Disclaimer - I do not own Naruto or Fairy Tail
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By Any Means
Chapter 15
All Roads Lead to Rome Pt 5
Opening - No Pain, No Game by Nano
0o0o0 Era - Magic Council 0o0o0
"How could it still exist!? That's impossible!" Leiji denied as Siegrain revealed the R-System's hidden survival.
"A black magic cult plotted to construct the R-System about a decade ago… just after the eradication of Shadow Heart." Tsunade added throwing a small jab at the council.
"We've all heard your discontent with our decision over Shadow Heart many times Tsunade, this is not the place nor the time to bring that particular topic back up." Org glared at the blonde haired woman, as she crossed her arms.
"All I'm saying is had we let them be, we'd have had more resources and men to deal with the full threat of the R-System instead of sloppily and hastily dealing with the cult to prove our military was still intact."
"But we destroyed all 7 towers ourselves, how could we have missed an eighth?" Yajima questioned moving the current topic ahead.
"It was hidden, even from the other towers in case they were all destroyed in order to keep its construction going as the cult had planned," Belno said as an image of the tower appeared, thanks to the scouts sent to the area.
"It's appearance…! Don't tell me it's complete?" Org stared in disbelief at the sight of the tower's final form.
"The scouts that took these images disappeared after sending them to us," Belno continued.
"It must be complete…" Ultear noted.
"The R-System… Why now after all this time!?" Michello asked.
"The Tower of Heaven," Siegrain remarked, irked at the rest of the council for calling it anything but. "You mean "Tower of Heaven", not "R-System.""
"It doesn't matter what we call it, this is a threat not just to Fiore but the entirety of Ishgar. We must send our fleets to destroy it," Tsunade suggested. "We can keep its existence and destruction secret and wave off the movement of our fleets as a naval exercise. The reveal of such dark magic could lead to more towers being created."
"We must consider who we're dealing with," Leiji interjected.
"You're referring to the incidents at Akane Resort and Gato Corps aren't you." Tsunade squinted her eyes. "We've already determined they are separate from each other."
"We have, however, Gato Corps ships have made numerous trips to and from the direction of the tower. They are the only ships to have made runs safely through the area," Leiji continued, "And the attack on Akane Resort was not by the magic cult that originally built the tower. It is now being occupied by someone else."
"Then who is?" Michello questioned.
"He apparently calls himself Jellal," Leiji and the rest of the council looked to Siegrain.
"Jellal…!" Michello stared in shock.
"That's your twin brother, Siegrain!" Org revealed.
"Yes, I'm aware of that..." Siegrain had closed his eyes and lowered his head.
0o0o0 Top of the Tower of Heaven 0o0o0
"It is not wise to invite those Fairy Flies into the tower, Jellal. Should they interfere, everything that has been planned could be delayed once more. And it will not be a good day to be you," Sasori threatened as he watched the Fairy Tail members that had come to rescue Erza Scarlet ascend into the tower.
"As I said before, this is a game. They cleared a stage is all." Jellal flippantly ignored the threat from the red-haired man. "This way things are more interesting."
"This may be a game to you, Jellal, but it is not to us. Just remember that without our support this tower would be about as useful as a shattered lacrima. With the activation of the R-System, the beginning of the end for Ishgar will finally begin, and all that we have worked for will be realized. Be thankful that we leave nothing to chance." His piece said, Sasori disappeared in a flurry of sand.
"Shinobi bastard… Jellal I don't know why you put up with such blatant disrespect. It was you that brought this tower to-" Vidaldus was cut off by Jellal.
"Enough. The shinobi's help was necessary. Besides, it is not wise to say no to that man. Sasori's worries are unfounded anyway. There's no way this tower can be stopped now. The council will soon play right into our hands and no one can stop us." Jellal couldn't help but grin.
0o0o0 The Tower of Heaven - Lower Levels 0o0o0
"Blocky!"
"Keep it down!" Lucy scolded as Natsu screamed for the man that had taken Happy.
"No point in sneaking around now after all that ruckus we made down below," Gray pointed out as the group continued to walk down the corridor they were in, not noticing he had taken off his shirt.
"Gray-sama!" Juvia couldn't help but get flustered at the sight of the shirtless Gray. Recomposing herself Juvia clarified for Lucy, "That door and ramp earlier was remote controlled with magic. If they didn't want us to continue we wouldn't have been allowed passage. The enemy knows we're here."
