44: Demons Cannot Lie
The snake sannin got back on his feet. A shadow landed next to him. "Our deal is complete. The three demons will come with us. As promised, you are removed from the list. Though… We can't promise how much of your town you will have to rebuild when it's over." Orochimaru seemed unconcerned. After all, to not have to worry about the consequences of leaving a group such as Akatsuki… rebuilding a town is much easier than evading the Akatsuki while gathering an army.
He smiled as he saw the barrier rise around the stadium. 'The Sound Four. Now they are trapped…The demons will be taken, and I…' A scream of pain to his right. 'Ah. I see my dear teammate has found me again.' He turned and faced Tsunade as the shadow disappeared back into the warzone. "The old fool mentioned the strength of the Will of Fire. You are his representative, Tsunade. Show me this strength and we shall see if Konoha deserves to survive." He grinned maliciously and met her halfway. Nobody would dare interfere. The only ones strong enough to do so had more pressing matters.
There was only one thing existing right now. "Brother… I'm going to kill YOU ITACHI!" He ran to his target as quickly as he could, dodging several halfhearted ranged attacks from some of the nearer Akatsuki. Chakra burned the ground where he stepped. He kept releasing more and more of the seal, demanding more power… demanding his torture to be defeated, body and soul. "ITS ALL YOUR FAULT!" His fist collided with Itachi's hand. Itachi had blocked it so casually. It was like he didn't exist.
But he did. Itachi looked down at his little brother. He had followed his advice. He used the rage to fuel him, and because of the decisions in his life guided by that hatred. He stood before him, filled with power taken and abused to be his own. He gave a small smile as he caught his brother's hand with his palm. It had actually caused him to be numb for a moment. He wasn't ready quite yet, but soon his brother would finally be the measuring stick he had dreamed of… The ultimate challenge. But until then, "Very well, Sasuke… Now I can train with you."
He was beyond pissed. Only two people had ever managed to lay a hand on him before. Only Naruto had ever beaten him. Yet these worms were trying to fight him. An arc of sand swept up covering half of his face, stopping 6 well placed poison needles midair. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the two people before him. "You will not lay a finger on me… you lack determination." The sand beneath the scorpion looking man suddenly sucked him halfway into the ground. The battle began, and somehow the man managed to climb out of the sand without too much of a struggle. The partner leapt into the air and onto a large circling clay bird. The scorpion began shooting more and more projectiles, all of them lethal… He could tell by the liquid dripping from the tips. None of them managed to get past his sand though. Small packs of clay were falling from the air. Gaara couldn't help but laugh slightly as the sand managed to grab the scorpion and suck him into the ground again. This time was slightly different though, as more sand climbed into the sky and threw the lumps of clay at the pissed off scorpion, pelting him like they were rocks. But he quickly stopped laughing as they exploded on top of his victim. He saw shattered remnants of the scorpion explode as a boy, no older than he himself and far from intimidating, leapt out of the husk. Gaara looked at the person on the clay bird. He would have to be much more careful. Explosives might actually be effective against his sand.
Naruto's crimson eyes glared at the swordsman as he kept dodging fishface again and again. He couldn't get close enough… He wasn't about to get hit by that sword anytime soon at this rate but, claws can only reach so far. His eyes widened as he dodged again, but this time the sword was close enough that it soaked up some of his charka. That wouldn't be too much of an issue except for the thorny vine that appeared from the ground and wrapped around his ankles like barbed wire. For all his training… for all his strength… he was still not strong enough. The sharkman's sword slammed sideways against his face, it was like sharp teeth raking into his skin. Chakra leapt from his body to the sword as it ate fiercely at his skin until the force slammed him away from the two attackers. 'No… NO… NOT like this… I can't let them have the Kyuubi.' His eyes widened as realization sank in. 'all the demons, not just Kyuubi. AMANE!'
He didn't care that the vine was eating away at his ankle. He didn't care if it shredded his foot off at this point. He grabbed the cutting and tearing vine, yanking it hard. The plant man felt himself being pulled through the air faster than he could run. The red chakra was surrounding the vessel as he reached back with a hand. He heard the whispers of encouragement from the Kyuubi and for once, he didn't tell him to shut up. He slammed his hand into the face of the plant assassin just as the rasengan began to form, making the chakra ball spin out of control inside of his enemy's head instead of in his hand. It was the grossest, most sadistic thing he had ever done. But he felt no remorse as the body exploded… as the blood coated his body. He snarled as he faced where the sharkman was moments before, screaming in pain as he found that damnedable sword ripping into his shoulder, then coming back around like a baseball bat and slamming him towards the shukaku vessel so hard the vine around his ankle snapped from the corpse, leaving it buried deep into his skin.
