Chakra Wizard
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Alright, the fighting’s only a chapter away now! 
Hope you enjoy*_*
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
Chapter 096: The War Starts Now
The day that followed was filled once again with early rises and large and lengthy migrations through the neighboring countries that still separated the two armies from the Land of Iron. By midday of the one following that, their tree-covered terrain had been replaced by snowy landscapes and a nigh unseeable horizon, made so by the samurai-governed nation’s constantly stormy winds. The previously quick pace they had built up over the course of the past two days had been slowed to little more than a hike, an effort to preserve both their energy and their warmth. The latter proved more difficult for most, as many shinobi had clearly not thought ahead on dressing for the rapid drop in temperature that occurred once they reached their destination. Among them was Ide, whose earlier wardrobe changes offered greater mobility at the risk of hypothermia, something Irezumi helped her compensate for by offering the blanket stuffed inside his bag, which she quickly snatched from him and wrapped around herself.
Ide: Thanks. …I guess I should’ve kept the robes long.
Irezumi: (He shot her a know-it-all smirk.) Or just bought new ones, perhaps? It’s not as if we haven’t profited enough over the years to afford new clothes.
Similar acts of kindness were seen throughout the massive pack as time went on, but perhaps the biggest came from Kūrogane, who made quick to toss Airon her lighter at his insistence, who in turn offered it to Nakama. Partly taking the hint, Nakama opened it and used the resulting flame to create an even larger one, which she held out in front of them as they trekked onward.
Nakama: (Is that better?)
Airon: (He looked around in mild embarrassment at the obviously jealous faces of their neighbors.) (Well, yeah…but I wasn’t really borrowing that just for us.)
Nakama: (She looked around, as well, her cheeks turning pink once she’d caught on.) Oh…right.
Stopping momentarily as Airon transferred some of his chakra to her through their clasped hands, she eagerly moved closer to the front of the pack as her hair began fluttering about, bringing the surrounding winds to a halt after roughly a minute. As those who noticed the change stopped in confusion, she finally caught up to Naruto and Konohamaru, holding out the lighter for them to see and awaiting the former’s smiling approval.
Naruto: Alright. Light the way.
Without hesitation, she opened it again, producing two massive trails of flames that ran down past the remainder of the pack, gradually melting the snow beneath their feet while offering them brief refuge from the low temperatures. When everyone had been satisfied, she dispelled them and called forth another sea of fire across the plains standing before them, robbing it of the snow that blanketed it and making it far easier to trek across, inciting a massive sigh of relief from those gathered behind her.
Mei: Hm. That’s quite handy.
Konohamaru: (Exchanging grins with Naruto, he held up his arm and beckoned the others to move on.) LET’S PICK UP THE PACE!!!
Within the span of less than five minutes, the entire army had returned to their previous speed of travel, leading many to wonder what had been hindering their movements before.
Manako: (How long have we been walking through this storm?)
Airon: (He looked up in thought for a moment, trying to contain his amusement once he’d made an estimation.) (About two hours. At least.)
The combination of amusement and annoyance in Manako’s expression repeated itself nearly another two hours later, when the Three Wolves mountains suddenly appeared just beyond the horizon.
Sasuke: We’re here.
Naruto: (He grinned at the sight of the iconic landmarks.) And with time to spare, too.
Another hour of travel brought them to the foot of the great samurai fortress where the remainder of their forces awaited their arrival, just beyond the entrance of which waited their general in hopes of being the first to greet them. He was dressed in traditional samurai garb, which was a shade of green slightly lighter than that worn by his predecessor, and like him, preferred not to wear the headgear seen on his subjects.
Rounin: Welcome back, Lord Hokage. Lady Mizukage.
Konohamaru: (He returned the greeting with a smile and a handshake.) Far too soon, Rounin.
Mei: Especially under these circumstances.
Rounin: (He nodded in agreement before stepping out of the way.) I concur. …Please, move your soldiers indoors. The rest of our forces have already arrived.
Without hesitation, the mass of shinobi ventured inside, heaving sighs of relief as the warmth felt within the fort came over them. Those who didn’t take the opportunity to rest in the hallway followed their samurai escorts through the large corridors to an even larger doorway, on the other side sat an enormous open room whose dome-shaped ceiling towered hundreds of feet over their heads. In here, countless ninja of varying age and origin socialized amongst one another while keeping relatively close to their respective divisions. Eager to do the same, the newcomers quickly dispersed, including Manako.
Airon: (Going off to find someone specific?)
Manako: (He held his arms out in question as he walked backwards into the crowd.) (There’s plenty of socializing going on here already. I might as well.)
Airon watched him leave in amusement before walking around himself with Inase in tow. After a few moments of passing unfamiliar faces, a familiar voice with an all-too familiar speech pattern called out to him.
Z: Now there’s a sight for sore eyes. What’s poppin’, Airon?
Airon: (He matched Z’s trademark grin as he came into view before holding out his fist.) Things are good, Z. I hope I can say the same about your swordplay.
Z: (He feigned playful resentment as they bumped fists.) Shiiiit, dog. That lil’ episode wasn’t nothin’. Now I wager I’ll be slicin’ and dicin’ suckers like crazy out there. Hell, I prolly better than you now, homie.
Airon: (He smiled in amusement before looking to his right.) I’m sure. You remember my sister, Inase?
Z: (He shot her another grin and held out his hand.) Man, hard not to. The mindfreak, as it was.
Inase: (She managed a smirk as she shook his hand.) Not too privy to that nickname, but thank you, Z.
Z: Ah, it ain’t no thing, girl. Ohhh, shit! It’s my homeboy makin’ his grand entrance with his newly promoted ass! What’s cookin’, Kagetsu!?
Slightly startled by the minor outburst, Airon and Inase turned around as Kagetsu walked past them, sporting his new trench coat overtop his flak jacket with the “twinsword”, Hiramekarei, wrapped in bandages on his back. The two engaged in a more elaborate handshake during their greeting, indicative of their enduring friendship since the Chūnin Exams.
Kagetsu: Things are fly, my man. Things are fly. And yes, thanks-a-plenty for noticing the wicked threads I got on showcase now. Some of those pansies might just turn cheek once I creep up to the base out there, am I right?
