Chapter 79: Final hours

Riku’s declaration installed a heavy, deadly silence in his office. Hiruzen, the elders, Shikaku and Jiraiya who had just made it back to the village, looked at him with complexity. Even Mei and her bodyguards at the side were perplexed. The Sandaime was the first to speak.

“Riku…”

The Rokudaime immediately interjected. “No. Iwa had three chances to work with us for peace. No more. Regardless of if Onoki was mind controlled by Obito or not, the fact doesn’t change. Iwa is too hateful towards us. Especially after Minato and I slaughtered their shinobis like a farmer using a scythe on his field. Perhaps we can go back from this. Perhaps we’re not too far gone and actual peace is achievable but it would be at the price of Konoha and Kiri ninja’s lives and I will never abide by it. It’s too high a price to pay. We also can’t give further time to Obito and Orochimaru to bolster their strength and find ways to counter our seals for the undead. Our attention must not be divided when we deal with them.”

“As much as it pains me to say it, I agree.” Mei chimed in. “While Kiri never had any real hostility towards Iwa in its history, our Nidaime aside, now it’s different. Iwagakura is working, perhaps unaware, with an enemy that wants to enslave the whole world. My nation has recovered from a decade of civil war and now we’re into another conflict. My people are tired of fighting. If the opportunity to put an end to our enemy once and for all is there then we should seize it.”

Any retort anyone had to make died in their throat. The argument was sound if not pragmatic. Hiruzen and Jiraiya, both proponents for peace through understanding, didn't like it at all but they were veteran shinobis. They set their feelings aside and let their pragmatism take over.

“The plan I have in mind is simple. Our forces on the Western front will launch a pincer attack. From the front and the back.”

“The back?” Mei voiced in curiosity. It was with reason. An assault from the back implied that there were troops beyond the enemy’s line. Something that shouldn’t be possible during a war, especially considering how Iwa had absolute control over their territory and the one they were occupying.

Riku, without a second thought, revealed to her how it was possible. “In preparation for the war with Iwa, we buried several bases in the countries bordering the land of Earth. Also a few inside of it. All have a hiraishin tag inside them.”

Mei’s eyes widened in realization. It meant Konoha could be everywhere if even Iwa-nins, earth specialists, haven’t been able to detect those bases hidden underground. The fact that a hiraishin tag was in each base was even more dangerous. Konoha could strike anyone from any side. Once again she was glad to have decided to ally her country with the leaf.

“From the south Ame will bring support. Nagato will be recovered enough to fight and box Iwa in. Their two ways of retreat would be East towards the Land of Waterfall but it’s too far from their village and supply line. The other is to fall back toward Iwagakure. That’s when they will meet our infiltrated troops. In the meantime I will pay their village a visit and raze it to the ground.”

Riku paused there to see if anyone had any questions but there wasn’t.

“Jiraiya, you will partner up with Nagato and Konan as a liaison with Konoha.” He didn’t mention Yahiko to avoid any lengthy explanation.

The man blinked in confusion for a moment but before he could say a single word, Koharu was faster.

“Help from Ame? And Pain? The former leader of the Akatsuki? Have you lost your mind you-” She wasn’t liking what she was hearing.

A burst of killing intent filled the room. So powerful that even Hiruzen had goosebumps at the feel of it. He wasn’t even the target. Koharu on the other hand was shaking like a leaf.

“As of now, Konoha, Kiri, Suna and Ame are allies. Nagato wanted peace in the Elemental Nations by holding everyone hostage with the Biju. Noble goal, stupid execution. Peace through strength is just tyranny. We came to an agreement. Much the same Konoha has with Suna and Kiri. On top of it I had to heal him. As a powerful shinobi and leader of a country, we couldn’t let him rot in a cell when he can help. It will take time for Ame and Konoha to make a genuine bond of friendship, especially after we ravaged Ame the past three shinobi wars but they are willing to try and are genuine about it. They also understand the consequences should we lose to Obito.”

Now Hiruzen and Jiraiya liked what they were hearing much better. The former even had a small happy smile on his lips. Riku had told him that true peace could only be achieved through understanding and strength both and he demonstrated it fully.

“In the meantime…” Riku looked at Mei to let her speak up and assert her authority.

