Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto or FSN
Ch 10 Tremble Before My Might!
"…Its time…"
"Have a nice day…gozushin sama." Said Karin with a bow.
She now gotten used to the crazy mansion and all the work load, but she still had trouble with the whole 'gozushin sama' thing.
Naruto smirked at her.
"Be back soon."
He vanished in golden shower of light.
(Hyuga Clan)
In the Hyuga family's inner dojo, Hinata could be seen sitting down in a seiza position.
Hinata slow got up from her sitting position.
"…Saber san."
"Hai! Master!" said Saber as she stood up as well.
"It's time to leave."
Kakashi was running through the middle of nowhere.
"…Sasuke, slow down."
Sasuke was running ahead of Kakashi, entire body ready for a fight.
"…huh."
Kakashi sighed as he looked ahead. The exam will start in few hours.
(Day of the Chuunin exams. Location : Arena)
It was the day of the final Chuunin Exam. For many, it was just a form of entertainment. For some, it was a chance to advance to the next rank. For someone like Shikamaru, well... he didn't really wanted to here. For Sasuke and Hinata was to prove themselves. For the older two of the sand siblings were to participate in the invasion now. For Gaara it meant nothing, but to face Uzumaki Naruto. Finally, for Naruto, the Chuunin Exams was two things. An entertainment and a testing ground for his toys.
Six of the seven competitors had already arrived while Naruto was still missing. The six finalists stood in the middle of the arena. Nervous, excited, and a little fear in everyone. Even Gaara. The Sand Jinchuuriki had seen what the blonde could do. Most of him was already bloodthirsty, but a small part of Gaara was wary of facing him.
Saber was there next to Hinata. As a summoning she was regarded by the judges as a ninja tool, which she didn't care for.
"Master of Berserker…where are you? I know that cowardice is not in you."
"Naruto kun…where are you?" thought the Hyuga princess.
The Proctor, standing in front of the six of them, noticed one genins missing. He had better arrive soon or he would be forced to disqualify him.
Genma walked toward the gennins."In next 5 minute the first match will became. Beside Hyuga Hinata all else are to go to the competitor box."
As all competitors walked away only Hinata and Saber remained.
Only 3 minute left for the first match to begin.
Genma stared into his watch. "I guess he isn't coming."
"The Match is now…"
Suddenly a golden pillar was smashed on to the ground sending earth and dirt into the air. The pillar seemed like a part of a fancy temple or a castle. The said of the construction were images and carving of events of battles and festivals. It had several jewelries for decoration and symbol of the Uzumaki on the front. Genma, Hinata , and Saber got ready for any situation as the cloud of dust covered the surrounding area. As the dust cloud slowly faded away they could see a gathering of golden particles focusing on the top of the golden pillar.
The showers of golden lights took shape of a person and the lights faded. From there stood Naruto with his black jacket and pant. He still wore that casual clothing with no weapons on it. His hair style changed to short and spikey style, but it has a curve toward the top also he had a small pony tail(Gilgamesh Hairstyle in armor with a small phony tail down his neck).
"Mongrel! Your king has arrived! Bow before me!"
All the shinobis in the arena suddenly felt a sudden urge to bow before him. Their instinct told them that this predator is too big, too powerful to overcome.
In the Kage stand where Hokage, KAzekage, and Mizukage who watching have managed to suppress the urge.
"Such interesting young man…who is he Hokage dono?" asked Mei.
"Ho ho ho that is Uzumaki Naruto, a powerful gennin of my village."
"Uzumaki!...so he is an Uzumaki."
Next to her was Aoi and Chojuro. Later who had to stop Rider from jumping in.
"That's him Master! I can feel the Command Seal on him. He is a Master of a Servant!"
"S-Stop Rider! We can't attack now, that is a chunin exam! Be more respectful Rider!"
"Gennin Uzumaki! You are late! Where were…" started Genma until a sword landed by his feet.
"Silence jounin. I have yet to give you a permission to speak!" Bellowed Naruto as Genma went silence.
"Naruto kun…" began Hinata, but she was cut off immediately.
Naruto raised his hand to stop her from speaking. He folded his arm on top of his pillar, staring down at his opponent.
"Stop! Master of Saber! We are here to fight! Not to chat."
Naruto turned to Saber.
"Saber! You are presented before a king! Why do you not bow down?"
Saber's eyes narrowed. "Master of Berserker, I heard how you claim to be a king, but a king without a nation is no king! As once a king of a nation myself, I refuse to acknowledge your kinghood!"
Naruto's confident smile turned ugly.
"…You speak as if you are a king Saber. I never heard of a woman as an absolute ruler. Amusing! A girl king faces the nationless king." Naruto eyes widen.
"Show me you're worthy! Saber!" shouted Naruto as his Gate of Uzushio activated and fired a volley of weapons.
Saber block the volley of weapons with her invisible blades and Hinata got into a fighting stance.
"Naruto kun! Wait!"
"Hinata! You are not here as a gennin kunoichi of Konoha! You are now a Master of Saber, a participant of Holy Grail War. Take up your stance Saber, Hinata or…you will die."
Naruto suddenly summoned a large bastard sword from his armory and summersaulted from his pillar toward Saber. Saber and he clashed their weapons and sparks danced around them.
"Master of Berserker! While I do not believe in allowing my master to fight, but why do you face me instead of my master? Was this exam not a tournament with your honor and my master's honor in the line! Where is Berserker?"
"You demand too much Saber. Do you think with your power you can defeat Berserker? Don't make me laugh!" shouted Naruto as he managed to push Saber away.
"My eyes tell me everything Saber. Your basic power is weaken, because Hinata is not a proper master. Your power limited while my Berserker's power is at its max and beyond. It is not even a contest."
