"Traps are made so that people will fall into them."
Sasori
Hajime recollected his thoughts and struggled to center them. He had been dealt a severe blow by the Uchiha and Domou, but it didn't come without any benefits. Tunoichi and Takehito were caught in the crossfire, and while he suffered many losses, many of the men who were with him now laid dead and rotting somewhere, the fact those two were caught in it was well worth it.
He wasn't so sentimental that he'd cry or dwell on his loss. They all did their duty to the very end, there was nothing to cry about or mourn. Dying with conviction and resolute without fear is what made a shinobi. To face death, and to have the resolve to see it through, that's what made a shinobi. Things weren't as bad as they had been a few decades ago, the death toll of children on the battlefield was surprisingly low across the board, and even civilians lived quite a bit longer. Though, with his recent plan he could only assume he cut that margin in half and then some with the civilians.
It'd only be a matter of time before things came around as he had planned, and he would seize the opening once it presented itself. The Domou and Uchiha would be nothing but a dreadful afterthought, the Subatsu would be a horrible memory, and the Senju would be an itch that finally went away. Ajo had managed to escape the chaos and battle, but his comrades hadn't been so lucky, and he was willing to bet Daishiro and him were already plotting to overtake them. The Shimura would be an afterthought as well.
He assumed Ajo was nothing short of a spy, even though Daishiro was more than clear that he wasn't and if he wanted to spy on them he'd simply do it himself, to this only went a sneer of contempt.
Daishiro was always difficult to deal with.
He was very self assured and ruthless, but he was uncanny with his intelligence and strategies. He could lay everything out, take it down again and lay out once more in a completely different aspect but it'd all work like small gears connecting and rotating. He could also anticipate events before they took place. He was a dangerous man, the fact he hadn't come by himself meant he never intended to spy on them in the first place, and the fact he had been all but silent other than this one message exchanged between them...Daishiro was either planning something, doing something, or already carried out what he intended to do. In any case it had nothing to do with the Hageshii or himself explicitly
He couldn't care less what that man did so long as he stayed clear of his path and didn't meddle. If it effected the Senju by any stretch that was an even bigger bonus in his book. Hashirama and his bullshit was grating on his nerves, and the fact his bullshit was starting to appeal to some was even more grating. The fact Hashirama somehow got him to agree to that ceasefire-even if it was insincere still grated on his nerves. Whether Hashirama intended to create some village where they could all live in peace, what a load of shit that was, or if he had more evil intentions didn't really matter. The simple fact remained he was becoming an eyesore and anything he did was going to last for a very long time.
The first thing he'd need to do is launch an ambush on the Sarutobi or Hyuga...If and when they reacted, and they would-as hot blooded as Sasuke was and Daiki being nothing short of a hubris bastard. No doubt the Uchiha and Domou would come running towards the melee since the Sarutobi were some ways from the Sand country and the Hyuga were in a village not too far from them either. Once the Hyuga attacked, there wasn't any doubt that the Subatsu would launch an attack and Syrus would be at the very helm.
He'd just pick them off.
So, now he was here at a base he, Koizuki, and the rest of his force made with a series of earth jutsus. Using the remnants of the destruction, Hashirama's sprawling forest, a part of the destruction, and Syrus's debris from his own jutsus. The structures were oblique and awkward, towering, and some were stout. Regardless of how they looked they were able to fit inside of them without much issue regarding space, and they were flooded with suppressing tags in order to seclude their location and themselves. Though, it wouldn't be hard to spot them considering the structures they erected around them, but no one was going to tread out into the middle of the desert for any reason.
There were only a couple of ways they'd be confronted was if there was an extremely and acute sensor among the ranks of their enemies-and sensors like that were few and far between, the second possibility was that someone they had a deep enmity with would search for them relentlessly-as if Tunoichi would even dare... The third and most unlikely was that they were tracked, and have been tracked for quite some time. The last was the most unlikely, because if they had been tracked he'd already know who was doing the tracking and would have already slain them.
That being said he still wasn't going to push his chances. If there was any sensor worth their salt out there they'd be able to sense the small, nearly minute fluctuations caused by the seals and how it suppressed their chakra. He set up many traps around their base, many of them laced with explosive tags with enough power to blow up more than half a mountain, a mere human body would be reduced to bits and then ash when it was all over.
He swore he caught a shadow of magma eyes.
"The Subatsu wolves they're-!"
"Here!"
Hajime whirled around just in time to see Asuna, Osen, and Ryoku run after four of his men, tearing through their chests and sides as they clashed blades. There were was a wolf with them respectively. Both muscular and menacing covered in stark white and gray fur with icy blue eyes. Syrus sprinted passed them, a black wolf flanking him even moving a bit faster. Ever alert, Hajime lunged back, flashing through three hand seals. Dragon. Bird. Boar. "Heh, you wolves. Now I've got you!"
"Release!" Koizuki roared, flashing through several hand seals, his comrades quickly following him.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!
Fire. Earth. Lightning. Wind.
The tags detonated.
The explosions were as tumultuous as were the tremors that it tore into the ground forcing them to spread out. Releasing their pent up wrath and fury in a bright and sheering light. The ground ripped itself asunder against the wrathful force. Fire, earth, lightning, and wind all meeting at once was extremely volatile. For shinobi thought, were under the foolish notion that they could control the elements. They mingled and shifted, sparking and exploding, scorching and dispersing. Normally, one would use a moderate amount of gunpowder-what made the explosive tag what it is, but he had assured that.
The damage was absurd.
As the smoke cleared there was an extremely wide trench-easily over two hundred feet trailing off exactly two miles away from their current location.
"Those damned wolves, it's about time..." A Hageshii shinobi spat.
Something moved.
"I see an army that needs to be cut down to size." Ebisu said brusquely, his nose in the air. "There's going to be a lot of Hatake, Sarutobi, Akimichi...And...Hyuga swarming this area."
"How long?" Syrus asked.
"Hour at the most."
Syrus rolled his neck to the side, well, that was perfect. "Hajime..." He allowed a smirk to cross his face as he took a step forward, clearing away the smoke by flaring his chakra. Ebisu, Usagi, Daji, the rest of the Subatsu division and their summoning wolves followed close behind him, Ebisu's eyes particularly leering on Hajime with killing intent. "That was a real nice plan you pulled off back there." He clenched the hilt of his sword, drawing it in one blinding flash. "Escaping the Domou... You should consider yourself lucky Escaping the Uchiha as well...It's become clear that you are a threat...Your plan had holes in it though, it seems." It was a severe mistake to play into Hajime's hands that time with Hashirama...
