65: Expanding Territories: Sasame Fuma: Part II 3

Kotohime looked at her Clan leader and as had been the case for the past two weeks couldn't help feeling that something significant had happened. Although Sasame never really let on, the dark haired kunoichi knew that she had felt ever bit of pressure that had been placed on her shoulders upon becoming the Fuma leader. Kotohime tried to mitigate it as best she could, but she had been nearing the breaking point herself. In fact, she had been floating around the idea that they should stage a rebellion against the Daimyo. She had been confident that it could work as she knew Sasame would easily have the support of the citizens due to her tireless efforts. Not to mention they saw how selfish the Daimyo was as while they barely could get the items they needed to survive he continued to import fine items from throughout the Elemental Countries.

There had been a few matters that had prevented her from even suggesting it though. The main being that she knew the bandits would play a huge factor in such a battle for the control of Rice Paddies. If as she and Sasame suspected at times, that the Daimyo was actually in league with the bandits then he would likely turn to them in his desperation. Considering that the Fuma had come up the losers the one time each side had fully mustered their forces, she knew such an outcome would be disastrous.

Convincing Sasame would also present a major problem to any such action as she like many of the Fuma took their service to the Daimyo as a point of pride. Even if to Kotohime that association had hurt the Fuma far more often than it helped. She suspected that she saw it as such mainly due to her becoming a Fuma through marriage rather than being born to the Clan. The Fuma of Rice Paddies had splintered off from the Clan around the time that Konoha was being founded. Shortly after that event, a call had gone out by various Daimyo to other shinobi clans as they feared the Land of Fire was trying to in essence corner the market on Shinobi. The other four major Shinobi villages quickly sprung up as some ambitious shinobi refused to put aside their rivalries and follow the man that became the First Hokage. Not to mention they had ambitions of their own. The Fuma though had initially refused not wanting to be tied to any lord particularly due to their storied history and due to a belief they could continue to thrive in the new world created by the Shinobi Village System. They had quickly learned that even countries that hadn't established shinobi villages preferred hiring the shinobi of other countries rather than a wandering clan. Particularly since a shinobi with a home to go back to and thus something to lose was more trustworthy than a group that could just up and disappear on a client at a moment's notice. Eventually without a means of providing for themselves the Fuma were reduced to being little more than strong arm thugs and assassins for criminals. Once that happened it wasn't long before they ended up on the wrong side of a conflict with one of the established villages.

The Fuma had nearly been wiped out by the Village of Taki and more specifically it's recently come of age first jinchuriki. Of those that survived, a portion swore revenge, but a larger number decided it was time to swallow their pride. Although too late to join in the scramble to create a village of their own, they did manage to secure a benefactor in the current Rice Daimyo's grandfather. Those that refused to settle down became little more than mad dogs that took any unsavory job, just so long as it allowed them to attack and kill shinobi that they viewed as having sold their souls to the Daimyo. As such, as far as Kotohime knew most if not all of those rogue Fuma were likely gone as there was little chance for them to survive without changing their ways much like the Kaguya clan of Hidden Mist.

It was for that reason that even though the current Daimyo had nearly destroyed the clan twice through his selfish desires to expand his wealth and influence; Kotohime doubted that Sasame or her fellow clansmen could support such an action as deposing him. The Fuma kunoichi had to admit that a part of her also wanted revenge against him as it was those same actions that had created the opportunity for Orochimaru's rise in her home country which had ultimately cost her the lives of her husband, and until recently she had thought her sister.

Kotohime had to blink a few times to clear her eyes of the tears of happiness that she felt at being able to say she had been wrong about Kin's fate. She had deeply regretted that the last words they had uttered to each other had been statements of how they hated each other. For a time, she had seen her sister's leaving as a blessing, or at least tried to convince herself that it had been. With Kin gone the meager money she was able to earn playing music for guests of the local tavern had gone a lot further. Yet, it was after meeting her husband and due to her living a life that although not lavish, was not the poverty she had known growing up while having to support her younger sister. It was about that time when Orochimaru had approached the Fuma in adding their clan's strength to his new village. Kotohime had initially been against it for much the same reasons she had told Kin not to go. Sadly, her husband was one of those who had been swayed to join the Sound Village. Not willing to lose another important person and with the hope that she might see her sister again Kotohime had gone as well.

Although she had not trained extensively as a child she much like her sister did have some talent with chakra so her husband had begun to train her prior to Orochimaru's offer where her talent for genjutsu through sound had been discovered. A talent that the Sound Village obviously cultivated. Still Kotohime's requests to be reunited with her sister were denied as it was claimed that Kin had been selected for an important mission. A mission she later learned was the precursor to the invasion of Konoha. A mission that she would be informed cost her both a husband and sister.

Orochimaru himself had come to inform Kotohime of her family's demise, and while at the time she had thought that her initial opinions of him were wrong due to how genuinely remorseful for her loss he had seemed. Now she knew it was just a part of the man's sick personality. He had used the opportunity to turn her into another shinobi filled with a desire for revenge against the Leaf and who would gladly throw her life away for his benefit. Upon being saved by Jiraiya, she had spent the following years honing her skills to instead kill the very man whose ambition she once swore to make a reality. Naturally, she had been disappointed to learn that Sasuke had beaten her to it, but she hardly lingered over the matter. Instead, she fully committed herself to her husband's clan which was why when Sasame was promoted to lead it the orange haired woman had tapped her to be her second.

