Chakra Wizard
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Sorry about the huge wait. School was really starting to pile up on me, but now that the semester's over, I can cram as much writing in as I can before the next onexd Anyways, hope you enjoy*_*
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
Chapter 095: To War
The black sky overseeing the vast desert slowly regained its color as dawn approached for the Village Hidden in Sand. Atop the Kazekage Residence, Gaara watched as the black was replaced by a dark blue, silently reminiscing on how perfect his life had been before everything that transpired in the past few weeks. As the image of his late wife passed before his eyes, his nephew Shinki appeared behind him, silently confirming their forces’ readiness to depart for the Land of Iron. Answering with a simple nod, Gaara stood up and gazed off towards the Land of Earth, which would soon become his primary battlefield.
Gaara: (Just be patient, Shijima. …We’ll make things right again.)
In the bowels of the top-shaped building on which they stood rested the quarters housing Gaara’s immediate family, where Sabure continued to sleep through the early morning. Across the floor were numerous clothing items of varying indecency and discarded wrappers and containers from food she had previously brought back to her room despite her mother’s insistence not to. It was the latter category that caused Ryūza to look around in disgust as he tiptoed inside, walking up to his sister and gently whispering into her ear.
Ryūza: Sabure…Sabure. Come on, get up.
He threw his head back and grabbed his now bleeding nose as she sat up without warning or notice to the results of her actions, wiping away the crust from her eyes as she gathered enough saliva to relieve her mouth of its dryness.
Sabure: Huh?
Ryūza: (He reached over and stole a tissue from the box atop her dresser, wrapping it around his nose before looking back down at her with mild aversion.) Ugh, get dressed and grab your supply bag. We need to start moving before the sun’s up.
He left the room almost immediately to prepare himself, at which point she scratched her head and noticed how tangled her hair was for the first time. She instantly stood up in a mild panic and slipped off her pajamas, suiting up in her usual top, skirt, and flak jacket before standing in front of the mirror with her comb and hair products ready. After fifteen minutes, she smiled in satisfaction at the perfect bun now positioned towards the back of her head and the long strips of knotless hair on either side of her face, grabbing her phone off the dresser and starting to text the person she wanted to impress most with her appearance, her face slowly turning pink at the thought of him. Several hundred miles away, Manako stood at the top of the small ledge just behind his house, already dressed and prepared for his own journey despite dawn being more than two hours away for the Leaf Village. Hearing his ringtone from his back pocket, he smiled and pulled out his phone, already having a fair assumption of who was texting him so early in the morning.
Sabure: (You awake?)
Manako: (His smile grew wider with amusement as he typed his reply.) (Yeah. Couldn’t sleep at all.)
Sabure: (Nervous?)
Manako: (No more than you.)
Sabure: (Not reassuring.)
Manako: (He barely contained a soft chuckle.) (Lol. I’m fine, Sabure. The sun doesn’t show here for two more hours, so I have plenty of time to clear my head.)
Sabure: (Okay. We’re fixing to move now, so I have to go.)
Manako: (He gazed off towards the horizon in the direction of the Land of Wind.) (Alright. Be safe. See you in two days).
Sabure: (Can’t wait.)
Manako smiled in amusement again as he returned the phone to his pocket, imagining her flustered expression and hesitation to send that final message. Just moments later, he was greeted by yet another early riser, who prided himself at seeing his son with his flak jacket and forehead protector on.
Itachi: Up already?
Manako: (He shrugged his shoulders lazily and turned around, choosing to hide the fact that he never went to sleep.) Better to be early than risk being late.
Itachi: (He smiled and motioned for him to head back inside.) Come on. I’ll cook up some breakfast.
Manako answered with a nod and followed, stopping briefly to gaze out at the rest of the village, wondering to himself how his peers were preparing for the journey to come – and if some of them were even awake yet to do so.
Towards the center of the village, on the opposite side of the dividing river, Kenji stretched his arms and let out another yawn as he entered his team’s art gallery, which had grown both in size and popularity over the last four years. Dozens of Ide’s beautiful wax figures, featuring both personal creations and requests from customers, lined the left side of the main hall when he walked in, while the right was lined with his own equally beautiful sculptures – save for the consistently grotesque faces he seemed to never notice. Across the walls were numerous framed tattoo designs from Irezumi, who had acquired quite a profit himself from customers that included both civilians and fellow shinobi, as well as paintings provided by their sensei. Towards the back was the normally barred off entrance to their studio, where he knew his teammates were going through some final preparations of their own. Sure enough, when he made his way to the back of the room, past the numerous canvases, pedestals, and marble slabs, he found Irezumi sitting on a stool in front of a small mirror, applying a few delicate touches to a very small tattoo on his right palm, one which required specialized goggles to see properly.
Kenji: So how long have you been here?
Irezumi: (He acknowledged his arrival with a smile, not lifting his head to avoid breaking his concentration.) About an hour. Just putting on some finishing touches. …How about you?
Kenji: (He let out another loud yawn.) I stayed up all night working. …Huhhh, can’t believe it took this to finally spur me to finish it.
Irezumi: (He smiled in amusement and removed his goggles as he completed the tattoo, blowing softly on it to dry the ink.) Sometimes last-minute panic is exactly the mood you need.
Kenji: Hehe, yeah. …So is Ide in the back?
Irezumi nodded to confirm this, having already put his goggles back on and begun polishing another small tattoo on his left palm. Before Kenji could even take a step in the right direction, though, Ide emerged from the nearby dressing room. Her pink robes had been cut much shorter to reveal her black shorts and the sleeves of her fishnet shirt, preparations for the more active agenda that awaited them, but more surprising was the length of her freshly trimmed hair. The tips of her sides just narrowly reached past her chin, while the back barely grazed the level of her nose, a far cry from her initial knee-length style that caused both her teammates to look up at her in surprise.
Kenji: Whoa…way to go the extra mile.
Irezumi: (He looked at her for a moment before grinning in amusement and turning to resume work on his final tattoo.) You didn’t need to go that far. A foot or so less would’ve been plenty.
Ide: (She smiled and shook her head as she ran her hand over the back to feel the difference in length.) I can’t let even a little bit get in my way. I would’ve followed your example if I thought I’d look good bald.
Irezumi: Hmhm, well, it’s a good thing you didn’t, then. That would’ve been disastrous.
He didn’t look up as he said this, choosing to make the final touches on his design first before laying his equipment down and standing up. Her expression showed hints of amusement aimed at his joke, but more noticeable was the sadness, not at the loss of her hair – he knew her too well for that – but the reason for which she did it. Instantly feeling her pain, Irezumi walked up to her and rested his hand gently on her shoulder.
Irezumi: Hey…if all goes well, we won’t need to do much fighting anyhow, so try to cheer up, alright?
Though rarely one to share his own self-assurance in the midst of real combat, his heart was in the right place making this promise, making it easier for her to return his smile before grabbing one of the three supply bags laying on the nearby table and walking out, her teammates watching her attentively as she left.
Kenji: She really does look good with the short hair.
Irezumi: Yeah…she does.
Irezumi wasted little more than a second watching her leave before putting his sweatshirt back on and fitting his flak jacket over it, flinging one of the remaining bags over his shoulder and following after her as he slipped his forehead protector over his hairless scalp. Smiling in amusement at his almost rushed departure, Kenji looked around one last time at the studio they built and shared over the past four years, tightening his own headband and grabbing the last bag after silently promising to return to it soon.
As the black skies above the Leaf slowly regained their color, shinobi across the village began awaking to gather their supplies and bid farewell to their loved ones, all intent on making it to the main gate before the deadline at dawn. Of course, more than a few found themselves incapable of meeting these requirements, with Raiden surprisingly among them. With half an hour already behind them, Minto and Taigen were sent to finally force him out of bed, another half hour passing before the latter finally had the sense to drag his long tongue across Raiden’s face, sending him tumbling over the opposite side of the bed in a disgusted frenzy.
Raiden: Ew! Taigen, what the hell!?
Taigen: (He snarled at him from atop the bed.) Next time, get up before then, lazy ass!
Raiden: (He grabbed the pillow that fell off the bed with him and threw it, prompting Taigen to jump back down.) You could’ve just barked, you dumb mutt! And get your furry ass outta my bed!
Minto: (He leaned against the door with his arms crossed, glaring at him in annoyance.) He did. Four times. You didn’t hear Bachiko crying when she woke up?
This casual remark was all it took to lift Raiden off the floor and carry him over to his dresser. Within two minutes he was already dressed and had his supplies in hand, leaving Minto and Taigen quite impressed – though he made little effort to tidy up his hair or fix his ponytail – and he walked out into the hallway with them in tow.
Minto: When did you fall asleep?
Raiden: None of your business.
Taigen: How’s it not our business? Minto and I were the ones told to wake you up.
Raiden stopped and turned to scowl at him, adding to Minto’s surprise even further when he hesitated to resume walking. For a moment, he was certain he might actually open up to him about his state of mind. Then he remembered their history, and he reached out to grab his shoulder before he had the chance to walk away.
Minto: It’s okay to be nervous.
Raiden: (He yanked his shoulder away and rolled his eyes in irritation.) Pssh, and why would I be nervous? You should be more worried than I am.
Minto: (His eyebrows sank.) And I am. I’ve got friends and a little brother to look out for while I’m out there. Whose back are you watching?
Raiden: (He scowled at the remark preceding the question, offended by the very idea of needing his protection.) Please, why would anyone need backup from you? They’d be better off asking a civilian for help.
Minto: …Answer my question.
Raiden scoffed again and attempted to hurry down the hall, only to find Minto’s fingers wrapped around his shoulder once again. He brushed it off as a hindrance initially, but when a soft yank, and later two stronger ones, proved incapable of pulling it loose, he looked up to see the anger and insistence in Minto’s eyes and reluctantly yielded to them.
Raiden: I’m watching my own back out there. That’s whose back I’m watching. …Everyone else’s safety comes second to yours, moron. That’s basic warfare.
Minto: (He loosened his grip enough to allow his next yank to pull him free, standing there disheartened as he silently watched him walk away.) (Yeah…cause you really know about warfare.)
The others having already consumed their breakfast, only one plate of pancakes and eggs sat at the end of the dining room table, which Raiden immediately dug into after giving his gratitude to his mother, who was now sporting early signs of yet another pregnancy. Seeing Minto and Taigen exiting the hallway, she immediately ran up to them next, rubbing the latter’s head before wrapping her arms around the former in a tight but loving embrace.
Ayumi: You three be safe out there. Okay? Take care of each other. And don’t take any unnecessary risks. And-
Minto: Mom, it’s alright. We’re gonna be fine. I swear.
Ayumi: (She smiled in response, though the sadness was still present in her eyes.) Hm, yes…yes, I know.
As they retracted, the former’s father, who had been sitting on the nearby sofa playing with Bachiko, stood up with her in his arms. Walking up to Minto, he squeezed her gently one last time before setting her in his arms so they could say their own goodbyes.
Suzaku: Mm, Daddy loves you so much. We’ll be back soon, okay?
Bachiko: (She looked up at him with intense curiosity, her arms having just been wrapped around her brother’s neck.) How soon?
Suzaku: (He gazed up in honest thought, slightly regretting having made the remark.) Ehhhh…maybe three weeks? A month, tops?
Bachiko: Aww! But that’s so long!
With a moment’s hesitation, Raiden gulped down the last piece of egg on his plate and ran back down the hallway, much to the fascination and confusion of everyone present. Within seconds, he returned with a green marker and the calendar he kept hanging beside his dresser, reaching into Minto’s back pocket as he walked up to him and stealing his phone with no consideration.
Minto: Hey, what the-
Raiden: (He scowled up at him before placing it in Bachiko’s hands and holding the marker up to the current date on the calendar.) …You see this, Bachiko? This is the day we’re on right now. Now, it’ll take us two days to get where we’re going, which is right here. After that, you just keep Big Brother’s phone with you and every night, me or Daddy will call you and tell you to mark another day on the calendar. We’ll keep track of how long it takes us to get home together, alright?
Bachiko: (Still visibly disappointed by the entire situation, she gazed down at Minto’s phone for a moment before nodding.) …Okay.
