Chapter 28

Cascades of Blood


The silence across the battlefield was palpable.

On one side stood an army of soldiers from various species lead by their human commander. Their weapons fixed on the form of their lone enemy who had the audacity to smile at them. The creepy man was not even intimidated by the platoon and seemed only interested in the single commando wearing N7 armor.

Raval had never felt such concentrated power in a fellow chakra user apart from Naruto. But this man reeked of something foul...

The way he was standing defiantly only showed he had tricks to save his skin. Rushing in blind would be a bad move, he grimaced as he faced a tough battle. Yet with a determined gaze he raised his hand.

''Light him up!" ordered Raval,

Blinding gunfire erupted as the guns of an entire platoon opened up. Rifles, Machine Guns, Grenade Launchers, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Heavy Pistols all were fired towards the single Reaper pawn.

Only for the man to vanish in a swirl of leaves...

Time seemed to slow down for Raval as he sensed the hyperfast movement, the trajectory of his foe, the intended target and he moved.

The Akatsuki soldiers were surprised when there was a clash, looking up they saw their Commander high in the air clashing his blade against his equally surprised yet amused foe. The two opponents clashed their blades at speed difficult for the naked eyes to follow, with one swift kick to the chest Raval sent the man crashing back.

However, the Reaper soldier simply flipped in the air and landed gracefully even as the Akatsuki forces tried to get over their surprise at what they had seen.

Raval landed back on the ground, a tiny bead of sweat falling from his face. That was too close, a second late and he would have lost quite a few of his soldiers.

"You've got moves, boy. This might just turn out to be interesting..." said the pale skinned man,

The Akatsuki soldiers blinked when their opponent made a strange hand seal and instantly two exact replicas of him emerged on the battlefield.

"Focus on the Clones, don't let them get close. I'll handle that one..." ordered Raval quickly, pointing his finger towards the main opponent standing on the left side.

He followed that up with a rapid series of hand seals as he made a straight charge for his opponent who was going through his own seals.

The remaining soldiers ended up in a fierce gunfight with the two clones who were just as fast, if not more lethal. Raval ignored them, hoping his soldiers could hold their own for a while.

"Katon: Goka Mekkyaku (Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation)!"

Scorching flames of fire were released from the man's mouth that transformed into the form of a raging Tsunami headed towards Raval at frightening speed. The flames burning rotten corpses, destroyed vehicles, buildings and anything else that came in its path.

Raval finished his move by slamming his hand on the ground.

"Doton Doryuuheki (Earth Release: Mud Wall Jutsu)"

A giant mud wall rose from the earth right beneath the wave of fire, the ground was forced to rise several feet in the air breaking his enemy's attack as the flames lost their momentum and harmlessly burned away in the air.

The brief shadow was all the warning Raval received before something sharp tore through the back of his left leg. His shields and kinetic barriers just dying against the power of the knife like weapon. His blood flew open and by the time he forced his tanto to counterattack, his opponent had long since vanished a mocking chuckle lingering in the air.

He looked back to see nearly half of his soldiers lying dead on the ground, their bodies ripped apart just like the colonists. The few who were left still desperately tried to fight off the last living clone.

"No wonder you're good with Earth Style and have some good moves. It's in your blood..." commented the man, licking Raval's blood that rested on the knife.

"Who are you?" asked Raval tersely, he had to buy time to think of a way.

"I once went by the name of Orochimaru a long time ago. You're a very distant descendant of someone I knew, although judging from your DNA make up you are not a pure blood. The line has been forced to half breed with different people, your genes are not as strong as your ancestors. A pity..." mocked Orochimaru,

The man broke a smile and stepped back a little, as the Raval in front of him vanished in smoke and the real one emerged from the underground. His move just a little late as Orochimaru dived out of the tanto about to pierce him, but not far enough to escape from the merciless machine gun Raval opened up from his other hand.

