The Great Shinobi Empires of Jihopan (Naruto Quest, AU Canon)

Your eyes snapped open as you awoke and turned your head to the alarm clock on your nightstand. The time said it was 5:59 AM and you grumbled in annoyance. You could have slept in a full minute! But knowing you were awake, you quickly made the alarm clock go to sleep before it began to ring. Yawning, you got out of bed and moved to the bathroom where you began your morning routine. After a shower and brushing your teeth, you picked out some clothing and stood in front of the full length mirror that was built on your closet door.

After you were done, the reflected shown a woman long red hair, tanned skin, and bright blue eyes. Underneath her eyes were deep and heavy bags, made only from a near lifetime of insomnia. The woman wore a baggy white cloak that hid the standard tan colored Sand Empire flak jacket and the black pants underneath it. The hood of the white cloak was put up over the woman's head, but she made great effort to keep her long red hair spilling down her shoulders rather than stuffing it all in the hood. This woman was you! Nou Saito!

"Oi! Do me a favor here and show me your tits, eh? C'mon, I'm dying of chastity here!" a wild, vibrant, and almost drunken sounding voice bellowed into your mind, the words annoyingly ringing in your ears. This was the voice of the One Tailed Beast. Despite only being injected with its chakra, it was apparently enough for part of the beast's mind to have some form of conscious thought within your body. The only way you could explain it was that, as far as you knew, the One Tailed Beast was a demon made of chakra, so its chakra mixing with yours allowed to bring it to life in some form.

Thankfully, it was only an echo of the actual Tailed Beast, it usually only talked to you during your dreams, right after you woke up, and whenever you got emotional. It was annoying, but you couldn't even imagine what the true Jinchuriki of the One Tailed Beast had to go through. But you were happy to bear this burden, it only made you even more powerful! During these harsh times, your number one goal was to protect your home you loved so much.

"I'm telling ya! You're a fine piece of ass! How about you put that body to work and invite some guys and chicks and we get freaky?" The One Tailed Beast demanded, but you dutifully ignored its voice as you went on making yourself a simple breakfast of toast and and eggs. The Beast continued trying to talk you into doing various lurid acts, but thankfully the voice grew weaker and more distant as you finished getting ready for the day. When you walked out of the door of your house, it was around 7 in the morning. The sun was beginning to warm up the previous freezing night, which meant the weather was actually very nice.

"It's going to be a good day!" you said to yourself with a confident smile. You walked away from your house, a small place tucked in the corner of the village. As you walked through your part of the neighborhood, you said hello to the citizens but they all turned away from you. It was due to your existence as a pseudo Jinchuriki, although not harboring the beast itself, being tainted by its chakra was seemingly enough.

But this didn't bother you in the slightest. Some thought you were crazy for being able to shrug off all whispers, rumors, and even outright verbal abuse, but you were proud to carry this burden. You would do anything to ensure the success of the Sand Empire, so the sacrifice was worth it in your eyes.

It was then a brief blur appeared in front of you, a masked man wearing the standard Sand outfit. It was one of the Sand's ANBU. After a brief greeting, the ANBU said, "Nou, the Council wishes to meet you."

"Understood," you replied. The ANBU vanished and you jumped to the top of the buildings in the area, leaping off them to reach the Administration Building, where the Council met, along with where shinobi got their missions. You entered through the front lobby door, where you saw four large statues of the four Kazekage that lead the Empire. Each statue was made out of gold, but you walked past them and up the stairs, the clerk in the lobby expecting you.

You quickly reached the top floor of the building where you saw familiar large doors. You knocked and a stern voice told you to enter. Doing so, you entered a large room that had a table curved into half a circle. The walls on the room had various maps of Jihopan and of the Sand Empire, nothing was more interesting than the four men sitting behind the table.

The first was a stern looking man with brown spiky hair that was tied into a small ponytail. He wore a black jumpsuit underneath his Kage robes, with some cloth firmly strapped against his chin, which could be raised to form a mask. This was the First Kazekage, Retto Saito. He was famous for being one of the founding fathers of the Sand Empire!

The second, sitting next to Retto, was the Second Kazekage. He was a bald man with a tattoo of a dragon circling around his head, the claw of the dragon was tattooed over his right eye. This was the Second Kazekage, Monzaemon Chikamatsu, inventor of the Puppet Technique that became a mainstay in the Sand Empire and a diligent researcher on Jinchuriki. Though he preferred to be called Shamon for a reason you didn't quite know.