Those standing around them watched with warmed hearts as Raiden took her into his arms for a long embrace, at the end of which he gently placed her in their mother’s arms after much hesitation.
Raiden: Keep her safe, okay? Until we’re back.
Ayumi: (She smiled and nodded as she adjusted her hold on Bachiko.) Of course, hon. …You just do the same on your end.
She reached out to caress his cheek, and he rested his hand on her arm and smiled back before glancing down involuntary at the now faintly noticeable protrusion of her stomach. Taking the hint immediately as she often would, Ayumi looked at him with amusement and nodded again, assuring him that the child in her womb would be just as safe as the one in her arms. When he received this promise, Raiden walked out the door with great hesitation, followed shortly by Minto and Taigen as their parents looked on and reflected.
Ayumi: You’ve noticed it, right? …How happy he is around her?
Suzaku: Hmhm, refreshing, isn’t it? …Kinda gives you hope.
Ayumi: (She nodded in agreement before running her hand down their daughter’s back.) There’s no chance he’ll let something happen out there. Not with Bachiko waiting for him to come home.
Suzaku: (He looked down at her briefly and back at the open door, his eyes fixated on his older son.) …Yeah…that, too.
Realizing that the time had come, Suzaku leaned down to plant one last kiss on top of Bachiko’s head before wrapping his hand around Ayumi’s and pulling her in close.
Suzaku: You two hold down the fort until we’re back, alright? …I love you.
Ayumi: (She allowed herself to sink into his chest for a brief moment.) I love you, too.
They separated momentarily before pulling back together for a final kiss, synchronously holding their hands playfully over Bachiko’s eyes as she protested, her wording making it unclear whether she detested their affection or her inability to see it. With amusement, they broke the kiss prematurely, remaining connected a few moments longer by their hands before they, too, drifted apart. Ayumi continued to watch silently long after Suzaku’s departure, seemingly caught in a trance-like state which their daughter was forced to draw her out of.
Bachiko: Mommy, why are you crying?
Ayumi: (Not noticing the tears until she spoke up, she hurriedly wiped them away and smiled down at her as best she could, unable to hide her fear that the worst would soon come to her departing loved ones.) It’s nothing, baby. …Mommy’s fine.
In a small building towards the center of the village, Airon rested his arms atop the railing outside Nakama’s apartment, a recently lit cigarette gripped lazily between his gloved fingers. He rubbed his eyes to keep them from closing on him as color began returning to the night sky, visibly displeased with his decision, but deeming it necessary to help cope with the anxiety of his current situation. Forced awake at night by chronic visions that bordered on nightmares, plagued by memories of two foes who managed to make a fool of him in ways no one ever had, and now caught in a relationship with a woman he’d rather not see in such ways, he was almost relieved he’d been keeping the pack on hand for the days the stress grew too strong to cope with. Ashamed by it nonetheless, he quickly extinguished it between his fingers and allowed it to fall to the gravel road below when his ears caught wind of Nakama’s slow approach, still wrapped in the blanket they shared for half the night. Watching her walk up beside him, he couldn’t help noticing that even in her drowsiness, she remained the subtle beauty she always was, not a knot to be found in her hair or a smudge to be found on her blemishless face. He quickly purged his mind of such thoughts, though, refusing to think of her in such ways even in the wake of last night’s events – and too concerned by her apparent sadness to even consider doing so.
Airon: You alright?
Nakama: (She wiped the crust from both eyes with her palm as she managed a nod.) …Yeah…
After much visible hesitation, she beckoned for him to follow her inside, back to her bedroom. Obeying in spite of his initial discomfort, he couldn’t help but smirk in amusement when he saw her reach for a pendant laying on her dresser with a small ruby stone at its center, recalling his run-in with her at Tenten’s pawn shop nearly a week ago.
Airon: So you WERE looking for something for me.
Nakama: (She managed a smile as she stared down at the gem sitting in her hand.) I was. I never found anything I thought you would like, though. …This was my mother’s necklace. Up until she…it’s the only thing I have left of her. Or Father.
After much somber reflection, she reached out to grab his hand, bidding him to open it before allowing the pendant to trickle down into it.
Nakama: I want you to keep it.
Airon: (He stared at it for a moment, pondering over what she told him before taking her hand in order to return it.) …I can’t. Not something that precious.
Nakama: (She shook her head insistently, squeezing her hand closed to prevent him from returning it.) It’s safer in your hands. And maybe it’ll give you more drive while you’re out there. …Just promise to bring it back to me…when this is all over.
Her undying persistence tempted him to nod, but the sadness in her eyes as she gave it away made it impossible for him to just accept the gift. Seeing no chance of swaying her to keep it, though, he tied it around his neck and waited for her to notice before holding out his hand, inviting her to set her own on top of it. With no pen or ink in sight, he bit the tip of his finger to draw a small stream of blood, enough so to write legibly onto her palm what quickly became identifiable as the seal for his Flying Raijin jutsu.
Airon: How about every night when I come to see you instead?
Nakama: (Her eyes lit up with joy.) …That sounds perfect.
She stood on her toes and leaned in for a kiss in gratitude, but quickly stopped and pulled back when it was clear Airon lacked the instinct to do the same. She lowered her head as the realization that last night’s events were nonconsensual weighed heavy on her heart, flooding her thoughts with sadness and regret. It wasn’t until Airon lifted her chin and smiled down at her that she set these thoughts aside and closed the gap between them, choosing for now to make the most of their new bond.
Boruto: …Kei…Kei…KEI, I SWEAR TO GOD, IF YOU DO THIS TODAY, I’M BEATING YOUR ASS!!!
Despite still being in the middle of what would typically be called deep sleep, the volume and convincing tone of the threat brought Kei out of bed within seconds, fully dressed for the journey to come in the seconds after that, and bursting into the hallway before his father could break through his door to carry it out.
Kei: Sorry!! Sorry! Sorry! Alarm clock didn’t go off!
Boruto: (Standing there with his arms crossed, he grabbed the top of his head and flung him about for a moment.) Yes it did, you numbskull!! You’re just a lazy bum!
Inase: Airon already called and said he’s up and going straight to the main gate, so hurry up.
Kei: (He stumbled to catch his footing as Boruto released him before rubbing his neck in irritation.) Ow, alright! Alright! …Sheesh.
Boruto: (He rolled his eyes before taking off down the hallway.) Huhhh, I swear.
Kei: (Following behind Inase, he tapped her shoulder to get her attention as a conniving grin illuminated his face.) (Did he say if he got any action last night?)
????: No, I didn’t.
The sudden intrusion sent enough chills running up Kei’s spine to freeze a lake, rocketing him headfirst into the ceiling and bringing a few scattered pieces of rubble along with him. While Inase managed to keep herself mostly composed beneath her cupped hands, Airon’s legs gave away almost immediately and his mouth flew wide open, bellowing throughout the house as Kei stood back up with a bump half the size of the head it sprouted from.
Kei: GODDAMN IT…shithead!! You were supposed to be at the gate!!
Airon: Yeah-he…that’s what-hehehe…that’s what I told-hehaHAHAAAAAA…ah, shit. Hehehehoo…that’s what I told Inase to say-hehehahahaha!
Inase: (She struggled to confirm this without laughing over herself.) It sounded like a good idea to me, so I went with it...hehehahaha!
Kei: (He waited for them to stop laughing before walking past them, clutching his head with both hands and slouching miserably.) (Jackasses. It’s always me. Always.)
Airon: (Did you hear that, Inase?)
Inase: (I certainly did. Whatever could he mean?)
Kei: Rrrgh, knock it off!!
His anger was quickly replaced by remorse when they walked out into the dining room, their mother smiling and waiting patiently beside the table, on which sat a single uneaten plate of food that Kei quickly dug into after thanking her with a peck on the cheek. Inoue immediately turned her attention to her other two children, curling her arms around their necks and pulling them in close. Sadness at their departure was clearly there, but not an ounce of unease to be found with it, something Airon picked up on with amusement at as they separated again.
Airon: You still sure you’re not worried about us?
Inoue: (She reaffirmed her smile and cupped his cheek gently with her hand.) About you? Never.
She pushed his head down gently so she might kiss the top of it, repeating the gesture with Inase afterwards and doing the same for Kei once he had gulped down his breakfast and handed her his plate. Boruto watched this all as he leaned, arms crossed, against the back of the sofa, pleased to see Inoue doing so well, but equally concerned that she might still be holding something back. He motioned for the triplets to stand before him when they had finished their farewells to their mother, heaving a sigh of his own and smiling as he recalled their last discussion regarding the call to war.
Boruto: You three just make sure to keep your promise.
Airon: (He smiled in sync with his siblings and held out his fist, morphing it into a grin as his grandfather’s image flashed through his mind.) …Believe it.
Boruto eagerly bumped fists with him before doing the same with Kei and Inase. He then hurried out the door before turning to Inoue, proceeding to pull her in close for a long embrace, each of them squeezing the other as tightly as they could manage.
Boruto: Be safe.
Inoue: …Be strong.
She held all emotion inside when seeing off her children, but it wasn’t until they finally pulled away that the tears finally began to seep from Inoue’s eyes, continuing to fall harder as they leaned in for one final kiss. Seeing this, Boruto just marginally held back his own, managing to make it to the door before turning around with his thumb stuck out, a silent promise that Inoue returned with every semblance of a smile she could muster before closing the door behind him, stranding her in the middle of their now empty home.
A few miles across the village, within the vast estate overseen by the Hyūga clan, Naruto and Hinata said their own last goodbyes to their revived cousin, the latter holding his hand from his bedside as nearby, Hitomi bid farewell to his mother and grandmother.
Otome: Mm, I’m so proud of you. …You take extra good care of yourself out there.
Hitomi: (He broke the hug and rubbed the back of his long hair in mild embarrassment.) Mother, I’ll be fine, okay? I’m in Uncle Naruto’s division, after all.
Naruto: (He grinned in response to this mentioning of him, unable to keep from stroking his own ego.) Hehehehe, I’ll watch out for him, Otome. Don’t worry about that.
When the brief moment passed, all attention in the small room pandered back to the elderly man laying in the bed, who managed to sense this and subsequently lowered his head in mild embarrassment.
Naruto: I can trust you and Kiba to keep watch until we’re back?
Neji: (He smiled in amusement.) Kiba, perhaps. I’ll do what I can, though.
Shien: (She smiled and rested her hand on his shoulder.) Hmhmhm, we’ll manage.
Neji: (He turned in her direction with a smile before looking back at his cousin, briefly tightening his grip on her fingers.) Take care, Hinata.
Hinata: (She returned his gesture, finding it momentarily difficult to release his hand.) …You, too, Brother.
When she finally broke away, the old couple and their grandnephew walked out without another word, leaving the latter’s mother and grandparents to see them off. The worry in Otome’s expression, though, was completely absent in Neji’s, an observation his wife made quick to comment on.
Shien: You’re not worried about them?
Neji: (He merely shook his head, calling to mind his last images of the man he once gave his life for.) With Naruto with them? …Never.
Never one to succumb to a leisurely stroll, Naruto leapt onto the nearest rooftop with Hitomi and Hinata reluctantly in tow, bringing them in view of the large gathering at the main gate in a matter of minutes. As the elderly couple took their spot at the front of the masses alongside Konohamaru, Sakura, and Sasuke, Hitomi sought out his own peers, his Byakugan aiding him in finding Manako in just seconds flat.
Manako: The last to show up, Hitomi? That’s especially out of character.
Hitomi: (He smirked in response.) Even you never had PERFECT attendance, Manako. …But, yes, it is somewhat surprising, considering some of our reputations.
They both looked in amusement towards Kei who was standing several feet away, gazing around at the crowd before turning to Kūrogane in bewilderment.
Kei: Pretty big turnout, ain’t it?
Kūrogane: (She looked around casually with her arms crossed, a cigarette dangling between two fingers.) Well, yeah, of course. It’s not a festival, Kei. We’re heading off to war.
Kei: Oh…yeah. Hehe, I guess that’s true.
A few more pivots of his head brought both Inoka and Miyuki into his line of sight, both of whom glared viciously at him before moving along, much to his annoyance and confusion.
Kei: Jeez, what the hell did I do?
