The next chapter of Vessel of The Demon King. Byako tigthens his grip on his power with Konoha cut off as an assassanation attempt is underway.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 8: Conquest
The sounds of carnage was heard, as the cries of the dying and wounded echoed throughout the area, smoke filled the air as chaos was all around.
A battlefield was shown, as two forces had been battling. Jiang Shi troops were shown raising their staves and letting loose with blasts that hit many, cutting them down as Terracotta soldiers advanced in formation, forming ranks with their weapons pointed outward.
The ground was filled with several dead humans, having been cut down without mercy. Despite fighting bravely against them, they could do little to stem the tide.
"Retreat! Pull back to the City!" A man was shown, giving commands to others who were shown running as the battlefield was seen with many dead on the ground having been slain.
The human soldiers pulled back, retreating as they did, with a few archers stopping to turn and let loose arrows to try and slow them down. But like a great wave, nothing it seemed could stop them. No matter what they did or how many they cut down, they did not stop.
A large horse plowed through a group of assembled men, smashing and trampling through them, scattering their formation.
Naruto clad in his armor was shown mounted in the saddle on top of it, surveying the scene smiling behind his helmet as victory was certain. His Army winning decisively, having crushed the opposing forces
After using Nurikabe to block off Konoha, he had returned to his Castle in The Land of Demons. There, he then moved to fully take control of Demons, as he personally led his army to assault The capital of The Land of Demons to conquer it and bring the territory fully under his control.
With him were Terracotta Warriors and Jiang Shi, as well as Ushi-Oni. Riding atop of Matsukaze, he lead his army in the attack against The Land of Demons forces.
Swinging Muramasa, he cut down the opposing forces, and Matsukaze trampled anyone who approached with its mighty hooves, crushing them underneath. Gripping his sword and channeling his power, he then let loose with a powerful attack, sending a sphere of energy that was shaped like a Fox's head at them that killed several.
The battle quickly turned into a rout, as his soldiers wiped out the opposing forces, with Ushi-Oni killing many, despite only having one arm now, he was no less dangerous as the Bull Spider Demon impaled many on his sharp legs. Attacking the capital with his troops, defeating the opposing forces as they were shown running.
Some of the surviving forces were shown retreating, trying to make it back to the capital and regroup. Less than a third of the army was all that was left after the battle. Trying to get back to the City so that they could regroup. They had lost many this horrific day.
A group were shown, buying the survivors time, even at the expense of their own lives they would do so. Making the ultimate sacrifice they were.
"Fire!" The leader of the group, Taruho shouted as they let loose a volley of arrows. They hit the Jiang Shi and destroyed them as they dispersed. But despite the damage done to them, nothing it seemed would stop their advance.
"Charge!" He shouted as they drew weapons and rushed boldly at The Terracotta. Fierce combat happened as both Human and Demon fought with no mercy shown by either side.
Taruho and less than a dozen men were seen afterward, of the thirty who had stayed behind, they were the only ones left.
"We've done all we can." One shouted as there was nothing more they could do. "C'mon! Let's get-" He suddenly fell forward onto the ground dead, with a pair of fire arrows sticking out of his back.
Laughter was heard as they looked and saw a female figure with orange hair covered by a headband and had feathers sticking out of her back. She carried in her arms a bow and arrow as a cruel smile was on her face as she stepped towards them.
"Monster!" One shouted at Suza and charged at her swinging a Yari spear. Suza avoided the swings easily with amusement, she caught the spear and using her fire powers, set it aflame. She then opened her mouth and fired a fireball from it killing him.
She took delight in seeing him die, as although she looked the most human of her siblings' she was no less cruel or merciless.
"Go! I'll buy you all time!" Taruho shouted ordering the rest to retreat and getting a scroll summoned a Naginata. Despite facing a Demon, he showed no fear as he charged at her.
He spun and swung the weapon at her which she easily dodged, Taruho attacked again as he lunged and poked at her with the weapon, which she avoided. Taruho continued to attack, despite knowing that he would likely die this day.
Suza evaded the attacks, letting him tire himself out. She dodged the next swing and disappeared in a flash. Taruho's eyes widened as he could not see her anywhere as he looked all around.
He then felt a presence and turned around as he was struck by her. Unable to dodge or try to back the attack.
Taruho was knocked back several feet, the force of the attack breaking two of his ribs as he coughed up blood as he fell to one knee as he was bleeding internally as his glasses were shown having been knocked off his face.
She approached him a mocking look on her face, her footprints leaving embers on the ground with each step The Phoenix Demon took. Reaching into her quiver she knotched an arrow and prepared to fire as Taruho grasped his weapon as he pulled himself up.
She let loose aiming for him when Taruho managed to bring his weapon up to deflect it. She fired a second one and he again deflected it.
But his luck ran out as two separate arrows hit him in the shoulders, making his arms slump as he dropped his weapon no longer able to lift them up as he was defeated.
Suza smiled mockingly at him as she lifted up her hand. "Die."
Streams of fire erupted from her hand setting him ablaze. Taruho screamed in agony as he died painfully as Suza looked on taking joy in their suffering.
"Wipe them out!" She ordered The Terracotta as she flew upward. "All of them!" She commanded as they advanced and picked off the stragglers cutting them down.
The Demon Army had been victorious, crushing the humans as they won the battle and could soon take the city.
Naruto looked on as he stared at the gates of the Capital. With but a wave of his hand he could destroy and tear the gates down himself and allows his army to ransack the city and kill all the humans inside.
"Three hours!" He called out to those behind it his voice echoing. "In three hours, I will destroy this city and all in it unless you surrender!" He ordered them as his army had encircled the entire area as he then departed.
In just a matter of hours, The Priestess and Ruler of The Land of Demons announced their surrender to them as a Flag of surrender was shown being hoisted. Declaring that they would fight them no more and opened the gates allowing them entry inside.
Byako sat in the saddle of his Mount as he entered as the conqueror of it, with many in the streets cowering before him as his army marched behind him. He gave no order to attack as it wasn't worth cutting them down, and it made no sense to kill them as then he would have no one to rule over.
He rode up the steps leading to the Palace as a figure was shown standing there.
The girl was dressed in Priestess Robes and was wearing a golden crown on top of her head. She stood there unafraid, facing him with no fear in her light purple eyes. In front of her were several armed men holding their weapons out to defend her as Byako dismounted.
