"You kept us long enough."
Sasuke refused to face the Hokage as he kept his stone-like gaze towards the moon. Naruto approached the dark haired man, cautiously keeping a hand near his kunai.
"I apologise. I had to make sure Tsunade and the Elite's secured the village," he cautiously replied, testing the waters as he walked towards Sasuke. Naruto in truth couldn't believe that Sasuke could have thought him so easily duped. He was the first to admit not being the wisest of Shinobi, but he was far from ignorant, and the situation that presented itself reeked of lethal intent. Although he couldn't see it, Naruto was sure that Sasuke held a malicious smirk behind his veil of dark, unkempt hair.
"So you knew."
Sasuke quickly shot an amused glance back at the Hokage, promptly affirming Naruto's suspicions, before returning to the evening sun. Naruto continued guardedly towards him as he replied.
"Of course. I wasn't named Hokage for nothing, Sasuke, and only a fool would have left the village completely unprotected befo-"
"That's close enough," Sasuke interrupted, holding a hand threateningly over his katana as a flicker of movement unnerved the night air. Naruto's hand quickly found and equipped a kunai before coming to a halt just a few metres short of the Uchiha. Naruto released a sigh of realisation, wishing only to speak to his old friend once more.
"I knew I'd have to face you one day, Sasuke, but for the village's sake, I wouldn't allow myself to seek you out, no matter how much I wanted to."
Sasuke released a grunt before folding his arms, darting another painfully detached glance at Naruto.
"You've also become a talented liar, so I see."
His tone was listless, empty… cold. Naruto narrowed his eyes towards him, growing incredibly impatient towards his apathy. Clearly, Sasuke wasn't as different as he had originally suspected.
"Why does everything have to be so goddamn hard with you, Sasuke?" he finally said as he felt a familiar rage clawing at the walls of his mind. "Nothing has changed since we were children! You're still a selfish, arrogant fool! You've forgotten everything that being a Konoha Shinobi stands for!"
"Former Konoha Shinobi," Sasuke corrected, seeming unamused at best by another of Naruto's attempts to bring him back. This only served to feed Naruto's anger, causing him to steadily open the cage that had held the sleeping demon.
"I considered myself a failure because I couldn't bring you home when Sakura asked me to – no, begged me to - and she asked me that when I was thirteen! Twenty years ago, Sasuke, and I still can't forgive myself for being unable to bring you back to us! Is it that impossible to believe that after all this time there are still people in Konoha who would have preferred you to return to the village – to return to us instead of continuing this ridiculous charade?"
"Yes."
"WHY?"
"Because those people are your family, not mine… not anymore."
Naruto quickly withdrew a step. Sasuke finally broke his gaze from the moon, turning threateningly towards the confused blonde.
"I left those people behind so no one would get in my way. Even if I did come back, I wouldn't dese…" Sasuke recoiled for a moment. "… I wouldn't want their friendship! I already lost a family – why would I want another one? They just get in the way. Sakura, Karin, Kakashi, Orochimaru… they all got in the way. Now, all these years later, here you are - the only person that I had ANY respect for – and just like the rest of them, YOU'RE STANDING IN MY WAY!"
"Sasuke, it doesn't have to be like this," Naruto warned, replacing his kunai in its pouch.
"Yes it does!" came Sasuke's sudden response. "You are all that stands between me and my destiny, Orange Hokage!"
"I am standing before you, offering you a choice, Sasuke-"
"Stop trying to sound like my friend, Naruto-!"
"Stop trying to act like my old friend isn't still inside you somewhere-!"
"I'm warning you! I will take Miyuki's life while you sleep-!"
"Stop trying to manipulate my anger to get your own way-!"
"DON'T TELL ME HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE-!"
"THEN STOP ACTING LIKE YOU'RE TWELVE ALL OVER AGAIN!"
Sasuke's glare tore straight through Naruto, alerting him to the fact that he was dangerously close to a complete relapse, even though he returned it with just as much anger. Naruto clenched his fists together, shaking his head as he attempted to quell the demon rising in his chest.
