Disclaimer: Fan of Fanfics21 doesn't own anything but certain OCs and the author's imagination. Anything else from references or other works belong to their respective creators.
Naruto packed his gear, tied his headband onto his left arm as he placed Chizakura in its sheath on his left hip on the belt like how the samurai do it while placing his Blazefire Saber onto the back sheath like Lightning does as Leo and Elo, his sentiment gunblades that transform at will latched onto his shoulders as he stepped out in the early morning light. Today was the day that Konoha would go and take down Orochimaru and end his plans once and for all. Naruto just hoped that this battle will warm him up for the hell he will soon reenter in Kiri once it's over.
"You ready Naruto?" spoke Lightning Farron, legendary hero of an era long forgotten as she appeared out of nowhere at his side as he nodded his head. "Yes, the time of the serpent's eternal loop shall finally end." Naruto spoke as he and Lightning dashed for the gates. The assigned teams were probably heading there as well, and Naruto played an important part in taking down Orochimaru and Kabuto.
The teams were set, and Naruto and Lightning were part of the final assault group. Jiraiya, Hizuren, Kakashi, and Sasuke were part of it as additional teams served as the 'cleaners' that take care of reinforcements on the enemy's side. Including members of them were the rest of the Rookie 9 as Naruto had to harden his heart.
This is a war now. People you knew and care about will die, prepare for painful partings.
"Let Operation Orochi begin!" Hizuren Sarutobi called out as everyone nodded their heads and charged into their assigned destinations.
"Fang over Fang!" Kiba shouted as he and Akamaru spun into the air like drills and decimated four zombie ninjas as Rock Lee released the weights on his legs and brutally smashed through seven more at inhuman speeds. "Lee, behind you!" Tenten called out as she threw her kunai and shuriken past Lee as he turned to see ten of the undead ninja fall to the ground. "Thanks Tenten!" Lee called out with a Good Guy Pose. "Now's not the time Lee, we have to keep moving!" Neji snapped as he disabled another enemy as he was surrounded. "Rotation!" he called out as a dome of chakra repelled the surrounding enemies around him.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu, success." Shikamaru stated with a bored expression as Ino flipped through the air and tossed some special smoke bombs that exploded. "Those bombs contain a certain essence of a certain flower called Death's Breath. It's over." She stated as the zombies fell dead for good. "Devouring Insect Swarm…" Shino muttered as his insects did their job as they dug into the flesh of the zombies and ate them from the inside out as some popped out bigger than before. "Ew! How can you live with those things inside of you?!" Ino demanded with disgust as the cavern ceiling shook. "Hey, where's Lady Hinata?" Neji asked as Ino was the one to reply, "She's with the Demolition Team, serving as a scout." She told him.
"There, all set." Spoke one of the Konoha ninja as he looked at the young Hyūga heiress with a smile. "You saved us from an ambush, thanks." He told her with gratitude as she nodded her head. "N-no problem at all," She replied as far away, parts of the caverns there had fallen as rubble buried some of the tunnels. She chose to be on this team for a reason. With her clan's eyes, she could see the perfect weak points in the cavern's areas and bring them down, reducing the amount of reinforcements as they're forced to take longer routes. By that time, Orochimaru should have fallen by the main team and the dead will stay dead for good once it was over.
Naruto, Lightning, Sasuke, Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Hizuren ran in the main tunnel, using the chaos caused by the other teams to help get past the lesser fodder as most were already occupied by other Konoha shinobi as they made their way to the deeper parts of the caverns. "Hey old man, you must be in quite the pickle taking on a student you cared about before." Naruto spoke up as they kept running in. "Yes, I am indeed in conflict with myself." Hizuren agreed as Jiraiya looked at his sensei as they kept running. "He was like a son to you, and because of that, you let him go when you had the chance to punish him for his crimes." Jiraiya told him as Hizuren nodded his head.
"Indeed, but this time, it will be different. I'm putting an end to a mistake I made once and for all." He spoke with utter seriousness as the Professor was back in business.
They reached a massive chamber with spinning obelisk stone like objects with glowing runes spinning as they stopped. "These are keystones, defiled by Orochimaru's work no doubt. They must be the source." Lightning stated as they heard clapping as out of the shadows, Kabuto walked in. "My, my, my, look what the snake brought home for dinner." He mused as Naruto twitched his right hand. He really wanted to give Kabuto a taste of his Crystal Origin Bullet and see how he'll like it. But he resisted, he wanted that son of a bitch to suffer. And he had an interesting idea of his ideal version of mercy is.
