Naruto: Amongst the Whirling Tides Chapter 16

Hi all,

Here’s the next chapter. Minato has escaped, and Konoha is finally launching an attack on Suna.

Chapter 16

Minato Namikaze appeared on the training grounds in a flash. He immediately checked his surroundings to ensure that he was alone. It was unlikely that his old training grounds would be monitored, so he had some time to plan his next move. He instinctively chose this location to flash to after breaking free of the jutsu. He had seeded the entire village and surrounding area with his seals, allowing him to instantly travel to any part of the village.

Crouching, he took a fistful of dirt and raised it to his nose, inhaling the earthy scent. He could hardly believe that he was back among the living. Was he even alive? He had never thoroughly researched the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, only reading briefly about it in one of the Second Hokage's journals. Fortunately, he learned about the method that freed him from the user's control, or he would still be in the Hokage's office with the others. Being a bookworm who read everything he could get his hands on had helped him in this situation.

He felt sorry for the other Hokage's predicament, but he had no idea how to help them. Should he have stayed and attempted to kill Orochimaru and Kabuto, they would have been ordered to attack him. He was not sure how Kabuto had made a mistake by not providing him with explicit instructions and allowing him to escape, but he was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"What would Kushina think about my current situation?” Minato pondered with a sad smile. "She would most likely dash off to Ichiraku to see if she could still eat ramen."

Has Kushina also been resurrected?

He froze as the question occurred to him. Had Danzo also used her DNA to resurrect her soul and give her a physical body? He did not know anyone else in the Akuma squad because they were all wearing masks. Was he manipulating her to do his bidding? Despite how dangerous it would be, he had half a mind to go look for her.

Reason then reasserted itself. Even if she were resurrected, she, more than anyone else, would be able to escape from the restrictions placed on her.

For the time being, his top priority was to find his son. He heard enough snippets from those around him to know that his son, along with Jiraiya and a few others, had defected from the village. He had marked Jiraiya with his technique formula long ago, so he could flash to his location in an instant. Even after he died, the seals remained active.

Before going to see Jiraiya, he had to speak with someone in the village to obtain information about the current situation in Konoha.

Concentrating, he focused on Kakashi's seal and flashed to his location. He appeared in Kakashi's bedroom. He immediately felt the pressure of a sharp object against his throat. The lamp beside the bed lit up the room, revealing Kakashi sitting up in his bed, holding a kunai to Minato's throat.

"Sensei!" Kakashi exclaimed, his hands shaking so violently that he nearly dropped the kunai. "How is this even possible?"

Minato took the kunai from Kakashi's grasp with care. "Kakashi, take a closer look."

Kakashi rubbed his eyes with his hand before looking closer. His pupils dilated. "Is that...?"

"That is correct," Minato said as he took a seat at the foot of the bed. "If you look closely, you can tell I am not the real me. I was resurrected by the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, but I managed to break free from the puppeteer's control."

"I am going to kill Orochimaru," Kakashi said, clenching his fist.

"He is working with Danzo," Minato explained. “Don’t you think it was strange that he introduced an entire new squad of over a hundred Shinobi from out of nowhere?”

"I see," Kakashi said as he sat up in bed. "It appears that Danzo is even more ruthless than I thought."

"How come you did not defect with Jiraiya and Naruto knowing what he was like?"

Kakashi rose to his feet and drew back the curtain, looking outside to see if anyone was watching them.

"I would like to ask you something, Sensei." Kakashi turned his head and locked his gaze on Minato's. "Did my father really commit suicide? Did you ever see his body?”

The question rendered Minato speechless. What was Kakashi implying? Minato responded to his question after gathering his thoughts. “I never saw Sakumo’s body. One of the Anbu informed me of his passing. Sakumo had specified in his will that his funeral take place in a closed casket. But there was an official investigation, so I do not think it could have been a hoax."

Kakashi simply nodded. "There are some inconsistencies surrounding the death of my father. I did not believe you had anything to do with it, but I am glad I got an honest answer from you in person. I did not leave the village because I discovered information that called my father's death into question. Before I even consider leaving, I want to find answers."

"Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help," Minato said. "Now, what is the current situation? How did the village get to this point? What is Naruto like? Did you look after him well?"

Kakashi bowed his head in shame. "I am sorry to say that I did not keep an eye out for Naruto as much as I should have. Perhaps I was not as convinced of your innocence in relation to my father as I first thought. And I took my anger out on Naruto."

"Explain yourself," Minato commanded as if he were still the Hokage.

Kakashi winced. He was all too familiar with that tone of voice. Minato may appear to be gentle and unassuming, but when you messed with his friends and family, he revealed his true ruthlessness. This love drove him to bring the Third Shinobi World War to a close almost entirely on his own.

Minato became increasingly enraged after learning of the villagers' abuse of his son. Although Hiruzen took some measures to protect Naruto, they were far from sufficient. Is this what he got for giving up his life for the sake of the village? He had to fight the urge to reach out and smack Kakashi for his part in the whole thing. Only his previous relationship as his mentor held him back. Nonetheless, Minato was grinding his teeth the entire time he listened.

“And the situation with the village?” Minato asked.

"I can only share what I have observed," Kakashi said. "Danzo does not trust me with any sensitive information. He has me focused on completing missions outside of the village.”

Minato sat in silence after Kakashi revealed what he knew, taking in the information Kakashi had revealed. It was difficult to imagine the Daimyo approving of Danzo's actions. The village was on the verge of war with Suna, but the Hokage carried on as if he had implicit permission from the Daimyo. What on earth could the man be thinking?

Minato shook his head. It was not his concern at the moment. He didn’t have time to linger here, as it was likely that Danzo had his forces scouring the village in search of him. The most important thing was finding his son.

Standing up, he took one last look at Kakashi. "I hope you find the answers you seek. But I must say that I am disappointed in you. Even if you suspected I was involved in a cover-up with your father, what does that have to do with Naruto? At the very least, you should have been a better sensei. Have you forgotten everything I have ever taught you? Perhaps it is due to my shortcomings as a sensei."

Minato vanished from the room after uttering those final harsh words.

"Where am I supposed to go from here?" Kakashi murmured.

Minato's words had hurt him, but it was not like he did not deserve them.

He reached out and grabbed the picture frame on the bedside table. The picture was of his old team after they finished their first C-rank mission. Minato insisted on having their picture taken to commemorate their team's formation. Kushina had been the one behind the camera, taking the photograph.

Obito and Rin were both smiling as they stood next to him, who appeared both uncomfortable and aloof. He had been such a jerk at the time.

Looking at their happy expressions, he wondered how things could have gone so wrong. Because of his mistakes, the happiness they once shared faded into oblivion. If only there was a way to alter the course of history. But would it make any difference? He kept making the same mistakes, so why should he be given another chance?

Kakashi had an idea of where he could start making amends after reflecting on his sensei's words. He could be a better sensei. Ironically, despite being accused of favouring Sasuke, which was a valid accusation, he was the one who needed help the most now. Naruto had finally found a support system in Jiraiya, and Sakura had Tsunade. However, Sasuke had left the village, most likely on his own. He had no one to rely on, and who knows what trouble he got himself into?

Perhaps he could begin by looking for him and seeing if he was alright.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Jiraiya and Tsunade were sharing a bottle of sake in his office late at night. She listened as he complained about the hours he had spent with Mei and some of their senior Shinobi hammering out a governing structure for the village. The meetings would continue tomorrow, which was what he was most upset about.

"Come on, Tsunade. How about you take on the role of leader instead of me?" Jiraiya proposed, waving his glass in the air.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Tsunade yelled, her words slurred.

“Come on,” Jiraiya said, leaning forward. “You were always smarter than me. You would  make a great leader.”

Jiraiya quickly ducked his head as she hurled the glass she had been holding in his direction. He grimaced. How could he have forgotten that Tsunade got mean when she was inebriated?

"Why don't you share the role of leader with Mei instead of just picking one?" Tsunade suggested. “Establish a council, but refrain from granting them the same level of autonomy as the councils in Kohona enjoyed.

