Chapter Nine; White Snow
Land of Wind; Sungakure
"Welcome, brother." Gaara spoke from the gates of the hidden village hidden in the sand, the large caravan of White Dawn operatives' trails behind the five commanders', "Sorry we are late. Had to take a detour."
"So, I hear…" the Kazekage chuckled, shaking hands with the blonde whilst idly noticing the two children paired with their parents at the aft of the head group "…Waterfall and Leaf at the same time? Impressive."
"You don't mess with an Uzumaki's family, especially our children." Naruto spoke with such conviction that even the sealed biju within the two felt it, "I will issue the warning." Gaara states as he led them into his village. The group followed him in, the trailers of wagons moved on forward towards the designated area to which newly arrived forces would take up garrison.
With the group arriving at the office of the kage, Naruto sat before his friend who was reclaiming his seat, "Well, I thank you for…"
"No need." Naruto spoke up, "We were delayed enough to reenforce you. I am sorry." It was Gaara's turn to wave him off "It's fine. News of our deals had been 'discovered' by Kumo and Iwa thus…" a shrug was the finish of the sentence. Naruto chuckled humorously, a soft nod accompanied it, looking to his sole companion with grey eyes "Say, Ryūzetsu can you please ensure that the captain is settling his men in properly then report back."
"At once." Vanishing promptly leaving the two Jinchurki alone in the room, "Didn't think you two would get back together." Gaara comments before lowering his cup to reveal a smirk. If Naruto was surprised, he didn't show it, "Any word from the spies in Kumo?"
Gaara sighs, seems his brother is already in business mode "Yes – actually…" leaning back in his kazekage seat for a moment before leaning back onto the desk, via elbows supporting his head atop interlocked fingers "…seems they took have heard of your little raid."
"Verdict?"
"They plan on sitting back and waiting but leaning more to try make an agreement to hunt down the 'Terrorist commandos' and shut them down permanently." Gaara comments completely straight faced though Naruto knew his fellow container better than even his siblings and could literally feel the amusement rolling off him but did not sway him "I see. Perhaps the Luna forces should begin a new campaign against the Land of Lightning."
"Seriously?" Gaara raised a non-existent eyebrow, "I'm joking…" speaking so flatly that the Kazekage wasn't sure whether or not to take him seriously.
Sighing heavily, Naruto straightened up "Well, we have a previous obligation with the Snow. After that we then plan on tackling the Hidden Sound, we have a pound of flesh that needs reclaiming…" his voice turning ever darker at the end to which, Ryūzetsu re-entered the room "…then perhaps then we will deal with Kumo and Konoha."
"Can you inform us when you plan the attack on Sound? I'm sure the Mizukage would lend a few shinobi also." Gaara informs earning a nod from the shinobi leader "Sounds like a plan."
"Then, about the garrison?" the red head questioned but Naruto looked to his closest confident at his side "The kiddo will be acting as the liaison between White Dawn and Suna."
"Kiddo?"
"Ah, Myami-chan? Really?" Naruto with both brows raised in surprise earning a nod from his white-haired woman smirks "She wants to impress you, as always, and figured working with your 'brother' would accomplish that."
"I see…" Naruto sighing scratching the back of his head "…I'll talk to her before we head out?"
"Head out?" Ryūzetsu questioned getting a nod from her not-so-secret lover "After the issue with the Yamanaka, our move out of Ame was pulled forward."
"…but… the information we fed her was…"
"Yeah-Yeah…" Naruto waving her off "…but the others pushed for it." He shrugged "The paperwork was a bitch, but it's already signed off on by both parties."
"Who is this Myami you spoke of?" Gaara questioned causing the duo to look to the Kazekage, soft smiles donning them both "…our niece, of sorts…"
"Weren't it not for Kin, she'd claim to be our daughter." Naruto sighs hard, while the woman at his side snorted softly "It's hero obsession."
"I've tried to break her of it." Naruto looking back from Ryūzetsu to Gaara, "She's sweet, kind, and determined, if not a bit timid."
"Timid? She's energetic and outgoing." Ryūzetsu comments with a raised brow, "Only in our presence." Naruto informs solemnly, "Gaara; this is a request from a friend…"
"Name it." The Kazekage states without hesitation, "…this is my first official mission for her. Be firm with her, she needs to know how power influences those around her. As my self-proclaimed niece, I couldn't have her run rampant and get an inflated ego."
"It'll be done." Gaara nodded.
Land of Fire; Hidden Leaf
"Heard you had a bit of trouble recently…" the voice of one toad sage Jairyia caused the Hokage to look up, "…how you holding up?"
"The damage was thorough and forced us to take a step back, despite the wails of certain war hawks among the council." Tsunade let out a tired sigh, "...most want to get the kids back."
"Ah, heard about that..." Jiraiya's face and tone was carefully neutral, "...do tell me what the fuck you all were thinking abducting children?!" fist slamming against the desk, his voice a deep anger filled fury of a growl "... Jiraiya? It isn't like..."
"Isn't like what, Tsunade?! Isn't... like... what?" his voice growing deeper as he slows, eyes narrowing in response. Tsunade was at a loss for words, unsure how to answer correctly; assuming there was a correct answer. "..."
"I'M TALKING TO YOU TSUNADE!"
"GRANDBABIES!" she roared back flush faced and clearly embarrassed by this admission as she let out a deep sigh, flopping back into her chair "They're my grandchildren."
"Tsunade-hime...?" Jairyia was halted by her raised hand, her eyes heavy with guilt and sorrow "...I never told anyone but..." a hollow chuckle from her throat, "...Naruto, my Naruto, I considered him my own." the stillness of the room was expressive of the atmosphere, none knew how to contiue past that but it had to be done.
A deep breath from the toad sage shattered the tranquility "Then... why?"
"It was all coincidental. It was Waterfall who attacked and killed the four guards, captured the redhead and the children and offered them to us for some concessions." She shrugged "When Shizune confirmed they were Uzumaki I was glad, but when she said they were Naruto's I was ecstatic..." she offered a genuine smile upon her defeated frame "...I thought 'Finally get to spoil my grandkids!' and 'I wonder who they'll take after more...' I even thought that Naruto would be forced to sneak in and try and find them. When he does, I could intercept him and ask him directly to come back." she looked dead into the black eyes of her teammate "Jiraiya; I want my baby boy back. I know we are enemies now, Log knows I do, but I want to hug him again. See that goofy smile again..." sniffling lightly as she covers her face with her hands "...i want to spoil my grandkids and enjoy the time we have left as a family again."
Land of Spring; Yuki no Kuni
"Nice office."