Mercy is a fate worse than death, and Naruto has been merciful many times before. This time won't be any different. "So, this is the traitor? I should have known that someone like you would be in league with that snake bastard Orochimaru." Sasuke stated as Kabuto frowned but didn't move. "So, we met again Kabuto," Kakashi told the glasses wearing boy as he slowly lifted up his headband to reveal his Sharingan. "-and this time I won't hold back. You will die here." He finished as Kabuto smirked.
"Well that's what you think," he replied as he snapped his fingers, as a massive giant human with a strange tag with writing over its eyes appeared with a giant spiked club as several undead ninja appeared. "But the numbers on my side will change that." He finished. Naruto hated this, this jutsu violated the dead in so many ways it was against the honor of many people's wills and sacrifices it sickened him. Sure, Edo Tensei made bringing back the dead possible, but it should be impossible to call forth such an army. That kind of knowledge was forbidden, unless…
"Tenryū, you don't think that…" Naruto mentally spoke out to the Heavenly Dragon as the being replied to him. "Ask him before confirming it." The dragon replied as Naruto spoke. "Kabuto how did you and that genetic abomination named Orochimaru get ahold of such forbidden knowledge to summon so many dead people? The amount of human sacrifices is impossible with Edo Tensei alone. Kabuto, just what did you find to gain such knowledge?" he demanded as everyone looked at him like he grew a second and third head, except for Kabuto who laughed. "Wow, so you must be one of us to have read one of them to meet him." He mused as Naruto narrowed his eyes in absolute seriousness.
"Hermaeus Mora…I should have known. Still out to cause indirect problems with those blasted books." He growled as Hizuren Sarutobi for the first time was confused. "Who?" he asked speaking the unspoken question that the others were wondering; "He's known by many names, the Demon of Knowledge, Prince of Fate, Lord of Secrets…and the one whom you don't want to double cross if you've made a pact with him." He replied as Lightning knew right there that Naruto was very familiar with this being if he knew what was the source of this undead army.
"I take it your soul was taken or something if you grew this smart in the last few months." Sasuke retorted as Naruto scowled. "Blow off asshole, now's not the time for exchange of witty commentary; if we don't take Kabuto and the keystones out, then that cursed Black Book will be a pain to deal with if Orochimaru keeps his slimy hands on it!" Naruto snapped with utter seriousness as he called forth his eidolith from his chest. Lightning followed suit as they immediately summoned their respective incarnations of Odin as they both drew their weapons. "Sasuke, you and the old man take out the keystones, Kakashi, support them by defense, Light, we're about to break down hell." Naruto ordered as they charged to their respective targets.
The entire network of caves shook as Kiba sniffed the air, "The enemies have stopped coming, and it seems a big battle with the boss of these clowns is under way." He guessed as Lee pumped a fist in the air. "Right, then let us finish off these unyouthful zombies and work on taking down Orochimaru!" he shouted as he was fighting with renewed vigor as two fell to his swift feet. "I agree, let's go Akamaru, and time to go wild!" Kiba howled as Akamaru barked in agreement with his partner. "Twin Wolf Fang!" he shouted as he unleashed his ultimate jutsu technique and ravage the decreasing forces of the undead as Tenten threw exploding kunai to collapse the ceilings above of her enemies as they were crushed mercilessly.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Neji exclaimed as he disabled another opponent in his pile of enemies, as explosions and earthquakes became more violent. "Lady Hinata…" Neji muttered as he disposed of yet another enemy. He had a bad promotion about letting her join the Demolition Crew. That dream he had earlier did not comfort him due to the fact that he saw Naruto impaling his sword into her chest and the Tamasaburo Incident in his mind. He had to hurry, because even though he no longer believes in fate, he fears that is the fate of Hinata in the end.
Hinata stumbled as the cavern walls begun collapsing violently, the debris blocking most passageways as the entire place shook. Her Byakūgan guiding her as her fellow teammates were already crushed by the rubble. She was above the area where Naruto and his team were at, fighting against the source of the undead army. While she would love to watch him fight, she needed to save herself first, and the floor was starting to crack. "Oh no!" she thought as the floor gave way as more debris from the ceiling came down with her. She tried to scream, but the sudden weight of the rubble knocked out any air she would have breathed as she felt an incredible amount of pressure crushing her lower abdomen.
