Kunoichi Rumble:

Journey to the Land of Whirlpools

Chapter 10

Battle Split – Kunoichi Breakout

"Ero-sennin?" Naruto whispered.

"Jiraiya-sama!" Kushina cried. "I can't believe… it's actually you!"

Naruto was quivering with fear. His former sensei's eyes had been replaced with strange ones… the Rinnengan eyes. "Okaa-sama, that's not ero-sennin! He died… he was killed by this person. It can't be him."

The original Pein also emerged from the body of smoke. "Bringing out this body seemed to be a smarter idea. Both of my opponents have already developed a bond with Jiraiya-sensei. And it seems that the Jinchuuriki is both sensei's student and 'the destined child'… a title once given to me. Naruto Uzumaki, it's time we brought this battle to the next level."

Kushina did not notice Konan appear from behind, as the vampire lady rammed her head straight into her body. "Okaa-sama!" Naruto shouted. Jiraiya soared down to where Naruto was and sent him backwards with a strong punch.

'Shit! I can't take both Peins by myself. If only Kakashi-sensei or Sakura-chan were here… even Sasuke would've helped me out here! Why did they all suffer from the last battle?!?' Naruto thought as he crashed into one of the buildings.

Kushina grasped hold of Konan's wings and brought her foot upwards, causing Konan to cough out blood. 'Jiraiya-sama must've been possessed by Pein. Naruto-kun can't fight the leader by himself… I've gotta get back! Minato, please watch me!'

Before Kushina could make her way towards Jiraiya and Naruto, Konan came down from above again. "What a little bitch, don't tell me you're gonna run away. Let the knucklehead Jinchuuriki fight for himself, I've gotta score to settle with you!" Kushina was too slow to draw her kunai, for Konan slashed her neck and tore off a long length of her hair.

"Okaa-sama!!!" Naruto shouted once more. This time the original Pein attacked him. Pein dug a spear through his body and flung the Jinchuuriki up onto his shoulder.

"Our business seems to be done here. I've revived Konan, and luckily, we caught ourselves the last of the tailed beasts. Finish her off, Konan, and we'll leave! I'll let Zetsu and Kitsun destroy the village… if they can manage to get out of their tight positions."

Kushina lifted her head off the ground and stared at her weak son. "No…" she cried. Konan spiraled in mid-air, preparing to come down for the last attack. Jiraiya marched with another spear in his hand towards her. "Naruto… you are the destined child. You can't die. You can't die."

The citizens watched from their windows in fear. "Kushina…" Shushon whispered. "Uzumaki Kushina. Uzumaki Naruto. We must support them with whatever power we have. Let us give them our blessings," he said, projecting his voice among the crowd of spectators.

They each clasped their hands and focused their chakra. A mystical blue veil suddenly began to form around the street. Pein stopped walking. Jiraiya and Konan halted their jutsu and remained in place.

"Give them the power they need to stop the Akatsuki!" cried Shushon. The blue chakra began spreading through the battlefield, and eventually seeping into both the Uzumakis' bodies.

A cloud of chakra lifted Kushina off the ground and rushed into her body. Konan did not hesitate any longer – she opened her mouth wide and spit clumps of dark acid. Pein suddenly felt himself weakening. Jiraiya had somehow taken the hit.

Kushina had replaced herself with Jiraiya, and she then came to the use of taijutsu. Konan threw her wings around in defense, but her shield stood no chance against the Uzumaki Rendan.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Kushina shouted, and more clones began to spawn out of her body. Jiraiya used the Rinnengan to remove the acids upon his body and turned to face Kushina. He focused his doujutsu at her body, hoping to strike with the power.

Kushina jumped, but her arm took the hit. It slowly began to decompose. "Even with the chakra boost I can't take on both Konan and Jiraiya!"

"Enough messing around. Rinnenton: Gama Bakuyaku Sawa!" (Rinnengan Style: Explosive Toad Swamp) Jiraiya roared. Kushina landed on the ground only to suddenly be dragged down by an opposing force. The street began to form into a swamp, and it was rising up above her knees. "Now that I've got you held down, this shouldn't take long. Rinnenton: Umi to Ho to Suppai!" (Rinnengan Style: Sea of Acid Fire)

Kushina gasped, but she could not do anything to stop the jutsu. Jiraiya released the flames onto the swamp, causing a massive reaction with the result being an explosion. A scream was heard as the Uzumaki was engulfed in the smoke and acid. "Naruto!"

Konan stared at Jiraiya in disgust. "I would've preferred to have killed her… hyack…" she started. Konan suddenly began coughing out blood. "No… the transformation side affects… if I die again… I can't be revived… curse you Uzumakis!"

Pein spun around to face his weak comrade. "Konan, no!" he shouted, rushing towards her. "The pathetic female couldn't have actually damaged your systems…"

Konan gradually morphed back into her original form. Her body was like pale wrinkled paper. "Pein… Pein… there's one more way to revive me," she whispered.

Pein looked down at the ground. "Yes. I know that way. It… requires the tailed beasts. I could… do it… but it's unnecessary. Konan, do not worry, you won't die. I will heal you with the Rinnengan!"

Jiraiya stepped forth and raised his palm over Konan's heart. Green chakra formed around it, and Konan slowly began to turn back into her truly original form.

A voice then croaked from underneath the acidic swamp. "Na… ru… to…"

Pein stood up and charged towards the source of the voice. He yanked Kushina out from under the depths and flung her towards another building. The few citizens there jumped back to avoid being hurt, but stayed close enough to watch the fight resume. "I've lost her twice… and I nearly lost her again! I will not lose Konan! People who go against my wishes deserve to die!"

A tear went down a child's cheek as she watched. "Ma… that man is even worse now. Can Kushina-sama stop him?"

Pein produced the same spear used on Naruto and pointed out the bloody end. "You deserve to die like your pathetic Jinchuuriki of a son! Both mother and child, the two legacies of distant villages, left to die on the same day. It's a pity that you weren't just killed the day the demon fox attacked Konoha!"

Kushina's vision was blurring. She could make out Pein coming towards her with the black, bloody spear in his hand. It was over for her. "Minato… I tried," she whispered.

Snap! Kushina regained consciousness long enough to see a thick layer of red chakra surrounding a figure. "Never!" the voice roared. "Never again touch her! Or I'll kill you!"

Naruto was living once more… yet it wasn't Naruto. The fourth tail was already coming out! His skin tore off completely, and he was surrounded by the black and red veil. Naruto spread his arms wide, releasing a burst of stored chakra. Shushon grabbed a wall to avoid being blown away by the amount of energy and chakra moving around.

Jiraiya stopped his jutsu and lifted Konan. "So our last challenge is to fight the demon fox itself."

Pein threw the spear at Naruto, but it was completely disintegrated by the burning chakra. "Konan, back me up. We'll have to go to our last resort! Get Zetsu and Kitsun here as soon as possible!"

With that, Naruto thrust his arm forth, sending a wave of destructive chakra at the Akatsuki. The whole street was obliterated, forcing the citizens to evacuate. Pein stood behind a wall of his summons as he prepared for his last resort.

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Pein prepares his last resort as the fourth tail takes complete control of Naruto. As the battle moves to the center of the city, the demon fox further enhances its power, and Naruto rises to another tail…

Next Time – The Fifth Tail Appears – Call to the First Hokage