When Kakashi first saw the armada Kiri had amassed to blockade Konoha's trade routes he had expected a larger force. Sure, the Mizukage was with the unit, so they did not need much in the way of quantity, but she alone was not enough to ensure a fleet of only twenty ships could blockade the entirety of Konoha's trade routes. That was when he saw it. The Mizukage was not alone in her defense.
Jinpachi Munashi and Karyu Terumi, the Mizukage's younger brother, accompanied her.
He had called off the attack, momentarily at least, at this discovery. Assassinating the Mizukage was clearly out of the equation. She on her lonesome would be a difficult opponent but fighting her along with those two made any chance of victory he had an outright impossibility. He had come with a force of ten shinobi, mostly there to serve as a distractionary force while he killed the Mizukage. However, even with those ten shinobi, he had neither the manpower nor the individual strength to face those three.
Stealth would be the only option to stop the blockade.
He had struck at night. The mist the Kirigakure forces placed over the ships at night no doubt would detect his chakra signature the second he pierced its veil, but he had little choice. Attacking under the light of day would be suicide, even if the shinobi were more relaxed. He had watched the force for days and knew their schedule. He wouldn't have to contend with their leaders. Each used their high-ranking status to avoid menial jobs like taking watch. Of course, that didn't mean it would be easy to accomplish his goal. While this was no longer an assassination mission, it was now like all the other missions he had done in Kiri. This was guerilla warfare.
It was what he specialized in.
Under the cloak of night Kakashi dipped into the water, invisible in the night. The lack of a moon made the ocean dark, an easy shelter for him but it also obstructed his vision. Of course, the Uchiha had no intention of being blind for long. His headband straightened and even the dark ocean became clear to him underneath the light of the Sharingan. As he slipped deeper into the water to avoid the mist above, he banished thoughts of his allies, elsewhere in the bay, trying to find their targets. They knew better than to be easily detected. All he could focus on was his goal. Two ships each.
That was the goal.
Kakashi shot upwards like a bullet, head just piercing the slight opening between the hull of the ship and the water below. The opening wasn't large, but it was enough to let him take a moment to catch his breath. His eyes shot to the sides, but it was impossible to see with the wood and water in all directions. There were no screams of war yet, nor were there the distinctive popping noises of ninjutsu being fired like lightning. No one had been detected yet. That was good.
Kakashi quickly placed the explosive tags on the hull of the ship. Ten in total, enough to easily crack the ship like an egg and cause it to sink into the water. Anyone not killed by the explosion would be too caught up in the resulting chaos to look for the perpetraitors. That was the idea. He slipped back into the water where he moved towards his next target.
With his enhanced vision he could finally see other Konoha shinobi, slinking underneath the gentle waves above. All were accustomed to holding their breath for a long time, the only way this strategy would be successful. Utilizing chakra would allow the Kiri shinobi to detect their presence.
Of course, then something happened. A Kiri shinobi shouted; the voice muffled underneath the water. Blinding lights showered the water and quickly all the Konoha shinobi dove, avoiding the flashing lights. Kakashi grit his teeth. Had they been detected? By who? How long would they search? They couldn't hold their breath forever in these circumstances.
Quickly things escalated. A splash in the water. Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he saw the dolphin swim through the water, looking for intruders. It seemed one of the Kiri shinobi had a summoning contract and was using it perfectly. Kakashi glanced at the Konoha shinobi, making the signal to scatter but it was useless. They couldn't see him or the dolphin in the darkness. Too many were flying blind in this darkness, only successful due to their repeated days of scouting and mapping out where the ships would be located and sensory capabilities.
Kakashi grit his teeth, faced with an impossible decision. If the dolphin had the time to search it would doubtlessly find the Konoha shinobi. If it didn't kill them, it would alert the Kiri shinobi and they would. If he took care of the dolphin, he would have to use chakra. Doing so would alert his allies that it was time to flee, but it would simultaneously awaken the entire Kirigakure host above them. The Hatake had no idea how his force had been detected.
But the solution was glaringly obvious to him.
A bullet of water tore through the bay, ripping a hole through the dolphin's head and staining the waters red. Kakashi took the brief half a second to analyze the scene. The Konoha shinobi instantly began to swim, recognizing the burst of chakra for what it was. They had moved to flee. Meanwhile the Kiri force began to rally war cries, chakra signatures flaring and countless ninjutsu firing off into the waters below.
Kakashi would have sighed if it wouldn't have allowed water to flood his lungs. His troops needed cover if they were going to escape. He would simply have to hope that that they placed enough explosive tags. He made a singular handseal and the world erupted.
Detonations shook the fleet, undoubtedly waking up the trio of shinobi he most wanted to avoid. Screams of pain or rage, he couldn't tell the difference, greeted the night sky. Flame illuminated the world and suddenly the waters were not quite as dark nor as cool. Flaming debris covered the waters. The shockwave didn't spare him either, sending him rolling backwards, all control lost. Ships cracked, debris flew, blood filled the air. It was chaos.
But as Kakashi regained control of his body and breached the waters, idly noting that the mist that had previously covered the ships had been dissipated by the shockwave, he realized it wasn't enough. This strike team had meant to take down all of the ships, but they had only taken out roughly a quarter. Everyone had not planted or at least activated their explosive tags. It had caused chaos, but instead of completely devastating the fleet it instead had merely been irritated.
A shame.
The Hatake quickly got to his feet on the water and ran. He couldn't stay. He would head to the rendezvous point and await the rest of his force. They were to wait six hours, and if they did not make it back in time they were to leave. That was the plan. He had lost them in the madness and could only hope that they would be escape successfully. He had to hope that for himself. His confidence that his allies would escape increased when he heard the sizzle behind him. A hasty substitution was all that saved him from being ripped apart by the explosion that split water and sent shockwaves through the air.
