Akina stood at the side of the road, a caravan of horses, men, women, children, supplies, and many more assorted items were striding past her, Hiru was standing in front of her, a somewhat sad look on his face. "You sure you don wanna come with us? You'll be safer eh. Its dangerous to be walking round Konoha territory alone, 'specially now adays."
Akina smiled at his concern, shaking her head. She was dressed in oversized brown clothing, the only one the camp could spare for her, some equipment pouches, which included kunai, Shuriken, a canteen of water and a small tent was strapped to her back, a heavy, wool cloak hung from her shoulders, wrapped around her neck like a scarf was in tatters, meant to keep her warm should it begin to rain while she traveled, a common occurrence in Konoha apparently this time of year.
Kumo usually didn't go a week without at least a drizzle, the high altitude of the mountains actually helping the moisture envelop the city streets. "Thank you...but...I cant. I wont go back to Kumo."
Hiru nodded. "Well alright then." He shrugged before ruffling her hair as if she was a mischievous little sibling. Akina's face scrunched up in slight distastes, but accepted the friendly gesture for what it was as she pushed his hand off with a small smile.
Hiru hefted his own pack onto his shoulders "Well...I guess I'll see ya round then eh?" He spoke, smiling brightly in his familiar way as he turned and walked away, one arm lazily waving behind him.
"Yea...see you around." She returned almost softly as she watched him depart with the caravan. She fingered the three pieced staff she had asked a blacksmith to hastily craft and link together, that now rested on her back. It was off balance and not nearly the same level of quality of her old one but it was a weapon she was familiar with and it granted her some measure of comfort in this place. This place where she was completely alone with no home to turn to.
Watching as the trail of dust slowly dissipated as the caravan covered more and more distance she draped the wool cloak over her face and shoulder the torn and ragged appearance giving her the image of a total vagabond before she began heading south...to the Konoha borderlands.
"How dare you disobey."
The voice of the Godaime was a low snarl dripping with acidic malice as his red rimmed eyes stared down towards Toushiro. Kurenai and the bone wielding Kimimaro were at his side, both having arrived almost a full day before him considering the fact that they were much closer to the northern garrison than Konoha.
Kurenai and Kimimaro, unnerved by their leaders anger could only imagine what Toushiro was going through. They scarcely remembered the time the blond was this furious with anyone.
The reason for his anger was a simple tactical matter. His forces were stretched thin enough as it was attempting to hold back attacks from, essentially all fronts, while simultaneously keeping up a strong presence in conquered villages in order to act as a deterrent for any would be mutineers. He could not afford to loose an entire garrison of the northern defense point at this critical stage of the war, especially considering that with him not in Konoha the Suna princess may just yet choose to try and escape. As unlikely as her escape may be with Hinata guarding her, she was another key element he could not risk loosing if he was to bring a swift conclusion to this campaign.
And this foolish boy he had even more foolishly charged with the northern defense force was putting all this in jeopardy!
"I told you to hold the defenses." The growl was ripped from his throat as he continued to pace in front of the bowing Kiri ninja. "And what do you do? You leave!" He roared snapping his gaze to Toushiro's bowed head, watching as the boy cringed, practically feeling the crimson eyes boring into his skull "You leave, swearing to avenge your father, and you return with your tail between your legs."
Kurenai from her position could only watch the younger man with growing pity. His mistake had been grave true, but still, she felt as though Naruto may be judging him too harshly.
"I..." He paused and was about to continue when the sound of a blade being drawn made his heart stop for a moment, watching as the silver edge was put next to his face, as if warning him that whatever he was about to say may just be the last thing he ever did say. Toushiro closed his eyes, the acidic burn of tears building behind his eyes but he furiously pushed them away. If he needed to face his death today, then he would do it as his father did. With his honor intact. "I have no excuse."