Naruto launched a rain of weapons at Saber. Saber dodged a silver spear to her right and had to raise her sword to block a curved bladed sword to her head. She jumped back to avoid a collection of swords falling from above her. She sidestepped to the right to avoid a blue trident with red decoration.
"Whats wrong…Miss Most Noble Servant!" shouted Naruto as he threw a greyish claymore with a cross guard at her.
Saber dodged, but saw Naruto right in front of her with a thin long sword with a dragon head for a guard.
"I will be the one to unite this war torn world as it new king! I am the Conquest King! I am BijuOH!"
"A dream of conquest? A king is meant to protect!" shouted Saber as she slashed at the BijuOh.
Naruto parried the blow, but his sword started to crack from the strain. He immediately summoned another sword to support his damaged sword. Saber was relentless as she smashed her invisible sword at his duo bladed guard. Naruto abandoned his damaged swords and summoned a fuma shuriken to throw at Saber. Saber didn't even bothered to block as she jumped over, however she saw Naruto tugging his finger as the shuriken came back, behind her.
Saber stopped to smash the fuma shuirken into pieces, but lost the chance to attack Naruto as he summoned a pole arm with a beautiful decoration and a dragon head for a guard to slash Saber into pieces.
"Is that your method? Foolish! What is a point of being a master of a single land, when there is vast land to own! I intend to conquer all the lands in my name and I will reach far beyond this world to conquer there as well! I will let the world feel my burden as a Jinchuuriki and the pain of my fellow brothers and sisters. I will make a world where we will be respected." shouted Naruto as he clashed against her invisible sword with his pole arm.
Naruto managed to push her away. He immediately summoned a katana and launched it at her. Saber smashed aside the trivial attack as she got into a stance.
"A world that is meant for us!" declared Naruto as he throw the pole arm at her and summon a large black scythe with chains dangling on the bottom and charged at Saber.
(Kage Booth)
On the Kage booth, invisible Rider was smirking like a mad man.
"A rival! A rival that is after my own heart! I will cross sword with you boy even if it is the last thing I do!"
Rider's aura of battle was only felt by Chojuro and he sweat as he might not be able to stop him for long.
(Battle below)
Saber cut through Naruto's scythe and forced Naruto inot defensive. Naruto used the remaining of the weapon to fend for him, but it was in vain. Naruto finally managed to push Saber back with a heavy volley of weapons, consist of swords and spear. Suddenly Hinata appeared next to him for a left palm strike.
"Heeay!" shouted Hinata as she came in for a decisive blow.
"Hummp!…Naïve." Said Naruto as he grabbed her hand with his right and raised the offending arm over her head. His action created an opening to her left side.
"If you want to perform a palm strike…"
Naruto slowly raised his left palm.
"This is how you do it!" shouted Naruto as he performed his own palm strike.
Hinata was sent flying down the floor.
"That is not enough to stand by me! If that's all you got Hinata then you are better off dead!" Thought Naruto as he watched her fall down to the floor.
Suddenly Saber came flying down at him with an overhead strike.
"HHHHEEEEAAAAYYYY!" she bellowed like an angry bolt of lightning.
Naruto's back was turned to her.
He had no weapon around him.
He was open.
Naruto Smirked.
Suddenly out of nowhere two pairs of hands appeared next to Saber. Her eyes were widen as she saw two more Naruto using their impressive strength to lock her sword and her arm down. Her left arm was held by a clone who was clunching low with his two hands holding her elbow and arm and her right hand was held by a second clone's hand. Bottom of her sword was blocked by the second clone's palm.
She eyes suddenly widen again as she saw another Naruto wordlessly appeared below her in a low stance and delivered an elbow blow to her stomach. Her body was lift off the floor again, but the two clones who were locking her arms and sword suddenly let go and performed a double back kick on her chest sending her further away from Hinata.
"Saber san!" shouted Hinata as she got up, but saw another Naruto in front of her who deliver a side kick to her body.
"Two or three servants who are under such weak master are no match for me, let alone Berserker." said Naruto with a confident smirk.
Saber got up quickly. "What was-"
"That Saber is my Kage Bunshin jutsu, a Rank A skill that allows me to summon a solid clone of myself. I mastery of this skill is beyond standard to the point I can summon them without sound and smoke. They just simply…appear." said Naruto with a shy smirk on his face.
Saber suddenly realized the difficulty. "A Presence Concealment?"
Naruto smirked again. "Partially, but enough about that."
Suddenly he summoned his orange gate of menace. Its hazy light shined so brightly it caused the audience to cover their eyes.
Behind him appeared an armory of weapons. This time the weapons did not appeared pointing toward his enemy but pointing downward. Naruto raised his hand and behind him and two clones suddenly materialize and behind them even more appeared slowly and majestically.
They were all Naruto but their body glow and they were all wearing a full samurai armors with samurai helmets. Their face was covered with an oni masks and their armor was black and red. They suddenly picked up the floating weapons and armed themselves.
They got into position behind Naruto and they spit into groups of ten in twenty lines.
"Saber…Kings do not head into battle alone. As you are alone, than I am backed by an infinite number of troops each brave and valiant. Their skills are fraction of my true power, but their determination is the same. They will not give up in battle, and they will not betray me. An Army that is totally committed to me. I am a one man army, not only for my sheer power in quality, but also in quantity."
Naruto pointed his finger toward Saber.
"Saber…what is your title?"
"Title?"
"Yes Saber. I am Uzumaki Naruto, Master of the Mad Warrior, Berserker. I am the King of Konoha, I am the king of the Elemental Nation, I am all powerful, I am the lord of all Jinchuuriki and I am their protector, their savior, and their leader! I am the tamer of the infamous Bijus, the Tailed Beasts! I am their king and their master. I AM BIJUOH!"
Naruto slowly turns to her.
"Who…are you?"
Saber stared into the eyes of the little conqueror.
"While my true identity is a secret…but I was known as the KishiOh, the King of the Knights."
