To Take A City By Storm
Chapter 49 To Take A City By Storm
Sakura looked at the tiger mask that she’d worn through countless battles. The armored white surface was freshly polished and repaired, free from the many battle scars it had earned over the years. Fresh black paint decorated the mask, the markings and details of a ferocious tiger drawn by an expert’s hand and just as ferocious as Hound’s mask. Sakura took a deep breath and felt her form fitting armor flex around her body.
‘You can feel it to huh, Outer?’ Inner’s voice rumbled in the back of Sakura’s mind as she pressed her mask to her face. The interior was perfectly molded to her bone structure, sealing itself to her and protecting her against poison gas, flash bombs and attacks to the face. Chakra rose from her network, flowing into the delicate seal Sakura had scrawled across the interior of her mask, reinforcing the already sturdy material and transforming it into a nearly impenetrable shield.
‘The mood in the city is tense. The foreigners are anxious. They’re expecting something.’ Sakura replied, flickering out of her room in the Senju estate and landing near the largest concentration of tension within the city. Her chakra was carefully controlled, leashed so tightly that even someone with perfect chakra control would struggle to find her, while her ANBU seal hid her scent. Genjutsu had wrapped around her body before she even finished moving, hiding her from sight and Sakura’s footsteps were silent, making her all but a ghost among the rooftops.
Patrolling through the area, Sakura felt a brief flare of chakra and picked up her speed. She recognized one of the chakra signatures, though she couldn’t place it to a face which meant it was a fellow ANBU. There was another chakra, foreign and dry, like a biting desert wind and filled with a controlled panic. Sakura shifted gears, slowly slightly as she approached, putting her all into remaining undetected.
Below her, the proctor of the third stage lay collapsed across a rooftop, a spray of blood coating the area. Over him, stood a Suna jounin and Sakura let her lips part, breathing through her mouth and slowing her pulse to further hide her presence. The man looked around, eyes sharp but when he saw nothing, he flickered away, leaving the Konoha nin for dead.
‘That was the jounin-sensei of the Kazekage’s children.’ Inner whispered as Sakura recognized the shinobi, his features revealed by the moonlight. He was a tall man with dark tan skin in the standard Suna jounin uniform. One side of his face was covered by a cloth veil, while the other was left exposed, revealing two reddish purple clan markings and a blocky face. His head was wrapped in bandages, hiding his hair while his hitai-ate was worn in its proper place.
‘And he just tried to kill the third exam’s proctor.’ Sakura replied, flickering down to the man and grimacing at what she found. A scan showed he was badly injured and if he got to a surgery theater immediately he might live. Gathering her chakra, Sakura scanned his shoulders and upon confirming the presence of the ANBU swirl, flickered to the nearest entrance to headquarter, racing to the infirmary. Thinking quickly, Inner snapped an illusory corpse into existence as they left the scene, using their sharingan’s clarity to perfectly copy what they had stumbled across, just in case the would be murderer came back to check on things.
Sakura ran faster then she ever had before as she carried the wounded nin to the medical bay. The moment she was through the doors, her mind was already racing with what she’d need to do to save his life. Hands lit up with healing chakra, sealing a bleeding artery to buy a couple extra seconds before she darted away for a blood transfusion while the on duty medic ran over to assist.
‘Get blood into him, stop the bleeding, heal the wounds. No, he’s going into shock, numb his nerves and, fuck, fuck!’ Inner and Outer’s voices bled together as Sakura worked, moving at shunshin speeds, sharingan swirling under her mask as she fought death. Gekko Hayate was a mess, cut open from shoulder to hip, he’d already lost a lethal amount of blood, but his brain wasn’t dead yet and Sakura could force his heart to beat with iryo-ninjutsu.
Minutes stretched into hours and when Sakura finally stepped away from her now stabilized patient, the room spun. A firm hand caught her before she could hit the ground and Sakura looked up into Tsukiko’s mask, her disguised steel tinted hair reflecting the bright light of the surgery theater. Sakura righted herself and finally realized just how exhausted she was. Her limbs trembled and her reserves were nearly empty.
“Don’t pass out yet, we need to talk.” Tsukiko’s voice was grim and Sakura gave her commander a firm nod. The two walked in silence, moving through the ANBU tunnels without interruption, the other masked soldiers all stepping aside and saluting the commander. Reaching Tsukiko’s office, Sakura felt a pulse of chakra wash over her and privacy seals lit up, surrounding the room and cutting it off from the outside world. “There is going to be an attack.”