He was clearly expecting a reply to this minor inquiry, leaving him sorely disappointed when all three of them said nothing in response, instead choosing to stare back at him with varying levels of embarrassment – or amusement, in Airon’s case.
Kagetsu: What?
Z: Uh, it’s “plate”, homie. Plate, not “base”.
Kagetsu: (He cringed in amusement and tried to play it off.) Ah, damn. That’s my bad, home jeez. My bad.
Z: It’s “jeeves”, baby, come on now.
Airon: (The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.) And who the hell says “fly” anymore? What’re you thirty?
Z: (He quickly threw his arm over Kagetsu, hinting in the process that he taught him that term.) Nah nah, it’s cool, Airon. Boy’s still learnin’. Now, how’s about we put in some more lessons over, uh, over there?
Airon chuckled softly to himself as Z led him through the crowd towards the other end of the room, the silence eventually being broken by Inase as she recalled his prior remark – mentally, otherwise.
Inase: (It ain’t no thing, girl?)
Airon: (It’s a jive thing. I told you, you read his mind, it’s pretty easy to catch the intent.)
Inase: (She looked up at him in annoyance, seemingly offended by his indifference.) (He referred to me as “girl”, Airon. Like I’m some kind of-)
Airon: (He looked at her in amusement.) (Just put up and go find someone else to talk to, little sister. Don’t get all worked up about nothing.)
She eventually walked away in mild disgust, leaving him to continue wandering around as he pleased, hoping to find some more familiar faces before his grandfather’s speech. Within minutes, he came across two, both of which now wore headbands reminiscent of those from the previous war, but whose flak jackets made their origins in the Land of Earth more obvious.
Takeshi: That face looks familiar. Airon Namikaze, right?
Airon: (He smiled and shook his outstretched hand before turning to his teammate.) It’s a pleasure again, Takeshi Narita. Aaaand…Amiko Kazuki.
Amiko: (She nodded in surprise before shaking his hand, as well.) Thank you, Airon. I’m surprised you remembered our names. We haven’t exactly interacted much since the Chūnin Exams.
Airon: Hmhmhmhm, well, I’ll admit I’m pretty well off where long-term memory’s concerned. It was your teammate that really made the lasting impression.
Both of their smiles quickly vanished upon hearing this subtle reference to Asuka, making it fairly easy for Airon to guess why.
Airon: He didn’t come, did he?
????: Nah, man. For better or worse, Asuka took his village’s side in this.
Faintly recognizing this voice, as well, Airon looked up as Sakebi came into view, his ring and and long blonde hair making him fairly easy to identify.
Airon: That’s a real shame…might have to do something about that. How’ve you been, Sakebi?
Sakebi: (He bumped fists before resting his arm on an annoyed Takeshi’s shoulder.) Eh, it’s been swell, man. We’ve already been here for a few days and all, but I’ve had Z and my boy Takeshi to chill with, so it’s all good…wartime situation aside, obviously.
Airon: (He smiled in amusement as he looked at the two of them together.) Hmhm, of course. …Kind of the odd pairing to come out of the Chūnin Exams, isn’t it? As friends, I mean.
Sakebi: (He feigned relief at the latter remark, patting Takeshi on the back after he shrugged his arm off.) Ehhh, yeah, but you get to know a dude better when the Union sends you on enough missions together.
Airon: (He nodded towards Takeshi’s open collar.) Is that why you’ve got the jewelry there?
Takeshi: (He looked down in confusion before grabbing his necklace and pulling it out to allow a better view.) Oh yeah, the jewelry, the music, this guy knows some good stuff. I think I managed to turn Amiko onto some of it on our way here.
Sakebi: (He looked over his shoulder at Amiko in surprise.) Well, shit, that’s the first I’ve heard of that. I could’ve been recommending some female-friendly bands this whole time.
Amiko: (Somewhat startled by her sudden inclusion in the discussion, she held her hands out in denial.) Oh, no! No, that’s just fine! I’m not THAT big a fan. It’s just the one band…or two, maybe.
Sakebi: (He grinned in light of this new opportunity and began walking away as he spotted Z walking back through the crowd with Kagetsu.) Ah, man, you got a lot to learn. Takeshi, you bring her by the next time we meet up. I’ll make a metalhead out of her if it kills me.
Takeshi: (He smiled in amusement as he waved him off.) Sounds like a plan. I’ll catch you later, Sakebi!
When Sakebi had vanished into the crowd, Airon’s expression quickly became once more, recalling the inquiry his arrival intercepted before tapping both Amiko and Takeshi’s shoulders to regain their attention.
Airon: I’ve got plans to see Asuka myself when my division moves to the Land of Earth. …You two just keep your heads until now the dust settles. I’ll sort things out on my end.
Amiko: (Her face grew pink in response to the wink he gave her upon finishing, but she eventually returned his smile.) …Thanks.
As Airon returned to his search for familiar faces, his peers also found solace with both old and new faces alike. Perhaps the only exception was Akame, who stood alone amongst the masses with her arms crossed, watching as they socialized seemingly without a care in the world.
Akame: Look at them all. Talking freely like that’s why we’re here.
Hitomi: (He walked over to her with a faint look of amusement, catching wind of this remark as he returned from a prior discussion.) Some would call that being friendly and having a social life to fall back on.
Akame: (She looked away in disgust.) Hmph, friends are for the weak. Look at my grandfather. A single person he can call his friend in his entire life, and that’s the only person who now stands on par with him as a shinobi.
Hitomi: Mmhm. And that person just so happens to be a social magnet himself.
He had walked away before she could turn to counter this remark. Deep down, she found relief in this for her inability to conjure up a viable defense, but her own stubbornness gave even her own deep-seated thoughts a small voice in her mind.
Akame: (Please, what good do friends do you when you’ve devoted your entire life to being a shinobi?)
Her younger brother’s openness with two shinobi from the Cloud Village only brought her more annoyance, prompting her to look around for her cousin who, unbeknownst to her, was on the far side of the room, scouring through the members of the first division for the young kunoichi whom he’d just texted to determine her whereabouts. After another minute of looking around, he found himself a short distance behind her, finding amusement in the opportunity to walk up and place his head next to her ear.
Manako: You look rather lonely.
Sabure: (To his disappointment, she contained her startled reaction and spun around with a particularly elated expression.) Not anymore.
