The Z warriors had been split up forcefully without them even realizing it at first. Now they had no choice, but to go their separate ways to investigate and travel across these new lands. It was their best and only idea at the time, but now it seems they were suffering the repercussions of it. He had advised caution at first, and wanted everything thought out, but even he couldn't have predicted this. He was against it, but every one else saw this as a great adventure to be had. It seemed the only one who agreed with him on this threat was Vegeta, but even he likely didn't mind this, insisting on going it alone. Now it was only him, hopefully with more luck at finding things than others.
Piccolo flew across a forest of lush green trees scanning the area for any sign of Vegeta, Goku, Goten, Trunks, these mysterious swordsmen or the famed tailed beast, but so far he found nothing. Looking beneath him, he could hardly see anything through the thick trees and leaves. Try as he might he couldn't truly sense them either. It felt like he they were there one moment and gone the next. He tried to concentrate, but try as he might nothing got through. They felt just as far away as they likely were. Using his other senses, he listened in for anything, but that came up short as well. Looking down he got the feeling anything could be hiding beneath him among the trees. He would have to be extra careful. He wasn't going to let his guard down just yet. He moved his head up to look ahead to see how much of this forest was left and what awaited him. Far into the distance rising above the forest it looked like mountains were beginning to appear. He was still far away, but it faintly looked as if five faces were etched into the mountainside, growing larger as he drew nearer. Blank eyes peered out to greet him as he starred back with just as solemn an expression.
Ahead of him under the gaze of that Mountain was the Leaf Village. Still confined to the training grounds, Naruto and Sakura continued to talk about who to find for his special group and where they could be as Kakashi continued to watch them from the comfortable shade of a tree.
"Did I say Bushy Brows already?" Naruto asked. Sakura reminded him that he did and that Rock Lee was far away at this point. Kakashi added nothing to the conversation as he stood away from them, but he was about to have one of his own.
"Kakashi" a voice let out and the masked jonin turned to see Yamato had come just as he requested. He edged out coming around the tree to face him "You requested to see me.". His voice was steady, and he was ready to oblige.
"Yes. Yes, I did" Kakashi admitted calmly, putting his book down to look at him.
"What do you need?" Yamato asked coming out more to stand before him, but Kakashi remained idle and leaned against the tree in thought.
"Well.." he began clearing his throat "Keep this on the down low, but..." Kakashi told calmly before going on to inform him about everything Tsunade had entrusted to him, and Naruto had been told by the Toad sage. Hearsay at this point, so he tried to keep it as brief as possible, but detailed enough that he understood the situation.
"You can't be serious" Yamato said in stern disbelief.
"If I was joking and trust me, I wish I was, I wouldn't have called for you."
"Well, what can I do?" he asked a bit discouraged. His wide eyes opened just a bit wider showing more of the white in them.
"Well, you certainly are a skilled ninja and powerful in your own right" Kakashi admitted "But it's your abilities that I think would be most useful in a situation like this"
"What do you have in mind?" Yamato asked, his voice serious again.
"I've been thinking about it ever since I first heard what Naruto told us" Kakashi pondered as he looked up "If anyone has the ability to against the Nine tails or Naruto they must be strong." Kakashi said plainly "And your Wood Release has the ability to restrict Naruto in his four tailed form. With that kind of strength, I'd imagine you'd be a good first wave against these people, if they come and I certainly hope they don't" Kakashi said as Yamato listened intently. For whatever reason Yamato hadn't been brought up by Naruto or Sakura yet, but it was clear Kakashi thought him more than reliable in a time like this "Lady Tsunade has already talked about sending out patrol. And you'd be my first pick to go. I'd like you to be the first to go out on a small recon mission and to see if you can find anything."
"You can't track somebody easily whose flying. Wood can't do much good in the air" Yamato stated "We don't even know if they've been here. The Hidden Mist may have its troubles but that didn't mean they would come knocking at the Leaf Village so soon."
"But we know they're on their way and what their here for" Kakashi said in a hard voice, full of warning "Well half of it at least" he admitted. These tailed beasts were certainly a problem, they always have been. But swordsman? Kakashi didn't necessarily disagree with Yamato, but he couldn't back down now. The harshness in his voice faded, and it returned to the lighter calm most were used to "Would you do it anyway?" Kakashi asked before his mask turned up into a smile and he closed his eye "I'd go myself, but I'm a bit tight up at the moment" he nodded over his shoulder to Naruto and Sakura who still hadn't noticed the conversation going on under the shadow of the tree, but Yamato also took notice of the book in Kakashi's hand. It sounded like he was making an excuse as he often did when he was fashionably late. His voice was calm and reassuring, but a hint of something amiss could be heard as well. It unnerved Yamato a bit wondering if this really was as bold a task as Kakashi requested.