"Then why would they…?" Lucy pondered.
"Perhaps they are taunting us Princess," Virgo who had been summoned to help fight the initial guards offered. "Also, incidentally it is inappropriate to dress that way in the dining area Princess."
"Inappropriate?" Lucy looked down at her white bikini and gave Virgo a scared look.
"Let's change your clothes…" Virgo left the blonde girl no choice as she removed her Princess' clothing then and there.
"Why here!?" Lucy cried as Virgo changed her into a green dress and matching scarf.
"This attire is from the Celestial world." Virgo gave Lucy a thumbs up while maintaining her deadpan expression.
"What do you think? Yes, I know it looks good on me!" Lucy giggled vanely as she showed off the dress.
"It's pretty cute," Gray announced, not even looking at the dress.
"Juvia is mortified!" Juvia complained.
"Princess, I pray for your success." Virgo gave a short bow and returned to the Celestial world.
"Thanks Virgo," Lucy said, waving as her spirit disappeared. Turning to her companions, the blonde shook her head. "Honestly, I don't know how you guys can stand wet clothes."
"This dries them quick," Gray explained, standing next to Natsu who was using his flames to dry not just his clothing but Gray's as well.
"Human drying machine?!" Lucy really couldn't believe these two at times.
"There they are!" came a shout as several guards rounded the corner and rushed forward.
"Get 'em-Gah!" The guards had barely made it into the hall when Erza sliced through them from behind, defeating them with ease.
"Erza!" the four mages cried out, relieved to see their friend was safe.
"You're all right!" Lucy was so happy to see her female friend hadn't been harmed.
"S-so cool!" Juvia couldn't help but admire Erza's strength.
Erza looked at them in shock as her worst fear had been realized since returning to this awful place, "Why are you all here? You need to leave, now!" Erza barked at them. "They can't be here. It isn't safe."
"Oi! You can't just give us that crap!" Natsu's flames burst from his body as he gave the redhead a hard stare. "Running away now will tarnish Fairy Tail's name! That blockhead has to pay!"
"It doesn't matter, you need to leave!"
"But-!"
"Don't argue with me Lucy!" Lucy recoiled at the intensity of Erza's anger.
Natsu jumped in front of his blonde teammate and glared at the red-head. "Don't' yell at her! We're not just here for you, but Happy as well!"
This caught Erza off guard. "What?"
"One of them took Happy!"
"Millianna… could she?" Erza pondered knowing the girl's obsession with cats.
"Where is this person!?" Natsu asked, his worry getting the better of him.
"I don't know." Erza shook her head, unsure of where Millianna would be keeping Happy.
"All right I got it!" Natsu swiped his nose as he began to snarl.
"Got what?" Gray asked from the side finally chiming in.
"The fact Happy's waiting for me!" With that Natsu took off running, leaving the others behind and a wide-eyed Erza who turned to look in the direction he'd run off in.
"Hey! … Natsu..." Erza couldn't think this day could get any worse.
"That moron…" Gray couldn't believe Natu's impatience. Sure he wanted to get Happy back as well but running off alone wasn't going to help Happy out one bit.
Letting Natsu's energy fill her, Lucy looked up with a determined look, "Let's go too!"
"No!" The three remaining rescuers looked to Erza who still had her back to them. "I will take responsibility for bringing them back. The rest of you need to leave."
"No! We can't leave without you!" Lucy couldn't believe how stubborn the redhead was being. "We're a team, and more importantly we're from Fairy Tail. We don't leave our friends behind!" Of all people, Erza should be the one to understand how important it is to have faith in others.
"This is my problem!" Erza had to get through to them about how dangerous this place was. "I don't wish to bring any of you into it."
Erza began to walk away when Gray called her out. "I'd say it's a bit late for that. You heard Natsu just now. We can't just run away, it'd bring shame to Fairy Tail. Not only that they took both you and Happy… that makes it our problem as well."
"Erza just what is this place? Who is Jellal?" Lucy questioned before she pulled an arm behind her back and looked off to the side. "If you don't want to tell us, that's fine. They said they were your old friends, right? But we're your friends now. We'll always have your back no matter what!" Lucy moved her gaze back to Erza and pumped her fist in determination.
Juvia felt moved by how strongly Lucy felt about the situation.
"There you have it." Gray added.
