Stormfall (An AU Naruto Quest)

Haru looked around uncertainly at his so called "fellow students". At the head of the room stood the imposing Dewa Riko, the Summit-Shatterer herself. Her name - and kill count - were notorious across the lands of Rain, even to a peasant like Haru. And now it seemed she was his teacher. It was… surreal.

"Listen up, maggots!" When she spoke, the room boomed menacingly and the whole class sat ramrod straight. "If I had to guess, your parents have pussyfooted around about telling you the whole truth of why you're here, instead of out there killin' each other! Assuming that you weren't born to a couple'a ignoramuses, that is! Let's make one thing crystal clear. Your enemies are not within these walls! The Land of Rain is in the midst of being poked and prodded by a united Land of Fire. Word is that the Land of Stone's Clans have come together to forge some kind of citadel! Others are sure to follow their lead by the end of the decade, and the Land of Rain is no exception!"

"Dewa!" She smacked the chalkboard bearing her own Clan crest. "Okura! Naegi! Asai!" she barked, moving down the line, even to the most minor of Clans local to the region. Haru blinked, not having heard of most of them in his time tucked away in the bogs. He had believed the neighboring Imai were coming to recruit him as an Outclan branch family servant, only to find himself in this small but growing village hidden away within the Land of Rain rather than the Imai ancestral home…

"By the wisdom of our Founders, we have come together to preserve the ideals, traditions, and heritage of the Land of Rain in the face of total annihilation!" She spoke in a low voice briefly. "I'm not here to tell you Clan heritage no longer matters. It may matter more than it ever has. But let me tell you, as someone who has picked from her hair the entrails of nearly every name you see on this board, today you serve a higher purpose than some historical spat with your neighbors! And if that is a problem for any of you, I give you permission to be my enemy instead."

The students gulped, exchanging hesitant glances with their (former) enemies.

"From this day on, you swear your highest fealty not to common blood, but to the Village Hidden in the Rain! Do I make myself clear, maggots?"

All around Haru were fearful affirmatives from Clan children. Haru, for his part, found himself excited - and determined.

---

Haru's sparring partner slumped to the ground, defeated. Their proctor raised his arm, calling the match in Haru's favor. Haru took a moment to catch his breath before running over to help his opponent up.

"Dammit," the boy groaned, rubbing his head. "I really thought I had you that time."

Haru laughed good-naturedly. "Jun, you do the exact same right-jab-left-jab-right-hook-left-kick every time."

"But this time I did it faster," he grumbled, as Haru helped him up and gave him a shoulder to lean on.

"Hmph. 'Faster' isn't gonna be enough, I think, when we're up against…"

Jun gave him an odd look. "Up against what? Enemy ninja?"

"...yeah. I dunno, guess it finally just sunk in that, well, not too long from now we're gonna be doing this but for real, with people from Fire and Stone. Maybe the deserts of Wind if the rumors are true."

They hobbled to the sidelines so the next match could start, and Jun replied, "I guess it's not weird to the Clans kids, eh? They've been told from birth that they're gonna go out and kill each other."

"I suppose so. I've never asked any of them if they'd have preferred killing ninja from other lands or each other. I guess now, enough of them are friends that it would be weird to say each other, wouldn't it?"

Jun chuckled. "I'm not sure five years is enough to heal all the distrust, frankly. Maybe for the kids, but their parents? Nah. Bad blood doesn't clean up that quick."

"You're probably right. Still."

"Still."

"A few powerful people force the Clans of Rain to get along, unify behind one person, and somehow… it just works."

"For now," Jun said, inspecting his bruises.

Haru nodded, conceding the point. "Fair enough. And yet… do you wonder if the same might be possible for, well, nations?"

"Hmm… I dunno," Jun said, scratching his chin. "It would need to be some awfully strong people, I reckon. Or, some awfully cunning people, maybe. Even so, I don't think peace like that can last. Even the strongest grow old or lose their touch. The peace would be nice while it lasted though, eh?"

Haru smiled. "That it would."

---

"Nice vest," Sachi said with a smirk. Haru did his best not to look too smug about it. Not in front of his farewell group, anyway.

"They already have you leading missions?" Naoka asked, with a bit more trepidation.

Haru shrugged. "To be promoted is to be seen as ready for the burden. When else but now?"

Jun snorted. "He's already getting the hang of the 'wise mentor' speak so he must be ready." Haru tried and failed to flick him in the forehead.

Haru gave a hug to Shigeko, patting her on the head jokingly. "Don't be jealous, guys. I'm sure your promotion is just around the corner… just keep eating your greens and doing your homework, maybe do a good turn or two, and the Amegakage is sure to notice." He gave an ironic bow to the chorus of groans.

