Chapter 29
Naruto's Fury,
Shikamaru's Plan,
Lee's Battle!
It felt like Naruto had been jumping through the forest for hours. Because of the dense branches, he hadn't spotted Sengi in a while, but he knew he was going in the right direction. He couldn't believe he was even doing this in the first place. What was Sengi thinking? Didn't he know that once the rest of the Konoha rebounded from the confusion, he'd be putting himself and even the Raikage in deep trouble? It wouldn't even be that bad if he had just gone without taking Sakura.
Naruto stopped on the next limb he landed on. Sakura… What was Sengi going to do to her? Why her and no one else? What was his plan anyway? There were a lot of things that Naruto was unsure about, but one thing he did know is that it didn't matter what he had to do; he was getting Sakura back!
He narrowed his eyes as he felt for Sengi's demonic chakra, and within seconds it seemed to rush over him like water. He knew the feeling all to well.
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"So what, exactly, is your plan here, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru and Neji were jumping across the many rooftops of Konoha. They had already observed the panic that had appeared in the streets. They were about halfway to the Village Gates, making pretty good time.
Shikamaru had been hoping Neji wouldn't ask that question. "I'm not really sure," he admitted. "I've been running a few scenarios through my head…"
Neji was nodding. "I suggest we catch up with Lee first. It's the only way we'll be able to form an appropriate strategy."
"Yeah," Shikamaru agreed. "But Lee's so fast. I feel like he'll catch up to Naruto before we catch up to him."
"If that's the case, then no harm, no foul."
Shikamaru shook his head. It wasn't good enough. He wasn't the kind of guy to just do something without a strategy. He would like to take things slowly, and consider all the different options before they head out… But Naruto never gave him that option.
That's when a thought suddenly came to him. He looked at Neji. "Naruto isn't the kind of person to take things slowly," he said. "That's variable number one. In a situation like this, we have to assume he's going to do whatever it takes to save Sakura, even if it means dying." He held up a finger, and a second later, put up a second finger. "Variable number two is Lee. As honest and true as he is, we also have to assume that if he catches up to Naruto he won't be able to convince him to stop giving chase, or at least wait."
He took a breath before holding up a third finger. "Variable number three is Sengi. He's crazy strong and unpredictable. He's taken Sakura for a reason, and it could be anything." Shikamaru thought back to the match he had seen yesterday. "I assume you saw his match with Sasuke…" Neji nodded. "Judging from that, he also seems to have some weird green chakra… No telling what that is…"
He paused for second as they jumped a rather large gap in buildings. "We need to catch up to Lee and feel him in on what's been happening. Then we need to stop Naruto before he and Sengi start battling; I'm sure that with the four of us, we'll be able to take him down and save Sakura with minimal injury." He sighed. "However, there's no way we'll catch up with him before he catches up with Sengi… So we'll have to put our faith in Lee that he'll be able to catch up and at least slow him down."
Neji nodded as the two of them approached the Konoha Gates.
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A sudden ring of electricity formed around the Raikage. It began to rapidly spark while the Raikage stood there smiling. His bodyguards rushed forward from either side of him. Kakashi intercepted one, slashing with his kunai as the guard blocked. Tsunade took the other one; punching rapidly at him. The guard managed to dodge a few hits when Tsunade quickly spun around, delivering a swift kick as she went, ramming the guard right in his side. At that same time, Kakashi knocked his opponent's kunai away, and jabbed both of his in his neck.
As one guard was sent flying into the side of the barrier, the other fell to the ground, blood seeping from a wound on the neck. The Raikage's smile had vanished.
"Always have to do it myself…" he mumbled. Suddenly, the ring vanished, and the Raikage got into a stance. Kakashi rushed forward, fist drawn back. He was advancing on the Raikage at a surprising rate, but the Raikage made no attempt to move. Finally within range, Kakashi shot his fist forward, hitting the Raikage square in the chest. Almost immediately, the spot where Kakashi had hit sparked, and a rush of electricity shot through Kakashi's body, knocking him back into Tsunade's arms.
"Kakashi!"
Kakashi shakily got back to his feet. He still felt lightheaded from what had just happened, his fist numbing slightly. "How did you do that?"
The Raikage chuckled. "I am not some second rate ninja, Kakashi. I'm a Kage. The rings you saw just a bit ago? It's a jutsu of mine. Because of that, right now, I'm streaming electricity throughout my body. It's like an internal barrier. You can't touch me without getting shocked."
