against the tide - chapter 5
He knew he should never feel exhilaration before success is 100% ensured.
But he couldn't stop the pounding of his heart as he felt the weight of another life sinking into his chakra reserves again.
That was… nearly one thousand unarmed citizens in complete safety. And it's only been a month since he began his plan. Uzushio had a little over twelve thousand inhabitants after the attacks bumped the population down from thirteen thousand. (Conflict killed swiftly.)
He planned to save all of them. Because he was greedy. One way or another. He would find a way to save them all.
Fingers roughly tugged at his cheek and he glanced up at-
"Stop smiling so creepily, kid. You're insane for this." Koji's clone sighed with a long-suffering tone. "How did you even think of this plan?"
Persuading Kashin Koji was a surprisingly easy feat.
Perhaps it was because he was a clone, perhaps it was because his true motives had been a mystery- but he let go of his timeline with all too much ease. Natsuo already knew that Kashin Koji suspected something about him, so he made the decision to confess his past life.
In return, he gained respect.
And-
"Don't overuse your eye."
A mentor.
"I know you have absurd amounts of chakra even for an Uzumaki, but with your plan, you can't afford to even approach chakra exhaustion. The Senrigan might not be as taxing as the Sharingan due to its passivity, but it's still damaging to your spirit as it wasn't designed for human use-"
Or perhaps… a nagging mother hen.
"Listen to me." Koji rolled his eyes. "Anyway, I think the Leader has full trust in me now. You also have an extremely strange reputation, I must inform you. They looked more assured each time I mention you."
"I know." Natsuo muttered. "I think I'm still physically two. It's bound to raise mysteries."
"That's such a peculiar sentence, both in and out of context…"
"And?"
"And I'm actually not as helpful as you might've thought I'd be. Sure, I'm far stronger than your average Chuunin, but a good portion of Jonin in Uzushio are as strong as me. Even when I'm using Sage Mode, there are a few stronger than me."
Natsuo nodded, furrowing his brows. In the older eras, it should've been clear that Jiraiya- Jiraiya's clone wouldn't exactly be the pinnacle of strength, but Jiraiya was on par with Orochimaru, who defeated a weakened Hiruzen. Koji was Jiraiya at his prime… Natsuo had thought that he would at least be above the Jonin standard by far. There were so many powerhouses here- Natsuo knew that even more now, hearing what Koji had to say. In such a small population, there were only two thousand registered shinobi. Many of the civilians still had general knowledge of shinobi arts though, and in newer eras, could be considered Genin. However, with a small pool of two thousand and with the enemy being two Great Nations…
Still, how could they be erased so silently? How could the flames of their lives be snuffed out so coldly? There was so much brilliance in Uzushio.
"Uzushio is severely outnumbered though. In the first place, it's just a really small Nation, barely seen as a unique and talented subset of Konoha."
Indeed, their main clan was the Uzumaki- they didn't have multiple like the Great Nations, and they were still recovering from the Warring Clans Era and First Shinobi War. They were chipped down, little by little, but managed to survive well thus far. Now… the other Nations must be genuinely acknowledging Uzushio as a threat.
Rightfully.
Such a small Village being able to survive major catastrophes with little noticeable impact… Of course they'll feel fear and threat.
Natsuo was going to make this threat even realer.
"…But you're right. They didn't know Shadow Clone Jutsu. After I taught it, it's rapidly changed the tides of battle. Although keeping it under wraps will be hard. There's only so much Henge they can use."
Konoha was still gatekeeping the living hell out of the technique, but after getting ambushed enough times by more shinobi than expected, Uzushio's enemies are bound to figure something's up. The worst thing that could happen right now is getting on the wrong side of Konoha as well, not that the soft-hearted Hiruzen could do anything.
The Uzumaki Clan's reserves with the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu was a nigh undefeatable pair. The only problem was that it hadn't been that long since Tobirama developed that method. With Hashirama, Mito, and Tobirama all passed, the links between Konoha and Uzushio were not as strong. While Iwa and Kiri were hostile, Kumo supported Uzushio's downfall and for Suna, well… Uzushio was its biggest competitor in sealing. So Konoha was a Village they really could not afford to piss off.