It was time to do what he wanted to do before. What he should have done.
Kill Hajime.
"Syrus!?" Hajime barked, and in turn Koizuki and thousands of others flooded behind him, all brandishing their weapons or locking their hands in a seal. "That's impossible, how did you survive!?"
"My Tochiton allows me to shape the landscape with my will...Though, I will say I wasn't expecting the backlash."
"You stupid arrogant..." Hajime seethed quietly, clenching his fists.
I thought you'd all be in the Desert country." Koizuki said coldly, his eyes glinting with a severe amount of malice.
"In the Desert country?" Syrus chuckled. He couldn't wait until he got his hands on Hashirama the next time around, he was going to snap his neck and then rip his head clean from his shoulders for good measure. His healing abilities were just...Phenomenal, but those would be all for naught if he swiped off Hashirama's head or stabbed through his heart. There were few options when it came to killing Hashirama, but every single one was sure fire, if one could connect with the killing blow or slash.
But, for now...
"I've delayed this long enough."
"That's fine, I'll kill you here."
"Go for it." Hashirama may have been one smooth talker and idealistic, and at one point they had reached a common ground...but Hashirama couldn't fool him for even a second. Hashirama and Tobirama were perhaps the most dangerous people there were out there, as ridiculous as it sounded. Syrus knew well enough what could come from their actions, but he had to tie up some lose ends. "I'm just on my way out, and I'm tying up some lose ends. I'm going to tear a rift through this country as leave and mowing you down is my first priority. You are a lose end."
"You bastard!" A Hageshii shinobi made the mistake of lunging forward, and was swiftly brought down by Ebisu as he sunk his teeth into his neck crushing the man's windpipe and sending a geyser of blood rushing around. Dozens more charged, screaming, only to be cut down or brought down to the ground by their throat choking on blood.
Usagi brandished her sword like a windmill, bloodstained and gleaming, her jade eyes narrowing to slits until they were like ice. She flashed into motion. Like lightning. Several Hageshii shinobi. Like a bolt of lightning her blade flashed, arcing, sending two heads flying,skewing across another chest and hip, she finished with a swiping upward slash. It was only a blur splitting across their chest. The next attacker stabbed, not thinking any better, Daji pounced on him, immediately sinking his teeth into the man's thick thigh.
"AUUGGHH!" The man roared out, sword brandished and swiping. Daji reared back, swiping him off of his feet and throwing him across the jagged ground.
Usagi nimbly evaded the blitzing rush, shoving her sword up and through the bottom of his chin. The blade pierced through the top of his skull protruding itself sickly.
"GUAGH!" The man croaked, somewhere between life and death. Usagi tore her blade free, clasping the bottom of her hilt tightly, and shifting sharply, cleaving through the bone and all leaving the splatter of blood to splash onto her.
Usagi lashed out again, unhindered by the crimson, and cleaved across a chest before being halted by Koizuki's blade. "I hear that your kenjutsu is peerless and your blade is feared...Let's put that to the test.
Usagi smirked a wolfish smirk. "Come on, then."
Tsugi bolted after three fleeing Hageshii shinobi. He raised his sword in one hand, and with a swipe he cleaved into the first's and second's backs killing them instantly. The third attacked at the last second, hoping to press the tempo, but Tsugi shifted low and bolted forward slicing the man's leg off at the knee.
Hajime rammed into Syrus. The impact of the collision cracking the ground before caving it around them. "Is that all you've got?" Syrus's voice was low and direct. There was something frightening about how straight-laced and cutting it was.
"Tch." Hajime scoffed, breaking away as he tried to gain distance. Syrus would continue to engage him, relentlessly, and he knew from experience it would get difficult. Syrus's taijutsu was something born of chaos and turmoil, he'd flip and spin, kick his legs and then flip twice while striking out with all of his limbs. He knew every move Syrus made was calculated and guided, though, normally if one fought even a tenth as wild as he did there'd be glaring openings.
He wasn't using that ridiculously massive sword, though it was on his back. His best bet would be to keep it ranged and utilize ninjutsu. But, Syrus wouldn't let him keep it ranged for long, he would engage over and over. It was a shame he hadn't anticipated Syrus breaking off the alliance...He knew that Syrus wasn't the type to ally with a man like Hashirama or the Senju, but somehow the alliance worked and was actually very fruitful for both sides. There must have been internal fights, and a lot of them at that between them.
But, there was the saying...
Never trust a Senju.
"Don't hold back!" Hajime roared. Something inside of him snapped. He seen death regularly, but the way Usagi just skewered into the man's skull was sickening. "Kill every last one of these wolves!"
They all collided. Pushing and smashing against each other until the other gave, and continued to push.
Koizuki dodged Usagi's first arcing movement. He could barely trace the movement. Usagi hid her intent well, and there was no telegraphing on her part. The blade skewed just over his head, he pivoted breaking off to the left, and pivoted again darting towards her.
CLANG!
CLANG!
BOOOM!
CLANG!
BOOOM!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The landscape filled with a cacophony of noise! There were screams, shouts, yells, explosions, clings and clangs of blades clashing. Shuriken and kunai being deflected. Elements colliding in powerful blasts releasing their vicious shock waves soon after.
Asuna twisted, swinging her leg around and knocked a Hageshii shinobi back. Dozens more charged. She swayed away from one, slicing across the length of his thigh, and spun, dashing upwards and ramming his elbow into her next attacker's stomach. Blindingly fast, her blade arced a path.
Osen appeared beside her, already shifting to strike. An arm flew across her vision, a volley of fiery yellow spheres slammed into the ground. The impact was great, and forced everyone to shift their footing sharply at the last second. She just evaded them. Pressing, she nimbly ducked under one hasty swing, jolting forward like a flash, her blade sung, and the man's head rolled.
An explosion ripped across her vision, tearing away in all directions.
Syrus narrowly evaded the overhead swing, slipping in and slamming his knee into Hajme's stomach, pressing it further, armor be damned. Hajime grunted, skidding across the ground. He took advantage of the brief pause, dropping low and swiping sharply as he forced himself into a corkscrew, cracking his knee across the crown of Hajime's head, and drove him back with the follow up kick.
Hajime recovered within seconds, reacting, and twisted grabbing a hold of his leg, and swung him further. Eyes searching, Syrus slammed his right hand into the ground first, fingers as well as wrists absorbing the impact, just as quickly he slammed his left hand into the ground, fingers exploding with force as he threw himself up into the air.
Their battle resumed.
"What's so funny?" Hajime snarled brushing his hand across his chin, as dust and small debris settled around him. It seems... Cold intelligence gleamed in his irises. Keeping it ranged isn't going to be an option...
