2 days since the second battle of Sakai:
One of the guard currently on duty around Konoha's main encampment for the siege was startled as he felt a firm hand grip his shoulder. Looking back behind him, he found Toushiro, the axe wielding Kiri ninja standing behind him. The young Jounin gave a nod of consent as he watched the man loose some of his tension, the muscles in his arms and legs uncoiling as he allowed himself to drop his guard and place the kunai he had reflexively grabbed back into its proper holster.
"Go get some rest, its my shift now."
The guard nodded "Yes sir." He spoke respectfully before he inclined his head in a slight bow.
Toushiro sat down, preparing for the long shift. Trying not to think of the wounded state of his father. While he knew that his father was not invincible, it was still very disheartening to see him so injured. His father was one of the strongest men he knew after all.
He let his eyes travel to the sky above, judging by the coming dawn, orange and purple hues decorating the horizon over Iwa's jagged peaks he could assume that it was somewhere between five thirty and six. He would have a shift until about 2:00 or 3:00 where the next person would take up the shift. The crisp morning air, blanketed with the deep morning fog from the high mountains. Toushiro wasn't really used to fog. Mist was moist and could be warm in the right conditions, fog had a more dry feeling, more humid, and was just downright cold.
The young Jounin oftentimes wondered how the Iwa Shinobi could deal with it at this altitude. Though he must admit it must do wonders for endurance training. The air was much thinner here than what it was in Kiri, meaning that their endurance could easily be halved if they didn't know how to deal with such an environment. Most of the ninja that were assigned to this assault had received a crash course in breathing and minor chakra control techniques to assist them in managing the thin air while their bodies adjusted properly.
Toushiro slowly sat back, leaning his head against the wall. For the last two days, there had been little activity on both sides of the wall, both merely patrolling their respective lines and making sure no one tried to pull one thing over the others eyes. But, as Toushiro sat around for a bit longer, he noticed, that just beyond the morning fog faint, shadowy silhouettes could be seen. His eyes narrowed as he slowly stood, forcing his eyes to pierce through the ghostly veil. As the sun rose over the hills, and light descended down, dispelling the shadows Toushiro's eyes widened as he came across the sight of what must have been nearly the entire Iwa army! Over the wall, and practically at their doorstep.
He looked to the other guard towers and scouting points, finding Iwa Shinobi at them instead, he could even see the slightly distinguished forms of what seemed like gray lumps, possibly bodies near them.
Sensing a presence behind him he reacted instantly. Turning, and fluidly catching knife and wrist, the attacker having been aiming for his kidneys, judging by the angle his hand was at. Pulling the man forward, the Kiri nin delivered a quick elbow to the man's throat, listening to him gag, before he delivered another elbow to the man's extended forearm, listening to it give a sickening snap. The man chocked on his own scream before Toushiro delivered another backhand across his face, knocking him to the floor as his mask cracked. Taking out one of his axes he plunged it into the ninja's chest as he was down, snapping his rib bones with the force behind his blow. The man gave a single jerk before he fell limp.
Toushiro cursed before immediately rushing off to sound the alarm Iwa had caught them with their pants down. Definitely not a good thing.
Yoshihiro smirked, watching the young Kiri ninja flee the scene. "Heh, so we weren't able to get them all, then." Not a moment later bells were rung throughout the leaf camp before them. He pulled the scope from his eyes. Looking to his Jounin next to him he spoke up. "Well they aren't just gonna commit suicide for ya! Move!" He yelled out the order so that it was carried over the assembled group of ninja, and in silence they all vanished. A moment later cries were heard coming from the Konoha camp, the sound of metal clashing against metal following shortly behind.
He smirked, letting his eyes travel to Temari and Toyohisa. The two had remained behind, acting as bodyguards to make sure no one else attempted any other assassinations. "You two really should join the battle, surprise attacks are good for you, seeing the enemy get out of their tents, confused, disoriented and some times butt naked is certainly not a sight you'll get to see many times.
Temari's nose wrinkled in distaste at the joke. "No thank you, guarding an old man is just fine by me." She shot back, smirking at Yoshihiro's snort.
Toyohisa shook his head, "Uncle, you know very well that I didn't even want to bring you out into the field, I sure as hell am not going to leave you here alone for any other attempt on your life to be carried out."
