Deidara's POV (Within Tunnels of Sound HQ - Land of Rice)

  "This whole base is so bland and tasteless!" Deidara complained to his partner. In truth, he knew not to expect an answer right away. As long as he and Sasori had partnered, the man knew Deidara better than most. Enough to understand that Deidara was only speaking due to boredom. But Deidara knew him well enough that he would eventually impatiently snap at him! "Underground bases, the definition of stifling and creatively bankrupt! Why oh why are they so popular?!"

  Silence again. But it only made his point all the better. The dim torches that lit the stone tile hall cast more shadows than they did light up the room; there were no decorations or even indicators of where they were going. This was the latest of the bases they had destroyed, though based on the powerful chakra hidden within, it would be the one they needed. This was the Sound Base containing Orochimaru. Their target… a target that lived in artistic squalor!

  "I mean, I get the outside being minimalist, but why nothing inside either! Does this environment not stifle one's soul?!"

  "Can you please be silent for once in your life?" Sasori's gravelly voice countered. The man was wearing his Hiruko shell, a favorite of his. "This base is supposed to be hidden; there is no need for such frivolous decorations. Besides, this base could remain hidden for years; there's beauty in that."

  "I've told you once; I've told you a thousand times! HN!" Deidara replied. Pausing to hold up a hand as they passed an open doorway that spat out a spider of clay, there were cries of fear within the room as the spider crawled in as they walked by, and a massive explosion sounded within the room, which spewed smoke as the continued on unbothered. "Time has nothing to do with art! That explosion was just now over in an instant! But at that moment, it achieved beauty that far surpasses this hideout. Besides, I'm just saying this is so overdone."

  "It's a logical question, Deidara. Your problem is that you let your love for art blind you. Only a logical person can truly make art." Sasori countered. However, the two paused in their walk as the sounds of a ludicrous number of footsteps suddenly filled the hall. "I had thought that the first wave of lackeys would be the worst of them…"

  "It makes me glad our boss doesn't insist on employing the weak!" Deidara roared in response. "Let them bring as many as they have. I always love an audience or a victim for my art!"

  Sasori nodded his head once. "Deal with them then." He snapped, stepping to the side. "You've been preparing for them anyways…"

  "Not even bothering to hide their bloodlust!" Deidara taunted as suddenly the long hall before them was filled with the hooded heads of Sound Jounin. "The mark of a rookie!"

  "Lord Orochimaru has ordered their deaths!" One of the men roared.

  "Use the hall to our advantage! Roast them alive!" Another agreed as the group paused in their charge, and five weaved hand signs before calling out in sync.

  "Collaboration Technique: Fire Style: Flamethrower Destruction!" The men called as a sea of flames filled the hall and flew towards the two men.

  "Not a bad plan!" Deidara complimented, unphased by the approaching death. "My man, if you would be so kind!"

  "Just like you to goad an attack then count on me to ward it off…" Sasori complained before black sand suddenly exploded from the seams of the wall, creating a solid barrier between them and the flames. Deidara smirked as he could feel the heat, but the attack failed to bypass Sasori's black sand. "Surely you can handle the rest?"

  The sand crept back within the walls, showing the army of men flinching, realizing their efforts were for naught. Deidara only smiled wider as another suddenly burst from the walls: a series of large white centipedes coiled around the men or scurried on top of them. As they struggled, Deidara raised his hand, cackling all the while. "Allow me to show you something beautiful!"

  The centipedes suddenly began to bloat and bulge, even glowing, as the men were helpless to escape their grasp. "Because art is truly an explosion!" The men couldn't even cry for mercy before each centipede exploded. The small explosion tore the men apart but left the hall mostly intact. As the men's blood and bits fell from the roof, a bored Deidara and Sasori walked through it all casually.

  "See, that was true beauty!" Deidara said, "A single explosion is different, and the moment is fleeting. True art is hard to capture!"

  "We're not here to debate about art, Deidara; we're here to pay back our old teammate…" Sasori countered.

  Deidara scoffed. Word from the rest of the members was that Orochimaru and Sasori had been closer than most. Apparently, the two and Ikam had, at one time, collaborated on various experiments. It was clear the puppeteer had taken the betrayal personally, so much so that he insisted the pair were the ones chosen by the snake's executioners. "I understand why we're here, but isn't this all a lot for some damn ring?"

  "It's more than that; Orochimaru has information regarding us that could be fatal in the wrong hands. With his possession of the ring and knowledge regarding us, he's an unacceptable breach, one I look forward to filling…" Sasori remarked. "At the very least, his death will serve my art…"

  "You intend to use him?" Deidara asked curiously. While he could not understand Sasori's love for puppets, he did see them as an art form of their own. So whenever Sasori decided to discuss them, he was always game. "Is he that powerful?"

  "He should not be underestimated; however, it's not his power that intrigues me," Sasori replied. As you should know, Orochimaru is a pseudo-immortal. He can possess the bodies of others and turn them into his own, gaining the abilities of said body."

  "So more than likely, his body will hold all kinds of secrets…" Deidara replied with a firm nod of his head. "Won't it be hard to do after I blow him sky-high?"

  Sasori didn't bother answering, and the two continued clearing the base in silence. They must've trekked nearly a mile through the base, each room they passed Deidara bombed, each life taken by Sasori. The two were barely inconvenienced as they marched through the base. However, they did pause as they appeared between a massive set of iron doors.

  "Finally, something different!" Deidara yelled happily. "Perhaps there'll even be taste inside!" The man then flicked his sleeves, sending two handfuls of tiny clay ants to climb inside the doors before erupting in miniature explosions.

  "That I doubt." Sasorio blandly replied as the massive iron doors fell flat in front of the two, and they marched within the room. This room was clearly different from the one before, a large natural opening within the stone tunnel system. The floor was covered in blood, trash, and general filth. A litany of cells was now wide open, perhaps explaining the weak people they had encountered just now. However, standing at the opposite side of the room guarding the exit was a group of six guarding it.

