DBNG

The Calm Rain

In headquarters, a surprising turn of events had just occured. "Lord Hokage, Lord Raikage," called a shinobi. "the Hachibi and the Kyuubi have escaped!"

"What is Bee doing? Stop them!" yelled Raikage.

"We can't sir, they're too powerful. They're just blasting their way through all our forces!"

"Finally, just as I thought." commented Cael. "Naruto's dumb, but he isn't that stupid. Obviously he'd figure something was up. At least now we can quicken the pace a little."

Back at my battle, Mangetsu and I circled around each other, maintaining a short distance while staring each other down.

"General Kakashi," I called out. "I'm going to need you to handle the rest of the swordsmen for me. I'm going to be focusing all my power and attention on Mangetsu only. I no longer have any interest in the other swordsmen."

"I understand. We'll do what we can." he replied.

Thunder roared through the skies above us as rain began pouring hard. "Rain coming out of no where?" questioned Guy.

"Interesting." commented Kakashi. "This rain must be responding to the two of them preparing to do battle."

"You know something Mangetsu, I'm pretty damn excited." I grinned. "This is the day when I finally defeat you! You have no idea how long I've waited for this. Now I can rebuild the Swordsmen of the Mist to it's former glory!"

"Former glory?" asked Mangetsu. "You always were too cocky for your own good, Suigetsu; just like Father."

"And Father always favored you, the 'Natural Genius'." I growled.

"The same genius that father had, yes." nodded Mangetsu. "The gifted prevail over the failure. That's how it's always been and how it will always be, Suigetsu."

"You may be a gifted swordsman," I pointed at him. "but I am the Rain Guardian." I gestured to myself. "No matter how gifted you are, I am the most powerful swordsman in the world."

"You really believe that you're the Rain Guardian? Suigetsu, the only reason you have that title is because I died and never had a chance to claim it. I'll admit that you're good, but there are plenty of 'good'swordsmen in the world. Only a few are exceptional."

"Enough of this, brother! I've grown tired of your ramblings. Whoever remains standing last in the Rain will be the best. Let the Rain decide the outcome."

"Very well, then I shall use my full power to crush you and show you that even in death, I reign supreme." Mangetsu sheathed his katana slowly, stopping at the hilt and then quickly shutting it in the scabbard. It then started glowing a dark purple aura."You Shall Die." He said. Black electricity began sparking all over his sheathed katana as he concentrated his chakra.

"So this is the Devil Blade Yamato and the Dark Slayer Style which accompanies it; handed down from father himself." I thought. "I can't lose focus, even for a second. This is my brother's most powerful style. This is it, my life's ambition, my dream; this is what I've been training for…what I've been living for!"

"Now!" I swung the Z Sword underhandedly into the ground and then swiftly swung upwards and created a blue, curving, blade beam. It shredded the ground as it flew straight for Mangetsu. He swung his blade horizontally towards the beam and clashed with it.

"Ugh, what force!" yelled Kakashi shielding himself. Our violent clash sent a shockwave all around us to Kakashi and his division, sending them flying back. "And only from a single strike! They haven't even clashed blades yet and already they're battle's this intense!"

"Mangetsu!" I yelled as I charged for him, dragging my blade through the ground, ripping the battlegrounds apart. He stood right in place, immobile and calm. He gently moved his blade and met mine with his. I stared at him face to face as our blades scratched upon each other.

I broke the clash and the two of us started slashing blades. Clash after clash we created shockwaves and bursts of energy all around us. Trees were cut in half and the land itself shattered at the impact of our strikes.

He blocked each of my strikes with ease. Watching his movements was like watching a masterful dancer. His feet moved perfectly to support the weight of each attack and he positioned his arms in the right spots to deliver the most powerful strikes.

I sent him flying into the sky with an underhanded strike and flew up to continue our battle. Each clash we made separated the rain around us, thunderous roars could be heard from our blades as they struck each other.

The purple aura around Mangetsu grew and enveloped his entire body in what seemed to be a layer of darkness.

"Only I can freely dance in the Rain;" He said as he suddenly disappeared from my sight. "even in the Sky."

"He's gone?" I searched around my surroundings, looking for him. Large slicing shockwaves suddenly started appearing all around me. I maneuvered my way around them but there was no end to them. The more I dodged, the more they appeared.

I spun my blade over my head, increasing momentum and sending my own energy to the sword. The Z Sword emitted a bright blue aura as I violently swung downwards and separated the shockwaves around me.

"Impressive." he spoke, revealing himself again.

"There you are!" I sent a much larger blade beam than before at my brother. Mangetsu didn't try to deflect it, this time he blocked it with his own sword. My attack met his blade and forced him backwards into the sky as he tried to defend against it. He struck through it after a few seconds and dispersed my strike across the battlefield; creating a massive wind and shaking the forest trees below.

