Disclaimer: I do not own any of the content following this statement. Masashi Kishimoto owns all titles, names, and plots.
All Pain Must End
The moon had slipped silently below the horizon, painting the sky with a tapestry of darkness, but Mei's hand shot up, a stark silhouette against the night, signaling her shinobi to halt. Doubts gnawed at her like voracious beasts—doubts about the allies who had answered her call, doubts about this hero called Naruto, whose reputation seemed too polished, too perfect. But above all, she doubted herself. Would these warriors truly spill their blood for a land alien to them? Would they sacrifice for the people of the Mist, or linger in the shadows, allowing her people to bear the brunt of the battle, only to claim victory's laurels? These thoughts swirled in her mind like a maelstrom as she paused, her breath hanging in the chill air, waiting to see.
Minutes stretched like taffy in the tense silence, each second dripping with anticipation. Then, the sound reached them—a cacophony of terror and violence. The battle was on. The screams, a chorus of pain and fury, and the untamed chaos of combat filled the air as the Leaf forces charged toward Kirigakure's most heavily defended wall. Fools, Mei thought, her mind sharp with disdain. They were ready to die for a cause they couldn't fathom, to avenge souls they'd never known. Fine, so be it.
"Ready your most powerful jutsu," Mei commanded, her voice steady but laden with an iron resolve. "We take this wall tonight—no mercy, no hesitation. Let them remember who we are!" With a single, powerful signal, the rebel army surged forward, their footsteps a drumbeat against the earth. But Mei's gaze never wavered from the wall, her eyes burning with the fire of her chakra ready to unleash destruction.
As they approached the base of the southern wall, Mei raised her hands, the air around them humming with raw power. The ground trembled beneath her feet as if in fear, the earth beneath her turning to molten lava with a hiss. "Lava Style: Melting Wave!" she roared, her voice slicing through the night. From her hands shot a torrent of fiery magma, like the wrath of a volcano, crashing into the stone with such ferocity that the air itself seemed to scream. The heat was unbearable, the scent of burning rock and charred flesh thick in the air, as the wall began to melt, stone hissing and crackling like the last breaths of a dying beast.
The ground rumbled, a deep, resonant sound of victory as the molten rock tore through the wall's defenses, leaving a gaping wound where once stood an impenetrable barrier. Rebels and Mist forces watched, mouths agape, as the once-mighty wall crumbled into ash and molten stone.
"Push through!" Mei shouted, her voice a tempest of fury. "This is our moment!"
The clash of steel sang through the night, a symphony of destruction as the rebel forces poured into the breach. The Kirigakure forces, caught in their own defensive web, were blindsided by the ferocity of the assault. But Mei was relentless, giving them no quarter to regroup.
"Mist Hunter's Blade!" Mei chanted, and from the mist, her weapon materialized, a blade shimmering with an eerie glow of mist chakra. With one fluid, predatory motion, she cleaved through a line of Kirigakure shinobi, their bodies becoming mere offerings to the ground, their blood painting the earth. Her blade moved with the speed of a specter, slicing through flesh with a nauseating sound, leaving only a trail of destruction behind.
The rebel forces, inspired by Mei's savagery, followed suit, their weapons thirsting for blood, each strike a testament to their resolve. The Rebel shinobi fought with a ferocity that seemed to draw power from the village's very essence as if Kirigakure itself was calling them home.
Pain's forces, though vast in number, were unprepared for the storm of vengeance unleashed by the Rebel's assault. The rebels fought not merely for survival but for retribution, the chains of oppression finally shattering under their rage.
Mei carved a path through the chaos, the streets slick with the blood of her enemies, the air a miasma of sweat, blood, and the acrid stench of burning flesh. The battle had turned the village into a slaughterhouse. She flooded every street with lava and every building with burning clouds of acid smoke that burned the eyes and filled the lungs.
Pain's elite, cloaked in the darkness of their robes, charged at Mei, their faces as hidden as their intentions. They were skilled, almost supernaturally so, but Mei was a force of nature—faster, stronger, more determined.
"Vapor Style: Acid Mist!" she bellowed, and from her hands, a corrosive mist spread like a plague across the battlefield. It clung to skin, burning through flesh and bone until only husks remained, their screams a dirge in the mist. But Mei moved on, each step a declaration of war.
As enemies tried to flank her, she was already on the move. "Water Style: Raging Torrent!" she unleashed, sending a wave of water that tore through the street like an angry river, flinging enemy shinobi aside like discarded toys. In the chaos, Mei was death incarnate, her kunai a flash of light in the dark, her strikes leaving behind only blood and silence.
A rebel commander's voice cut through the tumult, "The wall's weakening—she's doing it! Push forward! For Mei, For victory!" the battle cry filled the streets as her forces swarmed around her running down every send street search for defenders that had yet to run away.
But Mei didn't slow; she was an unstoppable engine of destruction, her blade singing through the air with a deadly whisper, slicing through flesh with the ease of a hot knife through butter, painting the night with a river of blood. Her dress, once vibrant with the colors of her rank, now clung to her like a wet, suffocating shroud, soaked in the blood-filled waters of her own village. The metallic tang of blood assaulted her senses, mingling with the acrid smoke of battle. Around her, the sounds of war were a cacophony of horror: the clanging of steel against steel rang like a discordant symphony, the screams of the dying pierced the night like a lament, and the low, guttural moans of the wounded created an undercurrent of despair. Each step she took squelched through the mire, the fabric of her attire heavy with the weight of sacrifice. The warmth of the blood contrasted starkly against the cool night air, and the wet, sticky sensation coated her skin, a grim testament to the night's work as she moved forward, her path marked by the echoes of death, the clash of weapons, and the silent cries of the fallen.
Amid the chaos, a familiar figure emerged—one of Pain's lieutenants, the Asura Path, a towering mechanical monstrosity. His body was an amalgamation of flesh and metal, with limbs that transformed into weapons at will. As he approached, his mechanical arms whirred ominously, rockets primed and blades extending from his shoulders. He launched himself at Mei with a precision that belied his size, swinging his missile-firing fist toward her head. But Mei, undaunted by the metallic menace, didn't flinch, her eyes burning with the fierce determination of a warrior ready to confront a living nightmare.
"Lava Style: Magma Tsunami!" Mei bellowed, her voice echoing over the din of battle like the war cry of an ancient deity. As she unleashed her jutsu, her body was engulfed in a seething surge of molten rock, the chakra within her igniting into a furious maelstrom of destruction. The ground beneath her feet trembled, then roared, as a tidal wave of magma erupted from her form, advancing across the battlefield like an apocalyptic force of nature.
The wave swept forward with relentless fury, an inferno that left nothing but scorched earth in its wake. The Asura Path, caught in this fiery onslaught, was swallowed by the surge of lava, his mechanical limbs sizzling and sparking as they were consumed. His screams, a cacophony of mechanical whirs and human anguish, were abruptly cut off, smothered by the overwhelming heat and pressure. The lieutenant, once a terror of steel and flesh, was now becoming one with the earth, his form melting into the magma, his existence reduced to nothing but a memory amidst the molten chaos.
But even as the lava began to cool, solidifying into a grotesque statue of what once was, the Asura Path proved its resilience. With a shudder that shook the very ground, the remains of the mechanical giant pulled free from the hardening lava. Half of its body was gone, the once intimidating form now a twisted, half-melted abomination. Yet, the drive to fulfill its purpose was unwavering; it was either unwilling or unable to stop fighting.