"The KishiOh, the King of the Knights?...very well Saber."
Naruto raised his arm and a fan appeared. It was a peacock feathered fan a minor Noble Phantasm that helps rally the troops for battle.
"All men! CHARGE!" he shouted and the entire army behind him bellowed out a war cry and charged forward.
Saber quickly got in front of her master to protect her from a charging infantry's spears. The spears they weld were long as 3 meter with sharp blade tips. They were stabbing at the Servant and her master from distance. The spear welding clones were protected by a unit of shield welding clone. The shield and spear combination made it difficult for Saber to fight while protecting Hinata.
(Kage Booth)
Rider's eyes brows were raised as he watched Naruto performing a military tactics with troops instead of using his weapon rush.
"A vast army with an armory full of Noble Phantasm…My my this guy is very dangerous and he isn't even using his trump card…Berserker."
Rider mused as he scratched his bearded chin. He suddenly let out a bellow of laughter startling Chojuro, who was only one who could hear him.
Rider turned to his master.
"Hey master, we better fight him soon, because my blood is boiling for a fight"
Chojuro could only wince at the tone of excitement.
(Battle)
Saber was reminded of the bloody battles she experience before. A vast army, endless attacks, and unfavorable odd. Only this time, she had no knights to protect and fight alongside her. She was surrounded by an army of spearmen; she swung her sword in 360 degree with a prana release. Her blow sent all the spearmen around her away and made enough room from her to jump to Hinata.
However she was stopped by group of clones using kunais with chains. The chains wrapped around her arms and pull her to the floor. She quickly shattered the chains and she turned to face her attackers. She ducked down from a blow to her head and slashed another clone with her sword.
She sensed an attack from behind and she jumped over the attack. She was greeted with a clone with a pole arm, which she blocked and countered with a slash. She barely had a time to take a breath before she was attacked by a barrage of Kunais from a group of clones. Most were blocked and her armor reflected the kunais as well. She was suddenly kicked from her blind side and she rolled down to the floor.
She stood up to face her enemies once again. She parried a slash from a clone with a monk spade. The clone let out a battle cry as he waved the monk spade over his head. The clone performed several high skill spear moves on her, forcing her to defend. Saber dodged a thrust to rush into the clone's open right side to thrust her sword into his ribs, killing him. She then had to duck in order to dodge five spears at once. She grabbed one of the spears to hold him in place. She killed the immobilized clone and slashed two more behind her. She immediately picked up a spear and threw it toward an advancing clone, killing him.
She saw a clone with a mace and a shield ran at her. He tried smash her head in, but Saber cut off the offending limb and removed his head, just in time to parry a slash from a clone holding a broad sword. Saber demonstrated the correct way to use a broad sword…using his rolling head as an example.
She saw a group of clones holding katana surrounded her. Together they dashed in to stab her, but she jumped over them. She was intercepted by a spear tossed by a clone. She blocked the attack and landed on the ground.
A group of sword welding clones jumped to attack her at the same time. She suddenly raised her sword over her head to block at least 6 blows at once. She struggled for power and then she released another prana burst to overpower the clone. The arms of the clones were lift up, releasing her from their lock and she turn around to slash them all. They all faded in silence.
Hinata was dodging for her life as clones after clones of Naruto came at her. Any other time an army of Naruto who focused on her would be flattering, but…
"She is away from her servant! Attack her now!" shouted a clone.
"!" roared the clones as they came at her.
Hinata dodge another spear attack, and this time she jumped on top of the spear and ran at the offending clone. She palmed strike his chest and he grimaced as he faded. She was punched to the ground by another clone and a third clone tried to stab her on the ground. She rolled only for the spears to keep fall after her. She suddenly jumped back up to avoid a slash from a sword, but was pushed away by a shield welding clone. She saw one clone throw his spear at her which she dodged by a hair margin. She saw the spear coming in slow motion that she saw her reflection on the blade of the spear.
She had to duck low to avoid an ax and a spear strike, but was kicked up into the air by a clone.
"HA ha ha…ha puff..huff…" she panted as she sidestepped another attacker and palmed strike his back. She bent backward to jab her two fingers into the throat of two attackers behind her. She bent forward again to duck a slash. She kicked up to nail the attacking clone in the face and palmed strike another one in his leg. The clone dropped to his knee in pain, but she sliced his throat open to destroy him.
"Ho…Hinata, she too bares a mighty sharp fang…but is it enough for the Grail War?" wondered real Naruto as he saw his troops separating the pair.
He slowly raised his hand and a group of archers stood in front of him. Each clone was wearing a robe like outfit and a quiver full of arrows. They raised their short bows that were made for short rapid fire action. They notched an arrow and a line of archers which makes up at least 20 men readied.
"Aim…FIRE!" shouted the BijuOh.
They fired.
Saber saw the arrows approaching and her experience guided her to block and dodge. Some arrows actually destroyed their fellow clones. She blocked and blocked again. She focus was on the arrows so she didn't see a clone jumping at her. She saw the clone and stabbed him, but he didn't fade. The clone smirked. "Not all clones are frail…some of us are built for…"
He opened his armor to reveal body full of explosion tags.
"THIS!" exclaimed the clone as he blowup in a furry of fire and explosion.
Saber ran out of the smoke with no visible damage, but she was blinded temporally. She didn't see the flying drop kick that sent her to the floor. She rolled back up to slash another clone.
Real Naruto smirked and summoned a spear. He threw the spar at her. The spar glow dark as it slashed Saber's left hand, injuring the tendon on her fingers. She grimaced at the pain, but used one hand to swing her blade to kill three attacking clones.
She turned to Naruto. "You!" she came running at the real Naruto, but was blocked by a shield troopers. The troupers in union gathered together to form a wall. Between the openings from the wall of shield came flying an army of spears, forcing Saber to jump back. The Shield troopers suddenly separated and dropped her shield low and knee down. Behind them a group of archers fired her volley of arrows for her to block.
