Demons of Family and Destiny.
Ch.10: Comfort and Confrontations: How strong are you?
Announcements:
I have posted a new story recently. Saving the Flames: Straw Hats at Marineford. A one-shot of my idea of how the Straw Hat Crew could have participated in the Battle of Marineford, and the subsequent results. Please, read and review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or One Piece.
Naruto was sleeping soundly in his room. Dreaming of walking around Konoha with Robin, Zoro and Olvia. A content smile crossed his face to answer the beaming figures of the other three. Robin held his right hand, while Zoro gently griped his left. Olvia was on the other side of Robin and held her opposite hand. Naruto jumped, and his parents swung him back-and-forth with their arms in-sync. The boy let out a heartfelt laugh.
When something went wrong. Robin began to yell. Her cried began escalating. Growing into a terrifying scream!
Naruto turned, violently towards his mother! But she was still smiling! So were Zoro and Olvia as the screams erupted from her mouth. He didn't understand and grew more and more alarmed! Her, the women who made him feel safe and protected, was making such a terrible scream. He wanted to help, he had to reach her.
Naruto's vision changed! He was standing in the hallway of their house, and the screams were still coming. Yet they were quieter than those that came before.
"Where is Mom! I have to help her!" he thought aloud.
The knucklehead's slow-acting mind didn't stop to question what or how his surroundings changed. All he heard were the cries of anguish coming from below the railing.
He ran down the stairs, and quickly noticed a beam of light coming from beneath the door to his Mother's study.
Thoughtlessly, he opened the door.
Robin was at her desk, awkwardly draped across the top of it. Her body lightly thrashed aimlessly, her face turned aside as she continued to cry out in despair. Naruto quickly moved to her side, and found her face scrunched-up with fear, tears trickled from her eyes as they clenched painfully shut!
"St-Stop it Saul! You're scaring me!" the woman cried!
Naruto was stunned, recognizing the signs of a nightmare. "Mom! Mom, wake-up!" He started to reach out.
"NO!" Her arm lashed out!
Clang-Ck-GINK!
0…0
Robin's eyelids flew open! Her body shot-up from the desk chair, her horrified eyes darted around the room. 'SAUL, THE FLAMES, AOKIJI, THE KNOWLEDGE TREE, MOTHER, OHARA-!'
"Mom!" A sound broke the rhythm of her thoughts.
Turning to her left, she saw a small boy with whiskers and a tuff of shapeless blonde hair. Dressed in cute orange pajamas, his familiar blue eyes were filled with worry.
"Naruto-kun?!" Robin breathed, shakenly.
Seeing him, the fog of her nightmare began to clear.
Naruto began to approach her seated figure, placing his hands on her arm and hip. Genuine panic was etched in every millimetre of Robin's face!
Robin's motherly habits took over. "Naruto-kun? What are you doing up? You still have school tomorrow, and both you and Olvia went to bed very late."
"I…I was sleeping, Mom. Then I heard you screaming from my bedroom. I came down to see if you needed help. Olvia-nee-chan is still asleep, I guess. Are you okay?"
Robin slowly processed his words, letting out a frustrated sigh. 'Zoro has been gone for two weeks, now. How much longer will he be away?'
It had been this way ever since their crew had disbanded. Whenever Zoro and Robin were separated for too long, she would begin to have nightmares of her past; of seeing Ohara incinerated by paranoia and incomprehensible brutality; or being hunted the world over by the lies of the World Government, and the two decades of relentless betrayal and danger that ensued.
Robin tried to convince herself that all of those misfortunes were behind her and that she was safe now. None of it worked, and unless she was wrapped up in her swordsman's embrace, flames, tears, fear, pain, isolation and the memory of her first real friend would always haunt her dreams.
'Oh course Naruto-kun would hear me. He's not as oblivious as Olvia while she is asleep,' Robin guiltily reflected. While she and Robin had much in common, Olvia inherited her father's sleeping habits. Rarely anything could shake the young girl awake; even as a baby cannons and typhoons could not interrupt her sleep; nor could the sound of Robin in the grips of a nightmare. A curse and a blessing.
Robin looked over her desk, at the history book she had been reading to force herself awake. And the dark stains scattered about the top of her books and notes. Standing up, she saw a mug of coffee had been knocked over. The pieces were scattered across the floor, which had mercifully jolted her awake.
"Hhhhhhhh..hhhhhhhh." Robin sunk back into her chair, sighed as a frustrated hand moving up to cradle her head.
"I am alright Naruto-kun," her voice filled with fatigue. "Please, you can go back to sleep. Everything will be fine once Zoro returns from Hokage-sama's task," her tired mind confessed. It was the only medicine for the fear that haunted her dreams: to be wrapped in the arms of someone she loved.
"Mom?" Turning her head, Robin was startled by Naruto's eyes. They were filled with concern and understanding.
"It…it was really scary to hear you screaming like that. Can I have a hug, first?" the boy timidly asked.
For a moment, Robin could only stare into his eyes. Then a tiny smile came to her face. She rose from the chair and knelt down towards her surrogate-son.
Suddenly, Naruto dashed forward! He arms locking around Robin's neck; his small hands soothingly rubbing the back of her head as he began to nuzzle into her.
"Mom," he murmured. "I…I used to have a lot of nightmares before you and Dad and Olvia-nee-chan came along. After waking up it was really, really hard to fall back asleep because…because I was all alone. I don't want to leave you alone like I was. So, I'm not gonna go until you're feeling better! I want you feel okay. I'm right here to help you," he promised.
Robin was stunned. She could only stare ahead, overwhelmed by the consoling feeling of the boy's presence. Naruto continued to whisper words of comfort to her, though in a quiet rush that made them difficult to listen.
"It'sokay,Mom. We'reathome. You,Olvia-nee-chanand I arealright. Dadwillbebacksoon. There'snoreasontobescared. We're stilltogether…"
It…..it was too much for Robin. Tears started to fall from her eyes.
Naruto felt them fall on his scalp. He panicked and jerked away from Robin! "K-Ka-san! Don't, please don't cry! I-I-I'm sorry! I just wanted to help! Pleasedon'tstartcry-!"
Robin cut off his mistaken apologies, by pulling him back into her arms. She held him, her son, close to her heart. Tears of joy and relief flowed down the bridge of her nose.
"N…naruto-kun," her words came in a shallow breath. "people…cry…for...many…different…reasons. They can cry…from sadness…and fear. But also…also from happiness…from relief,…and from joy. These are tears of relief.
Thank you, for comforting me. My…Wonderful…Son."
Naruto was stunned. Never before had someone thanked him. Never had the gesture come so filled with love. His heart swelled with gentle pride.
Naruto returned Robin's hug, and pair gently held each other for several minutes. The boy tirelessly gave his love and assurance to the woman that gave him the family he had craved for so long. It felt so good to be wanted. To be thanked. To be helpful towards her. While she felt solace in his consoling presence. Soon, the fears of her nightmare were washed from her mind.
"Naruto-kun. Let's get you back to bed, young man." Robin decided.
Soon the pair moved upstairs. But to Naruto's confusion, they did not return to his room. Instead they stood outside of the master bedroom.
"Now, wait right there," she told him. Confused, he nodded, and Robin proceeded in and shut the door.
5 minutes later she opened it again, wearing flannel pyjama pants, checkered with different shades of purple, and a violet shirt with long-sleeves and a high collar. "Come here, Naruto-kun," Robin lifted him into her arms and walked towards the bed. "Will you sleep here with me tonight? In case another nightmare happens again?"
Naruto looked at her in a daze, before nodding eagerly. Robin smiled deeply and sincerely, shifting the 9-year-old boy into one of her deceptively strong arms. Pulling back the covers, she let her son snug into the bed. Then Robin laydown beside him, spread the covers over them both, fussing over Naruto to make sure he was comfy, before snuggling down herself.
Soon the pair were nestled together in the King-sized bed. Comfy, warm, and safe.
