Hi again, my readers! I'm back with another chapter of Narutoverse no Jutsu 2! The strange thing is that I'm relatively on-time AND I actually finished this chapter kind of early. I guess its the atmosphere or something, because I feel GREAT. Isn't it just wonderful to be alive? (sparkle, sparkle) Sigh:D
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Midori ran alongside Kankuro; behind them followed a team of four other jounin. They were nearing the border posts of the Wind Country. The sun was peaking mountains in the distance; it would be night soon.
"Kankuro-san," Midori said, bringing the puppet master's attention towards her, "What are Yuura's abilities?"
Kankuro fell silent for a moment then said, "He specializes in taijutsu and ninjutsu, but he's known for one deadly technique that can take out countless people all at once."
Midori narrowed her eyes, "What technique?"
"It's a technique he made himself; one that only he's mastered," Kankuro continued. "He calls it the 'Senken Makaze(Thousand-Blade Devil Wind)' in which he controls the air around a space with his chakra and unleashes them towards as many targets as he pleases. The pierce of the wind is equivalent to a blade that can easily kill."
"Is it like your sister's jutsu?"
"Basically, but it's ten times more powerful," Kankuro answered. "In comparison, Temari's wind is nothing."
A drop of sweat rolled down Midori's face. That's how powerful it is…
The sound of bloody screams filled the air as they closed in towards the split in the step-like cliffs, the border posts. It was as if they were being tortured mercilessly, and that wasn't far from the truth.
Midori's breath quickened as Kankuro ordered, "Faster!"
Within seconds, Midori was witnessing the famous Senken Makaze Kankuro had been talking about. Yuura had just finished off another wave of Suna shinobi who were attempting to attack him, and with just a wave of his arms, the men dropped. Blood splattered from their open wounds in the arms, legs, and chest. More than half of the ninja assigned to the borders of the village were already dead and counting.
"Yuura!" Kankuro roared.
Yuura, who had been standing with the blankest look on his face, turned around. Red liquid belonging to his closest victim dripped down his face. "Kankuro-san." It seems I've been found out.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kankuro demanded angrily. "Killing your own comrades? What's your purpose?"
"Since I can't let you live, I don't suppose it matters if I were to tell you I used to be in the Akatsuki," Yuura said eerily.
Kankuro tensed.
"You're awfully confident," Midori said. She glanced at Kankuro, who narrowed his eyes.
"No one gets away with betraying Suna," Kankuro growled, pulling the three scrolls off his back. "Karakuri Engeki (Puppet Performance)."
---
Kyoko paced the floor nervously, hands laced behind her back when Gaara came back into his office. She noticed immediately and said, "How are the preparations?"
"I've moved several other teams from the farther posts to come in for backup as well as Konoha like you suggested," Gaara answered. "Don't worry, everything will be fine," he added.
"I just don't want you to…" Kyoko trailed off.
"Nothing is going to happen to me," Gaara said quietly. "I promise."
Kyoko smiled and embraced him automatically. "I believe you."
Gaara stood quietly for a few seconds before he let his own arms return the hug.
Kyoko's smile widened affectionately. Gaara wasn't yet taller than her, but that didn't matter. It didn't matter at all.
---
"Let me handle this," Kankuro said to the others.
"Kankuro-san," Midori said as she started healing the nearest Suna shinobi. "You can't be serious."
"Leave it to me," Kankuro said. "If things get bad, you guys back me up. For now, get as many wounded shinobi out of here as possible."
"Roger!" the group chimed as they followed his orders.
Yuura sneered. "That was very unwise of you."
Yuura started a chain of hand signs, ending with several arm motions Midori didn't recognize. Sensing danger, Midori's hands rapidly produced hand seals as well. Summoning an immense amount of chakra into her hands, she slammed her palms into the ground.
"Senken Makaze!"
"Hikari Doumu (Light Dome)!"
Kankuro winced as an explosion sounded like an echoing siren. The piercing winds were swirling in his team's general direction, seemingly bumping against a thin force field raised high above his head that was at least twenty feet in diameter, covering the shinobi—dead or alive—within that space. Upon further inspection, he realized the barrier was chakra running through the air. He turned towards Midori who was kneeling on the ground with strenuous features.
"Nice trick—" he was interrupted by a sharp needle-like slash against his cheek. Blood started to slide from a cut as thin as twine.
"Careful," Midori said, "this barrier isn't completely sealed unless you don't want to be able to breathe. I've only softened the blows. You'd better think of a plan to stop this guy quick, Kankuro-san. I won't be able to keep this up for long."
Kankuro nodded then turned to the elite team of Suna shinobi saying, "Two of you work on moving wounded shinobi. Three of you stay with me. Here's the plan…"
Yuura watched his opponents suspiciously, contemplating what their strategy could possibly be. He knew his weakness well, but did that teenage brat in black know? Kankuro had seen his technique before. It wouldn't be surprising if he remembered that Yuura was only capable of doing it three times, and even after that, his chakra would be dangerously low.
It seems I'll have to rely on my other abilities if I want to win, Yuura thought.