Manako: (He smiled in amusement.) How long ago did you arrive?
Sabure: I think just a few hours ahead of you guys. Man, that was quite the journey.
Manako: (He chuckled softly and looked off towards the other side of the large room.) Hmhmhm, the footwork will only get worse from here. I’m with the Fourth Division myself, so I’ll be making the long walk to the Land of Water once we start moving out.
Sabure: (She lowered her head in disappointment.) That’s a shame. I wish we could’ve been assigned to the same division.
Manako: Hmhm, well, that would probably be overkill now, wouldn’t it?
She looked back up with a smile in hopes of humoring him, but before their conversation could escalate any further, they were approached from the side by her brother, whose demeanor was significantly less pleasant.
Manako: Pleasure again, Ryūza.
Ryūza: (He managed only a small smirk before shaking his hand.) The same to you, Manako.
Manako: (He looked at them for a moment and, noticing the discontent in Ryūza’s eyes, began walking away.) I should probably group with the rest of my division now. …I’ll see you again soon.
Sabure saw him off with the biggest smile she could muster, kicking her brother in the heel and spinning around the moment he was no longer in sight.
Sabure: What the hell are you doing? Trying to c-
Ryūza: (He held his hand up to stop her as he rubbed his sore heel with his opposite foot.) Sabure, for the fact that you’re my sister alone, don’t even attempt to finish that phrase. For the fact that he’s from the Leaf Village, don’t even think it, either.
Sabure: (She looked up at him in aggravation and disbelief.) And what’s wrong with the Leaf Village?
Ryūza: It isn’t the Sand Village, that’s what. Friendships are fine and even necessary, but for God’s sake, don’t mingle with them.
Sabure: Mingle-who the hell said anything about mingling!?
Ryūza: You were just about to tell me to stop-
Yatsuri: (He caught wind of their argument and quickly ran between them.) Hey hey, cousins, come on! There’s no need for that!
Before they could both tell him to stay out of it, a siren began echoing through the enormous room, a quick glance towards the front signaling to everyone that the time for socializing was over. As those below began falling in, on the balcony overlooking them, Gaara, Konohamaru, Sarada, and Rounin stood before their respective divisions, Sasuke and Naruto standing between them as the regimental commanders of the entire Union army, with Shikamaru standing between them as the Supreme Leader. For those who remembered the previous war, the sight before them was one filled with melancholy nostalgia, while for the others, it was a buzz unlike any they’d ever felt.
Sarada: It’s incredible, isn’t it, Sensei?
Konohamaru: (He gazed out anxiously at the massive regiment, managing a nod as his nerves slowly getting the better of him once again.) Yes…it certainly is.
Gaara: (His eyes widened as he finally saw the scope of the army they were commanding.) I don’t remember having a yield this big during the Fourth War. And there were six different armies in the alliance then, not just three.
Rounin: (He smiled and looked across the balcony at him, having been waiting for such a remark since their arrival.) Who said there were only three armies here?
As everyone looked over at him in confusion, he motioned towards the corridor behind them, where they turned in shock to find two new figures walking forward to join them. The older and taller of the two was made recognizable by his large straw hat and slender form, while the other stood out with his long blonde hair and the breathing apparatus covering half of his face. Their usual detachment from shinobi politics made them unknown to most of the people on the balcony, but for Konohamaru and Gaara, they were clearly the leaders of the Grass and Rain Villages, Susuki and Hisame.
Susuki: Lord Hokage. Lord Kazekage.
Hisame: (He scanned each of their faces, his amusement mostly hidden by his rebreather.) You both look pretty shocked to see us here.
Konohamaru: (His shock was slowly replaced by displeasure in response to this comment.) …Disappointed, actually. Since we’re all being honest…
Gaara: I thought we requested to keep the number of shinobi in this conflict as low as possible.
Susuki: (He nodded in understanding, though his expression remained unchanged.) And with all due respect, sirs, we refused to agree to that.
Hisame: Our new allies threatened to rip apart the Shinobi Union, and as I recall, the five great villages were not the only members of the Union anymore.
Susuki: So if it’s all the same to you, sirs…yes, there are more than three armies here.
It was one of many outcomes they were hoping to avoid in this war, but with them already here, the Kage could only smile and express gratitude for their contribution to their cause before they returned to the floor below with the remainder of their forces. They both took their places amongst the Gaara’s first division – the one given the primary task of fending off their enemy’s largest army, the Rock Village. Among the division’s ranks also was Shinki, as its secondary commander, his former teammates Yodo and Araya, Sabure, Ryūza, Yatsuri, and a majority of the forces’ Sand and Rock shinobi. One of the few exceptions to this case was Akatsuchi, who served as Konohamaru’s secondary commander, joined also by Amiko and Takeshi. Several more familiar faces among them included Kei and Inase, Chōji and Chōchō, and the members of Team Mirai, Team Suzaku, and Team Katame, all prepared either to take on the forces of the Cloud Village or provide support to the first division. Leading the third division as the proxy commander was Boruto, alongside Hitomi, Akame and Katsuto, Ide and Kenji, Z and his teammates, and Yurui and his own, all prepped to lead the main assault on the Land of Lightning. Lastly, at the head of the fourth division stood Mei as Rounin’s second-in-command, alongside Misuno and the entirety of the Union’s samurai forces and Mist refugees, as well as Lee and Tenten, their son and Chan, Miyuki, Itachi, Manako and Airon, all tasked with quickly eliminating their estimated weakest enemy, Unagi and the Mist. Standing alongside the main divisions was the Surprise Attack Squad, led once again by Sai with Irezumi, Omoi and Karui in tow among others, as well as the Medical Division led by Sakura and Shizune, the Intelligence Team led by Ino and Inojin, and the Sensor Division led by Hanabi and including Hinata, Karin, and C. In total, a rough estimate calculated their forces at just over one hundred thousand, the largest army ever accumulated by the shinobi world and a massive advantage over their enemy’s estimated seventy thousand.
Konohamaru: The floor’s all yours, Naruto…and we’re actually here now, so don’t try to throw it back on me.
No intention of doing so whatsoever, Naruto took a moment to pause and reflect on what he wanted to say. He couldn’t help but smile playing the words over in his head, priding himself on the great speaker he had become during his twenty-five years as Hokage. As his words echoed through his mind, though, another voice slowly emerged from his subconscious that was not his own. It was deep and menacing, but instantly recognizable.
