Naruto
-326-
By Geor-sama
Explosions are, by their very nature, messy and disorientating.
They were also unstable and dangerous, the perfect combination for any self-respecting member of the male species. It didn't get much better than blowing up things, usually things that you knew you shouldn't be blowing up in the first place. Explosions were also about exerting power, expressing the ultimate form of power, destruction.
Art, by its very nature, is about a great many things.
Art is a struggle to find oneself, to understand what you truly were; Art is about searching chaos and finding order; Art is about the Transcendental, the untouchable, about something greater than oneself. Art granted something greater than any other material possession, it granted meaning to life. Art is on the side of the oppressed, it's very nature freedom of spirit.
Art -true art- is beautiful, inspiring, soul touching in a way nothing else could ever be and fleeting.
Therefore, it seemed almost natural, almost destined, that Explosions and Art would become intertwined. Oh, not that Deidara had known there destiny, or the truth about Art before his seventeenth birthday. No, he'd only had his eyes opened by experiencing the sublime beauty that resulted from an explosion first hand, thanks to a rebellious faction of his village.
At the time, he had been an average artist, one of the few artists in the village. Afterwards, when he had dedicated himself to true Art, he had become well known and a Master of the form. His skills had quickly become very much in demand, both by those that had opened his eyes and those that they fought against, Deidara had demonstrated his art for both at their insistence.
Art knew no master after all, nor did he personally hold with either side's point of view. All that mattered to him was that he had the chance to improve his Art. The curse of all Artists after all was that repetition lead to the death of Art, thus he always strove for the next great expression of his Art, the true Art.
That was why as his Kibaku Nendo played out to its adapted task, its original task that of taking out agile opponents, he urged his clay bird to circle higher. It had been a beautiful adaptation really, that stupid child had provided the best canvas for him to display his adaptability. Still, even as the Dragons exploded and the hidden spheres went off decimating the area, he couldn't help but feel it lacked something.
It seemed bland, uninteresting or creative, so his mind turned toward making the best statement he could with his Art. Perhaps the C2 was an understatement, it might not have conveyed the feelings he'd wished to express. The C3 would be better, but the question became then, into what shape should he form his new piece of Art?
Rising higher, he pondered that question.
Being a taijutsu expert meant little when you could not get close to your target, a truth that many never realized until it had proven too late. Lee had learned it the hard way in his fight against Gaara three years ago; of course, he had also circumvented that problem by increasing his speed. Speed however, could only carry you so far against S-ranked ninja who seemed immortal.
Kakashi had taken the front lines after their initial clash, ninjutsu against ninjutsu, truly displaying his bright flame while Gai tried to work his way closer to the enemy for a taijutsu exchange. So far, it had failed to produce any result other than brushes with death and at least one wounded shoulder for Kakashi.
Dodging and weaving, working his way inside once more, Gai felt a tendril sang his wrist. Others immediately zeroed in on him, but he countered by rolling his wrist to grasp the tendril and yanked it forward so that the attack tore through the tendril and set him free. A lightning ninjutsu from Kakashi bought the taijutsu user time to retreat and find a new angle to attempt an attack.
Kakuzu retracted his tendrils, signaling his intention to use a ninjutsu and Gai saw a chance of counter attacking. Without his weights, which he had dropped early in the fight, he had extraordinary speed. Simply extraordinary wouldn't do, he needed more, he needed the godlike speed the gates would grant but even as he slipped into a defensive position, he knew the risk.
The black mass of tendrils writhed before assuming a massive bear-shaped body, a white tiger-like mask standing out starkly.
Kaimon opened and he could feel his muscles bulge. Kyūmon opened and he felt a surge of energy flood through him. Seimon opened and the world assaulted his senses unrelentingly even as his flesh turned red.
A large flaming mass vomited forth from its mouth, which quickly sped along the ground racing toward him.