After the arches fired they moved to the back for the spear troopers to step forward. The spearmen raised their short spears to throw them. As a group they launched their spears forcing saber to release the wind barrier to block.
Hinata saw the arrows flying at her and performed a kaiten. She spins along with her chakra burst to block the arrows. She then ran at the archers to palm strike them, however the archers jumped back to fire again, which she blocked with the heavenly spin.
The real Naruto saw this and smile.
"So! Your learned a new trick over the month! However it is useless!" shouted Naruto as he summoned a red handled sword with a nasty curve for a blade. He then fired it at Hinata's spinning shield which exploded on contact. She was sent flying to the floor. She tried to get up, but the spearmen thrust their spears around her head, arm, hip, legs, and shoulder, which effectively locked her in her place.
Saber saw this dilemma and jumped to her master's side. She then sliced through the lock and the spearmen in a blink of an eye.
"Are you ok Master?"
"Yes! Saber LOOK OUT!" shouted Hinata as she saw an attacker behind Saber. Saber turned around and removed the attacker's arm and his head. She saw that they were surrounded again. Spears and shield got in her way and behind them were even more troops.
Hinata stood up to battle once more, but she was slashed on her shoulder by a sword and she cried out in pain as she held her wound. Another clone came at her for a slash, but she ducked under this once to kick him away. She ignored the stinging pain as she palmed another clone in his chest and throw a kunai with an explosion tag. The clone saw the tag and deflected the kunai with a shield. The explosion was blocked by the shield. Hinata ducked a slash from a pole arm and engaged in a rapid jabs and kicks on the offensive clone. Hinata then dropped to the floor and low kicked a clone, forcing him to fall down where Hinata ended his life with a slash of her hand.
Hinata got back up, but she was too slow to react to two clones back kicking her at the same time. She was sent rolling on the floor again and this time, she rise back up was slow and painful.
"She is tiring! Attack!" shouted a clone. The clones were motivated to charge attack. Hinata's white eyes narrowed in determination and she too fought for her life again.
Naruto was standing at the starting point on top of his golden pillar with his arms across his chest.
"My Gate of Uzushio is an armory of the gods…once placed inside all objects becomes a Noble Phantasm. Even common spears and kunais I brought in stores will be a low Rank E weapons." thought Naruto.
Naruto turned to his troops. Each and every one of them held weapons from Rank E to C. Each clone was worth a Rank E troop, with a Hougu armed to them, how can he loss?
Saber was panting. "Should use it? No if I do the drain will be too much for master. Also there is a crowd of innocent people out there!"
She held her invisible sword tightly as she debated within her head.
"Are you worried about the power of your sword Saber? Or are you worry about the strain that will harm your master?" asked Naruto in a loud voice.
Saber dodged a spear and slashed another clone. She saw a group of clone doing a suicide charge at her, which she had to counter with a prana burst as they blown themselves up.
"Foolish! As a Servant to kill me should be, your first priority instead of these worms watching our battle!" yelled the BijuOh as he summoned a ziz zag shaped sword. He threw the sword at her, which she blocked. She picked up a lance on the ground as she used it to stab a clone in his throat and she used the same spear to pierce through another clone's stomach.
Saber dodged several more attacks from the endless amount of clones as she ran. She saw a clone holding an ax coming right at her. HE swung his huge weapon and she slide under his attack. She was now behind him and had relieved him of his head.
Naruto stepped toward her. "If it is the lowly lives of the mongrels and my vast army worries you…then I will dismiss them."
Naruto snapped his finger and all the troops started to vanish leaving their weapons behind. They vanished without sound or smokes as weapons felled down to the floor. Hinata who was about to be stabbed by 6 clones who surrounded her, was relieved of sudden act of mercy.
Naruto closed his eyes as he summoned a war ax connected to a hammer by a leather cloth of some kind.
Naruto summoned the Kabutowari.
The Kabutowari, the "Helmet Splitter" is one of the swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wielded by Jinin Akebino.
The sword itself consists of a giant axe and hammer, linked end-to-end by a flat thin leather-like rope, which together are referred to as a "blunt sword" or dontō that is said to be able to break through any defense.
Although the length of cord means each weapon can be utilized individually, to cut and crush obstructions respectively, their true strength lies in their capability to be employed in conjunction with one another.
When facing a particularly difficult or seemingly impenetrable defense; the wielder can first attack by striking with the axe, before slamming the hammer downwards onto its blunt backside, thus using the blade like a wedge to drive straight through the offending obstacle and into the desired target located behind.
Naruto raised the two unlikely weapons in lazy fashion and pointed toward her.
"Come." He commanded.
Saber charged toward him without a word.
Naruto struck first.
He welds the heavy weapons with ease and performed a simple stab in a straight line. He know of Saber's sword's shape and length by some degree thanks to his clones, but his new weapon will solve that mystery soon enough.
As a natural reaction, Saber repelled Naruto's ax half with the her sword. Really, it was neither too serious nor sharp, just a common strike from an ax. But...
The disaster came like a forest fire.
Naruto suddenly bashed his hammer against the ax. Suddenly, an abrupt, unexpected gale rolled in and blew around.
"Wha!"
Letting out a shocked voice, Saber took three steps away from Naruto's ax. Naruto smirked arrogantly and resumed his stance without a word. Watching over the scene, Hinata couldn't understand what just happened.
The gust of wind just now lasted only an instant, but it wasn't particularly gushing out prana. The origin of that wind was an enigma, but that definitely wasn't a threat from Naruto who was a known wind user.
Nevertheless, Saber was the only one who was shocked. Naruto is smiling boldly at her astonishment.
"I exposed it KishiOh... Your precious sword."
"..."
Silent, Saber didn't reply to Naruto's victorious mutter. They both understand the reason behind this mysterious phenomenon.
