Standard Disclaimer: Enter the disclaimer! I don't own Naruto!
Author's Notes: Well, Naruto has finally reached American shores in anime form on Toonami.
My opinion?
I really think it was done well. Seriously; there was no scene removal, very minor editing (Iruka and Ebisu's nosebleeds), the VAs were spot-on, and they kept the original Japanese music! The only exception to the last one is that they removed the original Japanese beginning and ending theme, but I don't mind. The new intro and ending music actually fits the show quite well, unlike some other dub music (glares at the One Piece dub).
All in all, it gets an 'A'. What do you guys think?
I'll tell you what OTHER people think though: they hate it. They've been weaned on fansubs, and to them, the dubbed version was absolute crap.
But here's the thing; I bet that even if the dub was as perfect as it could've been, with no edits, no cutting, NOTHING except translation to English (and the VAs would be perfect too)…they still wouldn't like it. Because they have become so ingrained in their liking of the original Naruto that they can't STAND the thought of it being 'defiled'. Well guess what?
NARUTO HAS BEEN DUBBED. IT WAS BROUGHT OVER TO AMERICA TO MAKE A PROFIT AND SPREAD ITS POPULARITY. TO ENSURE ITS TRANSITION, IT HAD TO BE DUBBED. YOU DON'T LIKE IT? GET OVER IT. SHUT UP.
God…these people and all of their fanatical yelling make me sick. Sure, some of the dubs are sucky…but you know what? Without dubbed anime, they would never have been able to get to the original stuff in the first place. That's the purpose of dubbed anime: to break the waters.
To the reviews!
Audriel: Basically, Naruto summoned the body itself using his chakra, and is channeling the spirit of the fox into it through that invisible string. The fox can move on his own, but the Kyuubi's spirit is still sealed inside Naruto. So if, say, the string were somehow cut (it would take something very strong), then the Kyuubi is toast…but doing so would cause the summoned body to break down, and the backlash of power would kill anyone nearby, Naruto included. So it's a two-way street…
DragoonVBK: Probably another story. I haven't seen any mention of something like that. Closest thing to it is that I've heard it said that the Kyuubi is the strongest demon in Naruto.
Lyfe.exe: A fox cheerleader? O.o
Dragon Man 180: If you remember from the Prologue, you'll see how the Akatsuki's leader comments on how the knife connected to Akira's chakra was the last one to go out.
vearix: 'Soon'…is a bit of a problem. :P
Dark Qiviut: Sorry pal. NDE was deleted a long time ago. Say it with me; BALEETED!
Arsenel: Continued it shall be!
Mistress DragonFlame: Because there are utter donkeys out there in the world (replace donkey with a different synonym, and you'll get my meaning).
crakbaby23: I am writing right now! (b.)b
thestoneox: Thank'ee! Some time after posting this story, I read somewhere that the official way the Hiraishin no jutsu works is that you place a paper seal on someone (or something in any case), after which you can teleport right towards it. Not to sound biased or anything, but I like my explanation better. (mauled)
aznpuffyhair: Heh. No matter the story, everyone likes the 'lovable idiot' character (if deadly, in Akira's case).
xXxReixXx: Calm yourself. o.o;
crazy-antman: Thank'ee!
raging hobo: Well, Orochimaru IS fresh…and let's face it. Any fear he has of Itachi is due to the Sharingan. He feels no fear of Itachi now for two reasons. One, because once he has Sasuke's body, he no longer needs to fear Itachi. And two, Kyuubi gives him plenty to be fearful about already. :P
the essence of popsicles: Everyone who reads my stories thinks they should be on TV. Except FFX-3; they think it should be a game. o.o
wolfwhispers: Welcome to Legacy! And no, I wouldn't forget about this fic…it's just I have three going right now, and I also have school.
Konoha Ninja Sasuke's Lover: ….no comment.
Begin!
xxxx
Shuu's Downfall! Orochimaru's Bag of Tricks!
xxxx
/Present Day/
/Hospital, Konohagakure, Fire Country/
The sun was barely halfway up the horizon; nothing more than a dull orange disc in the pale morning sky. Naruto grimaced as he moaned, "Where's the old hag? I'm getting hungry…"
"Too weak to get your own food, dunce?" muttered Sasuke with a satisfied smirk. This entailed a complimentary glare from Naruto.
At this, the Kyuubi chuckled. "HU HU HU…NO SURPRISE WHY THIS IDIOT STILL FINDS YOU MORE ANNOYING THAN I. NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING, OF COURSE."
The fox boy turned his glare toward the red, fox-shaped aura sitting on his shoulder. "Butt out!"
"YOU DON'T COMMAND ME."
"I might as well be!"
"YOUR THREATS NEED WORK."
"RRR!"
Sasuke couldn't help but sweatdrop at the sight of Naruto bickering with the nine-tailed demon. Or a representation of him, anyway. "Fool…"
Naruto's glare once again reached Sasuke. "SAYS YOU!" roared the irritable ninja as he got to his feet on impulse.