As a result, she felt a little guilty about how now that Kin was back and having had the sense that her sister had similar feelings for Naruto as Sasame found herself in the difficult position of choosing who to root for. She did know that Naruto had a girlfriend in Konoha, but since she didn't know the woman could honestly say she wasn't too concerned for her feelings. Still, strangely enough in the two weeks since their reunion Kotohime was kind of surprised by just how well Kin and her clan leader were getting along.

Kotohime remembered waking up the day after spending much the night catching up with her sister to find her living room had become a meeting place. Sasame had informed her that they would be arranging a giant shipment of supplies needed by the Fuma and citizens of Rice. Kotohime had quickly pointed out that it would likely cause Ahiko to gather his forces in one place to wipe out the Fuma and get the goods. Sasame had assured her that she already considered that, but felt with Naruto's help they would be able to turn the tide in their favor.

Kotohime hadn't been convinced as although some of the stories about the blond man's battles had reached her. She felt that they had to have been embellished quite a bit primarily as a lot of them started off about how the teller had heard it from a friend of a friend's second cousin twice removed. Not exactly the type of stories a person took at face value. She feared that Sasame was letting her past experiences with Naruto and feelings cloud her judgment. She knew that technically Naruto had bested a mutated Arashi, but to her that was a far way removed from the battle she had heard about him engaging in with the Leader of Akatsuki Pein. To her that was a battle that came straight out of an old shinobi fairy tale. Especially as it had featured him riding on a summoned Kyuubi, the idea of which seemed almost laughable to her.

She had argued against the plan and although Kin had remained silent, but Kotohime could tell she wanted to side with Sasame. Something which told her older sister that she likely harbored the same feelings for Naruto that Kotohime believed her leader did. In the end, she had relented which had prompted Naruto to stand and say he would handle the arrangements from his end while Sasame prepared her clan for the fight to come. A fight that the Fuma were mustering every last one of their resources too and one of those resources was her just returned sister, who had agreed to help.

Kotohime was pulled to the present as she noticed Kin say something to Sasame which caused the orange-haired kunoichi to smile widely. She wondered why they got along so well especially since she figured that if their sharing a crush on the same person was evident to her then it must be to each other. However, as one they both looked to the same spot as Naruto appeared from around the bend of a large hill while at the head of the caravan of wagons. Kotohime felt her hopes sink as instead of the army of guards she had expected as more wagons appeared, the caravan was instead guarded by six people. Although the number didn't include the people guiding the wagons, she knew that in a fight they were of little help.

A fact highlighted as a bunch of men and women appeared from hiding spaces built into the hills surrounding the road. More men appeared from behind them as they surged from their places of ambush. Kotohime spotted Ahiko due to the eyepatch that he sported as a result of an arrow courtesy of Sasame and the purple hair that he had. Yet when not in his curse mark form he didn't appear to be anything spectacular much like his men, but once he transformed his power became something none in the Fuma could currently match. Coupled with the fact that she knew there were several others among his bandits that had curse marks as well she doubted they would prevail.

Kotohime looked towards Sasame and wondered if she was feeling the same dread that was settling in her, but a quick glance was all that the dark-haired woman needed to know that neither woman harboring feelings for Naruto felt the numbers arrayed against them were anything to be concerned with. She wished she shared their confidence as she waited for Sasame to give the order to attack.

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Naruto felt his hackles rise as Ahiko said from atop the hill to his right, "If you value your lives leave the goods and the bitches, and we might not just kill you all."

He smiled though as behind him Rangiku said loud enough for those guarding the caravan to hear, "That is rather rude. If you'll all excuse me now I'm going to wash his mouth out with some ash."

Tier held up her hand barring her sister's path as she said, "If I'm not mistaken the plan calls for him to be taken alive. I'm certain such a thing would prove to be fatal."

Rangiku frowned pulling her sword and holding her hand behind it had it turn into the ash that it truly was comprised of when sheathed and she cut the chakra connection binding it together as a blade. She enjoyed the looks of concern some of the closet bandits wore as a cloud of ash billowed around her. Focusing on Ahiko, she said pleasantly, "You're lucky we want to capture you alive or else I'd do this to you." Rangiku swung the sword handle she still held and the ash followed its trajectory although it didn't move in a straight line instead adjusting as needed to hit the men standing in staggered positions before her.

She also enjoyed Ahiko's look of shock as her ash cut a hole through each man as it moved to the next before returning to her. "Kill them," he shouted as all eight men Rangiku hit collapsed dead. He then ducked down behind the hill as his men charged the defenders.

Soifon, who had returned to Konoha along with Naruto, Ino, and Yoruichi and who had refused to stay behind upon learning that the blond man had managed to convince Karin to loan three of the women that protected the gold level shipments for the Great Tree Shipping Company to the rival company the Fuma hired to transport their goods said annoyed, "You are supposed to tell him that you dimwit."