He nodded to Yori and Kaoru. "Ready?"

The two genin smiled and nodded back, nervous as they were.

"Just a routine scouting mission," he reassured them, not that they didn't already know. Despite his boastful commentary about mission assignments earlier, they wouldn't be giving him a tough first mission to lead.

They strolled through the Great North Gate - though their mission was actually west, Haru always left from the north for good luck, moving at a leisurely but determined pace.

Haru took one last look at his beloved Village. It would be some time before he could return.

---

Haru trudged through the secretive camp of Rain's Third Kumi, exhausted from his battles in the Lands of Wind. Hidden Rock and Hidden Sand's regional conflict seemed to have blown up into a full-scale war between nations, with Hidden Leaf recently hitting them on the other front. The border between Rain and Wind was somewhere within a few dozen miles of the camp, though no one fully agreed where the border was. Haru supposed that was why they were shooting fireballs at each other. He was too tired to worry about such things, beelining for an open tent.

He passed a few faces he knew and many he didn't, but was surprised to run into one of his schoolyard friends all the way out here. "Jun, is that you?"

Jun had gotten several inches taller since Haru had last seen him, easily towering over Haru now. Jun's eyes finally focused on him and he gave a slight smile. "Haru! Good to see you. Haven't talked to a friendly face since Shigeko came through to deliver supplies."

"And I see you got your promotion," Haru noted, gesturing to his chūnin jacket with an impressed look.

Strangely, Jun frowned. "Mmm. Yeah." Jun cracked his neck and went back to sorting clothes for the wash. "Saw some action over in the Land of Fire. Things seem to be, well, maybe not cooling off, but not quite as hot as it is over here. No pun intended. Got moved, so, here I am."

That was vague, but it seemed that Jun didn't want to talk about it. Haru understood that plenty. The things he'd seen even in just the past week…

Blood. Viscera. Intestines. Split skull. The smell of burning flesh. The wailing. The fucking wailing.

"It's an honor to have you here," Haru said, and he meant it.

"It's an honor to serve," Jun said, and he meant it… a little less than he did a few weeks ago.

---

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!" Haru bellowed, as a massive serpentine blaze leapt forth from his mouth, blasting through the Sand-nin's fortifications in a devastating plume of fire. His preference for Fire Style served him well against the predominantly Wind-aspected ninja of Sand, but they just. Kept. Coming.

Three of his foes were incinerated in an instant, and five more immediately surged forward to take their place. His allies suppressed their movement with a hail of shuriken and the occasional explosive while he caught his breath. He had taxed his reserves too many times in the past month. His chakra coils were seriously starting to sting. But if he weren't out here, who was to take his place?

And so he was here.

"Lightning Release: Radiant Splash!" he cried, and a lightning bolt blasted the ground near where a Sand-nin had just submerged themselves. Hard to say if he hit them or not, but he shook it off, turning his head to deal with a Naginata that flew by his head. "Lightning Release: Volt Whip!" he snarled, deflecting the weapon with the very arm forming the hand signs, and a rope of electricity flared out, slicing their head clean off and blinding Haru with the spray.

"Ack," he spat, stumbling away as he wiped his face clean. His allies quickly filled in the gap while he recovered, and soon the Sand-nin were repelled completely… for now. There was at least three of them for every one of Rain's forces. When was it going to end?

He stalked off, stumbling gracefully through the town of Hashibiro to see whether any of their other skirmishes needed reinforcement. He did his best to drown out the screams of those still stuck in buildings gone up in flames, many of them by his own hand. He had to prioritize his fellow ninja first and foremost, it was the only way stability could be restored to the region. Hidden Rain demanded no less.

He came upon Jun, who to his relief was still alive - crouched and shaking - but alive.

As he neared, he realized Jun was not just shaking, but crying. And not just crouching, but cradling another. One of Jun's pupils? Haru's head was too foggy. He… he couldn't. He couldn't tell, it was all too much. His mind could barely keep searching for enemies at this point.

"You just couldn't help yourself, stealing my socks every night, Sayori," Jun sputtered. "You broke my favorite mug when you were trying to show off. You accidentally dropped a kunai on my foot when I walked up next to you… twice." Jun squeezed her tight. "I'm sorry I yelled. I won't make you run any more laps. You can have my socks, you can break my mugs, please… just come back, Sayori, won't you come steal my socks again…? Please," he begged.

Haru stumbled away. There was nothing he could say.

---

"Please, will you just help us talk to him?" Shigeko asked. "He's been in a rut."

Haru snorted disdainfully. "He's been stuck in a rut for years, Shigeko. Hence why he's still just a chūnin in spite of his obvious talent. What's bringing this on now?"

