Ch22- War

It had been a few days since the Kage had decided to hold a meeting between themselves. While they had already eliminated most of the Akatsuki, the threat was still there, and talks about an alliance were considered.

"Kurai, you will be my escort to the Kage summit from the shadows as my third protector. Protect me with your life and, if needed, sacrifice yourself to kill at least one of them, but stay hidden at all times. However, stay hidden at all times unless my life is in danger."

"Yes, my Lord."

***

The fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumī.

The third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.

The fourth Raikage, A.

The fifth Kazekage, Gaara.

The sixth Hokage, Danzo.

and

the mediator, and leader of the land of Iron, Mifune.

Each Kage was only allowed two guards to accompany them and the act of keeping the third one hidden could even be the trigger to start a war. Fortunately, Kurai's abilities to hide were good enough to enter a room full of Kage without being seen, at least as long as no special circumstances happened.

Due to her orders, she refrained from making a move after the Raikage's outburst and even stayed put while white Zetsu entered the room, letting the Tsuchikage's guards do their job while she simply observed.

.

.

.

"You can ask me anything you like. As your senior, I'll answer."

The Tsuchikage, who was without a doubt the oldest Kage, had seen the Kazekage, Gaara, as nothing but a brat that had to fill in this position after his father had died.

While Temari hand to hold Kankuro back, Gaara just wordlessly stared at his fellow Kage while wondering how such an old man was still alive.

"Then, let me ask you this. When did all of you, forsake yourselves?"

.

.

.

While the Raikage and Kazekage got up to deal with Sasuke Uchiha, Kurai had to stay put as any small movement would be discovered by Ao, now that he had his byakugan activated constantly.

Luckily he used it to observe Danzo, leaving Kurai hidden behind the Tsuchikage.

***

As Zetsu suddenly resurrected and attacked all the people that were remaining in the room, Kurai wanted to help. However, the Tsuchikage motioned for her to stay put. Luckily she could move a bit more freely now as most had left the room, leaving mainly the Mizukage and Mifune close by.

While Akatsuchi created an earth golem to get rid of the mass of Zetsu, the Tsuchikage simply turned it into stone before flying down to deal with the Uchiha.

While the Raikage was complaining about how Lord Onoki had killed the Uchiha, a sudden voice alerted them anew, causing all of them to get their guards up, causing even Kurai to appear next to the Tsuchikage.

It wasn't that she didn't know about the risk this would cause, but she instinctively felt that she would die if she would go against him.

After hearing of his plans to put the whole world under a genjutsu, the Kage were enraged. However, despite that, they remained calm even after he declared war on them, though they were in disbelief.

"We won't abandon hope."

***

"Tsuchikage, while we will ignore the fact that there is another bodyguard of yours, we will have a talk about it after the war."

"Alright, you can do whatever you want with her, she has lost her purpose anyway. Though I hope you can hold that off for after the war since she will be quite useful for that purpose at least since she was the rival of the fourth Hokage in her prime."

These simple words only undermined her position as a tool, with even less worth than a jinjuriki. She felt something unknown, something dark, something ... disturbing.

Betrayal.

It was nothing new to her. She had manipulated and betrayed hundreds of people over the years and recently even she had been betrayed, however never would she have thought to be thrown away so easily.

Given to others without the need to. There was no reason to abandon her, the Tsuchikage merely wanted to have an easy way out of the situation and was happy to use her for it instead of offending the Raikage further.

***

War,

something all of the Kage had hoped never having to experience again. Too many lives were lost and too many resources were used in the last ones.

Most of the time only a single of the major villages would come out with enough gains to justify the war while the other four had to suffer. Even smaller nations weren't spared as they were pillaged and their lands used to hold the battles.

And now, the fourth great shinobi war had started without any way to prevent it.

Unlike the second or third, in which most had participated, this war was against a common enemy. The Ghost of the Uchiha, Uchiha Madara.

***

War had begun and Kurai was currently looking at the sky and relaxing. Part of the allied shinobi force war currently on an Island turtle, which was carried by the Tsuchikage himself as he was flying in the sky.

