Chapter 9: River of Thousand Shadows

                                    

                                          
"Understood!" Saruto, Kakashi, Sasuke, and I all spoke in unison to Shikamaru after he gave us the plan.	
Immediately, we exchanged nods before separating to our designated destinations. Kakashi-sensei to the Medical Compound in the Hidden Grass. Sasuke to the Second Division in the Hidden in Stone. Saruto to the First Division in the Hidden Valley.
Waving to Sai, he nodded and ordered his Anbu captains, Hoki Taketori, Hako Kuroi, and Renga Kokubo to assemble their teams and continue following me. Our destination was the Surprise Attack division in the Land of Rivers. Watching Saruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi disappear, I hoped to see them again alive and safe. 
Landing from the trees, into the border of the Land of the Rivers I became reminiscent of one of the first times I stepped foot in these Lands. It was my first mission back after training with Jiraiya. I remember our mission to rescue Gaara from the Akatsuki with Kakashi-sensei, Bushy Brows, Bushier Brow Sensei, Granny Chiyo, TenTen, Neji, and Sakura-Chan. I felt saddened and a sense of guilt that half of that group was dead. First it was Granny Chiyo from sacrificing her life to save Gaara, then Neji in the Fourth Shinobi War, and now...Sakura. 
It was another time. I had grown so much since then, and lost so many people since then. 
The Land of Rivers was a desolate place, we arrived at the gorge that had overlooked the Katabami Gold Mine village where the Surprise Attack Division led by Araya of the Hidden Sand were apparently engaged in battle. 
Suddenly, next to us on the edge of the gorge, there was a loud sonic-boom-like explosion. From the dust that had emerged, Otsutsuki zetsu puppets had been thrown into the depths of the gorge. With the dust settled, a woman emerged whipping her long blonde hair on her back. The high frequency nature of the explosion radiating from her.
	It was Yodo Nara. She had fair skin with unruly long blonde hair that had reached her thighs. She wore a hood that covered the top of her head that laid a large bang that partially covered her forehead protector. She had dark blue eyes which were accented by red markings. As she looked unamused by her fight with the Otsutsuki zetsu puppets, she smacked her pink lipstick together. Her attire consisted of a dark red full bodysuit with a black tank top, which was worn under a lavender jacket and large hood, on the back painted the Nara clan symbol. From her hooped ears stretched headphones that stuck themselves in the pocket of her jacket. She pulled out a device, flicking the screen, changing the music that played in her head phones. On her hands were black gloves and bandages around her ankles and right thigh. 
	Seeing our arrival, her eyes widened in surprise. 
	"Lord Seventh! Chief Sai!" she ran over to where we were.
	Reaching our position she proceeded to bow to me.
	"Yodo," I said in a serious manner, "We learned from Intelligence that your position was a trap."
	She then glanced to the depths of the gorge where the entirety of the Surprise Attack division was engaged in battle with Otsutsuki zetsu puppets.
	"Yeah," she cursed, "On orders, we were sent ahead of the other divisions to investigate the attack on the Hidden Sand but walked right into a trap."
	"Where is Captain Araya?" I spoke with suspicion.
	Her gaze then saddened as she glanced to a cave on the side of the gorge.
	"Come with me, sir. I'll take you to him," she ushered.
	We nodded and Sai was quick to order his Anbu team to go and assist the rest of the Surprise Attack Division on the battlefield.
	Leaping onto the pathway that lined the gorge, we walked to the entrance of the cave. Entering the cave, my heart sank to see medical specialized shinobi tending Captain Araya.
	"Supreme Leader, I-" Captain Araya croaked as he tried to get to his feet to address us.
	"Don't get up, Araya," I spoke with urgency as I ran to meet him instead.
	Nodding, he sat back down as a cloud shinobi ushered his superior to not move.
	With the light of the daytime illuminating in, I looked onto him. His brown hair that was styled into a spiky ponytail was stained with blood. His white and purple Hannya-like mask was cracked and split to reveal that his eye had been sliced open revealing his a feminine-like golden eye and cracked lips. He coughed up blood that seeped over his mask. His attire consisted of a beige jacket, brown pants and black calf-length shinobi sandal. On his back was a sword which mounted to his right shoulder with a latch, allowing for any access.
	Araya of the Hidden Sand was known to be quicked and composed at all times. Even in this vulnerable moment, he maintained his composure. 
	"Supreme Leader," Araya croaked, "It was a trap."
	I sighed and then looked at Sai with a disappointed expression.
	"Yes," I said intently, "A fact that we had learned too late."
	Suddenly, the sounds of battle rang through the cave and our eyes flinched to hear the sounds of bloodshed outside. 
	"Argh! Shit-" Araya cursed, "I have let my master down!"
	From the corner of my eye, I could see Yodo cross her arms, saddened. Araya was not prepared to take up the role of Captain to a Division. The death of Kankuro Suna forced him to take up his late master's mantle as the Division's captain.
	"Araya..." Yodo spoke sympathetically, understanding the pain of losing their sensei and mentor.
	My eyes then narrowed as I felt a sense of hatred for the Otsutsuki and the pain they had caused our world.
	Turning around, I began to walk towards the exit of the cave.
	"Naruto?" Sai spoke with concern, "What are you going to do?"
	Clenching my fists, I kept my gaze glued on the battlefield outside. I thought about Sakura, Kankuro, and all the lives that had been lost in this stupid war. I wasn't going to let them all die in vain. I thought the Fourth Shinobi War was going to be the last time I was going to see masses of Shinobi die in this war. I knew what I had to do.
	"I am going to end this."
	Feeling their gazes on me, I stood at the entrance and looked down on the battlefield. My rage fueled as I grimaced at the masses of Otsutsuki zetsu puppets infused with white chakra emerging from the soil. 
	Immediately I created thousands of shadow clones that lined the pathway of the gorge's walls.
	Each clone formed everyone of my kekkei genkai. Each had a Rasengan infused with one of my kekkei genkai in spheres of immense chakra. Boil Release, Crystal Release, Dark Release, Explosion Release, Ice Release, Lava Release, Magnet Release, Mud Release, Scorch Release, Steal Release, Storm Release, Swift Release, Typhoon Release, and Wood Release. Every chakra nature dual kekkei genkai known to the shinobi world.
	This ends today.