"I do not apricate your sarcasm right now, Ryūzetsu." Naruto responds as he finishes sorting his filing cabinet in his new office now that the White Dawn had moved to the Land of Spring, its refurbished Hidden Village now augmented by the Mercenary group that has since moved its primary headquarters to the country. "Well, I am bored..." sitting on the polished White Willo desk edge, eyes locked in on the only other occupant "...entertain me."
"You seem to have me confused with someone you can order about." Naruto snarky response as he finally turns to look at her, crushing the box in arm effortlessly "...besides..." cutting her off "...last i checked. You are on leave."
"Didn't think it'll be this boring..." she griped; arms folded whilst looking away "...perhaps you have another mission for...?"
"I was the one who authorised your leave of duty." Naruto staring at her incredulously, "Do you really think I'd send you out?"
"Please...?" she whispered tugging shily on his black jacket, very cutely in his honest oppio... "Oi..." Naruto growled as he flicked her nose, and he steps away "Gheeze. Talk about a one eight..."
"Kit, if you had fallen for that..."
"Save it. I know."
"Fine then!" turning back having rubbed her nose a second ago, staring coyly at her partner "How about we break the desk in?"
"You know, I just..."
"...please..." she whispered, and he sighs again, but stiffens upon sensing the incoming arrival and he wasn't the only one who recognised the newcomer "Ah, there you are, my husband." Kin chirped appearing in a gust of wind, immediately stepping past the former grass kunoichi "I was wondering..."
"Before that...!" Naruto's voice was deep and filled with the authority afforded to him as the Shinobi Commander of the White Dawn, that froze both ladies stiffly, his eyes narrowed as his gaze flows from dark charcoal to Luna white "...the last thing I want is a repeat of the Rōran incident, so the air is getting clear here and now."
"...what are...?" Kin began but paused seeing his eyes hardern and narrow, "Kin Tsuchi." spoken lowly and without any heat but the message was clear "Right, I'll just take a seat." taking one of the new chairs, Ryūzetsu doing the same as Naruto sat behind his still empty desk "Kin..." looking into her eyes "...you are my wife. By accepting that title and position, I told you about the situation Ryūzetsu and I found ourselves in. Do you remember your response?"
"As long as I can have a piece of your heart to myself; nothing else matters." Kin recites dutifully as it happened to be part of her wedding vows to him "Ryūzetsu and I are complicated and to be honest, neither of us really know or care to know anymore. We are a packaged deal that you said yes to. Understand?"
"I do."
"As for you..." Naruto now swinging on his white haired lady, eyes narrowing, "...you had your chance to be number one."
"...but we..."
"You had a chance to." his voice was tight, lips thin as he glared at her and she stood down with a nod "I still love you all the same but..." looking to Kin with all the affection he could muster currently "...I love my wife and kids too. She pulled me from the darkness that we fell into back then." Kin smiled and looked away, twiring her trademark ponytail as she blushes prettily "Ryūzetsu, understand that you were my first, yes, but now you can't be my only. You lost that right when you walked away back then." she looked down at the floor and he sighs, swallowing the lump in his throat "...as I said then, and I say now..." speaking so softly, the cold breeze dared not cross it "... Ryūzetsu Uzumaki; from the depths of my heart and soul, I Naruto Uzumaki will always be and always will be in love with you. All you have to do is call upon me and I shall come."
"I know..." her almost whispered reply "...I just..." to the rooms surprise, it was Kin who hugged Ryūzetsu in an attempt to comfort the woman, "I don't know exactly what happened between you two on that mission." Ryūzetsu stiffen considerably, Naruto too but none noticed "…I just hope that in time, you will talk with me." Ryūzetsu nodded silently, sharing a long glance with a thin-lipped Naruto out of sight of Kin.
The following week found Naruto inspecting the dojo of the swordsmen of the Ice, Ryūzetsu at his side as what many people would come to understand was normal "They aren't bad…"
"Their genin with sticks and you know it." Ryūzetsu comments harshly causing Naruto to sigh "At least don't speak so loudly…" Naruto noticing the sinking of shoulders "…you're demoralising them."
"Then they should get better."
"What do you think they are doing?!" his hands thrown in their direction, but she just snorts derisively, as they continue through the underground training facility, well lit and matched it with the outside world. It would be disorienting otherwise.
"Swinging sticks." She shrugs "You're helpless." Naruto facepalming "Why did you even come along? You don't like dealing with this stuff."
"I was bored." She shrugged blank face, clearly in business mode, "You're more interesting to be around…"
"…and the only person who knows how awkward you are." Naruto with a knowing smile, she snorted but looked away from her lover a slight pink tint to her cheeks as she fingers a loose white bang hanging down her face "How are you and Kin doing? It's been a week since…"
"She's fine an' all…" the whitette sighs "…the kids too."
"…but…" Naruto's soft voice as they reach this groups bath house, she stopped and turned to him with a look he recognised all to well. Just as she goes to talk, he hugged her firmly and she returned it "Let's get to the…"
"Commander!" a new voice cutting through the still air, turning back to the Yuki shinobi came to stop "We have a situation. Lady Kazahana demands your presence."
Land of Spring; Kazehana Castle
Naruto and Ryūzetsu arrived at the castle, the samurai part saluting the duo and blond smiled back. It didn't take long for the two before they stood before the leader of the land and their current boss, kneeling down in the throne room. "You called, Lady Kazehana?" Naruto's voice was professionally neutral, the woman staring down at her countries newest protectors and legends in their own right. Koyuki had heard the whispers of her best friends suspected feats, everything from infiltrating both Blood prison and the Citadel to name two.
Sitting up straight in her throne, Koyuki began "Yes, Naruto, I called you here for a troubling reason." Sighing she waved over her head of security, who handed Naruto a scroll, "Our diplomats in Lightning County have gone silent. We suspect that they might be trying to get to our technology based off of our recent communication."
"Then, we should prepare for an attack?" Ryūzetsu comments earning nods from the samurai, especially the head samurai "Indeed. We have already raised the country wide alert level." Kiyo Rzeha, security officer states "We shall go and inform our other teams." Naruto spoke up, lifting his head, black meeting blue with an intensity that was not lost on Ryūzetsu "Snow will not fall." spoken with so much steel, they could build a fleet of airships with it. The samurai subconsciously stood straighter, taller and with a pride none knew they had "You have our word."
"I don't have any doubt." Koyuki smiles as his steeled visage he offered back, "Then, we'll be on our way..."
"Can you not stay for little? Perhaps for a tea and cakes." Koyuki questioned but Naruto shook his head, "I am sorry, mi'lady, but duty calls." raising his feet, "We must move quickly to prepare our forces in mass."