*With Naruto and his team*
Kabuto jumped back as he held his stomach in pain as he coughed up a bit of blood. He had two bullet wounds in his left shoulder and right knee cap and a series of gashes from Naruto and Lightning's blades as the keystones were destroyed. "Game over Kabuto and you are going to be crushed like a bug." Naruto stated as he aimed Leoedge and Eloedge in their gun modes right at him as the ceiling gave in above Kabuto as debris crushed him with a sickening squish. "Well, you did say he's going to be crushed like a bug. Maybe you should do a bit of fortune telling when you're older." Kakashi joked as Naruto glared from over his shoulder as the older ninja immediately became silent.
"Now that the undead ninja are gone without their source, may they finally rest in peace." Hizuren muttered with a relieved smile on his face, only for it to fall down as he noticed a hand sticking out. It was not Kabuto's hand, but someone else's! "Quickly, give me a hand!" he shouted as everyone noticed what he was going on about and began pulling debris away to reveal a heavily bruised Hinata Hyūga. "She won't make it." Lightning stated, getting everyone's attention. "By the time any medical support comes in, she'll already be dead." She explained as Naruto grimaced. "And at that time, the pain will grow worse. She'll die suffering from her injuries." He speculated as Sasuke shook his head.
"Dope, can't you use that magic of yours to heal her?" Sasuke asked as Naruto shook his head. "I could probably heal the pain, but the ability to fully heal her is beyond me or Light's abilities. She'll still die, but she won't suffer that badly. And I prefer ending it quickly before it becomes agonizing for her." He replied as Hinata coughed up blood and looked at him as he said it. "C-can I p-please speak with you…?" she gasped out in pain as Naruto casted a few Cure spells to relieve the pain. "I can guess where this is heading…can you all please?" Naruto asked looking at the others as Hizuren nodded his head. "I'll go on ahead with Kakashi and stall Orochimaru, you better hurry." He replied as he and Kakashi dashed deeper into the caverns.
Sasuke and Lightning went to the other side of the cavern to give the two alone time as Naruto knelt down beside her and shook his head. "You did a good job Hinata," he said in a small smile. "I wish you could have grown into a fine kunoichi when you got older." He told her as Hinata weakly raised up her blood stained hands and gently caressed Naruto's cheek. "N-Na-Naruto-kun…" she stuttered as she coughed up blood horribly as Naruto held that arm. "I wanted to tell you…" she said as Naruto casted another Cure spell on her in order to ease the pain on her body as she looked at him. "That I love you." She confessed as Naruto shook his head.
"I'm sorry Hinata, but…I can't return these feelings." He admitted, looking at her weak eyes. "The you I've known had made me suffer so much in my previous lives, that I can't love her when my heart is filled with nothing but hatred of her." He replied as Hinata smiled weakly. "I-I see," she said, a little sad as she looked at his empty blue eyes, a blue void threatening to devour her as she wanted some final words with the boy she fell in love with, even if she were to die here and now.
"But, looking back, I didn't regret falling in love with the real you." She told him, causing him to blink as she coughed a bit. "The boy, who had been suffering for so long, always alone, kept on fighting no matter how horrible his life was, no matter how powerful the enemy was, no matter how hopeless the situation had become. He had always endured and won, becoming that Star of Hope that I wanted to reach one day. No matter how bitter, how cynical, or how cruel, I will always remember that kind heart deep inside showing me the boy that I fell hopelessly in love with after all those years…" she spoke with nostalgia in her tone as Naruto felt something inside of his heart move. The hate in it vanished, no; rather, it moved somewhere else at the time.
"I take it all back…" he suddenly said as he looked at her gently. "The Hinata I hated was the Cypher one that tortured me for so long, not you, not the human, normal girl who was reconciling with her family after I beat Neji. You have a good heart Hinata, and deserve a better chance in life." He admitted as he raised her head. "I'll end it quick, so the pain will end, and if you were ever reborn into a new life, I promise one day you and I will try and go on one date and see how it goes." He told her as they both shared a weak smile on their faces.
"Can you use Chizakura please?" she asked as Naruto looked at her. "I want my death to be the very same like Sakura's, a symbol of even if we're both gone, we'll still be there, at your side, cheering for you, supporting you, when you are ever in pain." She told him as he nodded his head. "But first…" he trailed off as he drew her face closer to him as he drew Chizakura with his other hand. "-A final gift before you die..." He told her as their lips met. At that same time, the blade found her heart as it had stopped beating, as they separated; Naruto saw Hinata smile gently at him for one more time as her eyes closed as death had claimed her. As the blade absorbed Hinata's blood, the blade glowed slightly as the petal shaped cross guard that was once a bud bloomed open into a five petal shaped cherry blossom.
