"Come now, don't make that face 'ttebane."
Kushina decided that trying to speak with a hole in her abdomen really isn't the most pleasant experience. It hurts just trying to breathe and to be perfectly honest, she has no idea how she is still alive in this pathetic state. If she has to point fingers, she is blaming everything on her unholy Uzumaki vitality.
She isn't in the state to even move for crying out loud, or more like she couldn't move even if she wanted to. Her mind is slightly muddled from the blood loss, but still clear enough to think clearly. The problem is that her entire body felt heavier than lead, she couldn't even try sitting up without Haku's assistance. To make things worse, she could feel herself slipping further and further away by the second, which isn't good news.
It was clever of Haku to escape in the opposite direction that the Iwa-Kumo forces were expecting them to flee towards, but it would only fool them for so long before they considered the possibility of searching northwards instead of south. None of them had any useful medical knowledge, and her dear godson had been running himself ragged just to try and keep her alive.
"That old fart, I will kill him," She heard him mutter what must be the umpteenth time by now. This is partly her fault because they wouldn't be in this predicament if she was strong enough to fight the old fencesitter in the first place. Seals can do anything and as a certified sealmaster, she can make that claim a reality, but that is banking on the assumption that she had time to prepare the correct seals for the appropriate situation.
She certainly didn't prepare for the possibility of facing the Dust Release of all things on the battlefield. The annoying properties of the Dust Release to erase everything it touches just kept puncturing holes in whatever barriers she put up. A cheap shot from that sly old coot embedded an almost fist-sized hole in her abdomen, enough to make her suffer a fatal amount of blood loss. Oh she could probably brush it off if that were all but the main problem is, that area of her abdomen where the fossil had put a hole in just so happened to be where Minato had placed his Flying Thunder God Seal on for her protection. Without it, Minato wouldn't be able to locate her or to come to her side in a yellow flash. She wouldn't be able to get the medical treatment she so desperately needs right now if she wants to live.
Because of this, chances are, she is not going to survive the night, she accepts that. They are stranded far behind enemy lines with no ways to contact their friendly forces. She is unable to even move, Haku's chakra reserves are at an all time low and despite crunching on several soldier pills, he had used most of the replenished chakra to try and keep her alive with his Ice Release but it is not working as he had hoped. That idiot would continue to pop the pills if she hadn't pointed out that the chakra returns from popping soldier pills have a diminishing effect. The more you popped within a certain time frame, the lesser chakra you got with each subsequent pill until it stopped working together. For the average shinobi, that is usually at the third or fourth pill within twelve hours and Haku had already popped six of them, with the sixth barely giving him any chakra in return.
There is no doubt in her mind that this is her last moment. She can accept death, but it still pains her to leave her loved ones behind when they need her. She wants to see Naruto grow up to be Hokage like she had always yelled out loud for everyone to hear, the shared dream of her and her husband. She wants to be there to assist Minato in his new duties. She wants to be there for Haku, her apprentice and the son that is not of her blood, but still her son in every sense of the word. She knows that he will be severely affected by her departure and regretfully, this is slowly becoming an unavoidable fact.
"You are not dying tonight," Haku replied through clenched teeth and cold sweat as he continued to supply her with chakra. She can tell that he's getting desperate, desperate enough to waste all of his remaining chakra to reverse engineer his Ice Body jutsu and apply it to her. With that jutsu, Haku was able to convert his entire body to ice and thus, become invulnerable to all kinds of physical damage like what he did in his battle against Gaara. He could easily repair his body with ice but he has no idea how to apply that same jutsu on others. His desperate plan was to convert her body to ice and use it to fix the glaring hole on her abdomen, but he is not going to be fast enough to figure out how to use that jutsu on her before she kicks the bucket.
"Haku, listen to me," She summoned all her remaining strength to move her hand, gently grabbing onto his wrist to catch his attention. It is getting harder and harder to remain conscious and she knows that her time is almost up. Haku had succeeded in delaying the inevitable for long enough, probably by almost a full day by her estimate, waiting for reinforcements to arrive and find them but it seems that she wouldn't be able to make it.
"I cannot lose you too."
His words came out as a hollow whisper, just loud enough for her to hear and she could feel the entirety of his despair within it. She has no words of comfort to offer or to sugarcoat the fact that she is slowly dying, but she wants to at least try her best to ensure that he can get out of this alive, and preferably sane.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't able to uphold my promise and live."
He didn't answer, but merely looked downwards and away from her. Anything more than this would be simply honeyed words that have no substance in it.
"Thank you, for being my son. If your mother were alive, I think she would say the same too."