"Very good, Suigetsu." he said. "I'm quite curious how you managed to get so powerful so quickly. I never sensed this kind of potential in you while I was alive. Whatever you're doing, keep it up; because now I'm getting motivated."

He quickly dove down right for me and clashed blades with mine. Something was off though; his blade radiated an even denser aura and I felt an enormous amount of force coming from his blade.

With a single swing he actually forced me back. I ceased my descent and looked around for him as he disappeared again. "What? He's faster and stronger now? Where is he?"

I turned my head and saw him flying for my right. We clashed again, and like before he sent me flying back with his force. He disappeared once again and I was left searching for him once more.

"What the hell; he's so fast!" This time he came from behind. I didn't have enough time to turn around and positioned my blade behind my back to protect myself. It's like he was playing a game with me. He just kept on disappearing, reappearing, and then knocking me away with sheer might.

I sensed him high above me charging an attack, this one much more intense than any other before. He swung his katana downwards and produced a massive purple blade beam.

"No!" I thought. "If I let this hit the ground, it'll cause more than just an explosion!"

"Okay Z Sword, help me out here..." I placed my other hand over the hilt of my blade and run my hand over the Z Sword, filling it with my energy.

I held my blade in front of my body and placed my hand on the blade to support my defense. I clashed with Mangetsu's strike and held my ground trying to deflect it away. Slowly, I started losing ground and descending towards Earth. "No, not yet! I still have more!"

It wasn't working; I started falling even faster and faster. This attack of his grew stronger with its lifespan. If I didn't deflect it soon it would overwhelm me.

I saw my brother sheath his sword as he channeled his aura into it. Slowly, he removed Yamato again from it's scabbard. The electricity surrounding the blade intensified as he prepared to strike again.

"This is it." He said releasing another beam, adding to the one I already held in place and sent me hurling towards the ground. Before I hit the ground I used all my strength to send both attacks into the sky.

My body crashed and sunk into the ground, creating a large crater around me. I lay gasping for air, trying to catch my breath. I opened my eyes and saw Mangetsu standing right in front of me. I stared at him as he looked down at me, motionlessly. I clenched the hilt of my blade, getting ready to block an attack.

Before I could raise my guard he stabbed his blade right under my chest and lifted my body up.

"While I commend you for deflecting both attacks of mine, it was foolish of you to do so Suigetsu. And what was your reason for doing that? To protect these…weaklings? Since when did you care so dearly for the lives of others? Especially for lives so useless."

"Those 'useless' lives would've died, Mangetsu." I told him. "Since when did you fall so low as to attack defenseless people?"

He chuckled and tossed me away from him. "Defenseless people you say? Each of these people came to war. Each of them came prepared to die on the battlefield. Each of them, defenseless or not, have already decided to die in this war if fate beckons it…and for what…peace? I told you: The gifted prevail over the failure…not a single person around us is gifted…not like me, and certainly not like you."

I looked at him stunned, shocked at what he just said.

"Why the shocked look?" he asked. "Surprised that I called my little brother gifted? We are both Father's son, we both have his blood in us and share his awesome power; it only makes sense that you'd be gifted as well Suigetsu. However…" He started walking towards me slowly. "…I have been gifted from day one, ever since I was born. It seems like you have only just realized your power. In time, you might have gained power to rival or perhaps even surpass me; but that won't happen, for you will die here and now."

"Get up!" I could hear Trunks' voice in my head, telling me to rise up.

"I know, I know!" I slowly rose up and held my blade up. I swung multiple times at him. He deflected each attack with even more ease than before. As he advanced his steps, I slowly retreated my own. He was pushing me back, being as aggressive as ever. My arms became heavier; and it gradually became more difficult to lift my blade.

Mangetsu shoved his palm in my face and tossed me into a rock side.

"What are you doing! I said get up! Get off the ground!" Trunks' voice echoed through my head again.

I stuck my hand in the side of the rock and slowly brought myself up. I extended my other hand at him and fired multiple Water Gun bullets at him. He spun his blade in front of him like a windmill and deflected every bullet. I then grabbed the Z Sword with both hands to send several blade beams at him. Even those, were deflected with as much ease as before.

"Suigetsu," he started. "I suggest you use whatever energy you have remaining for your best attack. Otherwise I see no point in dragging this out."

"Fine!"

I stabbed my blade in the ground and started waving my hands in front of me. "Burning…Atta-" Before I could release my blast Mangetsu appeared right before me and drove his blade through the center of my chest, pinning me to the ground.