  A man with lavender hair and considerable presence stood at the forefront of their group. The man calmly stared the two down. A hunchbacked buck-toothed man stood beside him, glaring hatefully at the pair. Behind both stood another trio; One, a scowling man with long dark hair and thick matching eyebrows with a blade on his hip, a long dark-haired woman with pupilless black eyes, and finally, a bald scowling man with long limbs. Finally, beasts were standing menacingly behind the group. Their eyes glared hatefully at them, and their skin was dark and scaly-looking. They towered over most humans, easily ten feet tall, their nakedness obscuring any truly human likeness. One had large-looking blades for hands, the other a smaller-looking one with glowing shifting eyes, with glowing moving lines with pupils.

  "A sketching-looking group wrangling monsters." Deidara committed with a sigh. "This snake sure has a way with the company he keeps…"

  "Hmm," Sasori hummed. "They are certainly grotesque, yet I see inspiration within their forms…"

  "Sasori of the Red Sand, Deidara formerly of the Explosion Corps." The leader of the strange group spoke to them. "Lord Orochimaru made us aware of your arrival. We are the Fuma Clan, one of the newest additions to the Land of Sound. My name is Arashi, and at my side stand Kotohime, Kagero, Kamikiri, Sasame, and Hanzaki. We will serve as your executioners today…"

  "Hn!" Deidara hummed amused. "I've never even heard of the Fuma Clan! The nerves of these no-talent hacks try to scare us off!"

  "The Fuma Clan…" Sasori spoke quietly. "They were once a remarkable group but have fallen in prestige and power after the last war… though I don't remember even in their peak the members being worth much…"

  Arashi frowned intensely. Before another word could be spoken, two of the Fuma Clan charged forward. One drew a blade, and his body flickered behind the pair, thrusting his blade for Sasori. The other hulking man charged toward Deidara, trying a wild dive. As he did, the bald man approached from behind, slowly weaving hand signs.

  Deidara spun around the wild man's charge, easily avoiding it and flicking a clay spider into the surprised face of the bald man. Who cried out in shock before his head exploded in a rain of gore. Deidara cackled as the larger man howled in rage. He fell into the ground as if it were water; within an instant, the ground beneath Deidara fell into a pit. The man barely managed to leap into the air before falling into it. The pit continued to grow slowly, consuming the room's floor. Deidara, in the air, watched as Sasori easily deflected the blow from the slower swordsman with his massive tail before it speared the man through and threw him into the pit as Sasori leaped onto the wall. Deidara landed beside the man as the pit cut the room in two. Slowly threatening to collapse the room as a whole.

  "Jigumo! Kamikiri!" The hunchbacks howled angrily from the churning earth. "I'll collapse this entire room! For their deaths, you'll drown in the earth's crushing embrace! Earth Style: Antlion Jutsu!"

  Deidara merely smiled, however, as the mouth on his left hand spat out a steady stream of clay. It formed into a large snake before it dropped into the ground below. It was sucked into the churning earth below without incident. But Deidara smiled as he was certain his opponent was done for. "So you're attacking from the ground, aye? Just makes me able to ensure my art has some true flair! That one had some extra punch!"

  The entire tunnel system shook as the ground bubbled and rippled before it settled with a cry of pain and flames bursting from the collapsing hole. The ground settled as Deidara and Sasori landed safely on it, slowly walking toward the rest of the Fuma Clan.

  "I've already grown tired of this all…" Sasori commented darkly. "If you value your life, leave…"

  The clan leader snarled his teeth; however, the woman beside him ran in terror right past the two Akatsuki members, calling for Arashi to follow.

  Deidara smiled; Sasori was an intimidating guy when he wanted to be. And seeing the Clan Leader opposing them with only the beast at his side was hilarious! "Seems the Fuma Clan is outgunned here!"

  Arashi only grinned, however. "Hanzaki, Sasame…" The man said with a cruel smile. "Time to show them the gifts our lord has given!"

  Neither creature bothered to respond as they charged forward. The first suddenly summoned a glowing triangle; the two barely escaped it before it could surround them and instantly compressed. The two eyed the smaller creature, seeing its gaze right where the construct had spawned. However, Sasori was suddenly smacked to the ground by another creature. It roared furiously as Sasori landed unharmed, and the two began a spirited round of swordplay, the tail proving a match for the slower sword arms of the creature and snaking minor cuts to it as they battled. Deidara cursed as he continued to flee, and triangles spawned around him, attempting to trap him.

  'Of course, Sasori gets the brute, and I get the weird one!' Deidara complained to himself as he allowed both hands to chew on clay while fleeing from the triangles. 'So this one can spawn those with its eyes. But it doesn't move much, and should be easy enough to deal with…'

  As Deidara slid under another sudden shape, he allowed two man-sized centipedes to crawl into the ground while sprinting. Deidara slowly closed the distance between the two. The creature homed in on him, flinching as he drew close; however, Deidara suddenly leaped into the air just before reaching it. Left with no chance to dodge, Deidara smiled as a triangle started to compress; before it could, however, the ground bulged as the centipedes emerged and surrounded the strange creature before exploding, ripping it apart just before the triangle could crush Deidara; he laughed as it faded around him.

  Deidara turned his head to watch as Sasori deflected a double-handed swing from his opponent, leaving it helpless. Sasori's mouth was unhinged, and he shot an absurd amount of senbon into its front half, peppering the creature before it fell.

  "Even they were no match?!" Arashi cried out in shock. "But how?! We were trusted to stop you! He told us we could do it, even gifted those two with strength beyond themselves!"

  "Yeah, your master isn't even all that strong." Deidara mocked as the two now marched toward the final defender. "It's why he sent you a lot to slow us down; you never stood a chance, Hn!" However, the two suddenly flinched as the ground to his left shifted. Deidara cried out in surprise as Sasori's tail suddenly wrapped him and tossed him aside. The man watched as suddenly the hunchback appeared from the ground; however, its form shifted, revealing a green-haired petite woman covered in burns and hatefully glaring daggers at them both.

  "For the fallen Fuma! Antlion Ninja Art: Ephemeral!" she called out bitterly. Wings of chakra burst from her back before aiming at the Sasori. Suddenly, the wings disappeared, and a beam of chakra cut Sasori in two. The woman cried out in anguish as the beam vanished, light fading from her eyes as she fell dead.