Regardless Yamato nodded "What should I look out for?"
Kakashi mulled to himself "Anything suspicious" Kakashi shrugged "Anyone flying would probably be a good indicator" he told casually not knowing really what to say "They don't bear any headbands or markings" he added. Yamato however only nodded again and was seemingly up for the challenge "We'll be in touch" he said before Yamato ran off for the forest surrounding the village.
"Hey Sakura?" Naruto asked from behind "Do you think Yamato sensei would wanna be a part of this team?" he asked unaware that he was just there.
Yamato slunk away from the training grounds, and reached the edge of the village. Going forward into the dense surrounding forest, he left the village behind him, entrusted with a new mission and purpose. He bounded through the trees, leaping from limb to limb. He then jumped down and ran on the ground. He kept his eyes ahead of him and on the sky above as he went. The Leaf Village was far behind him at this point, and who knows what was ahead. Unsure of how far off he should go he continued on. He leapt ahead and pushed on, but stopped short suddenly, for he heard something coming from up ahead. Not along the ground, but high above him. A sharp break in the wind from above.
He stopped and looked ahead of him in the sky. Peering up through a break in the branches and trees, he saw a lone figure heading this way towards where he had just came from; the Leaf Village. Whoever this someone was, they were flying in the sky, and from what Yamato could see that stuck out even more was that he wore a white cape and had distinctly green skin.
Piccolo continued to fly stoically through the sky. As he got closer to the mountains, he was able to make out that there were clearly five faces carved into them. They were lined across the mountain. Four were in the likeness of men, but the final one and furthest to the right side was that of a woman.
"What could that be?" he questioned. A brooding thought to match the sense of foreboding he had about all of this. His hands remained at his side and his head was looking forward. On his person, he had only two Senzu Beans. He cautiously accepted them when Goku handed them out before they went to get the Dragon Balls, being the only one to take them. And he may need them soon enough.
"Earth Release: Earth style rampart!" he heard a voice from below scream amongst the forest.
"Huh?" Piccolo let out as he darted his head to the ground. Just as he did the earth below him began to rise up as some of the trees broke away and parted for it. A giant mound of the ground was rising up towards Piccolo who stopped heading straight and instead flew up to avoid the ever growing mountain. He got higher up and then flew back putting distance between him and the formation as the mountain stopped growing. It was rough, but clear cut and angular looking more like a giant wall now that he observed it. Piccolo looked to the strange formation, but looked for something else as well. A voice that called out to him.
He then saw someone standing on top of it. Piccolo flew down to confront this person. He landed on the large amount of earth that seemingly had just been summoned and the two of them starred down at each other. Piccolo regarded the man whose wide eyes looked back at him just as sternly and receptive. He had a green flak jacket fit with pouches and blue uniform beneath it. Shaping his head was a metal protector which bore an insignia Piccolo had never seen before. For all the oddities this man possessed, Piccolo was certain there was just as much he took in from seeing him as well.
"I take it that was you who just summoned this mountain?" he asked and the man nodded "Who are you?" Piccolo questioned "And what is the meaning of this?"
"I am Yamato of the Hidden Leaf Village" he responded "We've reports of a dangerous invaders causing problems and attempting to meddle in things they shouldn't. We can't take any chances here, not with all that's happened and what's going on" he said glancing down from Piccolo's face "I see you have no sword" the man said observantly "but since you can fly and I don't know any green people here it was a safe assumption to make." he looked back up to him "Already the Village Hidden in the Mist have had dealings with one such as you."
"I doubt there are many that look like me here" Piccolo said "But I think I understand" he paused "Vegeta" he muttered in anger. If anyone had come into a head while they were here, surely it was him.
"And who are you green man?" Yamato asked.
"My name is Piccolo" he replied "I'm a Namekian warrior"
"Namekian?" Yamato questioned his face scrunching up a bit "Never heard of that village"
"It's more than just a village" Piccolo told him "Now about the man you mentioned, the one who was meddling. Where is he now?"
"You want to find him?"
"Among other things" Piccolo admitted.
"Other things?" Yamato questioned "Like the tailed beasts right?" Piccolo was shocked at this man's sudden guess at his intentions and saw no other way to continue things peacefully other than by talking.
"Yes" he nodded.
"Then you are one of them" Yamato said, a hint of force in his voice as his suspicions were confirmed.
"Them?" Piccolo questioned "Yes, I guess so. But what does that entail for you?"
