Chapter 29

The Battle of Konohagakure

Additional Author's Notes: I forgot to add to my authors note last chapter on what I think happens when a Chūnin is promoted to a Jōnin. Contrary to fandom belief, I believe the promotion is based purely on merit and skill. A Chūnin doesn't have to take a test to become a Jōnin, heck even the Anime showed that a Genin can potentially become a Jōnin and bypass the Chūnin Rank entirely based on leadership skills, battle ability, etc. as shown through Neji's promotion. Additionally Kakashi was promoted to the rank of Jōnin without any mention of an exams during his Gaiden. Thus, everyone who got promoted last chapter earned it based on their performance during the War, with the battle against the Gedō Mazō being the final justification in the Kages minds.

Also, I forgot to emphasize last chapter: Naruto's generation, the Konoha 12 is the strongest in the history of not only Konoha but the ninja world at large. After all, producing a dozen Kage-level shinobi in power in one generation? It'd be absolutely unheard of in previous generations. Naruto and Sasuke are, of course the strongest of this generation, but now Sakura and Neji are tied for third place and Hinata for fourth.

Now without any further explanations, now time for the next Chapter!

Chapter 29: The Battle of Konohagakure

Land of Lightning, Island Turtle

As Genbu, the massive Island Turtle swam on to the coast of Lightning, Naruto was back at work training to prepare. Iruka had taught him two A-Class techniques that he had managed to master while in the field: Kage Shuriken Bushin no Jutsu (Shadow Shuriken Technique) and the Bushin Daibakuha (Clone Great Explosion). Given the young Hokage's current skill level, he managed to master both techniques in a matter of hours instead of weeks or months due to his complete mastery of the Kage Bushin jutsu. He had also been studying his father's technique's...specifically the Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique). To his surprise, the Hokage Guard Platoon had offered help when it came to the Hiraishin and had surprised him saying that they knew of it in parts. It'd take a while...but Naruto was confident he could master it in time, but that would have to wait for until after the War.

In the training area, there were a few new craters and on the targets there were thousands of shuriken embedded in one. The one next to it though...it had been completely shredded after Naruto had used his

Fūton to increase their deadliness and power. Iruka had told him the technique used to be used by the Sandaime Hokage, and was one of the Professor's signatures.

"Nervous, Hokage?" Mei Terumi, the Mizukage asked as she walked over.

"Well...kind of," Naruto admitted after he lowered one of his shuriken. "I've never fought in a War before, but as a Kage its my job to protect my subordinates."

"I was a veteran of the Third War," Mei said as she leaned back. "I had to keep my Kekkei Genkai secret during that time. The previous Mizukage had been known to antagonize bloodline users and families so he could have an 'excuse' for his purges."

"That...must have been rough..."

"A vast understatement, yes. Thankfully my Suiton mastery allowed me to fly under the former Mizukage's radar until his tailed beast went berserk during Zabuza's coup d'tat," Mei said as she smiled proudly. "After that, I was able to quell the insurgency that resulted in the failed coup and the people trusted me enough to name me the new Mizukage."

Naruto grinned. "I see!"

"Hm...shame you're taken by the Hyūga girl," Mei said a bit teasingly. "You would have been an excellent match for me."

A bead of sweat appeared behind Naruto's head. "Uhh...I don't suppose introducing you to Kakashi-sensei will make up for that?"

"Oh...perhaps...he is an eligible bachelor..." Mei said and sounded a bit eager. "And the rumors of how good he looks behind his mask..."

Naruto sweat-dropped again and leaned back as the Mizukage began to fantasize about Kakashi, her eyes sparkled a bit as Iruka came walking up. He blinked as he saw the look on Mei's face and glanced at his former student.

"I manage to compile all the information of the Yondaime's Hiraishin and the jutsus he based it on from the Nidaime's arsenal," Iruka said and Naruto grinned.

"Thanks Iruka-sensei, that will help a lot when I start trying to learn it!"

"Bit nervous?" Iruka asked and the young Hokage nodded.

"A bit, I'm not gonna run away. I'm gonna help beat Akatsuki once and for all," Naruto said as he squeezed his hand into a tight fist. "What will you do Iruka-sensei?"

"Head back to Konoha," Iruka said with a grin. "I have to start getting the children ready to take the Genin Exams in December after all."

Naruto grinned. "...that means when this is all over, I'll be able to give headbands out for the first time as Hokage...just like Tsunade-obaachan, my dad and the old man!"

"The kids are going to push themselves extra hard to impress Konoha's Hero, Naruto," Iruka said with a smirk.

The young Hokage gave a grin and punched his fist to his palm as inside him, Kurama stirred. The giant fox had already sensed Naruto's intentions of confronting the War head on now and even was mildly pleased at how he defeated the reincarnated Sandaime Raikage. He wanted to see how it'd play out...as well as see if he'd confront Sasuke's hatred. Unlike Naruto...the Nine-Tails had long since sensed Sasuke's battle with Danzō, the amount of negative energy from that fight was absolutely unmistakable and he could tell the last Uchiha was about to make a bee-line for Naruto himself.

Now brat...lets see if you can finally reach the Uchiha bastard... Kurama thought as he got up and stretched. Maybe you can defeat my own hatred that way...or show the potential to do so.

The fox and Naruto had come to a sort of...pact now. Naruto kept the seal open for Kurama and even improved the mindscape where he resided. In exchange, Kurama wouldn't consume any of Naruto's chakra while he used the Chakra Mode. The Nine-Tails even gave a few tips at the end of the training to get the Biju Rasengan down, much to his own surprise.

"Bah...must be getting sentimental..." Kurama grumbled to himself laid back down.

Killer Bee finished his own training now. He had fully transformed and had performed the Biju Hachimaki (Eight Tails Eight Twists) to perfection and even added his Raiton element to it...creating a spinning, lightning tornado that flattened and glassed everything around it. Most of the animals had watched...and had to take cover so they wouldn't be hit! Like his brother would, he cracked his knuckles.

"When the Eight Tails hits the field, the foes will yield, YEAH!" Bee cheered as he pushed his ox seal to the air.

"...it won't be that simple. I don't think the summoner of those Edo Tensei will take another risk in you and Naruto getting away again. They might send the best after us, like that Itachi guy or that Pain guy Naruto told us about."

