Omake: Tornado Alley
Hyuuga Hajime was enjoying tea in a small teashop tucked away in an alley off a major market street. The place was well known by the locals, and not often frequented by ninja thanks to being completely pedestrian. Of course, Hajime would never dare patronize such a low-born establishment of his own volition. He sipped at his tea cup. Though not comparable to the mastery of the Hyuuga Clan, the light brew was made with raw tea leaves with a fascinating bitter flavor, and Hajime had started to take a liking to them.
No, this place was simply inadequate for a noble such as he. Fortunately, the owner had known some respect when Hajime had politely requested a table to be reserved for him every morning. The owner was rather more pleasant than some other civilians Hajime had known, and even took care to brew the tea with the youngest leaves in the batch, providing the normally bitter brew with a hint of sweetness.
Of course, there was a reason for Hajime degrading himself in this filth-laden softfoot establishment. It's unbelievable that to blend in here, he had to rub the snow-mud slurry on his feet and track it into the teahouse, just to politely rub it onto the welcome mat like an animal. For all its squalor, the teahouse was no less than two block from the Goketsu compound, and allowed Hajime to freely observe the comings and goings of the Goketsu.
The job was meant to be a relaxing one, to reward Hajime after the stressful espionage mission in Lightning. It's remarkable how many holes Lightning had in its defenses, but perhaps much of that could be attributed to lacking the noble Byakugan (and possibly having many of its jounin at the Chuunin exams).
Hajime flicked a handseal. He had to take more subtlety in using his bloodline the past two days since a Naruto had started playing shogi with one of the regulars in the teahouse. Luckily, gauging the reactions and expressions of the clone had indicated that he hadn't yet been caught.
The experience of activating the Byakugan was impossible to put in words. Suddenly, Hajime was no longer a hunched over pile of robes, huddled over a small teacup and facing the corner of a wood paneled wall. Instead, he was everywhere at once, at every angle and every position. He could see the card up the sleeve of the man playing poker three houses over, and the hidden compartment in the counter of the merchant's shop two streets back. The all-seeing eyes were truly a gift.
He narrowed his focus, and saw Lady Goketsu in a sundress and a wide-brimmed hat, carrying a picnic basket. Following her was Lord Goketsu, Goketsu Noburi, and Lord Goketsu's mudfoot concubine. He shuddered a moment in his thick, warm robes. It wasn't because of the Goketsu pissing on Leaf tradition for the sake of their own power. Nor was it their disregard for their own reputation in associating with mudfoot genin. No, it was because that picnic basket was packed to the brim with explosive seals.
It made sense, he mused. If they wanted to carry food, they would probably just use storage seals.
Nonetheless, the targets were on the move. The civilians parents of that concubine were staying at the compound it seemed, as they had left the shielded area. Goketsu Kagome must still be within the main complex then. Hajime rose to his feet, leaving a few ryo on the table, and slowly shuffled out. His impression of an elderly grandmother with a thick shawl and a drooping hat seemed to have fooled the Naruto, who hadn't looked up from contemplating how to escape the latest trap and save his silver general.
As he emerged into the alleyway, Hajime flickered into a corner and dropped the shawl and hat into his pack. Clan Goketsu was on the move, headed towards the East Gate of Konoha. He took a moment to plot out a route through the city that would let him avoid being noticed by the rooftop Narutos.
Good, it seemed like Clan Goketsu was passing close to the Konoha General Hospital, so he would drop a message for Lord Hiashi as well. His Lordship was recovering slowly, but was not taking rest, instead trying to manage Konoha politics from his hospital bed, and part of that was demanding remarkably thorough reports from the Hyuuga assigned to surveilling Noble Clans.
Hajime, now wearing the standard attire of a Konoha chuunin, climbed to the roof and took off running, active Byakugan guiding him through the winding streets of the city.
-o-
Breathe out, letting the tension release fully until your body is fully relaxed. Breathe in, until the chakra coils are fully stretched, then just a little more to push them to expand. Breathe out. In. Out. In.
Hajime sat on a small grassy yard, a couple hundred meters north of the East Gate. Clan Goketsu had left about an hour ago, with a mission paper claiming they were going to raise walls around a small village close to Konoha. Why that mission required a jounin and two chuunin, Hajime didn't know, but who was he to complain when the Goketsu squandered their resources?