"Ah, so you noticed that did you Hatake?"
"Jinpachi Munashi."
Jinpachi grinned, showing off a set of savagely sharp teeth much like Kisame Hoshigaki's.
"You know, I've always wanted to see if the tales were true about you. I wonder how long it'll take for me to make you bleed."
"You won't be getting the chance."
Jinpachi grinned, his sword swinging and clothe unravelling. Kakashi's eyes narrowed. The Hatake with the Sharingan eye leapt away just in time as the world rippled in a series of explosions.
'Jinpachi Munashi. Wielder of the Shibuki. Close combat is not an option against him.'
Kakashi could hear the deranged man's insane laughter behind him as he was chased.
"Come back here and fight me Hatake! Don't you want to see me bleed? Why are you running when we can kill each other!"
Kakashi flipped, unleashing a bolt of electricity aimed directly at Jinpachi. The man deflected the attack with a series of explosions, but it hadn't been intended to deal damage. Kakashi's goal was escape, not combat. He used the ninjutsu to put more space between the duo. Kakashi leapt forwards, chakra surging through his legs. The world was a blur as he moved, constantly out of range of the deadly explosives of the deranged swordsman behind him.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. He came to a quick stop before he leapt into the air, flipping over the mist that wafted into the air in front of him. He landed neatly on the other side, only to see a kunoichi standing before him. Kakashi frowned, not that his opponent could see it. If Jinpachi wasn't here, he may have taken the opportunity to try and kill her. But with Konoha in full retreat and Jinpachi on his heels this was one of the worst possible times to encounter the Mizukage.
"My aren't you a striking figure," she said. Her voice was like lust itself. Kakashi considered himself a man of tempered self-control, his more perverse habits not included, but even he couldn't deny the feelings this woman evoked in him. She was beauty incarnate.
The Mizukage cut a dashing figure opposite him, a seductive smile on her face.
"The legendary Kakashi Hatake. It's a shame our villages are at war. I'd love for a man like you to take me out. You have no idea how hard it is finding capable men in Kiri."
"Ah, but there's Jinpachi of course," Kakashi said, pointing behind him. "I'll leave and maybe you two can have a wonderful relationship Mizukage-dono."
"That idiot? He's so deep in his own war lust I don't think he could even feel attraction towards a woman. No, he's entirely unsuitable. Though, I suppose he could be considered handsome in a roguish sort of way."
"A woman with beauty such as yours honors me. I'm sure you could woo any man you so desired."
Mei smiled.
"Ah, but I desire you."
In any other circumstance Kakashi would have loved for a woman like Mei to say that. In this instance, he hated it.
He dove to the side as massive balls of lava shot from her mouth, the heat instantly evaporating the water around her. His head snapped up, hands slamming on the ground to erect a massive earthen wall that just barely blocked the deluge of water that shot from her mouth almost immediately afterwards. Kakashi leapt into action. He had to escape before Jinpachi regrouped with her.
Kakashi dashed away, cowed by the corrosive mist that she exhaled. The water itself boiled at the mists touch yet Mei seemed unaffected by the toxicity or the heat. Kakashi's Sharingan spun as he analyzed the technique. Mei Terumi was a ninjutsu specialist through and through. Where the Raikage excelled in taijutsu, she was the foremost expert in ninjutsu amongst the kage. Fighting her at range was an impossibility, and she was no slouch in taijutsu either.
Of course, it was practically impossible for one to become a kage class opponent by having a weakness.
Kakashi weaved through handseals, unleashing a gale that blew her mist away, but Mei was not Mizukage for nothing. If her mist could be dealt with so easily, she would not have made it far. She shot forwards, snatching her mist in her hands. It trailed after her, as if drawn to her chakra, before she shot it forwards in a blast. Kakashi only managed to avoid the sudden motion thanks to the Sharingan he wielded. He leapt away, but his head snapped to his side as his senses screamed at him.
"DIE!"
Kakashi dove under the water, thrown backwards by the force of the explosion Jinpachi unleashed. The man was panting, a savage grin on his face as his eyes searched the water.
"Where are you Hatake? You can't escape from me that easily!"
"Jinpachi," Mei said. Her voice was sweet, but the authority in it refused to be questioned. "I had him."
"Bah, why should you get the kill and not me?"
Mei's beautiful eyes locked on Jinpachi. The man, for all his bravado, refused to meet them.
"I tolerate your existence because of your skills. Remember Jinpachi, I could still have you killed for supporting Yagura."
Jinpachi's eyes narrowed. His role as Yagura's personal butcher had not been forgotten by the kunoichi. He remembered the words she spoke to him when she pardoned him under conditions.
"You will be pardoned for your crimes so long as you serve faithfully under me. One misstep, one glance out of line, and I'll punish you like the murderer you are."
"My apologies, Mizukage-sama."
Mei turned, instead looking across the battlefield.
"Your explosion sent him away. Find him. We cannot let him escape. He's too valuable a target."
Unfortunately for both shinobi, Kakashi had not waited to act. The explosion had pushed him far from the duo, right into a current that flung him far into the recesses of Kiri. They would never find him. However, the Hatake could only think about his squad's mission. It was a failure. No doubt the Kiri fleet would depart, delayed, but not stopped.
The blockade would be realized. He would have to send word to Konoha.
Danzo frowned as the messenger bird left. The Raikage was continuing his march on the land. More farming towns and minor villages had been razed by his weaponry. The Konoha flank had attempted scattered reconnaissance and guerilla tactics to deal damage and discover what weapons he was utilizing, but it had all been for naught. Shisui's efforts had managed to delay the invasion force, but it wasn't enough. Lightning was pressing on Konoha's eastern front, while Suna pressed on the west. He needed to alleviate the pressure before the doomsday with the Uchiha arrived.