Bad move.
Sasuke and Kyuubi's eyebrows twitched as they watched Naruto's body (which is still injured, by the way) writhe on the bed. The Uchiha grumbled, "Idiot."
"AGREED," concurred Kyuubi as he momentarily remembered putting down the Plant Lord once and for all…oh, how wondrous it had felt…
xxxx
/Kyuubi's Flashback/
/Yesterday/
/Outside Sunagakure, Wind Country/
The feeling of his claws rending an enemy apart was exhilarating.
Ogi-Daimyou's screams of pain and agony were utter music to his ears. The feeling of the giant plant's tentacles being torn apart, with chunks and bits getting caught in his paws. Feeling the Plant Lord's juices splatter onto his fur…the raw, aggressive rush that came from taking an enemy's life…
Oh, how he had missed it.
The Kyuubi smiled devilishly as he bit down into one of the Plant Lord's large red petals. Clear fluid burst forth as the Nine Tails ripped it off of Shuu's summoned beast with a quick jerk of his head. The adrenaline pumping through his veins made him feel so…alive…
"AH…" The demon fox chuckled as he let the petal drop to the ground. "EXQUISITE…I SHALL ENJOY TAKING WHAT'S LEFT OF YOUR LIFE."
Ogi-Daimyou gurgled as he haphazardly swung his tentacles at Kyuubi, missing each time. Kyuubi merely responded by tearing through the Plant Lord with one slash of his claws.
As the burning mass of fauna fell to the ground, he gurgled, "How Shuu…we were supposed…to cleanse the world…"
As Ogi-Daimyou burned into cinders, Shuu could only stare up at the Kyuubi as the demon raised his right paw; his arms were torched and useless now. He could no longer cast any jutsus. Finally, the former Grass ninja muttered, "Perhaps…it was us who needed cleansing…"
Odd how the human mind becomes so accepting when death approaches.
Kyuubi lowered his paw.
SPLURK.
Shuu gagged once as his torso was crushed by the Nine Tails' massive paw. His life ended right there.
Toya Shuu and Ogi-Daimyou were dead.
Kyuubi smirked. "TO FIGHT…TO SLAUGHTER…TO KILL…OH, HOW I'VE MISSED IT ALL…"
All of a sudden, steam began to surround the Tailed Demon. The orange-furred fox chuckled as he stared at the source of the steam: Fujiwara Akira, who had finally returned to the battlefield.
The fox demon smiled. "AND I SHALL CONTINUE TO ENJOY IT…"
At that moment, a hundred fists made of steam converged on the Nine Tails…and the demon just smiled.
xxxx
/Gaara's Flashback/
/Yesterday/
/Outside Sunagakure, Wind Country/
He could hardly move.
"Hrrg…"
Gaara felt pain convulse through his entire body as he struggled to move. That last attack…so disorienting…could barely move…
"Agh…"
The Kazekage fell limply back onto the ground, his teal eyes staring quietly along the enclosed desert within the coliseum.
The nine-tailed demon fox was contending with the steam user…and atop him, Gaara could see Naruto facing Orochimaru's assistant.
He shifted his body a little bit to the left. More pain.
He saw the two Uchiha fighting.
Gaara grimaced as he ripped off his sleeves, glancing at the bloody wound on his left arm. Trying his best to concentrate, the Sand ninja removed some errant sand from the wound before wrapping a layer of hardened grains around it. It would stop the blood flow…for now. Moments later, he fell down again; it was hard to even access his chakra…
That's when he saw two other figures: the ones known as Koumorimaru and Orochimaru.
Gaara watched silently as he tried to pick himself back up.
xxxx
Koumorimaru's red hair fluttered in the wind, as did Orochimaru's black hair.
The snake-like Sannin hissed, "Hmm. You are…Koumorimaru, correct? I was before your time."
"You shouldn't have come Orochimaru," retorted the bat woman, her voice tired and irritable. "We know you have spies within the lower echelons of Akatsuki; spies amongst the foot soldiers we have spread throughout the land. The soldiers that we have used to search for the Tailed Demons so crucial to our goal."
"Your point?"
Koumorimaru's visible red eye narrowed. "You knew that Mantarou's plan was taking place today. The plan that we of Akatsuki have spent the better part of the last decade preparing."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Ku ku ku ku…I had a little runaway to catch. Besides, I thought I'd drop in and say hi."
"Your sarcasm doesn't amuse me, snake." The venom was practically dripping off of her voice. "You came to Akatsuki for the sole purpose of trying to acquire resources to create the Sound Country…and then you left fifteen years ago. Five years ago, you returned under the guise of allowing ninjas you trained yourself into the ranks of our many spies throughout the world…but it was only a ploy to acquire more resources for your eventual takeover bid against Konoha…and to acquire Itachi, who had just joined us at the age of thirteen. You had no interest in the Tailed Demons."