“How do you know?” Sakura asked as Tsukiko took her seat. The woman tilted her head back and Sakura was once again reminded that nearly a century separated them now. Tsukiko wasn’t her peer anymore, even if she was in the past.
“Konoha has many jutsu devoted to information gathering. Suffice to say I used one of them. Orochimaru is planning to attack Konohagakure proper during the third exam. Apparently Sunagakure has decided to help out and I have reason to suspect treason within our ranks.” Tsukiko’s hands interlaced as she looked at Sakura. The woman knew exactly how powerful the young rosette truly was, though it would be many years yet before Sakura came into her full strength. “I’m going to need Team 7’s help.”
“Kakashi’s or Naori’s?” Sakura asked, though the answer was obvious. Tsukiko always referred to their ANBU squad as Team 7 even if it was currently designated Team Shi. “I understand.”
“Good, gather your team after they finish their usual training schedules so I can brief them on your parts in the battle. I do not want anyone to notice a shift in our patrols and good work leaving a genjutsu behind to hide the tokujo’s survival.” Tsukiko gave Sakura a stern look. Under her mask, Sakura gave her commander a fearless grin and nodded.
“I’m no stranger to war Bear-sama.” Sakura’s voice was tinted with just an edge of excitement as the privacy seals around the room powered down. With a wave, Tsukiko wordlessly dismissed Sakura and the rosette bowed before leaving the room.
***
Madara shifted nervously as he helped Sakura put the finishing touches on her disguise. She no longer sported pink hair but instead stark white hair and electric blue eyes. Her face was the same, though aged a few years and it took every bit of self control Madara possessed not to blush as he looked at her. Sakura had always just been Sakura in his mind, right up until Izuna had put the idea in his head.
“I think that’s good, don’t you?” Sakura asked, spinning slightly to show off her traveler’s kimono. She was dressed as a civilian, her weapons and armor would be left behind to avoid detection. Chakra seals would usually be detected by the defenders but the seal permanently engraved on her hand and shoulder were both undetectable through the usual methods so Sakura wasn’t worried.
“I think that this entire idea is madness but we don’t have a choice. I’ll have the minefield set up and ready. The Senju only need to be lured to battle, you don’t have to actually take the city.” Madara knew that they had to take the city if they attacked it. Hikyo was the capital of Hi no Kuni, any attack on it was inviting war with every clan in the country if the Daimyo wasn’t eliminated. The man would turn his vast wealth towards revenge and the Uchiha could not afford that.
“You can’t show any signs of doubt.” Ryuko’s voice caught both children off guard. The older woman was a consummate shinobi, even if she rarely got the chance to employ her stealth skills anymore. The mass battles of the current era favored those capable of open combat but even so those who flourished in the shadows persisted. “You are the clan head now, you are leading your men into battle. If you are uncertain, morale will plummet. It is okay to have doubts but the world will never see them. You are unmovable, ruthless, merciless. You are a titan with inhuman will, a god of war who commands armies and brings ruin to his enemies.”
“I don’t think I can do that.” Madara admitted earning no sympathy from the woman. Madara saw the steel in her fading eyes and knew that for all his father’s training had been harsh, Ryuko’s would be far more brutal. They were kin and she loved him enough to force him to become who he needed to be but not so much that she would show mercy.
“Then I will teach you, all three of you.” Ryuko replied and looked to Izuna and Sakura, both of whom had stopped their own activities to listen. “Kurou is waiting for you Sakura-sama, go to him and bring honor to the clan. You can leave Madara-sama to me.”
“Stay safe Sakura.” Madara offered to his best friend, who gave him a fearless smile in return. He felt his heart flutter slightly but somehow willed away his blush. Sakura took his hand and gave it a squeeze.
“You as well Madara. I’ll see you on the battlefield.” Sakura replied and then she was walking away.
They had always been paired up for fights, with the rare exceptions of when she’d go out to scout with Kurou. Watching her head into the largest battle yet, without him, tore at Madara’s heart, his chakra pounding through his veins and his heart thundering in his ears. Sakura was his to defend, his closest friend and partner. Even if he wasn’t having strange feelings flitting through his head because of Izuna, he’d want to stand beside her in battle.
In the end, he was the clan head of the Uchiha and perhaps more importantly he trusted her. Sakura could handle herself and needed no protection, so he watched her back as she left and swore to do his part. After all he could feel her chakra buzzing with the same anxiety. Sakura wanted to be by his side, but the plan separated them and her urge to protect him was just as strong as Madara’s own feelings on the matter. Silencing his anxiety and letting determination saturate his chakra, Madara turned to Ryuko and felt Sakura’s own chakra shift to match.
