Crossover Fan Fiction / Crossover With Non-anime Series Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ NAvatarUTO ❯ Village in Shambles ( Chapter 25 )
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
The fight was over. The leaf had successfully foiled the sound and
Sand's attempts to destroy the village, but it was far from
victory.
Economically, Konoha had taken a huge blow. The various feudal
lords and ladies did not take well to being put under a mass
genjutsu while full out war raged around them. It had been done by
Kabuto to keep them out of the fight, but they didn't see it that
way. To them, Konoha had betrayed their trust because it was too
weak to defend itself. The whole ordeal would cost the village lots
of money and many of their costumers.
The village was in tenuous political standings at best. Soon after
the invasion the leaf got a disturbing message from the sand. The
Kazekage was found dead, his face removed by some forbidden jutsu.
This was no doubt the work of Orochimaru. It was clear he had taken
on the guise of Kazekage in order to kill the third Hokage, but how
much of the invasion was just Orochimaru's doing? Suna was still
wary of the Leaf, believing the fire lord's warnings of malicious
intent, but after such a battle, neither village was strong enough
to start a war. Meetings needed to be held post-haste between the
two villages to discuss their standing as allies, but that was
currently impossible since neither had a leader.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the third hokage, the god of shinobi, was dead.
Orochimaru's attack had taken the life of Konoha's leader as well
as many others. The village was left in shambles; the hospital beds
were filled with injured shinobi and many buildings had been
destroyed.
Aang, Sokka, Toph and Katara didn't know what to do. They wanted to
help but they didn't know who was in power to let them. Besides the
Hokage, the gaang had no idea how the leaf village was lead. Unsure
of what else to do, Aang and the others went to speak to
Kakashi.
Said ninja was lost in thought, his mind wandering from the task of
rebuilding infront of him. He'd heard from Asuma how the avatar and
his friends had helped fight the invasion and Kakashi didn't know
how to feel about that. Why would they put their lives in danger to
help the ones meant to protect them? What's their motive? Kakashi
had hoped his team would find that out on their mission to protect
the avatar in the forest of death, but then… Then that
bastard Orochimaru had separated the teams so he could get his
filthy hands on Sasuke. Kakashi grimaced. The avatar didn't seem at
all inclined to help their guards then, so why now? Had they just
had a change of heart? Kakashi didn't know what the Avatar was up
to, but speculation would have to wait for later, as he noticed the
gaang walking up to him.
“Why are you four outside by yourselves?” He asked
immediately. “Where are your guards?”
They looked at each other. “Uh, we don't have any.”
Katara said.
Kakashi frowned. The task of assigning guards to the Avatar must
have been forgotten or disregarded in the aftermath of the
battle.
“But, um, we were wondering if there was any way we could
help rebuild the village.” Katara continued. “I'm a
healer, and Toph and Aang can use earth bending on the outer
wall.”
Sokka noded. “I've got some building experience, though it's
mostly been out of snow.”
Kakashi stared down at the smiling kids in front of them. It looked
like they had good intentions but… “No.” He
said.
“What? Why not?” Aang asked.
Toph crossed her arms. “Rude.” She said. “I bet
it's cause we're benders.”
“I'm not!” Sokka pointed out.
Kakashi held up a hand for silence. “It wouldn't be safe for
you to be out and about so much. I have my suspicions that there
may be a fire bender hiding in the village.”
The gaang looked at each other. “…Is that
so…”
“I believe he is currently in the hospital recuperating from
his fight with Naruto. We can't afford him to see you. As Lord
Third…” Kakashi paused. He still couldn't believe he
was gone. “As Lord Third told you, the village cannot stand
in the way of the fire lord. In order to hide your presence from
him, you will stay guarded in your suite until the fire bender
leaves. You may not go outside until that happens. Food will be
brought to you.”
Aang blinked. “That seems…extreme.”
“Isn't that a little unnecessary?” Katara added.
Kakashi gave them a look to say that the discussion was over.
“I'll escort you back to your rooms. I'd like to assign
someone of higher rank to protect you, but the village is currently
short some ninja.” Toph gulped. Had that many people died in
the attack? How could he say that so casually? To the guy beside
him who seemed to be turning into wood Kakashi said, “Tenzo,
would you mind telling Sakura to go to the Avatar's place
immediately?”
He frowned. “I'm a little busy, Kakashi. She's your student,
not mine.”
Kakashi sighed, and made a shadow clone to send after Sakura.
Sokka's eyes widened in amazement. “You can do that too? I
thought that was Naruto's thing!”
Kakashi ignored him. “Let's go.” He said. “I have
to meet up with someone after this.”
On the way to the flat, they passed by the teashop where Kakashi
had planed on meeting Sasuke. Something caught the jonin's eye; two
figures wearing matching black cloaks emblazoned with red clouds
and straw hats that obscured their faces. Suspicious. That wasn't a
Learf uniform, so they had to be foreigners. Kakashi would have to
check on those two before Sasuke arrived. “Let's pick up the
pace.” He told his charges.