  Deidara stood up, sighing heavily at the sight. To think these no-names had given them this much trouble… this wouldn't end well.

  "Yes! Yes! YES!" Arashi cried out manically as he realized his foes had been cut in half. "The Fuma Clan is not so insignificant now, is it?! That was a worthy sacrifice, Kagero! Now that you removed one of our foes, I can handle the last!" The man didn't hesitate as he ripped several syringes from a pouch on his hip, injecting each. Deidara raised a brow as the man's killing intent and chakra potency nearly doubled. "My Lord gave me this drug! Using it, you will die just as Sasori has!"

  However, the man stopped laughing as a small bundle fell from the roof. A short-skinned, red-haired man had arrived and ignored both Deidara and the raging man as he kneeled over the remains of Sasori… strangely shards of wood and wire. "Hiruko, you were one of my favorites…you served me well… though I suppose it's only right if I see my old friend with my own eyes…"

  Arashi stopped, shocked, before he suddenly charged. His speed had doubled, and Deidara could feel the raw chakra flooding from the man as he appeared within an inch of the strange redhead attempting to floor him with a massive haymaker. However, it was stopped by a cloud of strange black sand. "You managed to destroy my puppet, not a small task when facing Sasori of the Red Sand… how will you fare against my most powerful, however…"

  Deidara smiled as Sasori was suddenly joined by and protectively flanked by his favorite human puppet, the former Third Kazekage… Sasori held up a single finger to control the black sand before him. With a snap, the Third Kazekage moved, and the black sand suddenly wrapped around Arashi's wrist, binding his hands together and doing the same for his ankles and feet. The man stumbled back, struggling against his binds. "Prepare to see why they named me of the Red Sands…"

  "With the power Orochimaru gave me, I cannot be bested!" Arashi snapped back.

  Sasori had no interest in answering as his newest puppet moved its hand. A massive cube formed behind the duo before surging forward, smashing into Arashi and trapping him against the large doors that blocked their path.

  "Attempting to crush me! MY BODY IS TOO STRONG!" Arashi roared slowly, pushing the cube back with pure strength. The Third Kazekage's arms are struggling against its power.

  "It's merely the setup to something beautiful…" Sasori countered as the Kazekage lifted its other hand. Creating a significant spike of black sand hovering over his head. "The black sand I use is a bloodline formerly used by the Third Kazekage. Using a magnetic bloodline, he can control iron sand. That iron sand cube you are fighting against currently is the same iron sand that is positively charged. If it was introduced to another mass of negatively charged iron sand at great speed. You get the Iron Sand World Method!" The spike slammed forward, spearing the cube through and slamming the man and the masses through the iron doors with a massive crash. Fortunately, the power of the attack carried them forward, for a moment later, the hall before them was blocked out with a shrill whine, as countless thin spikes of iron sand filled the doorway, and from the shaking of the room, the entire hall before it.

  "An attack so random and dense it mimics the controlled chaos of an explosion," Deidara remarked as the pair trekked toward the iron sand-filled hall. "That technique of yours truly is inspiring him!"

  "I suppose it is…" Sasori replied with a roll of his eyes. With a snap of his fingers, the Third Kazekage and the Iron Sand poofed away with a pop of smoke. The two marched through the doorway into the hall before them.

  The hall before them was marred at every inch. The stone was scratched with deep, ugly lines; every inch seemed splattered with blood. At the end of the hall was a pulp of blood, muscle, fat, and bone that must've been Arashi, torn asunder by Sasori finally letting loose.

  "There's another group waiting ahead…" Sasori commented. "The rats were waiting for us to finish…"

  "I don't get his game here. Does he truly think these grunts stand any chance against us?" Deidara asked, exasperated. "The idea of blowing up Orochimaru sky-high is appealing. Why can't I just blow this whole thing up again?"

  "We need to ensure his death and recover the ring. Even if you destroy this whole base, the snake may somehow survive. Not to mention the ring would be destroyed…" Sasori replied. "To answer your other foolish question, he either hopes to tire us out or, more than likely, stall."

  "Stall for what?"

  "That we shall see…" Sasori replied.

  Guren's POV (Nearby Sound HQ - Land of Rice)

  They sat around a small patch of false grass in a field. This was a hatch to a small secret tunnel that was the entrance and exit to the Sound HQ. It was hard to discover from outside and within; only Guren's former information allowed them to find it.

  Guren felt a certainty fill her body. Since Orochimaru had led her on that attack on the Hokage and fled, she had been waiting. The decision to betray her master had been relatively easy. The exact manner of exacting revenge is less so. Forming a team had been easy enough; Danzo had unknowingly provided him Sora and, by proxy, Chiriku, monks strong enough to be used as the occasional guard to the Fire Lord. Dosu and Tayuya had both, like her, once been loyal but had turned Dosu due to his perceived set up on being set to attack Naruto Uzumaki and Tayuya for reasons unknown to her still. Together, the five of them were a capable team. And yet…

  They had found another group of hunters, a duo that were leagues ahead of them. Guren recognized both, as Orochimaru and Ikam had informed all their top men of them. Itachi and Obito Uchiha, two men officially dead and unofficially the preferred fangs of Hiruzen. Both were insanely powerful, the two easily clearing out entire bases and leagues of men. But as they were allied with the Leaf Guren, they were seen as nothing more than potential foes.

  The group had decided the two would serve them well. They followed them, waiting for them to find the HQ. They could've told them of this, but Guren was confident the duo would take them out afterward. So instead, they followed, confident they would soon find it. And they had. Even as they now waited, the two were launching an assault on the Sound's HQ.

  "He sent those two damn demons after him…" Tayuya commented on the secret exit the group guarded. Guren was confident that Orochimaru would confront the two attackers himself, and the Sharingan would be too tempting not to attempt to capture them. But if the Snake was unable to deal with the two, he would flee, trying to use this secret exit. Where'd they be waiting… "We should definitely expect that Snake to come our way; I'd be hightailing it the fuck out of here if they were coming for me. Though if anyone could…"

  "A battle between high-ranking shinobi is never a simple matter to predict." Chiriku countered. "If the man has chosen to stand his ground, he believes he can hold it."

