Chapter 10: Rei's Latent Powers Awaken!!
"Now… you DIE!!" Rei yells as a chilling wind starts to gust around the corridor
The cloud ninja shields his eyes as he turns to the leaf and sand shinobi that just entered
'Dammit, it looks like Ikazuchi was defeated' the cloud ninja thinks to himself as he turns to Rei 'And what's the deal with this one'
Rei continues to gather energy as her tears continue to fall and the wind starts to revolve around her
"What the hell is going on?!" Shikamaru asks as he and Shakou approach Kankurou not taking his eyes off of his student
"Shakou… tend to Iwa…" Kankurou orders
Shakou nods his head and runs over to his teammate
"Honestly, I really don't know Shikamaru… but we were fighting the cloud ninja when Hideo was injured" Kankurou replies
Shikamaru's eyes open in shock
"Hideo, where is he?!" Shikamaru yells concerned for his pupil
Kankurou stays silent but looks to where Hideo lays and Rei stands. Shikamaru looks in that direction hands Kankurou the unconscious Taiki and slowly walks over to his two students. Shikamaru crosses his arms and starts to shiver as he approaches closer to Rei and Hideo.
"Rei!! This is your sensei talking, I need to get to Hideo so I can help him" Shikamaru explains as his breathe is visible in the cold
"He's dead!! Hideo is dead!! And I won't allow anyone to get near him!!" Rei yells blinded by rage as she turns to her sensei
Shikamaru just stares at Rei who points to him. All of a sudden the moisture in the wind gusting around her starts to gather and crystallize taking the form of large ice spikes. The spikes then fire at Shikamaru. Shikamaru just looks on as he is paralyzed from the cold.
All of a sudden Shikamaru is pushed out of the way causing him to fall to the floor as the ice spikes fly by and pierce the wall. Shikamaru looks around confused about what just happened when he sees a severed puppet arm with the chakra thread attached. He looks up the thread to see Kankurou standing there.
"You okay Shikamaru?" Kankurou asks
Shikamaru just nods his head as he looks at Rei
'Looks like she's going to kill her own teammates…less work for me' the cloud ninja thinks to himself as an evil smile comes over his face
'What can I do now, I need to get to Hideo but she's not letting me' he thinks to himself as Rei starts to slowly walk over to the fallen Shikamaru with murderous intent
"Hey Rei!!" Kankurou yells
Rei stops her march as she looks over to the sand jounin
"Leave him alone, besides wasn't it him that killed Hideo?" Kankurou exclaims as he points to the cloud ninja
Rei looks over to the cloud ninja as the wind starts to gust even stronger. The cloud ninja smirks at the leaf shinobi
"So, you finally decided to fight" the cloud ninja states as he gets ready to fight "Then let's do this!!"
The cloud ninja makes hand signs as static energy starts to form around both his arms. Rei turns away from her leaf and sand comrades and heads toward the cloud jounin. Each step Rei takes forms ice on the floor. The cloud ninja stands there gathering his chakra the static energy around his arms becoming more and more visible.
Shikamaru stands to his feet and noticing his chance runs over to Hideo. He examines the body and then checks for a pulse. A few seconds pass as Shikamaru closes his eyes hoping to sense any sign of life. All of a sudden his eyes open and he turns to Shakou.
"Shakou!! Come over here right now!!" Shikamaru orders
"Why?" Shakou replies
"Shakou just do what I say and get here now!!" Shikamaru yells becoming annoyed
Shakou finishes up with Iwa and finally runs over to Shikamaru kneeling next to him
"What is it?" Shakou asks
Shikamaru takes his hand and places it on Hideo's wrist. Shakou's eyes open as he realizes what the leaf jounin has sensed.
"All right little girl… you want to play with the big boys, let's see how you like this!!" the cloud ninja yells as he charges at Rei
Rei continues her march towards him when the ice spikes start to form and shoot at the rampaging cloud ninja. The cloud ninja jumps forward avoiding the spikes and raises both arms over his head, hands clenched.
"Die… Raigeki Kanadzuchi- Lightning Hammer!!" he yells as he drops his arms down on Rei
Rei just stares at the cloud ninja when the attack suddenly stops a few inches away from her.
