Chapter 5 - Burning
(Final Fantasy 8 OST - Fragments of Memories)
I could remember it all. I was not some witch as everyone claims I am. I hailed from the Uzumaki clan, a clan that I hear wanted to coexist with other villages and were great friends with the Senju clan. A clan that puts family above all.
Disgusting, what a joke.
In my era we were like all the clans. The Uzumaki along with everyone else were just thugs hiding behind banners and using strength as an excuse to justify their actions. All that mattered was survival and power. In order to gain that you had to kill and grow strong. Otherwise your own clan would leave you behind and abandon you to your death. All that mattered was proving who was the strongest, but even then as you gain reputation, the envy and ire still existed within your own family.
So quite a few arrogant members would do anything to take that power for themselves. It was hard to tell whether the Uchiha were envious thieves or your own next door neighbor in this era.
As for myself, I was all alone as a child. My parents were innocent farmers and I was a studious girl. However one of the many shinobi clans attacked them knowing it was easy pickings to attack civilians. Especially if it was easy access to a food supply that would easily hinder the clan as well as being able to feed their own.
My clan cared very little, they only mocked me not only for my rare red hair, but because I couldn't fight for myself. They called my parents weak hearted and left me alone to bury them by myself and mourn them on my own. Isolation can really teach you things as you have to become your own teacher.
Years had passed, no one noticed I left the clan. Who wanted a weakling? Was what they'd ask if they ever wondered if they started missing a few of their own. I came across a new source of power, it wasn't like chakra. The properties and concept was the same, but the way the power coursed through my vines felt vile and painful but in the end... it felt like taking a deep breath of fresh air.
Of course, such gifts cannot go unused. Magic, that's what they called it. A term for strange abilities that could not be understood let alone explained. Of course, they started calling me a witch. Hilarious, they attacked what they feared and they ended up dead. I made sure that there was nothing left to bury in the end. They say you only die when the memory of you is gone, so a few missing bodies helped ease my pain as well as inflict suffering on others. It wasn't too long before people outside of my original clan had begun to approach me.
Quite a few out of them were fearful and tried end my life with no success as you can see. A few others, were hoping to "tame" me or at least use me as breeding stock. Such lecherous faces were not worthy of being seen by the public eye. Many men would be found pinned up while missing most of their faces... and their genitals.
Years had passed and I knew being alone was not the wisest idea seeing as the world was at constant war with itself. In time, I made a pact with several strange creatures with vast power over the elements. Many were prideful and a bit arrogant, but they had the skill and firepower to back it up. Many only accepted an alliance with me once I defeated them in combat which just proved how far I had come and how far I needed to go. Although, it wasn't the real companionship I needed.
In time, there was a point in the constant warring states where the fighting had calmed down and civilization had begun to build itself.
I met a man, a strange one at that. He wasn't truly chivalrous as he only fought for others because he claimed it was the morally sound thing to do. This man was what considered a knight, a strange group of men in armor with rather naive ideals. They were similar to the samurai but somehow different in how they chose to approach tasks. I was hesitant to follow him back to his settlement, but did so out of reluctance. The man was a bit of a flirt and would constantly compliment my vibrant red hair.
I was also naive like that man. For I had fallen in love.
I put the life of sorcery behind me and settled down. For once I had hope in a brighter future and let go of my wrath. While I would still feel the pain of losing my parents and the life I once had. I was joyful and ecstatic as I had created life.
She was a beautiful child. I named her Morgana Le Fay. Her surname coming from her father as I was soon to be engaged with him. However tragedy always finds its way back to me. My lover had returned as an inanimate corpse, thus leaving me alone with a child to raise on my own. If only it stayed that way for my exploits were not forgotten.
In time, those disgusting Uzumaki had returned and were hoping to end my life once and for all. With no choice in the matter, I took up magic once again and prepared for the worst. I left my new home and I hid Morgana away for a life without a mother would be better than death or a life of suffering as a slave for those prideful shinobi. I prepared for just about anything and I was surprised for how things ended.
I couldn't count how many shinobi I had decimated, but I was sure several minor clans were very likely going to go extinct if any had managed to survive the onslaught. I would later learn through legend that this battle had lasted four days and four nights with me running ragged half way through the entire massacre. Some say it was a couple hundred that died, others say over a thousand and some prideful bigots claimed several dozen well trained veteran shinobi, yet I remember most of these fools throwing all their bladed weapons and running head first with whatever jutsus they knew best.
To think, I was defeated by the art of fuinjutsu with my remains locked away in a sarcophagus and pushed to the bottom of a whirlpool where they would later establish to be a hidden village. For now, it was the end of me and the beginning of the Legend of the Witch Treacherous Ultimecia who terrorized the Uzumaki clan.
