The Newest Member (A Naruto-Akatsuki Fanfic)

Chapter 37: The Burning Leaf

The gates crashed to the ground, dust and splinters filled the air as the gas mask invaders entered the city. The leaf Shinobi hardly had time to cover their eyes before the sword and kunai plunged into their ranks. The attackers surged in like a wave, the leaf shinobi the only thing keeping them back like a rolling wave and a sea wall, slowly crumbling apart. Sarutobi clansmen stood atop the rooftops above, reigning fire onto the enemy, large plumes of Katon Jutsu engulfed their ranks, burning and keeping the attackers at bay. The clansmen let out a victorious roar, their Fire Style Jutsu's were perfect tools for both suppressing and offensive attacks, if they could concentrate their flames on the open gate, they would be able to cut off the flow of attackers like a narrow river flow. It was at their highest moment of victory, when the Water Style Jutsu of the Hidden Mist's Seven Ninja swordsman, cut through the flames like mere paper.

One of the Sarutobi elders cried aloud "Only ... Only certain Water Style Users can put out our flames .."

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen charged through the withering flames, the ranks soldiers charging close behind. Whenever they launched another fire Style attack, the swordsmen would only grin and deflect the attacks with forbidden Water Style attacks. A stream of water shot towards one of the firing Shinobi, Wrapping his head in a bubble of water, the Shinobi screamed and clawed at the water, but as is lungs filled with water her grew still and toppled over the roof into the alley below. The Sarutobi clan was now retreating from the main gates, they forces overwhelmed by the oncoming surge of soldiers charging through the broken gates. Despite chemical attacks, clan raids and assassinations, the battle had only just begun.

Tsunade watched from atop the Hokage building as the gates shattered and collapsed, sending floods of enemy troops into the village like a raging tsunami, the banners of the Uzumaki clan the only thing standing out against the black tide. Small specs of dark red could be seen, Monks of Jashin has joined the fray, surely they were the ordinary Monks and not the Shadow monks wrecking havoc in the Nara complex, which she could still hear raging on, even from where she stood. The civilians had been locked away in the rocky hillside away from the fighting. Despite being a merciless murderer, she was positive Naruto would rather rule them than slaughter them, however she knew in the back of her mind that they would all pay for how he had been treated, all sixteen years of it.

Ranks of Shinobi charged down the main street towards the tide of enemies. Both sides began volley fire, Water, Earth, fire and Lightning Jutsu exchanged between the two armies as yards became meters, and meters became inches. Both sides instantly clash together like hammer and Anvil, the highly experienced Konoha Shinobi were better trained than the Hidden Rain and Jashin Monks, allowing them to hold the line and push the enemies back with sheer skill. But what the Uzumaki army lacked in training they made up for in numbers and brutality, a never-ending surge of anger and fury, Leaf Shinobi could only hold out for so long. Bodies littered the streets like autumn leaves, creating mounds of obstacles and pools of blood across the once peaceful village.

More Shinobi stationed across the village rushed to the fray, jumping across rooftops and colliding with the enemies long range Jutsu users, cutting off overhead support. From what Tsunade could see, strategy and coördination was their key to winning this battle, she needed Shikaku at the front lines, his expertise would boost morale and the overall success of the multiple engagements across the city. Konoha had won its previous battle with the Hidden Sand village years ago during the Chunin Exams for Naruto's class, all thanks to the tactical prowess of Shikaku Nara.

She turned to the Anbu Captain "Send any available forces to the Nara complex, help fight off the invaders and bring Shikaku to the front lines"