(But Uzushio had done so much for them, only to be left like this-)
"You've really thought about this. This really is the only surefire way…" Koji huffed.
Natsuo's plan was simple- at first glance. He had to stage Uzushio's demise while sweeping all the actors backstage, away from sight. Now that he had access to a peculiar brand of summons, he could dream bigger: save thousands of people by reverse summoning them to the domain of the Komainu: Shrine Chinju.
Usually reverse summoning is difficult to achieve, especially on such a large scale, but Uzumaki were an exception in that their chakra was inherently compatible with the Komainu due to a long-lasting blood oath made by the Uzumaki Clan founder.
But full-blooded Uzumaki- most reverse summonable- were powerhouses, meaning they were the ones keeping the front line of battle at bay. Natsuo couldn't afford to pull them away from that, so he targeted the half-blooded and part Uzumaki people which made up the bulk of Uzushio. All he needed was a connection through which the Komainu could be able to locate and thus reverse summon them.
And like it had been with them in the past, symbols of Komainu were adequate. Natsuo swiftly found a craftsman to make simple, replicable charms then forced Koji's clone to learn it and, with the aid of chakra, produce it quickly.
Natsuo had to fully monopolise his reputation as the boy with the godly eye and he removed any last filters on his words to speak like a sage.
"I'm from beyond here." He'd said, with wide, doe eyes. He'd let his Senrigan shine with promise. Simple was always best: "Let me save you."
The recipe wasn't hard: a Komainu symbol, a sliver of Uzumaki lineage, and Natsuo's chakra. He'd learnt chakra transferral intuitively because it danced to his tune and swayed to his bidding with no effort required.
Again, it was all too easy.
He told them to wear the charm on them, then held their hands. He circulated his chakra within theirs, then they would disappear before his eyes to a safer place.
He could feel it as a part of that debt stole a fragment of his chakra. The Shrine held one more life.
He wasn't a genius this time around: he was a Saviour.
From there, it was a domino effect. The Komainu's symbol was revived to a larger extent; they were drawn on clothing and carved from wood. They prayed to that deity and in turn, his summons took them, and Natsuo saved them.
Uzumaki Natsuo was a slave-driver. Kashin Koji heaved out a long breath as he stared over the battlefield.
He's never had to produce so many Shadow Clones before. Some to do menial errands, some to control information flow, and ones to help with fighting. But it would all come to fruition soon.
How long had he known that pipsqueak for?
Natsuo was turned three a few months ago, and as a testament to his constant usage of it, his chakra capacity has skyrocketed with his age- stupidly large even for an Uzumaki. His connections with his summons have been actively maintained for nearly a year by now: it was inhuman.
All unarmed citizens had been relocated to his summons' domain- with the exception of complete foreign inhabitants with no long lasting Uzushio connection- and a good portion of injured soldiers. Some citizens with discreet features had already evacuated to other countries, but Uzushio was almost completely barren apart from the battlegrounds.
"Ashiro-sama."
"Koji," Uzushio's Leader, grandson of Uzumaki Ashina, nodded, then glanced around at Natsuo, perched on his back. "Natsuo-kun."
"Ashiro-jii." Natsuo smiled quietly, perching his chin on Koji's shoulder. "All civilians are safe. The people who couldn't be reverse summoned are in the most secure spot we could find and have plenty of rations to last."
"I set up many discreet barriers." Koji added.
"There is minimal death on the battlefront." Natsuo gazed through his Senrigan. "The Jonin ranks hold zero casualties. Although, they're moving for an ambush by the South. The Kiri Commander called for reinforcements from their third assassination team. I took a look into the past, and it looks like their skillset is primarily-"
Koji settled Natsuo on a chair and listened as he continued to describe in such eerie depths of the enemy's movements. This child was in ways, far more terrifying than Eida. Eida was a cyborg, but Natsuo was human.