"What a brilliant idea!" Jiraiya paused. "Wait, why do you suddenly sound sober? Were you just pretending to be drunk?"

"I can’t afford to lose my senses in your presence. With my impaired judgement and knowing how lecherous you are, we will probably end up sleeping together."

Jiraiya was about to respond when a yellow flash illuminated the room, and he instinctively stood to face the person who had appeared in his office.

“Minato?” Jiraiya’s voice trembled. “What the hell is going on?”

"Yo!" Minato waved. "It’s been a while."

Tsunade swore, getting to her feet and cracking her knuckles. "You have five seconds to explain yourself before you share the same fate as the person you are impersonating."

"I was brought back to life by Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu." Minato's words came out in a rush as he raised his hands into the air.

"Tell me something only Minato would know," Jiraiya demanded.

"Do you remember the time we spent in Koiji village?" Minato stated. "You disguised yourself as a woman and entered the—"

“That’s enough,” Jiraiya interrupted, a flush creeping up his cheeks. “I believe you.”

"I cannot believe this is happening," Tsunade exclaimed. She settled back into her seat and reached for the bottle of sake. "How did you get away from Orochimaru?"

"I knew the counter seal." Minato sat down beside her. "But I do not understand jutsu well enough to explain why I am still here among the living."

"I do," Jiraiya sighed. "Although I find the method of your rebirth repulsive, it is good to see you again, Minato."

"I am not sure how I feel about it," Minato admitted. "At the very least, I get to see my son. How is he doing?"

"Great," Jiraiya said before sharing everything he knew about Naruto. "Should I summon him so the two of you can meet? I am sure he would be ecstatic to see you."

“In a moment,” Minato replied. “I want to share with you about Danzo's activities.”

Jiraiya and Tsunade were filled with horror as they heard how Danzo ran the village. The decision to go to war should be made only as a last resort after all other options have been exhausted. Danzo was intent on inciting conflict and showed no regard for the number of lives lost in the process.

The most terrifying aspect is that Danzo was aided by Orochimare. Any ally or enemy Shinobi who died in the conflict could be revived and added to the ranks of his army. They were not as strong as they had been when they were alive, but they received other benefits to compensate. If left to his own devices, he would quickly amass an unstoppable army.

"It is too late to stop Danzo from attacking Suna." Jiraiya frowned. "I wonder how the other hidden villages will react?"

Tsunade gestured to the map on the wall. "I am sure Iwa will notice the activity because they are the closest neighbours."

Jiraiya grimaced. He could only imagine the mayhem if the obstinate Third Tsuchikage got involved. It has the potential to spark the Fourth Shinobi World War.

"Right now, there is nothing we can do," Jiraiya said. "We do not have enough Shinobi to make a real difference without suffering significant losses ourselves. Besides, we came here to avoid conflict, so getting directly involved would go against that."

“Have you thought about going to the Daimyo?” Tsunade gave Minato a sidelong glance.

"Yes," Minato admitted. "But there is something strange about the entire situation. What if Danzo and the Daimyo are working together?"

“Perhaps he did something to the Daimyo,” Tsunade mused.

"It is possible," Jiraiya agreed. "After Hiruzen died, he made a mad dash to the capital."

"Danzo is the type of person who would do anything to achieve his ambitions," Tsunade grumbled.

“What are you going to do now that you are back?” Jiraiya asked.

"For the time being, I would like to spend some time with Naruto," Minato said. "You are creating an amazing village here. Kushina would be happy that her home is being rebuilt."

"I will summon Naruto here. Hold on a second," Jiraiya said as he stood up. He walked over to the entrance and pulled back the flap. He ordered the Shinobi standing watch to retrieve Naruto and summon him to his office.

Minato stood up and began pacing as he waited for Naruto to arrive. Even though he wanted to see his son, he did not know what to say to him. What if Naruto hated him for sealing half of the Kyuubi inside of him?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Naruto followed the Shinobi, a sleepy Kushina nestled in his arms. He cursed the man behind his back for waking up the girl. He brought Kushina along because she didn’t want to be left alone. What was so urgent that it could not wait until tomorrow?

