1,823A Foxes Tale
Chapter 40
AN: Hello all, welcome back. Firstly as always thanks to everyone who reviewed, favorited and followed the story. This chapter is actually a bit late, I had it mostly finished but didn't like what I had and rewrote about 3/4 of it. Also I won't lie, I had to play Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and considering I only really get the weekends for writing and gaming now that kind of took some time. I'll try to get the next chapter up within the next two weeks but no promises.
Also I had a reviewer of another story tell me I should dedicate myself more to writing. I'm going to take that as appreciation for my work even though I've stated multiple times that I'm busy. That did however get me thinking of writing an actual book again though. Anyway here is the new chapter.
Start Now:
As the light of the full moon shined over the countryside of Kaminari no Kuni within the safe house for the daimyo Tokugawa Ieyasu, Lord of Hi no Kuni frowned as he listened to his fellow daimyo prattle on uselessly. Truthfully while shrewd for the most part on the subject of politics they had proven to him in the short time they'd been gathered that they were not warriors. All of them seemed to be of the opinion that after this conflict things would go back to how they used to be, he however knew better than that. He knew that there was no guarantee that they would win, not up against the might of seven biju and even if they did those on the frontlines wouldn't come out of this so willing to kill each other over the petty disputes of these four men.
That was of course if they survived, he'd seen the multiple bijudama lighting up the countryside like miniature suns with his own eyes, one of which looked to have struck the safe house they were using before Jiraiya insisted they move locations. He shuddered just imagining the consequences of all of them being taken out at once, he knew none of their heirs were in any way mentally prepared to take over should they all perish. This was true of his own son and while his counterparts had not spoken such information he had spies in his own employ who provided the information. Such thoughts were cut to a halt as Jiraiya walked into the room with two new individuals one a young man and the other a young woman.
"Is there an update?" questioned Ieyasu catching the attention of his fellow daimyo.
"I'm being called to the front, Asuma is taking command here. Naruto apparently sent these two to add to your protection. First is Uchiha Itachi." Said Jiraiya motioning to the young man causing several figures around the room to freeze.
"Itachi was our man inside the Akatsuki and served in that capacity since he 'left' the village." Said Jiraiya using air quotes around the word left and putting several of the daimyo at ease.
Ieyasu however knew this was a lie. He still vividly remembered the day that Tsunade revealed the truth behind the Uchiha Massacre to him during the aftermath of the Sound-Sand Invasion. He'd even offered the boy a position amongst his guardian shinobi but had been informed that would need to wait until the situation with the Akatsuki was resolved.
"This is Guren, she is part of Naruto's house staff but has also been trained as a bodyguard. She will act as the last line of defense in case the house is breached." Said Jiraiya.
Ieyasu remembered Guren as well, a shinobi assassin trained personally by Orochimaru that Naruto defeated just prior to the Sound-Sand Invasion. After a month of detainment after the Invasion she had been slapped with a slave seal and given to Naruto. Then while Naruto was away from Konoha she worked as an infiltrator in the Oto bases until the very last one was taken down before returning to Konoha. As Jiraiya left the room and the two young people took their positions Ieyasu turned his attention back to his fellow daimyo, it was best to leave the protection teams to their own devices for now.
The Allied Shinobi HQ was a large building, much larger than it appeared on the outside. While the exterior showcased only a single level the building was chosen due to being built with levels that went below ground rather than going higher. The barrier squad rather than be located in the main building had taken residence in the sub-level allowing them the space needed to operate due to the large sealing array they were positioned inside of. After speaking with Shikaku it was to this level that Uzumaki Shikichi descended to as the level also played host to the detention area, that was currently confining Sakon, Black Zetsu and multiple versions of the White Zetsu.
"Are things prepared?" questioned Shikichi.