Without opening his eyes, he flickered his Byakugan on and off. The dirt around the East Gate hadn't changed position, there were no new track marks on the walls, and the guards were still relaxed with no muscular tension. Clan Goketsu must still be out. Best of all, not a single Naruto in sight.
He closed his eyes and resumed his meditation. Every Hyuuga trained their chakra reserves as much as they could in the hope of mastering the art that all Lords Hyuuga had shown - the eternal Byakugan. Lord Hiashi's mastery of the bloodline was so great that he could see with Byakugan vision at all times, his massive chakra reserves serving to anchor his bloodline without the inelegance of the bulging veins that characterized inferior users. While this might have sounded like propaganda fooling a lesser clan to believing the superiority of their leaders, the Hyuuga could all clearly see both Lord Hiashi's immense chakra coils and the small amount of chakra always flowing through his eyes.
In. Out. In. Out. This little glade made for a pleasing meditiation spot. Not that it was truly peaceful, of course. The bugs and worms and birds were all fighting for their lives, but couldn't the same be said about civilians in the city? It was all noise to Hajime as he continued to breathe. In. Out. In. Out...
His thoughts started drifting. He remembered doing this meditation while his teammates trained in the training grounds with him. Kagawa made a point of practicing the noisiest Raiton justu that he could to try to break Hajime's concentration, and Akagi would always chastise him for it. He wondered how Akagi was doing. Perhaps in the afternoon today, he could drop by Akagi's flat. They could pay a visit to Kagawa's name on the memorial stone. It had been a couple months, hadn't it?
The memorial. Hajime's concentration broke as he remembered all the new names being carved after the Battle of the Gods. Harada-sensei and Nakazo-sensei both perished in the fight. The woman who taught him how to use his bloodline, and the man who taught him that he didn't need it to be terrifying on the battlefield.
Hajime wasn't crying. He hadn't cried, not when he heard the news of the Battle. The Hyuuga were a composed clan, and showed no weakness. His jaw didn't hurt from holding things in, and he didn't have a pain in his chest as he thought of Nakazo-sensei, grinning like a madman and congratulating Hajime and Akagi after they finally beat Hajime in a Taijutsu spar, and how he really didn't mind losing, just the once.
That settled it. After this was over, he was going to find Akagi and visit the memorial stone. But until then. In. Out. His breath wasn't catching, that was just the wind. In. Out. In. Out.
A scream tore Hajime out of his breathing routine before he could lose himself in it. In a flash, his Byakugan was active, he had substituted with a boulder by the side of the clearing, and he had summoned his Wind Blade.
"What in the name of the Sage's saggy left elbow is THAT?"
Long expletives were good. That meant no one was dying immediately. Belatedly, Hajime opened his eyes.
In the distance, visible over the eastern wall of Konoha, was a giant column of churning wind. Hajime watched as it lurched slightly. He extinguished the Wind Blade and his Byakugan, and climbed up the wall.
The air vortex looked to be about 30 miles away. He watched, just for a second, as the vortex tore up the trees and earth in its path. The guards at the gate were still gawking rather than running, so Hajime took a moment to think. 30 miles away was about an hour at ninja speed, and Clan Goketsu had left an hour ago. He had to tell Lord Hiashi right away. Lord Goketsu was showing off a super-weapon with the power to raze villages, and so close to Leaf? This was nothing more than a naked threat.
-o-
Hajime didn't stop for very long when his Byakugan range crossed over Konoha General hospital. Still, he did stop as he saw the inside of Lord Hiashi's room. In there with him were Lords Asuma and Akichimi, as well as the young Lord and Lady Nara and Lady Yamanaka. Lady Tsunade, Naruto and Yuuhi Kurenai were there as well, and it looked like Lady Tsunade was about to come to blows with Doctor Yakushi.
There was clearly a war council being held, and Lord Hiashi, being the most injured member, had become the center of it. Hajime started running again, not wasting a second thinking about what the participants were saying. Any Hyuuga who couldn't lip-read by the time they were four deserved their eyes plucked out.
"I finally decide to come here and heal the bastard and you're telling me I can't? I could kill him right here, so I can damn well heal him!"
"I understand that Lady Tsunade, but he has a cocktail of drugs in his system right now and your-"
"I know that, fish-for-brains! I've been a medic for longer than you've been alive, now let me -"
Simultaneously,
"The jutsu seems to be from several miles away, and isn't coming any closer. The Nara have modeled its movement. Shiori?"