As such the Hokage had three men standing before him, all wearing white masks.
"Kinoto, Kido, Tatsuma you are to regroup with Shisui Uchiha's force and lead a strike team against Kumogakure. Find those weapons and destroy them."
"Understood, Danzo-sama."
"Your first priority is destroying the weapons Kumo possesses," Danzo explained. "Your second..."
Danzo placed a scroll before the trio.
"Bring me back the eye."
"Sir!"
Kisame stared at the Chunin before him.
"You want me to what?"
"Train me," Midare said. "Sensei suggested it." The Chunin had been released from the hospital, his injuries still present but not impeding his ability to move around any longer. The Ame iryonin were confident that he couldn't aggravate his injuries any further unless he participated in battle. What he intended on doing wasn't truly battle, so it was fine by his standards.
"I'm not really the training type kid," Kisame muttered. He made a shoo gesture with his hands, but Midare refused to move.
"You might not be the training type but you're a master swordsman. You can use the Hien (Flying Swallow) with Suiton (Water Release) correct?"
"I can," Kisame clarified. "But I don't."
"Why wouldn't you? It amplifies the power of a sword."
"Not Samehada. For it, a Hien just gets in the way."
Midare frowned, clenching his fists.
"But Naruto-sensei said..."
Kisame stared at the Chunin, a twisted look forming on his face.
'He acts just like Shizuma.'
"Bah, fine I'll help you out."
Midare's eyes widened at Kisame's actions, but the shark-like man ignored it. Instead, he pointed at the umbrella's on his back.
"Those are your 'swords' right? Interesting choice. Show me your Hien."
Midare quickly complied. His chakra roared and his half-baked Hien formed. Water swirled loosely around his umbrellas, dropping onto the ground every so often as a sign of its imperfection. Kisame frowned.
"Naruto sent you to me to learn this when you don't even have the basics mastered? What is this some practical joke?"
"He's busy with Kagari right now. He said you were the next best person to talk to to understand the Hien. I've got part of it, but for some reason I can't keep my chakra centered around my sword."
"Tch, well that's obvious why," Kisame muttered. "Suiton isn't like Katon (Fire Release) or Raiton (Lightning Release). You can't just emit the chakra and expect it to sit neatly on the sword. It's a chakra nature that isn't entirely geared towards being used like this. You need to approach it how you would walking on water. It's a constant management of chakra, having to fluctuate your chakra control so the water doesn't fall off the blade."
Kisame took the other umbrella, easily recreating the perfect Suiton Hien. He swung the umbrella downwards, cracking the ground.
"See?"
Midare's eyes narrowed, quickly attempting to replicate the technique. The water around his umbrella stabilized for a brief moment, but even then, it wasn't perfect. It was less frequent, but water still dripped off the blade.
"Not as easy as I make it look," Kisame muttered. "Of course, that's just the basics. A Suiton based Hien needs a lot more to be viable than simply adding water to your blade. It makes it stronger sure, but to make it lethal is the goal."
"How do I do that?"
The Hoshigaki snorted, giving Midare back his umbrella before turning on his heel.
"Master the basics first and maybe I'll tell you how to make the Hien more powerful. Until then, buzz off brat."
"Two days."
Kisame blinked, glancing back at Midare.
"If I master this in two days you have to teach me how to enhance the Hien even further. And also teach me a jutsu!"
Kisame grinned, his sharp teeth almost unnerving Midare.
"You'd be lucky to get the hang of the technique in a week brat."
"Two days."
The grin on Kisame's face grew, threatening to split his face.
"You've got yourself a deal."
Ajisai's eyes narrowed as she landed before the train station. Workers were running around, carefully loading cargo and preparing to leave. It wouldn't be long now. She had arrived early to leave a good impression. It wasn't long before she started noticing shinobi trickling in. No doubt other shinobi Yahiko had picked to assist with the train's protection.
Ajisai recognized some of them. Samidare Sakaguchi, a Chunin who had graduated in the same class as her. He wasn't very notable. Shigure Kawamura, a Jonin of some renown. He was the foremost expert on umbrella-based ninjutsu in the village. He was someone Midare had looked up to for a time. He had even served under Hanzo, although he, like many other shinobi, had been given pardons by Nagato. There were two others who she did not recognized, both male. Likely Chunin based on a combination of their age and battle scars.
It was about what she had expected. Ame couldn't afford to send many shinobi to watch the train given the circumstances, especially one's of Yahiko's strength. This was a large enough show of force to defend the train from any potential bandits that may arrive.
From then on, the kunoichi waited until Yahiko showed up. It didn't take long. He appeared, walking with who she could only assume were the heads of Densha Railways based off their attire.
"I appreciate the warning Higuroma, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any of the unwieldy sort."
The man nodded, his suit stifling. Yahiko left the group, only being given a farewell from Kagane as he left.
"Yahiko-sama."
"Ah, Ajisai. Glad to see you here. I presume you're ready to go?"
"Of course!"
"Great!"
Yahiko waved the other shinobi closer, a smile on his face.
"Well folks let's get this show on the road. We'll be headed up towards Iron for this trip. Higuroma is expecting little more than bandits. It should take us two days to get to Iron by train and then a day there to resupply before we head back. Is everyone here familiar with one another?"
The awkward silence was all Yahiko needed. He clapped his hands.
"Well, it's time for introductions shall we!"
"Ajisai."
"Suiu."
"Shigure."
"Samidare."
"Yudachi."
Yahiko blinked.
"Alright, we'll work on getting you all to open up later. Suiu, Yudachi, you two guard the middle of the train. Samidare and Ajisai, you take the back. Shigure and I will handle the front."
"Sir!"
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he looked at Kagari and Nagato. Next to him sat Hanabi Hyuga, the kunoichi having been brought at Nagato's behest.