0…0
It took another three weeks before Zoro returned to Konohagakure with his latest bounty exploits. A squad of the Nokizaru Group that had become too notorious and well-known. After attacking a joint-squad of Konoha-Suna shinobi, Hiruzen approached Zoro to directly hire him to eliminate the group.
The Nokizaru Group were infamous as expert shinobi killers. Yet this emphasis tended to make them overspecialized, and seriously lacking against someone who did not favour ninja techniques and tactics. Their greatest edge became a crippling weakness.
Occasionally, Kage would even look to hire platoons of samurai from the Land of Iron to counter the Nokizaru Group, in exchange for trade agreements and treaties. Samurai were very proud, however, and their most skilled members would adamantly refuse to be hired as mercenaries; the occupation of a Ronin.
Subsequently, Hiruzen had summoned Zoro and offered him a sizable payment from the village to counter the Nokizaru, and was very thankful for his consent. The Swordsman was rarely selective against any form of paid work for a man he respected, especially with the promise of a fight.
Now he stood before the Hokage, who promptly gave him the bounty he had been promised.
"You have my deepest thanks, Zoro-san. Even Jonin and ANBU squads have been known to die if they are sent against members of the Nokizaru," his voice taking a hard edge at the memories of such reports.
Zoro shrugged. "You're welcome Sarutobi-san." Everyone in the room stiffed at such a familiar and brash response, but the Hokage did not respond. It had taken a while, but the Sandaime had earned the same honest respect Zoro had towards King Nefertari Cobra and Sabo. Although, not to point that he referred to the man with the same esteem that other Shinobi did. Had he been a decade younger, before fatherhood, he would likely have adapted Naruto's habit of calling the Hokage "old-man."
He continued to address the swordsman, "I apologize that this job took so long. I did not expect them to move around the breadth of our country so erratically. It must have been quite a frustration to track their movements over the past month."
Zoro frowned. "That wasn't what took me so long! I finished them off within a week. The problem was someone kept moving this damn village and I couldn't' find my way back!"[1]
The office was quiet. "I'm sorry, Zoro-san?" the Hokage replied perplexedly.
"Those Ninja-killers were three days away from the spot your ANBU lead me to. After I took them out I was able to sense where the ANBU were and decided to take a look around for any more. Didn't find any, but when I went back the ANBU weren't around. I decided to come back here, and the village wasn't along the path no matter how many turns I made! How the hell did you move this entire village to somewhere else!" The direction-inebriated man accused the Sandaime.
Now Zoro was grumbling. 'Onna and 'Livy definitely won't leave this alone for a month at least. It might have been funny back with the crew, but now everything about this gag over me and directions is beyond ridiculous.'
Everyone else inside blinked. "Uhhhh. I'll hear the report from the ANBU team, along with the Chunin squad that found you along the southern coast," Hiruzen promised.
"Oh, don't worry about it," Zoro replied. "I bagged a few more bounties along the way that your guards took care of at the gate. I guess it's kinda like that guy Kakashi said about being late; finding extra on the road to your destination."
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe. "I see. Moving on from that topic, however," a serious look gleamed in his eyes, "there is something very critical I need to discuss with you. Concerning how strong you and your wife are."
0….0
"Mom, come on! Jiji never made me get any before, and I've never gotten sick, Believe it!"
"That is not enough Naruto-kun,"Robin patiently replied. "I will not take any chances with your health or Olvia's. Plus, a nakama of mine is a world-class doctor. Dr. Chopper-san would throw a fit if he learned you were not up to date."
Robin and Naruto were in the hospital, with the former using two dozen arms to pin down the latter while a nurse prepared to give him a shot.
While looking through all of the adoption paperwork, Robin had noticed the boy was long behind on his regular vaccinations. So, after a month to settle in, she asked the Sandaime Hokage to order the necessary shots and have them administered by a nurse he trusted, personally. She also reviewed some necessary ones for Olvia that were prioritized by the Konoha medical programs.
Now the three family members were in a nurse's office, waiting to start Naruto's shots after Olvia had received three already.
While Olvia had never been afraid of needles thanks to Tony-tony Chopper, Naruto was drastically more anxious.
"Come on, I'll be fine! Can't we talk to Dad about this!?"
Creak. "Talk to me about what?" Zoro's voice reached the room's occupants.
The next moment, Robin was in her husband's arms, giving him a welcome embrace. Zoro smiled, and was visibly surprised by how refreshed Robin appeared, with no bags under her eyes or other signs of lacking any sleep.
"DAD!" both of the children cried out with glee.
Zoro decided to focus on it later, turning towards his daughter and son. "Hey there. How are the-"
"DAD! You've Gotta Get Me Otta Here, Believe It! I've never gotten sick, and I'm really strong! You told me strong people never get sick, right!" Naruto shouted like he was about to lose his leg, rather than just poked by a small needle.
"No way, Naruto," Zoro deadpanned. "Your Mother wants you to have these shots, so that's what going to happen here. Period," he stoically replied.
Within Naruto's mind, a chibi of him being led out to door by Zoro was sliced apart and crushed under a 10-ton brick.
"WWHHHHAAAAAATTTTTTT!" he shrieked in despair.
"~~Naruto-kun~~," Robin sweetly called to him.
A sickening tremor jolted through Zoro and Olvia. "You will not have any Ramen at all, until you complete all of the shots here today," the Devil's Child promised.
Naruto's mind froze. Then it formed a chibi image of his favourite Ichiraku's Everything-filled Ramen being locked-up by Robin, and the restaurant being chained-shut by her Hana-hana powers.
The boy was stunned speechless with fear that his mother would take such a low blow. Then whimpered in defeat, as all the fight evaporated from his very soul.
The Vaccinations were done within 10 minutes.
0…0
The Family was now walking through the village towards Zoro and Robin's assessments.
Robin had discussed these matches with the Hokage one week after Zoro had gone after the Nokizaru, and voiced her desire for Olvia and Naruto to be present. So, they could learn more about how Shinobi fight and about their parent's strengths.
As the Roronoa's walked through the village, Zoro glanced over at their son, pouting as he rubbed his arms. "Stop whining about the shots, Naruto. They happened, so move on. Besides, you're going to watch a fight pretty soon."
"A fight!" the boy shout in excitement. "Who's going to be fighting! You, Dad!"
Zoro smirked, while Robin beamed at the boy's eagerness. "Got it in one, kid. The Hokage wants to see exactly how powerful your Mother and I are, so we're going to face off against some top Jonin from this village. Hey, you remember how the ninja-ranks work right?"
Naruto's head bobbed in response. "Yeah, yeah! Jonin are the top shinobi around, the smartest and the strongest under the Hokage. Below them are Chunin, which is where you get by passing the special Test. And then there are Genin, the first level, where Olvia-nee-chan and I will be really soon! Believe it!"
Olvia smiled, "That is accurate, Naruto-ototou. Do you also remember the ninja ranks used to label missions, jutsu, and enemies?"
The family had started to habitually quiz Naruto on different Academy topics as often as possible. The boy was no genius and his memory for academic work was less than stellar. So, they would use repetition to help him remember, then apply the information in a more practical setting, where his cognitive prowess was much stronger.
While the brother and sister began to talk about different exercises from the Academy, Zoro hung back and turned towards Robin.
"Onna," he spoke in a serious tone. "Did anything happen while I was gone?"
Robin was expecting the question and tried to deflect her husband's concerns.
"Only some impressive progress, for each of us. Naruto-kun and Olvia are improving at the Academy and have started new Chakra exercises. I also completed a large compendium of the village's history from the Shodai and Niidaime Hokage's time. None of them mentioned the Rudoku Sennin, Hagoromo Otsutsuki, however. Hard facts on him are proving to be exceptionally sparse, even here despite Konoha's wealth of knowledge and history. I may-"
"Onna." Zoro cut into her musings. "That is not what I'm asking. How were you while I was gone? I was worried that nightmares would be giving you trouble sleeping, but you look fine and ready. Did something happen about them while I was gone?"