One brave soldier charged at Byako only to be easily cut down and slain as Byako walked forward towards Shion who stood there.
"Susuki." Shion said, as she looked on at the fallen man. She had predicted his death if he had tried to attack although sadness was in her eyes. Bringing her hands up she crossed them over another and bowed her head in defeat. "We hereby surrender to you and your forces, I know that we are defeated. We will yield, just so long as no more of my people will be hurt or killed." She announced, surrendering personally to him. Some had advised her to attempt and flee, to try and seek refuge in the main land of The Elemental Nations, but she had not. Staying with her people and not abandoning them.
"You are wiser than many other humans." Byako said to her. "But what's to stop me from taking your head from your body?" He asked and held his sword up against her face. Shion showed no fear, in fact, she leaned forward letting herself be cut on Muramasa as blood dripped from her cheek. Showing that despite surrendering, she was not submitting.
"I know that you won't. I've seen that I'm not destined to die here." She told him as Shion glared refusing to kneel before him. "But you," She informed The Demon King. "You may achieve great victories with your body. But in the end, I have seen that your reign will not last." She said in defiance to Byako who let out a laugh.
"Confine her to her room," He ordered the Terracotta Warriors. "She will be my puppet for The Land of Demons, to dance for whenever I pull her strings." He said as Shion glared at him as she was taken away.
That evening, he was shown seated with his helmet off at a dining table with an assortment of foods before him. Cooked for him by the humans as he had a banquet of assorted meats, vegetables and breads spread out. Gripping a cup of tea, he brought it up to his mouth and drank the liquid.
Seated at the other end of the table, was his Sister Suza, The Phoenix Demon lounging on a chair with her feet propped up on the table as she picked up a leg of Venison and ate it as it was just the two of them in the room. No human had been allowed to see him without his helmet on.
"You should enjoy yourself Brother. We are that much closer to ruling once more." She told him inbetween chewing. "Feast on the spoils of your victory, I'm surprised these foolish humans didn't expect us to eat them." She said with a mocking laugh.
Naruto didn't say anything as he sat in the chair. This was but a minor victory, one of many to be had. While they had reclaimed their ancestral territory, he was not content with it. Not until he had every last piece of the land.
"The time has come to move our armies to the main land." Naruto spoke. "To take full control of The Elemental Nations. Seiyu will soon have conquered Frost, and we will have cut off The Land of Lightning from the rest. Konoha is now subdued leaving Land of Fire to takeover at our leisure. And that shall leave us with the weakened Sand Village as well as Stone and Mist as the strongest forces that can oppose us. We must also deal with Akatsuki as well as that snake Orochimaru. Our conquest is just getting started." He informed them.
The Venom Five were seen inside a room in the Castle, meeting in secret as they discussed their current state. The former Sound Ninjas after the battle and Shion's surrender had met up to talk about all that had happened.
"I'm not one to complain about being alive again, but how the heck did that kid become a Conqueror?" Kidomaru asked. They had recongized Naruto as the same boy they had seen three years ago when they had taken Sasuke.
"Quiet!" Kimimaro said looking on to make sure no one was around or hearing them as the hallways were empty. "If they find us talking we'll be slaughtered." He said with a snake like hiss.
"He's got a point, the kid looked pretty sorry and weak when we met him when we was taking Sasuke with us." Jirobo spoke up as they had been surprised that Byako was really Naruto. The same boy they had thought of as an annoying flea long ago. "I thought one of us would've killed him easily back then. How'd he become so strong?" He said as none of the five beforehand when seeing Naruto three years ago had been impressed.
"From what I've heard, he's actually being used as a Vessel for the real Demon." Sakon said speaking up as he was shown standing upside down on the ceiling of the room before The Lizard Demon dropped down to join them. "And also, from what I've gathered, he's strong enough now to fight with and beat Orochimaru!" He told them as he had been spying, using his abilities to spy on and get information.
"He's gotten that strong?" Tayuya said in shock that their former Master had been beaten by Naruto.
"If he could defeat Orochimaru, then he could very well conquer all of the Nations and Villages." Kimimaro said stroking his chin. "Already he's conquered more than he ever did." He said to the other four. His army had taken over Noodles, Sea and now Demons but he did not seem to stop there.
"If he's gotten so strong, then why did he not attack Konoha then?" Kidomaru said. "We could've conquered the place and wiped them out with him if he was there with us!" He protested.
"I don't know," Tayuya said The Dancer Fighter shaking her head. "Just for now he's only attacking the small and minor towns and countries. He's not attacking the main five Great Villages yet."
"So what are we to do then?" Sakon asked. "Do we swear loyalty to him? Or do we leave the first chance we get?"
Kimimaro The Leader of the group looked on at them. "There are multiple factors here we must consider. We aren't human no more so we would not have a place we could go, Orochimaru has discarded us as well after we had delivered Sasuke." He told the others.
"For now we watch and wait, and see what shall become of our King and his plans before we make a move. We could have Kingdoms of our very own and perhaps more if all goes well."
Konoha...
The Hidden Village of The Leaf was seen, covered in darkness, a few people were seen on the streets trying to go about their daily lives as Iruka and Anko were seen.
Each inhabitant did their best to not shift their head so to look up.
So not to see The Giant Wall that was imprisoning them.
"I hate this." Ibiki Morino said as the scarred Ninja was shown. "Trapped like damned rats." He said with a spat he looked on at the massive wall. "Why don't they fight us, the cowards!" He said in anger as he glared at the wall, which seemed to be mocking all of Konoha's inhabitants as they were trapped.
The Leaf Village had been blocked off by Nurikabe, The Giant Wall that had appeared by Byako a week ago. Emerging from the ground up before covering all of Konoha in it's shadow.
The giant wall had not only blockaded The Leaf, but also kept them from the farmlands and fields outside of Konoha, as well as access to the rest of The Land of Fire. They had no means of communication with the outside world.
The food stores were high for now, but if things didn't change soon, they would have to ration and limit food. Already their generators were being worked nonstop just so to keep Konoha lit up as they were covered in darkness almost all day. Only during the afternoon was they able to finally get sunlight and see the Sun.
A meeting room was shown as several people were inside, discussing all that had happened.
The past week had been hell for Tsunade, and it did not look like it was going to get any better for The Godaime. She was constantly bombarded with questions and demands as the village had grown restless, with both Shinobi and Citizen alike losing patience at what was going on.
