Whew, this one was a little more intense than the previous ones. After much thought, and thanks to DarkTorrent for advice, I now have a better idea of what to do next. Actually, he's been helping out a lot, I think I'd be stuck in the burn ward of all the flames I'd have gotten otherwise.
Disclaimer: Don't flame for the Jiraiya-like thing that happens! Orochimaru did something like that too!
In the name
"Looks like the others are joining in after all." Haruka said, looking out of the corner of her eye. Far off, between the buildings, she caught fleeting signs of other ninja heading back to the tower, their comrades. But they were distant, not close enough to contact, "Our chances just got a little better."
"I'm not sure I like the way you said that." Naruto uneasily replied, as they ran down the street.
"This is the way it is for us ninja." Haruka said, looking at him encouragingly, "You have to be prepared to risk your life."
Naruto sighed, it was hardly and invigorating thing to be told. Though maybe he was just being naïve.
"Where are the enemy?" Gaara asked, looking at Haruka.
"I don't sense anyone nearby." Haruka replied, her expression matching Gaara's, "These streets are empty."
Gaara cast his eyes back ahead, his vague eyes giving no inclination to his thoughts. Though by now, Naruto had almost given up trying to work out what was going in Gaara's mind. After all, his wasn't the only voice in his mind.
They turned right at the next street, but soon came to a stop as they realised there was a fight going on ahead. There were two enemy Shinobi, and a Kunoichi, taking on what looked like-
"Yo, how's it going?" Isamu asked, flashing a grin over his shoulder.
"Where are Kohaku and Jirou?!" Haruka asked, with evident concern.
"We got separated!" Isamu replied, as he blocked a kick from the Kunoichi with his arm. He seemed to be caught in close combat with all three ninja, their kunai and shuriken supply gone, "Those two are up ahead!"
"You need a hand?" Haruka asked, with a small smirk.
"Don't even think about it!" Isamu grinned, performing a spin kick that caused all three ninja to jump back.
"He doesn't want us to help him?" Naruto asked, watching as Isamu suddenly went on the offensive. For whatever reason, he seemed content with just using basic Taijutsu.
"Nah, he likes it this way." Haruka replied, leaning against the wall to their right, "The only way he could enjoy it more is he has an audience."
"We should move on ahead." Gaara said, folding his arms.
"Yeah, like you could resist watching a good fight."
Naruto blinked, looking over at Eko in surprise. What had he just said?
"You see something?" Haruka asked, looking back down the street they'd come from.
"Oh, no." Naruto replied, returning his gaze to Isamu. As he watched the fight, he couldn't help but wonder though. He looked again at Gaara, who stood watching the fight without protest. He seemed to have forgotten himself that they were in the middle of a mission, "How did Eko catch that?"
"HYA!" Isamu cried out excessively, as he threw his fist into the gut of one of the Shinobi.
"GWA!" the Shinobi cried out, his breath leaving him from the force of the punch. Then, a moment later, he flew backwards, as if hit with an even greater force. He hit the ground rolling, trailing dirt and dust through the air as he travelled half a street before settling. Seeing that snapped Naruto from his thoughts, confusion and bewilderment taking place.
"What the?!" he exclaimed, "What happened?"
"Oh right, you don't know." Haruka said, though judging by her smirk she was already well aware of that, "Isamu's a strange one. He only has his chakra control."
"Huh?" Naruto asked, frowning at her. She let out a small chuckle, before continuing.
"He doesn't have enough focus for Genjutsu and Ninjutsu, or the patience for Taijutsu." she explained, "But he makes up for that with incredible chakra control. He can generate enough of it to render himself immovable, if he likes."
Naruto's brow rose as he thought back to that time Isamu told him to hit him with his best shot.
"So wait, the reason my attack didn't work was-" he began.
"You got it." Haruka replied, "He channelled his chakra to his feet and rooted himself to the ground. I'm not even sure what force it would take to knock him off his feet."
Naruto turned to look at Isamu again, who was continuing his fight with the other two ninja. Now that he looked closer, the other two looked pretty exhausted, while he seemed pumped with adrenaline.
"Looks like Kohaku must have given him a booster." Haruka said, "Even he doesn't normally sweat that much."
It was true, Isamu's skin shone from the sweat pouring down his back. He whipped around and delivered a backhand to the Kunoichi, but she managed to resist being thrown off her feet. Once again though, a moment later it was like gravity changed, and she was pulled into the concrete wall, crying out in pain.