HAHAHAHA, for some reason I don't believe the Uzumaki clan came up with that title alone. I swear there were large lands owned by many daimyo who feared for their lives whenever I had approached them. However, before I was gone like a bad nightmare, I warned the Uzumaki of their demise. That the friendly roots of the great tree would spout on about friendship and the strive towards peace. Only to sit and watch as they sink the bottoms of the depths of the ocean that they will inhabit.
And as I said before, they called me a witch. What sensible person would listen to a witch?
Naruko's childhood
Before I "died", I spread fragments of my consciousness onto the Uzumaki clan. One day hoping to possess one and wipe them out for good before beginning the search for my daughter Morgana. Though strangely enough, the spell didn't work and I was merely a personality in their minds. Then again, I did curse the Uzumaki remnants with my red hair for generations to come.
There was a little girl that was abducted from her home and attacked. She was dragged around the forest as if she was a wild animal. Half dead and with several broken limbs.
This was Naruko Uzumaki, the girl who was half Uzumaki. Initially, I cared very little for her well being. Though something was different about this girl. She was broken... half dead... her chakra had ruptured and was powerless. I never cared for my clan members after I left, especially after my lover had died and I had to abandon Morgana. Even if Naruko was only half and wasn't aware of her lineage.
However, something was unique about this girl. Before I knew it, I realized that this girl had the same potential as myself to use magic. It was peculiar and I couldn't understand it. Perhaps one of her parents was capable of using magic or it maybe it was caused by a mutation. I wouldn't know the truth until the day I was resurrected.
Despite her broken state, both mental and physical, this Naruko girl had proven to be strong and capable of wielding magic. The years had passed, I had started to fade away. Despite my cold, questionable and distant personality. Naruko had pleaded for me to stay. As if my spite for the girl and my negative demeanor against her had clouded her mind and made it appear as if I was this motherly figure to her. Instead of resentment or even joy of my final death, Naruko was filled with dread and sorrow of being abandoned once more.
Such childish attitude sickened me at first. So in hopes of bringing the girl to her senses. I taught her a risky technique that gave life to an inanimate object. Naruko learned but not without difficulty and errors along the way. When she had finally perfected her creation made of clay, she created a green haired male or female known as Kingu who treated her as if she was a goddess incarnate. No doubt being grateful for being blessed with life I assume.
Still, it wasn't enough for this girl as she was still filled with tears upon my disappearance. Though I did tell her one thing.
"You are greater than our foolish clan members. If you care about me despite everything. Then create a name for yourself and let nobody turn you into a stepping stool."
For a moment, there was nothing and I soon found myself back in the world of the living. I was shocked by the world's current state and soon found myself remembering everything once more after Naruko revealed that she had developed her own magic. While I created Time Compression, she had created Memory Compression. Not only could she manipulate memories, but she could also pass on her own memory.
However the story doesn't end here. The story of Ultimecia ends here but the story Artemisia begins. Ugh, such a ridiculous name. Even at my age, you realize the mistakes you can make when taking on a student. Never let a child christen themselves. I'll be sure to christen this girl once this is over.
Chunin Exams Invasion, present time
(Third Person POV)
The village was in a state panic and terror. They could never have predicted that Suna would betray them and join Oto who worked under Orochimaru like the loyal dogs they are. In their arrogance, they believed themselves to be invincible and quickly lost many shinobi as the snake summons proved to be too much. Their jounin and ANBU being ill equipped and poorly prepared due to budget cuts. So all anyone could see where barrages of projectile weapons and explosives hitting the snakes.
However it was thanks to Artemisia's forces that the Oto and Suna alliance was ambushed and being repelled. This army was inexperienced and had issues of their own as they had never faced the battlefield before. Earning quite the amount of losses, but had quickly recovered once they had developed new tactics. SO what was merely a slaughter on both sides turned into a skirmish with quite a few cowardly shinobi being forced to retreat. That is, if they were able to escape their fights in time.
The Chunin Exams arena was where the real fights were taking place. So many people were completely oblivious that the Witch that terrorized the Uzumaki clan was once more in the land of the living. She was also rather unhappy as to the state of the world and was unleashing her power against the fools who believed in false peace.
"Hashirama, you and Tobirama need to deal with Saru's old student. I will hold off Ultimecia. Nawaki, it's best you take cover as this woman might be beyond my capabilities." Mito warned as she unleashed her chakra chains.
Ultimecia countered with a dome created by her own chains, "Not like the standard ones of my former clan. However nonetheless, I am still a capable fighter." she told Mito.
"Water Style: Water Bullet!" Mito yelled out.
"Firaga!" Ultimecia countered.