Kurama: (Naruto…Naruto!)
Allowing himself to briefly be submerged in the corridors of his mind to appease Kurama’s insistence, the others on the balcony stared him for the longest time until he suddenly reemerged from his stance and shot a nervous glance towards Sasuke.
Sasuke: You’re the supreme leader. Take over.
Shikamaru: What?
The two quickly took a step back and out of view for those watching from below, beckoning for the others to do the same as Shikamaru struggled to think of his own speech on the spot.
Shikamaru: Those who remember the years before the Shinobi Union are few in number here, and those who remember the years before the hidden villages are long gone…
Konohamaru: (He listened to Naruto in shock as he explained what Kurama had told him.) …Is it here in this room?
Naruto: (He shook his head.) Not unless it’s “him”. The emotions he’s picking up are too far away.
Shikamaru: The days not plagued by war were haunted by fear of a constantly lingering threat. If not from other villages, it was from potential conspirators within…
Sarada: (Her Sharingan active, she started looking around nervously.) Is it an ambush? Are they surrounding the fort?
Naruto: No, it’s not that strong. It’s almost too faint to even pick up.
Sasuke: Which means these intruders are either very small in numbers, or they’re still far off from this location.
Shikamaru: (Faintly hearing every word they said, he gulped the air in his mouth and began looking around, making a few summations of his own as he continued his speech.) It was only after seventy years, when the five great villages were brought together for the first time to fight for a single cause, that everything changed. Distrust was replaced by cooperation. Hatred was replaced by love. …War, by peace. For the very first time since the creation of ninjutsu itself.
Manako: (He glared up at him with his Mangekyō Sharingan, noting every slight nuance he made as he spoke.) (Something’s up.)
Airon: (He stood still as a means to gather natural energy for his Sage Mode, hindering him from nodding.) (Tell me about it. Start looking around. I’ll inform the others.)
Shikamaru: That was over forty years ago, and since then, our villages have known nothing but peace. Those who remembered times when that wasn’t the case soon became a dying breed. …And now, some of our allies in this Shinobi Union, which was created under the belief that the alliances formed during that war could indeed stand the test of time, want to return us to those dark days where fear and hate were all we knew.
Naruto: (He looked around the room hoping to pick up any traces of an intruder on the outside, occasionally glancing back at Gaara.) Anything?
Gaara: (He shook his head as he held two fingers over his left eye, hinting that he was currently using his Third Eye technique to scan the outside of the fortress.) Not yet. The snow is falling hard. It’s too difficult to see far off into the distance.
Sasuke: Well, keep trying. If they’re truly planning a first strike, we have to act on it.
Sabure: (She looked down at her phone upon feeling it vibrate, her eyes widening as she read Manako’s text.) Brother, something’s wrong.
Ryūza: (He nodded as he gathered sand in his palm to instigate his own Third Eye technique.) Yeah, I read it.
Unbeknownst to most of their forces, at least a dozen shinobi throughout were now actively scanning for intruders with their respective techniques or dōjutsu, each doing their best to keep their actions unnoticeable. Shikamaru realized this from instinct alone, but without any hint of a possible identity or location for the culprit, nor what moment they might be waiting for to strike, he continued his speech, trusting his allies to determine them before he finished.
Shikamaru: This is not a war between good and evil…this is a battle between brothers. An attempt by us to restore the broken bonds between the members of the Union and return us to the peace we have grown so accustomed to!
Inase: (Finding nothing within her Byakugan’s impressive range, she began looking at the shinobi around her in frustration.) (Airon, we have to tell them!)
Airon: (He gazed around the room frantically, his eyes now likening to those of a toad.) (Inase, no! We don’t know what they might be waiting for. They could be waiting for that very moment-damn it, Manako, do you see anything!?)
Manako: (I’m working with a Sharingan here, you ass! Ask Inase! The Byakugan can actually detect chakra!)
Airon: (Well, she’s not getting anything, either, so both of you keep looking!)
Shikamaru: (He held his arm out to beckon to those standing below, using the opportunity to scan the room himself for any abnormalities.) March towards your chosen fields of battle!! Show these fools we fight against that our bonds with the shinobi they’ve brainwashed into following them will not be so easily broken!! That our blood is still one and the same, even if our mothers’ aren’t!! …That we are ninja!! And that means we will endure any hardship, no matter what sacrifice is made to overcome it!!
Ten minutes of searching had passed, and in the end, out of all the Byakugan, Sharingan, and senjutsu being used to find their intruder, it was the two small eyes floating above the roof of the fortress that finally made some sort of leeway.
Gaara: Wait…
Ryūza: …I’m getting something.
Everyone on the balcony, save for Shikamaru, immediately turned to the former as Sabure turned to the latter, hoping desperately to hear more.
Sabure and Naruto: What is it?
Ryūza: (He squinted his remaining eye, unable to make the determination through the harsh blizzard outside.) …I’m not sure. It’s off in the distance.
Gaara: …It almost looks like…
Several seconds passed as the movement in the distance became more and more distinct, taking shape after some time. It was almost circular and was moving at a fast pace, but by the time they got a rough estimation of its size, their eyes had already dilated to their absolute limit.
Shikamaru: The Fifth Shinobi World War…starts NOW!!!
Gaara and Ryūza: EVERYONE TAKE COVER!!!
By the time the word “cover” left their mouths, no one had enough time to respond as the roof on the far side of the room caved in, sending large pieces of rubble crashing down on unlucky members of the first division.
Manako: SHIT!!!
As everyone still standing retreated to the other side of the room, Manako continued standing there, gazing up in awe at the massive chunk of earth now lodged in the side of the fortress, slowly pushing its way through. He turned to retreat upon noticing this, but out of the corner of his eye saw a young kunoichi lying dead or unconscious beneath a piece of rubble, looking around to find even more shinobi in varying levels of pain and mobility, none well off enough in the latter to escape when the roof finally caved in. With only one option in his mind, he used his Body Flicker technique, quickly moving as many people out of its range as he could before the boulder finally fell through, leaving those watching from afar to look on in shock.
Airon, Sabure, Itachi, Sakura, and Sasuke: MANAKO!!!
The samurai fortress is under fire – and only seconds after the war officially began!!!
