Chapter 76

In my unconscious state, I dreamed troubled dreams. I was inside a monastery that was currently on fire, with a number of dead monks who had been mutilated. Moving through the Monastery, I came upon a scene in a large courtyard. A number of cloaked, robed, Shinobi stood near a massive pillar of oily black stone. I recognized only some of them, Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame were recognizable, as were Sasori of the Red Sands and Deidara. The others I had no clue about.

One of them, though, had the crimson hair of a full-blooded Uzumaki that was paired with the ringed eyes of the Rinnegan. He was attended to by a man in an odd spiral mask who was handing him a number of wooden idols in the shape of the nine-tailed beasts, at least according to what reference materials I'd read about them. These idols had been carved with seals and hummed with malevolent energy. The Uzumaki was placing the objects around the stone pillar in a pattern that looked similar to a five-pointed star if you connected the points. There were nine wooden idols in total, with a tenth that looked like nothing I'd ever heard of.

Once the idols were placed, starting with the One-Tails and ending with the odd-looking Idol, the Uzumaki turned toward the Masked Man.

"What now, Tobi?" Questioned the Uzumaki.

"Now the sacrifice must be made to open the way and bring about peace on Earth." Intoned the Masked Man.

"What sacrifice?" Queried the Uzumaki.

"The only sacrifice that has any meaning. Blood." Intoned the Masked Man.

Then, in a flash of those ringed eyes, the other seven robed, cloaked, Shinobi were suddenly dead on the ground, blood seeping into a pool to mix together. The odd, tenth, idol was soaked in the blood and replaced in the array around the pillar to complete the sealing circuit. Then, as one, the idols pulsed with power before a flash of crimson energy, foul and tainted like the energy I'd felt from the Oni and Gaara during the period when the One-Tails was attempting to possess him at the Chunin Exams, issued forth.

The energy bathed the oily, black, stone of the pillar in tainted crimson light and the sky darkened, the sun being blotted out by blackness. Spiderwebs cracked through the stone of the pillar, glowing crimson and bathing the courtyard in more foul energy until finally, in a burst of dark flames, the pillar blasted apart to reveal a fiery doorway. A portal leading to a land of fire and torment, as screams echoed through the courtyard.

"What is this? Tobi? What did I do wrong?" Demanded the Uzumaki.

"Wrong? You think you did something wrong? This is exactly what was supposed to happen! You have opened the way. . .to Jigoku!" Taunted the Masked Man.

As he taunted, the Masked Man removed his mask to reveal the face of a living corpse. Half-rotted and zombie-like, the only signs of vitality were the single, sharingan, eye which glowed with a malevolent light. The Uzumaki recoiled from the true form of his masked companion, an Onryō possessing the corpse of an Uchiha. The Uzumaki, however, rallied.

"No! This was not what was promised to me! You told me that I would usher in peace, like my ancestor before me! You lied!" Accused the Uzumaki.

"I did not lie, Nagato. Peace will come, peace enforced by the ironclad will of the Empress of Jigoku? For who would dare revolt against a being that can slaughter nations?" Laughed the Corpse.

A flash of the Rinnegan and a snarl had the Onryō possessing the Uzumaki Corpse torn asunder as the Jade Emperor's eyes first forced the Hungry Ghost to vacate the corpse, which fell to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, then tore at the soul of the Onryō. As the Hungry Ghost faded into nothingness, however, the gateway to Jigoku expanded to its full extent.

Out of it stepped a horrific form. A Hannya, a female Oni of such tremendous power that I was seized with paralysis unable to move, scarcely able to breathe, a silent witness to the scene of horror as the nine-foot-tall Hannya with hair, eyes, and lips as black as obsidian, two horns jutting from her forehead, and a snarling, fanged, mouth placed a clawed hand on the side of the gateway before exiting into the mortal world. The Obsidian Empress had returned.

"At last, I have returned." Came the otherworldly voice of the Obsidian Empress.