The person he addressed was an older woman, though you wouldn't know it just by looking at her. At 80 years old Uzumaki Barra was one of the survivors of Uzushio's destruction and only appeared to be in her 30's with her red hair still as vibrant as an Uzumaki's hair was known to be. She wore a white kimono top tucked into an ocean blue hakuma. She was an Uzumaki-grade Grand Master in the art of Fuinjutsu and since the clan's integration in Konoha had become the caretaker of the clan's Mask Storage Temple on the outskirts of Konoha.
"We are ready." Said Barra motioning him to follow.
In the next room a large sealing array had been prepared with four of the White Zetsu bound and held in place in specific positions within the array. Stepping into the room the woman motioned for Shikichi to step into a particular position. As he looked over the array Shikichi whistled in admiration of what she'd accomplished as while he had given her one thing she'd transformed it into something masterful.
"Remarkable." Said Shikichi causing the woman to scoff.
"It's a damn shame such a technique even exists. I just couldn't let it continue as the travesty it was when you gave me the scroll." Said Barra.
Even as she said she moved over to the wall to his left where a white Hanya style mask was hanging. Shikichi recognized it as the mask of the Shinigami, one of many kept in the Uzumaki Mask Temple. Removing the mask from the wall Barra turned and stepped carefully through the array making sure not to touch the lines. Once in the center she crouched and placed the mask down in an empty circle in the center of the array before standing and leaving the array.
"Does it require anything else on our part?" questioned Shikichi after she was clear.
"Just chakra, everything else is covered by the formula." Said Barra before moving further back to the edge of the room by the entrance.
Seeing this Shikichi took a breath before running through four quick seals and clapping his hands together.
"Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei (Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation)"
With the name of the technique his chakra flared before the seal formula lit up with white light. In the center the mask began to glow with a soft gold light for several seconds before a blinding flash of light took over the room. When Shikichi opened his eyes and could see once more he beheld four men standing before him in the place of the White Zetsu.
Starting from the left was a tall man with tanned skin, dark eyes and waist-length black hair. He wore dark red shinobi armor consisting of several metal plates over a simple black suit with sandals and a Konoha hitae-ate was secured to his forehead. Directly beside him was another man, fair-skinned with silver, shaggy hair, red eyes and three red markings on his face, one under each of his eyes and one on his chin. He wore the same armor as the first man only blue with the addition of a white fur collar. His face was covered by a happuri style hitae-ate with Konoha's stylized leaf engraved over the forehead.
The third man in the line was the shortest of the bunch with tan-skinned, dark brown spiked hair and a small, pointed goatee. Instead of armor he wore a black jumpsuit with mesh segments over the lower portions of his limbs, and a green gauntlet that covered much of his right arm. He also wore an armored hood with a bandanna-like Konoha hitae-ate, tied with two long straps. The final man on the right was a tall, fair-skinned man with blue eyes and blonde hair with jaw-length bangs framing either side of his face. He wore a standard Konoha shinobi uniform with blue pants and a long-sleeved blue shirt with two metal bands on the sleeves of his forearms. Over this he wore a green flak jacket, a Konoha hitae-ate covered his forehead and he wore a short-sleeved white haori decorated with red flames rising from the bottom. The most peculiar thing that Shikichi noticed was that none of them bore the signature signs of the Edo Tensei.
"What is this?" questioned the dark-haired man looking down at his body and flexing his fingers.
"Edo Tensei, the perfected version of it Shodai-sama" Said Shikichi catching the attention of all four men.
"It can't be, I can feel my heart beating." Said the second man.
"That's because I took the jutsu formula you developed and improved it." Said Baara getting attention to turn her way.
"Instead of being resurrected corpses held together with ash the four of you have been fully resurrected. It will only last at most 24 hours before your souls depart back to the Pure World." Said the woman.
"Why have you summoned us?" questioned the third man.
"The Jubi has been revived." Said the fourth man surprising all of them with his statement.
"Correct, Yondaime-sama." Said Shikichi.