Gai moved at the last possible minute, a blur of green darting to the right. Shōmon opened and he felt his body protest the strain by tearing at his muscles. He moved even faster, becoming almost invisible, nearly to his mark. Tomon, opened, Keimon, opened...one more should be enough Gai decided as he reached the mark placing him in a direct shot to his enemy's unprotected flank.
Pivoting as his foot touched the ground Gai changed directions, for a split second becoming partially visible and then he blurred forward. Kyōmon, seventh gate, open. His body screamed its protest, but he didn't slow down, he focused on his target, ignoring the tendrils that were moving in slow motion as he closed the gap.
Dainamkukku: Akushon, a barrage of strikes and kicks that under normal circumstance would prove painful...now powered by the gates. The Akatsuki agent seemed to crumple from the onslaught, even as Gai ducked low and spun planting a kick to the underside of his chin. Lifting his enemy into the air, Gai jumped after him spinning before delivering a devastating Konoha Yama Dageki, lifting the poor bastard even higher into the air.
Grabbing the man's ankles, panting even as his body tore itself apart, he pulled throwing himself into a downward spin before releasing the man with all of the momentum. The resulting impact toppled several trees, created a crater and left a trail of body parts behind...landing heavily, body on the verge of giving out, Gai slumped to his knees.
"Gai!" Kakashi shouted, skidding to a stop near him "how many did you just open?"
"S-seven," Gai panted, covering his mouth a moment later as he coughed, blood slickening his fingers. Vision wavering he grinned in a somewhat fond fashion staring at the devastation "I think my flames of youth were enough to stop him this time."
"Uh, right..." Kakashi managed, kneeling "Gai, I've never asked...but how many times can you open those gates?"
"T-three times a month," Gai said grinning at the startled Jōnin.
"How about in a single day?"
Gai shrugged painfully, his body and mind protesting the motion. Kami he had not felt such pain in a very long time, not since he had first learned to use the gates years ago. Idly he wondered if this had been how Kakashi felt after the fight in Kawa no Kuni, against that Akatsuki agent.
"...Well, I think we got it done this time." Kakashi murmured, turning to study the devastation "you just rest here. I've sent Pakku to bring Sakura back."
"Heh, I have plenty of youth, heh, left my eternal, heh, rival."
"Riiiight," Kakashi drawled, reaching up to slip his forehead protector back in place.
"Ok," the hauntingly familiar and impossible voice of Kakuzu said freezing both Jōnin in place. "I've lost three hearts, that's one heart to many."
Gai, vision flickering looked around before spotting the deformed figure of Kakuzu, black tendrils pulling the missing parts of his body back together. He seemed worse for wear, but it seemed at best temporary. He started to stand, or at least attempt to stand, but Kakashi's hand on his shoulder pushed him back down.
"Gai, you rest...I'll go this alone." The masked Jōnin said in a quiet aside as he rose and started toward the still struggling man.
"Cool to the end." Gai muttered good naturedly, watching his rival march toward a fight that seemed unwinnable. Just hold out long enough, Gai thought desperately, until I can use the Gates once more.
Hyūga Neji had trained to be the best, had trained and sharpened his mind to its utmost. He had been the first of the small group known as the Konoha Juichi to reach Jōnin, not a Tokubetsu Jōnin, but a full Jōnin. As such, many had viewed him, including himself lately, as the strongest of that group.
Unfortunately, that was before he saw Uzumaki Naruto in combat after three years of training.
True he and Sai still had a little bit of travelling to do, the boy and the Akatsuki agent had covered a lot of ground laying waste to countryside as they went. Making it both easy, and eerie, to follow the two battling ninja. For Neji however, the point that made him realize just how far Naruto outstripped him came when he realized the amount of time that had passed.
Fifteen Minutes.
Naruto had been fighting an S-ranked ninja, an Akatsuki agent of unfathomable power, for fifteen minutes.
Solo.
