Rain pelted against them as they stood, looking at the closed caskets as they lay before them, flowers lay strewn generously across the courtyard, the sobs and cries of the assembled crowd of hundreds creating a grim, somber orchestra.
The gathered Shinobi allowed the civilian members of the fallen shinobi's families to stand freely in the street as they took to the nearby roof and tree tops.
Their black shinobi wear, reflecting that of the gathered crowds. The dark cotton seemed to absorb the light around it, coalescing their entire forms in shadow.
Naruto stood on a podium, overlooking the assembled mass of people. He was dressed, in formal Kage robes, only these were entirely black, the straw hat with the Kanji for fire on his head standing out from their dark background due to the red ink they were written in.
"We stand here today." He began his voice unwavering and cold as the rain that showered them. "To honor our comrades fallen in battle." He allowed his eyes to pass over the assembled crowd, taking in the looks now directed at him, filled with grief pain, and more than a few with resentment...they blamed him.
He lifted his chin and continued. "These men and women were great and powerful warriors, each in their own right. They were each important, each an essential stone in our structure." He stepped off the podium, walking down and passing between the assembled rows of caskets, finally he rested his hand on one of them, manipulating his facial muscles to take on a somber expression, an emotion that never reached his eyes. "They are lost to us now though...taken from us." He turned his eyes from the casket to the crowd and continued hi speech.
Nearby, Jiraiya watched the proceedings with narrowed eyes, holding no small amount of distaste for what he was seeing. He wasn't ignorant, and with each word that spilled from Naruto's lips he felt his stomach twist tighter and tighter.
He was playing them, toying with them. Naruto had written this speech himself, it was meant to use their grief, manipulate it, and twist it for his own ends. He was using his words as a means to get his claws into their minds and reaffirm them into his control.
Jiraiya knew this was necessary, he knew that they needed to keep the populous belief in them. To keep their leash nice and short, otherwise their foundation would crumble beneath their feet and their empire would collapse around their ears...but he still couldn't help but feel utterly disgusted.
He knew that being a ninja was far from the romanticized idolatry they used to convince parents to let their kids become gennin in the first place, he knew that many times they would be called to do things some might consider evil, things that were harsh, cruel...even monstrous.
But to use people's grief over the loss of their loved ones as such...to manipulate and control them this way...Jiraiya couldn't help but wonder what kind of leader would be so callous.
"My people." He said, his voice piercing through Jiraiya's haze filled mind, allowing a tinge of what Jiraiya could only call 'sadness' to creep into his voice. "I know that no matter what I say here today, nothing can bring these people, your loved ones back to you." He paused. Again he allowed his eyes to pass over the crowd, there were no longer faces of resentment, only of deep sadness. "But I feel your loss as well." He continued placing his hand on one of the younger civilian boys shoulder, possibly the son, or the younger brother of one of the fallen. "Each of these brave men and women...they were my soldiers...my comrades...my brothers and sisters." He walked through the crowds, watching as they parted for him. "And each one of them." He continued, raising his voice so it could be heard surely and clearly over the crowd. "I would feel the pain of their passing. The loss of each one of these brave men and women who gave up their lives for me."
He paused again as if contemplating his next words. "No, not just for me...but for a vision. An ideal... A dream, that their families, may be able to sleep in their beds without fear, that their families, no longer need to worry if one of their own will not return from his mission this time. That Wives will not be widowed, that children will not be orphaned...that this pain that we experience now, the pain of loss, the pain that another of our loved ones will no longer be with us will not be experienced due to these wars, these silent battles that take place every day."
He took a breath. "This was their dream." He said. "A dream of peace." As he finished his voice, seemed to grow yet somehow remain the same in volume. His brows knitted together in anger then. "But some...defy that dream. Some...would see the chaos continue, to never allow the rivers of blood, shed from men and women as brave and proud as these that lay before you today to stop flowing." He snapped his eyes up to sweep over the faces of the civilians around him, once again their grim faces slowly filled with anger, but this time, those looks were not directed at him. But toward the situation these people currently found themselves in, they wanted revenge and he would be their conduit for it.