"Oh, how about...?"
"With all due respect..." Ryūzetsu speaking up, stepping between the lady of the land and her man "...Lady Kazehana, but we must leave now to abide by your biding as stated in both contract, and treaty."
"I am aware..."
"We really must get moving." Ryūzetsu continued earning a hesitant nod from the actress, and the duo bowed professionally before vanishing in puffs of smoke. Sighing hard before looking to her attendant "I think I have more than a bit competition."
Land of Spring; Yuki No Kuni
Naruto stands within his council room, his stone faced blank stare made many within nervous, as Larne, Tayuya, and Karin knew it was serious as even Ryūzetsu was sitting down and not standing at his side. It took a while before Kin arrived, even more serious than perhaps her husband, file in hand which was promptly handed over to the commander.
It took a few moments before the file shut closed and Naruto addressed his soldiers, "Listen up…" the authority in his voice was clear, this wasn't the jovial captain but rather the Commander of the Shinobi force of the White Dawn, White Death "…our friends over in Lightning County are about to pay us a visit." his solid blue eyes scanned the room, hawk eyes, "Trying to keep it hush, hush." he smirks "They have had no intel regarding our movements, thus our positions are no doubt unknown to them." his smile was damn right viscous now, "We are sure as hell going to use that to our advantage."
Kin produced a map of the land, Naruto would move with swiftness marking the reported plans then his own plans came up "Now then..." his eyes follow the room "...this is what we have to do."
"Sir!"
Out at Sea
A group of transport ships, all lacking identification markings, sat off the shore with the island on the horizon. Their leaders stood at the head of the lead ship, the lack of sensing nothing ahead calmed, "Seems that the rumours were just that, rumours."
"Yeah. They are just a terrorist group after all, their busy causing issues for the is big five, nothing but problems."
"All we have to do is secure the castle and the labs right? Perhaps the docks?"
"Yeah sounds bout right…"
"It be done with a Slight, none will escape out sight or will it last this night. Yeaaa!"
"Bee... Not now."
"So, we set out in an hour?"
"Yeah. The longer we take…"
On the shore, a masked shinobi clicked a mic beneath "They are here… orders?"
"The preparation are almost complete, but on schedule. Kitsune, and Dragon will join you soon Bat."
"...understood." going silent the operative sighs beneath the porcelain mask, "Great. He knows how much I hate doing nothing."
"Speaking to yourself? Finally lost it huh."
"Hmm... Did you say something?" Bat looking to the newly arrived Dragon, who did not raise to the provocation. The two operatives sat there watching as the ships silently stalked closer to the landmass they stood for several minutes before Dragon spoke up "You don't like me, do you?"
"No."
"Why?"
"You know damn well why."
"I'm not trying to steal him or anything."
"Could have fooled me."
"How so?"
"Fuck it." Bat turns to Dragon, killing intent barely suppressed as a sign of her barely keeping to protocol "You Ryūzetsu, have no idea how hard I worked to break him out of that depression you left him in. To get him to even consider me a friend, much less a lady worthy of baring his children." Several deep breaths, "You should have seen him during my first pregnancy. He was more of a mess I was." A ruthless chuckle "Now, all these years later and we are finally happy and set in our family roles, you appear and now you slide back into the broken heart I had to pain steakinly piece back together."
"…but you said…" Bat snort cut dragon off "Yeah, I know what I said. He would never choose us over you. He's far too loyal for his own damn good. It's why I tolerated the others, he only holds them close, but I had his heart." Looking away from her fellow operative back out to the boats approaching before speaking lowly "…now you do. All I can hope for now is a piece of it."
"I never…" another snort from Bat cut Dragon off again "Of course you didn't. You are only other person probably who knows him better than me. You should have known."
"The Kazekage…" Dragon uttered only to receive what she thought was a deadpanned gaze "Right." A cough to clear the air "It is as you say, he is loyal. Yes, I do know him better than most which is why I say this now; he would never choose me over you. It's not on his character to do so."
"Tell that to my cold bed." Bat snorts to which Dragon chuckled lowly at "You and me both." This earned a look from Bat "What's that supposed to…?"
"Since we've moved here, my bed too has been rather cold. I had assumed he was with you." Dragon informed to which Bat shook her head "…I thought he was with you." A wary silence dawns as things dragged on for a solid minute before Bat spoke up "The princess?"
"Never." Dragon shaking her head "He would have said something."
"But he didn't…"
"He's too loyal to cheat. He would rather…"
"I agree." Bat cutting Dragon off as they both ponder the latest development of their love life. Bat cracks her knuckles, "I guess after this, I'll have to have some words with that idiot husband of mine."
"Care of I join?"
"I do actually…" Bat glancing back at her colleague, "…it's a family matter after all."
"Right." The stoic response but if Bat had looked closely, or if Kitsune was there, you could see the slightest of sags on Dragons shoulders "Final question though…"
"What?" Dragons clipped response, "Will you ever tell me what happened on that mission?"
"No." Dragon's response was hard as steel, cold as the ice and snow that surrounded them, "Why not?" Bat questioned with more than a glance. Dragon thought for a moment before looking dead in Bat's eyes "It's a family matter after all."
"…family..." Bat spoke slowly while trying to figure out what that meant. Sure, Dragon was close to her husband. That was no secret among the Dawn but family? Only way that could have happened. No. They aren't married. Her husband would have said something. In her research, ahem definitely not stalking, of him there are no records to indicate he had ever been married. No kids either, so… her mind stopped. No kids. Her husband frantic behaviour during the pregnancies.
"Oh go…" her mouth slammed against the mask adorning her face, "You are sharp to have stumbled upon our greatest secret." Dragon's voice was chilling, malice filled, and very, very dangerous "If you know what's good for you, and him, you'll keep that to yourself. Neither of us ever speak of it and it will remain that way. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." Bat responds clearly earning a nod, "Good. If I hear about it from anyone, I will end you without a second thought, husband be damned." Finally removing her hand and the hidden kunai from her throat. The two looked out at the sea for several moments, "What…?"
"It is not to be discussed." Dragon cut Bat off immediately before standing again, shimmering from sight "Get ready. I sense Kitsune approaching." Their radios crackle to life and Kitsune voice ring in their ears "Dragon, Bat, pull back to staging point Helix. We'll regroup there and await the signal."
"Understood, Kitsune. Moving to Helix." Dragon reports stiffly, Bat standing too before both rushing off unseen by the closing ships.
Land of Spring; Staging point Helix
Naruto stands in his Luna uniform over the tactical map, the Kumo ships had made landfall an hour ago on the cusp of disk, their advance teams had reached the first town on the direct path to the palace. Just as they assumed they would.
