FSDYT Note's:
So... yeah a bit of delay. I know shoot me. I'm sorry!, an to the one who does want to shoot out of anger. May I remind you good sir. I write this story. Get rid of me then there will be no more hahahaha!
Seriously though I was very busy but I have cleared up the schedule for quite a bit so expect things updated on the regular if not more frequently at least. Now onwards with the story. Its only getting better!
Hundreds, if not thousands of candles lined the cobble stoned road. The nights' darkness enhanced the flickering hypnotic flames serenely guided by wind.
The need of such a pyre was made known as candle path led to two red pillars standing squarely separated by a few yards. To their sides growing wild were bushes stretching far as the eye could see curtained off the inner compound.
Past make shift entrance visible in the dim lights surrounded by candles was a twelve-foot high statue. A stony visage of a crowned woman, features struck in indifferent closed eye grace, robed in flowing gown standing high with hands intertwined in prayer.
Slowly almost in a fashion that mimicked a swaying dance. Arm outstretched to shake rattling black beads to and fro. A bald man garbed in orange tunic made his unpredictable movements around the grand monument. All the while a chanted rhythmic tune that was neither understandable or memorable as it was uneasy to follow flowed from his lips.
Rustling, a low wind came in to existence followed by swirling vortex that picked up then dissipated as two feet made landfall planting themselves in the middle of two red pillars.
Stopping tribute having sensed an arrival the monk turned with hands clasped, rolling black beads between them contemplatively. He stood stone still with a quizzical stare plastered on his aged face.
For the first time the masked man took view of his intended target.
An old man. Devoid of any hair, be it head or beard, face proving his age, skin wrinkled brow above squint eyes that barely seemed open. A robe drawn lose on his stature but unable to hide an old mans slouching body. Although sandaled feet stood firm on the ground.
What should have been eyes filled with tiredness from age were not. As the wrinkled eye lids peered open just a crack they exposed eyes alight with as much fire as the thousands of candles held but as two glimmering orbs.
"Shakujo Uzumaki" filtered the words through a masked mouth
A soft shake denied such a claim "No, not I. Maybe in a past life such a name may have meant something. But now as I am a man of no names. I can not be who you speak of stranger. Now I must ask that you not interrupt-"
"I have NO time for your pity party of religious conversions" swore the man grating "To me you are nothing but a key, one that will serve its purpose and nothing else"
Opening his eyes a slitting inch further the monk asked "What do you plan to do in this holy place?"
Stepping forth daringly the intruder commanded "Shakujo, give me the knowledge of the Uzumaki's forbidden Tsuchi-Oni seal!" (Earth-Demon)
Sighing hard the monk shook his head a calm no. "I may not know who you are under that mask but I know you are by far too young to know of such a seal let alone how to use it... Alas though one as you seems to be as nefarious as intelligent"
Taking slow steps forward the masked being caused a phenomenon of candles simply blowing out as he stroll.
"You are a demon" pronounced the worshiper calmly
An unseen smile graced the hidden face. "I've been called as much by many. But tell me Shakujo Uzumaki how am I so evil when you so revered they deemed you: the grand fire, walk unhindered and free!. You've cost the lives of dare history says thousands... Don't tell me you've grown senile... That won't do with me wanting information"
"I know of my past sins" scoffed the monk "An I face them. How about you. . . Uchiha?"
Stopping in his step causing what we're left of the remaining flames to flicker the identified being balled his fist in annoyed anguish.
He stood silent. . . but calculating. The rounded eye-holes of his mask bleeding from a dark black to vicious red. . . Appearing as red dots upon a blank canvas of obsidian fabric.
Dropping his arms at his side while counting the beads in his palm Shakujo reminded "I've lived for a very long time. Don't think I have not had the opportunity to feel the chakra of a Uchiha. Change it all you want boy. Yours is still sinister! You're corrupted and tainted with that untamed will. . . A Uchiha if i ever felt one"
"Uzumaki you have made a very bad...even... grave mistake." the grim whisper breathed, washing out as a sound of calmness heckling in to pure fury
Abruptly a wind came alive sweeping across the ground and spreading outwards smiting out every candle light. At the epic-center of the swirling wind was the masked man.
Watching intently the enlightened one ignored his blowing tunic "I am a man of non-violence. But I am not a weak man. If you dishonor this sanctuary with violence you will pay penitence. . . in blood."
Stepping forward to challenge the claim the Uchiha bellowed "Legend has it you were a leviathan of strength. Maybe that was just the talk of my elders. . . But hopefully their tales were true an you are as smart as you were supposedly powerful. Don't keep me waiting Uzumaki either give me a show with your last fleeting power or direct me to the Tsuchi-Oni Fuinjutsu(Earth-Demon-Sealing Technique)"
The unknown wind stopped suddenly.