"I will take you back to my village, to question you of your motives."
"I am nothing to fear" Piccolo affirmed "But these tailed beasts and swordsman are." he warned "Let my friends and I take care of them."
"The swordsman?" Yamato questioned "They have attacked the Hidden Mist already.." he paused "You stand against them too?"
"It seems we must" Piccolo told. Yamato had wide bugged open eyes, but Piccolo could see him reflecting on his words. They seemed almost in agreement, until he spoke next.
"And the tailed beasts" Yamato asked, a sharp edge in his voice that cut to the point "What of their hosts? Surely you know that they are contained in the body of a human." He spoke as if he had a great familiarity with one of them.
Piccolo grumbled at that "I had not" he admitted "But we have come this far to eliminate a threat to the world." Yamato tensed up at Piccolo's words.
"That is something I cannot allow" Yamato said as he raised his hands together.
"Then I guess there's no other way around this" Piccolo said as he and Yamato starred each other down silently. He wielded no sword, but it seemed there was nothing else to be done. Piccolo's cape blew in a light breeze as Yamato remained just as stoic.
Then Yamato let out a shriek and flung his hands forward. Piccolo expected a ki blast but instead as wooden pillars emerged from the earth and charged at him. They collided with him and pierced through his white cape, stabbing through him. Yamato became less tense as his attack hit his opponent and he lowered his shoulders. But then his eyes opened in shock to reveal that his attack had pierced a white cape and the cape alone. It dandled off the edge of his wooden beams and waved as the wind blew it lightly. Yamato eyed all before him, when a white and purple turban fell on the ground in front of him. Then before he could blink Piccolo was before him unrestricted by his cape or turban. Letting out a shout he raised his arm and brought it down striking Yamato in his face. Piccolo's eyes then opened in shock when his fist smashed Yamato's face open to reveal not blood, flesh or man, but splinters of a wooden replica.
Releasing his arm from the wooden face and picking his arm back up Piccolo stood up tall to look around for him. He tried to sense his energy, but found it surprisingly useless in this situation.
"He must be masking his energy" he thought aloud. That or he still had trouble adapting to this world. It was just one of many handicaps in this fight.
Then suddenly from his left side came another wave of wooden attacks. They came at him and Piccolo jumped back as they crashed against the ground where he once was. But they came again and he jumped back again as they followed him. The wooden beams attempted to wrap around his wrists and legs, but Piccolo punched and kicked them, breaking them in the process. He swatted even more away and then a large beam flung forward and knocked him in the chest sending him back tumbling against the ground. He got up just in time to dodge another volley of wood based attacks. He flew up in the air, above the mountain that was raised against him, but one wrapped around his foot and swung him back down to the earth hitting him against the ground. Piccolo swung his leg and broke its grip on him and dodged more as they came at him. But soon enough they were at him again. Piccolo stood his ground and raised his arms as energy balls formed in his hands. Then he flung his arms forward unleashing them upon the wooden weapons. They collided with each and every one, splintering some and obliterating others. The fierce volley continued from his hands as he destroyed any that came at him turning it all to dust and smoke. He paused when he heard nothing coming at him and when the smoke cleared there was truly none to be seen. Yamato was nowhere to be seen, as if he had disappeared from the fight.
Piccolo stood atop the make shift mountain and remained ready as he anticipated an attack at any moment from any side. But he was attacked from the one place he didn't imagine; below. Two wooden beams wrapped around his ankles and he looked down in shock once he realized it. He reared back and tried to snap or blast them away, but then more came wrapping his arms and locking them in place preventing him from moving. His writhing continued until he stopped completely in it's firm grip. Then once he was immobile Yamato finally reappeared from the earth and Piccolo scowled once he appeared before him.
"Well, it seems that should hold you" Yamato commented looking at Piccolo before he approached "At least long enough for me to get you back to the village" he said before muttering "Kakashi was right." Yamato then stopped as a smirk formed on Piccolo's face "What's so funny?" Yamato asked sternly.
"I can't explain why, but for some reason I can't sense your energy. I've been trying to find you this whole time, but I never could" Piccolo stated.
"You can't sense chakra?" Yamato asked.
"Chakra" Piccolo said pondering over the word "No, I suppose not. But it doesn't matter now." he admitted weakly and lowered his head.
"Because now you're captured." Yamato stated
"No" Piccolo said before lifting his head the smirk was back along with a more confident voice "because now I see you."
