434Ch. 115. Yamata no orochi
"What will you do when Sasuke realizes what you've done?"
What a stupid question, as if I hadn't agonized over this very question.
"I would expect him to be happy." he would be relieved, if he forgave Itachi, he should forgive me for doing a lesser sin.
"Don't you think he'll be upset with the deception?"
Right, Sasuke went insane when he realized his hatred was unfounded, he didn't know what to do with himself since he was now all alone, cutting all ties with those closest to him.
"I won't let him fall into hatred," Looking at her with determined eyes, I spoke. "I won't let him-"
The memory faded like a dream as I opened my eyes. I woke up on Madara's lap, his dark eyes looking down on me, brushing my hair gently as he always does. With each stroke of my hair the memory faded further.
"I feel like I'm forgetting something," I muttered, sleepily.
"If you can't recall, then it wasn't important," he said, closing my eyes, "Go back to sleep."
Well, if Madara said it wasn't important. I rolled over making myself comfortable. It probably wasn't anything important. Soft crackling of flames and the soft strokes of my hair lulled me back to sleep.
This time it was a dreamless sleep.
"Time sure flies, huh?"
I glanced at the nostalgic Ino as she stretched.
"It's hard to believe we've only recently graduated from the academy," Hinata commented. "We've been through so much."
"I think the fact that we're rookies yet burdened with so much says a lot about the adults of this world," I scoffed. Thinking back, the adults didn't do anything while I was fighting my ass off. Looking up at the clear sky, I couldn't help but sigh. I looked forward to my retirement.
"Don't be like that Sakura-chan," Ino threw her hand over my shoulder, I chose not to dodge. "Not everyone can be as headstrong as you," she poked my forehead. "Only your forehead is so dense you know."
I could kill her so easily.
"Please don't."
Something tickled my senses and I looked off into the distance, pausing in my strides and leaving the kunoichi confused.
"What's the matter, Sakura?" Hinata asked. I didn't reply, my senses stretching to the east. I kept my range just beyond the border, taking note of those that lingered on the edges. My eyes narrowed in concentration. There was something familiar about this chakra.
I closed my eyes and pulled on an ancient power.
Eyes fading to pale pink, I channelled chakra to activate the dojutsu.
"Byakugan!"
My vision increased and I saw beyond the borders and to the surrounding forest.
There, beyond my senses, was a group of shinobi I didn't recognise.
They didn't bear any crest of the other nations, instead dressed in white suits. They looked out of place in the Japanese setting.
One of them turned towards the village, meeting my "eyes." black marks appeared in his skin and spread familiarly, their black eyes glowing gold, their sclera turning black.
The curse mark!
Before a gasp could escape my lips, an explosion rocked the village. Turning to the fire and smoke, I witnessed a snake towering above the village; with the body of a dragon, it sported eight heads and two mighty wings.
"Yamata no Orochi," the words left my lips involuntarily. On the surface, I was shocked and in awe, but below the surface I was panicking.
"What the hell is that thing doing here!" I gripped my hair in panic. "It was supposed to be a three-headed summon that attacked the village during the chunin exam, right, so what is that thing doing here!" I paced back and forth, my breath coming in shallow pants.
I only stopped when Madara engulfed me in a scolding hug.
"It's going to be fine, two heads or fifty, we'll just kill it," He assured me.
"She didn't panic when facing a dragon but does when facing an inferior being?" Kurama scoffed. "That thing is just a snake that failed to achieve dragonhood, nothing to fear."
"We can always seal it away," Hashirama offered. "We would need a large scroll and some time to prepare the seal but it is doable."
"She's not purely afraid of the snake," Madara spoke, his voice vibrating his chest. "It's more the implications."
"Implications?" Tobirama asked.
"Orochimaru is in the village with an army of curse users just beyond the walls," He stroked my hair. "The 'plot' dictates that Sasuke will be taken in the confusion."
"You think, while you're fighting the snake, Orochimaru will strike," Minato muttered in understanding. "Then let's split up."
I peeked at him.
"While you're fighting, Kurama and I will find and protect Sasuke," Minato turned to Tobirama. "You should help evacuate the people, I don't want another Nine tails attack."
"What about us?" Hashirama asked, gesturing to Madara and himself.
"You'll have to help Sakura in the fight," Minato stated, taking charge.
I nodded.
If it was Minato, Sasuke, and Naruto, it would be fine.
With a plan in mind, I stepped forward, snapping Ino and Hinata out of their stupor.
"What's the plan?" Ino asked.
"We kill it," I responded, weaving through hand seals.
"Sounds simple enough," Hinata agreed.
I placed a hand on the ground and three puppets appeared. With a pulse of chakra they gained life and leaped away without a word.
Standing, I summoned a sword and glared at the mythical beast.
The last time I fought it was in the ocean, a haunted memory. I tapped the solid ground below me. This time, I'll kill it for sure.
The beast stood tall, its throat glowing an ominous purple.
"So, I know we have to kill it, but how?" Ino asked again, kunai in hand.
"Chop off its heads," I informed her.
"Won't they grow back?" Hinata asked.
"That is the Hydra," I corrected her. Cutting my palm, I spilled blood on the ground.
"Scatter, Senbonzhakura!" My summons rushed from the puddle scattering throughout the village, their wings glinting in the light.
This was going to take a while. If only Itachi was here, I could have him seal it away no problem.