  "Orochimaru is a genius and powerful shinobi." Sora agreed. "Powerful enough to where we'll have to be careful… even with us two here, we're severely outgunned."

  "Orochimaru will only use this path if absolutely desperate. Desperate enough to where even we would be enough to fell him, even if not, we don't need to kill him ourselves." Guren reasoned. "Just stall him long enough for the other parties to catch on; once they do, we'll flee and leave him for death…"

  "Leaving someone for death, aye?" A dry, gravelly voice sounded from below. The group flinched as they turned and saw the earth slowly churn as a dirt-covered face and wild black eyes met. "That sounds familiar ~!"

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Guren's eyes widened in shock as she discovered that the man's mud-covered hair was silver. "Kabuto?!"

  "That's me…" The man said as he slowly rose out of the ground, raising his palms on his face. "Whatever that means… what's the date-"

  The group did not allow the man to finish. Within an instant, Guren hurled two crystal spears, which impaled the man's two legs to the ground, stopping him from collapsing. Tayuya and Dosu moved as well, peppering the man with kunai and shuriken from head to toe, blood spilling as the Kabuto was pinned to the ground by blades.

  "Surprised he was taken off guard so easily," Sora remarked as he stepped forward.

  "Watch out!" Guren warned. The call gave Sora a moment to react, turning and drawing his bladed claw as Kabuto ripped himself free from the ground. The man's body weaved back together as Kabuto raced toward Sora. Sora fearlessly thrusted his hand forward, stunned as Kabuto allowed the claw to run him through, grabbing Sora's neck with one hand. Sora flinched, ripping his hand free but helpless as Kabuto used his free one to punch the monk in the face. Sora was grounded by the blow, embedded in the ground, semi-conscious as he spat blood.

  Chiriku reacted before the rest of them, and a giant statue appeared behind him, which grew many arms. The arms formed giant fists, aiming them at Kabuto. The man ignored it as he raised a foot to stomp on the head of the downed Sora. However, Chiriku spoke and activated his attack before he could. "Welcoming Approach: Thousand Armed Murder!" The arm surged forward, smashing Kabuto off of Sora; they smashed him into the ground, making the field shake. However, they didn't stop there as they continued to pummel the man into the dirt, burying him with the relentless barrage. "This is the prized technique of the Fire Temple; due to our loyal service, we can summon the deity Kannon to serve as our protector. With my meager power, I can only wield a fraction of her true might. However, that will be enough to crush your body!"

  Guren led Dosu and Tayuya over to the slowly standing Sora. The young man's nose was broken yet seemed to be correcting itself. His eyes were tinged with red. "That is Kabuto Yakushi? Danzo-sama had always described him as a dangerous and powerful agent of Orochimaru but had seemed confident we could deal with him easily enough…"

  "We recently fought him before your arrival. It's strange he was always strong back in the sound. But somehow, he's risen to a whole new level as of late. It took our group everything we had to beat him when he was weakened…" Dosu commented worriedly. Even as he did, though, he rose his new gauntlet menacingly. Even with our updated measures, I doubt our ability to kill him without losses."

  "Fuck killing him now. He should already be dead!" Tayuya complained. "We tore the bastard apart, encased him in a solid crystal, then buried miles underground! There's no fucking way he should be here! The lack of oxygen and pressure should've left him a pulped-up mess! Even if he survived, how did he find us?!"

  "Whatever that new healing technique Kabuto is using must be at a level rivaling Orochimaru's own," Guren replied grimly. "This is a change of plans, but our path forward is clear. We can't allow Kabuto to roam free, Orochimaru is in trouble, but he may find a way out if he has access to his favorite toy. We'll kill him, then proceed!"

  "Easier said than done. However, Chiriku is my sensei for a reason; if there is a limit to his healing,he'll find it." Sora commented. As he flexed his chakra, he removed bandages from one of his hands, revealing a red demonic-looking arm ending in a clawed hand. "Though he didn't even try to avoid it…"

  The group stopped speaking, however, as Kabuto slowly rose, even as the fist rained down upon him. His head was bowed and covered in blood as he slowly stood, body bent under the mighty blows he forced himself to rise through. The mighty wrath of Kannon was clear as one of Kabuto's arms was snapped in the wrong direction. Yet through it all, Kabuto continued to force himself to stand. Not stopping till he met eyes with his foes, a crazed smile as he looked on.

  "Truly, I owe you all my thanks. Before our little playdate, I spent my entire life seeking meaning, validation, and an identity to call my own! But now I'm finally free of that burden! That day, you all ambushed me, leaving me for a painful death; you unknowingly set me free. I'm not sure how long I was down there, how I got free, or even how I still breathe, but now I know something that makes it all worthwhile! None of it matters now!"

  Chiriku panted with exertion, and the man seemed shocked. Kabuto withstood and even ignored the volley of attacks. "Don't relent for even a moment!" Guren demanded from the monk. "Keep him still, and I can seal him away again!" She weaved hand signs determined to take care of this threat here and now. However, she cursed as Kabuto somehow snaked through the attacks of Chiriku and instantly closed the distance, a glowing hand aimed for his throat. Guren abandoned the long-channeling jutsu and instead charged forward to save her ally. She kicked away Kabuto's hand to save the man and using her hand, she activated a jutsu; with a flex of chakra, two globs of crystal shot from her mouth,h bounding Kabuto's hands and feet together. The man chuckled as he stumbled back.

  "Thank you, Guren! Sora with me now!" Chiriku demanded as Sora stepped forward, and the two posed in a mirroring pose together. The statue of Kanon grew in size and presence and became red and violent in aura as the two channeled their chakra together. "Dismissive Goodbye: Forceful Wave Farewell!" The fists of Kannon fused together to form a single large hand. It formed into a massive palm facing Kabuto, Guren crying out in alarm as the three of them were in its path. It surged forward with incredible speed, but the three were unharmed as it phased through them and hit Kabuto flat-footed. Guren blinked, impressed, as the massive blow sent Kabuto across the clearing instantly; their foe smashed through several trees, disappearing in a cascade of debris and allowing them a moment. "Surely he can't survive that."