"Are you starting to get cold feet, Hajime?!" Syrus sneered.
"Not at all..." Hajime settled herself into a stance.
With a shout, Syrus surged forward, sword flashing. His eyes narrowed, and at the last possible second he shifted, the sudden change, increasing his momentum and speed as his sword skewed by the slightest.
"Ngghh!" Hajime skidded back back, chakra enforced wrists easily absorbing the force and impact. The sudden movement saved him from being cut in two, just barely-the first attack was meant to be a killing blow, but it seemed, Syrus could transition in that small gap, instantly changing his attack.
He shoved Syrus back through the trees and rock formations before dashing forward and slamming his sword down. A second later, Syrus's blade arced, colliding with Hajime's in a wailing display of power, Hajime seethed, nearly losing grip of his sword. However, he pressed, and with deft speed his blade brandished its own arc, and Syrus narrowly avoiding skidding back and bringing himself to a halt.
Hajime took a moment to smirk. It wasn't often he got to fight someone like Syrus, the majority of his time had been spent on trying to eliminate Tunoichi and the Shainingu.
Syrus chuckled, phasing into sight just long enough for Hajime's face to register with readiness before he brought his fist down. Hajime managed to avoid the punch, but the backlash smashed into him in crushing waves, the ground where he had been, cracked and dispersed in a horrifying display of power.
He just increased his speed dramatically... Hajime narrowed his eyes, spotting the next quick flash of movement, it appeared to come from every possible direction at once all honing in towards him in unison. There! He surged forward, moving against Syrus's force, and twisted as his blade honed in towards him.You're pretty damn fast on your feet, however...
Syrus shifted, just barely. His blade flashed in an arc.
CLANG!
Their blades collided once more. Hajime threw another punch, but Syrus was aware and slammed one hand into the ground swiping his leg in front of him and kicking off into a wild spin.
Hajime dodged and swayed passed some of the blows, deflecting any strokes that came his way, mindful of his hand placement.
Syrus raised his guard. Hajime took advantage, spearing a shuriken forward. Syrus deflected the projectile with a fast swipe, the projectile veering off, and just as quickly brought his sword down, met with a slash that made him grit his teeth as Hajime fought force with force, the resounding clang was deafening.
Tsugi felt blood splattering against him, tearing through the back of a Hageshii shinobi's back, he sprung to his right, swiping from his hip. "Get him!" He dodged a cloud of shuriken, returning two for good measure.
He sprung forward, starting from his back foot and his toes, letting the power transfer into his hips and explode, his blade flashed, the first five Hageshii shinobi barely had anytime to defend.
Koizuki sped forward, throwing away all restraint. He swung down with blistering speed, tearing through the air.
SRRNNGG!
a piercing howl eclipsed everything, Usagi pivoted once, skewing her blade sideways as she lunged forward pressing off the balls of her foot. Koizuki narrowly evaded the swiping blow. He couldn't focus so much on the blade itself than its trajectory, if he could measure and anticipate that, he'd be able to stay on par with Usagi.
Now to end this! Koizuki glared murderously, chakra soaring-its miles well have shot into the sky, he rocketed easily moving four times faster than before, just a momentarily blur.
Usagi speared forward, sword in one hand as its made its arc, shifting her body with a quick step. She was met with heavy resistance, her blade rattled, but she didn't give, and her stance was firm. Koizuki was using brute strength-he was skilled, but he was seeking to finish her.
THERE!
Usagi flashed.
A cut tore itself into her arm, it was a bit deep, and there was a steady flow of crimson.
She warily shifted her footing, one hand rubbing across the wound. There was a coat of blood. She quickly tore off the band she used to keep her hair in its ponytail and with a purpose she tied it over the cut. Her hair fell like a curtain, trailing beyond her tailbone gracefully and falling all the to the middle of her thighs.
Koizuki seethed in pain, slamming his right foot behind him stopping his trek. He spat out some blood, wiping the streaks away from his chin. A sharp pain erupted in his side, and he already knew it was his ribs or somewhere near his arm. He gasped taking calculated breaths. The wound was indeed to his ribs, and a part of his arm near the triceps and armpit area. There was a steady flow of blood stemming from the wound.
Usagi slowly shifted her footing, eyeing Koizuki keenly.
Koizuki glared at her, gripping the hilt of his sword even tighter as he adjusted his stance.
She couldn't have drawn him into that attack just now-he clearly had that opening...He overestimated his offense in that moment, and Usagi was able to capitalize on it. The wound wasn't nothing to scoff at either. If he had just been a little slower, if he didn't move by that inch...Her attack would have tore right through his ribs and it would have been as good as over.
Even if the wound didn't kill him, the fact he couldn't breathe would mean he could properly mould his chakra-there'd be no focus. He'd only be doing more than good in that moment, Usagi won and she'd end it.
He unleashed a quick barrage of lightning corkscrews.
Usagi deftly evaded the streaking swarm of volts.
He dodged Usagi's next swipe by a bare inch slamming his blade against hers and surged forward with quick and decisive steps. Usagi grunted, pressing both hands on her hilt, twisting away to the side, blade binding against Koizuki's as she halted their trek. Their feet tore into the ground, pressing her balls of her feet back, Usagi instantly balanced herself.
Koizuki grabbed her wrist, stepping forward and swinging to the side, Usagi shifted him with him as he pushed, and let go. Usagi's blade flourished, flashing across the top of his wrist as she shot away from him. A kunai flashed across her sight, reflexes saved her but it trailed a thin cut on the side of her face.
Rgghhh..." Koizuki growled in anger, glaring at Usagi before glaring at the wound on top of his wrist. It was shallow but well placed. Just a few inches deeper and he wouldn't be able to wield his sword with this hand.
He rammed his knee into Usagi's stomach, swinging his arm down and smashing his his blade against her own, his wrists absorbed some of the impact, grit and willpower absorbed the rest. Nothing could be done about the gash that tore itself through his blade, splitting it in two.
Koizuki spun away from the vicious slash that would have taken his head off, quickly lashing out with a quick punch, but Usagi streaked under his fist, and he shot back skidding across the harsh terrain as he forced himself to a halt. It was clear fighting Usagi with kenjutsu was going to be a losing effort in the long run, he was keeping pace with her, and was, but she was easily more talented and skilled...And while his skill was nothing to scoff at, Usagi was peerless, and that much was evident.
Usagi snarled, slamming one foot into the ground while bringing the other up with a blast of chakra letting it fly as she pushed off the ground, soaring for dozens of feet as fireballs tore their way across where she stood and dozens of feet around it, burning and obliterating everything in their path and anyone who wasn't fast enough to get away.