"Yes Shikamaru. Its movement seems mostly stochastic, as it hasn't moved farther or closer to Leaf than we would expect if it were actively controlled. However, its movement seems to be largely predicted by its past movement, so if it is a combat technique, it's an easily predictable one."
"Do not tempt fate so soon. It would be irrational to trust such effects as have been put on for show beyond our walls. Nonetheless, it seems likely that this attack was deployed against some threat unbeknownst to us within our borders that have stalled the Akatsuki attackers within sight of Konoha. We cannot know how they will react, but if we do not prepare Leaf adequately, the consequences will be grave."
"Well said, beloved wife." *pause* "Don't look at me like that."
"Oh shut up you two, you've been married for three days."
"Lady Yamanaka. Anyway, the evacuation needs to be started immediately. We'll try to concentrate the fighting on the North side of town, thus if we need to retreat, we can try to lead any grounded fighters through the trap array around the Goketsu compound. To structure the evacuation, let's -"
Simultaneously,
"Chouza, do you remember anyone with a Wind element jutsu of that scale?"
"Zabuza was fighting Kakuzu, who had the powerful elemental spirits bound to his service, right? Though I don't think those spirits were resurrected by Pain, he might have a way of finding more to bind to his will, and maybe found one with this ability."
"Hmm. Yuuhi, you spent the most time fighting Itachi. Is it possible that he copied a jutsu that could do this?"
"No. While he didn't get the chance to use this at the battle, he likely doesn't have the chakra reserves for a city-killer jutsu like this. His work was characterized by precision, not brute force."
"Interesting. Well, we know Sasori is from Sand, so it's likely he's Wind element. Perhaps with his mastery of mechanisms, he might have been able to -"
Simultaneously,
"Heya there SUA, it's been a while since we saw each other, huh? Guess we're finally gonna get the chance to see each other go at it hard. Don't worry about yourself, I'm sure I'll find the time between beating those Akatsuki assholes into the ground to take care of your fragile, injured Lordship."
"SUA? Don't bother answering, I'm sure it's another one of your juvenile jokes. For all your insolence, I will be glad to have another powerful Leaf-nin on the field when we go to battle."
"Aww, I think that's the sweetest thing you've said to me, H-man! At least since the time me and Hinata -"
"If you intend us to be allies, even temporarily, I suggest you -"
Hajime grimaced. He had to get in there quick. Luckily, the receptionist at the front desk was not there to stop a ninja at full chakra boost, and the cloaking jutsu that the ANBU used made them just a moment too slow to stop him as he raced down the hospital hallways and into Lord Hiashi's room.
It's Goketsu," Hajime announced to the room which had gone silent as he arrived. The various ninja had gotten into combat position as he rushed in, held back only by Lord Hiashi announcing he was a friend moments before he entered. Lady Tsunade looked moments from killing Hajime, but was only holding back because she had finally gotten a hold on Doctor Yakushi's collar and was lifting the taller man up off the ground.
"He's arrived?" Nara said. "Good, see him in."
The ANBU had caught up behind him now, but hadn't yet arrested him. They probably figured the room full of elite jounin could handle themselves.
"No, it's him. Or them. The Wind jutsu is theirs, they cast it, the Goketsu." Hajime said.
"Explain," said Lady Tsunade, dropping Doctor Yakushi to the floor. He landed smoothly on his feet.
"I don't know how they did it, but the Goketsu Clan - or at least, Lord and Lady Goketsu along with Goketsu Noburi, went out of Leaf an hour ago out the East Gate. Travelling in a straight line out of the city, they would have gotten to about the location of the vortex. They were carrying a truly monumental amount of explosive tags, so I suspect that may be related."
"No, that is typical of my clan," said Go- no, Lady Nara, "However, given that Hazou is involved, it is likely that this is related to one of his latest schemes. I now regret declining his invitation to the Clan meeting. I could have forseen this outcome and -"
"So there's no threat?" Lady Tsunade said.
"No, that is not a certainty. It is not impossible that the effect coincides with Akatsuki encountering Clan Goketsu outside the walls of Leaf." Lady Goketsu took a moment to swallow. "In this case, we have been given the grace of an early warning, and we should exploit it for all it's worth."