Many times the Civilians had barged in, demanding to know why nothing was being done against the giant wall that was imprisoning them. Of how she could let them be trapped like they were rats. Demanding action and for her to do something. She had told them to be patient and that she was working to figure out a way but it did little to soothe their anger.
"That Wall is not some ordinary construction." She had told them. "All of our attempts to break it thus far have ended in failure. Hammers break against it, and explosives do no good." She said as all efforts had been for nothing. Even powerful Jutsus had been ineffective against it. "It also appears to be sentient. If we try to scale and climb it, spears and spikes shoot out of it if we so much as touch it attempting to impale whoever has touched it." She said as a few unfortunate Shinobi had been injured trying to do so and needed medical attention. This had done little to placate the Citizens of The Leaf that Tsunade had ordered her guards to forbid anyone from entry.
"Thus far, all of our attempts have ended in failure." Tsunade said as she was shown seated. In the room with her were several Clan Heads. "We still have been unable to get word out to The Fire Daimyo or any of our allies or Ninja that had gone out on mission before what has happened." She told them and many shook their heads.
"Lady Tsunade," Hiashi Hyuga, The Father of Hinata and Hanabi and Uncle of Neji spoke up. "The inhabitants continue to grow restless, and not just the citizens' but also the Ninja."
"With all due respect," Tsume Inuzuka said voicing her opinion. "We should have killed that Byako bastard with an ambush when he had dared to show up." She said with a frown
"We did not and still do not know his full power." Tsunade said shaking her head. "All we have gathered and know from Kakashi and Sakura Haruno is that he is S Class. If we attacked who knows what would've happened as he wasn't alone as he had his forces with him." She said to them.
"Another case of your inadequate leadership." A voice called out. Tsunade turned her head to glare at the source of it. "Since you have become The Godaime, your skills as Hokage have been questionable at best Tsunade." Danzo Shimura said as he was shown seated. "You continue to show compassion when strength is needed. The same weakness that Sarutobi had" He said with disdain in his voice.
"Show Lady Tsunade the proper respect!" Shizune called out to him and he looked at her with contempt.
"Lord Danzo is right." Koharu said the elder woman shaking her head. "Our supplies and food will last for now, but will be happening in one month if this does not end and we continue like this?"
"Lady Tsunade," Homura the old man said speaking next. "The tension in the village is reaching a boiling point. How long until riots break out over what has happened?" He asked her.
(Stupid fools.) Tsunade thought to herself as the two had been played by Danzo. Manipulated by Danzo, The War Hawk was using them to his benefit as they allowed themselves to be deceived and told what they wanted to hear.
"What would you have me do then?" She asked just barely able to control her temper. "Throw all of Konoha's ninja at it and let them get impaled on it?" She snapped. "Create a ladder out of their corpses to reach the top? That's something you would do Danzo." She told Sarutobi's rival.
"Sacrifice is essential in order to obtain victory." He told her in an emotionless tone which made Tsunade look at him with disgust on her face. Danzo always went on about the importance of sacrificing for the Village but only the sacrifice of others as he would never put his own life at risk. "You continue to show we were wrong to select you. What with this current predicament and your other past failings, including letting the last Uchiha leave and allowing our Jinchuurki be killed." He said with a sneer.
"His name was Naruto!" Tsunade shouted raising up from her seat. "Don't you ever call him that name again!" She said as she could no longer control her growing anger as Koharu and Homaru leaned back in their seats in alarm but Danzo stayed still. Tsunade glared at them as she wished she had a bottle of Sake right now. "And mind you, we could have gotten Sasuke back if you hadn't blatantly tried to sabotage the mission and put the entire team at risk with your little stooge!"
"Order!" Shikaku Nara said standing up before everyone started shouting and yelling. "The more we fight and bicker, the easier we let this Byako win!" He called out to them and Inoichi and Choza nodded as well.
Danzo looked at on him with disdain.
"He is correct," A voice said and the group saw Kakashi entering. "We can either be like crabs in a bucket and drag each other down, or we can find a way to bring that wall down." He told the group.
"What are you doing here Kakashi?" Danzo asked.
"Given this matter involves all inhabitants of Konoha, I have much as right to be here as you Danzo." He cooly told the older man as he walked up to and stood beside Tsunade showing his support to her. "Lady Tsunade, I offer a glimmer of hope for all of us." He said to her.
"What is it Kakashi?" She asked him.
"The Wall as we have gathered is sentient yes, but I have discovered something." He told them. "Earlier I created two dozen Water Bushin and had them attempt to scale the wall. As expected they were impaled and destroyed, but I've noticed something peculiar." Kakashi said as images were shown of his Bushin getting destroyed When the water splashed on a certain part of it, I could faintly hear a groaning noise emitting from it." He said to all there. "As though it was in pain and no spears or nails emerged from that spot that had been hit." He told Tsunade who's eyes widened in recognition.
"A weakness?" She asked hopefully
"Indeed." Kakashi told her nodding his head. "There is one part of it that appears to be vulnerable. If we could hit it, we may cause the wall to perhaps be destroyed." He said to them all.
"Hmph! Folly is what it is." Danzo said speaking up with a scowl. "You expect us to believe such delusions?" He said with a scoff.
Kakashi slowly turned to face him. "Look closely at the wall Danzo, even with your one eye, you can spot a small patch of it that it a lesser and duller color than the rest." He told them. "If we hit that spot with something hard, we might just find a way to free ourselves."
"Then what are we waiting for!" Tsume exclaimed.
"Easy, we don't know if it will truly work." Tsunade told them lest they get their hopes up only to be crushed. "But it seems like this maybe our best option but it will not be easy and the risk will be high." She informed them.
Before she could say anymore, Yugao poofed inside the room. "What is it?" She asked her Captain.
Yugao informed her of what was going on causing Tsunade to groan.
"Oh no..." She said feeling a migraine coming on.
"Lee, of all the dumb ideas you've had. This is the dumbest." Neji Hyuga said looking on shaking his head.
"Geniuses are often underappreciated in their time." Was Rock Lee's response as he ignored him.
Neji and TenTen were shown looking on at their teammate each not believing what he was up to as they were seen on the rooftop of a building.