"What the?!" the cloud ninja yelled
The lightning attack was stopped by the wind surrounding Rei. The cloud ninja starts to become nervous of the situation has he tries to push through. Rei just looks into the eyes of the one who killed Hideo with murderous intent as she makes the wind push the cloud ninja back.
"I feel a pulse!!" Shakou exclaims
"Yes, now I need you to use your medical ninjutsu to revive Hideo" Shikamaru exclaims
"I don't know… my medical ninjutsu is not that advanced, I mean I just use it to heal cuts, scars and I can bring people back to consciousness but now you are asking me to basically revive a dead person" Shakou replies
"Shakou…I didn't ask for your opinion, now do it!!" Shikamaru commands
Shakou nods, takes a big gulp and places his hands on Hideo's chest. His hands begins to glow a greenish color while Shikamaru nervously looks on, then turns to Rei and the power struggle that is going on.
'I'm not going to lose to a genin, especially one from the leaf village, the village that made a mockery out of mine' the cloud ninja thought to himself as he began to be pushed back "Never!!" he yells as more electrical energy begins to exude from his arms
The cloud ninja's arm with the extra boost of energy pierces through the wind and he begins to descend on Rei. Rei just looks up with the same expression of anger and contempt as before as he strikes her point blank.
"Rei!!" Shikamaru yells as the cloud ninjas attack causes the ground to quake and debris to fly everywhere
Kankurou shields his eyes and the unconscious genin as the debris hits them. Shikamaru shields Shakou, and Hideo taking the blunt of the wave of debris. As the debris settles one figure is visible.
Shikamaru squints to get a better look at who is left standing. The cloud ninja is visible breathing heavily as he stands over a giant crater. Another figure is visible with the cloud ninja, but this figure is lying on the floor lifeless.
"Gotcha!!" the cloud ninja exclaims as he stares at the fallen genin
Shock comes over Shikamaru's face as he realizes that Rei has been defeated. All of a sudden a cracking sound is heard. The cloud ninja looks down as he hears it. He sees the genin's face start to crack.
"What the…?!" the cloud ninja yells as a perplexed look comes over his face
Rei's body finally shatters into pieces of ice.
"An ice clone!!" the cloud ninja yells as Rei appears behind him
The cloud ninja turns around as Rei grabs his arm. His arm slowly turns purplish blue as she tightens her grip
"What the hell are you doing?!" the cloud ninja exclaims as he lets out a scream of pain not able to get free
"Just as you took a life, I'm doing the same" Rei answers with no remorse
"Unbelievable, Rei's body temperature has dropped so low that whatever she touches will be drained of its heat and will freeze from the inside out!!" Kankurou explains
"Get off of me now!!" the cloud ninja yells as his static energy builds up between the two pushing them apart
Rei and the cloud ninja land on their feet. The cloud ninja grabs his injured arm and winces. All of a sudden his eyes open as he looks down to see ice forming around his left leg.
"Tsubame Fubuki - Snow Storm Swallows!!" Rei yells making the hand signs
The moisture in the air around her starts to solidify and take the form of small birds.
"I can't get free" the cloud ninja says
Rei points to the target and the ice birds slice through the air and hit the frozen leg shattering it into millions of pieces. The cloud ninja lets out a spine tingling scream of pain as he falls to the floor grabbing his thigh as blood starts to stream out.
Kankurou and Shikamaru look on in horror at Rei's ruthlessness. Shikamaru quickly turns to Shakou
"Are you done yet?!" Shikamaru asks
"Does it look like I'm done?" Shakou replies sarcastically 'Besides, I can't let Hideo die before I get a crack at him' he thinks to himself
Rei starts to walk toward the fallen cloud ninja, who notices her approaching crawls backward.
'I'm going to use my ultimate jutsu and if it doesn't take her out then it will tear the whole place down with them still in it' the cloud ninja thinks to himself as he forms hand signs
Kankurou's eyes open wide as he recognizes the same hand signs used earlier.
"Rairyuu no Tatsumaki - Lightning Dragon Tornado!!" the cloud ninja yells as lightning starts to exude from his body and take the shape of a giant dragon above him.
Rei stops in place as she looks at the dragon that lets out a threatening roar. Rei stands there staring the beast down. The cloud ninja points to Rei, and following orders the dragon bullets toward her.