As ordered the samurai have been fighting sporadically, retreating as they go but have still suffered casualties despite best efforts to avoid such. Two Yuki Non patrols had been silenced, their status is as of yet unknown but assumed captured or dead. Naruto hated the fact that he couldn't just go all out and smash them as they land. It would drag things out far more, a two way asymmetric war would develop in that case and the entire nation would be drawn into it.
Taking a deep breath before looking up at the Daimyo' of the land "Things are going as planned. We have successfully moved our pieces into position. The enemy is moving within expected ways."
"Good. Once you sweep in a capture them, Kumo won't have any leg to stand on." Koyuki responded looking over the same map, "More lives will be saved this way." Karin states from the side, eyes closed as she watches in real time via her sensory ability "Do not worry, Naruto. Once the sun rises, our counterattack will end this before it gets out of hand."
"I know but…" Naruto sighs hard, suppressing his growl "I know." Karin chuckled "I'm an Uzumaki too. All this sitting around gets me worked up too."
"Then how…?"
"Just better at hiding it…" Karin finally opens her eyes and stares at her clan head "…besides, you should see Tayuya. She's basically jumping off the walls in her camp."
In another camp, on the opposite side of the Kumo invasion force Tayuya sneezed and glared in the direction she knew Karin was "That bitch…"
Back at Helix, Karin grins "Oh, and it seems she knows I mocked her."
"You're scary, you know that…?" Koyuki looking to the redhead who shrugs with a lop-sided grin "Been called worse by worse."
"I'll go get some grub then hit my bunk. Wake me if anything happens." Naruto heading to the door of the white tent, "I'll join you in…"
"No, you won't …" Naruto glaring at her from the door, "…we are on duty, and you have your orders."
"Hai-hai!" Karin waving him off, he then leaves promptly and silently. As the flaps close Koyuki looks to the last Uzumaki in her presence "That isn't the Naruto I knew… what happened?"
"Too much." Karin sighs, visibly shrinking in on herself "Just wish he'd let us in a bit more, ya' know? Help him carry the burden a bit."
"Is that why he's been so…"
"Yes but also no." Karin responded as she closes her eyes and returns to her minds eye, missing the confusion in the actresses face "The thing is, Naruto is by far the kindest person I have ever met…"
"I agree. So what does…"
"It's his greatest strength, but also his greatest weakness. He cares too much about everyone. Plans like this where innocences are put into the line of fire, don't sit right with him." She chuckled softly at the thought of her blond knuckle head "I heard that he's a ruthless shinobi on the field of battle." Koyuki comments unhelpfully causing a snort from the glasses wearing Karin "Ruthkess? Are we speaking of the same idiot? He's far from ruthless, I even thought once that he was far to nieve for this lifestyle of ours." Opening her eyes to meet the Koyuki's dead on "He has seen the true underbelly of humanity, the darkness we all pretend to not have deep within us and stared it down into submission without flinching or turning his back on it. If anyone was to claim to know mankind more than him, I'd laugh at the joke then spread my legs. Naruto is by far the strongest being on this planet without a doubt, and has my undying loyalty because, just like most of us in the Dawn, he pulled me out of that same darkness and showed us the light to balance against it."
The weight of the words was not lost on Koyuki, the fierceness that Karin spoke was unnerving slightly but it was strangely uplifting. Somehow, her first pick of husbands had earned the loyalty of nearly two thousand shinobi and an equal amount of samurai from across the land with words alone. She snorted internally as she looks over the plans one more time, mildly surprised when Karin appeared and moved some pins around based on her sensory scans "Listen…" speaking lowly, Karin gained the woman's attention "…I know your intent on my leader, nothing gets past me, but I ask that you refrain from any attempts to do so for a year at least."
"…and why is that?" Koyuki ignoring the blazing cheeks she now had, staring unflinchingly at the Uzumaki at he side "It's not my business to say in all honesty but his wife is having problems with his ex and it's straining all three of them."
"He's already married? Why wasn't…"
"It's a whole saga…" Karin giggled as she went back to her seat, "…I enjoy watching as matriarch of the clan."
"Wait… if you're…" Koyuki was again waived off, "Yes-yes… Naruto is so damn loveable that a number of us have fallen for him, some harder than others, for various reasons. Me? He rescued me from my old boss and gave me a home and family to surround myself with. He put up with my eccentricities and even encouraged me to improve myself." Karin was smiling softly at the memories of earlier days "…he treated me like little sister, and I was fine with that for a time… being the little sister that was protected by my super older brother." Her smile dropped, whole demeanour radiating sadness "Until he came back from that mission…"
"What mission?" Koyuki was entranced by this story, Karin glanced at her and shrugged "That one year mission. The only two people who know the full story are the two who went on it, but they haven't spoke of it in all these years so even I don't know what happened. He just came back… different…" she says slowly at the end, unsure how to put it "Different…?" The bluenette mimicked, glasses pushed back up the nose with a single finger as legs came up and wrapped around arms "Yeah. Seeing him so broken, fragile…" head resting sideways on her knees "…it was then I realised, he needed protecting too." She cracked a soft smile again "Our relationship changed after that, though he still treats me like a little girl sometimes…" she snorted at that thought, she is one of the few who can go toe to toe with him "…I know that he knows that if he ever falls, I'll be there at the sidelines with a smile and blanket to protect him from the darkness he keeps buried."
"…but what about the marriage?" Koyuki bringing the conversation back on topic, "Oh…" head snapping back up "…that. Well, his wife is the first of us he 'rescued' so to be speak. Kin Tsuchi. They met at the chunin exams before Naruto was banished from the Leaf. Incidentally, I was there too but we missed each other."
"The only chunin exams I know he took part in…" Koyuki began, and Karin nodded "Yeah, the Suna/Sound invasion. I don't know the specifics entirely, but apparently Kin was being hunted by her teammates and ended up being rescued by Naruto. This was during the month break."
"Then what…?"
"He had me meet the Toad Sannin." Kin spoke as she appeared in the doorway, glaring at the blabber mouth Uzumaki, "Why are you telling her my story, Karin?"
"She was curious about your husband." Karin shrugged off the killing intent with unnatural ease, while the Spring Daimyo inspected the raven haired kunouchi entering the command tent, everything from her long toned legs, wide set hips, round and no doubt firm rear, flexible looking frame, slight above moderate bust that she idly noticed must be a match for her own, pretty face and very long, dark hair. "Finished?" Kin questioned bringing Koyuki's gaze back to her fellow females own dark eyes, one brow raised "Ahem, you're Naruto's wife?"
