(Chapter 26: Magma vs Sound, and Rebellious Deals)
It would be further into the month of August as the long awaited day for Isane to officially cement her place as part of the Sound 5 was finally at hand, and the Lava Release user couldn't be any happier. All the while an ecstatic Orochimaru was having their own bit of excitement given that thanks to Sakon and Ukon's work, as well as that of Kabuto's that they had secured a meeting with rebel commander and leader Mei Terumi to discuss a potential alliance between their village and the Hidden Mist once the war was won.
(August 11th, 997 S.E, Otogakure, 1:45 Pm)
It was a sunny Friday afternoon as the Hidden Sound Village was abuzz with cheer at being treated to their coliseums first ever fight within, given that it was between two of their leaders' elite guard to christen the rebirth of the Sound 5 as the villages' best and brightest in terms of its protectors.
"Thanks for wrapping me up, Mr. Jirobo. I appreciate it." Isane said as the larger of the Sound 4 finished helping her with her hand wraps
"Hey, considering that you're gonna go out there and beat the shit out of Tayuya. This is the least I can do for you." Jirobo replied as he finished wrapping up the one on her right fist
"With how much of a piece of work she is, I'm going to make damn sure that she gets an ass kicking and a half." Isane said back as she flexed her hands to make sure everything was aces
"Honestly, I don't get how she can be mean to you guys…Compared to the war and everything, you guys are some of the best people I've ever met!" Isane further spoke in not seeing how Tayuya can be such a bitchy dickhead to everyone
"Your preaching to the choir, Isane…To be honest, I don't even know what even of us did to make her at like a total cunt to everybody. But yet and still she constantly disrespects us, Kimimaro, Kabuto, Jugo, and even Lord Orochimaru, and we're all sick of it…So do a solid for every one of us, and make her piss blood." Jirobo told Isane who smiled back at the orange-haired giant
"Don't worry, I'll knock her teeth out just for you., Mr. Jirobo. I guarantee it!" Isane said as she bumped fists with the South Gate
"That's the spirit, Isane. Now go knock her ass out for all of us." Jirobo said as Isane nodded with a determined smile on her face
From there Isane headed out of her room to meet the crowds of cheering villagers who were all in an uproar to see the spectacle before them, as she walked out in an attire that given the state of the spectacle; figured it would be fun to dress up in a fighting outfit of violet and navy as she waved to the cheering crowd (Think of a female version of Goku's DBS Outfit). Meanwhile, Tayuya as came out in moreso a huff given the nature of what was going on was met with more boos than cheers given how the North Gate wasn't really met with warm receptions to the refugees from the Mist given how many of their family she'd gotten killed by bungling important missions.
Yet as everything reached a fever pitch as the two servants of the Serpent Sannin neared each other; standing on opposite sides of the colosseum the announcer in the form of Kabuto soon announced the bout was to soon begin, with the sole rule being that the bout was to continue until one was knocked unconscious and no dismemberment was allowed. Beyond that, everything was ago as after being asked if either party was ready to begin and both nodding; Kabuto quickly used a Shunshin to head back into the stands as both shinobi glared at each other with nothing but bad intentions in their eyes.
Once the match began and Tayuya tried to use her flute on Isane, said Lava Release immediately went through hand-signs to unleash a Lava Release: Molten Flail; which had as the name intended had her spit forth a large glob of magma into existence that she was able to grab by the hands and form into a hefty looking flail with a handle made of vulcanized rubber. All before rushing after Tayuya like a bull in a china shop; forcing the flutist to leap back to avoid getting her head caved in by the molten construct…unfortunately she wouldn't get far as with a stomp of her foot a Mud Wall jutsu sprang to life; smacking Tayuya in the face and stopping her dead in her tracks while Isane glared at her with nothing but lethal.
"Where do you think you're going? We're just about to get started!" Isane exclaimed before nailing Tayuya in the side with her molten construct
From there she began to batter Tayuya with a short series of blows to her stomach that not only scorched her shirt to ashes; but also left severe 2nd degree burns wherever they struck eliciting yelps of pain from Tayuya as she felt meat tear and muscle sear from each attack. Before she cracked across her jaw by said flail and sent her flying with a broken and heavily burnt jaw, with her having landed sprawled out on the ground in a dazed heap as Isane rushed towards her without so much as missing a beat.
So upon seeing this, Tayuya shakily raised her hands to summon forth her Doki to protect her as she knew that it would be arrogant even for her to meet Isane head on without the assistance of her Curse Mark, and yet Isane was undeterred as she stomped her foot on the ground to use Lava Release: Hellhounds. Which caused the ground beneath her to violently shake and rumble before a large pack of nearly horse-sized wolves made of roiling magma with jaws of razor-sharp obsidian burst forth into existence to meet the charging Doki.
