AN: Hello everyone! I hope everyone is doing okay with this Coronavirus going around. My prayers are with all of you in this time that you are safe and the same for your families. I myself had to deal with a whole lot between moving and prepping for this virus to cause trouble. BUT it gave me time to work on this and the next chapter.
As always leave a review so I can hear your thoughts and follow the story to see what happens next.
Blessings to you all!
Chapter 32: Descent into Darkness…Terrible Machinations
[Secession Studios: Heart of Darkness]
As they look upon their foes within Ba Sing Se's Palace, to say the Heroes were shocked was an understatement.
For not only had the Shadow ordered Hinata to strike her own family down, but she had complied without hesitation. Now an intense battle had begun between the two. With speed and precision they dueled, their strikes akin to clashes of thunder as the deadly chakra raged through their palms and attempted to sever their opponent's ties to their own power.
As the fateful duel continued, the Shinobi and Magi tried their best to tear through their combatant's, but between the dark Shinobi's deadly speed and the knight's mighty strength, they claimed no ground.
With each desperate attempt to punch through, the stalwart defense kept them at bay. Even the rage filled blows from the Dragon Slayers seemed to be repelled by the dark magic in the knights armor and shields.
The Magi's area attacks did little against the speed and skill of the ninja, and the armor and shields which seemed to be immune to jutsu and magic kept them from tearing through. And they knew if they got to close to the immovable phalanx they risked being run through by spear and blade.
Well…there was perhaps one person they couldn't stop…but her mind was far too focused on the Shadow Guards who kept her at bay.
And then…they broke off…vanishing back into the Shadows leaving one, a single crimson eye glaring from beneath his hood, his blade reflecting the cursed blue light of the lanterns.
Behind him the knights pulled back kept their stalwart stance, refining heir phalanx between the Shadow and their friends. Seeing this, Shikamaru knew he only had one option as he issued the order..
"Natsumi. Punch through!"
In that instant she activated her nine tails cloak and charged, with the intent to carry out that order. In the same moment, Natsu's Rage took over, and with a lightning inferno cloaking him, charged along side her with the intent to smash through the Knight's Shields…or they would have.
Had the dark Shinobi not side-stepped at the last moment to slam a sealing paper onto the Jinchuriki's forehead, stunning her, and though he did not have the same response for the dragonslayer, he caught the man's hand with his own lightning covered one, and spun the two of them away and back to their allies.
The others move to catch them just in time for Grey to catch the dragon and Tenten to remove the paper seal…but immediately after they felt themselves getting twisted and forced to their knees.
With great struggle they look up to see some unknown woman, though she had the same hellish eyes as the others, but she donned blue clothing, the same as the Water Tribesmen and women.
This must be Katara, the daughter of the Southern Tribe's chief. The one they had warned had been twisted and corrupted.
They looked upon her wicked visage: Her hands stretched out and in a twisted grasp, her face a pure visage of twisted glee at their pain.
And an eve n more haunting demoness voice, as Katara spoke, "Not so fast little puppets, it's not yet your time for the stage!"
Now they understood…this was something Sauron wanted them to see, as even the unknown Shinobi made no move to remove their heads, and the knights stepped aside so may watch.
And watch they did, as the duel continued.
Hinata's strikes were without hesitation, they were quick, concise, and with a violence that was worthy of the title Hyuga Heiress. But they noticed that they were not lethal.
Something both Neji and Sauron noticed as well.
The latter of whom was leaning forward, his fingers steepled, with Mira and Thuringwhethil sitting upon both armrests. Shikamaru had noticed that every position and action was a demonstration of power.
His mind was pulled from his thoughts as Neji tries to talk her down.
"Hinata, please stop this! I don't want to fight you!" he cried as he slapped her hand away, "And I can tell you don't want to fight me either."
He leaps back for a respite, "Not one strike was aimed to maim me, only incapacitate."
[3:08 Mark]
Hinata was silent, her eyes flickering over to her new master for a moment. But it was enough to see those hellish eyes studying her…those eyes that were too much like her own. She had seen just how powerful his vision was, a sight that seemed to see more than even hers could at times.
But…twisted.