"Impossible." Tsunade spoke up, taking a place beside Kakashi. "I know of people routing electricity through their bodies for an instant, as a last resort, but to do it constantly? It would take an unprecedented amount of precise chakra control to do something like that."
The Raikage smiled as he walked slowly toward them, a trail of sparks retracting from each step.
"Try me."
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Rock Lee was moving at a breakneck speed. Limb to limb, branch to branch, tree to tree, he was moving! It had seemed that Naruto was moving in a straight line, so he was sticking to that, praying he would catch up to him eventually. He tried to increase his speed as much as he could. The trees were passing by so quickly, they were nothing but blurs.
Suddenly, he saw a bright light, and as he moved, he found himself jumping into a large clearing. He had to squint from the brighter sun, but when he looked toward the forest floor, what he saw shocked him.
"Naruto!"
It was true! There was an orange and black figure at the other end of the clearing, running across the forest floor. Naruto had just crossed the clearing, and was about to re-enter the forest, when he turned around at the sound of his name.
"Naruto!" Lee cried again as dropped from the air. With a swift glance behind him, Naruto quickly back peddled, meeting Lee in the middle of the clearing. "Man! I am so glad I finally caught up to you!"
"Bushy Brow?" Naruto questioned, taking another glance behind him. He seemed impatient, ready to move. "What are you doing here?"
Lee became serious. "Yes. I was told by Gai-sensei to come and take you back to Konoha."
Naruto frowned, taking a step back. "Why?"
"Listen, Naruto. Things are bad. There is a barrier over the stadium, everyone is trapped, and the Lady Hokage has also been isolated."
Naruto was stunned. Just what in the hell was going on? He glanced behind him once more. He could feel Sengi getting further and further away. "Look, Bushy Brow, I know things may be bad back there, but I can't go back. Sakura's in danger. I can't just leave her behind!"
Lee shrunk back a little. "I understand that, Naruto. But you do not need to go alone. I think we should at least return and regroup."
Naruto shook his head. "No!" he yelled. "You don't understand! That's my teammate, my comrade! She was taken away right in front of me!" He stood there, breathing in and out. "When I arrived late for the Third Exam… I told Sakura I would never abandon her…" He looked back at Lee, his eyes filled with sorrow and anger. "Never!"
Lee lowered his eyes. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to fulfill Gai-senei's request, but he couldn't deny what Naruto said was true. He couldn't just take Naruto away and leave Sakura. Finally, he said, "Then will you at least allow me to accompany you? I know I will be able to help!"
Naruto considered it for a moment. It would be easier to overpower Sengi if he had a little help. Not to mention that Lee was pretty strong. "Alright," he finally said. "But we're starting to lose Sengi. We need to-!"
Suddenly, a rock column shot out of the ground behind Naruto, heading straight for them. Naruto and Lee jumped to either side, avoiding it completely. They both got into a stance as a figure emerged from the other end of the clearing.
"Sado…" Naruto growled, narrowing his eyes.
Sado stopped just inside the clearing, crossing his arms. "What do you think your doing, Naruto?"
Naruto cursed. "About to take you out!"
Sado laughed. "Oh, no. That's not what I meant. What are you doing here? Why aren't you chasing after Sengi? He has your friend, right?"
A cool wind whipped through the clearing as Naruto made a realization. "You're all in this together," he said quietly, staring at the forest floor. "All of you Cloud ninjas…" Sado's expression didn't change. Naruto looked up at him. "Fine! Have it your way. Bushy Brow, let's move!"
Naruto ran forward, and as Lee began to follow, he noticed Sado stomp his foot on the ground. Lee had seen his fights with Shikamaru and Naruto, so he acted quickly, stopping short, and holding his hand out.
Sure enough, a column of rock shot forward, and as soon as it touched Lee's hand, he rolled to the side as it shot into the air. He rolled as he touched the ground, getting back up in a stance.
Naruto looked back. "Bushy Brow!"
Lee shook his head. "Naruto, it is obvious he is trying to keep me here. It seems you are meant to go ahead alone."
Naruto stopped short. "No. We'll take him out fast! Together!"
"No, Naruto," Lee called. "The longer we stay here, the further away Sengi gets... You go on ahead and save Sakura." When Naruto looked back, Lee flashed him a bright smile. "Do not worry. I will finish this battle in no time and join you."
"Bushy Brow…" Naruto finally nodded, and with a solid leap, jumped from the clearing to the forest, following Sengi once more.
Lee turned to Sado. "I knew you would not stop him. You are trying to keep me here."
Sado smiled, getting into a stance of his own. "It is his destiny to fight Sengi today. Alone."
