Tales Of The Warring States Era

by Freestyle 763

Growing up in the Era Of The Warring States is hell on earth. One is trained to be a weapon of mass destruction with chakra and nothing more. Alliances are forged, that transcend time. This is a story of those who rise, fall, and endure in this era. AU.

169. Harrow

Happy Summer! Hope you've all been enjoying it :)

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The vast meeting chambers rested on a clearing in the forest. There, a colossal pyramid with multiple spires rose skyward from its flat base, sitting apart from everything at the end of a broad jungle linking it with bulkier, sharper-edged towers in which solitude and mediation were less likely to be found. Within the chambers themselves were housed the Council, leaders, captains, students, apprentices, and the whole of the compound itself engaged in training, carrying out tasks, contemplation and study of chakra, in detail with all of its nuance, and mastery of its disciplines.

Like so many of the buildings in the compound that were made within nature, this building itself was a work of art, with many ornate supporting columns and sharp, angled lines that drew in the eye and held it. Inside, the chambers were no different. There were portraits of nature, plants lining the halls, and flowers spotting every few feet bringing life and a sense of reflection to everything.

Many of the warriors and shinobi, past and present, considered art, gardening, and many things to be a conscious link to the mysteries of chakra. So the sculptures and portraits that lined every hall in every country and compound were more that just mere works of art. They were artistic interpretations of the great scenery, animals, monsters, beasts, nature, men, women, and even deities they represented, saying in form alone what the old generation might speak in words.

This was a place of contemplation, a place with a design that invited the mind to wander and to explore within itself, a place where people brought themselves for interpretation. Art, studying, and literature were all as much a part of what it was to be a warrior and shinobi as much as grueling training was.

Council rooms, meditation rooms, work rooms, study rooms, and meeting rooms dominated a central portion of the main complex. The Council itself was in session, its doors closed, its proceedings hidden from the eyes and ears of all but the selected people. They comprised the Council, a very diverse and seasoned group who had gravitated to this land from the far ends of the Elemental Nations.

The final two who were to be part of the discourse in the Council this afternoon, were Daishiro Shimura and Izuna Uchiha. The seats of the Council members formed a circle facing inward to where the two would be entering. The room was circular and domed, supported by graceful, wood carved pillars spaced between broad openings to the surroundings.

The shape of the room and the Council seating reflected the thought of equality and interconnection between all that gathered. In the world of those who trained with chakra, the balance of life within chakra itself was the pathway to understanding and peace.

Daishiro studied the faces of his fellow Council members within his mind's eyes, each of them more than familiar to him. Most were clan leaders like himself, among them Saki Namikaze and Mimori Nohara, both could be considered the more diplomatic and geo-politically versed of their group. They were more compliant in the ways of moderation and diplomacy than he would ever be.

Izuna reflected himself, recalling how he had been surprised by how graciously everyone in these chambers had invited him into their quarters the first time he had entered, and by how patiently each person had listened to his stumbling attempts to explain his questions, opinions, and goals, without giving away his secrets. He was always grateful for how the students and apprentices hard at work helped him whenever he was lost or needed to get reports to someone specifically.

Some of the Domou, since he'd been around them the longest, had never made any attempt to conceal what had always seemed to him to be a mild amusement of him. On this morning, despite clearly having other things on his mind, even Izuna could detect echoes of conflict and worry within the main chamber of discourse. Normally during his first few times he was offered a place on one of the softly rounded cushions and suggested that they meditate together by whoever was gracious enough to give him their time. He hadn't even asked for details. Izuna had always been so grateful, and so relieved, and strangely hopeful. For so long he wanted a place for dialectical discussion and to be able to have propaedeutic discussions that could push things further.

Now he had just that.

Izuna brought his senses back to the world around him and the furrows on his brow deepened further.

He really didn't like conflict.

"Your brother is different from you."

"He doesn't brood openly."

"We may not always see eye to eye, but there's mutual respect between us." Daishiro said in passing, crossing his arms over his chest.

Izuna turned to look at the older man, eyes narrowed in observation.

"These are turbulent times. You are always meaning to do well. I think that's why you're dealing with what you are right now."

Izuna turned away from the older man, he couldn't trust himself to answer.

"Is it Yuko?" Daishiro's tone remained blunt.

"Yes..." Izuna trailed off, eyes turned away from the Shimura's sharp and wise stare.

Daishiro's voice was still direct, but there was severe understanding as well. "The fear of loss is a path to hatred...Many of us are cursed with hatred because the loss we suffer. Only revenge is on our minds because of the constant losses we endure...Even now when there is revolution right on the horizon so many are still persisting..."

"I won't lose her. I won't."

"I'd criticize you if we were still holding to the Shinobi Creed of Rikudo. I will refrain from criticizing you on that point. However, it is to my understanding your wife has the well deserved moniker 'swift killer' and I know from experience she has quite the streak of pride. I don't think she'd take it too well."

"Then why do we fight at all?"

"We are speaking of you and your fears. Your fight to make sure Yuko stays alive specifically."

Izuna grunted in response, struggling to find his meditative calm despite his measured breathing remaining consistent. He picked up his pace down one neat and decorated corridor, the candle light low, but with a brightly illuminated room in the distance before them that had the kanji for 'composure' on the sliding doors.

Showing once again that this was a place of discussion and discourse. Neither of them wanted to acknowledge the loss of young life, but both knew that would cause inexorable suffering...

So they did in silence for as long as it was permitted.

Daishiro pondered it for a moment, shaking his head after he felt the slightest sliver of a flare of fury creep inside of him. "This should have been easy for us to anticipate."

"Some figure in darkness is pulling strings...Pushing things to go a certain way. I don't know if it is you, my brother, Mikito, Tobirama, myself, Saki, or that Hashirama that it wants...I don't know. I don't like what's going on nonetheless." Izuna replied.

"That doesn't explain how the Hyuga and Sarutobi..."

Izuna grunted. "There's been constant conflict at this land's borders. Many outsiders see the vast resources this land holds without realizing the dangers it also possesses. The Uchiha before our rift, helped the Domou many a time in battle. Just as the Senju helped the Subatsu in battle. The Hyuga have been battling the Subatsu for generations now. They are crafty and relentless in their enmity."

The young man seemed tired and annoyed. Daishiro understood the source of those boiling feelings. It was a touchy subject. Even with all of their power, they weren't able to stop what happened recently from happening. In all honesty nobody could. That was just a product of their era. "Konohagakure and Kumogakure have both been founded. The landscape is starting to change...I just wonder if those villages are as much of a threat as some of us feel they are. At least in the case of Konohagakure...Hashirama seems to be wise enough to understand the tides of the plight that's always been rampant..."

"Those who have joined those two villages...Those who join our amalgamation...They sense the tides crashing and can see them. Those who are still undecided may see things from an angle we are not." Izuna said.

"Only by probing the darkness for this...Phantom you speak of...Can we get to the source of our answers. If what you say is true none of this is for the short term. The villages could be something set in play for years down the line."

Izuna spent several moments digesting that remark.

What Daishiro was referring to was no small thing. Not at all. Haji was also aware of this darkness that permeated. Journeys to the edges of such darkness, to find those who resided there, were not to be taken lightly at all.

"It's been thousands of years since this era began...Contesting who is right and who is wrong through brute force...The winner is right. The strongest is right. Power and might make right. To kill our enemies and only seek their destruction is the objective. That is peace. Konohagakure and Kumogakure. Our own amalgamation..." Izuna remarked in a solemn tone.

Nobody liked to even mention their enemies, their direst of enemies. Many times in the past, many clans besides the Uchiha had dared hope that the Senju and other clans had been eradicated, their foul stenches cleansed from the earth. So they all would have liked to deny the existence of the mysterious creature in darkness and focus their ire on each other.

But they could not. There could be no doubt and no denying that the being who had pulled those strings ninety years before this point...

That lead to the explosive series of wars between clans...

Was coming back.

"Do you think it is so?" Daishiro dared to ask.

"It is somewhere out there." Izuna said with annoyance, frowning slightly. "I am certain of it."

"Do you think it has something to do with your brother and Mikito? The villages?"

Izuna froze in his step and slowly turned to regard the older man, his expression showing a range of emotions that reminded Daishiro that they didn't know what they were truly getting into. "I can't say for sure...If what you tell me of my brother's demonstration with the lightning is true. Something strange happened to them while they were away...Whether that is because of the creature of darkness or not...I can't say."

Maybe I don't want to say for certain...

With Izuna's statement the answer hung in the air between them, a spoken belief that could only lead to more uncertainty. Both Daishiro and Izuna understood the places that some of the shinobi and warriors, at least, might have to travel to find the true answers, and those places, emotional stops and not physical, could test all of them to the very limits of their abilities and sensibilities.

They resumed their walk, the only sound the patter of their zori. In their ears, though, both Izuna and Daishiro heard the ominous echo of the war zones and their exchange of dire words.

"The only way we'll get an answer about Madara and Mikito is waiting for Ahiko-san to finish her examination. I'll leave it in her hands. The only medics in her league right now are Hashirama and Mimori." Izuna said at last, watching clouds streak through the sky.

Daishiro stared at the bright sky.

"They were searching for something." Izuna said, voice getting tense. "I'm not privy to know..."

"I get it." Daishiro stared out toward the stark angles of the canopy. "They are your family."

Another man might have resented the rebuke, but Izuna only sighed. "I trust my brother and Mikito without a doubt in my mind. We've come a long way from before...With our simple ideas most didn't care for in our respective clans...We were the Uchiha and Domou back then...Now we're much more than that. It makes me happy...Without that though...I'm not sure if we'd even be here right now. I don't want us to lose our roots...At the same time...We can see the folly of what it means to be a shinobi."