Midori narrowed her eyes. "He's ceased fire," she said, her shoulders relaxing slightly. What's he up to?
Yuura waited. Just as he was starting to think they were stalling, his eyes caught sight of the thin chakra fizzle out of existence and a wooden figure, rushing towards him with frightening speed, mouth clicking. Leaping into the air, he barely avoided the assault of the puppet when a ninja came out of nowhere and attempted to slice his neck.
The traitor whirled to the side with the help of a gust of controlled wind and aimed a powerful kick at the Suna shinobi who faltered. He landed, only to be forced back up again by a second enemy. He delivered an impressive load of blows towards Yuura, but the more experienced shinobi was able to draw the other's blood through his stomach with a kunai.
Then another puppet, different from the first, came out of nowhere, and grabbed him from behind. It shoved him into its open stomach and closed the doors. The first puppet, Karasu, detached, revealing the hidden weapons in the various body parts. With one swoop, the weapons sliced into the narrow holes in Kuraori, the other puppet's body. A millisecond later, smoke started to erupt from Kuraori.
"Kage bunshin," Kankuro muttered. "Where's the original…?"
Suddenly, a gut-wrenching scream reached Kankuro's ears.
Midori had already turned around. A look of horror played on her face as a beastly figure meters away devoured the third ninja who had stayed with Kankuro. His head lay on the ground with empty eyes and a mouth opened in mid-scream. The beast ripped apart the poor man's body until it was unrecognizable. Then it raised its head, glowering.
It was hideous. The beast was disfigured with bulking muscles and hair sprouting in every visible place on its body. It had a snout similar to a dog's, though its nose was one of the only human-like features it head. Small, pointed ears crowned its head where bandages were starting to fall. Its dark, cat-like eyes darted from each ninja that was not yet dead.
"What…What the hell?" Kankuro said shakily. "What is this?!"
"Is that…Yuura?" the least-wounded jounin said in disbelief as he helped his comrade with the stomach wound.
Yuura arched on his massive hind legs then bounded towards the closest shinobi in a flash; Midori.
"Midori!" Kankuro shouted, thrusting his arms forcefully.
Sanshouo, his third puppet flew in front of the girl, blocking her from Yuura's vicious teeth. This gave Midori some reaction time to quickly gather chakra to her fingers. Darting skyward, she connected her chakra-laced fingers with Yuura's arched back. Her hand stuck as she flew over the beast's head in a flip. Then, abruptly, she thrust her arm over her own head inhumanly, hurling her opponent into the distance.
"Holy shit," Kankuro breathed, aghast. "You've sure changed."
Midori ginned and gave him the peace sign. "I hang out with Kyoko and Nami a lot. It's kind of impossible not to get influenced by them a little."
"Why the hell did Yuura turn into that…that THING?" one jounin questioned.
"I'm not sure," Kankuro said. "But I remember some years back when I was still a kid that there had been rumors of human transmutations going around in Suna…"
"You don't mean…" the wounded jounin interrupted, "That whack job who was condemned to death in prison for turning shinobi into monsters? Yuura was mixed in with that?"
"It's a possibility," Kankuro admitted.
"That's terrible…" Midori muttered.
"There's no time for sympathy," Kankuro said, glancing back in the direction Yuura had been tossed. "If he's really a result of those experimentations, there's no telling what he'll be able to do. My guess is superhuman strength or speed—"
Just then, Yuura appeared into existence before Kankuro, sweeping his clawed hands in the seventeen year-old's direction. Kankuro's reactions were quick, and he fell backwards to dodge the attack, though he wasn't able to come out completely unscathed.
Kankuro pulled Sanshouo in front of him to fend off against Yuura, Karasu quickly coming in aid. The puppet master slipped out of the brawl to a safer location.
"Is he possibly that fast?" Midori gasped. She had just finished healing the deep wound in the jounin's stomach. "He came out of nowhere!"
"I don't know," Kankuro replied, hands working furiously. "But this can't go on forever."
"I agree," Midori nodded. "Keep him at bay. The best way to fight an opponent like this is from a distance." She stood in a position with her body turned slightly; one hand stretched out in front of her while the other bent behind.
Bright chakra started to form into the familiar bow and arrow, preparing for a sharp shot. But before it happened, Midori's eyes widened. "What the—?"
I really screwed over Yuura...He really didn't have ANY abilities I know of, so that's just me and my improvisions...I kind of wish Kishimoto-sama gave a little info about him, but I suppose he wasn't the most special guy around. (shrug) Other than that, my writing style isn't bad, is it? I know there are a lot of people out there who can make battles these huge epic things, and I'd like some tips. (sweatdrop)
It seems that I've gotten caught up with the chapters here, and I'll finally be posting up some sneak peeks on AizoAnime! About time, isn't it? Also, if you haven't taken a look at my good friend Kiyo-chan's video of my friends and I, the link is in the News & Updates section on AizoAnime! I must have given her at least fifteen hits already...I love it so much! XD Well, I think that's all for now!
R&R please! Thanks for reading!
-HM
