TRT16: Path of a Shinobi! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, Naruto and other properties belong to the respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Special Note: This story takes place shortly after the first "Robotech War".
Part 10
The battle against the Pain, leader of the Amegakure, continued, as all six paths appeared to attack our heroes. It was decided that, upon knowing that the paths used each other's eyes as the equivalent of the Byakugan, in terms of having so-called "Perfect Vision" (i.e. the ability to see 360 degrees while standing still), Jiraiya-sage, Ranko and Orochimaruko decided to split up, lessening Pain's advantage. Considering the fact that Amegakure was a village that also served as the water reclamation apparatus for the entire region, there were plenty of spaces to take the fight from the populated centers. Of course, Pain knew this, but was perfectly prepared to sacrifice his bodies in order to gauge his opponent's defenses…
"This is ridiculous," Shima (Mother of Toads) said, as she, Jiraiya-sage and her husband Fukasaku (Father of Toads), rand down the darkened hallway. "We're sages. We shouldn't be running away like this."
"It can't be helped, Ma," Fukasaku said, as he grimaced. "We have to stick to the plan. One of the kids has to die this day, so that the others can live, so we have to make sure that each of them has an equal chance at surviving."
Pause.
"But the others don't know that you're volunteered to sacrifice yourselves, eh, boy?" Fukasaku said, as he turns towards Jiraiya.
"Ranma and Usagi are too important to the world to die," Jiraiya-sage said grimly. "And don't want Naruto to lose his parents again."
Pause.
"But when the time comes, I want you two to free yourselves from my body," Jiraiya-sage said solemnly. "No matter what, okay?"
"Very
"Then we should do as much damage as possible," Shima said.
"Then let's employ our favorite genjutsu, 'Demonic Illusion: Toad Confrontation'," Fukasuku said. "Just remember to stay on cue, Ma."
"Me? Why don't you, you old goat!"
"I'm a frog, dear. So, there!"
"Please, let's begin," Jiraiya-sage said, as he gets into a horse stance.
"Right!" the two Toad Sages said, as they begin their technique. The sound that they were making echoed throughout the infrastructure…
Meanwhile, Ranko was dealing with the Petra Path and the Human Path of Pain.
"Okay, you bastards," Ranko said, as she shifts into an attack stance. "Here I come-!"
As Ranko rushes forward, the Human Path moves to intercept at superhuman speed. Ranko sees this, smiles, and slides forward unto the ground. She then whirls around to deliver a leg sweep, only to have the Human Path leap out of the way at the last minute. Seeing this, Ranko punches the air, releasing a modification of her classic martial arts technique: the Moka Takabisha no Bullet. This technique actually created a sonic boom in its wake. Predictably, the Petra Path moves to intercept the energy attack, in the hope to absorb it. However, Ranko predicted this.
"Hiru Shoten Ha!" Ranko yelled, as she throws a powerful tornado at the two paths. Desperately, the Petra Path tried to absorb this attack while absorbing the previous attack. Fortunately, the strain was too much for the Petra Path, as his arms were nearly ripped out of their sockets, even as the Human Path tried to quickly recover in order to save his partner.
"Oh, no you don't!" Ranko said, as she slides forward with her right foot, before stomping the ground. A loud thump could be heard, as infrastructure buckles up and shoots out a large, stone column up that smacks both paths of Pain, smashing them into the ceiling and beyond.
"Losers," Ranko said, as she no longer senses her opponent's energy signatures. "Now, to see how Usagi is doing…"
Meanwhile, Orchimaruko was dealing with the Asura Path and Naraka Path.
"Look, guys, we don't have to fight," Orochimaruko said. "And I know you are in there, Nagato! So, let's by-gone be by-gone, and settle this matter like adults-"
The Asura Path, the more weirder-looking of the two, sticks out his forearms, and exposes-
"Missiles?" Orochimaruko ("Orochi" for short) said, as the Asura Path discharges his first volley of missiles at the magical-girl-turned-snake-lady. "Ah, come on. You have to do better than that-"
The missiles sail and reach their intended target range, but miss their intended target.