Darkness flashed for a moment consuming the pair. Only to be interrupted by a dark wall of purple flames rising in to the background on all sides of the men.
Instant recognition greeted Shakujo as his aged eyes viewed such a spectacle "A barrier. . . I see you do intend to keep me for a while"
A twitching of fingers that strung through seals was the only response.
"Fire Style: Flame Dragon Jutsu!" yelled the masked-nin breathing to life a serpentine dragon of flames.
Lunging towards the still monk the flamed dragon singed stone under its heat and set the surrounding foliage ablaze leaving scorched earth in place of greenery.
The massive dragon coiling upon its self through mid-air becoming a spiral of speedily moving flames, head first encompassed Shakujo embroidering him in a towering ring of fire.
Arms crossed the intruder watched patiently at the coming results from what he had done.
Moments later the inferno died down to lapping flames that licked harmlessly at the cobbled path. In the midst of the once bright inferno stood Shakujo. Not burned nor at all remotely flustered.
"I'm immune to the fire element. Hence the term Grand Fire" chastised the monk "Or did your elders forget to mention that?"
"I'll enjoy your defeat" rebuked the Uchiha mouth bare from burnt mask, white teeth were bared showing canines sharper then average "Hope you have not missed a beat in your decaying step. . . let us dance. . . if only for a short while"
The masked man moved creating a feat logically before thought to be completely impossible. His image without any preamble dispersed in front of the monk leaving but a fading visage.
Faster then time could calculate he appeared before the holy man with a right foot stretched high, aimed to sever a neck. . . brutally.
Decisive as the attack could have been normally, it stalled in to a flimsy kick when it met the reflexes of the enlighten warrior who moved but inches back, dodging the well-aimed strike yet remaining perfectly balanced as he leaned back upon the balls of his feet.
A symphony of strikes each leading to another deadly combination of blows was executed by the Uchiha as he showed expert skill in taijutsu performing extremely fast kicks followed by timed jabs, upper cuts and leg sweeps.
Ultimately though even in the face of the unmeasurable amount of engaging attacks thrown. Not one was able to land upon the old man. Every attack no matter in what combination or blistering speed it was thrown at could match the monk and his uncanny ability to side-step, leap or rather make a minimalist attempt of dodging by leaning out of the way.
A rare glimpse in to the power of those from decades passed was seen by the Uchiha. His first instinct of testing his opponent with a powerful and well placed jutsu was void.
His next action of hand to hand combat being a gruesome failure too proved void.
The monk was not in fact old in body. Not in the least. His speed was enough to tangle with the Uchiha's own and none the less was able to negate every hit, kick, side-sweep, and alas punch. Using a style dedicated to reflexes and anticipation.
Having been before warned, alas now understanding of power told in tales. The Uchiha jumped back from the stoic monk. His place was now one of slight disbelief as he stood measuring the Uzumaki.
Realizing the mans growing trepidation the monk announced "You won't wait long" exhaling Shakujo placed his left arm in front of him "I don't take any pleasure in having to do this but it seems when evil is persistent one can't be negotiable and must hold strong. Even gather more tenacity than ones foe a person could say"
Red orbs watched expectantly. Seeing the old Uzumaki pull from the very air itself, a long golden handled red bladed katana.
After witnessing such a feat he had never seen before the intruder quickly dashed in to reaction. After but a blurring three quick seals, black gloved hands clasped together snapping shut with a loud crack before separating creating a small black dot that rippled between leather covered palms.
Shakujo watched intently. Not a hint of curiosity could be read off of his blank visage. As he saw what was once a black unmistakable dot grow to the size of a plum in the Uchiha's shaking palms.
"I take it this is your last and best move boy?" echoed Shakujo's voice. A far cry from the once soothing tone of a wizened old man.
Backing away slowly the intruder kept all focus on the power in his hands. A slip in concentration and he knew that could easily prove his own undoing. His sharingan glowed in remiss at the old warriors presence, entrapped in helping to negotiate the power locked in its gaze. Although it could easily still interpret any premeditated attack.
Shakujo sighed wearily taking in such a jutsu "Many years one could search for a power like which you've been able to hold. An many years one would not find it. By which I see you holding this creation so desperately, I'll assume you are nowhere near mastering it. . ."
Eyes changing in a flicker between red then purple and back to the scarlet the masked man looked to Shakujo "It will still be more than enough. . . we dance no more"
Uncaring the monk dropped his sword.
The blade clanged to the ground but defiantly rose up. Cutting through the air, a golden handle made its way to Shakujo's aged hand. Immediately a loud hissing sounded from the steel accompanied by wafting red vapors danced from the blades edge.