Kūrogane: (She rolled her eyes amusedly and reflected with a puff on her cigarette.) Yeah…I wonder.
Seeing her brother’s ridicule from afar, Inase’s instincts kicked in and propelled her to cut off his attackers as they slid through the crowd, mouthing her dialogue while slyly keeping every word directed inward.
Inase: (You can’t really blame him, guys. He’s clueless, that’s just how he is.)
Inoka: (She sneered in Kei’s direction.) Dumbass could at least man up and confess, though.
Miyuki: Poor Kūrogane’s waiting for him to make a move and he can’t do it. You have to feel bad for her, Inase.
Inase: (She looked over at Kei as she replied, smiling in amusement as he conversed with Kūrogane as though nothing happened between them.) (Eh, yeah…but I feel a little bad for Kei, too. He obviously thinks highly of her, just like the rest of us do. You’d expect him to be more hesitant to ask her out than anyone else here. …I mean, I’m sure if he was seeking either of you out, he’d have no problem, but Kūrogane’s like a-)
Inoka: And what the hell’s that supposed to mean!? What’re you saying Kūrogane’s a bigger catch than we are!?
Inase: (She leaned back in faux surprise before looking around.) (I’m not saying anything, Inoka…at least not where everyone else is concerned.)
She made no lip movements this time around, immediately shedding some light on her scheme as the two glanced around in embarrassment at the onlookers questioning their outburst at the seemingly silent Inase. Watching this from afar, Airon grinned with amusement before turning back to Manako.
Airon: She’s getting better than me at that, isn’t she?
Manako: I wouldn’t be so quick to say that…you’re a very special breed of smartass.
Airon humored him with a smirk, but quickly returned to his pastime of staring over at Nakama, who was in the middle of her own conversation with Irezumi and Ide while looking sparingly through the crowd, most likely for him. Manako noticed this, as well, and after a few seconds of connecting the dots, his eyes and smile expanded to twice their normal size.
Manako: (Oh, hell no. He and Nakama-)
Airon: (Listening in, he bit his lip and elbowed him in the ribs to prevent a scene.) (Dude, shut up! I don’t need Inase looking over and feeling the need to peek.)
Manako: (He struggled to keep a straight face as he rubbed the spot where he hit him.) (Hehe, please. Like you don’t have ways of keeping even her out of your head. And why are you keeping your distance from her, anyways? …If it’s already official and all.)
Airon: (He glared at him out of the corner of his eye.) (Cause I don’t need her latching onto me and making us stand out, that’s why.)
Manako: (He looked over at Nakama in curiosity.) (Hehehehe, I never realized she was a latcher.)
Airon: (Just drop it, cuz, alright? …I’m practically in deep shit as it is.)
Manako: (Hehehe, fair enough. …Why couldn’t you just ask her to steer clear for now, that way she’s not looking for you at the same time?)
Airon: (That’s…a damn good point.)
Manako: (He rolled his eyes.) (And you’re supposed to be an “unnatural genius”.)
Three small trails of shinobi approaching from every direction slowly added to the already massive numbers standing before the army’s leaders, a brief scan with Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan confirming that these new arrivals were, in fact, the last. Passing this knowledge on to Konohamaru, the Seventh nodded and turned to his predecessor.
Konohamaru: You want the honors, Naruto? You and Sasuke lead the army.
Naruto: (He exchanged amused looks with Sasuke and Sakura and took a few steps back.) That’s only when the war starts, Konohamaru. …Until then, you’re still their leader. …Give them the strength they need.
Expecting he would take him up on the offer, Konohamaru stood frozen for a moment, finding himself for the longest time unable to conjure up anything to say to the mostly young ninja standing before him. Deciding at long last to wing it, he stepped onto the platform splayed out in front of him and grabbed the microphone, looking out into the crowd for a moment before opening his mouth to speak.
Konohamaru: I, uh…I see fear in your eyes. …It’s alright. I’d be surprised if I didn’t. …War is…war is no time for relaxation or calmed nerves. Anybody can tell you that…but this isn’t just a war. More importantly, for most of us, this is our first war. …The shinobi world’s first major conflict in over forty years.
Beyond the fact that what he was saying did nothing to quell the fears he initially spoke of, many shinobi also took issue with the lack of confidence in his voice, something most certainly unbefitting a Hokage. Konohamaru saw the looks they were giving him, as well, but now starting to gain some momentum, he soldiered on.
Konohamaru: During that time, I was…twelve, maybe thirteen at the most. I was a genin, young and inexperienced. Not strong enough yet for a high-level mission, and certainly not ready for a war against a group as dangerous as the Akatsuki. …Even now, I’m not sure I’m ready to participate in this one. The title of Hokage does nothing for me in that respect, and why should it? …This title is usually reserved for its village’s strongest shinobi, but it’s no mystery that at least half a dozen shinobi in this crowd alone have proven more worthy to carry it than me. …The only reason I carry it now is…well, because of an old promise made to me by my predecessor, who was honorable enough to keep it.
He turned back to Naruto as he said this, the elder ninja clearly disturbed by this revelation which spurred more than a few audible whispers amongst their forces. To Naruto’s surprise, though, neither his reaction nor theirs seemed to bother Konohamaru at this point in his speech, and after taking a moment to decipher just where he was going with all this, he silently urged him to continue.
Konohamaru: But I’ll tell you one thing…it doesn’t matter how much I may doubt my own power, because that’s not what I believe defines my strength as a shinobi. …What I believe in is what I’m willing to do with that power. And it doesn’t matter if it cost me my chakra, my limbs, or even my life! I will ALWAYS lay them on the line to protect this village! And all the other villages bound together by the Shinobi Union!! …And if the Will of Fire burns even half as strong in this village as it did over a century ago…I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL, TOO!!!
Midway through his conclusion, the doubt in their eyes and faces had already completely disappeared, and by the time he finished, their cheers echoed across the entire village. The future division leaders standing on either side of him were equally impressed by his rally, and Sasuke turned to Naruto to express this.
Sasuke: He does have a way with words.
Naruto: (He glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and shook his head.) Don’t look at me. …There’s plenty of other people he could’ve gotten that from.
Konohamaru: Now move out!! The Land of Iron is two days out…and I believe you can make it there in half that time.
Sasuke: (He smiled in amusement as the crowd responded to the challenge in kind.) Well, whatever you say…there’s only one person he could’ve gotten THAT from.
After setting aside the platform, which was sitting directly in front of the main gate in the midst of Konohamaru’s brash declaration, the forces preceded through and onward towards the Land of Iron, many now eager to speed past the masses in light of their leader’s speech, including some obvious cases.
Manako: (You believe it’s possible, Airon?)
Airon: (He smirked in amusement, unable to hide his own desire to move past the others.) (The pack, Manako. Keep with the pack.)
With Konohamaru and Sasuke leading the herd, Naruto stayed behind to bid farewell to one final person – the one entrusted to oversee the village until they returned home.
Iruka: I probably don’t have to tell you this anymore, but…make sure you come back alive.
Naruto: Hahahaha, yes, I think we’re past that point, Iruka.
Iruka: (He smiled and nodded before gazing off towards the front of the pack.) And keep them safe, too…all of them.
Naruto: (He followed his eyes and briefly reflected on this request before holding out his fist.) …Believe it.
Knowing that look of determination better than anyone, Iruka smiled and connected fists with all worry now erased from his mind. He disappeared back into the still empty streets as Naruto took off towards the head of the pack, his smile slowly vanishing as he wondered if protecting them all was truly within his power.
Several hundred miles away, in the country to the west, Gaara and his own forces made the long trek east towards the samurai-controlled nation. With smaller numbers and two hours of travel ahead of their allies, a faster pace enabled them to reach the border of the Land of Wind by the middle of the afternoon. As the other shinobi navigated through the large canyons that rested between them and the border of the Land of Rain, Gaara watched from above on a small cloud of sand with Shinki and Ryūza alongside him on their respective jutsu, the former carrying Yatsuri and the latter carrying Sabure. All seemed to be going well in the eyes of the others, until they turned back to their patriarch and found Gaara with one hand over his eye, indicating that he was now utilizing his Third Eye technique.
Shinki: Company?
Gaara: (He made no physical response for a while and continued his inspection.) …I can’t be sure.
Yatsuri: (He looked around in worry as his father motioned for the shinobi leading the pack from below to briefly halt their movements.) They wouldn’t ambush us out here, would they? These canyons are like a labyrinth. How could they even find their way in?
Gaara: (Doubtful, he looked over to his grandson.) …Ryūza.
Nodding in understanding, Ryūza held out his hand and began gathering sand in his palm until it formed an eye, positioning it on the opposite of the canyon wall so he might have a good view of the landscape, as well.
Sabure: Grandpa, what’s wrong?
Ryūza: Shh…keep it down, sis.
As the search carried on, Gaara’s eyes grew narrower and narrower, temporarily convinced that the man or men trailing them included the assassin who attempted to kill him – and succeeded in killing his wife. His blood boiled at the mere thought of it, causing specks to flutter about him erratically until finally, he regained control of his senses and realized there was nothing there.
Gaara: Keep moving.
Shinki watched as he removed his hand from his eye and blinked several times to restore his sight, briefly concerning himself with his state of mind until he decided to follow his orders, motioning for the pack’s pseudo-leader to give the order to continue onward.
Shinki: You think it might be…?
Gaara: (He simply shook his head, taking a moment to convince himself that he was only being paranoid.) …No…he’s not here.
Hearing this back-and-forth from a short distance away, Sabure tightened her grip on her brother’s back, fearing both for their numbers and those navigating across the neighboring country. She held her free hand against her chest and made a silent prayer to all of them – and one person among them, in particular.
Sabure: (Please…be safe.)
Near the border of the Land of Fire, a sudden gust of air caused Manako to sneeze as the Leaf army ventured onward, prompting Airon to smirk in amusement.
Airon: (Someone’s thinking about you.)
Manako: (He glanced a short ways behind them as he wiped his nose.) (And I’m not afraid to admit it.)
Knowing he was looking at Nakama, Airon’s smile quickly vanished as Manako’s grew wider in response. Those around them suddenly began to slow down before returning to the forest floor, prompting them to stop as well before looking off in the distance to where their leaders stood.
Konohamaru: Let’s stop here.
Naruto: (He looked at him in question.) You sure? We’re almost at the border already. A few more hours should put us within just another day’s length of the Land of Iron.
Sasuke: He’s right, Naruto. …I’m not sure most of these shinobi have another few hours in them.
A quick look behind them gave Naruto all the understanding he needed, as those who weren’t stretching their limbs in exhaustion fell to the ground in the struggle to catch their breath. Still disappointed by the prospect of losing time, he shrugged his shoulders and caved in nonetheless.
Naruto: Yeah, I guess you’re right. …Seventh?
Konohamaru: (He nodded and turned around, holding one hand up to his mouth as the other waved violently over his head.) Start setting up camp!! This will be our resting place for the night! We start moving again before dawn, so use this time to regain your strength!
Almost immediately, those who weren’t doing so already collapsed in fatigue, while those had already regained some of their energy began emptying their pack of all the materials necessary for the tents. Among the latter was nearly every accompanying member of the Uchiha clan, the only exception to this being their youngest member.
Katsuto: Phew, thank God. I felt like I was gonna pass out.
Akame: (She glanced over at him in annoyance before throwing one of the tent flaps over top of him.) Quit whining and help with the tent. You can be lazy once it’s set up.
Itachi: And after that, you can help me go find firewood. And then you can set up the fire while I fix up something to eat. And once we’re done eating, you can-
Katsuto: Uncle Itachi! Come on, I’m dying over here!
Itachi: (He smiled in amusement as he fed a long pole through the top of one of the tents.) Hmhmhm, just joking, Katsuto. Just help your sister and get some rest when you’re finished. …Where’s Big Sis at?
Akame: (She handed one of the poles to Katsuto before pointing off in the distance.) She’s over there somewhere. Said she had to talk to the Seventh and Commander Nara.
Itachi nodded in apparent understanding, but a quick scan with his Sharingan confirmed his doubts – Sarada wasn’t moving towards the sight’s main tent. Recalling his sister’s troubled history, he heaved a sigh and gave a silent prayer that she find the strength to avoid such mistakes in the days to come.