She then charged the nearest opponent and ducked under a sword swing before sweeping him off his feet. She quickly pulled a shuriken and tossed it into the man's throat as he tried to sit back up. She then moved onto the next one as Rangiku said annoyed, "Yoruichi, I can see why you find that girl so annoying."

Yoruichi flipped over a wagon landing on the shoulders of a man charging Rangiku so that her knees were on either side of his head. Twisting her waist she snapped his neck before pouncing onto another whose throat she crushed with the palm of her hand as he hit the ground. Rolling to her feet before the busty blonde she said amused, "Oh, I don't know. She's starting to grow on me."

"Hmph," Rangiku said causing a shield of ash to appear between her sister and her as a pair of men with crossbows appeared from a hole built into the hill. The men fired immediately but their bolts hit the ash shield bouncing off harmless. When it dropped Yoruichi returned fire with a cat like projectile made of black flame that raced up the hill to their position. The men tried to close the hatch and succeeded. But the powerful jutsu slammed into it and exploded through the wooden barrier incinerating the two.

The fire of the jutsu blew out two more such hidey-holes as the explosion traveled through the network of tunnels. A charred corpse flew out of one of them to land near the two Bijuu turned humans. Rangiku flipped it over with her foot stating, "A little powerful don't you think. What if our target happened to have taken refuge inside it, hmmm. Then who would be the idiot?"

Yoruichi having not considered such looked panicked, but Soifon back flipping from an enemy landed by them and having heard the conversation quickly stated, "It would still be you because he wouldn't have hidden himself down there if you hadn't of opened your fat mouth about our goals."

"Y…you….you…" Rangiku said turning red as Soifon dashed away to attack a bandit that suddenly took on the appearance of a one eyed ogre like creature who was moving to attack one of the porters as several more bandits activated their curse marks.

"Oh she's definitely growing on me," Yoruichi said as she watched Soifon nimbly dodged the massive tetsubo the ogre wielded which he could swing much faster now that he had changed forms. She leaped onto the end as he pulled the club back and slapped an exploding tag onto it before leaping off again. The tag went off revealing an extremely pissed off level two warrior who looked ready to fight even though the hand he had been holding the club with was little more than a mangled mess. The ogre stumbled back though as Soifon without missing a beat tossed some dirt in the man's eye, before circling behind him and leaping to his back where she pulled a kunai to stab it into the man-creature's eye.

The ogre despite being blind caught the kunoichi's wrists expecting such an attack. Pulling her off of him he held her before him blinking tears from his large eye. Soifon tried to attack with her other hand but he caught that as well and caused her to scream as he tried to pull her in half by her arms. Yoruichi began moving to help as Rangiku sent her ash at him, but just as the dark-skinned woman was about to pump her lightning chakra into her to increase her speed, an Arrow whizzed between the two Bijuu to slam into the curse bandit's pupil like a bull's-eye.

The man's body went slack allowing Soifon to kick free of his grip. She landed on her feet to join the other women in looking back as Sasame stood atop of a rock as her clansmen took up similar position to fire arrows of their own. The archers covered the advance of their fellow Fuma as they split up to help the defenders on each side of the caravan.

Naruto defending on the opposite side of the wagons as Yoruichi and the others used the fighting sticks Tenten had bought him to break the ribs of a normal bandit. His next attack shattered the man's knee causing him to drop to the ground where he was knocked unconscious by the handle of his stick. A body fell behind him as Tier kicked the man loose of the blade she had buried in his chest. She shook the blood clean before spinning as she ducked under a sword meant to take her head, but she ended up cutting him off at the knees. Holding her hand out as the man toppled over a jet of water blew a hole through his chest and then took the shape of a shark after passing through him. The water shark jutsu flew into a group of bandits racing down the hill at them blowing them off their feet. The men that survived got their wits about them just as the Fuma reinforcements slammed into them.

Naruto leapt back to avoid a spear to the guts landing against Tier's back. He smiled as she asked, "Shouldn't you be concerned that Ahiko is going to get away?"

"Ino's handling that," Naruto said, "If she needs help she'll let me know." The whiskered blond then charged the spear man who had been joined by two others. Creating a clone, he let it charge in front of him at the center man. The other two men wielding spears split in opposite directions to flank the clone and as one all three stabbed it. The clone smirked as it exploded blowing all three away, but Naruto had focused behind the three to see a curse mark bandit with a pair of tusks coming out of his lower face charging him. Sliding one of his fighting sticks into the holster strapped to his back beneath his red cloak, he formed a Rasengan and when the bandit emerged from the dust of the explosion he slammed it into his chest. The man flew back the way he came cutting another hole through the smoke before hitting the ground.

Naruto felt a panicked call from Ino but before he could Hiraishin to her location a large explosion of smoke erupted from the opposite side of the hill that Ahiko had disappeared behind. A moment later a large giant lizard appeared from behind it. The summons was long and slender with a sleek head. A yellow tongue appeared flicking out to taste the air. Likely sensing the fear its presence had caused it charged down the hill towards the caravan's defenders causing Naruto to move to intercept it as he could sense Ino telling him to do just that.