"Not doing a very good job at it, am I? I failed to protect the both of you."
"Don't be stupid, it's the mothers who are supposed to protect their children, not the other way around. I was ill-prepared and Onoki was simply more powerful, I have only myself to blame for it."
"If the war never happened, if Kumo never interfered, you wouldn't…" He gulped, as if swallowing the truth of what will inevitably happen. "You wouldn't die. If there is no shinobi system, if something about this wretched world can change, there wouldn't be any wars, nobody would have to die. Hanabi would not need to be a jinchuriki, you wouldn't..."
She weakly reached out to cup the side of her son's face. At least in her dying moments, he is here with her.
"Take care of yourself. Promise me, Haku. Don't do anything too reckless."
"I'm currently plotting the destruction of the entirety of the Land of Lightning. The only way to stop me is if you pull through and live."
She really wanted to laugh, but found herself lacking the strength to even do so. Time is really not on her side so she needs to convey to him what she needs to before her eyes remain shut for eternity.
"My weapons pouch, there is a red scroll in it, take it out. There is also an oni mask, never got a chance to use it on the old fencesitter…" She muttered the last part under her breath and watched as her son took out what she instructed him to.
"That red scroll? That's the Edo Tensei Minato entrusted me with. You already saw and understood how the seal works in his office, what is in the scroll is what we need to make that jutsu work along with the seal array. Use it if you really are in a pinch because above all else, I just want you to get back home alive. It takes some time to prepare, however, so don't expect to throw that scroll in the middle of the battle and expect immediate results. Even with what we scavenged from Orochimaru's hideout, we don't have the full idea of how his perfected version works. Now, that mask."
Haku took out the mask that she remembered retrieving from the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Temple when she was only in her teens. How time flies.
"Naruto had never been interested in seals, so I always thought that it was a pity that she wouldn't be the one to inherit my legacy and whatever I knew would die with me, until I met you. Every sealmaster has their own way of learning and creating their seals, you will be no different. I have taught you everything you needed to know to become a sealmaster, so this is the only legacy I have left that I can pass on to you. This, Haku, is what my clansmen would refer to as the Shinigami Mask. You remembered what I taught you about the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?"
"Yes."
"The person wearing it can summon and control the shinigami by allowing the shinigami to possess them. This is a last resort, a suicide jutsu, which on hindsight I really should have used before the old coot put a hole in me but that's beside the point. With this mask, whoever wears it can perform Dead Demon Consuming Seal: Release. Now, do you know how Sandaime stopped the reanimated Shodaime and Nidaime and why he was killed?"
"He used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, didn't he?"
"Yes, and since I taught you about this seal, I'm sure you know what that means."
"The souls of the summoner and their victim do not pass on to the Pure Land, instead being trapped within the Shinigami's stomach, destined to fight each other for all eternity," Haku recited the exact same words she had taught him and for a moment, she felt pride blossoming in her chest. He had grown so well, but she wouldn't be there to see him and Naruto growing to their full potential.
"I'm going to release the seal. With that, you can reanimate the Hokages if you really need their protection. This is the only thing that I can do now to protect you."
He immediately tried to protest but she stopped him with a raise of her hand, however weak that was since she is succumbing to the effect of blood loss.
"Let's face the truth, Haku, reinforcements won't be arriving soon enough, if they are going to arrive at all. I'm not going to make it, but you still have a chance. Having four Hokages to protect you, even if they are reanimated and not to their full strength, would definitely allow you to go back home in one piece. Since I'm dying, I might as well make the most out of the cards we are dealt with, does that make sense? Come now, is that the face you want to make in my last moments? Is that the face you want to see me off with? Smile, Haku, you deserve happiness just like anyone else does. I am able to do something to help my village, I am able to do something to assist my husband, I am able to do something to protect my children in my last moments, I am happy with that, but I need you to promise me that you will be happy after I'm long gone for me to rest in peace and die happily with a smile on my face."
Haku didn't manage to make a reply, but merely held onto her hand tightly with his head down. His shoulders trembled, betraying how he tried to hold back his sobs and failed doing so. He is a wreck and definitely looks like a mess. His forehead protector is long gone, probably lost somewhere during his fight with Roshi earlier, his clothes are torn and singed in several places and his face and hands are still covered in soot. She can only imagine the mess he will break down into the moment she draws her last breath.
"Take care of Minato and Naruto for me, Haku, you are the only one that I can count on to take care of the two idiots back home after I'm gone."
"I will," His reply was hoarse and it hurts to see him in pain because of her, but this is what it is.