“I look forward to learning from you, but first we have a battle to win.” Madara put as much confidence into his voice as possible. They would win this battle, kill Senju Butsuma and be one step closer to victory in this cursed war. Hikyo would fall, the Uchiha would claim the capital and the war would enter its final phase. These things were certainties, he, Izuna and Sakura would make it so.
***
Sakura walked alongside Kurou as they approached the massive gates of Hikyo. The city was much the same as the last time she’d seen it. An island of relative peace and calm amid a war ravaged nation and they were about to change that. Civilians flowed around them, merchants trading wares, mercenaries on leave or perhaps searching for their next job and nobles flocking to the only court in the nation that would have them. There were representatives of the other major clans as well, though none dared move about in the open, instead staying in the guest quarters provided for them deep within the city.
“Tora-san, shall we head to the inn?” Kurou asked, offering his arm to Sakura who grinned impishly in response. The two of them were masquerading as traveling merchants and had entered atop a carriage full of sake and other cheap spirits that were always in demand. Without any contraband and with a few complimentary bottles to the on duty captain, they were through the gates in a heartbeat. The seals that had been commissioned by the daimyo to keep out unannounced shinobi failed to notice them due to the lack of weapons or conventional jutsu and the pair quickly made their way to an inn near the main gates.
Slowly, the rest of the Uchiha infiltration force trickle into the inn and by the time the sun had set below the horizon, they are all ready and waiting for Sakura’s word. The rosette put the final touches on the seals she’d spent the day writing and once they were handed out, the attack was on. Dressed as civilians, the group made their way out into the city in pairs, each team with a specific target in mind. Sakura and Kurou, being the leaders had the hardest mission and took the night time streets with the Daimyo’s palace in sight.
‘You know I’m almost not surprised this isn’t in any history books. The Daimyo is supposedly chosen by the gods, divine right to rule and all. Can’t have him being unseated by a pink haired youkai and the Uchiha clan.’ Inner mused as they neared the Daimyo’s palace. It sat above the city on a fortified hill, the top of which had been leveled out and covered by a sprawling palace and beautifully sculpted gardens.
Sakura’s sharingan spun to life, the use of chakra so minimal that it was undetectable even to the seals that blanketed the city in a pseudo sensory net. Shimmering walls of chakra came into sight, too weak for most sensors to notice but visible to Sakura’s perfect chakra control and doujutsu both. Taking a deep breath, Sakura brought her hands together and wove her chakra between the tenketsu in her hands, forging a seal of pure chakra within her network and not letting a drop radiate into the surrounding world.
Pulling her hands apart, Inner kept Sakura’s chakra from leaving her body while Outer held the seal’s form firm as she pressed her palms into the wards, opening up a hole in the palace’s defenses. Excitement filled Sakura’s chest as she stepped through and silently scaled the wall, landing on the other side and letting a genjutsu wrap around her body to hide her from sight.
‘Patrol twenty meters ahead.’ Inner took over the job of searching their surroundings while Sakura advanced, dodging past guards and moving through the daimyo’s palace. Kurou moved alongside her, a ghost even to her own senses but Sakura was used to working with Izumi and still managed to keep track of her partner as they closed in on the Daimyo’s quarters.
The man who claimed to rule all of Hi no Kuni was asleep within his bedroom, two of his concubines sleeping on either side of him. He was completely unaware that his bodyguards lay dead and broken outside his door, both killed by silent strikes to the head before they even realized they were under attack. Sakura pushed the door to his room open, her chakra extending around the frame to silence it.
Neither of the concubines stirred and Sakura glided over to the sleeping daimyo, chakra pooling in her palm and extending into a scalpel which she gently brushed against his forehead. A sigh escaped the man’s mouth as he died, his chakra vanishing as blood flowed through gray matter, with no visible wounds to account for his death. Neither concubine stirred and Sakura gave Kurou a shark toothed smile before they flickered out of the building, both of them pulsing their chakra and detonating the explosive tags they had placed throughout the palace.
Thunder rocked the capital, pillars of flame climbing high into the sky as scorched tiles rained down across the city. The earth shock as bomb after bomb went off, barracks, guard posts and command towers consumed by deafening explosions. A half second later, a second chorus of destruction answered the first, the other Uchiha scouts having reached their targets and using Sakura and Kurou’s attacks as the signal to set off their own explosives. Thick clouds of smoke rose towards the sky, reflecting the firelight and bathing the capital in an orange glow as the towers ringing the city burned and the palace was transformed into an inferno.