"He only has basic fighting skills." Haruka said, "He could never take out an opponent on his own, if it weren't for his chakra control. He can gather it to any point in his body and release it at once. It's like getting hit by a bull."
As if to prove that point, Isamu bowed down to the final opponent, pressing his fingers to the ground and pushing his legs back. He then charged into the Shinobi, grappling him tight around the waist. He jumped to his right and kicked off the wall of the building, and slammed the ninja into the ground. The stone slabs cracked and burst from the impact, obscuring the ninja's groan. Isamu climbed out from the small crater, a satisfied smirk on his face.
"Phew, that was fun." he remarked, as Naruto, Gaara and Haruka approached him, "How are things going on your end?"
"We're doing just fine." Haruka replied, resting her arm on Naruto's shoulder, "In fact these two have been holding their own pretty well."
"Heh I doubt it." Isamu said, grinning at Naruto, who was trying to keep his embarrassment of Haruka's closeness from being seen, "This runt looks like he's about to pass out!"
"Quit calling me a runt!" Naruto yelled, his ready pumped blood causing him to react uncharacteristically. Isamu cocked a brow, smirking.
"Little dog's got a quick bark." he remarked, chuckling to himself.
"Uh, Isamu." Haruka said, pointing behind him. Isamu noticed it in time and whipped around, kicking the Kunoichi sneaking up on him in the gut. Like before however, she seemed to stick to him unnaturally.
"Look at this, I got a piece of crap on my boot." Isamu remarked. He then spun around, the Kunoichi was pulled along with him, "GET THE HELL OFF!!!"
He threw his leg out and pumped chakra into his foot, blasting it into her stomach and sending her flying down the street. Isamu didn't even watch her land, he turned back to Haruka.
"You guys gonna check on the other two?" he asked, as a small cloud of dust puffed down the street, "I wanna look around for stragglers."
"You know we're on a mission, right?" Haruka asked, with a sceptical look.
"Yeah, which is why I'll take the role of clean up crew." Isamu replied, "Don't want the leftovers repeating on us do we?"
"That metaphor doesn't even make sense." Haruka irritably sighed, before straightening up and passing Isamu, "Fine, do what you want."
"I plan to." Isamu replied, stepping past her and putting his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Hey runt, why don't you try and prove me wrong?"
Naruto grumbled to himself as Isamu flashed him a grin, before he headed off down the street they'd come from. Haruka shook her head, before jerking it to the next street.
"Come on." she said, "We'll need to check on those two."
* * * * *
Hanzo landed on the ground, stumbling slightly but managing to stay upright. He looked around himself, a look of astonishment on his face. He soon shook it off however, when he realised the Asura realm was behind him. He leapt back, raising his arms defensively as he locked eyes with Pein.
"Where have you taken me?" Hanzo demanded, glaring through the darkness.
"To the place closest to god."
Hanzo whipped around, trying hard to locate the owner of that- no, those voices.
"Who's there?!" he called out, "Step forward!"
Suddenly, fires blazed into life behind him, the torches igniting and bringing light into the room. Though it was still very dim, he could make out the Asura realm behind him by silhouette. He turned back around as he heard footsteps.
From the depths of the shadows, Deva realm appeared, standing before Hanzo expressionlessly. The two Shinobi stared at each other, only one revealing anything on his face. Hanzo's eyes narrowed accusingly at Deva.
"You…" he muttered, "And yet, you two have those eyes. But that isn't possible, no one should have those eyes. And for that matter, you should be dead."
"Fate is my decision." Pein replied, both Deva's and the voice still in the darkness echoing through the room, "Death is my whim."
Hanzo's gaze faltered for a moment, listening to those serious words. After but a moment of uncertainty, he began chuckling coldly.
"Fufufu, so that's how it is." he said, sneering cruelly, "This is for revenge then? Why don't you show yourself, the real you?"
Deva didn't react, nor move in the slightest.
"So you figured it out." he said, "But you are wrong. Revenge is not my goal."
Once more Hanzo laughed, his scepticism clear in his cutting tone.
"It isn't?" he asked, with a doubting look, "Then what?"
As answer, Deva lazily raised his hand, gesturing past Hanzo towards the fire. He hesitated, but after a moment Hanzo looked, spotting the tablet that lay between the torches. He glanced over the text, before deciding he couldn't read it.
"An old plaque?" he asked, watching as Asura left through the door, "Should I be impressed?"