Bee crossed his arms as he sat on Gyūki's snout. "Then we'll beat them like the fools they are, then we'll hit the bar! Yeah!"

Gyūki sweat-dropped at that and sighed and leaned back within the seal. When Bee was in one of these moods it was absolutely impossible to convince him to be cautious. The giant ushi-oni squeezed his hand into a tight fist as he thought about the coming battles. He had already thought up a contingency to save Bee in case if he was captured, though he hoped he didn't have to use it.

Land of Fire, Konohagakure

The Godaime Hokage, Tsunade touched down in Konoha next to Sai. Given the battle against the reincarnated Seven Swordsmen was almost concluded, Tsunade had roped Sai into giving her a ride back to the Village for an important scroll she needed to finish mastering. As such, the former ROOT ninja had became her bodyguard for the trip.

"Thanks for the lift Sai," Tsunade said as she stretched, the sun had began to set. "We'll make this fast, I just need that scroll."

"What is so important about it, Hokage-sama?"

"Its my grandfather's Senjutsu scroll," Tsunade said as they walked to the reconstructed Hokage Tower. "I'm on the verge of finally cracking its secret and becoming a Sage like Naruto, Jiraiya, and him."

Sai was a bit surprised. "Tsunade-sama, I didn't know you had been training..."

"Its been hard to find the time," Tsunade said as they walked through the streets and passed several new shops. "Before my grandfather died he gave me the Slug contract and brought me to the Humid Bone Forest to begin lessons..."

"And then?"

"As I was beginning my training, I was only five or six then, hadn't even graduated the Academy, grandfather was killed in the opening battle of the First Shinobi World War," Tsunade said as she looked at Hashirama's visage on the Hokage Monument. "I tried to piece together what I could so I could eventually figure out the scroll later, and Jiraiya beat both myself and Orochimaru into becoming a Sage, albeit not perfect..."

"Hm...I see," Sai said and the Godaime chuckled.

"Training Sakura reinvigorated my interest in it, and then learning Naruto had became a Sage finally made me want to finish my own Sage Training," Tsunade cracked her knuckles with a grin. "After all, I can't have the everyone pull ahead of me!"

At the same time Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon were showing Hanabi some of the best places to get ninja weapons around town, as well as restaurants. They had even stopped to get Ichiraku Ramen and the young Hyūga loved the taste of it. She had only had ramen a few times and it had been either made by the Hyūga Compound's chef, or store bought ramen cups for a quick snack after strenuous training.

"Heh, Hanabi-chan, look at the jutsu Naruto-nii-chan taught me!" Konohamaru said as he created a Rasengan.

"Huh...its like a small Kaiten..." Hanabi said as she got a closer look. "Wait that rotation may give me an idea to complete my own technique!"

Konohamaru grinned. "Glad to help!" he said as he dispelled his jutsu.

"Say Hanabi-chan, what's it like living in the Hyūga Clan? We've heard stories!" Moegi asked with a grin.

"Well...its kind of hard...but I'm determined to protect the Hyūga Clan and help my onee-sama since she's now the new leader..." Hanabi's voice cracked a bit. "...since...father..."

"Uh tell us what you're working on, we'll try to help!" Konohamaru said as he tried to stop the young Hyūga from crying.

"W-Well...I'm trying to get the Kaiten down...but it keeps spinning me out..."

"Hey before we go off on the mission tomorrow, why don't we all train together so we can help each other out?" Moegi suggested with a grin. "After all I'm finally getting my Suitons down and Udon's getting his Raiton down!"

"You two are already doing elemental training?" Hanabi asked in a bit surprise. "The elders and father wanted me to start it after I finished getting Kaiten mastered."

"That's nothing, Konohamaru-kun already knows TWO elements!" Moegi exclaimed proudly. "Katon and Fūton!"

"Whoa, really?!" Hanabi asked.

"Yep! I am a Chūnin now Hanabi-chan!" Konohamaru pointed out. "Ebisu-sensei began training me in Fūton around the same time Naruto-nii-chan was learning it! Though...its not up to his level yet. After all, he's the Hokage now!"

As the sun began to set, outside the wall of Konoha...Sasori was now making his move. He opened up the chest plate on his Edo Tensei body and hundreds of chakra threads shot out as his scroll summoned his full compliment of puppets. Nearly 200 in total, Sasori gave a grim smirk. The merged and unmerged White Zetsus all were posed to attack. There were several thousand plant men, as the Alliance called them when they didn't want to refer to them as Zetsus, all ready to attack the village.

"Lets get this over with," Sasori said as his eyes glinted. "I have a new collection to make afterwards."

With that, the largest fused White Zetsu, half the size of Gamabunta charged the wall of Konoha. The mass of animated Hashirama cells smashed its large, over-sized fist right through the huge wooden barrier and sent debris flying kilometers away. With the breach now open the smaller merged White Zetsu and normal ones rushed in like a swarm of angry killer wasps. Sasori followed at a more relaxed pace, his puppet army levitated in the air above the Zetsus as they brandished their weapons.

In Sensory building, things were thrown into a panic as the alarm was sounded. All over the village, sirens went off to warn the villagers of the new attack: a new feature that had been added after the Invasion of Pain. Tsunade turned to where the breach in the wall was as almost every shinobi could sense the killing intent coming from the White Zetsu army.

"Damn it, they're actually attacking Konoha?!" Tsunade swore and smashed her fist into the wall. "Sai, we'll have to get the scroll later. The defense of Konoha comes first!"

"Hai, Hokage-sama!" Sai said as the Home Guard was quickly scrambled to meet the attacking force.

Team Konohamaru and Hanabi were hearing the alarms. "T-The enemy here?!" Udon asked in a panic.

'No...we were supposed to be safe from the front lines!" Moegi cried out as she cupped her head and remembered the horror of Pain's invasion.

"Guys, calm down!" Konohamaru said as he punched his fist to his hand. "We're ninja remember?! And we have to protect the villagers! Lets start getting the civilians to the evacuation shelters before the enemy breaches the first line of defense!"

Udon and Moegi immediately snapped out of their panicked state. "Right Konohamaru-kun!"

Hanabi activated her Byakugan. "I'll cover our rear! Lets get the evacuation started!"