The resulting clash was the audience in uproarious shock to see Tayuya's infamous summons being mauled and torn asunder by the constructs made from roiling magma; that tore into them with the ferociousness of a pack of grey wolves that ripped, tore, and burned their flesh within mere moments of making contact…Granted the Doki was able to take out a decent chunk of the wolf-like constructs with their greater brute strength, but this worked more against them than it helped them; given that the moment they were destroyed, they proceeded to rapidly harden and then explode into razor-sharp shards of obsidian that sliced right through their flesh.
This still left a sextet of said Hellhounds racing after Tayuya who had entered into the initial state of her Curse Mark, and quickly used the Swamp of the Underworld jutsu to have the ground change to dense almost tar-like mud to swallow them into the depths below. However, rather than watch her constructs become swallowed fully, she made the ram seal with her free hand and had them rapidly harden and subsequently explode into obsidian shards that Tayuya was forced to quickly dodge and evade with a great deal of her amplified agility.
However, the moment the coast was clear was she hit in the back of the skull courtesy of a sneaky roundhouse kick from Isane who used her exploding hellhounds as cover to sneak up on Tayuya who then felt a hefty chunk of her hair and scalp being seared off of her skull as she staggered from the blow that had her vision seeing double if not nearly triple. At least until she found herself on the receiving end of a nasty left hook to the jaw from the Terumi in question, who quickly closed the distance to deliver a powerful gut shot that had the flutist doubling over before she was brutally kneed in the liver and sent further back with a jaw-cracking blow to the face.
"Is this really the best that you've got?" Isane questioned as she loomed over a burnt and battered Tayuya
"Here you are, the person that's supposed to be one of Lord Orochimaru's best, and yet here you are getting your shit rocked like a bitch!...Then you have the nerve to think you can walk around talking shit, give me a break!" Isane spat in derision of the battered flutist
"Shut the fuck up, you lava-spewing cunt! I'm better than you, and I'm a hell of a lot better than 4 basic bitches dragging me down, especially that fat fuck Jirobo!" Tayuya retorted
"Really, if that's the case then why is it that everyone's told me that your dead-weight on missions…Not only that but you're the main reason why its taken us so long to get an alliance with the rebellion in Kiri, because you can't keep your mouth shut." Isane said back as the refugees from the Mist all collectively glared at the North Gate
"And so fucking what, am I supposed to feel bad because you fuckers had to come crying over here? Spare me a fucking sob story, like I'm supposed to care because your batshit crazy Kage decided you dipshits weren't worth shit!" Tayuya said in haughty disregard for a large chunk of those in attendance
'I was going to let her off easy, but now...now I'm gonna make sure she doesn't feel her insides after what I do to her.' Isane spoke as she used her mastery over Lava Release to turn her flail into a trident made of obsidian with wicked-looking barbs
'It seems as though Tayuya hasn't quite learned when to keep her mouth shut. Perhaps, this will teach her to stay her tongue against her betters.' Orochimaru remarked to themselves as they saw Isane stalk toward the wounded Tayuya
On the other hand, Tayuya was in the midst of playing her flute in order to trap Isane in a genjutsu and finally turn the tables to her side, but unfortunately enough, she found herself having to stop in the midst of it when said trident was yeeted into her stomach with such force that it nearly knocked her into the ground. So with a trident several inches into her guts Tayuya stopped and found blood and bile traveling up to her throat, and even more so when Isane had rushed forwards to smash her head against hers to stun her; before twisting the weapon further into her stomach to the point that the barbed ends were visible through the otherside.
From there Isane tore the trident from Tayuya's abdomen; sending blood, bits of gore and innards splaying across the ground was the trident tore through the North Gate as though she were made of wet-tissue paper. All the while Tayuya was subject to a flourish-like swing of the trident to her right arm that not only sliced through muscle and arteries with the greatest of ease but also forced her to release her hold on her flute; thanks to the tendons in her wrist being sliced apart.
However, it didn't stop there as Isane then launched several trident thrusts to the chest and stomach that further bloodied the North Gate who had tried in vain to fight one-handed due to the ruined state of her left arm leaving her unable to properly play her flute; was going as poorly as you'd imagine. Given that the trident was able to keep Tayuya at a distance to where taijutsu was impossible, and the fact that Isane would impale and stab at her thighs and forearms as devastating counters to make sure that any attempts at evasion were at a painful price.
Yet despite her accumulation of wounds from Isane's obsidian weapon, she still doggedly hurled insults at the Sound 5, Orochimaru, Isane, and the Hidden Mist refugees in anger of her situation of being replaced and the outright clinic she was being put through. Hence why Isane in seeing that Tayuya had been reduced to a bloodied pincushion; had decided that it was time to finish this fight, as she impaled Tayuya with her trident with such force that she was sent flying a full 30 feet away.