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When the bandits had appeared Ino had quickly made herself scarce in order to track down their leader. It had been remarkable easy to do as Rangiku had shown off. She had found the entrance to his base and frowned upon entering as despite all the shipments Ahiko's group had raided, there was remarkably little loot lying about. She wondered if that had meant the group had other bases scattered throughout the country of Rice Paddies. Yet, while she had supposed that made sense, the reason they had chosen the path for the caravan that they had was due to Fuma being certain the Ahiko's bandits operated mainly from the current location. Considering the network of tunnels she had seen the bandits appearing from, Ino found it difficult to believe the gang had another such base at their disposal.

Moving slowly through the hideout, she wasn't surprised that it was nearly deserted since she figured Ahiko had called for all his men to deal with the attackers, especially after retreating into the base itself. In the deserted base she heard the sound of static which told her that the bandit leader might be trying to call reinforcements from another location. Moving towards the sound she heard Ahiko call, "This is Lizard. I need to get a priority message to Raven's Nest."

A voice called back, "Hold on Lizard."

"I can't goddammit," Ahiko said angrily, "We are under heavy…"

"Shut up Lizard," a sharp voice that Ino felt was familiar replied.

"Who is this?"

"That's none of your concern," the voice said, "What is so important that you feel the need to try and contact us directly? Depending on your answer I may just have to come visit you and show why the call me the Tiger. You might think you are some hot shit because your curse mark was improved, but you're still just a failed experiment. Now speak up or I'm hanging up."

"We're under attack," Ahiko said holding back his anger, "Somehow the Fuma have managed to get a few of the bitches from the Great Tree Shipping Company to work for a rival company."

The voice sounded interested as the man on the other line said, "Really, what makes you so sure that they didn't just hire them directly."

"The fucking Daimyo told us the route and from what company it was leaving from," the Lizard said agitatedly. "I only realized who they were as one of my men started fleeing as soon as he saw them. He took part in that little tournament they had. There was also a pair of Leaf Ninja with them."

"Now that is interesting."

"Interesting," Ahiko shouted as the base shook from an explosion, "We're getting slaughtered."

"Yes, but back to the Leaf, was one of them wearing orange?"

"Yeah, underneath a red cloak," Ahiko answered. "Now, what about my reinforcements?"

"Yeah, well I'm sorry to say there won't be any," the voice said as Ino began to creep up on Ahiko.

"What?!"

"Look at it objectively Ahiko," the voice said amused. "By the time any help arrives you will be dead. It would be foolish of us to send more resources to bail out a failed experiment. We did bail you out once when the Fuma changed tactics on you and you couldn't adapt."

"I still… I can still provide more supplies for you," Ahiko said pleadingly as he grew increasingly desperate.

"Thanks but your services are no longer required," the man said sounding bored. "I believe we've already recruited your best men, and we will shortly be shutting down the Nest for more permanent arrangements."

"But…"

"Oh have a little self-respect will you!" The voice said annoyed before adding, "We both know the man we have pledged to serve has made a habit of discarding those who are no longer of any use to his goals. You, Ahiko, are of no use so rely on your own wits to survive."

"You bastard, I swear… ulp"

"Enough of the machismo please," Ino said coming up behind Ahiko and bringing a kunai against his throat. Addressing the man on the radio she said, "But, I'd love to hear more about who you both are working for."

"My, now that is a familiar sounding voice," the man said, "Hmm, well if you're accompanying Naruto… no it's not Sakura… now who can it be… honestly I had to listen to so many of you shrieking harlots as I listened to them fawn over this boy or that it's hard to keep track."

"M…mizuki," Ino said shocked. Her surprise caused her grasp on the man to slacken so that he could slam his elbow into her stomach.

She stumbled back as Ahiko turned to flee as the voice said, "Ah, now I remember, Ino Yamanaka." Ahiko stopped as Mizuki said, "Ahiko, kill her and if you get out there then I will personally escort you to our new home."

Ahiko stopped at the door of the communication room to say, "Why should I believe you?"

"Because while I doubt it would be as painful as killing Sakura would be, I'm sure losing a comrade on his watch would deeply wound Naruto, and I so love to wound him," Mizuki said before the radio clicked off.

"Sorry bitch, looks like you're my ticket out of here."

"Well somebody is going to get their ticket punched, that's for sure," Ino replied as she threw her kunai.

Ahiko didn't bother to dodge it as his curse mark activated giving him a lizard like appearance. He turned his head so that one of the protrusions coming from the side of his face acted as a shield causing the kunai to fall to the ground. Ahiko looked down at the weapon and bending to pick it up he asked, "Is that the best you've…"

Ahiko's taunt fell flat as Ino used the moment he took his eyes off her to charge the man. She leapt the final few feet so that as he looked up from grabbing the kunai her foot slammed right into his face. He was launched out the room to smash into the wall as Ino dashed out and back the way she came. She heard the man yell in anger which was followed by a hacking sound. She heard him spit, but didn't look back as she instead leapt forward. Something flew overhead as she hit the ground only to quickly roll back to her feet not wanting to slow down in the narrow hall. She caught site of a green phlegm like substance which began bubbling where it landed telling her that it was likely highly acidic.