"Lady Hinata!" Neji called out as he ran towards where Naruto sat and saw the blade in her chest as he pulled it out and sheathed it. "You…" Neji said, seeing that horrible dream come true as the others came in to see Hinata's dead body and Naruto sheathing his sword as he turned and looked at them.
Empty.
Those were what were reflected in his eyes, a sense of loss and bitterness in them as Naruto had lost another bond in life to Death's cruel grip.
"Farewell my place in the sun, will we meet again with all the sins I've collected in my past?" he thought to himself as he slowly walked towards Lightning and Sasuke as the two Odin summons bowed their heads in respect and sorrow. Neji had fallen to his knees and gritted his teeth as he tried to keep his composure while trying not to cry at the death of a rekindled family bond that was ended in target. Lee sobbed loudly, Shikamaru looked away, and his expression was dark as he punched a nearby wall. Ino looked like she was going into a coma in any second while Kiba openly cried as little Akamaru howled in sorrow. Tenten went to check on Neji as she tried to comfort him
Sasuke looked at his friend, knowing that Naruto now had lost two close bonds with people he knew as it had to be a painful parting. Losing someone close will destroy someone from the inside, and Naruto must be suffering from it.
Turning towards Hinata's direction, where her body laid still, he saw it, Hinata's soul.
Cypher Ability reclaimed: Soul Devouring-Devouring the soul of a person will give them a chance at redemption of eaten whole, allowing reincarnation and absolving them of sins. If devouring a fractured or a soul that is ripped apart beyond repair, then the cycle of reincarnation is denied to the soul. Warning: Will suffer a mutation and might gain a new power depending on importance of the soul.
That knowledge that had long been lost to his memories had returned, and now, he must feed that forbidden hunger that had returned. But he wasn't the only one to see Hinata's soul, everyone else did as well as it took on her form and walked up to him, smiling. "I see, I shall grant you the biggest sendoff ever Hinata. But first, please say goodbye to everyone. I can wait." He told her as the soul of Hinata looked at everyone. She floated over to Neji and with two hands, held his spooked face and kissed his forehead and smiled gently. But Neji saw the message in her eyes; they were asking him to protect Naruto in her stead. It was the only request she wanted.
"I will do this for your sake, Lady Hinata…" he sniffed as he tried his best to smile at his cousin's ghost who floated towards the others, bidding them all a gentle goodbye as she went to Lightning last.
Take care of him please. I want him to experience a bit of happiness in his life.
That was the message the spirit gave her as Lightning nodded her head in respect. "I will do the best I can Hinata, and…take care of yourself in your new life." She told her as Hinata nodded and floated to Naruto.
"Are you ready?" he asked her as she nodded her head. Holding out her hand, he took it in his left as she seemed to be absorbed into him as Naruto felt all of her feelings for him surge like a blazing sun as his eyes burned with white hot fire as he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth in pain as he fell to his knees. He felt someone supporting him as he opened his eyes to see Neji who had a startled expression on his face, no, rather, everyone else is as he noticed his arms felt a bit heavier as well. When he stood straight and examined his arms, he noticed Leo and Elo and turned into gauntlets of sorts as his eyes were seeing chakra. "Wh-what is this power?" he asked himself as the knowledge only a Cypher can obtain gave him the answer.
Nenshō Byakūgan (Burning White Eye): The blessings of Amaterasu by mutating the Byakūgan, she bestowed upon you once Hinata Hyūga's soul was devoured. It works like the Byakūgan and affects Leo and Elo as they are now gauntlets that allow you to utilize the Gentle Fist like if it was naturally part of you. This is due to the Cypher ability to bestow possibilities as this one in particular is the 'What if Naruto was actually a Hyūga?' This fiery gaze sees through lies and virtually almost anything else (there are a few things that are exceptions) and carries the same weaknesses as its predecessor. It also inherits the techniques used by the Hyūga clan from its long line via the human genes within the souls connected to it. Careful not to get anything in your eyes!