"Promise me that you will take care of yourself too. I'm not going to stop you from going on a murdering spree because I know it is a lost cause, but do try to find happiness in your life. You deserve that much. Please don't forget that there are people who care for you too, okay?"
"I-I know," He managed to breathe out and she smiled, even if it is taking all of her effort to do so right now. She doesn't have much time left.
"Give me the mask and a kunai, Haku. After I'm done, don't bother to seal my body in a scroll, my body has too many secrets to risk trying to take it back to the village in your current state. Make sure to dispose of my body properly, leave no trace behind, can you promise me that?"
She took his silence as a yes.
Slowly, and weakly, her left hand took the mask and positioned it over her face. Every shinobi makes the trip there someday, some just reached the end earlier than others and she is already very lucky to be able to live long enough to be surrounded by her loved ones, to have one of her children by her deathbed when it's time for her to go.
She has no more regrets.
"I love you, Haku."
The mask attached itself onto her face. There is one more thing she has left to do as a mother before she reunites with the rest of her clan in the Pure Land.
"Hokage-sama."
"Report," Minato ordered as soon as the messenger returned. Things are looking bad, very bad, and the information that he had gathered over the last twenty four hours isn't painting a very picturesque image of their current situation.
"Konoha has been attacked, just as you suspected it to be. It was a combined effort from Kumo and Iwa, with the Gobi breaking down the eastern village walls in the last attack. The intruders were repelled and the Gobi was suppressed before making a retreat, but…"
The messenger gave a quick and fearful glance towards his left, towards where the Slug Sannin was standing. It didn't escape the notice of all the shinobis in the tent.
"... Speak," Tsunade demanded in a low growl, fists clenched and trembling.
"... Kato Dan has fallen in the line of duty. The ANBU Commander is taking temporary leadership of the village as per emergency protocols-"
There was a loud crash and a new crater formed beneath Tsunade's feet. It is taking all of the messenger's willpower to not quiver in fear at the Sannin's rage.
"How was the Gobi repelled? Are there any other things that the ANBU Commander told you to relay?" Minato asked, trying to conceal the pain he felt from learning that another loyal shinobi of Konoha had joined the KIA list. Dan is not the first shinobi to lose their lives in this war that he had led them into, and is also not the first S Rank shinobi to do so.
In response, the messenger handed over a scroll that is clearly marked for his eyes only. Minato unrolled and quickly read through the scroll. With the new information in hand, he now knows the decision that he has to take.
"The Gobi wouldn't be able to join the fight anytime soon, Iwa and Kumo are also unable to launch another ambush on the village for at least another week, Dan had made sure of that, so let's not make his efforts go into waste," He announced after the messenger had taken his leave. The main force from the village had arrived and joined up with those already at the frontlines. Currently, all the S Rank or commander level shinobis are gathered within the tent, waiting for his next order. They had lost much today and they all angry about it, angry at Orochimaru, angry at Suna, angry at Kumo for starting it all and angry at Iwa for swooping it like starved vultures and taking advantage of their plight to pillage what they could when they are at their weakest.
However, Konoha always gets back whatever they are owed, at many times the price. The three wars that they had been through proved that.
"Shikaku, updates on Tsume's team."
"From the last report from your messenger toad, they will be closing in to their destination within the next twelve hours. After that, all it takes is an order from you to set things into motion."
"Good, as long as they reach there safely, we can turn the tide of the battle. Obito, Kakashi, what about our forces? Rin, Tsunade, anything to add from the medical team?"
"With the addition of the main force who had just arrived, there is enough to go through what we have in plan," Obito said. "But sensei, are you sure about this? I can go in your stead, you know that-"
"Even with Hashirama cells, the chakra cost for using Kamui is too large for such a huge leap. There's no guarantee that you can finish the task if you deplete so much chakra with such a large jump even before the start of the mission. Konoha already lost an S Rank Uchiha and a pair of mangekyou sharingan today, Obito, I'm not planning to lose another, the village cannot afford to pay that kind of price. Ever since the invasion, we had already lost Sandaime, Kizashi, Dan, and Fugaku. That is four S Rank shinobis that we had lost in so little time, " Minato made his point firmly, already dreading how he is going to break the news to Mikoto that her husband had died in the line of duty holding off an entire armada of Iwa shinobis in order to buy time for their forces to escape to safety. They can only take consolation in the fact that Itachi was able to retrieve his father's body so that they can give him a proper burial once this is all over.
Obito stepped down wordlessly, knowing that he cannot change his teacher's decision once he had made up his mind.