Shigeko sighed bitterly. "Sachi's death has been… getting to me, I suppose. Made me reconsider things. There's not many of us left to pull him out of it."

"We all have to die sometime," Haru said blandly.

"When we go, it should be with pride, Haru, not this… resignation. Look, you don't have to say anything. But… just be there?"

Haru sighed. "Fine. Still recuperating from my last A-Rank anyway. Not like I'm going anywhere." She smiled wanly and left Haru to his thoughts, as the sun gradually went down in the sky.

Just before twilight, he rose, making his way to the Rain Barrel - not Haru's tavern of choice, but just for tonight, it wasn't about him.

Jun was at the bar, unsurprisingly. Shigeko and Naoka were already there, speaking animatedly to him. Even from here Haru could tell that that brickhouse of a man wasn't fucking budging, mentally or physically.

"...got the rest of your life ahead of you-" Haru vaguely heard Shigeko say. Whatever.

"Hey Jun," Haru said calmly.

The man actually sounded somewhat surprised, and turned to regard him. "Haru," he said simply.

Haru slid onto the stool next to him, fixing him with a piercing glare. "The hell are you doing, Jun?"

Jun raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Enjoying a pint or two. Want some? It's on me."

Haru sighed. "The hell are you doing with your life. I don't think I've seen you take more than a C-Rank in the past… how many years has it been at this point? Let's face it, you're coasting."

Jun clanked his glass down, calling for another. "I'm helping people out there, Haru. The people of the Land of Rain."

"But are you helping Hidden Rain? Are you doing the best you could be doing here? With your expertise-"

"I know what I contribute, Haru. I've just decided to add something instead of take away."

Haru snorted. "You know Jun, after all these years, there was a lot I could say about your character. Some of it good, some of it bad. But for the longest time, the one thing I could never call you is a goddamn coward. I don't think that's true anymore."

Jun growled dismissively and turned back to the bar, sipping his next drink.

"Giving a shit is hard, I get it. Tough shit. You think you're doing the latest generation any favors by neglecting them, with all that experience locked up in your head?"

Jun smashed his fist into the bar, cracking the wood slightly. "I'm not watching another kid die, Haru!"

"Oh sure, turn your goddamn head away, then! You think it'll stop just because you took the easy road? So you're a coward and an idiot!" Shigeko and Naora looked between the two of them with concern, but said nothing. The barkeeper, for his part, looked very annoyed but kept his cool.

"Step. Away. Now."

Haru rolled his eyes but gave him space. "I've been waiting for the day you'd surpass me, Jun. But I've been an idiot, too. You will never be a jōnin. I see that now. I'd thought… I'd thought there were still things in this world you wanted to see accomplished. But now I see that you're already dead and just waiting to realize it."

Haru slapped a band of ryō on the bar, nodding to the barkeeper. "Here's a little something for the countertop. Excuse my friend. He's a bit hopeless."

Before Haru could leave, Jun called out to him. "And what is it that you want to see accomplished in this world, Haru?"

Haru looked back at him, reminiscing for just a moment about their group's days in the Academy. Shared dreams of peace, dreams of service, dreams of progress, of unity. "Any friend of mine would know that already," he said, and made his exit.

---

"Enter," a deep, firm voice commanded.

Haru made his way into the office of the Amegakage. Hanzō of the Salamander stood before him - well, sat. The man did not look at him as Haru came in the room, poring over a map and taking inscrutable notes. Even without his direct attention on Haru, Hanzō's sheer presence loomed in his mind, seemingly filling a room sized for an entire council of Clan Heads and advisors. Finally, the scratching of the pen ceased, and Hanzō rose slowly from his seat.

"Apologies, Wrathful Flame. Once I begin a train of thought, I hate to cut it short."

"Not a problem, my Lord. What is it that you need from me?"

Hanzō fixated on him with a brief, scrutinous gaze. "In complete honesty, what I require above all is loyalty to Rain, and… trust. Trust that you can act without my direct instruction, for the sake of the Village."

"Your will is my will, my Lord."

Hanzō glanced back at his maps. "The information I am about to tell you is of the utmost secrecy. Discretion level eight." Haru nodded resolutely. That was about as high as could be expected of a 'mere' jōnin like Haru, what with level nine discretion being 'only my immediate advisors may know' and level ten being 'If anyone knows this, we're fucked.'

Hanzō continued, his fingers tracing across the parchment. "I have secured an alliance with Hidden Grass and Hidden Valley. They move at my discretion - within reason."

Haru did his best not to have his jaw drop completely to the floor. It was unbecoming of a jōnin of Hidden Rain, no matter how astonishing that news was.