"Well, looks like I'm not too late to this little get together." Sasuke said with a cocky sneer as he landed on a branch a few meters away. He stood with the same oozing confidence as always, chakra rolling off of him in waves. His force shot around in all directions from behind him, clashing with the Subatsu and Hageshii in one giant cloud.
Hajime swung his arms up just in time to block another series of blows from Syrus. He grunted as the impact jarred his bones and ground his teeth, Syrus twisted sharply and back he dashed off to the side honing in on Sasuke. "Sasuke..."
"Hajime...Syrus." Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he locked them with Syrus's-his summoning Ebisu somewhere coated in blood like the rest of the wolves, but staying close to Syrus. He'd need to stay aware, if he got bit, his bones would definitely shatter. He flicked his eyes onto Hajime-no doubt the wily man was scheming something up, probably a way to escape his current predicament. "I find it odd that Hashirama and Tobirama aren't with you." The Senju were always an enemy to his clan, not quite as much as the Shimura, but still a top priority. Butsuma was a real prick when he had still been alive, and he clashed many times with him-often leaving Butsuma with a gash.
"Well, it's funny you should mention that..." Syrus said, allowing a small smirk to cross his face. "I cut my alliance short with them...
Sasuke's eyes narrowed
"In other words they are my enemies now..."
"You lie!" Sasuke spat. The alliance was fruitful between their clans, he couldn't guess what underlying tensions had erupted between the two of them. Hashirama, as far as he knew was extremely idealistic as he was powerful, wanted nothing more than peace, and had even sent a ceasefire to the Uchiha. Madara rejected it, of course. Sasuke could respect Hashirama to some extent, the man was honest to a fault, and really seemed to desire peace and was adamant about it.
...but Madara, Izuna, and the Uchiha...Who killed each other to gain power, so they said, and how their...Hatred... It was clear Madara didn't desire the same things that Hashirama did. And, then the Subatsu and Domou-Syrus and Mikito, Souji and Haji, Ahiko and Usagi, all of them-nothing short of monsters, demons, wolves, and just forces of nature that were wild, unrestrained, and uncontrolled. Cannibals if one was foolish enough to believe the rumors, but seeing the way they attacked and just mowed down their opposition-he could see where that little thing could start from...They were savage and brutal...Primal...Primitive.
"If what you say is true..." Sasuke's eyes gleamed with something other than confidence.
Syrus was glad he put an end to the alliance. The Senju... If this is how they would react hearing that he broke his alliance with the Senju, he would like to see their reactions when he the earth with Hashirama's corpse and utterly defeats them all as a whole.
It would be worth a laugh.
Hajime's eyes widened briefly. "You couldn't have thrown away your alliance with the Senju!" He all but roared in outrage. Hashirama was naive and foolish, in his opinion, and he'd never be able to stomach being in the same room with him, but the Senju were one of the mightiest clans in the world. They always held and had massive influence, and if one was lucky enough to ally with them...Not only that, but Syrus needed the alliance, there was no way he could take on the Uchiha and Domou.
But...It was odd...The Uchiha and Domou were getting along swimmingly and had entered a permanent alliance several weeks ago.
What prevented the Senju and Subatsu from doing the same thing...
There were obviously many internal clashes between Syrus and Hashirama, Tobirama and their clans in general. There were underlying tensions and hostilities. But, their clans were just polar opposites and it was to be expected-the Senju weren't austere and ascetic like the Subatsu clan and the Subatsu clan didn't believe that love was the way to peace, a their power, like the Senju did. They could never get on the same page, Hashirama and Syrus could never get on the same page.
The Subatsu would have been better off trying to ally with the Uchiha...Or even the Domou. The Uchiha were similar enough to them, both were extreme in their own ways and thirst for battle. He had no doubt that Syrus and Madara could find a common ground sooner or later, and despite being rivals and enemies the Domou and Subatsu were almost the same...They were both austere, ascetic, and highly uniformed. They followed the same ethics, laws, and code or it was so parallel to each other that it was almost uncanny.
If they had allied with the Domou...Allied with the Uchiha...Or allied with both of these clans...
Things could have taken a much different turn. The trio were made for each other.
Realistically speaking there would be very little in the way of the trio of doing whatever they wanted, even the Senju wouldn't be able to contend with them.
"That's a funny way of putting it, Hajime...But, I am not lying, my alliance with the Senju is finished...as far as I am concerned they are one my top enemies." Syrus said lowly, voice leaking with hostility as he let his killing intent explode out from every single pore, chakra swelling rooting itself into the ground. It's what he hated the most. How people held the Senju in such a high regard, and put them on a pedestal. Put them above everyone else. Every clan. It was sickening-the Subatsu were never fame chasers and extremely reclusive, even more reclusive than the Uchiha... Did these two think he needed that half brain dead oaf Hashirama...
He had been leader of the Subatsu since he was fifthteen and there wasn't a time before or after this that he ever needed Hashirama. He fought to become leader, through sheer strength and will did he take the mantle of leader of the Subatsu...Not through birthright or privilege. Cold rage boiled through his veins as he formed the horse seal, taking a hold of his rooted chakra and letting it explode.
There is always opportunity... Hajime smirked at last, his eyes honing in on two shinobi...
The first was Daiki, but the second...
"Didn't I give you a warning!?" Daiki's vicious snarl echoed against their era.
"This should make things a bit more interesting. Daiki I was waiting for you." Sasuke smirked arrogantly, drawing his sword with one quick flick of his wrist. "Atsushi, I was wondering when you'd decide to show your face killing your subordinates does get old after awhile, they never were able to get the hint."
"I've gotten reports that there were many Sarutobi, Domou, Subatsu, Senju, and Hyuga shinobi attacking the Akimichi in this area." Atsushi's voice deep and stern, ran through the ground like a pipe filtering out in every direction with bass. His appearance was characterized by his height, mass, and dark brown spiky hair that fell to his middle back-he easily stood at seven feet even a few inches taller, and weighed in over four hundred pounds. His armor was a stark crimson with the Akimichi symbol emblazoned in the center of his chest plate.
He was the most massive and tallest present out of all the men gathered, Syrus's form was more muscular, Sasuke's as well while Daiki and Hajime were a bit more lean, and none didn't have anywhere near the height of Atsushi. The closest was Syrus who stood six foot three. "I have come to finally take action, and now I see that it is all true...There are Akimichi heads on stakes near the Sand country!"