"My people." He continued, his voice gaining that familiar edge of danger Jiraiya and some of the Shinobi that had previously worked with him could recognize. "I know that you wish to mourn your lost loved ones, many would call a shinobi who shows his sorrow to be weak. But they forget. That a person is only weakened by their sorrow as much as they allow themselves to be. I look upon your faces now...and I do not see weakness. I see strength. I see power...I see a desire for vengeance.
At his last words he saw their faces twist in bitterness and anger, tears shining in eyes that smoldered with anger and Naruto had to stop himself from smiling in satisfaction.
"Citizens of Konoha...I ask you now...after this loss, after this defeat...will you turn your backs on these, our fallen... Will you allow yourselves to be dissuaded by the blood now staining our enemies' blades? Will you cower in fear and allow the dream of these men and women, your families, to crumble? The dream they each gave their lives to preserve?" Murmurs came from the gathered, mutterings here and there.
"Or will you stand with me now? As one people. A people who refuse to allow the dream of peace that has been bled for by those they loved to wither and crumble to ash." He paused, taking a few steps through the parted crowds. "If this is so. Then shout!"
Confused whispers cut through the crowd, Naruto paid it no heed as he looked down at the same boy he had touched earlier. "You." He nodded "Shout."
The youth paused looking nervous before he swallowed and offered out a weak cry.
"Louder." He demanded. "They cannot hear you." He gestured towards the row of caskets. "Shout so they can hear you! So that they will know their dream has not yet died!"
The boy shouted louder, joined by a few others. Not enough.
"Louder!" He demanded, using a few of the shadow clones he had spaced within the crowd to spur others on.
More and more soon joined.
"Will you let them end like this!?"
This time the sound was a wall, slamming into his chest with invigorating force as the men and women were swept up in the frenzy.!"
"They still can't hear you brothers!"
The sound could be heard across the village
Tsunade tiredly rubbed the bridge of her nose as she leaned back in her office chair. "Kazekage-sama, I just don't know."
The red headed Kage of Suna sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "Tsunade-san your skills as a medic are legendary even in Suna. Are you absolutely certain nothing can be done?"
Tsunade sighed, leaning forward in her chair and resting her elbows on her desk as she laced her fingers in front of her mouth. "Kazekage-sama I don't think you fully appreciate the full weight of this situation."
She reached into her drawer and pulled out a chart of the human and its bone structure. Specifically, the spinal column. "Your brother has three out of four lumbar vertebrae completely shattered and two of his upper Thoracic vertebrae cracked, the bone fragments of which are pressed against clusters of nerves located within the spinal column, which is what's paralyzed him. Even if I were to remove these bone fragments from these nerve clusters without killing him, the most Kankuro-san can hope for is the re-use of his arms He'll never re establish the use of his legs. Even if he were to have a completely successful procedure...his career as a ninja is over...there's no way around that."
She paused, giving the Kazekage a pitying glance as her eyes softened. "Kazekage-sama. This isn't a matter to be taken lightly. The chances of surviving this procedure alone are at sixty percent, and the chances of its success are even slimmer. You could lose your brother altogether on that table."
Gaara closed his eyes, pain visible easily in his expression as his features tightened. "What Kankuro has right now isn't a life...its an existence. Please..." He chocked through his words. "I would like you to proceed with the operation and so would he."
Tsunade's eyes softened at his plight. "All right Kazekage-dono. As you wish."
Gaara nodded his thanks but before he could voice them the door opened, revealing Liang. "Ahh, Kazekage-dono." He greeted with a bow, Gaara returning it as he stood up from his chair. Noticing the somber atmosphere of the room. Liang spoke up again. "If this is a bad time I can return later."
"No, no." Gaara said with a shake of his head. "We're done here for the moment I believe. If you need me I will be in my brother's room."