"We have no way of anticipating what this coming era of revolution may involve. We are no longer in our Warring Era, Izuna. It has begun to change since the desert wars when autonomy was fought for in that region. There were battles day and night. In villages. Outside of them. On every territory there was a battle fought. The more we do, the more we forge ahead, how much of this world right now is going to remain in tact..."

"So you can feel it as well..." Izuna said, looking towards the floor.

"The tides are pushing the events of our time it would seem. We need to find a clear path."

"Yes." Izuna clenched his hands into knuckles. "If we stop walking, we'll never reach what we are striving for."

Daishiro looked at Izuna with a measure of stoicism. "What if we get to the end of this tunnel and find only the night?"

"We will be under the bright illumination of the full moon. We will still see in the night. I have faith in my comrades. I have faith in what we're trying to do. The moon is our light in the darkness of the night. What other choice is there right now?"

Daishiro accepted this with a nod, but when he thought of Madara and Mikito dread began to curdle in his stomach.

"You think they won't be able to handle this? I thought you had more confidence in their abilities."

"Their abilities and prowess in battle aren't my focus right now. Their ability to navigate the geo-politics isn't my focus either." Daishiro bluntly stated, tapping his bicep with his finger. "I wonder..."

Izuna watched him silently while he tried to find the proper words.

"For my brother nothing is more important than being around a fire and pouring drinks for each other. My brother is the most loyal man I have ever met...Despite all that our father and those who came before us have tried to teach him about the sacrifices that are the heart of being a shinobi and a warrior of the Uchiha...Someone who must make that call in this era that we live in...He will never truly understand. He wants everyone to be at the bonfire together. Laughing, crying, mourning, cheering, rejoicing...Showing their hearts and their guts without fear. He puts himself out there so others don't have to."

Daishiro's narrowed eyes relaxed a little. "Madara and Mikito will never betray a friend. That much I know. They are not selfless if that is what you are trying to say. Even Mikito, as much of a bleeding heart she is...Isn't entirely selfless. We don't have that privilege, and that level of levity can get us killed...Especially in these times..."

"That's not it at all. I am firmly convinced that those two together can do anything...What we may have to do..."

Daishiro sighed softly. "That is what we have pledged ourselves to. Selfless service for our clans. At one point at least. We still must strive towards something together with that same sincerity."

"I have been focusing on a bigger picture that involves more than a single clan, country, or village. For me...For Mikito and Madara as well...It's always been people. That's why I don't think any of us are ready for the storm that is coming."

They made their way down the single corridor now, steps near silent. Izuna realized that, for all their skills with ninjutsu, the sword, and other techniques, those things couldn't teach them what they really needed to know at this time. Certain aspects of politics and economics. Nuance. They discarded the shinobi creed, the shinobi way, the very thought process of it, and yet they couldn't abandon the individualistic roots of their clans in favor of their new amalgamation.

They would always have the roots no matter what.

Daishiro could feel that Izuna was in deep thought. His sharp senses never betrayed him, this he knew. Izuna was barely focusing as he shared reports about the interrogations of the slavers and the information that was piling in.

The Shimura had a rough idea of what was bothering him.

The Uchiha clan had always been influential, but that didn't mean they could navigate the geo-politics of their world. They were warriors and shinobi first. They were rarely diplomats except in situations that called for it. In truth, Daishiro believed the Uchiha didn't care about the nuances of the geo-political power shifts happening around them constantly. Unless it interfered with their own plans or they were contacted, and paid by a damiyo to fight in the dispute.

"Absent minded moments won't be tolerated for an instant during this meeting." Daishiro said, tone breaking no argument.

Izuna took a moment to react with a slight nod. "Sorry about that."

"What's got your focus?" Daishiro asked, genuinely curious. "What is distracting you?"

Izuna didn't answer at first. He took a contemplating breath, weighing and choosing his words carefully before speaking. "Do you believe in what we are striving for?"

"Of course. I wouldn't be here if I didn't."

"Is it what you envisioned? Does the Amalgamation live up to your expectations?"

"Few things ever do live up to our expectations. In this era, I'd say we've all been dealt the bad hand and have had to grit our teeth. We've had to endure and get stronger. More powerful. We are still not quite where we need to be in my opinion with certain things." Daishiro replied with a hint of a shrug.

Izuna nodded knocking sharply at the door, then opened it when the command to enter came from within. Most of the council members were kneeling in the center of the chamber, deep in meditation or moderate contemplative thought. He had been in this room before a while back, but he couldn't help but marvel at the serene calm.

The walls were adorned with paintings of nature and landscapes. Rustic censers burned heavy incense, placed carefully about to provide a dim glow in the hazy air. In one corner was a large palm tree. In another was an intricately carved table with a small scroll set atop it. Gotou sat beside Saki while they watched Chie scan the report with her ever sharp eyes. Here in the simple space within the chambers, every art piece and cushion hummed with gentle, comforting power.

The same warm strength that Izuna remembered enfolding him even the first time he came in here on less than favorable terms. These chambers had been the home for discourse more than one thousand years according to some Domou. Everything within them echoed with the harmonic resonance of a calm wisdom, tuned through centuries of experiences of different individuals.

Sitting in these chambers gave him the levity of serenity. To Izuna this was the greatest gift in these troubled times. He felt that feeling dissipate just a little when Chie looked at them from the top of the parchment paper, on which the report on the contents of the latest activity in the shinobi world, her eyes were anything but calm.

They had gone narrow and cold.

He stood within the circle that formed a platform for those who addressed the Council solely, his tall, broad form and firm voice commanding the attention of those gathered, his eyes fixing them each in turn, constantly searching for a reaction to his words. They all watched him carefully in turn. The stately Akari Kurama, winsome and beautiful Saki Namikaze, slender and sharp minded Chie Yuhi, refined and stone-faced Katsumi Shimura, The calm and focused Yamanami Domou, the studious and perceptive Keisuke Domou, the brooding Gotou Yuki, the flinty Touma Kori, and the bold and bodacious Ai Terumi.

"This report is..." Chie frowned.

"Where is the source?" Mimori asked, furrowing her own brows as she scanned it.

"The Shimura still have connections in higher places within the Elemental Nations. The scouts and spies division are beyond excellent as well. They help a lot." Kosuke replied in his calm and direct tone.

"For now we still have friends in higher places. I wouldn't keep counting on that." Katsumi added, her eyes had gone narrow as well.

"Are the shinobi villages that great of a threat?" Saki asked, genuinely curious.

Izuna suppressed a growl. "I don't want to think about them right now."

"I think we should get a common ground when it comes to how we will be dealing with them. I get the feeling some of us aren't relaying properly. There's a much bigger threat in the Water damiyo and those barbarous clans marching over here and spilling blood. There's the slavers as well. The coastline is rife with conflict which only grows worse as we speak. Civilization is threatened."

"The threat to civilization is clear." Mimori said, nodding slowly in agreement.

"There's no way any damiyo can control the shinobi in large number like that. They'd need to go to war against some titans and heavy hitters right now. Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Sasuke Sarutobi, Katsu Yotsuki, Koichi Hatake, Ay Yotsuki, Setsuna Uchiha, Riichi Yamanaka, Kurou Hyuga, Kiyoshi Nara, Iemasa Aburame...I could name more." Ai said.

"We never simply follow orders is the point. It's always been for the clan. The good of the clan. All the people you've mentioned understand that. That's why they're now pushing for that energy to go into a village." Gotou said, voice pitched with impatience.

"I don't think they intend to control the shinobi necessarily. I don't think the shinobi intend to get on a equal level as nobles either. By placing the shinobi village under the control of the Office of the Kage, this will possibly give them the authority to disband the village. Cut funds. Cut missions. Even offer these missions and funds to other villages...Which in turn would cause a rebellion and war. It'd be a civil war that pulls the other shinobi villages into it. Something even worse possibly." Keisuke muttered.

"What would his intention be? What would the intention be of all these other shinobi founding such a system?" Gotou demanded.

"The intention...Speaking only for myself. Born and raised in the land of blood. I believe it's irrelevant." Ai said darkly.

"Perhaps you're getting a little too hot, Ai-dono." Saki observed, her cool eyes contrasting against Ai's boiling irises.

"I don't like men who spout loudly." Ai said, tone breaking no argument.

"I believe all that matters now is the intent of the Water damiyo who has the mainland in his sight. That includes us. Once they get into the fire country and go down the path that leads to the desert region, Earth country, and other smaller villages...The shinobi villages may be all that stands between him and total domination of the Elemental Nations. He may be pushing for a conflict with the foreigners as well." Touma calmly interjected between the two.

Mimori rubbed her chin for a second before she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "The very shinobi village system would cement itself. As a means of preserving and protecting that which is precious to all of us. That is why many are looking to the idea with different eyes and minds right now. If it is utter annihilation and genocide...Certainly nobody will run into that abyss..."

"Except that is exactly what's been going on up to this point. It isn't like the mainland hasn't been embroiled in its own wars." Chie remarked.

"You both make good points. Damiyo and Kage on an equal standing. That will be put into writing and agreed upon. If either wanted to go to war for any reasons, they'd have no choice but to back each other. If they don't, it'll go right back to where we are right now. It must be an agreement so both maintain their autonomy." Kesiuke added, tone grim.

"Both sides could go to war for the country at one point if that tenuous balance wasn't maintained. It seems flimsy at best. That is just my opinion." Akari commented.

"Compared to all of us just diving off the deep end at the moment. Might makes right in this era..." Izuna commented, his eyes turning flinty.

"The foolishness of being glib and overinflated egos is why I never trusted anyone to start with. Mikito and Madara seemed honest enough in their messages. Izuna was also amicable."

"The point is they know where the power is now." Daishiro said, looking at Izuna unblinkingly with his sharp irises.

"Why not make shinobi equal when they can use policies and little pieces of paper to take control...If the shinobi focus on their villages instead of singular clans a lot of land is also freed up in the long term for them. They know how to get a grip on control of the land. Even without that authority given to them by the damiyo, they'd still be shinobi who founded shinobi villages. It is a matter of pride." Gotou hissed, teeth clenching in anger.