The wind had come from Saber's sword. ... More specifically, that was Invisible Air's doing.
The bounded field of condensed pressure that could refract light had leaked out in just an instant. The instant it had clashed with Naruto's ax— the prana controlling the wind around the sword had become loose. Then when the hammer clashed with the ax, the barrier was loosened to the point it came off for few seconds, revealing her sword.
And at that moment, Naruto had caught a glimpse of the shape of the "true sword" inside the torn bounded field. Naruto's murmur from before was the proof that it was definitely his ax and hammer that had exposed Invisible Air.
"I got the length of your blade. You won't get me with that invisible interval again." Said Naruto with a confident smile.
Whether it was exaggeration or not, Naruto started slash with his ax.
Just as he had said, the ax strikes suddenly gained in vigor, the attacks more severe. Having certified the distance Saber's blade could go, he made no mistake in his aiming. Letting just one slash pass meant a fatal wound. Understanding that much, Saber kept moving her body and parried every single ax and hammer strike with her blade.
Flickering, there showed the afterimage of the shape of her golden sword.
'Kh...'
There was still pressure coming out of Invisible Air, but it was a continuous, random gale violently blowing Saber's blond hair in waves. There was no doubt left. Naruto's unusual ax is draining Invisible Air. Each time it comes with the blade of the ax, the golden blade is showing like a stroboscope.
'But... With that ax...'
There's still a way— Saber encouraged herself. Using a weapon with both hands, that is a style Saber can deal with.
Naruto came down at her with a war cry and slashed at her with his ax. She blocked the ax which released another gale of wind. Immediately Naruto smashed his hammer down on the blunt side of his ax to attack the invisible sword. The protection of the sword was shattered and the sword was exposed for at least ten seconds until the Invisible Air came back to hide the golden sword.
In a swift movement, Saber struck at Naruto's shoulder. She ignored the tip of the large blade grazing her flank. It should be superficial on her armor, and meanwhile, she will be splitting her enemy from the shoulder—
Naruto suddenly swung his left hand, in order to slam his hammer on the ax.
Her sword dropping in mid-air, Saber turned over and threw herself on the side. It was hard to say if it had been a close call.
"drip…drip…drip…"
There's no need to say whose blood it is.
Rolling on the ground, Saber escaped from Naruto's second blow, and stood up immediately to keep track of her opponent. Her eyes betrayed her pain.
"Saber!"
Seeing that something had happened, Hinata's heart raced.
Saber was holding her side, as she readied herself again.
"It does seem like victory will not that easily..." Muttered Naruto as he didn't seem too discouraged, and spoke in a bored voice.
Grinding her teeth, Saber calmly assembled the puzzle in her mind, and the series of hardly believable circumstances pieced themselves together. Her armor should have blocked that ax blow. Nevertheless, the side of the blade had Saber's blood on it.
And right now, Saber's armor was sliced in badly.
The blow wasn't that heavy, but her defense was shattered easily.
"... I see. I figured out the mystery of your ax, Master of Berserker."
Saber murmured with a low voice. She reflected once more upon the toughness of her formidable enemy.
That ax and hammer can cut down and crush 'Protection.'
Naruto smiled. "So you figured it out. Humm…"
He showed her his weapon. "This ax and hammer is named Kabutowari, a weapons that can break through any defense and weapons. A blunt sword of destruction and its legend spread to this phantasm to gain more power than the original one that made the legend."
Naruto spin the ax in his hand.
"You'll have to give up on the protection of your armor, Saber. In front of my treasure, you're as good as naked."
Saber snorted at Naruto's bantering words.
"It's a bother to see you triumph over just peeling off my armor."
Even after recognizing the threat, Saber still had no fear in her heart. The situation still hasn't been decided.
That moment, the silver armor covering Saber's entire body scattered in every direction in a splash.
Naruto raised his brows and Hinata gasped.
The chest plate, the gauntlets, and the long tassel shaped like a skirt that protected the legs; nothing was left. Saber had removed her armor by herself. The fragments of the armor scattering in a metallic dust immediately disappeared like a mist as Saber cut off her prana.
"If I cannot defend against your ax, I only have to strike instead. Prepare yourself, Master of Berserker."
With a blue light dress, Saber resumed her stance. Lower, with her sword behind. Without consideration for defense, this stance was made for a lethal strike that would slice from one shoulder to the other.
It was clearly visible to the crowd that Saber intended to finish the battle with the next strike at the risk of her life.
"That's brave. All or nothing, is it?" muttered Naruto as he too got into a stance.
Having taken off her armor, Saber didn't gain just agility. The prana needed to form and maintain her armor was now available for use in her offensive. This means a lot for the skill of "prana burst" that Saber possessed.
A "prana burst" is the accumulation of prana in her weapon and her entire body, momentarily injecting an arbitrary vector for an exceptional boost of her abilities. So to speak, it is a jet blast of prana for her movements. She only had the thin body of a small girl, but this was the secret that allowed her to brandish her big sword with the combat style of a power fighter.
The surplus of prana can be converted into mobility power for a close-range combat, but when Saber uses up to the prana needed for her armor in a "prana burst" it could grant her six time that bonus in power and speed... This is perfect for the destructive power of a one-hit-kill attack.
The handicap of losing the armor was overturned by the advantage of throwing away her armor. This was Saber's conclusion to deal with the ax and hammer of protection destruction.
"That heroism. That is a brave decision servant of the sword. I praise you..."
He lowered his weapon to the side, to provoke her to attack.
"However, that works for me just fine… Saber, you already lost."
Not perplexed by those words, Saber replied with a bold smile.
"How about it. How will you feel after receiving this?"
Calmly studying the opponent's light footwork, Saber measured the timing of her strike.
A loud bang roars in the atmosphere. The golden sword that was invisible until then lit up with its brilliance.
The Invisible Air that compresses the air and refracts light in an illusion can be used in another way. The instant the bounded field is released it can blow the opponent with a single long distance strike with a gale made out of the super high pressure of the condensed air.
And this was the application of Saber's plan. The point of holding the sword backward in a wide stance was for that― to accelerate the air strike even more.
Released from the golden sword, a jet of air comes out from behind Saber. By releasing her armor to increase her prana burst further, her body changes into a supersonic bullet.
At this point, Saber's speed is three times higher than normal. It's already too late for an ambush attack or an evasion the instant she steps forward. Even if Naruto's ax and hammer can deal a serious wound to Saber, he will receive a lethal strike the same instant. That is certainly a strike made to risk one's life for a certain victory, ready to even have her flesh cut or her bones severed. Breaking through the wall of air at several times the speed of sound, the shockwave of the rush blew the surrounding rubbles like leaves.
Naruto didn't move. Having already given up on an ambush attack, the ax and hammer was still and unmoving.
What moved instead was…the haze behind his back.
From the gate came out a handle.
Naruto immediately dropped the hammer half and draw the newly summoned weapon.
Saber was upon him.
There is no place for mistake.
The duo exchanged a deadly blow.
(Sound of weapons clashing)
The spark flew.
No blood spilled.
Saber turned around and she saw Naruto's new sword had hooked itself on to her sword.
The new sword was a strange shaped blade that had a blunt, rectangular hook on the top. The blade makes two 90 degree angles, forming three sides of a square reminiscent of a hook. Even more interestingly, the cutting edge of the blade is on the inside of the angles, not the outside. The blade was made to hook an enemy weapon and it managed to lock Saber's sword. Naruto quickly grinded his sword against the Excalibur.
Saber pulled he sword out and the duo exchanged several blows.
The two jumped back and took a deep breath.
"You lost…Saber."
She suddenly felt the weight of her blade increased by several times that she couldn't lift it anymore.
Saber knew then that he got her.
"This sword is named Wabisuke the Apologizer. It was made by the Uzumaki clan neither to be the strongest, nor the sharpest. It was made with an ability to multiple the weight of anything it cuts. If your blade is around 10lbs then it is 20 after the first blow. The third blow will make it 40, to 80, after that it is 160. I didn't count correctly, but you blade hit mine at least 10 times. It is no longer a weight that you can lift anymore."
Naruto pointed Wabisuke at her.
"You lost to me…a mere Master of the Grail War… Saber."
(Kage Stand)
"...Damn it. This is bad." Said Rider as he suddenly appeared in the kage booth.
"Wha, what is?" said the Sandaime Hokage and his body guards. Orochimaru as Kazekage also stood up.
"…A servant." Thought Orochimaru.
"Rider…what is wrong?"
Seeing the giant Servant display such overwhelming impatience for the first time, Chojuri became agitated, and he questioned Rider.
"That Naruto boy…BijuOh right? He brought out a decisive technique. Looks like he wants the match decided quickly."
"Wouldn't that be favorable for us?" asked Chojuro.
He was a jounin shinobi, as a ninja who fights dirty having two enemies killing each-others off is a good thing. He was smacked on his forehead for his comments.
"Fool, what are you talking about?"
Rider stamped his heel on floor which shook the entire kage booth and bellow.
"I wanted to wait out on the battle's development before everyone arrives, but by the look of the current situation Saber's going to have a disadvantage, and it would be too late to attack by then."
"Too late? – Didn't you want to strike when they have all become exhausted from fighting each other?" asked the Mist nin as he gathered the courage to ask again.
"...I think you have misunderstood something, boy."
Rider furrowed his brows and tilted his head downwards to look at his blue haired, shark teethed Master standing next to him, as if disappointed at the performance of a humorless clown.
"I did hope that other Servants would take up that boy's bait to attack him in the open. Isn't it obvious? Rather than picking them out one by one, it's far better to get them all together and have a great battle royal!"
"..."
Chojuro forgot to answer; he was shocked out of his wits in realizing the differences between his understanding and that of the brave Heroic Spirit.
"Get them all together... a great battle royal? But I thought the purpose of the war is to kill all servants to attain the Grail. And the safest way is to let them kill each other?"
"No! It's such a rare opportunity to cross blades with the greatest heroes across all ages. If all six of them are here in completion, I won't let any one of them get away. Also this King of Conquest does not sneak around for his enemies to die off. I face them into battle myself!"
"Now then, Saber and Naruto, KishiOh and BijuOh. They both have the flaming spirit of true warriors. I admire them; it would be a pity to let them die like this."
"What else is there apart from killing them? Rider, isn't that the point of the Holy Grail Waaa-!"
Chojuro's slightly hysterical voice was mercilessly interrupted by a smack to his forehead.
"Victory without ruin, domination without disgrace. That is true conquest!" shouted Rider.
Rider proclaimed, holding his chest upright; then he unsheathed the sword by his waist and sliced through the hollow sky with a swing, cleaving apart the empty space.
An enormous shining Noble Phantasm immediately appeared, accompanied by spiraling torrents of galloping prana. Waver felt like he was about to be blown over by the sudden storm, swallowing his screams and hugging the steel frame even tighter.
"Observation is over. We will join the battle, boy."
Before his words were finished, Rider had mounted the Noble Phantasm with a leap, his mantle flowing.
"Rider! You are being ridiculous! They are fighting in a chunnin exam match! We can't interfere!"
"Oh? If you don't want to go, you can stay here and look."
"But, but..."
Chojuro turned to Mei.
"Mizukage sama…"
She smiled. "Go ahead Chojuro, believe in yourself as a Kiri's Seven Swordsmen.
Chojuro's eyes suddenly turned determined.
"Let's go! Rider san!"
"Good, that's more like my Master!"
Rider emitted clear laughter, as Chojuro jumped into the chariot.