Lee narrowed his gaze. "Just what is it you are trying to do? Why is Sengi and Naruto battling so important? And why do they have to be alone? And why did Sengi take Sakura of all people?"
Sado formed a hand sign. "You ask too many questions!"
Two more rock columns shot out of the ground toward Lee. He ducked under them, avoiding them easily, and shot around the side, straight toward Sado. Sado made to attack again, but Lee was too quick. He had already jumped the last bit of distance, and was coming down on Sado with a swift kick. Sado crossed his arms above him, blocking the attack. They stayed like that for a while.
"You won't…be able to defeat me…" Sado mumbled, pushing against Lee's leg. "I won our match during the preliminaries, and I wasn't even trying!" Finally, he gathered the strength, separating his arms, knocking Lee away.
He slid as he landed. "It is different today. Right now, I have something to fight for!"
He drew a kunai and rushed forward again. Sado laughed as he stomped his foot on the ground. A wall of stone rose to Sado's height. He stepped back, and began to hit the wall with an open palm. As he hit, bit of the stone flew from the front surface, flying straight for Lee. Lee gasped and stopped short, bending his body and twisting, doing his best to avoid the harmful projectiles.
During one twist, he swung with his kunai, hitting a piece of rock with his blade. This caused it to shoot off to the side out of harms way. Lee smiled, standing his ground, and facing forward as he finished his twist. He now had a new strategy: deflection! Again and again he hit the projectiles as they drew near him, and again and again, they shot off to the sides instead. It continues like this until Sado's wall was nothing more then a lump.
They both stood there panting when, suddenly, Lee threw his kunai. Sado, surprised by the sudden attack jumped into the air to avoid it, but when he glanced back at his opponent, he found he was no longer there.
Damn! He thought, looking up. Sure enough, there Lee was, leg in the air, poised for attack! He brought his leg down hard catching Sado right in the face. The Cloud ninja barreled for the ground, hitting it face first with a pronouncing THUD!
Lee landed a second later, getting back into his usual stance and breathing heavily. He watched as Sado slowly pulled himself off the ground. He glanced up at Lee, the left side of his face smeared with blood. He was so angry, he couldn't think of anything to say.
Lee smiled victoriously. "I told you. It is different today."
Sado cursed as he got to his knees, slamming a hand on the ground. Another rock column shot out of the earth in front of him, extending all the way toward Lee. Lee waited a beat, and then flipped as it passed under him. Landing on top of the column, he quickly shot down it, running the length all the way to Sado. A couple of feet before reaching him, he jumped the distance again, holding a leg out with his momentum.
"Dynamic Entry!"
Something suddenly hit him square in the gut. He was ceased completely, held there for a moment before shooting backwards. He rolled as he hit the ground, quickly swinging back to his feet. He held his gut in pain, trying to get a glimpse of what hit him. What he saw surprised him. It was a girl. A girl with a long, purple ponytail was now standing on the column in front of Sado.
She appeared out of nowhere and kicked me, Lee mused. Then a thought hit him. Is it possible…? Has she been here the whole time?
Sado had finally gotten to his feet. "It's about time…Rin…"
The girl, Rin, spun around on him. "Oh, I'm sorry. Don't mind me, Mr. Don't-Worry-It's-Just-One-Guy-I-Can-Handle-It!" She turned back around. "My ass…"
Sado tried to recovery. "He just surprised me is all!"
Rin wasn't buying it. "Ha! Don't even think about feeding me that bull!"
They continued bickering for a bit, but Lee tuned them out. He looked from one to the other. This is bad… he thought. One guy I can handle… But two? He thought back to the two ninja he encountered back on the rooftop. No… It is different. These two are on a whole other level then the ones before…
"Enough!" Sado finally yelled. "Let's just kill him and be done with it!" He wiped some of the blood off the side of his face.
Rin scoffed. "Fine! Have it your way…"
She rushed forward across the column. Lee frowned getting into a stance. But he didn't have long. A column shot out of the ground behind him. He quickly back-flipped over it, but no sooner had he landed, Rin was upon him, throwing a punch. He caught her fist, but she was already launching a kick to his side. He used his other hand to catch that attack, but her free hand was coming straight for his face now.
He threw her caught fist away, and, with an open palm, smacked her approaching attack to the side. He then spun to the inside, throwing an elbow out. But she leaned back, wrenching her leg away. She jumped back a bit, and as Lee was about to go on the offensive, he saw Sado jumping over her, both his arms encased in stone. Lee gasped, jumping back as Sado slammed his arms into the ground, sending a cloud of smoke everywhere.