Before Yamato could react Piccolo opened his mouth wide and bright yellow light that was glowing from his throat unleashed itself as a yellow blast that hit Yamato dead on. The ninja was engulfed in the blast and evaporated into it as the force blew him back far away from Piccolo. Piccolo then ripped out of his wooden restraints freeing himself and looked to see the light and smoke the blast clearing. Yamato was on his ground, struggling to his knees with smoke rising from his clothes. Piccolo bolted towards where Yamato was. The ninja with some effort picked himself up and looked towards the Namekian warrior. Then Piccolo charged at him and Yamato braced himself, sending wooden beams forward to attack Piccolo who just punched his way through. Yamato readied himself as Piccolo charged. He rose to his feet and when Piccolo threw a kick up high he ducked low just in time to dodge.
"He's fast" Yamato thought. Worse yet was what was to come. Piccolo swung his fist down at Yamato, who managed to jump back but Piccolo's blow continued down hitting the rampart he had risen himself. And with that blow the side that held them up shattered beneath his fist.
As it broke off Yamato lunged back off of the side the rocks that began to fall as half of the rampart shattered. Piccolo leapt down to follow him amidst the small rockslide as their fight descended into the forest below. Piccolo lashed his arm out at him, but Yamato jumped off of a rock to get out of the way. But Piccolo could fly and as they fell he had an advantage. Dashing forward he grabbed ahold of Yamato before he swung him around and down to the ground below.
Yamato skidded across the branches and the ground as Piccolo flew down to come at him. He raised his arms in defense and out of the ground sprouted more and more wooden beams. One knocked Piccolo in his chin shooting his head upwards. He sliced through that and several others as he made his way towards Yamato.
Piccolo continued on with his assault as Yamato continued to block or dodge. It wasn't long before he realized he'd have to retaliate. As Piccolo threw a punch Yamato ducked low to the ground and rose up with and uppercut hitting below. When he was stunned by that Yamato jumped up and then kicked him back. Piccolo rebounded and charged at Yamato punching him in the face and then in the gut. He hit him again and again and kept pushing him back through the forest. In pain Yamato managed to evade one punch and raised his leg to kick Piccolo in the face, but Piccolo in turn swung his leg out hitting Yamato. Both were sent flying back with Yamato crashing through a tree and Piccolo crushing a boulder.
Grunting Piccolo picked himself up first and looked at Yamato who was moving his hands about in a specific manner. Piccolo did not recognize them and though he anticipated a blast or perhaps more wooden attacks did notice to accompany that hand signs the ground around Yamato seemed to move around him, responding to him. Piccolo flung his arm forward and unleashed a blast at Yamato who moved his hands in a rapid motion and when it seemingly finished the earth moved up to form around him and he disappeared under a shield of earth as the blast collided with it. In the aftermath Piccolo found that Yamato's defenses were unharmed by his attack.
"A wooden shield huh?" Piccolo pondered aloud "Judging from his abilities he'll likely remain under there and attack me from outside. Or maybe he'll just slip away…" Piccolo paused "I can't let that happen!" Piccolo flung another volley of blasts at the wooden defense, but each one had no effect on it.
From within the shield Yamato plotted his next move as Piccolo hammered him from the outside 'This guy is really strong' he thought "I guess I should expect nothing better. But I wonder what I can do to stop him. Would I be able to stop him like I did to Naruto? Would it even work on him?" he looked down to his hand and the insignia on his palm. Another gift from the Hokage "It may be my only option" he said aloud. The Hokage Style Elder Jutsu: Tenth Edict On Enlightenment may be his only way out of this.
Standing before the dome Piccolo tried in vain to sense Yamato. For all he knew he was in there, ready to burst out at any moment or perhaps had slunk away only to catch him from behind. Whatever it was Piccolo was certain by now that he had not run away. He may have picked the fight, but he would not leave it like it now.
"Alright" Piccolo concluded as he looked to the obstruction before him. He had come to a simple conclusion as well as he flew up to the air "I've got to end this now." he said coming to a stop as he hovered above the trees. He put his hands together and charged up an energy ball between them. It shined brightly in the sky and Piccolo raised his hands to send it down below "Light grenade!" he shouted as he hurled it down.
The Light Grenade collided with not only Yamato's wooden defense, but the entire mountain he summoned. There was a flash of light and then an explosion. Piccolo watched it stoically from above as the light flashed wildly across his face. When it cleared, the mountain was gone and turned completely to rubble. Piccolo surveyed the ground below to see crumbled pieces of the mountain, the scattered remnants of the forest that once stood there, but more importantly Yamato's body. He saw it lying amongst the destruction and lowered himself down from the air to land down to his side. He lowered himself to the ground cautiously. Studying what lied before him he deduced it was no wooden replica like before. No, this was the real thing. And that meant their fight was over.