One arm, now little more than a charred stump, still held a rocket launcher, while the other, barely functional, aimed a blade that dripped with cooling magma. The Asura Path's remaining eye, a glowing orb amidst the ruin of its face, flickered with a malevolent light, its mechanical parts grinding in protest as it lurched forward. The battlefield was silent for a moment, the air thick with the scent of scorched metal and the promise of further violence, as Mei stood ready, her own chakra reserves burning bright, prepared to face this undying testament to Pain's power.
As the Asura Path, now a half-destroyed but still menacing figure, pulled itself from the cooling lava, Mei knew she needed something more to keep this mechanical beast at bay. With a fierce determination, she inhaled deeply, the air around her heating up with her chakra.
"Lava Release: Lava Monster Technique!" she shouted, her voice carrying the authority of a village leader and the power of a Kage. From her mouth spewed forth not just lava but the very essence of destruction, which quickly took form in front of her. The ground trembled as a colossal golem, composed entirely of glowing, molten rock, rose from the earth. Its form was monstrous, with jagged edges and limbs that dripped with fiery magma, its eyes burning with the same intensity as the heart of a volcano.
The Lava Monster roared, a sound that was part eruption, part war cry, as it charged at the Asura Path. The battlefield was illuminated by the creature's glow, casting long shadows that danced with the flickering light of its body. The golem's fists, each the size of a boulder, smashed down toward the mechanical lieutenant, the heat from its body warping the air around it.
The Asura Path, despite its damage, reacted with mechanical precision, its remaining arm transforming into a missile launcher. It fired a salvo of rockets, each one aimed directly at the approaching magma beast. But the Lava Monster was unyielding; the rockets exploded against its body, causing chunks of lava to fly off, only for them to regenerate as more molten rock flowed to fill the gaps.
The Golem then swung its massive arm, the motion leaving a trail of fire in the air. The Asura Path attempted to counter with its blade, but the heat from the Lava Monster's attack melted the blade's tip, rendering it less effective. The clash of metal against magma was like the forging of a weapon in a blacksmith's shop, sparks and steam rising in clouds around them.
With each blow, the Lava Monster pushed the Asura Path back, its sheer mass and heat overwhelming the mechanical defenses. The ground where they fought turned into a small lake of lava, the environment itself becoming a weapon in Mei's arsenal. The Asura Path, now struggling to maintain its form, fired more missiles, but the Lava Monster absorbed the explosions, its body absorbing and redistributing the energy into more magma.
Mei watched, her chakra flowing into the Lava Monster, sustaining its existence as it fought on her behalf. This was not just a battle of strength but of endurance and will. The Lava Monster, under Mei's command, was a distraction, a wall, and an attacker all at once, buying her time to prepare another devastating move or to aid her allies in reclaiming their village from Pain's grip.
As the golem and the Asura Path clashed, their battle a spectacle of molten destruction and mechanical resilience, the rebel army was invigorated by Mei's display of power. The sight of their leader, commanding the very elements of their homeland, filled them with a surge of courage. Emboldened, they surged forward, their advance a relentless tide of blood and gore, crashing against the walls of Kirigakure with the force of retribution.
Mei, standing triumphant at the breach she had created, her silhouette framed by the fiery combat behind her, turned to her forces, her voice cutting through the chaos like a sharpened blade. "We take back the Mist, or we die trying. For Kirigakure! For our people!"
Their response was immediate and overwhelming—a roar of agreement that echoed through the night, a sound imbued with vengeance and the spirit of reclamation. With a collective battle cry that could shake the heavens, they charged into the heart of the city. The southern wall, once a symbol of impregnable defense, now lay in ruin, its fallen stones a testament to their resolve.
The Mist shinobi, bloodied but unbroken, surged into the city like a wave of retribution. Each step they took was a declaration of their intent to reclaim what was rightfully theirs, each swing of their weapons a promise to honor those who had fallen. The streets of Kirigakure became a stage for a fierce battle, where every corner echoed with the clash of steel and the cries of those fighting for freedom.
Seeing her Lava Monster beginning to falter, its form slowly dissipating as the Asura Path's relentless assault took its toll, Mei knew she needed to act. With a swift, strategic shift, she prepared her next move.
"Vapor Style: Solid Fog Jutsu!" Mei declared, her hands weaving through the signs with practiced ease. From her mouth, she exhaled a dense, corrosive mist that spread across the battlefield, enveloping the Asura Path. The mist was like a living acid, eating away at the mechanical giant's armor, joints, and weaponry. The air hissed and crackled as metal corroded, and the Asura Path's movements became sluggish, its mechanical parts grinding and protesting against the rapid degradation.
Not wasting a moment, Mei capitalized on the enemy's vulnerability. "Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!" she roared, spewing a torrent of lava from her mouth. The stream of molten rock targeted the now-weakened structure of the Asura Path, aiming to melt through what remained of its defenses. The lava flowed over the mechanical body, causing it to sizzle and steam, as if the very earth itself was reclaiming its creation.
The Asura Path, sensing its impending doom, attempted to counter. Its remaining arm, now barely functional, fired off a desperate salvo of rockets, aiming to break through the corrosive fog and molten assault. But Mei was ready.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" With a sharp gesture, a massive wall of water surged from the ground, intercepting the rockets with a thunderous crash. The water absorbed the impact, the missiles exploding harmlessly within its depths, the wall standing firm as a testament to Mei's mastery over her elements.
With the Asura Path now glowing red-hot from the intense heat of the lava, Mei saw her opportunity for the final blow. She changed her stance, her fingers moving in a blur. "Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave!" she shouted, and a concentrated jet of water burst from her hands, directly targeting the overheated metal of the Asura Path. The contrast between the scorching metal and the sudden deluge of water caused an immediate and violent reaction. The heat shock was catastrophic; the Asura Path's body, already weakened and heated to its limits, exploded in a burst of steam, molten metal, and shattered components, the sound like the death knell of a mechanical beast.
The combination of her jutsu had not only left the Asura Path severely compromised but had now utterly destroyed it. Its movements ceased, the once fearsome lieutenant reduced to a shadow of its former self, its remnants scattered across the battlefield. Mei stood tall, her strategy clear and her resolve unshaken, ready to push forward with the battle for her village.
Moving deeper into what she assumed would be her village, Mei could hear the screams of her warriors. She turned down a street to see a block cloaked with figures bearing red clouds—the insignia of the Akatsuki. There, amidst the chaos, she saw it—the Human Path, touching her people, its hands extracting the very souls from their bodies, their essence glowing faintly before being snuffed out into nothingness.
Mei knew the Human Path's capabilities; the ability to read minds and extract souls by physical touch was a deadly combination. She had to act quickly, her heart pounding with both rage and urgency.
Her spies had whispered the truth to her: each of Pain's Six Paths was bound by black chakra rods embedded deep within their bodies, the strings of a macabre puppet show controlled by Nagato's will. Breaking that connection was not just a tactic; it was her key to victory, to severing the strings of control.
Mei took a deep breath, her resolve hardening like the earth beneath her feet. "Vapor Style: Solid Fog Jutsu!" she intoned, and from her mouth came a thick, corrosive mist, a fog that could dissolve anything in its path. It spread across the battlefield, an insidious cloud that sought to weaken the Human Path's physical form, aiming to erode the very rods that made it dance to Nagato's tune. The Human Path stumbled, its body recoiling from the acidic touch of the mist, a momentary advantage for Mei.