Tsunade was jumping from building to building now as Team Konohamaru began the evacuations, Sai was next to her. Three ANBU formed around them followed by Sarutobi Junko. The Godaime Hokage breathed in through her nose and she cracked her knuckles and then bit her thumb. She jumped down onto the street and slammed her palm down and in a puff of smoke she summoned Katsuyu!

"Katsuyu, divide yourself up among the villagers, we won't take any casualties from this attack!" Tsunade ordered as she opened her seal. I'll make the Katsuyu: Mōryōjika (Katsuyu: Immense Healing Network) mobile this time so I can actively battle the threat. I won't be caught flat footed like I was against Pain!

"The traps and other defenses have been activated Tsunade-sama," Junko said as she followed alongside the Hokage. "We should be seeing the effects now, it'll buy more time for the civilians to be evacuated."

"Excellent," Tsunade said as her Sōzō Saisei fully activated. I'll keep the Byakugō no Jutsu (Strength of a Hundred Technique) in reserve until I need it!

On the outskirts of the village, the White Zetsu ran blindly through the newly planted trees and bushes and past the now abandoned buildings with reckless abandon. The larger Zetsus walked slower behind them, their Venus fly-trap stomach mouths all opened and snapped the air to test it. Sasori held back and saw his troops run into predictable traps. The first White Zetsu hit a small tripwire as it ran through the bushes...and it was suddenly impaled by large stone spike that shot out of apparently nowhere. Another hit another tripwire and hundreds of kunai and shuriken showered it and its companions. A large one stomped on a hidden depression in the ground...and triggered a land mine.

"Let the weaker, stupider pawns clear the traps and then we can get through unmolested," Sasori said to himself as more traps were set off.

From a distance screams of dying Zetsu were heard as well as massive explosions from each landmine that had been set off. The Akatsuki puppet master idly walked through the carnage, his path now secure without any worry. His puppets floated in the air, completely out of range of any stray booby trap. He passed a few Zetsus who where now trapped in an electrified barrier trap as well as several corpses of others who had been crushed by logs or stones. Despite the casualties...the majority of the White Zetsu were breaking through the defense perimeter.

On the other side the Konoha Home Guard stood firm and as one, flew through the seals and those in the center suddenly shot a massive combined fireball while those on the flanks shot a blast of wind out of their mouth. The Katon and Fūton combined into a massive firestorm just as the first hundred White Zetsu cleared the traps...only to be incinerated to cinders from the ankles up by the defender's jutsu. Still more came through the smoke that was left as the home guard charged and met their attack!

Viscous, close quarters combat followed. For every Konoha Shinobi struck down, he or she took three White Zetsus with them. The ground in front of the main village was soon stained with the blood of the defenders as they pushed back against the invading White Zetsus. Two Konoha Home Guard leaped up and tossed explosive tags into the crowd of White Zetsus and blew them to pieces as the merged Zetsus made it through the booby traps. They opened their 'center' mouths and began to fire shards of super-sharp wood like machine guns at the Konoha defenders and cut down several dozen of them.

In response the Home Guard changed their defensive strategy and Doton users immediately created defending walls to make cover while Raiton and Fūton users charged kunai and shuriken and tossed them right at the merged Zetsus. They were cut to pieces or pierced through the center by the charged weapons.

"Keep fighting! Don't give them an inch!"

"You won't enter our Village!"

"We're gonna stop you HERE!"

In response to the defenders tenacity the White Zetsus began to attack even more ferociously. Several teamed up and combined their Mokuton abilities to create whips out of roots or even attacked using the very forests at their back. Suiton whips, Fūton blades, and Katon fireballs countered this new assault as dozens of more merged Zetsus lumbered forward only to get caught in the crossfire. Their tremendous bulks crashed to the ground and they provided cover for their brothers. Members of the Akimichi and Aburame Clans in the defenders ranks then attacked in giant forms and using swarms of insects to zap the White Zetsus of their chakra.

Despite the number disadvantage...Konoha's Home Guard were fighting extremely well. They had already wracked up a kill ratio of ten to one, but the Zetsus just kept coming! Still...Konoha's brave shinobi kept fighting for their village, to protect those who couldn't protect themselves!

"It seems I really do have to step in, these White Zetsu really are only good as cannon fodder," a new voice was heard and suddenly...from the air the trademark 'clack clack clack' sound of hundreds of puppets descended on the defenders.

The Akimichi Defenders tried to fight them, but the puppets were too small and nimble for them to hit. And a single nick of their weapons created a debilitating paralysis as they fell to their knees in pain and shrank back to normal. The human puppets smashed into the Doton defenses and blew them to ribbons or slashed them to pieces.

Sasori of the Red Sand stood and watched his...symphony start to play. The sound of the dying shinobi defenders had became music to his ears ever since the Third Shinobi World War, and now as an 'eternal' piece of art he could enjoy such sounds and sights for all eternity. The White Zetsus took advantage of this and began to surge forward as the Konoha Home Guard were forced to fall back. The appearance of a single S-Class shinobi was enough to turn the tide and the Home Guard took their injured and fell back to secondary defensive positions.

At the bunker underneath the Hokage Monument, Team Konohamaru was getting the remaining civilians into the shelters beneath the mountain. Konohamaru put his hand over his eyes and saw from the vantage point that Konoha's Home Guard were falling back. The young Chūnin's eyes narrowed as the Konoha Home Guard was forced back.

"The enemy's broken through the first lines of defense guys!" Konohamaru yelled as he hopped down to his teammates and Hanabi. "We may have to fight, just like in the Invasion of Pain!"

"B-But Konohamaru, we're just..." Moegi started.

"Ninja!" Konohamaru finished for her as he looked at his team. "I know we're young guys! But the moment we got our headbands we were tasked in protecting the village and villagers!"

"That's why you're the last line of defense, young Konohamaru," a new voice said and Konohamaru then looked up to see...Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura appeared behind them.

"Grandfather?!" Udon asked in surprise, seeing the Konoha Councilors in their old Shinobi Armor.

Homura was wearing a huge scroll on his back, while his armor had a black undershirt and mesh underneath and his chest was protected by green metal plates like a Samurai's. Koharu had two katana strapped onto her back and her armor was lighter than her comrade's, completely lacking the metal plates that Homura had. Despite their elderly stature...the two looked like they were more than ready to fight.