Rock Lee gathering materials, had made himself a hang glider. Having crafted and made it himself over the past week, as he was going to use it to fly over The Wall. "I've checked everything and I know that this will work!" He proclaimed. "With this, we'll finally be able to overcome it and be free!" He stated to them who did not share his enthusiasm . He was going to use the Hang Glider to fly over The Wall, and thus get outside of Konoha.
"A bowl of Soba says he won't even make it off the roof." TenTen dryly said to Neji. "This is gonna work just like the time he tried pole vaulting over it." She said as a flashback occurred.
Lee is shown charging on the wall with a long pole in hand, letting out a battle cry he charged at it. He planted the pole onto the ground and went to use it's momentum to launch himself upward.
However, the pole snapped in two breaking apart and Lee with a cry fell down to the ground.
"Just be glad he hasn't built a Catapult instead." Neji said to her as there was no use trying to stop him as his mind was made up. Having learned long ago not to try and stop him when he started something.
Rock Lee stuck a finger in his mouth and then held it out testing the wind and nodded as it was perfect. He had taken everything in to account, his weight, the altitude and distance he would need. "Today my friends, we shall our enemy that our Youth cannot be broken and we will not be trapped!" He declared as he strapped on a pair of googles and put a helmet on. Picking the hang glider up, he positioned himself as he grasped the bars of it. Taking a few deep breathes to steady himself, he then charged, running to the edge of the roof.
"I can't watch." TenTen said covering her eyes.
Lee leapt off of the roof and let out a triumphant laugh as he was shown gliding in the air as he flew across the roofs. "HaHa! It's working!" He shouted as he was grinning.
"No way." Neji said in shock as Lee's invention had seemingly worked.
"He might actually pull it off." TenTen said as they looked on.
Lee grinned in triumph as he flew across the skies of Konoha. His invention was working flawlessly and now they could finally get over The Wall at last.
As he went however, he started to descend as the wind wasn't giving him enough boost as he was going down. "Uh oh." He said as he realized what was happening.
"Oh no..." Neji said realizing what was about to happen as they saw him flying directly towards a building.
CRASH!
BASH!
WHAM!
Neji and TenTen both winced and cringed at the sound of the impact made of his body hitting against them. Lee and his crumbled hang glider were now falling as he fell onto a roof. Hearing the thud of his body hitting and crashing against the tiles and roof as both knew that that had to hurt. "Is he dead?" TenTen asked.
"...I'm okay!" Lee's voice called out in pain.
While that was going on, Sakura was seen in the library shutting a book a frown on her face. Putting it back on the shelf, she grasped another one and opened it.
"Demons, Demons," She said as she skimmed through it. "Nothing!" She said as she put it away.
She had been here in the library for hours, almost every day, scouring through every book she could find for anything that might be of use. "Nurikabe, Nurikabe." She said as she got a book out. That of ancient mythology and stories.
She then came upon something that caught her attention "Nurikabe, The Demon Wall." Sakura said as she looked at a picture of a giant wall with a monstrous face on the center of it. "A being who blocks off travelers at night, entrapping them with nowhere to go." She said as she read it. "It sounds just like what's happened to us. Hold on, what's this." She said as there was more.
"Byako: The King of The Demons, used the power of this Demon. Byako, that's it!" She said as it was the name of the being she had encountered in Grass. "We actually are facing Demons?" Sakura said a bit worried. She felt a hand upon her shoulder causing her to jump a bit as she lifted up her head and saw a blonde haired girl in purple.
"Ino." She said to her best friend.
"I've been looking for you," Ino Yamanaka said to her. "What are you looking at?" She asked seeing the book. "Demons?" Ino said looking at her confused.
"I'm trying to find out something, also, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about." She told her
"What is it?" Ino asked.
"You can't tell anyone about this, this is between the two of us only." Sakura said to her and she looked at her in all serious.
"Alright." Ino told her.
"I mean it." Sakura told her with a frown. "This isn't something you can go and blab to someone the first chance you get." She said knowing how Ino was. "No one is to know about this, not even Lady Tsunade or Kakashi, no matter what you understand?" She said to Ino who nodded her head. Seeing that Ino was taking this serious she then began.
"When I faced Byako in Grass, he went to attack me, but he stopped." She told Ino who looked on at her. "He was about to kill me, but he stopped before he could."
"I don't get it." Ino said as it wasn't making sense.
"I didn't either," Sakura told her. "But then, as he had stopped, he suddenly said something. He...He called me Sakura-chan." She told The Kunoichi as she remembered what happened.
"Sakura-chan?" Ino repeated in confusion her eyes widening. "But other than Lee, the only other person who ever called you that was..."
"Naruto." Sakura confirmed to them nodding her head.
"Why would he call you that? He didn't know who you was or encountered you before." Ino asked.
"I don't know!" Sakura said in frustration shaking her head putting the book away. "I don't know why he did. It doesn't make any sense. Everything these past couple of weeks since Suna has been so confusing!" She exclaimed as she was confused and aggravated over all that was happening.
"Easy." Ino told her raising her hands to calm her down. "I don't know what happened back there, but something is odd about that."
Sakura sighed as she leaned in the chair. "I've replayed what happened that day in my head a hundred times. He stops just as he was about to kill me, as though something was stopping him. And he spoke differently as well. His voice was different when he said my name, as though it was gentle."
Ino looked on at her. "I don't know what to make of it either Sakura." She said to her. "But this is just a hunch, but remember what happened when Sasuke defected three years ago? What Kakashi told everyone had happened?" She asked
"He only found a patch of Naruto's blood and his hitai-ate, there was no body." Sakura stated as she remembered that horrible day. They had searched the entire area, but there was no sign of his body so that he could be returned and buried properly.
"What if, what if Naruto was captured by Orochimaru after Sasuke defeated him?" Ino suggested. "I know Sasuke told you that he was dead and everyone thinks he is, but for all we know, he's been a prisoner there the entire time." She said.
Sakura slumped in her chair. "If he is, then I'm truly the worst person to ever live." She said. Ino seeing it reached over and hugged her gently.
"Listen, I don't know what's happened to Naruto, whether he's dead or still alive." She told her best friend. "But it wasn't your fault Sakura, don't keep on blaming yourself for what's happened." She said to her before leaving.
Sakura watched her go. Her mind may knew that she wasn't at fault.
But her heart was a different matter...
Elsewhere...