Yet the moment she was left pinned to the ground unable to remove the trident lodged in her stomach, due to the numerous wounds across her body as she tried in vain to power up to the 2nd stage of her Cursed Mark but found it difficult due to the damage sustained…However, she wouldn't have to struggle for long given the fact that Isane had already finished her sequence of hand-signs to unleash a powerful Fire Release: Dragon Flame Caterwaul Jutsu, sending several large dragon-shaped fireballs at the struggling North Gate.
…The fireballs soon collided and promptly impacted against the North Gate with great force in a concussive fireball which in the moments that the smoke and fire soon cleared; lay a heavily burnt Tayuya whose clothes were scorched and semi-fused to her bloodied and battered body. And as such with the sight of her unconscious form in comparison to a relatively unscathed Isane, said Lava Release user was named not only victor of the bout but now the newest member of the Sound 5 as the crowds cheered over her victory whilst Tayuya's body was soon carried off.
"Kabuto, once Tayuya has fully recovered. Remind me, to have a word with her…As it seems that my message of her tongue running rampant didn't get through to her." Orochimaru said to the silver-haired medic as an aura of menace began to radiate from the Serpent Sannin
"As you wish, Lord Orochimaru…Is there anything else that you wish of me to do?" Kabuto asked careful not to anger the already irritated Sannin
"No, that will be all, Kabuto." Orochimaru spoke as Kabuto nodded before taking his leave
'At this point, I will be surprised if she isn't put on the chopping block after running her mouth like that.' Kabuto noted to himself knowing full well that his master wasn't going to let Tayuya's crassness go unpunished for much longer
(3 days later, August 14th, 997 S.E, Orochimaru's Office, Otogakure, 3:45 Pm)
Meanwhile, it would quite a bit of time as Isane was meeting with Orochimaru; to see how the Terumi in question was after her induction ceremony and some of what would be going forward now that she was the new North Gate.
"Tell me, Isane. How are you feeling now that you are officially apart of my elite guard?" Orochimaru questioned the Lava Release user
"To be honest, I feel pretty awesome, Lord Orochimaru...Finally, I've made to the top!" Isane said feeling ecstatic over her now being apart of the Sound 5
"Now I can really start helping everyone get stronger…If we're gonna be a real-deal Hidden Village, then I wanna make sure we can stand with even the big boys out there." Isane added gaining a small smile from the Serpent Sannin
"Considering the misfortune that has recently befallen Iwa nearly a month prior. That shouldn't be too hard for us to accomplish." Orochimaru spoke in regards to the sundered state of the Hidden Stone
"Oh yeah, didn't they get annihilated by a freak earthquake?" Isane questioned
"To say it was a mere earthquake would be putting it lightly. Seeing as how from what my men had reported to me; it was more than not only a village-wide earthquake. But it also included volcanic activity, as well as dust and volcanic ash storms in tandem with the multiple earthquakes that required the Oonoki, all available jonin and the 4 tails jinchuuriki to stop it." Orochimaru answered back
"As it stands after dealing with a cataclysm for 4 almost 5 hours…As a clear result of this event; the Hidden Stone is in ruins, and will not see active duty for years at the very least...At least if Oonoki was smart and decides to keep his best on rebuilding the village, instead of weakening his forces by sending them on missions." Orochimaru added
Since the damage done was of such immense scale that Iwagakure and everything for several miles around it had been completely and utterly sundered, and as a result was put into a state of emergency; given that the multiple earthquakes on top of the violent lava eruptions, and vicious dust and ash storms had near-irrevocably damaged and changed the environment. Which in combination with the immense amount of property damage and almost countless lives loss from both civilian to shinobi…it was pretty much a given that Iwagakure was not a hollowed shell of its former self to the point its being one of the major 5 was now in question.