When that failed, Mito removed her kimono and revealed her own kunoichi armor and attempting to engage Ultimecia in taijutsu. The sorceress did have to admit that taijutsu was her worst subject and she was rather weak in terms of physical strength but did have some decent endurance. However her power of flight with the wings on her hips proved to be difficult for Mito as she was out of the woman's reach.
"Aero!" Ultimecia called out as she sent a strong gust of wind against Mito who just barely dodged the attack. "How does it feel? Knowing your home is gone? Your clansmen left for dead? I hear that family finally mattered to the Uzumaki." she said taunting the shodaime's wife.
"What do you mean?" Mito asked.
"Are you really that ignorant? Did they censor your family history to preserve their status? How selfish." Ultimecia stated as she continued to engage Mito.
"We are a clan of family and trust among friends!" Mito argued as she continued to launch more water techniques at Ultimecia.
The sorceress however looked unfazed and rolled her eyes, "So naive, such ideals are for those who welcome failure and hypocrisy. Do you know why you have red hair? It's not yours actually, it's mine." she said as she caught Mito off guard. "I was unique and yet the fools ostracized me for being different. The Uzumaki, Senju, Uchiha, all clans and even the kages. They are all thugs hiding behind status and the false flag of righteousness." she continued to say.
"Water Style: Drizzle!" Mito yells out as the air around them turns into watery projectiles that fly towards Mito.
"Blizzard." Ultimecia countered as she summoned a giant ice crystal to block the attack before launching at Mito who got hit in the chest. "Such pointlessness, this strange technique does not harm either of us or drain or energy." she said as she moves to restrain Mito.
At the same time, Battle with Sound Four
Sakon and Ukon had quickly fallen first after the timer from the Doom spell had reached 0. Tayuya didn't last too long after Ana had broken her flute and forced her to stare into her eyes before turning into stone and shattering her. The pink haired girl had a vulgar mouth anyways and only made Ana's ears hurt. Kidomaru proved to be rather versatile for Kimimaro, but his tactics weren't enough as he was being hit from a distance by the Ranger's arrows. There was quite a few enchantments on them too so the spider like man started to feel ill before being stabbed the many bones coming out of Kimimaro's back.
Finally there was Jirobo who already tapped into his curse mark. He proved to be quite a handful but Jugo's nature chakra allowed him to control his transformation. So it was a matter of two berserkers battling it out until one fell. The victor was hard to decide until the realization became simple. Jirobo's curse mark was too much of a strain on his body while Jugo had no fear or worry of losing control as he had full control of his mental state.
Though he did hate bloodshed and as well the sight of it. Even if in the end, most of the cause of Jirobo's death was his body failing to handle the curse mark form. All that left was Orochimaru and the Suna ninja who were still fighting.
With the Uzumaki family
Artemisia hid her pleasure as Jiraiya was being restrained. She was rather surprised to see the Uzumaki faith in person from her deceased mother and seeing her former father actually fighting against the teacher who made him a zealous follower of Konoha's beliefs. Then there was that toad that was becoming Bahamut's chew toy.
"Jiraiya we never agreed on fighting dragons!" Gamabunta yelled as he tried spitting oil at Bahamut who roared blasted him with Mega Flare.
"Just hang on Bunta! I need to snap Minato and Kushina out of it!" Jiraiya said only for Kushina to land the bottom of her heel down his head.
"Snap what!? That you would let my baby girl be a punching bag and turn my boy into a careless fool!?" Kushina asked as she rubbed her heel on Jiraiya's head.
Menma was about to speak when his sister interrupted her, "Yes, all women especially Uzumaki women are terrifying Menma. Be weary of women in all shapes and forms." Artemisia said as Menma shivered behind his armor.
"It was for the good of Konoha!" Jiraiya said as Minato proceeded to kick him while he was down.
"That is the most ridiculous excuse Jiraiya. You know very well jinchuuriki are disliked and that's why Kushina-chan and Mito-sama's statuses were kept secret." Minato argued as he lifted Jiraiya up by the scruff of his haori. While shocking, everyone but Jiraiya ignored this strange sudden action, "I'm all about putting my life on the line. But abuse? Jiraiya you preached about peace and whatnot but you are a hypocrite. If it were yourself that became the martyr, you'd turn tail and run." he said.
"No I wouldn't." Jiraiya lied.
"Yes you would." Minato growled.
"No I wouldn't." Jiraiya continued to lie which earned him something he deserved a long time ago.
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A free vasectomy.
Courtesy of Kushina who somehow had her katana in her hands despite the dead being unable to bring weapons with them. It's safe to say that Kushina and likely the Uzumaki clan as a whole had no concept of the idea of logic.