"Like you, we've learned from...Naruto's example," Homura said as he pulled the scroll off his back.

"And because of that we aren't going to sit back and repeat the same mistakes like we did during Orochimaru's and Pain's invasions, this time we're gonna fight like Hiruzen and Naruto did," Koharu pulled her swords off her back...and they were charged with flames. "Lets go, Homura!"

With that, Konoha's eldest shinobi leaped into action and disappeared in a shunshin. Back at the secondary line of defense Konoha's Home Front was fighting both Sasori's puppets and the White Zetsus building to building. Suddenly there was a blur of movement above five of Sasori's puppets and two White Zetsus who were bearing down on the defenders.

"Katon: Kage Shuriken Bushin no Jutsu (Fire Release: Shadow Shuriken Clone Technique)!"

Hundreds of giant shuriken, charged with flames rained down on the puppets and Zetsus. The targets were cut apart and ignited by the flames. A small firestorm blazed around the puppets and Zetsus as Sarutobi Junko, Tsunade, and Sai landed. Sai pulled out his scroll and drew several lions on it with his paint brush.

"Chōjū Giga (Super Beast Imitation Drawing)!" Sai called out as he initiated a seal and sent his dozen lions out to attack the puppets and White Zetsus. "That was a very nice opening move, Junko-san. You live up to your reputation."

"Thanks kid, you'll probably reach the rank of ANBU Captain at this rate with those abilities," Junko said as she pulled one of the fuma shuriken off her back.

"You two hold off and defeat the puppets and Zetsus," Tsunade cracked her knuckles. "I'll handle the puppeteer."

"Before you go, Tsunade-sama, you'll need some sealing tags," Sai said as he handed the Godaime Hokage the tags and she nodded thanks.

Tsunade's Yin Seal then activated and Sōzō Saisei (Creation Rebirth) turned on. She stomped on the ground...and launched herself into the fray by supercharging the chakra to her feet! A merged White Zetsu turned to attack her...just as the Godaime Hokage's fist smashed into its 'chest'...and right through it. She landed and avoided an attack from a dozen puppets which all went to stab her, and she just jumped over all their blades before smashing her heel down onto the ground...and gouged out a giant crater 100 meters around and 10 meters deep, and destroyed the puppets with the shock wave.

Junko smirked. "That's our Hokage, now lets do our part Sai-chan!"

"...'chan'?" Sai asked in a deadpan manner as he unsheathed his tantō.

"Yep," Junko said as she blocked an attack with the giant shuriken. "Since I'm the senior ANBU here, I'm gonna refer to you as 'Sai-chan'!"

"...wouldn't 'kōhai' be more fitting?"

"Nope, not to me!" Junko leaped up and did a seal and blew out a cloud of super heated ash. "Katon: Haisekishō (Fire Release: Ash Burning Pile)!"

And with the flint she had stored in her teeth, she bit down and ignited the ash. The puppets and Zetsu caught up in it were destroyed in the resulting explosion before Junko charged the next White Zetsu and slashed into it with her Fuma Shuriken.

Further in the battlefield in the outskirts of Konoha, Sasori was redirecting his puppets as he felt each loss as the strings were severed or destroyed. The 'siege' merged White Zetsu lumbered past him as he felt a pulse of chakra approaching him fast. Just as the 'siege' merged White Zetsu got fifty meters ahead of him there was a blur of movement...and it was then sent flying in the air from a sudden violent impact. The puppet master's eyes narrowed as he saw it...Tsunade, her fist to the sky. The merged Zetsu crashed behind her, dead from the impact.

"Tsunade of the Sannin?" Sasori asked, his interest piqued. "Its been a while since I've met a ninja of your caliber worthy of becoming part of my collection."

"Can it," Tsunade said as she cracked her knuckles again. "Even dead you can't stop that obsession. Guess my apprentice didn't beat the crap out of you the first time, huh?"

"Apprentice? So the pink haired girl trained under you," Sasori said as the two released more chakra...dust and dirt rose around them. "That will make your acquisition more fitting! I'll turn you into eternal art!"

With that all of Sasori's puppets blotted out the sky above Tsunade and charged her all at once. Her fist was then surrounded by lightning and electricity arced out. As the first puppets got close both shinobi called out their own attacks.

"Akahigi: Hyakki no Sōen (Red Secret Technique: Dance of a Hundred Puppets)!" Sasori called out as his puppets converged

"Raiton: Ikazuchi Ryu (Lightning Release: Thunder Fist)!" Tsunade roared and she punched forward.

The Godaime Hokage's lightning charged fist smashed into the first giant puppet and destroyed it...and the shock wave destroyed dozens of puppets as the lightning was transmitted through the metal of the puppets. She then dodged the next attacks with ease and began to demolish each human puppet with ease. Tsunade spun and kicked out and destroyed another half dozen puppets as several then formed a holding pattern above her and began to fire hundreds of poison tipped kunai at her.

"You can't avoid all them," Sasori said as Tsunade looked at the barrage...and looked bored.

"I expected more of Sasori of the Red Sands," Tsunade said as, like she had the Sharingan she began to dodge all the puppets. "My training and experience outstrips yours, you think this is the first time I've been up against a barrage of shuriken?"

To Sasori's amazement the Hokage dodged each and every kunai. Her head and body darted back and forth as she then reached out, grabbed one of the kunai in mid air and began to deflect and dodge. In a few short seconds the puppets had exhausted their supply as Tsunade then did a seal and her eyes glinted and her cheeks swelled.

"Time for one of my master's favorite techniques!" Tsunade called out as she then blew out a blast of flames in the shape of a dragon. "Katon: Karyū Endan (Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet)!"

She blew out a massive stream of fire and shaped it into a Japanese Dragon, and it roared and engulfed every puppet in the air. All those caught in Tsunade's fire attack were reduced to nothing more than cinders and Sasori squeezed his hand into a tight fist angrily.

"Do you...have any idea how long it'll take me to replenish my collection now?!" Sasori snapped and the blades on his back spun angrily. "You bitch, I'm going to kill you!"