"Of course Kazekage-dono." Liang replied with a bow. "If there's anything you need please do not hesitate to ask."
Gaara nodded. "Thank you for your hospitality." He bowed again before he turned to leave.
"Ahh, Kazekage-dono." Liang called to him before he could leave. "If you feel up to it, later on today, can you meet me in my office. I believe it is time we discuss our next move, against Konoha."
Gaara's gaze darkened before he nodded grimly. "Of course." Before he walked out the door, closing it behind him, leaving the sleeping dragon and the slug princess alone.
After the door was closed Liang turned to Tsunade. "How is Ying?"
Tsunade nodded. "Both her legs suffered several fractures. But with some physical therapy she should be back on her feet in about a month, and back on the active Shinobi roster in two months. She'll be under for the next two days in order to keep her from the pain, which would probably be unbearable if she were conscious. After that you can visit her."
Liang nodded. "Thank you Tsunade."
Tsunade took a deep breath as she stared at him dead in the eye. "Don't patronize me Zhuge Liang. I know that's not all you came here for."
Liang sighed slightly before he sat down in one of the chairs. "Akina." He paused, minding his words within these listening walls. "Is no longer ignorant of her origins."
Tsunade's breath hitched, her eyes widening as she seemed to collapse in her chair, releasing a deep regretful sigh. "I see..." She looked back into his eyes. Her own eyes sorrowful and for once, fully showing her age. Liang could see that the decision to keep Akina's true origins from her were a decision that had always weighed heavily on her conscience. But, unlike him, when she had decided to keep the truth from Akina it was purely on the belief that it was for the girls benefit.
The severity of that information could do many things to anyone's psyche. Tsunade had kept the information because she wanted to protect the younger girl. Whereas he had kept it, because he needed her in order to defeat her brother. And if she knew he was her brother, she would more than likely hesitate. He would not. He had demonstrated that quite clearly, judging from the condition he had left her in at the bottom of that gorge.
Tsunade finally sighed again. "Why are you telling me?"
Liang stood from his chair and approached the window slightly behind her. "I am prepared to tell Akina that I alone knew the information of her past, and that it was my sole decision to keep it from her. Rendering you, blameless. I'm just here to tell you so you don't say something you shouldn't later."
"No." The legendary medics voice brought his attention back to her.
"No?" He questioned.
"No." She repeated firmly. "I decided to keep the information from her and I'm going to accept the consequences of those actions whatever they may be."
Liang looked at her for a moment before nodding. "I see...admirable of you I suppose. Because of her current...instability she's being held at Anbu facility 231. I request however that you make your confession as soon as possible. I believe it is best to tell her all at once and then ride out the storm, instead of waiting."
"I think your right." She agreed solemnly. "When should we go?" She questioned after a brief moment of silence.
"Later tonight. I still have several duties that need to be completed throughout the village, not to mention reconstruction. And I imagine you yourself have some duties to complete here in the hospital."
Tsunade nodded, Liang returned it before leaving the room. Leaving the slug princess in her office, where she quickly drank a small cup of Sake, she would be needing more of that soon.
Meanwhile, in a base hidden somewhere on the Shinobi continent, the seven S class missing ninja which now formed the group of ninja known as Akatsuki gathered.
"This world is getting interesting again." Kisame spoke with his sharp toothed smile. "This war could be bigger than even the last great Shinobi war of Konoha and Iwa."
"Indeed." Sasori of the red sands spoke, his lumbering hunched form appearing quite short amongst his peers. "This is developing into a war like no other before it. A 'World War' if you will, it will be interesting to see how it develops."
"Enough. Both of you." The chilling voice of Pein ripped right through the darkness of the cavern, silencing both of his subordinates with ease. "This war will only make our jobs more difficult. There are only three Jinchuriki we are currently missing. The Kyuubi, the Nibi and the Ichibi. All three of these Jinchuriki have become exceedingly powerful and will be carefully guarded by their respective village. The Ichibi is the Kazekage of Suna, the Nibi is a high ranking Kunoichi Jounin in Kumo, and the Kyuubi-
"Is the man that has taken control of half the world by sheer might" Itachi finished for him.