"Leave." The fire had left her. She couldn't keep fighting them like this. "Why can't they understand that they can't stay? If they do… No! I will not let them die here!I..."
"Erza!"
"This ain't like you Erza. Just tell us to shut up and come along with you, like you always do." Gray was beginning to get annoyed. This wasn't the Erza that he respected. This Erza was afraid, of what? He didn't know, but he sure as hell knew that he was going to help her no matter what. "We'll lend you our strength." Gray gave her a reassuring smile, "There's nothing wrong with being afraid once in awhile, even for you."
Erza turned, revealing a lone stream of tears flowing out from her left eye. "I'm sorry. I'm going to vanish from this world whether I win or lose this battle…" She raised her armoured plated hand and wiped the stream of tears away as she looked down from them.
"Huh!?" Lucy couldn't help the shock gasp that escaped from her.
"What do you mean!?" Gray couldn't believe this was Erza talking right now. The strong, powerful, overbearing, kind-hearted, Erza that cared about everyone no matter what.
"This is a fate I can't fight. As such… as such I will tell you everything while I still exist…"
0o0o0 Docks of the Tower of Heaven 0o0o0
"Are you sure they'll be safe at… you called it 'Masterful Melodies?'" Sasuke questioned, one brow raised skeptically.
"Safer than anywhere else. Trust me, Tayuya can be a bitch at times but she'll do the right thing when push comes to shove. Anyway we should almost be there by now," Naruto commented offhandedly as their small skiff crashed into one of the docks surrounding the tower
Sasuke just stared blankly at the blond as he held his position thanks to chakra sticking his feet to the deck.. "I hate you…" he muttered to himself, before turning and looking up. And up. And up.
"I don't believe it…"
"See? I told you," Naruto smiled smugly. "Shika knows his stuff."
"Hn."
"Don't be a sore loser, teme." Changing tracks, the blond started walking toward the tower, the Uchiha following after him. As he approached the front entrance, he paused, a frown crossing his face.
"Sasuke."
"...what?"
"Why do I hear the sound of battle coming from the tower?"
"Zankuuha!"
A massive blast of wind blades slammed into Naruto and Sasuke, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
"Hya ha ha! That's it?" A trio of figures appeared outside the blast radius. The one who spoke had spiky dark grey hair and was wearing grey camo street clothes. He turned to his two companions, one female with long hair and the other a male wearing a large fur pelt. "I can't believe taichou was worried about this. These guys were weaksauce!"
"Excuse me?" A second later, a gust of wind dispersed the smoke, revealing Naruto and Sasuke unharmed. "Who are you calling weaksauce?" The blond cracked his knuckles, a vein twitching in his temple as the Uchiha looked on. "I think I need to teach you your place."
"Now, now. As much as I'd love to see you beat Zaku's face in, I can't just let you waltz on through." Sitting on a nearby rocky outcropping was Sasori. He gave a little wave as Naruto spun to face him. "Hello, Hitokiri-kun."
"Sasori," he growled out. "We've really got to stop meeting like this. I'm getting tired of killing you and you not staying dead."
"Hey, don't you ignore me!" Zaku raised his arms, preparing to fire off another attack, when Sasuke appeared below him, a high kick to the chin launching his foe into the air. Zaku's allies immediately retaliated, the girl throwing a handful of senbon and the other male charging in, swinging his gauntlet covered arms forwards.
Sharingan spinning to life, Sasuke dodged the needles with contemptuous ease. He turned to block the other attack, only at the last second noticing the chakra building up in the gauntlets. He threw himself to the side, coming up in a quick roll, only to stumble as his vision swam for a second.
"Smart," the other male commented as the three regrouped. "Still not good enough to completely evade it though."
"Dammit, that hurt you bastard!" Zaku sneered, rubbing his chin with one hand.
"Stop whining, Zaku. We've got a job to do." The female flipped her hair back behind her shoulder, the move producing muted jingling sounds.
"Looks like our underlings have started without us," Sasori said, never taking his eyes off of the blond. "Come, let me show you my new art!" A blast of sand had Naruto dodging to the side as Sasuke charged the other three.
Countering the next wave of sand with a Daitoppa, Naruto glared at the puppet master. "I've had enough of this Sasori. You've been desecrating Gaara's body for too long."
"Desecrating? I've perfected it! The ultimate body, capable of both ultimate attack and defense." Sasori's blank face widened into a smile.