"My Lord… what?!"

"I did nothing more than open their eyes to our current reality. Our borders are collectively shaved off every year by the Major Powers, all while soaking up the damage for their conflicts. The Lands of River, Grass, and Rain weep and bleed while Leaf, Rock, and Sand crush everything in their wake, in their haste to collide with each other. We can't sustain it as-is, but the conflict is accelerating. Another World War is coming."

"I know I tell you nothing you don't already know, but with the power of our three Villages combined, we'd still only be a match for… frankly, sir, only one of the Major Powers. It's clear to me you have plans for something greater."

"Astute, Wrathful Flame. Another reason why I know you are perfect for my needs. You saw firsthand the horrors unleashed on the Land of Rain in the first World War. Horrors I am not eager to return to these lands. Before this escalation carries on, we must be proactive." Hanzō's finger finally settled on the Land of Iron. "I have secured a defensive pact with Mifune, the Shōgun of Iron. By his own code of honor, his might is our might - if the Land of Rain is under attack. These conflicts that shrink our borders are unconvincing to him. But, if it can be shown beyond reasonable doubt that the people of the Land of Rain suffer under the actions of the Major Powers, his honor demands that he join swords with us. With the might of Iron on our side, Waterfall will inevitably join the cause. From there…"

"You're going to form a coalition of Minor Powers," Haru whispered in awe. "Maybe even enough to push the Major Powers to the edges of the continent."

"We refuse to bear the pain inflicted by the Great Five any longer. It's time we let them know. But we can only begin our work with Mifune on our side."

"What would you have me do, my Lord?"

"Find undeniable evidence of the Major Powers acting against us, and filter it up the proper channels. The local Daimyō, the regional Daimyō, the Rain Daimyō, and then to myself."

"What if I can't find any, my Lord?" Why did he ask? He already knew.

"You will." The command had no edge or anger in it, but it nonetheless followed him home, echoing in Haru's mind for hours to come, until he finally fell into a fitful sleep.

---

Haru, disguised in a nondescript outfit, sat in the third nicest restaurant in Yoshihara, passively gathering information as diners came and went. Word of sabotage - among other theories - was gradually beginning to spread, and Haru was carefully stoking the flames as more and more incidents began to get reported. His students did not fully understand their task, but they trusted in him, they trusted in their kage, and they trusted in Hidden Rain. It would all be worth it.

Unfortunately, it would likely be several months before the information could travel all the way up the pipeline, especially in a quantity that would seem convincing. Haru wouldn't be seeing home for quite some time, again.

As he sipped carefully from his (discreetly watered down) drink, his ear pricked at particular mention of ninja movement in the Land of Rain. Armed conflict. That wasn't part of their mission, though Haru did suspect other jōnin had been assigned a similar mission in other parts of the nation. Well, 'assigned'. And yet…

"...was a goddamn bloodbath! Sand and Leaf's entire contingent utterly wiped out by the mighty Salamander himself! Incredulotory, ain't it?" the man said happily to his friends, sipping and spilling shōchū as he regaled them with the stories he'd heard.

Sand, Rock, and Leaf invading Rain yet again. What… No, that's absurd.

But soon the news was all over this town. And the next. And the next.

Despite it all, Haru laughed. And laughed. And laughed.

Hundreds, maybe thousands dead for this scheme. And it was all fucking pointless.

---

He moved swiftly back to Sarobetsu, never more than a day of travel from his students. Whatever else, they would not need to know the price of his folly. He would assure them it was a job well done, and they would return home as soon as possible.

Hopefully, they would be able to live with that.


Haru paused, noting a few bent branches. Could be an animal, could be a beast, or could be his students. He pieced through the grass and mud, noting undeniable sandal tracks and bits of charcoal.

Only, he was pretty sure he had instructed his students not to camp out in the open.

He doubled his pace, hoping to pick up the trail from the town proper. But it wouldn't do to rush in when there were potential enemies about. If the rumors were to be believed, it would likely be Hidden Leaf ninja. As Sarobetsu came into view, he reworked his disguise into that of a traveling peasant farmer here to sell goods at the morning market. It was perhaps a bit too early for a civilian to plausibly be showing up, but he was loath to leave his students alone longer than necessary if there were other ninja in the area.

He made his way into town casually, quietly pushing a small turnip cart he had produced from a storage scroll, while discreetly observing his surroundings.

There, a small storage house… he would've guessed an ice house if the peasants here could afford such luxuries. Likely, it usually housed spare farm equipment or other unnoteworthy inventory, but… it seemed just a bit too clear of work debris and filth. Sight-obstructing obstacles had been carefully removed in believable ways - until you looked at the big picture. Haru narrowed his eyes, and stalked closer to the building as silently as he could manage.