Through the veil of her own creation, Mei moved like a specter, her elemental techniques cloaking her in a smokescreen that danced with danger. She knew proximity was her ally, and so she advanced, her movements swift, a blur within the haze. The Human Path, disoriented by the mist, swung its arms blindly, but Mei was already too close, her senses sharpened by necessity. She felt for the rods, her fingers tracing the cold metal under the flesh, her kunai ready to sever this unholy bond.
The clash was a blend of precision and desperation, Mei's hands working to find and destroy the chakra rods. Each rod she touched or attempted to remove met with resistance, the Human Path's body a fortress of pain and control. But when she finally compromised one, the effect was palpable. The Human Path's movements became erratic, a marionette with cut strings, its connection to Nagato flickering like a dying flame.
With this vulnerability laid bare, Mei stepped back, gathering her chakra for the coup de grâce. She knew that with the control weakened, the Path was at its most vulnerable. "Lava Style: Magma Tsunami!" she bellowed her voice a clarion call amidst the dissipating mist. From her form erupted a tidal wave of molten rock, a raw display of nature's fury. The ground beneath the Human Path turned to liquid fire, the heat so intense it could reshape the very earth. The wave of magma crashed over the Path, consuming it, and melting away the last remnants of Nagato's control.
As the lava cooled, forming new land from the old, the Human Path lay defeated, the chakra rods now visible, some melted into the ground, others protruding from the body like the bones of a fallen giant. Mei stood amongst the cooling rock, her victory a somber one. This was but one step in the long march to reclaim her village from the shadow of despair, but for now, one of Pain's terrifying aspects had been laid to rest.
The battle had shifted, moving on and leaving Mei a brief moment to catch her breath. She glanced around, her senses alert to the devastation. Her target was clear: the tower where Pain held dominion over Kirigakure. Without hesitation, she jumped to the nearest rooftop, her eyes fixed on that dark spire.
From up high, the village was a mess of destruction, the sounds of clashing metal and cries of combat echoing through the streets. The tower stood out, an ominous marker against the sky. Mei's jumps were precise, each one propelling her closer to her goal, her movements driven by the urgency of the moment.
She navigated the rooftops, avoiding the chaos below, her focus solely on the tower. The wind was sharp, carrying the noise of war to her ears. As she got closer, the tower grew larger, its presence more oppressive. She knew the fight for this place would be the hardest yet, the final stand to take back her village.
With a determined leap, she landed on the rooftop nearest to the tower, her gaze locked on the structure, her body tense and ready for what awaited her inside.
It was then that Mei spotted Naruto, transformed into his beast form, an awe-inspiring and terrifying sight. His body was cloaked in the chakra of the Nine-Tails, his eyes fierce with power, fur bristling with raw, untamed energy, and tails lashing behind him like living whips. The sheer size of him, combined with the overwhelming chakra, made him seem like a force of nature rather than a human shinobi.
Mei's eyes followed the battle as Naruto clashed with Tobi, the landscape of Kirigakure changing with every move they made. Buildings that had stood for generations were reduced to piles of rubble under the might of Naruto's jutsu. With each attack, massive spheres of chakra, Rasenshurikens, and waves of energy tore through the village, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake.
Tobi, with his ability to phase through attacks, dodged Naruto's onslaught, but the sheer force of the jutsu was enough to alter the terrain. Where once streets and homes stood, now there were craters and heaps of debris. The ground shook with every collision, the air filled with dust and the sounds of collapsing structures.
Mei watched, both in awe and horror, as Naruto's power reshaped her village in his quest to defeat Tobi. Each leap and clash left a new scar on Kirigakure, a testament to the ferocity of their battle. She knew this was the moment, the turning point where the fate of the village would be decided. With a mix of hope and dread, she followed the trail of destruction, her path now clear, leading her straight into the heart of the conflict where Naruto and Tobi fought for the future of the shinobi world.
Mei's plan was as simple as it was dangerous. It hinged on a single assumption: no matter how powerful Tobi was, no matter how untouchable he seemed with his phasing abilities, he was still a man. And like any man, he needed to breathe eventually.
She stood in the shadow of the smoldering wall, her chest heaving from the intensity of the battle raging around her. The air was thick with the mingled scents of blood and burning chakra, but her focus was razor-sharp. She had only one goal: to draw Tobi into a trap that he couldn't simply phase through.
Gathering chakra into her lungs, Mei formed the necessary seals. Her hands moved in a blur, and her voice was a low murmur that carried the weight of lethal intent.
"Vapor Style: Acidic Mist."
A dense, rolling fog began to spill out from her lips, spreading outward in an ever-expanding cloud. The mist wasn't just a concealment—it was alive with corrosive power, designed to eat away at flesh, bone, and even chakra-infused materials. This was no ordinary jutsu; it was a masterpiece of her Kekkei Genkai, one that would make the very air a weapon.
The mist crept through the streets, blanketing a full city block in a deadly haze. The ground hissed and sizzled wherever the acid touched, and even those who tried to breathe through masks or filters would find the air searing their lungs. Mei positioned herself at the edge of the cloud, ready to strike the moment Tobi materialized.
Her gamble rested on precise timing. She watched Naruto's attacks in the distance, each one a devastating show of power that forced Tobi to phase in and out of existence to evade them. If she could predict where he would reappear after dodging one of Naruto's relentless strikes, she could trap him in her acidic trap.
Then it happened.
Naruto's latest attack—a spinning Rasenshuriken—cut through the air with a deafening roar. Tobi phased to avoid the deadly jutsu, his form briefly flickering out of existence. Mei held her breath, her sharp eyes scanning the battlefield.
Her gamble paid off. Tobi reappeared, stepping directly into the heart of her acidic mist. He took two steps, raising a hand as if to cast a jutsu, before freezing. His body stiffened, and for the first time, Mei heard it—a guttural scream, raw and primal.
The acid clung to him like a living thing, eating through his cloak, his mask, and his flesh. His movements became erratic as he stumbled, the corrosive fog tearing at him with every breath he took. He dropped to the ground, rolling desperately in an attempt to escape the searing pain, but the mist clung to him mercilessly.
Mei's lips curled into a grim smile. "Music to my ears," she muttered, her voice filled with cold satisfaction.
Even as his lungs burned and his skin peeled away, Tobi activated his dimensional jutsu. His form flickered, and with a final, agonized scream, he vanished from the battlefield.
Mei's mist lingered, hissing and bubbling as it devoured everything in its path. She exhaled slowly, her breath misting in the acidic air.
"Run, you bastard," she said quietly, her voice dripping with venom. "But you'll carry the scars of the Mist for the rest of your life."
Mei straightened, her eyes sharp and unyielding as she surveyed the chaos unfolding around her. The acidic mist still hung thick in the air, a deadly weapon she wasn't done wielding. Kirigakure was hers to reclaim, and she intended to make it clear to everyone—friend and foe alike—that this battle marked the rise of a new ruler.
Turning back to her forces, she raised her hand, signaling them to regroup. The rebels surged forward, spurred on by the sight of their leader standing unshaken in the aftermath of her devastating jutsu. Blood and gore painted the battlefield, and the cries of the wounded and dying echoed through the streets, but Mei's focus never wavered.