"Nightmares!" Naruto overheard them. "Hey, Mom. Now that Dad is home, do you still need a cuddle-buddy? Those nightmares should stop now that he's back, right?"
Even now, that boy could not resist interposing to everything he saw.
Zoro stopped in his tracks, perplexed. "Cuddle-buddy?"
Robin closed her eyes, unsure to be frustrated or grateful. Deciding it was impossible to avoid anymore, she turned to her husband.
"It was difficult after you were gone for longer than three days, Zoro. I went for two weeks with barely any length of sleep, and spent the nights reading through a large volume of the History of this village and books on Chakra theory. However, three weeks ago to this day, something very welcoming changed."
Robin turned towards Naruto, with doting and profoundly grateful eyes. "One night, I fell asleep at my desk and had a terrible nightmare." Zoro nearly growled in frustration; then noticed how happy his wife had spoken about the event. She was still smiling, and visibly content.
"What the hell, happened, Robin?" he questioned instinctually.
Robin glanced at him, and her smile broadened with joy. "Naruto-kun heard me yelling in my sleep and came down to the office worried if I was alright. After I told him to go back to bed, he cunningly asked for a hug before leaving. When I rose out of my chair, he gave me a very comforting embrace, and talked about staying there until I would feel better. In the end, I brought to our bed and let him sleep there with me for the night."
Robin looked back towards her son. "I slept so peacefully, thanks to him. The next morning, I told Naruto how my nightmares can come while you are away, and he insisted on sleeping there until you came home. I have not had any nightmares since."
Zoro was surprised. Then looked towards Naruto, with a dangerously serious expression on his face.
"Hey, Naruto! Come here so a moment." The blonde boy gulped but obeyed. Soon he was facing his adoptive father. "What is it Dad?!"
Zoro towered above Naruto. Then a proud grin broke over his face. and he began to ruffle the boy's hair affectionately. 'He's certainly an amazing kid. And he took care of Robin while I was away.'
After a few moments, the man was kneeling down to face him at eye-level. "I'm really proud of you son. You took care of the girls while I was away, like a real man of the house. Good job."
As the man was beaming at him, Naruto swelled with pride at his approval. He began to shuffle in embarrassment, still unfamiliar to receive so much gratitude and affection.
"Papa, we don't need anyone to take care of us!" Olvia spoke up. "Mom and I together are more dangerous than most people can handle. And besides, no one can sneak up on me at all! A truly swordswoman never lets her guard down. Or sleeps deep enough for someone to sneak up on her!" she declared.
Naruto and Zoro shot her deadpan looks, while Robin giggled quite loudly. 'Just like her Father over his direct-problems. She is completely ignorant of how difficult it can be to wake her up.'
Zoro, Olvia and Naruto continued to voice their disagreements for a handful of minutes. Until Robin announced that some people were waiting for them, and the family moved outside of the village towards Training Ground 75.
Arrival:
A large group of Shinobi were waiting at Training Ground 75.[2]
The second largest training field after the infamous Forest of Death, Grounds 75 was originally a quarry during the time of the Shodaime Hokage and Niidaime. However, the Sandaime Hokage later put aside the area as a testing site for experimental jutsu, away from genin teams, other shinobi, or groups of regular citizens.
It was a large gorge surround by sheer rock, a small river to provide a source for Water-style jutsu and a few dozen trees scattered around the area, courtesy of a certain ANBU. Hundreds of scorched stones, deep craters, symmetrical patterns, smooth crevices, and more signs of destruction were scattered about. The results of some excessively destructive jutsu, or a few cases of them literally blowing up in a user's face.
It was the perfect space for the upcoming duels. Which the Hokage, the Elders, and clan heads were all present to observe. Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy were there as well. One of them actually curious about how his opponent would fight, and the other ready to explode from excitement for the upcoming spars.
A friendly shout soon announced the last group had arrived. "Hey, Jiji! Are you here to see Mom and Dad fight too!"
"Naruto-kun! We have discussed this. You should call him Oji-san when other people are around," Robin casually reminded him.
No matter how many times he had seen it, Hiruzen could still feel warmth echo through his heart at how parental and caring Robin and Zoro were towards Naruto. These interactions alone always reassured him that allowing them to adopt to boy had been the right decision.
"Hey there Zoro-san, Robin-san. Nice to see you're finally back from that bounty mission." Tsume called to greet them.
"I'm glad be ba-"
"YOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!" A green blur shot forward, stopping in front of Zoro. A bright gleam nearly blinded the swordsman as the excitable, impatient, and unrestrainable Might Guy stood before him.
"Zoro-san! I am unfathomably glad to meet you again! And extremely eager for our assessment spar! Now, let us begin as soon as possible! My Flames of Youth cannot remain contained any longer!"
The man began to stoop forward, his clenching hands trembling in excitement. "They have been stoked into a blazing inferno that cannot be contained! With no outlet, I will soon explode into a star! The excitement is too much for any man to fathom! I Am Filled With So Much Pent-Up Energy, Nothing Can Tone Me Done Until It Is Satisfied! YOSH!"
The Hokage and Kakashi each palmed their faces. 'Perhaps I should have waited until today before informing Guy-san about this,' Hiruzen ruefully assessed.
"You're going to fight Guy-san, Dad!" Naruto cried excitedly. "That's so cool!"
A select few people smiled at the boy's enthusiasm. Before Robin decide to rescue her husband from the explosively eccentric ninja.
"I agree that it will be quite an impressive battle. However, it may be wiser to wiser to wait a little longer, Jumpsuit-san."
A few heads turned towards the archaeologist. "What makes you say that, Robin-san? Is there something else that needs to be addressed?" Homura inquired.
Turning towards the crowd, Robin recognized Kakashi's presence, and guessed his purpose for being there. 'Facing one of the clan heads would create too much potential damage for their social positions. Despite Alpha-claw-san's[3] invitation to spar with us, I doubt Hokage-sama, Danzo-san, Homura-san and Koharu-san would allow it in such a public and important situation. Jumpsuit-san thankfully confirmed my theory, despite the Hokage's efforts to keep our adversaries unknown, given the purpose of this contest.'
"From the implications of Jumpsuit-san's greeting, I will be facing Sharingan-san here today. My techniques are far less destructive than Zoro-koi's and will not damage much of the surrounding environment. I suggest that my sparring assessment should take place first, then it can be determined who the true Green powerhouse of Konohagakure truly is."
Some people sweat-dropped at her reference to the colour-schemes of her husband and the bowl-cut wrecking ball. Nobody had any true objects over her proposal, and simply turned to the Sandaime Hokage for approval. Even Guy's enthusiasm, while explosive, could be tempered by his professional discipline.
Hiruzen took a breath from his pipe. "I can see no problem allowing you to begin first, Robin-san. Kakashi, do you have any objections?"
"No, sir," the Copy-nin responded, uncharacteristically serious. "After hearing about their travels and activities elsewhere in the world, I'm actually curious to see what Robin-san and Zoro-san can do. I'm sorry to steal your fire, Guy, but I'm going to take the spotlight for now. Deal?" he asked with an eye-smile.
Guy began fuming in anger. 'GGGgggggrrrrrrrrr! Kakashi, I cannot stand this! How do you act So Hip and Cool like that!'
Taking a breath, he returned to a more professional demeanor. "I can wait a small amount longer, my eternal rival. But you owe me after these matches end. It is only thanks to me that you made it here on-time and all. Otherwise, the lovely and deadly Robin-san would have been left waiting for you to arrive."
Guy had found Kakashi by the memorial stone 3 hours earlier and brought him to the assessment to avoid waiting on his notorious tardiness.
"Very well. Now, Zoro-san, Naruto-kun, Olvia-chan. Would the three of you please come and stand beside me?" Hiruzen addressed them.
While Kakahsi moved forward to stand a comfortable distance away from Robin, the woman's family took a moment to wish her luck. "Don't break him too heavily, Onna. And stay on guard. The guy probably didn't get the name "One Thousand Jutsu" out of hot air," Zoro said, concerned for his wife.