Neji, being a genius, had realized quickly how any future battle against Naruto would go. Badly. He had observed Naruto's ninjutsu use; it seemed to be the same moves repeatedly, but the amount of charka in each one whiting out Neji's vision. The other boy had an amount of chakra that simply didn't seem plausible, he outstripped the word 'large', 'overwhelming', and possibly even 'enormous'.
Naruto not only had an overwhelming capacity, but it did not seem diminished one bit despite the massive attacks he had just performed.
All of that, once the two ninja had stopped running and set down to battle, had taken only a few minutes to assess. Then Neji's attention shifted to the opponent Naruto faced, one that seemed to be making little to no effort in avoiding the attacks. Attacks that would have left anyone else a greasy smear on the ground merely seemed an inconvenience to this man.
"Sai-san," The Hyūga said, trying to pick up a pattern or weakness, as they drew closer "we should be arriving soon. I want you to circle left and provide some relief for Naruto. Long-range attacks seem to be the best, I'll hang back and observe."
"Ok, Birdie." Sai said cheerfully before splitting off to do as ordered.
Neji grimaced; Sai had the worst way of referring to people. Tenten had become 'Honey Buns' and Lee 'Greenie'; it almost seemed like the boy intentionally picked the worst nicknames that he could. The Hyūga did feel a little grateful however; that the boy seemed to be getting better, according to Sakura Naruto's nickname had been 'dickless' for a while.
Neji allowed a tiny smirk to form; wondering how many times the loud blond had attempted to kill Sai over that. On the plus side, it seemed to have worked since the boy had yet to use it in reference to Naruto. He made a mental note to ask about the efforts taken later, after this fight had been settled and they could relax.
Reaching a branch just out of view of the fight, Neji concentrated on the battle once more. Naruto seemed to be making excellent use of his Kage Bunshin, though he did wonder why Naruto kept the total number at fifty. Still they handled defense superbly, taking blows or pulling him out of the path of that triple-bladed scythe, while others attacked.
Naruto seemed to be trying to get in close for a ninjutsu strike, but Neji doubted it would be effective. Naruto still seemed to rely on the strategy of throwing everything he had until something worked. In the boy's defense, it made the most amount of sense considering the way this fight seemed to be going.
Neji counted no less than ten fatal wounds on the man and one gaping hole in the middle of his chest, yet the man had yet to fall over dead. Of course, something that Neji noticed that Naruto probably hadn't bothered to, this Akatsuki didn't seem to be bleeding. Focusing even more on the man, piercing through the flesh and into the chakra system, Neji felt his confusion grow.
Chakra had eddies and tides, some were like a raging ocean, others a gentle brook...this man's chakra looked like solidified grease, with a black-ish quality to its color. That wasn't possible, Neji thought, studying the chakra system with a sort of dark interest only a dead person's chakra appeared in such a manner and a dead person would not be able to fight.
Letting up on his view of the chakra system, the Hyūga focused once more on the fight; it seemed about even. Naruto couldn't get close like he wanted and the scythe couldn't seem to catch Naruto, the only telling sign was the way Naruto seemed to be breathing, his chest seemed to be heaving and a closer look showed sweat beading. Well, he had been fighting this monster for close to an hour alone, Neji actually felt a little surprised that the boy hadn't died from cardiac arrest already.
Focusing on the fight yet again, Neji wondered where Sai had gotten too.
The scythe cut down several Kage Bunshin, clearing a path for a round kick from the Akatsuki agent. Naruto went down, but managed to roll and avoid the scythe as it came down where he'd been. Naruto made a charge, but a quick tug of the rope pulled the scythe back, threatening to pierce him from behind...only Naruto reached out grabbing the rope to pull it taunt.
Neji grimaced, imaging the rope burns on the boy's hands, even though he grasped the idea. A second later Naruto's arm jerked as the butt of the weapon came to a halt, the rope pulled tight between him and the Akatsuki agent. Grinning darkly, Naruto produced a kunai and with one motion slashed it against the rope attempting to severe it.