"Now roll on, Gordius Wheel! Wheel of Heaven's Authority!"
The Noble Phantasm answered the call of the King of Conquerors with a thunderous tremor.
(Battle below)
Saber had to dodge another raining sword.
'Mada mada mada!" shouted Naruto as he fired more weapons.
Saber grinded her teeth in frustration.
She couldn't fight him directly with all these Noble Phantasm. She never fought a human so frustrating! He had the presence of a king, but his arrogant attitude rubbed her the wrong way. Also every time she charged forward in order to break his guard, he has several phantasmal shields and barriers to delay her.
She was using a lot of mana to lift her sword. Her agility was badly hindered, but her swing will now beable smash through anything. However…she was not going with this fight while fighting like a Berserker.
"That's it? This is boring now Saber chan!" taunted Naruto as he was intoxicated by victory in his hand. He didn't notice a silent movement behind him.
Saber on the other hand saw a swift movement behind Naruto, she know who that is.
"NO!" She shouted.
Naruto turned to see Hinata, who managed to get behind him.
"WHY YOU!" he shouted in anger and humiliation.
He swung the ax, but she ducked and she got close. Very close.
She was about to palm strike him, but she saw a blur of movement.
She was nailed on her chin with an uppercut by Naruto.
"Don't you look down on me!" shouted Naruto as his blue eyes were resolved and cold.
Suddenly she kicked at him in middle of being punched into the air. The kick forced him to turn his head to the side to dodge. Naruto saw her sides open for an attack, he slashed at her with Wabisuke. One of the slash hit her on her arm, but she didn't faltered for Wabisuke power doesn't harm anything living that is not solid like flesh. While it affects shells on animals and bones of people, flesh and skins will not be weighted.
She was cut by Wabisuke and was not feeling heavy. Hinata saw her chance. She suddenly hooked her arms on to Wabisuke's blade from the outside, where the edges are dull and held the inside, where the edges are rather sharp.
The hook shaped sword was stuck between her arm and large jacket…a jacket that was made to stop a bladed weapons. Her protection prevented her from harmful injury, but it still cut into her slightly.
Hinata smiled.
"I got you now Naruto kun."
Naruto's eyes widen as she put her palms on his Wabisuke and held it there.
"If your weapon uses chakra to powering its curse. Then if I disturb the sword's charka pathway…"
She Juken strike the sword, messing up its power circuit.
Saber's sword became light again.
"…Then your curse can be lifted."
"HAAAAAAAAAA!" cried out Saber as she slashed down on Naruto.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHGGGGGG!" screamed out Naruto.
The slash caused an explosion of smoke and light.
Saber and Hinata panted in exhaustion.
"…is it over?" asked Hinata.
Before Saber could answer her a voice came out of the smoke.
"N-Not bad!"
The two turned to the smoke.
Naruto walked out and he was wearing a golden breast plate with the character for king on it. The armor had a nasty slash across it, and there was a small amount of blood. His face was slightly dirtied and he had a wound for first time for a very long time.
"If it wasn't for the armor, Saber could have beaten me…not a bad strategy Hinata. You have indeed improved." praised Naruto.
"However…scaring me like that deserves punishment. Saber…Hinata…I will punish you like a pair of bad girls you are. This is a command of a king." Said Naruto in a quiet voice that sent chill down the girls' spine, but it wasn't a bad chill for Hinata. For Saber, this particular chill was something she never felt before.
Naruto's body started to glow in golden light. The light took form around his body and the light started to fade revealing his new look.
He was in black and gold majestic armor.
His breast plate was black with many golden symbols and designs, the chest plate had a the character for "King" and "Hero." His shoulder plate was complete smooth gold with blade horn facing away from him.
His hips and side was covered in black armor that had similar design to the breast plate. His arms and legs too were covered in gold and black armor.
On the back unseen by the ninjas was a symbol of the swirling tide the mark of an Uzumaki. On the back he as some kind of decorated chains that had arrow tips. (a mix between Gilgamesh and Lancelot's armor with extras.)
"Now we are going for a round two girls…this time I will not hold back." Said Naruto as he put his hands on his hip and gold faze formed behind him.
When Naruto was about to fire his weapon storm at them he stopped as he heard…a war cry?
They looked up.
"Aaalalalalalalaie!"
" – !"
"What in the name of Rikudo Sennin?"
"A…chariot?"
"This feeling…a Servant!"
Hinata, Saber and Naruto were both stilled with awe, simultaneously turning to look at the south-eastern sky. The source of the sound was clear for all eyes to see.
A flying object drew a straight line across the sky and was heading directly to their location, shedding violet sparks of lightning on its way. The sound was undoubtedly created by it.
Hinata was dumbstruck as she said in shock.
"...A chariot...?"
From its appearance, it was an antique chariot with two prows. War horses were not yoked on the shaft, but handsome bulls with muscles rippling like waves. Their hooves ploughed the empty space, pulling the luxurious and splendid chariot forward.
No, the chariot was not merely floating in air. Its wheels boomed loudly; it was not solid ground but lightning that the bulls stood upon.
Every time the bulls' hooves and the chariot 'stomped' upon the empty sky, violet lightning spread like a web, rolling the air upwards with deafening roars. The prana spurting from the lightning was probably what Saber can only unleash if they use up every single ounce of their strength.
Only a Servant's Noble Phantasm can be so strange and emit such a great amount of prana. Without a doubt, a third Servant had decided to interrupt the duel between Saber and Naruto, and was therefore showing himself.
"..."
Saber and Naruto both tensed, and stared at the suddenly arriving chariot soundlessly. To be enveloped by such an enormous aura of lightning and thunder, the Heroic Spirit is most likely some sort of thunder god. It could be Raijin or gods from different worlds.