"So what if I am?" Kin snorted as she moved with a deadly grace, her Luna uniform snug to her live frame as she takes a seat beside Karin "Let me guess, you want him too?" Upon the lack of reply, Kin actually growled like her husband would do when someone was dumb enough to threaten his family overtly. "All you damn hussies. Just accept it already. He's mine. Why can't you all understand that?"
"Oi, he's my clan head too. Or did you forget that?" Karin chimed in the growl didn't lessen "No, I didn't…"
"How about telling the rest of the story? Of how you and Naruto…" Koyuki trailed off at the end and the silence was thick and suffocating for far too long, but Kin spoke up after some time "I met the toad sage… explaining the whole invasion plans that I knew. After that, realising I wasn't safe in the village, all three of us left and trained in secret."
"You were trained by the toad sage?" koyuki spoke up somewhat surprised, and when she thought back on it she realised that yes, a lot of her soft skills could be traced back to that pervert so subsequently nodded "Yeah… I guess you could say that, albeit briefly." Her eyes loose focus as she continued on hear way down memory lane "As I was, on paper at least, his slave, I accompanied him on his mission to recover Lady Senju. Fought alongside him when the Atkatsuki came for him. When the Uchiha fled. I was always at his side." Her eyes hardened "Yet, when he had the choice… capture the traitor or rescue me, he chose me." She glared at nothing in particular "That's why, whenever we start our offensive against sound, that bastard Kabuto is mine."
"I see." Karin nodded "Because he chose you, he was banished for his failure…?" Kin nodded at that "Yeah. He accepted it without any outburst or complaint, just handed over his headband and license, the first Hokage's neckless too." Kin sighs as she recalls that broken smile he had when he was trying to reassure her that everything would be okay, she at the time didn't have the words to say to him. That came much later, their first date she had spoken what should have been said much sooner, "They gave him two days to leave. We left the following hour."
"Why so soon?" Koyuki questioned curiously and both Karin and Kin snorted at that "Would you trust the words of people who had just banished you for doing your job?" Karin's voice was mocking but lacked any directed heat. Koyuki for a moment though on it and chuckled to herself "I guess not."
"It was a good thing too." Kin continued on, "…we found Tayuya shortly after, clinging to life beneath a sea of fallen trees. After freeing her, she joined our merry band as her legs were crushed, little better than paste." Karin snorted this time, "I saw the medical notes, paste had better consistency than her legs at that time…" the two-ninja giggled at that.
Land of Spring; Staging Point Codex
Taiyuan's sneezed for the third time in the last few minutes, and she growled whilst glaring in the direction of Point Helix "…I just know that bitch is chatting shit about me."
"Who?" Laden questioned stepping into the command tent, partially armoured as he lacked his chest plate and small sode's "Karin. She's always talking shit behind my back."
"…your one to talk…" he chuckled as he grabs his katana from the corner and pulls it from its scabbard "…I got in trouble with Miami because you let slip that Gia slapped my ass this morning."
"You deserved that." Tayuya stuck he tongue out at him, grinning like the mad lady she portrays "After all, Kitomi saw you flirting with Gia at the bar three days ago."
"I wasn't…" Larne sighs to calm down, his polishing rag frozen in place before he resumes maintaince of his sword "I was explaining to her that Kieran misses her and swore that he had no idea a about Junet's attempt to flirt with him. He was innocent."
"Yeah sure." The red head rolled her eyes, "Like I'd believe that."
"Ask Naruto, he'll back me up on this." Larne demanded, that caused the genjutsu mistress to pause a moment but was quick to dismiss the idea "Nah… he wouldn't side with you on this."
"Wanna bet?" Larne's smirk was somewhat intimidating with his numerous sword scars, one just above his brow down to his temple, and the other beneath his left eye down to his chin "Sure…" the redhead extended his hand "Then… when I'm proven right, I want an apology from you and one from Kitomi. Gia should make up with Kieran."
"Then, when I'm proven right, you will pay for my next three shopping trips." Tayuya's grin was that prankster one that all the Uzumaki seem to know as if it was part of the DNA or something. Hesitantly, Larne took up the hand "Deal." Sure he was that Naruto would honour the bro-code and everything, even as unneeded it was as he was telling the truth, but a slither of doubt this time crept up due to that grin. It was unsettling, no matter which Uzumaki had it. By the log please be with him.
Land of Spring; Kumo Main Camp
Deruri enters the clearing where the bulk of his four hundred strong force of Jonin leaders, and Chunin squads, yawning the entire way. Stepping up on the podium, he looks to his forces and the laid back posture was gone as he almost glared at them all but was just overly serious for some reason. Backs straightened at the sigh, the low chatter dropped as all eyes where on the leader of this capture mission "Okay, it is simple. Last night, our forward teams have silent secured our passage directly towards the castle. All the towns enroute have silently been suppressed and their patrols gone dark. We won't have long before the day shift comes on station and the alarms raised. Due to this, we are to make to the capital at full speed and seize it before they can muster a defence or get word to their Hidden Village for help. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir." Was the response and he nodded "If any issues arise, handle it quickly and quietly until told otherwise. Once we have the Daimyo in custody, the Hidden Village will stand down and avoid bloodshed. Any questions?" One hand went up and Deruri almost sighed at its owner "Yes, Omoi?"
"Shouldn't we secure the Hidden Village too?"
"Normally we would…" Deruri nodded along to the good point "…however, unlike the big five, their village is truly hidden and our scouts are yet to find it as of yet, so securing the palace is our objective. We will worry about the native shinobi afterwards." Another hand went up, and upon his nod the Chenin spoke up "What can we expect from their Shiniobi?"
"Our intel suggests that they primarily use Water and Wind techniques. I am sure it was in the information packets you all received." Deruri comments causing the chunin to blush as his hand dropped as now Deruri actually sighed "Alright. Let's get this done. Move out." Immediately they did so, charging across the snowy terrain, slipping past the odd tree here and there, on their way toward the first town, the town of Ryken, unaware of the trap about to close in on them nor the fact their scouts teams were already dead.
Land of Spring; Ryken Town
The town of Ryken is considered by most as a rural paradise. Third largest town in the land of Spring, surrounded by newly established farmlands and far more integrated with wildlife than the more modern capital city, Kaze no Nami, or the trade hubs of Kenflic on the coast. The geothermal ducks nearby provide power and natural hot springs nearby, accessible by trams. No trains enter the town making it a peaceful destination for holiday goers, a hot spot for retirees for the slow nature of the town.
For today however, it was the site for the largest shinobi battle in the lands history, as the Kumo contingent was running full tilt towards the idyllic town borders believing their transgressions had gone unnoticed.
They hadn't.