The allied shinobi force had begun to assemble in the Land of Lightning, to be exact in Kumogakure, where 4 of the 5 Kage had already been waiting for them.

Since all important shinobi had arrived, the Kage had started giving out the shinobi headbands, which signalized that they were now part of something greater than their village, something more united.

Due to her wide proficiency in multiple areas, it was hard to know where to put her to good use. In the end, it was deemed that she wasn't empathetic enough for the Intelligence division, where she would just doom allies to their deaths in exchange for a military victory. As such, she was put into the surprise attack division with the leader being Kankuro.

Unfortunately for him, Kurai wouldn't blindly follow his orders but instead do everything in her power to do the most damage against the enemies even if that meant her squad would be exterminated.

As all 80.000 shinobi were assembled, each commander was introduced accompanied by the loud cheering of all the assembled shinobi.

First Division, Mid-Range Battle Division leader, Darui!

Second Division, Short-Range Battle Division leader, Kitsuchi!

Third Division, Short-to-Mid-Range Battle Division leader, Kakashi Hatake!

Fourth Division, Long-Range Battle Division leader and commander-in-chief, Gaara!

Fifth Division, Special Division leader, Mifune!

***

The surprise attack division was currently riding on Sai's bird drawings and making their way towards enemy territory.

Meanwhile, Darui was once again being his pessimistic self, thinking about what would happen to him if the others were wiped out and he was taken as a prisoner.

While he was lost in his thoughts, he completely missed Kankuro's explanation of the plan, until he was snapped out of his thoughts by their commander, who had finally had enough of him staring into the distance.

While their unit had started making a base camp, the first and fifth company had also made their move towards their respective location.

However, suddenly Zanji noticed a jamming Jutsu being used as someone made their way towards their camp.

Zanji was relieved as he realized that the one coming toward them was a Konoha-nin who was part of the advanced surveillance unit. Unfortunately, he collapsed causing Zanji to help support his comrade inside their camp since they had boobytrapped their surroundings.

Luckily Kankuro wasn't appointed as the commander without a reason, as he quickly noticed something to be wrong, as the enemy took control of the Aburame-nin.

As he used Zanji as a human shield, the Aburama started running toward their unit, acting as a suicide bomber while screaming for them to run.

With Kankuro's quick thinking he used his chakra strings to save Zanji while Kurai made a move to save the Aburame, Muta.

Additionally, Ittan separated the explosion from them with the help of his earth style. Unfortunately, Zanji had been injured in the explosion and Muta was too injured to do anything but lay down and hope for the best.

While Deidara was provoking Kankuro, Sei realized that one of the people attacking him was his brother, the one that died due to both of them being part of the root program.

While Sai went to fight his brother, Oomoi made it look like he was attacking Deidara but destroyed Sasories chakra strings instead, freeing the remaining two Konoha-nin that were controlled.

As Kankuro and Ittan combined their attacks, both Deidara and Sasori came crashing to the ground, rendering their hight advantage nill.

Kurai didn't know if it was out of spite, but Kankuro took out a puppet, which she quickly identified to be the body of Sasori.

Having to fight himself, truly ironic.

Meanwhile, she didn't know if it was the stupidest or smartest idea to use that puppet. For one, it was Sasori's masterpiece since it was his own body. However, it was also another puppet made by him, meaning he knew what attacks to expect, which might cause their battle to finish like their last one, with Kankuro's defeat being due to Sasori knowing the puppet's weakness.

As Kankuro ordered Kiri to take care of the wounded, Kurai finally made her move after having stayed silent most of the time.

"Hey! Listen to my orders!"

Noticing how Kurai just ignored him, Kankuro could only sight in defeat as he instead concentrated on his fight against Sasori, where Sai's brother had just blown himself up.

He never expected such a powerhouse to listen to him anyways.

"Fuck me sideways."

While Sai let out his anger at Deidara, Kurai also appeared behind Sasori who was shocked to suddenly notice her being behind him.

"How didn't I notice!?"

It was too late as she catapulted him right towards one of the two puppets Kankuro had readied as they imprisoned both of the dead Akatsuki members.

For safety, Kurai stayed back and let the other members deal with Sai's brother. Meanwhile, she and Kankuro made sure that the most dangerous enemies stayed restrained.

While Sai managed to release his brother's soul due to his picture book, Sasori was freed after realizing that he had already achieved the art he had always longed for, leaving the 'Father' and 'Mother' puppets in Kankuro's hands until he would give them to another, worthy, puppet master.

Their team was confused. However, Kurai was the most surprised as she was unable to understand the cause of the emotions that freed both Sasori and Sai's brother who never had gotten a name like so many of her siblings.

Meanwhile, with the help of Muto Aburame's intel, they had noticed the thousand of Zentsu deep underground as multiple platoons started assembling to battle the enemies that were catapulted out of the ground like a volcano due to the combined earth style.

Their unit soon discovered multiple Edo Tensei's. Zabuza and Haku of the mist, another shinobi of the stone, and a cloaked and unknown shinobi, which Sai quickly attacked with explosives.

Before they could react, Haku had already created an Ice mirror and attacked with his senbon, causing their birds to shatter into ink.

Kurai knew that it was time for her to go into action, as she interrupted the cloaked shinobi since they at least knew what the other's abilities were, giving her team an advantage.

However before the others could properly react to the attack, multiple allied shinobi blocked the way, giving their unit time to breathe.

Kurai vs unknown shinobi

Rock Lee vs Haku

Kakashi Hatake vs Zabuza

Might Gai vs Gari

However, the peaceful conversation between Kakashi, Sakura, Zabuza, and Haku was interrupted as Kabuto took full control of their bodies, forcing them to attack.

"Eh, sorry Kurai. Seems you have to kill me once again."

Hearing the voice of the figure beneath that cloak, Kurai suddenly began to freeze.

"Ito..."

***(Flashback-no-Jutsu)***

"Who are you?"

It was barely 5 years after she had been born and this was the first time she met someone other than her sensei and the doctor.

However, unlike her sensei, this person was way younger and didn't wear a mask. Neither was his expression as cold as the doctors.

"Subject 58 at your service. Nice to meet you, but who are you?"

Quickly debating if it was worth it to even talk to her 'relative', Kurai figured that there were almost no reasons not to.

"Subject 67."

While she looked surprised to meet another subject like her, it seemed like this wasn't his first time meeting people like him, and as such he was quick to lead their conversation.

***

"Hey Kurai, what's your dream?"

They were currently on the roof of the facility after Ito had forced her to sneak out with him even though he hadn't even recovered from the previous beating he had received for sneaking into the village and interacting with the residents.

"Why would I have a dream? A dream would just burden me since I know I could never fulfill it and even if I wanted to I wouldn't."

Ito just silently shook his head at his friend's obedience. While he had tried over and over again to get her to break away from that total reverence she had towards her masters he had ultimately failed every time but he never stopped trying.

"You know, my dream is to explore the world and be free. We have been chained in this facility for our whole lives, the same as our parents. I just want to leave all of it behind."

Seeing the confusion in his friend's eyes he just silently continued. "I know you won't understand it, but I do hope you will be able to one day."

***Flashback change***

"Why did you leave me?"

"Why did you have to die?"

*sniff* *sniff*

Kurai felt something in her break after she stole the casualty report and saw Ito's name on it.

He had left her. Destroyed were his dreams, their secret escape plans, and her remaining emotions with it.

That was the day where part of her died as she just lived her life from mission to mission.

***Flashback change***

"We have recently sighted a suspicious figure approaching the facility. Kurai, you along with your team will be tasked with observing and eliminating the target if needed. Find out what their plan is and if they work for someone."

Kurai, who had just turned 18 had already gotten the role of Captain of her squad consisting of subjects like her as they were currently at war. Unfortunately, they all had rather an average talent and had been struggling to become Jonin.

Surprisingly it didn't take long before they found their target, but unlike what they expected the figure was just observing the facility without making any move.

Well, at least not until he turned toward their position.

"Oh, how lucky I am, to think I found you so fast, Kurai."

She was disturbed, not many knew that name and most were important shinobi of Iwagakure. Despite that, the most disturbing thing was that she found the voice to be strangely familiar but she couldn't put her finger on why.