"Is it really that bad there?" Isane asked
"It is, which is why within a few months' time I am having Kimimaro, Kidomaru, and yourself to lead a campaign to fully squash Iwagakure." Orochimaru informed the Lava Release user
"Really?...Wow, I honestly did not think that I would be doing stuff like that so soon." Isane said in surprise of being called to do something so large scale so soon
"Neither did I at first, and yet with the rarity of opportunities such as this. We cannot afford to waste an opportunity such as this…After all, it isn't every day that the chance to overthrow one of the 5 major Hidden Villages comes to us on a silver platter." Orochimaru spoke knowing this was as opportune a time as ever too get rid of a major player
"I can't necessarily argue against that. What with Iwa having a jinchuuriki with them, and probably an overworked one with how bad things are." Isane replied in having a good feeling that the 5 tails were going to be worked like a pack mule
"Exactly another reason why we must strike quickly. There are simply some opportunities that cannot be passed upon, and this is one of them." Orochimaru spoke
"Well, that's good and all, but when do you want us to march on Iwa?" Isane questioned
"I want you to march on Iwa by December at the earliest and the end of January at the latest. I do not want them to recover too much of their strength to launch a suitable defensive; once we invade…The last thing that I need is for that loathsome fence-sitter to stop us." Orochimaru answered back in full recognition of the elderly Tsuchikage's strength
"Alright, I can do that just fine…Granted we're going to have to possibly deal with two jinchuuriki, but it shouldn't be too much to handle…I hope." Isane said knowing full well they'd have their hands full
"Do not worry, I will be sure to have a clone or two to pay them both a visit. After all, I'm certain that I can convince either one of them to join our side, and turn the tide in our favor." Orochimaru replied with full confidence
'The only matter is of making sure that I get to the 4 tails before Pein and the others…The last thing I need is a pretend god with the power of a tailed beast at their disposal.' Orochimaru noted to themselves at the fact that they would be on a time crunch to get to the 4 tails jinchuuriki
"Then good luck to you, Lord Orochimaru. Because we're going to need all the help we can get for taking down an entire shinobi village. Even if it is in the crapper, I doubt that they're going to go down without a fight." Isane spoke knowing full well that they couldn't afford to get in over their head on something like that
"Trust me, Isane. I won't need luck. All I need is their location, and the rest should follow suit from there." Orochimaru replied
"Well, if you've got everything settled and squared away with the 4 tails. Then what do you have planned for the Hidden Mist? Since my cousin still has to deal with Yagura and the rest of the loyalists there." Isane questioned as to what her leader had planned
"Luckily enough, I plan on venturing there by the end of the week…I plan to not only help further the rebellion's efforts against the mad fool, but on top of our efforts to move the refugees and those plagued by the purges here…That I further plan on making my presence personally felt in aiding against him." Orochimaru told the redheaded Sound 5 member
"Wait a minute, you're actually gonna try and go toe to toe with Yagura?" Isane questioned as Orochimaru nodded yes
"Correct. I feel that given enough time in further mastering my new body, that I should be adequate enough to terminate Yagura as he stands." Orochimaru said back feeling that they needed a few more months to truly put the applications of their body to good use
"Granted, he may be an exceptionally powerful shinobi; who wields 'perfect' control over the 3 tails. However, he is by far still not a match for me…My power, skill and cunning will be more than enough to contend against him; that much I am sure of." Orochimaru further spoke with confidence in their abilities should they fight the mad Mizukage
"Again, good luck to you…Also, when you see Mei, tell her I said hi and that she owes me a hug. I miss her alot." Isane said to the Serpent Sannin
"I will be sure to do that, Isane. I hope that once Yagura is vanquished that a reunion with you and your cousin will be imminent." Orochimaru told his new North Gate
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru. It really means a lot, since with everything going on over here…I can't really be there for her, when she's managing an entire rebellion to fight against a madman." Isane replied
"Believe me, I am more than understanding of your plight. I may not have grown up with a family that was once as expansive as your clan, yet I know the feeling of familial love all the same." Orochimaru spoke as they glanced at a picture of them and Tsunade in their younger years
"I didn't know that you had any family left." Isane said surprised to hear of this news
"Not necessarily…Unfortunately, all of my blood-related relatives have unfortunately passed away. However, there was still one person in Konoha that to this day is the sister I never had." Orochimaru replied to the Lava Release user
"Do you want to talk about 'em, Lord Orochimaru?" Isane asked tentatively
"Perhaps another time…For now, I think that it would be a good idea for you to be on your way. After all, you certainly have much celebrating to do." Orochimaru told the redheaded Terumi
"You're right about that! Actually, I had plans if was alright with you; to go to Hot Water Country with Kidomaru and Mr. Jirobo. I would've invited Mr. Kimimaro, but he said he was busy with training his new bloodline, and getting used to his new Curse Mark." Isane replied
"By all means, you are welcome to head there with them. I only caution that you act responsibly while you are there…Now that you are part of the Sound 5, you represent not only our village, but also myself as well. Therefore, I ask that you wild refrain from engaging in too much debauchery as it were." Orochimaru requested of his elite guard
"Don't worry, we won't get into anything to crazy. Just some fun and good food is all." Isane promised
"If that is all, then you are free to leave and celebrate your status as one of my elite." Orochimaru said before Isane nodded and near immediately went off and away
'She certainly is a step up from Tayuya's irritating belligerence. At least with this one, I won't have to deal with such crass and foul behavior.' Orochimaru remarked to themselves over Isane's more personable attitude and demeanor
"Perhaps, if things had turned out differently. Then I could have had Tsunade and all of Konoha helping me to end this foolish genocide of Yagura's...At the very least, I still have the memories of what we once were." Orochimaru said to themselves as they couldn't help but look to the picture of themselves at Tsunade and Dan's wedding day
(Yugakure, 7:05 Pm, 3 days later, August 17th, 997 S.E)
In the meantime, after a few days of travel Isane was currently out and about with Kidomaru and Jirobo after the trio had taken a brief bit of time to relax in one of the hot springs of the village, and were currently at a shawarma joint within said town as part of their celebration for Isane.
