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| - "The Black Crown have been defeated and it's influence nearly erased from this country. Their leader's head is on a pike not to far from here and we're a step further in the countries restoration. However, now our alliance's terms and conditions are complete. It is time to cover the Land of Earth in our dreams." He spoke majestically. Blood pooled the room as it filled the air with a metallic scent. The body of an old shinobi who lost his way laid resting in it's center. Lifeless bodies of his guards also surrounded the fallen Tsuchikage. There, the one responsible for claiming his life walked towards a head piece with the kanji for Earth which had blood splattered across it. The fallen Kage's hat resembled the hat upon the warlord's head which read Wind. Zenjou, the Seventh God (庚神,Kanoekami), wore his usual robe over one of Sunagakure's infamous silk kimono's. Quite a weird ensemble for a shinobi who had just sparked a flame of war. His golden eyes pierced through the veil his hat created, almost glowing in the dimly lit room, while his tail swayed peacefully to and fro in an effort to avoid staining his white feathers with crimson blood. Feathers which matched his porcelain hair and deathly skin that he covered with makeup. He held the Tsuchikage's hat above him, smirking deviously as it absorbed it's former owners blood. "Tsuchikage-sama, you lived your life in constant fear of being overthrown. You and your lord mistakenly took the power, which was granted to you two by the people of this land, as your own and used it as heaven's mandate. Your foolish beliefs lead to a horrid famine which caused the very land to die." Zenjou's eyes dimmed. "Ruler's are entitle to neither strength nor authority. We're only borrowing it from those we swear to lead. We're nothing more than bridges to prosperity who cannot claim such weapons as our own." He spoke with a potent disgust while the Tsuchikage's hat slowly descended from his hand. Eventually landing upon it's master's corpse. "My forces have slained the Land of Earth Daimyō which concludes your rule. Now, it's my turn to save this country." And as Zenjou spoke, he left the Tsuchikage's office with a gust of wind. "Kyōkō, our forces have started their way here. They should arrive shortly, but I'm sure Tokihakiri's forces have received word our movement. Iwagakure shall become a battlefield soon. I want you to order our captains and Iwagakure ANBU to prepare for citizen evacuation. Tell them that a war will soon erupt and at any minute, the enemy will appear. Also spread word of the Tsuchikage's passing. He killed himself after such a disgrace and I'm here to assist in their countries healing." "So that's why you refused to use our men in subduing the usurpers." Kyōkō, who wore his usual battle armor, had finally healed from Hiaka's strike and spoke with excitement. "Conquering Iwagakure would have been troublesome with the Black Crown's influence raging about. By removing the citizens from this war, you've cleared a path for your target." But Kyōkō understood an even deeper layer. My lord wished to subjugate the Land of Earth without bringing harm to it's people. He only desired to save them the only way he knew how. Kyōkō pondered. "Now they have no choice but to choose a side or risk death in the crossfire." Kyōkō spoke with an orgasmic pleasure at the thought of war even though he knew that his Lord wanted to avoid anymore bloodshed. "My lord...If it's to painful, please allow me to suffer your place!" Kyōkō roared while bowing. However, Zenjou only smiled towards the God of War. It was the same smile he'd recieved countless times before. One that made Kyōkō feel welcomed into Zenjou's heart. That told Kyōkō everything would be alright even should the heaven's fall from above. In truth, Kyōkō's propisition was rather foolish for Zenjou always rode before his men. It actually shocked the raging demon during their first confrontation when he saw the warlord charging forward. "My most trusted...I walk this path so everyone else can experience prosperity. How can I ask you to suffer in my place?" Zenjou asked kindly before resting a hand on Kyōkō's lowered shoulder, ultimately signaling him to rise. "However, you're correct. By combining forces with Tokihakiri, we were able to eliminate the immediate threat with limited casualties. We've already tilted the scale in our favor with our first move." Zenjou smiled while Kyōkō bowed and disappeared. Zenjou, himself, simply looked to the rising sun. It didn't take long for word to make its way to Tokihakiri that both the Daimyo and Tsuchikage were dead. The official reports stated the former was assassinated, while the latter committed suicide for his disgraces. But Tokihakiri was no fool. She knew very well what became of them. It didn't stop her from being angry, though. "Dammit. It wasn't supposed to be this way." She speaks to herself under her breath, clinching her fists tightly. As she looks towards her armor in the corner, she begins removing it from its mantle. Slowly, she clipped on the braces to her cuirass, laced over the pauldrons. She steps into her greaves, tightening the straps