  "I wouldn't be certain, sensei. It seems our team fought him before. This foe seems to be a durable one…" Sora disagreed with a grim frown. We should continue the barrage."

  "We don't have the raw chakra either." Chiriku sighed heavily. "It's worn me out to use what we already have, and you struggle to summon Kannonalonen. We'll have to rely on our allies to put him away."

  "Summoning Jutsu!" Tayuya called as she summoned her two ogre-like monstrosities. "So we keep him at a distance and barrage him with lethal shots till the bastard stays dead!"

  "It's kill or be killed." Dosu agreed. "Orochimaru and his influence must be stopped if I'm to live a normal life…"

  "We won't let anything stop us today!" Guren agreed as the five prepared for another bout of combat. Their expectations were met as Kabuto crackled as she marched back into the grassy field.

  "You left me to die, to suffer a fate worse than death!" Kabuto ranted. "Now I see the truth! Allow me to show it to you!"

  Sasuke's POV (Jounin HQ - Hidden Leaf Village)

  It had been a difficult week since Yuno's funeral. While the loss of his closest family member had been crushing and humbling, it had provided the pretty odd lead…

  Much of the after-effects of Yuno's death had been unexpected. Sasuke had grown considerably closer with his mother and Shisui. All of them loved Yuno dearly and felt lost without her. But at the very least, her loss had given the three of them a reason to finally get along. They realized how fragile the safety of what they had left was.

  It had increased the whispers of the Uchiha Clan's doomed future. With Sasuke being the only future member and possibly the forerunner of their future, most thought the clan would die out with a whimper. However, Sasuke's reputation after the Chunin Exams had helped, and it was up to him to make the most of it.

  The Leaf, of course, had done its best to be politically correct in her death. Sasuke admitted they had promoted her honorably in death, a lovely and respectful nod to her service. And yet they hadn't offered any support to the Uchiha as a whole, fan service promotion with no follow through. It reminded Sasuke that Hiruzen had been the same Kage the Uchiha had begun their plans to overthrow the village under…

  But the most unexpected result was what Sasuke saw at the funeral. While most visitors had been expected, and some had even stayed late as expected, a group had visited long after it was over. A group of black-masked Anbu, not modeled after animals like most, is featureless. If not for Danzo's exposal and the Root's eradication being public knowledge, he'd expect them to be the Root. But if not them, then who?

  An unknown group of strangers was paying her due, even using a scarcely known Uchiha method. Sasuke was stunned at the moment. Just who the hell were they? And they had left upon noticing him; they had no intention of being seen…

  A secretive group of Anbu is attempting to stay on the down low. Sasuke just knew it had to have something to do with Danzo. Coop pointed clearly towards the man in his investigation into the Uchiha attempt. However, Sasuke had never intended to investigate him, as the man was locked away. But now, with a tangible lead in mind and Danzo having been recently released, his path forward was clear.

  Sasuke was sure of one thing: Yuno had given her life for his goal. And just as always, she proved incredibly useful. Some groups had gone out of their way to pay respects to a Uchiha… it suggested they were tied to them somehow. And if one man was going to know about a shadowy organization, it would be Danzo…

  Though Sasuke, upon visiting his office, had been stonewalled. It seemed the man was out on vacation, apparently heading to the beaches of the Land of Fire to relax. A farce if Sasuke had ever heard one. The Leaf Village was in a state of emergency. Rumor had it that relations with the Cloud and Stone were falling apart, and one of the village elders had decided not only to take time off but also to travel. Unlikely.

  Sasuke had attempted to set up a meeting or get a location to send correspondence to Danzo. Still, the man's secretary had been adamant he would be unable to meet or communicate for a short while. In fact, they had been defensive in general, sending off Sasuke the second it was clear that the Uchiha was determined to speak with Danzo.

  It was a shame Sasuke had been too late to follow the man. Wherever he was truly going would've been interesting to see, maybe even helpful to his investigation. However, just because Danzo was absent didn't mean the man couldn't aid him.

  Danzo was no fool, clearly. Sasuke had been able to tell the male secretary was a shinobi, likely a Chunin. It made sense to protect one's home turf stringently, but Sasuke was no minor shinobi.

  With his mastery of the Ash Step, Sasuke could easily enter the building without detection. First, he had carefully disarmed an alarm on a window and used a wire rig to pick its lock and prop it open from a distance. From there, a single Ash Step got him inside.

  The office past the reception lobby was an unimpressive and straightforward room. There was no true furniture or decoration like one would expect; it was spartan, containing a desk and chair, a lamp for lighting, and a single large bookshelf directly behind the desk.

  Sasuke spent ten minutes silently inspecting each piece of the room. The walls, the roof, the carpeted floor- all could contain some secret, something to hide away valuables. A man as secretive as Danzo likely kept his valuable possessions under lock and key, more than likely one not easily detected.

  It was the bookshelf Sasuke had discovered something interesting. Sasuke found a section of books that was actually a Genjutsu illusion; however, even after dispelling such a thing, the shelf section was empty. Sasuke had nearly moved on until he noticed a seal on the back half of the shelf, a simple black one hidden along the wall. Sasuke had found something but was not a Fuijutsu user, let alone a master like Danzo.

  This was a problem. Seals were famously good for security and defense, and most were impervious to simply being overpowered. Sasuke searched his mind for a solution before reflecting on his fight with Mishiro. The woman had used Fuijutsu at a high level for defense, yet his newest technique had bypassed that…

  There was a dark irony that Yuno's demise led Sasuke to reach a new level. One Sasuke had suspected it may come one day, for he had read about this situation. In Uchiha records, a secretive evolution of Sharingan Sasuke had read about, the Mangekyo Sharingan…

  For those who had achieved the peak of the Sharingan's visual prowess, there was another level they could hope to reach. If they were exposed to great misery, loss, grief, or rage while being pushed to their limits, the very limits themselves would snap. The user's Sharingan grew in strength and gave the user a new, unique ability.