"Sasuke, this is ridiculous! Why do you insist that we continue this barbaric-"
"BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY FOR ME, NARUTO!"
Sasuke quickly released a cry of pain, clenching his fists and closing his eyes as a thick and dark aura formed beneath his feet. Naruto braced himself for a deathblow, quickly forming a hand sign to initiate a shield.
Thankfully, this precaution was not needed.
Sasuke soon relaxed his fists, causing the dark chakra to dissipate and wane, glowing threateningly beneath his feet. He quickly took a staggered breath as he heatedly turned to Naruto, blood trickling from his clenched teeth. Naruto lowered his hand sign, shock and misunderstanding consuming him as he met Sasuke's gaze.
"Let me make this clear to you, Naruto Uzumaki," Sasuke spat, a previously unheard hostility staining his voice, "I, Sasuke Uchiha, will NEVER wear the emblem of the Leaf Shinobi EVER AGAIN! That is a path that you will walk, surrounded by your family and those you love. THIS life that I live has been chosen by me, for me – and I will see it through to the end. The outcome of this battle will determine whether or not you will fall – no, not just you, the ENTIRETY of Konoha! You'll all go down together!"
"Konoha will not fall to you, Sasuke, and neither will I."
Sasuke took a step toward Naruto, quickly sweeping a hand onto the hilt of his sword.
"Are you sure about that?" he said, forming a sadistic smile. "As we speak, my soldiers are currently laying waste to your precious-"
"I've stationed the Elite and their past team leaders throughout the town, sealing every entry to every building. You and your army will not harm a single citizen, Sasuke," said Naruto, stopping the Shinobi in his tracks. "Your attempts on Konoha will fall to the strength of the Konoha Elite, just as you will fall to me."
Naruto stopped, closing his eyes and awakening a past comrade.
'Kurama, it's time.'
'Figured as much. Shall we?'
Naruto began encircling himself with a barely visible aura of orange chakra. Opening his now-crimson eyes, he began to gather and balance the elemental chakra surrounding him, preparing for his forbidden chakra transformation. Sasuke noted this, preparing his own fighting stance along with unsheathing and rapidly equipping his blade.
"Sasuke, you've threatened my family, you've threatened your old comrades and you've threatened Konoha. Despite all this, you're still my friend… and you can still be a friend of Konoha. This is your last chance…"
Naruto reformed the hand sign, readying himself to transform at will.
"… surrender, or you will die."
Sasuke locked eyes with the sixth Hokage, a small gleam in his darkened eyes – he was finally getting his way, and a deliciously satisfied smirk spread across his face.
"Oh? Playing with real threats now, are we? I'm so proud, Naruto, but let's see you back them up!"
His Sharingan suddenly began to glow a threatening shade of scarlet as Sasuke quickly sheathed his blade and performed his own hand signs, readying his own chakra as his dark coat flailed wildly behind him.
"Mangekyo Sharingan!"
A swirling violet aura exploded virulently around Sasuke as prominent black chakra encircled him. Focusing on his silhouette through the dark aura surrounding him, Naruto observed Sasuke reaching to the sky as lightning began to circulate him, collecting and violently crackling around Sasuke's raised arm.
"You really have grown, Naruto! A fine and fitting Hokage – and that will only make it all the more satisfying when I watch the light leave your eyes, claiming Kurama and Konoha for myself!"
Even through the darkness, Naruto watched in dismissive fury as an insane smile formed on Sasuke's lips.
"Now that that's out of the way, allow me the honour to destroy you using nothing but my full strength! The Uchiha's Final Secret Dojutsu…"
Suddenly clenching his hand, Sasuke released a furious bellow as he brought his fist to the ground.
"Susanoo Transformation: Aragami Sharingan!"
The aura surrounding him exploded, forcing Naruto to shield his eyes for a moment. Regaining his vision and turning hopelessly, he could all but tear his gaze from his former teammate, unable to see any lingering shreds of the Sasuke he once knew.