"I'm not a fan of this idea."
"I understand your hesitation," Nagato explained. "But Kagari makes a good point. With this no harm will come to her."
"Didn't you say you rejected this method of information gathering before?"
Nagato winced, he couldn't deny the truth in Naruto's words. "It...is not ideal. But we have no other way of verifying her words."
"Naruto-sensei," Kagari whispered. "I know this isn't ideal. But this works right? She isn't dying."
Naruto sighed, glancing at the Hyuga who had remained quiet throughout the entire explanation. It was critical for her to understand the risks of this procedure, even if she ultimately had the final say about what the results of it would be. The blonde glanced back at Nagato.
"Why are you doing it now? Why not with the spies from before?"
Nagato looked down in shame.
"I...I failed Naruto. Yahiko made that clear. The Scientific Ninja Facility is destroyed, Sakura Haruno was freed, and Amado was kidnapped. Three heavy blows have been dealt to Ame. Our security measures are clearly not what we expected. My rain and Karin's senses are not enough."
"You could ask me how Konoha's barrier works."
"You lack the ability to see chakra. Your understanding would not be as in depth as hers."
Naruto glared at the older Uzumaki. Nagato recoiled underneath the weight of the glare, understanding his words. Yahiko had been right. He had been naive when he had rejected the idea at first, but this was the best way to garner information without killing needlessly. Naruto had told him he had understood that, at least at first. But there were lines. Risking Hanabi's life undoubtedly was crossing one.
But he had to try. There was the possibility that the Hyuga wouldn't die if she just answered honestly! This could be bloodless!
"It's not me you need to convince."
"You're insane if you think I would subject myself to that."
"All will be fine if you tell the truth. The Jigokudō (Naraka Path) will not kill you if you do."
"I'd rather die."
"Hyuga-san, please-"
"No!" Hanabi said with some finality. "The way I see it, no one here wants to kill me, which means this threat you're hanging above my head is completely empty. You won't force me to reveal village secrets."
Kagari stared at the Hyuga, his eyes hard.
"Konoha is that important to you huh?"
"Of course it is."
"That's what my parents were to me," Kagari muttered, getting Hanabi to look away in shame. "And you took that from me. If Konoha is truly that important to you, I will find a way to take that away from you, just like you did to me. I can do that with you or without you."
Naruto stared at his Chunin, eyes hard but he remained silent.
"Your threats are empty. You cannot kill me."
"I don't want to kill you," Kagari clarified. "That doesn't mean there aren't other ways to get what I want. You don't have to give us details on Konoha's barrier if you think that's too precious. I'll accept details on their battle plans. Important resources near the border. Political weaknesses we can pull on. I'm giving you a choice here. That's more than you gave my parents."
Hanabi glared at the boy. If she had access to her chakra no doubt her Byakugan would have lasered into his core.
"I said, no."
Kagari sat in front of the Hyuga, his eyes peering into her own. The two remained in their deadlock, ideals clearly clashing. Naruto sighed at the display. Hanabi had a point. Without the threat of torture or murder they were lacking anything that could convince her to do anything for Ame of her own free will. The blonde's brain worked at a mile a minute, trying to understand how to best get them out of this situation. Nagato and Kagari both wanted some form of warning system or preventive measure to stop attacks from foreign invaders. He could hardly blame them. But what could he do to convince Hanabi?
"Hanabi," the blonde finally stated. Hanabi's eyes shot towards him. Naruto's eyes hardened. Nagato wanted to protect his village. His son. Kagari wanted to protect his family. Naruto wanted to protect his own, but he couldn't get in the way of their own goals either.
"What if I told you Nagato could free the branch family? Would you be inclined to do it then? To trade?"
Hanabi's eyes narrowed. The kunoichi had taken after her elder sister in more ways than one. She did not care for the bias against the branch family, but she had no way of ending the tradition at the very least until she became the Hyuga Clan Head. Even then it was no guarantee as the elders would protest any policy decision she put forward. But that desire to rid the clan of the abusive juin could be leveraged against her. If there was something she cared about more than Konoha, it was her clan.
Was Naruto bluffing? Entirely. He had no idea if Nagato could stop the juin. He had not even informed the Amekage of its existence. But he had to try. He trusted Nagato to play along.
"You're lying."
That was expected. What Naruto suggested was like being offered a miracle.
"He can," Naruto stated, glancing at Nagato. The Amekage nodded, not missing a beat.
"I can. I have heard tales of the shackles placed upon the branch family. It is within my power to remove them."
Naruto wanted to snort. It was the best lie Nagato could come up with on short notice. If Hanabi had known him she'd see right through it. Nagato didn't talk like that. But she didn't know him.
"Why should I believe you? No one has proven to be capable of destroying the juinjutsu."
"You didn't have Uzumaki Clan sealing experts looking at it, did you," Naruto explained. "Our clan were the foremost sealing experts in the world. If anyone can free the branch family from their oppression, it's us."
Hanabi's eyes narrowed.
"Your mother-"
"Was never asked to do so," Naruto clarified. "Hiashi didn't protest the juinjutsu's existence. Why would he ask my mother or my father?"
Hanabi's eyes narrowed. She was all too familiar with the curse mark. She knew how it marred Hinata's relationship with Neji and even her uncle's relationship with her father, little she knew about it. Part of her worried it would mar her own children's life. It had hung over her head when she was young. Her father had put off applying the seal to her for ages. Then he put off applying it to Hinata. It was a blessing. No doubt he had fought arduously over it. If he hadn't...Hanabi dared not think what her future or Hinata's future would have been.
"Hanabi," Naruto reiterated. "You're right. We don't have the cards to force you to help us. But we do have the cards to ask you too. You get something in return, we get something in return."
"You're asking me to be a traitor."
"Is the freedom of your clan worth being a traitor for?"
