Chapter 7
"Colosseum." Kinoe nodded at the spiky, blonde-haired mirror image of Naruto. He slammed his palms on the surface of the Vimana, sprouting thick, strangling, branches that wound around the edges. Over and over, they curled on top of each other, forming a closing dome.
Yet their plan was quickly shot down - literally. Donning a sour expression, Gilgamesh opened her Gate of Babylon, blowing a hole in the wooden top with a wave of swords. "What use does an arena have, if the King is unable to watch the fighting? Go on, mongrels. Fight to the fullest, for a fight that displeases me will only end in your execution."
Naruto cursed. Taking on the Third Hokage and a Jinchuriku was a tall order, especially considering his moniker - The God of Shinobi. He had no idea how skilled this version of him was, but if Danzo had laid his hands on him, he was sure to pose some danger. But it was the strange energy flowing within Sandaime's body that filled him with fear, for it was something he was unfamiliar with.
Unknown was bad. For shinobi, uncharted territory was the most dangerous one. He'd have to be extra careful with that and the limited space.
"Release it, Baki." He nodded, closing his eyes and tapping into the untamed power of the Kyuubi. With the seals weakened, strong killing intent blasted a wave of wind, momentarily forcing everyone back a step. Tearing at his skin, the red bubbles bled over to each other. "Naruto" crouched, hands on the floor like a beast. His nails grew to talons and his empty, blue eyes changed to furious, blazing pools of inferno. On his back, three tails waved back and forth.
Then, it changed once more. A sheen of dark red creeped over the delicate cover of bubbles, hardening into an impenetrable skin. Instead of the sharpened, bestial pupils, eerie spots of white served as his eyes. Atop his head was a pair of flapping ears, similar to the Kyuubi's. A nub of concentrated chakra lengthened into yet another tail. "San and Baki, alternating formation. I will kill the Raikage."
"Raikage?" But Naruto had no time to process that revelation, as his mirror self was already at his front, dragging a claw through the air. He sidestepped the attack, throwing a jab into his side, which was promptly blocked by Baki's forearm. His skin hissed from coming in contact with the malicious chakra, but the pain was expected. Having been a host to the same beast, Naruto was all-too familiar with the properties of a Jinchuriki.
His leg snapped up, pounding three, devastating strikes into the other side. But wasting no time in retaliating, Baki manipulated his tails to curl around Naruto's ankle just as he finished the motion of kicking. He barbarically dragged Naruto around, slamming him into the ground over and over again, nearly denting the metal ground.
It was only the lack of response and the limp weight that forced Baki to stop his rampage and look closer at the body. What he found was a sizzling tag pasted in the midsection of "Naruto's" body. It exploded, sending a plume of dark ash into the sky.
The clone popped, and Naruto emerged from the smoke, slamming a Rasengan into Baki's chest, cracking his protective film but failing to leave a lasting mark. He was sent flying into the thick trunks, which curled protectively around him.
Placing his hands in a familiar position, Naruto summoned a small horde of clones, sending them in a coordinated attack to intercept the already-rising Baki. "Not good." He glanced to the side, noting the streaks of lightning burning away at the thick wooden pillars. Darui was slowly being pushed back, but he looked as if he had a plan.
The Sandaime, on the other hand, was an unusual case. Even before the fighting had begun, Naruto had summoned a clone to fend off the Hokage and gain more information on the strange aura. He should've been glad about the fact that a clone had lasted this long, but if anything, he was unsettled by the Hokage's severe lack of strength. His strength and speed had both improved by sizable margins, but his greatest strength - his tactical mind - was seemingly missing. His movements were predictable and his inability to adapt to his clone's fighting style was frightening.
He fought more like a mindless beast, he observed.
But even beasts, when cornered, were dangerous.
All of his clones had popped, and Baki and the Sandaime converged on him, one with his blazing claws and the other with his pitch black staff.
~o~
Gilgamesh smirked at the fighting, carefully sipping out of an elaborate cup filled with wine. Such amusement was indeed fitting for the King. Watching the so-called Raikage weave around the branches of earth was amusing - interesting, even. Even in her past life, she had never seen such individuals manipulate the very elements constituting her garden.
But it was Naruto that excited her so. Even she - the one above all! - was unsure of what separated him from the rabble. She understood now, though. Watching him fight was a spectacle worthy of being graced with her eyes. His fighting style was purely unpredictable. Nothing short of her Clairvoyance would be able to accurately predict his attacks and counter accordingly. He varied his body movement speed, sometimes throwing rapid hits and other times slowing his strikes. He used his clones as a second set of limbs before dissipating them at will, throwing his opponents off their rhythm.
Still, something in her raging soul waited in suspense. There was still something he had left up his sleeve - still something she had never seen. It should have angered - no, infuriated her! But the only feeling lingering in her blood was excitement.
