Last time Naruto, Luffy and their respective groups confronted Nerissa and Pai-Mey. After a few minutes of banter, the battle began. Naruto was the first to face Pai-Mey, but was soon defeated, but not killed. Sakura went next, then Shikamaru and Ino. They tried and failed to defeat Pai-Mey. Zolo went next and was soon brought down. It wasn't until Neji failed that Saske figured out that Pai-Mey was absorbing the chakra used against her. Chouji managed to hurt Pai-Mey, but he was soon blasted. Luffy and Chopper were next to fall victim to Pai-Mey's energy draining power. All this time Will was still catatonic, while Matt tried his best to bring her around. On with the show!

Chapter 10: Pai-Mey's Power part 2

"This doesn't look good from where I'm standing," said Cornelia. "That's the understatement of the year," said Irma, "In my humble opinion." "Get it together you two," said Taranee, "Our friends are getting their collective asses kicked, and all you can do is bicker."

"There has to be something we can do," said Nigel, "I just can't stand here and watch." "If you go down there," said Eric, "Pai-Mey will drain you of your energy until there's nothing left." "What we need to do," said Hay Lin, "Is wait for Will to recover. Then we can go help our friends."

Meanwhile outside the gates of The Temple, things were not looking good at all. "What can we do?" asked Sakura, "Every time we attack Pai-Mey, she just absorbs the chakra we use." "I'm working on it," said Saske, "I just need more time to think." "Time is a luxury we don't have I'm afraid," said Shino, "So allow me to purchase that time."

"So," said Pai-Mey as Shino entered the battle area, "Another lamb to the slaughter." "I'm more of a ram than a lamb," said Shino, "And you are in for a world of hurt. There's your supper my pretties! Go get it!" From the sleeves of Shino's jacket emerged thousands upon thousands of small black beetles.

"I think I'm going to be sick!" exclaimed a thoroughly disgusted Taranee, "He just lets those things live on him?" "From what I remember," said Hay Lin, "Those beetles live on him and in him. They're bound to Shino by his chakra. He feeds the beetles some of his energy, they get to fight his battles for him."

The rapidly growing cloud of beetles emerging from Shino's jacket didn't at all disturb back outside Pai-Mey. "Chakra beetles?" mocked Pai-Mey, "Is that what you call a ninja technique? You're even more pathetic than Naruto." Shino said nothing as the hoard of beetles flew towards Pai-Mey. The swarm landed on her body en-mass. Suddenly there was a red flash coming from Pai-Mey's from, and all the beetles fell off of her to the ground, all apparently dead.

"How!" exclaimed a shocked and appalled Shino, "What did you do?" "Nothing much," said Pai-Mey in a tone that sounded like it really was nothing, "I just reversed the polarity of my chakra. Your little pets couldn't handle the reversed energy field, so they died."

"She can do that?" asked a disturbed Nami as Pai-Mey knocked Shino unconscious, "Can she do that?" "It's possible," said Sakura, "In theory, but only if one has total control over their chakra. It's a dangerous process, one that takes up a lot of stamina."

"And without stamina," said Kankuro, "One can't make chakra. I'm going in." "Just what makes you think you're going in ahead of me?" asked Temari. "For starters I'm the oldest," said Kankuro, "At least I think I'm the oldest." With that Kankuro entered the battle area while Hinata and Kiba helped Shino out.

"Just because you've beaten everyone before me," said Kankuro as he set his bandaged wrapped puppet down, "Doesn't mean you're invincible. You're going down!" "Yeah whatever," said Pai-Mey, "I'm bored, so I'll finish you off quickly." She raised her red arm at Kankuro and shot a red energy beam at him. The beam struck Kankuro before he could move, producing a loud explosion.

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Cornelia. "He's dead all right," said Caleb. "Don't count him out yet," said Hay Lin, "I think this round is just getting started." "Are you blind or something!" exclaimed Irma, "He just got blasted at point blank range." "I don't think it was Kankuro who got blasted," said Martin, "My little turtledove." "Stop calling me stuff like that!" raged Irma.

Martin was right, for it wasn't Kankuro who got blasted. When the smoke from the explosion cleared, standing right where Kankuro was, was his large puppet. The puppet was exactly the same height as Kankuro, wearing a gray poncho. It had 4 arms and three eyes.

"If that's the puppet," said Usopp, "Where's Kankuro?" "Right were he always was," said Temari, "Look." What appeared to be the bandaged wrapped puppet emerged Kankuro. "I think I get it," said Nami, "Sometime before entering the battle, Kankuro switched placed with his puppet."

"Quite the parlor trick," said Pai-Mey, "Worthy of my appreciation." "If you thought that was cool," said Kankuro as he readied his chakra puppet to attack, "You ain't seen nothing yet!" "Tempting," said Pai-Mey, "But no." Faster than Kankuro could react, Pai-Mey vanished and reappeared behind him. She slammed her red arm into Kankuro's back right behind his heart, producing a howl of agony from him.

"Well he didn't last long," said Irma. "That does it!" exclaimed Nigel, "I'm going down there!" "No you're not," said Taranee in a stern voice, "We're all staying up here where we can help Will if she need it." "I know you too well," said Nigel, "It's pointless to argue with you."

Meanwhile Matt was still trying to reach Will, who was still catatonic from her experience from looking into the mirror. "Please Will," said Matt, "We need you. I need you. Come back to us, please." He closed his eyes and squeezed her hand. A single teardrop fell from his eyes and landed on her hand.

Matt got a surprise when he felt Will's hand squeeze back. He opened his eyes to see her eyes blink. "I think she's coming out of it," said Matt, "Will, if you can here me, blink again." A few second went by, and slowly Will blinked again.

"It had begun," said The Oracle, "Will is beginning to accept what she has seen in the mirror." "And not a moment too soon," said Eric, "Things keep going from worse to even more worse down there."

Back on the battlefield Temari covered her brother's escape from Pai-Mey by use of her giant fan. "Here's an attack that doesn't need chakra!" exclaimed Temari as she swung her fan back and forth, "Ninja art: Wind Scythe Jutsu!". Each swing produced a huge blast of wind, Pai-Mey had to channel her chakra to her feet just to maintain her footing on the ground.

"Need some assistance?" asked Nerissa whom all this time was watching from the sidelines. "I don't need help from you!" exclaimed Pai-Mey, "I need no one!" "That's your weakness," shouted Temari as she increased the strength of her fan swings, "A Shinobi works best in a team. My siblings and I are strongest together, just as Naruto, Saske and Sakura are strongest when they work together. The same goes with the others, and with every ninja. You whom have spent her entire life alone would never understand this."

By now the winds Temari was creating were so powerful, so strong, they were producing small cuts on Pai-Mey. "Be as that may," said Pai-Mey, "I'm still better than any team of Shinobi!" "How so?" asked Temari, "oh, and in case you're wondering, I can keep this up all day!" "I wasn't," said Pai-Mey as she raised her red arm above her head, "What makes me better than you is that I have complete control over my chakra, both internally and on the energy I expel by my Behelit arm!"

With that she shot an energy beam from her arm. The beam shot up and over the battle area, arcing down to Temari. She stopped swinging her fan and tried to dodge the beam. It struck her a glancing blow, but it was enough to do considerable damage.

"I don't know how much more this can go on," said Caleb, "Our friends are dropping like flies." "They won't have much longer to hold them off," said Matt, "I think Will's coming out of it. She's looking at me now!" Indeed Will's eyes were on Matt. "Can she walk?" asked Irma. "I don't think so," said Matt. "Then she still can't help," said Taranee, "We still have to wait."

"This can't go on," said Caleb in a strained tone as he looked towards The Oracle, "Oracle," said Caleb, "Isn't there something you can do to help Will recover?" "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do," said The Oracle, "This is Will's test."

"But you're The Oracle!" exclaimed Matt, "There must be something you can do to help!" "Believe me I want to help her," said The Oracle, "But no magic in all of existence can help Will. She must do this on her own." "Well that's just great!" exclaimed Cornelia, "That's just damn great!"

"But what's the point of magic if it can't use it to help someone you care about?" asked Irma. "That," said The Oracle as he looked at Jaden, "Is what heroes are for." It was as if something clicked on in Jaden's mind, for a look of clarity dawned on his face. "Of course," said Jaden, "Of course, that's exactly what heroes are for, or in my case, Elemental Heroes!" "What are you talking about?" asked Irma.

"I think I know what's going on in his head," said Cornelia, "You're planning to Duel either Pai-Mey or Nerissa." "I don't know what I'm going to do against Pai-Mey," said Jaden, "But if I can get Nerissa to accept a challenge, and if she'll wager the crystal in a Shadow Game, I believe I can win it back." Jaden then turned to head back inside Temple to head downstairs.

He was back in less than a minute. "Um," he said with a nervous grin on his face, "How do I get out of here?" Everyone sighed in annoyance. "I'll show you how to get downstairs and outside," said Hay Lin. "I'll come with you," said Eric. "I'll come as well," said Caleb, "I want a closer look of the fight." "Where you go," said Cornelia, "I go."

"We're getting our collective assess kicked," said Kiba to Saske, "And you're just standing there." "I'm trying to think," said Saske, "If you want to get the life drained from you, go right ahead and attack." "I like my life energy where it is," said Kiba, "So what's the plan?" "I maybe stating the obvious," said Hinata, "But we need to immobilize that red arm of hers. She can't drain our chakra if she can't move it."

"If you can keep her in one spot for a few seconds," said Usopp as he rummaged in his trusty side bag, "I can hit her with this," in one hand was his trusty slingshot; in the other was a large red marble with a black stripe on it, "This little gem explodes on impact," said Usopp, "But I only have one, so you'd better make sure Pai-Mey won't move when I'm aiming."

"What are you children whispering about?" asked Pai-Mey from across the battle area. "Nothing that concerns you traitor!" exclaimed Kiba, "So just sit and spin!" "We don't have much time to talk," said Saske, "So how do we keep her from moving so Usopp can do his thing?" "Leave that to me," said Garra, "I'll immobilize Pai-Mey, you just distract her so I can get into position."

"Agreed," said Saske. "Just one thing," said Garra, "Don't let her kill you before I'm ready to act. The honor of taking your life belongs to me." "You don't have to remind me," said Saske as he entered the battle area. "I was hoping I'd get to fight you," said Pai-Mey, "The last true scion of the Uciha clan. I think I'll devour your heart."

"My heart belongs to another," said Saske as he formed his hand signs, "And you'll never hurt anyone else after I'm done with you!" "Bring it on boy!" exclaimed Pai-Mey, "I'll take anything you can throw at me!" "Then take this!" exclaimed Saske, "Fire Style! Fireball Jutsu!" Bringing his thumb and forefinger to his lips, Saske spat six fireballs at Pai-Mey.

She easily dodged the first three, but the last ones caught her glancing blows, setting her clothing on fire somewhat. "He can spit fire?" asked an amazed and jealous sounding Taranee, "Now why can't I do that?" "You don't need to spit fire," said Nigel, "You're hot enough as it is." "I still wish I could," said Taranee, "It'd be so cool."

Meanwhile Saske was alternating between fireballs and flamethrower blasts, giving Pai-Mey a run for her money. "You can't keep this up forever!" exclaimed Pai-Mey as she barely dodged a flamethrower blast, "I may not be able to get close enough to drain your chakra, but you'll run out of it soon enough, then you shall die!"

"I disagree," said Garra as he uncorked his gourd, sending his chakra-controlled sand at Pai-Mey, "The honor of killing Saske belongs to me and me alone." Before Pai-Mey could react, the sand had a complete hold on her, trapping Pai-Mey in a literal sand coffin. "Do it now Usopp!" exclaimed Nami as Usopp took aim with his slingshot.

"You're a fool to think a little bit of sand can stop me!" exclaimed Pai-Mey just as she broke free of the sand coffin. "There goes my clear shot," said Usopp, "But I think I can still make it." "Save your ammo," said Zolo, "You only have the one shot."

"I remember you somewhat," said Pai-Mey as she walked in a circle around Garra, "I thought my improved Naz'riak had eliminated you with nightshade poison." "What doesn't kill me," said Garra, "Makes me the stronger." "I sense much darkness in your heart," said Pai-Mey, "Tell me, why are you working with these pathetic fools?" "I have my reasons," said Garra, "Reasons that are none of your business."

"The reason why I'm asking," said Pai-Mey, "Is that I believe you and I are quite alike. I sense there's much blood on your hands, that you're a natural born killer, like me." "What's your point?" asked Garra. "Join me, Garra of the Sands," said Pai-Mey, "Join the side of The God Hand while you have the chance to do so. With my influence I can find a place of power for you in the coming chaos. They'll be entire universes full of people for you to kill, just agree to obey and worship The God Hand, and your greatest desires shall be fulfilled."

"I admit," said Garra, "Your offer is tempting, but I serve no one but myself." "Don't be so hasty to say no," said Pai-Mey, "Think it over." "I have been thinking," said Garra, "And I've come to the conclusion that we're not as alike as you say we are. It is true that killing come naturally to the two of us, that be both have homicidal fantasies, but that's were the similarities end. You chose the path of a killer; you chose to act on your fantasies. I was never given the chance to choose, I was forced onto the path of a killer. You kill because it pleases you to kill. I kill because it's who I am. I kill: there for I am. And as long as there are people to kill I shall continue to do so, for that is my Shinobi path."

"Then you leave me with no choice," said Pai-Mey as she pointed her red arm at Garra, "My mission is to destroy The Temple of Candracar and plunge all of reality into chaos, and anyone standing in my way shall be slain. Die!"

The red energy beam shot from her hand and raced towards Garra. Garra deployed his sand shield at the last second, but it did nothing to stop the blast. The beam impacted him and sent him skidding several feet. He fell to the ground from the force of the blast "That beam went through his sand shield like it was tissue paper," said a shaken Temari, "If Garra didn't have his sand armor, he'd be dead."

Pai-Mey then strode over to the still form of Garra, who wasn't in really good condition. His sand armor had fallen off in huge chunks. "It's a shame you must die," said Pai-Mey, "You have so much potential." "If you're going to kill me," said Garra in a whisper, "Stop talking about it and get it over with."

"You're not dead yet Garra," said Rock Lee as he entered the battle area, "And I won't let you die until our rematch. Pai-Mey Matoya, I am now your opponent."

The end of chapter 10. Next chapter, its Rock Lee vs. Pai-Mey. See you next time!