She reached the entrance area which was a wide enough area that she felt comfortable engaging the man and so turned back to face Ahiko. Upon seeing her take a stand he said, "You should have kept running."

Ino smirked as she replied, "Why, because you have a curse mark? I've read your file; you're just some discarded experiment that Orochimaru grew bored with. Now why don't you be a good boy and tell me all about who you and Mizuki are working for."

Her taunt worked as her opponent shouted before launching himself at her. Ino spun out of his path and then stepped back as upon landing he swiped at her with his sharpened claws. She then spun to leg sweep him off his feet, but the man easily leapt over it. Ino though ended her spin in a crouch and with her back facing him. She then performed a mule kick with both feet catching the man in the stomach. He flew back landing on a crate which collapsed under his weigh revealing medical supplies.

Ahiko leapt back to his feet as he hacked again to fire another glob of acid. Ino charged at him and as soon as he fired dropped to slide along her knees as it sailed over her. Ahiki seemed ready for the move so leapt towards her to land atop the kunoichi, but Ino simply rolled out of the way. Then grabbing him by his long purple hair once he landed, pulled his head back as she got back to her feet. With his head still pulled back she chopped him across the throat causing him to begin gasping before grabbing him by the back of the head and throwing it forward into the knee she raised to meet his face.

Ahiko's nose crunched from the blow as he stumbled back and lost his footing on one of the vials of medicine his breaking the crate had caused to scatter. Ino smiled as Ahiko stared up at her while she asked, "Now do you want to come quietly and answer my questions, or do I have to get really rough on you?"

Ahiko ran his hand across his face and smearing the blood from his broken nose said, "I'm the one that's going to get rough bitch." Quickly flashing through some handsigns he touched the hand to the ground as he performed the summoning jutsu.

Ino had immediately begun retreating as she called for Naruto via her mark as she thought, "Shit, I forgot he could summon."

She felt something massive charging at her through the smoke as she leapt through the entrance just as a snout snapped shut, but couldn't follow due to the opening being two small. It retreated back inside as more smoke began billowing out before whatever had been summoned slammed into the entrance again causing the earth around it to give way. Retreating to a safe distance, she watched as a giant lizard began to emerge from the ruined entrance before climbing over the hill to engage Naruto and the others on the opposite side.

Ino kept watched and smirked as a moment later Ahiko darted from the entrance abandoning his summons and likely trying to kill her in favor of just living to fight another day. Ino used her mark to alert her Family that she was going in pursuit and felt both Sasame and Kin begin to move to support her.

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Naruto had a hard time not shaking his head in amusement as Rangiku said, "Finally, at least this might offer a minor challenge."

"Don't get cocky," Tier warned, "I've face summons before that could prove difficult if given a chance."

"That's why I want you three to back me up if I get into trouble," Naruto said.

"Ah, but I want to fight it," Rangiku whined.

"I'll treat you to something nice later," Naruto said causing his lover's eyes to light up.

"Fine, but it better be really nice." Rangiku stated crossing her arms beneath her bust. Winking she added, "Then maybe you can help me out of it."

Naruto nodded as the summons stopped its charge to study him and his lovers warily likely sensing the danger posed by the three Bijuu. He took the opportunity to enter his seal. Appearing before the closed gate he opened it and stepped inside. There he found Kiyomi's original form but upon his taking possession of her chakra it now looked almost like foxlike furnace that glowed red from the chakra contained inside. All the piping that had used to run to the seal now connected directly to it. Sitting before the furnace was a chair that had smaller pipes connected to it.

Naruto created a clone which he had sit in the chair, before straps shot out it which latched around his copy. Nodding to the clone, he watched it make a one handed sign and a moment later its eyes turned red and the pupils became foxlike slits. Upon the cloning entering the Beast Mimicry state that he had learned from Kiba the furnace made a sound as if it was switching on. Naruto watched the pipes leading from the chair begin to turn red as did those leading from the furnace into his chakra network.

Leaving the seal, he found himself covered in his yellow chakra cloak and leapt into the air as a giant chakra construct of the Kyuubi appeared around him. Finding himself in the head of the chakra form he said, "You ready."

The clone controlling the fox portion in his seal said in a growl, "Yeah let's go wild."

The fox charged at the Lizard summons which spun bringing its tail around to slam into Naruto. The clone directed the fox to leap over the attack and used several of its tails to grab the reptile as it passed overhed. Landing on the other side of it, the clone directed the chakra construct to spin tossing the beast into the side of another hill. The lizard scrambled to its feet before opening its mouth and from glands in the side of its cheeks a stream of liquid began to spray out, which upon making contact with the air burst into flames.

The feral clone directed the chakra fox to leap as the fire hit where it had been standing setting the area aflame. The lizard tracked it movements as it ran with its head as the fox stayed just ahead of the stream of fire. When the jutsu ended, the fox turned to head straight for the summons. It open its mouth again, but the fox's claw clamped it shut as the feral clone directing it shouted, "Oh no you don't!"

The fox's other hand grabbed the beast by its throat as it then stood on its two hind legs lifting the lizard over its head before smashing it into the ground. It then leapt straight into the air before tucking into a ball as it landed directly on the lizard smashing the summons further into the earth before rolling off.