"Ulp!" Orochi yelped, as she leaps out of the way. She continues to leap, hop and skip, as the Asura Path continues to discharge his missiles…
"Forget this!" Orochi yelled, as she, while performing a single-handed jutsu. "Summoning Technique: Ballistic Missile Snake!"
Orochi coughs up a large, red snake from her mouth by launching it into the air. It arcs a bit, and then spews a hundred smaller snakes. Those snakes fan out before spewing a hundred smaller snakes each.
"Hisss-!" the mass of snakes hissed, before dropping on the Asura Path. As they made contact, they all exploded, creating a fiery holocaust.
"Ha, dusted!" Orochi yelled, as she gave a victory dance. However, the Naraka Path used that opportunity to grab Orochi, starting with her mouth, while using his free hand to press her wrist to the small of her back.
"Mmmph!" Orochi said, as the Naraka Path summons the Outer Path. The Outer Path was, in fact, a Yama King that Ranma had destroyed while in the guise of Izanagi, the primogenitor of the gods of Japan, when he freed his then-wife Hoshi (as the Izanami) from Hell. This was the result of the Jade Emperor, the lord of Chinese Heaven, wanting Ranma to bow to him after punishing his wife for Ranma's defiance. Naturally, Ranma did the opposite of what the Jade Emperor wanted, and went on to defeat the Jade Warlord, the legendary Goku (not to be confused with Son Goku of Chikyuu), and the Yama King who took his wife to begin with. Orochi (as Usagi) heard about this, but was surprised to see that Pain was able to control even a Yama King…
"Mmmmph!" Orcohi said, as the Yama King opens his mouth, and tendrils shot out of his mouth.
'Forget this!' the Moon Princess thought, as she activates her next trick, one that was unique to a kunoichi…
"Mmmmph!" Orochi said, as she unleashed her "inner serpent", as the pink snake drops down, slides behind the Naraka Path, and attacked him from behind…by swallowing his head first.
"Arrrgh-!" the Naraka Path yelled.
"Ha-ha!" Orochi yelled, as she leaps out of the path of the tendrils of the Outer Path. "Forgotten why female shinobi are called 'kunoichi', eh Nagato? You know: nine plus one, if you know what I mean?"
Orochi then performs her most serious jutsu, starting with pricking her blood, and drawing on her forearm with it…
"Luckily, my body's former possessor knew countless of jutsus, which, in turn, enabled me to create new ones, like this…"
Orochi then completes the jutsu.
"Summoning Technique: Grasp of the Leviathan!" Orochi said, as she completes her jutsu by slamming her palm unto the ground.
Before the Outer Path could do anything, the air above opens up, as symbols rotate around an ever expanding opening. Large chains fall down, through the hole, and latches onto the Yama King. The Yama King roars in pain, as it struggles to return to its own realm.
"Our first catch of the day," said a regal man dressed in leather, a hakama and leather, as he stood at Orochi's side. However, the fact that he spoke in a deep voice, had blue skin, and had a bald head with nails all over his scalp indicated something outer-worldly.
"It's not every day that we entertain a dead god…"
"Indeed, Pinhead," Orochi replied. "That is, if you managed to tame him."
The Outer Path moves to reveal a great sword in his hand. With one swing, the Outer Path breaks the chain, and slides back into his personal realm.
"Tch," Pinhead said.
"Don't complain," Orochi said. "With these wars Earth has been having lately, the ranks of the Cenobites have grown, as well as the ranks of those foolish enough to visit 'Leviathan's Realm'."
"True, true," Pinhead mused, as he rubs his chin. "Very well, I shall withhold my ire on this matter for now."
"Good," Orochi said, as her ears picked up familiar sound. "At any rate, I must go. So, 'clean up' on the way out."
And, with that, Orochi leaves the hall, and runs in the direction of the clarion call of the duet of frogs.
Meanwhile, thanks to the Great Toad Sages, Jiraiya-sage maneuvers the Deva Path and the Animal Path into a genjutsu trap. Now, locked in their own mind, thanks to the Toad Confrontation jutsu, the two remaining paths confront Jiraiya.
"I never knew that you knew such a powerful jutsu, Jiraiya-sensei," the Deva Path said.