"Nor did I have any interest in being treated as a pawn, like the rest of you," replied Orochimaru, his yellow eyes glinting with arrogance. "Your 'Leader', Mantarou…using all of you like pawns in his little demon hunt…"
Koumorimaru snorted. "You seem to have no problem playing the role of 'Leader' with your own ninja village."
The Sennin grinned as he lightly replied, "Well…I can't deny that."
"Nevertheless, we all united because we each had our own individual plan…but they all required the Tailed Demons." The bat woman jumped high into the air, her wings catching an updraft and providing her with lift. "Your own plans have interfered with that of Akatsuki's…and for that, you shall die."
At the sound of those words, Orochimaru said nothing.
That is, until he chuckled again.
"Ku ku ku ku ku…" The leader of Otogakure smiled as he sheathed the Kusanagi blade, performing various hand seals as he did. "Fool…you do not stand a chance against my jutsus." The last hand seal – Hebi, for Serpent – was performed. "Ninpou; Doseiuwabami!" The ground in front of Orochimaru flashed as a giant serpent made of rock erupted from the sand, roaring towards Koumorimaru. "Art of the Earthen Anaconda!"
Koumorimaru quickly took off into the sky before the giant snake could get its rocky jaws on her. The bat woman snorted as her wings twitched. "Hikerudouto no jutsu! Shattering Sound!" A high-pitched squeal erupted from the Akatsuki member's mouth, tinged blue with her chakra. It slammed into the earthen anaconda moments later, shattering it into a thousand tiny pieces.
The red-haired woman immediately whirled around in time to hear Orochimaru's head roaring towards her, his neck stretching to impossibly long lengths. His tongue was wrapped around the hilt of Kusanagi.
Koumorimaru blanched as she immediately dove downward, avoiding Orochimaru's attack. As she did, however, she took note that the body of the Sannin was still on the ground…and his hands were performing katas.
All of a sudden, an invisible bubble encompassed Koumorimaru…and to her horror, all of the air inside of it was pumped out in an instant. "!"
Orochimaru chuckled as his head receded, his neck reverting to normal. "Henjikuuhaku no jutsu…" He held Kusanagi lightly as he said, "Instant Vacuum."
Koumorimaru wasted no time. "Kusachi!" Her Blades of Blood tore through the invisible bubble, allowing her to take deep breaths of the air she so desperately needed. "Rrr…" She charged downward, bearing down upon the former Akatsuki ninja.
Orochimaru smiled as he performed several more katas. "Doton, Suiton, Kinton; Sanwaoneneru!" He slammed his hands into the ground as a quake rumbled through the area. "Earth, Water, and Metal Element; Triad Surge!" Three different geysers erupted around Orochimaru; one made of raw iron ore, one made of rushing water, and one made of hardened earth. The geysers were fashioned in the shape of triangles; they all conjoined, forming a triad figure (you know, like the Triforce symbol of Legend of Zelda?).
Koumorimaru paled as the elemental triad zoomed towards her. Impossible! A triple elemental jutsu? It was too fast for her to contemplate dodging; all she could do was shield herself with her wings.
A thunderous sound erupted as the bat woman was hit by a trio of elements. As the elemental triad slammed into the ground, Orochimaru smiled as he began performing some more katas.
Ten seconds later, after the dust settled, the former Cloud ninja pulled herself out of the dirty mixture of sand, mud, and metal, her Akatsuki robe muddy and filthy. "Rrr…where did he go…?"
She got her answer moments later.
Staring at her was Orochimaru. 30 of him, to be exact.
Koumorimaru's eyes narrowed at the sound of all the shuffling feet and the billowing black hair of the clones. A clone jutsu… Without hesitation, she roared, "KUSACHI!" The bloody blades lanced through five of the clones.
All of a sudden, the clones broke apart into large green snakes, much to Koumorimaru's shock. "WHAT?"
"Ku ku ku ku ku…" chuckled one of the Orochimaru clone. "Daija bunshin no jutsu…Snake Clone. Like it?"
The aforementioned green snakes lashed out at Koumorimaru, maws wide, and fangs bared. She impulsively took to the air. Two of the Orochimarus jumped up after her. In response, Koumorimaru quickly used her toes – which now sported long claws – and kicked straight upward through their chests. To her surprise, the snakes that the two clones were made of launched out of the gashes, landing on her body.
"AGH! GET OFF YOU DAMN SERPENTS!" hastily shouted the bat woman as he hurryingly flew upwards, letting the snakes drop off of her. The red eyes of the green snakes glared upward at her as they fell back to the ground. Meanwhile, the other Snake Clones were performing hand seals…for the Triad Surge.
No! Koumorimaru paled; so many Triad Surges would kill her! She had to destroy them all, NOW! The former Cloud ninja immediately began coagulating chakra in her mouth, causing her cheeks to swell. As the ground began to quake, she roared, "Zaazaabuumu!"
