Man, this chapter proven to be hell to write. I was trying to think of some, original maneuvers that I haven't used up till now anywhere, but with as many fights I wrote, that surely wasn't easy. Hopefully I at least did a decent job.
As you probably realized, NNG got updated also. I was aiming to add "Those…" into the mix, but its latest installment is also quite problematic… perhaps it's some, annoying, writer's block? Who knows? Hopefully with the next update I'll manage to bring you all, three fics.
As always I wish to thank those who sacrificed their time to review. It means a lot and certainly helps me motivate myself to keep this story going, despite having so little, free time. Thanks a bunch.
Don't think there's more to say then to invite you to the newest update of LoL:
Chapter #4: Bad Blood
Title Page: Enkou is sitting in a meditating position with a bunch of crows taking flight around him
"Let me guess" Naruto asked with a sigh, staring at the student before him. "You wish to fight me head on" he said as Enkou stood in his battle stance, ready to charge.
"Naturally" replied the young Uchiha confidentially. "It's pointless going after the scrolls, since you can take them back anytime. But, if I get the bell, it's an automatic win, is it not?" he asked matter-of-factly, making the blond sweat drop at the statement: "In actuality, most people would come to a conclusion fighting me at a gennin level is the pointless of the two… well, doesn't matter, at least I'll get to see what this guy is capable of…"
"What a pinhead…" Shindo commented as he observed the whole scene from his hideout.
"Here I come!" the boy announced, reaching for his holster and tossing a barrage of shuriken at the jounin. Naruto easily evaded the attack by strafing left, yet immediately he found Enkou running at him with his fists ready. Throwing a straight punch to the man's head, the young gennin forced the whisker-marks to duck under the assault only to see a knee coming straight for his face.
Also this proven to be unsuccessful as the Kyuubi vessel blocked the attack with his hand and using the knee as a spring board, he bounced up, somersaulting over the preteen and landed behind him, his back turned towards the raven-haired ninja.
Enkou wasted no time and spun around, kunai already in his grip, cutting from the side where he assumed was his opponent's head. Naruto saw this coming though and grabbed his arm by the wrist, twisting in. The sudden maneuver caught the gennin-to-be off guard, making him loose balance and flip, crashing against the ground with his back.
The jounin let go of his arm and took a few steps back, allowing the boy to jump to his feet, the knife still in his hand. With all his might the Academy graduate tossed the kunai to the ground before him, making the blade sink into the ground while the boy went through a series of hand seals: "Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" he called out, releasing a powerful fireball at his adversary.
Flames wrapped around the Kyuubi vessel's body, devouring it in an instant, as well as scourging the surroundings, leaving a small wasteland in the middle of the meadow. As the fire died down, Enou stared at the damage, huffing a bit, forced to place his hands on the knees. His expression was indifferent, yet Shindo narrowed his eyes at the predicament.
"Well, that was scary" came a familiar voice from the young Uchiha's back, making his body twitch. "I must admit that the destructive power alone exceeds the one your father had when he was your age" stated Naruto thoughtfully with his hand on the chin. "It seems your chakra manipulation however is below his. You put too much into that last technique and now you're weakened. Shinobi must always be prepared to continue fighting, regardless to the chances of his enemy surviving his last attack. Keep that in mind, Enkou… it may be the difference between life and death."
"Kawarimi" the heir of the Arashi analyzed quickly while his teammate spun on his foot, throwing a kick at the place his instructor stood. The blond ducked instantly however and also spinning, swept at his student's legs. To this the boy react immediately, jumping up, above the attack and somersaulting, unleashed a drop kick at the whisker-marks' head.
The jounin stopped the assault with his right hand, grabbing the leg with his left, yet this time Enkou was prepared for such a maneuver; with a flip, he rested his hands on the ground and used all his force to toss the enemy over him with the momentum. This made Naruto let go of the leg and flip in mid-air to come to a sliding stop while the preteen also landed on his feet, already releasing a new swarm of shuriken.
The Kyuubi vessel danced around the shinobi stars, easily dodging every, single one, but just then he noted the last of the Uchiha sliding right next to him with an uppercut to his chin. The blond quickly bended back, making the fist miss by inches and then grabbed the arm, pulling the boy towards himself with an elbow to the Academy graduate's face.
Enkou braced for impact, but that never happened. In stead, the jounin flipped back a few times, extending the distance with a warm smile plastered on his face. This angered the gennin-to-be though: "Just now… he's mocking me!" he yelled in his mind, going into a charge with a wild battle cry.
"Losing your calm so easily" Shindo thought to himself with a stoic face. "Obviously that Uchiha is not fit to be a ninja" he proclaimed as his companion beat the distance, throwing a straight punch to Naruto's face.
"I admire those that stay in touch with their emotions, but in a fight you shouldn't give in to anger this easily" stated the Kyuubi vessel as he patted the boy's wrist, throwing his attack off course. "If you go berserk, the possibility of making a mistake heightens and mistakes are one thing shinobi must avoid at all times. Also… you leave too many openings…" he announced as he blocked the second punch and strafed left to avoid a kick.