"Akahigi: Hyakki no Soen!" With a burst of smoke, a hundred puppets clad in tattered red cloaks appeared, filling the air around Sasori. "And next, Sabaku Yosai!" The island rumbled, before sand shot up around the puppeteer. Engulfing him, it formed into a half dome, threaded with what looked like blue veins.
"Puppets and a barrier?" Naruto cracked his next from side to side. "You really haven't learned any new tricks have you?"
"Meaningless prattle. I can't wait to turn you into a puppet," Sasori's voice echoed out from the dome as his floating puppets began rushing Naruto.
The blond ran forward, meeting the first puppet with a punch that drove it into the ground. He spun around the sword of a second puppet, grabbed the end of a whip that came from a third, and swung into into a fourth with a buzzsaw for a hand. Never stopping, he continued his attacks, dodging what he could, and using the other puppets for cover when he couldn't.
"Hmph, so I see you've gotten a bit better," the redhead mused, watching the fight through several eyes made of sand that floated among the puppets. "No matter. It's time I got serious." Gathering his chakra, Sasori began manipulating his sand, causing monstrous blue veined hands to erupt from the ground. Not expecting the new technique, Naruto was caught by one of the hands and slammed into the ground.
"Gah!" The blond winced, bones creaking as he met the unforgiving stone. Before he realized it, the sand began crawling up his leg, beginning to encompass his body. "Shit, this is not good. Gotta focus, focus…"
"Finally, I've been waiting for this," the redhead intoned, raising the sand covered Naruto into the air. "Now, die for me! Sabaku So-"
The floating sand exploded with enough force to throw the nearest puppets back several yards before the technique could complete. Naruto dropped to the ground, signs of Sennin Mode apparent.
He stood up, rolling his shoulders and locking eyes on Sasori's defensive dome. "Alright, time to…" the blond trailed off, eyebrows furrowed as his expanded sensing abilities located several very familiar energies inside the tower behind him. "What the fuck is Fairy Tail doing here?"
0o0o0 Era - Magic Council 0o0o0
"You can't be serious!" Tsunade barked. "We're trying to minimize the situation and firing the Etherion is not minimizing it! It is literally blowing it up!" Already 4 of the needed 5 votes had been cast to fire the Etherion and completely destroy the R-System and anyone inside it.
"We cannot allow my brother to complete this mad vision of his! If we send troops it'll be too late," Siegrain tried to reason with the blonde woman.
"And what about all the innocent slaves your brother has amassed there!? Are you saying they aren't worth the effort to save? That their lives don't matter?" Tsunade countered.
"Of course not. But I think you of all people could understand the need for necessary sacrifices." Jellal gave her a pointed look.
"Don't you go there boy! You have no right to even try to use my past like that." Tsunade's glare caused several of the other members to flinch. "Oh, I understand necessary sacrifices alright. These people are not necessary sacrifices. They have already been sacrificed for the whims of a brat who wants to play god. We have already sacrificed them for the last 9 years in not discovering this tower sooner. They have been sacrifices all this time. And I will not sacrifice them again!"
0o0o0 The Tower of Heaven - Lower Levels 0o0o0
"... and so he would use this "Tower of Heaven" to resurrect Zeref." Erza spoke quietly as she finished retelling her past.
"Erza…" Lucy called quietly. She wasn't sure what to say. How could she? All this time Erza had been carrying the weight and guilt of leaving her friends to such a horrible fate. And yet Erza was the strongest of them all. Never showing any fear in the face of danger. Always charging forward with a smile on her face knowing everything would end up ok. Erza was always trying to take care of everyone else and make sure everyone was happy. How could they not see that she was crying on the inside? That it was her that needed comfort the most.
"Sis…" Everyone turned to see Sho stumble into the hallway, a manic and confused look on his face. "What bullshit is that? Jellal was the one that destroyed the ships? Jellal was the one that sent you away? Jellal was tricking us into building this Tower of Heaven? What bullshit is that!? You're just lying to get your friends' sympathy! The truth was nothing like that! It was you who blew up the ships and abandoned us! Without Jellal we would've sunk to the bottom of the ocean had he not caught wind of your betrayal! Jellal said that you'd become insane because you hadn't learned how to control you magic properly! That madness had overtaken you! He said you grew drunk on power from magic and that you were trying to cast off your past, including us!"
"Jellal said that?" Gray questioned.