He looked back to Deva realm, who still remained stoic.
"There stood, the heavenly sage, and the hellish beast." he read, "The beast, who's aura so foul it ran around the entire world and tainted it with evil and despair. But the sage's aura cut through the beast's and the two beings clashed in the twilight, with power unfound and eyes unseen."
Hanzo listened cautiously to Pein's words, his expression still suspicious. All the while Pein spoke, he built up his chakra for the path this encounter would inevitably take.
"That is the legacy of the Rikudo Sennin." Pein finished, "And the reason for this."
"I care not for any legacies." Hanzo replied, "Whether you have any relationship to that person or not is of no concern of mine. What is your objective?"
"My objective?" Pein repeated, "That is simple. What I seek… is peace."
In an instant Hanzo's hands were together, flying through hand seals.
"Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu!" he called, taking his fingers to his mouth and letting out several sharp exhales that ignited into balls of fire. The flames hurtled straight for the Deva realm, but Pein only raised his hand.
A blast of something like wind pulsed out of his hand, erasing the fireballs from existence. But the Jutsu had served its purpose, as the smoking hole in the wall told him. Hanzo had broken out. Pein walked to the hole, looking outside to the village. Hanzo descended through the sky, his arms and legs snapped together to maximise his speed. It seemed like an escape attempt, but Hanzo's eyes never left Pein. It was a challenge.
"Very well then." Pein muttered, as he too leapt out the window.
* * * * *
Shrkt!
Naruto pushed with all his strength, trying to gain the upper hand against the opponent before him. The Shinobi he fought against was a young man, with scruffy brown hair held down in a light headpiece. With the blue strap running under his chin, the bandage across his nose and tight fitting navy jumpsuit he wore he looked like he was about to go swimming. But from the look in his sharp, eager eyes, taking a dip wasn't his intention.
They both fought, Naruto with Eko and this person with his kunai. Their strength was about the same, neither had the advantage here. He was also just as fast. But that wasn't the only thing they shared. Naruto pushed hard before leaping back and tossing Eko into the air, while the other boy did the same.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto called, his hands held in the cross seal.
"Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu!" the other boy mirrored, his hands in the sea of the tiger.
On either side, three clones of the user appeared, each holding their weapons at the ready. Naruto grabbed Eko and charged forward again, meeting the boy in the middle while their clones clashed as well.
"Your Kage Bunshin aren't bad!" the boy said, panting slightly, "Their giving mine a nice challenge!"
"Same here!" Naruto replied, his breathing the same, "But I'm not gonna lose to you!"
"Like you gotta choice!" the boy grinned, pushing forward.
Across the street, Gaara was also fighting an opponent who used Mizu Bunshin, but he was having more trouble than Naruto. Every time he'd used his sand to strike them down, they would disperse and soak the sand, making it slower and heavier. It was for that reason he was forced to halt his offence, and form a strategy while the Mizu Bunshin uselessly attacked.
"That shield of yours is pretty strong!" commented the large Shinobi that faced him. His tight black tank top and shorts were of the same make as Naruto's opponent, the difference being that he had his forehead protector plate attached to his chest instead. His slicked back hair shone with sweat though, Gaara was aware that he was the original and therefore was constantly changing position, something someone with his bulk didn't find easy, "Pity it can't hold up against water!"
Following these words, three of his Mizu Bunshin charged directly at Gaara lunging straight at him. Gaara responded by swiping them with his sand, keeping his shield intact by sacrificing the amount he controlled.
Haruka was the only one not fighting against Mizu Bunshin, though she would have preferred it that way. Her opponent had incredibly fast reactions, and was annoyingly flexible. She avoided the fuma shuriken every time, bending or jumping in some strange way, all the while cackling manically.
"You'll never catch me like that!" she crowed, bending backwards as she avoided getting cut in half, "Have you got any brains at all?"
"Damn bitch!" Haruka growled, retracting her blade and running in for close combat. She slashed at the Kunoichi, but only managed to cut some of her short raven hair, though that seemed to annoy the Kunoichi very much.
"Who do you think you are?!" she demanded, dropping to the ground and wrapping her legs around Haruka's. Then with a quick turn both of them were on the ground, Haruka grunting in annoyance. She twisted round and sliced out with her blade, cutting through her opponent's burgundy jumpsuit and leaving a deep wound in her leg.
"GAH!!!" the Kunoichi cried out, her grip loosening. In an instant Haruka was out, rolling aside before pushing herself to her feet. She whipped her head back just as a kunai flew past, though it was only a distraction to give the Kunoichi time to get back to her feet.