Casting a quick series of seals, she summoned a gust of wind with a flick of her wrist. The acidic mist shifted, carried by the gale toward the towering central structure of the village. The deadly cloud moved with purpose, its corrosive tendrils licking at the base of the main tower. Mei's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as the mist began to eat away at the stone and metal, weakening the foundation.
"Let them see it," she muttered to herself, her voice a low growl. "Let them see the strength of those they tried to crush underfoot."
Her forces cheered as they pressed the advantage, the momentum of the battle now firmly in their favor. The Mist shinobi loyal to Pain were faltering, their defensive lines breaking under the combined assault of Mei's rebels and the Leaf's northern offensive.
With every step Mei took, the battlefield bent to her will. Her lava jutsu erupted like geysers, melting through enemy ranks and leaving scorched craters in their wake. Her Water Dragon surged with ferocity, crushing entire squads under its massive weight. Around her, the rebels—empowered by the sight of their leader's relentless drive—fought with renewed vigor, their bloodline techniques of fire and ice tearing through the defenders in a storm of elemental chaos.
Mei glanced at the southern wall, now riddled with breaches where her forces had poured through. This wasn't just a battle for Kirigakure; it was a reckoning.
She stopped for a moment, watching as her acidic mist continued to gnaw at the central tower. The once-imposing structure, a symbol of Pain's reign, was now scarred and crumbling.
"This is our village," she declared, her voice rising above the din of battle. "And we'll take it back with fire, blood, and the strength of our will!"
The rebels roared their approval, their voices mingling with the sounds of battle. Mei knew the fight was far from over, but the tide had turned. Kirigakure would be hers—no, theirs—once again.
Naruto landed next to Mei, his chakra flaring in fiery waves that made the air around him ripple. Towering over her, his form looked more beast than human, but his eyes—sharp and filled with an undeniable spark of life—told a different story.
"Thanks for the assist," he said, motioning toward the spot where Tobi had vanished moments before. "That guy's a real pain." His tone carried a wry humor that seemed out of place in the chaos of battle, and Mei stared at him as if he'd lost his mind.
Before she could respond, the heavy thud of another figure landing nearby drew their attention. Both turned as one, facing the Animal Path, who stood glaring at them with cold, unblinking intensity.
The ground shuddered beneath their feet as the Animal Path raised its hand, slamming it down with purpose. In an instant, a massive, six-headed hydra burst forth, its roars shaking the very air as it surged forward. The beast's heads snapped and thrashed, tearing through the outer defenses of the northern wall, spreading chaos in its wake.
The sight of the monstrous summon brought a grimace to Naruto's face, but he quickly formed a series of hand seals, biting his thumb and slamming his palm to the ground. A massive plume of smoke erupted, and when it cleared, Gamabunta stood towering over the battlefield, his sword gleaming in the moonlight.
"Oi, Naruto! What kind of mess have you dragged me into this time?" Gamabunta grumbled, pulling his pipe from his mouth.
"No time for complaints, Bunta," Naruto said, leaping onto the toad's head. "We've got a giant hydra to deal with, and it's only the start."
With another series of seals, Naruto summoned three more toads: Gamaken, Gamahiro, and Shima, each landing with a thunderous crash.
The toads didn't waste time. Gamabunta surged forward, his blade slicing through one of the hydra's heads in a single strike. Gamaken raised his shield, deflecting a burst of chakra-infused flames from the hydra's mouths, while Gamahiro charged in, his dual blades flashing as he cut deep into the beast's flanks.
"Take this fight out of the village!" Mei called out, her voice sharp and commanding.
Naruto nodded. "Bunta, let's lead it out of here!"
The massive toad roared in agreement, leaping high into the air and landing with a ground-shaking crash beyond the village walls. The hydra followed, driven by the Animal Path's relentless commands. Naruto's summoned toads engaged it in a fierce battle, their combined strength keeping the beast occupied and ensuring it wouldn't wreak further havoc inside Kirigakure.
As the battlefield shifted outside, the Animal Path followed, leaping to keep its control over the hydra. Naruto glanced back at Mei, giving her a quick nod. "I'm counting on you, don't let me down now."
"Don't worry about me, Naruto," Mei replied with a wry smile, her hands already forming seals. "I'll make sure there's nothing left of them."
With the Animal Path and its summons now outside the village, Mei turned her attention to the remaining paths of Pain. The battlefield around her was still ablaze with chaos, and she knew the true challenge was only beginning.
Naruto and Mei stood side by side, surveying the battered landscape of the village. The air around Naruto crackled with the power of both his Nine-Tails beast mode and the natural chakra of Sage Mode, his appearance even more formidable with the addition of toad-like facial markings and an aura of pure, untamed energy.
It was then that Naruto's keen eyes, enhanced by Sage Mode, spotted the Preta Path as it began its assault on the Akimichi's main line, draining their chakra and weakening their defenses.
"I've got this!" Naruto declared with a growl that resonated with the power of the Nine-Tails. His body, already massive from the beast transformation, moved with the speed and agility granted by Sage Mode. He charged, his multiple tails lashing behind him, each step shaking the ground.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto bellowed, and with a surge of chakra, dozens of clones appeared, all bearing the markings of Sage Mode. They swarmed the Preta Path, engaging in a flurry of attacks, forcing the Path to focus on absorbing their chakra.
However, Naruto knew the Preta Path's absorption wasn't instant. Using the distraction, he kept his distance, waiting for the perfect moment. The clones kept the Path's hands busy, preventing it from fully focusing on any one attack.
Then, with the timing of a seasoned warrior, Naruto dashed forward, his body a blur of motion and chakra. "Rasenshuriken!" he shouted, his voice echoing with the power of both beast and sage. The Rasenshuriken, now enhanced by Sage Mode's natural energy, was more potent than ever. He didn't throw it but instead closed the distance with a speed that belied his size, slamming the Rasenshuriken directly into the Preta Path's chest.
The impact was cataclysmic. The Preta Path's chakra absorption failed to withstand the overwhelming force. Its body disintegrated in a burst of energy, obliterated under the sheer magnitude of the assault.
In its place remained only a grisly aftermath: fragments of blood and bone strewn across the ground, the black chakra rods lying amidst the carnage—no longer instruments of control, but lifeless remnants of its defeat.
Naruto turned to Mei, his sage-enhanced eyes still glowing with power, and gave a curt nod. It was a silent acknowledgment of their victory over another enemy. Yet, both of them knew this was only a fleeting reprieve. The battle for Kirigakure was far from over.
….
The air was thick with the memory of loss as Ino and her team moved through the tunnel, the distant buzz of chakra traps a forewarning. The cavernous chamber they entered felt like the mouth of an ancient beast, its breath a cold, blue light from torches.
"Stay here and wait to be called, if we fail then it's on you," she said to the remaining members of the other teams. They had lost many on this mission but those that survived would not falter.
They all looked at the elevated platform to see Konan standing in the center, her paper cloak whispering secrets of death. Her gaze was steady, expectant. Her eyes were dead to the world around her, her life was for one purpose, to serve Nagato and his grand plan.
Ino's voice was like the crack of a whip through the silence, "We're here for you, Konan, for what you've done." The words, simple and direct, carried the weight of unspoken pain.
Shikamaru's shadow stretched out, a silent promise. His eyes, sharp and cold, spoke of a plan born from grief. "This ends now."