"You're not dead." he said aloud. Strong as his attack was it was not his intention to kill him "But you're not in good shape either. I put a lot of energy into that last attack" Piccolo knew he would certainly die if he left in out here and despite the fact that he was attacked by him, he could not just let him die "If I leave you out here you not going to make it" he stated aloud regardless if he could hear him or not "So, come" he knelt down to pick him up with his left arm as the other reached into his chest under his clothes and fiddled with the Senzu beans "you're coming with m-"Piccolo's eyes bugged up and he jolted up in shock when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right arm. He looked over his shoulder to see a man in a mask cutting into his arm with what looked like a blade of lightening that shined and cracked at him. The blue light emitted off it flashed and reflected in his face.
Piccolo swung his other arm around to hit the man, but he dodged and jumped up dodging and landing away behind Piccolo. Piccolo now stood over Yamato with a deep wound in his right arm and a new opponent to face. He was dressed as Yamato was, save for the mask covering his face, the lack of the face shield and the tall white hair atop his head. Perhaps most distinct however were his eyes. They were two different colors. The right was normal, while the left one which was blood red had a long scar above and below it tracing the eye and no doubt covering his face even if he couldn't see it all. Settling himself blood trickled down his arm as Piccolo faced off against him. Piccolo raised both his arms ready to fight, but blood was already falling down his right arm from his shoulder turning it more red than green.
"You should give up" the masked man said calmly though his posture showed he was still ready to continue "That's a pretty deep wound in your shoulder and you've got to be weak from fighting. Give up and come with me and this can be easy for both of us."
"You think this is bad?" Piccolo said confidently as he brought his left hand over to his right shoulder "I've died from worse."
"Huh?"
Then letting out a loud blood curdling scream Piccolo, opening his mouth wide as his voice echoed all around the devastated forest and severed his arm from his body by the shoulder before he discarded it on the ground. Before the man before him could comment Piccolo quickly grew a new one in its place.
"Well, that's interesting?" the masked man admitted "Is that some type of reanimation jutsu?"
"Call it what you will" Piccolo said as he rolled his new arm "But what was that technique you just used?" he looked up from his arm and settled his eyes onto him "The one that used lightning."
"Chidori" he answered.
"Chidori" Piccolo repeated "and what's the name of the man who uses it?"
"Kakashi Hatake" he masked man introduced himself and Piccolo did so after "Well then Piccolo" Kakashi continued "it seems you've brought a lot of attention to yourself." referencing the blast from earlier.
"I'm not one for flashy entrances. You'll have to forgive me." he joked, his voice dry as a bone.
"I'll forgive you for that" Kakashi said lightly in reply "But not for attacking my friend" he said more gravely.
"Your friend attacked me" Piccolo defended himself "and his actions have put a lot of people at risk"
"The same could be said of you." Kakashi replied "Yamato did nothing that wasn't asked of him. By me no less. What do you accuse him of?" Kakashi asked.
"He was aware of it. I'm sure you are too" Piccolo assumed and he was right in doing so "Of why I'm here. I'm here to deal with the tailed beasts and swordsman."
"I know" Kakashi nodded to him "But you're not the first to try"
"Those beasts are a threat to the world. I've come only to deal with them, nothing more. Their existence puts me and my friends at risk."
"Well..." Kakashi said never easing out of his offensive stance " I can't speak for any swordsmen." Strange that they both heard warnings of not only each other, but this third group "But one of those tailed beasts is one of my friends."
"Hm?" Piccolo let out. His face remained serious, but he was surprised by the revelation "Your friend"
"My student to be exact" Kakashi clarified
"You're a teacher?" Piccolo asked and Kakashi nodded "I've mentored many myself" Piccolo said as he thought of training with Gohan when he was small, or teaching Goten and Trunks to face Majin Buu.
"So you've come all this way for that" Kakashi continued "Then it seems your mission appears to put me, my friends and students at risk" he repeated him from before.
"Then it appears like Yamato, unfortunately we don't have any choice" Piccolo said as he and Kakashi starred each other down. 'This is bad' he thought to himself 'I used up so much energy on that last attack that I'm low on energy. I'll have to finish this quickly, if I can'. But something told him Kakashi Hatake would be a much greater challenge.