The lizard's tail though reached up from the hole wrapping around the chakra fox's neck. The yellow fox didn't need to breath but the powerful tail constricted tighter threating to nearly behead it by crushing its throat. Its claws struggled to prevent the tail from getting tighter as its own tails began to wrap around the hind quarter of the reptile. The fox then rolled them both onto their backs before looking at its opponent. Opening its jaw, the fox revealed Naruto, who held his hands before him as a black beast ball formed before him. It didn't get much bigger than a typical Big Ball Rasengan before Naruto fired it and missing the lizard's skull by a few feet. The ball hit a nearby hill before obliterating a good portion of it.

"The next one goes into you," Naruto warned seeing the summons understood it was vastly outgunned. A moment later it burst into smoke as it returned to its home. Naruto ended his jutsu Bijuu Mode and dispelled the clone consciousness he had created to control the fox half of it. Sensing Ino still running from the area he considered lending her his help in catching Ahiko, but decided to head back towards the caravan as he could feel his other lovers moving to head her off.

Returning back over the hill that the lizard and he had disappeared behind, he saw the remaining bandits had surrendered as the Fuma celebrated their victory. Looking back the way he had come from, he knew he wouldn't feel like joining in until his lovers returned safely. However, he had every confidence that Ahiko didn't stand a chance.

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Ahiko was running on fumes primarily due to his having used his curse seal. Although he couldn't spot the kunoichi chasing after him, he could definitely feel her presence. However, it was the ones he didn't sense that he should have been concerned about as an arrow suddenly impacted his knee. "Ah fuck," he shouted as he slammed face first into the ground and skidded several feet.

He looked up to see Sasame standing before him with a sneer as she said, "Hanzaki sends his regards."

"You fucking bitch," Ahiko said forcing himself to kneel as his curse mark began to spread over his body hoping to muster enough chakra to escape.

However, a kunai attached to a chain wrapped around his neck before being pulled back choking him as a voice said from behind, "The Leaf might want you alive, but I don't think they would be too bothered if we were to hurt you if you continue to resist."

Ahiko looked over his shoulder to see Kotohime holding the chain currently cutting off his ability to breathe. He gasped as two senbon slammed into his shoulders from the front causing him to look away to see a kunoichi that looked like a younger version of the Fuma second in command. The bells tied to the senbon jingled and suddenly all fight left Ahiko's body as a result of the genjutsu Kin cast.

Ino landed in front of the captured man saying, "Nice work ladies."

Sasame smiled as she said, "You're welcome."

"I still don't understand how you two knew to get in front of him," Kotohime said wondering how her sister and Clan leader had been so sure of the path Ahiko had taken.

Sasame shrugged stating, "It just seemed to be the most logical direction he would head. He couldn't escape north, and going south was also out of the question. That left east and west, so I guessed west since he would want to get to the unaligned territory between us and Taki. This was the most direct path west from his hideout." Although technically true Sasame placed her hand on the fox mark located on the right side of her lower back just above her butt that had actually told her which direction he fled in due to Ino's tracking him.

Kotohime accepted the logic although she still felt that had been more certain than a guess would have warranted, especially as although Ahiko had taken a pretty straight path they had needed to circle around to get ahead of him. Noticing Ino moving towards the man, the dark haired Fuma kunoichi asked, "What are you doing?"

Placing her hand on Ahiko's skull to dive into his mind Ino answered, "He has some answers that I want. It turns out he's working for another group and one of them used to be my Academy teacher."

Ino closed her eyes and found herself floating in a representation of Ahiko's mind. Placing her hands on the large brain at the center of the darkened space scrolls began to appear from it. She began to scan his mind for any images of Mizuki, but then from across her a large eye opened. Her eyes went wide as the dark pupil turned into the Shraingan and then all hell began to break loose. Arcs of electricity began passing over the brain causing the grey matter to darken as the cells fried. "No," she shouted as she scanned faster trying to salvage something, but then the connection broke as she found herself in the real world once more.

She felt Kin's arms around her as the kunoichi had pulled her away to break the connection. The former sound-nin asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"

Ino's eyes focused on Ahiko, who although still kneeling despite having convulsed heavily as his mind had literally fried itself, it was quite apparent from his unblinking stare he was no longer a part of the living world. A moment later Naruto appeared panicked as he asked, "Is everyone alright?"

"How did you do that?" Kotohime asked causing Naruto to curse having not been aware that Kotohime had been with the group, "and how did you know something happened?"

Naruto had an answer for the second question as he replied, "Something happened to several of the surviving bandits. They all started shaking before keeling over. I wasn't sure what had happened so I Hiraishined here to be on the safe side."

Before Kotohime could inquire as to how he had teleported to their location since she had believed he needed a seal, Ino said, "Shit, was it just the ones who had curse marks?"

"I didn't check, but that makes sense. Why?"

"Because they likely might have had information on whom Ahiko was working for," Ino said angry at herself. "He had his Curse Seal upgraded or stabilized which must mean he was brought somewhere that they didn't want us to know about or had information on who was involved. They probably also probably applied failsafes to make sure that information didn't fall into our hands. I shouldn't have been in such a rush…"

"You couldn't have known," Naruto said comforting his lover by placing his hands on her arms and rubbing them, which caused Kotohime to look to her sister and Sasame. She didn't understand why they didn't seem all that concerned by the tender gesture.