"No! This is not what was meant to happen! Away with you! I banish you back to whence you came!" Shouted the Uzumaki, a flash of light from his ringed eyes slamming spiritual energy into the Obsidian Empress.

For a brief moment, the Obsidian Empress rocked back on her heels as if struck by a solid blow. Even at this late hour, the Jade Emperor's Eyes still held authority to harm the unclean spirits of Jigoku. It was only for a brief moment, however, as the Obsidian Empress raised a single, clawed hand, and struck out for the Uzumaki. When her claws retracted, the twin orbs of the Rinnegan came with them, plucked from the Uzumaki's head by the Obsidian Empress' strike.

"Foolish boy! It is far too late to stop me now! You should have thought twice before trusting a man who kept himself masked at all times so implicitly!" Sneered the Obsidian Empress.

The Uzumaki, eye-sockets bleeding turned to Ninjutsu to attempt to force the Obsidian Empress back through the Gate. It was no use, however, as without the Tailed Beasts to empower such opposition, no mortal, not even a descendant of the Sage, could defeat the Obsidian Empress in such a fashion. After a five-minute struggle, the Uzumaki fell dead to the ground.

Then the dreams faded away as I woke up with a start. . .

XXXX

I bolted upright with a jolt, sucking in a deep lungful of breath to find myself lying in a cot in a field hospital somewhere. We were no longer in the woods that we had been in and now seemed to be in some rocky highlands somewhere. Looking around, I spotted several other wounded Shinobi also lying in cots in the same tent. Most were bandaged up already, which meant this had to be the recovery tent.

"Good, you're awake." Came Ino's voice from nearby. I looked over to see my Blonde former teammate standing near one of the other cots glaring at me.

"How long was I out? And where are we?" I demanded.

"You were out for a week. Stage One Chakra Exhaustion, damn close to Stage Two too. We're currently at an Aid Station in the foothills of the Kuju Mountains." Informed Ino.

"Otogakure?" I asked.

"The battle's already started. It's been going on for two hours. You know, you ought to take it easy. I don't like having to patch you up like this." Groused Ino.

"You know I can't do that, Ino. I don't have it in me to let others fight while I kick back and relax." I grumbled.

"I know, but that doesn't mean I've got to like it!" Snapped Ino.

"I never asked you to. Look, Shika and Naruto are out there fighting, yeah? What sort of teammate or friend would I be if I left them to fight alone without me?" I tried.

"Shika and Naruto can handle themselves, especially with how Shika's found himself a spot with Intelligence and Naruto has the Kyubi inside him to heal him super fast." Retorted Ino.

"What about my platoon?" I questioned.

"What about it?" Queried Ino.

"They took a beating in the last battle. I can't let them fight without me there, I have responsibilities!" I pointed out.

"And I don't? I have a duty to ensure my patients don't go haring off to commit suicide, you know?" Asked Ino.

"I won't be committing suicide, Ino. Hells, if we're actually at Otogakure proper, there will be loads more juicy targets than me!" I argued.

"Ino! Stop arguing with your boyfriend and finish up those check-ups!" Snapped a voice from outside the tent. I turned and spotted the dark-haired form of Shizune, Lady Tsunade's aid grinning at Ino slightly.

"Fine! Do what you want, but if you get killed, I reserve the right to say I told you so!" Griped Ino, turning on her heel and stomping off.

Shizune entered the recovery tent and began to run a hand coated in Medical Chakra over my body. The Shindan no Jutsu (Diagnostic Technique) allowed her to check me over for any lingering injuries or Chakra Exhaustion. As she worked, Shizune gave me a sympathetic look. I couldn't exactly place the reason for it before she spoke up.

"You know she cares about you a great deal, right?" Questioned Shizune.

"I know. We've been friends since we were kids." I nodded.

"Choji-Kun, how you can sit through the argument you just had with her and still be so oblivious is beyond me. She likes you as more than just a friend." Sighed Shizune.