There were windows, but seemingly only one door, and no telling which was being watched. Any roof entry? It didn't seem so. Maybe he ought to just blast the whole building down - but that would be chakra intensive, and the building could just be a decoy. He could toss in an explosive, but it was unlikely any opponent of note would fail to dodge it, and it ran into similar issues. Resolving his will, the door cracked open without a sound, Haru pressing his fingers to the hinges to dampen any potential creaking.

And he saw that he was being observed. His stealth hadn't fooled them. The threat estimate ticked up.

And then he recognized the face.

"Jun?" Haru asked, keeping his face carefully controlled. What are you doing here…?

If Jun was as surprised as Haru was, he too kept it off of his face. "Haru," Jun said.

A hundred questions and a thousand scenarios flickered through Haru's mind.

Have you seen my students? But no, that would reveal too much. And yet, he needed to know. But how could he test Jun's intentions?

"Were you also assigned to deal with the local sabotage, Jun? I hadn't realized you would be coming."


Jun replied, "Not initially. I was rerouted from another beast suppression mission to investigate the sabotage. Poison is a bit odd for Hidden Leaf but not unheard of. Still, I have to wonder if it might be Sand trying to pin things on Leaf. Chiyo's reputation precedes herself, and she has plenty of acolytes clinging to her every word."

"I see. It's as good a theory as any. Have you exhausted all the clues already? It seems a bit redundant to have so much firepower dedicated to such a simple investigative mission, but I'm happy to assist where I can." His fingers twitched almost imperceptibly. Almost.

"We don't have to do this, Haru. It isn't too late."

Haru stiffened. The screeching dissonance in his mind rose an octave. "You and your stupid goddamn hero complex. Maybe I should have just left you to rot at that bar and we'd all be better off. Can't be in way over your head when it's still stuck up your own ass."

"Why would you do this to the people of Rain?" Jun had the slightest hint of pleading. Pathetic. He never recovered from the first war. He wouldn't make it through the next one. Haru knew first and foremost that to survive meant hardening your heart, but it's a lesson Jun never internalized.

I did this FOR the people of Rain- but no. He had said too much already. For the sake of Hidden Rain, this information could not get out. Not even in the mind of one of his oldest friends. They had known each other long enough- there was a reason this sort of mission wasn't assigned to Jun himself. Jun couldn't be trusted when it came to the darkest needs of Hidden Rain. He could ruin everything. The dissonance grew louder yet.

Jun sighed. "If this is my end, do me the dignity of looking out for my students, would you?"

The dissonance reached a fever pitch. "I don't give a damn about your skinwaste students, Jun. And there is no 'if', old friend. You're not jōnin caliber."

Jun eyes narrowed dangerously. "If you won't even tolerate my last request, I have nothing more to say to one as misguided and foolish as you."

Misguided! Foolish!

The words rattled in his mind. They were embattled by two other words, all the way back from the Amegakage's office.

You will.

His head was pounding. Why do mere words have such profound impact? He was a jōnin. He was beyond this. He was beyond this!

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!" he screeched, unleashing his frustration in a nearly uncontrolled torrent of flame. He fueled the blaze with another quick Fire Style technique, "Hell's Shout", causing jets of flame to emerge from the ground and walls, shrinking Jun's available space.

Jun ducked and dived as Haru adjusted the streams of fire toward him, and Jun rapidly smashed a window with a thrown kunai while he rolled out of the way.

"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Wall!" Jun shouted, throwing up a quick shield and giving himself an opening to Substitute through the open window. Unfortunately for him, Haru was a fraction quicker, scorching his legs with unearthly flame just before Jun could escape its reach.

Before Haru had a chance to follow, he heard a muffled, "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" and leapt to the side as a massive watery dragon head smashed through the doorway where he was just standing. The Water Dragon continued to pursue its quarry, and Haru scrambled to get out of the way, using the jets of Hell's Shout to give himself a boost. But the Water Dragon was relentless. Even as he Substituted himself away, the Dragon hounded its prey, clamping its jaws around Haru and slamming him into the building.

Haru curled up and soaked up whatever damage he could, but he grunted at the scrapes and stabs of the rubble slamming into him, and he thought he felt bones crack. He surged chakra into his muscles and pulled himself loose from the raining debris before it could lock him down completely. He stumbled into the flames left behind by his Fire Dragon Bullet, whipping his head around looking for Jun, who had himself briefly lost sight of Haru amidst the collapse of the building.

Despite Jun's Water Element having superiority over Haru's own favored Fire Element, Haru's skill with Fire was too great to bridge the gap. He readied another Fire Dragon Bullet with all the strength he could muster. The second time will strike true, old friend.