"Thanks again you guys for coming out here to celebrate with me…It really means a lot." Isane thanked her fellow Sound 5 members
"After dealing with Tayuya for who knows how many years. Anyone's a step-up." Jirobo replied biting off his chunk of turkey shawarma
"How either of you guys put up with her I will never know...That woman is a total nightmare to be around, and I barely even knew her." Isane said while she finished off her chicken and lamb portion
"Constant practice with my longbow for me…There's a reason why I was able to get so good with a bow and arrow." Kidomaru said as he drank out of his glass of lemonade
"Having someone like that constantly being a piece of shit all the time, and nothing else to do. Well, you either get good and pretend its her insufferable face I'm shooting at to pass the time, or be dead on arrival from her big mouth blowing our cover so many times. Then there's the second option of drinking every time she opened her trap, and if I did that…then let's just say I'd need a new pair of kidneys 4 times over." Kidomaruo further spoke as if there was one thing Tayuya's foul mouth and coarse nature were good for it was motivation for getting great with his archery
"What about you, Mr. Jirobo? How'd you get through being with that demon woman? Because I swear she is the absolute worst kind of person to be with…How anyone could find that pleasant I will never know." Isane questioned the orange-haired giant
"Same as Kidomaru, Kimimaro and the twins…I trained until my knuckles were bleeding, I couldn't feel my lungs and I was redder in the face than your hair. Here's the thing, until recently training and getting stronger under Lord Orochimaru was the only thing possible for us." Jirobo told her as he took a massive chomp from his plate
"Because it is either I train and grow stronger to make sure that I can cover up and take the hits; whenever Tayuya fucks us over on a mission. Or stay weak and hear her call me a good-for-nothing fat fuck, that should fuck myself with a fistful of tampons for being a useless cunt with fatter tits than Tsunade." Jirobo added still irate over having to suffer through so many constant insults and verbal abuse from the redhead
"Dang, I'm sorry Mr. Jirobo. If I'd known she was that bad to you, then I would've got her even worse when I fought her." Isane said while Jirobo continued eating
"Trust me, you got her plenty for me. Seeing her getting taken down that many pegs, and all her talking shit finally catching up to her…That was honestly the best gift you or anyone could have given to me." Jirobo replied happy that he was able to see his former teammates' decimation and now excommunication from Orochimaru's inner circle
"Not a problem at all. Besides, after everything she's said about my people…Someone needed to shut her up." Isane said back in having felt great after doing so on behalf of her fellow refugees
"Bottom line, cheers and all that shit for getting rid of Tayuya. May we never have to hear her be a cunt to any of us ever again!" Kidomaru said as he raised his drink up for cheers over Tayuya no longer being in the Sound 5
"Now that, I will definitely drink too...Goodbye and good riddance to the worst thing in my life!" Jirobo spoke with a genuine smile across his face for the first time in a long time before he downed half a glass of beer
"Same here, I may not have known that piece of work as long as you guys. But MAN am I glad she's gone, that lady is a nightmare." Isane said in addition as they all clinked glasses before taking a big gulp of their drinks
"You are giving Tayuya way too much credit by calling her a lady. I've seen my spiders act more ladylike than that diaster of a woman." Kidomaru replied getting a chortle from Isane and a full-belly laugh from Jirobo
"Ain't that the truth…Hell, I've met sailors from where Isane's from that don't curse as much as her, and that's saying something!" Jirobo added enjoying the newfound freedom that didn't come with Tayuya's constant belittling
"Trust me you guys, I don't think there's a person who is as big of a bitch as she is…If there is then, as God as my witness they're a different breed of insufferable." Isane said in having found it almost unbelievable for Tayuya to be such an insufferable cunt
"Hell, I still don't get how she could get away with so much crap. If I or Mei did or said any of the stuff she pulled, we would be on sewer duty for the next 6 months…and that's just a slap on the wrist!" Isane further spoke in still having been confused on how Tayuya was able to have gotten away with so much
"In our defense, we were desperate at the time, and not shit else…Honestly, Isane, if we had more people like you and these people of yours when we first started; then she wouldn't have had so much leeway. Hell, she'd probably be shipped off to be one of Lord Orochimaru's experiments before she could curse him out." Kidomaru replied on the simple truth of the matter
Since it was not a secret and especially even more that the ONLY reason that Tayuya lasted as long as she did on the Sound 5; for all her blatant disrespect of Orochimaru, her fellow Gates in the Sound 5, and even to the Mist Refugees was because they were still forming as a Hidden Village, and had to make due with what they had…However, with things getting to the point to where they were now able to act more like a legitimate shinobi village, and their forces growing everyday, becoming more credible as well as Orochimaru building growing relations with nearby minor villages; that Tayuya would be on far thinner ice than before.