The third was a tall man with shaggy dark blue hair and piercing yellow eyes. He wore the standard Kage robes and had his arms crossed, though out of all the Kazekage, he looked the most relaxed. This was the Third Kazekage, Shotetsu Saito. He was hailed as being the strongest of all Kazekage and many consider him the biggest pillar in the Sand Empire. You had a more personal relationship with him, for he was your mentor when you were a genin! He gave you a nod to acknowledge that fact before leaning back in his seat.

Finally, the fourth was a man with spiky auburn hair who also had his arms crossed. He had a firm scowl etched on his face and his glare was icy cold. He wore the same Kage robes as the other three. This was the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa Saito, son of Shotetsu. He was extremely controversial to the public, but he is intelligent about how a village operates.

"Lord Kazekage," you respectfully said, kneeling down. "What have you called me for?"

"Rise, Nou," Shamon said and you did so. "Before we begin, has the Tailed Beast's chakra interfered in anything since the last report?"

"No sir, other than some meaningless talk within my mind," you dutifully reported. Shamon looked satisfied at your answer. He was the leading researcher on Jinchuriki after all, so he was always interested in talking to you.

"With that out of the way," Rasa quickly said, as if annoyed. "Our scouts found out a presence of Rock shinobi at the border of the Sand and Rain. They're thinking they could use that route as an advantage to enter the Sand Empire. We want you to drive them out by any means necessary."

"Understood. Do we know if the Rock shinobi is anyone of repute?" you asked.

"We are unsure, but its clear that the Rock didn't send their best, they seem to be scouting for any footholds," Retto spoke up, his voice deep and steady. "According to the reports, it might be a Jonin leader with some chunin."

"Will I have any support?" you inquired.

"We can't afford that, so it will be a solo mission. I have full confidence you can handle it, Nou," Shotetsu answered. "Although due to your status, should the mission prove too dangerous, retreat immediately."

"Yes, Lord Kazekage," you said.

This seems like a rather cut and dry mission, but did you have any other questions?

[] Yes you did. (Write In)

[] You felt uneasy going on this mission by yourself. Perhaps you can try to convince the Kazekage for some support?

[] No questions. You should prepare for the mission now.

Apologies for the delay, had some internet issues. Should be taken care of...hopefully?
---

A question popped into your mind as you reviewed the mission in your mind. "Is the Rain involved in anyway? They might be supporting the Rock."

"I highly doubt it," Shamon said. "The Rain and Sound allied together both for survival and due to their unwillingness to ally with any other Empire. The Rain is a popular place for battle, and they share a hatred with anyone who has fought there."

"So mostly the Sand, Rock, and Leaf Empires," Shotetsu added.

"To give you an official answer, no, none of our scouts have reported any interference from the Rain," Retto finished.

"Anything else, or shall you keep on wasting our time?" Rasa rudely said, glaring at you.

"That will be all. I shall be back as soon as I can," you said, bowing before leaving the grand office. You moved down the building and when you reached the outside, a familiar face greeted you.

"Nou, how're you doing?" Fumi Komatsuzaki asked. Fumi was an extremely beautiful woman with silver hair tied back into a low ponytail. You had known her since childhood, she along with you and Bankou Saito were a team underneath the teachings of Shotetsu Saito, the Third Kazekage. As a result, you had become best friend with her.

"Doing fine, Fumi. About ready to go on a mission," you replied with a smile.

"I just got back from one, a delivery of supplies to the Forest Protectorate. I had my old genin team with me so it went smoothly," Fumi said, flipping some of her hair out of her eyes.

"How are the girls?" you continued, having met Fumi's team she trained multiple times.

"Suketsune is fine, Aiko is a sweetheart as always and...Makoto...well. When she wasn't hitting on everything with breasts she preformed well," Fumi answered with annoyance, but it was tinged with a smile on her lips.

"That's good to hear," you said, looking into the sky as the sun grew higher. The familiar heat of the desert was staring to flare up.

"What mission are you going on? Do you need backup?" Fumi asked curiously.

"It's a solo mission, some Rock scouts have been found at the border of the Rain and Sand. Gonna clear 'em out," you answered. "Pretty shut and open."

"Hmph. Be careful. Anyway, after your get back, wanna go get some drinks? I'm actually on break tomorrow," Fumi suggested.

"Maybe, I dunno my schedule. But I'll contact you if I got the time," you honestly replied. Fumi nodded and wished you luck before heading into the Administration Building.

You sighed as you internally pumped yourself up for the mission. Before you went, you checked on your supplies. Kunai, shuriken, even a few explosive tags. Was there anything else you needed before you went, or were you good?

[] Get some more supplies (Write in on what you want)

[] You're good to go. Begin the mission.

[] Something else? (Write In)