"With all due respect to your point on control. That day will be here faster than we think. I wouldn't be surprised if there were some shinobi alive right now that really had such an ambition...Hajime Hageshii is one such man that I think would try to become a damiyo." Keisuke stated severely.

Chie shot a frustrated look at Izuna, who picked up his cue smoothly. "We don't know what Hajime's ambitions or plans could be. This revolution happening is not the product of some overzealous idealists...There's something going on behind the scenes that's lining all of these events up..."

"You are saying this is a move toward destruction?" Akari asked.

"Not the shinobi villages. Not a single person. It is the tides crashing like they are...As they will continue to...It isn't us specifically either, but..."

Saki hummed softly. "If the damiyo and certain shinobi are being influenced through some means...From the beginning, it was a plot to wipe us out before we could ever make it this far. The shinobi...Us doing what we are doing right now...It..."

"I'm not so sure about that." Izuna crossed his arms over his chest, making some of his fellows look at him until he decided to uncross them.

"That's a theory you have there...Assuming these shinobi villages don't stir up too much trouble with us." Daishiro agreed.

"Proof may be a luxury we cannot afford." A dangerous light entered Katsumi's eyes. "We must be ready to move."

"Move against Konoha and Kumo?" Yamanami asked mildly, meeting Katsumi's glance with one of his own.

"We can't let the Water damiyo, those Water country clans, and the foreigners ravage the mainland or surrounding countries. Take out civilization as we all know it country by country, small village by small village. Enslave us and the general population. Even if the shinobi villages have incongruities...Right now I think..." Saki paused, calmly gauging the room before she pressed further.

Katsumi's face darkened with a distant shadow, her chakra boiling as her anger flared. "We cannot allow any single clan, village, or country to move against us like the Sarutobi and Hyuga have! Our tenuous entente agreements could be shattered because of this attack. They cannot be allowed to prolong the battles into a war needlessly. I am not talking about just a physical battle Too many of our young have died already. They are trying to dismantle everything we are working for right now by attacking the heart...I have seen life outside this land..."

"I seen it in the Earth country and I saw it on islands in the Water country. I saw what it did to my comrades, friends, and brothers. Whatever its flaws right now...Our amalgamation and the shinobi villages...They are our sole hope for civilization. It is our only defense from turning on each other and killing each other like those who came before us. I will not allow the Sarutobi and Hyuga to do what nobody can...Break our indomitable spirit. They should be getting an attack right now from us..." Shinpachi bit out

"Mobilize an attack force? We still have to discuss the Subatsu, Hagormo, and Mo situation." Chie remarked.

"Why bring that up right now? That is a separate topic from this." Keisuke asked in his calm tone, looking at the woman for an answer.

"It is still valid. If we are going to discuss an attack we should all be on the same page for obvious reasons." Chie nodded.

Keisuke narrowed his eyes.

Saki shook her head, looking intensely into Gotou's eyes, into Daishiro's, into Izuna's, and into everyone else's eyes gathered for a full minute. They could all tell from the pointed and intense look that Saki felt no hesitation in this moment. "We have to take great caution not to be ruled by our emotions. There is this land where we reside now, the Elemental Nations, everything in between, and around. There are continents just outside of the Elemental Nations we do visit. It is our civilization. It's the only one we have. It is the only one we know. We know nothing of the foreigners or their lands except that we are ending the slave trade. We must be prepared...We cannot yield even for one second. It is our duty."

"Saki is correct." Izuna said solemnly.

"Izuna..." Gotou trailed off, tone a bit gruff.

"The real problem would be if we let the Hyuga and Sarutobi dictate things from this point on since Konoha is in play in the Fire country. If Hashirama were to step in...Rather Konoha stepping in...That would mean they're putting themselves directly into our line of sight. Which means battle. By what you say...That wouldn't be their fight. That would put Konoha in the line of fire."

"I agree with Kosuke." Gotou nodded firmly.

Izuna looked calm as he nodded, but his gaze was flinty. "Technically it wouldn't be their battle. Konoha would be in the line of fire for a wrong they never had anything to do with."

"Such distinctions without differences are useless. That will certainly only lead us to ruin." Daishiro replied succinctly.

"The civilians are already not in favor as it stands..." Saki scratched at her cheek.

Shinpachi regarded Saki with a serious gaze. "That's a political argument. The damiyo would never hear it to start with. Besides, even small nameless villages are armed and ready to defend themselves in this era. You are speaking on changing the governing system and economics.''

"The Water damiyo, the Hyuga, the Sarutobi, and the Water country attackers are our enemies. Those who enslave others are our enemies. Not the shinobi villages. We need to be working behind the scenes to deduce their strength among other things to deal with them when the time comes for them to be dealt with. If it even needs to be done." Saki said severely.

Katsumi stared Saki directly in the eyes with a flinty gaze of her own. "To wait will give them the advantage."

"They already have it after that attack. They've struck our heart. There's no way any of us will be able to contain our emotions correctly." Yamanami said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"If we let emotions get the better of us and act in haste, we will give them an even bigger advantage." Izuna said with determination.

Touma looked at the two with annoyance. "Izuna and Saki...You two are rubbing me the wrong way. It's only correct to avenge what has happened. The Subatsu, Mo, and Hagoromo will certainly not stay quiet given how they respond to acts such as this. They have Yamanaka there as we are speaking and the second they get to the source of this...Heads are going to fly."

"I understand completely. Conflict will do nothing for us at this moment. We don't even know where the Sarutobi and Hyuga are. If we start sending out units that means they start to pick us off." Izuna said firmly.

"Which is something we can't afford. Everyone is needed for an attack like that." Saki seconded.

"You two are sounding awfully confident in what you're saying. I'm not so convinced that you both actually believe that. By your statements if Konoha were to back the Sarutobi and Hyuga...We'd simply back off because of formalities..." Gotou grumbled, settling onto his cushion more comfortably.

"Not completely." Izuna said, eyes narrowing as they burned with chakra.

Saki remained silent.

Keisuke looked at the two in question with his studious gaze. He turned to observe and gauge those in the room and the energy gathering. "Mediating things now are we? Are you so sure you can do that? The matter won't be settled so easily. Look who is gathered in this room."

Katsumi grunted in agreement.

Izuna kept his expression serious, breathing in deeply and exhaling to maintain his calm.

"The Sarutobi and Hyuga have given us an opening. The Water damiyo is giving us another. Let us not focus on nuisances right now. We will put every available scout and spy...The whole of our intelligence division, if we can...To work on deducing their locations, the water damiyo's strategy, and lastly the strength of the shinobi villages. Our other forces can focus anew with a single objective in mind. This will force them to acknowledge that they can't elude our full efforts for long, once we devote ourselves exclusively to their decimation. It will draw out whoever is moving against us...They will have to make some sort of move...I think they are afraid however."

"Afraid?" Katsumi asked.

"They're not consumed with fear." Akari said plainly, not completely convinced.

Saki furrowed her brows, looking to Izuna and Keisuke for support, getting firm nods in return. Thankfully in this session, there were cooler heads in the room so there'd be more of an amicable nature.

"This was an attack aimed directly at our heart, Akari-san. To take our youngest and brightest, and leave those suffering who suffer the most...To turn us all against each other...Into something we never intended to be."

"We understand the Hyuga and Sarutobi, we know their tactics, and we know where to look for them. Their actions will reveal them. They will never escape us. We've seen first hand what their goal is. We take care of them before Konoha can try to step in. Then we can put the full power of our attack forces onto the Water damiyo and push that armada back to the Water country."

Everyone frowned at each other for one long moment, then turned to Saki, Izuna, and Yamanami and nodded their heads a fraction.

"It seems that you've all respectively seen to the heart of the matter." Katsumi nodded, though it did look begrudging.

"We are on the same page." Yamanami assured, his observant eyes narrowed to slits.

"We can continue to monitor the situation and begin making our moves against the Water damiyo. We'll move against the Hyuga and Sarutobi the instant their location is revealed. Who will capture the Water damiyo if able? He is more than a match for most admittedly, with his own arsenal of weapons from the foreigners. He's always guarded and has elite gun-men, master swordsmen, archers, phalanx specialists, Samurai, and swords-smiths under him at all times." Izuna pressed ahead, trying to close with a amicable point.

"There may be no capturing him alive if what you are saying is true. I do know he's heavily guarded at all times, but to that extent it'd be almost impossible to get near him..." Chie looked slightly bemused, pondering the idea of an actual impossibility.

"There may not be any point to doing that. He isn't one to surrender." Akari shrugged.

"Which brings us to our next discussion." Izuna said, looking at everyone gathered with a stern expression.

"There was battle damage." Keisuke finished for him.

Yamanami flicked his eyes around the room, carefully observing everyone gathered, his face one of serene composure. "Somewhere around the mesas and the surrounding jungle areas according to scouts. Search teams in that area have been reporting something similar as well. It seems there's a lot there...Gore and carnage in particular from an attack. According to the search units one of the giant aerial predators was bifucrated down the middle. There's also numerous pack hunters that were killed, and other roaming monsters that met their end..."

Katsumi grunted audibly, looking at Saki with mild annoyance.

"Whoever did that could be miles away by now." Kosuke said, eyes glinting with anger.

"Exactly my thoughts." Katsumi growled, clenching her hand into a firm first.

"We can send out another unit. Several more units. Some of us can go out and aid in the search for these trespassers as well. We have more than enough for that." Saki met Katsumi's gaze, silently reasoning with the bad tempered Shimura.

"We need to be careful considering what is laying around in that area. Some monstrous creature with wings was bifurcated I will remind you. Only an extremely immense earth ninjutsu, focused to a sharp point is capable of that. That particular location they're sweeping is still very far from here. Making a point may not suffice like it used to not too long ago." Daishiro said, tone completely serious.

