HIDDEN LEAF VILLAGE
Shikamaru slowly opened his eyes and turned his head side to side. A doctor stood by his bed taking notes and a nurse was refilling his fluids.
"H-H-Hey doc…" Shikamaru said softly.
The doctor looked down at Shikamaru with mild surprise.
"Shikamaru-san! I wasn't expecting you to wake up so soon." The doctor said.
Shikamaru tried to sit up but was laid back down by a nurse.
"Shikamaru-san, you're still not good to move around yet! You have to rest in bed for a few days." The nurse said.
Shikamaru groaned
"What even happened?" Shikamaru asked.
The doctor pushed up his glasses.
"You passed out from your injuries. You were littered with a bunch of different burn spots. The substance that burned you had the properties of a heavy acid irritant." The doctor explained.
Shikamaru's eyes widened
Shikamaru shot up in bed, to the nurse's and Doctor's surprise.
"Shikamaru! You need rest!" The nurse yelled.
Shikamaru winced.
"No! I don't have time to rest… What's the status on Zayoshi and the village?" Shikamaru asked.
The doctor gulped.
"Well… while you were sleep the village was able to be calmed but there are still those who demand answers, and as for Zayoshi… well, he's gone." The doctor explained.
Shikamaru clenched his teeth and looked down.
"Damn… and nobody knows where he went?" Shikamaru asked.
The doctor shook his head. Shikamaru closed his eyes tightly.
"A guy like that can't be allowed to run around freely in the ninja world! His ability to become acid itself versus just covering himself in it is too dangerous…" Shikamaru thought to himself.
The doctor grew nervous.
"Sh-Shikamaru-san… you must rest."
Shikamaru looked up.
"I'll be fine. I don't feel much burning, although it does sting if I move too much." Shikamaru said.
The doctor looked at his notes.
"While I hardly feel anymore burning it would be a pain to attempt to walk any long distances like this… Lady Hokage went to the Five Kage Summit with the others to discuss that Psycho guy showing his face again, I guess now that the village is alright somebody needs to see if they're okay." Shikamaru thought.
"Well, Shikamaru-san, if you don't need anything else…" The doctor said, walking away.
"Wait!" Shikamaru yelled out.
The doctor turned around.
"There are a few people I'd like for you to reach out to for me." Shikamaru said.
The doctor fixed his glasses.
"A few people? And who would those people be?" The doctor asked.
DEATH HQ (MARINEFORD)
"So, that's what the last twenty-five years have been like to you, old friend. Sounds like one hell of a ride." Zayoshi said.
Psycho leaned back.
"It certainly has. Honestly, I'm surprised things have gone this smoothly for so long." Psycho said.
"I agree, having my samurai in the Ninja World sure turned a few heads at first, I was sure I'd be figured out eventually." Mifune said.
Psycho smiled.
"And how has the shinobi world been all these years?" Psycho asked.
Mifune sighed.
"Well… there have been a few changes since you last visited…" Mifune said softly.
"Like what?" Psycho asked.
Mifune gulped and clenched his teeth.
"The Five Great Nations have become allies." Mifune said.
Psycho's eyes shot open.
"What!?" Psycho asked.
Mifune put his hands up.
"Please calm yourself, Psycho-san!" Mifune said.
Psycho stood up and looked left and right frantically before breathing in and out and sitting back down.
"Are you alright?" Zayoshi asked.
Psycho nodded slowly and breathed out again.
"I was.. counting on them still being rivals for when we invaded again.. What the hell did they team up for? There had to have been a very good reason.." Psycho said.
Mifune became serious.
"Oh there was… but you won't believe it." Mifune said.
Psycho stared at Mifund.
"Surprise me." Psycho said.
Mifune sat up.
"A man who called himself Madara declared war on the Five Great Nations all at once, forcing them to team up to stop him. The man tried to control all the ten beasts too he even tried to use that jutsu to hypnotize the world." Mifune said.
Psycho's eyes widened at the name "Madara."
"And during the war many shinobi were reanimated with the edo tensei." Mifune continued.
Psycho thought about Cyclone.
"If you're thinking about Cyclone, then yes, this is the same edo tensei that Cyclone-san can use. In short, Madara was one of the shinobi revived by this jutsu." Mifune continued.
Psycho continued to listen.
"Madara then became the ten tails jinchuriki and achieved his goal of the infinite Tsukuyomi, but his plan was thwarted…" Mifune stopped.
Psycho was confused.
"By those shinobi?" Psycho asked.
Mifune gulped.
"Kaguya." Mifune said.
Psycho's eyes widened.
"Kaguya… came back too..?" Psycho said to himself.
Mifune stared, his eyes shadowed out.
"What happened next?" Psycho asked.
Mifune cleared his throat.
"She was defeated again and sealed away by none other than Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha of the Hidden Leaf Village." Mifune said.
Psycho stared with a neutral expression.
"Naruto.. and Sasuke?.." Psycho asked softly.
Zayoshi and Mifune exchanged nervous glances.