"So I finally hit a sore spot? Even against Sakura and Chiyo, you were said to keep your composure," Tsunade taunted as she gave a smirk. "Guess we're seeing that you truly didn't grow out of the boy you were twenty years ago."

"SHUT UP!" Sasori roared as his remaining puppets swarmed her. "ALL I NEED IS A SINGLE SCRATCH ON YOU AND ITS OVER!"

Tsunade dodged each slash and stab from Sasori's puppets. They were using swords, kunai, anything to try to land a scratch. Some even shot out wires in an attempt to restrain her movements but the Hokage dodged or caught the wires launched at her and she pulled the puppets into her fist to destroy them. She then jumped into the air and lifted her heel up.

"Tsūtenkyaku (Heavenly Kick of Pain)!" Tsunade roared as she slammed her heel right into the center where the remaining puppets were...and gouged out a crater a kilometer wide and a hundred meters deep! The shock wave released from the attack completely obliterated Sasori's puppets, their broken and crushed . "So much for landing a single scratch, Sasori."

"Then...I'll fight you as myself!" Sasori called out and his stomach 'opened'. He shot out a cord from his stomach which was tipped with a spike at Tsunade.

Tsunade dodged, grabbed the wire and yanked the master puppeteer right to her! Spinning his back blades fast enough to be propellers he flew over her and dodged her first...the shock wave of her punch completely obliterated the immediate area right in front of her. He the stopped and hovered and activated the scrolls on his back...and tubes shot out of his palms.

"For destroying my collection..." Sasori uttered as Tsunade looked up with an utter look of contempt. "BURN."

With that twin flamethrowers burst out of his palms right at the Hokage. She did a seal and took another breath as she stood firm. She channeled and shaped her chakra as she pulled moisture from the air through her nose.

"Its not my forte...but I still know Suiton's Sasori," Tsunade uttered as she then blew out a blast of water to counteract the flamethrowers. "Suiton: Mizurappa (Water Release: Wild Water Wave)!"

The water and flames impacted and created a burst of steam that covered the entire area. Sasori was blinded and he covered his face as he canceled his technique...just as Tsunade burst through the super heated steam and blitzed the puppet master.

"Its time to end this!"

"Couldn't agree more!" Sasori activated his next scroll and from his outstretched hand...he expelled a purple, noxious cloud. "Choke to death on my poison!"

Tsunade's eyes widened and she breathed in some of the poison and felt its numbing effects immediately. She smashed to the ground and Sasori smirked above her as she rolled and writhed in agony.

"You fell for it! And now I'll have the first..."

"Damn...that stuff stunk..." Tsunade said as she pushed herself up. "Huh, you look surprised."

"You took a full dose of my poison! You should be paralyzed!"

"Well you see, I've fought in three wars now and I've studied more poisons than I can count. I've also built up a resistance in particular to Suna's particular brand which is metallic based, and from Sakura's reports that's what your poison is based on," Tsunade explained as she dusted herself off. "Not to mention that poisons are generally ineffective on regeneration techniques like my Sōzō Saisei even if inhaled, any damage done by the poison is instantly healed."

Sasori cursed just as Tsunade charged chakra to her feet...and before the puppet master could recover from his shock the Hokage smashed her fist hard right through the 'heart' symbol right on Sasori's chest. The 'container' was forced from the Edo Tensei body which burst into ash and paper. She walked over and picked up the container before the regeneration could start.

"Time to seal you up," Tsunade said with a smirk and she then slapped a sealing tag right on Sasori's core.

At the same time another 'Siege' White Zetsu had made it into the newly reconstructed streets of Konoha and was destroying buildings by smashing its tremendous bulk through them. It was like out of a monster movie and all the Zetsus that made up the 'Siege' White Zetsu were laughing like they were having the time of their lives. That is...until a blast of flame it it right in the 'face'!

"They really brought out the heavy artillery for this attack," Homura said as he lowered his fingers after blowing the fireball.

"Indeed it is...it really is a shame Hiruzen has passed on, we could complete one of our combination jutsus just like in the old days," Koharu said as she formed a seal.

"Yes, I remember those all too well...we'll have to go to the Hokage Monument after to ask Hiruzen for forgiveness on how we lived our lives after his death," Homura said as the giant Siege White Zetsu smashed its giant fist down on the building they stood on.

Koharu completed her technique. "Fūton: Tatsumakiha (Wind Release: Leaf Tornado)!"

She slammed her hands together and all around a tornado formed...pulling leaves into it and it smashed right into the Siege White Zetsu. It gave a roar in pain as the leaves cut into it like tiny knives before Homura completed his own seals.

"Katon: Kouen Tama (Fire Release: Flame Ball)!" Homura blew out a blast of flame and shaped it into a giant fireball and then launched it into the tornado that Koharu had made.

The two techniques combined...and the Siege White Zetsu was then incinerated from the combined attack. It gave a loud roar of pain as it thrashed until it was burned to nothing but ashes. Konoha's Councilors watched and they nodded.

"Tsunade-sama looks to have taken care of the S-Class Ninja that was with this rabble. The puppets have all disappeared," Homura said as he straightened his glasses.

"Then we must wrap this battle up quickly, it'll be time for evening tea," Koharu said as the two then vanished at high speed.

Hanabi was now currently scanning the area with the Byakugan...and noticed 20 White Zetsu had broken off from the main group and were traveling underground to where the shelters were. After informing Konohamaru they all went to intercept. Moegi and Udon still looked nervous but they were determined to fight to protect the villagers.

Just as the Zetsus came up from the ground...just as they were bombarded by kunai and shuriken. They dove for cover and thought they were up against the main defenders until Team Konohamaru landed in front of them with Hanabi.

"Hah! Guess Konoha really doesn't have its main fighters in this area!" the lead Zetsu said. "Just a bunch of kids!"

"Grrr! We'll show you!" Konohamaru pointed. "I'm the future Hokage, Sarutobi Konohamaru, grandson of Sarutobi Hiruzen! REMEMBER IT!"

"Why don't you just..." another Zetsu teased as Hanabi shunshined and slammed her palm right into the Zetsu's chest and fried its insides.