"I'm so disappointed Suigetsu…" sighed Mangetsu. "...what swordsman leaves himself open to attack in front of his opponent? After all the talk I heard you giving Zabuza earlier about releasing his blade, and here you are repeating his mistake. Even you, are not worthy as my opponent." Slowly, I started losing consciousness. The Demon Mangetsu was simply too much for me. I took my eyes off my brother and tilted my head to look at the Z Sword, still planted in the ground.

I reached my arm out for it but was stopped by his foot crushing right into it. He then swatted the Z Sword away from both of us. "No, you already lost your chance. That was your biggest mistake Suigetsu."

"...Trunks. I tried," I thought. "I really did…but…"

"What are you talking about?" he responded.

"Trunks...?" I asked.

"Trunks?" asked Mangetsu

"Trunks? I, I can't do anything right now, I can't even reach the Z Sword from here, and my brother has me pinned down."

"Then let the Z Sword reach you. There's a reason why you are the first non-Saiyan to wield that blade. There's a reason why only a Devil can wield that blade the way it was meant to be. Now call it; call the Z Sword!"

"Call...the Z Sword..?"

I lightly pointed my fingers at the Z Sword and shut my eyes to concentrate.

"So, you've finally accepted defeat and given up." commented Mangetsu. "How ironic that the being that defeats you is the very thing you trained to become…The Rain Guardian. Don't worry though, I'll let you live to fight another day; so that you never forget This Devil's Power."

I slowly rose the Z Sword off the ground and aimed it directly at Mangetsu's back.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I said opening my eyes and meeting Mangetsu's gaze. "You haven't won yet, not even close! I'll live to fight another day you say? Ha!" I laughed. "Well I guess we can agree on something after all, because I'll defeat you today!"

"Perhaps you've forgotten how I have you pinned to the ground. How do you expect to defeat me in your current condition?"

"Father's first lesson…remember it Mangetsu? The Blade is an extension of your body…right brother?"

"A metaphor at best, you don't honestly believe that nonsense do you?"

"Swordmaster Style..." I thought. "...Round Trip!" I clenched my fist and sent the Z Sword spinning towards Mangetsu's back.

"Something's coming!" He attempted to deflect my blade but I gripped onto his katana and held it inside me. "No time to defend!" he yelled. Mangetsu let go of his sword and back-flipped over the Z Sword.

"Now's my chance! Rrraagghh!" I summoned the last of my strength and lifted my body from the ground. I grabbed the Z Sword in my left hand as it came towards me and removed my brother's blade with my right hand.

Mangetsu was left defenseless in mid air as I dashed towards him. A red electrical current started flickering across my body as I wielded Yamato and the Z Sword together. It was doing something to my Swordmaster Style.

"That's..." said Mangetsu as he observed me carefully. It was slight, only for about a fraction of a second at a time; but Mangetsu saw it. He saw my body changing radically. The red energy surged violently for less than a second at a time as I wielded both blades and drew closer to finish him off.

"I see." He thought to himself. "So that's how it is..."

I sliced right through his body with Yamato, and then spun and twisted my body; grinding my feet through the ground as I continued my combo. Consecutively, I sliced through various parts of his body, alternating between both Yamato and the Z Sword as I attacked him.

"Swordmaster and Dark Slayer combined. Fusion Style, Dual Art..." I said preparing my final strike. "...Dark Macabre!" I stabbed both blades into his chest, a blade for each chest, and forced them deeper and deeper with each step I took and finally thrust him into the ground the way he did me.

I knelt over his pinned body as I panted for air. My brother lay shocked, absolutely shaken by my sudden burst of strength. Random red sparks of electricity fluttered around me as I tightly held his Yamato

"Where did that come from, Suigetsu?" he asked.

"I have comrades…friends," I wrapped my hands around the hilt of both blades and brought my body up. "people close to me who I cannot let down." I stood up and planted my foot between the blades right in the center of his chest. I waved my arms in front of me while staring into his eyes. "This strength isn't my own, it's the strength of everyone who believes in me. We share each other's strength. We are a family; and when there's something standing in our way…we will rise up and bring it down. We do this for each other because we are Seven parts of One. Not one of us is separate from the other. We never fight alone. That is what a Guardian is…and that is what we are together."

I extended my arms forward, opened my palms and aimed for Mangetsu's face. "Swordsman of the Mist Mangetsu, disappear and may your spirit be cleansed by the Rain. Burning…Attack." I blasted Mangetsu in a brilliant blue flash of light that engulfed the area in its bright aura.

Soon, the light faded, and so did the rain. The rain had settled, and so did my conflict. I removed the Z Sword from the ground and placed it over my shoulder with my other hand on Yamato, still planted in the ground.

I raised my head, faced the clear sky, and took in what I considered my first true victory as The Guardian of The Rain.