Psycho envisioned Hogoromo and Hamura.
Psycho smiled softly. Mifune cleared his throat and continued.
"After her defeat, Madara died once more since the 10 tails was removed from him during the transformation into Kaguya." Mifune said.
Psycho nodded.
"I appreciate the update." Psycho said.
"After that..there hasn't been many other problems. The Five Nations have been at peace for a while now… well, until they were stirred up by DEATH attacking the Sand Village." Mifune said.
Psycho looked to the side.
"Hey! By the way boss, how did that go?" Zayoshi asked.
Psycho sighed.
"We failed to accomplish the goal we went there for." Psycho said, "I didn't care because before but now I'm certain that since the villages are all on the same team everyone was informed of the attack in the sand." Psycho said.
"That's not exactly true." Mifune said.
Psycho became surprised mildly.
"What do you mean?" Psycho asked.
Mifune crossed his arms.
"Yes.. news about the attack traveled around very fast, but no one knows you were the mastermind, of that you can be sure, except for the Kage of course. They came to the Five Kage Summit to discuss how they want to handle this situation and tell their villagers that you're still alive." Mifune said.." Mifune said.
"But two crazy strong DEATH members already disposed of them." Zayoshi smiled.
Psycho smiled slowly.
"And with them beaten there's no one who can spill the beans? I still have the element of surprise on my side… even after all this madness?" Psycho asked.
Mifune and Zayoshi smiled.
"Things just got a whole lot more interesting." Psycho smiled sinisterly.
HIDDEN LEAF PRISON INFIRMARY
Shikamaru lay in bed awaiting the people he asked the doctor to contact for him. He looked to the side with surprise when his room door opened, and he sat up. In walked: Ino, Choji, TenTen, Lee, Kiba, and Shino.
"Oi, Shikamaru! What the hell happened to you?" Kiba asked.
Shikamaru winced.
"Yeah Shikamaru what's going on? The village was going crazy a while ago." TenTen said.
"Yeah we need some answers man!" Choji said.
Shikamaru put a hand to his head.
"I'll explain everything I know in just a moment… how's the village?" Shikamaru asked.
"It's better than it was… people were freaking out earlier." Ino said.
"But we calmed them down! You have nothing to worry about Shikamaru!" Lee yelled.
"Damn it Lee tone it down a bit… I'm still hurt." Shikamaru said, with a cold stare.
Lee backed off a little.
"But good… the last thing we need is them to keep freaking out, now… let me tell you all what I know." Shikamaru said.
Everyone in the room listened carefully.
"Zayoshi, the man who broke out, spoke to me and told me a lot of things. I'll sum it up for you best I can." Shikamaru said softly.
Everyone nodded.
"There was a man named "Psycho" who was behind both the first and second shinobi world wars." Shikamaru explained.
The shinobi were shocked.
"What!? How is that even possible!?" Choji asked.
"There's still more out there?" Ino asked as well.
"That doesn't make any sense.. one man started two world wars? I've never even heard of him!" Kiba added.
"Weird.. that name sounds.. familiar somewhat.." Shino said.
Shikamaru looked down, thinking about the man with the sharingan on the paper earlier.
Everyone looked at Shikamaru.
"What're you thinking about, Shikamaru?" TenTen asked.
Shikamaru sat up.
"That's not all.." Shikamaru said.
Everyone grew incredibly nervous.
"This "Psycho" guy.. is the leader of this organization ravaging the world right now.." Shikamaru said.
"WHAT?!" Everyone but Shino yelled.
"But he'd have to be an old man by now!" Lee yelled.
"Or even dead! How is that possible?!" Kiba yelled.
Shikamaru sweated, having one more piece of information.
"And... he's.." Shikamaru started.
Everyone waited anxiously for Shikamaru to finish.
"An Uchiha." Shikamaru said.
SLAM!!!!
Before everyone in the room could react a shinobi ran in.
"Shikamaru-san! Er um… sorry to interrupt." The shinobi said.
"You're fine… what's wrong?" Shikamaru asked.
The shinobi straightened up.
"Um, a prisoner wants to see you!" The Shinobi said.
Shikamaru and the others were shocked.
"A prisoner?... Who?" Shikamaru asked.
The shinobi held a nervous face.
"R-R-Raku… Etsuko!" The shinobi said.
Shikamaru and the others all became incredibly shocked.
"Raku Etsuko!? For what!?" TenTen asked.
"That man is insane! Shikamaru, you can't go see him! I won't allow it!" Lee yelled.
"I second that, Shikamaru!" Ino said.
Shikamaru clenched his teeth.
"Did you say what he wanted?" Shikamaru asked.
The shinobi nodded.
"We asked him and he… actually begged us to come get you so he can talk to you. He seems sincere." The shinobi said.
"Just because he seems sincere doesn't mean it's not a trick. He might be trying to take advantage of this situation." Shino said.
The shinobi saluted.
"Yes! Understood! I'll decline his meeting." The shinobi said, attempting to walk away.