Konan's response was to raise her hand, and the chamber awakened, paper peeling from the walls in a violent storm, the bridge beneath them turning into a treacherous path.
Fu took flight, her wings slicing through the darkness, her movements driven by more than just tactics. She channeled her chakra, performing the Kaze no Kamaitachi jutsu, sending razor-sharp gusts of wind toward Konan. Her wind was met with Konan's paper, absorbed effortlessly.
Ino's hands moved with a dancer's grace and a warrior's precision as she hurled her kunai. Each blade, wrapped in the explosive tags of her clan, seemed to echo the silent screams of those they had lost. "Move!" she bellowed, her voice a tempest of command and anguish, slicing through the cavern's oppressive silence. Her words were not just a directive but a gauntlet thrown down, a desperate plea for justice in a world that had known too much sorrow. The kunai flew true, their paths like the vengeful spirits of the fallen, each one a story of pain, seeking retribution. The bridge erupted with explosions, offering a brief respite in the paper storm. Ino led the charge, her team following.
Konan countered with a storm of paper spears, each one a sharp testament to her precision and control.
Shikamaru's shadows surged forward, weaving into a dense shield that absorbed the brunt of the assault. His clenched fists and taut expression revealed the strain of his effort. "We'll make this right," he said, his voice steady—a promise as unyielding as the shield he had crafted.
Choji roared into action, his massive form spinning into a rolling juggernaut that tore through the remnants of the paper storm. Shredded fragments rained down like confetti, but his path was clear, his purpose louder than any words of vengeance.
As they ascended to the platform, their chakra flared in unison, not just a display of power but a silent acknowledgment of their shared resolve.
Konan stood at the apex, her expression unreadable, her gaze almost clinical as she regarded them. "So, you've come for justice—or perhaps vengeance," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of someone who had faced countless battles. Her wings of paper unfolded like the petals of a deadly flower, each segment razor-sharp and ready.
"Datenshi no Tsubasa," she murmured, the words laced with ominous finality. The air thickened with the promise of violence as the clash that would determine their fates began.
Shikamaru's mind raced through countless scenarios, knowing this battle would be like no other. His shadows stretched out with an urgency driven by years of planning, each second critical. "Kage Nui no Jutsu!" he called out, his hands forming the necessary seals. His shadows shot forward, aiming to bind Konan's movements. But Konan, with a flick of her wrist, released a cascade of paper, each sheet cutting through the shadows, severing them before they could reach her. I knew it wouldn't be that simple. Her control over paper... it's like she anticipates every move.
Ino, fueled by the memory of her fallen kin, stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. She knew brute force wouldn't suffice against Konan's paper; she needed to strike at the mind. "Shintenshin no Jutsu!" Ino's body went limp as her consciousness hurled towards Konan. But Konan, ever vigilant, had prepared. Her paper formed a protective barrier around her mind, and Ino found herself repelled, her consciousness snapping back to her body with a jarring force. She's not just a fighter; she's a fortress. I need another way in... a distraction, perhaps?
Choji, his heart pounding with the rhythm of the war drums of his clan, couldn't stand by. He transformed, his body expanding to an immense size. "Bakuretsu Kangeki!" Choji roared, rolling towards Konan like a human boulder. The ground shook with his approach, but Konan remained composed. She raised her hand, and from the ground, paper spikes erupted, aiming to skewer Choji. With a burst of chakra, Choji changed direction, his momentum carrying him past the spikes, but his skin was now dotted with paper cuts, each one a testament to Konan's lethal precision.
Konan's wings flapped, sending a storm of paper throughout the cavern, each sheet capable of slicing through bone. "Paper Shuriken," she whispered, and a rain of paper projectiles descended upon the trio. Shikamaru, his shadows weaving a protective net, managed to deflect some, but not all. Ino, using her sensory skills, dodged with feline agility, her eyes scanning for an opening blood dripping from the many paper cuts on her body.
Ino, realizing direct mental attacks were futile, decided on a different approach. "Shinranshin no Jutsu!" she announced, her chakra reaching out not to control but to confuse. She aimed to disorient Konan, creating an opening for her team. Konan's movements became slightly erratic, her paper control wavering for a moment. Shikamaru seized the opportunity, his shadows now forming not just a barrier but a trap, aiming to ensnare Konan's wings.
"Paper Rain," said Konan rising both and and dropping them quickly as the air overhead filled with paper spikes that rained down on the team.
Choji, seeing the opening, expanded once more, this time not for attack but for defense. "Nikudan Sensha!" He rolled into a protective sphere around Shikamaru and Ino, his body absorbing the brunt of the paper storm. Blood mixed with paper, but his will was unbreakable. For every drop of blood, there's a drop of anger. 'We will not fall here.' he thought as blood flowed from a thousand wounds.
With Choji's sacrifice buying time, Shikamaru's strategy unfolded. "Kage Mane Shuriken no Jutsu!" he shouted, throwing shadow-infused shuriken. These weren't aimed at Konan directly but at the paper wings. Each shuriken, upon contact, extended Shikamaru's shadow, binding the paper wings to the ground, and restricting their movement. Konan's expression, for the first time, flickered with something akin to uncertainty.
Ino, seeing the wings momentarily grounded, concentrated all her chakra. "Shintenshin no Jutsu: Special!" She launched her consciousness with all her might, this time not at Konan but at the very paper wings, aiming to control them, to turn them against their master. The wings, now under Ino's sway, began to fold, wrapping around Konan, and constricting her. Konan struggled with her control over her jutsu faltering.
Konan, realizing her predicament, decided to escalate. "Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu," she whispered, her body dissolving into countless paper butterflies, each one a potential attack vector. The butterflies swarmed, aiming to overwhelm, to find any weakness in the trio's defenses. Shikamaru's shadows danced, trying to catch each butterfly, but there were too many. Ino, now back in her body, panted from the exertion, her chakra reserves dwindling. Choji, his form shrinking back to normal, was covered in wounds, his strength sapped.
But then, Shikamaru's true genius shone through. He had anticipated even this. "Kage Mane: Shadow Clone!" His shadows split, each clone catching and holding a butterfly, until finally, all were grounded. Ino, seizing the moment, used the last of her chakra for one final push. "Shinranshin: Total Confusion!" This time, not just Konan but her scattered jutsu felt the full force of Ino's confusion jutsu.
Konan, now unable to control her own technique, could only watch in horror as her paper butterflies turned against her, their delicate forms transformed into relentless predators as Ino's mind took control. Trapped by her own creation and overwhelmed by disarray, she was utterly defenseless.
Choji stepped forward, his body faintly glowing with the last reserves of his chakra reinforced by the last of his soldier pills. "Human Boulder!" he roared, but this time, he didn't roll. Instead, he charged head-on, his massive fist driving straight into the heart of the swirling paper storm.
The impact was devastating. Paper scattered violently in all directions, the storm unraveling in an instant. At its center stood Konan, her ethereal power stripped away, leaving her human—vulnerable, her chest caved in by the blow.
Shikamaru's shadows lashed out, binding her weakened body in an unyielding grip. His voice was steady, but a deep intensity lay beneath it. "It's over, Konan," he declared, his dark eyes fixed on hers. "This is for everyone we've lost."
Beside him, Ino steadied herself, her breathing labored but her resolve firm. Her voice, soft but unwavering, added, "And for the future we're still fighting for."