"FIRE DRAGON BULLET," Haru shrieked, pouring everything into it. His chakra, his determination, his hatred, his confusion, his morals, his soul. He burned it all away. Nothing remained but flame.

Coupled with the intensity of the Water Dragon Bullet he had just used, Jun's legs were too hurt to move out of the way in time. Haru watched as the all-encompassing flame washed over Jun and erased him from this world. And felt… nothing.

Until he heard the scream.

Not one of pain, Haru had heard too many of those over the course of his life.

Not one of desperation, Haru had heard plenty of those too.

It was nothing less than a primal surge of rage, shaking what seemed like the entire town as Jun blasted forth from the inferno and into the air, wrapped in the watery cloak of a manta ray.

He was charred head to foot.

He should be dead. He should be dead!

Haru finally felt something again. It was fear.

In desperation, he used the last dregs of his chakra for one final attack. "Wind Release: Vacuum Energy Ball!" he cried, and the razor sharp orb of energy slammed into Jun's chest, splattering blood everywhere… but he just kept coming.

In an instant, the giant of a man was no man - he was an Oni. The watery impact knocked Haru off his feet as Jun's hand punctured right through his shoulder and out the other side.

And worst of all.

He was still. Yelling.

And then, in an instant, Jun faded. The light in his eyes was gone.

Haru desperately ripped the hand out of his own shoulder, coughing up blood, and staring at the lifeless corpse of his friend.

I'm sorry Jun, he thought after a moment.

You were right. About everything.

---

Voting is closed.

Kenzō raced into camp with a certainty that startled his teammates. His expression was grim. "Sensei is…" Kenzō took a breath. "There was a fight, presumably with their Sensei," he said, pointing a thumb at Sai, who was still gagged with a bag over his head. "Kobayashi-sensei… lost, after wounding his opponent."

Shion choked back a sob. Momoka just stared blankly.

"We have to figure out what we're doing next. A jōnin on the loose, even a heavily injured one, doesn't bode well for us. If we run for it, we might be ambushed on the way back to Rain, and lose what little element of control over the situation we have left."

No one bothered to suggest talking things out. That was no longer in the cards.

Momoka spoke, voice low and hoarse from the news. "We could…split off in a different direction. He can't catch all three of us, especially in an injured state."

"I'm not leaving any of you behind," Kenzō said, firmly. "Let's be honest, my Stealth skills are the most developed of any of us. He'd find me last. And that's not something I'm willing to accept. Not when we could stand together and face him as a team."

Shion's lip quivered. "But he…he beat Sensei. He's a jōnin, Kenzō. We're just some punk genin. How are we supposed to win?"

"He's injured and tired from Sensei pummeling the shit out of him. Not to mention outnumbered. And… we have another source of intel," Kenzō said, swiveling towards Sai. Shion nodded with angry determination, in spite of her fear. Truthfully, Kenzō suspected he was even more afraid than she was, even as he believed fighting was their best chance. Sensei told them to look after one another, and reassurance was one of the few things left that Kenzō could provide. That, and… this less pleasant task. Torture provided unreliable information, but it was better than no information.

He sliced the bag off of Sai's head and removed the gag with a careful stroke of his hooked blade. Sai looked absolutely murderous, with wild eyes, but there was an undertone of glee based on what he had overheard.

"Let's be clear with each other, Sai. When we're done talking with you, I'm chopping your head off. The amount of useful information you provide will determine how many of your fingers, toes, and limbs are attached when that happens."

Sai gulped, but put on a brave face. "I am proud to die for Hidden Rain. I will never-" Kenzō neatly sliced off the mid-knuckle of Sai's pinky toe. Sai immediately began screaming obscenities, and Kenzō's eyes flicked around automatically, but they should be far enough from town that the screaming wouldn't matter.

"You will speak only when I have asked you a question. Now, be honest. Were you accompanied on this mission by your Sensei, the Wrathful Flame?"

"I'll never tell-" Another scream. "Yes! For whatever good it'll do you. Your death's as assured as mine!"

"Tell us what his best techniques and strategies are."

"I-I don't know them," Sai stammered.

"I'll be the judge of that," Kenzō replied grimly, and continued with his questions. Shion observed the interrogation with disdain, while Momoka didn't watch at all, leaving to process things as best she could before their battle. Kenzō, for his part, just tried to drown out the part of his mind that was screaming at him to stop.

---

Haru's ears pricked, as they had for every bump in the night. He'd never slept worse in his entire life, which was really saying something. This time, however, it paid off. Those were definitely footsteps. This early in the morning, that would mean only one thing.