"Rei get out the way!!" Kankurou yells
Rei raises her hands and quickly makes hand signs. At the end of the last hand sign one of Rei's arms starts to be enshrouded in a black energy. She smiles as she looks at her arm, and then slowly raises her head to see the approaching lightning dragon.
"Kokuryuu Boufuusetsu - Black Dragon Blizzard!!" Rei yells as she thrusts her arm in the dragon's direction
All of a sudden a giant black dragon emerges from the energy. The dragon roars and flies through the air at the other dragon.
"Whhhuuu…What's going on?" Kankurou asks
"I don't know" Shikamaru replies 'When did Rei get this power?' he thinks to himself
The dragons finally converge and start to fight with each other causing a lot of wind to gust and the ceiling to crack.
"This can't be… no one has been able to repel my Lightning Dragon Tornado!!" the cloud ninja exclaims as the Black Dragon Blizzard starts to overcome his dragon
"You didn't think I would let you live after what you and your people have done did you?!" Rei yells as she lets out a battle cry
The white energy starts to enshroud her even more then before releasing more energy into her attack. The Black dragon consumes the lightning dragon and continues towards the cloud ninja.
The cloud ninja exhausted from the battle stands there in horror as the dragon finally reaches him and opens its mouth consuming the shinobi. The cloud ninja lets out a terrifying scream of agony as the dragon continues forward until it hits the wall. The dragon finally dissipates leaving the cloud ninja suspended against the wall frozen solid!!
"O… my… God" Kankurou states as he just stares in awe
The cloud shinobi then cracks and like his leg breaks into a million pieces.
"She did it, good job Rei" Shikamaru says
Rei just stands there deaf to the world as her white energy continues to grow. A concerned look comes over Shikamaru and Kankurou's faces as tears continue to fall from Rei's eyes. She then lets out a cry that shakes the floors.
"Rei, calm down!!" Kankurou demands
Rei stops her crying as she turns her head towards Kankurou and the 3 unconscious genin from the leaf and sand villages. Rei's arm raises slowly causing ice needles to form in the air around her. Blind with rage Rei fires her ice needles at her comrades.
"Rei!!" Shikamaru yells as he releases his shadow to try and ensnare her but stops half way "Dammit I don't have enough chakra"
The needles continue on target to kill the four shinobi. Kankurou gets in front of the genin and puts his arms up to take the blunt of the attack
"Kaiten - Heavenly Spin!!" a voice yells as a whirlwind of chakra appears breaking the ice needles
The whirlwind stops revealing Hideo.
"Hideo, you're alive!!" Kankurou says relieved
Hideo doesn't respond he just stares at his teammate, breathing heavily from exhaustion.
"How did..?" Shikamaru asks a loss for words
Shikamaru looks back at Shakou who stands there with a smirk showing a sense of accomplishment. Rei just stares at Hideo confused
"Hideo?" Rei says
Hideo nods his head as he stares into her eyes.
"NO, this must be a trick by the cloud ninja, Hideo's dead!!" Rei screams as the freezing wind picks up again.
The ceiling starts to crumble some more under the intense energy that Rei is releasing. Hideo, Shakou, Shikamaru and Kankurou shield their eyes from the cold. Hideo slowly fights the wind and marches toward his distraught teammate.
"Hideo, where are you going?!" Shikamaru asked
Hideo continues on not answering his sensei. He looks through the gust and at Rei who has completely become oblivious to the world, suspended by the winds she created.
"Rei!!" Hideo calls out, but to no avail
The freezing winds begin to take its toll on Hideo as he starts to shake and blow on his hands to keep warm. Hideo looks back at his teammates but sees only white as the wind has hidden just about everything from sight. He looks forward again as he starts to trudge closer and closer to Rei.
"Rei…it's me…Hideo!!" he screams trying to get her attention
Rei slowly drops her head and glares at Hideo with her pearl white eyes
"Come on Rei… snap out of it" he exclaims
Rei doesn't reply, but just glares at the leaf shinobi. Suddenly her arm raises and she places her hand on Hideo's shoulder. Hideo starts to gasp as his skin starts to turn a purplish-blue color, and his eyebrows start to freeze. Realizing that Rei is absorbing his body heat Hideo raises both of his arms and grabs Rei, bringing her closer and speeding up the freezing process.