"Yondaime! Holy crap, the village must have truly prospered for some time then." Said the Shodai
"I can't really speak on that. I died before the Third, I'm actually surprised I'm here at all considering how I died." Said Minato narrowing his eyes as he spotted the mask on the floor.
"Strange, you do not look old enough to have required a successor who passed before you Saru." Said the Nidaime.
"I passed in my late sixties, quite honestly I don't know how I appeared in this form. The Edo Tensei is supposed to bring you back at the same age you died. How long has it even been?" Said the third man, revealing himself to be Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"That is one of the changes I made in the jutsu formula, so that those revived returned in their prime but with all of their memories." Said Baara.
"If the Fourth Hokage is here with us then who is the fifth?" questioned the Shodai.
"It has been nearly four years since you died Sandaime-sama. As to your question Shodai-sama the current Hokage is your granddaughter, Tsunade." Said Shikichi.
"Ts-Tsunade huh, is the village still standing?" questioned the Shodai nervously.
Meanwhile on the battlefield the barrier fell, and Naruto's arm dropped at the same time as he lost his hold on his bankai leaving him in his normal form covered in sweat and panting heavily. The barrier came down just as the smoke form the explosion was clearing causing eyes to widen across the field. The Jubi was lying on its side inside of a massive crater. Half of its side was gone as was one of its back legs and what looked like two of its tails though all of it was already regenerating. There was no sign of either Obito or Madara, though that didn't hold for long as the sound of clapping came and following it both men emerged from a portal showing they used Kamui to escape.
"Uzumaki Naruto, it appears we have truly underestimated you. It seems you actually are a credit to the Senju bloodline, though that last gambit took the last of your strength." Said Madara as they emerged.
"Worth it." Said Naruto smirking, Madara spared a glance at the Jubi before turning back to regard the forces against him.
"How naïve to believe you have somehow improved your situation." said Obito getting Naruto to look his way, his eyes shifting to gold with slit pupils in an instant.
"Be silent. Your betters are speaking."
Despite his tired state Naruto's words were laced with power with the same tone as if a biju were speaking. Obito himself took a half step back as Naruto's presence pressed on him for only an instant before the blond turned his attention back to Madara.
"Impressive to still possess such a chakra presence even in your weakened state and such disdain, are you sure Tobirama is not your grandfather?" said Madara.
Darui tired of listening to the talking and realizing that they were probably stalling to allow time for the Jubi to regenerate chose that moment to act.
"Ranton: Reizā Sākasu (Storm Release: Laser Circus)"
At his words, a multitude of beams of lightning shot forth from his hands targeting both Uchiha's. As the attack on the two Uchiha launched Naruto quickly found himself being pushed back until he stood behind the Allied Forces. Normally he wouldn't have allowed such a move but in this instance he went with it as he needed time to work and considering his own healing factor he doubted he'd have a lot of time before the Jubi was back up.
Meanwhile as the beams of lightning neared Obito simply phased through those targeting him while Madara chose a different option, power flared from his right hand before his gunbai appeared. With a single swing Madara batted aside the beams redirecting them upwards and sending a massive wall of flames towards the Allied Shinobi at the same time. Before the flames could do any damage they were redirected, pulled as if by a vacuum into a scroll that pulled the flames in until none remained before the scroll rolled shut. Rather than continue to attack Madara turned his gaze to Obito who stood beside him ignoring the shinobi charging towards them.
"You handle them. I need to maintain my hold on the Jubi, it's time for you to prove to them you are a problem, make a name for yourself." Said Madara.
"I have an idea, just wait for it." Said Obito.
Without another word Madara jumped back leaving Obito on his own. Obito frowned, he had no desire to do something as meaningless as making a name for himself. If he'd wanted to do that he could have revealed himself years ago but within the world of the Infinite Tsukyomi such a thing wouldn't matter. Still at this point he had no choice but to act, he needed to get the Jubi back on its feet immediately, he would not suffer any further delays or setbacks even if that meant sacrificing everything he'd kept in reserve. As the group of shinobi neared him Obito simply slashed out with his right hand from his hip to his left shoulder causing a barrage of wood spikes to be launched from his arm to impale three of the charging shinobi.
