27. The war begins

                                    

                                          
The war began as soon as the commando unit made contact with a bunch of reanimated shinobi. The 5 companies made contact with the enemy at 5 different locations. The war on the first day was brutal. Almost half of the shinobi lost their lives. There was still no sign of Madara or Pain. 
It was on the beginning of the very next day, Shinya felt it. He felt it before it could reach him. A wide portal opened just below where he was seated. He understood that they are coming for him. He gave a reassuring smile and nodded to the fellow clan leaders who were with him in the HQ and locked eyes with Shikaku Nara who was the brains of their forces. Shikaku also gave a firm nod making Shinya fall into the portal which was opened for him by the enemy. 
In the battlefield, Itachi found a lead on the location of Kabuto. He assigned Shisui to be the acting commander and left with Sasuke to put an end to this utter disgrace to the dead. But the pair of siblings didnt expect to face their own parents right infront of the hideout where Kabuto was hiding. For better or for worse they need to fight them to get to Kabuto and they had no choice. 
It was after Itachi and Sasuke's absense the others were faced with a reanimated Madara Uchiha. Neither Shinya nor Itachi was there to command them. The 4th company under Gaara tried their best to hold their ground against the ghost of Uchiha but he was way out of their league. Everybody came to the realization that the masked man was not the real Madara. 
Kushina Uzumaki, Tsunade Senju, Hiashi Hyuga and Kurenai Sarutobi along with some powerful shinobi from 4 different nations stood to face against Madara Uchiha while Naruto, Kakashi and Gai faced the fake one. Minato really wanted to go and help them but was stuck dealing with the reanimated shinobis. He truly hoped Itachi and Sasuke could put a stop to this jutsu. 
~ 
Shinya stood in the middle of what seemed like a huge research lab. He saw several dead bodies which he recognized as the team which was sent to investigate the abandoned research facility in the middle of the uninhabited island. So that was their base after all. 
Shinya sensed a strong chakra divided into six. Coming from the same place. He also sensed another chakra. He saw a man with orange hair with piercings all over his face. "Pain!" Shinya called out calmly. "Shinya Otsutsuki." Pain said looking at him while both the rinnegan weilders had somewhat like a staring contest for a few seconds which was broken by the Otsutsuki. 
"Why dont you come and face me yourself Nagato? Or are you too scared?" Shinya asked and the look of surprise was evident on Pain's face. "Enough with the hiding. Konan was it? I can understand your sentiment of wanting to keep your friend Yahiko with you but do you really think thats what he wants?" A bunch of papers sharp as kunai launched at him as soon as he uttered those words which he dodged casually. 
A woman with short purple hair emerged from hiding, anger evident on her face. "You know nothing about Yahiko or us." Konan said gritting her teeth. "We are siblings in a sense. We were trained by the same master. Cant you understand why we are doing this?" Pain asked the Otsutsuki. 
"I can very well understand what you trying to say. I am aware of your logic of wanting to use the Jyuubi to control the other deviants. But it isnt as simple as you think. Jyuubi reeks of blood lust unlike any other deviants anybody has ever seen. Jyuubi isnt something that can be controlled easily." Shinya explained hoping to reason. 
"Lies. All you ever spout are lies. This whole shinobi system is a complete lie. You Otsutsuki want nothing but to stay on top and lead everyone. That is the reason why you have been keeping such a secret for so long. If only things were different, Yahiko wouldnt have died." Konan screamed, her eyes and voice showing agony. 
Shinya sighed heavily because he could relate to their pain. He remembers screaming in agony clutching his 2 year old sister in his arms after his parents died because of a deviant but the solution they came up with is practically unapplicable. He faced the Jyuubi in flesh and blood. He still remembers Kazumi Otsutsuki's words. 
"My mother wasnt evil but she became more like a monster the more she used the Jyuubi's powers. I tried to stop her so many times but she never listened. As time went on, it was difficult to know who controlled who. To me, it felt like mother was under the control of the Jyuubi. It was taking advantage of mother's anger and turning her into a complete monster." 