"Do you take me for a fool, Naruto? It is a waste to leave one of your clones standing in the corner. Did you perhaps forget to recall your minion? I cannot bear to witness your tomfoolery." But as she prepared to skewer the clone, it sat down in a meditative position, eyes closed and fingers pressing each other.
"Enkidu?" Gilgamesh whispered, eyes shining.
Baki and San stuck hard, fists thrusting forward and aiming for Naruto's vital spots. The sheer force carved through the air like butter, renting it into violent swirls of wind - a somewhat impressive show of strength from a faker and a lowly soldier.
The rushing wind forced Gilgamesh to sit up, eagerly peering through the thin cloud of dust. She smiled, before laughing ferociously. "Yes! Yes! You prove your worth yet again, Naruto! You are worthy of my presence."
There he stood, gripping onto their wrists, having stopped the attack an inch away from his ribs. The two struggled to overcome his strength, but their shuddering bodies were unable to muster enough force to inch their fists any closer. His eyes snapped open, a shade of orange trailing the ends. With little effort, he yanked Baki to him and threw San in the general direction of Kinoe.
He kneed Baki in the stomach and threw him into the ground, keeping him in place with his right foot. The tails began curling around his leg, but he merely slammed his other heel into Baki's sternum. "I'll admit, your skin is kind of a pain." Summoning more clones, he had them restrain Baki's limbs. One positioned himself behind Naruto's right arm.
A hand outstretched, Naruto began swirling his chakra in a familiar vortex. It condensed into a perfect sphere, the bluish chakra spinning with fury. But instead of using it immediately, he waited for his clone to infuse the wind element into it.
But his clones were unable to hold Baki down for that long. The momentary stun from his heel kick wore off just in time for him to throw the clones off and San rejoined the fight, washing away stray clones with a strong stream of water.
"Troublesome. But you haven't really stopped me." He may not have had enough time to use his Fuuton: Rasenshuriken at close range, but his clone had finished its job. In his hand was a four-pronged, whistling sphere of pure white. What looked like amassed chakra was really millions of needles. It remained unusable for some time, but Sage Mode provided a protective layer, allowing him to carry that chakra and even throw it.
"Fuuton: Rasenshuriken!" He released it into the air and the sphere carved its path, expanding once it came into contact with Baki. Even Gilgamesh was forced to cover her ears, wincing at the horrible shrieking.
Individually, the wind needles stood no chance against Baki. No matter how much force was put into throwing or jabbing it into Baki, it would never penetrate his skin. But within the vortex of his jutsu, the needles spun at much faster rate, and the sheer number of them would eventually overcome any obstacle, destroying it at a microscopic level. Flecks of reddish orange chakra spilled to the surface, revealing Baki's raw skin.
"No! San, hurry-" His head was nearly torn off his neck, but a timely dodge allowed Kinoe to narrowly avoid the fist of lightning.
"You should be a little more focused on me, bastard." Darui growled. His white, bushy hair spiked up, blue arcs swirling all around each strand. Walls of wood were hurriedly thrown up in a desperate attempt to keep Darui occupied, but the flurry of fists demolished them just as quickly as they were made.
A gust of wind fed the roaring inferno, forcing Naruto several steps back. He quickly countered the combination jutsu, but it was far too late. The Third grabbed Baki and jumped right off the edge. A desperate Kinoe quickly followed them, but not without a parting gift.
Wordlessly, he clasped his hands together, unfurling the curled branches that served as makeshift walls in their fight. But instead of simply dissipating them, Kinoe formed more hand seals, directing the branches in their direction.
All around them, the wooden pillars snaked to the trio, but they were halted by a wave of weapons. "I've had enough of that worm's antics." Gilgamesh scowled. "As fitting of his nature, he chose to run instead of face my wrath. But the next time I see him, I will offer no respite."
~o~
Naruto clenched his jaw. He considered himself to be pretty patient (somewhat), but she had gone too far this time. What would happen next time? What if stronger foes were sent? He tolerated Gilgamesh's arrogance solely for her strength, but he had yet to witness it by his side. "We need to talk, Gilgamesh."
She smirked at Naruto, which only added to his ire. "To use my name so flippantly… But very well! Speak. Your King finds herself in a good mood."
"Enough with that 'king' bullshit." And just like that, her smooth expression withered away. His words sliced through Gilgamesh's satisfaction. "This isn't a game anymore. We're not tools for your entertainment. Either help us out or fuck off." Gilgamesh wasn't one to be cowed so easily, but he wasn't going to back down. An ally that refused to help was no ally at all. And if it came down to it, he'd rather not deal with Gilgamesh at all.
He nearly let out a groan. It was a tricky situation, to say the least, but one he'd have to handle. One wrong move, and he'd have to deal with an enemy. And unfortunately for him, he couldn't afford to get tangled up in another fight with Gilgamesh. Not only was she strong, he needed her Vimana to get to Kirigakure quickly. Walking on water with the application of chakra was one of the first things a shinobi learned, but it was a task he'd prefer to avoid, especially considering the sheer distance they'd yet to travel.