With his right leg still stretched after the kick, Enkou bended to his right and placing his hands on the ground, he bended further, throwing a spin kick with his left leg at his opponent. Naruto acted immediately however and dropped to his butt, stopping the fall with his hands in the last moment.
With his lower body parallel to the ground, he thrust his leg, kicking the last Uchiha's hands, thus making the preteen lose his footage and drop to the surface, hitting his face against the meadow. The jounin quickly acted and returned to a standing position, patiently waiting for the gennin-to-be to put himself back together. The boy didn't rush getting up as he settled his eyes on the higher-rank ninja, his breath now slightly quickened, even though the whisker-marks shown no signs of fatigue.
"You've got pretty good reflex and instincts" the man complimented him, oblivious to his glare. "But you lack coordination. As you are, anyone with more skill can easily read your movement and since that is the case, being quick isn't gonna help much…"
A roar escaped Enkou's throat as he resumed his assault, running at Naruto in top speed. Yet as another punch was released, the jounin side-stepped it and while the preteen went next to him, the Kyuubi vessel grabbed him by the back of his shirt, pulling him back and extending his leg to the side, making the Academy graduate trip and fall to the ground.
In a blink of an eye the whisker-marks was above him, pressing his hand just below the boy's neck as his knee pinned the young ninja's stomach. Before Enkou knew it, his legs got immobilized by the jounin's, while his right arm was imprisoned by the man's free hand.
"You know, your strategy isn't really working" Naruto announced calmly, still pinning the boy to the ground. "May I suggest thinking up a new one? As is, there's little chance for you to grab that bell… and if you don't, how are you gonna prove being a worthy, Leaf shinobi?"
"Oh, put a sock in it!" Enkou shoot back annoyed. "You think you know anything about me? That's a barrel of laughs! You have no idea what it's like to be an Uchiha in this village!" he yelled, while the blond remained silent. Finally the jounin let go of the Academy graduate, allowing him to stand up. As he did, the gennin-to-be stared at his teacher for a moment, before lowering his head: "My father was a great ninja… one of the strongest of his time… but he was also a traitor… even I cannot deny that. He left Konoha for the sake of power. Fate that befalls all Uchiha, as they say" he added with a twist of anger showing on his face.
Shindo merely narrowed his eyes as he kept observing the scene from his hideout, while Enkou continued: "Before that Itachi murdered his entire clan and was marked a criminal as well… once the truth was revealed, entire Uchiha were labeled traitors for plotting against the Leaf. I don't suppose I can actually blame the villagers for that, but… but why is it that, because of this, I'm suppose to turn out as a traitor as well?" he asked with a breaking voice, still avoiding eye contact. "Have I really did anything to make people think that? Just because I came from that clan… does that make me a leaf-nin any less? Answer me, Naruto-sensei: am I truly someone that can't be trusted?"
The jounin didn't respond at first. He gazed at the sky and then spoke up, gaining his student's attention: "Sins of fathers always become the sins of their sons. In a strange way I experienced that myself. Believe when I say that I know exactly how you feel. In the past I too didn't had any friends… everyone avoided me due to a certain… predicament I was throw into. No-one accepted me as a true Konoha shinobi. You wouldn't believe how many times I thought about just giving up" he announced with a voice calm.
The boy stared at him, somewhat surprised, as the blond continued: "But I didn't… because crying and running away never changed anything. We all live our own lives Enkou… we curve our own destiny. I'm not gonna lie to you that it'll be easy… in fact, I assure you that there'll be thousands of bumps on your road… hundreds of time when you'll feel that it's not worth it, that it'll be easier if you'd just give up… but if you do, the only thing you'll be achieving is proving everyone right. The easiest way out is usually also the most shameful and earning respect is not something one gets by taking shortcuts. This is what you need to be ready for if you're serious about achieving your dream."
At those words the young Uchiha lowered his head again, while Shindo glanced to the side, still in the bushes. Gazing back at his student, Naruto turned around and began to walk off: "Well, if it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one with problems. Ironically enough, I'd imagine your teammates go through a similar hell, even though they may not show it… and speaking of which, I suppose I should go find them… seems as though they went after the scrolls and we can't have that, can we?" he asked with an evil grin right before disappearing.
Enkou remained in the clearing, letting out a long sigh: "I suppose it's not meant to be easy… life rarely is. But Naruto-sensei does have a point. I won't give up! That bell will be mine yet!"
-Some time later, deeper in the forest-
"Yes, I found it!" Rokku cheered in her head as she reached between the roots to pick out a small scroll. But just as she did so, the young kunoichi felt a presence behind her. A moment later an all too familiar voice rang in her ears, making her grip the paper tighter.
"Good job on obtaining the scroll, Rokku" Naruto praised his student with a few claps. "But I'm afraid I'll be taking it back from you now…"
-Rokku finally steps in!-
And that's that for this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and please, leave a review before leaving. It'd be very helpful. I'm personally anxious about the next installment as up till now Rokku didn't get too much of an inside, albeit being one of the main characters. I can only hope that this, next chapter will be easier to write and that I'll give her justice.
Thanks for reading and especially reviewing! Until next time, hopefully.