A dangerously competent and complex human. As a clone, that in itself caused wariness. While Koji understood that his personality manifested by his own record, his sentiments, memories and skillset felt locked in a detached sense, yet that was justifiable because of his inhumanness.
But Natsuo didn't bat an eye as he began activating his Senrigan, unflinching at the death and carnage. There had been only one thing that shook him in the past: and that was his mother's death, which Koji still couldn't pry details out of.
There had been only one thing Natsuo said: "Munashi. He is the one person I'd want to kill with my own hands if I could help it. But if you find him, make sure he dies a painful death. Someone like that shouldn't roam this earth any longer than he has already."
It was Munashi Jinpachi. One of the new Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Wielder of Shibuki. Cruel. Has an older brother, which he killed recently. Known for assaulting his targets both before and after killing.
Koji could read between the lines.
Natsuo spoke of wicked plans that seemed to breach the boundaries of humanity, even in Koji's eyes.
"The Geneva Convention doesn't exist here." Natsuo'd murmured with a bitter glint to his eyes. "When they attacked our civilian shelter, they had become less than humans to me."
It seemed to be the way he'd coped. By discussing the greatest heights of suffering he could inflict upon this Munashi and Uzushio's enemies.
Koji could feel within the depths of his memories a certain sorrow that came with this.
"The cycle of violence must be stopped."
Jiraiya was someone Koji deemed foolish. Although he was his clone, Koji considered Jiraiya to be inept and pathetic despite his strengths. But what Jiraiya felt so passionately for- it seemed to be engraved into his very blood. That peace-loving, pitiable fool…
As if hearing the remnants of his past self, Natsuo spoke: "I know I'm terrible for doing these things to people who are just tools, but this isn't a cycle. I'll be sure to end it. And make it impossible for the wheel to keep turning."
Natsuo was hardly ever emotional beyond that though. Pragmatic to the point where he blatantly prioritised skilled shinobi over half-blooded children.
"It's their value." He'd muttered. "We can't save anything with bumbling toddlers."
And even know, he rattled on about the weaknesses of their enemies- Their injuries and ailments with little to no emotion. But it was because of this that Uzushio had so little casualties.
But Koji wondered how heavily this weighed on Natsuo's conscious. The kid loved to act cold, but even he had his weaknesses.
"Ashiro-jii, you have to listen to me carefully." Natsuo began again.
He smiled, bemused. "I have been, Natsuo-kun. What is it?"
"Uzushio is still destined to lose this."
Ashiro's expression turned pinched and weary. "Can your eye see the future?"
"I can see the glimpse of a future." Natsuo continued, without giving elaboration on his half-truth. "I have a plan to save not Uzushio, but all that makes up of Uzushio. And you will have to trust me."
"I already trust you." The man looked exhausted. "Speak to me. It already pains me to have such a young child take on such a hefty role. The least I could do is hear your plan and offer my power as your Leader."
Natsuo furrowed his brows and Koji crossed his arms. He didn't really know what Natsuo was about to say either. He was guessing that Natsuo would suggest a small sacrificial group be placed on the front lines as he transports everyone else, but Natsuo also kept talking about a complete saving of Uzushio.
Koji also knew of his plans to lie low while developing Uzushio rapidly within the next two decades.
It made sense: even if they somehow drove off Kiri and Iwa, the suspicions and wariness would only increase and a cold war would erupt for years upon years. Uzushio would be weakened and eventually… wiped out.
"Uzushio and Uzumaki's reputation may plummet after this, but I plan on convincing the world of Uzushio's complete annihilation-" Natsuo's eyes narrowed. "Via disease."
"Disease?"
"The Uzumaki vitality is a mystery to most, so I plan on taking advantage of that." Natsuo continued. "The enemy will realise that the people of Uzushio have gradually disappeared- if they hadn't already. I plan on using a special cultivation of artificially produced cells that act as a poison and also catalyse an unnatural and harmful growth of cells."
It was artificially induced cancer.
"Cancer." Koji confirmed.
