Yugito and Akina tensed as they stared upon the two Akatsuki members, the bloodied scythe held firmly in Hidan's grip as he wiped it clean, smirking as he spoke. "Hey Kakuzu, looks like the Nibi aint alone. Wanna have some fun with her once we've dealt with the Neko." He questioned licking his lips in a way that made bile rise in Akina's throat. She snarled, brandishing her three pieced staff as she prepared to fight the silver-haired immortal.
Kakuzu grunted. "Hidan we are here to do a job, Kill the girl while I subdue the Nibi, that's all we need so I can get paid. Besides, unlike you I actually have some morals, I will not, and neither will I allow you, to rape anyone you disgusting pig."
The silver haired Yuki nin growled. "Whatever moron. With looks like yours you probably cant even pay for sex so I dont know who your trying to fool."
Kakuzu snorted, having heard hundreds of insults like that in his lifetime, it was too bothersome and tedius to make another cheap comeback. "Don't even bother with those ridiculous rituals of yours Hidan, kill the girl and get it over-with quick, I should be able to finish up the Nibi quickly as well.
"You overestimate yourself, Akatsuki." Yugito growled in anger to him. Her mind was wandering in another direction however. 'If he's telling the other guy to kill Akina, then that means Akatsuki still knows nothing about her...I have to protect her, keep her away from them. They cant find out about the Kyuubi yet, and if she fights she may have to draw on its power.' "Akina..." She spoke suddenly, catching the other girls attention, even though she never removed her eyes from Hidan and Kakuzu.
"Go, get sensei! Bring him back to hel-"
"I'm not about to leave you here alone to defend yourself against these two." She hissed back, tightening her grip on her three pieced staff as Hidan and Kakuzu began circling them.
The older girls eyes flashed a dangerous blackish purple as she glared at her fellow blond. "Go damnit, I can last here for the five minutes it'll take you and sensei to get back!"
Akina hesitated for a moment, looking very conflicted about her current situation. She looked as if she was about to say no when she saw Yugito forming three distinct hand gestures.
'Enemy not know.'
It confused the younger Jinchuriki for a brief moment but she soon deduced their meaning, gritting her teeth even harder. They didn't know about the Kyuubi. And if she helped her friend, and had to call uppon the Bijuu's power and they escaped...then next time they would come with four, maybe even five Akatsuki members, and the losses gathered from a conflict like that would weaken Kumo to a degree it could never hope to afford at this point in time.
Still...forming several quick hand seals the girl threw her staff, spinning towards Hidan. The immortal smirked, raising his scythe as he prepared to cut the staff in half, only for the three pieced staff to shift in mid air as it came down, flaring with lightning as it pierced his chest, pushing him back until he was quite litterally pinned to a tree, the staff at an upwards angle and so would be difficult to both remove and or step out of to simply have the blade come out of his back. The lightning in the blade shot straight through his entire body, causing his muscles to spasm and his whole body to jerk a few times as his scythe fell out of his hands and he slumped forward, seemingly dead.
Akina and Yugito looked absolutely shocked, there was no way a simple javelin style throw had killed an Akatsuki...Still, ignoring the strangeness, they did not look a gift horse in the mouth, Akina looking to Yugito again. "There, that should make things easier. But judging by that guy, it should be pretty easy to beat his partner." Before she vanished in a cloud of smoke, rushing towards Kumo, full speed in order to find Zhuge.
Yugito watched her leave, sighing in relief before she turned back to Kakuzu, who watched her with apathy. "Well, looks like its just you and me."
"Wrong." Was the bored drawl that escaped his lips before Akina's three pieced staff, still charged with a bit of her lightning chakra was plunged through her shoulder, forcing a scream out of her throat before she jerked forward, pulling the staff out of her in the process as she stumbled. Turning back she found Hidan, blood pouring down his chest from the previous wound as he laughed. "Right...now the party can get started." He said as he licked some of her blood, ignoring the black flames that gatherd around the Jinchuriki of the Nibi as her eyes turned purple and her hackles rose.
Kakuzu watched it all from the sidelines. He'd get paid either way, there was no need for him to get involved Hidan could cut himself all he wanted.
Hana, Sakura and Ino each made their way through the jagged, rocky peaks of the mountain side, their feet, legs arms and palms scraped and bleeding freely as the sharp stones cut into their flesh, their lungs on fire as their limbs felt heavy.
They had been running for nearly three hours now, the smoke, rising from the burning city of Sakai still visible as they glanced behind them, the orange hue over the horizon bringing horror to them as they realized that it was not coming from the setting sun. Hana's summoned wolves whining as the rocks did not spare them from the pain of having to hike over their sharp edges.
The three females leapt down, to a small outcropping, finding a cave at its base, they made their way inside the three quickly dismounting their summons and then moving onto helping remove the injured, Kiba, Shikamaru and Chouji from the summoned beasts backs, placing them as gently as they could along the side of the cave, where Sakura and Ino immediately began what medical treatment they could in their exhausted states. Hana looked over the six summoned wolves, bowing her head as tears stung the back of her eyes. "Thank you for everything, all of you."
The head of this particular group of summons nodded slowly, breathing heavily but managing to stay strong for his summoner, who was visibly distressed by the situation. "We are yours to command my lady, there is no need for thanks."
Hana bit her lip rather nervously, looking away from her summon before she spoke. "It is difficult but I must ask one last thing of you."
"You speak of the wind user." The summon finished nodding slightly. "I understand, we shall search for her and lead her back here when we find her."
"Thank you." Hana nodded, offering each of her summons a grateful hug before they each made their way out of the cave, leaving the humans to recuperate, from their crushing defeat, in more ways than one.
Hana made her way to her brothers side, his pale features and erratic breathing, even as Sakura worked on him making the already bleak light of her world diminish all the more. She stared as she wept bitter tears of pain and frustration, taking Kiba's head in her lap and cradling him close to her as her emotions poured from her. Her tears falling down onto her brothers placid face as Sakura managed to stabilize him before moving onto Shikamaru.
She let her tears fall even as her mind wandered, giving way to the hopelessness of the situation they found themselves in. If even the Kage of Iwa, who had fought to a dead draw with the legendary Hatake Kakashi and the second in command of the seven swordsmen of Kiri Tatsuoki Guan couldn't hold a candle to this man, even with their help, then what hope could they possibly have of ever besting him...
She allowed herself to remember a poem. An old poem she read while scanning over a book in some of Suna's libraries.
'The dark lord rides in force tonight, and time will tell us all. Oh, throw down your plow and hoe, rest not to lock your homes. Side by side we wait the might of the darkest of them all.'
Meanwhile in the Konoha camp, the men were currently making repairs on the city, bolstering its defenses in-case Iwa decided to attack again. Most of the injured moved to the local hospital, where the resident doctors worked on them as best they could, their faces filled with fear under the watchful eye of their recent conquerors.
Naruto had quickly established his hold over the city, enforcing martial law and removing the standard government of the merchant city. Quickly sniffing out and removing any homes that provided refuge to Iwa nins, capturing these wounded ninja and dragging them off to prison camps under armed surveillance.
Toushiro, the Kiri ninja, and son of Guan was placed in charge of repair duty over the walls of the city, while Tenten and Lee were placed over the guard duty of said walls. Mika was in charge of scouting and securing the far outer perimeters of the city. Hinata meanwhile, injured as she was was being assisted by the recently conscious Hatake Kakashi as well as Guan, in public security, relations and the newly established police force.
Naruto meanwhile, secure and confident over his hold over the city, marched, with a small contingent of "body guards" as well as Shino onto Iwa, ready to open negotiations to Iwa's surrender.
Meanwhile, at Iwa itself, Toushiro had taken up the mantle of leadership, bolstering Iwa's formidable mountain defenses, as he prepared the city to withstand the coming storm. The armies of Iwa marshaling full force as they awaited the final, hardest hammer-stroke from Konoha, their defiance and willingness to fight, coming only from the desire to protect their homes, their families.
Toushiro stood along the walls of Iwa, carved from the mountains themselves, the nearly twelve foot thick and 70 foot tall stones, allowing him to look across the entire valley between their walls and the high, jagged mountains along the horizon that defended them from all foes. Until now, where the enemy marched uppon their doorstep.
The young man sighed, his worry over his uncle finally taking hold. He was in the hospital, the medic nins working on him almost twenty four seven trying to keep his condition stable. There was not just the wounds from the battle to worry about, but the stress from the travel, the injuries themselves, and the fact that his uncle had not taken his medication since he entered the battle had allowed his longtime standing Tuberculosis to flare up again. It was...difficult to treat his disease in this condition. The medication they used to treat his disease, decreased proteins, and also thinned his blood. Two things that hampered the natural healing factors of the human body.
"Toushiro-sama!" One of the Iwa scouts ran up to him, breathing heavily.
The young, newly instated Iwa commander turned. "Yes?" He questioned warily, his heart dropping in worry as he envisioned Konoha to already be there.
"Sir, our scouts have reported sighting the Hokage with a small squad of Anbu making his way here. Sir, he carries a white flag. He calls for a negotiation."
Toushiro paused, growling as the thought reached him. "Negotiation? That bastard wants to demand our surrender." He snarled as he looked back to the scout. "Go, tell the commanders to ready the soldiers. We will not cower at that tyrants feet, we will honor the Kage's of Iwa and defend our homes to the last man."
The scout bowed, a glint of determination entering his eyes at his new commanders words. "Yes sir, right away." Before he ran off.
The young Iwa commander sighed, he wondered what his uncle would tell him at a time like this. Even though he truly wanted to defend his people, he had seen the might of the Kage of Konoha, and he held little hope of victory. What should he do...what would his uncle do?
He thought on that question for a long time, the answer finally coming to him as he remembered when he questioned his uncle a few weeks ago when he made his way out of Iwa to defend Sakai. He had caught up to him at the gates, asking him to allow him to go with him. Yoshihiro had again said no, only for his nephew to question why.
'Because...' He sighed. 'If something happens to me, it will be up to you to lead our people...' The older man paused, placing a hand on the boys shoulder. 'You always remember, many times you have to make tough decisions, decisions that some men will agree with, and others will not. But you always do what you think is best. What will protect the people and what will help them, always them.' The man had then put his hellmet on turning to his men and giving them the order before the army marched. Leaving their home in order to fight for it.
Toyohisa stared up to the starry sky. "Okay then...like you say uncle. I will do what I think is best..." He nodded to himself before he made his way down the stairs, ready to oversee preparations of his men.
Zhuge Liang made his way through the halls, he could feel Yugito's chakra of the Nibi flaring up. Now, normally because Yugito and Akina constantly trained together. And so, they trained often using their demons chakra. But at this point Yugito was pulling out more of the Nibi's chakra than he had ever felt before, and strangely enough, he had felt nothing of Akina pulling out the Kyuubi.
He was beginning to get worried...could it possibly be that Yugito had lost control and possibly killed Akina?
He thought he'd trained her better than that and he had faith but still...accidents did happen.
The only other thing it could be was some kind of new tra-
"SENSEI! SENSEI!" He heard Akina's voice, turning around as he found her running towards him, her face set into a slight panic as she rushed up to him. "Akina!" He said, visibly surprised.
"Sensei!" She gasped as she came to a full halt. "Akatsuki! Two of them!"
Zhuge's expression turned visibly grim. Why now of all times? Then his mind came to another thought. "Did they mention anything about knowing you hold the Kyuubi?" He questioned quickly, a slight fear coiling around his chest at the thought that Kumo would have the eyes of the Akatsuki fixed solely uppon it. They could not afford to enter a war with Akatsuki while Uzumaki would no doubt be setting his sights over them very soon.
Still, his worries were abated as Akina shook her head. "No, that's why I left. Yugito didn't want me to use the demons chakra." She answered, turning back around ready to leave. "Come on, we have to hurry back and help her!" She moved to leave when Zhuge caught her wrist. Looking back to him, she yelled in outrage. "What are you doing Sensei? We need to go now."
Within the Raikage's hand his white feathered fan appeared, gripped tightly as he held it in that familiar way that Akina knew was nothing good. "Sorry Akina, but you will not be joining this fight." He threw the arm he was gripping upwards, before he swiftly used his, now free, hand to strike eight distinct points, the chakra gates of the human body. Akina felt her whole body grow heavy nd she fell to her knees, breathing harshly as an invisible weight held her down.
"Wha-what!" She gasped out as she struggled to stand back up. "What the hell are you doing?"
Zhuge Liang nodded, admiring his work as he spoke. "You are within one of my more powerful Genjutsu. It makes you feel as if the gravity around you is nearly seven times higher than normal. The human body can only withstand three times normal gravity. But because this is merely an illusion you will receive no physical damage. I will deal with this, Kumo cannot afford an enemy such as Akatsuki discovering you here. I shall remove this illusion once I am done with this threat." His words spoken he turned, walking down the hallway as he made his way to save his second student. The feel of Kyuubi's chakra licking at his back staying with him as he left. She would break out of his illusion soon enough, he just hoped he would be finished by then.
Toushiro and Mika stood along Guan's bedside, the older mans injuries had not fully healed, but he was well enough to attend some minor administrative duties.
"So, Naruto-san has left for Iwa then?" The large, bearded man questioned the other two, who nodded in response. Mika, who was leaning along the door-frame spoke up. "Yes, so far everything has been quiet, but we do need to keep a tight surveillance over the area, there might still be some Iwa nin masquerading as civilians, ready to sabotage our defenses if Iwa ever manages to launch a counter attack against us."
"They will not...not with Naruto-sama present here." He spoke firmly, a thought occurring to him as he looked to his adopted son. "Toushiro." He called, catching his attention "Tell me, what do you make of Naruto-sama?"