"What?" I blinked.

"Oh my. You might want to have a talk with Ino after all this is done with. I do believe it's warranted." Mused Shizune.

"I'll keep that in mind." I muttered under my breath.

I might have been living in this body for thirteen years, but I still had some of the mental maturity of sixteen years worth of a prior life's memories going around in my head. I wasn't sure if I even should date Ino, given the three-year gap between my mental age and my physical age, the latter of which I shared with Ino. Would something like that even work or would it all just end in flames? I had no clue.

"Hmm, there's nothing that the Diagnostic Jutsu can pick up. How do you feel?" Queried Shizune, drawing me out of my thoughts.

"I had some weird dreams while unconscious. Weirdly Prophetic." I offered.

"That's normal for late Stage One Chakra Exhaustion. Dreams happen when the brain is trying to make connections based on disparate information heard while awake, and with Chakra Exhaustion dreams can take on an ethereal or otherworldly quality. Sometimes, Chakra Exhaustion leaves enough miscellaneous spiritual energy in the body for those otherworldly dreams to be influenced by the Pure Land, if you get Chakra Exhaustion by using more Taijutsu than Genjutsu or Ninjutsu." Responded Shizune.

"Really?" I asked.

"Really. It all has to do with Chakra Mechanics and how much Chi and Spiritual Energy get converted to Chakra during the body's Chakra Production process. It's fairly technical so I won't bore you with the details. I do know that some religious orders practice a form of training unto Chakra Exhaustion to stimulate the process on purpose, though. The Sohei of Iron Country do that, for example." Explained Shizune.

"So you think I should take the dreams into account?" I questioned.

"I'm not a Priestess, Choji-kun. I can't advise you on anything that isn't a medical matter. In that regard, you look to have made a full recovery. If you want, I can have you processed and out of the hospital now." Reminded Shizune.

"Right. Do that, please." I nodded.

"All right, if you're headed for the front, try to keep Ino's feelings in mind, and don't engage in any fights above your head." Advised Shizune.

"Right." I nodded.

"Your sealing scrolls are here. Also, your armor was destroyed in the last battle, so you might want to stop by the Quartermaster's Post to pick up a fresh suit. It'll be the standard Shinobi Lamellar, though." Added Shizune, handing over the several sealing scrolls I had on me before being brought to the hospital.

"No need. I have a replacement suit ready." I answered.

"Right, then I'll have to ask you to head out as soon as you're ready. We need the bed." Insisted Shizune as I took the scrolls from her.

Then, Shizune stood and left the Recovery Tent, leaving me to prepare myself for heading to the front. I grabbed one scroll and unsealed the armor and helmet I'd taken off of Kwai Han. The Lamellar was, if it was even possible, even better than the Kikko-Gane I'd had before, and while the Helmet wasn't exactly usable to its fullest extent right now, it would do a good job protecting my head. Once I was armored up, all that remained was to head for the sounds of battle.

I would have that talk with Ino if we both survived, but for now, it was time to finish this fight. . .

XXXX

Shikamaru liked to think of himself as one of the smarter members of his age cohort. Certainly when it came to tactics and strategy that was the case. It was just the troublesome nature of the beast, however, that most of his age cohort preferred action to planning. That was definitely the case for Naruto and Kiba, who he'd found himself grouped with during this battle through the streets of Otogakure. Jiraiya had given him them as escorts as he'd been assigned to locate the Central Armory of Otogakure, where they could seize control of part of the supply chain for the Oto Shinobi and thus gain valuable intelligence and a leg up on their opponents.

It was why he was kicking himself when his two friends and current comrades had fallen for such an obvious trap. They'd been moving through the streets of Otogakure, which was situated in a series of crevasses in the Kuju Mountains when a womanly shriek had echoed through the streets. They were in a residential section of Otogakure, so Naruto had argued that it had to be a civilian caught in the crossfire and that they should intervene. Kiba had agreed, and Shikamaru had found himself outvoted.

