side of the island. The resistance does not have the resources or man-power to take the island let alone hold it." She applied fire nature chakra in her palm to reheat he cool coffee.
Doctor Mara's gold teeth shined in the sunset, "I can provide additional forces sum two-hundred troops, ships, and advanced weaponry." He removed a parcel from his coat handing it to the resistance leader. "These weapons have the ability to change the face of warfare as we know it, the ships are fitted with steel instead of wood, and my men are from all over the nations; many of them have the experience of combat in environments such as the Land of Water." The Doctor's resources had visibly intrigued the dual-bloodline user.
Looking at the parcel placed to her: inside were photos of weapons-strange hand held metal objects the length of a katana; attached were small rectangular contraptions. Beneath was a very small lever, in the picture the soldier similar to the ones currently guarding the doctor held it with two hands, the rear of the weapon tucked into his armpit for stability. "You'll provide weapons, shinobi, and ships; quite expensive for someone who doesn't require payment, but regardless the difficulty of occupying this island is still problematic. If it were possible, we couldn't maintain it for long." Mei explained whilst flipping through the photographs of ships, and foreign weaponry.
Mara leaned in, "I won't need long, eight weeks at most." The sun was gone, and the clouded night sky blocked away the moon, the doctor extended his hand across the table to officialize an agreement, Mei did the same the rose from her seat.
"I'll be in contact, Doctor, In two weeks I expect news of my original supply orders, I'll send a liaison to to verify the ships, and additional weapons." Her blue dress shimmered-reflecting what little light the night sky provided; she ended their meeting with a wink and then shushined away. Dr. Mara's smile threatened to split his face, excited for the immediate future, his glee manifested into a chuckle.
A/N: Howdy, yall! I hope you all enjoy this new story, it's been buzzing around in my mind for a long while now. Please review and let me know your thoughts the good and the bad.
I DO NOT OWN NARUTO, ITS CHARACTERS, MAPS OR THEMES,
THIS IS THE MAP I'LL BE USING: michael-madlock/art/NarutoData-com-Naruto-World-Complete-Map-2020-830514934