A cold, charred face - barely reminiscent of the pale Uchiha's visage – met Naruto's despairing gaze. Heavy, fatal eyes bore through the dark night, still containing the Mangekyo Sharingan symbol as they began to glow a menacing shade of violet, piercing their gaze through the silent Hokage. Two perfectly formed black wings erupted from Sasuke's back, complimented by a tattered black cloak. Deathly intent recognised as he drew his katana, Sasuke began concentrating and focusing his chakra into the weapon. The blade began to glow a prominent shade of violet to match his eyes as he thrust the blade above his head, bringing down a raging bolt of lightning from the quickly-forming storm clouds above him, tearing up the surrounding Earth.
"Prepare yourself, Naruto Uzumaki! This night, you will meet the full force of my hatred!"
Forming one last hand sign, Sasuke bellowed:
"Sword of Legend: Kirin Muramasa!"
A furious fleet of thunder bolts blasted their way onto the katana, transforming it in Sasuke's hand as it grew to an immense length, easily dwarfing the wielder and crackling with wicked blackened lightning. Sporting a gauntlet that almost seemed to meld the weapon to the wielder, Sasuke cackled maniacally as the handle of the blade shimmered in red pulsations, almost seeming to have a heartbeat. Swishing the weapon back and forth, deathly violet bolts of lightning flickered and jolted from the top of the blade as Sasuke released a shrieking laugh.
"Your end begins now, Orange Hokage!"
Naruto stood strong, unnerved by Sasuke's display of power. He swiftly formed his own hand signs, releasing the chakra emanating from Kurama as the faint aura he'd gather suddenly burst into brilliant orange which quickly engulfed him.
"My end will not be brought by your hands, Sasuke! Tonight, we have our final battle!"
Naruto performed one more hand sign and then loudly clapped his hands together:
"Form of the Fallen: Eternal Jinchuriki Sage!"
A blinding light erupted from beneath Naruto, forming a bright orange Rasengan shaped sphere around him. Naruto's form began to change, turning his father's cloak to a brilliant orange and flaring nine transparent tails behind him. A burning orange chakra blazed around him, seeming to gather the energy of the surroundings. The black, red and white symbols of his lineage formed on his body and clothes, along with a Magatama necklace that proudly formed around his neck. Finishing his transformation with the orange pigmentation surrounding his eyes, the burning blood-red irises and cross-like pupils, Naruto opened his eyes and locked his gaze with the still-grinning Sasuke. As Kurama's chakra tails flailed wildly behind him and his chakra horns stood proudly above his head, Naruto assumed his Frog Kata stance, rousing further laughter from the thundering Uchiha.
"So, this is the form that the legends speak of… The form that has given the Hokage such renown! Finally! I must be more of a threat than I thou-"
"Don't flatter yourself, Sasuke," Naruto interrupted, flaring his chakra as the smile slowly faded from Sasuke's face. "I assumed this form because I plan to end this battle quickly."
Sasuke stared at the glowing figure before him, readjusting his grip on his newly formed blade. Holding himself strong, he returned his sickening grin as he poised the blade, ready to draw first blood.
"Then allow me to disrupt your plans!"
Sasuke dashed forward, the lightning crackling loudly and leaving a threatening off-cast aura in his wake. Naruto dashed forward to meet his strike, throwing a punch that was swiftly avoided as Sasuke's form turned to ash.
"Blood-sync!"
Naruto choked as Sasuke's blade pierced his back, erupting through his chest and lashing the land in front of him with blood. Naruto turned to the blade protruding from his body, shock sweeping his system as two more blades pierced his form. He felt his power being stolen away as his chakra began to scatter itself, disintegrating the orange shroud around him. Sasuke laughed menacingly as the impaled Hokage fell to his knees, reverting to his original form, but was quickly silenced by a puff of smoke. Sasuke shouted loudly through the cracks of lightning that continued to erupt from his blade as the figure before him vanished. Frantically darting to and from the surroundings and attempting to adjust his eyesight to find Naruto, he cursed himself for falling for such a trick before being launched forward.