"Mom, before careful, and beat him up really good! Everyone will definitely respect you even more if you show them how strong you are!" Naruto exclaimed. "Please don't break Kakashi-san too badly, Mom. And try to make him show all of the different techniques that he can do! The more he shows you, the more Whiskers-chisii and I can learn about him and about Shinobi." Olvia pleaded.
After giving Robin their luck, the gropu of three moved over the assembled crowd, and stood beside the Sandime Hokage. Who casually lifted his left hand.
A second later, a series of bright lines appeared on the ground, forming a square around everyone near the Hokage. A pane of florescent lights shot up, forming an enclosure around the group, closed in the shape of a roof above their heads, and disappeared.
"WHAT WAS THAT!" Naruto shouted in wonderment. The blonde started to spin around in surprise, backing away with his movements. before his back was touching a solid surface, forming a bright silhouette in the air!
Olvia was also surprised, but less outgoing than her brother. "Hokage-sama! Was that a kekkai ninjutsu?"[4] This recognition brought no small amount of surprise from the clan heads, and a measure of pride from her father.
"That is correct, Olvia-chan," Hiruzen answered. "I formed a protection barrier around all of us, so that we may observe the fight between your parents, Guy and Kakashi up close rather than from a distance away. I am impressed that you recognized this technique, as well. Usually the Academy does not introduce them until later in a student's years."
Olvia grinned with pride. "They were mentioned in a book I have taken from the Academy Library. There is so much to learn about Shinobi arts, I thought it would be a pity to simply wait for the instructors to introduce different types of jutsu instead of learning their principles and characteristics sooner."
"What doya mean by a "kekkai ninjutsu," Olvia-nee-chan?" Naruto piped-up.
The Hokage turned to his surrogate grandson and began to explain: "Kekkai ninjutsu consist of using chakra to form shapes or fields around someone, Naruto-kun. These fields, or barriers, can be used to sense, track, imprison or protect someone. The one I am using right now is a protection barrier.
An S-class one called Stationary Ultimate Protection Barrier.[5] Another Elder, Danzo-san, and I needed fifteen minutes to prepare it before you and your family arrived. It is not often used in battle, due to how long it takes to prepare and requiring the strength of at least two Kage-level shinobi to empower. But here, it is perfect for our needs."
Outside of the barrier, Kakashi was explaining the same principles to Robin. She listened attentively, despite deducing exactly which technique was used from her research over the last month and the presence of the Hokage and several clan heads. Knowledge and deception were essential to her plans for a win in this upcoming fight.
Roronoa-Nico Robin vs. Hatake Kakashi:
Kakashi began to raise his right hand, forming a hand-seal extended towards Robin. The woman recognized it as a formal threat, the "Seal of Confrontation," given by a Shinobi. Curling her own hand in a mirror of Kakashi, she returned the gesture with an amusing smile at the Jonin.
While both figures gave the appearance of calm stagnation, their sharp eyes told a different story. Both of their minds were racing through the present situation, as the pair of strategic fighters began to plan their first moves.
'This is not the kind of situation I enjoy at all," Kakashi summarized. "Robin-san is a complete unknown, since Hokage-sama refused to divulge these Devil-Fruit powers she supposedly has. Additionally, she is quite a careful woman. Nobody who has seen her powers are willing to describe how or what kind of action they perform. Worse, Robin-san is not a Shinobi. I don't know anything about her at all. Yet in our first encounter, she knew my reputation outside of Konohagakure. No sense in hiding this, then.'
Kakashi's had moved toward his askew hitai-ate.[6] Just as Robin expected.
'So this is what a Sharingan is; red coloured with a centre pupil and three encircled tomoe,' the former assassin observed. 'I have certainly faced more dangerous enemies during those fiascos in Wano Country, and the battles against Kaido-sama, Big-Mom-sama, Red mane-sama[7] and Blackbeard's forces. Yet Kakashi-san is certainly the most dangerous shinobi I have faced.
I already know how to exploit the most glaring weakness in all Shinobi. But that will wait for a last resort. For now, I need to take a more measured approach.'
And the field was still…
Neither individuals moved to attack the other. Kakashi had followed his usually MO against unknown or highly powerful foes: observation and counter. While Robin was angling to make the tension between build, not making a single move; more deliberate than reactive.
This stretched on for several minutes. While one of the observers present started to shout in impatience, all the others felt a powerful tension in the air…
building…
testing…
….who and what would move first.
Kakashi was patient, but not indecisive. One of the sharpest minds in the Elemental Nations, he noticed what Robin was doing. 'She's a strategic fighter, then. aiting for me to make the first move. Well then, it would be impolite to disappoint her.'
Kakashi's hand flew to his pouch! Dozens of shuriken sliced through the air! Robin made no move as the deadly blades sped towards her.
Within the barrier, Naruto shouted at his surrogate Mother in worry! Yet no sound reached the woman; blocked out by the barrier.
As the projectiles grew closer, Robin began to sway. None of the shuriken struck, as she gracefully evaded each of them. 'Bullets are certainly much harder to evade. As are the slicing winds of swordsmen in the New World,' the former-Mugiwara reflected.
Kakashi noted his opponent's reactions and speed, holding a pair of shuriken in his figures. As he threw them, Robin eyes narrowed.
Kakashi waited for a moment, and his hands were a blur! "Shadow Shuriken jutsu!" The twin shuriken morphed into 30, at a meter from their target! Kakashi's hands continued to move, forming another technique! "Lightning style: Flying Thunderbolts!"] A pattern of several electric currents flew from the Jonin's hands, coving a wide arc between the flying shuriken. Each of the metal weapons were given an extra electric charge, as they hit Robin!
She was struck, and Kakashi's eye widened in shock! He swept his eyes over the clearing, an instant before Robin dissolved into flower petals. His Sharingan had witnessed it a moment early, and swept over the field searching for his adversary, despite confusion nagging his mind. 'When she dissolved, my Sharingan did not detected any residual chakra. That clone was not ninjutsu, so where is the act-AHH!'
Both Kakashi's arms were yanked backwards! A strange sensation was felt on his shoulders and neck. His upper half was immobilized!
"A good move, Kakashi-san. Though I believe the fight has ended," Robin voice carried to his ears. "That jutsu. I witnessed it from a Kumo-nin some time ago, and your Sharingan lives up to-"
Puff! In a flash, Kakashi was engulfed by smoke.
Once it cleared, the man was replaced with a stump. A smirk grew on Robin's face. "I am afraid that will not be as successful as your past opponents, Mask-san."
In a rare moment, Kakashi was completely perplexed. He had meant to Substitute himself away from the field, but whatever was binding him was still present on his body! He was still close enough to hear Robin's voice.
"My powers have been sprouted from your body, rather than from the environment. This prevents such a useful jutsu from providing an easy escape."
Kakashi was now quite confused. Fortunately, he had moved into a cluster of trees near the river. Taking no chance, the Copy-nin silently moved toward the water, while Robin stood in the centre of the clearing, relaxed and tranquil. Soon, Kakashi saw his reflection.
He nearly gave a cry of shock! Six long disembodied limbs were protruding from his chest and back. The Jonin was shocked at this power but did not lose his composure. Running through a series of options, he found one that could resolve this predicament.
(Inside the Protection Barrier)
"It appears your wife has some troublesome advantages over different Shinobi, Zoro-san." Shikaku Nara spoke up. Like the rest of his contemporaries, the Jonin commander was capable of reading lips, and understood what Robin had spoken.
The rest of the Ninja surrounding them were quite shaken. The Substitution-jutsu was one of the most dependable and life-saving techniques in a Ninja's arsenal. Yet the sight of Robin's limbs disappearing with Kakashi and her explanation showed that her Hana-hana powers could circumvent this technique. Even Danzo was intimidated by this crucial advantage.
Zoro grinned in recollection. "We discovered it by accident two years ago. An Iwa-nin got into a disagreement with Robin and started a fight. Once her arms pinned down, the kunoichi tried to get away with that jutsu. Robin almost dispelled her arms when the woman disappeared, but she could still feel her through physical touch. It's a pretty handy advantage. And not the only one that my wife has."
(Back in the forest)
Kakashi's eyes were narrow with concentration. He began to envision his chakra gathering in his hands, changing into lightning, and coursing through his arms up to the shoulders. 'This will take a bit of chakra, and it won't last long. But with my arms tied, it's the only chance I have to remove these arms. I'll need to be more aggressive and keep Robin-san in my sight-line to see when she uses more of these arms to trap me.'
The Jonin could easily imagine that a single pair of arms could likely grow from any surface. His head had also been immobilized, making it easy to image her snapping his neck. The goal of this situation was for Robin to show what type of powers and skills she had, rather than cripple her opponent as soon as possible. Had the situation been different, then her decisive surprise would have ended the fight already.
Kakashi knew this and comprehended it very thoroughly. He now had the measure of his opponent and would not fall for the same battle mistake twice.
Robin grew concerned with what she saw. 'Mask-san is certainly skilled to use a Substitution while his hands are separated. Had I bloomed my arms out of the ground or from something that is not attached to him, then he could escape them easily through that technique. Yet he is not moving from the stream. Wha-' "AHHH!" the woman cried in pain.
A series of electrical burns suddenly appeared on her own arms.
Kakashi was free after coursing the lightning-chakra through his arms and shoulders. Quickly, he darted towards Robin's voice, forming hand-signs as he moved.
"Earth style: Earth Wave!" Kakashi's foot stomped the ground, sending a pulse outward that shifted the ground beneath him. Robin noticed the attack by hearing, and gracefully leaped into the air.
Another lightning jutsu arced towards Robin, which she barely evaded. Kakashi was impressed. Outside of dissecting and copying an enemy Shinobi's techniques; his Sharingan could observe someone's chakra and muscles for the most miniscule movement, and predict exactly what move they would make. It usually gave him an edge over slow opponents, but both him and his jutsu were limited by timing and distance.
'She can evade my ranged techniques. Robin-san is certainly a dangerously experienced and practiced fighter to have developed such awareness and evasion. Distance will not work for me in this fight.'
The Jonin abandoned his preferred methods of Ninjutsu, in favour of more fast-paced Taijutsu. As Robin fell back to the ground, the Jonin used a body-flicker!
Kakashi was suddenly behind Robin, his stance perfectly balanced as a punch rushed for her kidneys.
Robin pivoted, twirling aside to deflect the blow. 'How! I struck her blind-si..' Kakashi thought. Shifting his stance, the Copy-nin threw a swing-kick, and pivoted his foot for a spinning hook-kick! None of them connected, yet he pressed forward and continued to strike at the evasive woman.
Robin evade all of his blows, but did not feel confidence or pride. 'He will likely begin to escalate his speed and strength quite soon. This young man is quite skilled.'
She underestimated her opponent. Kakashi deduced that Robin could produce more than just additional arms. His Sharingan quickly scanned over the surrounding area. 'The treeline! There is a blue eye there, watching my every movement.
Hmmmm. I won't reveal or remove it just yet. First, let's see how effective she is in close-quarters, then I will turn this eye against her,' the Sharingan-user contemplated.
Kakashi began to escalate his taijutsu attacks, and Robin found herself straining. Linear punches and kicks moved in a flurry. 'He is as fast as a Marine Vice-Admiral!' Robin judged her opponent. Very soon, Kakashi caught her with a punch to her abdomen. Followed by grabbing her wrist, and locking Robin's arm in a blind.
Robin nearly buckled at the hit; it carried more power than she could immediately withstand. Yet she quickly spun around, twisting her flexible arm out of the Jonin's grip. Quickly, she bloomed another set of arms around Kakashi, locking both of his arms down and immobilizing his legs.
This backfired, and the Jonin turned his Sharingan eye towards the tree he identified earlier. "Genjutsu!"
Kakashi was a very sharp and observant figure, even compared to other Jonin. 'When I used a lightning-chakra pulse to escape her arms, Robin-san cried out in pain. I both saw and felt electrical burns on her own hands and forearms. The weakness of this power is that she can feel and experience any pain and injury dealt to her extra parts,' he summarized.
When he identified her watchful eye hidden in the trees, he had planned to use visual-genjutsu on the eye to trap Robin in his illusions.
Turning back to his opponent, Kakashi began to form hand-seals for an Earth-style submissive jutsu. Yet-
The woman was raising a knife in her hand, with the blade pointed at the opposite hand.
"Ahh!" Robin had cut her own hand with a dagger held in her left. Breaking the illusion, and surprising Kakashi.
When Robin opened her eyes, the Masked-ninja was nowhere to be seen. It took only a brief second to realize where he was, and how close to losing Robin stood.
"Cien Fleur! Wings!" Within 3 seconds, a pair of beige wings formed on Robin's back. The earth beneath her feet was shifting, with Kakashi's hand inches from her ankle! Rapidly, the "Devil's Child" leaped into the air, her wings beating powerful gusts of air towards the ground.
It had been extremely close, but Robin evaded the Head-hunter jutsu by two seconds and one inch. Quickly she rose higher into the sky, before eyeing her opponent with approval. "You certainly have a crafty intellect, Mask-san. Were I unfamiliar with your genjutsu techniques or failed to realize where you were, that would likely have been the end of our spar," Robin complimented.
Kakashi's eyes curled in a smile, amused with her compliment. "I suppose it was worth a shot." His eyes opened, with a more serious glint. "You seem to have encountered similar techniques on a few occasions, Robin-san. Especially to have recognized that genjutsu so immediately. The illusion I used gave a clear view of this training ground, with my own presence removed. I meant to be subtle rather than a more abstract or intimidating jutsu. Yet you recognized the difference immediately."
Robin openly acknowledged his assessment. "I am curious whether you will realize how I noticed that. Or how I realized you were moving through the earth beneath me. Before or after I humiliate and dismember you of your man-hood."
Kakashi froze in shock. That was not what he expected. The woman's comfortably frosty smile only making the jest more foreboding.
"Now, let us she how you handle me powers. treinta fleur: clones." A light flurry of Sakura petals spun around the Jonin. The next moment, thirty clones of Robin surrounded Kakashi, dashing towards him!
"Ki-" Initially thinking of genjutsu, Kakashi sent a chakra-pulse through his body, and nothing change around him. He remained unperturbed and began to attack the clones one at a time.
Above them, Robin took-stock of the situation. 'Thankfully, if I can see and anticipate when an attack is coming, I can avoid any injuries to myself by dispelling the clones or my parts at the last second. Koala-chan and Sabo-kun were instrumental in circumventing this weakness.[8] I believe that thanks to his use of genjutsu and my clones fighting him, the Konoha Council has seen enough of my capabilities to counter the standard Shinobi techniques. Now, it is time to end this fight.'
Back in the clearing, Kakashi was actually having some struggle with all of Robin's clones. None of them were as fast nor strong as his ANBU sparring partners, nor anywhere close to Might Guy's physical prowess; yet they were still a notable threat.
His focus was completely divided between watching the clones and scanning his own body and the ground to avoid being struck or caught by some additional limbs! Each of the Clones also fought in-tandem; some working to grapple or pin down the Jonin while others tried to stab him with a dagger that they carried or attack him from behind.
Plus, each of them only used grapples or locks, opposed to striking moves that he had more practice defending against. Adapting to this crucial change in style was started to wear-down Kakashi. While they were fighting one-against-one, he had a decisive advantage over Robin. Yet even a Jonin has their limits against thirty opponents as skilled as Robin is. He began to escalate his taijutsu attacks, and apply genjutsu to the clones via his Sharingan, trapping them in more blunt illusions to buy time against the others. Meanwhile, the original had to repeated cut her own hand to break the illusions as they came.
Soon, after defeating 10 of the clones, Kakashi saw an opportunity. 'Robin-san's position makes a Substitution too risky. Plus may have a trap set or placed more clones throughout this area to ambush me after coming out of the technique. There's no time to check how many new eyes she has placed throughout this training field.'
As these thoughts were moving through his head, Kakashi dashed through an opening between the clones. Pouring chakra into his limbs, the Jonin moved too fast for the Robin-clones to follow, and prepared a new jutsu. "Shadow Clones jutsu!" A pair of spare Kakashi's appeared beside him. The trio stopped, two facing opposite directions, scanning the area for spare parts of Robin scattered around. While the original pivoted, facing the group of Robin-clones.
"Fire-style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Escalating the jutsu's size to encompass the remaining 20 clones, a giant fire-ball roared across the gravel, leaving no room to evade.
All of the remaining Robins were defeated, and Kakashi looked beyond the destruction he caused to find his airborn opponent. 'Hhmmmm. I can't afford to make too many clones without losing additional chakra. So collaborative-jutsu will be risky. But she has too much room up there in the sky. None of the individual long-range jutsu in my arsenal were made to fight this high of a 3-dimensional elevation. Only a combined technique may have the breadth to catch her before she could dance around it.'
"Now Dos Mil fleur! Gigantesco Mano!"
(Inside of the barrier)
"She-she-she-she-! Dad-Dad, Olvia-nee-chan! Mom can fly?!" Naruto was shouting in amazement.
Olvia grinned at her brother's excitement. "Yes, she can Whiskers-chisii. That is how innovative and inventive our mother can be. She formed 100 hands and formed them into wings from her back. It is quite amazing," she explained.
The Hokage was especially impressed. 'Robin-san powers are incredible. Not only are their nature quite esoteric. But she employs them with subtly, variety and creativity. To personally conceive of so many different methods rather than use them as a blunt instrument is very impressive.'
Meanwhile, Tsume Inuzuka was exceptionally impressed. 'Damn. I've gotta spar with her now. Robin-san's a force to be reckoned with, no doubt there. But is a pretty different way than most ninjas. Wha-'
Everyone was stunned! The earth beneath their feet was shifting, even through the Protection Barrier. Something big was coming…..
(Outside the barrier)
Kakashi was in trouble! The ground beneath him began to tremble, and he was moving upwards! Something was propelling him into the air, yet neither his eyes nor experience could immediately recognize what was happening!
His reflexes took over. Searching for a calm space to reassess his situation, the Copy-nin was bounding across the field. Even while scrambling, Kakashi moved with agile composure across the shifting ground. Quickly he landed on a clear space, and looked back behind himself…
…
His eyes beheld two pairs of humongous, disembodied legs sprouted from the ground. The size and scale of each were astonishing. Most of his thoughts for finding Robin disappeared, as Kakashi found himself scrambling to avoid all four legs as they descended on his position.
One stomped from above, while another swept close to the ground, leaving almost no space to land. Kakashi was dumbfounded. If he a Chunin the fight would have ended, right there.
If. The former ANBU had more than enough speed and skill to anticipate and evade the giant limbs with minimal strain. Although, he did feel his absent clones destroyed, bent over backwards by Robin's arms.
'Alright. There's only one jutsu in my arsenal that might work against these giant legs.'
"Shadow-clone jutsu!" As a fourth Kakashi emerged, and both began his most notorious jutsu.
His hand began to emit a distantly high-pitched chirp, building louder and louder and giving the technique a terrifying edge. Soon, the Jonin's hand was grasping a powerful compression of lightning!
"Lightning-Cutter!" The clone-Kakashi mirrored the original, as both braced their legs, pointing the arm containing this jutsu towards the ground. Yet, the original held it in his right hand, while the clone was using it's left.
Soon, both of them began to sprint towards the base of one giant leg, evading the flying debris and crushing limbs with their dojutsu.
"Lightning Cable!" Both jutsu were outstretched, forming a stream of lightning that linked the pair of Lightning-jutsu into a single crackling beam of energy.
Soon, both Kakashi's reached the base of the legs. The sprinting figures were moving around one of the legs, angling their attack to cut through the giant limb. In four seconds, the collaborative jutsu severed through one of the legs, which disappeared into the air with a breeze of flower petals.
Kakashi was feeling strained with the efforts. Yet he and the clone successful executed the same move on the three remaining limbs.
Landing across the Training ground, the pair of Copy-nin cancelled their collaborative jutsu and looked towards-Blind!
A single hand was covering Kakashi's Sharingan eye. He rose the corresponding left arm to remove it, when a sharp pain shot through his opposite hand! Turning his head, two of his right fingers were dislocated.
In the next second, an epiphany informed him that his clone was destroyed; stabbed through the head from behind by a Hana-clone as the original was distracted.
While Kakashi began to comprehend how crippled he was, both his arms were pinned to his back, bending further and further until-"Clutch."
A searing pain jarred through Kakashi. Both of his shoulders popped from their sockets. "Punt." And a sharp pain erupted from his groin.
"Aaaaiiii!" the Copy-nin cried!
Robin watched Kakashi crumple to the ground, with a smirk on her face. He had been too distracted by her giant legs and the arm covering his eye to notice her precise handiwork on his right hand. Blooming an extra leg to kick his 'family jewels' was another measure to cripple the Jonin.
However, despite this visible success, Robin remained air-born.
"Dos fleur, choke." Kakashi soon felt a pair of delicate and powerful hands closing over his throat. The Jonin had taken a breath after hearing Robin's voice, but the pressure on his trachea was excruciating.
(Inside the Barrier)
Tsume smirked at Robin's dirty hit, while the males around her paled at the implications of Robin's sharp kick. It was universal, and even a hardened ninja or stoic Hyuga could be brought low by a hard strike to their "family jewels."
Hiruzen had seen enough. Quickly dropping the barrier, he commanded "That is enough! Robin-san, release Kakashi!"
Immediately, Robin dispelled her arms, and smiled sweetly at the Hokage. "I agree. Mask-san likely cannot take much more after perhaps losing his chance to have children."
Result: Decisive win by Robin.
0….0
Each of the clan heads and the village Elders were quite impressed with the spar. Robin had successful controlled the fight and continued to surprise Kakashi. While the Jonin had been cautious and reactive against her, Robin had been deceptive and proactive. Kakashi had driven the match, while Robin controlled the match.
The only instance where Kakashi had the dominant edge during their fight was with taijutsu. While Robin had a comparatively atypical approach, unlike Olvia's advantage over Academy students, this innate difference it was not enough to unbalance a Jonin of Kakashi's calibre. He decidedly outmatched Robin through speed and strength and revealed Robin's physical fortitude to be that of a featherweight.
Otherwise, Robin did not reveal all of her powers too early in the fight, and used them in tandem to incapacitate, distract, and cripple her opponent. She showed how knowledgeable she was of certain Ninja arts by countering a well-placed genjutsu and outmaneuvering his ninjutsu.
A Medical-nin moved forward to tend to their injuries. Robin's electrical burns and bruised abdomen were quickly healed, and she rejoined her family. Naruto was amazed by the fight, and especially by all the different ways Robin used her powers.
"Mom, Mom, Mom! That was so amazing! Ya Know!" The boy was jolting with excitement. "Those giant legs were so, so cool! And Why Didn't You Tell Me You Could Fly! You are so cool and powerful! It's awesome that you beat a Jonin! And you made that Masked guy look so weak!"
Nearly everyone cringed at his bluntness, while Zoro smirked in agreement. "Naruto-Kun!" Robin scolded her son. "I may have won. But Kakashi-san is far from weak at all. Remember, he was able to match me for quite a while, even though he knew nothing about my powers at all. He is an exceptionally skilled and very famous shinobi." The woman grinned in anticipation of what would come next. "So much so, they call him the man who knows a Thousand jutsu."
Naruto's faced suddenly morphed into awe, and apprehension. He violently turned towards Kakashi, who was silent as the fingers of his hand were reset. "I-I-I'm really, really sorry Kakashi-san!"