"Why don't you just shut the fuck up..." Syrus grinned a wolfish grin. "We're all passed this talking, Atsushi. If you have any problems with that, you should take that up with the Madara and Mikito..." They'll be around soon enough.
"I'll get to them..." Atsushi glowered down at Syrus. "For now, I'm going to crush all of you."
"I'd love to see you try that, fat ass." Sasuke spat in derision.
Izuna cursed.
He flew up the stairs of the castle, merely gliding it seemed-almost floating. He had been on a simple patrol outside the walls to the outer most boundaries which were now marked with heads on stakes-his brother and Souji really seen that through. The Subatsu's chakra were unmistakable and after clashing with them dozens of times he could pinpoint it without much effort.
The first thing he thought to do was give chase, but the number of them all traveling together it was simply too much for even him and a few units to handle. There had to be a division, plus who they arrived with and those that came soon afterwards-it wasn't small by any means. Syrus was also present, and that man was making no precautions to hide his chakra.
It brought up a series of questions but very few that were swimming around within his head could be more prominent than 'why weren't the Senju with them?' Izuna couldn't begin to even guess why not, but he was a pretty rational person and the first thought that came to mind was that their alliance ended...Though, that could be irrational. The alliance between them had been very fruitful for both sides, in fact it nauseated him to how well it had been going-Syrus and the Subatsu would never ally with someone like Hashirama and the Senju unless it was out of necessity.
Of course...They could just be simply moving on their own, but more often than not Hashirama, Tobirama, and the Senju were with Syrus and the Subatsu, and vice versa. Because more often than not they'd encounter each other, the Sarutobi or Akimichi, or one of their respective units, and while both the Senju and Subatsu were mighty individually they couldn't beat his clan and the Domou if they were completely unified and on the same page.
On one hand it provided an opportunity...If he could ally the Uchiha with the Subatsu..And, somehow the Domou and Subatsu come to an alliance...There really was nothing that could stand in their way...And, he couldn't help but think what kind of children their clans would produce-undoubtedly they'd be powerful physically and chakra wise, the Domou's and Subatsu's genes would assure that, and they'd have the Uchiha's Sharingan and their own potent chakra.
On the other hand it provided another barrier. There was no way Souji or Madara were going to agree to an alliance...Mikito might have, but he got the feeling she wouldn't for some reason or another. He also couldn't bring himself to come to an alliance with them-the fact they had been near the Senju for so long was detesting enough, even if they could never get on the same page. Point was they used to be allies with the Senju.
But...There was something even worse...
That's why he was racing towards Madara's chakra.
Mikito had opted to leave to meet their division leaders that were within the region. Madara hadn't argued against it and so she took Masa, Isamu, Chiasa, Isami, Bunji, and a small unit of Domou and Uchiha with her. He would have gladly went with-Madara and Souji were more than enough to handle the castle and any threats that came in this direction, but Mikito was insistent that he remains. He had been a little insistent that he goes with.
That was about four hours ago.
"Izuna?" Madara questioned, voice rising sharply as his younger brother slid the door open to the room he and Mikito shared and entered it without a care, but there was hastiness in his step as if he had been running. He watched his younger brother with a careful gaze as he strode to one end of the wall and pitched his gaze towards him. "What is it?" He slowly sheathed his glistening blade, securing it at his side. Izuna looked a bit on edge, which was unusual. He was normally a bit carefree but never failed to be serious when he had to. Rarely, had he looked on edge.
"It's Mikito, she's sent a letter!"
"What's in it?" Madara paid close attention. He couldn't quite shake the chill that went down his spine. For awhile now he had felt that something was just...off. It was out of place.
The letter had some length and Mikito's hasty calligraphy was, well, hasty. There had been a confrontation between the Uchiha and Domou of the two divisions, and he couldn't exactly say he was surprised. Their two forces had clashed for nearly weeks aside from a few. The whole confrontation ended when a woman from the Domou clan slammed four men at once with very little effort. He had been expecting as much, again...but the two divisions quickly got on the same page after some...thing...Things made their presences known. There were several other clans moving as well-hundreds of miles apart of course, but there were steady conflicts. Izuna couldn't quite believe it when he read it, and he swore he must have been misreading, but the sensation of his heart dropping to his pit was prominent and his mouth got very dry. "Mikito has made contact with the division leaders and is making her way here now...But, there's..."
Izuna was also never one short on words, so when he got silent like this...Madara knew something was wrong.
"Three Bijuu and seven Cyclops are chasing after them and every other division that is making their way to this region... Syrus and his division of Subatsu are tearing through the region and are right on course to collide with them, he's already battling Sasuke, Atsushi, Daiki, Hajime and their forces." Izuna finished.
Madara's eyes widened briefly. The Bijuu...He hadn't heard about them, at large, since Hashirama and Syrus battled the Two Tails back in the Fire country. They were just chakra monsters, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop them-combat them maybe, but there was no stopping them. Dealing with one was going to turbulent enough, and depending on which ones they were it could add an even deadlier element... There were very ancient texts in the Uchiha that detailed one's visual prowess growing to such an extent they could control the Bijuus-with the Mangekyo. But, there were a lot of complications that came along with it, and nearly controlling them perfectly was just a fool's dream.
There was nothing to control a Cyclops, and those beasts wouldn't even give him the time to blink...Yet alone activate his Mangekyo.. No, there was only one way to deal with those abominations, and that was kill them and then burn them alive so there was nothing left. Maybe even up it to Amaterasu, regular fire may not to do the trick.
To complicate things even further he now had to deal with Syrus, Sasuke, Daiki, Hajime, Hashirama, and now the massive Atsushi on top these beasts.
"Where's Hashirama?"
Izuna tried not to sneer at his brother's question. He knew of their long rivalry, but it really grated on his nerves. "Him and the Senju haven't moved, and I don't think they have I would have felt them if they had...Besides you know Tobirama would come here first."
Madara held back his chuckle and nodded strapping on his last piece of armor. Tobirama would do anything to get an edge over them, and that meant the Domou now as well, but he would find it wasn't so simple as it used to be. Souji would have him on the other end of his blade. Mikito wouldn't tolerate his bullshit and would skin him alive. Any Domou unit would chase him down and drag him back limb by limb, literally.
"They haven't moved and yet Syrus is moving..." Madara mused it to himself, but found there could only be one rational answer...The alliance was ended, and it was likely Syrus ended it. "Gather everyone that is ready and able to fight, I'm going to take one half with Souji and meet Mikito. You take the other half and flank me, we should encounter Syrus and anyone else along the way."
"I got it." Izuna gave an affirmative nod.
"I'm going to take Yuko with me, she has proven to be capable." Madara moved for the door, but Izuna halted him.