The Jiang Shi were shown battling one another, fifty of them having been brought here outside the Castle and ordered to battle to the death until there was only one survivor
Gebu looked on at the scene as The Jiang Shi battled each other. Looking on to see who would be the survivor as The Tortoise Demon looked on at the fight. Beside him on a pedestal was a small chest. He watched on seeing as the Jiang Shi slew each other as they fought.
He looked on as one Jiang Shi was proving to be a standout amongst them, having already defeated ten by himself as he fought through them as the numbers were dwindling. He cleaved through them with ease, easily blocking and dodging attacks.
"Impressive," Gebu noted looking. "But what happens when you are facing multiple opponents?" He stated and snapped his claws. The others raised up their staves and fired at him as he charged at them. He rushed through the blasts and attacked, destroying the others as they dissipated upon their destruction.
"It seems we have our Champion." Gebu noted as the remaining Jiang Shi stood there. "Come forth." He ordered it and The Jiang Shi hopped over to him standing at attention as it stood there.
Opening the lid of the chest, he revealed on it a medallion. That which was black in color and had the kanji for the word Smoke on it. Reaching into it, he picked it up. "For your victory that you have obtained, great power shall now be yours." Gebu said as he held the Medallion up. The Jiang Shi stood still not moving as Gebu reached over and then placed it on it's chest.
Smoke began to emit from the Medallion as the Jiang Shi stood there, it then suddenly lurched forward in pain and fell backwards onto the ground. Twisting and writhing it's body in agony at what was happening to it. Gebu looked on with no concern, if it did not survive, then it did not matter. He would find another who could.
The Jiang Shi continued to thrash about as smoke began to cover over it's figure. It's skin then began to change, becoming as dark as night as it's body changed undergoing a transformation. The smoke continued to grow becoming larger consuming him as he disappeared into it.
The smoke began to rise up and take the shape of a being as it became solid, taking the appearance of a man. With skin darker than obsidian and wearing a shinobi outfit with a hood over it's head with accents of purple on it. It wore a belt with a Kusari-Gama attached to it as well as Shuriken. He wore boots with spikes on them. Across it's mouth it wore a mask with the face of an Oni on it. On the center of it's chest was The Medallion. It had a pair of silver colored eyes that glowed as smoke emitted from the being's body.
"You are no longer a mere Jiang Shi," Gebu stated. "Hence forth, you are now Enenra!" He proclaimed to The Smoke Demon. "I want you to go and kill Gaara, The Kazekage of Sunagakure. Can you do it?" He asked it and The Demon's eyes narrowed.
An image appeared in his mind, that of a male teenager with red hair and a Kanji scar that stood for love on the side of his head. On his back he carried a gourd. His target, and the one whom he would kill.
"Yes!" Enerna proclaimed before he then vanished to do his mission.
Hidden Base
A hammer was shown striking the forge, the only light in the room was the flames and the sparks emitting from it.
The hammer hit the metal, crafting a new sword as a lone figure was seen in the dark room, pounding on the metal without pause. Having been at work for hours here, not stopping without pause or to rest as sweat glistened off of his body but he paid them no mind or how sore his arm was becoming as no emotion was on his face or in his eyes as he continued to forge a new weapon.
His previous Chokuto sword was broken and shattered, of no more use to him it was so he was forging himself a new weapon, one that would be stronger and more suitable. So that what had happened before would never happen again. He continued his work, striking the metal with anger as he flipped it over.
With each time he pounded the hammer onto it, his mind was filled with an image of how he had nearly been killed
"Report." The pale skinned man in another room said as he shown seated on a stone chair carved like a Snake in a throne room.
"It is as we believed Lord Orochimaru, a Giant Wall has blockaded Konoha." Kabuto Yakushi replied to him as he was shown kneeled before him. Having heard of the news that had happened, he had investigated himself the day before and saw the sight. Konoha was cut off from the Land of Fire and the rest of the World after what had happened as the towering wall that had appeared had blocked off it's entire citizens with no one able to get in or out.
"Hmph, that wall can be seen from hundreds of miles away. Even outside The Land of Fire, how intriguing." Orochimaru noted bringing his fingers together. "It seems that Byako is now targeting the Leaf." He said. "He continues to waste no time in attacking."
A grim expression was shown on Kabuto's face as they had just barely escaped with their lives not too long ago when Byako had attacked them in Grass. And now it appeared that he had conquered Konoha in all but name as they had no way to escape. Such a feat would be deemed exaggarated but even in his current base, located in The Land of Sound, the sight of the wall could be seen.
"No doubt the rest of The Great Villages have also found out what has happened and are taking action. Seem like Kumo will think it's some kind of new weapon Konoha has developed in an attempt to get revenge on them for almost stealing The Byakugan no doubt." The Snake Sannin said. "Akatsuki will have also found out as well with their spies. Things continue to get more interesting." He noted tapping his fingers together.
"How is your arm Kabuto?" He asked him. "I trust the procedure to reattach had went well."
"As though it was never cut off my Lord." Kabuto replied with a smirk. He had surgically reapplied his severed limb after they had retreated. The process had taken hours and had been painful, but he had managed to do so. "But Sasuke's scar that he obtained from his wound will be permanent I'm afraid." He said his smirk turning into a frown. "I managed to heal his wounds as they were almost fatal but the scar will remain." He said
"I am not so superficial so to throw away a vessel because of a scar." Orochimaru responded. So long as he could possess it, he could do with a few cuts and markings as they weren't permanent or lasting damage to his body. "The time will soon come for me to take his body." He informed Kabuto who nodded.
"Also, there is something else that may interest you." Kabuto said to him. "The Land of Sea has been taken over, a group of creatures called Kappa have invaded and conquered the islands."
"Kappa?" Orochimaru repeated in confusion at what he was told. "Those are just myths and fairy tales to amuse foolish children." He said dismissing it.
"But sir, from what I have gathered they bear the resemblance to them and there's been sightings of other beings as well, such as this from our spies." Kabuto said and reaching into his pocket pulled out a photo. Orochimaru looked on at it as he saw a picture taken of two winged beings with long beak noses in the sky. "What if, What if Byako as he claims is really a Demon and these other creatures are aligned with him?" Kabuto asked him. "I thought only The Bijuu were Demons. And these...Demons they appear to be quite powerful." Kabuto said in a concerned tone to him.