"Fair enough assessment." Chie nodded her agreement, her own gaze serious.

"Who will accompany me in that case?" Saki asked, looking about the room.

"Hotaru, Kiko, Kotone, Hikaku, Mitsuki, Chiasa, Masa, Bunji, Hayami, Isamu, Isami, and Kita have all left with their respective units. Mizuki should be coming here so we can discuss improvising the capture of these trespassers and using that as a means of leverage if need be." Daishiro noted.

"They won't escape our careful detection. Mizuki-san will capture them alive if that is what is ordered of her." Keisuke stated, tone deadly serious.

"I shall accompany you as well. There's something that I need to confirm." Yamanami said, his tone mild and solemn as he met the gaze of the dignified Namikaze.

Saki nodded amicably.

"I will go as well." Katsumi said in her brusque manner, eyes trained on Saki, neither faltering nor wavering as seconds turned into a few minutes.

"I see why the Shimura are feared." Saki said with an appreciative smirk, eyeing Katsumi with a flinty gaze of her own.

"I'm going to pull them out by the root."

"Try to control that hot temper you have."

Izuna clenched his hands hard, training his eyes on something far away. "Once the talks with the Subatsu, Mo, and Hagoromo begin we will have a clear perspective like the blue sky. I believe that we will find it together in that moment. Together being the key word."

"You are quite the optimist, Izuna. I am concerned myself...The coming war with the Water damiyo and those clans. The wild cards Konoha and Kumo are...We should also..." Mimori trailed off.

"You feel like we are missing a crucial piece?" Akari asked.

"There are the slavers and slave trade that we will also be attacking when the time comes. We almost have all of the information that is needed for that assault. Still missing crucial pieces. The Water damiyo blocking the entire coast of the mainland puts a dent on our plans with that as well." Katsumi said.

"That isn't what I mean. We may have to form ententes with those water country clans so they can survive. If they want to even form one with us in the first place. We will always have our roots with our respective shinobi clans, and we can't discard that completely. To preserve those who have been diligent, just as the Nohara were given the chance to come and rest here...If any of us plan to do this perhaps now would be a good time to delegate who does what and with who exactly...There's also the problem with these trespassers that have left this carnage in their wake..." Mimori said, looking a little apologetic for getting long winded.

"As former shinobi we know how cunning and crafty they can be. Shinobi think three steps ahead at least. We have to be at least seventeen moves ahead of them." Daishiro explained, giving those gathered a stern look.

"I know that." Izuna said, voice stern.

Keisuke sighed softly. "Keep in mind that makes them arrogant about their abilities as well. It leaves the smallest opening for us to take. As training and logic dictates. Hotaru, Chiasa, Hikaku, and Kotone should at least spot the trespassers and give chase. If the other units led by Aito, Mitsuki, Hiro, Bunji, and the other captains don't run into them first."

"I won't contest that. It's a matter of the fact shinobi will always evade in order to preserve for their clan...Recently a shinobi village in two countries. The older ones who sat on Clan Councils were wily. This young generation right now...Even our generation is different from those who came before us...That only seen the obliteration and genocide of their enemies to be the only way." Katsumi agreed.

Mimori mulled the words over of both her comrades.

They certainly rang true, and the current conditions among the world itself, in this time of mounting tension were a bit terrifying, with many off on the war front or causing one. Yet many were trying to prevent a war front from forming in the first place. Had arrogance played a major role in Hashirama's decision to found a village? Has arrogance not played a major role in their resolution to no longer adhere to the shinobi sect and those teachings?

Was it not arrogance that drove the damiyo to see the glory a single shinobi clan could bring?

A single shinobi village could bring?

Izuna narrowed his eyes in deep thought. "We have our own goals here. Things we must see through to the end. They are different from Hashirama's methods in what it means to secure peace, longevity, and prosperity for everyone. Despite all of us being enemies at one point, and living across the ocean way, we are here together right now having this discussion. We all made the choice to join this amalgamation."

How could Chie ever forget that little fact?

Izuna and Ahiko had always been a unifying force in her own opinion, through some means, they were the first ones able to bridge gaps in communication and understanding just not between clans, but the former slaves as well who had to be integrated into the compound.

What Izuna, or anyone else for that matter, had failed to explain, was exactly what seeing everything to an end would actually mean for just not the shinobi, them, or the Elemental Nations.

But, the entire world as they knew it...

"I can agree with that. Only few are so open minded and willing to be diplomatic during this era." Chie nodded.

"There may be more that join us when the battles get really bad again. The cold and frost is still keeping many wary and weary from leaving the confines of their compounds. Every village, shinobi or not is enduring the harsh winter still. Civilians could join us." Daishiro reminded, drawing Izuna from his distracting contemplation as surely as if he was reading the young man's mind.

"You are right about that." Izuna replied, not wearing his usual cheerful smile or expression.

There was a soft knock on the door, bringing everyone back to the present and sharpening their minds back to full clarity.

"You may enter!" Akari called out first, her tone and posture strong.

The doors gently slid open followed by the waft of pollen and sun kissed mists mixing into the room. A well endowed woman with cinnamon brown sun drenched skin, deep brown shining eyes, and tailbone length wavy dark brown hair entered the chamber. Her height of five feet and four inches, was made more noticeable by the black hakama, green haori, and zori style sandals she wore as part of her uniform. Two swords were secured on her left side while one sword was secured on her right side.

Daishiro realized sitting these in these chambers gave everything the levity of serenity.

Right now that was the greatest gift. He pinned his eyes on the newcomer. She stood in front of them so she'd be able to address the Council solely, her buxom form and clear voice commanding the attention of those gathered, her shimmering eyes fixing them each in turn, constantly searching and analyzing every detail on the surface, and beneath it.

They all watched her carefully in turn.

The proud Akari Kurama, winsome and beautiful Saki Namikaze, slender and sharp minded Chie Yuhi, refined and stone-faced Katsumi Shimura, The calm and focused Yamanami Domou, the studious and perceptive Keisuke Domou, the brooding Gotou Yuki, the flinty eyed Touma Kori, and all the others that were gathered, each with something vital to offer as a part of the Council and their amalgamation.

"Mizuki-san." Yamanami nodded amicably.

"Did I intrude on the meeting?" She asked, her voice was clear, cheerful, and open with no abrasive energy behind it.

It took some gathered by surprise.

"You didn't actually. We just finished our primary discussion." Chie said with an amicable nod.

Mizuki, like the majority of the fighting force, was a captain leading a unit, but these several sitting around this room at the moment were leaders of their respective clans, and more importantly leaders in their amalgamation, the highest ranking in their amalgamation to be exact. She was comfortable in this esteemed company. She knew more than half of the men and women sitting here of her own clan had expressed gratitude at some point for her saving their lives, beginning at the young age of eight, just as she knew more than half of the men and women in here had expressed anger and worse for her in battle at some point.

"Your timing is perfect, Mizuki-san. We seemed to be just be getting to this subject." Saki said in her cheerful tone, observing the dark haired beauty with her keen eyes.

Mizuki smiled a little sheepishly.

Saki waved it off gently. "No need to be apologetic."

"I would like to get right to business since I know you move swiftly. I think it'd be prudent if the trespassers are captured alive. I'd like you to capture them alive at all costs." Daishiro said, eyes flicking onto Mizuki before they stayed prime, while the others examined the map where the search groups were currently scoping.

"Isn't that a stretch? They're trespassing." Gotou said plainly.

"We can find out who they belong to and what they want." Mimori commented.

"What about Madara and Mikito?" Akari asked, gauging everyone in the room.

"What about them?" Izuna asked.

"I'm getting a strange feeling about those two after what happened with your older brother..."

"That is why I want these trespassers captured. We may be able to get their leader to come for them. I don't want those two turning into loose cannons. Not now of all times." Daishiro pressed not caring if he cut anyone off, anticipating what might be coming, he straightened his posture and crossed his arms over his chest.

Katsumi grunted her agreement. "I will be inclined to kill these trespassers because I am in a bad mood. I've seen you in action. You should be able to capture them both alive."

Mizuki nodded at the woman, both because of the confidence obviously being shown in her, and also because this was one assignment she knew that she would accomplish easily.

"Who could have sent scouts at this time is a better question?"

Mizuki answered in her cheerful tone. "Katsu Yotsuki and Hashirama Senju would have the most to gather from this...It's only assuming right now since I don't know the probability of either doing this. I must capture the trespassers alive to get that answer. It will be an absolute so I won't need to presume. Which means I have to get to them before anyone else does that's already out there searching."

"You've got a lot of competition." Izuna remarked.

"We'll take it from there." Mizuki said with a confident smile, not the least bit deterred.

"We'll go with them being caught as the affirmative in that case." Katsumi replied.

"Caught alive." Saki stressed, looking around for support.

"Alive." Chie said.

Akari looked at Katsumi with an icy gaze of her own.

"I know." Katsumi glared at the younger Namikaze, just barely holding a snarl of anger. "The diplomat..."

"I am more concerned about who they take orders from." Akari admitted with her one hostile tone.

Daishiro grunted softly, narrowing his eyes at the two of them. "Knowing who sent them and what they're after won't be very difficult at all. Considering we have many genjutsu experts here...Whatever we want. We get. Just keep that in mind."

They need to be captured. Mikito and Madara need to understand there's nothing to fear anymore...

"I will be taking my leave in that case. I have a lot of competition that got a head start on me as Izuna-san mentioned. I'll be back with the trespassers, I can promise you that." Mizuki said, bowing slightly, swiftly turned on her heel, and made her exit.

"She's very well spoken. I am impressed." Izuna said in appreciation.

"She's one of the best we have for this mission." Keisuke said with full confidence, nodding at everyone gathered as he read the current emotion spiraling through the room.

"Are you sure?" Gotou questioned. "She seems too..."