The End
Hope you enjoy*_*Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
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Chapter 096: The War Starts Now
The day that followed was filled once again with early rises and large and lengthy migrations through the neighboring countries that still separated the two armies from the Land of Iron. By midday of the one following that, their tree-covered terrain had been replaced by snowy landscapes and a nigh unseeable horizon, made so by the samurai-governed nation’s constantly stormy winds. The previously quick pace they had built up over the course of the past two days had been slowed to little more than a hike, an effort to preserve both their energy and their warmth. The latter proved more difficult for most, as many shinobi had clearly not thought ahead on dressing for the rapid drop in temperature that occurred once they reached their destination. Among them was Ide, whose earlier wardrobe changes offered greater mobility at the risk of hypothermia, something Irezumi helped her compensate for by offering the blanket stuffed inside his bag, which she quickly snatched from him and wrapped around herself.
Ide: Thanks. …I guess I should’ve kept the robes long.
Irezumi: (He shot her a know-it-all smirk.) Or just bought new ones, perhaps? It’s not as if we haven’t profited enough over the years to afford new clothes.
Similar acts of kindness were seen throughout the massive pack as time went on, but perhaps the biggest came from Kūrogane, who made quick to toss Airon her lighter at his insistence, who in turn offered it to Nakama. Partly taking the hint, Nakama opened it and used the resulting flame to create an even larger one, which she held out in front of them as they trekked onward.
Nakama: (Is that better?)
Airon: (He looked around in mild embarrassment at the obviously jealous faces of their neighbors.) (Well, yeah…but I wasn’t really borrowing that just for us.)
Nakama: (She looked around, as well, her cheeks turning pink once she’d caught on.) Oh…right.
Stopping momentarily as Airon transferred some of his chakra to her through their clasped hands, she eagerly moved closer to the front of the pack as her hair began fluttering about, bringing the surrounding winds to a halt after roughly a minute. As those who noticed the change stopped in confusion, she finally caught up to Naruto and Konohamaru, holding out the lighter for them to see and awaiting the former’s smiling approval.
Naruto: Alright. Light the way.
Without hesitation, she opened it again, producing two massive trails of flames that ran down past the remainder of the pack, gradually melting the snow beneath their feet while offering them brief refuge from the low temperatures. When everyone had been satisfied, she dispelled them and called forth another sea of fire across the plains standing before them, robbing it of the snow that blanketed it and making it far easier to trek across, inciting a massive sigh of relief from those gathered behind her.
Mei: Hm. That’s quite handy.
Konohamaru: (Exchanging grins with Naruto, he held up his arm and beckoned the others to move on.) LET’S PICK UP THE PACE!!!
Within the span of less than five minutes, the entire army had returned to their previous speed of travel, leading many to wonder what had been hindering their movements before.
Manako: (How long have we been walking through this storm?)
Airon: (He looked up in thought for a moment, trying to contain his amusement once he’d made an estimation.) (About two hours. At least.)
The combination of amusement and annoyance in Manako’s expression repeated itself nearly another two hours later, when the Three Wolves mountains suddenly appeared just beyond the horizon.
Sasuke: We’re here.
Naruto: (He grinned at the sight of the iconic landmarks.) And with time to spare, too.
Another hour of travel brought them to the foot of the great samurai fortress where the remainder of their forces awaited their arrival, just beyond the entrance of which waited their general in hopes of being the first to greet them. He was dressed in traditional samurai garb, which was a shade of green slightly lighter than that worn by his predecessor, and like him, preferred not to wear the headgear seen on his subjects.
Rounin: Welcome back, Lord Hokage. Lady Mizukage.
Konohamaru: (He returned the greeting with a smile and a handshake.) Far too soon, Rounin.
Mei: Especially under these circumstances.
Rounin: (He nodded in agreement before stepping out of the way.) I concur. …Please, move your soldiers indoors. The rest of our forces have already arrived.
Without hesitation, the mass of shinobi ventured inside, heaving sighs of relief as the warmth felt within the fort came over them. Those who didn’t take the opportunity to rest in the hallway followed their samurai escorts through the large corridors to an even larger doorway, on the other side sat an enormous open room whose dome-shaped ceiling towered hundreds of feet over their heads. In here, countless ninja of varying age and origin socialized amongst one another while keeping relatively close to their respective divisions. Eager to do the same, the newcomers quickly dispersed, including Manako.
Airon: (Going off to find someone specific?)
Manako: (He held his arms out in question as he walked backwards into the crowd.) (There’s plenty of socializing going on here already. I might as well.)
Airon watched him leave in amusement before walking around himself with Inase in tow. After a few moments of passing unfamiliar faces, a familiar voice with an all-too familiar speech pattern called out to him.
Z: Now there’s a sight for sore eyes. What’s poppin’, Airon?
Airon: (He matched Z’s trademark grin as he came into view before holding out his fist.) Things are good, Z. I hope I can say the same about your swordplay.
Z: (He feigned playful resentment as they bumped fists.) Shiiiit, dog. That lil’ episode wasn’t nothin’. Now I wager I’ll be slicin’ and dicin’ suckers like crazy out there. Hell, I prolly better than you now, homie.
Airon: (He smiled in amusement before looking to his right.) I’m sure. You remember my sister, Inase?
Z: (He shot her another grin and held out his hand.) Man, hard not to. The mindfreak, as it was.
Inase: (She managed a smirk as she shook his hand.) Not too privy to that nickname, but thank you, Z.
Z: Ah, it ain’t no thing, girl. Ohhh, shit! It’s my homeboy makin’ his grand entrance with his newly promoted ass! What’s cookin’, Kagetsu!?
Slightly startled by the minor outburst, Airon and Inase turned around as Kagetsu walked past them, sporting his new trench coat overtop his flak jacket with the “twinsword”, Hiramekarei, wrapped in bandages on his back. The two engaged in a more elaborate handshake during their greeting, indicative of their enduring friendship since the Chūnin Exams.
Kagetsu: Things are fly, my man. Things are fly. And yes, thanks-a-plenty for noticing the wicked threads I got on showcase now. Some of those pansies might just turn cheek once I creep up to the base out there, am I right?
He was clearly expecting a reply to this minor inquiry, leaving him sorely disappointed when all three of them said nothing in response, instead choosing to stare back at him with varying levels of embarrassment – or amusement, in Airon’s case.