Orochimaru let out a murmur in his throat as he folded his arms his frown increasing. "Be he be or not, every foe has a weakness and once I have Sasuke's body, I will kill him." He vowed clenching his long fingers into a fist. "And with Konoha occupied for now, I won't have to worry about those nuisances snooping around. There is also the matter of Akatsuki as well. Word is they are on the move again." He told Kabuto who nodded his head.
"With any luck, Byako will focus on them and allow us to move ahead with your plans." Kabuto said to him.
"Indeed, also I don't know if you could catch it, but his chakra and power, there was something familiar about it." Orochimaru told him. "A familiar presence I've not felt in quite some time."
Before his Spy could say anything, the doors to the room were pushed open.
Sasuke Uchiha was shown entering the room as he walked through the doors. On his chest was a scar, the scar that he had received from his battle with Byako. A deep scar that served as a reminder of how he had nearly died back there. He carried his new Wakizashi sword, having finally finished forging it as he marched towards Orochimaru.
"Sasuke, I didn't send for you." Orochimaru told him. Sasuke didn't respond as he continued to walk towards him.
His mind was filled of what had happened back in Grass. Of the fight that he had been involved in, as well as his brush with death.
Sasuke had grudgingly accepted that even with his training and his Sharingan, there were many powerful people in the world who would be able to defeat him as he was not unstoppable. But the fact that he had nearly lost to his ex-teammate Sakura, of all people left a bitter feeling in him.
He never believed that Sakura could have gotten so strong. He admitted that she had impressed him with her skill and strength but even if she was trained by The Slug Sannin, there should have been no way for her to gotten to his level of strength and to match him. Sure she was adept at Chakra Control, but that was it, there should have been no way that Sakura had gotten so powerful and been able to incapcitate him as she possessed neither a bloodline nor came from a distinguished family. But she had him beat, having trapped him and he would've been knocked out if not for Orochimaru intervening.
There was only one other person in Konoha who he could've considered and accepted as having the ability to defeat him, and he was dead.
He also thought of Byako and the power he displayed. How did he obtain such strength? He had fought Orochimaru and had him on the run the whole time and if not for Kabuto, The Snake Sannin would have met an untimely end no doubt. He had also easily beaten Sasuke, shattering his previous sword as well as even the Second form of The Cursed Seal was useless. Too fast he was as well for his advanced Sharingan to track.
If he could lose so easily, then that meant he was no match for Itachi at his current strength and would never be able to kill him.
It appears that the promised training he was suppose to have gotten these three years was insufficient and wasn't receiving the results he had been promised.
"Orochimaru, it's time for you to continue my training." He said to him as he stepped forward but did not kneel or bow like Kabuto.
"I'd advise against that Sasuke-kun. Your wounds have yet to fully heal." Orochimaru told him. "If you attempt to train and they reopen, then they may possibly be fatal."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take. Before what happened in Grass, you promised to teach me a New Jutsu that could kill Itachi, show me what it is, now." Sasuke demanded him causing The Snake to shake his head.
"So impatient, very well Sasuke-kun."
The next day...
A footprint was shown on the ground, having left an imprint on it.
Standing above it were two figures who looked down at it examining it.
"What do you see?" The elder of the two Tengu said to the other. The younger knelt down and examined it.
"This track was made recently." Taifu said to his Father as the two Demons were scouting. They were the finest scouts in Byako's army and with being able to fly, they could travel great distances. "Less than two days old. And there are more nearby." He said and walking around spotted more tracks.
"Two sets of footprints." His Father said to him deciphering it. "They were traveling together and had been for quite some time. They made no move to hide their trail, not expecting that anyone could be tracking them." Jishin told him. "Here, you can see that they had stopped." He said and pointed at them. "They stopped for some time and from the look of things and posture of their footprints they appeared to have gotten into an argument that became heated before going off again."
The two were on the trail of Akatsuki members, searching for them. They had gone to a Bounty Store where they had offered the one who ran it named Zangei enough money to last him the rest of his life if they could give him information regarding who they were searching for.
Zangei, his greed getting the best of him had told them that Kakuzu, The Bounty Hunter was heading to Takigakure. Apparently to capture some female he and his partner was after.
After paying him enough to last him the rest of his short life, the two had departed. "What else do you see?" Jishin said as Taifu looked around.
"There!" He said looking at a tree that was missing bark and markings on it.
Taifu looked on at the markings on the tree examining it. "Three cuts made, not multiple times though. Done by a weapon with multiple blades on it." He told him. "Done in anger but sloppily as it got stuck and then yanked out." He said to his Father who nodded noting the missing bark and cuts on it. Picking up the bark on the ground he sniffed it detecting the scent of metal, and also the faint smell of blood as well.
"This way!" He said pointing North. "We go!" Jishin said and the two took to the Sky.
Once they found them, King Byako would learn of their whereabouts and soon they would be dead.
Konoha...
"Argh! How much longer is this going to take!" Kiba shouted in frustration. "Why don't they just blow the damn thing up?" He grumbled looking outside seeing the Wall as it was almost afternoon, but they wouldn't know given how they were covered in its shadow.
"They've tried Kiba." Shikamaru said explaining it to him again as he shook his head. Many of The Konoha 12 were seen at The Akimichi BBQ discussing the current events that had happened. "Any attempt they've made to damage it has ended in failure. It's not some ordinary wall of stone like we think it is." He told him but did little to better Kiba's mood.
"And if anyone tries touching or climbing it, they risk getting impaled." Neji said as well
"Well, why don't they just dig underneath it then?" Kiba continued to complain. Shikamaru exasparated gave up trying to make him see reason. Beside him Chouji was seen silently plopping meat into his mouth as he was the only one among them eating.
"How is Lee?" Shikamaru asked TenTen after his attempt to fly out had failed.
"He'll be fine, let's just hope he doesn't try inventing again." She told him.
"Shikamaru, you saw this Byako before in Grass right?" Shino Aburame asked. "What can you tell us about him?"
Shikamaru let out a sigh. "He's powerful and dangerous, he could've killed us all there if he wanted too. And apparently he had somehow resurrected those Sound Ninjas it seems from what you told me."
"They said they were Demons now." Chouji said inbetween bites. "But that doesn't make any sense. I mean, Gaara from what I heard had that Tanuki inside him but Demons are just Fairy Tales. Like a Woman who has long arms with multiple eyes on them." He said as he started on another plate.