Konan's eyes, once fierce and unyielding, softened. In her final moments, a flicker of understanding, perhaps even peace, crossed her face. "I see... the wings of angels can also fall," she murmured, her words carrying a mournful weight.
IIno stepped forward, standing face to face with the killer of so many of her family. She pulled out a knife—not a blade of war, but one from her aunt's kitchen drawer. She would never see her aunt again; the love of that woman had been snuffed out in a single, cruel moment.
"For my family," Ino said, her voice steady, as she drove the dull blade into Konan's neck, leaving the butter knife behind for others to find.
Ino's strike was final. Konan's body collapsed, lifeless, as the remnants of her paper storm drifted downward. Shikamaru held the shadow bind for a moment longer, ensuring no tricks remained, before finally releasing her.
The battle ended not with a triumphant roar but in solemn quiet. The cavern, once a crucible of chaos, grew still. Paper fluttered down like the first snow of winter, mingling with the blood pooling at their feet.
The soft patter of falling paper mixed with the rhythmic drip of blood echoed in the cavern, each sounds a haunting reminder of what had been lost. It was a bitter harmony, marking both victory and sacrifice.
The three warriors stood amidst the stillness, their chakra nearly spent, their bodies worn and bloodied. Yet, they remained upright, their heavy breaths and the unsettling symphony of blood and paper the only sounds to accompany the end of Konan's reign in this desolate place.
As the remnants of the teams crossed the bridge to join the others, their gazes were drawn downward to the fallen angel at the center of all their grief. For a moment, silence reigned, heavy and suffocating. The weight of their victory felt hollow.
Then, someone broke the stillness, their voice shaky. "What… what happened to Fu?"
The question sent a ripple through the group. They began to search frantically, their eyes darting around the massive cavern. Footsteps echoed as they circled the platform, their urgency growing with every passing second.
A scream pierced the air. "Look up there!" one of them cried, pointing toward the far reaches of the cavern's ceiling.
All eyes followed the trembling hand, and there, high above, was a faint, flickering glow. Fu's wings shimmered like the dying light of a firefly, pinned to the stone by dozens of paper spears. Blood trailed down her arms, dripping steadily to the floor far below.
The sight was both haunting and beautiful. The blood-soaked paper, once Konan's weapon, now fluttered downward in pieces, staining the ground with crimson. Each drop echoed like the beat of a drum, mingling with the soft rustle of paper as it fell.
"Is She alive?" someone whispered, their voice a mix of hope and horror.
But the glow of Fu's wings flickered weakly, her chakra fading with every heartbeat. Her limp body was held aloft by the cruel remnants of the attack, a tragic beacon in the dim cavern.
"We need to get her down!" Shikamaru barked, already calculating how to reach her. The urgency in his voice spurred them into action, but the question hung in the air, was she alive.
…..
Naruto and Mei stood amidst the debris, their victory over the Preta Path a brief glimmer of hope in the chaos. Naruto's breath came in steady bursts, his sage-enhanced senses already scanning for the next threat. Beside him, Mei tightened her grip on her kunai, her lava-infused chakra simmering just below the surface, ready to erupt at a moment's notice.
"Naruto," Mei said, her voice low but firm, "I'm sensing another presence."
Naruto nodded, his sage-enhanced eyes narrowing as he focused. "It's him," he growled, his tone thick with both anger and anticipation. "The Deva Path, the one that destroyed Kumogakure and captured Killer B."
The ground trembled as the air around them shifted. High above the battlefield, the Deva Path descended, its expression calm. The oppressive force of its chakra was almost palpable, a suffocating weight pressing down on everyone in the vicinity. Behind it, the remnants of Pain's forces continued their relentless defense of the village, their cries of battle blending with the distant roar of destruction.
"So, you're the one who killed Killer B," Naruto said, his voice steady but filled with fury. The Nine-Tails' influence flickered in his eyes, a brief flash of red over the sage's gold. The pull of natural chakra increased and Naruto resembled some demigod from the time before the warring clans.
"I've come to bring peace," the Deva Path intoned, its voice devoid of emotion. "Your resistance is futile. Surrender, and your suffering will end."
Mei's lips curled into a snarl. "Peace? You call this peace?" She raised her hands, forming seals in a blur. "Yōtō: Yōkai no Jutsu!" A torrent of molten lava surged from her palms, carving a blazing path toward the Deva Path.
The Deva Path raised its hand with an almost dismissive gesture. "Shinra Tensei." The air distorted as an invisible force blasted outward, scattering Mei's lava and throwing both her and Naruto backward. Mei landed in a crouch, her breath coming hard, while Naruto skidded to a stop, his tails lashing out to steady him.
"That's not going to work," Naruto muttered, wiping a smear of lava from his cheek. "He's got that push-and-pull jutsu. We need to time this perfectly."
Mei's eyes flashed with anger. "What's the plan?"
Naruto formed a hand sign, summoning two clones that immediately moved to flank the Deva Path. "We'll bait out his Shinra Tensei. When he's recovering, we hit him with everything we've got."
The clones charged, each a copy of Naruto's current form, the power of natural chakra covered their bodies, their movements synchronized with deadly precision. The Deva Path remained motionless until the last second, its hand snapping up to unleash another Shinra Tensei. The clones disintegrated under the force, their chakra dissipating like mist.
"Now!" Naruto roared. He surged forward, a Rasengan forming in his hand, while Mei unleashed a second wave of lava, this one arcing around to strike from multiple angles.
The Deva Path hesitated, its cooldown period from the previous attack leaving it vulnerable. Naruto's Rasengan closed in, its spiraling energy a blur of destruction. But just as it seemed the attack would connect, a barrier of chakra erupted around the Deva Path.
"Chibaku Tensei," it said, its voice a calm declaration of annihilation. The ground beneath them began to tremble as debris lifted into the air, drawn toward a singular point high above.
"What the hell is this?" Mei shouted, struggling to maintain her footing as the pull intensified.
Naruto's eyes widened. "He's trying to trap us! We need to stop him before it's too late!"
Summoning every ounce of natural chakra he could muster, Naruto entered full Nine-Tails mode, his body enveloped in the blazing, red-orange cloak of Kurama's energy. He leapt into the air, aiming directly for the Deva Path. Below, Mei focused her chakra, her hands glowing with molten heat as she prepared one final, all-or-nothing attack.
"Let's finish this!" Naruto yelled, his voice a thunderous roar that echoed through the village.
Naruto's roar echoed through the ruins of Kirigakure, his Nine-Tails chakra surging like a tidal wave. The blazing aura illuminated the shattered village below as he closed in on the Deva Path.
Mei stood firm on the ground, her molten chakra boiling as she shaped it into a massive dragon of liquid fire. The creature coiled around her, radiating blistering heat. "Naruto, I'll cover you!" she shouted, sending the fiery dragon spiraling toward the Deva Path.
The Deva Path raised its hand. "Shinra Tensei."
The air distorted as the shockwave erupted outward, dispersing Mei's dragon into a rain of molten embers. The force pushed Naruto back mid-flight, but he snarled, digging his claws into the gravitational pull and launching himself forward once again.
"Enough of your games!" Naruto roared, his Rasenshuriken spinning in his hand. "This is for everyone you've killed!"
But the Deva Path's response was chillingly calm. "Your rage blinds you. Pain will bring peace to this world." It gestured upward, activating Chibaku Tensei.