Kagetsu: What?
Z: Uh, it’s “plate”, homie. Plate, not “base”.
Kagetsu: (He cringed in amusement and tried to play it off.) Ah, damn. That’s my bad, home jeez. My bad.
Z: It’s “jeeves”, baby, come on now.
Airon: (The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.) And who the hell says “fly” anymore? What’re you thirty?
Z: (He quickly threw his arm over Kagetsu, hinting in the process that he taught him that term.) Nah nah, it’s cool, Airon. Boy’s still learnin’. Now, how’s about we put in some more lessons over, uh, over there?
Airon chuckled softly to himself as Z led him through the crowd towards the other end of the room, the silence eventually being broken by Inase as she recalled his prior remark – mentally, otherwise.
Inase: (It ain’t no thing, girl?)
Airon: (It’s a jive thing. I told you, you read his mind, it’s pretty easy to catch the intent.)
Inase: (She looked up at him in annoyance, seemingly offended by his indifference.) (He referred to me as “girl”, Airon. Like I’m some kind of-)
Airon: (He looked at her in amusement.) (Just put up and go find someone else to talk to, little sister. Don’t get all worked up about nothing.)
She eventually walked away in mild disgust, leaving him to continue wandering around as he pleased, hoping to find some more familiar faces before his grandfather’s speech. Within minutes, he came across two, both of which now wore headbands reminiscent of those from the previous war, but whose flak jackets made their origins in the Land of Earth more obvious.
Takeshi: That face looks familiar. Airon Namikaze, right?
Airon: (He smiled and shook his outstretched hand before turning to his teammate.) It’s a pleasure again, Takeshi Narita. Aaaand…Amiko Kazuki.
Amiko: (She nodded in surprise before shaking his hand, as well.) Thank you, Airon. I’m surprised you remembered our names. We haven’t exactly interacted much since the Chūnin Exams.
Airon: Hmhmhmhm, well, I’ll admit I’m pretty well off where long-term memory’s concerned. It was your teammate that really made the lasting impression.
Both of their smiles quickly vanished upon hearing this subtle reference to Asuka, making it fairly easy for Airon to guess why.
Airon: He didn’t come, did he?
????: Nah, man. For better or worse, Asuka took his village’s side in this.
Faintly recognizing this voice, as well, Airon looked up as Sakebi came into view, his ring and and long blonde hair making him fairly easy to identify.
Airon: That’s a real shame…might have to do something about that. How’ve you been, Sakebi?
Sakebi: (He bumped fists before resting his arm on an annoyed Takeshi’s shoulder.) Eh, it’s been swell, man. We’ve already been here for a few days and all, but I’ve had Z and my boy Takeshi to chill with, so it’s all good…wartime situation aside, obviously.
Airon: (He smiled in amusement as he looked at the two of them together.) Hmhm, of course. …Kind of the odd pairing to come out of the Chūnin Exams, isn’t it? As friends, I mean.
Sakebi: (He feigned relief at the latter remark, patting Takeshi on the back after he shrugged his arm off.) Ehhh, yeah, but you get to know a dude better when the Union sends you on enough missions together.
Airon: (He nodded towards Takeshi’s open collar.) Is that why you’ve got the jewelry there?
Takeshi: (He looked down in confusion before grabbing his necklace and pulling it out to allow a better view.) Oh yeah, the jewelry, the music, this guy knows some good stuff. I think I managed to turn Amiko onto some of it on our way here.
Sakebi: (He looked over his shoulder at Amiko in surprise.) Well, shit, that’s the first I’ve heard of that. I could’ve been recommending some female-friendly bands this whole time.
Amiko: (Somewhat startled by her sudden inclusion in the discussion, she held her hands out in denial.) Oh, no! No, that’s just fine! I’m not THAT big a fan. It’s just the one band…or two, maybe.
Sakebi: (He grinned in light of this new opportunity and began walking away as he spotted Z walking back through the crowd with Kagetsu.) Ah, man, you got a lot to learn. Takeshi, you bring her by the next time we meet up. I’ll make a metalhead out of her if it kills me.
Takeshi: (He smiled in amusement as he waved him off.) Sounds like a plan. I’ll catch you later, Sakebi!
When Sakebi had vanished into the crowd, Airon’s expression quickly became once more, recalling the inquiry his arrival intercepted before tapping both Amiko and Takeshi’s shoulders to regain their attention.
Airon: I’ve got plans to see Asuka myself when my division moves to the Land of Earth. …You two just keep your heads until now the dust settles. I’ll sort things out on my end.
Amiko: (Her face grew pink in response to the wink he gave her upon finishing, but she eventually returned his smile.) …Thanks.
As Airon returned to his search for familiar faces, his peers also found solace with both old and new faces alike. Perhaps the only exception was Akame, who stood alone amongst the masses with her arms crossed, watching as they socialized seemingly without a care in the world.
Akame: Look at them all. Talking freely like that’s why we’re here.
Hitomi: (He walked over to her with a faint look of amusement, catching wind of this remark as he returned from a prior discussion.) Some would call that being friendly and having a social life to fall back on.
Akame: (She looked away in disgust.) Hmph, friends are for the weak. Look at my grandfather. A single person he can call his friend in his entire life, and that’s the only person who now stands on par with him as a shinobi.
Hitomi: Mmhm. And that person just so happens to be a social magnet himself.
He had walked away before she could turn to counter this remark. Deep down, she found relief in this for her inability to conjure up a viable defense, but her own stubbornness gave even her own deep-seated thoughts a small voice in her mind.
Akame: (Please, what good do friends do you when you’ve devoted your entire life to being a shinobi?)
Her younger brother’s openness with two shinobi from the Cloud Village only brought her more annoyance, prompting her to look around for her cousin who, unbeknownst to her, was on the far side of the room, scouring through the members of the first division for the young kunoichi whom he’d just texted to determine her whereabouts. After another minute of looking around, he found himself a short distance behind her, finding amusement in the opportunity to walk up and place his head next to her ear.
Manako: You look rather lonely.
Sabure: (To his disappointment, she contained her startled reaction and spun around with a particularly elated expression.) Not anymore.
Manako: (He smiled in amusement.) How long ago did you arrive?