Regaining her resolve, Hinata snarled as she attacked once more, "Shut up Neji!"
Neji is taken aback by the sudden spark of anger in such a manner, "I am tired of you always mocking me!"
She screamed, "Criticizing me!"
She cried, "Judging me!"
With each strike she put more force, more chakra, more wrath into fighting her family line. Her eyes began to tear up as she finally let her rage flow from the years of bottled pain and shame.
"All my insecurities, all my self-doubt, my self-hate!" she roared as she hit harder and harder each and every time.
"You, my father, the whole clan treated me like I was defective!" tears now flowed from her eyes, yet another sight that kept Neji out of the fight.
[3:55 Mark]
The perfect time for her to aim and strike at the still healing wound he suffered from the knight from a few weeks ago. Enough time for her to strike where he would be immobilized.
"Only one person ever saw me for who I was, who didn't treat me like a failure!" she looked to Sauron, whose own eyes seemed to widen at that confession.
"And I betrayed him…" her tears seemed to move something in him as the flame seem to dim as they looked at one another. As she turned away to look at Neji again, her tears were flowing as she cried openly.
"I destroyed his heart!" she screamed as she kicked Neji, across his jaw "I made it explode in his chest, just after telling him that I loved him!"
Her fury finally let loose as her chakra turns a dark blue to evil purple, with a final blow she cast him down the stairs.
"And I will be damned if I ever betray him for a clan who hated me!" she screamed as she forms the horrific sign that made every shinobi's eyes go wide.
At this Shikamaru screamed, "NO HINATA!"
This was something that Magi knew nothing of…but the clear fear from the Shinobi made it clear that this was bad. They feared very little…this must be truly awful.
Kiba struggled to fight but even his bestial strength was not enough, "Don't do it!"
Tenten was openly crying as she knew more of this than any other outside the Clan, "PLEASE! HINATA FOR ALL THAT IS SACRED!"
Neji looked up in horror as the woman he had grown to admired…did the one thing that she swore she never would.
She would use the Cage-Bird Seal
In a final scream she carried out the sentence, "And you can all burn for all I care!"
As she activates it, her hair rises in the burst of chakra as the Dark Lord's seal burns bright and her eyes grow hellish. Only in this moment, did the Dark Lord sit back in his throne, content with what he knew, was her final step.
Tenten screamed in despair, "NEJI!"
All look in horror at the spectacle, the man writhing in pain, his screamed echoing through the halls, the sound something no man nor women should ever hear. His foamed bile formed at his mouth as his movements slowly turned from wild flailing to stiff twitches and rolled back eyes.
As his screams fell silent.
[My Hero Academia OST: All For One]
As his voice faded to a raspy gargle, they were replaced by those of his lover, screams of despair as her beloved lays comatose. The other of their company were horrified by such a spectacle, to think that such an ability existed. To put another through such pain, that they would rather crack their own skull against the ground, to lose all's semblance of self just to escape the pain.
The Magi to say the least, were horrified. They knew that their companions were from a deadly and violent culture…but to have just the option to do something so terrible to one's' own family and comrades…was unthinkable.
But even the Shinobi had never seen the seal used in this manner…and to witness the once kind and gentle Hinata Hyuga to not only use it, but take pleasure in it…was an afront to their very reality.
It was inconceivable…and yet there she was, panting at the exertion, of finally letting go of all of her own pain, and inflicting it upon her own blood. It filled all of their company with pain and torment upon witnessing such an act.
It was this pain, that summoned her rage as she overcomes the pain and strikes. Her scrolls unraveling and weapons of every kind launch toward the Dark Lord's forces.
Erza's own rage at such a sight made her summon her arsenal and send it hurling toward their foes.
Where magic and jutsu failed, power and numbers prevailed. The sheer velocity, weight, and variety of light to heavy weapons was enough to pierce through the armor of the knights and pass them toward their dark master.
With Hinata the first to taste the onslaught of steel.
Were it not for the Dark Lord to appear before Hinata in a black and red flash. Grabbing her by the waist and spinning to stand between her and the incoming hail of blades before thrusting a hand forward and halted every blade and bludgeon in midair.
The to see their efforts of revenge halted made their minds protest their reality.
"How?" Erza demanded, "No one commands my weapons but me."
But the Dark Lord had an answer for her, "Do you not yet understand?"
He clenched his fist and the blades shattered, "Only that which I will, comes to pass."
A sudden roaring bellow as Natsu's wrath at seeing such cruelty engulfed him, "TO HELL WITH YOUR WILL!"
All looked to see his flames and lightning begin to dance around his body as he forces himself to his feet, lightning hits the water witch and sends her flying. Such an act freed him and the others, yet the pain was still existent.
"If your will is to torture and maim those who are your friends and those who were your family, then your will means NOTHING to me!"
Ignoring his pain, he forced himself to his feet, as did the others now that Katara was incapacitated. It was at this moment that Natsumi finally woke from the seal to look at the confrontation.
"I don't know what drives you, what self-righteous purpose you draw upon," his flames and lightning whip and strike violently, "But I'll tear through all your excuses and turn you to ash!"
[My Hero Academia OST: The Power of All for One]
Sauron moves to release Hinata and face the Dragon, but he feels her hands tighten upon his armor, causing him to look back at her.
The Shadow and the Princess's eyes and a moment of eternity passes as their own conversation is passed through their eyes.
One of fear and reassurance.
With a calm nod, Hinata slowly relinquished her grip and the Dark Lord goes to face the draconic mage.
"And you think you can handle my burden do you little dragon?" the Dark Lord challenged, seeing that the dragonslayer even in his rage pondered those words, he did something that surprised them…
He freed the Ring from his finger.
"Let's see you carry its weight!" and with that, he tossed the One Ring to the Dragonslayer who by instinct caught it.
And in that very instant…the dragon's flames died.
All watch as Natsu's eyes grow wide, Wendy pondered aloud for her friends, "Natsu? Are you okay?"
"That voice…" Natsu whispered, he turned to show the dread in his eyes, "Can you hear it?"
The others look to each other, "There is no voice Natsu," Erza told him, but the young man only shook his head. He seemed to be going mad right before their eyes as he protested that there was indeed a voice.
"It's…it's calling me," he told them, "It's calling my name…"
Slowly his trembling hand opened to reveal the golden ring, his eyes slowly, fearfully turning down to it's glowing crimson words which illuminated his face. His eyes slowly lost their fear as he could now understand the ancient dialect.
It was then he realized…that this was the Dark Lord's voice…but it was even fiercer as with spoke in the Black Tongue, it's gnashing and growling dialect rumbling through his mind as it offered him great power.
Demanding that he take power, to defeat the Dark Lord before him and claim his forces and his throne. That he dominate and destroy all that would cause and bring about evil. As those hypnotic words went through his mind, all others saw his eyes roll to the back of his head as he was shown dark visions of victory.
A vision in which he struck down the Dark Lord, the Black Wizard, and even the Dragon of Armageddon, Acnologia.
A vision in which he would use the skull of the black dragon to become his throne as the Dragon King. But perhaps the most damning…and enticing part of his vision…was to see a dark and seductive version of Lucy as his queen upon his lap. And flanking their throne were Hellish forms of her Celestial Spirits standing beside their friends as their elites.
Such were the dark impulses and his attempts to deny them that the others could here his whimpers of mental pain. And even more frightening were the dark growls and grin that began to grow upon his face.
A sight that made his friends finally realize that something was wrong…the tales were true…the One Ring corrupts all. And answers to none but it's master.
Perhaps the most naïve of the group, did not understand the truth, nor cared…Happy could only see his best friend was in pain.
"Natsu?" he called, hoping it would return his dear friend, not this terrible and twisted version of him. A sight that scared the poor feline.
Seeing the one who had rescued her time and again in such a terrible state, Lucy rushes to him, one hand grasping his wrist and the other grasping the back of his head. Forcing him to look at her pleading and fearful gaze.
"Natsu! Snap out of it!" she screamed on the verge of tears, "PLEASE!"
Such an action by her was enough to break the dark thoughts and at the same time lose his grip of the Ring. Which slammed to the floor with an echoing boom.
"It seems you could not handle the weight after all," Sauron said with feigned disappointment, and mockery that did not sit well with the Celestial Mage.
In her rage, Lucy brandished her whip and send it toward Sauron. Its wrathful energy reaching out to strike her foe. Who only let it wrap around his arm so that, with a strong pull, drew the Celestial Witch into his waiting grasp. For a split moment they moved to strike…but soon they all heard the dark whispers from the Ring.
"Are there any among you?" he called out his challenge as he held her aloft, "Who can take up the mantle? The power?"
And so the others looked upon the Ring as their vision began to swim. Slowly they were all tempted with dark versions of each of them claiming power.
Where each of them saw their hands defeating Sauron, their visions drifted off to sights of triumph that fit to each to their liking.
The Shinobi each saw themselves as a Kage who ruled over all Nations as the mightiest Shadow. Some like Shikamaru were simple, being the ruler of all and living in luxury.
Others saw themselves as mighty rulers, adored and feared.
And Magi saw themselves as Wizard Kings and Queens, protectors who were loved and feared.
Yet…in all visions…they saw a terrible twisted version of themselves. Even the Shinobi, masters of war and those who live in the shadows…were terrified of their doppelgangers.
Even the precious Wendy was not safe from the darker, adult, and curved form which enticed and terrified her at the same time.
For one thing was the same in all of their visions…each of them at the very pinnacle of power, with a few loyal followers…and all else rotting corpses at their feet.
Many being their loved ones who they knew, would stand against them for the sake of saving them from that terrible fate. All the while the dark whispers and their own heart beats pounded in their ears.
In truth, perhaps the only one perhaps due to the sheer innocence of a child not to be corrupted was Happy, but perhaps to see all of them with the same visage Natsu once had, it must have been a waking nightmare, he couldn't help but be afraid of his own family. Though that didn't seem to stop the feline muster up all the courage his small form could muster.
Happy turned to the Dark Lord and cried, "STOP THIS!?" his scream echoing through the hall. A scream that caused the Shadow to look upon the feline, listening to his cries with a tilted head.
"Why are you doing this!?" he pleaded for an answer, "Family shouldn't do this to each other! Even your sister is here, and you would torment her too?!"
The Dark Lord looked down upon the most peculiar of their company and said nothing. Studying the little feline, he dropped Lucy who fell to her knees before the Shadow, before he reached out as the ring flew back to it's master. In that instant the whispers and visions were silenced.
At the words of Happy, he turned to his sister…who he was well aware had refused to look at him from the moment she entered these bloodied halls.
He could sense the conflict in her, the terrible choice running through her mind.
A choice he knew all too well.
Looking to the feline he spoke, lifting his hand to show the Ring, "And now you see, the power to rule is one that surpasses all other capabilities, but it comes with an equal power to corrupt the wielder, one that no other could hope to control, not even my brethren among the Maiar could master this power."
"This is my power, my burden," Sauron turned from them as he looked upon the broken throne, "The power to bring an end to the terrible chaos that tears apart this world."
[Fairy Tail OST: Memory of the Beginning]
Where the others tried to comprehend what their old friend meant, the dragonslayer had snapped. In a rage from seeing Lucy being strangled and held aloft akin to a prize catch, and the dark impulses from the Ring, Natsu activated his flames…but they were different, dark and menacing.
Demonic, even…
In a sudden burst of speed, Natsu tackled the Shadow and slammed him into the throne steps shattering them. The dragon was preparing to strike down the shadow.
Only it wasn't a dragon…but a demon of Shadow and Flame.
His arms were covered in a hybrid mix of scales and volcanic claws flexed and ready to tear apart Sauron's armor. What they thought to be Dragon Force…was something terrible.
As Gray rushed to her side, she regained her bearings just in time to hear the hellish growl. Looking upon the same monstrosity she had seen just months ago.
"Natsu? What's going on?" Lucy asked Gray, however the Ice Demon Slayer could hear nothing as shock and denial ran through his mind and his heart.
And yet…the Devil-Slaying magic's compulsion to kill was strong, and directed right at his friend.
"It…it can't be…" he said aloud, causing Lucy to look up and see the look on his face, "It's him!?"