"Beast Sage Rasengan!"
Turning too late to counteract and defend himself, Sasuke was launched into a spiralling twist of brilliant orange chakra. Naruto quickly launched a chakra arm towards Sasuke, clenching it into a fist and bringing it down on the stunned Uchiha with as much force as he could muster. Prominently concaving the ground upon impact, a shriek of pain was heard as Sasuke was quickly shrouded in a cloud of dirt. Retrieving his chakra arm and returning it behind him as one of his transparent tails, Naruto stared expectantly at the cloud before him. As devastating an attack as that was, he knew Sasuke would have survived it.
"Siloway!"
A hurricane like wind blasted from the centre of the dust cloud, whirling violently and pushing the shroud upwards and forcing it to prominently dissipate, revealing the now-standing Sasuke - a smile still etched onto his face, even though his breathing was laboured.
"Still using that old trick, eh?" he spat condescendingly, flexing and stretching his armoured wrist before returning it to his blade. Naruto smiled confidently.
"After all these years, I've perfected it. Now, I can create a full flesh-and-blood replica of myself that requires killing, not just damaging, before it disappears."
Sasuke maintained his grin as he lifted his katana again, poising to strike as he flared out his darkly feathered wings, flailing his dark cloak as well.
"And you're in sage mode as well! My, my, how many clones do you have out there, gathering energy for you?"
Naruto took confidently to his Kata stance once more, preparing one of his most devastating attacks.
"Many years have passed, Sasuke. I've learned to plan ahead. I've had four shadow clones gathering chakra for two days and now I have three left. Each and every one you kill only makes me stronger."
Naruto began to form a ball of rotating chakra in his right hand as Sasuke quickly grunted, baring his teeth to the boldly buffed Shinobi.
"Are you starting to understand, Sasuke? I won't lose to you."
Bursting towards him in a flurry of black feathers and violet aura, Sasuke screeched as he neared the steadfast Shinobi:
"I'll be happy to prove you wrong! Rai-Kirin Blaze!"
Naruto pushed forward, retaliating with all his might.
"Rasenshuriken!"
"Thousand Asp Strike!"
Shino's bugs swiftly turned to chakra-enhanced needle-like weapons as he pushed them towards the group of Susanoo clones that approached him. Collectively piercing every clone in his way and absorbing their chakra, they disappeared in small explosions of smoke as Shino quickly dashed passed them, gathering his bugs in the process.
The clones had collectively failed to gain entry into the buildings, constantly being repelled by the seals placed upon the door, and as such were turning their attentions to the Jonin and Jonin commanders.
"Fourth Gate: Release!"
Guy, Lee and Kakashi had all began fighting side by side, none giving an inch whilst egging each other on as the three unlocked the seal to the fourth gate. Together, they'd taken on the heavily taijutsu-based Mokujin as the wooden puppets entered the town shortly after the Susanoo clones began to swarm.
"Girls, with me, now!"
Tsunade had gathered Ino, Sakura, Anko, Kurenai and Tenten to fight at her side whilst Shino, Shikamaru, Kiba and Choji furiously defended the Hokage Tower.
"Secret Inuzuka Combination Transformation: Guardian of Hell!"
Akamaru released a vicious howl as he fused with Kiba, exploding in a blistering red sphere as a flaming red chakra fountain swirled from beneath the two. A deafening roar was heard from behind the raging fire spout as three immense blackened dog heads emerged from the blaze, baring razor-sharp teeth and sickle-like claws. As the flames dissipated, the remainder of the Inuzuka's hidden jutsu was revealed: The Guardian of Hell - Cerberus. The three heads opened their mouths, inhaling deeply as Choji quickly covered his body with his own chakra-elongated hair.