Sabure: I think just a few hours ahead of you guys. Man, that was quite the journey.
Manako: (He chuckled softly and looked off towards the other side of the large room.) Hmhmhm, the footwork will only get worse from here. I’m with the Fourth Division myself, so I’ll be making the long walk to the Land of Water once we start moving out.
Sabure: (She lowered her head in disappointment.) That’s a shame. I wish we could’ve been assigned to the same division.
Manako: Hmhm, well, that would probably be overkill now, wouldn’t it?
She looked back up with a smile in hopes of humoring him, but before their conversation could escalate any further, they were approached from the side by her brother, whose demeanor was significantly less pleasant.
Manako: Pleasure again, Ryūza.
Ryūza: (He managed only a small smirk before shaking his hand.) The same to you, Manako.
Manako: (He looked at them for a moment and, noticing the discontent in Ryūza’s eyes, began walking away.) I should probably group with the rest of my division now. …I’ll see you again soon.
Sabure saw him off with the biggest smile she could muster, kicking her brother in the heel and spinning around the moment he was no longer in sight.
Sabure: What the hell are you doing? Trying to c-
Ryūza: (He held his hand up to stop her as he rubbed his sore heel with his opposite foot.) Sabure, for the fact that you’re my sister alone, don’t even attempt to finish that phrase. For the fact that he’s from the Leaf Village, don’t even think it, either.
Sabure: (She looked up at him in aggravation and disbelief.) And what’s wrong with the Leaf Village?
Ryūza: It isn’t the Sand Village, that’s what. Friendships are fine and even necessary, but for God’s sake, don’t mingle with them.
Sabure: Mingle-who the hell said anything about mingling!?
Ryūza: You were just about to tell me to stop-
Yatsuri: (He caught wind of their argument and quickly ran between them.) Hey hey, cousins, come on! There’s no need for that!
Before they could both tell him to stay out of it, a siren began echoing through the enormous room, a quick glance towards the front signaling to everyone that the time for socializing was over. As those below began falling in, on the balcony overlooking them, Gaara, Konohamaru, Sarada, and Rounin stood before their respective divisions, Sasuke and Naruto standing between them as the regimental commanders of the entire Union army, with Shikamaru standing between them as the Supreme Leader. For those who remembered the previous war, the sight before them was one filled with melancholy nostalgia, while for the others, it was a buzz unlike any they’d ever felt.
Sarada: It’s incredible, isn’t it, Sensei?
Konohamaru: (He gazed out anxiously at the massive regiment, managing a nod as his nerves slowly getting the better of him once again.) Yes…it certainly is.
Gaara: (His eyes widened as he finally saw the scope of the army they were commanding.) I don’t remember having a yield this big during the Fourth War. And there were six different armies in the alliance then, not just three.
Rounin: (He smiled and looked across the balcony at him, having been waiting for such a remark since their arrival.) Who said there were only three armies here?
As everyone looked over at him in confusion, he motioned towards the corridor behind them, where they turned in shock to find two new figures walking forward to join them. The older and taller of the two was made recognizable by his large straw hat and slender form, while the other stood out with his long blonde hair and the breathing apparatus covering half of his face. Their usual detachment from shinobi politics made them unknown to most of the people on the balcony, but for Konohamaru and Gaara, they were clearly the leaders of the Grass and Rain Villages, Susuki and Hisame.
Susuki: Lord Hokage. Lord Kazekage.
Hisame: (He scanned each of their faces, his amusement mostly hidden by his rebreather.) You both look pretty shocked to see us here.
Konohamaru: (His shock was slowly replaced by displeasure in response to this comment.) …Disappointed, actually. Since we’re all being honest…
Gaara: I thought we requested to keep the number of shinobi in this conflict as low as possible.
Susuki: (He nodded in understanding, though his expression remained unchanged.) And with all due respect, sirs, we refused to agree to that.
Hisame: Our new allies threatened to rip apart the Shinobi Union, and as I recall, the five great villages were not the only members of the Union anymore.
Susuki: So if it’s all the same to you, sirs…yes, there are more than three armies here.
It was one of many outcomes they were hoping to avoid in this war, but with them already here, the Kage could only smile and express gratitude for their contribution to their cause before they returned to the floor below with the remainder of their forces. They both took their places amongst the Gaara’s first division – the one given the primary task of fending off their enemy’s largest army, the Rock Village. Among the division’s ranks also was Shinki, as its secondary commander, his former teammates Yodo and Araya, Sabure, Ryūza, Yatsuri, and a majority of the forces’ Sand and Rock shinobi. One of the few exceptions to this case was Akatsuchi, who served as Konohamaru’s secondary commander, joined also by Amiko and Takeshi. Several more familiar faces among them included Kei and Inase, Chōji and Chōchō, and the members of Team Mirai, Team Suzaku, and Team Katame, all prepared either to take on the forces of the Cloud Village or provide support to the first division. Leading the third division as the proxy commander was Boruto, alongside Hitomi, Akame and Katsuto, Ide and Kenji, Z and his teammates, and Yurui and his own, all prepped to lead the main assault on the Land of Lightning. Lastly, at the head of the fourth division stood Mei as Rounin’s second-in-command, alongside Misuno and the entirety of the Union’s samurai forces and Mist refugees, as well as Lee and Tenten, their son and Chan, Miyuki, Itachi, Manako and Airon, all tasked with quickly eliminating their estimated weakest enemy, Unagi and the Mist. Standing alongside the main divisions was the Surprise Attack Squad, led once again by Sai with Irezumi, Omoi and Karui in tow among others, as well as the Medical Division led by Sakura and Shizune, the Intelligence Team led by Ino and Inojin, and the Sensor Division led by Hanabi and including Hinata, Karin, and C. In total, a rough estimate calculated their forces at just over one hundred thousand, the largest army ever accumulated by the shinobi world and a massive advantage over their enemy’s estimated seventy thousand.
Konohamaru: The floor’s all yours, Naruto…and we’re actually here now, so don’t try to throw it back on me.
No intention of doing so whatsoever, Naruto took a moment to pause and reflect on what he wanted to say. He couldn’t help but smile playing the words over in his head, priding himself on the great speaker he had become during his twenty-five years as Hokage. As his words echoed through his mind, though, another voice slowly emerged from his subconscious that was not his own. It was deep and menacing, but instantly recognizable.