"Let's go," I commanded, leaping into the air and flying towards the beast. Reluctantly the two followed atop the roofs towards the beast.
A pink butterfly fluttered around him, reaching out a hand, the summons landed on Neji's finger. As soon as the contact was made, he was connected. Much like the chunin exam, he found his consciousness in a room, 'waiting on connection', displayed before him in the dark void. The summons settled in his hair like an ornament, prompting him to move.
Looking ahead, he found his team was also sporting a similar hair ornament. Sakura was on the move. Looking ahead, he saw the silhouette of the beast, Neji was positive every shinobi was heading towards the colossal beast.
His eyes narrowed in thought, was that the plan of the enemy? Lure them into a trap? But that thing wasn't something they could easily ignore.
Something glittered in Neji's peripheral, on instinct he leapt to the side, barely missing the golden arrow that lodged in the tree trunk. His team turned to find they were surrounded.
Dressed in white suits, their enemies sported black markings on half of their body, their sclera black.
Neji clicked his tongue, this happened last time as well. When would he be able to fight alongside her?
A man with six arms landed near Neji sporting a bow. He smirked at the Hyuga and spoke.
"We're here for the jinchuriki and his companions, you wouldn't happen to know where they are, would you?"
Neji gritted his teeth, they were after Naruto after all. But what was this about his companions?
Neji took an offensive stance.
"So you don't intend to talk? Well no matter, we have you all surrounded anyway."
[Link established.] The ornament chimed.
Through flashes he saw that indeed the shinobis were all fighting against similar men in white suits.
Gritting his teeth, he prepared for a long battle.
"Byakugan!"
/
Looking out through the wide window of the Hokage tower, Tsunade couldn't hide her displeasure. Her old friend dared to attack the village in such a vulnerable time. She knew Orochimaru was on the enemy's side, but she never imagined he would go so far.
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune rushed in with a pale face.
"A simultaneous attack?" she asked in disbelief.
"We received word from all four nations that they are under attack. It seems ours was the last village to get attacked," Shizune explained. Tsunade glared at the eight-headed snake.
"It's no wonder, it must have taken a substantial amount of chakra to summon that thing," She gritted her teeth, this was the Nine tail attack all over again.
She turned away from the window, her face fierce.
"Gather the guards, we're joining the battle!" she proclaimed.
Just then a lone butterfly fluttered through the window to land on Tsunade's ear, replacing her earring.
[Connected] it announced. Suddenly Tsunade was assaulted by a wave of chakra, not unlike her link with her summons. She gritted her teeth, holding the wall for support. What the hell was Sakura thinking?
[All available shinobi are now connected!]
Tsundade's eyes went wide, was this like the Yamanaka connection?
Calming her mind, she stood straight, ignoring Shizune's worried cries. She touched the earring as she would an ear piece.
"Can everyone hear me?"
"Lady Tsunade?" was the overwhelming response.
"Hold on, I see Inoichi," Sakura's voice came through the connection. Suddenly the burden on her mind lifted and she could think clearly. She sent a silent prayer to Inoichi.
"Konoha Shinobi, we are currently under attack on all sides. The other nations are also facing difficulties, we must clean up here and send out help!"
"Easier said than done," Asuma's voice came through the connection. "That snake isn't the only issue we have."
Just as Tsunade was confused, she received images of people in white suits, standing opposite her shinobis.
She bit her nails, of course, there wasn't only the Snake in the center of the village to worry about.
"Don't worry Tsuna," a familiar voice chimed.
"Uncle?" Tsunade cried in surprise.
"We'll handle the snake, focus on the civilians and the enemy."
Right. She had strong support in the form of her grandparents. It was an odd thought, but it brought her comfort.
"Right!" she projected confidence in her voice. "They dare attack our village! Show them what the Leaf is made of! Show them our will of fire!"
Just as the words left her lips, roaring flames engulfed the eight-headed snake, causing it to screech in pain.
"That's right you oversized snake," Sakura chuckled darkly, sending shivers down her spine. "You picked the wrong village to mess with!"
The pink-haired kunoichi landed on the snake's back, channelling chakra through the beast and cursing it with a zero gravity seal. Now lighter than paper, Sakura grabbed a head and lifted the beast off the ground, leaving everyone slack jawed.
"Shannaro!" she cried as she tossed the colossal beast into the air.
Without weight, the beast flapped its wings to find balance.
"Die!" Sakura ordereded. "Fire style, Great Flames of Annihilation!"
The head of the flames rivaled the sun and was just as bright. Tsunade watched on with a blank face. What was she worried about again? Something about Orochimaru destroying the village out of revenge? Right, who was the threat again?
"I shouldn't be surprised but I don't want to normalize this kind of thing," Shizune muttered.
"Let's all follow Sakura's example,' Tsunade spoke, her confidence wavering.
"Don't ask for the impossible!" Ibiki cried into the connection.
"Even I can't make a fireball that big," Asuma confessed.
"Let's all do our best everyone!" Hinata tries to cheer them up.
"Hmm, how about a celebration at the end of all this?" guy offered. "We can all have a drinking competition! What do you say Kakashi!"
"What does this have to do with me?" Hakate protested.
The comm was filled with cheers of agreement and Tsunade sighed. She turned and walked for the door.
"Let's provide support," she said simply as Shizune and the anbu guards followed her. She hoped the other villages were faring as well.
I am here! The battle begins. I am free so we'll see how much of it I can write for you~
Next Chapter
March 15