Sauron's visage however was calm, even as he looked up at his attacker, Nine Morgul Blades enclosed the monster's throat who seemed to be frozen in his poise to strike.
Sauron however could only grin as his flames whipped around, ready to tear out his heart. And yet he could see in the eyes of the being before him, that Natsu Dragneel was no more.
"And so you finally awaken," Sauron seemed to nearly scold the young man, "E.N.D."
Upon this revelation, all among their company hoped, prayed that this was a lie…even Natsumi was ripped from her thoughts at this sudden revelation.
The Shinobi had been given the intel on the Demon Guild in case the guild made a return. But to find the mightiest of them within their own ranks, and one who was such a inspirational member?
The thought was incomprehensible, which made the truth all the more damning.
That the Master of Tartarus.
The Lord of Cursed Fire.
The Destroyer of All.
Was perhaps one of the kindest, most compassionate, and the bravest of them all. It was impossible, the thing they all came to dread couldn't be their friend.
Even Acnologia feared the might of this being. As they tried to comprehend it, Freya chose this moment to speak, as she stood atop the stairs, not even bothering to acknowledge the scene below her. She instead addressed the intruders.
"Etherious Natsu Dragneel," she let the words ring smoothly from her lips, the final damning truth, the sudden reveal made their hears sink.
Lucy was on the brink of tears as she looked to the man who was her hero, "No…there is no way that he could be a demon."
"Oh but it is my little celestial witch," she said with a sultry tone, "The mightiest of them all in fact. Master of the Demon Guild is none other than the one who stands before you."
Sauron, still locked eyes with the demonic hateful ones staring down at him finally spoke, "I would recognize my own work."
Finally their friend moved, stepping back as Sauron rose to his own feet. As the two stared each other down, the Lady of Shadow giggled at Lucy's continued protest, the other's too shocked to speak.
"Oh my dear child," she teased the blonde, "Who do you think taught Zeref how to create his books of demons?"
She giggled as she watched their reactions, "And who said the truth would set you free?"
Truly, as more of the Dark Lord's machinations were revealed, they seemed to only demonstrate just how little their own capabilities could change their course. But still she continued.
"Really the books are just seals that helped keep the monsters in check through altering their minds and very being to serve a purpose. Thouh of course to attempt to kill the foolish wizard himself was his own addition to the work.
"Though admittedly, they would die should Zeref finally find some way to remove his curse," she said as an afterthought. Though the malicious pleasure she took from seeing their despair was as delicious as blood.
Well almost…
"So…if Zeref dies…so does Natsu?" Happy asked, the horror of such a thought making his little legs quiver.
Sauron answered their inquiry, "True Immortality has always been the doom of mortals, who do not understand how to truly live in such a state. Mankind has always sought immortality, but if they were to truly claim it. They would learn that it comes with a burden few are prepared for."
Sauron continued, walking past Natsu, "While at first Zeref grew to enjoy his immortality, he forever sought a way to make it end."
"Which brought him to my door," Sauron turned back to look at Natsu who had turned to face him, "Of course at that time…Zeref Dragneel had given up on death and requested something else."
Everyone looked at the Dragonslayer, hearing that name…it couldn't be true.
"The means to return his little brother," he revealed, "And to make him immune to the Black Wizards curse."
Yet another truth that seemed to drown them in despair. It seemed that even Hinata and Mirajane were shocked by this truth.
They all looked to Freya who continued, "And so he made a deal with the Devil to end his solitude, and to gain forbidden knowledge. Knowledge that allowed him to recreate his brother, though not without a price."
"Servitude so long as he lived," she said with a grin, "And he would have his brother."
Sauron continued, his back to them as he looked at his creation, "A gift I was happy to bestow…while also improving my initial designs."
"Where I first created humans with the power of dragons such as Acnologia and one among the twelve. I sought to create a bond where a human could take the power of two of the mightiest powers in history…" he held up his left hand.
"The Raw Brutality of a Dragon," he then lifted his right.
"And the Terrible Might of a Demon," Sauron turned to them with a grin, "Or…Balrog if you will."
"And your friend…does not disappoint."
Natsu's friends were now on the verge of tears, trying to deny such terrible truths.