  Sasuke had lost his closest friend, his blood, and the despair had given him the Mangekyo Sharingan… it had given him a new fire-style technique… one that seemed able to burn anything…

  Could he use it here? Would it be worth the risk? Could he even call upon that power intentionally? Sasuke remembered watching Yuno's life fade and how useless he felt at that moment… his eyes grew heavy and tinged with sharp pain; Sasuke could see even better than before. The air currents, the subtle dust in the air, the patches of fading ink in the seal. Sasuke blinked as the new level of vision made his headache. He felt a surge of power within him; somehow, his chakra felt more powerful…

  Sasuke glared at the seal; he trusted his instincts as he focused intently on it. As he did, chakra pooled in his eyes as he named his latest flame then and there. "Amaterasu," Sasuke spoke simply. A patch of festering black flames flared to life right where the seal was. Sasuke could see the fire seem to feed off the chakra of the seal. He saw the seal shatter as the flames began to spread. Sasuke instinctively focused on the fire, which flickered as he struggled to stop them, the effort dropping him to his knees. However, it worked for as the flames faded, several folders of files fell onto the ground before them.

  Sasuke smiled as he began to leaf through the pile of paperwork. Whatever this was promised to be interesting if Danzo had gone through the effort of hiding it. The first folder he picked up was a file regarding the Hyuga; Sasuke stashed that one into his pouch for later, and another labeled for the Nara as well, also stashed. However, the third was more pressing. It was addressed

  "Uchiha Rebellion Report," this may just be what he was looking for…

  It was an official report for the day the Uchiha had been quelled and stopped in their attempted Coop. Almost the entire page was redacted; inked-out lines hid the full details, but several lines remained unobscured. Most of those lines contained minor details or potential fallout, but one made Sasuke's blood run cold. It read:

  "The rebellion was sufficiently quelled due to the considerable efforts of Danzo, [REDACTED, [REDACTED, [REDACTED, Hiruzen, and the Anbu division. Most of the clan's forces and related members were captured without casualties. However, some were unwilling to surrender or be safely detained, so they were suitably disposed of. The debates continue regarding what to do with the surviving members. By law, Hokage-sama has the right to order their deaths. However, the proposal by [REDACTED] and Danzo suggested a different plan; Project Fallen Angels. See Document A112F for Project Fallen Angels details."

  Sasuke violently stashed the document into his pouch as he ripped his way through the folders. He found the one titled appropriately and ripped it open. However, it was even more redacted than the previous one, the accursed thick ink lines obscuring whatever was originally said. He sighed, also stashing it and noticing another folder labelled Root and Anbu Roster list.

  While it wasn't something he necessarily needed, it would clearly give him a list of names he could try asking. Sasuke began to leaf through it; it seemed it was maintained, for it kept a record for the last decade. On a hunch, Sasuke looked for the specific years his clan had fallen over a decade ago. I noticed something else interesting…

  The Anbu and Root alike had lost some members during their aid in quelling the Uchiha Coop, yet according to this file, both had grown impressively in member numbers during and shortly after the struggle…

  Sasuke's eyes widened as he realized what this meant. However, he was forced to shove the file into his pocket as the office door was ripped open.

  Danzo's bald receptionist gasped as he locked eyes with Sasuke. "It's you! I told you he was gone. This is trespassing! I'm placing you under arrest!" the man cried out.

  However, Sasuke locked eyes with him. This new power made him feel unstoppable, and chakra flooded his eyes as Sasuke felt himself instinctively capture the man in Genjutsu. "Sleep, " he ordered.

  Sasuke blinked as the man bonelessly collapsed. He had never been that good with optical Genjutsu before; Yuno had been better in that regard. It seemed the Mangekyo Sharigan had boosted his power and jutsu mastery…

  All the same, Sasuke knew he couldn't stay here longer. Amataratsu had likely alerted the man, and someone would check her soon. Sasuke fled out the same window he entered from, worriedly debating what to do. He could've killed the receptionist, but there was no guarantee the man was an enemy. His mercy meant the secret would go out soon, however…

  "Sasuke Uchiha." A voice called out. Sasuke turned around from the roof of the office to see a black-masked Anbu on the opposite side of the roof. It was the same kind that had been in Yuno's funeral… "It seems your investigation has finally gone too far; breaching the office of an Elder and accessing top-level secret files is quite the offense, taking them for yourself even more so."

  "I'm surprised an Anbu like yourself has the time for this," Sasuke replied calmly. "With us in martial law, I'd figure you'd be doing something more useful."

  "I have been tasked with watching you." The Anbu replied. "Which seems important considering the crimes I've caught you doing. With martial law, I have a right to detain you and, if you struggle, even kill you. Surrender now, and no one has to get hurt…"

  Something about the man's voice annoyed Sasuke. It was as if the man wasn't taking him seriously, and his choice to intentionally impede his path made the man someone Sasuke felt in need of teaching…

  Sasuke Ash stepped behind the man, attempting to place his hand on his shoulder. However, Sasuke blinked as the man smacked it away and instead did the same as Sasuke, placing his hand on his shoulder before the two blurred away.

  Sasuke kicked the man away as they landed in a nearby training ground. The man had reacted to his Ash Step and forcibly flickered with him with ease; he was not someone to take lightly. The Anbu landed calmly a short distance away from Sasuke as the two squared up in the empty field.

  "I'll offer this warning once." Sasuke offered. "I am investigating the Uchiha Clan and whatever your organization you are. If you stand in my way or attack me, I'll have no chance but to take you down…"

  "I have no reason to bow down; no, you are the one in the wrong. You have committed an act that can be perceived as treason; I have the right to kill you where you stand… if you truly wish to find the truth… go through me…" The Anbu declared as the two dashed forward, intent to take the other down.

  A's POV (Kage Manor - Hidden Cloud Village)

  A sat at the head of a long table; on top of the table was a detailed map of the Elemental Nations and various pieces on top of the map to mark landmarks, valuable land, and enemy opposition. His men, who peered over and marked the map, were a who's who of his top staff. Darui was missing due to his injury, but C was present. His brother B was present, his prized student Samui, Mabui, his secretary, was present, his head of Jounin, and even the head of Anbu. All hands were needed for the plans they had…

  There was a content emotion that had settled over A. For years now, it had been missing, a constant irritant, like a smoker craving their next toke. A had spent these years consistently discontented, annoyed, and unable to feel satisfied.