As if Orochimaru would care enough about expendable pawns to allow them to bring their families into his hidden village. Shikamaru doubted that there was anyone in Otogakure who could be considered a civilian. He'd been prepared to argue that point when Naruto and Kiba had gone running off to save their imaginary Civilian. Shikamaru had been forced to run after them. Troublesome as it was, he couldn't leave them to be killed in whatever trap this would turn out to be.

It actually had turned out to be a trap, as no sooner had they followed the shrieking into a suspicious-looking alleyway than a wall of Crystal had cut off their route of escape. Now they were hemmed in on one side by that crystal wall and on the other three by buildings as they were forced to dodge away from razor-sharp, foot-long, darts of pink crystal in the confined space. Those darts were being shot at them from the rooftop above and in front of them by an ambushing Oto Jonin.

"How cute! Three little boys and a puppy fell for my trap! I was hoping to get one of your more lecherous Jonin, though. Like Hatake Kakashi, now there would have been a kill that would get Orochimaru-Sama to notice me!" Laughed their assailant, a Spiky-Ponytailed, Light Blue-haired, Kunoichi.

"Damn it Naruto! Kiba! This is why you don't just hare off after every potential damsel!" Swore Shikamaru, dodging away from a trio of Crystal Darts.

"I didn't hear you say anything, Shika!" Snapped Naruto, ducking behind a crate for cover, Crystal Darts chewing into the wood of his cover.

"You two didn't give me a chance to!" Retorted Shikamaru, parrying a Crystal Dart out of the air with an unsealed Kodachi.

"Both of you shut up! Akamaru and I've got this!" Boasted Kiba, as he and Akamaru broke apart dodging another few Crystal Darts.

"Oh? This I've got to see! Give me your best shot, Little Boy!" Taunted their Opponent.

"Careful what you wish for! Ready Akamaru?" Returned Kiba.

Akamaru tipped in response and then together, they both blurred into the corkscrewing buzzsaw of the Gatenga (Fang Rotating Fang) and flew toward their Ambusher. For a moment, it looked like they might actually succeed, only for their Opponent to form a trio of Hand Seals and slam her hands on the roof tiles in front of her.

"Shōton: Kesshō Yari-Kabe (Crystal Release: Crystal Spear Wall)!" Shouted their Ambusher.

Another wall of pink crystal shot up in front of her, but this one was studded with razor-sharp spines. Kiba and Akamaru were forced to abort their attack to avoid impaling themselves on the spikes of the wall, instead plowing into the building below the rooftop, causing the wall to be destroyed and part of the rooftop to collapse under their Ambusher. As they fell back down to the ground, landing in the alleyway, Shikamaru had hope that that roof collapse might have buried their Opponent. Unfortunately, there was no such luck there. She simply used the Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique) to move to one of the side rooftops.

"Not good enough!" Sneered their Opponent before going through another set of hand seals.

"Troublesome." Grumbled Shikamaru, forming hand seals of his own.

"Shōton: Kesshō No Ken (Crystal Release: Crystal Swords)!" Intoned their Ambusher.

"Doton Kekkai: Iwa Tengai Hogo (Earth Release Barrier: Rock Dome Protection)!" Called out Shikamaru at the same time.

Both Shikamaru and their Opponent completed their Jutsu at the same time, Shikamaru creating a dome of rock to protect himself, Naruto, Kiba, and Akamaru, while their Opponent launched dozens of razor-sharp, three-foot-long, blades of impossibly hard crystal at them from the rooftops. The Crystal Blades filled the entire alleyway, leaving no room to escape, so it was fortunate that Shikamaru had been able to get off the one Barrier Ninjutsu he knew.

As they hunkered down under the rock dome, however, it was clear that the protection wouldn't last as several blades of crystal thunked into the top of the dome, punching through the rock enough for their pink, razor-sharp, tips to just barely poke through behind the cover. Naruto and Kiba looked at the blade tips poking through, then looked at each other, before looking over at Shikamaru.