"Your karmic reward is here," said Jun. Haru ignored him, peering through a crack in the wall. In the pale light, he could just make out a silhouette in the street, maybe another on a rooftop. He snapped into motion as the distinct but subtle whistle of a kunai surged toward his hideout. Crashing through a window, he narrowly avoided the explosive tag attached to the kunai, which promptly leveled the building.

He landed on his feet, whole body aching from injury, and quickly took in his opponents. "Ah… the students," he drawled, hiding the pain of his wounds as best he could. "I suppose you noticed my trail out of the town was false. I confess I hadn't been expecting you. A credit to Jun's skills with deception."

"Don't you dare say his name," a girl, dark haired, snarled. What was her name…?

"That's my Shion," Jun supplied with pride. Haru ignored him again.

"Submit now and I will make your death painless," Haru offered, but none accepted. Fair enough.

"Before we kill you, tell us why you did it, and maybe we'll make your death slightly less painful. Slightly," a boy said, standing on a wooden gate and peering down at Haru with hatred. Kenzō was his name, he was reasonably sure.

Jun laughed. "That would require you knowing why you did it, wouldn't it, Haru?"

"Shut the hell up!" Haru finally screamed at Jun, then turned to the others. "You think I'd go to these lengths to contain the truth, and then tell you at the finish line? I didn't think Jun was one to pick fools as his pupils."

"I warned you about underestimating my students…" Jun growled softly.

Kenzō idly pulled out a shortsword, flipping it over in his hands nonchalantly. That sword belonged to…

Kenzō said, "We got the gist of it from Sai already. Took a few fingers and toes to convince him, but he told us what he knew before he croaked. The what is clear to us at this point. The only thing left is the why."

So, Haru's students were also dead. The grief of this day surged through Haru, debilitating - and then he began to laugh, full bodied, open-mouthed, painful with his injuries. "The why? The why is that it was all for nothing. That's the why."

The kids glared at him both with anger and confusion, off-put by his outburst. Jun mostly just stared with pity.

"You've lost your way, haven't you?" the most distant girl asked. Momoka. "You were of the path, treacherous though it was. And now that you've slipped from it, you're tumbling, having realized the direction it led was the wrong one all along. But even a wrong direction provides a clarity that aimlessness can't. You have nothing to cling to anymore."

Haru scoffed at the indignity of being lectured by a genin. "The life of a shinobi is one of deceit and treachery. To question our purpose is to question the very truth of this world. Look upon me, children! See these wounds, this history carved into my flesh. This is what the truth brings you!"

"You're rambling," Jun chided.

"Then perhaps we've spoken enough," Haru retorted.

Kenzō calmly drew two swords, placing a Wind technique over them.

Haru sucked in a breath, rolling to the side as a Shuriken shattered the wood behind him. "Lightning Release: Thunderburst," he intoned, as an electric aura crawled its way over his skin and giving him energy. "Fire Release: Hell's Shout!" he cried with greater fervor. Jets of fire blasted forth seemingly at random across the streets of the tone, illuminating the buildings in a demonic glow.

Kenzō and Shion sprinted at him as he cast his techniques, and Haru calmly twisted himself out of the way of their onslaught, propelling himself on the jets of fire and boosting his muscles with electric impulses. He ducked under a water whip swing, releasing a spray of shuriken that forced Shion to sidestep toward Kenzō... in a line with Momoka, standing on the rooftop behind them. Kenzō hurried to end his Wind techniques, knowing what was coming next.

"FIRE RELEASE: FIRE DRAGON BULLET," he bellowed, twisting up the torment in his heart into the shape of an ungodly serpent of flame, jetting from his mouth. At the last second, Momoka jumped toward him to add a bit more speed to her throw, and he barely leaned out of the way of the shuriken, sending his Fire Dragon ever so slightly off course as he did. She managed the hand seals for an earth technique before getting utterly engulfed in the flame.

Kenzō and Shion were just barely spared of his wrath, with his off-center aim providing just enough time for the Multiple Earth Wall to shield their Substitution away from his attack, even as their teammate was consumed entirely.

Haru huffed heavily, concerned that he hadn't at least wounded them all with that attack. Shion and Kenzō only looked even more enraged than before, attacking him with renewed vigor while he tried to recover his energy, one lung still damaged by Jun's hand. Kenzō continuously tripped him up, only barely allowing Haru to twist out of the way of Shion's swings. He would need to deal with Kenzō's annoying fighting style first.

"Lightning Release: Volt Grapple," Haru cried, sending out a whip of his own to lash out at the other two. The technique sparked off of Kenzō's sword angrily, chipping the metal, but Kenzō quickly prioritized dodging the technique over continuing to counter it. The bolt of lightning Haru gripped in his hand flickered out at with every swing, carving small trenches in the ground as it slashed at his opponents erratically, resonating with the electric aura that surrounded him.