"Take Ahiko with you, I'll take Yuko." Izuna tried to keep his expression and tone neutral. Madara may have accepted his choice to marry Yuko, but that didn't mean he was still lingering with anger from his choice. Madara wouldn't actively bring harm to Yuko, but the off chance they were separated...Izuna hardened his gaze just slightly. "Ahiko's talents are best suited with you."
Madara had half a mind to tear Izuna's ear off. He wasn't questioning his order, but he wasn't exactly following it either. He knew Izuna had very real feelings for Yuko, and while it angered him to no end Mikito made it simple for him. He needed to accept and respect Izuna's choice, and while he did, that didn't mean he still wasn't angry about it. Yuko was his woman anyways, he was married to Mikito and quite frankly didn't want to babysit. Yuko proved she was capable, but if Izuna wanted to this, then so be it. Ahiko's talents were better suited with him than Izuna. "I'm not in the mood to dispute this right now, so I'll concede."
"Do not let her distract you." Madara added tersely.
"Brother, when do I-"
"Izuna..." Madara's tone signified that he was not playing any games, and wouldn't be playing into Izuna's games either. He was happy for his brother, for so long Izuna put the clan first and above everything else, even his own life. Now, he had the chance to have his own life, his own family, his life just wouldn't be dedicated to the clan. But, he would not let Izuna grow soft, and he would not let him get killed. "I see how you are with her and the way you two talk to each other. Do not let her become a distraction."
Izuna sighed softly. "Brother, she wouldn't lead me to my death." He considered himself lucky to have a caring and protective brother like Madara, but sometimes he could just be a little too extreme.
Madara held Izuna's gaze for a moment before nodding. "I know." Yuko wouldn't lead Izuna to his demise, because she knew good and well that if Izuna was killed she'd be soon to follow afterwards, she had a healthy fear for him and Izuna...Though, it wasn't exactly good for him to be feared by his own kinsmen as clan leader, but if it kept certain things in check then he was willing to go with it. Fear was always a great tool. Yuko wouldn't lead Izuna to his death, but he had no doubts Izuna would lead himself to his own death if and when that time arose...When Yuko...And he would be damned if he lost his only blood brother. "That's not what worries me, but nonetheless we have things that need to be taken care of."
Izuna nodded silently. Madara was always going to worry and fuss over him in his own Madara-ish way, he had grown to accept it. "Be careful with the Mangekyo brother..." Chances were they'd be using the Mangekyo a lot respectively with this conflict, but Madara used his much more than he did as of late, and he wasn't willing to take any risks with Madara. Worse came to worst he'd save him with his own Mangekyo. There were consequences with overusing the Mangekyo, and it was something Izuna didn't wish to entertain.
"I'll worry about the effects of the Mangekyo once this all over with."
The Wind country was the second most populated area in the region, and one would have to consider it surprising that it wasn't the first most populated area. It was nestled perfectly within a rock formation-almost a valley and there was only one way and one way out. The city was made almost in sections, going in each cardinal direction and meeting together dead center to the damiyo's massive estate that towered head and shoulders above every building.
Daishiro knew this well.
This woman apparently didn't.
The sound of a pained moan, the feeling of flesh resisting only to give a moment later, and those pain filled green eyes. He couldn't hide the smirk that crossed his face as he slowly tore his blade free from the Uzumaki woman's torso leaving blood to gush from the exit wound. Ajo and two Shimura released her, letting her drop to the floor with a loud thud and bleed out from the wounds she sustained. "I know you Uzumaki are a stupid and stubborn lot..." Daishiro peered down at her coldly. There was only one stab wound this woman received the rest were bruises and cuts, he didn't want to kill her or even leave her on death's door, he needed her to be competent and conscious. "But, if you don't tell me where that scroll is I will make you suffer..."
"I...Don't have it..." The woman gasped, bringing a hand over her wound. There was a fine coat of blood matting her hand and still flowing outward, everything was hard to do even retorting to these brutal and heartless men was proving to take far more effort than before. "I told you...Already."
"Maybe she doesn't have it." One of the Shimura shinobi ventured.
Ajo crossed his arms over his chest, letting out an agitated breath. This woman really got his nerves when she was just talking...But, now she just infuriated him, after four hours of being whipped and beaten and now stabbed she still refused to tell them where the Hyoton scroll was. Maybe it was that misled sense of Hashirama coming to rescue her, or the fact the Uzumaki were going to try and make a move, or maybe it was the wound Daishiro left in her torso that was making her borderline delusional. "She has it."
"But, Ajo we've been doing this for almost five-"
Ajo glared at the dark haired man. "She has it!" He barked , grabbing the woman by her slender neck and hoisting her up with little effort. She had some weight on her, nothing at all like the lithe and light nobles he had been used to hauling around. She had a good amount of muscle, and her chakra was pulsing underneath her skin spurring by her emotions. "Where is it?! You stupid, spiteful wench?!"
"Maybe I should have taken one or two of those shinobi that were guarding you." Daishiro said with a quiet sigh. He strode towards her-just two steps, and glared directly in her eyes as Ajo held her up with one arm. Not everyone was motivated with direct pain, it was always the best motivator, but it didn't always work out when a person was just so stubborn. Then things required a darker approach, maybe speak of their family, or in this case it'd be to torture Uzumaki shinobi in front of this woman.
"It wouldn't make a difference..." Wounded and beaten the woman refused to lose any of her dignity and glared at Daishiro before turning her eyes onto Ajo. Nothing would change other than the fact there'd be three Uzumaki here instead of just her, and while it could have boosted her morale slightly...It didn't change the grim nature of the situation and the fact they'd be killed just to get under her skin. "I don't have the Hyoton scroll!"
"But, it would... You see we could skin them alive right in front of you." Ajo said with a malice sneer. "I bet we wouldn't even get started and you'd be shouting at us ready to give answers...Begging us to stop... But, we need someone you care about or one of your loved ones." He smirked seeing fire burn in those green irises, and with brutal force he slammed a hand across the side of her face, releasing her and letting the impact of his strike throw her into the floor. "Unfortunately, we don't have that sort of leverage. But, say if we were to threaten Hisao with your life, would he be inclined to give us the scroll then, if you are not..."
Daishiro watched Ajo and this woman stare the other down. The Shimura never liked the Senju or Uzumaki, both of the clans were stupid and spent their time with the heads in the clouds instead of focusing on reality. They were haughty and infuriating, believing themselves to be better than everyone else and putting themselves up on pedestals. Ajo took it to an extreme and would brutally kill any Senju or Uzumaki that he came across-one particular incident he left a Senju shinobi with a slit throat and gouged eyes. If this woman wasn't going to tell them then maybe they'd be able to find a different use for her, she either didn't know where it was or she was just playing the part. Killing her would be enjoyable, but not productive.