behind them. Grabbing her hakama, she dons it over her armor. She places the tiger hide over her waist, wrapping it taught with a large rope. After finishing, she dons her helmet, crowned over her like a symbol of ferocity. On her desk, she grabs her eyepatch, covering her Sharingan from view. As her battle gear was donned and prepped, she steps out of her tent, seeing her old mentor, Satoshi Hari. She had been trained under him ever since she was brought to the Akeyuki that faithful day. Bowing down towards him, he places his hands on her shoulders. "They may have thrown us aside, but don't let the thoughts of their acts cloud your judgement. Keep your mind focused on those around you. This may be our last battle, or it could pave the way for other battles to come. No matter the outcome, just keep yourself ready for anything." Finishing his speech, he walks away, preparing himself for the battle ahead. Looking down at the ground, she looks towards her hands. A steady look in her eye shows she's ready for anything. Nodding down, she takes her spot at the front of the army, and they begin their march towards Iwagakure, wishing to make sure Zenjou doesn't take his rule over the land. Iwagakure awoke hours after they initially received news of their leaders death. They felt a certain joy now that his horrid reign had come to complete halt. However, those under Iwagakure also worried for their village's future. With two immense forces preparing to engage one another, they knew that their original isolationist views would come to an end. Eyes peering through their window saw a small military marching vigilantly throughout Iwagakure wearing Sunagakure headbands. Although frightened, the Nankoku Alliance remained sensitive towards the situation. They answered all questions while spreading words of a great restoration. But elder citizens knew the truth. They weren't receiving a divine retribution from the heavens...No, Iwagakure was going to be conquered in a few hours. However, some sided with such a notion after hearing of Zenjou's presence. The Seventh Kazekage who propelled his country and others into an unseen era of prosperity. The one who loved his land more so than himself. Although he removed the boundaries which seperated countries, travelers from lands under the Nankoku Alliance have spoken of positive changes. Soon a civil war erupted in ideologies. Shinobi who agreed with seeking refuge under Zenjou immediately joined the Nankoku Alliance while others prepared to support Tokihakiri's forces. "The Seventh Kazekage has repeatedly shown himself capable of leading. And besides, have you heard about the Land of Rivers? Nothing changed! They just have to accept Sunagakure as their capital and he sends them constant support!" Some argued. However, others believed differently as they roared their own arguments. "Iwagakure was once the strongest shinobi village, now look at us! We're considering letting an entirely different country take us over. We'll lose our culture, our sense of self and everything we've fought for! We have to join the Akeyuki and oppose the Nankoku Alliance. Not as an assimilated country but an independent nation in an equal agreement." Various arguments spawned among the people which caused a rather obvious segregation of forces. Yet, they knew the Southern Warlord prepared diligently to subdue oppositions. "They're approaching." Zenjou smiled. If we keep control over Iwagakure, then we'll have a majority ownership of the Land of Earth's military power. Let Tokihakiri keep those minor villages...The Nankoku Alliance'll be unstoppable. The thought eased Zenjou's worried spirit as he marched before his militia of shinobi towards Iwagakure's gates. Once he arrived, Zenjou halted with his forces taking stand proudly behind him. Even Kyōkō stood patiently next to the Seventh Kazekage actually ecstatic for meeting her on the battlefield once more. "Today, I pray that the heavens shine upon us. And the stars become the guiding light for which our dreams traverse the dark." Beyond the horizon, Tokihakiri spots the gates of the village. At those gates, the Nankoku Alliance begins its march. It didn't take her long to spot Zenjou. Gripping tightly on the hilt of her sword, emotions of anger rush through her mind. Her Sharingan, which remains hidden, has been pulling on her emotions since the transplant, and now they're tugging at them more than ever. Rage fills her soul, but at the surface, one could never see it on her face. With the first step she takes, it seems like the entire ground quakes in the presence of her rage. "You bastard!" She yells out, every bit of rage she kept hidden surging through her body, as if she had kept it suppressed all her life. With every step she gets closer to Zenjou, the Akeyuki follows close behind her. From above the wall, there are observers watching from up high, watching the battle that was about to unfurl. A true monster is one who can look into the face of death and smile. The warrior who filled himself with such an emptiness that he could actively control his existence. A shinobi that very few truly understood. All descriptions that matched Zenjou who only smiled towards Tokihakiri's hateful