"She'd be better off getting turned into whatever, they do over there than being a fucking nuisance on missions…I can't tell you how many of our good missions almost went to shit because she couldn't keep her mouth shut." Jirobo said bitterly over how many missions went either in failure or were nearly blown because of her hotheaded attitude and belligerent mouth
"Well, lucky for us she won't fuck up what Lord Orochimaru is gonna have us do in Iwa pretty soon…I hope you guys are ready; because we're gonna be in the big leagues pretty soon." Isane said back regarding their eventual siege over Iwa in the coming months
"Trust me, I'm ecstatic! I finally get to field test all of the new tricks you've been helping me out with." Kidomaru said with an excited grin that held nothing but dark intentions
"Hey, I'm just glad I could help out, Kidomaru. Plus, you're a super cool spider-man whose a killer sharpshooter…how could I not help you come up with awesome shit!" Isane replied still finding Kidomaru to be one of the coolest on the Sound 5
"I mean you can kickass weapons and stuff out of gold, fire off those handy-dandy trick arrows we've been working on, and summon killer spiders to eat people…I'm telling you, if they aren't running away from how much of a menace your gonna be; then clearly they can't see your cool as hell!" Isane further spoke with stars in her eyes over all the cool stuff Kidomaru could do
"And don't even get me started on you, Mr. Jirobo. I mean your one of the best we've got at Earth Release, your strong as hell, and your wicked good with a mace, and you can demolish people in taijutsu!. How the fuck you aren't a one-man-army I don't know!" Isane said before taking a breath
"Bottom line, I just think you guys are awesome." Isane finished in conclusion
"We feel the same about you, Isane. You've done a helluva lot more for us in a few months, than what Tayuya has contributed in years." Kidomaru said in giving credit where it was due to Isane being a source of motivation for everyone thus far
"Hey, I'm just trying to pull my fair share is all…We are the best that Lord Orochimaru has at their disposal. So I figure why not go all in on it, and show everyone that we're greater than anyone or anything that gets in our way!" Isane replied in staunch refusal to settle as anything lesser
'Man if Tayuya had half of her enthusiasm, then perhaps she wouldn't be public enemy number 1 at this point.' Kidomaru remarked to himself in the stark differences between the current and former North Gates
"I doubt those rock-fucking bastards won't know what hit them, once we're done with them." Jirobo spoke with a smile still formed from the highly cheerful atmosphere
"By the time, we're done. The Tsuchikage's gonna be in a wheelchair, the village is gonna a mountain of rubble, Kidomaru's gonna make everyone look like amateur hour with his new tricks, your probably gonna run right through 'em, and I'm gonna burn that place to the ground…All while we look awesome doing it!" Isane replied having a great feeling that they couldn't be outdone by almost anything
"Shit, I can't really say anything else other than let's drink and eat until we can't. Because, Isane here has almost taken the words right out of my mouth!" Kidomaru said in dark delight of making light work of his future prey
"Sounds great to me!" Jirobo said as he devoured more and more of his shawarma
'Man, my life is looking pretty awesome right about now.' Isane noted as she continued to enjoy the celebratory night with her fellow Sound 5 members
(August 19th, 997 S.E, Western Water Country, 2 days later, 1:45 Pm)
On the other side of things Orochimaru was currently meeting with the rebel leader Mei Terumi in discussing the furthering of an alliance between them, and the Hidden Sound; with Kimimaro in tow as their bodyguard.