"Let 'er rip, Kiba!" he bellowed, pulling his limbs into himself as he expanded his body into the giant wrecking ball his lineage was famous for. As he began spinning furiously, spraying dirt and rubble haphazardly in every direction, he readied himself to tear through the steadily encroaching armies of Susanoo clones. A virulent howl was heard as all three heads of the Cerberus burst a flaming stream of chakra towards Choji's body, igniting the ball as Choji suddenly gripped the earth beneath him, shooting himself forward as he blazed through the streets of Konoha.
"Blazing Spiked Bullet Tank!"
The mound that was Choji burst into the wide streets, taking the marching Susanoo clones by surprise. The majority that were wielding any weaponry swiftly launched the projectiles towards Choji, only to have them explode upon impact, reducing them to ash. As the panicked Susanoo prepared to take to the rooftops to avoid the attack, the first few began to falter. The next few began to screech in panic as the large number of Susanoo found they couldn't move. Screeches were deftly heard through the town as the spinning fiery mass blazed towards them.
"And just where d'ya think you're goin'?"
Shikamaru gloated from the top of the roof that overlooked the miniaturised Susanoo army, having cunningly slipped in and trapped every clone he could with his 'Shadow Manipulation: Immobilisation' jutsu. A deafening screech was heard as Choji freight-trained through the mass, demolishing clone after clone as they disappeared into clouds of smoke. As Choji's flaming form swiftly disappeared from view along with Shikamaru who wasn't far behind, Shino cooly turned to the Cerberus.
"Hah, just like old times, eh, Kiba?"
The three headed dog turned towards Shino, dwarfing the man who didn't come close to the dogs shoulder in height as Kiba's voice growled from the beast.
"You got that right. Just like old times!"
The Cerberus scratched viciously at the ground, shredding the dirt road and roaring loudly, daring anything to come within range of its sights as Shino calmly placed a hand upon its roughened fur. They both patiently awaited the next wave of clones.
"Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists!"
Neji, Hinata and Hiashi were battling their way through the town, attempting to drive the swarming clones away from the Hokage Tower as best they could. Hinata would not allow any harm to come to her daughter, showing ferocity in her technique that Neji and Hiashi had yet to witness to reiterate the point. Ploughing through enemy after enemy, weapon after weapon, the three Hyuga made their way towards Tsunade and the rest, desperately hoping that the saying 'there's safety in numbers' would hold a thread of truth. Hinata burst toward a large clone, throwing her palms forcibly forward as Neji swiftly met her side and mimicked her action.
"Twin Tandem Vacuum Palm!"
A burst of volatile blue chakra erupted from the hands of the two Hyuga descendants, blasting a hole through the incoming swarms as the larger clone fell to the floor, scattering into ashes upon impact. Neji turned to Hinata as he smiled proudly, giving her an assuring nod which she heartily returned as Hiashi met their sides.
"Tsunade is just ahead, hurry!"
The three quickly turned to the misty smoke in front of them, dashing madly towards the brilliantly flashing chakra of the Sannin who was fending off Susanoo along with Kurenai, Tenten, Ino, Sakura and Anko. A horde of clones was spewing from the entrance, jumping and dashing towards Tsunade and Kurenai as they deflected and countered blow after blow. Ino and Sakura effectively attacked anything within range, while Anko's snakes and Tenten's weapon scrolls attacked the Susanoo from a distance. The sudden sound of thunderous rumbling caught the teams attention as Choji suddenly rampaged into view, bursting out of a narrow street just before the entrance and charging his way around Tsunade and Kurenai, destroying any Susanoo clones close enough to pose an immediate threat. Returning to his former appearance and quickly retracting his spiked hair defence, he leapt through the air and landed strongly, slamming his fists into the ground and slowly skidding to a halt. Recovering by Tsunade's side and assuming a chakra gathering position, Tsunade retracted to his rear, placing a palm on the Shinobi's back as Kurenai quickly joined Ino and Sakura.
"Are you alright?" she asked, quickly transferring healing chakra to the boy as his palms began to glow a brilliant blue.