"Damn, thanks Shika!" Offered Naruto.

"Yeah, those would've hurt." Admitted Kiba, with Akamaru adding an affirmative bark.

"Thank me by figuring a way out of this!" Snapped Shikamaru.

"Harsh, Shika!" Groused Naruto.

"You two got us into this, so think! What can we do, what do we want, how can we use the former to get the latter? Be strategic for once!" Pressed Shikamaru, it was troublesome, but it seemed the stress of the situation was getting to him.

"I can probably sneak some clones out of cover using the Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu." Tried Naruto.

"Those won't last long above ground." Frowned Kiba.

"They won't have to if I use the Bunshin Daibakuha (Clone Great Explosion). That might give us an opening." Tried Naruto.

"If Naruto can give me an opening, I can try using the Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow Possession Technique) to stick her in place, then you and Akamaru should have a clear shot for the Gatenga. We can work with this." Agreed Shikamaru.

As they figured that plan out, however, their Opponent called out to them. "You can't hide forever! I'll blow through your little fort eventually!"

Then another rain of crystal blades started to fall and Shikamaru nodded to his current teammates. "All right, let's do it."

With that, Naruto made the seal for the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique) making a quartet of shadow clones. The space under the dome was crowded for a brief moment before the clones all dug into the ground with Hiding Like a Mole. For a few, long, moments, nothing happened aside from Shikamaru and his team hunkering down while even more of the rock dome was eaten away around them.

Then suddenly, a quartet of explosions shook the alleyway and collapsed the building that their ambusher had been standing on along with the crystal wall sealing them inside the alleyway. The rain of crystal blades abated and Shikamaru dispelled the rock dome and began to perform the Kagemane. His shadow stretched out toward their ambushing Opponent, who had just kipped to her feet after falling from three stories up. That opening allowed Shikamaru to grab hold of her with Shadow Possession. However, keeping hold of her was a different story.

Their Opponent began to struggle against the shadow possession almost as soon as the link was established. As a Jonin, she had a lot more under the hood than Shikamaru did and he wasn't sure just how long he would be able to keep her bound. Fortunately, he didn't have to do this indefinitely, because that would be more troublesome than he could handle.

"Kiba, Akamaru, now!" Grunted Shikamaru.

"Right, let's go Akamaru!" Exclaimed Kiba, getting an affirmative howl in reply.

Both Kiba and Akamaru blurred into yet another corkscrewing pair of buzzsaws with the Gatenga and shot straight for their currently bound Opponent. Shikamaru grunted with exertion as their Opponent redoubled her efforts to break the grip his Kagemane had on her. He knew he wasn't going to be able to keep her under control much longer, as sweat beaded on his forehead from his own efforts.

Just as she managed to break his grip, however, Kiba and Akamaru struck home, the Gatenga smashing into and through their Ambushing opponent. There was a spray of bright arterial blood as their opponent tried janking to one side in the brief instant between breaking Shikamaru's hold on her and Kiba and Akamaru hitting home. It saved her life, though it cost her left arm. Gritting her teeth, their Opponent went through a one-handed hand seal and burned her stump shut with a Katon Jutsu.

"You should surrender. You can't beat us with one arm." Huffed Shikamaru.

"I'll die first!" Insisted their Opponent.

"Troublesome." Grumbled Shikamaru.

"Take this! Shōton: Kesshōryu no Jutsu (Crystal Release: Crystal Dragon Technique)!" Spat their Opponent, going through a sequence of one-handed hand seals.

As she did so, a massive dragon of razor-sharp, pink, crystal formed into being, roaring before diving for Naruto first. Naruto was forced to Shunshin away from the snapping jaws, only to catch the Crystal Dragon's tail in the side with a crunch that Shikamaru knew had to mean he'd broken ribs. The Dragon then flipped around and rampaged toward Kiba, snarling and gnashing its razor-sharp teeth. Kiba and Akamaru dodged away, but took a rake of two of the Crystal Dragon's claws to their sides, leaving bloody gashes in their torsos.