Sarada: Bolt?
She stood a short distance away, watching as the Namikaze clan made quick work of their own camp site. Boruto did his best to ignore her inquiries, but with the tent already completed, there was nothing left to stop him from looking up.
Boruto: Sarada?
Sarada: (She began walking away, bobbing her head to invite him to follow.) We’re about to discuss strategy in the Seventh’s tent. …You coming?
It was no question to him what Sarada was trying to do. Being present for the distribution of positions of authority, he knew he had no place looking in on these discussions unless otherwise invited to – and he had severe doubts it was his father who had granted him the invitation. In order to avoid suspicion, though, he went along with it and got up to leave with her. Unfortunately, his daughter was well aware of his unfaithful past – whether he knew so or not – and watched them go with mild disgust.
Kei: What’s up?
Inase: (She looked at him for a moment, contemplating explaining herself before returning to tending to the fire.) …Nothing.
To Boruto’s surprise, Sarada made no comments or advances as they made their way towards the Hokage’s tent. Of course, just recognizing this did nothing to make the walk any less comfortable, nor his worries any less apparent to Sarada, who began smiling in amusement in spite of herself. This only strengthened the relief he felt when they finally reached the tent and stepped inside, finding Konohamaru, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikadai, Shikamaru, and Mei already gathered around a table with a large map of the surrounding area spread out on top of it. As Sarada explained Boruto’s presence to the others, in stepped Ikken Inuzuka, recognized by his hairstyle as Hana’s son, in the company of two of his over twenty ninken.
Konohamaru: Status?
Ikken: We’ve searched the entire vicinity. No signs of nearby enemies for now. The other scouting teams are setting down their traps as we speak.
Konohamaru: Good.
Boruto: You don’t think we’ll need them, do you?
Naruto: Nah, probably not. But better safe than sorry, right?
Shikamaru: (He dragged one of his fingers across the map.) Our typical route from the Leaf to the Land of Iron is about one hundred and fifty miles off from our current location. Even if they catch on, the chances of them determining our actual route are slim to none.
Mei: That’s good. The rest of the journey should go off without a hitch, at least.
Naruto: (He looked over the map for a moment, clearly in deep thought.) Yeah…unless they’re…
The others waited patiently for him to finish his thought, though it became obvious after several seconds that he’d lost full confidence in what he was about to say.
Sakura: Unless they’re what?
Naruto: (He peered out the tent flap at the hundreds of shinobi socializing just outside, pondering a moment longer before shaking his head.) …Nothing. Just a random thought.
Mei: Naruto, if you think you know what their strategy here is, let us-
Sasuke: (He stared at Naruto with intense annoyance.) No, Mei, that’s not it. …You’re still having doubts, aren’t you?
Sakura: (Her eyes slanted in distress upon hearing this.) Naruto, I thought we had this discussion. Why are you still overestimating Otori?
Naruto: (He glared back at them both.) You two weren’t there. To hear him talk. To see his right-hand man in action. …Konohamaru, back me up here.
Konohamaru: (He glanced downward and heaved a sigh.) …Otori showed a lot of potential during the summit. …He was smart, authoritative. He was certainly powerful, to be selected as the Raikage. …But, Naruto, I think they’re right. You and Sasuke have grown more powerful in your first twenty years alone than any other shinobi in history. Whatever this man has in store, it’s nothing we won’t overcome.
Naruto: I’m not just talking about victory, though, guys. …I’m talking about casualties. I just…I just can’t shake the feeling that a bunch of those shinobi out there are gonna be dead soon…and I made a promise that I wouldn’t let that happen on my watch.
It was the simplest thing any of them could think of, but that only made them more sick to their stomachs for being incapable of doing so. The idea of ending this war quickly had been such a prominent thought that preserving as many shinobi as they could – on both sides – has all but slipped their minds. It was something to be expected of Naruto, though, especially after so many years of knowing them, and those standing around the tent smiled nostalgically as their active leader turned to Ikken.
Shikamaru: Go inform the scouting teams to double up on traps. We don’t wanna take any chances tonight.
Ikken: (He smiled and nodded.) I can do that.
When he left the tent, Shikamaru walked up beside Naruto, placing his hand on his shoulder in reassurance.
Shikamaru: We’ll use caution from here on out. …Don’t worry, Naruto. We’ll do our best to bring as many of these shinobi home as possible.
He acknowledged this promise with a nod before they continued their discussion. The emphasis on salvaging numbers from this point on was indeed a weight off his shoulders, but the thoughts still lurking in the back of his mind only verified Sasuke and Sakura’s beliefs.
As all color vanished from the sky, the forest landscape was illuminated by the flames of scattered campfires, around which hundreds of shinobi who had not yet found sleep entertained one another with their stories and the pleasure of their company. Many of these groups could be separated by age, as shinobi from the same generations sought out one another for late night conversation. Such was the case for Airon, Manako, and their peers, who sat around a large pit of flames that they all pitched in to make, occasionally roasting another morsel in the fire as they socialized.
Kemono: No, I’m serious! Go watch that movie soon as we get back! I’m telling you, it’ll blow your goddamn mind!
Kei: My ass, man! There’s no way in hell they made it look an actual meteorite falling from the sky!
Chōzen: (He gave his support to Kemono in between handfuls of potato chips.) Mm…it’s true, man. These effects they’re using just keep getting better, I mean it.
Irezumi: Did you hear about the one they’re making with the rockets?
Kei, Kemono, and Chōzen: The what?
Irezumi: Rockets, guys. They’re supposed to be giant aircrafts that propel themselves up into the sky with huge amounts of fuel. They can even go out into space.
Shikaru: Ah, yeah, I heard about those. The fuel is what? Gas and liquid oxygen?
Irezumi: Ehhh, I’ve heard they use gas, but I don’t know. I would think that would have a risk of exploding on liftoff. They use liquid hydrogen, though, I’ve heard that.
Shikaru: How the hell is hydrogen any different from plain old gas?
Irezumi: Well, I think that’s what the oxygen’s for.
Shikaru: They’d have to have a lot of it, though, right? To propel it up into space?
Irezumi: Oh, hell yeah. It’s supposed to be well into the…what?
Kei, Kemono, and Chōzen simply stared wildly at him and Shikaru, failing miserably to comprehend a single word of what they were saying. As the closest and most considerate one to them, Kūrogane smiled in amusement and tucked her cigarette between her lips before taking it upon herself to sort out this mass confusion.
Kūrogane: I’ll translate, guys. So you’ve got a big metal ship, right? Stuff shoots out the bottom. Makes it go allll the way up into space.
Kei: (He followed the movements of her hands as though in a daze, pausing when she finished before he and the others threw their heads back in disbelief.) …Pffft! Whatever!
Kemono: They just found out how to make ships fly through the sky some years back, Irezumi! Now you’re telling me they can go into space, too!?
Irezumi: (He held his arms out to proclaim his innocence.) Hey, I just said it was a movie coming out. I didn’t say it was real.
Shikaru: I don’t know, Irezumi. They could probably pull it off.
Irezumi: Hmhmhm, now you’re the one spouting fiction, Shikaru.
A brief fit of shared laughter separated this remark from the rest of their conversation, which Airon and Inase sat and listened to with growing amusement and interest.
Inase: (You’re the genius here. Do you think it’s possible?)
Airon: (He turned to her with a know-it-all smirk.) (My philosophy? Nothing is.)
Inase: (She responded in kind.) (You certainly proved that last night, didn’t you?)
He was set to polish off the last piece of hot dog clenched between his fingers, but stopped at the last minute. He knew he was making a huge mistake when he confessed his hookup with Nakama to her earlier in the day, and would’ve retaliated had she not been in his line of sight, sitting on a fallen log just beyond the tree line, gazing up at the stars.
Inase: (You know she’s waiting for you.)
Airon: (He stared over at Nakama a moment longer before heaving a sigh and standing up.) (Yeah, I know. I’m going. …So wipe that stupid grin off your face.)
He dragged his hand over the top of her head when she failed to comply, his annoyance only bringing her further amusement as she watched him go, catching Kei’s attention, as well. When others in the circle started to look up, as well, he quickly teleported away to detract their eyes, none of them aware of the mark he’d left on Nakama’s hand earlier in the day.
Nakama You took your time.
Airon: (He grinned in amusement and sat down beside her, throwing his arm around her after some thought.) I had prior commitments. I’m here now, aren’t I?
Nakama: (She sank into his side, taking in his warmth, but still finding herself unable to smile.) …Thank you.
Airon: For what?
He intended for it to be another attempt at humor, but upon noticing her face, he couldn’t help but curse himself – noting his almost forced movements when wrapping his arm around her.
Nakama: I’m sorry. Last night, I was…I was being selfish. I forced you to submit to a relationship I know you didn’t want and that’s…that was…
From her hesitation and expression, it was obvious everything emerging from her mouth came out of reluctance, and that just saying it brought her close to tears. It wasn’t a foreign feeling to him – he felt the same way every time he held or kissed her – and perhaps it was his own submissiveness that drove them both to this crossroads. Still, knowing that turning down her feelings would do nothing to preserve her happiness or even his own, for that matter, he did the one thing he knew he could to keep her smiling, waiting until he could manage one himself before doing so.
Airon: Yeah, you’re right. That was pretty selfish of you to throw yourself at me like that…but hey, it’s like you said. My whole life, nothing has ever NOT gone the way I wanted it to. …It’s only fair you got what you really wanted for once.
She immediately looked up to protest, the obvious thought being that a one-sided love was nowhere near what she really wanted. Arching her neck and turning her head quickly found her with her lips pressed against Airon’s finger, though, neither his smile nor his intention to continue having disappeared yet.
Airon: And who knows? Give me a little time…I like to think I usually deliver.
It wasn’t something he saw any truth in saying, though at the same time, he couldn’t deny the possibility. Just a few years ago, he was in the exact same position she was in now, the only difference being her ability to voice the feelings which he couldn’t. Perhaps another lengthy span of time would allow him to once again see her as someone with flesh and blood that wasn’t his own, a thought that, according to her expression, she found much more hope in than he did.
Nakama: Thank you.
Airon: (Seeing the desire in her eyes, he quickly stumbled to lighten up the mood.) Hehe, it’s what I do.
Nakama: (Her eyes slanted in mild annoyance.) (Just kiss me already.)
Airon: (He glanced back at the campsite out of the corner of his eye.) (In front of them? Not likely.)
Nakama: (Then just sit there and stop talking.)
Seemingly frozen by this apparent trigger phrase, he gradually sank in to Nakama’s voice as those sitting around the nearby campfire slowly began to take notice.
Kei: Ah, jeez. There they go.
Chōzen: (He looked up with wide eyes, not bothering to swallow the handful of chips in his mouth.) Hole-y shit.
Irezumi: (He chuckled in amusement.) I’ll be damned.
Kūrogane: (She took another puff on her cigarette and glanced over at Kei.) At least THEY’RE happy.
Kemono: Heh, it’s about damn time. Figured it would’ve happened sooner, to be honest.
Inoka: (She simply stared off in the distance towards them, struggling to conceal her anger.) Yeah. No kidding. (Nakama!? Rrrgh, that b****!)
Moments later, a seemingly bored Kagetsu strolled up to the group with his hands stuffed in his pockets, hoping to find some level of excitement until he finally became too tired to stay up. What he found was a bunch of his peers sitting around a campfire caught in some sort of trance, quickly becoming disgusted with them once he noticed what they were looking at.
Kagetsu: Why the hell are you guys starin’ at them? Ain’t you ever heard of a guy and his chick’s right to privacy?
Manako: (His corners of his mouth slowly curved upwards upon hearing this.) You know what? Thank you, Kagetsu, that’s a strong point. All of you, go on, there’s nothing to see here! You need to get your rest, anyways, don’tcha?
He immediately stood up and started flailing his arms about to shoo them all away, some expressing disappointment while others seemed reluctant to move. Eventually, they all left the area and proceeded to return to their tents, including a disappointed Kagetsu, at which point Manako turned back and looked over at Airon and Nakama one last time, exchanging amused expressions with Inase before they, too, walked away.