She spat out the orb of glowing white chakra.
"SONIC BOOM!"
The moment the ball hit the ground, it exploded. For a moment, there was no other sound…except the sound of static. It was eerie, in a way…as if all other sounds in reality were replaced by white noise.
Finally, the shockwave hit.
BOOM!
Everything in a 50-yard radius was flattened, Snake Clones included.
Just like that.
Koumorimaru sighed as she quietly descended, setting foot on the ground. "Hmm…did that do it?"
A green snake wrapped around her neck, forcing her to freeze. What? HOW!
The snake kept its body wrapped around her neck while its upper half transformed into…Orochimaru. His body from the waist up was now visible. "Ku ku ku ku…surprised?"
Koumorimaru said nothing. The snake…it must have gotten on her when she kicked those two clones…and she hadn't noticed…
"It was simple. While you were busy with my first Triad Surge…I made many copies of myself before using Henge to transform into a snake. I hid inside a clone…and you fell for it." Orochimaru chuckled again. "I told you that you were a fool…"
Koumorimaru said nothing.
At this moment, Orochimaru pulled out a small flute. "In any case…I remember that you threatened to kill me." He put the flute to his lips. "Himeifuu no jutsu; Shrieking Flute." Orochimaru put the tip of the flute into Koumorimaru's bat-like left ear and played the highest note. His chakra enhanced the sound tenfold.
It felt like a knife had just been jabbed into her brain.
"AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAA!" howled the bat woman as she stumbled, her ears bleeding from the sheer decibel level of the sound. Her balance was lost; without her keen sense of hearing, she couldn't sense anything anymore.
So it was no surprise that Orochimaru unfurled his lower half from around Koumorimaru's neck, reverting to normal. A cruel smile coated his face as he put his flute away…and unsheathed Kusanagi. "Allow me to return the favor."
He sliced upward through Koumorimaru's sternum.
The bat woman could only gape as she felt her rib cage fly open, revealing her delicate inner organs. Blood began to leak as her heart pulsed and her lungs quivered.
Without hesitation, Orochimaru pushed his former comrade onto the ground and stepped on her heart and lungs, crushing them both. A soundless gasp emerged from the bat woman's mouth, along with blood and spittle. Her red eyes faded and went dull.
Koumorimaru was dead.
Orochimaru chuckled as he flexed his neck. He looked around; Itachi was fighting Sasuke, Kabuto was fighting the fox boy, and Akira was dealing with the fox. "And then there were two…"
All but two of the eight Akatsuki at Sunagakure were dead.
Hoshigaki Kisame.
Akasun Sasori.
Deidara.
Yagami Hiroto.
Toya Shuu.
Koumorimaru.
The only ones left were Fujiwara Akira and Uchiha Itachi. Along with Orochimaru, they were the strongest of Akatsuki. That is, of course, if you didn't count the Leader…
Orochimaru's yellow eyes glinted as he watched Sasuke struggle against the ever impassive Itachi. Now Sasuke-kun…time to claim your body!
He burst off into a run.
xxxx
/Sasuke's Flashback/
/Yesterday/
/Outside Sunagakure, Wind Country/
As Orochimaru had been fighting Koumorimaru, Sasuke had been dealing with his older brother.
Currently, he wasn't doing so well.
POW!
Sasuke groaned as a punch from Itachi connected to his abdomen, sending him backwards. The younger boy scowled as he stood up once more. His arm stretched again…I need to break his genjutsu!
The genjutsu technique in question was one Itachi had cast minutes ago; it had been called Ninpou; Harigenshi: Stretching Phantom Arm. To be blunt, it gave off the appearance that Itachi's arms stretched whenever he punched.
But the reality was that the REAL Itachi was invisible; whenever the 'phantom' Itachi punched, the real one would strike at the same time the phantom's outstretched arm would hit Sasuke. This gave off the illusion that the stretching arm was real.
Sasuke knew this. Unfortunately, Itachi's rhythm of attacking changed constantly, throwing off the younger Uchiha. It never gave him time to concentrate on breaking the illusion with his Sharingan.
Growling, the younger boy swung with the Zanbato.
Itachi leapt into the air, his Mangekyou Sharingan eyes swirling like windmills. He quickly performed various hand seals as he muttered, "The third jutsu of the Mangekyou Sharingan…"
Sasuke paled. What?! He impulsively threw his Zanbato at Itachi.
Itachi calmly pulled out a small mirror from a pocket in the folds of his cloak. He held in front of him, not worrying about the flaming blade nearing him. "Mangekyou: SUSANOO!"
Itachi's red eyes flashed white and black. He saw his own reflection…
The Zanbato was upon him.
Itachi calmly punched the fiery blade with his fist.
It shattered into a thousand flaming pieces, much to Sasuke's horror. "…what…?"