"Would the Erza you knew really have done that?" Lucy fired back causing Sho to step back in shock as he realized the weight of the question.
"W-what would you know? You don't know anything about us! Jellal's words were my only salvation. That's why I spent eight long years building this tower! For Jellal's sake… You're saying… it was all a lie? That Sis is right… and Jellal is wrong?"
"That's right." Sho's eyes widened at the voice. Behind the group of Fairies a darkness void opened up to reveal Simon.
"You-!" Grey started but was intercepted by Juvia.
"Wait Gray-sama. This man knew he was attacking a doppleganger back at the resort. As a darkness mage he surely saw everything, including the switch you made with your ice-clone. Learning that truth was another reason Juvia came here."
"I'd expect no less from a member of Phantom's renowned Element 4," Simon complemented.
"What does this mean?" Sho asked. Everything he knew was slowly falling apart.
"Sho," Simon acknowledged. "I did it to bring these people to the tower without rousing suspicions."
"Wh-why? Why would you do this?" Sho looked down, unable to look at one of the men he'd considered to be a brother.
Stepping forward, Simon pulled the younger man toward him and made him look at him. "Sho. Jellal has everyone fooled. I decided to play along until the time was right."
"Simon… You were…" Erza couldn't help the swell of emotion as she looked at the back of her old friend.
Turning, Simon looked to the red-head. "I always believed in you, Erza. For eight years straight…" Taking her hand into his, he continued. "I'm happy to see you again Erza. From the bottom of my heart."
"Simon." Pulling the man into a hug, the two embraced. They separated, however, when Sho addressed them.
"How? How can everyone have so much faith in you? Why… why couldn't I believe in you Sis?" Sho finally let the stream of tears flow as he fell to his knees. Slamming his fist to the ground he screamed to the heavens. "DAMN IT! What's real!? What should I believe in!?"
Erza stepped toward him, and crouched before him. "I realize it's difficult to accept everything at once. But I will say this… Over the past eight years, I never once forgot about any of you." Sho stopped his crying as he looked up at the woman he'd forsaken so long ago and jumped into her arms. "I'm sorry I was so helpless… I'm sorry I was so weak…"
"But now you can do something. Isn't that right?" Simon asked as Erza nodded her head, continuing to hold Sho. Turning back toward the others he address them. "I've been waiting for this moment. For mighty mages to gather here."
"Mighty mages?" Lucy questioned.
"We're going to fight Jellal, working together. First, however, we must prevent Salamander and the others from crashing as well as making sure there is a path for your two other friends to follow as well."
"Two other friends?" Gray asked as realization dawned on him. "Sasuke and Naruto. They're here, but how!? I don't remember leaving them a note about how to get here."
Erza stood in shock. "They were safe. But Naruto… why did you have to come here as well?"
"We did not Gray-sama." Juvia confirmed.
"I do not know how they arrived here, but they've been engaged by one of two groups that has been helping Jellal all these years. I do not know much about the group your other two friends are fighting against, but the other that we will face is known as Trinity Raven, a powerful group of assassins. They will surely stand in our way as we ascend higher into the tower."
0o0o0 Tower of Heaven - Docks 0o0o0
Staring at the team of three, Sasuke panted lightly. He'd made it a point to avoid the gauntlets, but between dodging senbon and wind attacks, he was beginning to regret his choice of fighting them. At least until he caught a glance of Naruto's fight and noticed the multitude of puppets and sand limbs.
Sharingan spinning, he dispelled another genjutsu from the girl - Kin, he think he'd heard her called. It was a cheap little trick with bells in her hair and bells on senbon. It might've worked on almost anyone else, but Uchiha were kind of unfair in that regard.
Dodging another Zankuuha, Sasuke decided it was time to get serious. A few quick handsigns, and he was spitting out a multitude of small homing fireballs, causing the three to scatter. He immediately went after the loud one, using his magic to drop a firewall behind his opponent, stopping his retreat. Reading Zaku's next move, he threw two kunai aimed at his hands, aborting the other's attack halfway. By the time he had recovered, Sasuke was in melee range. A high kick to the chin launched the other male into the air, and, using the Kage Buyo Kakashi taught him, he reappeared behind him.
Smirking Sasuke used his magic to generate an electric shock that briefly paralyzed Zaku, leaving him open for a vicious assault in midair. As they began to approach the ground, Sasuke finished his Shishi Rendan with an axe kick to the gut, slamming his opponent into the rocky shore and knocking him out.