  The reason had always been apparent to the man. They understood his frustration clearly to anyone in the Cloud, even if they doubtless held less than himself. The Cloud had always been a more militaristic village than the rest; each Raikage had happened to favor such a lifestyle, and the reason was simple. Life, safety, and enjoyment were protected by war, the preparations for war, and the vanquishing of one's hated foes. There would always be another war; anyone who ignored such a fact was a true fool. The only way then to live one's life was to acknowledge war by constantly preparing and waging the next one and ensuring you were always the perpetrator and never the victim. You ensured glory for your home…

  And until the last decade or so, A had been no different. The Cloud had the largest military in the Elemental Nations, the most advanced equipment, and the ability to wage war whenever and wherever they needed. A had been proud of his efforts and, after the loss of the third war, had been determined to iron out their weak points in preparation for the next. Until that weasel, Hiruzen had managed to discover a state secret…

  A had been preparing a super weapon while still under development and subtle testing. It was a Chakra Artillery Launcher, as his scientist had dubbed it. The theory was that the device could contain and amplify an incredible amount of chakra, then launch it high into the sky, able to rain destruction, in theory, just about anywhere throughout the Elemental Nations. The utmost secrecy they worked on was a necessity. If the other villages learned of them creating such a weapon, it would make the Cloud THE target. Then Hiruzen had somehow become wiser to his weapon…

  With it being so early in development all those years ago and the knowledge being damning, A had no choice but to allow the man the leverage. Hiruzen had only asked for A's signature upon a truce.

  To this day, the thought made him irrationally angry, to be neutered by a lesser so thoroughly. But A had bided his time; his weapon was nearly ready, and the truce bound him had finally faded. A was no fool, and Hiruzen may have chosen to reveal A's dreaded secret. But that made the path forward all the more clear.

  Nimbus was the head of the Cloud Anbu. A hot-blooded yet shockingly wise man led the Anbu with an iron-hard hold. A had promoted and trained the man himself, and in times like these, even Darui was not as trusted as Nimbus. "Before we decisively settle on a plan, allow me to set the scene throughout the Elemental Nations. Luckily, two of the five great villages are no concern to us. Spies from the Sand speak of a sudden and bloody Civil War being had. Apparently, famed Jounin Pakura of the Sand, and son of the Kazekage and jinchuriki Gaara of the Sand, have formed a rebellion against the current Kazekage. This is recent and reports alleging casualties are high already. We can safely assume the Leaf's only ally is out of play. The Mist situation is more difficult to read but effectively the same. They have a much more massive and complex Civil war waging themselves. That leaves the Leaf, Stone, and ourselves."

  "Thanks to the efforts of Darui and myself, the Stone is not only not a problem but an ally." C chimed in with a smirk. "The Stone has been fooled into thinking the Leaf has spilled the blood of one of their VIPs. So now the old fencesitter is not only on our side but planning an attack of his own."

  "The Leaf is a constant foe of ours as always, but with the Stone's aid and the lack of aid of the Sand, we can confidently say we hold the upper hand in battle." The Jounin commander agreed. "The stage is set up perfectly for our Lord; the only question is how he'll proceed…"

  A's ploy had worked out perfectly. Onoki, the old fool, now assumed the Leaf open enemies. Onoki now had signed an alliance with his Cloud and, from his last correspondence, was raring to go at the Leaf. In fact, the man who spoke of a massive terror attack upon them. One that would be costly in infrastructure and lives for their foes. One that would be the opening strike of this newest war. A destructive loss, one without any head-on combat. A wasn't sure what and how, and Onoki wisely didn't trust him that much. But it made his own opening attack easier.

  While Onoki attacked the Leaf, A would do the same, a destructive terror attack that would allow no reproach. Hopefully, together, the two attacks would cripple their foe before the war even began. From there, the Leaf would either be forced to surrender or wage a domed war effort. A was confident the Leaf rats would fight hard, even last despite the odds, but even they would fall in time. From there, persuading Onoki to seduce or crush the Mist and Sand would be easy. The two villages would be too weak to oppose them or even honestly resist. From there… Well, A never truly liked the Stone either.

  A stood at the head of the table with a confident smile. "That should be clear; it's time to strike fear within the hearts of the Leaf. We need to establish our true power not only for them but also for the entire world. We will strike with our allies in sync, in such a way of causing massive losses without suffering a single loss of our own!"

  "Lord." C chimed in worriedly. "You surely can't mean-"

  "I do!" A roared excitedly. "The true ideology of the Cloud is crushing our foes with overwhelming might! What better way is there?"

  "Lord?" The Jounin commander asked, confused. The man was outside of his closest circle, after all.

  "He's referring to a mission and live testing of a prototype weapon we created nearly twenty years ago…" Nimbus answered. "It was originally going to be used after the third war, but the Leaf discovered its plans, and we canceled the original use date."

  "It would indeed be fitting, Lord; no one doubts your judgment; I believe our scientists were unconfident in its performance." Mabui attempted to reason, but A was having none of it.

  "Nonsense, they attested to its range and power already!"

  "But they were worried over its accuracy." Mabui pointed out. "Shooting pressurized chakra at long range is poorly understood. The potential fallout, besides the intended target, could be massive. So say nothing of the responses of the other villages, great and minor included."

  "None of it matters now! If it works and the Leaf is truly crippled, they'll be heedless to stop us! Not if they don't want to be the next target! How soon could we begin preparations?" A roared towards Nimbus.

  "I can have the scientist begin work. With the Genin as helpers, they can likely have it ready by the end of the week, if we wish to take certain precautions." Nimbus answered with a nod. However, the main problem would be the fueling of the device. We tried up to thirty Jounin, and they were all hospitalized."

  "We have the perfect single battery already!" A countered. "Yugito Nii, one of our jinchuriki, is the weaker one, so if she perishes, be it! But by the end of the week, I'll have Hiruzen regret the day he chooses to blackmail the Cloud!"