Keisuke smiled with narrowed eyes. "Don't be fooled by her cheerful tone and demeanor."

Gotou inhaled deeply and straightened his back, inclining his head by a fraction to show his agreement.

Daishiro had already gone passed the observation issue in his thoughts.

He knew that Mikito nor Madara wouldn't be easily convinced that Konoha, Kumo, and the other villages aren't threats. In truth, at this point in time they hardly mattered to him. The important thing was that he would be able to convince them, once the trespassers were caught.

Rather they'd get the chance to confront whatever it was that made them...

Fear.

---

Only a thick sealing barrier separated the forms of Madara and Mikito from three people. Norio Uchiha, who appreciated the relative warmth of the medical center, was standing beside Ahiko Domou, and one of the eldest people in the compound, Takeo Domou. Ahiko brushed her fingers with some hast, the curls moving left to right in her vision, letting out a quiet sigh, she scrunched her brows together. She knew that, despite the tense atmosphere of the chamber enclosing them, Mikito and Madara weren't out of the danger zone just yet. They were in the best of hands nonetheless. Clad only in white shorts and a white collared shirt, Mikito and Madara hung in a vertical position inside of the transparent cylinders with a combination of a breathing mask and seals covering their noses and mouth.

Ahiko gracefully moved forward and worked her chakra to a brilliant glow, slowly bringing a bright gelatinous blue and orange fluid pouring down over her two patients. This healing and observing gel, Norio knew, could work miracles, even with patients in such dire shapes as those on war zones in the bloodiest of times. Many Uchiha had been saved from what would have been life ending injuries with this very gel. It was also how Ahiko would be able gauge everything from chakra levels, innate chakra natures, all the way to physical attributes of whoever the gel encapsulated.

As the bubbling slime did just that to their bodies, Madara began to move about, looking at the three people opposite of him. His expression was stoic while his eyes still beamed crimson through the gel.

"I'm worried about them..." Ahiko said as she pointed her gaze on Madara's glowing eyes, voice low with measured caution.

Something about...

Ahiko hummed softly.

Norio had not the slightest idea what she could be worried about. Whether it was long term or short term was up for another debate. Takeo, observing and perplexed by their physical appearance as much as he was about their chakra, expressed himself with a solemn nod of agreement in Ahiko's direction.

Norio just looked from Ahiko to Takeo, noting their grim expressions as they kept their focus on Madara and Mikito. "I do hope that they're both there still and in control. It would be most unfortunate if something of that nature were to happen to them as they are right now."

"They ran into something. Something huge by that..." Norio observed, speaking matter-of factly.

"It was the Gorog..." Ahiko trailed off before punching the desk, looking at the grimly staring Takeo. "They went to the north. Madara probably stressed it. That's just like him..."

"Forget it, Ahiko-san. Whatever happened to them we have to figure out. We can't risk them losing control of their emotions...Not at this stage. That's the first half of it." Takeo said in a crisp tone.

Ahiko nodded sharply, drawing her brows together.

Right now she was concerned only with the duo in the healing fluid and making sure they were stable. Mikito's body sloshed through the brightly colored substance, the healing and prodding properties of the gel by now taking effect. For a while it appeared as if she was trying to resist the healing flow, but slowly relaxed after a few moments.

Ahiko turned away from the duo that had been entrusted to her care, craning her head up to meet Norio and Takeo eye to eye. "They both seem to be responding well to the fluid. The fluid is also responding well to their bodies. Very well in fact. I'll be able to deduce what happened once this is complete. Have a rough idea at least. They're not out of the danger zone completely at the moment, and I can't speak of the other levels..."

"Other levels?" Norio ventured.

"She means chakra levels. Rather what makes up chakra itself, and if there's something beyond chakra...Rather than using it as a tool..." Takeo explained succinctly.

Ahiko looked her sister and Madara over carefully. "As we know...Chakra is created when one's Physical energy is collected from each of the body's cells and can be increased through intense training, stimulants, and intense exercise. Spiritual energy is derived from the mind's consciousness and can be increased through studying, meditation, and experience. These two energies coming together inside of us, creates chakra, and by focusing on both physical and mental...The chakra will be more powerful in turn."

Norio nodded steadily.

"As we were taught. Practicing a technique repeatedly will build up the experience, increasing one's spiritual energy, and thus allowing more chakra to be created. As a result, we are able to do that same technique with more power. This same cycle applies for physical energy, except we need to increase endurance, stamina, strength, power, flexibility and so on. If we apply those concepts to war as we have been..."

"The results are devastating."

Walking the length of the room, Takeo began to observe the duo being examined.

"If we were to apply that in a different way...It gets problematic. Chakra is a form of life energy that all things alive produce to some degree. Those who run out of chakra will die. Produced within and manipulated by organs such as the heart, the energy circulates throughout the body in a network we've called the Chakra Pathway System, which is similar to the cardiovascular system. Groups such as shinobi and samurai have learned to generate more chakra and release it outside their bodies through pressure points called tenketsu in order to perform techniques."

The words didn't immediately wipe away the tension that had seized them, but after a few moments of letting it set in the trio began to relax slightly. Norio crossed his arms over his chest, and Takeo grunted his approval of Ahiko's treatment and deduction so far.

"That isn't what worries me."

Norio fixed the older man with an upraised brow, folding his arms over his chest. "Chakra is chakra."

Takeo grunted softly, closing his eyes.

"The key to chakra is not actually having extremely large or inordinate amounts...At least for shinobi because of how our training is. We trained to sufficiently and expertly control and conserve our chakra. However, Madara and Mikito could've done the opposite. Instead of controlling...They were seeking immense amounts of chakra, and they tapped into something...We need to be concerned where they are with certain things. If there is anything that happened to them beyond what we see, we will have to know what...We will have to find a means to deduce it."

"Meaning?"

"Right now we are in the middle. This is uncharted territory."

Norio hummed in agreement. "What Madara did is unheard of...I have to agree. For the longest time we've had to use hand seals in order to knead our chakra to use the jutsu we want. Shape transformation and nature transformation. Some shinobi, due to genetics, have inherited abilities and jutsu. That isn't to say these jutsu and skills can't be trained, but the Kaguya clan and their abilities...My own Uchiha clan as well. Our hereditary abilities cannot be duplicated."

"Perhaps we will have to revise how we look at chakra and its usage. If chakra goes into their bones, or if they knead it, and the Uchiha kneading chakra into their eyes...Storing it...Does it become nutritive? We are no longer shinobi. We don't adhere to that creed. We should have different standards and measurements now. While controlling and conserving chakra will always be essential admittedly...Mikito and Madara both are thinking ahead in their own way. I think Syrus went to Shadowlands too for the same reason. He can feel it himself...We must transcend all of this...Find a new level of strength and power...Something..." Ahiko allowed herself to trail off, keeping her tone composed as possible.

"If they didn't find something new to tap into completely. There's a lot of other energy sources out there. Chakra is just the most abundant." Takeo reminded.

"That is a possibility. I won't jump to that conclusion yet." Ahiko conceded.

"Something new?" Norio questioned, brow arched again in surprise. "What could that be?"

Takeo shrugged. "Not sure. It is uncharted territory."

Madara nor Mikito had no way of estimating how long they had been between deep sleep and dreaming. But now they were in full command of their mind and senses. He sat up on his bed in the medical center just keeping a watch on his surroundings.

What a relief to breathe this cool air. He thought, however cool it might be, it was still refreshing.

His eyes were uncovered and he was beginning to perceive the face of someone standing by his bed. Gradually, the calm image of Ahiko came into focus. She gracefully moved toward him and gently brushed his hair out of his eyes.

"The healing gel works very well. Any scars should be gone in a day or so. Do you not have feeling anywhere?"

"I feel okay, but..." Mikito trailed off, not quite bringing her hand up to her eyes.

Madara only crossed his arms over his chest.

"I think I understand...Did you two make any plans in advance?" Ahiko didn't quite meet anyone's gaze.

Mikito and Madara exchanged glances.

Ahiko sighed softly. "You two still disagree so much."

Across the room, the door slowly opened. Izuna gave a somewhat cheerful greeting as he strolled towards Madara.

"It's good to see you both again. Heard you gave Daishiro and some others a good scare with a lightning show." Izuna said in good nature.

"Something like that." Madara replied.

"It's good to see you as well." Mikito said, showing she was certainly grateful for the concern.

"Now that you're both back we'll be able to move forward with the Subatsu, Mo, and Hagoromo talks." Norio said boisterously.

Mikito offered a half amused expression.

"You both look strong enough to wrestle a few hundred rounds." Norio observed, not losing any of his zeal.

Madara felt that strong, and felt grateful to his seniors.

"That's two you owe me by the way." Izuna mentioned, giving Madara half of a glance.

"What are you on about?" Madara asked, giving his brother a quizzical look. "Anyways, it looks like things have been arranged to keep me close by here."

"You can't go running off with your wife." Izuna said, annoyed at his brother's tendency to disappear. "Everyone else can agree that it's dangerous for any of us to leave the compound. The coming talks are to be completed."

"Fair enough." Madara conceded.

"I don't know where you get your quips from, but I always appreciate how you are never short on words no matter the situation." Mikito retorted, nodding at Izuna.

"Did you find any relief?" Izuna asked.

"You didn't see us alone in the shadowlands."

Until now, Takeo had scarcely listened to this lively exchange. Madara, Mikito, and Izuna had argued frequently enough in the past. But that reference to the shadowlands sparked his curiosity, and he looked at Mikito for a quick explanation.

Madara only smirked his confident smirk, delighting in the flush that appeared on his wife's cheeks.

"Egotistical and block headed..."

"You're the one that was clinging to me." Madara smirked slightly, glancing at Mikito with amusement.

"Some things never change, Madara."

"I must've hit pretty close to get a reaction like this out of you."