Turning slightly he used Kamui causing a sword to slip through him and impale the shinobi on the other side of him before sidestepping and slitting the sword wielder's throat with a kunai he picked from the pouch of the shinobi they impaled. Turning as another sword was thrust towards him he once again used Kamui this time creating a portal in front of the blade causing it to emerge in front of another charging shinobi and impale them. Grabbing the sword he eyed the shinobi before him and smirked, which died as he turned to be met with the spinning incoming foot of Maito Gai.
Dodging back to avoid the attack he brought the sword around only for Gai to step on it and use it as a platform to flip over it. As the blade was forced to the ground and Gai went to attack his back sharp branches erupted from Obito's back only for Gai to dodge by the skin of his teeth. Sinking into the ground Obito emerged just in front of the Jubi moments later as if he'd been there the entire time and rather than charge forward to re-engage he instead created a huge portal from which emerged what had to be thousands of White Zetsu.
"Hyuga Clan forward. Naruto-kun needs more time to recover and we will give it to him. We will prove once more that the Hyuga are the strongest in Konoha" Said Hinata from beside Ino even as her father moved to Neji's side.
"Well said daughter." Thought Hiashi a touch of pride briefly entering his voice.
"Ino can you link me to all Hyuga here?" Said Hinata
"Just watch me." Said Ino her hands quickly folding into the ram seal
"Shindenshin no Jutsu (Mind Transmission Jutsu)" said Ino activating her technique.
Ino meanwhile gritted her teeth a vein visibly throbbing in her head as she went about connecting the minds of every single Hyuga present the connections forming quickly, her earlier effort to redirect the Jubi's bijudama making this much easier by comparison. Finally the final connection was in place allowing the blonde to exhale a breath.
"Listen carefully, I'm going to share with all of you two of the Hyuga Clan's lost techniques. I don't have time to go over the details, so we'll fill in any gaps later. Now first use these seals." Said Hinata quickly over the telekinetic connection.
Both the Allied Shinobi and the two Uchiha watched in surprise as the Hyuga Clan, known for not using anything more than their clan's prized taijutsu style began actually using hand seals simultaneously until they held onto just one.
"Gentei Kaijo (Limiter Release)"
While there was no major outwards reaction those close enough to any Hyuga to look watched in surprise as three linear dots appeared between the eyes of the Hyuga for only a few moments before they seemed to simply flake away. Then they watched as the prized Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan changed, becoming purple while the faint pupils of an active Byakugan faded even though the veins still protruded around the eyes. Still moving as one the Hyuga held out their left hands with bright blue chakra forming around their hands before lengthening to the length of a staff.
Only those who had been around when Hinata first displayed the skill recognized what was happening and began smiling in anticipation of what was to come. Without slowing the Hyuga moved their right hands forward into the energy before drawing back showcasing they now held bows loaded with arrows both made of pure chakra in hand. Bows arched back simultaneously and held for only a few moments before nearly one hundred arrows were released into the air. As the reached the apex of their climbs and began the journey downwards the arrows shattered forming thousands of arrows to rain down on their opposition.
As the attack neared the Jubi's eye swiveled and focused on the incoming arrows. It opened its mouth and inhaled the force of which pulled the arrows off course and straight into its mouth. Much to the shock and horror of the Hyuga they could only watch as the Jubi's arm quickly regenerated. Before either side could do more the Jubi's hand slammed into the ground and the Zetsu were all simultaneously impaled by what appeared to be branches which quickly sucked the life and chakra out of them causing them to wither to nothing within seconds and fall to dust. The Allied Shinobi could only watch horrified as the Jubi stood once again its body now completely healed of the damage that had been dealt to it just before it tilted its head back and roared to the heavens.