Piccolo attacked first flinging his arm forward and shot a blast at Kakashi who jumped in the air as the ground exploded beneath him. The ground burst beneath him as smoke rose above his feet as he took up in the air and threw knives down at Piccolo, but he easily swatted them away. Then he jumped up in the air to follow Kakashi. Reaching him Piccolo tried to swipe at Kakashi, but once he did he disappeared into a log of wood. Piccolo landed back on the ground and looked around for his opponent. Then he heard something from behind him, a small blade of grass being crushed.
Piccolo pivoted on his feet and turned around just as Kakashi appeared behind him crouched low to the ground as he charged him. He threw a leg up in the air, but Piccolo brought an arm up to block it with his forearm. Kakashi brought his leg back down as Piccolo swiped down at him. Kakashi leaned back as the fist hit and shattered the ground. Kakashi then threw a punch at him that Piccolo dodged by moving his head to away from the blow. The two of them flung their fists forward together and hit each other in the face. With both punches hitting them directly they flew back, forced away from each other's blows colliding with and knocking down trees as they did. Then they both stood up and without hesitation charged each other again. They threw punches and kicks as they dashed around the area, leaving the barren area caused by Piccolo's Light Grenade and entered the still untouched surrounding areas of the forest. Battling through the trees hey would throw blows, but the other would dodge and parry with his own. If Kakashi got too far away Piccolo would throw a blast at him or stretch his arm out. Kakashi would dodge the blast or run up his arm and kick him in the head, but Piccolo would respond with a blow of his own.
He swung a punch at him in retaliation, but Kakashi jumped up and over him landing behind on a nearby branch above. Piccolo turned around as Kakashi threw knives down at him. They were not aimed at him, but the ground beneath him. Piccolo stalled as he noticed the three sizzling papers attached to them. Then they exploded as did the ground beneath it and Piccolo disappeared among the explosion.
"Not as flashy as yours perhaps" Kakashi commented from the tree "But it has it's uses" he said. The smoke was then forced open as Piccolo hurled his arm forward flinging a blast towards Kakashi. He dived off the branch as the blast hit the tree eradicating it.
Jumping back from an attack Kakashi landed on his knees on the ground as Piccolo charged him. Getting up Kakashi swung a punch that Piccolo moved out of the way, but Kakashi swung his leg up hitting Piccolo in the face sending him back to punch him. Rearing Piccolo lunged forward punching Kakashi so hard in the gut he lifted him off the ground. Then his palm glowed, and he shot a blast that sent him up to the sky. The blast exploded above him and Piccolo watched smoke cover the forest.
Then plummeting down from the dark cloud was Kakashi. His arms crossed across his chest, his clothes smoldering, but his eyes were locked onto Piccolo and he was still in this fight.
He landed on the ground as Piccolo came at him again.
"Earth Release; Earth Style Wall" Kakashi said as he slammed his hands onto the ground and as he did a barrier rose up from the ground made out of the Earth itself. Not as imposing as the one Yamato made, but noticeably it was adorned with Bulldog heads and coated in chakra Kakashi put it in between himself and Piccolo; the green Namekian disappearing as the high the wall rose. Not knowing if it would stand up against him he had something prepared for him.
Then as soon as the wall rose to its full height Piccolo burst through the center of it; a fierce determination on his face when he did. He threw a punch at Kakashi who ducked under it. Kakashi shot up with a kick, but Piccolo moved his head back before smashing it forward into Kakashi's. Stumbling back he the grabbed him by the shoulder and hurled him through the wall he just summoned, right through the bulldogs head. Erupting through on the other side Kakashi tumbled across the ground. Amidst the rubble of his wall he picked himself as a shadow overtook and he looked up to see Piccolo diving at him. Kakashi jumped up dodging his attack and snapped his leg over and onto Piccolo's head sending him head first into the ground. Slashing his arm out Piccolo swiped at Kakashi who jumped up over the attack and into the sky.
He jumped high into the air above Piccolo. Instead of chasing him to the air Piccolo snapped his head up to Kakashi with a wipe gaping mouth. When Kakashi looked down to see a his mouth shining a blast of energy erupted from it and came shooting up into the sky towards him.
A blast shot out from Piccolo's mouth and went right up at Kakashi. Winding his hand up in the air he knew he had to counter it as he came back lower to the ground and the blast higher to him.
From down below Piccolo couldn't say he was surprised as before his very own eyes, Piccolo watched as a ball of fire spewed from Kakashi's mouth collided with his blast and the two struggled high in the air. An explosion of bright light and burning fire didn't distract Piccolo.
As swiftly as the two blast appeared so did Kakashi when he burst through the smoke and fire and landed right before Piccolo with his legs out. Piccolo jumped back as Kakashi slammed into the ground and continued his assault with a punch which Piccolo blocked. Evading Kakashi Piccolo gave him time to move his hands and in a specific motion.