"Great, the telepathic tutorial system from the Wheel of Fate kicks in once again…" Naruto mentally grumbled as he flexed his fingers as the gauntlets felt like a part of his hands. He looked towards where Orochimaru was and saw Hizuren, Jiraiya and Kakashi in jam battling Orochimaru who had been keeping them on edge. Naruto narrowed his eyes as the white flames that consumed them glowed as he began walking there with a calm face. He ignored what the others were saying, as Lightning followed him as the others did too.
I am the bone of my crystal…
(My body is made of crystal)
Naruto let the knowledge of Menma flow through him. Now was the time to unleash all the frustration, the hatred, the malice, and all of his wanton anger upon one fool. He began to utilize the forbidden knowledge of how to create Dark Chakra and how to use the power.
Earth is my body, and fire is my blood
(My flesh is that of the earth, and obsidian glass is my heart)
A dark aura surrounded him, surprising Lightning, but startling others with the coldness emitting from it as Naruto's blond hair turned black as his whisker shaped birthmarks became more feral looking.
I have witnessed the story of the Crystal Legends
(I have walked endless paths in the tales of crystals)
Lightning had seen the memories of him fighting Menma with the Canon Naruto once before, and now that she is looking at him. She is seeing more Menma in physical appearance than Naruto Uzumaki than ever before. And that is when he was serious.
Unknown to Darkness, Nor known to Light
(Both as a monster and as a savior)
Naruto tore off his Konoha headband he had on his left arm and everyone felt the huge influx of chakra and magical energy erupting from him as he continued through. He didn't care what the others thought, he wanted his revenge, and he was going to get it, one way or another.
Have withstood pain to create cherished and unbreakable bonds
(But even then, I am not alone)
The shaking of the caverns signified the intense battle up ahead; the amount of killing intent and chakra in the air was strong enough for most of the remaining Rookie 9 to shiver at the intensity. Naruto stopped and looked over his shoulder, looking at them. He only had one question to them, as they were now being held back by the powerful wind of hesitation from the battle. Most of them shaken and felt their nerves giving in as his fiery eyes looked at them and asked them one question. "Can you keep up with me?" he asked as he looked forward and kept moving.
Sasuke was the first, his pride as a loyal Uchiha of Konoha, and his ego of not wanting to be weak so he can fail and lose another bond kicked in. "No, how about you keeping up with me?" he retorted as he continued on afterwards, running up to Naruto's side as Lightning smiled as soon afterwards, they all kept moving forward. It was time, the final battle against Orochimaru was underway, and he will fall once and for all.
The sounds of explosions, shouting, blades clashing, and even running feet were getting closer as Naruto clenched his hands into fists as his fury rose.
Yet, even in the depths of the Void I shall continue to shine
(Even in the emptiness of despair, I will continue to find hope)
The rest of the living Rookie 9 prepared themselves as Odin and Aesir were on edge as the two summons had their weapons ready for the biggest battle of their lives, as Naruto's fiery eyes glowed in the darkness as he completed the final lines of the aria.
As my life beings anew, in Fabula Nova Crystallis
(For my story is forever etched, into eternal crystal)
The world around them as they entered the heart of the lair was engulfed in flames as they now found themselves on a strange platform in a black void as little lights twinkled in the darkness. This of course paused the battle that the four currently fighting shinobi were in as they turned to the source. Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Hizuren looked shocked at Naruto's interest as Orochimaru looked at him with interest, no doubt interested in such a specimen to study.
"My, my, aren't you always full of surprises Naruto-kun," Orochimaru mused as no reply came from the Shinobi L'Cie as he got into the Gentle Fist form, much to everyone's surprise. "Hoh, trying to take me on with just taijutsu; what a naive boy." He laughed as he charged at him at fast speeds. Aesir reacted to his master's mental commands and threw Gungnir at the incoming serpent as the intended mark hit without fail as Orochimaru was baffled as his right hand was pinned to the ground as Naruto was already in front of him with Neji from behind.
"Neji, let's do that."
"Right!"
"You are within our range!" the two exclaimed as Orochimaru realized what was going on. He needed to get out of range. "Eight Trigrams 64 Palms!" they exclaimed as they unleashed their combined might. That happened immediately after Orochimaru spat out another him as they had to stop the technique and turn towards him as Orochimaru attempted to punch Naruto right in the face. "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" a voice called out as Orochimaru turned his gaze at the incoming source of heat as he was taken by it courtesy of Sasuke Uchiha who utilized the jutsu. "Thanks for the save!" Naruto called out as he leapt back and kept his distance as Orochimaru came out of the flames unharmed, although his clothes weren't.