"Rei… look into my eyes!!" Hideo stammers his breath visible as their eyes meet
"Remember….Remember what I said"
Rei thinks back
"And before I go I need to tell you what I have been urging to say for a long time…" Hideo breathes heavier then before struggling to complete what he wanted to say "I…I…"
Rei leans in closer and whispers in Hideo's ear as her tears fall from her eyes and onto Hideo's face "I what? Tell me…" Rei grabs Hideo's hand
"I…Love you" Hideo whispers as his grip on Rei's hand weakens
Rei returns from her flash back as tears roll down her cheeks. The white energy that was controlling her slowly dissipates along with the wind. Hideo's color and Rei's pupils return. She looks at Hideo exhausted
"Hi…deo" she whispers as she faints in Hideo's arms
Hideo pulls her in close to him as Shakou, Shikamaru, and Kankurou run up to them with the unconscious genin on their shoulders. The jounin smile at Hideo as they figure the ordeal to be over
"Sorry to break up this warm reunion but the entire place is coming down!!" Shakou states sarcastically
"It'll take us forever to get out the way we came in" Kankurou explains as the ceilings continue to rumble
"Take Kin" Shakou orders as he hands her over to Shikamaru
Shakou reaches back and pulls out the fan his mother gave him
"Dai Kamaitachi - Great Cutting Whirlwind Technique!!" Shakou yells as he swipes the fan emitting an enormous chakra filled wind that slices through the walls revealing a way out
"Good job" Shikamaru compliments as he quickly hands Kin back to Shakou
Hideo picks Rei up and puts her over his shoulder. The four shinobi then run towards the exit as the ceiling starts to crumble down. They all jump forward out of the castle with the unconscious genin in hand.
All four of them land on their feet as they turn around to see the castle implode into nothingness. Hideo then places Rei softly on the ground as he throws himself on the floor. The three others place the rest of the genin on the ground as well.
"You okay?" Shikamaru asks
"Yea, I just need to catch my breath" Hideo replies exhausted from the entire ordeal
Suddenly groans are heard. They all look on as Kin, Iwa and Taiki finally regain consciousness.
"Hey guys, did we miss anything?" Iwa yawns
"No Iwa, you didn't miss anything" Kankurou responds sarcastically
"Taiki, are you ok?" Kin asks as she starts to examine him
"I think so" Taiki replies as he looks around
Taiki's eyes open wide when he notices Rei unconscious on the floor
"Rei!!" Taiki yells as he quickly gets up ignoring Kin and runs over to Rei.
'That son of a bitch' Kin thinks to herself as an annoyed look comes over her face
Shakou walks over to Rei and uses his medical ninjutsu to do what he can
"She'll be fine she just needs some rest" Shakou states
Taiki takes a deep breath in relief.
"Ok guys get up, we need to get out of here and back to the sand village before any more ninja arrive" Shikamaru explains
The teams look at the leaf jounin and nod their heads in agreement. Hideo picks the immobile Rei up on his shoulder and the sand and leaf teams leave
Elsewhere…
"Sir… Ikazuchi and Raikou were defeated by the two teams from the sand and leaf villages" a voice announces
"That doesn't matter to me… what matters is how the mission: ally destruction went" a sinister voice replies
"Everything went according to plan just like you said it would sir" the voice answers
"Good, now its time for phase two" the sinister voice responds with an evil smile
On the outskirts of the sand village…
The two teams arrive on the outskirts of the sand village where they stop for a quick break
"How much further is it?" Taiki pesters
"It's just over the ridge cry baby" Iwa answers
Taiki looks over to Hideo holding Rei
"Hey Hideo why don't you let me carry Rei for a while, I know you must be tired" Taiki suggests with a big grin on his face
"Naw, I'm good" Hideo answers as he softly sets Rei on the sand
Taiki becomes annoyed and just as he was about to argue with him a scream is heard. Everyone quickly turns around to find the source of the screaming. They all see Kin just standing on the ridge dead still. The teams run up to Kin
"What's wrong Kin?" Kankurou asks
Kin doesn't respond but just looks down over the ridge, her lips trembling in disbelief. The others look where she stares. And in a second the same look that Kin had comes over all of their faces.
Nothing is heard as they all glance at the sand village completely destroyed!!