To the world, it seemed as if the unlikely alliance of Kusa, Ame and Taki, had achieved a miraculous victory over the Konoha jinchuriki along the outskirts of fire territory. However, as the main forced moved deeper into Konoha's borders, ready to take the legendary leaf village once and for all, news reached them that two contingents of leaf ninja had taken the villages of Ame and Kusa, cutting them off from Taki.
The pursuit ended immediately, and the entire army immediately rounded back at full speed, intending to reach, and retake their cities before their Konoha pursuers caught up to them.
However, their efforts proved to be for naught, as they were intercepted by another contingent of leaf ninja, this one led by Maito Gai, joined by divisions of Anko and Ibiki's troops. The coalition, though holding a much greater numerical advantage was completely exhausted both physically and mentally from nearly a full two days forced march and so were no match for the well rested leaf ninja.
When the main Leaf force, that had turned around the moment word reached them of Anko and Ibiki's victories, were seen by the colaition's rearguard troops, the allied ninja had no choice and broke ranks.
With nowhere to return to, cut off from supplies and quickly loosing morale, the alliance that had seemed to be on the cusp of victory less than a week ago, was now on the verge of a total rout.
With nowhere left for them to retreat, the coalition forces fled to the abandoned fortress of Nanao on the border of Suna and Konoha.
The fortress stood little more as a ruin, built during the very first founding of Konoha, its military value had deteriorated long ago. Though its walls were imposing, little else of value rested within the fortress. Left by the military forces of Konoha for merely fifty years, it had become a sanctuary and refuge for many refugee's, bandits, rounin and missing ninja over the decades.
Soon after their arrival, they fortified their position barricading the walls of the fortress city once more. Some of the refugees fled, while others remained in their homes, neither having the will, or the strength to leave.
Naruto, leading the core of the army, rendezvoused with Maito Gai, leading a second contingent, and two more small units arriving from the south east, led by Hatake Kakashi and Mika, Guan's apprentice whom had requested the assignment, the leaf army swiftly proceeded to surround the city shortly after arriving, cutting them off from any supplies they may have hoped to attain as Naruto began his siege.
"Damnit." The dragon masked leader of Kusa snarled as he stormed into the main hall of the old, ruined fortress, Yoshino and Kenpachi following shortly behind him as he began pacing agitatedly up and down the length of the hallway.
"Lord Zaraki."
"What!" The Kusa nin growled as he rounded on Kenpachi's larger form.
The Taki leader sighed in exasperation. "I suggest you calm yourself, this is a situation that must be approached calmly."
The shorter man took a deep breath and visibly calmed before he nodded. "Yes…you are right." He looked to his two allies, taking in the serious and tense expressions. "From what I've heard, you two have dealt with this Uzumaki boy before…what would you suggest as a plan to get out of this situation?"
Kenpachi and Yoshino shared a glance before they motioned to the chairs and sat down in a semi circle. "In all honesty lord Zaraki." Yoshino began. "We only have one choice that can guarantee, at least the lives of our men, and that is to simply surrender to Naruto-san."
"Surrender?" He questioned. "The two of you are some of the greatest ninja Taki or Ame has ever produced, you two single handedly led to Kusa's defeat in their campaign to take the central marshlands. I know because I was there." He sounded just a little bitter at the last part, they noticed but let it slide. "You are legends in your own right…and you mean to say you cannot think of one single strategy that can help?"
Yoshino and Kenpachi sighed. Many of the legends of their strength were just that…legends…Naruto had helped in most of their exploits in one way or another…however, so as not to cause an incident both his and his Konoha comrades intervention had been kept a secret.
Of course they were both strong but any victory against the Uzumaki child one on one was a long shot, especially if he used his Bijuu.
Kenpachi spoke again. "I am afraid lord Zaraki…victory at this point, is nigh impossible."
"Nothing is impossible…every adversary has a weakness."
"Not this adversary." Kenpachi spoke again more forcefully. He leaned forward, staring straight into the dragon mask eyeholes with unwavering force. "You do not know this boy…when he was only nine he was already at the level of an elite jounin…I have little doubt that he is at, or beyond our level now…this is not just some green fool that has read up on a few strategy books…this is someone who was bred for this…someone who was made for this…this is not an adversary that we could defeat."
"You are wrong…that wound I gave him"
"Was received on purpose and has most likely already healed." Yoshino interrupted this time.
The room fell into silence after that and the three looked to eachother. Finally Zaraki spoke. "Then I suppose we have no choice…we surrender to the Uzumaki boy tomorrow."
"Wait." Yoshino spoke again. "We must make it very clear to him, that the peasants here had nothing to do with this…I do not want them suffering his wrath."
The two other men nodded in agreement.
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