Orochimaru staggered several feet back as the rounds collided, a dark blood red colored shield emerged absorbing the hail of bullets. To his confusion, Raval grinned.

The N7 threw his tanto and Orochimaru briefly saw something strapped on the weapon.

An explosion soon engulfed Orochimaru as the grenade strapped on the tanto went off near him. Dust and Smoke littered the battlefield, and Raval was forced to throw his machine gun away when it overheated. He exhaled a breath, deep down he could feel this was far from over.

As if fate wanted to prove his point, he saw a body emerged from the debris and soon enough an unharmed Orochimaru stood before him. The shield around him had barely flickered.

"Your comrades have fallen, boy..." said Orochimaru sickly,

Raval looked back from the corner of his eye to watch his platoon decimated, his soldiers cut to shreds. The sight reminding him of all the marines he had lost in that friendly fire in the Alliance years ago.

"Give up boy. You cannot stop me or the Reapers, all of you are simply insects in the grand scheme of time. This cycle will fall too just like the ones before have..." said Orochimaru scathingly, and narrowed his eyes when Raval smiled.

And it infuriated Orochimaru to his very core. As he was reminded of a similar smile on someone's else face...

"For you it maybe just another cycle but this is our home. Our ancestors gave their lives for us hoping we would carry on their legacy, and now we have a leader who can give the galaxy a true chance to defeat the Reapers. You reek of the arrogance as the Reapers do, and I pity someone like you..." spat Raval boldly,

"You dare..." hissed Orochimaru,

However the snarl vanished from his lips when he saw Raval pinch his thumb on the blood leaking from his body, making a few very familiar hand seals he slammed his hand on the ground creating a large puff of smoke.

Orochimaru's eyes turned murderous when he saw something he had never hoped to see again. Every cell inside his body burned with uncontrolled fury, his bloodlust and killing intent spreading across the entire area.

For the giant eight feet monkey with long white hair and cold gaze now stared back at him. The creature stood beside Raval, arms folded as he calmly took the sight of the seething man in front of him.

"Hiru, I need your help..." said Raval seriously,

"You rarely summon me, for you to do this there must be a reason. And I can see why, the traitor has returned..." said Hiru flatly,

"You tainted disgrace of a half blood Sarutobi, I will end you and your creature right here..." roared Orochimaru,

"Don't forget the First Kaiser put you down like the snake you are. If not for these abominations that resurrected you, the galaxy would have been a better place today. The monkeys have pledged to end your miserable existence no matter the cost or the time..." barked Hiru defiantly, glaring furiously at the tall Reaper.

"His technology is more advanced than anything we have at the moment. Ordinary weapons won't work, his raw speed and reflexes prevented my biotic soldiers from doing much harm. Close Combat will be dangerous but unavoidable. And the knives he carries cut through my shields and kinetic barrier easily. Even with Hiru here, I am outmatched. And if this man has faced shinobi before, then he can survive most of the things I can throw. My only choice is to..." thought Raval seriously,

An idea came to his mind as he grinned silently.

"Hiru, open combat is pointless. Back me up, you will know what to do with him. Just follow my lead..." whispered Raval, in his summon's own language.

"Understood. Be careful against him boy, many of my ancestors and yours as well have died at his hands..." warned Hiru, and saw the boy grin.

"Don't worry. I don't plan to do so at the hands of an old geezer like him..." replied Raval cheekily,

Orochimaru saw the monkey pass his partner two small tanto's. He saw Raval relax himself before charging forward at even greater speeds than before, Orochimaru flipped in the air when the real Raval emerged from beneath his feet as the false image charging from the front vanished. The boy was good with illusions and deadly with knives, he had to give him that.

It was his next move that surprised Orochimaru...

"Katon: Nenshou Misairu (Fire Release: Burning Missile)"

A raging hot missile of fire was released from Raval's mouth at extreme close range, Orochimaru charged his shield to full power and watched in satisfaction as the flames burned around him harmlessly. He just had a brief second to sense the next attack as Raval flashed behind him and plunged both his blades in with full force.