Naruto's eyes seemed to burn with fire as red mist escaped them his grip tightening on the sword as if he were about to swing, when he felt a grip on his arm. Turning his head to glare at Kurenai he saw the woman's startled features. "Na-Naruto-sama please forgive him. He doesn't deserve this."
He shrugged off her arm, watching as Kimimaro soon positioned himself to hold her back. He turned to face the young man again, only this time, his eyes caught the Kiri ninja's reflection on the blade.
For a moment, it was not Toushiro's profile he saw on the weapons polished surface but another. An older, wiser man, with a single eye with the look of a veteran about him.
For several seconds no one moved, everyone waited with baited breath for Naruto's actions. Toushiro, eyes clenched tightly shut as he awaited his fate, nearly jumped straight up as he felt a hand on his shoulder before he determined, while looking at the ground, that Naruto was kneeling, the blade that had been poised to take his head now stabbed deep into the earth beside them. Naruto placed himself so his chin was above Toushiro's head, much like a father lecturing a son. His voice, though still low and dangerous somehow seemed...softer. "Toushiro...sometimes a general...must choose to act like a coward in the field...You cannot avenge your father, or defeat tens of thousands...by making a mad dash into oblivion. It was Guan who taught me that."
Toushiro was so startled his head shot up from his bowing position, trying to catch a glimpse of Naruto, but the Kage had already turned the other way. Distancing himself with a few paces before he spoke, not turning back to face either of the three Konoha ninja. "A quick temper cannot be cured overnight. From now on you'll be working under Kurenai."
Though surprised Kurenai took it in stride, hiding a sigh of relief as she bowed. "Yes sir."
"To war council." The Jinchuriki suddenly barked. "Immediately."
Toushiro visibly sagged with relief feeling as if the weight of the world had just been removed from his shoulders as the tension eased out of him. "Thank you sir." He said to Naruto's back before standing and following the three.
Akina slowly trudged her way up the mountain pass. Nearly two full days had passed since she'd left the caravan of refugees headed for Kumo. Two days of muddy quagmires and vine filled forests. The rains had come, and they had come down hard. Akina had never been more grateful for having the fox. It was preventing pneumonia and god knows what other illnesses this weather could cause.
She wasn't sure exactly where she could go. She figured she'd head to Suna, or River country, hide out for a while in those regions. From there...well...it was still up in the air. She sighed. God how she hated not having direction. It was the most mind numbingly frustrating thing in the world.
Food was plentiful though, she could at least give her journey that. After her little starvation escapade to escape from Kumo she appreciated every bit of sustenance she got. That had been three days of agony that she would never re-live, even if she had to eat lizards for breakfast lunch and dinner.
She sighed tiredly, the gravel of the jagged mountain passage crunching and scraping beneath her soft shoes, lightly digging into the soles of her feet. The relatively minor annoyance at first was sincerely beginning to grate on her pain receptors and she had little doubt her feet would be raw by the end of this journey.
Soon though, her sharp hearing picked up something. The sound of people...many people apparently. She stopped, crouching low and sliding into the shadows as she'd been trained to do she decided to investigate, it may be another refugee camp, and if it was a Konoha or Kumo camp...well...she'd at least get their numbers in order to figure out how careful she had to be in order to slip past them.
Shifting through the rapidly dimming light as clouds obscured the moon from view, Akina was grateful for the lack of equipment she currently had to managed, less clunking sounds as she moved.
As she approached a high stone outcropping she peered down to the orange hue of camp fires. Peeking over the edge her eyes caught sight of a man that made her heart leap into her throat as she hastily scooted back into her hiding place.
Zhuge Liang.
Her breathing accelerated, her chest heaving as panic momentarily overtook her mind. She fought it down, pushing it away as she forced herself to calm down.
'He hasn't seen you...he hasn't seen you...' She repeated slowly in her mind, gulping down the lump in her throat. Gathering her courage she peeked around the stone again, doubling her effort to hide her presence.
She ignored Liang as much as possible, instead choosing to focus on the three Anbu around him.