"I. Am. Not. Playing this game!" Kushina roared as her hair took on a life of its own.
As much as Artemisia enjoyed watching the pervert lose all of his privates. As well as seeing that disgusting toad being turned into a burnt piece of toast. The young sorceress still needed to complete one important task. There was no need to let the farce continue and it was best to end the pointless fight between her ancestor and Mito. Besides, even if Orochimaru lost control of the dead he summoned with the Edo Tensei. He would just find some way to make a quick escape.
"Menma, defend me while I cast an enormous spell." Artemisia ordered as her brother nodded and kept his guard up in case Jiraiya or someone else tries to attack her.
As Artemisia surrounded her body with a high level of magic. She proceeded to pull out a shinigami mask that she took from the Uzumaki shrine one night. Artemisia believed Konoha had taken enough from her mother's family and believed they deserved nothing. Therefore she took everything from the shrine before destroying it and keeping everything safe at Ultimecia's castle. So now, she would broker a deal with the shinigami with a technique that would work as a good trade off for the god of death.
"In which all life begins, all life ends. Come forth reaper of souls." Artemisia chanted as the death god started to slowly appear and gather the attention of everyone around her.
"What the..." Menma tried to say.
"Speak your request mortal and you best pay the price for whatever you desire." the shinigami stated in a chilling tone.
Before anyone could ask Artemisia as to what she was doing. The young sorceress told the deity of her request and the method of payment.
"I wish for the lives of the dead that have been unjustly summoned to be returned. Payment through the lives of all in this village you define as wicked and incapable of redemption." Artemisia said before tapping her staff on the ground and activating a giant magic circle that surrounded the village.
Soon engulfing everyone in a powerful bright light that could be seen from as far as the border of Fire Country had this been late at night. While many people did receive some retinal pain from the light alone. The shinigami itself nodded and accepted the deal as it soon scanned the desired area for souls that it deemed wicked and incapable of redemption.
"Your wish is granted. However, more than one soul will be requested as many of the individuals are worth more than a single life." the shinigami warned.
Artemisia merely smiled, "Did I not give you free reign?" she asked with many looking shocked at the audacity of Artemisia.
The shinigami raised a brow in curiosity, "Of course, such a tone could only come from her. You really are the woman's granddaughter." it said as it flew higher into the sky. "In exchange for the lives of Hashirama, Tobirama and Nawaki Senju, Mito and Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze and Ultimecia, formerly Igraine Uzumaki. The lives of well over a thousand wicked souls will be taken!" it stated in a booming voice.
Hiruzen in his desperation could only fear who the shinigami defined to be a wicked soul to be. He attempted to cry out to the deity only to be ignored as it never went back on deals and always returned when someone broke it's deals with the deity in an unfair manner.
"The exchange is reasonable!" the shinigami announced as it exploded into various clouds that started shrieking and flying all over Konoha to claim it's payment.
With Karin
The Uzumaki from Kusa watched over the battle from a small encampment that was surrounded by a couple of golems and clay soldiers. However, her powerful sensory technique was being overloaded as she could sense something dark and rather cold. She looked up and saw something you would see from a graphic novel in the horror genre. Karin witnessed what she assumed to be a cloud with the voice a banshee going through a line of Oto ninja that her forces were attacking.
Before long, the Oto ninja turned pale and started to foam from the mouth as they collapsed. Karin covered her mouth as she wanted to shriek in terror as she witnessed someone die from having their soul ripped away.
"Milady, you may want to keep cover until the attacks calm down." said one of the clay soldiers.
Karin nodded, she was mainly here to help out with the white mages to help any random civilian or foreign traveller that got injured during the invasion. However from the looks of it, it was likely not the best idea since quite a few Konoha shinobi mistook them for the enemy. It also didn't help that Karin saw one of the clouds heading towards her.
"Take it out!" ordered one of the clay soldiers as several rangers fired a barrage at the cloud.
The golems proceeded to get into a defensive line as they punched the ground and unleashed a wall of spikes where the cloud appeared. All the attacks proved fruitless as the black mages had also unleashed elemental attacks out of desperation. Karin started to lose control of her breathing as she saw the cloud only for it to fly past her and wipe out the mixed waves of Konoha, Suna and Oto shinobi with very few of them surviving.
The ones that did, proceeded to panic and retreat. Karin could only gasp as she tried to regain her breath from thinking death had come for her. It took about a few minutes as she regained her composure before noticing the clay soldiers and golems were still in good condition.
"Well that was anticlimactic. If I wanted a random heart attack, I'll let you know!" Karin screamed out of frustration as she saw a random explosion in the distance. "I don't mean right now!" she continued to yell.