'Just like Yamato' Piccolo thought.
"Shadow Clone Justu" Kakashi said, and completing the motion four of him appeared. Identical clones standing right beside him.
"Multi-form?!" Piccolo questioned. No, there were four now along with the original one. They all then charged him together. "Fine!" he yelled, and he tensed up in place and then sprouting out of him and jumping out of both sides were two identical forms of him. The three screamed as the five Kakashi's engaged them. It was madness as the two sides clashed widening the scope of the battle. Two of the shadow clones tackled one of the Piccolo's. One of the Piccolo's flew up taking one of the Kakashi's with him. The original Piccolo fought against the original Kakashi and one clone dodging punches and kicks as they came at him together. Piccolo ducked under one punch to sidestep a kick. The two followed him working in unison.
Piccolo felt a surge in his back as his clone that had been tackled was absorbed back into him. He looked over to receive a knee to his head as one of the shadow clones came at him. Another followed as he was kicked back. Steadying himself Piccolo lined up against three clones. One of the two that had ganged up on his clone had already defeated and turned to a puff of smoke by his own clones. He was now facing three who charged him together. Piccolo braced himself.
As they came at him suddenly Piccolo's only other form came swooping down from behind unleashing a blast at the Kakashi clones. Two of them jumped out of the way as one dissipated from the attack. Caught between the two Piccolo's, Kakashi and his shadow clones changed their plan and split up running in opposite directions to fight them. Piccolo saw one coming at him, regardless if it was the real Kakashi, it didn't matter. It came at him with a kick that he ducked under and then shot back up. Kakashi backed up away from the blast but Piccolo just brought his fist back down landing onto his head forcefully. Kakashi buckled under the blow landed onto the ground, only to disappear at Piccolo's feet.
'So it was a clone' Piccolo surmised. He looked up just as his own clone was flung back right at him, reabsorbing into him he became one again.
Looking up Piccolo saw the reason as Kakashi who stood across from him. The real one. Piccolo jumped into the air and flew towards Kakashi.
Landing on the ground he lunged forward with a punch from his right Kakashi dodged and then with his left unleashed a blast point blank on him. Hitting Kakashi in the chest he sent him back into the trees shattering their branches.
Piccolo kept up his attack by throwing volley after volley at Kakashi who had been knocked back deeper into the forest. Caught under a turned over tree and earth he shook his head and looked up to see even more blast coming at him. Jumping up and into the trees he dodged the blasts as they began to decimate everything around him. A tree to his left was turned to ash and the ground beneath the one he just jumped from was overturned as he jumped to another which was uprooted and knocked into another.
From behind Piccolo continued his barrage, preparing for a Hellzone Grenade to unleash once he trapped Kakashi.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" he heard from over the sounds of explosions.
And though he saw no water around him, seemingly out of nowhere a large blue powerful looking dragon appeared before him, powerful enough to make even Shenron or Perunga take notice. The Water Dragon opened its wide mouth to bare it's teeth and lunged at Piccolo swallowing him whole. Caught inside it Piccolo unleashed one last blast and he saw Everything before him eradicated as the blast went off together.
Taking damage from the Water Dragon, Piccolo was tossed around as the Dragon collided into the ground taking him with it before splattering itself all around him back into the ground. Serving around within the liquid voice Piccolo was thrown around before landing hard no the ground. Groaning he looked up to see it had completely disintegrated after that attack. Picking himself up he looked at the shared carnage the three of them had unleashed in their battle. Despite the fact he couldn't sense any energy and that very little was standing in the vicinity he had the feeling he hadn't seen the last of Kakashi.
Picking himself up and shaking himself dry Piccolo stood tall as water dripped off his body; from the tips of his pointed ears, they dropped to his shoulders and down his bare shoulders and arms.
"Hm" he let out as springing up from the found came Kakashi, his uniform charged from the blasts he caught him in.
"Still here I see." Kakashi said managing to speak first.
"I didn't notice any water around us." Piccolo pointed out.
"If you're strong enough, it's not necessarily needed." Kakashi told him. "Though I could use some now. A little too hot here for me" he rotated his shoulders and patted himself free of ash as Piccolo crouched and readied himself for another attack.
'He is strong' Piccolo thought to himself. Kakashi was thinking the same of Piccolo.
Darting over he threw a punch at Kakashi who sidestepped him as he punched the ground forming a crater beneath the two of them.