Lee stood just outside of it, but a glint of metal caught his eye. His eyes widened as a kunai shot toward him. He did his best to avoid it, but it still scraped his right side, cutting his garb. He winced in pain, but he had no time! Rin had just shot of the smoke toward him, throwing another kunai.
Lee pulled out one of his own, blocking it just in time. As Rin got into reach, Lee spun, slicing at her with his weapon, but she managed to block it with one of her own. Lee frowned, thrusting at her this time. He missed, and she smacked his hand with something hard, causing him to drop his knife. After a moment, it was her turn to spin, and as she did she smacked him across the face with some kind of sturdy, rough weapon.
He was knocked off balance, and as he stumbled, a rock column shot out of the ground towards him. There was nothing he could do, so the rock slammed into his gut, sending him into the air. He coughed up blood as he went, and his vision was blurred for a moment. But as he re-focused, he came face to face with Sado, rock encased arm drawn back.
He punched hard, slamming his fist across Lee's face. He shot toward the ground so fast it was unbelievable. When he landed it made a small crater. He laid there for a bit. His body ached all over. There were even bits of tiny pieces of rocks embedded into the side of his face.
"I think we overdid it a bit!" a girly, giggly voice said.
"Naw…" a rough, hard voice replied. "I think it's perfect. He almost fucked up my face."
"I can't believe he's already done… I was hoping we'd have a bit more fun!"
"What did you expect? It's two against one. Besides, no one can beat me and you when we fight like that, especially when we have Sengi. That completes the circle."
Grunting in pain, Lee finally and slowly pulled himself back to his feet. His legs shook a bit, but he was steady for now.
"Hey!" Rin said, pointing. "He's getting up! I knew it!"
"I see…" Lee said, doing his best not to sound weak. "You," he said, gesturing to Rin, "keep me off balance with your speed and close combat, while you," he gestured to Sado, "attack at the perfect openings, from a distance at first, but then surprising me as you come face to face." He did his best to smile. "That is almost a perfect strategy… But you forgot one thing."
Sado frowned. "And what would that be?"
Slowly, the bandages on Lee's arms began to unravel. "I already told you." He crossed his arms in front of his face. "Today is different!"
He rushed forward so fast it surprised both of them. He suddenly appeared below Sado, kicking upward, right into his chin.
"Argh!" Sado yelled as he shot into the air.
"You!" Rin said. She thrust at Lee with an object in each hand. Something Lee recognized as closed folding fans. So that is what she hit me with earlier, he realized quickly. He leaned back on his hands, spinning them across the ground, causing his body to twist in Rin's direction. He kicked one hand away, and then the other, knocking her off balance. He then pushed off the ground, kicking her in the chest with both legs.
Her eyes widened with a mix of pain and surprise. He bent his knees, and pushed off her into the air toward Sado. She went flying backwards onto the hard earth as Lee swung his arms, wrapping his excess bandages around Sado's legs. He shot past Sado, dragging him through the air. He landed on the trunk of the nearest tree, but Sado's momentum carried himself right past it. Lee got ready, and as the bandages reach the point of no slack, he pulled hard, shooting Sado back toward the clearing. As he passed the tree, Lee unwrapped his bandages and watched as Sado plummeted with full force straight into the ground, head first. The rock around his arms broke away instantly. Lee dropped back to the ground, breathing heavily. He was exhausted.
Rin suddenly landed beside Sado. They only part of that was out of the ground were his legs. "Sado!" She yelled. "Sado! Can you hear me?"
Suddenly, a giant rock column shot out of the ground at the spot Sado's legs where. It went about fifteen feet into the air before stopping. On top of its flat surface lay Sado, gasping for air. Rin breathed, relieved. Then she set her sights on Lee.
"It's over for you, 'Bushy Brow!'"
She ran toward him, opening her folding fans as she did. Lee got into a stance, and as she reached him, she made a horizontal slice with the fan. Lee leaned back to avoid it, but he misjudged the fan's size, and the very edge of it caught him on the chin. He was surprised to find that it hurt. He stepped back as she sliced again, reaching for a kuani. Rin stepped forward, continuing with her slices. Lee held out his kunai against the fan, and was once again surprised to find that it didn't rip right through it.
She jumped back, and he felt his chin. When he brought his hand in front of him, he couldn't believe it. He was actually bleeding! He looked back at Rin.
The edges of those fans are as sharp as blades, he thought. How can that be?
