Fifty

Under the cover of a bustling crowd, our party of three entered the village of Sunagakure.

We were disguised as civilians and with the aid of my powerful genjutsu and forged business papers, we faced no obstacles in entering the village.

We had arrived in the country of Wind a few days before and had finally decided to make our move.

I booked a room in an inn before summoning some wood clones to handle reconnaissance. They all changed their appearance before heading out.

I stayed indoors for the remainder of the day until I felt my clones disperse.

A wide grin broke out on my face.

'What great luck. Yashamaru is still alive.'

This meant that I would have a golden opportunity to extract my target. I summoned two more wood clones and sent one to shadow Yashamaru from a distance and the other out of the village to prepare.

Now all I had to do was wait.

...

A week had passed since I entered the village yet the situation remained the same.

'How long is this going to take?' I grumbled.

[You must remain vigilant.]

In the past week, I had continued to plan my capture of the other jinchuriki. Fortunately, I had found the location of another with the aid of Roshi's memories.

As I sat in thought I felt a wave of information.

I broke out in a large grin.

"Tonight's the night."

My two subordinates nodded. And made preparations. We remained hidden as we saw the village being evacuated.

"The Kazekage doesn't mess around."

After sundown, we made our way discreetly to the secluded rooftop and observed a weeping Gaara.

Before long, a masked ninja approached and attacked him. As we watched their interaction, I caught sight of another party.

'That's...the Third Eye of the Kazekage?'

[He's assessing Gaara's value as a Jinchuriki.]

'A spectator huh? Well, let's show him what he should see.'

"Roshi. Kajura. Now."

Roshi emerged wearing his former garb as a ninja from Iwagakure. Kajura was dressed in a similar fashion with his previous outfit.

They moved with haste grabbing the weeping child and fleeing. Roshi performed a genjutsu to put Gaara to sleep as they made their way out of the village.

Overseeing their performance, I grinned as the Third Eye crumbled into sand.

'Job well done.'

With that, I too made my quiet escape.

...

Rasa shook with fury as his desk crumbled to sand beneath his hand.

A scout appeared in his room.

"Lord Kazekage, preliminary reports identify the kidnapper to be Roshi, Jinchuriki of Iwagakure. According to the bingo book, the other was a mercenary of Ishigakure."

Rasa clenched his fist. "Onoki will pay dearly. Send a squad in pursuit and a messenger to Konoha."

The ninja disappeared and left Rasa in an empty room.

'If war is what you want, then war you will have.'

...

Our predetermined route was clear as we made a quick retreat.

Kajura dropped back to handle any pursuers.

We remained on the move for the rest of the night and the following day.

Before long we had arrived at our next destination. A few hours away from the Iwagakure.

I sat down on a flat stone and watched as Roshi threw Gaara down at my feet.

"You can go and change."

he gave a curt nod and turned. Before leaving, he released his genjutsu.

The boy slowly awoke.

"Hello, Gaara."

He looked up as I reached down and placed my palm on his abdomen.

"Goodbye Gaara."

His eyes rolled back as a red chakra began to enshroud him.

He flailed about in pain, as a black mass escaped from his destroyed seal.

The beast that had been sealed had now revealed itself.

"FREEDOM!"

It roared in a shrill voice.

"I'm afraid not."

Chains rushed forth from my back and restrained the monster.

"NOOOO!"

The beast flailed about in agony.

I appeared atop its head and placed my palm down.

'Absorb.'

The tailed beast chakra rushed towards the previously formed flower-shaped seal on my chest.

Soon enough, the One-Tails ceased its movements.

I quickly buried its body in a giant mountain.

'So did you direct the chakra to the seal?'

[Its...unresponsive. I don't believe it expected you to bring another tailed beast so soon. We can only wait for it to open up on its own.]

'Pity. That's fine for now I guess. I'll collect some more in the meantime.'

Not long after, Kajura rejoined us.

"My Lord! It's as you prophesied! They sent a single force in a faux pursuit and a messenger to the Leaf!"

I smiled slightly, "Good. Now we continue the chaos. Roshi, are you certain about Han's location?"

He nodded, "We remain in contact and every few months we check in with the Tsuchikage."

"Great. We'll head towards his position in the morning."

My gaze fell on Gaara's body, "Kajura. Deal with the corpse."

The large man raised his arm and wrapped the child in a mass of iron sand that formed into a coffin. It burrowed deep beneath the earth.

'Well, that's two down. Seven to go.'

...

Hiruzen sat in deep contemplation as the messenger left.

'How unexpected. Onoki is making moves? That old fence-sitter? Now? But why?'

Numerous thoughts filled his head. Perhaps it was a distraction. A diversion, in preparation for something else.

'Either way, we must show our support to the Sand and increase protection on young Naruto.'

He lit his pipe and began formulating his next course of action.

...

Elsewhere in the hidden leaf...

"5036, 5037, 5038..."

A man drenched in sweat could be seen doing vertical pushups. Anyone who could hear his hoarse voice would find it hard to believe how long he had been exercising in such a manner.

"5999...6000!"

His arms gave in as he fell on his back. The ground at his feet cracked as the heavy sound reverberated from the weights around his ankles.

Bringing another fulfilling workout to a close, Might Guy lay against a tree and guzzled a large container of water.

"Whew! Nothing beats setting a new record. Tomorrow Kakashi won't be ready to face the new Guy! Every day I get stronger than the day before! That is the essence of youth!"

"That is an interesting Nindo you have child." Guy was stunned as a voice seemed to have spoken originating from nowhere.

His eyes narrowed, 'Is this a genjutsu?'

'No.'

He felt a shiver as the voice was now in his own head.

'Relax child. I wish you no harm.'

'Who are you?'

'I am the founder of Ninshu, Otsutsuki Hagoromo. Known to many as the Sage of the Six Paths.'

Guy took a moment to process the situation.

'What do you want?'

'I need your help.'