Zhuge Liang, arguably the most intelligent man in the land knew that he was standing before one of the greatest challenges he would ever face. While he held great confidence in his abilities he knew that this would be one fight where a single mistake would cost him the whole thing. Luckily, unlike they're previous opponents he knew who and what these men were, and what they were capable of. It was difficult, extremely so, and he had lost many spies and assassins in his quest to understand them and many of the other Akatsuki members, from those who did not keep secrets like Uchiha Itachi, and to those who guarded them like the greatest treasures, such as Sasori. Only the leader remained a mystery to him, no known village, no previous affiliations, nothing.
"Heh, so this is the supposed sleeping dragon then?" Hidan sneered at the man, placing his scythe over his shoulder. Zhuge Liang allowed his eyes to take in the circle at the man's feet, and the blood cascading down injuries upon his form, places where Yugito as well had her injuries. So it appeared the reports from his spies was true he would have to keep an eye on that scythe.
"Yes...be careful Hidan, he will be much stronger than even the Nibi Jinchuriki." Kakuzu warned as he eyed the man.
Hidan scoffed. "Whatever." He growled before he swung his scythe, the three pointed weapon flashing once as it sailed towards the Raikage.
Liang's eyes narrowed as he swung his fan, "Dai-Kamaikatchi." He spoke in his usual calm voice before he released hundreds of wind blades upon the Akatsuki members.
"Doton: Doryuu-Heki" Kakuzu placed his hands on the ground, erecting a large wall of mud and stone between themselves and the wind blades. Watching in apathy as it was torn to shreds, but none the less completing the task of stopping the blades in their tracks. As the dust settled and he looked upon Liang's white clad form and sharp, piercing eyes, eyes like that of a hawk he knew that they would be in for a tough fight, one that they would have to win quickly, before any more trouble arrived.
Blood red eyes burned through all they laid upon, fearsome crimson billowing over his single, powerful, oppressing form as he stood before an army, each fearful yet brave as they charged headlong into his jutsu and blades let loose as they attempted to fell him, the great power that he was.
Blood fell like rain as fire consumed his second blade, making those terrible eyes glow all the more as more men fell to him, flames escaping the boundaries of his sword, burning the flesh off the Iwa ninja's very bones, spreading all around them, basking him in their orange glow.
Throughout all this she watched, held to the terrible scene by horrified rapture, the screams of the dead and dying reaching her ears, dimly piercing her haze filled mind as she watched him approach her, his clawed hand releasing one of his blades as it gripped her throat, she tried to scream, her fear escalating as she stared into the fiery pits of his eyes. But no sound escaped her lips, no great cry for help, of defiance, or even fear able to escape her as she struggled fruitlessly to escape his hold.
As the demon reared back his blade she could finally hear herself scream.
As her eyes snapped open, Temari reached for the first thing within reach, grasping desperately as she tried to pry herself from the grip of darkness that clawed at her consciousness, feeling a firm hand press against her chest as she screamed, and another grip her own as she thrashed, her screams faintly reaching her own ears as a familiar voice called to her, called her name.
Her breathing was erratic, she was trying to calm herself, trying to remember her training as she felt coppery liquid rise up in her throat and spill out from the side of her lips, hacking, strangled coughs rising from her throat as a cold chill ran up and down her spine, a shudder making her teeth rattle as her eyes shut tightly.
"Temri, you have to slow you're breathing." The voice, echoing as it was reached her ears. "Ino! She's having a panic attack. Dammit."
Temari faintly noticed a soft green glow pass over her eyes as the hand pressing down on her chest and darkness began to grip the edge of her senses, its hold growing stronger and stronger as she tried to shake her head, she didn't want to go back, she didn't want to see those eyes again, those blood red eyes.
Lightning fell from the heavens around them as Hidan and Kakuzu tried with varying success at dodging.
"GODDAMNIT WHERE IS HE!" Hidan yelled in anger, already his left arm had been struck by one of the lightning bolts, a deep jagged burn going all the way down to the bone, showing where the lightning had cut. He had been unable to drink any of Zhuge's blood yet, and so was forced to dodge the attacks lest he be...made useless...since you couldn't necessarily kill him.
