35 Before the War 2 (2/2)

”You have the potential for it, Karin. As not just any Uzumaki clan member could use the sealing chains. Now that the war is beginning, I will need to retrieve your sisters. I just can't be at ease letting them outside, in this chaos of war. Wait a bit here, Karin.” Rafi said lightly to Karin's surprise, as her cheeks reddened a bit at his praise. Then, by using the Hiraishin's marks on them, he teleported to the girls as he went to retrieve them.

Seconds later, to his surprise, he found Minamoto no Yorimitsu and Sakura were still meditating, training in the Shikkotsu Forest calmly. He then hid himself carefully as to not alert Katsuyu. After checking around, he saw a giant Katsuyu who were looking after them, quite far in front of them. After sensing that nothing bad would happened to them in Shikkotsu Forest, he nullified the notion of retrieving them as left silently. Katsuyu then raised her head in his previous direction as she sensed his disappearance.

”Who is that masked man just now? Does he is related with these girls? He looks like to have planted a mark on them to reach this place.” Katsuyu thought silently as she looked at the girls in front of her. Because she sensed no ill-intent from him, she allowed him to leave unscathed after barging inside her domain, as her nature was more to a peaceful one.

Meanwhile, Rafi then teleported to where Illyasviel and Artoria were at. To his shock, he found them inside an encircling of many shinobi and samurai, near the Shinobi Alliance's headquarter.

”That's him!!”

”Uchiha Madara!!”

”Just like the report, he is wearing the ripple pattern mask now!!”

”Then, these two girls are really with Akatsuki. Quickly report to headquarter.” Some exclamations and shocked voices could be heard from the surrounding shinobi and samurai as they stared in shock at Rafi's abrupt entrance.

”Yea, you are here, Rafi. Now, let's go to meet her together!” Illyasviel was surprised seeing Rafi appeared behind her, as she then threw herself up in his arms.

”What's happening, Artoria? How can you two reach this place?” Rafi asked Artoria as he caught the incoming Illyasviel.

”Cough, cough, I am just accompanying Illya. She is the one who asks to greet your enemies in here. Besides, she also want to meet that less-pupiled girls from before.”

”Hmm, Hinata and Hanabi?”

”I believe that are their names. Illya is a bit stubborn to come here, and I can't just leave her alone.” Artoria said in exasperation as she looked at Illyasviel on his arms.

”Well, you can't find Hanabi in here, as she is still not able to participate in the war, unlike Hinata. But, Hinata doesn't look like to be here now.” Rafi said calmly as he looked at the surrounding shinobi and samurai encircled them tighter.

”Is that so? Then we just need to go back to that village, Rafi. Let's go!” Illyasviel looked up to Rafi as she pleaded cutely.

”Huuh, let's do that later, Illya. I will bring you two back first.” Rafi said as he pulled them inside Avalon, leaving the encircling shinobi and samurai stunned at the sight.

”Sure~~”

”Fine.” Illyasviel and Artoria nodded as they were about to be brought to Avalon.

”Well, no need to be impatient. We will fight in the war sooner, won't we. The Great War, is just beginning...” Rafi said composedly to the shinobi and samurai as he then started to disappear in a flash. In a corner of his eyes, he could saw that Asuma, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Kiba, Shino and Hinata approached him quickly.

'Hinata...' Rafi thought silently as he looked at the shocked Hinata.

”Rafi...Why is he...this war...” Hinata looked in shock at the masked man, as she could felt his chakra through her Byakugan. With her previous experience of fighting Pain with Rafi and Naruto, she could quickly sensed Rafi's chakra, even if it was from afar.

”It is him, huh.” Asuma said as he started to smoke after seeing Rafi disappeared in a flash.

”Is that really Uchiha Madara? He runs pretty quick for a legendary figure.” Kiba said in surprise.

”He is not Uchiha Madara. He is just borrowing Madara's name, Kiba. But, don't underestimate him. He may be thornier than you all think.” Asuma reminded them as he glanced at the silent Hinata.

”....” Hinata was silent as she looked at his disappearance.

”Let's go back to our own posts. The enemy is coming here, means that he already mobilizes his army. Prepare for the War!!” Asuma rallied the surrounding shinobi and samurai as he started to go back to their headquarter.

..... .....

Karin was still adjusting their preparation as Rafi appeared in front of her.

”Hey, where are the girls? You are not leaving them outside, right?”

”It is only Illya and Artoria. Yorimitsu and Sakura are still in training, however they are safe there.” Rafi said as he brought Illyasviel and Artoria out from Avalon.

”Karin!! He he...” Illya then threw herself at Karin as she was caught by a flustered Karin.

”Eh?! Illya-chan...” After seeing them, Rafi couldn't helped to think that Illyasviel and Karin were closer than he thought previously.

”See, like I said before, Sakura and Yorimitsu are really training hard, Illya. Sigh,...”

”Well, now I need to explain the current things first. We will move to my plan later on...” Rafi started to explain his plan to Illyasviel and Artoria.

..... .....

Later on, after he finished explaining, Rafi went to Zetsu's clone as he started to mobilize White Zetsu army using the underground path. While Kabuto had already went to retrieve Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails as he brought former members of Akatsuki with him, except Itachi.

”It is beginning...” Rafi muttered lightly under his breath as he was looking at the mobilized White Zetsu army under him.