Ignoring such an unexpected sight the Uchiha commanded "Last chance Shakujo! tell me or else you die along with every monk in this temple!"
A fleeting thought to the many who found sanctuary upon the temple crossed the old monks mind. There were many young fledglings here but mostly old souls in repenting days.
A younger more militarily dictated him would have attacked merciless the intruder. Navigating a course of battle that showed he was not fearing for the life of others and would sacrifice anything for victory. Possibly he'd even win in the face of what he knew was practically a technique to end all others.
An yet he was not the old him.
"Do what you must young one, but know I nor one of these other repenting souls could fear the creator we shall meet. In the face of death all are equal and hopefully everyone shall see their vain missteps in life. At least anyways before death I pray"
Looking upon his steaming sword Shakujo whispered "The present we view now blinds us to the coming future"
The monk's words like wind washed upon him. He heard them. Felt their meaning but alas did not breathe them in.
Steeling himself with will of iron the intruder tightened his palms around the black ball he'd created. "So be it then. But know your indifference won't stop me. I will find what I'm looking for. You aren't the only master of seals in this Uzumaki infested land."
A slight amount of curiosity overcame Shakujo's visage alas his sight was overtaken by a rapidly expanding darkness.
Fluid like water the once small blot of a ball inked its way forward amassing in to a wave that stretched out in to an expanding reach of darkness. In less than a second the ink like mass was upon the monk. Swirling in to a cocoon that wrapped around all space around him.
The Uchiha watched intently seeing his ultimate jutsu cover all escape routes the Uzumaki could take. Even instructing his technique to cover the ground underneath the warrior. Ensuring there to be no escapes.
Before the fluidly moving jutsu could implode on itself ultimately crushing Shakujo inside. The morphing walls became stripped. Zig-zagging cuts made by a sword cleanly sliced through. Creating heavily surmounting cuts in the ink like destroyer.
Watching in a shocked silence at the only thing he had witness to touch his jutsu and not be ultimately erased. The masked ninja quickly commanded his technique with all the control he could muster to finish off the monk.
Contracting in to itself and losing mass. The black substance erased the cuts in itself and quickly deconstructed in to a growing smaller by the second sphere of darkness.
Abruptly the masked intruder leaned backwards avoiding a sword that swung wildly at his neck.
Demonstrating a unbelievable amount of flexibility the man half bent over back-flipped in to a standing position already on the offensive with eyes trained at his opponent. Hands quickly flashing through seals.
Shakujo a master at the art of battle braced for the coming counter-attack creating a wall of flames that rose from the very air itself after a single swipe of his sword.
The onslaught of a dragon made of mud after the shout "Earth Release: Earth and Stone Dragon" was subsequently destroyed in a wall of impenetrable flames that quickly baked the monster in to a clay that shattered immediately before it even cooled.
Disappearing as quickly as they had come the twenty-foot high wall of flames abated to small embers twinkling as ash piles on the ground.
Casting a quick glance behind him the monk was still alert to the possible attack from the earlier jutsu he had tangled with but grew slightly surprised to see the shape shifting jutsu was in fact no more present.
'where did that damn monstrosity go?' the monk questioned afraid to wonder where such a thing could be hiding
A quick parry of his sword to a fast strike brought all his attention back upon his attacker that appeared before him with a rather large katana.
A few quicker then the last parry that each picked up speed to block a more feverishly coming by the second bout of blows had the monk slowly losing footing as he was forced on the defense moving backwards.
The slew of strikes let forth by the masked ninja were in clear ferocity over skill. And Shakujo could see the ploy quite clearly to move him in the way the man wanted around the field.
Timing the mans strike the Uzumaki parry one last time before his sword alighted with a coat of flames than exploded in to an inferno that set both men alight.
As expected the Uchiha when met with the flames went alight then disappeared in a small plume of smoke. Letting Shakujo stay alight and unbothered as his body remained shrouded from head to toe in a raging fire.
Again the monk had no problem pin pointing his enemy who appeared as if summoned from the earth a few feet away from his own position.
"You lost Uchiha. The sheer magnitude of chakra we have put out has alerted at least even the dumbest of sensors that something abnormal is happening here. Even your barrier can not keep that from getting out"
A cold laugh rang out from the Uchiha who crouched low to the ground placing a hand upon the earth "It is the end of a era. The wheel of fate now shall turn at my behest. I have not lost anything! I have only gained. For the time it takes you to process your and all of theirs defeat. . . we shall all be in the grave" he announced a second later teleporting away in a plume of white smoke.
Shakujo was uneasy to let his guard down even though he could no longer sense the enemy.
Even the arrival of many ally shinobi he felt converging upon the temple did not give him any peace of mind.
"Something is not right here" whispered the man still gripping his battle ready sword tightly "Something is not right at all"