Hanabi was silent.
"You can have time to think about it," Nagato explained. "We will not pressure you. Kagari, take her back to her cell."
"Wait a second," Kagari stated. His voice was hot. "You're going to help her?"
Naruto frowned.
"What would you have us do? We need to help her to get information out of her."
"What we need is to punish her," Kagari yelled, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. The blonde's eyes narrowed.
"Kagari, we've been over this-"
"No, we went over the fact that she shouldn't die because that doesn't solve anything. But she shouldn't be rewarded for what she did. For killing my parents!"
Naruto frowned, placing a hand on Kagari's shoulder.
"I understand your complaint Kagari. But we have nothing we can use against her. Her giving us village secrets that make Rain even more impenetrable to attack will be her punishment. But the branch family members of the Hyuga Clan...we can help them. Stop bad blood from festering. Perhaps even smooth over the relationship between Konoha and Ame. That way no one else will die in the future, all through actions you put into motion. I know it's not quite what you wanted...but don't you think this is better than nothing?"
Kagari was quiet for a moment, refusing to meet Naruto's eyes. He shrugged off his sensei's arm, a frown forming on his face.
"I hope you're right," Kagari muttered, grabbing Hanabi and marching out the room.
As they left the room Nagato's eyes turned to Naruto.
"I'd hope you actually plan on explaining to me what it is I just promised to do?"
"Hyuga Clan juinjutsu. It seals the Byakugan upon a branch family members death. Not a bad idea by itself, but the downside is that it also allows all the main branch family members to effectively destroy their brain. Overuse of this punishment can leave a branch family member catatonic. It's a particularly devious juinjutsu. Even Jiraiya-sensei couldn't figure it out."
"You believe me capable of destroying a juin that even Jiraiya-sensei failed to? Naruto this is above me. We just lied to her."
"Not necessarily. I have two ideas on how it could work, and honestly they're both prayers."
Nagato's eyes asked for an explanation that needed no verbal que. Naruto continued on.
"The first is the Gakidō (Preta Path). You can absorb chakra, right? Is there any reason why you can't absorb chakra from seals? Have you tried it before?"
Nagato blinked.
"I have not..."
"That's attempt one," Naruto admitted. "The second, well, we said we wanted to go to the ruins of Uzushio right? I'm sure there's something there that can help us."
"The village was destroyed decades ago. Any important information was likely taken a long time ago Naruto."
"We won't know until we try. It's worth trying."
Nagato's eyes narrowed.
"Naruto we cannot risk this on a gamble."
"Well unless you have a better idea on how to get this information out of her this is what we're going to do. She won't subject herself to the Jigokudō and I won't let you force her to."
Nagato frowned before he nodded.
"Then let's get me a seal to practice on then."
Naruto flicked a kunai at the Amekage, who caught it with ease. He glanced at the seal on it.
"If this fails it's going to blow up my office."
"It's a flashbang seal for precisely that reason."
Nagato rolled his eyes before he activated the Gakidō. His eyes narrowed, feeling a strange sensation in his gut before he glanced Naruto. Naruto took the signal for what it was, releasing the seal and finding...
Nothing.
There was no flashbang. No explosion. No pop.
Nothing.
Naruto grinned.
"You can do it Nagato. You can absorb chakra from seals!"
Nagato gave a soft smile. "Perhaps your suggestion wasn't far off from reality."
"I'll have Kagari bring Hanabi back. This should be proof enough!"
"I would not do that."
Naruto frowned.
"Why not?"
"Chakra absorption is a risky business. Whenever I absorb chakra directly from a person rather than their ninjutsu the drain on them is visible."
"I think they can live with a bit of drain if their brains won't be turned to mush."
"That's the problem. What if that drain has a direct impact on their brain? This is a juinjutsu Naruto, it will have failsafe's if it is tampered with."
"You think absorbing the juin would cause it to kill them?"
"It is at least something we should consider."
"Let's talk to Fuka about it," Naruto stated. Nagato's eyes narrowed.
"Don't look at me like that. Her and I have mostly patched things up, at least as well as possible. Besides, she's the best sealer we have in Ame. If anyone is going to know about the difficulties or complications regarding this, it's her."
Nagato smiled.
"Then let's go."
Sakura's eyes winced as she saw the massive gates that signified her home. It had been some time since she had last seen it. It was a welcome sight.
"We're here," Shikaku stated. His force had already returned, going their separate ways. "I'd recommend you go to the hospital. We may have removed the seal on your body, but your wounds..."
Sakura shook her head, a subtle genjutsu over her body to hide the scars left by Fuka.
"I'll be fine Shikaku. Wounds are the toll we pay as shinobi. You should go be with your wife. I'm sure she'll want to hear news about the attack against Rain. Besides, I have to see Tsunade-sama and my parents, let alone check up on what has happened at the hospital since my disappearance. I'll be plenty busy."
"I'm sure the Hokage will wish to see you as well."
"I'm sure he will," Sakura stated. "But he can make time to see me. I have more important things to do than update him on my return. There are soldiers that need healing."
Shikaku shook his head as the iryonin leapt into the distance, instead heading directly towards the Hokage Office to offer his report.
It hadn't taken long for Sakura to catch up with her parents. They had been terrified about her disappearance but seeing her back in one piece was the most that they could have hoped for. She didn't bother letting them see her wounds. It wouldn't have done any good. Rain had already left a negative taste in her mouth; she did not need them worrying about her everywhere she went now as well. Instead, she quickly left much to their chagrin. She didn't intend to make them worry, but with her absence she worried that Tsunade had been left abandoned. When she arrived at the Sannin's house she found it empty.
So, she was here, in front of the Yamanaka Clan's flower shop. She expected to find Ino. She was the only other person that would likely know where the Sannin was. The bells chimed as she entered.