"The medical team is ready. We tried our best but…" Rin's voice trailed off before she continued speaking. "The casualties from the last battle are still a lot higher than our initial expectation, mostly because of the unexpected Iwa presence and the fact that the Yonbi and the Tsuchikage had joined the battle. We need to do something about Roshi, his brand of Lava Release is not something that ordinary medical ninjutsu can heal and we were forced to go through with amputation procedures for many of our comrades to preserve their lives."
"I will handle that freak. We exchanged blows on several occasions in the past wars, I know how to handle that fire monkey," Tsunade growled out before turning to face Minato. "Requesting permission to deal with the Yonbi, Hokage-sama."
"Permission granted. I will be counting on you, Tsunade-san, please return victorious."
"If I may add, Hokage-sama," Itachi, the new Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan after Fugaku's death, interjected and Minato gave him permission to speak. It hurts to see the pacifist boy that he had watched grow up taking on the responsibilities his father left behind in this manner, and it saddens him to see the new sharingan pattern in his eyes that spoke of his loss.
"I would like to join Tsunade-san in the fight against Roshi. I believe my eyes can suppress the beast."
Minato is not daft, he knows Itachi is doing this because of anger but for once, he will pretend that he does not notice it. He looked towards the Senju Princess, who gave him a silent nod of her approval for the young Uchiha prodigy to join her in their joint quest for vengeance. The combined might of the current Clan Heads of both the Senju and Uchiha Clan, now that is a force to be reckoned with.
Plans were revised and discussed, the final details hammered out before they were dismissed to prepare for the next battle. Konoha's best and brightest filed out of the tent until only one remained.
"No news yet?"
"I'm afraid not, sensei. Neither Pakkun nor any of my other summons was able to pick up their scent," Kakashi reported, a little downcast at his inability to track the people he was supposed to find. "I will continue-"
"No, save your energy. We don't have the time and resources to spare to just look for two people when we have a bigger battle to prepare ahead. For now, we assume the worst. Go and rest, Kakashi, I will need you to be at your best when you and Obito have to fight Ay and Onoki in my stead."
"But sensei! It's Kushina and Haku we are talking about! They are your-"
"I know what they are to me," Minato had to use all of his willpower to not let his emotions get the better of him because right now, he is the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure that everyone is looking up to. "Let's face it, Kakashi, it's been more than twenty four hours since they disappeared. They were last seen fighting Onoki and Roshi, and we all know what that could possibly mean when they had those two as their opponents. I still cannot sense Kushina at all with the Flying Thunder God seal I put on her and we all know that when Onoki kills, he doesn't leave a single trace, that is the trademark of his Dust Release. Just put two and two together and we would all know what was the likely reason for her disappearance. Roshi on the other hand, was the reason why Kirigakure nearly lost the Third War, because he is the Yuki Slayer that slaughtered nearly the entire Yuki Clan shinobis that were vital to Kiri's war efforts. I am a husband and a father, but I am also a Hokage. Right now, the village comes first; we cannot lose this war because of my selfishness, do you understand?"
Reluctantly, Kakashi stepped down.
"Yes, sensei."
"Go and rest, that is an order. You are dismissed."
Now alone, Minato took out a string bracelet from his pocket as he stared at it. It is old and worn, its colours faded until it is now a light shade of red from its original bright scarlet. It is Kushina's gift to him, a bracelet she weaved with her own two hands when they first started dating and even when Kushina had offered to weave him a new one many times he declined her offer and decided to keep this particular one, because this is the first gift he received from her after they started dating.
He really wants to believe that she is still alive, but that possibility is getting slimmer and slimmer as the minutes ticked by. He really wants to believe that Haku is alive too, but it was Roshi that he was facing and his Lava Release is the best countermeasure to Ice Release; that was proven on multiple occasions during the wars that raged in the past. Roshi is the worst possible opponent Haku could ever face.
If even Kakashi could not track them down, then nobody else in Konoha could. That would mean…
He took in a deep breath and released a sigh. He is prepared for the worst, but it does not make it any easier for him to accept it. Until he sees their corpses with his own two eyes, he will not believe that death had claimed the lives of his wife and son.
Just as he was about to take a seat, he felt a presence behind him and he quickly spun around, ready to slit the neck of any intruder that had sneaked in, only to find nothing. Maybe he was starting to hallucinate from the lack of sleep, but for a moment he thought he felt the familiar presence of her hands on his shoulders and heard her voice.
"You are doing great. Stay strong, 'ttebane. I love you."
He blinked his eyes and looked around, unsure if it was just his imagination. He looked back at the string bracelet in his hand, his thumb gently caressing it, before carefully putting it back into his pocket.
Imagination or not, that voice was right. He has to stay strong.
He is the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure.