Chapter 34 - Face Off

''I'm sure that I got a direct hit in'' Killer Bee said as his eyes squinted from behind his sunglasses. 

[It isn't that you got a hit in, he let you get a hit in so that he could cut off three of my tails] Gyúki said seriously. 

''...This brat is scarier than I thought'' Killer Bee said with a bitter smile as Sukuna crawled out of the crater in the mountain with an eerie smile on his face that sent shivers down his spine. 

Sukuna's gaze landed on Killer Bee who didn't hesitate and slapped his hands onto the ground. The moment his hands touched the ground, a huge smoke screen was created before a primal roar sounded through the area. 

Sukuna's gaze kept looking at the cloud of smoke as two huge eyes gazed down at him. 

''So you decided that you needed the Eight Tails directly'' Sukuna gave a crazed smile as he looked at the mountain-like creature. Its mere presence made it difficult to breathe. 

He looked at the Eight Tails that had fused with Killer Bee and grinned before slapping the ground as well, creating another huge cloud of smoke as the Three Tail's single eye stared through the smoke from on top of the mountain. 

[Isobu, you cannot defeat me. Don't do anything stupid] The Gyúki said coldly as Isobu started laughing from underneath Sukuna, 

[You haven't changed, Gyúki. Overconfident as always] 

The Gyúki didn't respond as Bee took control of the body, eight huge swords appeared in its tails as it dashed towards Isobu who roared as three huge balls of water were formed on top of its head before shooting towards the Gyúki. 

It hastily crossed its swords in front of the incoming attacks. However, only five tails remained and as the last water ball hit the lone sword blocking it, the Gyúki lost its balance. 

As it positioned itself, it suddenly felt a threatening presence from behind it as it wanted to turn around but was unable too. 

Sukuna's eyes grew blood red as a pattern appeared in his eyes, causing many shocked gasps and shouts to sound through the arena while Hiruzen crushed the armrest and hastily stood up with a horrified gaze, 

''Sharingan! Why does someone from the Senju's have the Sharingan!'' 

''Hiruzen, what is the meaning of this? Isn't he part of the Senju's?!'' A said with sweat on his forehead and a serious expression covering his face. 

Hiruzen didn't pay him any mind as A shouted, ''Since the Leaf lied before the deal, the bet is off!'' 

A stood up from his chair and wanted to dash towards his brother, but a figure blocked his path as Akai appeared in front of him with an emotionless gaze as her Chakra flared up. 

''Get out of the way woman, know what is good for you'' A said as his own Chakra clearly suppressed Akai's, but her gaze didn't change. 

It didn't take long before as Hiashi stood besides Akai with his Byakúgan activated, clearly ready to fight as well. 

''Even you? Do you have a death wish?'' A roared as lightning covered his body. 

''Raikage, the Leaf never lied. So you should stay calm and just watch'' Tsunade interfered and walked over as well. 

''Someone from the Senju's possesses the Sharingan! Do you think I'm a f-….'' The Raikage spoke up as an old voice came from behind him as the curtains opened, 

''The Raikage is right, Sukuna Senju lied. Not just about his Sharingan, but also the Tailed Beast in his body. We should also inspect the Senju Clan for any indication of rebellion'' Danzo walked in with two Root Anbu following behind him. 

''Danzo!'' Hiruzen yelled sternly, but Danzo didn't pay him any attention as he was trying to hide his grin, 

''So the Leaf cheated us! From this moment, the bet is off and I will go get my brother!'' A said with anger as Danzo said, ''To make up for our own shortcomings, we will help you in detaining him'' 

''It seems that you think you're the Hokage, Danzo'' Tsunade said with anger. 

"Ofcourse not, but we should right our mistakes to our friends and allies'' Danzo said with a 'kind' smile. 

''Hiruzen do you agree with him?'' Tsunade asked coldly, but Hiruzen was clearly hesitating. 

''You dissapoint me'' Tsunade said coldly as she stood in front of the Raikage, blocking his path. 

''Well, it seems that the Leaf doesn't welcome me nor the Senju's. How pitiful, the child became a weapon for your village, yet you all want to put him on a leash'' The Mizukage said as she stood up, clearly done with the circus here. 

She looked at Akai, Tsunade and Kurenai and said with a bitter smile, ''I can't help you considering my position, but know that you all, including the Senju's are always welcome in Kirigakure'' 

''I will relay that to him'' Akai nodded with a light smile as the Mizukage left with a sigh, as she passed the curtains, Asuma appeared with a frantic expression, 

''Hokage-sama! The village is being invaded by the Sand and unknown Ninja's!'' 

''WHAT?!'' Hiruzen stood up in shock as his figure trembled, he hastily yelled across the stadium, ''All Shinobi, prepare for battle! The village is under attack! Follow the protocol!'' 

Many hasty screams sounded through the area as many people were flustered and bewildered by the sudden news, they were still looking at the Eight Tails that had several tails cut off as Sukuna and the Three Tails were pushing it into a corner. 

''Danzo, you and me will go to the core of their invasion! Asuma, lead us there!'' Hiruzen said as he instructed without giving Danzo a way out. 

Tsunade, Hiashi and Kurenai were still a deadlock with the Raikage as Akai revealed a small smile nobody noticed. 

As Hiruzen and Danzo wanted to jump across the stadium, a huge shadow covered the stadium as a huge white snake blocked their view. 

The two of them looked up as their already shocked minds went numb, above them stood a woman on top of a white snake Hiruzen and Danzo knew from the back of their hands.... However, also a pair of eyes that haunted them.... 

''Orochimaru.... Itachi Uchiha.... What the hell are the two of you doing here?'' Danzo asked first as he gritted his teeth. 

''We will have you two remain here, Danzo-sama'' Itachi said with his Sharingan activated. However, their pattern had clearly changed, his pupils were black with a red triangle in the middle as three scythe-like patterns filled his pupils. 

''Itachi, do you know what you are doing right now?'' Danzo said with a threatening tone. 

''I know perfectly well'' Itachi replied coldly. 

''Orochimaru, Itachi, how did the two of you team up?'' Hiruzen asked coldly as Orochimaru appeared from behind her summon, as she showed herself, Hiruzen's eyes turned wide as he finally connected the dots. 

''My name is Maru, Sensei. I'm naturally here to stop Sukuna-chan from being harassed by two old men'' Maru said with a teasing grin on her face as Itachi's body shivered from her sudden change. 

Hiruzen shuddered as a disgusted expression covered his face before he turned to Itachi, ''Itachi, are you sure you want to betray the village?'' 

Itachi's eyes narrowed as he said, ''You seem to misunderstand, Hiruzen-sama. What I choose is to follow the path I deem best for the village. You cling onto the Hokage status and put a blind eye to the people, the Uchiha's, the Senju's, even the Hyúga's'' 

Hiashi, who was previously in doubt what he should do, shuddered and thought about what Itachi said. The Hyúga's had taken extreme measures to keep the Byakúgan in their family because of people like Hiruzen who would gladly sacrifice their family for his own benefits. 

''Akai-san, Tsunade-sama, Kurenai-san, I need to inform my clan'' Hiashi said with a resolute gaze. 

''Go'' Akai said before anyone could respond as Hiashi gratefully nodded and disappeared. 

A didn't hesitate and suddenly kicked the ground and disappeared past them, ''After him!'' Tsunade yelled as her mind wasn't properly processing what was happening. 

''It seems that you all overestimate yourself, we're in the village of the Leaf, do the two of you think you can hold our forces back by just the two of you?'' Danzo said as many Shinobi appeared besides them, Kakashi, Asuma, ANBU, Root ANBU, etc.

The only one who was missing were Jiraya, who was away from the village which Hiruzen and Danzo cursed under their breath for. 

Dozens if not hundreds of Jonin gathered around Danzo and Hiruzen who looked at Itachi and Maru who merely smiled as hundreds of figures appeared on the edge of the arena. None of them wore a headband as several were recognized... 

''Sumure, Satori, Jane, Kakaru.... Are the Senju's betraying the Leaf?!" Danzo roared as Sumure's voice was the first to loudly curse at him, 

''You old bastard! You slaughtered hundreds of our people, if not thousands! Yet you have the nerve to call us traitors! Why don't you undo that bandage on your arm you old dog!'' 

Danzo trembled as everyone looked at him with a weird expression as he yelled, ''I nearly lost my arm in a mission for the village! Unlike the Senju's who are threatening the peace of the village right this instant!'' 

''Bullshit! Nobody here is a saint, we all have seen dismembered corpses! Undo your bandage then you old dog and show us who the real traitors is!'' Satori piped in with an anger-stricken face. 

Danzo felt a vein pop on top of his head as he yelled in anger, ''Attack them! Leave none alive!'' 

Everyone readied their stances with mixed feelings until Hiruzen yelled, 

''Wait!'' 

The eyes gathered on Hiruzen who looked at Satori's angered expression and asked, ''What do you mean?'' 

''Maru-san, how about you explain it?'' Satori turned towards Maru who grinned and said, 

''Sensei, did you truly believe all those Sharingans suddenly went 'missing' after the Uchiha Massacre? Danzo-sama had a very good idea to play garbage man and 'suddenly' found them and 'suddenly' placed them in his arm. What a coincidence'' Maru said with fake surprise as everyone's eyes fixated on Danzo's arm. 

Danzo's expression worsened as an old voice suddenly sounded through the arena, a voice that every Senju knew.... 

''Satori, Sumure, Akai, what are all of you doing right now?'' 

Marani stood there with a walking stick in her hand as her old figure looked at the Senju's gathered there with a stern gaze and said, ''Stop this nonsense!'' 

''Sorry, elder, we can't do that'' Satori said resolutely as the Senju's stayed on their spots. 

''Are all of you really having a death wish?!'' Marani yelled before she started to cough. 

''Death wish? Far from it, we believe in the path we have chosen'' Satori said coldly as Danzo roared, ''Enough of this, just capture them and talk later! The village is getting invaded right this moment!'' 

Everyone shuddered and grabbed their weapons, until another group of people appeared between the Senju's. 

''Hyúga's.....'' Hiruzen said with a bitter smile as he noticed the Byakúgan's appearing one after another. 

Only now did he finally realizing the mistake he had made as Hiashi stood next to a few of the elders that enraged expressions on their faces before walking towards Satori and standing besides them. 

''So the Leaf will perish because of an internal strife huh, how pitiful....'' Hiruzen said as he looked downcast at the sky. 

''Wrong, Hiruzen-sama. We were not instructed to fight'' Itachi said, causing Hiruzen and many others to frown. 

''What do you mean, Itachi'' Hiruzen asked coldly. 

''If you think Sukuna joined the Akatsuki, you're sorely mistaken. I betrayed the Akatsuki to be here. We were ordered by Sukuna to keep you all here, not to fight'' 

''Ordered, you all are listening to a brat like him?!'' Danzo said in anger as Marani gripped her walking stick tighter as she looked at Maru, realizing Sukuna found out more about himself before she could tell him.... 

''Yes'' Itachi shortly responded as Hiruzen spoke up, ''Why?'' 

''Because he predicted everything''