"Hello?"
"It's me piggy."
Ino blinked, anger rising inside her until she saw Sakura standing there.
"Sakura! Oh thank goodness. I was about to melt your brain."
"You know you can't do that to random people even if they insult you right?"
"How have you been? You're back!"
Ino engulfed the kunoichi in a hug, completely ignoring Sakura's warning. The Yamanaka hadn't meant it.
Mostly.
"I got back just a bit ago," Sakura admitted. "It's all thanks to Shikaku. He freed me from Ame. Almost kicked off the war against them in full but, I managed to avoid that."
"What does that mean?"
"I'll give you the details later," Sakura admitted.
"How have you been? Are you hurt? Did they torture you? You look pretty healthy to me..."
"One question at a time," Sakura stated, raising her hands. "I'm fine. How has Konoha been in my absence?"
Ino winced, biting her lip before she explained the situation to Sakura. How Konohamaru and Sasuke had disappeared along with Mikoto in a fort, how Gai had met his end at the hands of the Raikage, and the current details regarding the situation with the Uchiha Clan and their supposed guilt of treason. Sakura's face had only grown sourer each minute.
'Sasuke and Konohamaru are gone? And Gai-sensei is dead? What have I been missing?'
"Things sure have been busy since I've been gone," Sakura whispered, a frown grossing her face. There was much for her to be caught up on it seemed. She needed to understand the situation. "Has a search party gone out for Sasuke, Konohamaru, and Mikoto?"
"No. As you might imagine, Hokage-sama refuses to. Something about it not being worth it."
Sakura's eyes narrowed, anger flashing in them. Ino recoiled at the intensity. She knew full well the monster Sakura kept neatly restrained behind walls of mental barriers and diligent work as a doctor. But for a brief moment they had crumbled down. For a brief moment Ino worried that Sakura might storm directly to the Hokage's office and demand a search party be formed, but it the anger was quickly submerged behind an icy exterior.
"I see," was all Sakura said. "And Tsunade-sama?"
Ino winced, having expected this part of the conversation.
"She...disappeared."
Sakura's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean she disappeared?"
"Well..."
"Ino..."
"ANBU came in the same day the first attack by the supposed Uchiha traitors occurred," Ino explained. "They said that Danzo requested her for something. I haven't seen her since."
Sakura's eyes narrowed.
"Danzo called for her? Why? She's useless as an iryonin in her mental state, and she refuses to fight. What possible use could he have for her?"
"The ANBU didn't say."
"And you haven't seen her anywhere since?"
"No."
Sakura's eyes narrowed. She quickly stood up.
"Then I'll go find out myself."
"Sakura, what are you going to do? March directly into the Hokage office and demand answers?"
"I don't see why not."
"This is Danzo we're talking about here, not the Sandaime. He won't react well to that."
"Good," Sakura said, and the anger Ino feared was back. This time it stayed.
"I don't want him to."
Danzo stared at the man before him grovel, fear visible in his eyes. Disgust crinkled his face as he stared at the supposed genius before him.
"You are Amado? I expected...more composure."
"What do you want from me?"
His voice was still strong, despite his obvious fear. Perhaps Danzo had misjudged him.
"You know what I want from you. It is the entire reason why Kashin was ordered to infiltrate your works and kidnap you. You have made ninja tools for Ame; tools that far exceed that which is possible for Konoha to replicate on its own. Your genius has uses. It will be put to work in service of Konoha."
"Why should I," Amado questioned. "You kidnapped me."
"You bear no loyalty to Ame. You simply set up there. There is no reason for you to not work here."
"I don't take kindly to being kidnapped."
"I'm sure a man of your intelligence would take kindly to the added resources we have here. Resources Rain cannot provide. What you create here will dwarf anything you ever could have created in Rain. That is the difference between Konoha and a minor village."
Amado stared at the man, eyes hard. He was no fool. He knew his predicament. He wasn't being offered a position. He was being told. If he refused, he had no doubt he would be forced into it or outright killed. His only option was to accept the command of the Hokage. He hadn't been wrong either. He truly had no loyalty to Rain. Sure, he liked Nagato and Konan well enough, but there was nothing explicitly binding him to the country.
But still, working for the person who kidnapped him left a vile taste in his mouth. One that he couldn't simply ignore. He would get his revenge against Danzo Shimura. Of that he was certain.
"I'll work for the Hokage," Amado finally stated, eyes hard. "But you can't tamper with my brain with any ninjutsu. It could endanger my work."
"I had no such plans," Danzo stated. He nodded to the side and Kashin walked in, hands flickering with a purple flame. Amado's eyes narrowed.
"What is that?"
"Insurance," Danzo stated. Danzo turned to leave, only for him to hesitate briefly to stare into Amado's eyes.
"And you do not work for the Hokage. You work for me."
That was all Amado got before the flames impacted with his skin and he cried out in pain.
Konan smiled as Fuyo approached, the kunoichi wearing a traditional iryonin garb.
"Are you ready to go Fuyo?"
"I am, but Konan-sama are you sure a force of just us is enough? If we're going to fight against Suna shinobi..."
Konan placed a hand on Fuyo's shoulder, a smile on her face.
"Remember Fuyo, we're a political force first. Military second. If we need reinforcements, we can ask for them, alright? I've talked with Nagato. We have troops on standby."
Konan narrowed her eyes.
"But that's not what you're really worried about? Is it?"
Fuyo glanced at the ground.
"I'm not the best iryonin in Ame. You would do better if you got someone else."
Konan smiled, her typically stoic blue eyes gentle in the face of the younger kunoichi.
"And I'm not the strongest shinobi in Ame. But I'm going. We don't have to be the very best at something to make an impact Fuyo. I told you, I chose you for a reason. If you don't believe in yourself, believe in me until you do, okay?"