That didn't stop her from still being afraid of what was being unleashed upon Konoha and causing death and mayhem.
With Orochimaru
The sannin found himself having a lot of difficulty with Kingu seeing as he was not human. Kingu's real advantage over Orochimaru was the fact that he didn't have organs. So killing him was quite difficult to fight since the Kusanagi couldn't pierce anything vital or poison him. Orochimaru's only choice was to somehow keep Kingu from regenerating or destroy him whole, but the clay man had his own source of magic and could counter his ninjutsu.
It got worse as the sandaime finally arrived with his former teachers. While Orochimaru tried to take this as his chance to use a kawarimi and hit the shodaime and nidaime with his talismans and take control of them. However, a sage got in the way and casted shell around the two kages. Which left him wide open for Enkidu to stab him with a spear and keep him embedded into the ground.
"And now your end is near." Kingu said as Orochimaru wrapped his tongue around the clay man's neck.
"I am invincible! You cannot kill me with your sharpened tool alone!" Orochimaru claimed only for Kingu to squeeze Orochimaru's tongue.
"Nothing is invincible, everything comes to an end." Kingu replied.
Orochimaru snarled, "Like that little girl who plays the role of a savior. She has no idea what the world truly is and she speaks of good and evil." he said hoping to goad him.
Instead Kingu gave him a closed eye smile, "I will admit, Artemisia-sama will meet her end at some point far away in the future but today is not that day. As for you Orochimaru, your goal is impossible. So please do not speak as if you know all the secrets of this world." he said as he raised his free arm to block the sandaime's attack from his adamantine staff.
"Saru what are you doing!?" Tobirama asked.
"I won't let him!" Hiruzen stated.
"This man is a criminal with the intent to end all life so long as he can obtain every jutsu that is out of his reach along with immortality. Yet you defend him as if he were a martyr." Kingu stated as Hiruzen started to get angry. "What are your priorities you senile coot? Little girls being tortured like animals are meant to be domesticated but men who believe themselves to be gods are allowed to walk free from all their crimes?" he asked as Hashirama held Hiruzen back.
"Saru, I think the smoking has finally damaged your brain cells. Mito and Biwako have always been warning you about quitting that nasty habit." Hashirama stated as Hiruzen tried to argue with him.
Only to be drowned out as the shinigami's death cloud or however one would describe it passed through Kingu and Orochimaru. Kingu started to melt a bit as well as feel slightly weak before putting himself back together. He was confused until he started noticing Orochimaru screaming violently as his skin started to bubble and some oddly colored foam started to leak out of his mouth. The green haired clay warrior let go of his spear as he watched Orochimaru panic and run around as if he were a chicken that had just been decapitated.
"So this is death for a man who claims to be invincible." Kingu said to himself as Orochimaru attempted to combat death.
Sadly the shinigami had put Orochimaru high up on his list of people who needed to have their souls reaped away. There was nothing that would stop the god of death from claiming what now belongs to him. Not even a cheater such as Orochimaru who slithers away like the snake he has embraced himself to become. For his final head had been cut off and would soon cease it's violent resistance.
"It's funny really." Kingu said as he caught Orochimaru's gaze. "Even with the all the bloodlines in the world. You could never achieve all those jutsus." he said as his face contorted into a twisted grin.
Orochimaru actually felt unsettled by the grin coming off the man. He was a bit cowardly, but then again it was best to be seen as a coward if it meant surviving at least another day. So in reality, there was nothing wrong with being a bit fearful in this world.
"Every so often, someone will create a new jutsu. Powerful, weak, elemental, non-elemental, supplementary, defensive, offensive, combination, there are too many ways to define a jutsu. Yet there are so many restrictions such as chakra capacity or animal summoning." Kingu began to explain before he tossed his lance into the air. "So in reality, there can be no end to your goal. No magic eyes or special chakra can help you. You're only a parasite with too much pride that needs to be exterminated." he whispered before the lance turned into a spear and pierced Orochimaru again before several branches of sharp objects popped out all over his body.
Orochimaru let out another painful shriek before his life ended and his body fell apart. Kingu would describe the death he had witnessed as dity crumbling away into dust as that is what just happened to Orochimaru's remains. Though unaware of it, Orochimaru had a technique similar to Ultimecia where fragments of his soul were placed in all of his curse marks that were on his victims. Sadly, for most of those who carried the curse marks would end up being confused for a wicked soul and be taken away by the shinigami.
"How could you do that!?" Hiruzen demanded as he grabbed Kingu.
"End the life of a criminal or your student?" Kingu asked as Hiruzen snarled. "What did you expect? That he would be detained? Somehow have his ways changed? That he would redeem himself? Or would you keep him locked away in a cell and have him forgotten?" he kept asking.