"Yeah seems that way..." Norio said, staring at the two of them incredulously.

Mikito looked over at Norio and then Takeo with a strange mixture of emotions showing on her flushed face. Something vulnerable was reflected in her eyes for a moment. Then the reticent mask was back up. "Does it seem to be that way?"

Takeo shrugged. Even being the longest lived within the compound, he really didn't understand women. He agreed even more when in the next moment Mikito leaned over and kissed Madara firmly on the lips. Then she turned on her heel and marched across the room, waiting at the door to leave.

Everyone in the room looked at one another, speechless.

Ahiko was not nervous being around Mikito or Madara during moments like this. The same could be said for Takeo. Certainly they understood their power, and certainly they respected them for reasons beyond that, but Ahiko herself felt very comfortable with Madara's presence.

She felt as if she was with a friend. She spent much time with him and the Uchiha as a whole, but during those meetings, battles, occasions when she had spoken with the man privately, she had always felt as if the brusque Uchiha had an honest interest in unity.

"Have you three made your assessment or does there need to be additional tests?" Madara asked.

Norio thought more tests could be run, upon hearing Madara's question. "We only understand and utilize chakra in a limited way. It is more of a tool. You have done something that is unheard of with that stream of lightning you produced for the Council to see. It's been spreading around the compound..."

"I'd feel comfortable running more tests. Factoring everything in, I think it'd be prudent that I examine you two more closely...Due to our upbringing..."

"That is exactly why I sought out this power." Madara admitted, looking at his hand, seeing how gashed and lacerated it had been due to battling for his life days before. Beyond those gashes and lacerations on the surface of physicality...

"It seems you've both finally tapped into that realm of power...Chakra isn't a mere tool for you to use. It has become more...You've become connected with it..." Takeo said with an expressionless mask, his wizened eyes sharpening with clarity as he observed the duo.

"Is it enough to defeat Hashirama?" Norio asked.

Everyone in the room exchanged looks at the mention of the powerful Senju.

"Hashirama isn't a problem as much as the Water damiyo is at the moment. I am wary of Hashirama for my own reasons...He isn't threatening civilization like that tyrant. Quite the opposite in fact." Madara replied honestly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'll agree...I admit that I never trusted him or his concepts. I've known about him a long time...There was a Senju that'd spout idealistic nonsense. I'm guessing that was Hashirama Senju everyone was speaking of years ago." Mikito nodded, but didn't manage a smile.

"Hashirama only seeks cooperation as a means of peace. Communication as a means to negate war. A means for the shinobi to settle differences. However, shinobi make their livelihood from selling their services for war. This just turns into selling their services for missions. Certainly, there will always be competition for missions. Favoritism. Nepotism. Cronyism. No matter the generation, they will always have to face some form of war. I wonder if he has come to realize that yet, and more importantly..." Takeo trailed off, looking at nothing in particular.

"In time...I think most of us will come to realize that...I haven't said this many times, but Hashirama is the most gifted shinobi I have ever met."

"You are skipping over hundreds if not thousands that would contend that." Mikito replied coolly, though in truth, she had to consciously stop herself from scoffing. Hearing such a compliment from one who did not understand-like from the civilians that they had been around during missions-was much different than hearing it from Madara.

Mikito understood that a man like Madara would not throw out such compliments if he did not believe them.

"I think he will become the greatest of all the shinobi...It's an unsettling thought. That fool being the strongest shinobi, but he'd be a big fish in a small pond. Wouldn't you agree?"

Mikito clenched her hands into fists. "He wouldn't do much against us. I've deduced his strength a long time ago thanks to the collective insight during our war meetings, intel from scouts, and my own experiences battling with him...There is also the fact..."

"As we are right now...Even at his current peak of power with his strongest attacks...He won't defeat us. He will need to elevate his understanding of chakra. By doing so..."

"Syrus's jutsu aided Hashirama's jutsu in a lot of ways. That was the constant game changer in those battles. The Subatsu and Senju collaborating with ninjutsu so effortlessly...I know he was holding something back in reserve though...Something he doesn't want to use...Like all of us..."

Madara nodded slightly. "Collaboration ninjutsu aren't easy. So, it is showing a hand without necessarily giving up anything to the enemy. I doubt they'll find anyone as keen as the Subatsu were in that art. Hashirama...Rather Konoha will take the stage with him as the Hokage."

It was still a foreign concept for Madara to refer to Hashirama as Hokage. It was even more foreign for him to view him as something larger or more than Hashirama Senju-his old friend and leader of the Senju cln-now he was going to embody Konoha and give himself entirely to this.

I just wonder where his priorities are...Will he focus on Konoha...Will he focus on taking care of the problems plaguing the shinobi world in a cycle...

Norio hoped his legs wouldn't simply buckle beneath him. He could hardly believe the words, and yet a part of him did believe them. There was a strength within Hashirama, a power beyond the limits the shinobi creed seemed to place upon him, and upon his potential.

Madara sensed that clearly.

He knew that Hashirama didn't understand, and that was his biggest frustration with his former friend. To Madara, Hashirama's end goals were far too shortsighted. They had shared their dreams, found a mutual and common ground, became friends...Their methods in achieving those dreams-him giving it up so they could kill each other without reservation-is what led to them colliding.

The collision that was inevitable to happen as well.

However...

Norio had no idea how he might answer the continuing discussion, so he just stood by the window, looking out at the endless streams of clouds. "You sound so certain."

"There are levels." Takeo said cryptically.

Norio arched a brow, taking the bait. "Levels you say? Do you speak of chakra reserves, potency, and enormity?"

"Before it ever gets to that point...Do we remember..." Takeo said, drawing away from them so that he could lean back comfortably near the window.

"How everyone tried to teach us the ins and outs of politics." Mikito said softly. "I remember that I didn't like the lessons."

"I didn't care much for it either. To understand politics is to understand the fundamental nature of this world we live in."

"The shinobi use their power for the clan. It is good to use the power for the clan." Madara said, a little too firmly.

"The concepts of good coming from shinobi are not valid ones. For example. I have gathered that the shinobi of Kumogakure believed in justice and security."

"Some could believe in justice and peace."

"Do you think anyone cares about the nuance of that? Peace means rest. Security means constant measures taken. Known and unknown." Takeo said mildly.

"The shinobi have not done a stellar job of bringing peace or security...It has been the opposite for thousands of years now and it's been written down for all of us to read if we want to. You must agree that they are a far cry from what the teachings of Ninshū and Rikudo intended. Who's to say that Ninjutsu was better than Ninshū? Who is to say it is?"

"That's the nature of Ninjutsu." Madara said.

"Ninshū...Rather the teachings of Ninshū were meant to give people a better understanding of themselves, as well as others, and lead the world to peace. By connecting people's spiritual and physical energy with each other, it would allow them to work hard in unity, understand each other without communication, and pray for one another's safety. It can be argued that from these treasures of bonds and relationships was chakra first born and spread across the world into every thing alive. Even blades of grass and the dirt itself."

"This is another of those arguments you probably shouldn't bring up in front of the Council, if you know what I mean." Norio replied with a disbelieving smile at the statement.

"To be proud of ninjutsu is folly." Takeo nodded.

Norio shook his head. "Are you saying Ninjutsu is inherently evil?"

"From a certain point of view it could be labeled that. Evil is a label we all put on those who threaten us in this era, isn't it? It isn't a greater moral or standing. It is what stands in our way." Ahiko reasoned.

"The quest is for greater understanding." Mikito hummed softly. "For greater knowledge..."

"Which bring greater power."

"Not necessarily." Madara had to smile briefly. "It has to be applied a certain way in order for there to be greater power."

Norio shifted his weight, settling in comfortably. "Perhaps the real difference between the two lies only in their orientation. One you gain power through understanding and unity, one you gain understanding through power and conflict."

"The shinobi fear. Those who followed Ninshū had no fear. They embraced the whole spectrum of experiences, from the heights of transcendent joy to the depths of hatred and despair. They'd lift those suffering out of those depths into transcendent joy. They understood everything has a soul, spirit, and emotions for a reason."

"The shinobi suppress that emotion and channel it into their jutsu. That is why the shinobi think of themselves as more powerful they are not afraid to unleash all of their rage, angst, devotion, and the overall range of emotions in that moment." Norio reasoned.

"So they rely on passion for strength, passion born from inner turmoil? When that passion runs dry...What then?"

"Perhaps nothing. Who can say?"

"They think inward, only about themselves in the end."

"This reminds me of an old legend." Takeo murmured idly.

Madara was the only one that shook his head.

"It's an old legend...Your generation may not have heard it. There was a student who studied the depths of chakra. Someone who had turned their sight inward so that they had come to comprehend, and master life itself."

Madara's eyes widened, and he straightened his back.

Was he actually hearing this?

"He could keep someone safe from death?" Norio asked in disbelief.

"Impossible...I refuse to believe it." Mikito murmured.

"According to legend...He could directly influence the cells of the body and their energy to create life. Shed decay and nullify aging completely. No more sickness. No more disease. With such knowledge, to maintain life in someone already living would seem a small matter..."

One thought was inside Madara's head. To be Stronger than death...

To eliminate the very notion of it.

"The highest levels of ninjutsu and chakra manipulation seem to be—from my readings—the pathway to many abilities some would consider unnatural. Forbidden. It is beyond shaping fire into the form of whatever you dream up, or any jutsu of that caliber."

Norio had a hard time keeping his composure. "What happened to him?"

"It is a tragedy...Once he gained this ultimate power, he had nothing to fear...Except for losing it to time of course. To prolong his own power's existence, he taught the path toward it to his apprentices."

"And?"

"His apprentices all banded together and killed him in his sleep." Takeo said with a slight shrug.

"They killed him in cold blood?" Mikito asked, struggling to comprehend the whole thing for what it was.

"With all that power...Wouldn't he see his demise coming?" Madara prodded further.