Sakura griped her kimono and pulled it off, revealing a nearly skin tight charcoal gray kunoichi outfit underneath. Unfurling her kimono, she grinned as she tore down the Daimyo’s crest and replaced it with her disguised flag, the Uchiwa waving proudly in the breeze, the white and red crest standing out starkly against Uchiha navy blue.
“Sakura-sama, I can see the main army moving in through the gates.” Kurou stated calmly as the remaining guards in the palace converged on them. Sakura glanced at Kurou who was ready and waiting to intercept the incoming enemies and brought her hands together, fingers twisting through familiar seals and her chakra rising eagerly from her reserves as she bit through the skin on her thumb and slammed her hand down onto the ground.
A deafening roar shook the city, rattling windowpanes and paper doors. Lightning arced over white and black fur as the Byakko towered over the palace ground, glowing electric blue eyes falling on the defenders and fangs bared in a furious snarl.
“Who dares stand before the rightful empress?!” The legendary creature’s voice boomed, every soul within the city’s wall hearing its demand. Its crushing chakra presence washed over shinobi and civilian alike, a storm of lightning and death, raw power that demanded respect and fear. Atop the massive white tiger, Sakura stood, sharingan blazing and disguise cast off, her pink hair tinted almost crimson in the firelight as she looked down upon the frozen defenders.
“Hikyo is now part of the Uchiha domain, lay down your arms and you will be spared.” Sakura boosted her voice with chakra, her heart pounding in her chest. This was not fighting on the front lines of a battle or clashing with Senju in the ruins of some unnamed village. No, tonight Sakura had firmly stepped into the pages of history, even if said history wasn’t taught within the Senju dominated walls of Konohagakure.
“How can I trust your word shinobi?” Sakura recognized the samurai who commanded the Daimyo’s garrison. The man was old and gruff, though despite his rugged no nonsense appearance, he was corrupt as they came.
“You stand before an empress who holds the divine mandate, you dare question her honor?” Byakko demanded as Sakura jumped off the tiger and landed silently in front of the samurai, her limbs reinforced with chakra and a pulse of said energy rippling out from her to absorb the impact of her fall, making it appear as if she were a tennyo who had simply stopped her descent by will alone before deigning to step back onto the mortal earth.
“Surrender and trust my word or die, an easy choice no?” Sakura asked, her eyes a harsh crimson and she slipped a genjutsu into the man’s system. Her delicate chakra control paired with her sharingan made the process easy and she coaxed him into reaching for his sword, pulling the sheath from his belt and offering it to her.
“I…we surrender,” the man’s voice shook with fear as Sakura took his sword and inclined her head at him. The samurai hesitated, lips parted and holding his breath as he watched the rosette. Several seconds passed before he realized he wasn’t going to die here and a terrified chuckle left his lips as he collapsed to he knees. “Thank you for sparing me.”
“You still have a duty to your soldiers. Let them know the battle is over, gather then so they can be disarmed and the wounded can be treated.” Sakura’s words were loud enough for the other soldiers to hear and several who had been on the verge of attacking her relaxed. “All those who surrender will be spared, spread the word and gather at the gate of the palace. Know that only death awaits those who continue to bear arms against us, I will not be so generous come the dawn.”
“Of course heika,” the commander spoke quickly and turned to his men. “Spread the word! Get moving!” The man bellowed, fearing for his own life should any of his subordinates resist. The man was a corrupt samurai but he was still a soldier, if a poor one. He knew well the price of clemency and he would gladly pay it to live another day. Sakura watched the man, Inner searching for any hint of hostile intent around them and quickly locating several shinobi from the various clans of Hi.
‘The diplomats and courtiers.’ Inner noted as Sakura turned her head to face them. None of them attacked and Sakura made no move to demand their surrender. The Nara representative regarded her with wary respect, a Yamanaka and Akimichi flanking him. The Hyuga representative scowled angrily, face twisted by anger and chakra buzzing with fury. Sakura flashed the man a Kiri grin, adding a bit of Anko’s flare for the insane to it before turning and taking to the ramparts.
“Fuma Bassui has surrendered, the city belongs to the Uchiha!” Sakura’s voice echoed off the rooftops and reached the outer walls. Behind her Byakko roared, the divine beast’s chakra flaring up as lightning arced through his fur and bathing Sakura in light so she stood out against the darkness, pink hair appearing to glow as electricity crackled behind her.