"Don't stand there talking, FIGHT!" Hanabi yelled as she took a stance right at the next one. "Hakke Sanjūni Shō (Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms)!" she slammed her fingertips into the next Zetsu's chest. "Two palm! Four Palm! Eight Palm! Sixteen Palm! THIRTY-TWO PALM!" she cried out as she finished her barrage by slamming both hands right into the Zetsu's stomach and liquefied it from the inside.

Moegi bit her thumb and then slammed her palm down. "Kuchiyoise no Jutsu (Summoning Technique)!" in a puff of smoke a flurry of moths appeared and then attacked and harassed the Zetsus. "Konohamaru, be careful not to burn up my moth friends!"

"Right!" Konohamaru yelled as he charged forward and created a Kage Bushin and they both created a tiny Rasengan. "RASENGAN!

He smashed it right into a Zetsu's stomach and sent it flying and spiraling backwards into two more of the Zetsus before he bit his thumb and in a puff of smoke he summoned a monkey which transformed into a long, thin black staff. He twirled it around just like his grandfather would with Enma and bashed and battered the next couple Zetsus.

Udon created two Kage Bushin too and then they swarmed the two next Zetsus using just kunai and shuriken to inflict mortal damage. Moegi herself leaped into the fray and she caught two of the Zetsus in a genjutsu that blinded them with cherry blossoms!

"I learned this from watching Sakura-onee-chan!" Moegi cheered proudly as she slammed her kunai into the throat of one of the Zetsus just as the other managed to break out...and sent the young kunoichi skidding backwards with a kick.

"You brats are more trouble than you should be!" the Zetsu said as it opened its 'flytrap' body parts and used Mokuton to send them flying out like spikes.

Konohamaru intercepted it and he twirled his transformed staff to block and break the Zetsu's attack and saved Moegi before he pointed. "Wukong, stretch now!"

"Right boss!" the little monkey, Sun Wukong said as he opened his eye in the staff and then he extended at such force he hit the Zetsu right in the head and sent it flying backwards, dead.

Hanabi was now surrounded by the remaining Zetsus as enemy reinforcements started to appear from underground. She panted and began to dodge their attacks but they were soon overwhelming her. Just as four jumped to finish her off, her Byakugan blazed.

I'm going to do it this time! Hanabi thought as her body glowed. "Hakkeshō Kaiten!"

And she then spun as a dome of chakra swirled around her and the Zetsus collided into it and their necks were broken from the force and they were sent flying back. Hanabi had finally managed to master the Kaiten, something she hadn't been able to do through all her training. As she stopped spinning however there were still more Zetsus around her.

"Damn it...there's too many..." she breathed in and out as she pulled out a kunai. "I can't keep this up for much longer..."

Konohamaru jumped up and did a seal. "Katon: Haisekishō (Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning)!"

He covered the Zetsus with ash to blind them, grabbed Hanabi and hopped out and then he had the flint in his teeth ignite the cloud. In a large explosion he incinerated and destroyed much of the Zetsus that were there. Hanabi blinked and looked up at him.

"You okay, Hanabi-chan?" Konohamaru asked as he landed by the rest of his team.

Her cheeks flushed a bit. "Uh yeah. And you can put me down now."

"Oh right!" Konohamaru said as he put her down. Udon and Moegi were panting in a bit of exhaustion...he was the only one who still had the chakra levels to fight. "Alright guys, stand back! I'll finish all of them with one shot!"

"W-What are you going to do, Konohamaru-kun?" Udon asked in a bit of surprise.

In response Konohamaru created another Kage Bushin and put his hand down. They created a Rasengan...and then began to make it grow bigger, and bigger, and bigger! It was then the size of the young Sarutobi's torso.

"Ōdama Rasengan (Big Ball Rasengan)!" Konohamaru called out as he lifted his new giant Rasengan over his head as his clone burst away. "Naruto-nii-chan was able to teach me how to do this before he left!"

Konohamaru the ran forward at full speed and then he pushed his hand forward at the Zetsus. The Ōdama Rasengan was now too big for them to avoid and he caught the initial line entirely in the attack...before he sent it flying. Nearly 15 White Zetsus were caught up in the spiral attack before it exploded and took the rest out. It gouged out a crater in the street 30 meters wide and a meter deep, and all around it were the now dead White Zetsus. The young Sarutobi stumbled and fell to one knee as the chakra drain from the attack hit him.

"That...technique still takes...a lot of chakra out of me..." he said as his teammates ran over to help him up.

Hanabi's Byakugan was scanning the area and she breathed in and out. "Looks like that got them all, Konohamaru-kun!"

"That was awesome!" Moegi said with a grin.

"Naruto-nii-chan really taught you how to do that?!" Udon asked in sheer surprise.

"Heh, yep, I'm awesome," he said as Wukong burst back to his normal form and rested on Konohamaru's shoulder.

"The battle looks to be finishing up! Tsunade-sama turned the tide and the enemy is fleeing with their tail between their legs!"

On the outskirts of the village, the surviving White Zetsus were being expelled from Konoha in droves. Tsunade, Junko, Sai, Homura, and Koharu led the charge and chased them beyond the wall, which the Konoha Councilors repaired instantly using a combination Doton jutsu. The Konoha Home Guard cheered on top of the wall as the retreating Zetsus.

Shortly after Tsunade dug through the hundreds of scrolls that were in the vaults in the Hokage Tower. All had survived super Shinra Tensei that had destroyed the village due seals that were used as protection for the priceless knowledge inside. Finally she dug out the right one after reading the contents, the scroll was nearly as big as her entire body.

"Sai! I've found it!" Tsunade yelled as she put the scroll under her arm. "I need to be taken back to Alliance Headquarters!"

"Understood Hokage-sama," Sai said with a nod and a bow. For some reason, he felt a little...different. As Tsunade was searching for the scroll he found a mirror...opened his mouth and his eyes widened noticeably. "And I may have some news for you."

"News?" Tsunade asked as she walked back into the office.

"Danzō-sama is dead."

Tsunade blinked. "Come again? He hasn't been in the village at all for the past few weeks. How do you..."

"The cursed seal he places onto every ROOT ninja, such as myself, has disappeared from my tongue," Sai reported as he opened his mouth to show. "This can only happen if Danzō-sama was killed, the seal removes when his heart stops beating."

"...can't say I'm unhappy to hear that," Tsunade admitted with a sigh. "I need a full debriefing on ROOT's movements, Sai."