Chunks of earth and debris tore free from the ground, rising rapidly toward the dark sphere forming in the sky. Entire sections of the village lifted into the air, the gravitational force ripping apart what little remained of Kirigakure's structures. The screams of Pain's loyal forces below were swallowed by the devastation.
Mei's eyes narrowed as she watched the destruction spread. "He'll take the whole battlefield with him if this keeps up," she muttered, her hands moving through a series of rapid seals. She turned toward her retreating rebels in the distance. "I need to help them hold their ground. Naruto, it's up to you!"
Naruto didn't look back, his focus solely on the Deva Path. "Go. I'll make sure he doesn't have time to use this again."
Mei darted off, her molten chakra forming protective barriers as she moved to shield her forces from the debris. The rebel army rallied under her command, their cries of defiance ringing out as they pushed back against Pain's remaining forces.
High above, Naruto closed the distance to the Deva Path. His tails lashed behind him, carving through the gravitational field like blades. The Rasenshuriken in his hand grew brighter, its spiraling energy howling with deadly intent.
"Your twisted version of peace ends here!" Naruto yelled, hurling the Rasenshuriken with all his strength. The spiraling disk tore through the air, its power shaking the battlefield.
The Deva Path's eyes widened ever so slightly. It raised both hands, bracing for impact as the Rasenshuriken collided with the gravitational pull of Chibaku Tensei. The resulting explosion was deafening, a blinding light engulfing the battlefield as the Rasenshuriken detonated against the growing sphere.
When the dust settled, the Chibaku Tensei had crumbled, its remnants falling harmlessly to the ground. Naruto landed heavily, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as the fiery cloak of Kurama's chakra flickered.
The Deva Path, battered but still standing, floated to the ground. Its calm demeanor wavered for the first time as it spoke. "You are stronger than I anticipated, Jinchūriki. But strength alone cannot bring peace."
Naruto growled, forcing himself to stand upright. "Peace doesn't come from tearing villages apart. I'll make sure you pay for everything you've done."
As the two prepared for their final clash, the battlefield below roared with the sounds of Mei's forces turning the tide against Pain's remaining troops. The rebels pressed forward, their determination fueled by the destruction of Chibaku Tensei. Mei, her eyes blazing with defiance, led the charge.
High above, the Deva Path and Naruto squared off, standing at the base of the looming tower. Unknown to them, Nagato was looking down on them as he strained to push more chakra into the Deva Path.
….
After a quick shower together, the steam still lingering on their skin, Sakura and Tomiko dressed in silence. The hum of the village outside grew louder, the sounds of life below still buzzing despite the storm of emotions swirling inside the room. Tomiko adjusted the collar of her robe with a deliberate grace, her eyes meeting Sakura's for just a moment before they stepped out into the main room.
The space was vast, offering a sweeping view of the village. The windows were framed by dark, rich wood, and the warm sunlight streamed through, casting long shadows that made the room feel almost intimate despite its size. Tayuya stood by the glass wall, her back to them, eyes focused on the sprawling village below as if contemplating the world beyond. Her fine silk robes rustled with her movement, the material as dark as her mood.
Yuka sat in one of the overstuffed chairs that Tayuya favored, her posture relaxed but regal, her eyes unreadable as she glanced up at the newcomers. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, the unspoken conflict between them all evident in the air.
"About time you two got here," Tayuya growled, spinning around with a flick of her wrist. Her sharp eyes zeroed in on Sakura and Tomiko as she crossed her arms, her silk robe gliding around her like smoke, adding to her commanding presence.
Tomiko moved first, her steps slow and deliberate as she crossed the room, her eyes meeting Tayuya's with a quiet but undeniable challenge. But it was Yuka who spoke next, her voice calm and measured despite the tension.
"Tomiko, come sit with me," Yuka ordered, patting the chair next to her. There was a certain softness in her tone, but it was laced with an unspoken demand for compliance, a reminder of her position and authority in this space.
Tomiko hesitated for only a second before complying, crossing the room with quiet grace and settling beside her sister. Her eyes lingered on Tayuya for a moment, but she said nothing, allowing Yuka's command to dictate the movement.
Sakura, still standing at the edge of the room, shifted her gaze between the two sisters and Tayuya. The weight of the situation pressed on her. She knew this conversation was far from ordinary; it was a confrontation waiting to happen. The royal sisters were back from the court, and their return could mean more than just a simple homecoming. It could be a turning point.
Tayuya's gaze shifted from Tomiko to Sakura, the edges of her lips curling into a tight, knowing smile. "Now that we're all here," she said, her voice low and commanding, "let's talk about why you two are back from the royal court."
Yuka pulled a small, plain scroll from within the folds of her robes. It was unadorned, simple in appearance, yet its very simplicity disguised the weight it carried. She placed it carefully on her lap, tapping it once, twice, with a calm precision that made Sakura's stomach tighten. The scroll contained more than just words—it held the future of the village, the fate of their power, and the shifting alliances that would come with it.
"The Daimyō signed the order," Yuka said bluntly, her voice devoid of hesitation. She tapped the scroll again, the sound a steady rhythm that echoed in the quiet room. "The civilian council is done, and the clans will rise once again."
The words hung heavy in the air, an undeniable truth settling into the room. Sakura's mind raced as she processed what Yuka had just said. The clans would finally regain their power, but that also meant the balance of control would shift—dangerously so.
Tayuya's frustration was palpable as she spun around, her robes swirling with the speed of her movement. "Damn it, Naruto," she muttered under her breath, her voice thick with irritation. "Where the hell is he when I need him?"
Sakura glanced at her, noting the rare crack in Tayuya's usually controlled exterior. She understood Tayuya's frustration. The situation was delicate, and with Naruto's absence, it felt as though the foundation they had worked so hard to build was on the verge of crumbling.
"This is a good thing, right?" Sakura asked, her voice tentative, almost as if she were testing the waters. She knew the order had been something they had been waiting for—almost desperately—for the better part of a year. The civilian council had been a thorn in the side of the clans for far too long.
Yuka didn't answer immediately, instead turning her gaze to Tayuya, who stood at the far side of the room, her pacing growing more agitated with every passing moment. Tayuya finally stopped in front of Sakura, her face a mix of Irritation and raw, barely-contained rage.
"Yes. No. Fuck it all," Tayuya growled, her words sharp and laced with anger. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but the agitation was still there. "With three of the clans out and Naruto with them, now is not the time for this." She clenched her fists, her body tense as she turned her gaze back to the scroll in Yuka's hands. "This is a fucking disaster waiting to happen."
Sakura took a step forward, her eyes narrowing as she tried to process the gravity of the situation. The timing was disastrous, to say the least. With Naruto and his allies away, the three major clans left without their leadership, and the civilian council's dissolution leaving a power vacuum—it was more than just a political shift. It was a powder keg waiting for a spark.
Yuka looked between the two of them, unfazed by the tension, but there was something in her eyes—something calculating. "This is only the beginning," she said quietly, rolling the scroll up and tucking it back into her robes. "The question now is: who will fill the void left by the civilian council? And more importantly—who will control the clans when the dust settles?"
Tayuya and Sakura locked eyes at Yuka's words, their gazes sharp, their shared realization sinking in at the same moment. They turned to face her as one, their movements synchronized as if they had rehearsed it. The tension between them crackled.