Pein nodded before he looked to Zetsu and Konan. "Zetsu, Konan, you two are our top intelligence operatives. Outline the best strategy to defeat these three."
Konan nodded before looking to Zetsu. "Should you go first or should I."
"You." The fly trap looking shinobi answered.
The Kunoichi nodded before she cleared her throat. "The Ichibi Jinchuriki can control and manipulate sand. He is praised for his nearly impenetrable defenses. His ability to control sand would make him nearly impossible to defeat on his home turf of Suna. I've learned that his defenses can be somewhat overcome with the use of sheer speed. In fact, this seems the only truly practical method to achieve this. Another method would be to wet his sand. It would make it slower, allowing for an easier time of defeating his defenses. But, in retrospect making his sands wet also make them heavier, therefore more difficult to break through with sheer force and more powerful when used in offensive abilities, not to mention much more binding than his normal sand, meaning if he ensnares you in it with his sand wet you'll have a much tougher time of getting out. I would recommend Kisame and Deidara as the best ones to fight against this Jinchuriki."
Pein nodded. "And the Nibi."
"Ahh, yes. The Nibi is quite different from the Ichibi." The blue haired Kunoichi spoke up, clearing her throat a bit before she continued. "This Jinchuriki we consider to be the weakest of the remaining Jinchuriki. But she is still quite formidable, proven to us by the deaths of Hidan and Kakuzu. We believed those two would have been enough to defeat her, but apparently we were wrong. Her attacks entail of the use of purple flames, more ethereal than and not as powerful as something like Itachi-san's Amaterasu, but this acts as a defense and offensive technique simultaneously, shrouding her entire body in it even as she launches several columns of flames at her opponents. This makes Taijutsu nearly suicidal against her. Water does not douse the flames and it is not affected by wind either. The best strategy would have been Hidan cutting her before she transformed, but apparently he failed to accomplish that. Recommended abilities are high level earth techniques, explosions or possibly strong poisons to incapacitate her before she has a chance to transform. For this reason I would recommend either Deidara-san, or Sasori to fight her."
Pein and the others nodded before rounding on Zetsu. "Zetsu." Pein acknowledged with a nod. "You are our best infiltrator. What have you discovered."
Zetsu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "The Konoha Jinchuriki sir, to put simply. Is beyond the abilities of anything short of a three man team consisting of Itachi, Kisame and Sasori to defeat him."
"You believe he is that strong?" Pein questioned skeptically.
"He did manage to defeat Itachi and Kisame when he was still just a boy." Sasori commented. "With ten years more experience. Many things are possible. The boy is in the prime of his life right now."
Pein looked to Zetsu, silently telling him to continue.
"To be honest sir, I have only managed to see the Kyuubi Jinchuriki fight once. During his besieging of the city of Sakai. He single-handedly killed nearly one hundred Iwa ninja, through the use of wind techniques, fire techniques and the summoning of almost fifty serpents. After which he faced the Kage of Iwa and several of jounin level guards that were possibly from Suna and former refugee's of Konoha. He defeated them all without receiving a single debilitating injury.
"How much of the Kyuubi's chakra did he call on." Pein questioned.
"I sensed none of the Bijuu's chakra." Zetsu replied simply watching as some of the others tried to hide their surprise with little success. Only Pein seemed unperturbed by this news.
"I see." The leader of the Akatsuki spoke. "We will have to be very careful then. The villages are on high alert now, and entering them at this point would be foolish. Therefore we will have to bide our time. We cannot afford to loose any of you on field missions. I have studied the seals reportedly used by the Yondaime to seal the fox demon and judging by their design. It will easily take all seven of us to safely extract the Kyuubi." He allowed his eyes to pass over his subordinates. "Return to your previous tasks, I will summon you when the time is right. Zetsu find Hidan and Kakuzu's rings and return them to me."