  Naruto's POV (Tanzaku Quarters - Land of Fire)

  The group's pace once Tsunade joined their fold was blistering. It seemed Kakashi and Kushina had been prepared, at the very least. Rations were spread to keep them fueled and moving, and they had decided to don their disguises now, which were interesting…

  Tsunade and Kakashi insisted on physical disguises. Using henges during travel was risky; if a shinobi spotted it, it was a red flag that they were up to no good. As such, wigs, makeup, clothing, and even contacts were the methods.

  Tsunade was dressed in an ornate, bright red, and orange kimono. Her hair had been temporarily dyed silver and was done up in twin buns. The outfit made her look like an elite woman looking forward to enjoying a night on the town.

  Kakashi was dressed as her husband. His silver hair was tied into a long ponytail. He still donned a mask, but now a medical one, as if concerned about getting sick. Finally, he wore a matching kimono as well.

  Ino hair was dyed silver and allowed to hang over her shoulders free. Her face was covered in expensive and decorated makeup, a touch of color highlighting her features. She wore a simple red kimono with gold trim, carrying a shining red purse at her side; Naruto's disguise was a simple suit and pair of dark shades; the duo was the daughter and the bodyguard of the daughter.

  Neji was blindfolded; his eyes allowed him to see through such, and it hid his trademark eyes. He wore simple white robes and carried a cane as if a prod. He was guided by Kushina, dressed as a samurai with armor and mask included. The impaired son and his aid and protection.

  Leifazu and Suzumebachi, amusingly to Naruto, had been disguised as servants. Dressed in full-blown suits and ties, they could disguise the lack of closeness between them and the rest as professional distance.

  Together, the group appeared as a large, more affluent family. Traveling through the lands seeking entertainment and heedless of danger it could bring. Their destination for the night was chosen to accentuate their cover story further. They would hideout and rest tonight within the Tanzaku Quarters, the red light capital of the Land of Fire…

  Notable Techniques and Tools

  Forbidden Art: Malleable Chew - Deidara - S Rank - Biological Kinjutsu: A forbidden and obscured technique of Iwa developed long ago. The technique is scarcely understood, but its effects on the user and the abilities they gain through it are simplistic. First this causes odd mouthlike growths to appear on the user's body. These are functional mouths including tongues and saliva, however they differ with their unique function. The mouths are able to infuse any kind of chakra the user has directly into any material they can chew. The mouths are also able to chew materials of shocking durability. In Deidara's case he uses it in sync with his unique explosive chakra to create his clay bomb creations.

  Explosive Style - Deidara - S Rank - Fire and Earth Elemental Bloodline: Deidara was one of the rare Iwa shinobi born with the explosive style of elemental release. This style is similar to fire style, but packs much more of a bunch and are not necessarily flame based. These users are known for their powerful techniques, and unique applications of such.

  Magnet Style - Sasori, Rasa, Gaara - S Rank - Earth and Wind Elemental Bloodline: Users gifted with this bloodline are able to utilize and create electromagnetic fields using chakra. The applications and uses of this vary, though most users use it to control metals and other magnetic material. It should be noted the users can also control polarity, and even can make and negate the magnetic factor of others and items.

  White Clay Sculpture Bombs - Deidara - A Rank - Unique Clay Tool: Deidara using the same Kinjutsu he stole fills clay with explosive chakra, then molds them into a shape. These clay sculptures are able to move and even react, as well as explode with shocking power. The terrorist uses the clay in shocking adaptive ways.

  Absolute Puppet Control - Sasori - S Rank - Unique Chakra Thread Jutsu: Using ultra precise chakra threads and chakra control Sasori is able to control his puppet from shocking distances and even through solid material. This allows Sasori to even hide within a puppet he's using.

  Curse Mandala - Arashi, Sasame (Mosterfied Form) - S Rank - Space Manipulation Jutsu: The user uses the air and their own chakra to create an ultra durable chakra shape at an area of their choosing. This chakra construct will constrict crushing whatever lies inside.

  Antlion Ninja Art: Ephemeral - Kagero - S Rank - Chakra Amplification Form: Kagero's last resort technique, a rare one passed down among the Fuma Clan. The technique is incredibly powerful, so much so the user dies if they choose to activate this technique. The user gains wings and the ability to travel at absurd speeds, and can lose all of this to unleash a powerful beam.

  Kannon (Spirit Form) - Fire Temple Monks - S Rank - Summoning Jutsu: The user summons a spiritual avatar of Kannon. While only a fraction of the god's might, it is still considerably powerful and seemingly indestructible.

  Welcoming Approach: Thousand Armed Murder - Chiriku - A Rank - Kannon Summon Technique: Chiriku through his diligent service and moral living has gained the ultimate technique of Fire Temple. The user can summon the spirit of Kannon, a long worshipped god, to aid them in combat. In this technique Kannon unleashes an absurd barrage of powerful strikes, crushing and battering whatever lies in front of Chiriku.

  Mangekyou Sharingan - Select Uchiha Members - S Rank - Sharingan Evolution: (A tiny bit different from canon!) A Uchiha with a fully matured three tomoe Sharingan, exposed to incredible loss and fury, gains this unique evolution. This increases the user's physical speed and strength, Genjutsu prowess, and gives the user an ability unique to them.

  Chakra Artillery Launcher - Cloud Village - S Rank - Chakra Long Range Weapon: A secretive super weapon under development by the Hidden Cloud Village. This is a massive device able to receive and amplify a massive amount of chakra. It takes this payload and launches it into the sky, from there the destruction falls onto a target potentially anywhere in the Elemental Nations.

  AN

  Chaos! The amount of shit happening! I had to refresh my memory of the number of characters and locations. Do you know how hard it is to remember all this? I'm pulling out the damn villain of the week roster; locations are only used once. Covering so many storylines at once… I fucking love it!

  I kid you not; this chapter was easy to write. The amount of ground we have to cover makes it easy to crank these out. The chaos will only grow from here…

  Also, since we're beginning the big arc for DiA, we'll do a third chapter before switching back to NU:UM for two chapters. I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to share feedback and Peace~!