He pushed aside the flap and entered Jiraiya’s office.

“What the hell is so important? You woke up Kushina..." Naruto stopped when he noticed the stranger standing in Jiraiya's office.

“Kushina?”

“Dad?”

Naruto and Minato both exclaimed in surprise as they were confronted with something that should be impossible.

Jiraiya groaned. "I forgot to tell him about the young Kushina."

Naruto stared at his father, speechless. Because the Fourth Hokage was famous, there were so many images of him, both pictures and artistic representations, that he recognised him right away. How could he possibly be here?

Minato recovered from his shock first and turned to Jiraiya. "Would you mind telling me where this child that looks identical to Kushina came from?"

Jiraiya took Minato aside and explained the situation in hushed whispers, irritating Naruto. He unconsciously squeezed Kushina tighter, and she squirmed in protest. He apologised and handed her over to Tsunade, who snuggled into her lap. Turning to face his father, he clenched his fist and buried it in his stomach.

Minato gasped and collapsed to his knees.

“Stop ignoring me!" Naruto yelled. “Would you please explain what the hell is going on?”

Minato pushed himself to his feet. "I guess I deserved that response. Hello, son. It is great to finally meet you."

Naruto's eyes welled up with tears, blurring his vision as he struggled to comprehend the enormity of his father's presence. A whirlwind of emotions raged within him, threatening to overwhelm his senses. He swallowed hard, trying to muster the courage to speak.

“Explain,” Naruto whispered.

Minato put his hand on his shoulder. "How about we go somewhere else and talk in private? We have so much to catch up on."

Naruto nodded in agreement, but he was not expecting his father to flash him out of the tent. As his feet hit the ground, he stumbled and almost fell over.

He stood up and looked around to see where his father had taken him. He found himself in a vast cavern surrounded by lush greenery and delicate flowers blooming at his feet, forming an amazing tapestry of colour and texture. The air was filled with the invigorating scent of nature, as if each breath was a sip of life itself. The soothing sound of water gurgling nearby reached his ears, coming from a small hot spring.

When he turned around, he saw his father kneeling on the ground, one hand on his head.

“Are you okay?” Naruto asked.

"I am fine," Minato said as he slowly rose to his feet. "I believe I just discovered a flaw in the technique as a result of my reduced capabilities."

“What do you mean?”

"Normally, I can teleport other people with me if I have the necessary chakra," Minato explained. "But it appears that the distance I can travel with someone has been greatly reduced, and it takes time to recharge. Even though my chakra reserves are almost infinite."

Naruto tilted his head. “I don’t understand.”

“To provide the necessary context, let me begin by explaining how I am alive.”

Naruto gave a nod. "Can you tell me where we are?"

His gaze was drawn to a small toad perched on a nearby rock. It seemed unconcerned by their presence, staring at them lazily.

"Your mother and I discovered it when he came here to explore the island," Minato said with a smile. "We had some wonderful times together here. In fact, I believe Kushina became pregnant—"

"I do not want to hear it," Naruto cried, putting his hands over his ears.

Minato chuckled and sat down on the ground. "Why don’t we have that conversation now? I will explain why I am still alive when I should be dead."

"I have a feeling I am not going to like this.”

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The flames of the torches flickered, creating dancing shadows on the roof of the watchtower. The evening was warm, but a gentle breeze flowed through the tower, offering a welcome respite to the two sentries on duty.

Yawning, Reiko gazed out into the desert, her eyes scanning the familiar contours of sand dunes, searching for anything out of place. The night watch was a challenging task, particularly because the desert had a way of deceiving the eyes and conjuring nonexistent illusions. The shifting shadows cast by the faint moonlight only added to the eeriness of the desert landscape.

She squinted, catching sight of something in the distance. Her eyes seemed to be playing tricks on her. "Morita, come take a look at this. Do you see what I am seeing?"

A thump sounded from behind her. She spun around, her eyes widening, when she saw her companion face down on the ground, his head severed from his body. “Morita!”