Orochimaru chuckled, "Is this the best you can offer…?" he had asked, only to look down to see a shadow connected to his. "Shadow Possession success, Ino, do your thing." He told his teammate who nodded and threw a barrage of exploding kunai as Orochimaru conjured up some snakes to take the blows as they exploded into guts and blood. He commanded another one to attack Shikamaru as said Nara was forced to cancel his jutsu and get back to avoid being bitten by a venomous viper as Rock Lee and Tenten made their moves.
"Dynamic Entry!" he proclaimed as he performed the (in)famous flying kick that his sensei taught him as it made contact with Orochimaru's face, and the fact that Lee had removed his weights earlier had made it unpredictable for the Snake Sannin as he was pissed at that stunt. "Why you little…!" he seethed, only to feel his arms being jabbed at as he saw both Naruto and Neji were the culprits as they sealed the chakra paths in his arms before leaping back at the hissing snake.
The sounds of surging lightning and chirping birds reached Orochimaru's ears he turned around to see Sasuke and Kakashi with their Chidori and Raikiri in hand respectfully as they both charged at him. From behind, Lightning and Naruto charged with their gunblades at their sides as Orochimaru noted the burning white flames in his eyes were gone as they charged at him. Naruto and Sasuke leapt into the air as Kakashi and Lightning continued straight towards him. Hizuren and Jiraiya looked at each other and nodded their heads as Jiraiya began to summon a toad as Hizuren began flipping through hand signs to prepare for the combination attack.
Orochimaru reacted quickly, summoning snakes from his arms, they lashed out at Lightning and Kakashi whom continued to dodge the swarm of vipers and kill any that got in their way. The two veterans of war needed to end Orochimaru once and for all, and their students were the ones who will help in doing so. "Chidori!" Sasuke called out as he drove the white lightning chakra into Orochimaru's stomach as Naruto landed behind the Snake Sannin and with all of his strength, he bisected the man from his legs and torso as his upper body was sent flying. Then that's when master and student took the next move.
"Now!" Jiraiya ordered as the toad fired oil in Orochimaru's direction as Hizuren unleashed his strongest fire jutsu as the two components combined. "Fire Style: Flame Toad Bomb!" they exclaimed as Orochimaru's upper torso was consumed in a scorching inferno as Neji's Byakūgan watched as his eyes widened. "Everyone, get back!" he shouted as the entire place shook from a massive surge in power and mass.
Erupting from the flames, a giant eight headed serpent with eight tails ruptured from the flames as they roared in great anger as they began to go on a rampage. "Odin, Aesir, keep everyone safe!" Naruto ordered as the two Eidolons complied with the command as they quickly rounded up all the Konoha ninja and kept them protected in a barrier as only Naruto and Lightning were left to face the beast. "Any ideas hero?" Lightning asked in a calm manner as Naruto smirked. "Time to call in the L'Cie cavalry," he replied as he pulled out the L'Cie Path magatama as one of the serpent's heads charged at him.
"Destruction!" a voice called out as waves of slicing lights severed the massive head as much to the surprise of Naruto, and other incarnation of him appeared. "I don't recall you being a fragment of my soul, but we resonate like lost pieces." Naruto stated as the other one nodded his head. "I am indeed a fragment of your soul, but Nione secretly pulled this crap out while you were branded. Call me Arbiter, the Gabranth Naruto, and the one whom you channeled through when testing your Cie'th mode when you used it against Lightning." He depanned at the explanation. "That does explain things." She said as they turned to see the now seven headed serpent hiss with annoyance as Naruto began calling out the other Paths.
From a chilling atmosphere as a blizzard ruptured the air, an icy blue light appeared as Snow Jr. walked out with a cocky grin on his face as he saw the massive monster before him. "I'll get to be the main weakness if he's a reptile." He told himself as he punched the air a few times and got in a stance. The blizzard died down as a falling star landed near as Veritas, the Hope Path L'Cie appeared with his eyes calculating the situation. "So, this is one of those kinds of enemies you need to magic at its best to take down...I'm in." he spoke as he pulled out his boomerang as Lightning couldn't help but notice that it was modified with bladed edges, a customized version fit for him it seems.