Turning, he saw Kin panting, holding her burned left arm. The other male - Dosu, he recalled - was nowhere to be found. On edge, he immediately glanced around. The slightest of noises drew his attention to the ground, before a pair of hands reached out and grabbed his ankles. Channeling his chakra, he activated his Chidori Nagashi, the lightning causing the hands to crumble back into earth.
Unfortunately, they had played their part as a distraction, as Dosu popped up out of the ground behind him. Sasuke spun around, eyes locking on Dosu's as the other shinobi's gauntlets slammed together, a wave of sound rippling out. He stumbled, before his stomach rebelled and he vomited. Taking advantage, Dosu laid into him with his fists, each hit sending waves of sound through his body. Finally, the man kicked Sasuke away, watching him tumble over the ground. The Uchiha tried to stand up, but couldn't stop the dry heaving.
"Everyone, even shinobi are vulnerable when you know where to aim," Dosu said, walking to the downed shinobi/mage, who had passed out from the pain it seemed. "It's impossible to reinforce your inner ear. Once I attack that, well…" He trailed off mockingly, stopping in front of the downed man.
Kin walked up, holding her right arm gingerly. "Let's just finish him off, Dosu, I want to get this treated quickly." She threw a glare at their opponent. "I don't know what I'll do if it scars."
He stared at her for a second, before turning back to the Uchiha. "I thought the Sharingan was supposed to be the be-all end-all of dojutsu," he murmured, drawing a kunai.
"It is," came Sasuke's voice from behind him, before a hand coated in lighting was shoved through his shoulder.
"Wha-? How?!" He turned his head, blood staining the bandages over his mouth. Seeing the spinning of the Sharingan, Dosu felt a shift and his consciousness began to fade. Falling the ground, his eyes caught sight of Kin, who was occupying the space the unconscious Uchiha previously was.
Sasuke stared at the three, Sharingan fading. He requipped a towel, wiping the blood off his hand, before turning to see how Naruto was doing.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Taking another punch from a monstrous sand arm, Naruto was once again knocked away from Sasori's barrier. "Dammit," he growled out, shaking his arms out as he landed. That new technique hit hard - hard enough to be felt through the extra protection Sennin Mode granted him. And with there being so many of the arms, he was unable to get close to Sasori himself.
The blond turned, punching an approaching arm into the ground, before jumping over a second. He managed to dodge a third in midair with a desperate twist, but a fourth came from above and slammed him back into the ground.
Seizing the opportunity, the redhead puppeteer commanded all the sand arms to attack the downed shinobi. Right as the attacks were about to land, Naruto slapped his hands together.
"Senpou: Rasenbogyo!"
A large explosion happened as the limbs impacted Naruto, causing Sasori's eyes to narrow. "What has he done now?" the redhead wondered.
The dust was quickly blown away as the force of Naruto's technique kicked up a strong gust. The blond stood, brushing the dust off his body, surrounded by a glowing blue shield that rippled and spun constantly. "Whew, made it just in time." Staring at one of Sasori's sand eyes, he cracked his knuckles. "Now then, time for me to crack that shield of yours."
"Welcome, everyone, to the Tower of Heaven. I am Jellal, the ruler of this tower."
The three remaining conscious shinobi froze at the voice, but for different reasons. Sasori was waiting, wondering what his current employer was up to. Naruto and Sasuke, on the other hand, were tense. Unknown voices randomly speaking out of thin air were never a good sign.
"All of the pieces have finally come into place." Jellal paused for a moment. "Moments ago the mage known as Salamander defeated Milliana and Wally. Now the true game can begin. Heaven's Game!"
"A game?" Sasuke sneered. "Bullshit. What are my friends doing here?" he asked, instinct causing him to stare toward the top of the tower
Naruto nodded in agreement. "Besides, what's up with that pretentious name?"
"The rules are simple. I plan to use Erza Scarlet as the living sacrifice to resurrect the Great Wizard Zeref. In other words, if the door to heaven opens, I win. If you can prevent me from doing that, you win. However, that alone would be boring. So I have assembled four warriors to stand in your way. If you cannot overcome them, you will never reach me."