Shikamaru thought about what he had said just a moment ago.
"The leader of DEATH.. is a shinobi."
Shikamaru winced.
"WAIT!" Shikamaru yelled.
The shinobi stopped.
"Take me to him." Shikamaru said.
"Shikamaru what are you saying? You can't be serious!" Ino said.
"Yeah! You do remember why he's locked up don't you?" Choji asked.
Shikamaru painfully turned to hang his feet off his bed.
"Yeah… but… I'm curious as to what he wants." Shikamaru said.
"Well, we'll come with you!" Kiba said.
"No." Shikamaru said.
The Leaf ninja were all shocked.
"You all go pack your things and get ready to go to the Land of Iron to look for the kage… I'll meet you all at the village gate later." Shikamaru said, getting in his slippers and walking over to the shinobi.
Shikamaru and the shinobi walked towards the door to the infirmary. Shikamaru stopped at the door.
"I'll let you know what happens." Shikamaru said without turning around.
The Leaf ninja stared at Shikamaru left.
LEVEL 5 OF THE HIDDEN LEAF PRISON
The elevator lowered Shikamaru and the shinobi down to the 5th level to speak to the prisoner Raku Etsuko.
"I feel like I'm getting into a Zayoshi situation all over again…" Shikamaru said to himself.
The elevator door opened and Shikamaru walked out, the shinobi followed.
"I have to follow you this time, Shikamaru-san, in case he tries something funny." The shinobi said.
Shikamaru nodded.
The two walked down the hall until they came along a cell with a man in it sitting Indian style facing the wall.
"RAKU! Shikamaru is here! Tell him what you need to so we can get out of here." The shinobi said.
The man inside the cell wore a full body black straight jacket and had a black band over his eyes with the word "seal" written on it with Japanese characters. He had short spiky yellow hair as well, with a brown skin tone. The man weakly turned around.
"Sh-Sh-Shikamaru-san…! It's been a while…" Raku said.
Shikamaru stared at him.
"I didn't come here for casual conversation. Truth be told, I'm on edge right now with talking to a prisoner." Shikamaru said.
Raku put his head down.
"I see." Raku said softly.
Shikamaru and the shinobi stared at the man.
"I'll cut to the chase then…a-a great battle is coming!.. you-you do know that don't you?" Raku asked.
Shikamaru was filled with shock.
"How the hell do you know that!?" Shikamaru asked.
Raku didn't speak for a moment.
"The attack on the Sand, the kage being called to the summit and I also heard Zayoshi broke out… there's only one reason he'd do that…" Raku said.
Shikamaru stared at Raku.
"You and I both know that organization plans to do again what it did all those years ago! Don't you! Shikamaru!" Raku began to yell.
"Hey, take it easy!" The shinobi said.
Shikamaru clenched his teeth and stared at Raku.
"So what if I do? What are you saying?" Shikamaru asked.
Raku put his head down and started to dry heave. Tears began to fall from under his mask. Shikamaru and the shinobi were shocked.
"15 years ago… the village elders sentenced me to death for supposedly getting every team I had sent with me on missions killed on purpose… I knew this wasn't true, but my loyalty to the Leaf Village kept me from arguing their decision!" Raku yelled.
Shikamaru was still shocked and confused.
"Raku…"
"They told me… that I would only actually be killed when I chose how I wanted to die… if I don't make a decision I might as well consider this a life sentence…, but!... SHIKAMARU-SAN! I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT! I FOUND OUT HOW I WANT TO DIE!" Raku yelled.
Shikamaru and the shinobi waited for him to finish.
"I want to die… PROTECTING MY VILLAGE FROM THEIR FUTURE ATTACK! PLEASE, SHIKAMARU-SAN! ALLOW ME TO TAKE THE FRONT LINES AS THE HIDDEN LEAF VILLAGE'S HEAD GENERAL!" Raku yelled.
LAND OF IRON
What used to be the snowy land of samurai, was now an acid filled, toxic waste dump as the result of Zayoshi's awakened devil fruit powers.
On a large circular rock mass the Five Kage lay unconscious. One of the kage, Mei Terumi, the Mizukage of the Village Hidden in Mist started to slowly get up. She sat up and put a hand to her head.
"Oh… my head… what the hell was that guy?... He and Mifune beat us… the Five Kage…" Mei said as she looked around.
Nothing but acid and foul smells all around. The rest of the kage were still unconscious
"He was a logia, Mizukage-sama. Unfortunately you never stood a chance without haki." A voice said.
Mei flinched and turned around to speak but choked on her words when she saw who the man was standing before her.
"It-It-It can't be…! You're!..." Mei stopped and put her hand over her mouth, tears falling slowly.
The man stood over her with a cool breeze following him and icy winds surrounding his body. He looked down at the woman and her reflection bounced off his shades.
"Oh my… surely this isn't the same Mei I grew up with is it?" The man said.
Mei's tears fell even heavier.
"K-K-Kuzan!" Mei yelled.