The rope however, refused to cut and a second later with a laugh the Akatsuki agent lunged forward with a spike aimed at an off-balanced Naruto.
"Prepare to experience the punishment of Jashin!"
Only instead of killing the young man, he had to deal with several black and white lions that came charging from nowhere. The spike wielding man spun it expertly like a Jo staff, slaying them all and leaving behind a pool of black ink. This however had provided Naruto time to retreat, even as an ineffective explosive note went off on the rope.
Neji mumbled under his breath, even as Sai emerged unfurling a scroll to unleash a dragon of ink. An ear-splitting roar filled the small area as it hurled its body forward, mouth gaping open and clawed hands spread out. Unfortunately, the beast's charge was cut short as the scythe whistled through the air severing its head, causing the body to dissolve into a brief rain of ink.
Neji shook his head, feeling his heart sink. This fight seemed to be getting more and more stacked against them with each minute, the man appeared immortal so neutralizing the scythe would mean nothing. Besides, even then, they had the spike to content with and he could apparently handle it with frightening ease.
The air seemed rich with the scent of blood and burnt ozone, with the sound of heavy breathing and charged with spent chakra. Death stalked this area, prowled around the perimeter, eying its prey like a hungry jackal. A dodge, feint, desperate retreat creating a tension between the two opponents that could never be matched.
The most unnerving part of the whole battle however, came from the simple fact that neither fighter said a word.
High-level battles to the death featured very little conversation between opponents, you rarely if ever, learned your enemies name let alone his motivations for attempting to kill you. Those romanticized stories the villagers told, the ones where Heroes talked to their enemies for minutes on end, they had led to many pointless deaths because naive young boys and girls believed that to be the truth. It wasn't, the truth of fighting boiled down to this: try to kill the enemy and try not to get killed yourself.
Hatake Kakashi had grown up on the battlefield; some of his earliest memories were from when his father had taught him the proper way to gut a man. He had encountered so much death that like any true solider, any true Shinobi, he truly was sick to death of it. Still, the inescapable fact of the world was that they would always have such battles and good men on both sides would end up dead.
Sharingan whirling he weaved and dodged his way through the unending mass of tendrils, attempting to finish the job that Gai had started. It should have been simple enough; Kakuzu merely had to die twice more for this to be over. He had shouted something about three hearts, which jogged the faint memory of a kinjtusu that Taki had kept hidden, one that only his father had ever heard of.
If Kakuzu had that ability, then he had five hearts and close to death. Of course, the destruction of the previous three had not only taken a repeatedly used kinjutsu of Konoha to demolish, but it had also made those tendrils more erratic. Hence less predictable and using the Sharingan for any length of time took a toll on Kakashi, even now.
Skidding to a halt Kakashi dropped to the ground and formed hand seals, creating a temporary wall of earth to block an incoming attack. The rock crumbling Kakashi darted forward once more, kunai coming into play as he fought desperately to get closer to the bastard. It didn't help that his left shoulder had been pierced earlier in the fight or that his ribs broken.
He had nearly reached the inner layer of tendrils, the slower ones oddly enough, when he had to abandon his pursuit. The reason came from the fact that Kakuzu had just unleashed a water jutsu, which Kakashi copied without meaning too, resulting in a large stream of water that sliced through a hapless tree he had left in his place.
Panting Kakashi hurled his body back into the battle, coming from a different direction, trying to puzzle out the lack of warning concerning that earlier attack. Still he could feel the way his body turned sluggish, a side-swiping tendril sent him sailing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud, but he recovered quickly enough to launch a Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu...which got countered by the water jutsu from earlier.
Damn it, if this kept up the man would kill him and Gai out of simply attrition. It seemed time to risk one of his three shots with the Mangekyō Sharingan; he just prayed that it did the trick and not leave him as defenseless as the repeated Gate usage had Gai. Forming the hand seal, he concentrated intently while trying to dodge the tendrils, changing his three tomoe Sharingan into his Mangekyō.