Yoshihiro shook his head and was about to tell his mother hen of a nephew that he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself when pressure built up in his chest and he released a hacking cough, placing a fist over his mouth as he tried to suppress more coughs as they flowed up from his lungs
After about ten seconds Temari started to get a bit concerned, placing a hand on the older mans armored back. "Hey are you alright?"
"Uncle!" Toyohisa questioned.
"I-cough-fine!" The older managed to gasp out unconvincingly as more coughs escaped his lips, becoming violent as he hunched forward, placing his free hand to grasp Toyohisa in order to hold himself up.
"Hey, Toyohisa-san, I think we need to get him back to the medics or something!" Temari cried out in alarm as the older man's coughing got visibly worse, and he actually sounded like he was hacking up something a lot redder than mucus.
Yoshihiro fell to one knee, Temari and Toyohisa grabbing him by his armpits to stop him from falling completely. Finally after almost another thirty seconds of the older man's violent coughing it finally died down, allowing both the Tsuchikage, and the other two to breathe easier.
"Uncle." Toyohisa began uncertainly. "You haven't been taking your medication have you?"
'Medication?' Temari thought in silent question, having never heard, or having any inclination at the older man having any condition that required medication.
Yoshihiro glared at his loose tongued nephew before standing. "No, I haven't. Those damn cough pills of yours cloud the mind, make me drowsy. Cant afford that in a battle."
"Bu-" The younger man moved to protest when Yoshihiro grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt, pulling him so they were face to face.
The old man spoke firmly, and with an edge of graveness to his voice, but with an underlying hint of softness. "This is a battlefield Toyohisa. You just think of the enemies around and in front of you. You can worry about my carcass later, got it?"
Slowly the younger man nodded and Yoshihiro released him. Looking to Temari he sent her a silent glare, asking for her to remain very quiet. Catching the older mans look she understood it and decided it was the interest of her health insurance if she did as he wished.
Hinata screamed out a curse as a kunai sliced open the back of her knee, thrown from one of the passing Iwa nin. Growling as her knee gave out, she blocked the incoming strike from another ninja with one hand, delivered a quick palm thrust to the man's stomach with her other, forcing him to cough up blood, then she used the same hand to grab one of the kunai from his pouch. The ninja behind her at this point had tossed another kunai, this one aiming for the back of her head. She spun around, throwing her newly acquired kunai at her long range attacker while simultaneously placing a minor genjutsu over it, his kunai and hers passing right by each other. Catching the kunai aimed at her she watched as the man tried to do the same, only to see his features twist into one of shock and horror as the kunai sliced open his throat. Spinning back around she plunged the kunai in her hands, upwards into the other man's jaw, watching him give a quick jerk before he fell dead.
The Hyuuga heir cursed again as she performed what little medical abilities she had over her wounded leg. She had barely fallen asleep three hours ago, having been going over the battle plans with Shino, Tenten and Mika. They were scheduled to attack the Iwa ninja tomorrow, near dusk. She had not expected Iwa would ever launch an attack. Their Tsuchikage was injured and if the condition of Guan and Kakashi was anything to go by, he wouldn't be back in fighting condition for at least another month. Judging by how strong Yoshihiro was, loosing him, even just temporarily would be an utterly demoralizing blow to the Iwa ninja. Everyone knows that an army who's morale is low is not one that can lead an attack with a great chance of success. They must be desperate to drive them back. And as Naruto had sometimes said. "Desperation, breeds determination." She had made the critical error of underestimating them, and it was costing her. She was merely armed with a single kunai pouch, being the only thing she had been able to put on, and it was no surprise many ninja were in a similar condition.
Finishing her healing technique she moved to stand, growling as her knee shook in weakness as it struggled to hold her upright, she could not afford any handicap, especially one this damming, at this point so early in the battle.
Her Byakugan flared and immediately she caught sight of a very familiar ninja. Leaping back, she fell to one knee as she landed. A spinning, shredding cyclone crashing down onto the spot she had been standing on a few minutes earlier. The dust soon cleared, revealing the snarling Kiba, though he held the hints of a smirk on his lips. "Heh, no bug loving freak to save you now eh?"
"Who say's I need saving from a mongrel like you?" Hinata shot back in a bored tone, but carried an edge to it, weather that was from anger, or from worry due to her injury wasn't really known.