"You'll pay for that!" she growled, grasping her leg as blood seeped past. Haruka ignored her though, her turned head hiding her expression, "Hey! Are you listening to me?!"
"Yeah, I'm listening." Haruka replied, slowly turning her head to reveal both the cut on her cheek and a manic grin, "And I'm sick of your voice!"
She then lashed out with her gauntlet, sending her shuriken flying out again. The Kunoichi's eyes narrowed at Haruka, disliking that remark.
"You think that's going to work?!" she spat out, bending back to avoid the blade.
"Yeah, I think so." Haruka replied, clenching her fist.
Shklt!
The Kunoichi's eyes widened in shock as extensions to the shuriken snapped out, just in time to run through her stomach. Blood sprayed out from her gash, following the trail as the second blade of the shuriken passed through, all before she could even cry out.
Naruto's opponent's grin fell as he heard his team mate's scream, but he couldn't afford to look back.
"Hey Emi, you all right?!" he called out, as Naruto pushed him back a little. Haruka shot a glance at him, before looking to the Kunoichi again.
"Ha, your name's Emi?!" she asked, her grin widening, "What a joke!"
"Shit!" Naruto's opponent growled, as he blocked a strike.
"Stay focused Kaito-san!" ordered the big Shinobi, who's arrogant expression had also fallen.
"Damn it Michi, they got Emi!" Kaito yelled, taking a step forward, and slashing with his kunai.
"Looks like he's getting aggressive, you want me to take over?"
"Nah, I'm fine!" Naruto replied, as he defended. Kaito's attacks had grown more ferocious though, he seemed a lot angrier at the loss of his comrade than that Michi over there. Naruto could hardly blame him though, if Kaito hadn't cared, then he might have had a problem with that.
He struck out with Eko, putting some Futon chakra into the blade to increase its cutting power. It did its job, Kaito's kunai shattered and he was forced to jump back as Naruto slashed again. But Naruto just released Eko, who was caught by a Kage Bunshin and put to use, before clasping his hands.
"Futon: Reppusho!" he called, blasting Kaito back with a gust of wind. Haruka glanced over her shoulder as she heard the attack, and raised her arm just as Kaito passed. Her blade sliced straight through his spine, finishing him instantly.
"Two down!" she said, grinning as the Mizu Bunshin fell. She barely seemed to acknowledge the spattered blood on her clothes, and just turned to Gaara's fight, "Now we gotta wait for these two!"
They didn't have to wait long however, as Gaara suddenly threw out his hand, to the confusion of Michi. He then raised his hand in the air, stunning the Shinobi as sand poured up from the slabs, instantly entrapping him.
"Looks like he's been preparing that for a while!" Haruka commented, as Michi struggled.
"Sabaku Kyu!" Gaara called, crushing Michi from the waist down.
"HARGH!!!" Michi cried, gripping the sand tight as blood poured out from it. His pain didn't last long, Gaara tossed him into the wall, knocking him out and leaving him in his state.
"Gruesome as ever."
"Yeah." Naruto agreed, as the Kage Bunshin tossed Eko back to him. He slipped the katana back into his sheath, before turning to Haruka, "Are we any closer?"
"Yeah, Jirou's just a couple of streets away." Haruka replied, her expression back to normal. Naruto resolved himself to never accidentally cut Haruka, he didn't want to wind up like that Emi woman.
"Let's go." Gaara said, as he finished gathering his sand again.
* * * * *
Hanzo came to a stop, water rippling as he turned to face Pein. The two of them stood upon the waterfront of Amegakure, undisturbed by buildings and other people. They focused strongly on each other, both with the same bland expressions.
"This is your choice of battleground then?" Pein asked.
"There is no need to glorify this." Hanzo replied, "This is simply your grave."
"You say that, and yet you lead this body away, when you know that the original is back there?" Pein countered, "Don't make idle threats."
"Fufufu, so you have some sense then." Hanzo said, his eyes narrowing, "But when I used my Jutsu, I saw your true form. You cannot escape."
The smallest of frowns appeared on Pein's face, almost unnoticeable, but there nonetheless. Hanzo caught it, and his eyes shown with a cruel glee.
"So you didn't notice." he said, "Fufufu… this is a predicament you are caught in."
Pein raised his hand, his outstretched fingers reaching for Hanzo.