"Still," Ino argued not exactly wanting to be let off the hook for her perceived screw-up, "If I had waited…"

"They might have activated another way to silence them," Kin said sounding just as comforting as Naruto. "Don't forget Orochimaru had built such a precaution into the curse mark itself."

Ino nodded remembering that Tayuya's had nearly killed her when Orochimaru had activated such a measure. As a result she had spent several years in a coma until Naruto had awakened her. Feeling a little better thanks to her Family, she focused on Naruto as she informed him, "Mizuki is involved in this somehow." She watched her lover tense and knew it would be worse as she added, "Also, what killed Ahiko wasn't his curse mark, but some sort of genjutsu that was placed on him with the Sharingan. It was set to go off should someone go poking around inside his head. I'm willing to bet his death triggered the failsafe in the others."

Naruto nodded anxiously aware that a Sharingan currently meant one of two possible suspects as far as they knew. Giving his lover a reassuring smile he said, "See, this trip wasn't a total loss. Let's head back to the capital. There's plenty for us to celebrate and since the threat to the Fuma is over, I for one can only consider this mission a win."

*****************************

Momo Hinamori sat in the bed of the cheap rundown hotel that she was staying in. She heard a woman begin moaning as one of the prostitutes that frequented the sleazy bar on the first floor managed to find another client. From another room she heard screaming as another had trouble collecting her fee from one. The yelling grew louder until it suddenly cutoff followed by the sound of something heavy hitting the floor. A door was thrown opened followed by hurried footsteps which when they returned were followed by two more. She heard a man begin complaining followed by what she assumed was the prostitute who decided to collect the cheap man's life instead rummaging through her dead clients pockets. A moment later the room was vacated as the two men carried out the corpse while the sound of a cart that was being pushed told her someone was coming to clean the room.

All in all, it was another typical night for one of the undocumented settlements that existed in the unclaimed territory that stood between the Land of Rice Paddies and Land of Waterfalls. The country that it had been was once known as the Land of the Woods, which had been home to a group of Anbu called the Prajna. However, at some point the minor village they had belonged to was destroyed and the government collapsed. There were rumors that stated the Leaf Village had been behind it, but they had never been substantiated.

Once the government had collapsed both Waterfall and Rice had tried to claim the land as theirs, but although the Fuma had lost the war, eventually leading to Orochimaru setting up shop in their country, Taki had not been able to claim it either. The primary reason being that Grass using their diplomatic corps had successful petition Fire Country to step in so that their neighbors in Waterfall wouldn't grow stronger. The Fire Daimyo had then had made it clear that no country would claim the territory less Konoha would get involved in the conflict.

Although it was never official stated some said the Third Hokage had only gone alone with the Daimyo's decree due to his duty. Momo suspected it was because the Third Hokage knew what would happen should no government be established which was that the land would become a haven of criminals and the like. It didn't take long for it to happen either as normal citizens quickly abandoned their villages as the land became more and more unlawful. While most of the villages had become ghost towns, the one she found herself in and a few others continued to thrive. Naturally, they weren't the type of places were decent people lived though. For example, the man whose murder she had just heard would likely have his corpse sold so that his organs could be harvested for the thriving black market that dealt in such things.

Momo hated the place, but she had come due to several rumors that she had heard in regards to new organization that was secretly recruiting. She didn't have any desire to join, but a name kept popping up as various missing-nin discussed the possibility of serving under the banner of the man behind the rumors, Sasuke Uchiha. They were all just rumors as even the few missing-nin that she had heard them from were inquiring about how they could join up with him, but most of the instructions had not panned out. Still, Momo had believed that even the seemingly dead-ends had actually been a part of the process as they often led to more rumors that led to more seemingly false trails. She suspected that whoever was recruiting the missing-nin had people observing those that arrived to make sure that they weren't reporting to anyone, and sincerely wished to join.

Eventually the trail had led to the town she was currently in which was called simply Hell's Gate. She suspected it was because many of those that weren't careful found themselves being sent to the next world and considering the type of scum that it catered to, a level of hell was likely where most of them ended up. Almost immediately upon arriving she had been met by someone who had taken her to what had recently been an abandoned amphitheater that had been built before Wood Country's collapse. There she and a few others had not been introduced to Sasuke Uchiha, but a man that called himself Mizuki. He had welcomed them to the base that he had called the Raven's Nest.

He had been evasive when asked if he worked for Sasuke while also promising those present wishing to join that all their questions would be answered provided they passed a final test. What that test was, she didn't know as she hadn't left with the men and women eager to do so. This had caused Mizuki to approach her and inquire about her intentions.

Momo had stated that she didn't wish to join any group, but instead required their assistance. She moreover explained her interest in them was merely due to the suspected person pulling the strings was Sasuke. Mizuki had told her to get lost, and she was certain that later that night some people would be visiting her to make her just another corpse. However, she had played it cool by explaining that Sasuke and her interests were currently aligned in that she wished to see Naruto harmed as well. She had then provided Mizuki with the information that Naruto and the owner of the Great Tree Shipping Company were rather closely connected. Mizuki hadn't been impressed, but she suspected that someone at least was interested as she never received the visitors intent on ending her life that she had been expecting.