"I don't have the Hyoton! And, the Uzumaki don't have it!" The woman snapped, curling in on herself as the pain in her torso exploded from her shouting. All the pain she felt up to this point paled compared to this pulse of burning agony. Taking quick breaths, she struggled to reign in the pain and her growing ire.
"If we push anymore we could kill her." The second Shimura shinobi said carefully. His dark eyes looking her over, careful not to let indifference shroud them. "She is starting to grow quite weak, and with that wound to her torso..."
"AHHHHHHGGHH!"
Ajo grinned as blood gushed around the tip of his kunai as it embedded itself into the woman's hand and pierced through her palm in a sickly fashion. There was a small splash of blood, nothing like a gaping gash or wound to the chest or face, but it was still a splash and began to coat her wounded hand. With a squelching twist Ajo tore the tip free, eliciting another scream from the woman and taking careful note of the wound left behind-center of the back of her hand and how blood squirted as the tip of his kunai left. She wouldn't have full use of her hand again, and if it got worse, she'd lose her hand and her entire arm because of infection. "You had your chance. Now you can lose your hand and arm."
The woman could barely manage a glare.
"Daishiro!"
Daishiro turned towards the door as it flew open. He had half a mind to attack whoever the hell it was, and focused chakra into his fist, but halted once he seen it was one of the damiyo's soldiers. The armor clad man looked at the blood on the floor, the woman close to it, than back up to them. He couldn't see what was going beneath that mask but he'd have to guess the soldier was horrified to see such a thing, or was calculating something. Probably the first. "What is it?" He asked brusquely. He didn't want this interrupted by any means.
"There are Uchiha, Domou, Akimichi, Hyuga, Sarutobi, Hageshii, and Subatsu shinobi battling near our borders! There are also several monsters..."
Monsters... Daishiro's eyes narrowed to slits. "Ajo come with me. It's time..."
Soon...It'll happen. Ajo thought with a ready smirk as he followed after Daishiro. "I'll gather the men."
The door slammed shut, but she didn't take any relief until Daishiro's and Ajo's chakra was spurring out of the village, and even then she didn't take any comfort. There were Shimura few dozen floors above and under her. Her entire body practically stung and pulsated with little pinpricks of pain, her hand and torso felt like they were on fire. Painfully, she turned one eye towards her wounded hand and felt her heart sink to her pit. With a wound like that she'd either lose her hand or her entire arm...
With teeth clenched she kept her tears at bay. Nothing was for certain in their world, and death was always at the next stop. It was foolish and childish of her to be brought to tears about this, but...She loved her hands and arms, the mere thought of losing them was enough to make her well up with tears. She wouldn't be able to spar again, wouldn't be able to experiment with Fuinjutsu, nothing she did would ever be able to be done the same again...Some things wouldn't even be possible to do anymore.
It was childish...But...She didn't want to lose her arm or hand.
One tear escaped her threshold before she wiped it away with her good hand. She never considered herself to have good or rotten luck, she had a good life, a good family, her sisters could be a little out of control and her little brother could be a handful, but that as life and she enjoyed their antics. They'd always go to one of the canals that made up their village and jump in or start playing and go in the water to cool off growing up. She loved her home and the life she had...But...Now she would more than likely die here.
The wound Daishiro inflicted was indeed deadly-well it could be deadly, but then that'd be up to the person and their will to live. If he had just went a few more inches off to the side he would have struck her heart. If it didn't immediately kill her it would get infected, and the first thing that would be a target were her lungs. They'd get infected. Dying was always in the back of her mind, but dying by suffocation-so painful and terrifying, it was never a way she wanted to go.
Those men... She couldn't help but bitterly think of Daishiro and Ajo. They were terrible men, heartless and cruel that would stop at nothing to achieve their goals and get what they wanted. Ajo seemed to enjoy seeing her get so angry and flustered, but when she'd retort he'd get so angry, and then it became a dangerous game between them constantly trying to push the other. She couldn't be like that with Daishiro-she was honestly afraid to be near him and see those dark unforgiving eyes lock onto her. Ajo was difficult, but Daishiro-she couldn't handle him...She just wanted to roll in a ball and cry, he exhibited no emotion, and the way he just tore into her...He was ruthless.
To think it was all for nothing.
She didn't have the Hyoton scroll.
She'd die here for nothing.
"Ngghhh..." Another tear escaped her eyes as her hand throbbed. It twitched, and every little nerve erupted in tandem sending her over the edge. She barely leaned herself up against the wall when the door opened and one of the damiyo's soldiers entered stoically. Instincts told her to get away, but her survival training told her to attack, but that for naught. If she killed this man another forty would swarm, followed by any Shimura shinobi that didn't go with Daishiro and Ajo, it wouldn't turn out well in her favor. I can't...Believe this... She frowned shortly before turning her focus back onto the soldier. I'm going to die here...I won't be able to say goodbye to my siblings...
"As you can see..." The woman glanced as the soldier began to speak in a rough tone. He had moved a few more feet and behind him were two men-one a bit on the tall side while the other was a little short. They wore the servant garb that all servants wore in this estate. She clenched her teeth for a moment. hoping the two servants didn't see her expression. She couldn't be disgusted and angry with them, if they didn't listen they'd be killed, and nobody wanted to die. "There is a lot of blood in here from this peasant woman. Clean it up, this may be a storage room but my lord won't tolerate such a mess."
"I understand." The shorter man bowed slightly as his taller assistant began to scrub the blood that had gotten on the wall. He grabbed the pale and blue rag, wringing the rag out before carefully running it over the blood. "This may take us some time, there is quite a bit of blood on the floor." He eyed the soldier carefully before flicking his eyes onto the red haired woman, staying indifferent as he took note of the wound on her torso and hand.
"Hmph. See to it that it is done." The guard scoffed lightly before exiting the room and shutting the door behind him.
I can't believe this...I've got no way out of here and my hand is as good as done... Green eyes narrowed before misting over. The pain was getting to be unbearable, quite literally, and moving her hand-even a mere twitch of her fingers sent so much pain through her. I couldn't see my siblings one last time before I passed, I couldn't see my village... Daishiro and Ajo tore everything away from her and planned to keep it away. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time, as cold as that was to surmise all of this, it was true. If she anticipated this, hadn't been so relaxed on her home island... "Why don't you just stop cleaning...I'm going to die here soon enough."