"He never seen it coming. He didn't have omnipresence and extreme foresight. That's the tragedy of the story. Besides the betrayal of his apprentices. He could save anyone and anything in the world from death...He could shed decay, and in essence, stop the aging process we all go through. The cells themselves would cease to decay...All for...Except himself."

Mikito felt a prick of anger and licked her lips, struggling to smother the feeling. "What about the apprentices? What happened to them?"

"They killed each other over the knowledge."

"What a waste..." Madara murmured.

"Quite right."

"What if it isn't just a legend or a tragedy of a legend? What if it's..."

"I'm sorry?"

"What if this person really lived...Is it possible someone else has that power? The knowledge of that power?"

"I am certain this person did indeed exist. If someone actually had this power right now...They would indeed be one of the most powerful people on this world, not to mention virtually immortal..."

"How would we find him?"

Takeo chuckled. "He defies the very laws of nature and reality. I'm not sure where I'd start. His knowledge, if he was wiped out by his own apprentices, was wiped out with him most likely. What little the apprentices got from him respectively they never pooled together."

"So, the transmission of power and knowledge could never pass onto them completely. It was a betrayal from all sides of it. That fiend used them to prolong his own power, they killed him in a bid to claim that power as their own...Never realizing that whole time he was giving them scraps and pieces of his knowledge. When it came time to pool their knowledge and strength together as one, they instead weaponized that knowledge against each other..."

"Is the moral of that not to have so much power? If so much power is concentrated in one individual it leads to problems?" Norio asked.

Mikito gave the man a bemused stare. "Problems?"

Norio composed himself well enough to speak evenly. "Arrogance..."

"Would...Could it be possible to learn this power..." Madara found himself pacing towards the door, fists clenched and trembling.

He forced himself to relax.

Takeo shrugged, regarding him with a smile of gentle wisdom. "As it is. I doubt it. Besides, you weren't looking for such a power in the first place were you? Otherwise you'd never endure the shadowlands like you had alongside Mikito."

Madara stared into the elder man's eyes for minutes, when his struggle finally came to end he turned his beaming eyes away.

Ahiko clapped her hands a few times, opening the door and gesturing for them to get moving, bringing everyone back to the present. "This is why he is an elder and still sits on the Council. Izuna, why did you really come here? It wasn't for a cheerful greeting."

Izuna nodded, his expression turning grim. "There's trespassers. I and some others are going out and joining in the search. I think it'd be a good time for you both to come as well. You can trail them Ahiko and keep your observational eyes on them."

"That's one thing I don't-"

"Trespassers?" Mikito cut her sister off gently, despite wearing a red cloth over her eyes, everyone got the distinct sense that Mikito was indeed staring them down.

"According to recent reports." Izuna nodded.

"Making a point...Doesn't work..." Mikito murmured.

Madara turned a glance in his brother's direction before a low growl sounded from the back of his throat. "We just got done with shredding Hyuga..."

Takeo sighed. "Some things just can't be helped. Keep a close eye on them Ahiko. Don't let them exert too much."

"I don't think it's a good idea." Ahiko said.

Madara smirked briefly. "If we continued things here it'd be based on assumptions to some extent. This way you get to see us in action."

"That is exactly why I don't think it's a good idea. We don't have anytime to waste unfortunately. Things aren't right in the compound and if anyone craves revenge they will clamor for the heads of these trespassers...Such things don't need to be happening right now."

Madara crossed his arms over his chest. "You're not one to make assumptions like that."

---

It took nearly five hours before Yosuke and Disuke reached a towering canopy. The lush vegetation around them was teeming with life, but as they lunged along through the jungle most creatures scattered before them, vanishing long before either of them ever came close enough to catch even a glimpse of them. Yet though they scampered away, their keen sense of smell often picked up their trail, and more than once Disuke and Yosuke had to get ahead of one beast's hunting instincts to keep on their course.

As difficult as it was to keep the beasts and monsters from racing off in pursuit of them, it became even more difficult to drive forward as they neared the clearing. Every few steps they would try to change course, sprint to the side, or suddenly go through a series of flips until they got back onto the right trek. Disuke couldn't see more than a few meters ahead through the thick vegetation, but he knew they were getting closer to the next ravine.

He could sense the power of the surroundings, calling to him from behind the impenetrable curtain of tangled boles and twisted jungle.

The soil, the air, and the wind blowing was charged with an energy he couldn't quite describe.

It felt great.

Clamping down with chakra, he crushed the last of his body's fatigue and urged it forward in short bursts. They broke through into a clearing, a circle nearly five hundreds meters across. In the very center stood a massive body of water. The vegetation around it rose nearly twenty meters to the sky, a tangled mass of jungle that swept around even to where they stood. The only entrance that would be accessible was a broad sphere-like opening carved into an outside wall of the jungle itself, its surface was overgrown with clinging moss, mushrooms, and climbing vines.

The grounds surrounding it were lush, a carpet of short, soft grass.

Disuke leapt down from his perch, all his attention focused on the surroundings towering before him. The terrible crashing cacophony of its melee was overlaid with furious and tortured howls, just as Disuke had predicted would happen. There was no way they were going to outrun what was after them, and true to form they had found in each other what they were searching for.

He took a trembling step forward before stopping short. He shook his head to clear it. Chakra was immensely strong here, so strong it made him feel lightheaded. Neither him nor Yosuke could afford to be wandering around in a stupor.

According to the accounts he'd heard from Subatsu, this place was thought to be protected, or had once been protected by a powerful chakra or energy shield of sorts...One that required an entire clan, of which each individual would have had to have been immensely powerful to bring it to form.

He didn't sense any such barrier, but only a fool would proceed without caution.

"There's so many pack hunters...Damn those little shits are really after us. Looks like they lost a good few to whatever else was back there."

Disuke managed a nod.

Yosuke remained as still as he could, observing the aggressive pack hunters several dozen meters away.

Disuke remained crouched a few feet away from him. Yosuke had never been comfortable in such an environment, but in the company of the pack hunters who thirst for blood, he felt a few pieces short in a Shogi match. He knew that more than half of them prowling there had expressed a sort of gleeful hunger about forcing him and his comrade to run and sweat.

Like they chased the scent. He got to see that even after himself and Disuke had shifted the ground into a mudslide to get a few dozen of them, more had been agile enough to evade. They had just been agile enough to get ahead and evade them.

"They caught up fast..." Yosuke bit out, wiping harshly at the sweat beading around his eyes.

"That could be a different pack. Doesn't change the fact we're in a hard spot...Hashirama-sama insists we return if there's too much trouble." Disuke said as the pack hunters slowly began to disperse, while a few hung around scouting the area.

"Most importantly we have to find out what is drawing everyone here."

"A power capable of cutting that flying monster with one swipe perhaps? Not everyone is capable of such a thing...Even we're hard pressed against a lot of what we face off against here. I get the feeling we haven't even seen the worst this place has to offer. That monster snapped every other jutsu we threw at it " Yosuke bit his tongue, stopping himself from rambling.

"It is true not everyone is capable of that. Even among Senju shinobi and kunoichi a lot of them would've fallen to that flying monster we first encountered. We were quick to adapt to its attacks. The pack hunters coordination is also something worth noting. Fighting against these creatures we've increased our finishing power and stopping power..." Disuke trailed off, memories flashing through his mind's eyes, vividly showcasing the Senju collaboration ninjutsu with the Subatsu.

The pure destructive force those attacks struck with were enough to turn the tide in their favor every single time.

He straightened as Yosuke turned his gaze his way.

"I wonder..." Yosuke trailed off. "Is it freedom they chase after or...Something else."

"As a rule of thumb the compounds of the Domou and Subatsu are all located in the central part of this land. It will be very difficult to get there and get the information we need. That right there is only speculation. "

"That's not what I mean." Yosuke noted.

"Do you mean the Subatsu, Mo, and Hagoromo working with the Yamanaka clan?"

Yosuke grunted, his eyes glinting with stark observation, as if he were seeing something in the past.

"The Subatsu have been quiet since coming to Konoha. No interest in us. If the Sarutobi and Hyuga did what they did...Do we retreat in that case? Is that the wiser decision? There hasn't been word from Sasuke, Genzo, or Kurou since this happened either. The Fire damiyo has been quiet as well. It's been quiet. On all sides of it."

Disuke grunted, unable to shift the foreboding that began to set on him. "We go as far as we can and observe everything that we can. Note every detail. The fact that flying monster could snap our ninjutsu like that is more than enough to report. Honestly, there's not many that could compete with that regularly. The chakra stores and reserves necessary would be inordinate."

"Inordinate?" Yosuke questioned, brow arched in confusion at the term.

"Exactly that."

"A power that destructive and excessive...I wonder if that's why our combination and collaboration ninjutsu with the Subatsu were so potent. Tobirama and Usagi could collaborate easily in battle. Syrus and Hashirama could change the land itself, going beyond the landscape...It's like...They always had something more...Something that went beyond sense or perception."

"Fine tuned chakra control...Almost like it is a part of them...Like a breath...More than a tool." Disuke observed.

"In any case I'm getting a bad feeling."

"Something big is coming this way." Disuke agreed, looking around at the surrounding vegetation, his fine tuned eyes noting that the rippling wasn't coming from wind.

But vibrations that could only be footsteps...

The surroundings were almost completely covered by thick, lush jungle, verdant rain-forest, and vast mountains and streams. There were clearings and ravines large enough for anything problematic to get through, but thanks to the vegetation it'd be near impossible to move for whatever it was. Finally, they pulled themselves ahead, sweat beading, and began a slow trudge forward, making their way through until they got to the very edge of it.

As soon as Yosuke's feet touched the surface he felt it...

A deep thrumming, similar to what he'd first felt before, but much, much stronger. Even the air felt different. Heavy with secrets long forgotten and sweltering with energy. Standing with his back to the jungle, staring into the virtually impenetrable wall of forest that covered the interior where they were going, he could sense something else, as well...