Dark bolts of lightning were released from the metallic weapons which jolted Orochimaru's shields quite violently. While not enough to make them falter, it did send painful sensations across his entire body. As he moved to attack the boy a devastating punch connected with his shield again and this time it faltered sending him flying.

Raval grinned as his battle partner lowered his chakra glowing hand that had sent their opponent flying.

However his smile vanished when the emergency device on his left hand flared. Its counterpart had been assigned to 2nd Platoon led by Mikoto and used only in extremely dire situation. And now it was blaring red repeatedly, he was thankful for Tali to give them this mundane yet effective device. With communication channels down, this was the only sign he had that showed his remaining people were alive. And needed help...

But he had no troops left to spare for that aid, all his soldiers were dead. And his enemy was an ancient warrior who was not only more powerful but refused to back down.

"Go. Before it's too late for your soldiers..." said Hiru seriously, the monkey's eyes fixed on the rubble where he had sent Orochimaru crashing. The enemy was yet to rise up again.

"I'm just one soldier, Hiru. It would be best if I stay and fight here with you, keep that monster at bay. Prevent Orochimaru from creating more havoc..." negated Raval frankly, cold logic and determination present in his eyes.

"You're their Commander. I'll hold this monster here..." insisted Hiru,

Raval's fists clenched. Mikoto was hunting Saren and rescuing anyone still alive on Feros, if she and her soldiers had encountered Saren then they must be in serious trouble. They were good, but Saren was better and he must have expendable soldiers freely available at hand. The Akatsuki may have been too late in saving Feros, but they had gained a shitload of information. Something which was crucial for the war effort...

And then there was Mikoto. The woman who was close to their leader, above everything else her survival was top priority.

"Fine. Hold him off for as long as you can, but go back when things get too hot. I've already lost enough comrades..." said Raval seriously, his eyes boring into the monkey's gaze.

"You do know that I'm hundred years older than you, boy..." teased Hiru,

"And my friend..."

The monkey smiled, after the fall of the Shinobi in the previous cycle their race had lost hope. Most of them secluded themselves in their homeworld, but a few still held on to hope. Reaching out to the few Sarutobi scattered around the globe they continued to bond with them hoping that one day this Galactic War would be over.

The Reapers had killed millions of their fellow monkeys over the various cycles and they will have to pay one day.

With one quick handshake and a nod, Raval swiftly exited and charged towards his comrades who needed his help.

Hiru grinned when the rubble was violently thrown away and an extremely enraged Orochimaru emerged. His gaze connected with the monkey and on seeing Raval missing, the man's anger skyrocketed.

"You will pay..."


Kushina Uzumaki found herself in a tough situation.

Precise gunfire rained down on her position from all directions. She grimaced on seeing the corpses of two of her marines on the battlefield, on the far side Ashley and Kaiden stuck together returning fire on the Geth troops on the higher levels.

Shepard was at the front with another three marines, all of whom were engaged in a desperate firefight with the zombie like creatures that had emerged from the sewers.

For once she was surprised that the Council actually made a wise move. Feros was already lost, its people decimated, the entire place was a deathtrap crawling with Geth, Zombies, Rogue Asari and few Krogans. Apparently, Saren had came in carrying quite a force.

Not to forget that monstrous ship still docked on the Planet. She still shivered on remembering that two kilometer long enemy ship, it was the most dangerous thing she had seen in her entire career as a marine. Ashley had mentioned seeing the same ship during the attack on Eden Prime, and Kushina couldn't help but feel that there was a pattern here.

But right now her focus was directed on the Armature Class Geth Platform that had her pinned down with deadly plasma fire. There was an entire squad of Geth Troopers and a lone Sniper that supported the monster keeping her from advancing forward.

Suddenly there was an explosion that rocked the terrain, she peaked from her cover to see the Armature and the Geth around him burning. Their platforms brutally ripped apart...