"I've been tasked with this." The shorter man replied, going to work on little droplets on the wall before moving onto the floor. "If you do die then we will deal with it when the times comes.
The tall man said nothing but there was a small wince in his form. His dark eyes peered over his shoulder at the woman's wounded and battered form. It wasn't like she'd die in a matter of seconds or even minutes-the wound on her chest was pretty severe and while it wasn't bleeding as horribly as it could be, it was because whoever inflicted it held back just enough to not tear clean through her flesh and bone. The wound on her hand had to be the worst...She would definitely get an infection and lose her hand, even arm, if she didn't get it treated at all the infection would spread...
"Clean this spot." His shorter leader told him sternly.
Rubbing the blood away didn't quell his underlying worry or quiet fury. He never made it a habit to hit woman, even if they were powerful. He respected them, respected their strength, but he could never hit them-call him old fashioned or chivalrous. Women didn't get the credit they deserved for everything that they did for their men and did for their clan. The woman gave the man a peace of mind, a peaceful home, a family, and she was always there to melt away his stress and sleep cocooned with him through the whole night. Seeing this woman so beat up made him angry. No woman deserved to be treated this way, ever.
She tried to ignore the two servants as they handled their tasks. They weren't here to speak to her or look at her, and just the same she wasn't to speak to or look at them. They were merely servants and if they even looked in her eyes it could be a punishment-servants were to never look their masters or people like her in the eye...It was such a sad thing...The Uzumaki didn't have any servants or anything like that...Everyone pulled their own weight and helped out. They didn't believe in caste systems. Speaking to these two would ease her heavy mind, she had so many thoughts and going on regrets since she'd be passing on early. "Ummm..."
"Yes?" The shorter man asked.
"Do you have something to say?" The taller one questioned further.
The woman nodded softly, eyes zoning in on the floor for a moment before she looked back up. "I'm going to die soon...And, I have many regrets."
"You shouldn't say such things." The taller man said softly, scrubbing the floor with a little more vigor. The blood was starting to dry.
"I have younger siblings back at home...I was supposed to meet with them after my trip to one of the canals." The woman started softly. "I have four younger sisters and one younger brother. My father wanted me to keep an eye on them since they can be a handful and his strength is waning in his old age." Hisao was still very strong, but he wasn't like what he used to be in his younger years, and as the days dragged on he was losing more and more strength. She could see the light slowly leaving his eyes. "He loves us all dearly, of course...But, they can still be a handful at times. At this point our clan can do one way or another, I was the heiress, but this event has no doubt caused a great deal of chaos..None of them can become the leader of our clan, there's too much small details that they'd miss."
"You're telling us this, because..." The shorter man glanced at her.
"I want you to deliver this letter to them." The woman shakily pushed a scroll forward. "I wish I could say it to them myself, but..." She didn't want to admit she'd die by such wounds in front of these kind of men-she had nothing against them, but a kunoichi would never expose herself to such an extent just to her husband. But, these two were here now, and wouldn't be when she was long passed, so...
"You can say it to them yourself." The taller man said a bit sternly. Rage and fury weren't quite pitching his tone, but there was anger clearly in it. He knew what sort of burdens befell on the eldest born in clans, but this girl had it a lot harder than most. Her father was growing weaker by the day, she had at times five out of control siblings, and on top of that she had an entire clan not including these six people. Hisao growing weaker by the day wasn't something that'd be easy to watch and endure-his father had died in his prime and there was no type of waning process.
"W-What are you saying?" The woman looked shocked and surprised all the same.
The shorter man sighed softly.
"I am here to rescue you, eldest daughter of Hisao." Hashirama pulled the hood off of his head, letting his dark curtain of hair down, and by all mans letting the disguise drop like a second barrier. He couldn't sit by and listen to her speak such sad things, he could heal her wounds and assure that she could return home, but he may have let his emotions get the better of him again...
"Hashirama..." Satoshi pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Oh, well..." Hashirama scratched the back of his head, eyes zoning on the red haired woman as he scratched the back of his head. They had managed to get in disguised as a pair of servants in the castle, and their plan had worked, but he may have just ruined it. Waiting in silence for a few moments, and not sensing anyone running towards their direction, he took a soft breath. "We were in disguise."
"Were..." Satoshi said a bit dryly, carefully peering out the window into the village below. There were Shimura everywhere. "Do well to stay quiet and keep your chakra nearly extinguished, there are Shimura everywhere."
Taking in the piece of information Hashirama and the red haired woman talked in whispers.
"You came to rescue me..." The woman dared to hope as she beamed at the two men before her...She never would have guessed that these two were shinobi, their chakra had been close to extinguished and were by no means anything noteworthy.
"That's right." Hashirama offered a kind smile. "Hisao sent the news to me, and I assured him I'd make sure you were safely returned."
"So..." The woman eyed Hashirama carefully taking in his appearance. He was a bit on the tall side, his skin was a dark tan, and his hair and eyes were shades of black. All in all he looked quite impressive, and he had quite a bit of muscle on his frame as well. "You're Hashirama Senju?"
"Yup." Hashirama offered another kind smile. "This is my comrade, Satoshi."
Satoshi just gave a glance at her before nodding and directing his focus back outside, Hashirama's outburst had unnerved him to a degree.
"How did you find me in this room?" The woman couldn't help but ask, enthralled by the tall man before her known as Hashirama. Daishiro had made it clear there were very few people that would even come in this part of the estate.
"I seen red strands of hair. They reminded me of Tomato soup, and so I followed them to this room. Guess it helped half way through our search some soldiers directed us this way. But, we were already on our way." Hashirama answered a bit absently, not finding anything wrong with the way he put things, naturally. Her hair was almost the exact color of Tomato soup, and since that's all he could base it off that's what he did. There wasn't much that was similar to her red hair other than that. "Would you mind telling me what your name is..."
Satoshi sighed again. Hashirama may have been powerful, but he was ten times more dense.
"Well..." The woman huffed quietly, trying not to be so angry with his explanation, but it wasn't exactly flattering being compared to Tomato soup, even if it was a good soup. It was her favorite soup, but that is beyond the point! And, it was her hair being compared to Tomato soup. The red hair was like a badge of honor for an Uzumaki, but it was also something she was sensitive with and didn't take kindly to people being so flippant about it or with it. There was a reason she took very good care of her hair and it wasn't just because she was a woman and needed something to occupy her time. Though, those reasons were perfectly acceptable, they were just a part of the overall bigger reason. "My name is Mito." She winced, holding back a grunt of pain while her fingers twitched. "Mito Uzumaki."