A presence...

A life-force of immense size and strength.

It was moving toward him.

Quickly.

A few seconds later he could hear it crashing through the undergrowth. It must have been drawn by their landing on the clearing, an enormous monster looking for food.

The long necked monstrosity burst forth from the trees, smashing and shaking them down to the massive roots as it did. It began loping across the landscape, bellowing its terrible cry as it shook the ground with each step, pulling away the vegetation with its giant fifty meter body.

Disuke and Yosuke both held their ground, watching it come, marveling at the speed with which the giant beast moved and how the whole landscape thundered from it moving. They briefly wondered if everyone could hear it charging.

When it had closed the distance between them to less than three meters, Disuke calmly held up his hand and formed an earthen spear to bludgeon the brain of the charging monster. It was a tried and true killing method that worked on these monsters. At his unspoken command the spear shot forward, surged by chakra, forcing the monstrosity to stumble to a halt and swing its massive tail, bellowing the same terrible cry behind the gale force winds it left in its wake.

Careful to keep the creature's backlash in check, Yosuke tried to close in to gash its trunk-like legs. It remained furious, as aggressive as a pack hunter going on the hunt. From its size Yosuke could see it was a full-grown male, though the dark coloration of its hide and the small number of scars suggested that it must have only recently come to adulthood.

He felt the trembling muscles beneath the skin as he probed deeper into its brain. He found no awareness, concept, or understanding of the possible people who had once tamed such beasts for use as battle machines and mounts.

Yosuke wasn't expecting this one to remember such things-it had been before its time.

Disuke sucked in a breath running towards the creature that was making a beeline for Yosuke, using a second burst of chakra from the inhale to close the distance, and get his ninjutsu attack into motion. His explosive advance forced the monster to stop, and it seemed to pause, puzzled at the tiny human charging towards it like a mini fireball.

It opened its mouth to bite him into shreds as his earth spike erupted. The monster's head was slashed, its head snapping to the right as it roared in pain. It flinched away from the explosion that followed as the tip ripped into a nearby tree, shaking the entire landscape as it came through the other side. The monstrosity snapped its long tail around, Disuke's second tendril erupted like it had never even been solidified in the first place. The third and fourth tendrils, he could see the tail split into them, pitch black plumes consuming them, the impact tearing swaths from their foundations and shearing into the landscape.

Yosuke could barely hear the shout as the tendrils roared.

"Yosuke! Move! Damn it!"

Yosuke ran across the marsh, moving faster with each step in the slog. There were fewer pieces of dry land around them despite the verdant surroundings. He still distanced himself from the monster. He sunk up to his knees, splashing murky, smelly water, his feet releasing clouds of rotting vegetation that lay beneath the water's surface.

At this point Yosuke expected to go up to his waist or chest. Disuke continued to unleash, his chakra roared in his ears, and he felt pain creeping on as he exerted more and more, thinking less and less about conserving and control and more about outright destruction.

It spread all over his body, burning, scorching, forcing sweat to bead. His jutsu widened, threatening to separate before he forced it into stability. He'd seen thousands of men and women die in explosions, and he had been at death's door more times than he could count, had dealt it himself, and he wondered at that moment...

Between being and not being, what was it...

Was it this...

Insatiable power that was threatening to burn him alive?

Seeing so many creatures and monsters here battle and die, just kill each other, it only made him wonder more about what it was.

He whipped his head to the side, facing the attacking monster as it made its lunge. A boulder smashed into the monster's head, knocking it sideways off of its feet, and into the marsh. Yosuke stepped back, eyes racing around, and he gasped when he seen dozens of more boulders coming as fast as lightning.

"Are those-"

"Some are! Some aren't! Another monster is coming! This is our opening!" Disuke shouted.

Yosuke turned where the boulders were coming from, and he felt his heart drop all way into his intestines. A giant ape-like humanoid creature with dark red fur, long arms that hung to the ground, and furious yellow acidic eyes thundered through the trees into the marsh.

The one they had fought before was running on all fours, one humongous fist clasping a mountain. Its fur was still smoldering, there was raw and open flesh, but the wounds didn't lessen it at all.

The ape's face was filled with rage.

He reached the monsters as they were finding their feet, raised the boulder high above its head, and smashed it down with sick force. The long neck monstrosity howled, low and guttural. The ape lifted the gigantic mass of earth and stone again, its foe twisted its huge body around, and whipped its tail, slamming it across the ape's chest with an audible crack.

It staggered back, struggling to keep its footing as it slammed into the tree line. It chucked the mass in its fist at the very last second. Yosuke knew he should have been using this opportunity to flee, but he couldn't. The fight was amazing and terrifyingly awful at the same time, and he couldn't help but watch it unfold.

Disuke landed next to him, not grimacing or flinching from the marsh nearby. "Now you just bide out time."

"What the hell were you going to do?" Yosuke tried not to shout the question.

"Maybe somewhere in their little brains is a memory we can use."

He wasn't surprised he hadn't found much in the creature's mind. Such knowledge had vanished many centuries before this monstrosity reached its adulthood. It was said some shinobi made monstrosities and turned them loose long ago, those battles lead to much knowledge being destroyed. Many spoke of cells never dying, decay being gone, and immortality being possible. Even among the Senju ranks immortality had been pursued in full effort. This was all beyond the creature, Disuke knew, so he was looking for something else. A stream of images, feelings, and sensations assailed his mind. Enduring countless hunts through the forest since birth, most ending with those born beside this one in slaughter. The rending of sinew and bone as it trudged on in fear.

How it ate, and grew, and continued to brave those vicious and bloodthirsty beasts that feasted on all flesh. This same one, that had been small, grew to be bigger than those who devoured its fellows. It crushed them under foot. The search for a mate. Battling with another one for dominance for that mate. Then, finally, he found what he was searching for. Buried deep in the creature's psyche was the image of a great wall, with a pyramid-like structure hidden deep within the jungle's heart. A vast mountain top, from which water coursed down during the spring and fall. This creature had seen it only a few times, back when it was still a youngling in the care of the mothers.

Yet the structure had left an ingrained mark on the brutish mind. This creature was at the top of this land's food chain for the most part. It knew no fear, yet it let out a low bellowing roar as Disuke dredged up the memory of that great mountain and wall. With that they were moving downhill unable to see more than a few meters ahead through the thick vegetation, but they knew they were reaching another clearing or vantage point.

The monster grasped a giant tree, hauling itself upright, and grabbed the trunk with both hands ripping it out of the ground.

"I don't know what you're looking for." Yosuke said almost absently.

Disuke almost nodded in agreement.

He was too busy watching as the ape monster used its momentum to swing the uprooted tree all the way around, only for it to smash into the long whip-like tail of its foe. Disuke and Yosuke ran across the clearing, staying parallel to the cape of land. Both glanced over their shoulders every few steps they took. There was no clear winner. One monster was gripping uprooted trees, trying to beat the other, which was taking steps between each impact the club-like weapon wrought, slamming its tail, and pushing it closer to the deeper ravine of the landscape.

He could sense the power of the land now, calling to him from behind the impenetrable curtain of tangled branches and twisted boles. The energy was growing stronger here, so strong it made him feel vertiginous. They crossed the surrounding clearing and mounted the branches of the closest trees to maintain their high ground of surveillance. Comfortable in their perch the duo allowed themselves to relax, Yosuke crouching low and staying behind leaves, while Disuke only straightened his back keeping himself in the shade.

The landscape was starting to get wider, and the vegetation was neither lessening nor getting easier to navigate despite the subtle changes. There was marsh and swamp dotting about due to constant downpours and battles of monstrosities. The vegetation surrounding them ended at a small opening leading to the river of the entrance, about half of the way up from their current trajectory.

This time Disuke paused at the scenery. He had a brief sensation of what it must have felt like for those who came before him. The anticipation and the thrill of discovery. Once inside, however, it would only take a matter of hours of exploration for that excitement to fade. Either the beasts and monsters that roamed, the Domou, the Subatsu, or the landscape itself would kill anyone not familiar with it.

This he knew from personal experience.

"Now what?" Yosuke asked, uncomfortable with the relaxing silence. "We are asking for trouble if we push any deeper...We could encounter something that we can't kill."

Disuke grunted.

Yosuke nodded, refusing to wipe the sweat that beaded into his eyes. This chance wasn't going to come again and they had to seize it. This narrow opening provided couldn't be simply discarded in favor of saving their own skin. They had to think of the Senju and Konoha as a whole. For that purpose they'd do everything in their power to survive.

They needed this information.

If the Yuki, Kori, and Terumi clans really did join the amalgamation that has been started, there was really no limit to what could happen. There was no telling who would join. Even the ocean wasn't enough to keep certain clans and people divided. They needed to know why those three clans would join such a thing, coming from a blood drenched and insular country that rejected any form of such unity. They needed to know what drew the Nohara, Kurama, Namikaze, and Yuhi clans as well.

What drew some of their own Senju and their rivals the Uchiha into their midst.

It had to be more than raw power drawing everyone here.

With that in mind, Disuke made up his mind with a steady nod. "We'll keep pushing ahead for as long as we can. We should be running into a person soon at the rate we're going."

"Is it wise? We should have enough information as it stands."

"Are you satisfied?" Disuke asked with a strange glimmer in his irises, watching Yosuke pondering the question himself.

"I suppose not." Yosuke conceded, looking at the surroundings with a narrowed gaze. "How likely is it we're going to have human company?"

Disuke looked around briefly, clenching the pommel of his sword with three fingers. "I'll put it to you like this. We are either going to be able to evade capture while deducing everything we need to...While just getting out of this land and back into the outskirts of the Elemental Nations...The next option...We will be captured or killed. In any event that'll have to be by human hands."

Yosuke grunted softly while managing a smirk. "We have no choice."