"Saru that is enough!" Hashirama said as he pulled back his former student.
The shodaime did not understand what was going on. But even if the man that summoned him was a student of Hiruzen and became a traitor to the village. It was safe to say, that it was best that Orochimaru is dead and no longer among the living where he could harm the village he created. Which only left Hashirama and Tobirama wondering what was going on in the old man's head.
Though besides the fighting, they also had something else to worry about. Such as why was their flesh returning to its normal color.
Back with Ultimecia
Despite neither Uzumaki taking damage or running out of energy. It was safe to say that Mito was at a disadvantage and losing the fight.
"Who do you fight for?" Ultimecia asked.
Mito was caught off guard by the question, "What?" she asked.
"Who do you fight for? Clearly you act on your own accord, but you chose to attack me first when all I've done was mock the Senju and his idiocy." Ultimecia stated.
"I fight for my husband's home. The village he built on to create peace." Mito replied with invigoration.
"Yet three wars have broken out because he gave away the nine most powerful creatures in existence like they're free glasses of water." Ultimecia said as Mito continued to unleash water jutsu after water jutsu for her to block. "Your home is gone, your village is run by the elderly whose wisdom is clearly weaker than their bones and clearly the teachings of the master did not pass onto the student so well. I don't believe I have to further explain myself." she said as her skin started to return to normal and the sclera had turned white.
Mito also started noticing that her body had turned to normal. It felt as if she had discovered what breathing was for the first time. Ultimecia quickly recognized this phenomenon and smirked.
"Life blossoms inside me once more. I suppose that means it's time to put the child gloves down doesn't it?" Ultimecia asked as Mito prepared herself.
However, something caught her attention. Ultimecia no longer had the motivation to continue this farce of a battle with Mito. So slowly turned towards where her descendant was fighting.
"Uzumaki Art: ...ARGH!" Mito found her technique being interrupted as Ultimecia wrapped a chain around her neck and tossed her aside.
"I have no need to finish this." Ultimecia said as she moved towards the cause of her attention.
Back with the Uzumaki/Namikaze family
After being repeatedly beaten and kicked around, Jiraiya managed to get some space and a brief break. Though in reality, the angry parents were just stretching seeing as their they were revived thanks to the shinigami who was gathering up all the souls it considered to be wicked. It was difficult to say who the shinigami considered to be truly evil or how many souls he needed or what the worth of one soul was for it to void Minato's contract for sealing away the kyuubi in Menma. That and how many souls for someone as powerful and dangerous as someone that made the Uzumaki clan fearful.
"So much pain..." Jiraiya muttered as he tried to set up only to fall again as he felt the impact of Gamabunta being tossed around.
"Forget you! You're the one who caused this mess! Besides, you're not the one fighting an overgrown gecko with wings!" Gamabunta yelled with rage as Bahamut proceeded to lift him up and toss him around.
Meanwhile Artemisia giggled as she and Menma made their way to him, "The great sannin stands before us. Broken, betrayed by the ones he dishonored. Tough is it really betrayal?" she asked.
"You turned them against me! You used your spell or something when you summoned that witch! You did the same to Menma!" Jiraiya accused only for Menma to kick his face.
The armored boy then proceeded to pull him up by his hair, "Some of us need to realize we have free will!" he yelled before tossing him back.
Jiraiya stumbled back as he tried to recover. The toad sage didn't want to believe that his two students and the rest of their family was against him. Though at some point, he had to put that idea aside and assume that perhaps acted out on their free will. Only still maintaining some arrogance that they were just being foolish and too soft. While Jiraiya has had his respectable moments as a shinobi (ignoring his need to peep), but he's witnessed the bad side of the shinobi world and seen the sacrifices of others.
Though Jiraiya never believed he had to sacrifice anything himself and wore his title like a badge. As if he was willing to contradict himself and expect no one to argue with him on it based on his status alone. That so long as you are in a position of power, your pride overlaps natural laws and ethics. At least this is what was Jiraiya believed and through his own hardships, he believed he would always be in the right.
So with a few quick hand seals, he slammed his hand on the ground, "Summoning Jutsu!" he called out as two miniature toads in cloaks appeared.
"Jiraiya-chan, what is going?" asked the green toad as they both hopped onto his shoulders.
"Pa, right now Minato and Kushina have been resurrected and Naruko is actually working with the witch the whole time." Jiraiya said as both toads looked shocked.
"Minato-chan?" Pa asked as he saw the angry yondaime. "Why the angry face? Are you not happy to return to the land of the living and be reunited with your teacher?" he asked.