roar. By their arrival, chaos should've befallen Iwagakure's forces thus removing them from this momentous occasion. Zenjou's golden eyes pierced through the shade created from his headpiece and locked onto Tokihakiri. He almost barged into her psyche and stood at the center of her conscious. But such an effect would only halt those who marched with weak hearts. Zenjou could feel the burning hatred inside Tokihakiri. The anger which almost set her enemies ablaze. "That's a horrible thing to say." Zenjou joked. He stood with his hands behind his back in anticipation for Tokihakiri. "Here we are, Tokihakiri. I'm giving you a chance...Let's spare the bloodshed and avoid the chaos. Bow to me and submit your rule. Help me create a world where there is no more war. Together, we'll erase the invisible boundaries separating mankind by unifying the land!" "Your goals seek to destroy any form of equality this world has left. All you want is for everyone to submit under your rules, destroy centuries, no, millennia of religion and culture. What point is there in a unified world when the people can't think for themselves? No. I built this empire for one reason only; Not to just unite the world, but to let the people be equal and think for themselves." At this point, she was fighting back so much anger, but all the same, a great well of sadness was filling itself within her as well. Looking towards her Hyaku Hiaka, her eyes begin to tear up as if she couldn't hold it back anymore. "I've already seen what a world like that can do to someone. I can't stand having it happen again. A bunch of foolish "leaders" stuck in the past believing they're doing their people a "favor" by trying to change the way they want them to live, the people they want to supposedly protect. The people under the Akeyuki fought to stop that. If I just stand back and let it happen all over again, they would have died for nothing, dammit!" Clinching the hilt of her sword, she unsheathes it with enough strength to move the rocks around her, as if the earth was reacting to her will. "You think this war is bad? The moment your rule begins, you'll have just as many battles as this one, with more blood on your hands than you will ever be able to wash off." "Hmph you know so little it baffles me on how you were able to gain such an army." Zenjou smirked towards Tokihakiri. As they stood towards one another, the contrast in personality became clear as day. Tokihakiri's emotions raged about while Zenjou remained absolutely calmed. She soon transformed into a raging ocean as he existed as the clouds above. His serene persona represented not an indifference but rather a masterful control over himself. Zenjou was someone who could manipulate his existence, altering how others perceived him. "Centuries have passed under the ideal of separate but equal'. We've divided an entire land into five major powers and hundreds of minor countries. Then used the five major powers as tools for conquering other minor nations in order to gather strength. We've backstab one another...Performed atrocious actsto our fellow siblings due to them belonging to an invisible boundary." Zenjou sighed. "Spawning hundreds of battles and four major wars...But as you may recall, there was once a fifth war." As Zenjou spoke, he pulled out a special headband. One without a specific nation. Instead, it had the kanji for Shinobi inscribed in it. "The fifth war was the only time where mankind unified for a single purpose. And together, they managed to vanquish an evil far beyond anything we've faced today..." He soon placed the headband back onto himself. "No one lost their individuality, the shinobi of that time simply destroyed the invisible boundary, known as countries, their ancestors placed all those years ago." Zenjou raised his hand as an obsidian war bow formed in thin air. A bow with a demonic appearance which had a webbing of chakra thread connected to two orbs for a drawstring. It's overall size almost surpassed Zenjou's actual height. "Even now, this war is at the fault of two bickering ideals. You who wish to keep the world as it is, and we who desire to change it because we're tired of foolish leaders sending us to fight our loved one's simply because they're born in a different country only miles apart." As Zenjou spoke, his unified forces roared in support. Even attracting some Iwagakure citizens. People started to ponder about the controversial ideal. Time's have been filled with blood, and yet nothing has changed. "Now you're trying to strengthen these barriers under the stupid idea that you could regulate countries while giving them their independence. Human's are naturally prideful creatures who utilize any difference as a source of hubris. One country will eventually grow in power and attack another to display their might. What then? You'll remove their leader and place one you feel is more appropriate? Hmph. It sounds more like you're fighting for a chance to play god which makes you as guilty as myself!" Zenjou took a stance and glared at Tokihakiri. "I will defeat you here!" He roared as his men charged towards their enemy with Zenjou leading them.
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