Gaara's sand caught Naruto and quickly encased his body in a cocoon. The scorpion man had tried to stab Naruto with the remnants of his scorpion's tail before he could react. The sand had protected him though. Suddenly it left Naruto vulnerable again, barely leaping in front of its true master in time to protect him from a much stronger explosion.
Naruto leapt over the second piercing attack, running full speed at the less than intimdating opponent. He destroyed anything that got in the way. Puppets were summoned between them, but the fierce red glow surrounding his body set them ablaze. He had someone important to protect, and Nothing would ever take that away from him. The puppeteer managed to block the fierce punch, but it still left an obvious burn. He kept attacking and attacking again and again, but he couldn't land a hit. But when a fox tail burst through the puppeteer's heart from behind, he remembered… that he didn't have to.
This was the point where the remaining Organization entered the battle. They could care less about that snake obsessed idiot… but they were actually losing members. That meant more power for each of them upon completion of the mission, but it also lowers the chance of victory. The Kyuubi was not to be taken lightly. It's power was beyond imagination. It's savage nature was such that nobody wanted to believe it's existence. They would take the demon by overwhelming force before it could retaliate from within the child.
Gaara was occupied with two members of his own. Tsunade was cut off from helping him by Orochimaru. Sasuke's goal was finally before him. Everyone in the stands, enemy and friend, seemed as if they were stuck unable to move from the sheer force of display before them.
Time seemed to stop… the world went black… and Naruto found himself before a dark, strong cage. Two eyes stared down at the weakling before him. "So, have you found the limit of your determination yet, child?" Pure chaos echoed in the laughter behind the bars. "You have less than 10 seconds before they finish you off, steal my power from your body, and destroy your allies. Although…. It doesn't have to go as they plan. All you have to do is give me your body. It's mine now…. For keeps. The kyuubi will return, or else you and all of your friends will die… and I imagine they'll probably wish to punish Konoha for attempting to interfere as well." There was no kindness in the sharp smile behind the gate.
Naruto knew the Kyuubi would never have another bargaining chip this big again. He knew… he could feel… the intent behind every word. Naruto looked hard into the eyes of evil. He wanted to protect everyone… he wanted to be strong enough. He couldn't even come close, despite all the pain he had endured. His voice didn't waver. "From this point forward… you must actively protect Konoha… it's people… and my family."
Kyuubi smirked down at the child who had won every gamble so far. "As long as they don't intend me harm." Demons were rather picky with details. They had to be since they weren't allowed the option of lying.
The blonde nodded. He stepped forward. The only sound was a hard sigh as he tore off the paper seal that had held the demon in place since birth.
Power burned off of the vessel in waves. For once the Atkatsuki seemed to feel a sense of panic. The chakra wrapped around his body with possessive fierceness. It ripped him apart piece by piece… burning away his skin and replacing itself with a slightly tanner looking skin capable of holding in the raw strength. He could feel the wind against every single hair again. The wind tingled up his body and into his nose. He could smell everything again… animals… people... even the chakra itself. He could see again… every bird in the air… every insignificant insect before him… and most importantly, he could see terror once more. It was reflected in every group… in every person except for Naruto's 'family'. The lord Kyuubi was back… and it was time to make his presence known.
A/N: bow Sorry for making everyone wait. It took me forever to come up with a fight scene that didn't make the akatsuki look like chumps but still display power without dragging on(which ninja battles aren't supposed to do) I probably could have done a lot more IF I had more info on the individuals of the 'evil organization'.
Dragon Man 180: Poor little Orochi wanted off of the bullies' black list.
Iceprincess: I'm horrible about that and I honestly do apologize. Writing is hard when they don't put out anything inspiring at all. Have you seen the latest episodes? Horrible… all of them.
LuciferIsDivine: You don't want to know how long it took me to bend the story to that scene :) But I'm glad you approve
Dragonflame: Behold the Chibi in the next chapter :D
Suzerain: Not yet, but very soon it will become rather substantial.
Naruhina: Next scene is where everything really goes down.
Mickeyshouse: I'm extremely slow with updates. It's a horrible fault of mine.
Saint of the Stone: Better than me putting out garbage, isn't it?