"They were deadly before when we faced them three years ago," Neji somberly said. "But now they are even more dangerous as we would've died if not for Sensei Gai and them." He said to the others.
"Just a fluke it was." Kiba grumbled causing Neji to glare.
"Are you always going to claim all your defeats upon just being a fluke?" He ask him who growled at him and stood up.
"Well, at least I'm not saying that we was fated to get our asses kicked like you would have!" He snapped at Neji who narrowed his eyes.
Before Neji could respond an unexpected voice spoke up.
"This wouldn't have h-happened had Sakura not gotten N-Naruto killed." Hinata Hyuga coldly stated at the end of the table.
The others looked on at her in shock at what Hinata had just said. She had been devastated when the report came in that Naruto had died on the mission three years ago, but never had she said such a thing. It was shocking to think she would say such a thing
"Naruto-kun would've found a way if he was here," She said bitterly. "H-He wouldn't have s-stood by and done nothing if he was here. He would have found a way to escape. I-It's because of Sakura that he's dead." She told them.
The others looked on at Hinata, most of them knew that she had developed a strong crush on Naruto during The Chunin Exams, but she had never before said anything like this before, especially regarding Sakura
"Hinata, that's horrible." Shino chastised her and she frowned.
"It's t-true though. S-She went and got him k-killed all because of her pining for Sasuke." She told the others with a frown before she stood up from the table and left.
Neji went to go after her but TenTen grasped his arm and shook her head, as he would just make things worse if he did.
Elsewhere, Tsunade was seen walking through the streets, as it was now part of the few hours of the day when they could now get a glimpse of the Sun.
She paid no attention to it as she made her way, The Godaime going to a location. Soon she had arrived at it as she came to a home.
Entering inside she could smell the scent of sake as she walked. She walked through the small home as her footsteps were the only sound inside the building.
She came to a room and saw a figure lying there on a futon, his back to her.
Tsunade looked on at the pitiful sight of what had once been The Toad Sannin. At time, perhaps even equal to Hiruzen Sarutobi in skill and power. He laid there on his side in an unkempt mess, the lower half of his face covered by a messy beard as he hadn't shaved in ages. He smelled of cheap sake as a jug of it was beside him.
She stood in the doorway as she continued to look on at him
"What do you want?" Jiraiya grumbled out, not bothering to turn over or look at her.
"I'm here to see if you're still with us." Tsunade told him as she entered the room and sat down beside him on her knees. "Surely you've noticed what's been going on." She told him.
"Hmph, not really" Jiraiya muttered as he grabbed the jug handle and brought it to his lips and took a deep drink. "Want some?" He offered.
"Tempting, but not now." She replied to him as her nose scrunched up from the smell. "Ugh, Jiraiya, when was the last time you bathed?" She said in disgust.
"What does it matter?" Jiraiya replied as he took another swig of it. Not caring that drips fell onto his beard.
Tsunade shook her head as she looked on at him.
Of those who had been affected by Naruto's passing, Jiraiya had been hit the worst from it. He no longer cared about anything anymore. He didn't care about his appearance or how he looked. Nothing mattered to him. He spent all day just drinking Sake anymore, a pathetic sight he had become.
"We're getting ready to attempt to try again to bring that wall down soon. Kakashi thinks he has a plan that we will put into action. With any luck, it will work and we will finally be able to get outside again." She told him.
"Hmph, good luck." Jiraiya told her causing Tsunade to frown. "Try not to much too much noise so I can get some sleep will ya?"
"Beforehand you'd be the one coming up with crazy ideas for such a thing." She told him. "You would have never sat on your ass while such a thing was happening remember?"
"Maybe because I finally realized the futileity of things, you were the same remember?" He said and Tsunade shook her head. "You went off gambling and running out on your bar tap before you came back." He said to Tsunade
She looked on at him hoping to see some signs of the man he once was inside him. The fire that he once had seemed to be gone now. Jiraiya didn't even try to lecherously look at her chest anymore and try to squeeze it anymore. She would actually be happy if he did that, to show that he still had some form of life in him
"If you're not going be a drinking buddy with me, then leave so I can enjoy some peace and quiet." Jiraiya told her.
"Damn it Jiraiya!" Tsunade shouted at him fighting the urge to smack him. "Enough already!" She snapped at him. "I'm done babying you while you sit there and wallow in self pity!" The Hokage shouted at him as Jiraiya said nothing.
"I know it hurts, but you and him told me to accept Dan and Nawaki's deaths remember?" She accused him. "Well, it's time you move on from Naruto's death!" She shouted. "How do you think he feels with what you've become? This is what he wanted from you? Becoming a pathetic drunkard who spends all his time reeking of cheap sake?" Tsunaded said as she lambasted him for what he had become. Becoming an utter shell of a man who no longer cared about anything. "You're failing him now, even worse than when you were suppose to have been there for him when he was a child!"
"Get out!" Jiraiya shouted at her, his eyes and voice now showing emotion as anger was in them. Tsunade glared at him as she stood up.
"Get drunk, drown yourself in that for all I care. I'm just done with it." She told him bitterly. "At least one of us is trying." Tsunade told him before she stood up and turned and exited the room as she left. As she walked, a lone tear was seen falling down her cheek as Tsunade left the building.
Jiraiya watched her leave before reaching and grasping the jug of sake. He went to bring it up to his lips but stopped before he could drink from it.
Setting it aside on the floor, he brought his hands up over his face and started to cry as his sobs filled the room as Jiraiya wept as tears poured down.
Sunagakure...
Gaara was shown in his office signing documents and papers, The Kazekage hard at work. The red haired Sand user put his signature and seal on one document as he finally finished. The Young Ruler allowed himself to relax now, but knew that he couldn't just sit back and ignore everything that was going on.
His scouts had reported of what had recently happened in Konoha, as apparently a Giant Wall had shown up, cutting and blocking off the entire village and its inhabitants with no way to escape. The wall could be seen for hundreds of miles, even on the Land of Wind's borders. No one was able to get in or get out and no way to communicate either. He had sent word to The Fire Daimyo as to what was happening but they seemed confused as well. Not a single person knew the source of the wall or how it had appeared.