But at the same time, submitting to her would only encourage this entertain-me-for-your-life relationship. And if Gilgamesh was adamant in continuing this parasitic behavior, he wouldn't hesitate to kill her.
"You claim to stand on the heavens, just as I do? Don't be mistaken, mongrel. We are not equals, for the subject is always lesser than the ruler."
Naruto scoffed. "Equal? I don't know if your memory is failing you, your majesty, but the last time I checked, I killed you. I won."
"A short scuffle does not change the workings of the universe. I was born to rule. You were born to serve." She was standing now, slightly unnerved - she wouldn't admit it - by the killing intent pouring off of Naruto.
No. The way they were headed was bound for trouble. Naruto could feel the poised energy, ready to summon her vaunted weapons to her side. Strong-arming her into a situation favourable for him was a doomed strategy - something he should've realized from the start.
But it wasn't too late. A King was used to negotiations, was she not? If he wanted to borrow her strength, he'd have to make an offer she couldn't refuse.
"This isn't going to work out."
"So I see."
"But I have a proposition." Curiosity flashed through her eyes. Good. The more interested she was, the higher chance he had of winning her over. "You want something from me. I want something from you. So in exchange for your sincere help throughout this conflict, I'll give you a fight at the end. One where I won't hold back."
"Ho? You think too highly of yourself, Naruto."
A bluff, and a poor one at that. He knew it and saw it in her eyes. Though she wouldn't admit it, he had bested her and avoided her Enuma Elish. It was an insult to her pride, and knowing her arrogance, she wouldn't lie still. "Are you saying you don't want one?"
Silence ensued, but only for a moment.
"Ha! Very well. It has been a while since I've truly let loose. Let us crush these bugs underfoot so I can show you my true might." She smiled, and not for the first time, Naruto felt like prey.
~o~
"We're getting closer." Darui gestured to the side with a lazy flick of his wrist. A band of sunshine hit the surface of the surprisingly clear, blue ocean. A spray of seawater brushed Naruto's cheek, and with it, a wave of nostalgia came crashing down.
How long had it been since he departed for the Land of Waves? The salty smell, the rushing water… Of course, his mission was much bloodier than the scenery before him, but he couldn't help but think back to his Genin days.
"But you know that already," Darui continued, unaware of Naruto's trip to the past. "What I wanna talk about-" He grimaced. "Sorry about that. I'm not the best when it comes to conversations."
Naruto laughed. "I've noticed. I don't blame you though. You've probably fought with my other self. It's not easy talking to an ally with an enemy's face, is it?"
"No it isn't." He agreed. "It's not easy fighting yourself either, is it?"
"…"
"You probably could've killed him if you went all out from the start. But you held back."
Naruto trailed his hand in the water, calmly ignoring the speed at which they were traveling at. "I can't ignore it. But I have to. If it comes down to it, I'll kill him myself." He finally spoke.
A lie, of course. He understood perfectly that this version of himself was merely that - a possibility among thousands. But even someone like him, who had been baptized in blood and forged in the heat of the battlefield, couldn't bear to see life die out from the eyes of himself.
"You sure?"
No. "Yeah. I'll deal with him myself."
And that was the end of that.
~o~
Darkness. He was surrounded by it.
His dreams weren't normally like this. They were usually filled with bodies, dead and living.
But he wasn't alone.
He was surrounded by darkness.
Hello?
You abandoned me! The sudden shout pierced his ears. He winced.
You gave me away! Traitor!
The shaped shadows howled in frustration, the sound forcing him to curl up into a ball.
But you're back now. Does that mean you've come to pick me back up?
The sudden change in volume left him with no answer to reply with.
How else are you going to kill Baki?
He didn't know.
You know it's the only way.
No it's not.
Well, what's the other way?
He didn't know. It was becoming a habit - to not know what to do.
The shadows eagerly crept up his body, weaving a layer of black. We'll protect you, they whispered.
Just trust in us.
A/N: Hey everyone. Back with another chapter. I hope the fight scene was up to standard.
I scrolled through a couple of reviews, and I'm a little surprised that no one has guessed Danzo's power. And no, it's not the Rinnegan. I will be dropping a bunch of info in the next chapter though, and a new Servant will make his/her appearance as well. So be excited!
I understand that the Vimana doesn't have nearly enough room for the fighting that took place in this chapter. But for my sake, let's pretend it does. I'm using my creative license here. I also wanted to point out that the last bit in this chapter is not revealing a new power in Naruto's arsenal. It is purely metaphorical and will be explained in future chapters.
I'm really sorry that I wasn't able to write any more, but I'm dealing with more and more studying. My update schedule will remain somewhat inconsistent, so be wary.
Please review. Reviews give me more motivation.
Next Update: Magi and Assassins