Erza was crying from both eyes in fact, "It's not true!" she screamed, "There is no reality that the young man who had saved me from Etherion, and done nothing but encourage and inspire myself and others with his innocent passion and fierce love for his friends could be the terrible monster that you claim to have created!"
Without skipping a beat, Sauron responded, "As was I, once."
Those four words held a weight that seemed to fill their already overwhelmed minds. It's true, he had to gift to make enemies his friends, to be better, to stand up to evil by calling on their pure hearted drives.
And yet…here he was, the Dark Lord Sauron. A living monolith of Darkness and Power. That very gift twisted and corrupted to dominate people's will…or crush them.
"Then why!?" the pure desperation and pleading manner in which that question was asked seemed to catch him off guard…it was Ino who was asked it.
"Fine, we were weak! We betrayed you! Mutilated you! We weren't strong enough to resist, fine!" she screamed.
"But you! You were my hero Naruto!" she screamed, a truth that made Sauron's eyes widen, "You fought harder to prove everyone wrong, that you were better than the ones who tried to force you down!"
"You fought for me," she continued, "For all of us. Taught us never to give up! Where, in all those millennia you have lived, did I lose the man that I admire!?"
For a time, all that could be heard were the black and red flames that put the Dark Lord in a silhouette and hiding his reaction. He spoke with his same powerful voice…but there was something in his words now.
"That boy is gone Ino," he answered, "It would be best if you accept that and let me continue my work."
Ino's eyes widened, but she didn't have a chance to respond as he continued, whatever she heard in his voice was gone, "But it you need further evidence that the boy you knew is no more, allow me to extinguish you doubts."
He walked up to the Dragonslayer and locked eyes with him.
"Whom do you serve?" he asked, and END's terrible voice rumbled through the room. A voice which still held their friend's, and yet was far more terrible.
"I serve…the Shadow," and as his voice rang out…so too did the death knell ring for their hope.
With a sudden cry of rage, Grey snapped, summoning his demon slaying magic and charging forward with his blades materializing. Both Natsu and Sauron looked to the man charging at them.
"DIE!" he roared as he poised his weapons to kill.
"MASTER!" Freya screamed ready to move as were all the others.
BOOM!
[Naruto OST: Nine Tails Unleashed]
However it was another who stood in his way…the last of the Jinchuriki. Her golden flames whipping around violently, her eyes crimson for a split second before she realized her actions.
And saw the looks of her comrades…a mixture of shock, relief…betrayal.
"I-I…" Natsumi tried to ponder her sudden action, "What?"
In her and everyone else's shock, they failed to notice that the Shadow had removed his hood so that he may look upon his sister, and she him.
Blue eyes stared back at one another.
Naruto spoke with a smile, "Thank you, for your efforts to protect me dear sister."
His words were soft…and held a certain relief in them, then he looked to the Ice Mage as his eyes hardened, "But I am afraid that I…was not his target of his wrath."
Upon hearing that, all, even END gasped at the reveal of that betrayal, Grey however, had nothing but contempt for the one he once called friend…brother.
Lucy and their fellow mages however were in denial of the sudden truth, "That's not true…Grey you wouldn't!"
However, he would not look at her nor any other but the Shadow and his secret weapon, the weapon that had hid itself amongst their ranks and pretended to be his brother.
And that silence was enough to make their hearts sink at the treachery.
Now the brother spoke to his sister in his own voice, taking this moment of shock to speak with her, "This…is what I move to put an end to sister. Where brother does not slaughter brother. Where families stand by each other's side. Where all stand as one against those that would destroy them rather than try to destroy each other."
"Where people live in peace, and stand together when threatened, not tearing at each other's throats," he said with finality.
And now Shikamaru finally saw the moves Sauron had made, and more importantly: why.
He had conquered and torn through countries, even used personal displays of power along with revealed manipulations to prove just how dangerous he was. To force an emotionally compromised Tsunade and angered Kage's to send the greatest individual powers of their armies to confront him.
Not realizing that he had the power to sway them.
The Heiress of one of the Deadliest Clans.
The Mighty Demoness who could absorb said power of any others who might try to rebel.
The mighty human wizard with the power of both Demon and Dragon.