A voice behind her startled her however. "That would be me!" Hinata spun around, barely managing to catch a scant glimpse of another spinning form before it smashed into her at a downward angle, her arm, which had taken the full brunt of the impact, released a sickening snap as claws slashed it open, rivulets of blood pouring out. Hinata screamed bloody murder, pain racing up and down her arm. She did manage to notice however, that by the angle her attacker came from, they had used the Byakugan's blind spot to get in that close. She had gotten careless yet again, the fact that no one had used that weakness against her during the recent battles had led her to believe no one in Iwa knew about it, and the fact that Kiba, Sakura, or that other blond haired girl she had fought had used it had also led her to believe none of the Konoha refugee's knew about it either. Another foolish mistake on her part, especially using KIBA of all people to compare the rest of the Konoha nins that were here.
The attack had sent her in Kiba's direction, the Inuzuka boy's hands reared back as he prepared to tear her open with the sharp, natural weapons that were his claws. Fighting through the pain she righted herself in mid air, catching the boy's upwards slash with her one good arm, blocking the other with her left leg, and driving her right foot into the boys throat, kicking both him and herself away, as she used him to gain leverage to back flip so she landed on her feet.
While she was in mid air however another form suddenly exploded from the ground that was previously beneath Kiba. Hinata's eyes widened as she came across the sight of a second Kiba, no doubt Akamaru as he lunged for her, claws extended.
Spinning around quickly the familiar, signature barrier of her clan formed around her. "Kaiten!"
Akamaru's henge dispelled as the animal was forcefully thrown away, the creatures sharp yelp reaching the ears of those within earshot as he scraped and skidded to a stop on the harsh gravel covering the floor.
Hinata groaned from the stress placed on her injured arm. As the barrier around her dissipated however, she caught sight of Hana, behind her, a kunai already aimed to strike at her ribs.
Hinata struggled to turn, knowing already that it was too late, but refusing to accept defeat lying down.
Hana smirked, certain of the Hyuuga girls death, and at least a part of their revenge being accomplished, when Hinata suddenly vanished, and she felt her wrist caught in an iron, unyielding grip.
Cursing, the Inuzuka girl froze as her eyes found red, red and black before her eyes.
The slight click as the hand, clad in a metallic, segmented gauntlet, tightened its already powerful grip on her wrist brought her back, slowly her eyes traveled up, to the form that towered above her. Blood red cloak billowing in the cold, harsh wind of the high mountains. Sharp, metal facemask covering the bottom half of his features, while the veiled shadow, formed by the hood of his cloak, covered the other half. Burning red eyes stared back into her own as they glowed eerily from the darkness. Hana growled, hiding the fear gripping her chest as she stared upon this man after a decade, behind a veil of anger, a much more secure emotion by comparison.
Kiba's eyes widened, and for a moment, all seemed to freeze. Holding itself perfectly still at the sight of him.
Hinata, from her place on the ground gasped when she saw him. Her commander, clad in his old battle garb. It had been nearly a full seven years since she had last seen the imposing sight of him in that armor. She had to admit, it was a somewhat strange, bringing both relief, and unease.
Hana growled as she slashed with her other hand, a trail of chakra flowing from her claw tips, heading for his face.
Naruto released her wrist, and with the same arm blocked her incoming strike, meeting his fist with her forearm, Hana screamed as the tough bone was cracked, the sickening sound reaching Naruto's ears. He followed up his attack, with one powerful blow young woman's chest.
Hana, froze for a moment, before she coughed up blood, hunching over as she fell to her knees, blood escaping her lips and pooling beneath her. Naruto faintly heard a horn being blown in the distance but paid little attention to it.
"Sis!" Kiba cried out in fear and alarm before he snarled, rushing the hooded ninja in a blind fury.
Naruto looked over his shoulder, red eyes glowing eerily as he spoke. "Worthless."
Hinata's eyes traveled down to his hand, widening in alarm as a familiar ball of chakra formed and spun rapidly in his right hand, red creeping over it before it burst into flame.
"Get back!" She cried to all within earshot before she herself used Shunshin in her attempt to get as far away from the area as possible.
Yoshihiro's eyes snapped open as he stood up, a slow feeling of dread creeping down his spine as a chakra, controlled, but certainly powerful reached his highly tuned senses. Toyohisa turned, sensing the distress in his uncle, something that was very odd. "Uncle...what's wrong?" He questioned, watching as Temari tensed and placed a hand on her fan as she too sensed the heavyness that settled over the air.