“Call upon me again if you have need of me, Sakura-hime.” Byakko rumbled before vanishing in a burst of thunderous lightning. Experience in suffering chakra exhaustion was the only reason Sakura didn’t collapse as her summon vanished and adrenaline kept her senses sharp even as her eyes faded back to their normal jade.
“Kurou, would you kindly escort me to the main gate so we can greet Madara. I believe I have a city to gift our clan head.” Sakura’s tone was casual, any hint of weakness hidden. Her chakra had been under an iron grip the entire night, carefully controlled and only flashing it briefly to intimidate those before her so even Kurou could not tell how exhausted she was as the two made their way towards the main gate.
‘The city’s almost undamaged aside from the guard houses.’ Inner mused as they made their way across the urban sprawl. The rooftops were an open road before them, the few remaining defenders who hadn’t been killed in the bombings successfully cowed by the appearance of a boss summons within the supposedly impenetrable wards.
‘All the better for us, the Senju will be here by mid-day. That leaves us plenty of time to rest.’ Sakura thought back as she reached the main gates. A few bodies lay on the ground, scorched from katon, sporting slit throats or broken necks. Several city guards who had survived were throwing off their armor, a pile of weapons already laid out where they had surrendered them. Sakura grinned before turning her attention to Madara and the rest of the vanguard as they came through the gate. Behind them, the main contingent followed, sweeping into the city and dispersing to pre-planned positions to swiftly enforce order.
“No trouble I expect?” Madara asked, his confidence forced while his chakra was suffused with worry. He could feel Sakura’s diminished reserves and silently offered her a holster, complete with chakra pills. Sakura gratefully accepted the weapons and stimulant, though she’d save it for later.
“None, of course.” Sakura answered, her bravado feigned and her exhaustion hidden from all eyes save Madara’s piercing gaze. The two looked at each other for a moment, both taking in the act the other was putting on. Confidence bordering on arrogance suited Madara, his features naturally taking to the smirk he was wearing despite the bags under his eyes. Sakura’s sharp grin and wild eyes were equally fitting, her Mizu heritage highlighted by the expression and driving home the fact that she was no child of the continent but instead born of the Isles where blood flowed like water and chakra saturated the mist.
“Hn,” Madara hummed in consideration, giving the rosette a slight nod as they naturally fell into step together. Though they hid it well, but both were exhausted. Their young bodies demanded sleep and no amount of training could overcome biology. “Akihiko, Katsuhito, take over command while we rest and have our summoners scouting for the Senju response.”
“Hyuga response as well.” Sakura cut in and Madara gave a nod. The Hyuga clan were smaller then the Uchiha or Senju and were simply unwilling to expand their ashigaru forces to match them. Still, they had benefited from the Daimyo’s favor and would no doubt mobilize in response to this assault.
“Of course Sakura-sama, Madara-sama.” Akihiko responded, fist thudding against her breastplate before she flickered away to begin giving out orders.
Sakura and Madara walked in silence to the Inn, stepping inside through the wards Sakura had created during the day and settling down atop a pair of beds. The civilian staff had been sent home, the place requisitioned as the temporary headquarters until more suitable accommodations could be found. Privacy seals and defensive wards lit up the wall as the two children got comfortable and Madara looked over at his friend and smiled, giddy excitement spreading over his face as the facade shattered.
“I can’t believe we did it!” Madara nearly shouted before letting out anxious laughter. Sakura grinned, letting herself fall onto the bed, hitting the pillows with an audible thump. Madara let out a sigh as his laughter petered out and he ran a hand through his wild hair, still grinning happily. “You didn’t get injured.
“No, barely had to kill anyone directly. The explosive tags did most of the work and Byakko-sama did the rest. All in all, this could go into textbooks as a case study for storming castle towns.” Sakura would know, she’d read countless treatises and more modern military manuals on taking fortified positions. ANBU had drilled into her the value of infiltration, stealth and subterfuge and as a shinobi Sakura would always chose to have surprise on her side when she could manage it.
“Perhaps one day then.” Madara chuckled and then yawned, exhaustion finally catching up to him. Sakura snorted softly, her eyes falling closed and she had to struggle just to crack them open again. “Good night?”
“Yeah, good night Madara.” Sakura murmured, her eyes closing before opening within the Senju compound. “Good morning Konoha.”