"Extremely enhanced and fast-acting. It's visible. Someone had created the method in the past."
It was obviously Tobirama. Natsuo knew that he was a genius with too many ideas- There surely were ones he chose not to disclose- ones far worse than Reanimation.
"What will happen is that we will tag enemy troops with them, and once the right messengers have been sent back to report it, Koji will seal off Uzushio's borders completely and we will kill off all the enemies while they're in disarray. If they react as expected, the enemies outside will be too wary to try take down the barrier. The injured soldiers in the Shrine will be healed and returned to help. Shall that succeed, everything else will be simple. I will relocate all the remaining Uzushio soldiers or keep them in the shelter. Then we'll spread the rumour that Kiri had a faction which were secretly doing human experimentations on the Uzumaki and successfully created a poison which could kill us. However, it ended up killing them as well as us. Then, someone sacrificed their life to close off Uzushio and keep this poison contained in the island along with all the evidence of the research."
"…Sounds easier said than done." Ashiro frowned after a long pause of contemplation.
"All things are that way." Natsuo touched the corner of his Senrigan. "But with power, everything will fall into place. I will make sure of it."
He had, after all, the eye of a god.
Three months later: Konoha
"Kushina!" Minato pleaded over her angered scream. He ducked under a book and glanced behind him, wincing at the shattered spine and crumpled pages. "Kushina-"
"No!" She cried in agony, and the noise sounded like it'd hurt her throat. "Don't talk to me, Minato!"
He quickly snatched at the vase and placed it down besides him. "Please, Kushina, you can't keep-"
"Can't keep what?" She thundered, fists trembling by her side. Tears glittered in her swollen eyes, bruised with dark circles. "Can't keep mourning Uzushio? My family? My clan? My people? My home?!"
"That's not what I'm saying, Kushina." Minato soothed quietly. "You're hurting yourself if you keep acting this way-"
She wailed anew, hurling the nearest thing- an already shattered chair towards him. She grabbed at her scalp and shrieked- "Get out! Get out! Get the fuck out!"
Minato's fingers feathered over his throat. He'd never heard her scream that way before. He thought it must hurt a lot. But he didn't think it was anything Kushina could bother thinking about right now.
What happened to Uzushio would have anyone shocked. After all, news didn't get passed along to children, much less Kushina, who came here alone, or Minato, an orphan. Then suddenly it became big enough that even a hermit would've heard: Uzushio's invasion, the human experimentation, an unknown disease wiping out the survivors, and an enormous, impenetrable barrier cast around the entire island.
Uzushio was gone and any ashes of its legacy were sealed off.
Minato touched the Uzumaki kunai she'd given him before, tracing the swirling pattern. He wondered what would happen to that clan of indominable chakra, bright spirits and flaming hair.
Konoha had announced the beginning of a week-long bereavement period. Whatever Kushina had said or done in the Hokage's office during those ten private minutes, when she was informed, were not spoken of.
The Hokage's desk was quietly and swiftly repaired.
And Kushina herself had refused to speak to anyone nor eat any food. He'd gone to see her as soon as he'd heard, but she'd sent him away coldly. It's been two days.
"Kushina, I'm so worried a-"
"Get out!" She insisted with a stamp of her foot. She staggered, then glared at him. It was desperate and watery. "I can't stand to see you Minato! Looking at you makes me feel angry!"
"I can't stand to see you like this. Hit me if you want. Yell at me. Just don't-" He cried, feeling a prickle in his eyes. "You can't keep living like this. Being alone never helps!"
Kushina's eyebrows creased upwards and her lip wobbled. Her chakra flared dangerously. "Leave me alone. Minato, please. Just give me- Just give me a few more days. I don't think I can bear to see anyone. Not when they're all-"
Minato understood what she was saying.
She couldn't bear it when many children their age didn't understand the gravity of Uzushio's fall. When Konoha was still bustling and lively. When Konoha was alive and breathing.
Untouched by violence.
That it was, until soon after, the Second Shinobi War broke out like wildfire.