The Land of Iron – and the war – are now a full day away!!!
The End
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Chapter 095: To War
The black sky overseeing the vast desert slowly regained its color as dawn approached for the Village Hidden in Sand. Atop the Kazekage Residence, Gaara watched as the black was replaced by a dark blue, silently reminiscing on how perfect his life had been before everything that transpired in the past few weeks. As the image of his late wife passed before his eyes, his nephew Shinki appeared behind him, silently confirming their forces’ readiness to depart for the Land of Iron. Answering with a simple nod, Gaara stood up and gazed off towards the Land of Earth, which would soon become his primary battlefield.
Gaara: (Just be patient, Shijima. …We’ll make things right again.)
In the bowels of the top-shaped building on which they stood rested the quarters housing Gaara’s immediate family, where Sabure continued to sleep through the early morning. Across the floor were numerous clothing items of varying indecency and discarded wrappers and containers from food she had previously brought back to her room despite her mother’s insistence not to. It was the latter category that caused Ryūza to look around in disgust as he tiptoed inside, walking up to his sister and gently whispering into her ear.
Ryūza: Sabure…Sabure. Come on, get up.
He threw his head back and grabbed his now bleeding nose as she sat up without warning or notice to the results of her actions, wiping away the crust from her eyes as she gathered enough saliva to relieve her mouth of its dryness.
Sabure: Huh?
Ryūza: (He reached over and stole a tissue from the box atop her dresser, wrapping it around his nose before looking back down at her with mild aversion.) Ugh, get dressed and grab your supply bag. We need to start moving before the sun’s up.
He left the room almost immediately to prepare himself, at which point she scratched her head and noticed how tangled her hair was for the first time. She instantly stood up in a mild panic and slipped off her pajamas, suiting up in her usual top, skirt, and flak jacket before standing in front of the mirror with her comb and hair products ready. After fifteen minutes, she smiled in satisfaction at the perfect bun now positioned towards the back of her head and the long strips of knotless hair on either side of her face, grabbing her phone off the dresser and starting to text the person she wanted to impress most with her appearance, her face slowly turning pink at the thought of him. Several hundred miles away, Manako stood at the top of the small ledge just behind his house, already dressed and prepared for his own journey despite dawn being more than two hours away for the Leaf Village. Hearing his ringtone from his back pocket, he smiled and pulled out his phone, already having a fair assumption of who was texting him so early in the morning.
Sabure: (You awake?)
Manako: (His smile grew wider with amusement as he typed his reply.) (Yeah. Couldn’t sleep at all.)
Sabure: (Nervous?)
Manako: (No more than you.)
Sabure: (Not reassuring.)
Manako: (He barely contained a soft chuckle.) (Lol. I’m fine, Sabure. The sun doesn’t show here for two more hours, so I have plenty of time to clear my head.)
Sabure: (Okay. We’re fixing to move now, so I have to go.)
Manako: (He gazed off towards the horizon in the direction of the Land of Wind.) (Alright. Be safe. See you in two days).
Sabure: (Can’t wait.)
Manako smiled in amusement again as he returned the phone to his pocket, imagining her flustered expression and hesitation to send that final message. Just moments later, he was greeted by yet another early riser, who prided himself at seeing his son with his flak jacket and forehead protector on.
Itachi: Up already?
Manako: (He shrugged his shoulders lazily and turned around, choosing to hide the fact that he never went to sleep.) Better to be early than risk being late.
Itachi: (He smiled and motioned for him to head back inside.) Come on. I’ll cook up some breakfast.
Manako answered with a nod and followed, stopping briefly to gaze out at the rest of the village, wondering to himself how his peers were preparing for the journey to come – and if some of them were even awake yet to do so.
Towards the center of the village, on the opposite side of the dividing river, Kenji stretched his arms and let out another yawn as he entered his team’s art gallery, which had grown both in size and popularity over the last four years. Dozens of Ide’s beautiful wax figures, featuring both personal creations and requests from customers, lined the left side of the main hall when he walked in, while the right was lined with his own equally beautiful sculptures – save for the consistently grotesque faces he seemed to never notice. Across the walls were numerous framed tattoo designs from Irezumi, who had acquired quite a profit himself from customers that included both civilians and fellow shinobi, as well as paintings provided by their sensei. Towards the back was the normally barred off entrance to their studio, where he knew his teammates were going through some final preparations of their own. Sure enough, when he made his way to the back of the room, past the numerous canvases, pedestals, and marble slabs, he found Irezumi sitting on a stool in front of a small mirror, applying a few delicate touches to a very small tattoo on his right palm, one which required specialized goggles to see properly.
Kenji: So how long have you been here?
Irezumi: (He acknowledged his arrival with a smile, not lifting his head to avoid breaking his concentration.) About an hour. Just putting on some finishing touches. …How about you?
Kenji: (He let out another loud yawn.) I stayed up all night working. …Huhhh, can’t believe it took this to finally spur me to finish it.
Irezumi: (He smiled in amusement and removed his goggles as he completed the tattoo, blowing softly on it to dry the ink.) Sometimes last-minute panic is exactly the mood you need.
Kenji: Hehe, yeah. …So is Ide in the back?
Irezumi nodded to confirm this, having already put his goggles back on and begun polishing another small tattoo on his left palm. Before Kenji could even take a step in the right direction, though, Ide emerged from the nearby dressing room. Her pink robes had been cut much shorter to reveal her black shorts and the sleeves of her fishnet shirt, preparations for the more active agenda that awaited them, but more surprising was the length of her freshly trimmed hair. The tips of her sides just narrowly reached past her chin, while the back barely grazed the level of her nose, a far cry from her initial knee-length style that caused both her teammates to look up at her in surprise.
Kenji: Whoa…way to go the extra mile.
Irezumi: (He looked at her for a moment before grinning in amusement and turning to resume work on his final tattoo.) You didn’t need to go that far. A foot or so less would’ve been plenty.
Ide: (She smiled and shook her head as she ran her hand over the back to feel the difference in length.) I can’t let even a little bit get in my way. I would’ve followed your example if I thought I’d look good bald.
Irezumi: Hmhm, well, it’s a good thing you didn’t, then. That would’ve been disastrous.
He didn’t look up as he said this, choosing to make the final touches on his design first before laying his equipment down and standing up. Her expression showed hints of amusement aimed at his joke, but more noticeable was the sadness, not at the loss of her hair – he knew her too well for that – but the reason for which she did it. Instantly feeling her pain, Irezumi walked up to her and rested his hand gently on her shoulder.
Irezumi: Hey…if all goes well, we won’t need to do much fighting anyhow, so try to cheer up, alright?
Though rarely one to share his own self-assurance in the midst of real combat, his heart was in the right place making this promise, making it easier for her to return his smile before grabbing one of the three supply bags laying on the nearby table and walking out, her teammates watching her attentively as she left.
Kenji: She really does look good with the short hair.
Irezumi: Yeah…she does.
Irezumi wasted little more than a second watching her leave before putting his sweatshirt back on and fitting his flak jacket over it, flinging one of the remaining bags over his shoulder and following after her as he slipped his forehead protector over his hairless scalp. Smiling in amusement at his almost rushed departure, Kenji looked around one last time at the studio they built and shared over the past four years, tightening his own headband and grabbing the last bag after silently promising to return to it soon.
As the black skies above the Leaf slowly regained their color, shinobi across the village began awaking to gather their supplies and bid farewell to their loved ones, all intent on making it to the main gate before the deadline at dawn. Of course, more than a few found themselves incapable of meeting these requirements, with Raiden surprisingly among them. With half an hour already behind them, Minto and Taigen were sent to finally force him out of bed, another half hour passing before the latter finally had the sense to drag his long tongue across Raiden’s face, sending him tumbling over the opposite side of the bed in a disgusted frenzy.
Raiden: Ew! Taigen, what the hell!?
Taigen: (He snarled at him from atop the bed.) Next time, get up before then, lazy ass!
Raiden: (He grabbed the pillow that fell off the bed with him and threw it, prompting Taigen to jump back down.) You could’ve just barked, you dumb mutt! And get your furry ass outta my bed!
Minto: (He leaned against the door with his arms crossed, glaring at him in annoyance.) He did. Four times. You didn’t hear Bachiko crying when she woke up?
This casual remark was all it took to lift Raiden off the floor and carry him over to his dresser. Within two minutes he was already dressed and had his supplies in hand, leaving Minto and Taigen quite impressed – though he made little effort to tidy up his hair or fix his ponytail – and he walked out into the hallway with them in tow.
Minto: When did you fall asleep?
Raiden: None of your business.
Taigen: How’s it not our business? Minto and I were the ones told to wake you up.
Raiden stopped and turned to scowl at him, adding to Minto’s surprise even further when he hesitated to resume walking. For a moment, he was certain he might actually open up to him about his state of mind. Then he remembered their history, and he reached out to grab his shoulder before he had the chance to walk away.
Minto: It’s okay to be nervous.
Raiden: (He yanked his shoulder away and rolled his eyes in irritation.) Pssh, and why would I be nervous? You should be more worried than I am.
Minto: (His eyebrows sank.) And I am. I’ve got friends and a little brother to look out for while I’m out there. Whose back are you watching?
Raiden: (He scowled at the remark preceding the question, offended by the very idea of needing his protection.) Please, why would anyone need backup from you? They’d be better off asking a civilian for help.
Minto: …Answer my question.
Raiden scoffed again and attempted to hurry down the hall, only to find Minto’s fingers wrapped around his shoulder once again. He brushed it off as a hindrance initially, but when a soft yank, and later two stronger ones, proved incapable of pulling it loose, he looked up to see the anger and insistence in Minto’s eyes and reluctantly yielded to them.
Raiden: I’m watching my own back out there. That’s whose back I’m watching. …Everyone else’s safety comes second to yours, moron. That’s basic warfare.
Minto: (He loosened his grip enough to allow his next yank to pull him free, standing there disheartened as he silently watched him walk away.) (Yeah…cause you really know about warfare.)
The others having already consumed their breakfast, only one plate of pancakes and eggs sat at the end of the dining room table, which Raiden immediately dug into after giving his gratitude to his mother, who was now sporting early signs of yet another pregnancy. Seeing Minto and Taigen exiting the hallway, she immediately ran up to them next, rubbing the latter’s head before wrapping her arms around the former in a tight but loving embrace.
Ayumi: You three be safe out there. Okay? Take care of each other. And don’t take any unnecessary risks. And-
Minto: Mom, it’s alright. We’re gonna be fine. I swear.
Ayumi: (She smiled in response, though the sadness was still present in her eyes.) Hm, yes…yes, I know.
As they retracted, the former’s father, who had been sitting on the nearby sofa playing with Bachiko, stood up with her in his arms. Walking up to Minto, he squeezed her gently one last time before setting her in his arms so they could say their own goodbyes.
Suzaku: Mm, Daddy loves you so much. We’ll be back soon, okay?
Bachiko: (She looked up at him with intense curiosity, her arms having just been wrapped around her brother’s neck.) How soon?
Suzaku: (He gazed up in honest thought, slightly regretting having made the remark.) Ehhhh…maybe three weeks? A month, tops?
Bachiko: Aww! But that’s so long!
With a moment’s hesitation, Raiden gulped down the last piece of egg on his plate and ran back down the hallway, much to the fascination and confusion of everyone present. Within seconds, he returned with a green marker and the calendar he kept hanging beside his dresser, reaching into Minto’s back pocket as he walked up to him and stealing his phone with no consideration.
Minto: Hey, what the-
Raiden: (He scowled up at him before placing it in Bachiko’s hands and holding the marker up to the current date on the calendar.) …You see this, Bachiko? This is the day we’re on right now. Now, it’ll take us two days to get where we’re going, which is right here. After that, you just keep Big Brother’s phone with you and every night, me or Daddy will call you and tell you to mark another day on the calendar. We’ll keep track of how long it takes us to get home together, alright?
Bachiko: (Still visibly disappointed by the entire situation, she gazed down at Minto’s phone for a moment before nodding.) …Okay.
Those standing around them watched with warmed hearts as Raiden took her into his arms for a long embrace, at the end of which he gently placed her in their mother’s arms after much hesitation.