"I will give it to you, Hokage-sama," Sai said with a nod. "First off, however, we need to find out exactly where Danzō-sama died and the rest of ROOT is."

Tsunade nodded in agreement. With that he created a giant bird and animated it with his Chōjū Giga and the two hopped on it and flew off the top of the Hokage Tower.

First Division, Lightning Ridge

Hinata was currently training in the makeshift training fields behind the wall of Lightning Ridge. She slammed her palm into the target several times as she talked with her new...roommate in her mind. To her surprise, Matatabi, the Two-Tails was kind, considerate and full of information. Hinata did another spin and slammed her palm into the target and created a small indent in it from the force.

"As you already can see, my chakra is passively enhancing your own abilities, Hinata-dono," Matatabi said in Hinata's mind. "Being the anchor, you can draw upon one tail of my power for you to use, either in the Version 1 or Version 2 states, or you can manifest the tail behind you without those states."

I never would have guessed...does this make me a Jinchūriki like Naruto-kun?

"Not exactly. You have part of my power, but not all of it. My full self is still sealed inside the Gedō Mazō so you can't access the advanced abilities like Naruto-san would with Kurama's if he's mastered the Fox's abilities," Matatabi explained. "There's a little bonus here, your own Katon element will be greatly strengthened by my own and you'll be able to use my fire techniques."

Hinata blinked. I never had much practice with my elements...I know I have Katon and Raiton, but I've always focused on my Jūken.

"Might be best to start learning then, Hinata-dono. With the enemies we'll be facing, its best to have a lot of options to use, agreed?"

"Agreed," Hinata said as she walked back to get some water and Ino started to run over. "Ino-chan?"

"Hinata! Got some orders for you straight from Headquarters!" Ino called out as she skidded to a stop in front of her friend.

"Orders?" Hinata asked with a blink.

"A new assignment...you've been assigned to be a guard for Naruto and Bee-san!" Ino explained and Hinata's eyes widened. "Mizukage-sama will be arriving with the Hokage Guard Platoon to teleport you there immediately, she's been assigned to the Second Division to help keep its strength up."

"Teleport?"

"Yeah! The Hokage Guard Platoon was personally taught the Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) by the Yondaime Hokage himself to help guard him better!" Ino said cheerfully. "I bet you're happy, you'll be the first of us to see Naruto!"

Hinata's cheeks turned a bit red. "Eeek!"

"Oh come on now Hinata, you're Naruto's girlfriend! No need to be embarrassed!" Ino teased with a grin. "No need to be shy about it."

"R-Right Ino-chan," Hinata said as she breathed in and out and then she smiled. "I'll see...Naruto-kun soon!"

"Right! Just follow me to the Keep! That's where you'll be departing from!"

Shortly they were in the Keep. Hinata glanced around to see Tenko talking with Karin-the former member of Taka was blushing a bit around him. Nearby Tenten was sharpening her weapons as she talked with Neji who was assuming his role as the Second Division's Proxy General. Sakura wasn't present, she was was in the middle of healing the wounded in the field hospital. Chōji talked with Shikamaru as the former enjoyed some of his favorite chips. Kiba was currently training with Akamaru and Shino was studying troop movements. Finally in the center of the room there was a white sheet on the ground.

"What's that for?" Hinata asked.

"Mabui-san is using it to use her Transportation Technique to put Yondaime Hokage's tag there for the Hokage Guard Platoon," Darui explained as he walked over. "Without the tag, Hiraishin can't work. Kumogakure had secured many of the Yellow Flash's kunais in the last War, but they were virtually useless for us to use Hiraishin ourselves due to the complexity of the seal formula. Still, it'll provide a conduit for you to head to Rokudaime Hokage-sama."

Hinata nodded. "I see..."

And then a single, tri-bladed kunai appeared right on the white sheet. It seemed to gleam as if the power of the Yellow Flash never left it. And just a scant second later...four people appeared above it: the Godaime Mizukage Mei Terumi, Shiranui Genma who still had his senbon in his mouth, the scarred Namiashi Raidō, and finally the bearded Iwashi Tatami. Genma, Raidō, and Tatami were holding hands and they grinned.

"Hiraishin, success," Genma said as he stretched. "Been a long time since we used it."

"But we still pulled it off perfectly," Raidō said with a smirk.

"No wonder why the Yondaime Hokage was feared for such a jutsu, to cross that distance this quickly...its mind boggling," Mei said and she smiled and looked at Hinata. "And you must be Naruto's girlfriend. He's eagerly waiting for you, I'll assume your duties here in the Second Division."

Hinata's eyes widened happily as Mei got out of the Hokage Guard Platoon's circle and she breathed in and walked into it. Kiba grinned and jumped over.

"We'll see ya soon Hinata! Make sure you watch Naruto's back, the idiot may be Hokage now but he's still an idiot!"

"Are you speaking for yourself on the latter, Kiba?" Shino asked in a bit of a teasing tone.

"Yes, we'll see each other soon," Hinata said happily. "Keep holding down the fort here, Kiba-kun, Shino-kun."

"We will," Shino said as he pushed his glasses up.

Ino cheered. "Go knock Naruto dead with your womanly charms, Hinata! You've earned it!"

Hinata flushed at that and Genma sighed and laughed. "Okay...I think we're all ready. Right?"

"Right!"

And then...in a flash, the four vanished in front of Hinata's friends as she was teleported directly to where Naruto and Bee were. Kiba stretched as he went back to training and Shino went over to talk with Shikamaru and finalize the upcoming battle plans.

Island Turtle, Lightning Country

Naruto paced back and forth as he waited. He didn't want to depart for the battlefields until Hinata arrived, otherwise she wouldn't be able to keep up. Bee was enjoying some good jerky nearby as he thought up new rap lyrics. Iruka gave a small smile, seeing his student pace back and forth nervously over the matter of his girlfriend arriving. The young Hokage stretched upward and he looked...and in a flash the Hokage Guard Platoon and Hinata appeared right next to him, having honed in on the tri-blade kunai on his hip.

"Hinata-chan!" Naruto said as he turned to her and hugged her, lifted her up and kissed her over-joyously...but he practically threw the Guard Platoon to the wayside. "Oh...sorry guys..."