Then the Dragon came for Shikamaru, rearing up to dive down at him jaws first. Shikamaru just barely escaped via the use of Hiding Like a Mole, sinking into the dirt of the alley floor just before the Crystal Dragon managed to devour him. As the Crystal Dragon shattered into shards against the ground, Shikamaru swam for their Opponent's position, bursting up out of the ground using the Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique) to try and sneak attack her.

She was wise to the maneuver, however, and simply turned around with a kick that thundered into Shikamaru's torso. The Kusari Katabira chain armor he habitually wore dampened the force of the blow by a decent amount, but Shika still felt his ribs bruised from the attack as he skidded back across the ground. Their opponent followed that up with a series of one-handed hand seals.

"Shōton: Kesshō Tsuchi (Crystal Release: Crystal Hammer)!" She called out as a large mallet of pink crystal solidified in the air before launching itself at Shikamaru's downed form. Shika rolled to the side, avoiding the hammer, which cratered the ground from the force, and came up to one knee to toss a Shuriken out at their Opponent. The Oto Jonin dodged away, only for Shika to use the Futon: Kaiten Shuriken (Wind Release: Rotating Shuriken) to maneuver his Shuriken back at her from behind. This forced her to go through another set of one-handed hand seals and shoot the shuriken down with more crystal darts.

"Why won't you stay down like your friends?" Spat the Oto Jonin.

"Much as I'd like to just lie back, if I do that, I die." Retorted Shikamaru.

"Keep fighting and you'll only die tired!" Snapped the Oto Jonin.

"Sounds Troublesome. I'll take a third option." Returned Shikamaru.

"What third option?" Demanded the Oto Jonin.

"That one." Gestured Shikamaru to behind her.

The Oto Jonin looked back to where Shikamaru had gestured to spot that Naruto had gotten to his feet, Kyubi having already healed his broken ribs enough for him to keep fighting. He had a Rasengan (Spiralling Sphere) in one hand and immediately charged in at Shunshin speeds. Normally, you couldn't fight using Shunshin, not unless you had something like the Sharingan to help you out. Perception just wasn't good enough from within the Shunshin to do more than charge straight ahead into battle, something that would kill most Shinobi who tried it. However, when you only needed to attack in a charge, then it became more viable.

Naruto came out of the Shunshin already shoving his Rasengan forward. The Spiralling Sphere ground into the torso of their Opponent, coring a hole through her leather armor and rupturing her kidney as it struck flesh. Their Opponent was sent flying back into the last still-standing building, knocking through the wall and collapsing the building on top of her.

"I figured you'd heal fast enough to get her if I distracted her." Nodded Shikamaru.

"Yeah, guess old Demon Fuzzbutt is good for something after all, Dattebayo." Huffed Naruto.

"Ugh, I didn't want to have to take a Soldier Pill so soon." Grubled Kiba as he popped a soldier pill and force-fed one to Akamaru, their wounds healing up.

Akamaru barked derisively, and Kiba nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Jonin are no joke."

"Come on. We need to keep moving." Insisted Shikamaru.

Much as taking out an enemy Jonin was a feather in their cap, the three of them still had a job to do. Shika moved out of the alleyway and Naruto, Kiba, and Akamaru followed him back into the embattled streets of Otogakure.

They still had to get to the Main Oto Armory, after all. . .

XXXX

Orochimaru frowned at the situation. His main project right now was Otogakure, true, but that didn't mean that it was his only project or even his only significant base. Arguably, his fortress in Earth Country was just as large, while he also had smaller fortresses in Grass Country, Marsh Country, and on an islet about three days from Mokuzu Island. All of those either were or could be built into, just as potent a fortress for him as Otogakure was. That seemed more work though. He should at least try to salvage this.