The Raikage had sent him a message, demanding to know what it was. Believing that it was a new super weapon that Konoha was developing which had made Gaara shake his head in disbelief at the absurd claim as Kumo and Konoha's relationship had been sour for decades he had been told as well as with Iwagakure, The Hidden Stone Village. The other Kages and Rulers of Countries had also sent him messages, as all of The Elemental Nations was in a state of confusion as to what was happening and going on just now.
There was also the other reports he had received, of strange creatures being sighted. Chaos was spreading everywhere it seemed like. A few boats from the Land of Sea carrying refugees that had left prior to it's takeover had arrived, seeking aid and refuge.
"And with talks of Monsters attacking and killing, it's as though the whole world has gone insane." He murmured shaking his head. Standing up from his desk he walked over and looked outside his window staring at the crescent moon.
"I wonder how you would deal with this mess Naruto." He said in a somber tone of voice. "You'd have already found a way over the wall no doubt, even if you had to dig underneath." Gaara said referring to the Blonde who for a brief moment between, was the first person he had considered to be his friend.
"Lord Kazekage!" A voice shouted and Baki was shown entering the office.
"What is it?" Gaara asked turning around. He seemed worried as he had come here in a rush.
"Come quick, something has happened." Baki told him.
Shortly afterwards, Gaara was seen kneeling down and looking at the dead body of a Suna Ninja.
"How did this happen?" Gaara asked standing up to look at Baki, with them were Kankuro and Temari.
"Don't know Bro," Kankuro said shaking his head. "Was going to grab a bite when there was a ruckus as people found his body there."
Gaara frowned and looked on at the body. "There's no signs of damage or wounds on him." He noted as the body did not look what he had been in a fight. It was if he had dropped over dead.
"Did anyone see what happened?" He asked.
"Afraid not." Temari told him. "I had seen him an hour before and he was just fine. He wasn't sick or anything from what people told me. He had no reports of illness and was in perfect health. It was if he dropped over dead." She said as Gaara continued to examine the body. The man showed no signs of having been attacked or in battle as there was no bruises, cuts or markings on him.
Gaara checked the corpse when he noticed something slipping out from between his lips.
"Smoke?" Gaara said in confusion as the small wisp of smoke disappeared. He then stood up and looked at Baki and his siblings.
"Spread guards all around, I want the perimeter checked and all people in the area questioned. Inform the inhabitants and those below the rank of Chunin that they are to stay indoors until I give the order for their own safety. Anyone who looks or acts suspicious, apprehend and arrest them!" He said giving commands
"Lord Kazekage, should we escort you back to your home? It's not safe out here for you." A Ninja asked him.
"No." Gaara replied narrowing his eyes. "An attack on one of Suna is an attack on all of us. I will find whoever did this and make them pay." He vowed clenching a hand into a fist. He may have lost strength due to no longer having Shukaku, but he would not cower and hide. "Kankuro, with me!" He ordered his older Brother who nodded his head and followed him.
Gaara and Kankuro walked the streets, each keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Both on alert as they went.
"Gaara, look." The Puppet Shinobi said as they spotted a figure lying nearby.
They looked and discovered an elderly woman on the ground. She laid there on her stomach before them. Cautiously they approached the body and turned her over
"She's dead." Kankuro said shaking his head as there was nothing they could do for her as he respectfully shut her eyes.
Gaara checked the woman's body, he saw no signs of bruises, cuts or damage on her figure. "Do you see any poison on her?" He asked him who used poison on the darts and blades of his puppets.
"No, from all looks, like the other guy, her body is fine." Kankuro said. "What is going on here?" He asked as Gaara had no answer. Two mysterious deaths, and with each showing no sign of damage on their person.
Gaara's eyes then detected something leaving her mouth. "Look," He said to Kankuro as they saw it.
"Smoke?" Kankuro said in confusion as they saw a wisp of it.
"Just like I saw before," Gaara noted. Investigating, he saw that her face was strained as though she had been struggling to breathe in her last moments alive. "This woman, and the man before her, they were suffocated to death." He said in alarm as he discovered the cause of death. The Kazekage then felt something, he detected a dark presence as his pupils shrunk. "We're not alone." He informed Kankuro as he felt killing intent being directed at him. The Puppet Wielder reached up to his bundle he wore on his back ready to unveil it. "Make no sudden movements." He ordered his sibling.
"Look!" Kankuro said as he spotted a third body nearby. Another one of Suna's Ninja. "Ugh, gross." He said at the grisly sight.
Unlike the others, this corpse had several deep cuts and hacks on his body, made from a sharp blade as he was missing an arm and his throat had been slit as blood covered over his body. "Swiftly made these were. Without any chance to defend or counter attack" Gaara noted as he had been ambushed and killed before he could react. "The blood is still dripping and wet, this kill could not have been more than a few minutes ago."
Gaara and Kankuro looked around as they then noticed patches of smoke gathering around them. Wisps of black smoke with a foul smell.
"Stupid smoke," Kankuro muttered in annoyance as it was starting to sting his eyes. "Who decided to smoke a hundred cigarettes at once?" He grumbled but was ignored by Gaara, He was focusing on the smoke. It seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and it was gathering around the more they walked.
He was reminded of the smoke he saw exiting the dead bodies he had seen earlier.
His pupils then shrank as he felt a dangerous presence.
"Get down!" He shouted at Kankuro ordering him to duck. Kankuro not questioning it did so and just in the nick of time as a kama flew just over his head, just inches away from piercing his head and into his skull if he hadn't dodged. The kama continued to spin coming right at Gaara who did not move.
His sand appeared in front of him and caught the attack, stopping it from piercing him. If not for it, the weapon would have struck him right in the eye and had killed him. The kama then transformed into smoke dissipating.
"What in the hell was that?!" Kankuro shouted picking himself up off the ground in alarm.
"They're here!" Gaara said as he felt a presence just now.
"Gaara!" A voice shouted and he looked up. Standing on the rooftop of a building above them was a figure. He stood there clad all in black glaring down at Gaara with silver eyes. Smoke emitted from his body as he looked down at The Kazekage in a threatening manner.
"Who, or what the hell is that?" Kankuro asked. Gaara didn't know, but the killing intent emitting from him made it clear what his intentions were.
"An assassin." Gaara said his eyes narrowing bringing his arms down as thunder rumbled overhead.
Enenra then leapt downward as The Smoke Demon prepared to attack.
To Be Continued...