Shion, noticing they weren't making headway, ceased her melee attacks and quickly flashed through a multitude of hand-signs.

It can't be! Haru thought.

Jun simply laughed.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" Shion yelled, as a massive dragon of water surged forth. Haru scrambled out of the way… only for the Water Dragon to fizzle out almost immediately, splashing to the ground.

"Gotcha," she said, smirking maliciously.

Then the town well exploded, flooding the streets and extinguishing the jets of fire he had conjured. Haru leapt over the quick surge of water and shielded himself from the rain of rubble, standing on the water's surface uneasily. What? he thought again. His eyes flashed over to the third one, Momoka, still lying in a heap. It must have been her!

Jun frowned at him. "Oh come now, Haru. She's hardly a threat at this point. Do you really have the chakra to spare on her?"

Haru grit his teeth. Truth be told, he didn't.

Shion and Kenzō came at him again and again with blade and water, neither able to hit the other as he lashed out at them with his own lightning whip. But the lightning technique he had used to bolster his own physique was draining him quickly. Too quickly. When he was empty, he would be done for. He had suffered too much damage in his encounter with Jun. He needed to flee while he could, recoup his chakra, and deal with the other two later.

He performed the beginnings of Vacuum Step only to find his movement once again interrupted by those stupid hooks, preventing him from running. Kenzō called out to Shion. "I'll hold him in place! Throw an explosive!"

"What? I'm not blowing you up!" she yelled back.

He ignored their argument. Haru still carried intelligence intended for the Tower… he absolutely could not afford the chance it survived the explosion. In an instant, he accepted what must be done. Jun regarded him with surprise as he sucked out yet more chakra from the coils maintaining bodily function. The ones that helped keep him alive.

"Fire Release: Forge Flame," Haru murmured, and soon knew only bliss. The last thing he saw was Jun reaching a hand out to help him up, like Haru had finally lost a spar.

---

A veritable tidal wave of flame poured forth from Haru's hands, liquefying the very earth as Kenzō stumbled away from him. But he would be too slow, Shion could see it from here. Even as she watched, she moved. This time, she would not fail. "Water Release: Surging Seas," she said placidly, as if it were mere routine. A wave formed beneath her and rocketed her forward over the melting earth and through the hellstorm, weaving through a torrent of flame engulfing the streets. Kenzō spotted her at the last second, jumping into the path of the wave and getting swept up in it. The embers flickering around scorched Shion's skin and throat, but she held her concentration, carrying them up and out until they were free of the cloud of fire. Kenzō tumbled free, rolling to his feet (and smoking slightly), while Shion landed gracefully as the wave receded. Kenzō opened his mouth to say something, but a look of shock flashed over him. "Momoka!"

Shion followed his gaze and rushed to her fallen teammate, who had clear signs of third degree burns in patches all over her body.

"She's alive," Shion whispered after a quick scan. "Barely." She quickly disinfected the burns with medical chakra, wrapping the most extreme ones that were leaking vital fluid.

Kenzō paced back and forth until Shion reassured him Momoka was stable, at which point he nodded and moved to quickly search the remains of Haru's hideout that they blew up.

There was seemingly nothing left of Haru himself, nor really even the street he was standing upon. Just a pool of magma that cooled into a misshapen slurry of rock. If his bones didn't melt, perhaps they sat within that casket of rock somewhere.

Kenzō returned quickly, carrying a few more storage seals.

Shion gestured to Momoka. "She's stable, but… I don't really have the medicine for long term treatment. Do we… go back to Rain?"

Kenzō took a deep breath. "I don't know. Maybe we should save that conversation for when Momoka wakes." He rubbed his face tiredly. "My, uh, hometown isn't far. We can carry her there. They'll have better medicine."

Shion nodded slowly, then looked around. "Okay. What about…them?" she asked, referring to Sarobetsu at large. The fires began to die out, but she could still see frightened civilians observing through the gloom.

"I think we've done enough," Kenzō said, solemn.

---

Kenzō and Shion have taken a Mild and Medium Consequence. Momoka has taken a Mild, Medium, and Severe Consequence. They each earn 1 FP per Consequence accrued, and also one more for winning the fight.

Voting time! What do you do?

The next chapter will take place in Kenzō's hometown regardless. It is time to pick which direction the PCs should go.

[X] Commit to going missing. They will never accept what you've done.
[X] Commit to returning to Hidden Rain. You can swing the story in your favor and avoid being hunted like a dog.
Write-ins are accepted.