"Toyohisa." The older man spoke slowly, pausing as he weighed his next words. "Call the troops back."
The young Shimazu looked visibly startled as he spoke. "Wha-what? But uncle, we have the ad-"
"I SAID CALL THEM BACK, DONT ARGUE!" The Tsuchikage roared, knowing that now was not the time for his inexperienced nephews premature assumptions of their victory.
Toyohisa unconsciously stepped back before he nodded once, vanishing in a cloud of smoke and a second later the horn for the retreat call was blown and in a scant few seconds Iwa ninja began rushing towards them, most visibly confused and outraged at being ordered to retreat when they held the Konoha ninja at such a key disadvantage.
"Tsuchikage-sama!" One of the Anbu cried out as he landed in front of him. "What is the meaning of this?"
As if waiting for the man's question a huge explosion shook the ground beneath their feet, and flames roared to life as they engulfed a wide area within the outer city, buildings crumbled and glasses shattered as the shockwave passed over them. Yoshihiro's eyes narrowed as dust and debris was kicked up, some scant few particles and pebbles smacking against his face as most of the ninja's cries of shock and alarm.
"That is." Yoshihiro answered rhetorically as Toyohisa appeared next to him, visibly shaken from the degree of destruction that occurred so unexpectedly. "Toyohisa." The older man spoke calmly. "Take the men and retreat, pull them back behind the wall, I'll stay and act as the rear guard."
"No uncle." The young man spoke. "Let me, I will stay and you lead the men, you're still too."
"I'm old, your young. End of discussion Toyohisa." Yoshihiro interrupted again, not giving the young man more time to speak.
Soon enough however, next to Temari; Sakura, Shikamaru, Ino and Chouji soon appeared. Each in a puff of smoke and each visibly confused over the situation. "What's going on?" Ino questioned her fellow blond.
Temari shook her head. "I'm not entirely sure, but we're pulling back for now."
Looking around, she spoke slowly. "Where's Kiba and Hana?"
Their question was answered however, as Akamaru landed next to them, Hana hunched over holding onto Kiba and Kiba himself, draped over his dog's back, burns covering much of their forms. Hana was visibly struggling to even keep herself upright.
"Hana!" Sakura cried worriedly at the sight of the older girl so injured. Rushing over, the group helped them get off of Akamaru.
Ino and Temari, who were grabbing Kiba froze, not due to the sheer amount of blood covering his body, or all the burns sustained by the Inuzuka, but by the fact, that his right arm...was no longer there. From the shoulder down, Kiba was missing his right arm.
The two blonds glanced at each other, their gazes filled with a shock and pit forming at the bottom of their stomachs. They both knew, that at this point, Kiba's career as a ninja, was undoubtedly over..
The other's who had also noticed Kiba's dismemberment by now barely caught the sound of Hana's strained voice as it was breathed from between the older girls lips. "It's him!(cough)He's...here!" She wheezed out, nearly falling over as Sakura all but held her up.
The others looked confused for a brief moment before a dawning realization settled over their eyes. Then, another explosion shook the ground at their feet, the heat making them wince in discomfort as it bit at their skin.
"Go Toyohisa!" They heard Yoshihiro bark, looking to the older man, they watched as the young man nodded before he turned and began barking out orders. His voice faded out into the background however as Yoshihiro turned to them, an understanding passing between their eyes as the Iwa Shinobi did as instructed and rushed back over the wall, a scant few remaining behind to act as the rear guard.
They looked to the roaring wall of flames, a distance away, watching, waiting for the opponent they each knew was coming.
They saw a shadowed figure slowly making its way through the fire each tensing as the orange and red heat obscured his form. To their surprise however, an Iwa Anbu came stumbling out, holding the bleeding stump of his arm, his facemask, shattered, the mouthpiece hanging by a small black strap around his neck. Blood flowing down from his forehead, covering his face in the red liquid as he stumbled towards them, his eyes wide with fear as he looked around, seemingly disoriented or looking for some one, or something. Bumping against buildings, debris and overall junk they could faintly hear the man muttering something, the words becoming clear as he neared them.
"Akki...akkisho. Akkisho!" He repeated as he tripped over himself, rushing to get to the Tsuchikage, the one man who could help him, who could defend him from the monstrosity that was behind him.
Temari watched the man approach, but soon her eyes drifted back to the flames, watching them flicker for a split second. Her eyes widened as she saw what caused it.