“I’ll go back to the North East and take control of the troops.” She announced. They had rehearsed that part in the botib after the two planned the whale plan together. “I will consolidate our defenses while creating a few assault teams to chase and capture undead ninjas before retreating in a flash.” She smiled at her own joke. Everyone understood that the teams would use the Hiraishin.

“Once Iwa is dealt with, most of the troops will move towards Mei’s location, while a small part will stay behind and keep watch, just in-”

The phone on the desk began to ring loudly, stopping Riku in his sentence. Picking it up he talked to the person on the other hand of the line. The conversation was short. But everyone noticed the brief look of surprise passing over his face.

“Understood. Accommodate them both appropriately." He put down the handset and looked at his audience. “It was Abarume Chibi. He reported that a contingent of Samurai had survived the undead assault and joined the base. Furthermore, they were approached by a few dozen Kumo ninja.”

“I thought Kumo had been completely destroyed and everyone killed?” Jiraiya frowned.

“Apparently a few survived. They want their pound of flesh from Obito and Orochimaru.” Riku answered. “It will be up to you to decide what to do with them, Mei.”

The Mizukage nodded in acknowledgement. After giving directives to Shikaku the meeting ended. Riku didn’t waste any time in grabbing Jiraiya and teleporting into his Botib. He pointed at the Garden and after a careful look, the Toad sage walked to it. Riku for his part found Kakashi back in the training room. This time the fake cyclops, Itachi and Kushina were fighting Team 7. From his observation, it was about testing their teamwork. Naruto was in the front creating chaos with clones with support from Sasuke’s ninjutsu from behind. Sakura disappeared from sight only to reappear to Itachi’s side. The older Uchiha had been distracted by the fire balls and horde of clones and got hit in the head through his blind spot by an explosive punch, pulverizing it. She had been lucky Kushina’s chain had been a tad too slow because soon enough she was captured.

“Alright, enough.” Kakashi called out, putting an end to the spar.

Sakura was released while Itachi’s head was almost done reforming. The two teams got closer to each other and began to debrief what was good, what wasn’t and what could be improved. The idea of having Karin and Kushina expand and reinforced the training room even more to allow the Uchihas and Naruto to practice their most destructive abilities crossed his mind and he filed it for later.

Once the debriefing ended, Riku approached.

“There is news.” Everyone turned to him and awaited for the information. “Tommorrow outside time, Iwa will be annihilated. From the troops to the village itself.”

Naruto opened his mouth to say something. Probably a protest but shut it quickly without saying a word. It was clear that much like Hiruzen and Jiraiya he didn’t like that at all. Yet, he knew better now than to question the need to sometimes kill people. Even if this was excessive.

“You guys are going with Mei to the North-East front. She will be directly in charge of you. From what I gather, your missions will be to make quick but hard assaults on the undead and capture them, before retreating. If possible, perhaps even deal with Orochimaru. Without him, no more undead as I doubt he would give Obito the knowledge to use the Edo Tensei.”

“His usefulness would be null if he did.” Sakura remarked with a nod. A reflex to explain for Naruto. It was the right thing to do as he was a bit lost as to the reason why.

“Yes. Now for you, it means you have around nine months to be ready if you stay continuously here.” he paused to let them digest this. “Your teams will be as follows. Team 7 will have Kushina-san as a new member for the use of her chains and Itachi will take Kakashi’s place as Team Leader.”

“What?! Why?”

“Naruto.” Kakashi warned but the blonde loudmouth waved his hands.

“Not that I’m against it. It’s an order but I’d like to understand why the change.”

“Fair point.” Riku nodded. “Zabuza will only take orders from Kakashi and he doesn’t fit Team 7. There is also Haku to take into consideration, that means two people. Already with five, Team 7 is almost too big to operate stealthily.”

“Oh, okay. Make sense.” Naruto nodded, understanding the reason why.

“Kakashi, your team will be composed of Zabuza, Haku, Gai and Karin. On top of being your capture specialist and sensor, Karin will be your healer. Both Teams, keep in mind that both Naruto and Karin are the priority target of the enemy. If things don't go according to plan you are to retreat immediately through the hiraishin. They must not be captured at any cost.”

“Yes, sir.” Everyone replied, indicating they understood the parameters of their assignments.

“Kakashi, you both know what to train your team in. Kushina-san a moment please.”