"I'm fine, but you girls have gotta get to Kiba and Shino! They're holding down the tower by himself!" Choji replied, quickly turning to Kurenai, Anko, Sakura, Ino and Tenten. "You girls go help 'em out - we'll take care of these guys!"
"Yeah, leave it to us!"
Shikamaru quickly jumped from a rooftop, standing beside Choji as he formed his clans hand signs.
"You girls get to Kiba and Shino. Believe me, if anything gets passed us, they're gonna need all the help they can get!"
Ino and Sakura nodded in unison, delivering one final blow to a few nearby Susanoo and then quickly leaping and sprinting towards the Hokage Tower. Kurenai quickly materialised her body into smoke as Anko quickly transfigured into her 'Lamia' half-snake form, the two thereafter quickly retreating with Ino and Sakura. Tenten released one more flurry of weaponry towards the impeding army and quickly ran to Shikamaru, taking out two scrolls and handing them to him.
"Only in case of an emergency!" she said sternly, placing them in Shikamaru's side-pocket. He smiled at her with confidence, nodding in thanks. Tenten quickly turned to Tsunade who had removed her hand from Choji's back, motioning towards the group of Shinobi that were swiftly making their way towards the Tower as the two began their retreat.
"Look out!"
Neji's voice boomed through the night as he leapt over Tenten, quickly slamming his fist into a Susanoo that was setting itself to launch a weapon towards her, leaving a thick black smoke cloud in its wake. Landing prominently into his 'Gentle Fist' fighting stance, Hiashi and Hinata swiftly advanced to Neji's right side, mirroring his stance as an army of Susanoo began to approach through the entrance once more.
"Neji!" Tenten called, running towards him and arming herself with a weapon scroll. Neji turned to her, smiling confidently as she met his side and assumed her own fighting stance, prompting Tsunade to do the same.
"Tsunade, you need to retreat from here!" Hiashi said sternly, focusing his eyes towards the encroaching army of cloaks.
"I can fight, Hiashi! I'll protect Konoha along with you! The rest can defend the Tower-"
"And you will defend the Tower along with them! Send Anko and Kurenai to us and take Neji and Tenten with you!" he called, quickly summoning the chakra necessary for the 'Twin Lion Fists'. "You are needed more there than here and if we lose you, we lose our most gifted medic! Please, to the Tower!"
Tenten turned to Hiashi as a bewildered look consumed Neji. Taking in a quick breath, Hiashi turned to his nephew, knowing full well he wished to stay and fight.
"But Hiashi-"
"Neji, Tenten, go with Tsunade. You both will be significant aid to our defence! Hinata, Choji, Shikamaru and myself will remain here and thin the hordes. Anything that remains will fall to your hands. Go!"
Unable to find the will to protest and knowing better than to push the matter with Hiashi, Neji turned to Tenten, taking her hand as the two retreated, heading straight for Tsunade. Tsunade signalled agreement to Hiashi, who returned with a respectful nod, and the three disappeared into the night towards the Tower.
Suddenly distracted by the sound of crunching wood, Hiashi turned to his left, using his Byakugan to peer through the buildings towards the noise. He observed Kakashi, Lee and Guy reducing the last of the Mokujin to splinters as they furiously made their way towards the entrance. Clearing the imposing buildings with a single bound, the three Shinobi landed before Hiashi and Hinata, the red hue of their skin burning brightly as the power of the Fourth Gate coursed through them. A confident smile spread across his face as he welcomed the assistance.
"Lead the way, Hiashi!" cried Guy, quickly striking his signature pose as Lee did the same. Kakashi walked past the two, taking a place beside Choji and Shikamaru, the latter of which turned to him.
"Kakashi, these guys don't seem to be stopping at all! Aren't shadow clones supposed to have some kind of power source? The creator's gotta be nearby, don't they?"
"No, they don't," replied Kakashi, forming his hand signs to release his Mangekyo Sharingan, "but the creator always leaves a chakra signal that returns to the host. With Susanoo clones, only other users of the Mangekyo can locate the signals, but with this many, it's almost impossible to tell."