"Bansho Ten'in." he called. Hanzo's eyes widened in shock as he was suddenly pulled through the air by some overwhelming force, his arms thrown back as he flew straight towards Deva, who gripped his throat tight.
"Gah!" Hanzo gasped, before smirking. He looked straight down at Pein, before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Kage Bunshin?!" Pein thought, his eyes widening angrily. They then relaxed, as he came to realise something, "Then that man really was-"
He came to a sudden stop, his eyes turning glassy as he stood still. Moments later, he too disappeared in a puff of smoke.
* * * * *
Nagato scanned the room, looking for any signs of his realisation. Around him, the other torches ignited, ridding the room of the shadows that the hole in the wall failed to. Now that he could see more clearly, he gave the room another look, before spotting it. In the floor, there was a small hole, the wood burnt around it. And in that hole, there was an eye, with blackened cornea's and a pale iris.
"So there you are." Nagato muttered.
The eye then seemed to close, and a faint shuffling sound could be heard as something crawled out of the hole. It was a tiny salamander, whose skin was greyed in the light of the fire. It settled on the ground, before slowly opening his mouth as if to yawn. Yet somehow, its mouth stretched beyond the expected capacity, as if it was being pulled apart. What was even stranger though, was what came out of the mouth.
A hand. It slowly pushed itself out, before gripping the salamander's mouth. Soon another hand appeared and did the same. By this point, the salamander had disappeared behind the body pulling itself out of it. Nagato watched with no opinion of the slime that came with the movement, only locking eyes as soon as he met Hanzo's again.
"You're not surprised?" Hanzo asked, as his shoulders appeared.
"Hardly a noble position for someone of your standing." Nagato replied in his hoarse tone, "Though I'll admit, I prefer to see you on the floor."
With his waist now visible, Hanzo placed his hand on the ground and pulled himself out the rest of the way. As soon as he was gone, the salamander disappeared, and they were left on their own.
"Your belief that in this state I am weakened is incorrect." Nagato said, "Even as I am, you cannot win."
"Intimidation will get you nowhere." Hanzo replied, before disappearing in a Shunshin, "You cannot defend your blind spot, nor bring your hands from that machine. Doing so would lose your control from those other bodies, wouldn't it?"
Nagato's eyes narrowed as he looked back at Hanzo, who now stood behind him.
"You assume too much." Nagato said, "Though I'll congratulate you on separating myself from the Deva realm, you forget that I am not alone."
"You could have killed me back there, with that other body of yours." Hanzo replied, taking a few steps forward, "But instead you brought me here, to hear your little story. Not only that, but you left to your Deva realm, as you put it. Let me ask you, if revenge isn't your goal, then why would it matter which of your bodies does the deed?"
Nagato stared at Hanzo, but offered no reply. Hanzo seemed to enjoy that fact, from what his eyes told.
"Regardless of what you say now, you said earlier that you would deal justice." he said, snidely, "But justice for whom? On who's behalf? Don't make jokes, you call it justice, but this is just revenge for the sake of your dead friend. This is simply an act of hatred, which you have decided to name justice."
Nagato stared hard at Hanzo, listening closely to his words. He then cast his eyes to the plaque ahead of him, staring, but not seeing.
"Hatred, in the name of justice you say?" he mused, as a smile spread across his dry lips, "An interesting notion, I'll admit. And in acting on this, I would inevitably instil the hatred of those close to you, would I not?"
Hanzo's look of confidence slipped at Nagato's words, his brow creasing as his expression turned dangerous.
"Then… I suppose I know what I must do next." Nagato said, turning his head back to look at Hanzo, "Your friends, your family, they must all die as well."
Hanzo's obscure lips curled back into a snarl as he glared at Nagato. He moved to take a step forward, but stopped as he felt resistance. Looking down at his leg, he noticed in shock that he was caught in what looked like the grip of several sheets of paper. Now that it had been noticed, all disguise was dropped as the paper rustled up his slime covered body, and Konan stepped from the only shadow in the room.
"Though I had really hoped for Deva realm to do so, it can't be helped if my partner here wishes to commit that act." Nagato said, "So I'm afraid this is goodbye. Though I will thank you, I'm glad we had the chance to talk."
Hanzo snarled again as his arms were covered, and pinned to his sides. He stretched his neck out, resisting the paper as much as he could. But it was futile, eventually there was nothing left of him.
"Now… find pea-" Nagato began, before cocking a brow in curiosity, "Hm?"