"Shit, we're out of time!" exclaimed Kurama.
The worlds of the biju were enough to get Naruto's eyes to snap open within the inner world where the biju and Benihime dwelled.
"You need to get back out there, I'll handle things from here." Said Benihime urgently.
"It's recovered already?!" questioned Naruto in shock.
"Worse, it transformed again. It's in its fully revived active state." Said Kurama causing Naruto's eyes to widen.
"Okay, we're implementing Shikaku's plan. I'll need your chakra, so get ready." Said Naruto before his form vanished from the inner world.
"You sure you can handle that?" questioned Kurama.
"No choice. Besides his power is my power. It will be slower since he's not doing it directly but I followed his work so I know what to do." Said Benihime.
With that the zanpakuto spirit took a seat reaching her arms out stopping just in front of the giant golden flames of chakra that Naruto sealed off just after he recovered from Pein's decimation of Konoha.
Naruto's eyes snapped open in the living world and looking up he could see the Jubi in its new form and couldn't help but grit his teeth. Its body had filled out, taking on a more muscular appearance and its missing pieces had grown in including the right arm and the ends of its tails that now ended in human-like hands. It grew a complete left arm and was now standing completely on its hind legs, now standing even taller than before, even the horns on its head had grown out a bit more. Naruto watched as the beast's body shifted to all fours subsequently lowering its head to the point that while still towering over them he could clearly make out Madara and Obito standing atop of the creature even as one of its hands lowered towards them.
"Hakkeshō Kaiten! (Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven)"
The roar of the techniques name came just before the signature rotating shield of the Hyuga Clan made its appearance the hand coming up against it and being deflected back. When the chakra dome faded away the source was revealed to be Neji standing defensively.
"No way, he actually deflected it!" exclaimed one of the shinobi.
Eyes narrowed atop the Jubi, Obito caused all of its tailed hands to reach forwards before wooden spikes were launched at the army from all of the hands.
"Hakke Kusho (Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm)!
The response from the Hyuga was immediate as hands thrust forward enhanced with chakra sending invisible attacks out that took out many of the falling spears, though not nearly enough as several fell on allied shinobi impaling them and causing those who didn't die immediately to cry out in pain.
"Do you see now how futile your resistance is?"
Naruto like many looked up to see Obito standing before them looking down on them from the head of the Jubi beside Madara.
"I tried to spare you this pain, this senseless loss of life. Yet you're leaders spurned my offer and for what, where are they now when you all stand uselessly before us?" said Obito, ending in a question that had many gritting their teeth.
"I offer you a world free pain, free of torment. No more senseless violence, no more needless death. Look around you! All of these people dead, all of those still clinging on even as their bodies start to grow cold as they lie in your arms! Take it all in, all of this pain, all of this death, all of it could have been avoided! The pride of your Kage's, of shinobi, what has it ever brought but more chaos, more hatred, more grief! Abandon this reality, embrace the opportunity that is the Infinite Tsukyomi and live the remainder of your days peacefully." Said Obito, the silence from the Allied Shinobi getting Madara to smirk.
"You're such a bitch."
The words cut through the silence easily causing eyes to focus on Naruto. Getting to a knee he son found the hands of Hinata and Ino in front of him, the two standing on his left and right respectively. Accepting the hands he allowed them to pull him to his feet. Despite getting him to his feet once Naruto was standing neither Ino or Hinata made a move to let go nor did Naruto pull away, instead all three looking up defiantly.
"Look at you, still clinging to hope. Let me guess next you'll say something stupid like 'I won't let my comrades die' and ignore the reality of what is surrounding you" Said Obito.
"The fact you can say that with a straight face while trying so desperately to flee reality to live in a world of illusion. We are shinobi, we deal in death both in the taking of lives and more importantly in the protection of lives. It's the life we signed up for even if it's a completely contradictory way of life, it's what we signed up for. As for those words, 'I won't let my comrades die', they aren't stupid nor a way to ignore reality. They are a statement, nay a promise not to our comrades but ourselves to commit, to never settle! They are a call to action to push ourselves every day, to grow stronger every day, to train harder and longer every day. They are words we have to believe in to keep fighting!