Fuyo smiled, nodding back at the S-class shinobi before her.
"Alright, Konan-sama!"
"Good. Let's go then. To Rivers."
Fuka stared at the two men before her. She hadn't expected a visit from either today, least of all the blonde that stood before her. They may have made up, but time was the only thing that would heal the wounds between them. They had already achieved the closest thing either would get to closure on the issue without coming to blows once more. They would have to settle for that.
Nagato's attention switched between his cousin and his wife, a small warm feeling burning in his heart as he saw it. It wasn't quite what he wanted, but this was the closest he would get to his family being completely whole. It was a good feeling.
The duo then explained the situation to Fuka, both ignoring her frown when it was revealed that they were technically helping a Konoha shinobi. A dangerous one at that. But the Uzumaki kunoichi put it behind her, acknowledging the situation they were in. Helping the Hyuga Clan was worth it if they truly did get to create an effective barrier around Ame.
There was simply one problem.
"I wouldn't recommend doing it," Fuka suggested. The kunoichi sighed, sitting down on a chair nearby.
"Why not?"
"Naruto, lift up your shirt."
The blonde blinked, confused, but Fuka insisted. He did so, feeling somewhat exposed.
"Circulate your chakra."
At her behest he did so and the seal containing the Kyuubi appeared on his stomach. Fuka looked at Nagato.
"Steal the Kyuubi's chakra."
Nagato blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me. Steal it from Naruto's seal."
"Wait a second," Naruto exclaimed, quickly dropping his shirt. "Removing a Bijuu from a Jinchuriki would kill them!"
"Exactly," Fuka stated. "If Nagato truly could siphon chakra directly from your seal, and based on what you explained to me I'd wager he probably could, he would kill you if he took all of the Kyuubi's chakra. Fuinjutsu is a delicate shinobi art. Even I don't know the intricacies of it. But from what you've described this isn't just a regular juinjutsu. This one intricately relates to the mind. There's no telling the potential dangers of absorbing chakra from it. Every juinjutsu has countermeasures. Naruto, did your seal have any?"
Naruto blinked.
"Well...the one time I almost destroyed my seal a chakra construct of my dad appeared and stopped me. He restored the seal."
The two other Uzumaki's blinked.
"I didn't know that was possible," Fuka muttered.
"The Yondaime Hokage was more impressive than I thought," Nagato whispered.
"Either way," Fuka continued. "That proves my point. Powerful fuinjutsu have powerful countermeasures to make sure they work appropriately. You can't just destroy them so easily without significant risk. Unless you know of a Hyuga who's willing to let you test drive this idea, I'd say you should go with your other idea."
"Do you know of any Uzumaki Clan fuinjutsu that could help? Or even delve into a similar field," Nagato questioned.
"I don't remember," Fuka answered honestly. "Fuinjutsu wasn't my subject of interest, and the village was destroyed when I was still relatively young. I didn't learn everything there was to offer. It's a possibility, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. Especially after it was destroyed."
"So, you're saying I told Hanabi a lie," Naruto questioned.
"I didn't say that," Fuka answered. "There's a chance but it's small. I can do some research, try to figure out what could be of use. Maybe design some seals with countermeasures on them just to see what would happen if Nagato absorbed them."
Fuka looked at Naruto.
"Consider this my way of making it up to you."
She turned her attention back to Nagato.
"But we won't really know what we're dealing with unless I can see the seal or Nagato uses his abilities on one."
"I'm sure I can get Hanabi to agree to that," Nagato stated. "This is an opportunity."
"You should hold off on that," Naruto stated. "She was...shaken by the idea. We just dangled one of her sisters hopes and dreams in front of her. That was why I said what I said. Once she's had some time to process the idea, we should approach her with this. We still want her to give us something in return, if we say we're not sure now she won't do that."
"That's cold," Nagato stated. "Especially for your sister-in-law."
"It is, but it's necessary. The village can't be attacked like it was again."
Naruto glanced at Fuka.
"Consider this my way of protecting your family."
Fuka smiled.
"We'll wait then," Nagato stated. "Although I doubt I could raise this concern when negotiating her freedom with Konoha. We're on a time limit."
"I expect it'll be quite a bit longer than you're expecting," Naruto stated. "Danzo isn't the type to rush negotiations remember? Unless he suddenly steps down or dies, Konoha will be in no rush to get Hanabi back, heir to the Hyuga Clan or not."
"Perfect," Fuka stated. "Gives me time to work."
Danzo's eyes narrowed as the door was thrown open with such blatant disrespect. There were few in Konoha who had the power to so blatantly disrespect him. Fewer still he thought it wise to do so.
And this kunoichi was certainly not one of them.
"Sakura Haruno."
"Danzo," Sakura said, her voice sweet. The lack of reference by his official title was noted by both but not commented on.
"You have returned. Shikaku informed me earlier. Why did you not come with him to inform me yourself?"
"I was checking on family."
"You forget yourself. Duty to the village is first and foremost. That means duty to me. Or has your time in Amegakure led you to forget that?"
"I don't much care for the insinuation that I'm a traitor," Sakura stated calmly. The killing intent in the air was razor thin, but it was potent. Danzo knew that the kunoichi was on the precipice of losing her temper. What had infuriated her so, he had no idea. Her eyes glared at him. He met them with the same stoicism he met everyone else. She would not get a rise from him.
"But I'll let it slide if you tell me where Tsunade-sama is?"
Suddenly everything clicked for Danzo. He quickly realized he was walking a very fine line with the shinobi before him. Loathe as he was to admit it, even she was above him in combat. He could not cow her with his military might alone. With the ANBU in the room with him there was a possibility he could take her down, but it was unlikely. Of course, that was only if she reacted poorly to his news. There was no reason to lie. The Sannin had died and hiding her death did not serve his interests. The kunoichi would dig. It was best to lay the truth before her and control the narrative before she had any time to react.