He didn't have time to ponder it, because the very ground he was standing on suddenly caved in. Earth went everywhere as dirt and sand was turned over. Lee stumbled forward before finally jumping from the what would be ditch. He came face to fist with Sado, who had been waiting for him. Sado punched him in the side of the face as soon as he escaped from the cave in, knocking him away.
Rock Lee slid across the ground on his back. That was it. That last hit had done it. He was through. He stared up at the blue sky as he stopped. Slowly, a large, stone stalactite was hovering right above him, the point inches away from his bruised face.
"Well…" he heard Sado saying. "It's been fun… But you've pissed me off!"
The stalactite shot high into the air, hovered for just a moment, and was beginning to shoot down when it suddenly and completely stopped.
…Stopped?
Lee slowly raised his head to look at Sado. He was completely frozen in place, arms raised and all. He was looking above and past Lee. "Impossible…!"
Then a new voice spoke from behind Lee. One that he knew, and couldn't believe he was hearing.
"Oh, believe it. Because this is very real."
Lee turned his head, and he couldn't believe what he saw. Standing behind them on the opposite side of the clearing, halfway up a tree on a branch, was Shikamaru Nara. And standing beside him was Neji Hyuga.
Shikamaru smiled down at Lee, arms raised just like Sado. "It seems we made it just in time…Lee."
It was then that Lee saw the shadow. It extended down the tree, and halfway across the clearing to Sado. Rin jumped from behind Sado and past Lee.
"The shadow user!" she hissed, tossing a kunai up at him.
Shikamaru smiled as the kunai approached. Neji deflected it inches away from Shikamaru with a kunai of his own. Twirling it around his finger, he slid it back in his holster.
"Now…" Shikamaru spoke up, turning slightly. "Let's just…get rid of this." He tossed his arms forward and Sado did the same. In a couple of seconds the stalactite crashed into the ground a good distance away. Shikamaru crossed his arms. "Alright," he stated as he and Neji dropped from the limb. "It's time we took control of this situation."
As soon as they touched ground, Neji shot forward. Rin made to intercept him. Her fans were closed again as Neji activated his Byakugan. With his middle and index fingers, Neji attacked with his Gentle Fist as got in range of her, but she blocked each attack with her fans. Neji quickly spun around her as he attacked. Finally, he twisted, kicking her in the back. She stumbled backward, but before Neji could follow up, she jumped back beside Sado.
Neji ran the rest of the distance to Lee, and helped him to his feet. "Hold on," he mumbled.
"Oh no you don't!" Rin shouted starting forward again. She had just started when Sado suddenly reached forward, wrapping his arms around her. Surprised, she kicked and squirmed, trying her best to break is hold. "Just what do you think you're doing, fool?"
Sado looked displeased. "It's not me, idiot! It's the shadow kid!"
They were still arguing as Neji returned to Shikamaru, half leading, half dragging Lee. "Good work," Shikamaru said. "Now, we just have to get these fools out of the way."
Lee stood there, put out. "I apologize. I should have been able to defeat them, but they were to strong."
Neji put a hand on his teammate's shoulder. "It's alright Lee. I was watching the battle through my Byakugan. You did the best you could."
Shikamaru closed his eyes and began to think quickly.
Okay, we've caught up to Lee. Now we just have to defeat these two, and then we can get to Naruto. Actually, I would like one of us to keep after Naruto now, but Lee's condition… We can't send him forward alone; in his condition, he wouldn't be able to handle any more traps or ninjas. He's pretty beat up, so he's not gonna be much use in this battle either. Shikamaru cursed. Damn, there's no other option! Naruto will just have to wait.
He opened his eyes. "Neji, take the girl. Since I've already got Sado trapped, this should be a breeze. Lee, I'll keep him still, you just deliver the damage. Don't worry, Neji will cover you."
Lee and Neji nodded. "Right!" Lee agreed. "Neji," he said. "Watch out. The fans Rin attacks with… They're as sharp as kunai."
Neji raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's interesting."
Lee nodded again. "No jutsu to report of. I've only seen her use Taijutsu, which she's not a slouch in, by the way,"
"I understand. Let's move! We have to catch up to Naruto!"
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Naruto could feel it. Sengi had finally stopped. He would have probably caught up by now, but Bushy Brow had lost him a lot of time… Bushy Brow… Naruto thought, glancing back. He hoped he was okay. Something else I can blame Sengi for. He continued jumping through the branches.
Hang on, Sakura, he thought desperately. Please… Just hang on a bit longer!
End of Chapter.
Next Time:
Neji's Match,
Sakura Awakens,
Shikamaru's Enemy!