Shinobi are those that endure! We all know the risks, just like those who came before us knew them and just as sure as you knew them and Rin knew them. Yet despite this you are such a pussy you want to run away from reality so you can live a pretend life, so Rin can be your pretend wife and raise pretend kids. Who is the one clinging to hope really." Said Naruto his words causing Obito's eyes to first widen and then quickly narrow in anger.
"I supposed that's why Madara picked you in the first place. Your desperate desire to flee reality must have been easy to see, in his advanced age it must have made you the perfect pawn to bring his plans to fruition. After all only a fool would fall for as big a farce as this Moon's Eye Plan." Said Naruto.
At his words Obito clearly had enough talking as in the next instant one of the tailed hands moved and a barrage of wooden spikes were once more launched out. Before they'd even gotten far the spikes were intercepted by a blast of chakra which engulfed the spikes and destroyed them while the blast still travelled on its way for nearly three miles before striking a mountain and exploding. Following the path of the beam Madara and Obito were greeted to the sight of the Hachibi once more out in full.
"Brace yourselves." Said Naruto softly to Hinata and Ino
Before either could reply Naruto was suddenly engulfed in power as a chakra cloak covered his form. Those looking at him had their eyes widen as there were clear differences then what it had been before. The charka color itself had changed, before it had been yellow with an orange outline that resembled flames, now the colors were inverted with orange as the dominant color and yellow at the edges. His eyes had also changed as with the other cloak his eyes had been orange with a rounded pupil; his eyes had instead remained his natural blue only with a slit pupil.
Also unlike the other cloak this one was covered in thick black lines that those who could see them and understood immediately recognized as one giant seal. As if that wasn't enough in the next instant both Hinata and Ino were shrouded in red chakra the sight of which forced even Obito and Madara to take notice, especially as those capable of sensing chakra realized that it felt more like Naruto's chakra than the Kyubi's which it had obviously come from.
"Not bad converting my chakra enough be harmless to regular humans and dispensing it so quickly." Said the fox from within the seal.
"It took a while, thankfully I was able to stall a bit longer while he was feeling chatty." Came Naruto's response.
In the outside world Naruto released Hinata and Ino even as his hands came up into a familiar cross shaped seal and he created four clones that immediately shot out through the ranks slapping hands with those they passed and causing them to be engulfed in tail-less chakra shrouds. As one of the tailed hands came down Hinata stepped forward shooting forth a palm thrust and sending out a wordless Hakke Kusho that deflected it completely.
"So I think its about time we joined the battle."
The statement caused four pairs of eyes to turn to the Tsuchikage who was currently levitating in the air. Shizune said nothing, realizing quickly that neither she nor the squad of medics she'd brought with her were the ones being addressed by the older man.
"Agreed." Said the Raikage flexing his left arm that had somehow been completely regenerated.
"You do good work." Said the man turning his gaze to address the medic that attended him, causing Uzumaki Karin to blush.
"No poaching." Said Tsunade as she stood to her own feet.
"I hate to say it, but I agree with them. Besides, I need to make a better impression if I'm to convince Naruto-san to impregnate me." Said Mei.
"Stay away from grandson you." Said Tsunade giving her a sharp glare only for Mei to shrug.
"If I can't get him to marry me I can at least get a child out of him." Said Mei.
"Last warning." Said Tsunade.
"Unfortunately, I agree. Besides as the acting 5 Kage we cannot remain on the sidelines now that we've recovered." Said Gaara.
"Right then, since we're all agreed, let's go."
With that word from Tsunade the 5 Kage vanished with the medics doing so as well moments later.
AN: That's it the chapter is over. Thanks for reading and please review, I'm interested to know what you all think. Until next time, LATER.