As Itachi landed on the sandy ground, he explained, "Users of the Mangekyou Sharingan are capable of three specials jutsus; one for each type. Tsukuyomi for genjutsu…Amaterasu for ninjutsu…and finally, Susanoo for taijutsu." As he spoke, Sasuke suddenly noticed that Itachi's musculature had become a lot more hardy and buffed. If it weren't for the cloak, one would've seen Itachi's bulging muscles. "Using the hypnotic powers of the Mangekyou Sharingan, Susanoo hypnotizes the body into believe that it is stronger and faster than it really is. As you can imagine, such a technique can be quite deadly to the body…but I will not be long."
Sasuke angrily growled, "Why tell it to me?"
"Because if you cannot defeat me even after I reveal its secret to you, than you are not worthy of being called an 'avenger'." Itachi punched, his arms stretching.
Sasuke immediately roared, "KAI!" During Itachi's little 'speech', the younger Uchiha had been using the time to gather up enough concentration to disrupt his chakra flow long enough to break the genjutsu. As the Harigenshi was broken, Sasuke blanched as he saw Itachi right in front of him.
BAM!
Sasuke gagged as a tremendous force pressed against him, sending him flying backwards. His fleshy wings twitched as he got to his feet, gagging on his own blood. "Agh…" That technique…it's murderous…!
DONDONDONDONDONDONDONDONDONDON!
Itachi's footsteps were like thunderclaps, and each one kicked up a geyser of sand. So great was his strength and speed, it looked like that a moving column of erupting sand was roaring towards Sasuke. The younger Uchiha quickly flew into the air, avoiding Itachi's first strike.
BAM!
That is, for about three seconds.
Sasuke gasped soundlessly as he plummeted toward the ground; faster than he could even fathom, his older brother had leapt upward into the air and elbowed him in the back. Spasms of shock ran through his body.
KACHOOM!
A thunderous sound ripped through the air as Sasuke collided with the ground, creating a gigantic cloud of dust and grains. The fifteen-year old teenager grimaced as he gingerly got to his feet, his body quivering from the impact. "Urgh…"
A double-fisted punch rammed into his abdomen.
Sasuke grimaced as he was sent sailing backwards, skidding along the desert ground after landing. The sandy cloud inhibited sight…but that wouldn't last for long. The younger Uchiha's eyes narrowed as he stood up, stoic and calm.
Itachi charged once more.
He threw another punch, intending to follow it up with a swift kick to the head.
He never got the chance to, as a black hand clenched his fist…stopping him in his tracks.
Itachi's eyes widened out of slight surprise.
POW!
Another black fist slammed into his face, sending him backwards along the ground. The elder Uchiha calmly spat out some blood as he turned to face his attacker.
It was Uchiha Sasuke…except he had changed.
His skin was blacker than coal…the darkest kind of black imaginable. His claws had become sharper, and they had grown by an inch. His white hair was shorter now, as if his normal hairstyle was transformed from black to white. Small, flesh-covered spikes protruded from his shins and forearms. His fleshy wings had become true angelic wings, complete with snowy white feathers. His eyes were once more white in color, complete with the red-and-black Sharingan as always. "Curse Seal…Level 3." Purple chakra radiated from his body in droves; the sign of the massive power being utilized by the curse seal.
Uchiha Itachi calmly stood up; Sasuke immediately realized that the Susanoo jutsu was no longer in effect. The eldest brother said, "Forced to draw upon the curse seal's true power…pity. You're such a weakling."
"No…YOU ARE," growled Sasuke, his eyes filled with a feral ferocity rivaled by only the most hardened of killers. "I have the power now…the power to utterly crush you…" As he spoke, he took note of the twinge of pain emanating from the Heaven seal on his neck. Can't stay in this form for long…my body won't be able to handle the strain of the seal's feeding on my energy…
But he had no choice.
To defeat Itachi, he had to resort to extreme measures.
Uchiha Itachi calmly stared at Uchiha Sasuke.
"OROCHI FANG!"
Itachi turned around just in time to see an eight-headed snake aura slam into him, pressing him backwards into the wall of the coliseum.
Sasuke growled as he glared at the source of the attack-
Paralysis.
Sasuke suddenly found that he was frozen in place. The look in Orochimaru's yellow eyes was all it took.
It was the beginning of Fushi Tensei: Living Corpse Reincarnation.
The jutsu that would put Orochimaru's spirit into Sasuke's body.
Sasuke couldn't move as he looked ahead; all around him, all he saw was the image of a snake, with jaws wide open.
At that moment, he chuckled. His chuckle came out as Orochimaru's; a habit he had picked up over his three years' time with the former Sannin. "Ku ku ku ku…so…this is how it's going to end…"
"Only for you, Sasuke-kun," corrected Orochimaru as he performed the katas necessary. "Once the jutsu is complete, I will kill Itachi for you. Be honored."
Sasuke said nothing as an ironic grin came to his face. Heh…I suppose I'll be killing my brother with my own hands…but it'll be Orochimaru who wields them. Oh well…perhaps Naruto can kill me and Orochimaru at once once the battle's over…wouldn't put it past him. Ah never mind…that idiot couldn't do anything right anyway…
Orochimaru smiled devilishly as he performed one last hand-seal. "Now Sasuke-kun…you are mine. Now, and forever."
xxxx
/Naruto's Flashback/
/Yesterday/
/Outside Sunagakure, Wind Country/
As Kyuubi dealt with Akira, Orochimaru dealt with Koumorimaru, and the Uchiha fought…an old score was about to be settled atop the Nine Tails' back.
Kabuto smiled devilishly as he readjusted his glasses, staring at Naruto with dark eyes. The desire to fight was clearly evident. For Naruto, the desire to fight was just as strong.
Orochimaru's assistant lightly said, "Well Naruto-kun…do you want to take the first shot?"
POW!
Kabuto yelped as a punch was delivered to his face, sending him careening backwards along Kyuubi's back. Uzumaki Naruto flexed his fist, growling, "Satisfied?"
"…heh heh heh heh…ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Kabuto's laughter ran through the air as his left hand glowed green. As he placed his hand on his face, he thought, Such power…he's progressed so far…this will be a wondrous battle! "Heh heh heh heh…well Naruto-kun…you've definitely impressed me." He removed his hand, revealing an untarnished face. "Now…" His hands and feet both glowed blue: a sign of the Chakra Absorption technique. "Let's see if you can keep up."
Naruto didn't flinch as Kabuto charged at him. "Bring it on, you worthless traitor!"
As Kabuto punched and kicked at a furious speed, Naruto adeptly jumped, ducked, sidestepped, or dodged. He couldn't risk countering…so all he could do was dodge. For the moment.
Kabuto chuckled as he performed a sidekick. Naruto blanched; the kick was faster than before!
BAM!
Naruto gagged as the kick sent him backwards, skidding to a halt atop the Kyuubi's thick hair. Kabuto smiled as he mockingly said, "What's wrong Naruto-kun? Still sore over my 'betrayal' of Konoha?"
Naruto's eyes widened.
"I was an Otogakure spy before joining the Leaf…my loyalty was to Orochimaru-sama…not your pathetic excuse of a village. After all…" The silver-haired man sneered. "…even after failing the Chunin exams seven times, they STILL let me enroll in the academy. When a village lets supposed 'failures' like me have more than one chance, it deserves to fall. Such weakness won't be tolerated."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Shut up…" He stood up, glaring daggers at the ninja he had once looked upon as a fellow ally…and a fellow Leaf. "You don't know what you're talking about!" The blonde ninja performed several familiar katas. "Kage bunshin no jutsu!"
Ten Narutos roared as they stampeded towards Kabuto.
The Sound Jonin smirked as he reached into the pockets of his uniform…and pulled out ten barbed shuriken attached to strings. With one quick movement, he slipped his fingers through pre-made loopholes and threw all ten shuriken.
All ten Narutos gagged as the shuriken were embedded into their abdomens. Nine disappeared, leaving behind the original. The Genin (yes, he's still a Genin, in case you're still wondering) grimaced as he noticed the blue aura on the string. "Uh…?"
"I'm the one who taught Akado Yoroi the Chakra Absorption technique. As you can guess, the power of the master is greater than that of the apprentice." Kabuto licked his lips as Naruto's chakra was transferred to him. "Your chakra…feels quite nice. Invigorating…no wonder my blood always boiled when you got near."
Nartuo snarled as he forcibly ripped the shuriken out; the barbs took some flesh with it. He ignored it; the pain was nothing. "It doesn't matter…I'll kill you no matter what." But now he was at a disadvantage; Kabuto had been holding back at the beginning. Plus, he had now absorbed some of his chakra…not good.
Oh well. Who cares? I'm going to win anyway! Naruto quickly performed some katas, roaring, "Konohaito no-"
Kyuubi suddenly jumped backwards, avoiding Akira's multi-fist attack. This sudden jolt in movement – contrasting to the smooth, flowing motions that he had been using against Ogi-Daimyou – caused both ninjas to lose their footing.
Naruto yelped as he fell on his back, using his hand to clasp onto the fur fibers. Kabuto, his hands and feet still glowing, fell towards the side. Like Naruto, he too grabbed onto the fox demon's fur, pulling himself back up.
It was at this moment that Naruto realized why Kabuto had been getting stronger. I get it now…that sly little traitor. The fox boy grinned as the Oto-nin pulled himself up.
Kabuto asked, "My my, Naruto-kun…what seems to have cheered you up so?"
"I figured out how you were getting so much stronger during the battle…you were using your feet to siphon out the fox's chakra while I was dodging."
Not only stronger, but more intelligent too, thought Kabuto with a smirk as his feet continued to glow. "Yes…I have been siphoning the Nine Tails' chakra. But since it is of a demonic nature, I can only draw on a little bit at a time…but during our fight, all of it added together gave me enough strength to finally gain an edge."
Uzumaki Naruto laughed loudly at Kabuto. The Otonin felt a slight twinge of annoyance. "Mind enlightening me as to why you're laughing, Naruto-kun?"
"Because of how stupid you are," muttered Naruto as his chakra aura flared a fearsome red; he was drawing upon the Kyuubi's chakra through the invisible thread that connected the demon's body to the spirit sealed in his belly. "Throughout this whole battle today…even though I've used a bunch of this smelly fox's chakra…he's only used about one-third of his chakra."
Yakushi Kabuto's dark eyes widened out of shock. Even HE hadn't suspected that the Kyuubi held that much chakra. Heh…my my. What a fearsome beast. In hindsight, Kabuto wondered how in the world the Fourth Hokage had ever been able to seal away the fox demon, even with the powerful Fuuinjutsu Shiki Fujin. Then again, that jutsu DID call upon the God of Death, and even demons died…
"Konohaito no jutsu! Leaf Cords!"
Kabuto blanched as thin, leafy cords erupted from Naruto's sleeves, tying around his body. Curses! I shouldn't have let my mind wander!
Naruto chuckled. "Stupid idiot! Shouldn't have let your guard down!" With one quick heave, the fox boy threw the bounded Oto-nin into the air. "NOW EAT THIS!" He jumped into the air, rearing a fist for one heck of a punch to the nose.
Suddenly, Kabuto ripped through the cords with a shuriken he had managed to pull from his pocket…and as he descended toward the ascending Naruto, his arm suddenly wrapped around the Genin's arm, as if it were made of rubber.
"WHAT?" yelped Naruto, his eyes boggling out of shock. What the heck is this crap?
Before he realized it, Kabuto's entire body was wrapped around him, as if he were a snake. The Oto-nin sadistically hissed, "Orochimaru taught me this jutsu: Nan no Kaizo; Body Softening Modification. I in turn taught it to Tsurugi Misumi…remember the Chuunin exams?"
Naruto remembered. Misumi had shown his ability to dislocated every joint in his body, manipulating them with his chakra alone. Kankuro had defeated Misumi through a bit of trickery…but that was then. This was now.
They landed softly on Kyuubi's back.
Kabuto smirked as he tightened his hold. "I'm afraid I have to help Orochimaru-sama now…but I must say, it was fun testing your limits. Farewell."
"…heh heh…who said I was at my limit?"
All of a sudden, a clone leapt out of the Kyuubi's fur, kunai knife aimed for Kabuto's temple.
On impulse, the Jonin released Naruto and leapt away before the clone could lobotomize him. The silver-haired ninja frowned as Naruto stood up, who was smirking. "Heh heh…remember when I used Kage Bunshin?"
Twenty more clones suddenly popped their heads out of the Nine Tails' thick, bushy fur, wide grins plastered onto their faces. The original boasted, "I made more than nine clones."
Kabuto couldn't help but smile as he stared at the twenty-two Narutos. …he's improved far beyond anything I could ever imagine. In a way, Kabuto was not surprised he had been inwardly consumed by the desire to fight Naruto; although he was a medical ninja, his berserk inner killer thirsted for the blood of a worthy enemy. Naruto was that enemy. "Heh heh…very good Naruto-kun…"
"Glad you approve. Because now you die." The twenty clones stood up…and each of them held one swirling blue orb. Rasengan. Twenty of them. "This is going to hurt a lot more than the Rasengan I hit you with three years ago."
Yakushi Kabuto blinked; even he couldn't help but feel a bit fearful in the sight of such overwhelming power.
"HIRAISHIN NO JUTSU!"
The clone that had used the kunai suddenly appeared behind Kabuto, a yellow flash marking his arrival. The Oto-nin could only blink as he was kicked in the back…and sent flying towards Naruto.
Naruto held both hands forward, creating a large, translucent sphere out of his chakra aura. Kabuto merged with it in a single tiny pop; he was trapped inside.
Moments later, the twenty clones placed each individual orb onto the sphere. Now it looked like there twenty blue bumps on the surface of the transparent prison. Kabuto boggled at the sight. What is he up to?
The original reared his right hand. "If you though one was bad…wait till you see this! TATOU RASENGAN!"
Naruto punched the lone clear spot on the sphere. The collision caused the sphere to constrict upon Kabuto…and as a result, so did the twenty Rasengan orbs.
As Kabuto was sent flying, the concentrated force of twenty whirlwinds pounded into his body. A horrific sound erupted from his throat as he was sent flying two hundred yards away, his mangled body landing with a thud on the ground.
To be blunt, it was as if twenty blenders had dug into his body and been turned on. The fact that he was still alive was impressive.
Yakushi Kabuto gagged as he tried to access his chakra to heal himself. He knew that to try and heal himself completely would only deplete his own chakra…but with the energy he had siphoned from the Kyuubi and Naruto…maybe.