A new gunfire came from the second floor of the building. The Geth attack weakened, and the Alliance Marines were surprised to see four Geth falling to the ground. Clean shots registered in their heads.

Kushina looked up to see a single human tearing through the Geth on the second floor. He was fast...

"Shepard, flank Left. Ashley, cover fire. Kaidan on me!" barked Kushina,

She jumped high in the air never looking back knowing her orders would be followed faithfully. Mid air, she aimed her rifle at the surprised Geth firing a barrage that took out several of them in a flash. Landing on her foot, Kushina got close to an enemy unit and violently punched it and grinned when it crumbled.

There was a loud crash and the Marines looked up to see a Prime charging forward with four giant White colored Geth Units by his side.

Kushina bit her lip and the next second chains emerged from her body which quickly trapped two of the approaching enemy units. Shepard and the marines had managed to flank the enemy and laid down a suppressive barrage. Ashley backed them up with her heavy machine gun.

The Geth Prime defiantly returned fire, until a shot tore clean through his shields making him stumble. Kaidan instantly used a powerful Lift and the Prime was now a floating duck. Shepard was too happy to tear it apart with a precise grenade.

Kushina glanced upwards to see the human soldier place his sniper rifle back, her eyes widened a little when she saw his N7 armor. She could never forget that being an N7 herself. What the hell was another Blackops Operative doing here?

His face was covered behind a combat helmet, he gave her a curt nod before disappearing.

"Damn it all..." cursed Kushina, now not only she had to worry about Saren but also about a Blackops soldier running around.

Her consolation was the fact that he was on their side and was a lethal killing machine.

"Damn, Commander. Who the hell was that?" asked Ashley, as the woman emptied a final round in a struggling Geth Platform.

"Whoever it was atleast they're on our side..." replied Kaiden, crushing the last two white Geth units with his biotics.

When Shepard and the others arrived by her side, Kushina saw the area was now clear and full of destroyed Geth Troopers littering around. The colony was a lost cause, most of the people were dead, but Joker had mentioned that there was an ongoing battle at Exogeni headquarters. Some survivors might still be holed up there...

And Exogeni was the one funding the colony, and for Saren to brazenly attack like this must mean that there was something of value to him in this colony. And the only credible place for that would be the Exogeni headquarters.

"Alright, we continue as planned. There might still be survivors at Exogeni, we have to save them..." said Kushina seriously, loading another magazine in her weapon.

"And kick Saren in the balls..." stated Ashley bitterly,

"Amen to that..." replied Shepard, a grim look present in the stoic woman's eyes.


Mikoto was sent crashing across the walls, her back hitting the concrete with a sickening crunch. She coughed up blood, her dazed eyes looking around to see the cold corpses of her soldiers. Someone grabbed her roughly by the arm and dragged her back to cover where a handful of Marines, one Asari, a Krogan lead by Schenkopp were wildly returning fire.

There was buzzing sound in her ears and she was sure a concussion was on the way, that was if she made out of here alive.

Feros was a nightmare.

She had lead her team to the Exogeni headquarters following a distress signal by a few survivors. By the time they arrived, they came face to face with the enemy who had set up a brutal trap.

Half of her platoon had been decimated by the Geth Gunship as they tried to cross the skyway that connected with the Exogeni headquarters. By the time she took that gunship down, Armatures and Primes pounced on her faltering soldiers.

It was a bloodbath.

Still the Akatsuki soldiers had pushed forward taking heavy losses and managed to reach their targeted location. And there waiting for them was none other than Saren himself...

And he was not alone.

A squad of Asari Commandos, nearly eighty Geth Troopers and a pack of Krogans stood between her force and the Spectre.

She had tried to get to him but the enemy overwhelmed her, the Asari biotics tossing her around like a rag doll as her men tried to fight for their lives.

"We can't stay here..." yelled a Marine,

"Watch your corner!" barked Schenkopp, killing a Geth Trooper with a head shot.