Before Rieko could react, she felt something squeeze her neck. She reached up to free herself from whatever was holding her. Her body began to fall almost in slow motion to the ground, but something did not feel right. Her point of view had not changed at all. What could explain this bizarre phenomenon? That was her final thought before the darkness engulfed her.

The shadow that was holding the woman's head retracted, tossing it over the side of the tower. A Shinobi dressed in black jumped over the railing and into the tower. “This was far too easy. Is the commander certain that Suna is aware of the invasion?"

He was a Nara who specialised in infiltration and assassination. The flames in the torch had provided all the shadows he needed to kill the sentries. He took one of the torches from the sconce and briefly waved it around. A signal to his commander that the sentries had been dispatched.

The Jonin Commander noticed the signal in the distance. “The final sentry tower has been taken down. Move out."

A massive formation of more than five hundred Shinobi trailed behind him as they raced across the sandy terrain. The group consisted of a combination of Jonin and Chuniun, with the Akuma squad leading the charge at the forefront of the formation. Their movements were almost completely silent, creating an eerie atmosphere.

With the sentries taken care of, they could now proceed to the village without alerting the village. Daisuke, the Jonin Commander, weighed various scenarios in his mind, carefully assessing the risks and rewards. His strategic mind spun like a well-oiled machine as he meticulously analysed the options at hand, calculating every move with precision. The weight of responsibility was heavy on his shoulders, as the fate of this invasion had far-reaching consequences. If they did not successfully conquer Suna, they would lose the initiative and alert the other hidden villages to their plans.

He expected more resistance, given that Danzo had announced his plans to the public two days ago. It appeared as if Suna was completely unaware of the news. There was also the possibility that they were being lured into a trap. Any competent commander wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice a few Shinobi to gain an advantage.

The three resurrected Hokages trailed behind him, unwilling participants in the impending battle.

"I cannot believe we are taking part in this farce," Hiruzen said. "Danzo is about to plunge the Elemental Nations into another war."

"I wish Kabuto had been the one to cast the jutsu on us," Hashirama lamented. "He made a mistake with Minato by not providing him specific instructions. Although I managed to replicate the hand seals, I am unable to defy Orochimaru's orders and perform them."

“Do you really think it was a mistake?” Tobirama asked. "You did say there was bad blood between him and Danzo. Maybe Kabuto is deliberately causing chaos for him."

“Kabuto won’t be able to get away with anything else,” Hiruzen replied. “He was only spared because he holds a third of the Akuma squad under his control.”

"Maybe we should try speaking with Kabuto if we have the opportunity," Hashirama suggested. "He could be a good guy who is on our side and can help us break this jutsu."

The scornful looks he received from the others revealed what they thought of the man's suggestion. Even now, he believes in the best of everyone.

"I would trust a Uchiha before trusting the snake's apprentice," Tobirama scoffed.

They arrived on the outskirts of the village five minutes later. Suna had a distinct aesthetic and was situated within a fortified valley. The path into the valley wound its way through a narrow cleft between two towering cliff faces. This natural formation served as the village's defence mechanism, making ground attacks extremely difficult. The cliff face that overlooked the desert had been artfully terraced, giving Shinobi a strategic advantage in defending themselves against invading forces. The village structures themselves were made of clay, which not only kept the residents cool but also protected them from the fierce sand storms that raged in the area.

A series of bells rang from within the village.

"They have seen us," Daisuke informed his men. "When we enter the village, the fighting will become chaotic, and you will most likely be fighting opponents one at a time. Our goal is to incapacitate the Shinobi first, but you may kill them if necessary. Civilians will most likely be evacuated via hidden tunnels, but if you come across any, avoid killing any of them. Danzo wishes to avoid any unnecessary deaths."

Daisuke motioned for Hashirama to take a step forward. "We will not be able to easily ascend the cliffs without encountering opposition from the hidden Shinobi on the terraces. I want you to create an opening.”

They had received information from the Suna representative that the section of the terrace in front of them was currently undergoing maintenance. This was necessary due to an earthquake that had recently jolted the area. The terrace had suffered significant damage and was in the process of being rebuilt, as parts of it had become unstable. The objective was to target this area, as it would cause the most devastation and provide a clear entry point for them.