Everyone separated then. Itachi took his new team to the side and had them sit down to begin explaining a training regiment for capture. Kakashi left the room to gather his team members and Kushina walked by Riku’s side.

“How is their training with the Kyubi? Did Mito-baachan’s scrolls were useful?” He inquired.

“Not really.” She shook her head. “But it doesn’t matter. Naruto found a way.” A smile was on her face when she said that. A proud one.

“Oh?”

“Yes.” She bobbed her head this time. “Mito-sama always said that love was the key for a jinchuriki. I thought it meant surrounding myself with people I loved and who loved me back but I was wrong. Naruto then asked ‘What about the Kyubi?’ “

Riku stopped mid-step when he heard that. His mind raced at the ramifications of such a question. “You mean… Being nice to the Kyubi is the solution to the problem of using his chakra?”

“We believe it is. “ Kushina nodded again. “It’s difficult, they have been sealed for almost a century and before that they were persecuted for their immense power. On top of that, the Kyubi is really prideful and stubborn.”

“Well, too bad for him he’s sealed inside two Uzumakis. He won’t win a fight of stubbornness.” He chuckled and Kushina did too.

“Yes. Karin has a better time with the Yin version of the fox. He’s less… violent although he's more vicious and insidious. Still he’s more receptive to her talking than the Yang part. Naruto however has his natural ability to connect with people, so while he’s going nowhere right now, when he does he will get the fox full cooperation.”

“While Karin’s will be more gradual.” Riku realized. “This is good. Perhaps it could help if they are told that once the war is over I intend to free them both?”

Kushina’s eyes widened in shock at the prospect and what it meant. Before she could utter a single word, however, Riku explained himself.

“We can bring back Naruto and Karin, so the extraction is not a problem. As for the fox being free…. I hope to remove the Bijus from the world or at the very least make it so they can’t be used as weapons. No more jinchurikis. No more senseless destruction at country scale.”

“But… How?” The redhead liked what she was hearing. Having been a jinchuriki herself she knew of the prejudice first hand. She had been lucky that her status had been kept secret during her time.

“I don’t really know yet. I was thinking of applying a seal powered by their own chakra that would prevent them from being sealed again. I still have nothing against mind control genjutsu.” He sighed. “The other idea I had was to create a huge pocket dimension for them to live in peace.”

“Separated from the world.”

“Precisely. It’s just an idea for now and it would take years before something like this is possible.”

“But a worthy endeavor. Do the elders know?”

A scoff escaped Riku’s lips. “Of course not. I’m already bringing enough changes that they are on the verge of a stroke so this?” He shook his head in amusement. “So far only Temari and Mei know. Both agree.”

“That’s surprising from leaders of two of the five.” That was a valid remark from Kushina.

“Not really. Temari grew up with a very unstable little brother because of Shukaku. She witnessed first hand many bad things and she would be really glad to not have any Biju around. As for Mei, she had to fight one to the death to free her country. She knows better than most about their power. Hashi-ji may have thought it a good idea to contain and sell them for peace to keep each other in check but it wasn’t. It just gave people tools of mass destruction and misery for their jinchuriki.”

Kushina will not argue that point. While coming to Konoha saved her from dying during the destruction of Uzushiogakure, her whole childhood to the day she died had been nothing but restrictions. Constantly under surveillance. Confined to a certain part of the village. Limited in who she could meet and acquaint herself. Comparatively, Naruto had a better life or would have if not for the villagers' resentment. Had his identity as the jinchuriki of the Kyubi been hidden he would have had a good childhood. No different from other orphans by much.

“Well, I hope you’d succeed in this endeavor and if you need help regarding any seal for that, count me in.” She said with enthusiasm. There was no mention of Karin, it was a fact that the young Uzumaki would help too not only as a jinchuriki herself but also as Riku’s wife. “What is it?” Kushina noticed Riku looking at her with intensity.

He took a moment to give a reply. As if he was pondering if he should speak of what he had in mind or not. Kushina saw the shift in his eyes, from uncertainty to determination and she wondered what he was about to share.

“I need to speak to you about something. In private. It’s for your ears only. Perhaps Minato too but no more.”

He walked out of the training room and a curious but confused redhead followed him without a word. Kushina didn’t know what it was about but since it was restricted to herself and maybe her husband it was definitely something serious.