In a moment, Naruto was standing in front of the Jonin, bowing his head in forgiveness. "You must be really great, or Ji-uh…Oji-san Hokage would not have chosen you to fight with my Mom. I'm really sorry that I said you looked weak. Th…those lightning jutsu that you used were so cool and powerful. And-"
Kakashi was at a loss. There was no chance to accept the apology as Naruto stuttered our more and more praises to him.
"Huh. There's nothing to worry about, Naruto-san," the man eventually answered. "I accept your apology. Truth be told, you Mom is quite a lot more powerful than I am. I may not have lasted much longer if she hadn't beaten me so well."
"Got that right! Your clones didn't' even see the extra eye she had on your back all the time! Hahahahahaha!" Tsume smirked.
….Kakashi felt a sinking feeling in his gut. "Eyes…on my back?" he asked dumbfounded.
"Hmmm." Danzo Shimura softly grunted. "Throughout the course of your match. Everyone inside the barrier noticed one of Robin-san's eyes attached to the back of your jacket. She also grew an ear in the same location. Presumably to track all of your movements no matter what happened over the course of this fight.
When you created Shadow-clones, she dispelled them. Then once you were separated from them by her giant legs, they reappeared. Not only on you but also on your clones, who were divided by the limbs. That was likely how she sprouted the additional arms to destroy the clones so casually." The elder summarized.
Danzo was especially concerned over these displays. If it could be used in battle so seamlessly, then Robin could likely do the same to spy on anyone in the village at her leisure. Including himself at the ROOT…
"That is correct, Shimura-san." Robin spoke up. "I wanted to keep track of Mask-san no matter where he disappeared to. So I bloomed an extra eye and ear outside of his Sharingan's sight-line. Both proved essential against his genjutsu, as I felt the sensation of dirty and rocks touch them while under his illusion."
Kakashi himself felt humbled and embarrassed by his performance against Roronoa-Nico Robin.
'She controlled the spar immediately from the start, and never lost that control anywhere.
I was too passive in this fight. Even though I drove most of the action, she subverted and outmaneuvered me from the first moment. Plus, dislocating my fingers…' His eyes travelled down to his hand. 'Even with all of my techniques, at least 80% of them were gone the moment she dislocated those fingers. I couldn't even throw a punch or use any ninjutsu at all. Sharingan genjutsu and crippled taijutsu would have been my only chances.
Have I gone that out of it since leaving the ANBU? I need to be more proactive, and probably look into some-.'
'Dra-Dumn…..'
Kakashi's entire body shook, the sensation reverberating to his head. Suddenly, he collapsed.
After a moment, the Medical-nin determined he had partial chakra-exhaustion. While it would recover after a single day, he had nonetheless used a huge portion of his chakra over the course of the fight.
"It's seems my estimations were accurate. Even if it did not come into play." Robin observed
Everyone's heads turned towards her, troubled by her disturbingly calculating smile.
"One notable weakness shared by all Shinobi is the danger of chakra-exhaustion. Zoro and I do not have such a dangerous limitation. Nor do our powers have a similar tax on our vitality. Over the course of our lives, we have both trained and fought for entire hours, and in some cases days, without experiencing similar reverberations.
During our visit to Kumogakure, they had quite an extensive record of how certain Kekkei Genkai could affect someone if they were implanted rather than naturally produced. One such weakness was tied to the Sharingan, and its unusually rapid drain on the chakra reserves of anyone outside of the Uchiha genetic line."
Robin closed her eyes, appearing quite cute as she tilted her head aside. "The long periods where Kakashi-san and I simply observed or traded words with each other were completely calculated. With each second that passed, every moment he was searching for me, and every jutsu he cast, Mask-san's chakra reserves were drained like blood through an open vein. Eventually he would collapse no matter what occurred during our spar."[9]
Every Shinobi's mouth was dropped in awe.
While Zoro smirked with pride at his wife's cunning plan, and everyone's reactions at her morbidly cheer disposition. Olvia was rigid; stunned at the sight of how impactful chakra-exhaustion could be. While Naruto was confused.
Yet-
"YYYYOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHHH!"
"I Cannot Wait Any Longer!" Guy was standing near the barrier. Zoro and Robin saw an eerily familiar aura of flames dancing around his body.
"That Spar Between Robin-San And My Eternal Rival Has Lit My Youthful Blood Into A Blazing Inferno!" The man's hands clenched into terrifyingly tight fists, rising above his head. "I Need To Let Loose These Blistering Flames Of Youth Before They Incinerate Me From Within!
Zoro-San! Hokage-Sama!" The man was suddenly at the feet of both men. His body dangerously trembling like an overheated boiler.
"Please Begin Our Spar Immediately! I Cannot Remain Complacent Any Longer!"
…'Huh.' The Hokage sighed at the man's enthusiasm. 'I suppose it is a gift from the Kami that he stayed patient and quite for this long.'
"Very well. Guy-san, begin to warm-up. Zoro-san will join you after a minute with his wife."
Roronoa Zoro vs. Might Guy:
Guy rushed to a corner of Training Ground 75 and began warming up for the coming fight. While most of the assembled crowd returned to the parameters of the Protection Barrier, and Naruto, Olvia and Robin took a moment with Zoro.
"I'm really excited to see how great your swords are, Dad! You're going to do fantastic! Believe it!" Naruto shouted in excitement. "Papa, I'm eager to see this fight too." Olvia chimed in. "You haven't had a formal fight like this one since fighting Bad-Rapper-san in Kumogakure."
Zoro nodded at them both, then turned towards his wife. With a confident grin, he promised her, "I'll be fine against this weirdo, Onna. You don't need to worry." Reassured by her husband's endless confidence, Robin stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. The pair were quickly locked in a passionate kiss.
"Eww!" Naruto cried.
While she internally smirked, Robin pulled back and smiled at her husband. "Let's make our children amazed at the both of us, Zoro-koi. If you do, I will absolutely reward you later tonight, in bed." She promised, taking hold of his hand and moving it to her right breast. With her body turned slightly, their children did not see the frisky gesture.
Zoro was surprised and grew a moderate blush. Before Robin kissed his check again and stepped away.
The Swordsman's eyes followed his wife's flawlessly sculptured behind for a moment, as she led Naruto and Olvia to stand behind the Hokage. Then he cleared all distractions from his mind and focused solely on his opponent.
Meanwhile, Guy noticed everyone had left the field, and the Hokage had reactivated the barrier. "Yosh!" he cried, spinning around into his classic "Nice-Guy" Pose. "Our Long-Awaited Contest Has Finally Arrived! Are You Ready Zoro-San!" Giving a thumbs-up at the swordsman.
Zoro blinked at Guy's exclamations. After a few deep, composing breaths, The World's Greatest Swordsman grinned at his opponent. Reminiscent of a hungry shark, Zoro smirked at him with a deadly eager glint in his single eye.
"No reason to wait any longer," Zoro stated, sliding his feet into a balance stance, his left hip pivoted towards the ninja. His hands rested on the hilt of his preferred blade, steady and calm as a gentle river.
Guy nodded in agreement; raising his right hand in the same gesture that Kakashi had made to Robin. Unlike his wife, Zoro did not return it to his opponent. Instead, his right hand took hold of Shusui's sheath, his thumb flicking the guard to extend the blade outwards by an inch.
The next moment, Guy was sprinting at his opponent! "Lead-Hurricane!" In 5 seconds, he covered 50 meters, and was in a flying leap, bearing down towards Zoro.
His legs extended in a dramatic flying tornado-kick, to by stopped immediately! Shusui was drawn in Zoro's left hand, using the flat of the blade to block Guy's strike.
The eyes of every Konoha shinobi narrowed at the feat. 'That's not an ordinary katana,' Kakashi observed. From experience, he knew that the full power of Guy's legs could shatter an average sword into shards of steel. Yet this blade of Zoro's hand held against one of Guy's most iconic attacks.
Guy himself noted this feat but continued to attack. Zoro remained focused and composed, still only using one blade. Warding off each strike from Guy and giving his own counters. Yet, despite how immediate and intense the fight was shaping, Zoro was disappointed.
'Curly-ero-brows was more challenging than this Green-loving freak. I'm starting to feel disappointed.'
Guy continued to drive the action, escalating the pace of the fight. Driving linear kicks and punches towards Zoro, the smaller motions involved making it easier to retract an arm or leg from exposure to a counter-slash.
Strike. Deflect. Back-step and dart-in. cross-cut and recover. Kick, straight, front kick. Back-step, duck, upwards slash.
After probing Zoro's guard and finding no openings, Guy dashed in to extreme close range, his face and torso inches from Zoro's. 'Here, I can use knee, elbow and grappling moves from inside his sword-guard.' Yet Zoro casually dodged the elbows flying to his head, and a knee spearing towards his gut.
As Guy frowned in surprise, he nearly ignored Zoro's sidestep. With a comfortable distance re-established between them, the swordsman took over the pace of the spar.
Escalating his own speed and rhythm, the Greatest Swordsman formed a bewildering pattern of slashes. Guy worked to follow the pattern of his attack, searching for a weakness in the kata. But none was there!
While Zoro followed a practiced and consistent sword-kata, his arm and wrist would slightly twist with each repeated strike. These miniscule changes altered the angle of his slash by the fraction of a degree, changing the target of his attack by millimetres.
In the world of swordsmanship, such a small distance is the difference between life and death. Guy was reeling back with no opportunity to counter his opponent.
Zoro rapidly outpaced Guy, forcing him on to the defensive. Guy was soon backing in retreat from Zoro's lethal efficiency, but Zoro pursued him. His single blade transferred into rapid thrusts to keep the ninja backing further and further away. Closer to the nearby cliff-face of the former quarry they were fighting in.
Guy narrowly ducted one blow, rolling backwards to disengage from the fight.
Coming to a stop, he was surprised to find Zoro above him, his dark blade raised in both hands above his head. Deliberately, Guy's leg shot forward, intercepting the strike as it moved for his head.
CHGGGGRRRRR-AALNNNGGG!
The jarring sound of metal striking concrete echoed through the clearing. Zoro was surprised! 'That's almost like Haki!' "Hhh. So, can turn your leg into solid stone, like those earth-ninja in Land of stone? Not bad, especially with no hand-signs." Zoro complimented.
Turning his leg so that the sword was turned aside, Guy back-sprung to his feet, and promptly jumped to the cliff-face. Running up the side to put more distance between him and the non-ninja, the Taijutsu Specialist turned, and dropped to his knees.
"No. I'm afraid you have misjudged what is going on, Zoro-san."
Reaching for his orange leg-warmers, Guy prepared to unlimber himself.
(Inside the barrier)
"Hmmm! Don't tell me he's still wearing those!" Kakashi stated exasperatedly.
"Hm? Is something wrong with Jumpsuit-san, Mask-san?" Robin turned to him.
Kakashi's remaining eye narrowed, before closing in resignation. "HHhhhhhhhhhh." With a sign, the man promptly palmed his face. "Guy…has a tendency to redefine the concepts of 'ridiculous extremes.' His antics when it comes to personal training are almost insane. You should all watch carefully what's about to happen."
Turning back to the contest, Robin raised her eyebrow at the sight.
"What are those on Bushy-brows-san's ankle?" Naruto cried in curiosity.
(Outside the barrier)
'Zoro-san…' Guy's eyes were trained on the figure below him as he removed his leg weights. 'I've never encountered someone with such conviction and passion. Those eyes…and his movements carry such powerful weight behind them. As if he is carrying something heavier than the world resting on his shoulders. Yet I can feel that it only empowers him.
That's all aside from his skills and power. Asuma-san, Yugao-san and Hayate-san don't measure-up to even ¼ of his skill with a blade. These movements thus far have only been high fundamentals, the base-line capabilities that he can use. Yet their power and passion are beyond measure. His advanced skills must carry the same weight of what I have seen already.
No hold back!' the taijutsu Beast resolved..
Zoro's eye narrowed at the weights in Guy's hands. 'So that's what Shusui hit. How could the guy be moving so well with those holding-down his ankles?'
Then Guy dropped the weights.
(Inside the barrier)
Robin's mouth was curved in a smile. "Bushy-brows-san? Naruto-kun." The boy turned towards her. "I like your nickname for Guy-san. It is quite accurate, and far better than my own selection."
Naruto's face grew into a huge smile, as he did at every compliment form his family. "Thank's Mom I-"
"Look!" Instinctively, everyone glanced back at the fight.
GRAWCCCCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!-
The entire quarrier shook for whole moments. Two clear plums of dust erupted 50m. skywards!
All the people inside nearly lost their balance at the colossal impact.
"WH-WH-WH-WH-"
"What in the blazing hell was that idiot doing with those on his ankles!" Tsume Inuzuka exclaimed.
Everyone inside was amazed, even Kakashi and especially Robin. After a second, the implications sunk in. "Bushy-brows-san was running and fighting with those weighing him down!" she exclaimed in incredulity.
Hirzuen let out a sigh at just the scene. 'He is even more ridiculous and obsessed than his father was.'
"Zoro-" Robin whispered in apprehension. She knew the fight was about to become far more dangerous.
The sight was guaranteed to make Zoro dangerously excited…
To be continued…
I may be cruel, but at 11,000 words and over a month, I thought this was a good place to cut-off the chapter. Admittingly, a sadistic pleasure was also involved, leaving the second fight at a cliff-hanger like this one.
A special thanks to SwordsoftheGod's for his feedback to some concepts I had, and Jabrax19 Beta-Reading this chapter.
The end of the fight, and a few surprised, will follow this chapter shortly.
Also, I know that my depictions of these fights will generated a lot of intense feedback…to put it mildly. An explanation chapter will follow this one to outline my perspectives and insights as to why the fights would shape and end the way they are, to save me a few dozen explanations to different fans and followers.
Note: Haki. I will not feature any characters utilizing Haki unless they have awakened it in canon One Piece. This includes Robin. Although I highly believe she will eventually learn to use the power.
Please, Read and Review! How were my fight-scenes written? Were my presentation of the characters authentic? How did you feel at the family-scene between Naruto and Robin? And my humor towards Zoro and Olvia?
[1]-Yes. Zoro's direction inhibition is as bad as it ever was! :D
[2]-This is completely originally.
[3]-Robin's nickname for Tsume Inuzuka. "Tsume," means "talon, or "claw" in Japanese.
[4]-"kekkai ninjutsu"=barrier jutsu.
[5]-Stationary Ultimate Protection Barrier. Non-canon, invented for this story. Konoha secret jutsu, S-class Protection Barrier, used by preparing intricate sealing tags on the ground and requires the chakra of two Kage-class shinobi. Capable of protecting the marked area from virtually any attack but limited to a max. 100-meter radius. Capable of blocking both attacks and sound, leaving a group inside able to strategize without giving away plans to an enemy outside. Developed by Tobirama Senju to be used as an emergence fall-back for medium-sized divisions, or to protect command positions on a battlefield. Tested against Hashirama Senju's Deep Forest Bloom jutsu and held.
[6]-"Hitai-ate"=Forehead protector.
[7]-"Red-mane-sama." My choice of Robin's nickname for Red-haired Shanks.
[8]-I am aware that this has not been confirmed in-canon. However, Robin's Hana-hana clones have often been seen taking damage from an attack yet leaving the original unscathed; particularly when Luffy and Jinbe punched through one without hurting her. I am hesitant to say that she has completely removed this weakness without any concrete declarations from the canon, so this answer is a logical alternative.
[9]-This spar was marginally shorter than Kakashi's first bought with Zabuza, but did include a wider range of taxing jutsu; especially four shadow-clones, two Lightning-Cutters and the strain of maintaining the Lightning-Cable for several moments. He's not as exhausted as he was in Nami, but still very drained.