"I wished to give thanks again, for making time to see me, Lady Mei…I know how busy your schedule has become given the circumstances." Orochimaru said to the leader of the bloodline rebellion
"If anyone should be giving thanks to anyone, it should be me. Between having given my men more than enough support to contend against Yagura, and helping ferry and escort refugees to your village. You have done more than enough on your part, to aid our cause, Orochimaru." Mei said back appreciative of the Sannin's aid
"It is nothing, I merely wished to help was all. Given that Yagura's foolishness is nothing but complete insanity in my eyes." Orochimaru responded having seen the purges as nothing but utter madness
"To willingly waste so many powerful and unique kekkei genkai; that other villages would die to acquire…That is the epitome of pure lunacy…perhaps all of his bluster of being the perfect jinchuuriki was for show. Given that even the Raikage and or any of his jinchuuriki are as foolish as Yagura.." Orochimaru further spoke causing a small chuckle
"Fair play, given how many times I have heard of how…'eccentric' I have heard they can be." Mei replied having heard more than her fair share about Killer B and Ay
"Regardless, I did come here in the hopes that our alliance can be furthered. Given that once the civil war is won, and you are made the 5th Mizukage. That the doors will be opened for many new and exciting possibilities going forward." Orochimaru spoke
"I agree, that many doors will be opened once I take over as the Mizukage…There are a lot of things that have to change before my home can be regarded as better than the 'Bloody Mist'. For that part of my village's past isn't something I am particularly fond of." Mei replied in holding no soft spot for the current era that her home had been forced under
"I can understand, given that many of the refugees were forced into becoming what they are now…Some despised the bloodshed they had to commit on their own friends and family, and some still hated that they were forced into becoming monsters under Yagura and the previous Mizukage's regime. Overall, I do not envy them or you for that matter." Orochimaru said back personally not envying anyone who had to live through the barbarism of the Bloody Mist
"We may be soldiers and assassins for hire, yet even still there is a measure of decorum in what we do now." Orochimaru added in having come to enforce and expect a level of composure in their subordinates
"I'm glad you see it that way, as I will be honest when I say that it will take a lot of work to undo years of damage dealt. However, with your help, I know that Kirigakure will come out stronger than ever." Mei said with hope in her voice
"It certainly will, Lady Mei. Understand that I have every intention of improving your home into becoming greater than before. Your people, and those who have suffered under Yagura's bootheel deserve better than this, and I intend on making that a reality." Orochimaru responded in having plans for the betterment of the Hidden Mist
"While I would love to hear what you have planned. I feel that there is not enough time in the day for that…Running a rebellion is rather exhausting as you can tell." Mei said as the heavy bags and slight yet growing grays in her hair were more than evidence of the stress on her shoulders
"If it means anything, you are handling your duties better than most. In fact, I would say that you are doing an astounding job as leader of your rebellion and will do an even greater job as Kage of the Hidden Mist...That much I am sure of." Orochimaru spoke in attempts to console the redhaired rebellion leader
"You certainly are a charmer, Orochimaru. If it wasn't for your…new appearance then I would not mind showing you a good time once everything has calmed down." Mei said in still finding the Sannin's bewitching appearance while attractive wasn't her thing given that she found it equally haunting as well
"While I appreciate your forwardness, I am afraid that I will have to pass… My time for romantic affairs has long since passed." Orochimaru responded in no longer having it in them to pursue romance when they had so many things on their hands
"Fair enough. But other than discussing the matter of your further help towards our efforts. You have my word that once I am Mizukage, you have our full support against all threats towards the Hidden Sound and assistance with any future missions." Mei swore to the Serpent Sannin
"And the Hidden Sound will assist in turn with your regime once you take power as Mizukage. In addition, we will further provide assistance in both trade, protection and the rebuilding process of the Hidden Mist...It is the least we can do after all that your people have been forced to endure." Orochimaru replied
"All of which I am most thankful for. But that being said, and now that pleasantries are done. It is time to get to the most dreaded part of these meetings." Mei said back in despisement of the 'nitty gritty' parts of these meetings
"To be fair, they are a necessary part to them...Believe me, I do not treasure them either." Orochimaru spoke as Mei nodded
From there they spent the next 20 minutes to a half-hour discussing things of aiding the rebellion with further supplies, discussing further moving of refugees and those stuck under Yagura's terror out of the Hidden Mist and potentially Water Country overall, and lastly co-ordinating assassinations on Yagura's top men. Once said talks were said and done, Orochimaru eventually bid the rebellion leader farewell as they left with Kimimaro in tow, but not before using the Animal Path to create an assortment of creatures to better safeguard the encampment and aid in their fight.
All of this was done in a manner of mere minutes before Orochimaru summoned a large royal violent colored dragon with golden Rinnegan for eyes, for themself and Kimimaro to ride upon before it took flight as quickly as it was summoned once they climbed atop its back.