"Karin," they both said in unison, their voices a mixture of disbelief and rising anger. Tayuya's words were sharp, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Tell me you didn't tell Karin," she added, her tone growing darker. It was hard to tell which was worse—Karin knowing or Karin not knowing. Both options carried their own brand of chaos.
Sakura felt her heart skip a beat. Karin had been playing a dangerous game, one that threatened to destabilize everything they had worked for. The rumors had spread through the village for weeks—whispers of Karin's ambitions to force the clan council into power. She had been making moves behind the scenes, quietly manipulating situations to put the clans on a collision course with the civilian council. The timing of this order, though, it felt almost too convenient. It had been handed down with a single scroll, and now it was in the hands of someone like Yuka—a sexy, unbothered blonde who somehow seemed to carry the fate of their village in her hands.
"You can't be serious," Tayuya muttered, the displeasure in her voice palpable. She started to pace again, her mind racing. Karin could move quickly when she wanted to, and if she had gotten wind of this... It was exactly the kind of power play she had been waiting for.
Sakura crossed her arms, feeling the weight of the situation press down on her. "If Karin finds out about this before we're ready... everything will unravel," she said, her voice low but firm. The last thing they needed was Karin getting involved. If she got her hands on the truth too soon, she would use it to manipulate the situation to her advantage—again.
Yuka, seemingly unfazed by the storm brewing around her, gave a faint shrug. "Karin is a part of this, whether you like it or not," she said coolly, though there was an unmistakable edge in her voice. "But no, I haven't told her."
There was a pause, a silent tension hanging in the room. Sakura wasn't sure if she could trust Yuka's word, but right now, they didn't have time to doubt. Every second counted.
"She'll find out soon enough," Yuka added, her eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. "And when she does, you can bet she'll make her move."
Sakura's stomach tightened. "We have to act fast, then," she muttered, her mind already spinning with plans. They couldn't let Karin get ahead of them. Not this time.
Tayuya stopped pacing and gave Yuka a hard look. "Then we make sure we control the next move. No more secrets. And no more letting that bitch get the upper hand."
Sakura nodded in agreement, her thoughts still racing, the weight of the situation pressing down on her shoulders. The fight for control of the clans—and the village—was about to heat up. There was no turning back now.
"But…" Tomiko spoke up, her voice uncertain, as if she were just beginning to grasp the full scope of what was unfolding. "I thought you went to the Hokage. She can handle this."
At those words, Tayuya let out a small scream in exasperation, her hands gripping her hair as if trying to pull the tension from her skull. She had been hoping that the Hokage's intervention would stabilize everything, but now, hearing it voiced aloud by someone as simple as Tomiko, the weight of the flaw in her plan hit her hard. If even the least informed could figure it out, then Karin was already ten steps ahead. Tayuya's teeth clenched, her irritation bubbling to the surface.
"The Hokage is out of the village," Yuka interjected, her voice calm as she tapped Tomiko's knee with a soft hand, as if to settle Tayuya's mounting anger. "She's traveling to the Kage Summit."
Sakura's eyes narrowed. Of course. Tsunade's absence left a gaping hole in their defenses. She had been the one to keep everything in balance, but now, without her, the chances of Karin taking control skyrocketed.
"Great," Tayuya muttered bitterly, throwing her hands up in the air. "So we're on our own, then."
Yuka remained unfazed, her expression unreadable, though there was a slight glint of something darker in her eyes. "Not entirely," she said coolly. "But we need to act fast. Karin's not the only one looking for an advantage. We need to make sure we control the narrative, control the message. And we need to do it before she can move."
Sakura met Tayuya's gaze, the two women silently agreeing on what had to come next. If they were going to win this fight, they needed to strike first, before anyone—especially Karin—could make a move.
"Then we make our move now," Tayuya said, her voice low and steady, a glint of determination in her eyes. "Before anyone else gets the chance."
"There is only one person in the village that can openly challenge Karin, you know that," said Sakura, stepping in front of Tayuya to stop her pacing. She could see the irritation in Tayuya's eyes, but now was not the time to let emotions take over.
"If we make that move, it will change everything," Tayuya growled, her fists clenched at her sides. "Only an Uzumaki can lead the clans, and she is not an Uzumaki."
Sakura's eyes softened as she stepped closer to Tayuya, her gaze firm. "No, she isn't. Not yet. But it would bring full circle her hopes and dreams."
Tayuya shot her a sharp look, sensing the weight of Sakura's words. She paused for a moment before responding, but Sakura could see the wheels turning in her mind.
Tomiko, still oblivious to the intricacies of clan politics, tilted her head slightly and asked, "Who are we talking about?"
Without missing a beat, both Tayuya and Sakura spoke in unison, their voices low but resolute. "The Iron Fist, Henita."
Tomiko blinked, her expression confused, but it was clear she was beginning to understand that this was not just about a simple political maneuver. Henita, with her strength, loyalty, and martial prowess, was a force to be reckoned with—an ideal candidate to challenge Karin, but with the potential to disrupt everything they knew about the balance of power within the village.
"She's not Uzumaki, but she's close," Tayuya added, her voice steady now. "Henita has earned the respect of the clans. And if we play this right, we could turn her into the symbol of leadership we need."
Sakura's eyes narrowed her thoughts a whirlwind. Henita's strength had always been undeniable, but could she lead the clans, could she fill the role of a Red Chair candidate? If the villagers saw her as a true leader, would they rally behind her, or would her non-Uzumaki blood be an obstacle too large to overcome?
"We need to be careful," Sakura said, her voice steady but laced with caution. "The wrong move here could destroy everything. Karin's not going to let go of her ambition without a fight, and Henita won't just take this sitting down. She will demand a price that, are you willing to pay it. "
Tayuya's words echoed through the room, sharp and full of conviction, the fire in her eyes burning even brighter as she took a steadying breath. "She will want a ring, that's for sure, but even the Iron bitch can't run two clans at once. She'll have to choose one or the other."
She stopped in the middle of the room, her gaze sweeping over the group, her presence commanding and unyielding. "I am the inner voice, I am first mother of this clan. None will challenge me in my home, not Karin, and certainly not that bitch. She can have it all, but in here, I rule."
Her words were like a heavy weight pressing down on the room, leaving no room for argument. Tayuya had always been fierce, but this was something more—this was the full force of her authority as a wife, mother and leader within the clan, her position carved into the very fabric of the home she had helped build.
Sakura stood in silence, her eyes narrowing as she considered Tayuya's declaration. The power struggle had reached a boiling point, and there was no denying that Tayuya would not back down. The atmosphere shifted, tense and heavy with the understanding that what came next would either solidify their power or shatter it completely.
Tomiko, for the first time, looked at Tayuya with something akin to awe, though her face remained unreadable. Yuka, however, merely tapped her knee, watching Tayuya with a cool, calculating gaze.
"You're right," Yuka said quietly, her voice betraying nothing of her emotions. "But it's not just about ruling here, Tayuya. If we want to win this, we need all the clans behind us, not just the Uzumaki."
Tayuya's lips curled into a thin smile, a sign of respect for Yuka's pragmatism. "I know that. And if Henita's going to rise, she will need support from the other clans. But she will not have mine until she agrees that here, in this family, I am first mother and my word is law."
…
For those that missed it, ya I killed Konan with a butter knife. Deal with it ;-)
And for those that would say, why didn't she join Naruto , well if the timeline is right and with Masashi it never is, she would be in her late 40s at this point.