"GET DOWN!" She screamed out but the man either didn't hear her, or was simply to delirious to register the command. As if sensing his approaching fate however, he turned sluggishly, his face contorting in fear and horror for a brief second before he was cut to several hundred pieces by what was most likely an equal number of wind blades. His bloods an innards exploding over the area.
Yoshihiro's eyes narrowed at the display, having barely noticed where the attack came from.
Once again, a shadowed figure appeared, morphing out of the flames like a specter, the harbinger of their deaths, several more shadows soon appearing at his sides, The red hood and mask becoming visible as multiple yellow eyes glowed next to him, the silhouettes of their slithering bodies becoming visible soon after.
Yoshihiro gritted his teeth. Taking hold of his war hammer before he stepped forward, his gaze never leaving the scarlet covered ninja before him. "Stay calm boys, he's human just like the rest of us. Charge in and take him down."
"Yes Tsuchikage-sama!" The Anbu guard that had remained collectively spoke before they each drew their blades, rushing forward.
Naruto stepped past the flames, his form now fully visible, obscured only by the slight distortions in the air caused by the heat. Looking back behind him, he grunted before he looked in front of him, extending his hand in the direction of the enemy. Receiving their masters signal, hundreds of snakes, most three times the size of a man rushed forward, their hissing and screeching easily carrying themselves over the roar of the flames as they tore into the Iwa ninja. Snapping jaws piercing fangs and powerful tails smashing their ranks apart. Fire and water techniques easily deflected by scales stronger than steel. Earth lightning and wind, easily evaded with sheer speed, belying their huge size. Tearing men in half with a single snap of their jaws, crushing them beneath their weight, gold eyes flashing menacingly as they searched out their next target before they even killed their current one.
Naruto ignored the chaos around him however, his blood red eyes trained on just one individual, who seemed just as impassive to the battle as he was.
That was his target.
Far behind the roaring flames the Konoha ninja all stood, over the rooftops, getting as high as possible in order to see beyond the flames and towards the battle now taking place. There was confusion amongst most of the rookies in regards to who this man was, but that confusion was quickly dispelled by others who confirmed the man's identity. Many of the younger generation, those of fourteen, fifteen sixteen and so on watched the battle with wrapped attention. They had heard stories, tales of the sheer force of nature that this man was said to be, told by their parents to get them to behave. Each of them wanted to see the legend that was Konoha's Akkisho, "The Devil King" the man that could supposedly not be killed, up close and personal. And this was their best chance to see it, without being at the wrong end of the line.
Hinata watched on silently, it had been so long since she felt such heaviness in the air she had almost forgotten. She had expected for his skills to have somewhat dulled, having been behind a desk for the last seven years. But he had certainly proved her wrong. His chakra, his mere presence was ten times as oppressive, ten times as intense as it had been before. She swallowed her sudden fear, but did not turn away. Weather the fear was of Naruto, or for him, she was not certain. She could never be certain with him. Never know whether she served him out of loyalty and respect. Or simple fear. He always treated her and all of those he knew fairly, and with the respect each of them deserved. But here...on the field of battle. He changed, it was an obvious change yet a subtle one as well. And no matter what side of the line you were on. The heaviness in the air was all the same, just as oppressive, and just as fear inducing.
Akamaru whined as he prodded the unconscious Kiba with its snout, the boy remained unconscious, his face pale and his breathing shallow as Sakura and Ino worked on closing the injury. The massive dog turned its head and growled at the sight of the red clad man, easily recognizing him as the one who had harmed his master. Teeth flashed as he let loose a howl of fury and rushed into the fray.
Hana's eyes widened, yelling as best she could with her broken ribs causing her more pain by the use of her lungs. "AKAMARU STOP!"
The beast ignored her however, rushing past ninja and snake alike. Dodging and weaving between fangs, masses of flesh, bones and jaws. It was like a tunnel vision, his only target being the man in red. Powerful jaw muscles coiling beneath fur covered skin as he prepared to snap down onto the mans head with as much crushing force as he could manage, which would easily be enough to make it explode like a melon.
The beast movement was brought to a sudden and brutal halt however. It choked, releasing a strangled whine. Naruto's fingers tightened around the animals throat. His voice apathetic as he spoke. "Worthless." Before he threw the dog to the side, its head smashing against a brick wall with a sickening crack, blood slowly forming a pool where its head fell on the floor, the red liquid easily mingling with others around it.