"Silence Hidan." Kakuzu snarled before a massive lightning bolt struck between them, its roar drowning out all other sounds for a moment as his ears started ringing kicking up a great deal of dust as the ancient Shinobi had to shield his eyes lest the dust get into them.
A shadow suddenly loomed over him, spinning around he caught sight of Zhuge's white robe's, as he began to fall towards him, passing his hand over his fan Kakuzu saw as it transformed into a single Chinese straight sword.
Bringing out two kunai he blocked the blade, releasing several tendrils from his back he lashed out with them at the Raikage, only to have the Ninja leap back, vanishing a moment later into the dust that surrounded them from the lightning bolts that he realized had just ceased. The dust however did not settle, he saw various shadows shift all around him as his extra four hearts, in their masked forms gathered around him as he prepared to unleash his assault with all the combined elemental affinities in his arsenal whenever he caught sight of him.
He heard the sound of clashing blades and snapped his head in its general direction. "HIDAN MOVE!" He yelled as he charged up some wind and fire based chakra before he released them. In truth, he didn't care weather Hidan moved or not, the man had an amazing healing capacity, he'd seen him get burned before, and while taking time to heal like a normal human, he always did heal with no scarring to speak of. So if Hidan moved or not, it was really no never mind to him.
The dust scattered in wake of his wind empowered flames, revealing Zhuge Liang for a split second as the man leapt up, above the flames, his clothes barely singed.
Kakuzu acted quickly forming wind, lightning and fire before he unleashed them in a massively wide ranged attack, making sure that this time he wouldn't miss.
The dust parted again, revealing the Raikage, his face slightly panicked as he formed hand seals before flame and lightning crashed over him.
There was a cry followed by another deafening roar before his attack was forcefully dispersed, a shield of bright yellow lightning crackling around the Raikage, his blade held firmly in hand.
Kakuzu snarled, but a blade of lightning suddenly piercing his chest had him coughing a bit of blood, looking behind him, he found Liang standing there, the blade held firmly in his grip as he glared at him with those cold eyes. "One."
"Wrong." Kakuzu said as he melted into mud.
Liang, who was still hovering above the ground, held by the static electricity of his shield, heard a crash behind him, snapping his head around he found several large earth dragons moving towards him. Disabling his shield he turned and released several more wind blades which cut the dragons to pieces.
When he landed he was forced to block another strike from Hidan's three pointed sickle spear, grunting in exertion as he staggered back. Kakuzu watched as his breathing was a little heavier than before, the sweat dabbing his forehead as he held his stance. Hidan stepped slightly in front of him, sneering at the man as he placed his sickle back on his shoulder.
"Is this all the great sleeping dragon has to offer? You really are a wimp Kakuzu. That bitch was alot tougher than this, at this rate it'll be over before their Anbu are even halfway here.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. Something wasn't right, while those lightning techniques were powerful, a man of Liang's reputation shouldn't be this easy to tire out. Something was wrong, he could feel it in his bones, something was prickling at the edge of his senses, warning bells going off from his years of experience. But as Liang formed more hand seals, the clouds overhead gathering once again with thunder and lightning rumbling over them, he gave it little more thought as he prepared himself for whatever the Raikage had to throw at them.
Naruto's eyes stared with apathy towards the sitting Iwa commander. Taking in the young man's veiled nervousness, and the tension visible in his Anbu guards before he spoke. "Where is the one known as Yoshihiro Shimazu?" Though he knew the answer already it would be good to make sure over the older mans fate.
Toyohisa's eyes narrowed in fury, but he hid his distaste well as he spoke. "Our Tsuchikage is soon to be recovered from his injuries at Sakai. I am in charge until he does."
It was a bold faced lie and they both knew it, especially Naruto, no man, no matter how powerful could recover from the injuries he inflicted that quickly, unless of course they were a Jinchuriki. Yoshihiro however, was not.
"We both know that is not true." He drawled, causing the newly appointed Iwa commander to bristle at the emotionless man that spoke of how badly he had harmed his uncle as if he was discussing some child's mischievousness.
"If you have come here to demand Iwa's surrender to you, then my answer to you is to leave now, Iwa will not surrender."
Naruto stared at the young man in his late twenties, standing before him with a glare of defiance before he looked around the tent, a void like air surrounding him, making him seem like some strange, inhuman creature that had sprouted from the darkest of shadows merely to taunt and torment them. "If you do not surrender your city, then it shall burn to the ground."
Toyohisa knew that it wasn't a threat, it was a promise, and from his actions at Sakai, it was a promise he knew he could keep, but he would not be intimidated, he would not surrender his city without some semblance of a struggle, Iwa was not so helpless. "If you attack this city, if you bring your armies here, you may succeed in destroying us. But I swear to you, for every Iwa ninja that is lost ten of yours will fall before him. And before you are able to take this city so much blood will fill these streets that it will sicken even you, I swear upon the gods that taking this city by force will be the end of you and your rein upon our lands. For Kumo and Suna will not hesitate to destroy you as they did all those years ago."
Naruto tilted his head slightly. "You truly believe that, at this point, the other two countries can fell me?"
Toyohisa shook his head a smirk finding its way to his lips. "You are powerful, but with your power has come the attentions of many who wish you to fail. Eyes, that will gladly slit your throat when your army is bleeding itself white within my city."
There was a silence then, one which many in the room found very uncomfortable as they watched the two leaders stare each other down.
Toyohisa knew, that the truth of the matter was that if Iwa faced this man in the field and within their city they would most likely be slaughtered, and the city taken within a day, two at the most. What he was trying to do, was make his fighting spirit, and the spirit of that of his men, seem strong enough that the Kage would be more lenient in the terms of their surrender, and that they would be able to get something out of it. His uncle had always said to do what's best for the people, if they were treated fairly and with the respect they deserved from Konoha then what did it matter what name they served under, to fight and die a useless death, was not something he would subject his people to.
Naruto tilted his head. "It is in your best interest to listen to the terms."
"Then offer them." He snarled. "I'll make my own demands afterwards."
Naruto smirked the boy, despite all his bravado was intelligent enough to recognize surrender as his best option. He reached slowly into his cloak, revealing a scroll and unrolling it on the table before he spoke. "Iwa will be treated the same as Kiri, your leaders may be of your choosing, however, these leaders must report to overseer's of my choosing every month on all actions, economical, military or otherwise. If these reports do not arrive within two months at the most, an investigation shall take place, if any of your men are found guilty of harming the overseer in any way, then they will be executed, if the leader of this village is involved, and discovered to be so then he too shall be executed. You must provide military relief whenever called upon, a strict state of martial law shall be enforced for a period of six months. Your civilian and Ninja shall each hold the same rights and privileges of every Konoha, Kiri, Ame, Kusa Oto and Taki civilian, including free travel between the aforementioned nations, free trade is encouraged as well. Every one of your ninja, must be registered in the archives, with a monthly update on their skills, rank and classing. There will be a strong Konoha military presence within Iwa for a period, minimal of six months. And finally, anyone convicted of treason attempts at treason or abridgment of such shall be executed in a public display within Iwa itself. These are my demands."
Toyohisa thought for a long moment before he spoke. "Very well, but all trials of Iwa nins must be held in Iwa, your military presence is not allowed to harm our civilians. And should Iwa ever be attacked by another nation and we request assistance you are to send it as well. And finally, my uncle suffers from a very bad lung disease, the beginnings of Tuberculosis, which he developed approximately five years ago. In exchange for our surrender you are to provide rare herbs from Kiri, which are able to cure this disease."
"You forget, Iwa is now my territory. If they attack you, they are attacking me. I shall send forces if I perceive the threat to be great enough." He looked down to the scroll and gestured to it with his metal covered hand. "If that is all, sign the scroll with your blood."
Toyohisa nodded and bit his thumb enough to draw blood and so slowly wrote his name onto the parchment, next to Naruto's who had already been placed there.
Before his thumb left the scroll however, the parchment glowed a bright red and Toyohisa pulled his hand back as fast as he could, only to gasp as a painful, burning sensation rose up his arm, eliciting a scream of pain from the man as he fell onto his knees. The Anbu each drew their blades, pointing at him as they were ready to fight him for his treachery.
The glow of the scroll fading Naruto rolled it back up swiftly and placed it back in his cloak.
"What have you done?" One of the Anbu snarled at him.
"This is a blood scroll, a scroll embroiled with hundreds of seals formed within the parchment itself. It is my own creation. If you, willingly, and knowingly break any of the agreements on this parchment then you, shall die."
"You bastard." Another of the Anbu snarled, watching the seals snake up Toyohisa's arm and settling over his chest as they burned into his skin.
"You did not seriously expect, for me to simply take your word at face value young Shimazu? Words are meaningless in the world of Shinobi, as are treaties. This one however, I know you shall follow, as will your uncle." Placing the scroll back in his pocket he turned his back to the ninja as he began making his way out of the tent.
"Why yo-"
"STOP!" Toyohisa yelled to his Anbu as the pain momentarily increased in his chest as the thought of allowing the man to follow through with his attack passed his mind.
Naruto cast a glance over his shoulder "You can expect the herbs you have requested to arrive in a weeks time. Inform your uncle, and your people. Iwa...is now mine."
With that said he walked out of the tent, the hateful glares at his back. He glanced to the cloudy sky before he spoke. "One step closer then." Glancing at his hand he seemed contemplative for a moment before he spoke. "The new world approaches."
An explosion tore through the landscape of Kumo, soon revealing Zhuge Ling as he leapt out of the flames His clothes and hair singed before he released another volley of wind blades into the flames, which rose even higher for a moment before Hidan rushed after him, his scythe in hand, his skin visible with burns but quite uncaring to them as he snarled, his eyes alight with fury as he swung, trying to kill the Raikage for what felt like the hundredth time. Only for the man to block the strike once again with his blade, his palm charging with lightning chakra which formed a long spike which he used to try and impale him, only for the silver haired immortal to swerve out of the way before he backhanded the Raikage across the face, causing him to stagger back as he spit out blood. Taking his stance again as he glared at the silver haired man.
A crash behind him had him breaking his stance as he spun around, only to find...nothing. He tried to spin back around as he realized he had been tricked, only for Hidan's steel stabbing rod to plunge through his back and out his chest, coughing up blood the Raikage didn't have much time to feel pain before his head was torn cleanly from his shoulders, his body falling to the floor in an unmoving heap.
Kakuzu, his tendrils receding back into his form spoke. "So...you got him then."
Hidan's answer was a snarl as he spit on the Raikage's dead form "Yeah, I did. Damn bastard was a stubborn one."
Kakuzu nodded, but before any more words were exchanged, Hidan spun around and with another quick jab of his spike rod plunged it into the ancient ninja's chest. Kakuzu's eyes widened before he batted the rod away and leapt back.
"What the hell do you-" He began but stopped as Hidan's form began to fade and become hazy before it vanished, revealing Liang, a wind blade extending from his palm, Hidan's headless body now in place of where Liang once was. His curses now fluidly reaching his ears from his severed head.
"Genjutsu." He growled out. "It was Genjutsu this whole time. When did you cast it?" He questioned angrily.
"During my first Kamaikachi, when you erected that rock barrier to protect yourselves."
"YOU LITTLE SHIT STAIN, I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU! YOU HEAR ME! FUCKING KILL YOU! YOU ARE DEAD! DEA-"
Hidan's cries of anger were stopped as a ball of condensed lightning chakra was tossed at his head, exploding a moment later in a gruesome display of blood and brain matter, the immortal could enjoy the rest of eternity in pieces.
The Raikage then turned his attention back to Kakuzu, his raven black hair whipping in the gust of wind that came through the field. "The power of suggestion, the power of deception. The greatest weapon of a ninja. You two have no one but yourselves to blame for this defeat. So few male ninja focus on the art of Genjutsu you automatically assumed I was a close range Rai-Ninjutsu specialist." He glanced slightly behind Kakuzu. "And now, you have sealed your fate."
Releasing the second Genjutsu he placed over the man, Kakuzu's senses were suddenly assaulted by rage, bloodlust and killing intent, and before he could do much of anything, a clawed hand tore his back, wide open, blood spraying forth as he staggered, glancing behind him, his eyes widened in shock and fear as he came across the sight of a young girl, with shoulder length blond hair, standing over him, three tails of malicious red chakra whipping behind her, as Tsunade of the sannin, and another woman he recognized from the Bingo books as Yue-Ying, Zhuge Liangs wife, stepped through the tree line.
"Kakuzu of Taki, for your crimes against Kumo, I the Yondaime Raikage, hereby sentence you...to death." The man spoke as his feathered fan was still held firmly in his grip. "May the gods have mercy on your soul."