The chariot that tread on lightning circled above Naruto and Saber menacingly, then slowed down and landed on the ground. It was positioned exactly between the two warriors, blocking them. The dazzling light that ceased as the chariot landed revealed the figure of a muscular man, standing commandingly at the helm of the chariot.
"Both of you, sheath your blades. A king comes!"
This casual bellow was almost as loud as the thunders emitted when he rode upon the air. The fiery glare almost held the power to reflect back the opposing sword blade and armory full of weapons.
"I am King of Conquerors, Iskandar! I am participating in this Holy Grail War and received the class of Rider."
That was when everyone really became gob-smacked. In the war of the Holy Grail no Servant would want to declare his identity as it could be a key component of his battle plans.
"You slaughter each other to obtain the Grail... I want to ask you something before you engage. I don't know what expectations you have of the Grail. But now, consider for moment whether your wishes are even greater than the desire to possess all of earth and heaven."
Although Saber still hadn't understood what he meant, her instincts told her that those words were full of danger. Her pupils widened subconsciously.
"You – what do you want to say?"
"Hum? I was quite clear."
By then Rider had maintained his dignity, but his voice was much more gentle and amicable.
"I have descended upon the battlefield, so do you have any intention to pass the Holy Grail to me? If you forfeit your claims to the Grail, I would regard you as friends, and share with you the joy of conquering the world."
"..."
It was such a random suggestion. Saber was dazed before she had a chance to feel angry. Opposite her, Naruto's eyes narrowed and killingintents slowly leaked off of him.
"Conquer…the world? Conquer…MY WORLD?" muttered Naruto with his tone full of hate.
Alexander, King of Conquerors. He is indeed an extraordinary Heroic Spirit. There had no one else like him in human history, so full of eagerness to manifest his ambition of conquering the world.
But even so, what about Rider's suggestion? Suddenly jumping out, proudly declaring his true name, demanding others to respect him before he had shown his worth in battle: all those actions made it look like he has no desire to join the war for the Holy Grail.
"I admire your boldness in declaring your identity just then, however…to claim what is mine is grave offense Rider. I suggest you to take back what you just said."
Naruto's eyes were calmed now, and none of his killing intent was shown, but there was no laughter in his eyes. A glare as intimidating as a sharp sword collided head-on with the scornful sideway glance of the King of Conquerors; sparks flew.
"This world...Belongs to me the BijuOh."
"...Did you stop my duel with Master of Berserker just to declare all those nonsense?" said Saber with a cold, deadly expression.
Rider's suggestion was extremely irritating for someone as serious as her.
"Your joke was overdone, King of Conquerors. This is unbearable humiliation to a knight."
Naruto and Saber both cast hostile glares towards Rider. Rider mumbled as if troubled, massaging his temples with his knuckles subconsciously at the same time. Although Rider appeared to be running out of plans, his majestic pose did not change at all. Therefore, Rider is actually someone rather rare.
"... Are you offering terms to me?"
"Enough!"
Feeling that Rider might make some attempts of flattery, Naruto and Saber simultaneously refused him. Saber continued with disappointment written on her face.
"Besides... I am also that lord that rules the kingdom of Britain. No matter what kind of a king one is, he can never bow before another lord."
"KishiOh…you are a king from another world in another time after all. Your word just now hold no lies" whispered Naruto.
"Oh? The king of Britain?"
Rider showed interest in Saber's declarations and raised his eyebrows.
"How surprising. The renowned King of Knights is actually a young girl."
" – And would you like to try the blade of that young girl, King of Conquerors?"
Saber lifted her sword as she lowered her voice. Her left hand was still powerless to hold the sword; its four fingers were just resting on the hilt. The fighting spirit that rose wavering from the blade, however, was more solemn and majestic then when she fought Naruto. Rider furrowed his brows and let out a long sigh.
"My – breakdown of negotiations, is it. What a waste, that's too bad."
Rider's gaze shift to Naruto.
'You there! Boy! You say that you will conquer the world? Ridiculous, for I SeifukuOh has arrived. The one to unite the world as one will be me!"
Naruto was shook out of his disbelief and snarled.
"You brute dares to demand my ambition! You old fashion fossils needs to know that your age are far in the past and that it is my age NOW! You will suffer over thousand deaths for this insult!"
He summoned the Bashosen and the Kubikiribocho and took a fighting stance.
On his chariot Rider did the same.
"Time to take a dirty nap old man! For, I will be the New King of Conqueror! The title of Nidaime SeifukuOh is rather fitting!"
"HA HA HA HAHA! BRING IT ON SHOTY! THIS KING OF CONQUEST, ISKANDAR HAS YET TO SELECT A SUCCESSOR! IF YOU MANAGE TO SURVIVE AFTER THIS, THEN I WILL TAKE YOU UNDER MY WING TO LEARN!"
"Like I said you old fossil! Your generation is done! It's my turn NOW!"
The King men with the dream of world conquest faced one another.
Their swords drawn.
Their stance ready.
Their teeth grinding.
Their legs tensing.
They were about to charge at each other in…
3…
2…
1…
Zer-
"UZUMAKI NARUTO! MOTHER DAMANDS YOUR BLOOD!"
Suddenly Gaara in his half Biju form with sand covering half of his body came charging at Naruto. His arms were covered by claw of sands and he sprouted a tail of sand. One of his eyes had turned yellow and mad, like insanity reborn.
Naruto blasted a wave of fire at him, but his autos shield blocked it.
"What the! Gaara!" exclaimed Naruto as he watched the Ichibi no jinchuuriki approached him.
Suddenly the arena was covered with feathers.
"This is the Nehan Shōja no Jutsu (Temple of Nirvana Technique)!" said Hinata in recognition.
"A student of a Genjutsu specialist indeed." muttered Naruto as he watched the feathers fall from a far.
On top of the Kage booth, Orochimaru who was under the face of Yondaime Kazekage smirked.
Operation Konoha Kuzhi has begun.
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