"That went better than expected, Lord Orochimaru." Kimimaro spoke as they flew through the cloudy summer skies
"To be fair, Kimimaro. Not only do we hold all of the cards in our favor to keep them as the winning side. It also helps that our efforts have more than endeared us to them." Orochimaru replied with a thin yet wide draconian smile spreading across their face
"What do we do now, then?" Kimimaro asked once again their eyes constantly surveying for any new threat at hand
"For starters, I am going to be taking a brief trip to the domain of the Snake Summons; within the next 2 to 3 months. Now that I am fully adjusted to my new body, I can finally deal with Manda." Orochimaru answered back their eyes narrowing in regards to their boss summon
"That glutton has become far too costly and far too much of a problem for things to continue as they are…Not to mention how many of my men I've had to sacrifice to upkeep a decent relationship with him, and the snakes. As such it is high time that he is dealt with." Orochimaru further spoke in severe disgust and distaste of having lost so many to the outrageous demands of Manda
"I will not disagree on that matter…They have been extremely difficult to work with, every time you have summoned them." Kimimaro replied in agreement
"I am glad you see things that way. Therefore, while I am gone, I am putting you and Kabuto in charge of things while I am away during that time. As there are still things that I have yet to accomplish with my summons, things that I am now capable of with my potential fully realized." Orochimaru replied
"Understood, and will there be anything else that you wish of myself and Kabuto while you are gone?" Kimimaro questioned in terms of any further details of note
"Other than the continued management and upkeep of the Hidden Sound, then no…The only other thing that comes to mind, is that you two work diligently in tandem with Sakon and Ukon to maintain everything. Their talents in bureaucracy and their work as my secretary is not to be underutilized." Orochimaru spoke in a continued newfound appreciation for the conjoined twins' diligence in that regard
"As you wish, my lord. The Hidden Sound will remain as it currently stands when you eventually return; from your journey." Kimimaro replied with a nod
"Good. Now then, let us continue on our way with haste. We have a long, long trip ahead of us." Orochimaru said before giving the dragon the mental command to surge forward at greater speeds
'Soon, Jiraiya won't be the only one with the power of senjutsu at his disposal.' Orochimaru said to themselves as their grin began to turn predatory at the thought of adding senjutsu to their repertoire
With Isane having put on a world-class clinic against Tayuya to 'officially' cement her place as the new North Gate amongst the Sound 5 and the celebrations to come through with it, alongside Orochimaru furthering relations with the rebellion in the Hidden Mist. What other plans does the Serpent Sannin have in play, as we move further and further into the story? Well, you'll have to wait and see during the all new chapters of, Naruto: The PokeSage!
Alright, everyone! That takes care of that as I hoped you guys enjoyed all of what went down in this chapter. Since as you can see…Orochimaru ain't just making moves, but also is not fucking around as well with everything they have popping off in the works.
So as always I hope you guys are ready for more shenanigans of what's bound to come up next, because when I say canon is gonna be going out the window soon…I completely meant it as anything is up for grabs at the moment, and we go through I hope I will continue to have your guys's constant support through it all!
That being said this is Pravus666 signing off until next time! For our next chapter is going to have Team 7 go on an escort mission, but who it is will be a surprise in all of what I can say at the moment.
Part 2 Theme Song: To the Pain by Nonpoint
Random End Song: Lux Aeterna by Metallica
Now then onto some of the reviews from the previous chapter.
Kourtney Uzu Yato: Glad ya liked the comeback chapter Kourtney, because I've got a lot more stuff where this came from that's cooking. Also, in regards to Kazushi she is pretty much one of the "I'm built different' types of characters as it were given that as a descendant of Hashirama and the daughter of Dan and Tsunade, I figured that yeah she's built out of some crazy stuff to do what she's done; given how she was able to hold down the 9-tails long enough to be sealed (granted it put her in a coma) but still when she goes on an actual mission...your gonna see her really shine. Furthermore, I'm glad you liked the bit with her and Kushina since I wanted to really nail it that Kushina doesn't get off scot-free for her actions and as such is gonna face Kazushi being a mama bear with her 'dumbass kids' for genin as it were. Plus can you really blame Danzo for acting as he is towards Kakashi; considering that this man is tutoring the villages aces in the hole to be worthy shinobi and as such ain't gonna beat around the bush in regards to the consequences of fucking up. Lastly, I'm glad you liked Jiraiya's punishment given that I figured, you know what if Jiraiya's gonna play stupid games then he's gonna win stupid prizes for bothering Naruto.
Guest (1): Oh no Arceus did threaten the Toads with extinction should they keep pushing their luck. The only reason why they haven't gone the way of the dinosaurs at this moment is because as with any deity, Arceus is deciding when to enact their promise of annihilation against the Toads. Given that Arceus wants to make a statement and example of them, and as such hasn't gone out of his way to do so just yet because he's still figuring out a when for their execution date is all.
Guest (2): Yeah, as the thing is as the leader of his team Sasuke knows full well that things are gonna get only more difficult from here, and as such knows he has to help prep everyone for what's to come. Not to mention that even I am confused on why they had Kurenai be a Jonin when everything else about her literally points to the fact that she should be anything BUT a jonin sensei when she's specialized so much in genjutsu that its become detrimental to her overall.
God of Wind 200: Well, he didn't do so for 2 reasons. One being that Naruto just wants to be petty towards Jiraiya in general for having messed with his life for over a decade, and as such just wants to stress test how bad he's gonna keep pestering him for the prophecy before he cracks. Then secondly, he doesn't really think that going for one will work since as far as he's concerned Minato and Jiraiya still have a pretty closse relationship and as such all Jiraiya has to do is sweet-talk Minato into letting the whole thing slide and the whole thing is rendered moot and swept under the rug as Jiraiya wanting to 'make amends' as it were. So as you can see as far as Naruto's concerned a restraining order ain't gonna cut it.