"As my beloved wife said, let's remain on combat footing. Here's the plan -"
-o-
As the more disposable Hyuuga in the room, Hajime was made the scout. Damn it all, but this was why the clan made themselves Taijutsu specialists, so that they wouldn't have to be relegated to scouting duty. Still, orders from the supermajority of the Konoha combat force was orders. This was also the first time Hajime had gotten ANBU passcodes, and the excitement of that was nearly enough to balance out the fact that he was possibly approaching Akatsuki.
Akatsuki, the band of S-rank missing-nin with orders to achieve world peace whatever the cost. Who were clearly not opposed to violence. Who had been responsible for cutting down the best of the best that Leaf had.
Two emotions wasn't enough to be stable, Hajime decided. Three was a good number. Excitement, at possibly having the fate of Konoha depend on his successful report back. Fear, of the seven most powerful missing-nin in the world with unknown sensory powers (though surely none as powerful as the Byakugan...). And anger, at those who had destroyed so much of Hajime's life.
So, it was with a strange mix of pleasure, relief, and disappointment that Hajime reported back to the hospital that the only thing he was approaching the Leaf walls was a very windswept Clan Goketsu.
-o-
Lord and Lady Nara elected to receive the Clan Goketsu as they approached the East Wall. This was of course along with approximately four dozen Narutos, who cheered, threw hankerchiefs, and let off small sparks of raiton jutsu into the air as the Goketsu drew into the gates.
"Hi Keiko. Hi Shikamaru." Lord Goketsu said as he stopped running. He turned to the crowd of Narutos overhead, "Hi Naruto."
"Hazou, what on-".
"GREETINGS, LORD GOKETSU," all the Narutos chorused together.
Keiko sighed. "Hazou, what in the Sage's name have you just brought upon this world?"
"Oh, it's a great little thing I thought up the other night. I'd love to tell you, but it's a clan secret and I can't tell you in front of Shikamaru."
"Lord Goketsu. I will reiterate the question, not as a friend, nor as the head of an allied Clan," said Shikamaru, "but rather as someone deeply invested in the continued survival of Leaf as we know it. What is that thing you have made, and why have you made it?"
"Well, like I said, I have to retain OPSEC and I can't tell you what it is. But it turns out that it works at cutting down trees! We managed to clear a large plot of land away from Leaf of both trees and chakra beasts. Keiko, if you're okay with it, we could use your Pangolins to clear away the debris, and I could wall the land in. Then we could sell the land away, or take out a reverse mortgage on it and," he paused fractionally as Mari put her hand on his shoulder, "get a political slush fund sufficient for our coming months in Leaf!"
"Goketsu." Shikamaru intoned flatly. "You have invented a technique that allows you to create air vortices that tear old-growth trees out of the ground and kill virtually any creature in its path. The technique is on a scale sufficient not to kill individual ninja, nor to destroy buildings, but to destroy entire Hidden Villages. And you used it to cut down trees?"
Nara's voice was a little louder on those last two words than anything Hazou had heard out of his mouth before. Perhaps Nara was enthusiastic about the idea as well? It would be great to have the support of his clan in guiding the land reclamation project.
As he opened his mouth to respond to Nara, Kagome came bounding out of one of the side streets, his pack open at his side as he shoved a storage scroll into it.
"Oh Hazou, you're back!" Kagome said, "Don't worry, I got all your things from the compound. And yours, Inoue, and yours Akane. Oh, and I got your parents to get off the land. You didn't trap your room, did you know? Good because I could get your stuff but the stinkers could sneak in easily and cut your throat or kidnap you and chain you to a desk or," he stopped himself abruptly, "but never mind! I've finished mining the compound, so the next bird that lands on the roof should blow it sky-high and erase all the evidence. Are you ready to go?"
"Slow down Kagome," Mari said, "What are you saying? Did you mine the compound to destroy it? Why would you do that?"
"Isn't it obvious?" said Kagome, with a look like Mari had tried to infuse a blank she hadn't written. "We don't want them being able to look at our sealwork and figure out who made it. Can't leave traces, that's stupid. Real, set-your-face-on-fire stupid."
"Who, Leaf's sealmasters?" said Mari. "They wouldn't look at our seals, especially not while we're living in our, I note, perfectly functional and not-blown-up clan compound."
"No, not the stupid Leaf-stinkers!" said Kagome. "Sage and Dummy! They'll be here any moment now that you've made a weapon big enough to destroy the villages. Let's get going!"
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