Kurama: (Naruto…Naruto!)
Allowing himself to briefly be submerged in the corridors of his mind to appease Kurama’s insistence, the others on the balcony stared him for the longest time until he suddenly reemerged from his stance and shot a nervous glance towards Sasuke.
Sasuke: You’re the supreme leader. Take over.
Shikamaru: What?
The two quickly took a step back and out of view for those watching from below, beckoning for the others to do the same as Shikamaru struggled to think of his own speech on the spot.
Shikamaru: Those who remember the years before the Shinobi Union are few in number here, and those who remember the years before the hidden villages are long gone…
Konohamaru: (He listened to Naruto in shock as he explained what Kurama had told him.) …Is it here in this room?
Naruto: (He shook his head.) Not unless it’s “him”. The emotions he’s picking up are too far away.
Shikamaru: The days not plagued by war were haunted by fear of a constantly lingering threat. If not from other villages, it was from potential conspirators within…
Sarada: (Her Sharingan active, she started looking around nervously.) Is it an ambush? Are they surrounding the fort?
Naruto: No, it’s not that strong. It’s almost too faint to even pick up.
Sasuke: Which means these intruders are either very small in numbers, or they’re still far off from this location.
Shikamaru: (Faintly hearing every word they said, he gulped the air in his mouth and began looking around, making a few summations of his own as he continued his speech.) It was only after seventy years, when the five great villages were brought together for the first time to fight for a single cause, that everything changed. Distrust was replaced by cooperation. Hatred was replaced by love. …War, by peace. For the very first time since the creation of ninjutsu itself.
Manako: (He glared up at him with his Mangekyō Sharingan, noting every slight nuance he made as he spoke.) (Something’s up.)
Airon: (He stood still as a means to gather natural energy for his Sage Mode, hindering him from nodding.) (Tell me about it. Start looking around. I’ll inform the others.)
Shikamaru: That was over forty years ago, and since then, our villages have known nothing but peace. Those who remembered times when that wasn’t the case soon became a dying breed. …And now, some of our allies in this Shinobi Union, which was created under the belief that the alliances formed during that war could indeed stand the test of time, want to return us to those dark days where fear and hate were all we knew.
Naruto: (He looked around the room hoping to pick up any traces of an intruder on the outside, occasionally glancing back at Gaara.) Anything?
Gaara: (He shook his head as he held two fingers over his left eye, hinting that he was currently using his Third Eye technique to scan the outside of the fortress.) Not yet. The snow is falling hard. It’s too difficult to see far off into the distance.
Sasuke: Well, keep trying. If they’re truly planning a first strike, we have to act on it.
Sabure: (She looked down at her phone upon feeling it vibrate, her eyes widening as she read Manako’s text.) Brother, something’s wrong.
Ryūza: (He nodded as he gathered sand in his palm to instigate his own Third Eye technique.) Yeah, I read it.
Unbeknownst to most of their forces, at least a dozen shinobi throughout were now actively scanning for intruders with their respective techniques or dōjutsu, each doing their best to keep their actions unnoticeable. Shikamaru realized this from instinct alone, but without any hint of a possible identity or location for the culprit, nor what moment they might be waiting for to strike, he continued his speech, trusting his allies to determine them before he finished.
Shikamaru: This is not a war between good and evil…this is a battle between brothers. An attempt by us to restore the broken bonds between the members of the Union and return us to the peace we have grown so accustomed to!
Inase: (Finding nothing within her Byakugan’s impressive range, she began looking at the shinobi around her in frustration.) (Airon, we have to tell them!)
Airon: (He gazed around the room frantically, his eyes now likening to those of a toad.) (Inase, no! We don’t know what they might be waiting for. They could be waiting for that very moment-damn it, Manako, do you see anything!?)
Manako: (I’m working with a Sharingan here, you ass! Ask Inase! The Byakugan can actually detect chakra!)
Airon: (Well, she’s not getting anything, either, so both of you keep looking!)
Shikamaru: (He held his arm out to beckon to those standing below, using the opportunity to scan the room himself for any abnormalities.) March towards your chosen fields of battle!! Show these fools we fight against that our bonds with the shinobi they’ve brainwashed into following them will not be so easily broken!! That our blood is still one and the same, even if our mothers’ aren’t!! …That we are ninja!! And that means we will endure any hardship, no matter what sacrifice is made to overcome it!!
Ten minutes of searching had passed, and in the end, out of all the Byakugan, Sharingan, and senjutsu being used to find their intruder, it was the two small eyes floating above the roof of the fortress that finally made some sort of leeway.
Gaara: Wait…
Ryūza: …I’m getting something.
Everyone on the balcony, save for Shikamaru, immediately turned to the former as Sabure turned to the latter, hoping desperately to hear more.
Sabure and Naruto: What is it?
Ryūza: (He squinted his remaining eye, unable to make the determination through the harsh blizzard outside.) …I’m not sure. It’s off in the distance.
Gaara: …It almost looks like…
Several seconds passed as the movement in the distance became more and more distinct, taking shape after some time. It was almost circular and was moving at a fast pace, but by the time they got a rough estimation of its size, their eyes had already dilated to their absolute limit.
Shikamaru: The Fifth Shinobi World War…starts NOW!!!
Gaara and Ryūza: EVERYONE TAKE COVER!!!
By the time the word “cover” left their mouths, no one had enough time to respond as the roof on the far side of the room caved in, sending large pieces of rubble crashing down on unlucky members of the first division.
Manako: SHIT!!!
As everyone still standing retreated to the other side of the room, Manako continued standing there, gazing up in awe at the massive chunk of earth now lodged in the side of the fortress, slowly pushing its way through. He turned to retreat upon noticing this, but out of the corner of his eye saw a young kunoichi lying dead or unconscious beneath a piece of rubble, looking around to find even more shinobi in varying levels of pain and mobility, none well off enough in the latter to escape when the roof finally caved in. With only one option in his mind, he used his Body Flicker technique, quickly moving as many people out of its range as he could before the boulder finally fell through, leaving those watching from afar to look on in shock.
Airon, Sabure, Itachi, Sakura, and Sasuke: MANAKO!!!
The samurai fortress is under fire – and only seconds after the war officially began!!!
The End
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