A few days later she had been summoned back to the Raven's Nest where Mizuki had asked her what she wanted from them. She explained that she wanted men and resources so that she could lure Naruto into a trap and kill him. Mizuki had seemed please, but told her they would need time to consider her request. It had been several weeks since then and she had just about given up hope.

She considered returning and informing Mizuki of the Binding and that Naruto was connected to the woman calling herself Kiyomi through it. However, Kanji had always been most insistent that such information must never be shared and although he was dead, she feared disappointing him when they met in heaven, as that was the only place she could see a soul as pure as his ending up. In fact, she believed that Kiyomi was in fact some sort of demon that Naruto had managed to bind to him. So complete was her devotion that even as she had witnessed some of the horrible things he had done to her and others over the years, she had always been able to rationalize it as being something that she and the others had deserved.

As such she was going to have her revenge, and ensure that the demon knew the exact same pain as her by killing the man that she was connected to right in front of her. She smiled as she could almost imagine Kanji petting her head as he so often had when letting her know that she had pleased him. She heard footsteps approaching and frowned as they made a straight line for her room. They stopped in front of her door, and she tensed expecting them to burst in, but having placed a barrier just inside the doorway that would kill any who entered she was confident she could escape. Looking at the exploding tag affixed to the wall that would let her leap outside from her second floor room and escape to the forest, she prepared to detonate it in order to blow out the wall. She paused though as a knocking sounded causing her to ask, "Yes, how can I help you?"

"We've been sent by Mizuki to collect you," a man said.

Momo knew that it didn't mean she wasn't out of danger necessarily, yet she also knew that she had to take some risks if she was to get her revenge. Momo deactivated the barrier and unlocked the door before stepping out to see two men dressed in a type of shinobi uniform. They didn't have headbands, but from the black shirt and pants along with grey tactical vests it appeared the rumors that a new group was being created were true. Stepping out into the hall the men directed her to follow them before guiding her back to the Raven's Nest.

Several hours later a Raven in the rafters cawed as she waited patiently for Mizuki to appear. She noticed a young man of about sixteen sitting in some seats as well, but suspected that much like her that he had made a request to which he was going to get an answer. Another hour later Mizuki appeared at the top of the amphitheater before walking down the steps to the stage. Leaping atop it he said towards her, "Sorry about the wait, I needed to step out for a quick bite. The reason you've been summoned is simple, the higher ups have heard your requests and have decided to support you."

Zeroing his gaze on her, he said, "It appears your tip about Naruto working with the Great Tree Shipping Company was correct. He managed to convince the President or owner to send four of what would be their heavy hitters to support a rival company. They just put an end to one of our little supply gathering operations. Therefore, we are going to provide you with a base we have in Wave. You are to head there and make your preparations and when the time is right you will be given the go ahead. You are not to act until you receive our permission. Is that clear?"

"Yes," Momo said eagerly.

"Good, then return to your hotel and some of my men will escort you to the base in the morning. You may leave."

Momo stood and as she did so applied a paper seal to the underside of her chairs armrest. Bowing politely, she left, but as she walked back to her hotel room she adjusted her hair, the movement being for the sake of the people she was sure were watching her as she pressed on the seal she had hidden behind her ear to activate it. The seal attached to the chair also activated which picking up the noise vibrations around it then transmitted those vibrations to the one behind her ear which passed through it converted them back into sounds.

Mizuki apparently had decided to wait to make sure she had left before saying, "Udon, where are you with your preparations?"

"Everything is prepared, I merely am awaiting the go ahead." The youth that had been waiting with her reported. "I am going to need some idea of when we are to go as the contractors I've hired need a standby window."

"You can tell them to proceed as normal for now," the former Leaf instructor stated. "We need for all the players to be in position before the operation is a go. Timing is going to be the most critical. But if you pull this off then Root will be reborn as our personal Anbu division with you at its head."

"I'll handle my part perfectly," Udon replied confidently. "I do have a question though."

"Go ahead."

"I take it that woman's plot is also being tied into this operation. If her goal is to kill Naruto, then what is the point of the bonus objectives?"

Mizuki chuckled while answering, "Let's just say the man you will be serving tends to be rather mercurial towards the demon brat. One minute he wants him dead by any means necessary, the next his death can only come from his hands. In any case, she claims that she can lure him in and then isolate him. That will be a huge advantage especially for your mission. If he dies then he dies, but the one calling the shots probably thinks that she doesn't stand a chance in hell. For now though just worry about being ready when the time comes."

"Understood."

Momo listened as it sounded like Mizuki headed to the underground area where the actors used to live, while Udon headed back out. She frowned at being underestimated, but let a feral grin appear on her lips as she imagined that soon enough she would be pouring Narutp's ashes over her master's grave leaving a broken Kiyomi with the knowledge that she had been unable to save him. The thought caused her to break out into a manic laugh that caused many of the killers that called the town home to give the otherwise sweet looking woman a wide berth.