"That man has no right to call himself my teacher!" Minato yelled. "He abandoned my family and left my daughter to be used as a sacrificial pawn in hopes of her being manipulated and brainwashing my son into being a blind child with no independent actions!" he continued to exclaim.
"But Minato-chan, if not for the prophecy or Jiraiya-chan. Menma-chan will fall towards the dark path and let the shinobi world fall!" said the purple haired toad.
Kushina growled as she tried ripping of the toad's head with her chakra chains, "If you had your own children. You wouldn't be saying the same. That monster almost let my baby die!" she roared as the toad elders looked fearful of the angry Uzumaki.
Only they became more fearful as Ultimecia's aura could be sensed, "What is this I hear of a prophecy?" everyone turned to the sorceress who strutted all the way from where they stood. "Is someone arrogant enough to believe they can tamper with the laws of nature in their favor?" she asked as Jiraiya glared at the ancient Uzumaki.
"And what would you know!? You're clearly an Uzumaki version of Madara that should have stayed buried!" Jiraiya exclaimed.
Ultimecia shot him a glare, "I do not know who this Madara is. However what I do know is that I stand before a shameless fool. Relying on the belief of such decrypt creatures to assist him." she shot back as Jiraiya snarled.
"Ma! Pa! I need you to help to stop her and the kids!" Jiraiya requested as both elder toads nodded and helped him gather up nature chakra.
With the result ending in Ultimecia being filled with disgust, "How putrid! You transformed into one of those slimy amphibians." she said as Jiraiya's physical form had appeared to be closer of a toad.
"Try not to act all sophisticated. I know your type and you shouldn't underestimate the toads and how powerful they are." Jiraiya said as he continued charging up nature chakra.
Minato and Kushina were about to confront Jiraiya only to be stopped by a barrier with the appearance of glass.
"No, you two are at fault for leaving the children to fend for themselves. Therefore as their ancestor, it's my duty to help them put this false prophet into eternal rest." Ultimecia said as Artemisia and Menma (hesitantly) stand by her side.
(Final Fantasy 8 OST - Force Your Way)
"You bitch! I'll be the one sealing you away when I beat you and teach those brats what happens when they betray their village for being ungrateful!" Jiraiya roared as he got onto all fours. "Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon!" he yelled out.
"Wall." Artemisia called out as a large wall with the appearance of glass appeared and blocked out most of the senbon before eventually cracking and shattering.
"You still have much to learn child." Ultimecia said before saving Naruko as she saw Menma slam his hands onto the ground.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!" Menma called out as he blocked out the remaining senbon despite the heavy amount hits they dealt.
Artemisia nodded, "I will not disappoint you again. Blizzaga!" she yelled out as she launched a heavy amount of ice at Jiraiya.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Missile!" Jiraiya called out as his attack managed to stop the ice. "Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!" he called out as he slammed his hands on the ground and slowly created a large brown pit.
Ultimecia and Artemisia both had their respective flight abilities which left Menma having to jump high into the air. Only to slowly fall down as the pit was much bigger than he expected. However he was saved from being trapped by his sister.
"Float!" Artemisia casted as Menma was able to move just above the swamp.
Menma nodded in thanks before continuing his attacks, "Wind Style: Cross Slash!" he yelled out as he swings his sword in the air and unleashes a sharp gust of wind that Jiraiya blocked with his arm guards only to be cut up by three more that appeared.
"Jiraiya-chan, we can't be messing around and we can't go all out while the tadpoles are here." Fukasaku warned.
"You also better apologize for calling them brats too!" Shima warned.
"Fine, we can try to separate them at the very least. Sage Art: Goemon!" Jiraiya yelled out as he and the toad elders simultaneously fired a mix of fire, oil and water leading to the creation of a giant wave filled with a blistering amount of heat.
"Clever and yet very reckless. You must be very desperate." Ultimecia told the sage as she pulled in the children close to her and shielded herself in a dome with her clan's chakra chains.
The wave itself was rather big and it caused everyone including Artemisia's subordinates to take cover. Though it did end up taking out a few of the clay warriors that were fighting off the invaders. Luckily the civilians and nobles managed to escape the stadium to avoid being attacked. When the wave calmed down, the trio watched as Jiraiya ran up to the dome.
"Odama Rasengan!" Jiraiya cried out as he slammed the massive Rasengan into the dome and leaving not as much as a scratch.
Ultimecia called off her chains and unleashed a wave of ethereal blades at Jiraiya. Upon seeing the toad sage avoid the weapons and barricade himself with a wall made of earth. Ultimecia then prepared her next spells.
"Protect." she casted onto Menma to reduce physical damage. "Shell." she casted to protect Artemisia from ninjutsu.
"Triple! Menma, you can use three jutsus in quick succession with little need for hand seals." Artemisia said as Menma nodded and dashed at his former mentor.