Then, a symbol in the void sky as a tribal clothed warrior with a spear appeared, Lightning was almost certain that it was Highwind, the Fang Naruto they met in the Rift, but this one was totally different in appearance and personality. "Sorry I'm late mate, been on a good hunt when you called." Spoke Abel, the true Fang Path Naruto as he grinned at the massive beast before him and whistled. He even carried Fang's accent with him as he twirled the Bladed Lance in his arms and looked up at the snake. "I'd wager ol' Orochi-chan is pissed to use that form?" he asked as a roar from the seven headed serpent was the reply.
"Alright men, and lady, time to kick some ass!" Naruto shouted as his counterparts agreed as they and Lightning charged forward.
"Let's take our time shall we?" Abel asked with a smirk as he shifted into his Saboteur Role and began casting Slow on Orochimaru's monstrous form as Snow Jr. had summoned the Shiva Sisters. "Let's give this overgrown reptile a chilly reception shall we girls?" he asked as the Styria and Nyx agreed as they began their icy assault on one of the head as it recoiled from the cold.
"Well, looks like he doesn't like the cold, how about I warm you up?" Veritas asked as he fired a Fira spell on one of the head, as a massive explosion scorched half of the face as it hissed at him in anger.
"Know this pain!" Arbiter roared as he fired his Fulminating Oblivion as the red-orange flames engulfed another head as he quickly fired his Ruin Unflinching without pause as the serpent head was sent into a daze. "…Take your last breath." Arbiter mocked as he gestured the energy swords into impaling the serpent's head as he gathered the last amount of energy for the final blow. "…Surrender now to Oblivion!" he roared as the serpent head was swallowed by the Black Hole attack as now six heads remained.
Naruto and Lightning ran up the back of one as Naruto drove Leoedge and Eloedge into the flesh as he continued running up, leaving a long line of blood in his wake as one of the other heads turned and snarled at him as it lunged. Naruto reacted quickly and jumped off as the serpent bit itself as Lightning dived in and impaled her sword right into its eye as it lashed out half blinded while Lightning activated her Grav-Con Unit to allow her to hang on as she pushed her blade deeper in, ignoring the blood spraying onto her as she plunged it into the brain as that head fell dead, leaving a total of five heads.
From the center head, its mouth open to reveal Orochimaru, laughing at them. "Nice try Naruto-kun, you cannot defeat me with just copies of you with various powers alone. You are just a no name ninja who stumbled upon great power, nothing like Sasuke…" he said, eyeing the Uchiha who was a great distance away, who watched the battle and heard what the Snake Sannin was saying. "He was born with the greatness in him, and the Sharingan will help him make things go his way. Which will also be mine once I take his body for my own…" he chuckled as Sasuke shuddered violently from the way he said it. It sounded so wrong in so many ways that Sasuke swore he was a pedophile of the highest caliber.
"Tell me you freak, did genius like him take out three of your heads, or did I just get lucky?" Naruto shot back as Orochimaru scowled at that and smirked. That was when the three destroyed heads began regurgitating something as three new head spurted out of the old ones. "You were saying?" he asked as Naruto flipped the bird at him.
"Damn, this guy is an immortal create that can regenerate indefinitely, an impossible foe to slay. Even with our abilities, they're all designed to take down single enemies and up to teams, but even a force of an army can't slay this thing. You'd have to slay it with one blow capable of destroying fortresses, and creating Kyuubi a new body to fight him with Konoha ninja around will cause some unwanted attention and problems." Naruto analyzed as he looked down at the katana on his hip, sheathed as he noticed the guard's cherry blossom bud now opened due to Hinata's sacrifice.
"This blade grows stronger with every sacrifice to the concept of hope, hope for me being able to achieve the impossible. In its initial state, it could only handle single enemies no problem, but now it is capable of taking down teams and armies depending on how much power I put into the attack…but it must rival Arturia's ultimate trump card, an anti-fortress weapon capable of cleaving the land with its very power—Excalibur." He thought as his other selves kept Orochimaru at bay as he weighed his options down and came to a bitter conclusion.
"But to unleash such a power…another bond must sacrifice itself to acquire the power to rival that Holy Sword. The question is…who is willing to sacrifice themselves to awaken more of Chizakura's sleeping powers even further?" he thought as he looked at the eight headed serpent and clenched Leoedge and Eloedge in his hands tightly. He must make this choice here and now while Fabula Nova Crystallis remains active, or else risking Orochimaru escaping. He turned to where everyone he knew stood and looked at them. Death must claim another life.
To be continued…