And finally, the mightiest of the Jinchuriki who just so happened to be a familial bond to him.
Accruing all that power to his side so he can unleash it.
This was the true power of the Dark Lord, to assemble and control might in such a manner that he would hardly ever have to act himself.
For a brief moment Natsumi looked upon the eyes of her dear brother, who held no lie. She could always tell, even when they were young, and he hid the wounds from the riots.
And right now, those eyes held nothing but truth…and pain.
"Stop him!" Shikamaru said with a failure to hide his panic, with those words everyone tried to spring into action, but another…frightening familiar voice rang out.
"Lightning Raid!" and with that, lightning ripped through them, causing their muscles to seize in pain and force them back to their knees. Looking up they saw the Captain of the Shadow Guard standing over them going through more hand signs.
"Earth Binding!" slamming his hands into the ground, all of their limbs were covered and bound to the earth. Standing to his full height he spoke to the girl behind him.
"You should listen to him," as he lowered his hood, "Natsumi."
"Kakashi-Sensei?" she whispered, looking upon her teacher…and the teacher of her brother.
The man only responded by continuing, "His words speak truth."
Seeing her brother's mentor encouraging this course of action was a shock but seeing that he too actually stood beside her brother proved just how serious he was.
Though Shikamaru had his suspicions when he saw that move from a moment ago, the others were completely in the dark.
"Kakashi-Sensei…" however Tenten and the others were all cut off as the wrathful Jounin's Sharingan bore holes through them.
And his roar made their position all the worse, "You have NO RIGHT to call me teacher, after you all failed to heed my greatest rule. One that I and your other teachers placed upon you."
Kakashi's disgust was palpable, "You butchered your own friend. One who battled alone against the Akatsuki for your sakes only to be torn apart by those he held dear. The only family he ever knew."
The Shadow watched this interaction with no expression. Merely watched them. For a time, there was silence, then Natsumi looked to the corrupted Hyuga. Despite the wrathful act she had just taken out upon her own blood, her eyes now held only conviction.
Kakashi held no corruption, a sign that he only acted by his beliefs.
Natsumi closed her eyes and her power faded…
The Shinobi and Magi looked to their final and greatest hope, their quest standing upon the edge of a knife.
Ino looked up to the one she saw as a little sister, "Natsumi?"
Her voice came out as a plea, a plea that caused Natsumi to look at her. Her own eyes shedding a single tear as she said two damning words.
"I'm sorry…"
Her eyes blinked to red as she gave into the wrath of the Nine-Tails. Red Chakra flames tore the ground around her asunder, and though the chakra cloak had returned, but it was filled with red and black symbols.
And from that hellish energy they witnessed the Nine Tails form take shape around her and with a roar she tore the roof off of the palace creating a massive explosion.
One that should have annihilated all but her allies.
However when the dust cleared, it appeared that the Magi and Shinobi were not alone. For shielding them and protecting them from debris and the toxic chakra lapping at their barrier.
Were the Celestial Spirits.
With visages so wrathful that made even their friends quake. Even Ares looked ready for war…and was fresh out of apologies
Lucy for one was shocked as she saw even Aquarius had found a way to arrive, "Leo? Aquarius?"
Leo, who had dropped the façade of a playful flirt, resembled much of his Eclipse counterpart: a warrior and commander of the Celestial Spirits.
"Now's not the time to talk. You need to go, we will hold them off," he ordered, an order that Lucy immediately began to protest but Aquarius screamed at her.
"Get out of here Lucy!" a scream that revealed the plea in her voice, "You promised to find my key, you can't do that dead! Now get going!"
As the ethereal Nine-Tails bring down a menacing claw on the barrier, "Shikamaru gave the order, "We need to move!"
At the sight of their last hope fall to the Shadow, they fled into the night with the hope of keeping their lives. With a final, haunting cry from a distraught feline held by a crying Celestial Mage they vanished into the Nara's Shadow.
"NATSUUUU!"
AN: Yet another chapter finished, and more terrible truths revealed! The climax of our story is near at hand! As always let me know what you think. Stay safe out there, don't panic with the virus, but also be smart.
Blessings to you all!