"Damn you!" Ino suddenly roared before she too, rushed into the fight.
"No wait Ino!" "You troublesome woman!" Chouji and Shikamaru called after her before they too ran.
Temari watched each of them go, keeping her head in the fight and not allowing her emotions of fear, of both the individual approaching them, and for her friends to cloud her mind. She was willing to wait for the right time, when he was distracted in which to strike.
Hana felt her stomach lurch at the sight of her brother's long time companion get tossed aside so callously. She grit her teeth, fighting against the pain burning through her chest as she looked to their pink haired medic who had just finished stopping the blood flow from Kiba's arm. "Sakura." She called to the girl.
"Yeah?" Sakura questioned back as she moved to her side, already running a diagnostic jutsu over the older Kunoichi. Wincing silently at the damage. Three snapped ribs, with four more cracked ones. Luckily, even with all the movement the Inuzuka girl did, none had punctured a lung.
She was about to order the older Inuzuka to pull back and retreat with the rest of the Iwa shinobi when Hana's voice interrupted her. "Sakura. I need you to repair my ribs."
The young pink haired medic looked back to Hana seriously. "I cant do that here. That sort of procedure is extremely delicate, you have to isolate the bone fragments, make sure the marrow doesn't reach your bloodstream, make sure the bones themselves don't shred your insides. Not to mention the pain would be almost unbearable without morphine or something similar. This isn't something that can be done in the-"
"You either do it now and get me well enough to fight that monster, or you don't do it and I fight him anyway." The woman ground out through her teeth, wiping some blood from her mouth.
Sakura shook her head. "I don't even know a medical technique advanced enough to do this procedure here! You need the proper facilities."
"Bullshit!" Hana roared as best she could, smelling the lie on the younger girl.
Sakura cursed, she did know a technique, Chiyo ba-sama and herself had come up with it. It combined, medical chakra, and puppeteer artistry. They would channel healing techniques into the body through chakra strings, and use those strings as little feelers to repair damage or snap bones back into place with precision. It was truly a brilliant piece of work and both Sakura and Chiyo were currently looking for a way to apply it into an offensive technique that would be able to destroy the insides of the person instead. But it was difficult, because chakra strings themselves were a brittle thing at best and needed complete and total compliance from whatever it was they were trying to move, hence why they were only used in inanimate objects, which offered no resistance except that of their own weight to any proposed movement. Still, Sakura knew that using this technique, which when it began to take effect would be extremely painful, on a live patient would be difficult unless Hana moved as little as humanly possible. She could end up doing even more damage than what she already possessed if she moved around too much.
Still the girl looked determined, so...Sakura nodded hesitantly. "Fine...but you have to remain perfectly still no matter what."
The Inuzuka girl nodded before she took a deep breath, and braced herself as green gathered around Sakura's hands.
Naruto's slow trek through the chaotic, fiery battlefield around him was brought to a sudden halt as a shadow connected with his own, his eyes glancing down slowly, following the blackish trail to its owner, a face, he could easily recognize as the son of Shikato. "Nara." He whispered as his chakra slowly started to spike.
Shikamaru breathed heavily, sweating in exertion as he felt as if he was holding back a hurricane with an umbrella. Never in his life has he ever felt such a sheer magnitude of power. He wasn't even sure how much longer he would stand if he kept this up.
Soon enough however, there was a blur of movement next to the red ninja, and a kunai moved to pierce the very center of his chest.
Before it could however the Jinchuriki's eyes flashed a deep shade or red before his killing intent soared. Shikamaru lost control of his shadow technique, the thin tendril retracting to the shadow user who fell to his knees, along with many of the Iwa Shinobi around them, turning them into even easier targets for the snakes still feasting over their corpses.
Ino, who was closest to the man felt the full force of the powerful wave of killing intent. She collapsed, her stomach contents spilling to the ground at their feet, her eyes momentarily loosing their focus as she fought to retain her consciousness.
A knee was planted firmly in her face, sending her falling onto her back in a daze.
"Ino!" Was the cry of worry that reached Naruto's ears. Glancing up, he found a massive fist, nearly twice his six foot 3 size heading straight for him.
Holding out his hand the blond didn't even form hand seals before he spoke as Chouji's hand was about to reach him. "Fuuton; Shoha!"