"You are a disgrace to the Nara clan," Hashirama grumbled, but he obeyed Daisuke's command.

"Wood Release: Wood Dragon," Hashirama shouted.

A colossal wooden construct emerged from the earth, taking the form of a dragon.

The wooden beast exuded an aura of ancient power, sending shivers down onlookers' spines. The dragon-like creature seemed alive with every movement as it ascended into the sky, releasing a terrifying roar.

Hashirama, in spite of his diminished abilities, was still capable of performing his wood dragon jutsu. Although it had lost its ability to absorb chakra from its target, he didn't require it in this particular instance. The Suna Shinobi present to witness the sight would undoubtedly be terrified and confused.

Tenzo, who was standing next to the Jonin Commander, was envious of the sight. He would not be able to accomplish the same feat in a million years.

The wood dragon slammed into the cliffside terrace before imploding with a deafening explosion, causing tremors throughout the surrounding area. A portion of the cliff face crumbled and fell to the ground as a result of the impact, creating a thick cloud of dust that engulfed the Konoha army.

“Go!” Daisuke gave the order once the dust had settled.

The army quickly moved towards the cliff. When they arrived, they coated the bottoms of their feet in chakra, allowing them to adhere to the rocky surface as they climbed.

As soon as they crested the ridge, they were met with opposition from Suna. The Shinobii sprinted forward, swiftly engaging their opponents. The landscape was transformed into a cacophony of clamour and confusion in an instant. The clash of steel reverberated through the air, and the evening was brightly illuminated as each side unleashed their jutsu against the other.

With the arrival of additional Konoha forces, the situation at the top began to shift in their favour. The Suna resistance, made up of a hastily assembled squad, was outnumbered and aimed solely at buying time for civilians to evacuate.

Hiruzen was engaged in combat with a skilled Shinobi. The fight had lasted more than a minute, but not because Hiruzen was struggling with his opponent. No, he was testing the limits of Orochimaru's instructions, attempting to lessen the impact of his presence on the battlefield.

Even though he was horrified that he was being used in this manner, he could not help but feel energised, his old body's weakness gone. His opponent primarily used wind release and attempted to keep his distance, but Hiruzen easily countered him. He could have delivered a finishing blow at any time, but he held back.

Hiruzen could see his opponent's eyes, which were wide with confusion. He must have been wondering why Hiruzen was playing with him. To add to the confusion, Hiruzen spoke to him as they fought, offering instructions to improve his fighting capabilities.

"No, do not waste your chakra like that," Hiruzen chastised him as he evaded a powerful wind jutsu. "You were in no position to hit me with your attack. First, work on destabilising your opponent in order to increase your chances of scoring a hit."

After the Suna force was defeated, the Konoha army began descending into the village on the other side of the cliff. They expected to face stiff opposition in the village. So far, they had not met anyone from the Puppet Brigade.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

About a mile away from Suna, a hole materialised in the ground, right in front of a tightly arranged formation of over two hundred Shinobi. They were adorned in vibrant red attire paired with brown flak jackets, and they stood prepared for combat, fully equipped and armed.

A Shinobi emerged from the hole and swiftly approached a frail, hunched figure—an elderly man. He respectfully kneeled before him and then spoke. "Third Tsuchikage, the battle has begun. It won't be much longer until the Konoha forces breach the village."

"Excellent!" Onoki cracked a smile. "Why don't we go and spoil Konoha's party? Once inside the village, it would be the ideal time to launch an attack. They will be like a fish in a...what was the term again, Akatsuchi?"

The massive man next to him sighed. “It’s fish in a barrel, sir.”

"That is right," Onoki said, nodding. "Who would have guessed the Akatsuki would have passed on this information, despite the fact that I am gradually ceasing to use their services?"

"They probably have their own agenda," Akatsuchi replied.

"That is irrelevant," Onoki said dismissively. He addressed the assembled army, raising his voice. “Move out!”

So, what do you think? Konoha has invaded Suna, but they have an unexpected surprise arriving behind them.

Thanks for reading.