Shikamaru shifted uncomfortably, unwelcomely hit by the severity of the situation as Choji clapped his hands together loudly.
"Well then, let's start by thinning the hordes!"
Hinata, Guy, Lee and Hiashi swiftly met Kakashi's side as Choji slammed his hands onto the ground, sending a shockwave of chakra quaking towards the approaching army. The confident smile that so easily graced his visage swiftly wiped off his well-rounded face as he observed a Susanoo clone swiftly mimicking his actions, sending a shockwave of red to intercept and ultimately block his attack, causing an explosion that forced the team to recoil.
"Now, that's hardly a way to welcome an old friend."
A sickening silence befell the group as the Susanoo began to disappear one by one, allowing a single cloaked figure to approach the Entry Gate. Kakashi's eyes widened, quickly recognising the voice and stepping forward, menacingly charging his advanced Chidori strike.
"Actually, it's quite a fitting way to welcome a traitor such as you, Sasuke!"
Quickly inspiring intense courage within his teammates at the mere mention of the name, the team violently charged towards the cloaked figure with only one intention playing prominent: the Coup De Grace.
The figure swiftly raised a hand, stopping each and every Shinobi dead in their tracks as cold, violet eyes glared at them from a small beak-shaped hood. The cloak billowed as a crushing invisible force raced towards them, blowing the team backwards and into the air then swiftly slamming them onto the ground. Groans of pain rose from the group as a mildly amused chuckle echoed through the streets. The final few Susanoo disappeared, leaving only the lone cloaked figure standing in the centre of the gate.
"Sasuke? You remember that name?"
Kakashi quickly recovered to his feet as Guy and Lee stood as well, albeit somewhat ungracefully. Approaching the figure hesitantly, Kakashi leered, slanting his eyes to attempt to see clearer. The figures eyes, facial features and voice exactly mimicked those of his past student, but…
"Who are you?" Kakashi demanded, standing before the remainder of the recovering Jonin. Something was amiss - Kakashi couldn't read him, even with the Mangekyo Sharingan activated. Wearily finding their way to their feet, Hinata and Hiashi slowly found their way back into their 'Gentle Fist' stance as Choji and Shikamaru took to a defensive position.
"Kakashi, what is this?" Hiashi asked, slowly making his way towards him before being quickly stopped by Kakashi.
"I don't know, but stay back."
The figure slowly drew a hand as Kakashi recoiled, assuming a defensive stance as the team did the same. Placing a hand upon the top of his dark hood, the figure slowly and completely pulled it over his head, removing the illusion and presenting them all with an answer.
"I am the one your pathetic Sharingan so desires to find. I am the reason that your home is soon to be destroyed and, now that the boy is busy killing the Hokage, I am complete and able to destroy what has caused him so much pain."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he armed himself with a kunai.
"So, the guardian deity, 'Susanoo', does have a human form," Kakashi mused, unnerved at best by Susanoo's words. He'd taken Sasuke's appearance and began a slow and insidious approach, lingering violet remains of chakra in his wake.
"You seem apprehensive, sensei. Why?" he mocked, reaching his hands acceptingly towards Kakashi. "Didn't you wish to see your protégé? Your favourite pupil, the one you so dearly wanted to follow in your footsteps-"
"Shut up!"
Kakashi's voice tore through the air – enough to strike apprehension into anyone who heard it, falling short of the still-approaching entity.
"You took control of him, didn't you?" he asked, suddenly dawning upon a horrific realisation. Susanoo stopped, pausing to take in Kakashi with his gleaming violet gaze. Surveying the remainder of the group who all remained deathly silent, Susanoo raised his arms once more – this time, merely to clap approvingly.
"My, my, Kakashi! Rumours of your fast wit have travelled, but they hardly do you justice! I was expecting to have to kill at least half of the town before you realised."
His tone changed to a sickeningly joyous trill, almost seeming like this was a game to him. Hiashi came to Kakashi's side, shooting a disdainful gaze towards the cloaked man.