A shockwave tore through the area, buildings collapsed, the ground shook at their feet. The Dazed Ino was easily blown away by the attack, Temari barely reaching her in time to catch her.
The shockwave of compressed air vibrated up Chouji's arm, the sheer air pressure exerted by it was enough to slow his fist to a near crawling pace, barely managing to feel the cloth of the Devil King's red cloak before the sounds of crunching and snapping bones tore through the air. Chouji's eyes widened before he howled in agony, his technique dispelling itself as he clutched his now thoroughly broken arm. Several of the shattered masses of calcium piercing out of his skin, blood flowing down his limb and dripping off his limp finger tips.
Naruto's hand returned to his side, before he again, continued on his singular path towards the Tsuchikage, who still stood silently at the other end of the road.
"DAI-KAMAIKATCHI!" Temari yelled out, swinging her fan in wide arc, sending hundreds of tiny spinning wind blades towards Naruto, hoping the attack would at least distract him enough for someone else to take any opening he might leave.
Just before the attack connected, the twenty year old Kage vanished, allowing the tiny crescent like blades to cut apart one of the snake summons behind him, the creature vanishing a moment later in a puff of smoke.
Temari felt a cold chill run down her spine, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as her highly trained ears picked up the faint sound of breathing behind her. Her eyes barely catching the edges of his red coat from her peripheral vision. She drew a kunai and in a lightning fast motion tried to swipe at him. Only for Naruto to backhand her across the face, sending her tumbling to the floor, her fan knocked out of her fingers and disorienting vertigo settling over her mind.
Naruto drew a kunai, rearing his arm back as he prepared to throw it and end the kunoichi's life, when something gripped his wrist firmly. Slowly he turned his head to find the form that towered over even his own. The smirk over Yoshihiro's face was one that spoke of confidence, there was still a veiled uncertainty within it. "Now that's not very nice." He said before he quickly formed a fireball in his free hand, smashing it into the blonds chest.
Shikamaru who had been watching from a bit of a distance was forced to cover his eyes as another explosion sent dust and debris flying through the air, a blackish blur flew from the dust, smashing into a building with bone breaking force.
As the dust around the initial area settled it revealed Yoshihiro, looking towards the area where Naruto had been blown into, his gaze serious as he unsheathed his hammer.
Soon enough Shikamaru regained his bearings and made his way back to the Tsuchikage, Chouji joining him a moment later along with Temari and Ino, the Wind mistress being supported by the other kunoichi as she had not yet recovered from the brutal hit she had taken.
"You didn't get him did you?" Shikamaru questioned after a moment of brief silence.
"If I did, I'd be very disappointed." The Tsuchikage spoke with a partially false bravado as he smirked.
"I wouldn't." Temari groaned rubbing her head in pain.
A crash brought their attention back into the opening in the building as the crimson clad body emerged, a single blade held loosely at his side as he stepped over the shifting debris at his feet.
Yoshihiro eyed the burn on the boys body armor, slightly below the ribs, he could faintly see through it, to the skin, which was healing rapidly. Yoshihiro's eyes narrowed. That would most certainly be a problem judging by the near regenerative speed it was healing at.
Naruto's red eyes passed over each of them as he stepped forward. Calling out three specific names as he approached. "Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi..." He side stepped another attack from behind, allowing his attacker to pass him and land near the group of assembled ninja revealing Hana, Sakura appearing next to the group a moment later as well as she formed another healing technique, over Chouji's arm. "Inuzuka." He finished, before his wrist twitched, and flames formed over the entire length of the blade in his hand.
He stopped, the group surrounding him in a semi circle. "Isn't this...a somewhat familiar setting."
"Don't expect it to have the same outcome" Hana snarled.
Naruto's shoulders rose in a shrug. "It won't. I killed them quickly."
Zhuge Liang slowly unrolled the scroll delivered to him by his scout, his eyes traveling over the Kanji within with a measured patience, as he did with all the scrolls in his library, the same one they were currently standing in.
"I see...so he is in Iwa then..." He handed the scroll back to the scout and spoke. "Very well, tell the commanders to assemble the men, then find Yugito and Akina, they are to be ready to march tomorrow along with everyone else."
"Very well Raikage-sama." The man spoke before he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Zhuge Liang then walked over to the balcony, watching the sun as it rose above the horizon. "Uzumaki Naruto, you have made your first mistake...and this one shall cost you more than just your village."