Just before they reached chakra leap distance of the first row of houses, it began.
Kaboom. A row of explosions threw their lead rows into disarray, the only injured were those in the at very front, second degree burns as the napalm like tags erupted with such force it threw them back.
Again before they could regain their momentum, "Charge!" Two roars from either side of the formation as the flames raged ahead of them, barring their path, and now samurai and shinobi baring the White Dawn and Land of Spring banners charge them in a pincer strike. "Ambush!" was yelled as the three sides clash in a close-range brawl. Without room to manauvoure on the three-dimensional plane, the shinobi were forced to clash directly with the samurai in their element of straight forward combat. The lack of space also prevented use of high-level elemental abilities without causing friendly fire.
"Fall back!" Deruri ordered as he struggled to catch his barrings as he was as he was sandwiched near the forward section of the fighting. Slowly the Kumo forces were able to disengage, a fighting retreat, unaware of that hammer coming to strike against the anvil they had ran into. "Smoke bombs!" Was yelled and their rear line all dropped smoke pellets allowing the entire group to withdraw at shinobi speeds, despite the numerous thrown kunai and the hail of arrows catching more than a few in the back.
Deruri glanced back and saw him, one of the White Dawns Samurai commanders Blue Steel Larne; considered by many as a genius in defensive operations against Shinobi. No wonder they failed. If he's here than no way they could continue. His kill tally is scary. Rarely ever do samurai turn up in shinobi bingo books but he is considered an A-rank threat alone, S when leading even a single squad of samurai. They're intel was off. A pit in his stomach opened up "I sure hope the rest aren't here. We just need to get to the boats."
Land of Spring; Kumo Main Camp
Just after the assault force moved out of sensor range the trees began to shift, making hand signs to one another, but went unnoticed by the camp remaining occupants. "Kits use here; Mission is a go. All Luna forces are green." came over the radio and as one, twenty-one operatives slipped into the camp, cutting down the lazing defenders like spectres in the night.
Samui was looking at the tactical map that Deruri had left for here, reading his through his standing orders, when the wind shifted, and shadows flickered. She paused her reading and discreetly glanced around the room as she put down the file, and in one swift motion rolled over the table and slashed up with her tanto that caught the razor wires but failed to cut through. As she lands, her look up met the masked visage of an Owl, in the same vein of Bolt, yanking their arm back causing the wires wrapped around her weapon to yank it from her grasp.
With lightning-fast reflexes, she retrieved a kunai from her pouch, charged it with lightning and threw it in one fluid motion, ducking tot the side as the wires in the operatives' other hand had lashed out, slicing through the tent cover behind her previous position. The next slash of wires shredded the table to match size pieces, the tent being shredded was an unfortunate side effect as Samui leapt at her attacker, both hands charged with lightning chakra, her intent was clear as day as she had to do was touch her opponent and it would be over.
Owl ducked beneath the lung, grabbed both arms, before being flipped over the shoulder and slammed into floor in one fluid motion. Before the blond could regain her lost breath, or the daze of the abrupt movement, a cloth was placed over her mouth and the first breath drained her strength "Sleep, Jonin Leader. Do not resist any further." was the last words she heard as blackness took her.
The eruption of the triggered ambush awoke Atsui, just in time to miss the dropping kunai from the Badger masked shining hovering over him. A gut punch force them back as he swings out of his cradle, fire coating his fists as he uppercut the unknown aggressor, "Oooo…. So hot!" The blond Jonin declared going through hand signs, Badger promptly substituting with a dead body from outside as a massive fire last incinerated his previous position.
The sight Atsui found was the platoon left behind was being systematically wiped out, his mind snaps to his sister to find her on the ground, seemingly dead, sending the elite shinobi into a rage "Not HOT!" He yells as his flames engulf his body, landing on two Luna shinobi both popping in puffs of smoke, confusing him for a deadly few second. A kunai flies past his arm before wrapping around his left arm, yanking it out to the side as the Jonin used pure chakra control to breathe out flames catching the shinobi alight.
Ducking from another kunai, Atsui pulls his tanto just in time to block a trio of shuriken but just like his sister, the wires successfully captured his blade that was promptly pulled from his hand as he ducks beneath another thrown kunai. Leaping back towards his burning tent, trying to force his attacks to come from one direction, he was unaware of the Dragon mask coming through his flames until her tanto erupted from his mouth, or maybe when his head was severed and watching his body fall headless.
"Lady Dragon… he was meant to be captured alive." Badger mentioned "No need. We caught the other one. Once Rat has gone through her memories for intel, she'll join her brother. Take no prisoners." Dragon spoke coolly and the other two nodded before going to hunt any runners. It was useless. They would just die tired.
On the other side of the camp, Kitsune finds Owl holding one of the Jonin leaders up as Rat has their hand on her head "Well?"
"Not much, sir. Nothing we don't already know." Rat responds, "Unfortunate. Maybe the other one will…"
"He's dead." Dragon arriving at the huddle, "I thought…"
"He was being difficult. We lacked the time to safely subdue him. Time we don't have." Dragon explained her reasoning. Kitsune sighs before nodding looking to Rat "Anything else?"
"Only that she's a storm release user. Should fetch a good ransom." Rat states earning an unseen raised brow from Kitsune, "Too bad they risked her. Kill her and out her on the pile." Dragon ordered and just as Owl pulled his kunai, Kitsune raised a gloved hand "No wait." All motion ceased and despite not seeing his face, Dragon, Owl, and Rat could hear the dogs working in this prank master's kind running at full capacity which was never good at who he aimed it at. "I have an idea… heheheh…" Kitsune chuckled a maniac chuckle that the Uzumaki were known to when truly devious prank was upon them. Rat and Owl shuddered despite their years of emotional training and conditioning; Dragon rubbed her thighs together. This was going to be good.
Kumo's forces were making a panicked withdrawal toward their camp, until the smoke came into view over the next small hill "Oh no…" moaned Omoi, unexpectedly voicing Deruri's thoughts and as they crest the hillside they saw a horrid sight that froze their blood. A view that caused lumps so big in their throats, some actually fell faint the longer they looked at it and Deruri would later swear he smelled someone urinate themselves. He didn't blame them either.
As he stepped forward, with only the most elite of his men following suite, he came to face with the ghostly figures of the very group of now mythical shinobi of Luna in more numbers than Kumo believed existed. According to their intelligence, they're less than twelve Luna level operatives yet standing here in the open barely visible in the early hours of dawn were clearly double that on a backdrop of their burning camp. A dry chuckle slips from his mouth as he takes up his cleaver like sword "So, Luna huh…? Guess you do work for White Dawn as our intelligence guessed."