Hearing Erza referred to as a sacrifice, Naruto's eyes hardened. Ignoring Sasori, he turned toward the tower. "Jellal, or whoever you are," he began, hands deliberately forming seals slowly, "I don't think you've realized the mistake you made. I'm going to tear you from your throne and turn this tower into rubble." He finished, hands locked in the dragon seal.
"Senpou: Roar of the Nine Headed Hydra."
For one brief second, the world outside the tower seemed to pause, the air trembling as Naruto's energy took control. The next, all hell broke loose. Nine tornados sprung into being around the glaring blond, each letting off a noise akin to a dragon's roar. The tower shook as the twisters began mauling it, ripping massive chunks of stone free and tossing them into the ocean.
Eyeing the technique with admiration, Sasori nonetheless tried to take advantage of Naruto's preoccupation. As sand arms and puppets began approaching the blond from behind, Sasori felt the cold touch of mortality.
Naruto had turned his head, and was staring directly at him. His eyes were like chips of ice, oh so cold and sharp. With no other movement, one of the twisters broke off its attack on the tower and barreling down on his position. Hastily recalling his remaining puppets and sand arms, he poured his all into his greatest defensive technique.
"Akahigi: Sabaku Daiyosai!" The red cloaked puppets banded together, several compartments opening on each from which chakra emitters emerged. With a pulse, a shield of chakra not dissimilar to Naruto's sprung into view. Meanwhile, the sand arms had threaded among the puppets, anchoring them in place.
Sasori's hopes were dashed as the tornado ripped through his defense in a matter of moments, power not diminished at all. With no time to dodge, he closed his eyes, thoughts ranging back to days where he still lived with his grandmother and parents.
The tornado impacted his barrier, causing a large explosion. Sasori's mangled body was thrown through the air, all four limbs broken and splintered.
Sasuke stared at the devastation, Sharingan spinning wildly. Snapping out his shock, he raced to Naruto.
"Dobe, you've got to stop it!"
"Get out of my way, Uchiha. I'm bringing this tower down."
"You idiot, my friends are still in there!" he yelled, rearing back and punching Naruto's face. The blond didn't move, didn't even flinch thanks to Sennin Mode. However, he did end his technique.
"Ah, yes, I was warned about you. The rogue assassin. That was quite the impressive display but you will need much more than that to bring this tower down."
"Just wait. I'll be right up to break my foot off in your ass." Naruto scoffed, wiping sweat from his brow as Sennin Mode faded.
"In fact, the Magic Council is debating on such a method as we speak. Yes, if it's voted for they would destroy this entire island with the weapon that returns everything into nothingness, Etherion. No one knows how long we have left. But when Etherion fires, nothing will remain. No one will be left and the game will be over with no victor. Now… let's have fun."
"Tch, what a twisted sense of humor," Sasuke mumbled, shifting his glare from the tower back to Naruto. "And what the hell was - Don't ignore me!"
Naruto, completely ignoring Sasuke, was approaching Sasori's remains. Kneeling in front of the puppet body, the blond couldn't help but shake his head. "Maybe now Gaara's spirit can rest in peace," he said, clapping his hands together lightly and bowing his head in a brief prayer.
That done, he pried open a sealed compartment on the body's chest, revealing Sasori's broken heart container and a dusty brown lacrima threaded with blue vein-like streaks.
Frowning, he picked up the lacrima, only to feel it pulse rapidly. If he didn't know any better, he'd say that it was… angry with him. "This thing… it's dangerous. I'll keep it sealed until I can find more time to figure out what it is," he thought, pulling out a sealing scroll. A quick application of chakra and a poof of smoke later, the lacrima, along with Gaara's body, were stowed.
Sasuke had watched in silence, first in respect as Naruto prayed for the soul of someone he knew, and second in interest as he handled an extremely unusual lacrima. Seeing the blond stand up, he turned and began walking toward the tower.
"Let's go, we don't have much time."
"That's my line, Teme."
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And thus Heaven's Game begins! The next chapter will be out soon I promise along with some big news from both Lord of the Morning and myself. We're kinda excited to get what we have planned rolling.
Excited? More like apprehensive.
We're also issuing you guys a challenge to reach at least 20 reviews. If you guys can manage that we promise to have the next chapter out in the next 30 days or sooner.
I swear we're not slacking. Real life is just a bitch sometimes.
Also a shout out to BreezyAnimetra for recommending us on her IG page.
We'll see you guys in the next one
Stay frosty folks.