Raiden: Keep her safe, okay? Until we’re back.
Ayumi: (She smiled and nodded as she adjusted her hold on Bachiko.) Of course, hon. …You just do the same on your end.
She reached out to caress his cheek, and he rested his hand on her arm and smiled back before glancing down involuntary at the now faintly noticeable protrusion of her stomach. Taking the hint immediately as she often would, Ayumi looked at him with amusement and nodded again, assuring him that the child in her womb would be just as safe as the one in her arms. When he received this promise, Raiden walked out the door with great hesitation, followed shortly by Minto and Taigen as their parents looked on and reflected.
Ayumi: You’ve noticed it, right? …How happy he is around her?
Suzaku: Hmhm, refreshing, isn’t it? …Kinda gives you hope.
Ayumi: (She nodded in agreement before running her hand down their daughter’s back.) There’s no chance he’ll let something happen out there. Not with Bachiko waiting for him to come home.
Suzaku: (He looked down at her briefly and back at the open door, his eyes fixated on his older son.) …Yeah…that, too.
Realizing that the time had come, Suzaku leaned down to plant one last kiss on top of Bachiko’s head before wrapping his hand around Ayumi’s and pulling her in close.
Suzaku: You two hold down the fort until we’re back, alright? …I love you.
Ayumi: (She allowed herself to sink into his chest for a brief moment.) I love you, too.
They separated momentarily before pulling back together for a final kiss, synchronously holding their hands playfully over Bachiko’s eyes as she protested, her wording making it unclear whether she detested their affection or her inability to see it. With amusement, they broke the kiss prematurely, remaining connected a few moments longer by their hands before they, too, drifted apart. Ayumi continued to watch silently long after Suzaku’s departure, seemingly caught in a trance-like state which their daughter was forced to draw her out of.
Bachiko: Mommy, why are you crying?
Ayumi: (Not noticing the tears until she spoke up, she hurriedly wiped them away and smiled down at her as best she could, unable to hide her fear that the worst would soon come to her departing loved ones.) It’s nothing, baby. …Mommy’s fine.
In a small building towards the center of the village, Airon rested his arms atop the railing outside Nakama’s apartment, a recently lit cigarette gripped lazily between his gloved fingers. He rubbed his eyes to keep them from closing on him as color began returning to the night sky, visibly displeased with his decision, but deeming it necessary to help cope with the anxiety of his current situation. Forced awake at night by chronic visions that bordered on nightmares, plagued by memories of two foes who managed to make a fool of him in ways no one ever had, and now caught in a relationship with a woman he’d rather not see in such ways, he was almost relieved he’d been keeping the pack on hand for the days the stress grew too strong to cope with. Ashamed by it nonetheless, he quickly extinguished it between his fingers and allowed it to fall to the gravel road below when his ears caught wind of Nakama’s slow approach, still wrapped in the blanket they shared for half the night. Watching her walk up beside him, he couldn’t help noticing that even in her drowsiness, she remained the subtle beauty she always was, not a knot to be found in her hair or a smudge to be found on her blemishless face. He quickly purged his mind of such thoughts, though, refusing to think of her in such ways even in the wake of last night’s events – and too concerned by her apparent sadness to even consider doing so.
Airon: You alright?
Nakama: (She wiped the crust from both eyes with her palm as she managed a nod.) …Yeah…
After much visible hesitation, she beckoned for him to follow her inside, back to her bedroom. Obeying in spite of his initial discomfort, he couldn’t help but smirk in amusement when he saw her reach for a pendant laying on her dresser with a small ruby stone at its center, recalling his run-in with her at Tenten’s pawn shop nearly a week ago.
Airon: So you WERE looking for something for me.
Nakama: (She managed a smile as she stared down at the gem sitting in her hand.) I was. I never found anything I thought you would like, though. …This was my mother’s necklace. Up until she…it’s the only thing I have left of her. Or Father.
After much somber reflection, she reached out to grab his hand, bidding him to open it before allowing the pendant to trickle down into it.
Nakama: I want you to keep it.
Airon: (He stared at it for a moment, pondering over what she told him before taking her hand in order to return it.) …I can’t. Not something that precious.
Nakama: (She shook her head insistently, squeezing her hand closed to prevent him from returning it.) It’s safer in your hands. And maybe it’ll give you more drive while you’re out there. …Just promise to bring it back to me…when this is all over.
Her undying persistence tempted him to nod, but the sadness in her eyes as she gave it away made it impossible for him to just accept the gift. Seeing no chance of swaying her to keep it, though, he tied it around his neck and waited for her to notice before holding out his hand, inviting her to set her own on top of it. With no pen or ink in sight, he bit the tip of his finger to draw a small stream of blood, enough so to write legibly onto her palm what quickly became identifiable as the seal for his Flying Raijin jutsu.
Airon: How about every night when I come to see you instead?
Nakama: (Her eyes lit up with joy.) …That sounds perfect.
She stood on her toes and leaned in for a kiss in gratitude, but quickly stopped and pulled back when it was clear Airon lacked the instinct to do the same. She lowered her head as the realization that last night’s events were nonconsensual weighed heavy on her heart, flooding her thoughts with sadness and regret. It wasn’t until Airon lifted her chin and smiled down at her that she set these thoughts aside and closed the gap between them, choosing for now to make the most of their new bond.
Boruto: …Kei…Kei…KEI, I SWEAR TO GOD, IF YOU DO THIS TODAY, I’M BEATING YOUR ASS!!!
Despite still being in the middle of what would typically be called deep sleep, the volume and convincing tone of the threat brought Kei out of bed within seconds, fully dressed for the journey to come in the seconds after that, and bursting into the hallway before his father could break through his door to carry it out.
Kei: Sorry!! Sorry! Sorry! Alarm clock didn’t go off!
Boruto: (Standing there with his arms crossed, he grabbed the top of his head and flung him about for a moment.) Yes it did, you numbskull!! You’re just a lazy bum!
Inase: Airon already called and said he’s up and going straight to the main gate, so hurry up.
Kei: (He stumbled to catch his footing as Boruto released him before rubbing his neck in irritation.) Ow, alright! Alright! …Sheesh.
Boruto: (He rolled his eyes before taking off down the hallway.) Huhhh, I swear.
Kei: (Following behind Inase, he tapped her shoulder to get her attention as a conniving grin illuminated his face.) (Did he say if he got any action last night?)
????: No, I didn’t.
The sudden intrusion sent enough chills running up Kei’s spine to freeze a lake, rocketing him headfirst into the ceiling and bringing a few scattered pieces of rubble along with him. While Inase managed to keep herself mostly composed beneath her cupped hands, Airon’s legs gave away almost immediately and his mouth flew wide open, bellowing throughout the house as Kei stood back up with a bump half the size of the head it sprouted from.
Kei: GODDAMN IT…shithead!! You were supposed to be at the gate!!
Airon: Yeah-he…that’s what-hehehe…that’s what I told-hehaHAHAAAAAA…ah, shit. Hehehehoo…that’s what I told Inase to say-hehehahahaha!
Inase: (She struggled to confirm this without laughing over herself.) It sounded like a good idea to me, so I went with it...hehehahaha!
Kei: (He waited for them to stop laughing before walking past them, clutching his head with both hands and slouching miserably.) (Jackasses. It’s always me. Always.)
Airon: (Did you hear that, Inase?)
Inase: (I certainly did. Whatever could he mean?)
Kei: Rrrgh, knock it off!!
His anger was quickly replaced by remorse when they walked out into the dining room, their mother smiling and waiting patiently beside the table, on which sat a single uneaten plate of food that Kei quickly dug into after thanking her with a peck on the cheek. Inoue immediately turned her attention to her other two children, curling her arms around their necks and pulling them in close. Sadness at their departure was clearly there, but not an ounce of unease to be found with it, something Airon picked up on with amusement at as they separated again.
Airon: You still sure you’re not worried about us?
Inoue: (She reaffirmed her smile and cupped his cheek gently with her hand.) About you? Never.
She pushed his head down gently so she might kiss the top of it, repeating the gesture with Inase afterwards and doing the same for Kei once he had gulped down his breakfast and handed her his plate. Boruto watched this all as he leaned, arms crossed, against the back of the sofa, pleased to see Inoue doing so well, but equally concerned that she might still be holding something back. He motioned for the triplets to stand before him when they had finished their farewells to their mother, heaving a sigh of his own and smiling as he recalled their last discussion regarding the call to war.
Boruto: You three just make sure to keep your promise.
Airon: (He smiled in sync with his siblings and held out his fist, morphing it into a grin as his grandfather’s image flashed through his mind.) …Believe it.
Boruto eagerly bumped fists with him before doing the same with Kei and Inase. He then hurried out the door before turning to Inoue, proceeding to pull her in close for a long embrace, each of them squeezing the other as tightly as they could manage.
Boruto: Be safe.
Inoue: …Be strong.
She held all emotion inside when seeing off her children, but it wasn’t until they finally pulled away that the tears finally began to seep from Inoue’s eyes, continuing to fall harder as they leaned in for one final kiss. Seeing this, Boruto just marginally held back his own, managing to make it to the door before turning around with his thumb stuck out, a silent promise that Inoue returned with every semblance of a smile she could muster before closing the door behind him, stranding her in the middle of their now empty home.
A few miles across the village, within the vast estate overseen by the Hyūga clan, Naruto and Hinata said their own last goodbyes to their revived cousin, the latter holding his hand from his bedside as nearby, Hitomi bid farewell to his mother and grandmother.
Otome: Mm, I’m so proud of you. …You take extra good care of yourself out there.
Hitomi: (He broke the hug and rubbed the back of his long hair in mild embarrassment.) Mother, I’ll be fine, okay? I’m in Uncle Naruto’s division, after all.
Naruto: (He grinned in response to this mentioning of him, unable to keep from stroking his own ego.) Hehehehe, I’ll watch out for him, Otome. Don’t worry about that.
When the brief moment passed, all attention in the small room pandered back to the elderly man laying in the bed, who managed to sense this and subsequently lowered his head in mild embarrassment.
Naruto: I can trust you and Kiba to keep watch until we’re back?
Neji: (He smiled in amusement.) Kiba, perhaps. I’ll do what I can, though.
Shien: (She smiled and rested her hand on his shoulder.) Hmhmhm, we’ll manage.
Neji: (He turned in her direction with a smile before looking back at his cousin, briefly tightening his grip on her fingers.) Take care, Hinata.
Hinata: (She returned his gesture, finding it momentarily difficult to release his hand.) …You, too, Brother.
When she finally broke away, the old couple and their grandnephew walked out without another word, leaving the latter’s mother and grandparents to see them off. The worry in Otome’s expression, though, was completely absent in Neji’s, an observation his wife made quick to comment on.
Shien: You’re not worried about them?
Neji: (He merely shook his head, calling to mind his last images of the man he once gave his life for.) With Naruto with them? …Never.
Never one to succumb to a leisurely stroll, Naruto leapt onto the nearest rooftop with Hitomi and Hinata reluctantly in tow, bringing them in view of the large gathering at the main gate in a matter of minutes. As the elderly couple took their spot at the front of the masses alongside Konohamaru, Sakura, and Sasuke, Hitomi sought out his own peers, his Byakugan aiding him in finding Manako in just seconds flat.
Manako: The last to show up, Hitomi? That’s especially out of character.
Hitomi: (He smirked in response.) Even you never had PERFECT attendance, Manako. …But, yes, it is somewhat surprising, considering some of our reputations.
They both looked in amusement towards Kei who was standing several feet away, gazing around at the crowd before turning to Kūrogane in bewilderment.
Kei: Pretty big turnout, ain’t it?
Kūrogane: (She looked around casually with her arms crossed, a cigarette dangling between two fingers.) Well, yeah, of course. It’s not a festival, Kei. We’re heading off to war.
Kei: Oh…yeah. Hehe, I guess that’s true.
A few more pivots of his head brought both Inoka and Miyuki into his line of sight, both of whom glared viciously at him before moving along, much to his annoyance and confusion.
Kei: Jeez, what the hell did I do?
Kūrogane: (She rolled her eyes amusedly and reflected with a puff on her cigarette.) Yeah…I wonder.