Skidding to a stop, he focused on the man and his concentration sharpened to almost tunnel vision like clarity. He could feel the air ripple and swirl, and he redoubled his efforts close to completing his task. A moment later, for a reason he didn't entirely understand, the jutsu went wide and missed his target forcing him to cover his eye and grunt as a group of tendrils slammed into him.
Rolling with the blow, he came back up and focused on his enemy trying yet again. This time however, Kakuzu moved at the last minute, leaving behind a black mass of tendrils and one panting Kakashi. Damn it, had he learned nothing from his fight with Deidara? Panting, his vision blurring, Kakashi allowed the Sharingan to return to the three-tomoe state, keeping it active would not only waste what little chakra he had but also rush the blindness that awaited him.
Assuming, of course, he could figure out a way to survive this encounter.
Watching Kakuzu, the way his body registered pain, Kakashi had a wild idea strike him. All this time they had struck those tendrils, he'd never shown a weakness or inability to reform them. Yet now he struggled, what if those tendrils were a part of his body like fingernails?
Cut one to the quick and it hurt, but it could recover, but rip that nail off-
Kakashi decided to use what chakra he had left creatively. Closing his eyes he began unlocking his own Gate -he had never mastered them like Gai or Lee but he could manage one- increasing his flow of chakra. Forcing his body up, he started forward on a dead run, Sharingan swirling as it easily predicted the sluggish patterns of the remaining tendrils.
From what he heard, Sasuke had stumbled across a secondary use of the Chidori, that being wrapping his body within a field of electricity. Only he seemed limited in creativity, using it for a non-lethal defense, but then again Kakashi had created the ninjutsu at the age of thirteen. A supercharging of the chakra turned it to lightning; he extended it outside of his body, wreathing his body within its field as he charged.
Those tendrils that thought to wrap around Kakashi were instead ripped apart, it would prove lethal if anyone were foolish enough to encounter it. Still, it happened as he expected, the tendrils retreated and a mask began to form. Kakashi's hand flashed out grasping a tendril as it retreated, pulling it taunt as he channeled the lighting chakra down his arm, into the tendril and sent it racing along the path to the target in a Raiton: Raigeki no Jutsu.
Of course, Sasuke apparently called it Chidori Senbon, a bit pretentious in his opinion. He grinned as the lightning reached the target and caused the eagle mask that had been preparing an attack to shatter with a rush of wind that knocked Kakashi off his feet and sent him tumbling end over end. Four down...Kakashi thought numbly, struggling to breath.
Trying to sit up, he felt a rough, heavy hand grab his shoulder and help. Sweating and feeling entirely too old, Kakashi looked up at the far more battered Gai, who stared at the regrouping enemy in a fatally determined way.
"Is there a way, my eternal and cool rival, for you to finish his last heart?"
"I used up a lot of chakra," Kakashi admitted, wincing as his body protested his struggle upright "but if I could get him to stand still for a Kamui..."
"Then leave that to the Green Beast of Konoha."
Kakashi grimaced as he stumbled, Gai's steadying hand releasing him. He realized a split second later what Gai had said, and his attention shifted to the already charging taijutsu user. He had expected a burst of blinding speed and strength, granted by the Gates, but instead he saw the man use his Ishi Bunshin no Jutsu and simple Taijtusu powered by a battered and bruised body.
It didn't take a genius to realize what Gai had, his body would be unable to support even for a moment another use of the Gates. This would not end well Kakashi realized, even as he began funneling the remaining chakra to his Sharingan, preparing for one last attempt. Whatever deities were listening, Kakashi thought briefly, please don't let this be in vain.
"Yosh my eternal rival," Kakashi muttered, feeling the Mangekyō form once more and zero-in on its target "burn that youth brightly."