"I understand where you are coming from. But what you are aiming for isnt something easy to achieve. It only leads to further bloodshed." Shinya said. "You and I are both the same. We have lost the people we held dear. Even Jiraiya sensei couldnt find a solution to this problem even though it was right in front of our eyes. You say that it would lead to further bloodshed. But that is exactly what is happening right as we speak." Pain spoke. 
"So many people. So much blood. But you refuse to stop this even though you could. I wonder if you forgot what its like to feel pain. Did sitting on top of the Otsutsuki throne make you forget the pain you suffered? I would like to test that theory of mine." Pain said and before Shinya could speak a casket appeared from the ground which Shinya recognised as the Reanimation jutsu. 
Shinya truly hoped that the one inside the casket shouldnt be Jiraiya. He knows he cant let the emotions get the best of him. He was prepared to face such circumstances. He knew they might pull something nasty with the help of Reanimation jutsu and mentally prepared himself to face the worst but what he saw made him freeze. Never in a million years did he expect this to happen. 
A woman with features similar to Shinya stepped outside the casket. Shinya stood there looking like he saw a ghost. The woman's chocolate orbs met Shinya's making her gasp. "Is that... Is that you Shinya?" She asked in complete shock taking the Otsutsuki's appearance. 
"M.. mom?" Shinya asked shakily. His initial shock turned into a huge surge of anger and confusion. He was confused as to how they managed to get a sample of her mother's DNA and angry at how they treat the dead. "Oh my! Shinya!" The woman cried and tried to step towards him but she couldnt. She wasnt able to move out of her own will but she recognised her son despite him having white hair and purple eyes. Only her memories and emotions were uncontrolled. 
"You have grown so much my dear." The woman said as tears rolled down her face. Suddenly she moved forward with a kunai in her hands trying to stab him which he dodged easily. Despite being an Otsutsuki, Shinya's mother never knew the truth about the shinobi. She never activated her chakra but she was a brave and strong woman. She just lived like any normal person with a husband and kids until that fateful day came crushing the happiness of the beautiful family. 
"I cant control my movements Shinya. You should get out of here." She panicked, her motherly instincts screaming his son to run away from her as she continued throwing punches which Shinya dodged. He could seal her away easily but something in him couldnt do it. He cant help but feel a little happy to see her after almost 20 years. Konan attacked as he was distracted dodging his mother. 
The woman gasped as he saw someone else attacking. That was when she noticed the 2 others in the room. "Please stop this. Dont attack my son." She said with concern all over her face. Shinya caught her wrist that was about to collide his face and gave her a reassuring smile. "Its okay mom." He said and her eyes got glossy. She was able to see that her son matured so much despite her absence. She was really happy when she remembered something. 
"How is your sister Shinya?" She asked making him freeze for a second giving Konan the opening she needed while Pain just watched the scene unfold infront of him. Shinya just burned the paper that came his way causing an explosion which he absorbed with minimum effort. One of the Pain's having the ability to modify the body into weapon shot bullets taking advantage of the situation. 
There was a person watching everything unfold patiently waiting for a sure opening. As Shinya dodget the bullets, Konan's paper slightly grazed his cheek drawing blood. The mother's non-existent heart (cause she is a reanimation) clenched in pain seeing her son bleed. All the six pains along with Konan attacked him back and forth to give an opening to the person who was waiting exactly for that. 
The person saw the opening they need. It was at the very moment Shinya realized that Konan's paper was glazed with poison and it was entering his body rupturing his chakra network. Normally poisons dont work on him and his regenaration abilities compares to none. But this poison was having an effect on him which reminded him about the possible weapon they came up with to defeat him. 
Before he could reflect upon this fact, the person took his shot aiming straight for the Otsutsuki when something unexpected happen.
Author's note:
Hey guys... any clue as to what would happen? Keep reading to know who Inora truly is.