Seeing her brother’s ridicule from afar, Inase’s instincts kicked in and propelled her to cut off his attackers as they slid through the crowd, mouthing her dialogue while slyly keeping every word directed inward.
Inase: (You can’t really blame him, guys. He’s clueless, that’s just how he is.)
Inoka: (She sneered in Kei’s direction.) Dumbass could at least man up and confess, though.
Miyuki: Poor Kūrogane’s waiting for him to make a move and he can’t do it. You have to feel bad for her, Inase.
Inase: (She looked over at Kei as she replied, smiling in amusement as he conversed with Kūrogane as though nothing happened between them.) (Eh, yeah…but I feel a little bad for Kei, too. He obviously thinks highly of her, just like the rest of us do. You’d expect him to be more hesitant to ask her out than anyone else here. …I mean, I’m sure if he was seeking either of you out, he’d have no problem, but Kūrogane’s like a-)
Inoka: And what the hell’s that supposed to mean!? What’re you saying Kūrogane’s a bigger catch than we are!?
Inase: (She leaned back in faux surprise before looking around.) (I’m not saying anything, Inoka…at least not where everyone else is concerned.)
She made no lip movements this time around, immediately shedding some light on her scheme as the two glanced around in embarrassment at the onlookers questioning their outburst at the seemingly silent Inase. Watching this from afar, Airon grinned with amusement before turning back to Manako.
Airon: She’s getting better than me at that, isn’t she?
Manako: I wouldn’t be so quick to say that…you’re a very special breed of smartass.
Airon humored him with a smirk, but quickly returned to his pastime of staring over at Nakama, who was in the middle of her own conversation with Irezumi and Ide while looking sparingly through the crowd, most likely for him. Manako noticed this, as well, and after a few seconds of connecting the dots, his eyes and smile expanded to twice their normal size.
Manako: (Oh, hell no. He and Nakama-)
Airon: (Listening in, he bit his lip and elbowed him in the ribs to prevent a scene.) (Dude, shut up! I don’t need Inase looking over and feeling the need to peek.)
Manako: (He struggled to keep a straight face as he rubbed the spot where he hit him.) (Hehe, please. Like you don’t have ways of keeping even her out of your head. And why are you keeping your distance from her, anyways? …If it’s already official and all.)
Airon: (He glared at him out of the corner of his eye.) (Cause I don’t need her latching onto me and making us stand out, that’s why.)
Manako: (He looked over at Nakama in curiosity.) (Hehehehe, I never realized she was a latcher.)
Airon: (Just drop it, cuz, alright? …I’m practically in deep shit as it is.)
Manako: (Hehehe, fair enough. …Why couldn’t you just ask her to steer clear for now, that way she’s not looking for you at the same time?)
Airon: (That’s…a damn good point.)
Manako: (He rolled his eyes.) (And you’re supposed to be an “unnatural genius”.)
Three small trails of shinobi approaching from every direction slowly added to the already massive numbers standing before the army’s leaders, a brief scan with Sasuke’s Mangekyō Sharingan confirming that these new arrivals were, in fact, the last. Passing this knowledge on to Konohamaru, the Seventh nodded and turned to his predecessor.
Konohamaru: You want the honors, Naruto? You and Sasuke lead the army.
Naruto: (He exchanged amused looks with Sasuke and Sakura and took a few steps back.) That’s only when the war starts, Konohamaru. …Until then, you’re still their leader. …Give them the strength they need.
Expecting he would take him up on the offer, Konohamaru stood frozen for a moment, finding himself for the longest time unable to conjure up anything to say to the mostly young ninja standing before him. Deciding at long last to wing it, he stepped onto the platform splayed out in front of him and grabbed the microphone, looking out into the crowd for a moment before opening his mouth to speak.
Konohamaru: I, uh…I see fear in your eyes. …It’s alright. I’d be surprised if I didn’t. …War is…war is no time for relaxation or calmed nerves. Anybody can tell you that…but this isn’t just a war. More importantly, for most of us, this is our first war. …The shinobi world’s first major conflict in over forty years.
Beyond the fact that what he was saying did nothing to quell the fears he initially spoke of, many shinobi also took issue with the lack of confidence in his voice, something most certainly unbefitting a Hokage. Konohamaru saw the looks they were giving him, as well, but now starting to gain some momentum, he soldiered on.
Konohamaru: During that time, I was…twelve, maybe thirteen at the most. I was a genin, young and inexperienced. Not strong enough yet for a high-level mission, and certainly not ready for a war against a group as dangerous as the Akatsuki. …Even now, I’m not sure I’m ready to participate in this one. The title of Hokage does nothing for me in that respect, and why should it? …This title is usually reserved for its village’s strongest shinobi, but it’s no mystery that at least half a dozen shinobi in this crowd alone have proven more worthy to carry it than me. …The only reason I carry it now is…well, because of an old promise made to me by my predecessor, who was honorable enough to keep it.
He turned back to Naruto as he said this, the elder ninja clearly disturbed by this revelation which spurred more than a few audible whispers amongst their forces. To Naruto’s surprise, though, neither his reaction nor theirs seemed to bother Konohamaru at this point in his speech, and after taking a moment to decipher just where he was going with all this, he silently urged him to continue.
Konohamaru: But I’ll tell you one thing…it doesn’t matter how much I may doubt my own power, because that’s not what I believe defines my strength as a shinobi. …What I believe in is what I’m willing to do with that power. And it doesn’t matter if it cost me my chakra, my limbs, or even my life! I will ALWAYS lay them on the line to protect this village! And all the other villages bound together by the Shinobi Union!! …And if the Will of Fire burns even half as strong in this village as it did over a century ago…I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL, TOO!!!
Midway through his conclusion, the doubt in their eyes and faces had already completely disappeared, and by the time he finished, their cheers echoed across the entire village. The future division leaders standing on either side of him were equally impressed by his rally, and Sasuke turned to Naruto to express this.
Sasuke: He does have a way with words.
Naruto: (He glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and shook his head.) Don’t look at me. …There’s plenty of other people he could’ve gotten that from.
Konohamaru: Now move out!! The Land of Iron is two days out…and I believe you can make it there in half that time.
Sasuke: (He smiled in amusement as the crowd responded to the challenge in kind.) Well, whatever you say…there’s only one person he could’ve gotten THAT from.
After setting aside the platform, which was sitting directly in front of the main gate in the midst of Konohamaru’s brash declaration, the forces preceded through and onward towards the Land of Iron, many now eager to speed past the masses in light of their leader’s speech, including some obvious cases.
Manako: (You believe it’s possible, Airon?)
Airon: (He smirked in amusement, unable to hide his own desire to move past the others.) (The pack, Manako. Keep with the pack.)
With Konohamaru and Sasuke leading the herd, Naruto stayed behind to bid farewell to one final person – the one entrusted to oversee the village until they returned home.
Iruka: I probably don’t have to tell you this anymore, but…make sure you come back alive.
Naruto: Hahahaha, yes, I think we’re past that point, Iruka.
Iruka: (He smiled and nodded before gazing off towards the front of the pack.) And keep them safe, too…all of them.
Naruto: (He followed his eyes and briefly reflected on this request before holding out his fist.) …Believe it.
Knowing that look of determination better than anyone, Iruka smiled and connected fists with all worry now erased from his mind. He disappeared back into the still empty streets as Naruto took off towards the head of the pack, his smile slowly vanishing as he wondered if protecting them all was truly within his power.
Several hundred miles away, in the country to the west, Gaara and his own forces made the long trek east towards the samurai-controlled nation. With smaller numbers and two hours of travel ahead of their allies, a faster pace enabled them to reach the border of the Land of Wind by the middle of the afternoon. As the other shinobi navigated through the large canyons that rested between them and the border of the Land of Rain, Gaara watched from above on a small cloud of sand with Shinki and Ryūza alongside him on their respective jutsu, the former carrying Yatsuri and the latter carrying Sabure. All seemed to be going well in the eyes of the others, until they turned back to their patriarch and found Gaara with one hand over his eye, indicating that he was now utilizing his Third Eye technique.
Shinki: Company?
Gaara: (He made no physical response for a while and continued his inspection.) …I can’t be sure.
Yatsuri: (He looked around in worry as his father motioned for the shinobi leading the pack from below to briefly halt their movements.) They wouldn’t ambush us out here, would they? These canyons are like a labyrinth. How could they even find their way in?
Gaara: (Doubtful, he looked over to his grandson.) …Ryūza.
Nodding in understanding, Ryūza held out his hand and began gathering sand in his palm until it formed an eye, positioning it on the opposite of the canyon wall so he might have a good view of the landscape, as well.
Sabure: Grandpa, what’s wrong?
Ryūza: Shh…keep it down, sis.
As the search carried on, Gaara’s eyes grew narrower and narrower, temporarily convinced that the man or men trailing them included the assassin who attempted to kill him – and succeeded in killing his wife. His blood boiled at the mere thought of it, causing specks to flutter about him erratically until finally, he regained control of his senses and realized there was nothing there.
Gaara: Keep moving.
Shinki watched as he removed his hand from his eye and blinked several times to restore his sight, briefly concerning himself with his state of mind until he decided to follow his orders, motioning for the pack’s pseudo-leader to give the order to continue onward.
Shinki: You think it might be…?
Gaara: (He simply shook his head, taking a moment to convince himself that he was only being paranoid.) …No…he’s not here.
Hearing this back-and-forth from a short distance away, Sabure tightened her grip on her brother’s back, fearing both for their numbers and those navigating across the neighboring country. She held her free hand against her chest and made a silent prayer to all of them – and one person among them, in particular.
Sabure: (Please…be safe.)
Near the border of the Land of Fire, a sudden gust of air caused Manako to sneeze as the Leaf army ventured onward, prompting Airon to smirk in amusement.
Airon: (Someone’s thinking about you.)
Manako: (He glanced a short ways behind them as he wiped his nose.) (And I’m not afraid to admit it.)
Knowing he was looking at Nakama, Airon’s smile quickly vanished as Manako’s grew wider in response. Those around them suddenly began to slow down before returning to the forest floor, prompting them to stop as well before looking off in the distance to where their leaders stood.
Konohamaru: Let’s stop here.
Naruto: (He looked at him in question.) You sure? We’re almost at the border already. A few more hours should put us within just another day’s length of the Land of Iron.
Sasuke: He’s right, Naruto. …I’m not sure most of these shinobi have another few hours in them.
A quick look behind them gave Naruto all the understanding he needed, as those who weren’t stretching their limbs in exhaustion fell to the ground in the struggle to catch their breath. Still disappointed by the prospect of losing time, he shrugged his shoulders and caved in nonetheless.
Naruto: Yeah, I guess you’re right. …Seventh?
Konohamaru: (He nodded and turned around, holding one hand up to his mouth as the other waved violently over his head.) Start setting up camp!! This will be our resting place for the night! We start moving again before dawn, so use this time to regain your strength!
Almost immediately, those who weren’t doing so already collapsed in fatigue, while those had already regained some of their energy began emptying their pack of all the materials necessary for the tents. Among the latter was nearly every accompanying member of the Uchiha clan, the only exception to this being their youngest member.
Katsuto: Phew, thank God. I felt like I was gonna pass out.
Akame: (She glanced over at him in annoyance before throwing one of the tent flaps over top of him.) Quit whining and help with the tent. You can be lazy once it’s set up.
Itachi: And after that, you can help me go find firewood. And then you can set up the fire while I fix up something to eat. And once we’re done eating, you can-
Katsuto: Uncle Itachi! Come on, I’m dying over here!
Itachi: (He smiled in amusement as he fed a long pole through the top of one of the tents.) Hmhmhm, just joking, Katsuto. Just help your sister and get some rest when you’re finished. …Where’s Big Sis at?
Akame: (She handed one of the poles to Katsuto before pointing off in the distance.) She’s over there somewhere. Said she had to talk to the Seventh and Commander Nara.
Itachi nodded in apparent understanding, but a quick scan with his Sharingan confirmed his doubts – Sarada wasn’t moving towards the sight’s main tent. Recalling his sister’s troubled history, he heaved a sigh and gave a silent prayer that she find the strength to avoid such mistakes in the days to come.