"Of course, I would so hate to leave without saying hello to Dear Jiraiya." Mused Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru-Sama?" Queried Kabuto.

"Kabuto, I think I'll be fighting after all, at least for a little bit." Informed Orochimaru.

"I'll aid you, then." Nodded Kabuto.

"Me too. I should at least show off how strong I've gotten." Added Sasuke.

"No." Refuted Orochimaru.

"No? Why not?" Asked Sasuke.

"Because I will only be making a short appearance. You, Sasuke-kun, need to go ahead to my Earth Country Base and prepare it for my arrival. Kabuto-kun, I need you to stall Hatake Kakashi, Maito Gai is already being stalled by the fools of the Fuuma Clan." Ordered Orochimaru.

"I see. You'll be attempting to kill your old teammate then, Orochimaru-Sama?" Questioned Kabuto.

"If possible. Jiraiya does seem to possess the world's hardest head. Splitting it open has always proven more difficult than expected, but what is life without a little challenge?" Snickered Orochimaru.

"What about me? I joined you so that I could show Konoha what fools they were to pass me over. Now I'm being sent away when the opportunity to do so comes knocking?" Queried Sasuke.

"You are more important than you realize Sasuke-Kun. There will be other opportunities in the future for such indulgences." Rebuked Orochimaru.

"Fine. At the very least, I'd better get stronger doing this." Grumbled Sasuke.

"Here." Remarked Orochimaru, handing over a sealing scroll.

"What's this?" Asked Sasuke.

"That, Sasuke-kun, is the Otogakure Jutsu Library. Take it with you to the Earth Country Base. I'm sure there will be plenty of powerful techniques in there for you to sate your desire for strength with." Informed Orochimaru.

"Right. I'll head out then." Nodded Sasuke, saluting before leaving.

"I don't know why you indulge him like that, Orochimaru-Sama." Frowned Kabuto.

"Because, Kabuto-Kun, the stronger Sasuke-Kun becomes, the more able a vessel he will make when the time comes for me to transfer my consciousness into him. With that in mind, allowing him to develop is all part of the plan. Now, I think we've allowed Konoha to run roughshod over this village long enough, don't you?" Intoned Orochimaru.

"As you say, Orochimaru-Sama." Concurred Kabuto.

Then together, they headed out to fight. . .

XXXX

I made it to the scene of the battle three hours into the fighting. Much of Otogakure was already wrecked in the combat, with large swathes of buildings broken down or collapsed and dozens of corpses lining the streets, different corpses sporting forehead protectors with Otogakure or Konoha insignia depending on which side they fought for.

Fortunately, there wasn't anyone I knew lying dead on the ground, but that didn't mean that we hadn't taken any casualties. The fight wasn't over yet, either. There very well could be someone I knew dying here today if things went wrong. I could only help out people I could see, at any rate. I'd just have to hope that everyone could make it out.

It was as I entered a section of Otogakure that seemed to contain a mess hall building that I came across my first wounded acquaintance if you could call her that. Mitarashi Anko lay on the street propped up against a building wall that was half collapsed. She didn't have her usual trenchcoat on and was clutching her side, where a deep stab wound was. Nearby was a pile of corpses, including one wearing the armor of a Jonin.

"Hey! Akimichi! You wouldn't happen to have a soldier pill on you, would you?" Questioned Anko.

"I have a couple. You don't have any of your own?" I queried.

"No, bastard hit me with a Katon: Endan (Fire Release: Flame Bullet) that burned up my trenchcoat, rucksack, and everything in it." Grunted Anko, kicking the corpse of the Oto Jonin and wincing as it aggravated her wounded side.

"Damn, guess that's why you're only wearing that mesh armor top." I nodded at Anko's scantily clad form. Mesh armor didn't exactly leave a lot to the imagination, it was pretty form-fitting.

"Yeah, now stop perving at my tits and help a girl out, would you?" Asked Anko.