While the man's voice was quite deep, there was still a trace of childishness remaining in it while he spoke to her.

All her teammates had already been knocked out cold with traps and she was the only one remaining as she fought the unknown shinobi who had kept silent after muttering that one sentence.

"Hey girl, do you have a dream?"

While these questions confused her, she was quick to accept it as a distraction and didn't bother to reply.

"You know, I had a dream. I dreamed of exploring the world as much as I wanted and I went ahead and did it.

For the last 10 years, I have been accomplishing my dream to the best of my abilities, now only one thing is missing. ...You!"

That she was confused was an understatement, she knew she had heard similar words before, but them having relations was impossible since he was dead.

"Who are you?"

The mysterious man laughed as he could hear Kurai growling at him.

As both of them stopped their attacks, the man started undressing, until a small brand was seen on his side, where it clearly said '58'.

"Impossible, he's dead. Stop pretending you're him." But deep inside her, hope was ignited. They were just too similar.

Though her voice was barely audible as tears formed in her eyes, threatening to run down her cheeks.

"Let's run, find a purpose, enjoy freedom." The pleading in his voice was audible enough for her to notice, as well as the desperation she could feel in that sentence.

Kurai just quietly shook her head. "I-I can't, I'm sorry. Now go, you are already seen as dead, don't endanger yourself by being here."

Looking at his dear sibling, Ito could only sight in defeat. Maybe he should have stayed, maybe he should have forced her to go with him, he didn't know. "Afraid it's too late for that."

Multiple shinobi suddenly appeared around them, creating a circle around them while the Tsuchikage kept floating above them.

"Kurai. Kill that man that dared to betray us."

She had never wanted to refuse a command so much in her life but her body moved out of habit. She was nothing, she had no life. She was simply Kurai, the weapon the Tsuchikage wielded. Even if he died, she would belong to the new leader of the village.

Neither did Ito give her a chance as he began attacking her. While she did have the advantage in strength, he seemed to have become very proficient in making traps, causing her problems at every turn.

Their fight continued for more than 10 minutes, as Ito did a backflip to dodge the incoming blade, which cleanly cut off the clothing on his stomach, revealing an intricate seal.

As a new strike appeared in front of him, Ito once again prepared something. However this time he didn't dodge. No, he didn't do anything. He just stood there and let the sword impale him.

At the revelation that she just stabbed him, Kurai paused in shock. Before she could recover her bearings, Ito had already enveloped her in a hug.

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault. I'm sorry I didn't take you with me and I'm sorry I couldn't continue being your brother. The last 10 years have been fun, unfortunately, I also made many enemies and they somehow found out who I am and decided to leave it to Iwa to kill me.

Although I noticed it, I was already too late so I decided to visit one last time before dying."

Small tears could be seen in Kurai's eyes, which were covered by Ito who was still hugging her and covering everybody's sight on her face.

"You know, I met an interesting guy some time ago and did him a favor. In return I made him make me something, to be exact a puppet. A masterfully created one at that. I used all the materials I had collected from my travels to let him create it with this and I'll hope it will let you remember our time together."

As he pulled out a few scrolls and placed them in Kurai's care, she noticed how his grip on her had lessened.

"Hey... don't be sad. I'll... always... be... with... y..ou."

At that moment his grip, which had almost disappeared, strengthened again as he enveloped her fully before releasing the seal on his front, causing a huge shockwave to surround him, knocking and killing many of the gathered shinobi.

In the end, only herself and the Tsuchikage were left standing as half of the assembled shinobi had died, with most of the others only surviving because the Tsuchikage bought them a few seconds to put their defenses up.

"He is dead my Lord."

Her expression was a void, her voice cold, her heart full of sorrow but dead.

***Later in the 3rd War***

"So you are the one he has chosen, how interesting meeting you here. While he has chosen a worthy shinobi, I don't know if the same can be said about your puppet skills.

As a last favor to him, I'll give you these books. May they help you correctly use our creation. I can't stand by idly, while my creation is used by such a newbie."

***Flashback-no-Jutsu end***

"I had hoped to never stand against you again but it seems like I don't have much of a choice. Prepare yourself."