Sarada: Bolt?
She stood a short distance away, watching as the Namikaze clan made quick work of their own camp site. Boruto did his best to ignore her inquiries, but with the tent already completed, there was nothing left to stop him from looking up.
Boruto: Sarada?
Sarada: (She began walking away, bobbing her head to invite him to follow.) We’re about to discuss strategy in the Seventh’s tent. …You coming?
It was no question to him what Sarada was trying to do. Being present for the distribution of positions of authority, he knew he had no place looking in on these discussions unless otherwise invited to – and he had severe doubts it was his father who had granted him the invitation. In order to avoid suspicion, though, he went along with it and got up to leave with her. Unfortunately, his daughter was well aware of his unfaithful past – whether he knew so or not – and watched them go with mild disgust.
Kei: What’s up?
Inase: (She looked at him for a moment, contemplating explaining herself before returning to tending to the fire.) …Nothing.
To Boruto’s surprise, Sarada made no comments or advances as they made their way towards the Hokage’s tent. Of course, just recognizing this did nothing to make the walk any less comfortable, nor his worries any less apparent to Sarada, who began smiling in amusement in spite of herself. This only strengthened the relief he felt when they finally reached the tent and stepped inside, finding Konohamaru, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikadai, Shikamaru, and Mei already gathered around a table with a large map of the surrounding area spread out on top of it. As Sarada explained Boruto’s presence to the others, in stepped Ikken Inuzuka, recognized by his hairstyle as Hana’s son, in the company of two of his over twenty ninken.
Konohamaru: Status?
Ikken: We’ve searched the entire vicinity. No signs of nearby enemies for now. The other scouting teams are setting down their traps as we speak.
Konohamaru: Good.
Boruto: You don’t think we’ll need them, do you?
Naruto: Nah, probably not. But better safe than sorry, right?
Shikamaru: (He dragged one of his fingers across the map.) Our typical route from the Leaf to the Land of Iron is about one hundred and fifty miles off from our current location. Even if they catch on, the chances of them determining our actual route are slim to none.
Mei: That’s good. The rest of the journey should go off without a hitch, at least.
Naruto: (He looked over the map for a moment, clearly in deep thought.) Yeah…unless they’re…
The others waited patiently for him to finish his thought, though it became obvious after several seconds that he’d lost full confidence in what he was about to say.
Sakura: Unless they’re what?
Naruto: (He peered out the tent flap at the hundreds of shinobi socializing just outside, pondering a moment longer before shaking his head.) …Nothing. Just a random thought.
Mei: Naruto, if you think you know what their strategy here is, let us-
Sasuke: (He stared at Naruto with intense annoyance.) No, Mei, that’s not it. …You’re still having doubts, aren’t you?
Sakura: (Her eyes slanted in distress upon hearing this.) Naruto, I thought we had this discussion. Why are you still overestimating Otori?
Naruto: (He glared back at them both.) You two weren’t there. To hear him talk. To see his right-hand man in action. …Konohamaru, back me up here.
Konohamaru: (He glanced downward and heaved a sigh.) …Otori showed a lot of potential during the summit. …He was smart, authoritative. He was certainly powerful, to be selected as the Raikage. …But, Naruto, I think they’re right. You and Sasuke have grown more powerful in your first twenty years alone than any other shinobi in history. Whatever this man has in store, it’s nothing we won’t overcome.
Naruto: I’m not just talking about victory, though, guys. …I’m talking about casualties. I just…I just can’t shake the feeling that a bunch of those shinobi out there are gonna be dead soon…and I made a promise that I wouldn’t let that happen on my watch.
It was the simplest thing any of them could think of, but that only made them more sick to their stomachs for being incapable of doing so. The idea of ending this war quickly had been such a prominent thought that preserving as many shinobi as they could – on both sides – has all but slipped their minds. It was something to be expected of Naruto, though, especially after so many years of knowing them, and those standing around the tent smiled nostalgically as their active leader turned to Ikken.
Shikamaru: Go inform the scouting teams to double up on traps. We don’t wanna take any chances tonight.
Ikken: (He smiled and nodded.) I can do that.
When he left the tent, Shikamaru walked up beside Naruto, placing his hand on his shoulder in reassurance.
Shikamaru: We’ll use caution from here on out. …Don’t worry, Naruto. We’ll do our best to bring as many of these shinobi home as possible.
He acknowledged this promise with a nod before they continued their discussion. The emphasis on salvaging numbers from this point on was indeed a weight off his shoulders, but the thoughts still lurking in the back of his mind only verified Sasuke and Sakura’s beliefs.
As all color vanished from the sky, the forest landscape was illuminated by the flames of scattered campfires, around which hundreds of shinobi who had not yet found sleep entertained one another with their stories and the pleasure of their company. Many of these groups could be separated by age, as shinobi from the same generations sought out one another for late night conversation. Such was the case for Airon, Manako, and their peers, who sat around a large pit of flames that they all pitched in to make, occasionally roasting another morsel in the fire as they socialized.
Kemono: No, I’m serious! Go watch that movie soon as we get back! I’m telling you, it’ll blow your goddamn mind!
Kei: My ass, man! There’s no way in hell they made it look an actual meteorite falling from the sky!
Chōzen: (He gave his support to Kemono in between handfuls of potato chips.) Mm…it’s true, man. These effects they’re using just keep getting better, I mean it.
Irezumi: Did you hear about the one they’re making with the rockets?
Kei, Kemono, and Chōzen: The what?
Irezumi: Rockets, guys. They’re supposed to be giant aircrafts that propel themselves up into the sky with huge amounts of fuel. They can even go out into space.
Shikaru: Ah, yeah, I heard about those. The fuel is what? Gas and liquid oxygen?
Irezumi: Ehhh, I’ve heard they use gas, but I don’t know. I would think that would have a risk of exploding on liftoff. They use liquid hydrogen, though, I’ve heard that.
Shikaru: How the hell is hydrogen any different from plain old gas?
Irezumi: Well, I think that’s what the oxygen’s for.
Shikaru: They’d have to have a lot of it, though, right? To propel it up into space?
Irezumi: Oh, hell yeah. It’s supposed to be well into the…what?
Kei, Kemono, and Chōzen simply stared wildly at him and Shikaru, failing miserably to comprehend a single word of what they were saying. As the closest and most considerate one to them, Kūrogane smiled in amusement and tucked her cigarette between her lips before taking it upon herself to sort out this mass confusion.
Kūrogane: I’ll translate, guys. So you’ve got a big metal ship, right? Stuff shoots out the bottom. Makes it go allll the way up into space.
Kei: (He followed the movements of her hands as though in a daze, pausing when she finished before he and the others threw their heads back in disbelief.) …Pffft! Whatever!
Kemono: They just found out how to make ships fly through the sky some years back, Irezumi! Now you’re telling me they can go into space, too!?
Irezumi: (He held his arms out to proclaim his innocence.) Hey, I just said it was a movie coming out. I didn’t say it was real.
Shikaru: I don’t know, Irezumi. They could probably pull it off.
Irezumi: Hmhmhm, now you’re the one spouting fiction, Shikaru.
A brief fit of shared laughter separated this remark from the rest of their conversation, which Airon and Inase sat and listened to with growing amusement and interest.
Inase: (You’re the genius here. Do you think it’s possible?)
Airon: (He turned to her with a know-it-all smirk.) (My philosophy? Nothing is.)
Inase: (She responded in kind.) (You certainly proved that last night, didn’t you?)
He was set to polish off the last piece of hot dog clenched between his fingers, but stopped at the last minute. He knew he was making a huge mistake when he confessed his hookup with Nakama to her earlier in the day, and would’ve retaliated had she not been in his line of sight, sitting on a fallen log just beyond the tree line, gazing up at the stars.
Inase: (You know she’s waiting for you.)
Airon: (He stared over at Nakama a moment longer before heaving a sigh and standing up.) (Yeah, I know. I’m going. …So wipe that stupid grin off your face.)
He dragged his hand over the top of her head when she failed to comply, his annoyance only bringing her further amusement as she watched him go, catching Kei’s attention, as well. When others in the circle started to look up, as well, he quickly teleported away to detract their eyes, none of them aware of the mark he’d left on Nakama’s hand earlier in the day.
Nakama You took your time.
Airon: (He grinned in amusement and sat down beside her, throwing his arm around her after some thought.) I had prior commitments. I’m here now, aren’t I?
Nakama: (She sank into his side, taking in his warmth, but still finding herself unable to smile.) …Thank you.
Airon: For what?
He intended for it to be another attempt at humor, but upon noticing her face, he couldn’t help but curse himself – noting his almost forced movements when wrapping his arm around her.
Nakama: I’m sorry. Last night, I was…I was being selfish. I forced you to submit to a relationship I know you didn’t want and that’s…that was…
From her hesitation and expression, it was obvious everything emerging from her mouth came out of reluctance, and that just saying it brought her close to tears. It wasn’t a foreign feeling to him – he felt the same way every time he held or kissed her – and perhaps it was his own submissiveness that drove them both to this crossroads. Still, knowing that turning down her feelings would do nothing to preserve her happiness or even his own, for that matter, he did the one thing he knew he could to keep her smiling, waiting until he could manage one himself before doing so.
Airon: Yeah, you’re right. That was pretty selfish of you to throw yourself at me like that…but hey, it’s like you said. My whole life, nothing has ever NOT gone the way I wanted it to. …It’s only fair you got what you really wanted for once.
She immediately looked up to protest, the obvious thought being that a one-sided love was nowhere near what she really wanted. Arching her neck and turning her head quickly found her with her lips pressed against Airon’s finger, though, neither his smile nor his intention to continue having disappeared yet.
Airon: And who knows? Give me a little time…I like to think I usually deliver.
It wasn’t something he saw any truth in saying, though at the same time, he couldn’t deny the possibility. Just a few years ago, he was in the exact same position she was in now, the only difference being her ability to voice the feelings which he couldn’t. Perhaps another lengthy span of time would allow him to once again see her as someone with flesh and blood that wasn’t his own, a thought that, according to her expression, she found much more hope in than he did.
Nakama: Thank you.
Airon: (Seeing the desire in her eyes, he quickly stumbled to lighten up the mood.) Hehe, it’s what I do.
Nakama: (Her eyes slanted in mild annoyance.) (Just kiss me already.)
Airon: (He glanced back at the campsite out of the corner of his eye.) (In front of them? Not likely.)
Nakama: (Then just sit there and stop talking.)
Seemingly frozen by this apparent trigger phrase, he gradually sank in to Nakama’s voice as those sitting around the nearby campfire slowly began to take notice.
Kei: Ah, jeez. There they go.
Chōzen: (He looked up with wide eyes, not bothering to swallow the handful of chips in his mouth.) Hole-y shit.
Irezumi: (He chuckled in amusement.) I’ll be damned.
Kūrogane: (She took another puff on her cigarette and glanced over at Kei.) At least THEY’RE happy.
Kemono: Heh, it’s about damn time. Figured it would’ve happened sooner, to be honest.
Inoka: (She simply stared off in the distance towards them, struggling to conceal her anger.) Yeah. No kidding. (Nakama!? Rrrgh, that b****!)
Moments later, a seemingly bored Kagetsu strolled up to the group with his hands stuffed in his pockets, hoping to find some level of excitement until he finally became too tired to stay up. What he found was a bunch of his peers sitting around a campfire caught in some sort of trance, quickly becoming disgusted with them once he noticed what they were looking at.
Kagetsu: Why the hell are you guys starin’ at them? Ain’t you ever heard of a guy and his chick’s right to privacy?
Manako: (His corners of his mouth slowly curved upwards upon hearing this.) You know what? Thank you, Kagetsu, that’s a strong point. All of you, go on, there’s nothing to see here! You need to get your rest, anyways, don’tcha?
He immediately stood up and started flailing his arms about to shoo them all away, some expressing disappointment while others seemed reluctant to move. Eventually, they all left the area and proceeded to return to their tents, including a disappointed Kagetsu, at which point Manako turned back and looked over at Airon and Nakama one last time, exchanging amused expressions with Inase before they, too, walked away.
The Land of Iron – and the war – are now a full day away!!!
The End
