Alright… time for the showdown. O_o
Chapter Nine-The Soul Stealer
All eight conscious wolves entered a combat stance. With a flash of chakra, their ninken followed.
Three very confused cloud-nin exchanged a glance.
"Dai-chan…" murmured the boy to Kusari Daiga. "Should we not take your sister and run?"
She shook her head.
"I have questions I need answers for." she replied. "And anyway… they won."
Sixteen faces stared at the strange ninja in the clearing.
"There's too many of us." said Shikamaru.
"You don't stand a chance." said Sasuke.
"So if you'll just give up now, and save us a load of time, we have an exam to finish." grinned Naruto.
"You have no idea who I am, do you?" he laughed. "My name is Orochimaru."
As one, the wolves flinched backwards.
And then Naruto spoke up.
"For Konoha…" he said.
"For honour." growled Kiba.
Every last one of them formed a handsign.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
"Daiga Bunshin no Jutsu!"
"Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu!"
"Tsuchi Bunshin no Jutsu!"
"Kaen Bunshin no Jutsu!"
"Hana Bunshin no Jutsu!"
"Nendo Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Orochimaru blinked, and then let out a low laugh.
"Such a high level technique for such young ninja." he said, amused. "Any one of you would do fine.
"Now!" shouted Shikamaru, throwing a glance to Manami.
"Kagemane no Jutsu!" shouted Manami, forming the distinctive handsign. Her shadow stretched out, snapping into that of the Sannin.
"Success!" she shouted.
Orochimaru blinked. This was odd.
"Taijuutsuuga!" shouted Kiba.
Seventeen different groups of ninja formed the spiralling taijutsu attack.
Manami screamed. Chakra backlashed through the kagemane, and she crumpled, before melting into formless clay-a clone.
In the seconds before the ninja struck, he formed handsigns.
"Futon: Daitoppa!" he commanded, opening his mouth and spinning, exhaling an immense blast of wind, blowing the entire group away, destroying every clone and knocking out every last ninken with the power of the attack.
Something exploded next to him, and he stared up in shock.
"If we can't do this together, we'll take you out one by one!" shouted down Manami.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu." he replied, biting his thumb, and forming the seals, slamming his hand to the ground.
Smoke rose up, and Manami, upon the clay bird that had bought her there, stopped for a moment, hovering outside it.
A giant snake lashed out, and bit the bird in two. Manami fell backwards, landing on the forest floor with a loud thump. She didn't stand back up.
As this had been going on, a clone of Orochimaru had come up from behind, knocking the three Kumo-nin unconscious with basic taijutsu. He then approached Shikamaru, recognising him as the leader and performing the Sen'eijashu.
Snakes bit into his shoulder before he even moved, and Orochimaru's clone moved on, only to be confronted by Naruto, Sasuke and Ino, as Hinata, as the only member with more than basic medical knowledge, moved to find an antidote.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" commanded Nareuto, forming a large group of clones. They rushed for Orochimaru, grabbing him and holding him still-as Sasuke, eyes flaring red with the Sharingan, tied him up with wire.
"Katon: Ryuka no Jutsu!" he shouted.
The clones vanished, save one-who was revealed as a disguised flower clone if Ino's when she activated the Kahenkumo Daibakuha.
The petals detonated at the same time as the flame blast struck. Mud from the clone splattered the area.
The real Orochimaru's eyes lit up with interest, and he opened his mouth wide, drawing the Kusanagi sword. With a few short slashes, Tenten and Kiba, the two taijutsu users, were down and out, bleeding copiously. Hinata dashed to heal them, and only managed to join them.
These injuries were likely to damage their skills badly, if they couldn't be treated, and soon.
"This isn't over." said Ino.
"We're the best of the team!" said Naruto.
"Don't be overconfident. Baka." muttered Sasuke. "This guy is strong."
"So am I." grinned Ino.
Orochimaru nodded slightly. He heard every word.
He stared at Ino.
The assassination expert blanched. She was no slouch in the killer intent herself, when she wanted it-but that was nothing. She shook slightly, the entire force of the Sannin's personality crushing down on her mind. She fainted.
"…dammit." growled Naruto. "This isn't over!" he shouted.
"I disagree." said Orochimaru, leaping for him.
The Kusanagi made another slash, across the boy's chest.
Blood sprayed out. And Naruto collapsed.
"Just you and me… Uchiha…" he said softly, turning towards Sasuke.
"You're good at kenjutsu." said Sasuke. "And taijutsu. How are you on ninjutsu? Raiton: Raigen!"
Two hand seals and a ball of lightning was flying for Orochimaru. He merely smirked, turning to mud as it struck-another clone.
Something struck Sasuke on the back of the head, sending him sprawling.
And then something struck that something in the back, sending Orochimaru head over heels.
Naruto, eyes blazing red, a fiery aura of chakra around him, tore the ground as he charged for the Sannin.
"Sen'ei Tajashu!" cried Orochimaru in fear.
A crowd of snakes leapt for the jinchuriki. Each one bit deep into him, one after the other, dying after moments in contact with the red-hot chakra.
The chakra began to fade.
"Not that easily." muttered Orochimaru. "It'll take every bit of chakra you have to stop that poison, fox."
Sasuke was still on the ground, confused beyond all belief.
Orochimaru turned to him, and his neck stretched.
A jabbing pain on Sasuke's shoulder, as Orochimaru bit down upon it.
Moments later, everything went dark.
* * *
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu-Shadow Clone Technique
Daiga Bunshin-Blade Clone
Mizu Bunshin-Mist Clone
Tsuchi Bunshin-Earth Clone
Kaen Bunshin-Blaze Clone
Hana Bunshin-Flower Clone
Nendo Bunshin-Clay Clone
Kagemane no Jutsu-Shadow Imitation Technique
Taiuutsuuga-Mass Piercing Fang
Futon: Daitoppa-Great Breakthrough
Kuchiyose no Jutsu-Summoning Technique
Sen'eijashu-Hidden Shadow Snake Hands
Sen'ei Tajashu-Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands
Raiton: Raigen-Lighting Release: Lightning Sphere