The young man visibly hesitated before he spoke, remembering that image of the man, standing in full blood red robe as flames and blood danced around him in a horrifying display, the hissing of snakes and the glow of his piercing red eyes. "I...I don't really know what to make of him." He spoke slowly, worried his father might disapprove of his hesitancy. But the older mans voice reached his ears after a moment, a knowing timbre in his voice as he hummed.
"Not alone in that my boy, not alone at all. But he is the only one that can possibly bring order to this chaotic world."
Toushiro and Mika nodded, though the Kunoichi's thoughts were quite different, her red eyes gleaming as the thought passed through her mind. 'And that is why, I must destroy him.'
Naruto allowed his eyes to travel over the assembled army of Iwa nins, he could safely assume they numbered around three to four-hundred much larger than his rather modest group of thirty five. The high walls of the city itself behind them, a constant reminder of what they were ready to throw down their lives to defend. He felt quite confident in his ability to escape should the need arise. But he highly doubted Iwa had the nerve to strike out at him, not after the display he put up in Sakai. He knew that there was always the possibility, he was not arrogant enough to dismiss that entirely. But fear would hold them back, make them hesitate, and if they truly did decide to attack him, their intent would long be revealed, and he would be prepared to make his escape.
A small tent, no doubt where their commander sat, stood between him and the imposing army.
"Naruto-sama. I do not like this...it could easilly be a trap, and if Iwa tries something it will not be easy to defend you sir." Shino drawled in his usual calm, stoic tone. Naruto nodded.
"Noted." His deep, empty voice reached Shino's ears. Despite his response however, the blond ninja, regardless of whatever danger, began making his way to the tent, throwing a quick, "Wait here" over his shoulder as he never paused in his stride.
He entered the tent moments later finding the spear wielding Iwa nin that had saved the Tsuchikage from his death back at Sakai. Flanked by four Anbu, as well as four standing behind the blond. He let his eyes lazily travel from one to the other, finally settling on what he assumed was their comander.
Toyohisa glared right back, staring with all the bravery he could muster into the fiery red eyes that burned into the memories of all those they came across. He took a deep breath before he stood.
Hidan breathed heavily as he removed the blade from his chest, purple, black flames dissipating as Yugito's bleeding, unconscious form laid before them unmoving, as crimson pooled beneath her. The platinum blond locks matted down to her head, back and shoulders as green eyes stared unseeing to the world before them, her breathing heavy, erratic and shuddering as her form shook from the cold that crept over her; gripping her down to the marrow.
Kakuzu grunted as he walked next to the girl, using his foot to roll her over. "Took you long enough...you're pathetic."
"Shut up." Hidan growled, falling to his knees as he began praying to Jashin, raising the five hearted Akatsuki members annoyance. "You fool, we don't have time for this, soon people will come to investigate."
"Let the fuckers come." Hidan snarled. "I dont give two shits."
Kakuzu rolled his eyes. "Whatever, stay here if you want, I'm taking the girl. As he reached down to grab her however she suddenly burst in a cloud of black, coal like smoke, right in Kakuzu's eyes. He reeled back, and in the same motion the back of his head was impaled by a kunai.
Hidan stood up as his partner fell, but soon found that he could not move as, cold, decaying arms rose up from the ground, gripping his legs as they forced him to fall. He looked momentarily disturbed until he realized what this was, placing his hands together he spoke. "Kai." He looked around as the illusion dissipated, revealing Kakuzu still on the floor with a kunai in his head, now in the process of removing it and a white clad form cradling Yugito close to his chest as he stood off to the side. "Sen-sen..." They herd her wavering voice as she struggled to speak to the new arival.
"Shhh..." He quieted her as he placed her down. "Rest for now Yugito...you did very well. I'm proud of you."
She finally allowed the darkness to claim her, visible by her body going limp in his arms. He formed a quick mud clone, who took the girl and ran as he turned around.
"Who the fuck are you?" Hidan snarled, angry that this one had taken their target.
"Silence Hidan." Kakuzu growled, finally removing the kunai from his head, a shadowy, mass leaving his body as it seemingly melted out of him. "Soo." He drawled. "You are the Yondaime Raikage of Kumo...Sleeping dragon of the moon; Zhuge Masong Liang."
"So you know of me." The Raikage said. "Kakuzu, of Taki, and Hidan of Yuki...'The Immortals' of the Akatsuki correct?" He asked as he used his feathered fan to...well...fan himself.
"Thats right you fucking fagot." Hidan growled, hefting his scythe back onto his shoulder as he prepared to swing.
"I see..." Liang drawled as he lowered his fan slightly. "Well...allow me to put that name to the test."