One to the Raikage's far right spoke. "I say we give simultaneous attacks sir, from the pass north of their camp, while a strike force sneaks up the cliff- face south of it, approaching from the valley.
"No." Another responded. "They currently stand near the summit of the mountain. They control the high ground, they have the advantage. Therefore my lord I would suggest we send our best infiltrator squads to hide on the summit itself. Then when we deliver simultaneous attacks on all the passes that lead up to the summit. With the enemy distracted with the attack, the infiltrator teams can set fire to their camp, and then systematically attack from the rear.
"Hmmm." Akina heard Liang drawl thoughtfully before a chuunin approached. Bowing with haste "My lord...He's arrived."
Akina saw the three Anbu captains tense. And Liang's shoulders straighten. "Are you certain?" The Raikage questioned.
The chuunin hesitated but bowed a bit lower. "Not absolutely sir...but...we don't think it can be anyone else."
"Then your plan has worked Raikage-sama...we have drawn the Kage of Konoha towards us."
'Naruto.' Akina thought somewhat numbly.
"No...it is not certain. Begin preparations to take pre-determined countermeasures, but do not execute them until we are certain he is on the battlefield."
"Yes sir." The assembled ninja chorused before they vanished in clouds of smoke, Liang calmly walking back towards his camp. Away from Akina.
Akina breathed a sigh of relief, rolling over so she could lay on her back, the tension pouring out of her. She closed her eyes as she released a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. But soon her eyes opened, trailing up to the black sky that hung above the mountain.
He was here.
She scanned the vast empty sky.
'Somewhere'
Naruto stared at the map of the battlefield, Kimimaro, Kurenai and Toushiro stood across the table. Patiently waiting for him to start.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity the blond Jinchuriki spoke.
"Our forces are diminished. The enemy outnumber us at least two to one and many of our elites are injured..." Toushiro's head lowered at that, the gravity of his mistake made more apparent by the Kage's words.
Kurenai nodded. "What is our plan for defense then?"
Naruto's eyes shifted to her. "What defense?" He put his hand on the table and pushed forward all the small pieces that represented their shinobi squads forward, plowing them directly into the enemies drawn lines, towards their camp.
All three generals eyes widened. "But...thats..." Toushiro began hesitantly.
"The only thing that will catch Zhuge Liang off guard." Naruto finished. "He expects you to tighten the defenses. To try and hold out until reinforcements arrive. A full out attack is not something he will expect.
The three commanders held their tongues, unease at the idea of a full out assault apparent even to a non ninja.
Naruto straightened. "Kurenai. You shall lead the main attack force, use your Genjutsu, assist in the initial advance as much as possible. Keep the enemy confused and disoriented. Kimimaro will lead the second wave. You are the spearhead that must reach the enemy camp. Your immense power will be the nail on the coffin."
All three ninja waited for him to speak, to continue with the next stage of his plan. But soon it became apparent there wasn't any. "Naruto-sama." Kurenai began somewhat hesitantly. "What about you? When will you join the attack?"
Again, his eyes turned to her. "I will not."
His voice was so flat, so simple the statement made even Kimimaro gape with shock.
"Bu-But..." Toushiro began.
Naruto's arms crossed. "I cannot risk Zhuge Liang discovering me here. Your defeat may just be an elaborate ploy to lure me away from Konoha. Should he discover me here then, if it was his intent, whatever plan he has set up in the village will be sprung. Though I have left the village with orders to maintain a state of high alert I would rather avoid unnecessary losses. I will only join this battle if it seems to be going poorly"
The three generals turned to face one another, unease clear on even Kimimaro's face, but nevertheless, his caution made sense considering their enemy. They bowed and slowly filed out of the tent leaving Naruto alone.
The Kage looked down to the map again. But soon his attention was drawn away.
He glanced to the left and right, curiosity in his body language. He sensed...something...a familiar something. His eyes turned back to the map.
'So...Have you sought me out then?'