TRT16: Path of a Shinobi by Way of the Moon and a Horse! – By DS Wynne


Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, Naruto and other properties belong to the respective owners.

Note: This is a multi-genre story. This is also a 1000-plus word edition.

Special Note: This story takes place shortly after the first "Robotech War".


Part 9


For a long time, three of the Hidden Leaf Village's finest (if one bothered to count Usagi the Orochimaruko) faced off against the three who possessed the Rinnegan…

"I believe, I need to retrieve my 'brother' and 'messenger', the Animal Path," Pain said, as he clapped his hands, before slapping them against the wall.

"Hey!" Ranko said, as she narrowly misses the chance to catch the Animal Path before Pain, the Deva Path (aka Yahiko) retrieved it and Konan from the sidelines.

"Ranma-boy, pay attention!" Fukasaku yelled.

"Well, it ain't always easy-!"

Suddenly, the Human Path of Pain moves at frightening speed to intercept Ranko, almost moving at "invisible speed" (i.e. so fast that the person is rendered invisible to a normal person). However, as if second nature, Ranko crouch just enough to deliver a powerful upper-cut that sent the Human Path sailing into the air, where he is met by the Snake Sanin.

"Spike!" Usagi yelled, as she slammed her fists down into the Human Path's head.

Now careening downward, Jiraiya-sage performs a simple side kick that sends the Human Path crashing into a thick, stone wall.

And all this took mere moments.

"If that's all that your old student has, then we might as well finish up quickly," Shima said with annoyance.

"We have to be cautious because of the eyes, wife," Fukasaku said.

"Don't take that tone with me!"

"I'm not! I just want us to be on guard!"

Jiraiya, Ranko and Orochimaruk merely broke out in a sweat, as the two toad sages bickered.

"I guess it's true that without love-making, men and women have very little in common," Jiraiya said.

"Speak for yourself," Orochimaruko said.

"Yeah, because Usagi isn't 'gender-specific about those sorts of things," Ranko said sarcastically.

"Humph!"

"Not bad," the Deva Path said.

"You say something?" Ranko replied dismissively.

"For a person who is about to die, you seem at ease."

"No one will die if we can help it, Yahiko," Orochimaruko said.

"But we will stop you," Jiraiya replied.

"Ranma-kun, Usa-cha: assist us while Jiraiya-kun brings in the oil," Fukasaku said.

"Pa will bring in the wind, while I bring in the fire," Shima said.

"Alright!" Jiraiya said, as everyone prepares. "Sage Art: Bath of Boiling Oil!"

At the same time, Ranko unleashes the Uchiha art of:

"Fire-style: Dragon's Roar!" Ranko said, as she channeled her flame into Shima's.

"Air-style: Dragon's Breath!" Orochimaruko said, as she channeled her power into Fukasaku's.

The swirling cauldron of destruction funneled into a deadly path that was on a direct intercept course with Pain. However, one of the Pains, the Petra Path (as represented by a large, bulky man), jumped directly into the path of the approaching wave of destruction, and begins to consume the attack.

"Well, that worked," Ranko said sarcastically, thinking that any attack could now be absorbed. She then turns towards Orochimaruko.

"Anything else we need to know?"

"I didn't KNOW about THAT, Ranma," Orochimaruko said.

"Let's see if he can handle THIS attack!" Jiraiya-sage said, as he crouches. He begins to change his appearance to look more toad-like.

"Ranma!" Orochimaruko said. "Jiraiya-"

"I know, he's using the Toad Fist, one of the few martial arts styles that are nearly invisible," Ranko said.

Jiraiya-sage leaps at the Petra Path, and delivers a massive energy attack: a massive Rasengan sphere.

"Perfect," Ranko said, as she moved at a high rate of speed. "Usagi-!"

"I'm on it," Orochimaruko said, as she prepares for her own attack. She suspected that Jiraiya knew that the Petra Path had absorbed their attack, and was setting up the Petra Path in order to allow the others to act instinctively…

As predicted, the Petra Path did begin to absorb Jiraiya's attack. However, Ranko was right behind the Petra Path to deliver a fist to the skull, only to have the Human Path show up. Still, the Human Path did not anticipate a sudden chill effect that Orochimaruko created. It was a sudden cold front that protected Ranko's backside, but was invisible to the naked eye. As a result, the Human Path was frozen solid in a block of ice.

"And they say that hanging out with the Rogues was a bad idea," Orochimaruko said with a smirk. The Rogues were super-villains who typically clashed with the superhero known as "The Flash". One of the Rogues, Captain Cold, taught Orochimaruko how to create a cold front that was unnoticeable until it was too late.

Just then, the Animal Path, full recovered, summons a giant, stone panda bear that comes crashing down on Orochimaruko with a thunderous roar.

"Owie," Orochimaruko said from underneath the panda.

"You okay, dear?" Ranko asked.

"I will be," Orochimaruko said, as she lifts the panda up. "Hey! Return to sender!"

Orochimaruko hefts the heavy creature at the Deva Path.

"Humph," Pain said, as he is about to perform a mass teleportation jutsu that causes all the paths of Pain, and Konan, to disappear yet again.

"No!" Jiraiya-sage yelled, as he squats closer to the ground. He then let loose a volley of sharp quills from his hair, towards Pain and Konan. Unfortunately, they all disappeared at the same time.

"Damn it!" Jiraiya-sage said.

"Language!" yelled Shima.

"Sorry, Ma," Jiraiya-sage said. "I'm just so frustrated that I missed my target."