No words were spoken as five of the seven ninja slowly faded back into shadow, leaving the wielder of the Rinnegan and his long time teammate alone.
Temari's first sensation at returning to the living world was one of an almost overwhelming urge to vomit. Little known to her, this sensation was a side effect of the meds the nurses and doctors had used to keep her sedated while Naruto had been unconscious. Also, because she had been receiving nutrients minerals and such through an IV tube in order for her body to continue functioning and not essentially starve to death, her stomach was empty, meaning that all she was able to conjure up were dry heaves as she coughed and choked on her saliva, leaning off to one side of the bed, a small string of drool managing to escape her lips, descending to the white tiled floor before it was intercepted with a paper bag firmly gripped by a single, uncovered hand, clad in formal looking black robes that were as dark as midnight, the sheen of light reflected from the delicate silks gave way how expensive they were. But she scarcely registered this in her mind before she chose to continue heaving and coughing as if she was trying to rid herself of her lungs.
"I would appreciate it if you would not release the contents of your stomach over my floors." The voice of the individual standing above her sent cold chills down her spine and made her stomach drop, it was like ice picks lined along her back, tiny little pin pricks sending her nerves into overdrive and her heart to racing in dread.
She swallowed thickly, literally willing her stomach to settle before she looked up her grayish silver eyes clouded with trepidation as they met with the biting steel blue that stared straight back unflinchingly.
Before she could contemplate this stranger in front of her; her mind was suddenly flooded with memories of the events that had taken place when she was last conscious. The battle, how she and Kankuro had rushed into the fight when it looked as if the Konoha Jinchuriki was about to strike their younger brother down. Even though they knew it was suicide, neither one of them could simply sit by and watch that happen.
So they had fought, and she had seen her brother's favorite puppet, Karasu torn to pieces and had shortly after bared witness to the horrifying sound of her brother's back being broken in two when the red clad devil had kicked him with the force of a freight train-
"Oh my god Kankuro!" She said shooting up to a sitting position, only to grip her stomach in pain as the wounds previously inflicted on her reopened themselves with the swift movement, red beginning to sift through the fabric of the bandages tightly wound around her abdomen. A thin sheen of sweat now decorated her brow as she let out a hiss of pain, she was breathing through her teeth, her chest heaving as the chilling voice of her observer once again reached her ears. "Do not move. You are too valuable to bleed out before you have fulfilled your purpose."
"What are yo-" She began but froze as she finally caught sight of the outside world through her window, her eyes met with a thick, lush vegetation of forest. But not just any forest, she recognized this forest, these trees. She recognized their species and knew that they grew only in Konoha, the forest supposedly grown by the Shodai Hokage. It was unique vegetation which for whatever reason only grew here in the leaf village.
Her heart seemed to tighten, the pupil of her eye shrinking slightly as a terrible realization settled over her, chilling her skin, digging into her bones as they seemed to freeze the blood in her veins. Her breaths began to come in short quick pants as she started to hyperventilate. She slowly turned back to her intimidating companion, her eyes taking him in this time, and more importantly, the clothing he wore.
She recognized the robes; Gaara had needed to wear such clothing for funeral events during the deaths of some of the councilmen. There were obviously some differences but the design remained the same, and in order to verify, she looked to his wrist, a single seal, the seal of the Kage of Konoha engraved into the material in red lining, she had not seen it before due to the bag he had been holding. Her fear increased tenfold as she looked into his eyes again. This time, his fair image faded away, replaced with the more familiar, more terrifying image of the red robed "Devil King" of Konoha. The man she had come to fear in her career as a ninja and as she looked deep into his sea blue eyes she could just imagine them shift to red.
But despite the disparity of him in and out of his armor, she could still see it, the cold, hard, uncaring eyes of the man that had murdered thousands.
He nodded. "I see that you are now fully aware of the situation you find yourself in, Kunoichi of Suna."