"Do you enjoy this, demon?" he asked calmly, poising an open palm towards him as Kakashi took to a fighting stance as well. A snicker escaped Susanoo before he quickly whipped his arm around once. A terribly loud and high pitched sound - akin to a sword being unsheathed much faster than required – pierced through the ears of the Jonin as a brilliant blade burst from Susanoo's arm. Prominently grasping the blackened cross-stitched blade handle as he stood proudly before the group, mere metres away, he casually tossed the blade from one hand to the next.
"Does it show that much, human?" he jibed, continuing to playfully toss his blade around.
"It does, and I'm not sure you're welcome here… actually, I'm quite sure that you aren't, demon," Hiashi replied, redefining seriousness within his strong tone. Suddenly halting his antics as he caught the blade in his right hand, Susanoo disgruntledly noticed the buildings around Konoha, admiring the sturdy rooves and architecture. This was indeed a grand layout, except for one small thing…
None of the buildings had been destroyed.
"So, you've sealed the town to stop any 'intruders' from laying waste to it, have you?" he sneered, taking a rather disgusted tone and a less-than-impressed look as the Shinobi quickly gathered around each other.
"Yes, we have," Hinata said, taking her place beside her father, "and we will not be intimidated by you. We've faced far worse, I assure you."
Susanoo smirked, exactly the way Sasuke would before he berated an opponent. Kakashi winced at how real he seemed, having to remind himself that he wasn't looking at the true Sasuke.
"Oh, you think so, heiress?" he said, lifting his sword and thrusting it into the ground. A swirling and dark aura erupted from the blade as Susanoo turned it whilst in the ground, forming a single-handed hand sign. "I'm so sorry to have bored you so."
The group retracted a step as seven cloaked figures suddenly exploded behind Susanoo, each with their faces hidden behind cloaks. Every member prepared for a full-scale assault against the clones, gathering chakra and maintaining perfect focus.
"Allow me to make amends by initiating a tournament where whoever lives gets another chance to die, and whoever doesn't live… oh well!" Susanoo cried amusedly, releasing his sword from the ground and allowing it to hover by his side, drawn to surround him by his darkened aura. The seven cloaked beings all removed their hoods, greeting the team with the same hollow violet eyes that Susanoo donned. The only difference being that the clones were exactly that – perfect clones…
… of the Jonin.
"Wh-wh-what?" Kakashi cried, staring towards his own cloaked reflection. The clones removed their cloaks in tandem and elegantly flipped them skywards, the billowing masses falling to ash as soon as they touched the ground. Each took to their respective fighting stance as they advanced upon the Jonin group.
"Clones! Is that the best you can do, Susanoo?" Hiashi said, sternly disapproving of his toying and playful antics. Susanoo smiled.
"Hiashi Hyuga, what you've been fighting for the last few hours have been mere shadow clones, requiring minimal damage in order to be reduced to ash. What I present to you is something that I'm currently learning from fighting your Hokage - his very own signature technique."
Shikamaru's eyes widened as he cursed under his breath.
"Perfect mirror clones… shit, this… argh! Everyone, stay alert!" Shikamaru voiced under his breath, keeping his hand sign held firm as his clone did the same. Lifeless, droll and obedient, the clones seemed to obey every silent order from Susanoo, as shown when they stopped simply to a raised hand.
"So, are you ready to kill yourselves or die trying, Konoha Elite?"
Waving another hand as the clones pounced towards the Jonin, Susanoo released a contented smile as he gracefully placed a hand over the hilt of his sword.
"Then let the games begin."
Answering a few things for my dear readers:
Yes, I do make new techniques for the characters, trying most of the time to build on from their old techniques. It's been seventeen years since the Shinobi war. You think I'm gonna leave them with no new techniques?
And no, it should have been obvious, but this series isn't about the pairings. I have other fics about that. This one is about true friendship and tragedy. Hope that clears things up. ;)
Next chapter, coming soon!
R 'n' R, good writing to all!
LS.