"Well, you did get someone," Orochimaruko said, as she began to pull the quills from Ranko's body. This causes Jiraiya to sweat bullets in silence.

"…"

"Ouch," Ranko replied, as she stayed focus on the pain she felt all over her body…

Meanwhile, the Deva Path consults with Konan.

"We might have to utilize the Heaven and Hell Paths earlier than expected," Pain said to Konan. "How are the bodies?"

"They are not ready, Pain," Konan said, as she looked on as the newly acquired seventh and eight paths were being prepared for Pain's use.

"And don't want to remind you that utilizing those bodies now will make it impossible to pull off a successful invasion of the Hidden Leaf Village. Not only will we have to deal with the Rantsu clan, but we might have to deal with Lord and Lady Rantsu's other 'life'."

"By the time the so-called Nerima Wrecking Crew or the Sailor Scouts arrive to 'save the day', the Hidden Leaf Village will be history, I will have acquired the boy's 'Demon Fox'."

"And if they do show up?"

"The Paths of Heaven and Hell are the ultimate techniques of the Rinnegan," Pain said. "Not even the Sage of the Six Paths, as powerful and as legendary as he was, thought about creating additional paths, at least not based upon the Eight Gates of the chakra system."

Pause.

"If either of those groups shows up, I doubt that even they will be powerful enough to defeat me, even with the help of the source of these bodies."

Konan nods her head, as she turns to look at the bodies that were being specially prepared. Already, the bolts and studs were firmly in place, even as the bodies had been bleached while their natural hair color had been turned orange. The bodies were tailored in honor of Yahiko, the first who believed that the world could, at last, find peace. However, it was Nagato, their mutual friend, who believed that peace in the world could only be achieved, is through pain. And with the world distracted of late, it will only be a matter of time before Pain fulfills his dream of achieving that peace, by destroying it…

"In the mean time, I will send out three of my paths to distract our guests," the Deva Path said. "I need to replenish my energies a bit before I utilize all my paths again."

"As you wish, Pain," Konan replied somberly.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya, Ranko and Orochimaruko skulk underneath the towering citadel that was Pain's impenetrable fortress.

"Great," Ranko said sarcastically with a smirk. "All we need now is the 'Mystery Machine', and we're all set."

"What?" Jiraiya asked, confused by the reference.

"Never mind," Ranko replied.

"Children, I have a confession to make," said Shima.

"What is it, Ma?" Orochimaruko asked.

"Hon, you shouldn't tell the kids about what they will be facing," Fukusuka said.

"Tell us what?" Ranko replied.

Shima looks at the three with sad eyes.

"I don't think I should burden you with such knowledge," Shima sad.

"What is so important that you wouldn't want to tell us?" Jiraiya asked.

Shima sighs…

"If you're going to go ahead and tell them, now is a good time to do so," Fukasuka said.

"Very well," Shima said, as she steeled herself. "I was told by the Great Toad that one of you will die, before this day is over."

There was a moment of silence between all parties involved…

"Is that all?" Ranko asked.

"You could die today."

"And I could come back," Ranko said. "Usagi and I both can."

"But Jiraiya isn't so lucky," Orochimaruko said, as she looks at the Toad Sage. "What if something happened to him?"

"Then, I would have lived a full life," Jiraiya said with a proud smile. "I just wished that I could have time to write another book about my latest adventure- oh!"

Jiraiya turns towards Ranko with a broad smile.

"What?" Ranko asked with a confused look.

"You can transcend death, right?" Jiraiya asked.

"Yeah, but it wasn't easy to do," Ranko said, as she scratches her head. "And it's a pain to come back."

"Why do you care, Jiraiya-kun?" Orochimaruko asked.

"The Great Toad told me once that I would have to make a choice involving Fate. I realize now that I should have confronted Pain on my own, but feared that I would not see your son's time when he becomes the Hokage. That…was selfish of me."

"No, it wasn't," Ranko said. "We can do this together."

"No, I can serve you both better by sacrificing my life for the future. However, it might not be a total loss after all."

"What do you have in mind?" Orochimaruko asked.

"I studied what Orochimaru did to you, Usagi, and I might have the means to live on, if Ranma doesn't mind."

"Why would I mind- oh," Ranko said, realizing what Jiraiya was implying. "But…are you sure?"

"Consider this my gift to you, for putting up with me and my antics after all these years," Jiraiya said. "Besides, I still have more books to write."

There was an unspoken silence amongst everyone…

"If Jiraiya-boy wants pass on his last will and testament, then we must hurry," Fukasuka said. "I sense the approach of our enemies."

"Then, let's pass on my legacy," Jiraiya-sage said happily. "But, Ranma, can you do me one, last wish?"

"Okay, name it," Ranko said, as she prepared for the transfer.

"Could you indulge this old man's…dreams?" Jiraiya-sage said, with a lecherous grin

"…"

"I concur!" Fukasuka replied likewise.

"Ooo!" Shima said with annoyance. "Males!"

"Oh, come on, wife! Can't a husband enjoy life's pleasures?"

"Fine," Ranko said, as she prepares a special rote, which was a modification of his son Naruto's. "Sexy no Jutsu Revised: Jessica Rabbit no Ero!"

One puff of smoke later, Ranko becomes a VERY enhanced version of herself.

"How do you like it?" Ranko-ero said in a husky, sexy voice.

Jiraiya and Fukasuka were twitching, as blood shot out of their noses. Not surprisingly, so was Orochimaruko's.

"Excuse me," Orochimaruko said, as she blushed furiously while she turns away to stop the bleeding with her handkerchief.

"Aren't there any adults around here?" Shima complained.

Tbc.