"I taught you much, but I didn't teach you everything," Jiraiya-sag said with a sigh. "You failed to learn the lessons I have taught you, and have become a dangerous threat. I cannot allow that to continue."
Pause.
"Farewell…"
With the illusion gone, the two great toad sages and Jiraiya-sage leave to rendezvous with his companions.
"We must find the real Negato, then we can end this," Jiraiya-sage said.
"You found him," said a voice from behind.
"Wha-?" Jiraiya-sage replied, as he turns too late, before he is blasted out of the infrastructure.
Outside, Jiriaya-sage quickly recovers, but loses an arm in the process.
"Boy, your arm-!" Shima cried.
"I know, but the hell hit me?" Jiraiya grimaced, as he clutched his stump. "That almost sounded like-"
Six bodies fly out of the hole that was made by Jiraiya's body, and land in front of the great toad sage, and Jiraiya-sage.
"No, it can't be!" Fukasuku exclaimed.
"Yes, it can," said the Heaven Path, as she stood ready. Other than the orange hair, the bolts and studs on her face, and Rinnegan eyes, this path looked exactly like Usagi Tsukino.
"You cost us a lot, Jiraiya-sensei," said the Hell Path, who, other than the orange hair, the bolts and studs on his face, and Rinnegan eyes, this path looked exactly like Ranma Saotome.
"And we're going to use you as a warning for your village," the two paths said in unison, as they struck.
'Forgive me, Naruto',' Jiraiya said, as he braced for impact…
Within five seconds, attack by the newest Paths of Pain.
"What the hell happened?" Ranko said, as she arrives, as she surveys the battle damage. She looks at the water below, and sees a familiar face floating on a piece of debris.
"Jiraiya!" Ranko said, as she leaps down to his old friend. Jiraiya looked like a pin cushion, thanks to having black rods stuck in her.
"Jiraiya-!"
Jiraiya says nothing, as he wrote on the surface of the debris in blood…
"Ranma?" Orochi said, as she drops behind the kunoichi. "What in the world-?"
"Shhh!" Ranko replied, as she read the kanji, but in code, that Jiraiya wrote:
Ma and Pa: safe at home
Waiting: for the twins.
Village: not safe.
The Pain of Heaven and Hell: will attack.
Must leave: warn the village of danger.
Future: prepare to face Pain.
"What does it say?" Orochi asked.
"We have to leave, now," Ranko said sadly. "Are you sure?
Jiraiya nods his head, as he smiles. His life passes before his eyes…
"Interesting book," said Minato Namikaze, as he finishes reading it, as he places it on the table. "You certainly outdid yourself.
"It was nothing," Jiraiya said jokingly. "Blame it on good source material."
Pause.
"As well as me being inspired by your exploits and Kushina's."
"I still say that hanging out with women all the time is a good source of inspiration," Kushina said, as she held her stomach. Obviously, she was heavy with child.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I wanted to know if I have your permission to name one of our kids…'Naruto'," Minato replied.
"Really?" Jiraiya said with surprise.
"Really," Kushina replied.
"Shucks, I don't know what to say," Jiraiya said.
"Just say yes," Minato said with a smile.
"Well, when you put it like that…"
With that, Jiraiya was named "Godfather" to Minato and Kushina's children, and was honored that that they would name their son after the hero of his book…
"Hang on, Jiraiya!" Ranko said, as she and Orochi ran out of Amegakure post-haste while Ranko was carrying the dying Jiraiya. It was mere minutes after finding Jiraiya that the Heaven and Hell Paths attacked, forcing a strategic withdrawal. As much as Ranko and Orochi wanted to face them now, some things were more important…
"Don't die on us!" Orochi said tearfully, as she covered their escape, with them being chased by the Heaven and Hell Paths out of the village. "We'll find you some help-!"
'Heh',' Jiraiya thought, as his life slowly ebbed away. 'Minato and Kushina…they are always playing the hero…just like the characters in my book…'
And, with that, Jiraiya, the so-called Toad Sage and master of Love…dies. At least, he died in the hands of a pretty girl…
Tbc.