Mikoto cursed as she shakily got back on her feet. The past few months she had been so busy working in the shadows, away from the frontlines and she was now suffering for that mistake.

"Grenade!"

The soldiers only had a second to dive as the explosion tore through the wall they were hiding behind sending debris and bodies everywhere. Mikoto landed brutally on top of Schenkopp and felt another crack. Not only was one of her arms broken, her leg was a mess covered with shrapnel.

Hazily, she saw several shadows closing in towards her.

"This is it, huh..." thought Mikoto sadly,

If only she could have told him, if only...

She closed her eyes waiting for her fate when the ground violently shook. An earthquake...

Reluctantly, she opened her eyes in time to see a shower of fireballs rain down on the entire front line enemy soldiers. Several Geth exploded, two Asari were lit on fire, and a shadow crashed directly over a Krogan splitting the beast in half.

The enemy scrambled for cover as devastating gunfire ripped through anyone slow enough, the harsh sound of metal and bodies hitting the ground echoed through the front entrance of Exogeni Headquarters.

Another round of grenades went off, this time on the enemy.

Schenkopp groaned and helped her to stand back up. The man's leg was also covered in shrapnel and was twisted at an odd angle, one of her Asari was returning fire alongwith the human Marines who had slowly regained their bearings. Her last Krogan hadn't survived the grenade attack and was now a gross pile of flesh and blood on the ground.

Suddenly a shadow loomed in front of her hazy vision...

"Commander Raval..." grunted Schenkopp,

"Shuttles are waiting outside. Grab your men and fall back!" ordered Raval, while still firing at the enemy who were slowly getting organized.

And Saren was now marching towards the battlefield having seen the devastation wrecked on his troops by a single human soldier.

"We won't make it back in time. Not under this gunfire..." said Schenkopp painfully,

Raval must have used his Medigel as Mikoto felt the pain in her limbs reduce a little, her focus returning to see Raval pass off a recording from his Omni tool to Schenkopp's.

"Yes, you will. Get this information back to the Kaiser. Now go!" said Raval quickly,

"Raval-"

Mikoto's protest was cut short when he gave her a hard stare which made her flinch. That gaze reminding her of Shantanu, the boy's father.

"Feros is lost, we cannot do anything with our forces decimated. The Alliance has already sent Kushina to handle the situation, the Council won't be far behind. Get out of here while there is still time..." explained Raval quickly, as he slammed his hand on the ground turning the surface into a mud cesspool.

Schenkopp gave a grim nod to the N7 and grabbed Mikoto hauling her on top of his shoulders. The rest of their squad quickly starting running back to the entrance as Raval jumped high in the air taking out several trapped enemies.

For a moment their gaze met and she saw him smile...

"Take care of Naruto!" he yelled,

"Fall back, Raval! We'll pick you up..." urged Mikoto, tears arriving in her eyes.

This was not supposed to happen! The boy was barely a year older than Naruto and he still fought defiantly as he pierced his arm clean through an Asari's chest.

Schenkopp and the squad reached the entrance and got inside the single shuttle.

"Where's the Commander?" asked the Batarian Pilot quickly,

"He's doing what a leader does. Sacrificing himself for the lives of others..." replied Schenkopp sadly,

Mikoto recklessly placed herself at the door of the shuttle, the thrusters kicked and the transport was quickly lifted into the air. Her Sharingan saw Raval taking cover behind a row of crates. Geth and other enemy forces extremely near him, he returned fire taking off one at a time but Saren was now moving through his troops heading straight towards the Akatsuki officer.

"RAVAL!" yelled Mikoto desperately,

"I'll make my way home, I promise!" he replied with a devilish grin, her sharingan recording his every word and expression.

The door slammed shut making Mikoto helplessly collapse on the cold floor. She saw the same defeated looks in the eyes of her few comrades as the engines charged.

Tears slipped from her eyes as she furiously slammed her hand against the floor.

"Damn it all!