He had no choice. If he did nothing, he would die within the next minute.
Kabuto's entire body glowed with a green aura. Bones began to reform. Inner organs were slowly patched up. Blood vessels reconnected to each other. Skin was seamlessly grafted back together.
By the time the inner organs and the bones were fixed, all of his chakra was gone. All that was left was the chakra he had absorbed from both Naruto and the Kyuubi.
Kabuto went further.
All of a sudden, painful spasm gripped his body. "AGH!" He coughed out a large globule of blood from his mouth as his insides quivered and convulsed. What is…happening…?
The answer dawned on him; the demonic chakra of the Nine Tails…his body wasn't capable of handling it. It was detrimental to him. And the tiny amount of chakra gathered by Naruto wasn't sufficient to sustain him.
As a result, his inner coils system constricted upon his delicate inner organs. The demonic chakra of the Kyuubi was killing him.
"No…" Kabuto's coughing grew in its intensity. "Can't…die……here…"
But as it turned out, he did die.
Yakushi Kabuto was now nothing more than a lifeless corpse on the desert floor.
Uzumaki Naruto sighed as his clones disappeared. Finally… He casually looked around the entire battlefield, taking in the sights of the dead corpses.
He saw Akira get swatted into the wall by a sweeping collision from one of Kyuubi's tails.
He saw-
Naruto's blood froze. NO.
Orochimaru was standing in front of Sasuke – what the heck was up with Sasuke? He looked stranger than before! – hands performing katas. The Uchiha wasn't moving.
That damned snake…he's going for Sasuke's body…
Naruto's mind went into overdrive. There was no WAY he was going to let this happen!
He leapt off of the Nine Tails back, forcefully drawing in the Kyuubi's spirit back into his body. As he did so, the Kyuubi's body flickered.
"WHAT? WHAT IS HAPPENING?" The Nine Tails howled as his outline shimmered. Moments later, his body became hazy. "NOOOOO….I'M NOT DONE PLAYING YET! YOU ACCURSED PEA-BRAIN, I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"
Maybe later, irritably thought Naruto as he reached for the few smoke bombs he had brought along. Without hesitation, he threw all of them in the general direction of Sasuke and Orochimaru. As he did so, he performed one hand seal.
By the time the smoke bombs exploded, the fox demon's body was gone, and the demon's spirit was once more completely sealed within Naruto's belly.
Sasuke blinked as gray smoke clouded his vision. What…?
Orochimaru chuckled as his arms began glowing purple. "Fool! It is too late…SASUKE'S BODY IS NOW MINE!"
Without hesitation, he clutched onto the boy's shoulders, his nails digging into the skin as his spirit was slowly transferred over.
As the smoke cleared…Uchiha Sasuke was seen, his shoulders held by the glowing hands of Orochimaru.
The pale Sannin hissed happily as his spirit was transferred over into Sasuke's body. "Yes…at last…the power of the Sharingan is mine!"
At this, Sasuke chuckled.
Orochimaru raised a curious eyebrow. As he began experiencing strange flashes in his vision – the result of his spirit now seeing through two bodies as it was transferred – he asked, "What makes you laugh Sasuke-kun?"
"Heh," scoffed Sasuke. "You dumbass snake."
Orochimaru, in his initial elation, hadn't bothered to look over Sasuke's head…but now he did. And to his surprise, he saw…Uchiha Sasuke. "What?"
The winged Uchiha he held suddenly disappeared in a puff of white smoke. When it cleared, Orochimaru's eyes widened out of absolute shock and anger. "NO…"
Uzumaki Naruto grinned cockily as the Sannin's fingers delved into his shoulders. "You've got the wrong guy."
xxxx
To be continued…
Next time…
Naruto's Downfall? The Battle Finally Ends!
xxxx
Author's Notes: That's right folks. The next chapter is the final one in the Akatsuki battle! After this, the flashbacks shall end. :P
Allow me to just point out something for people who read the newer manga chapters that come out. Seeing as how things have progressed in the manga since the beginning of this story, here's the main differences.
Deidara is a female in this story, instead of male like the manga (Deidara's gender was unknown at the time this story was made).
Toya Shuu is known as Zetsu in the manga (once again, his name was unknown at the time).
And just to clarify for all of you readers, Itachi was 13 at the time he joined Akatsuki (roughly two years before the events of the Naruto chapter 1 began). That's less than one year after he had slaughtered the Uchiha clan. Consequently, this means that Sasuke was 10 when his clan was massacred. He continued his training at the Ninja Academy, graduating into Team Seven at the age of 12 along with Naruto and Sakura. Three years passed, and now Sasuke and Naruto are 15 (with Sasuke being a little bit older than Naruto. And no, I don't care what their birthdays are. I say that Sasuke is several months older. So says me!). Itachi is now 18.
Anyhow, buckle up everyone…the last chapter in the Akatsuki battle is coming!
See you soon, and please review!