"No problem, Hokage-sama...just...enjoy your reunion," Genma said with a bit of a groan.

"He wouldn't be Naruto if he wasn't that excited," Iruka said with a bit of a laugh.

Hinata giggled and she rested her head on Naruto's chest and deepened the embrace. "I missed you too, Naruto-kun..." she whispered, closing her eyes tight.

"I...I heard about your father...I'm sorry I wasn't there..."

"Its okay...its okay Naruto-kun...I'm working through it," Hinata said as they kept their embrace. "I...I was a mess for the few days after I learned about it...but...father lives in my heart, that can never die..."

Naruto gently cupped Hinata's cheek and she looked up at him. "Still...I should have been there to help you..."

The young Hyūga Leader smiled and cupped the young Hokage's own cheek. "You were there...in my heart...it was because of your example I was able to get back up...and push forward."

And they leaned in...and gently pushed their lips together for a gentle kiss. They closed their eyes and tightened their loving embrace, overjoyed just to be holding each other again. After several seconds...they broke their kiss and Naruto grinned at her.

"Wait till you see me in action now Hinata-chan..." Naruto said with a grin. "Got a bunch of new jutsus to show off!"

Hinata smiled and grasped his hand tightly. "And I'll fight, side by side with you Naruto-kun!"

"I don't mean to pout but are we heading out?" Killer Bee interjected with a smirk and hopped over. "We gotta hit the grass to kick some ass, fool ya fool! Yeeeaaaahhhh!"

Naruto and Hinata nodded and the young Hokage then activated his Kurama Chakra Mode. He closed his eyes and sensed the greatest collection of negative energy up ahead...and with that...Naruto, Hinata, and Bee jumped off the safety of the Island Turtle.

Land of Sound, exact location unknown

Outside a large, old mountain in front of a cave that had sealing tags around it, Orochimaru smirked and he walked through. With his new Byakugan he had already sighted and deactivated all traps as he walked forward...his new...associates waited outside. Even in times of War, the snake Sannin had managed to find a good assortment of new allies to make up for his losses earlier in the year.

He then saw a flash of movement and a giant kunai blade was tossed right at him. He sidestepped it as he entered an ancient magma chamber. Then to his surprise the blade then curved back and impaled him right through the stomach. Orochimaru coughed up blood but looked otherwise...disinterested.

"Is that anyway to greet an old friend and benefactor, Shin-kun?" Orochimaru asked as he then opened his mouth...and he used his replacement jutsu to create a new body and the old one fell away like discarded skin. "Though I'm impressed you have managed to make those eyes I gave you evolve into the Mangekyō Sharingan, I knew you had talent my boy."

"I heard you had died, Orochimaru. I had to be sure it was you," a man came walking out and he wore a hooded Akatsuki cloak. He pulled the hood off and Orochimaru could see the man...around his left eye he had stitched it to be permanently open, while his right was normal...and he had four extra eyes on his head to give him three hundred sixty degree vision. And finally on his arm...there were more eyes that covered it, except for his palm which had some sort of tattoo on it. What was most shocking was that...all of the eyes were a functional Sharingan. "I was starting to get my own plans ready."

"Ah yes, you...endeavor to form a new Akatsuki despite the one currently fighting, correct?"

"Yes, they are fighting for my vision of evolution," Shin said as he leaned back.

"Hm...perhaps I can help you with that. Your body could still use some work to reach its full potential," Orochimaru said with a smirk. "I don't believe I was able to gift you with my Cursed Seal or Hashirama's cells, Shin."

Shin's normal eye widened. "You're offering to enhance me more?"

"Yes, but for a cost," Orochimaru said with a smirk. "You need to work for me again...I'm offering you the position Kabuto once held. Interested?"

"That is a...generous offer Orochimaru," Shin said after a moment. "I accept. I'll aid you for these enhancements. If anything can let me achieve my goal of forcing the world to evolve, its you."

A dark partnership was once again formed and Orochimaru shook Shin's hand to seal the pact. He noticed the man's other arm below the elbow had been replaced...by a mass of knives that were shaped into a functional hand by Shin's Mangekyō power. The snake Sannin licked his lips in anticipation...after the War ended, he could finally truly begin his own plans...

Author's Notes:

Phew, this was a fun chapter to right. Finally could work in some actual NaruHina moments! Originally I planned for it later, but then I realized something: part of the Mizukage's Platoon was the Hokage Guard Platoon. AKA, instant teleportation for anyone. Thus sending Hinata to Naruto was a no brainer. And now for a Battle Couple moment coming up for them is the Nagato, Itachi...and Kakuzu fight. Not only that, got some awesome action with both Tsunade and Team Konohamaru, which I hope you enjoyed. And Tsunade learns that Danzō is dead. Homura and Koharu finally acting on their Will of Fire right after Danzō died...coincidence? I think not! Though seriously, Homura and Koharu were motivated and changed by Naruto's example, hence why they are finally doing something proactive just like Chiyo did in the Rescue Kazekage arc.

Now in regards to Tsunade's relatively easy win over Sasori, I think it fits. Sasori is an extremely strong ninja, but the Sannin in general have been portrayed above the level of 'S-Rank' that the likes of most of Akatsuki: Sasori, Konan, Hidan, Kakuzu, Deidara, and Kisame are. The Sannin are like...SS-Rank ninja, Itachi is on their general level of power (stronger than Orochimaru but weaker or equal to Jiraiya by his own admission) and Killer Bee is on that level too, while Nagato is a SSS-Rank, same level which Naruto, Sasuke, Kabuto and Minato are currently in the fic, though Naruto and Sasuke are on the cusp of the level which the 'demigods' of the Narutoverse are: they are nearly Hashirama and Madara's level. Tobi also operates around that level too.

Oh, I also loved writing Konohamaru. He's a fun young ninja to write about. He's about as strong as Version 1 One-Tailed Naruto/Cursed Seal Level 2 Sasuke at the end of Part I now, so a High Chūnin level. Also hope you liked seeing Moegi and Udon's abilities. And Hanabi finally completes her Kaiten, something she's been working diligently on for months!

Finally, I just had to include Shin Uchiha into this. Thought he was a rather well done, if minor villain to the Gaiden, just needed some tweaks to become a major threat.