Chapter 28
Talking Time!!
So yeah, this is Chapter 28, which may possibly be the saddest chapter yet. At least, if you ask me, it's the saddest chapter yet.
Nara Tukuto awaits!!
Arising behind Tukuto was the large ghostly figure, the Death God. Inside him was a countless amount of sealed souls, including the First and Second Hokage, and all of Lord Orochimaru's Jutsus.
"Jimo!" Tukuto yelled. "Prepare for death!" The Death God's arms went through Tukuto's body and grabbed the Neo-Akatsuki, who was suddenly filled with shock. He had studied intently on all of Tukuto's Jutsus, but he had never heard anything of this one.
The Death God's fingers started sliding into Jimo's body, reaching around for his keirakukei, the circulatory system of the body's Chakra. Eventually, the hands started to pull out of the enemy, and inside them was a shadowy apparition of Jimo, covered in ancient markings that not even Tukuto could read. The God of Death kept pulling on Jimo's spirit. So far, all that was out was the arms and torso.
"What…what are you doing to me?" Jimo demanded.
"Destroying you. Your spirit…is going to be sealed…" Tukuto said proudly.
"You think you can defeat me?" Jimo scowled.
"I know I'm going to defeat you. I can tell…you're going to die." Tukuto smiled as he said this. Something in the back of his mind stirred.
"Tukuto…you've made a great progress." His sensei, Uzumaki Naruto, smiled and said. "The Summoning of the Death God is a very powerful move…and it's forbidden."
"Why? Why shouldn't I ever use it?" Tukuto asked. The fourteen year old Chuunin was utterly bewildered.
"Because. The Death God will summon any number of enemies you grab onto. However, once you release him and let him go, you sacrifice your life." Naruto explained. "Just summoning him will kill you."
"Then why did you teach it to me?" Tukuto asked.
"Just in case." Naruto said, and smiled at his protégé.
Twenty-one years had passed since that day, and Tukuto had never had to use the move. He knew all-to-well that his death was coming sooner than he wanted it to.
"What's going on?" Jimo demanded. "How are you doing this?"
Tukuto smiled at his enemy. "Jimo, you fool. It's too late for you."
Tukuto watched as the hands pulled out the rest of Jimo's spirit. Jimo's body stood their for a moment, horrified. Eventually, he fell to the ground, crumpled. Tukuto's shirt was ripped open by the spirit's power, and pulled into Tukuto. The Death God let go, and a seal was formed on Tukuto's abdomen. Jimo was dead.
Tukuto stood there for a minute. He looked around, trying to find more enemies.
"Inuzuka Chifuta…you're the best protégé I could ask for." He told his apprentice, who watched the battle with amazement. "Rise high." He made the sign of the tiger, and yelled, "Infuin Kai!"
The Death God nodded at the Sannin, and dispersed into the air.
Tukuto smiled, a genuine smile. He knew that he had played his part. His role in life was complete. He fell to the ground, all life flowing out of him.
"Tukuto!" Chifuta yelled, and ran over to his fallen master. "Tukuto!"
Chifuta then remembered back at the Chuunin Exams.
Chifuta looked at the paper and read the title to himself: Summoning of the Death God. He skimmed over it, and memorized the hand signs within two minutes. He continued looking at the page, and down at the bottom, in small print, he saw the phrase: Self Sacrifice. Forbidden Jutsu.
He wondered why Zukuari would have them learn a forbidden move.
He finally understood. The phrase "self-sacrifice" never made any sense. It all made sense now. Chifuta stood there alone. The battlefield, an empty area in the middle of a forest, was cold. Two dead bodies lay on the ground. Chifuta looked at Jimo, giving it a cold stare. He then shifted his attention to Tukuto. He smiled with admiration. So this is what it means to be a Shinobi, he thought. Doing whatever it takes to protect the ones you care about.
Chifuta was ready to go home. He tried to lift up Tukuto to carry him back to Tanzaku City, but failed. His sensei was too heavy. Chifuta used the move his sensei had been teaching him. Chifuta slit his finger. Boar. Dog. Bird. Monkey. Sheep. "KUCHIYOSE NO JUTSU!!" he screamed, and slammed his hand onto the ground. A huge cloud of dust appeared, and standing before him was the great Gamabunta. The very old toad looked angrily at Chifuta.
"Kid, don't you know I'm retired? I don't fight anymore, nor do I be summoned." Gamabunta shouted to him.
"I need your help." Chifuta said. His sensei's death had brought him sudden courage. "My sensei, Nara Tukuto, protégé of your friend, Uzumaki Naruto, is dead. Bring him back to Konohagakure for me."
"Kid, you know you're one of the only four people to earn the privilege of riding me?" Gamabunta said.
Chifuta cowered a little bit, thinking Gamabunta was angry. It took him a moment to realize that Gamabunta had complimented him. The toad reached down and picked up the pair, and lifted them up. He set them down gently on top of his head. He then jumped into the air, and sped towards Konoha with great haste.
Gamabunta stood at the Hokage's palace. He bent over, and Chifuta and Tukuto were dropped off. Chifuta knocked on the door, and a few ANBU members carried the fallen Sannin to the office.
Sarutobi Konohamaru was sad about the loss, but quickly moved on. Within moments, it seemed as if it had happened years ago.
Nara Tukuto, the son of Yamanaka Ino and Nara Shikamaru, had died. His tale was complete.
Chapter 29 coming soon.