"…"
"No response. As always." Deruri mumbled but in order to save his subordinates he raised his weapon and pointed it at the Kitsune masked one "I demand a one on one. If I win, you step aside and we leave. If you win, we surrender."
"…"
"Come on! Be a man and fight me!" Deruri roared charging towards his opponent, unintentionally sealing his fate and that of his subordinates. His charge caused the Luna force to charge too, much to his horror as even Kirsten dodged his strike but instead of turning back to fight he continued in to his troops "No!" He yelled giving chase but he was too late. The Luna force had already reached his subordinates and were working through them after that stunt of switching targets at the last moment. Charging back, he spits the White Dawn force approaching fast from the direction they came from. Damn it.
Charging his black lightning, Deruri swings his cleaver towards the first Luna operative only to find his sword clashed against a tanto coated in wind and a fire supplementary. Pushed back he dodged a distance slash of wires, but couldn't raise his clever in time to block the wind coated kunai thrown and was knocked just above his waist. His exposed right shoulder was slashed through, forcing his blade down before his head was removed. The last thing he would see were the masks of a Kitsune, Dragon, and Owl.
Omoi clashed with another samurai, defending Karui's back once again, as the two remained together as the brawl escalated beyond a simple melee. None could get kill strikes as they were surrounded by samurai and they knew their were shinobi somewhere but could point them out as their thrown weapons were deflected effortlessly from beyond the circle. "This is bad…" Karui panting as she stares down her opponent who is standing firm, "Yeah… too bad Yugito's missing this party, huh?"
"Haha, yeah… when we get back, she'll be jealous no doubt…"
"We still have Bee-senses in reserve right? Deruri is out there too, fighting on." The boy chuckled as his eyes scan the gathered crowd. "Perhaps we could surrender…?"
"Never! We're fighting for Kumo's honour here! We can't back down to these terrorists!" Karui roared leaping forward "Karui! Wait…!" looking away from his own target, reaching out and yanking her back I to his arms as the blade from the side cut through his back in stead of her chest, right through his shoulder blades then spine before his waist. Coughing blood. He raises his hand "We… surrender…" his final words before going limp in Karui's arms. Said girl was shell shocked, her best friend just saved her from a cheap shot from a samurai no less, all because she got a little impatient, "Omoi... Get up... Omoi... come on man, this ain't funny..."
Before she knew it, she was bound and on her knees, chakra suppressed and sword removed from reach and the boy before her was being tended to by medical ninja with their mystical palm running over the wound. To Karui, it felt like forever with her eyes fixed on the still form of her closest companion. He may have been a fool who had too much sugar running through his veins, but he couldn't just die like that could he? It should have been some really epic battle against overwhelming numbers. Kinda... Like... "Oh log..." the first breath in like two minutes, but as the green flows fade without the wound being closed her snap to the med-nin "Why's you stop? He can't be... HE CAN'T BE…!"
"Sorry kiddo. He's gone." One of the medical shinobi reports and just hysteria began to set in ok the golden eyed kunouchi she was given a sedative and she fell limp.
Of the three hundred strong, just over under half surrendered to the White Dawn. When it was revealed that Deruri had fallen, Kumo's moral had plummeted, but the final nail was when the eight tails had roared onto the stage, reigniting their fighting spirit despite being bound and chakra sealed. That's when Karin Uzumaki took the field, alongside, unknown to Kumo, shadow clones of Naruto and Tayuya that all deployed their chakra chains. Karin alone had more than it was realistically countable where as Naruto had only six, Tayuya at least twelve.
Until then, no one had ever seen any of the tailed beast hesitate nor swallow a lump in their throat. It was a day full of firsts as the eight tails backed up upon seeing the chains that brought down his older brother with little effort, with a great deal many of them from three separate Uzumaki in place of the one that did in the nine tails. He would never live down the shame of him retreating from that fight but he'll be damned to get captured by the damn White Dawn.
The sight of the fleeing Octo-Ox, killed any spirit the Kumo force had and Naruto wouldn't be able to sleep that night as Kuruma had his brother's fleeing from the chains on repeat in his cage, his laughter preventing his host from sleeping.
Land of Lightning; Kumogakure
"What!?" Ay roared so loud, every single living being within the Land of Lightning froze in shock for a brief moment, the kage gripping his brothers head in his infamous iron grip "…and you ran away! You didn't fight?!" teeth grinding as he looked into his brother's cracking shades "Listen brother, they had not one but three Uzumaki and loads of chains, it would have been too much a pain... Owowowowow...!" thud.
Ay continued to breath deep and heavy, having thrown his brother across the room into the wall, "Damn it! BOLT! Prepare to sorty!" he grinned "They wanna play with the biggest of the big five? Fine. Time to show them what that means exactly." Reaching his desk as Bee slowly climbs to his feet "Get outta my face Bee!"
"I think you need to chill, before you get billed..."
"BEE!" Ay roared but he simply raised his hand "On a serious note…" Ay paused upon Bee rap less response, equally as serious "…those special forces you mentioned, Luna was it?"
"Yeah... What bou 'em?" leaning his head on his closed fist, elbow on his raised leg "They were twenty-one of them. All geared up and in the thick of fighting."
"Twenty-one?" Ay mumbled as he pondered over this new piece of information, "That's twice that we thought they had. If they are all as skilled as the Fox and Dragon ones..."
"Perhaps we shouldn't be so hasty on our response?" Bee advised and Ay had to admit, the prospect of going up against that many Luna shinobi wasn't wise. "You may be right on this one Bee; however, we have to respond somehow. This can't go unanswered." This caused the eight tails to sigh alongside his container, "Fine. Just keep the feline here for bedtime..." Bee returning to his poor rapping, ending the serious talk and any hesitant thoughts about retaliation was dashed as Ay grabbed him with his Iron claw technique.
Land of Fire; Hokage Tower
At the same time in Konoha "HIME! HIME!" Jairyia jumping through her window in a panicked frenzy, interrupting a mission debrief Teams Ten and Seven "Jairyia, can't it…"
"Kumo attacked Spring!" he huffed instantly gaining the rooms full attention "They what?!" Tsunade roared, leaping from her seat "They attacked Spring three days ago."
"We should prepare a…"
"No need!" the toad sage huffs finally getting his breathing under control "What do you mean? Isn't snow an ally?" Sakura asked as her classmates all nod. Her questioned actually caught the two senior shinobi off guard, forgetting about the debriefing shinobi "No, they haven't been allies for several years. Not since…" Kakashi trailed off and they all understood at that moment, "Which is why this is so important." Jairyia continued, breaking through the solemn atmosphere effortlessly "Oh?" the kage questioned with a raised brow and the toad summoner nodded frantically placing pictures doen on the desk. The top one clearly showed one Naruto Uzumaki, in full white Dawn uniform, six chains extending from his back, beside two red heads who also had similar chains of various numbers "Naruto! And he has the chains!"