"Think I should stick to the ground against you" Kakashi said as Piccolo turned over to him "Hate to get caught in the sky against you." he said despite that he'd been flung there several times already. Piccolo snapped his elbow back to hit Kakashi who put both hands up to block him. Then Piccolo swung his leg over to Kakashi who ducked under and then kicked back at him. Piccolo grabbed his leg and threw him across the ground, but suddenly Kakashi turned into a log of wood in a cloud of smoke.
Then from his side he appeared wielding a knife and began slashing at him.
Piccolo retaliated and threw a punch at Kakashi who dodged and countered with a kick which Piccolo jumped up and flew away from him. The two of them starred each other down again.
"You're quick" Piccolo panted.
"So are you" Kakashi admitted as he breathed deeply.
"So that Chidori technique, you made it yourself?" Piccolo asked. Kakashi was somewhat surprised by the question. Whatever Piccolo was, he didn't seem the talker.
"Yes, I did."
"Well" Piccolo said as he planted his legs on the ground spreading them just a bit farther apart "you showed me one of our moves, let me show you mine." he said closing his right hand into a fist, but extended two fingers putting them on his forehead. The tips of them began to spark and produce light.
"What did you have in mind?" Kakashi asked eyeing him warily. Piccolo responded.
"Special Beam Cannon!" Piccolo shouted as he unleashed a long spiraled blast at Kakashi.
It came at him so fast that he barely had time to dodge it before it was on him. He tried to jump to the left and out of the way. He managed only to inch to his side barley dodging it, but not without taking some damage on his left arm as the Special Beam Cannon caught him by the shoulder burning into it. The blast continued on shooting through tree, rock and uprooted ground before erupting far behind him.
Kakashi didn't react vocally to it, but his eyes bugged open and he quickly brought his left arm to hold his right in pain as Piccolo lowered his arms. The blinding light from the blast faded as it travelled past them. As the natural sunlight set back in Kakashi readjusted himself from the searing wound he held tightly. He then looked to Piccolo who remained as he was.
"That's one devastating attack." Kakashi grunted as he gripped his arm. His voice wasn't defeatist, it almost bordered on confident. "I think I'll try it out for myself" Kakashi said as he centered himself in a stance to match Piccolo's spreading his legs out more and his eyes focused on him. Taking his hand off of his arm he brought it across his body, balled into a fist save for two extended fingers "I just hope you can do it with one arm"
"I've tried" Piccolo grinned recalling how he defeated Raditz and Goku in one blow all those years ago "But I'm not sure if it'll work with chakra" he said confidently.
"It'd be a shame not to try" Kakashi said as his hand travelled up his body "Piccolo, do you know what they call me?" Kakashi asked a question now, and Piccolo was silent "I guess not. Kakashi Hatake, the copycat ninja." he said as he put his right hand to his head. He paused as his arm lay limp by his side, but his other one was rigidly before his face. The two fingers he had extended on it mimicked Piccolo perfectly. First in the wound he gave him, but now in his own stature. Kakashi may not be pulling his arm off any time soon, but he would be testing this out. His guess was proven correct when the his fingertips began to spark, shining brightly in his eyes and reflecting off his forehead protector.
Something Piccolo took notice of "First Cell now you!" he said shocked and went to move.
Right then Kakashi the shot his arm out towards him and from his fingers extended his very own Special Beam Cannon. Unprepared Piccolo brought his arms up to block it as the imitation of his arrack collided with his chest and he threw his arms up to try and bear the brunt of it. Piccolo shook in pain against the force of the blast. Kakashi had only seen it done once and was able to replicate it perfectly. Strong as it was, Piccolo managed to prevent it from shooting straight through his body, but his arms and chest were in immense pain from the attack drilling into him. The light finally faded. He breathed deeply as he stood there as strong as he could as blood trickled down his arms and chest. He eyed Kakashi whose stance hadn't changed. Piccolo took in a deep breath but then in a moment his arms dropped limply to his sides and his body followed as he collapsed to the ground.
Relieved Kakashi returned his arm to grip the other after his victory over Piccolo.
"Alright" he panted walking over to him "Let's get you two back to the village. You for healing" he said looking over at Yamato "You for questioning" he said looking at Piccolo.
"Questions" a grumble escaped the ground. Taken slightly back by it his eyes rolled down to the source; Piccolo laying on the ground. He wasn't moving save for his mouth. "I still have several." he stated, his voice strained and in pain. Once he was done he spat staining the ground around his mouth with more blood. "Maybe you could give me answers." he said. Kakashi didn't notice it, but Piccolo was running not one, but two small round beans through his fingers.
Next Time: Bad news back home; the doctor is in. A challenge or an opportunity? Two More Heroes join the fray!