"Sure, here." I agreed, unsealing a Soldier pill and handing it to Anko. She took it and sighed in relief as her side healed up and her reserves filled a bit.

"Thanks. If you're looking for your Platoon, they went with Gai after the Fuuma Clan Compound. Keep going a few blocks in that direction and you'll see them." Offered Anko, getting to her feet and gesturing.

"Right. I'll head that way." I agreed.

"By the way, if you run into that little shit Kabuto, run. He's working for Orochimaru and he's a lot more dangerous than he let on at the Chunin Exams. Asshole wiped out half a platoon, last we heard, all by himself, then disappeared." Warned Anko.

"Understood." I nodded.

Then I headed in the Direction Anko had mentioned, following the sounds of battle along the way. I passed by more corpses dozens at a time, in Konoha or Oto Headbands depending. As I did, I realized that this was how a Hidden Village died. Honestly, I was pretty sure this was how a Nation died. Even if this ended with us winning, we were gonna have to take an active hand in defending Rice Country now, given how the Fuuma Clan was unlikely to be in any shape to do so if they even survived. That would make Rice Country effectively a vassal of Konoha, and by extension, Fire Country.

That probably wasn't going to do the Balance of Power any favors. Even if Suna managed to get talked into renewing their alliance with us, it would be an alliance weakened and stretched thinner than it had been previously. I was willing to bet that the Iwa-Kumo Alliance would notice that. Sure, they probably weren't ready for war right this second, but they hadn't taken a beating against an ostensibly minor village. By the time they were ready for war, it was likely they'd be in a better position for one than we would. If a Fourth Great Shinobi War came, I wasn't so sure that Konoha would be on the winning side.

As I rounded a corner into the Fuuma Clan District, I put those thoughts out of my mind, though. The scene that unfolded in front of me was one of utter chaos. Jutsu were being tossed back and forth, even as Shinobi clashed in Taijutsu and Bukijutsu duels in the street. Overhead, Gai-Sensei Clashed with a Fuuma Clansman with Purple Hair who had bulked out into some sort of hulk-like monstrosity. As Gai-Sensei kicked him away to land near the corpse of a Konoha Shinobi, he underwent a number of hand seals and absorbed the corpse into himself, gaining even more muscle mass and firing off a large Raiton: Rakurai no Jutsu (Lightning Release: Thunderstrike Technique) at Gai-Sensei, forcing him to dodge.

Nearby, I spotted Saisu and Kibagami dueling with a pair of Fuuma Clansmen while a third, scarred, one-eyed, Fuuma Clansman looked on, wearing a pair of seal-scribed, chakra-conductive, gauntlets, waiting in the wings to sweep up whoever survived between Saisu and Kibagami. I couldn't have that. I immediately ran through a number of Hand Seals, engaging the Kōton: Kōtetsu no Tai (Steel Release: Body of Steel), the Oni no Karada no Jutsu (Ogre Body Technique), and the Nintaijutsu techniques of the Gogyō-Ken (Five Element Fist) to enhance my physical capabilities

Then I charged into the fray, heading for that Third Fuuma Clansman. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we see the start of the Battle for Otogakure. Naruto, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Akamaru managed to take out Guren, one of the few actual Jonin worth the name that Otogakure possesses, through teamwork. Meanwhile, not only did Choji get an actual dream vision of Akatsuki, confirming that no, Pein doesn't know what Obito is trying to get him to do, but on waking, he is also confronted with the fact that Ino likes him as more than just a close friend.

Meanwhile, Sasuke is being sent to Earth Country to get Orochimaru's backup plan ready for him while Kabuto is going to be stalling Kakashi, and Orochimaru himself is going to be fighting Jiraiya. Now, Choji is back in the fray, going after Fuuma Yukimura first, while Gai deals with the Fuuma Clan Head.

At any rate, the next chapter will be part two of the Battle.

Stay tuned. . .