"That he does...!" Jairyia chuckles, "Damn gaki has the chains!"
"He isn't the only one it seems either." Tsunade states observing the two at his sides "I recognise the shorter redhead, she was the one we caught with the kids..."
"The one I fought during the retrieval mission." Shikamaru states, observing the picture "According to my source, they faced down the eight tails and forced him to retreat." Jairyia informs causing Tsunade to snort "I don't blame him. Just one Uzumaki with them was enough to pin the Nine tails. Imagine what three could do."
"... hold up!" Shikamaru called out, getting the older duo's attention "What are those chains? The way you speak of them, it's like they are…"
"A bloodline?" Tsunade already seeing where he was going with the question, earning a nod from the Nara to which Tsunade smirks "The chains themselves aren't the bloodline but rather a by-product of it." Confusion sets in on the entire room, besides Jairyia who already knew "What does that mean exactly?" Sakura poses and Tsunade sighs wondering what they learnt at the academy briefly, "The Uzumaki clan doesn't have a bloodline in the traditional sense but for arguments sake we'll call it that." Tsunade picking up the first picture and shows it to the room "Its called Solid Chakra Manipulation. Allows them to mould their naturally dense chakra into any form they choose. By default…" she waves the photo around "…are chains that can, and have, bound even the nine tails and preventing them from breaking free."
A stunned silence prevailed for a long moment before Choji raised his hand "Surely they have a weakness? I mean... Everything has one right?" Tsunade snorts, "If you find it, let the world know. You'd be paid a handsome amount."
"So they are unbreakable chains? Surely your chakra punch could...?" Sakura began but Tsunade snorted at the thought that she was stronger than the nine tails "Not only are they unbreakable…" Jairyia speaking up in place of his teammate "...but they have the secondary effects of suppressing their targets chakra too. They longer they hold, the longer it takes for your chakra to return."
"That is damn right overpowered." Shikamaru states earning a chuckle from Tsunade "…now you know why over a hundred thousand shinobi of Kumo, Iwa, and Kiri, was required to wipe them out." Jaws hung open and the two veterans chuckled mirthlessly "...and less than a quarter would return home."
"Troublesome."
"How does chakra become dense, exactly?" asked Ino earning a raised brow from her fellow Chunin and the few Jonin look from her to the Hokage who offered a wary smile "Was this not covered in the academy?"
"If it was, I missed it." Sakura states which told the adults who all sighed several mumbles about stupid civilians and academia not being covered. Tsunade sighed "Chakra density is just that, how dense your chakra is. There are methods to thicken it, but most don't bother as it's faster just to mould and fold it for larger techniques."
"Whay kind of benefit does denser chakra have?" Shikamaru inquires "Dependa..." Tsunade responds as she looks over the assembled group, "I think... of those here, mine is the most dense, followed by Jairyia. The thinnest is probably Shikamaru followed by Ino."
"How can you tell? Is there a measurement for it?" Choji asks to which Jairyia cut in "If a civilians chakra is set to 1, then Shikamaru is at four with Ino at five."
"In that case, what is yours?" asks Sakura trying to get an idea of the scale "Mine…" Jairyia chuckles nervously "Twelve."
"Thirteen..." Tsunade side eyeing her teammate, before looking to her former apprentice "…and before you ask, mines fifteen." This caused mouths to drop, but she just shrugs "I'm a quarter Uzumaki."
"What about Naruto then?" Choji questioned out of curiosity, "Well, before he left, it was denser than mine is now about fourteen maybe Fifteen." Tsunade comments before looking back at the picture "Now though, seeing as he's using those chains, he must have at least twenty."
"Is that the lowest required?" Shikamaru answered to which she nodded "Its the common belief, yes." Tsunade confirms with eyes falling onto the spectacle wearing Red head "Whoch means this other Uzumaki, with over thirty six chains, is a real treat. Her chakra density is otherworldly. Anyone, and everyone will be our for her and any children she may have."
"Lady Tsunade?" Kakashi calling her back to the room, "You aren't thinking..."
"No, of course not." The last Senju as she began to look through the other photos showing Various members of the dawn during the aftermath of the battle and the celebration afterwards "That s Blue Steel Larne, no?" Tsunade pointing to a pretty boy with a scarred face "It is." Asuma confirms "Is that..." Saukra noticing the raven haired girl "…Kin Tsuchi?" Pointing her out in the background of one of the photos, Larne was in the foreground "Now that you mention it..." Tsunade looking closer, eyes widening "Damn, she's all grown up now huh?"
"Oh the gaki's lady? I remember now..." Jairyia frowned, "...how could I forget about her?"
"Kinda explains why the red heads alive too." Shikamaru grunted as Ino stared at him in disbelief "Your obsessed with Tayuya, aren't you?" But the Nara just grunts again, looking away earning a giggle from the Yamanaka "Aww... You know she's single right?"
"See if you can find anything on Kin..." Tsunade to Jairyia, "With any luck..."
"They seemed to have set up shop in Spring. If you want to confront them, then…" the spymaster trailed off, as Tsunade thought about it before nodding "Shizune! Call a council meeting."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!"
"One more thing, Su-hime..." Jairyia pulling another five photographs from his pocket before throwing down this new bunch revealing very familiar masked shinobi, eyes widen upon their silver visage "...Kumo was right. They're White Dawn spec ops." The whole room gathered around the desk, even the hidden Anbu, looking at the ghostly visages as even captured on camera that were spectres and barely visible. Someone had clearly gone round them in marker, to let them stand out against the back ground "How many...?"
"Twenty-one. We don't know if that was them all, if the kitsune trio were shadow clones or two others borrowing the mask but one thing is clear. If we respond with Anbu, so will they, and they do not take prisoners." Jairyia's tone was grave and filled with the utmost seriousness that even Tsunade swallowed hard, "We'll make it a standing order, Luna forces are flee on sight, no exceptions."
"Waif a second..." Sakura noticed that Naruto could be seen in the back ground of one of the Luna photos and sighs in relief "Look, I thought Naruto would be wearing the fox mask. But looks..."
"Ah... So, I see."Jairyia comments making note of that, "Anyway..." Tsunade clapping before eying her Anbu, who look back at her for a moment before vanishing back to the shadows, the Hokage looking to her shinobi "...let's finish this debrief before I go to that damn council."
A/N: Sneak peak for Ch.10; Snake Bane. Guess who's next?