"She has died," Danzo stated calmly. His words left a silence in the air. He measured the Haruno's state. The slight twitch she made as she heard the news. The way of eyes shifted from anger to disbelief, to despair in such a brief moment. The way her muscles relaxed, as if the energy had left them. The tears she restrained only through years of carefully trained self-control. Her armor cracked, but it did not crumble.
"I see," she said. Her voice was restrained, softer now. It had lost its edge. It was a display of her own mastery that one could not hear sadness in it. "When?"
"Last night. I took her in because her condition worsened not long after you left. Konoha's best iryonin failed to save her."
Sakura wanted to curse that phrase. Konoha's best iryonin. What a pathetic excuse.
She was Konoha's best iryonin.
And she hadn't been here.
"Perhaps if you were here things could have been different," Danzo stated. He said the statement as if it were a matter of fact, but it had the intended effect. A single tear streaked down the Haruno's face.
"May I have her body?"
"I will have a shinobi give it to you. I restrained myself from announcing the news publicly, given the recent deaths of Hiruzen and Gai. It would be...bad for morale. You may bury her as you wish."
Sakura nodded, walking dumbly out of the office. Danzo watched her disappear, his eyes hard.
"Have someone watch her. We will need to recover Tsunade's body after she buries it."
An invisible figure vanished from the room and Danzo resumed his work.
Madoka watched as his army of samurai marched out of the capital city of Shiranui. He had waited long enough for the so-called Hokage to march his armies out to free Hirashi and Rivers. He could no longer wait. He was quickly losing favor with the Daimyo of Rivers, and that spoke nothing of the insult to his pride as Daimyo that Hirashi had been taken. The city was far too critical to everything Fire did for it to be allowed to be occupied.
Of course, Madoka knew better than to simply march towards an army of shinobi with an army of samurai. Samurai were strong. The leader of his samurai army could likely compete with some of the samurai from Iron. But they were mostly an enforcement group, able to use chakra more than your average civilian but lacking the deeper training most shinobi had. They were effective for non-shinobi combat and war targets. Enforcing the law, stopping riots, and stopping any Daimyo that thought too largely of themselves. But they were not shinobi.
That was why he had brought insurance with his army.
The Twelve Guardian Shinobi, his own personal shinobi bodyguards. Twelve of the most powerful shinobi in Fire. They had sworn their loyalty to him, instead of the Hokage. Typically, this vow was symbolic more than practical. They would not be called into active war zones, but that was due to their duty to stop any assassination attempts on him. Most of these shinobi hailed from Konoha rather than your average nukenin. They had been personally selected by the Hokage to protect him. As such, they were extremely skilled.
Madoka only wished he could have taken all of them with him. Alas, there was the very real possibility that Shiranui was attacked by a splinter force of the Suna retinue currently evading his lands. He could not afford for that possibility to become a reality and Shiranui to fall in his absence. As such, six of the guardians remained at his seat of power to protect it.
With him marched notable names.
Kitane Kato, a former Konoha shinobi who had made quite a name for himself as a formidable wielder of the Raiton element during the Third Shinobi World War. The man was a Jonin, and a formidable one at that.
Tou Unone, another shinobi of the Raiton element. She had been a rogue shinobi when she had first been discovered. It was only the positions salary that had convinced her to join under his command. She was one of two rogue elements that had ended up becoming part of his bodyguards.
Saisu Hyuga, a branch family member of the Hyuga Clan that had earned the high honor of serving as one of his bodyguards. It was a rarity for shinobi from a clan to serve under him due to their family loyalties, and even rarer for a branch family member of the Hyuga Clan to do so. They were usually extremely protective of their clan's Kekkei Genkai. If Saisu had bred with anyone they did not approve of he would effectively be passing down a Kekkei Genkai to an element outside of Hyuga control. Due to this he had been sterilized.
Kiseru Ganbuki, a Katon (Fire Release) wielder, who was by far the youngest member of his retinue, being only 20 years old. His ninjutsu and taijutsu prowess far exceed his age, allowing him to devastating battle lines with his sheer power. Given time, he would grow to be the strongest of his Guardians.
Hōshō Thorton. The man was an immigrant from Snow who had moved to Fire at a young age. He lacked the capability for combat, but he was a pristine iryonin, a valuable asset to have as one of his bodyguards and when on a warpath like this.
The last and most loyal of his shinobi was Kazuma Furido. The man had been a rogue, not unlike Tou Unone. He had been much older when he had been found, but upon reaching Shiranui he had immediately pledged his loyalty to Madoka. At first the Daimyo had not trusted him. Men did not often appear from nowhere and pledge loyalty to him with good intent. He would not have lasted long as Daimyo if he had been so trusting. But Kazuma had worked his way up the ranks, showing nothing but the utmost devotion at every turn. He had even stopped an assassination attempt by the former Grass Daimyo. Kazuma was perhaps more devoted to Madoka than any shinobi was to their respective Daimyo.
The perfect leader of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi.
As his army marched on Shiranui, Madoka's thoughts drifted back to the so-called Hokage who ruled the military of Fire. He had grown inept. First, he had let Suna penetrate this deep into Fire and now Might Gai had died under his command and he did nothing to stop Lightning's march across his territory. It was not just an insult to the citizens of Fire and his duty; it was an insult to him.
Madoka would not stand for it.
He had thought the Hokage a necessary part of the power structure of Fire. But clearly, he would have to reevaluate that decision after doing his work for him.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed as he saw the village gates.
"We are here," Fugaku stated, looking back at Konohamaru and Sasuke. The two exhausted shinobi let loose a sigh of relief as they saw the village gates.
"We're here," Sasuke whispered.
"We're home."