Jiraiya had little time to prepare as he lowered his wall as he saw Menma running right at him.
"Water Style: Water Bullet!" Menma called out.
"Wind Style: Wind Bullet!" Jiraiya countered only to be surprised by a fire jutsu following behind the water jutsu.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!" Menma called out as his fire flew bast the wind only to be stopped by water coming out of Ma's mouth.
"I'm done playing games Menma! Rasengan!" Jiraiya yelled out.
"Wind Style: Rasengan!" Menma countered as both jutsus collided.
While Jiraiya was confidant enough that his superior experience and mastery of the technique could make Menma fly away. He didn't bother noticing the boy's growth over the entire month. Not only did Menma dedicate himself to redeeming himself as a brother, he dedicated his training towards becoming stronger for himself and his loved ones rather than status and honor. So the toad sage didn't notice when Menma was able to not only produce the Rasengan without a clone, he finally finished his father's jutsu by adding the wind element.
The element successfully drilling through Jiraiya's Rasengan and crushing his hand. Jiraiya screamed in pain as he was sent rolling across the ground while holding his battered arm. The only reason it wasn't completely shattered and bloodied up was thanks to the toad elders being able to give him some greater strength while in sage mode. However upon falling, the elder toads fell off of his shoulders and quickly tried to run back to his side only to be stopped by Ultimecia and Artemisia.
"Quake!" Artemisia called out as Jiraiya and the toads were being tossed around and being further separated.
Fukasaku was the first to recover and attempted to attack Ultimecia, "Zessanzan!" he yelled out as he extended his tongue which was long enough to make Hinata's new sword look like a toothpick.
"Do you amphibians only now how to be further revolting. Wall!" Ultimecia casted only for Fukasaku to break the barrier and smack her with his tongue and leave a medium wound across her body.
Fukasaku continued his assault thinking he had found a way to defeat the sorceress. Only to be stopped by her flight speed as she as appeared over him.
"I rarely use this but, I'd rather not continue this pointless battle. Slow!" Ultimecia casted as Fukasaku's movement was greatly decreased
'Why can I barely move? How powerful were the ancient Uzumaki?' Fukasaku muttered before Ultimecia continued her attack.
"Consider this poetic irony for what you vile creatures have done. Pain!" Ultimecia yelled as Fukasaku groaned as he was too slow to react to his body being attacked by poison, darkness and silence.
Ma watched as Pa was filled with absolute pain. The toad elder rushed towards the sorceress hoping to take her shot at Ultimecia while she was distracted with torturing her husband. However Artemisia appeared and proceeded to rush at Ma with an ethereal looking lance. Ma narrowed her eyes as she engaged Artemisia with her clan's Frog Kata. Artemisia seemed to have some struggle with the initial attack but was able to push back the elder toad.
"Wind Style: Wind Dust Cloud!" Ma called out as she jumped high into the air and unleashed a giant cloud of dust at Artemisia.
"Firaga!" Artemisia countered as she blew away some of the dust away and barely took damage due to her shell.
Ma continued to dash Artemisia and landed a kick on her lance, "Why do you fight us Naruko-chan? We are your allies! Friends of Minato-chan and your family!" she asked.
Artemisia gritted her teeth as she slapped the elder toad away, "You lost that right when you separated my family!" she roared. "Thundaga!" she yelled out as she destroyed the floor where Ma once stood.
"I will defeat you Naruko-chan! And you will see reason!" Ma exclaimed only to be hit with a wave of water.
"Waterga!" Artemisia watched as Ultimecia could have practically drowned Ma. "Did you not heed my words child?" she asked. Naruko looked a bit nervous and hesitated to speak only for the silver haired woman to place a hand on her head, "Forget it, this is your first real battle. These amphibians are much more cunning than I gave them credit for." she said as she turned to Ma who was coughing violently.
"You know ancestor, toads don't necessarily enjoy salt water or heat for that matter." Artemisia told her as Ultimecia smiled.
Ma could only look up with fear as both mages prepared to possibly end her life.
"Fire and minerals seem trivial." Ultimecia said as she prepared a stronger spell in her hands.
With Jiraiya and Menma
"Summoning Jutsu!" Jiraiya quickly called out as a medium sized toad appeared and blocked Menma's gunblade.
'Damn! Not enough!' Menma thought as he jumped back and reached for a pair of scrolls. 'Baa-chan better have taught nee-chan properly.' he thought as he tossed the scroll at the toad that was covering Jiraiya who was working on a seal.
The toad blasted the scroll with some oil only to force it to release its contents. A large fire was unleashed and forced the toad to jump back as it felt it's flesh being burned and forced Jiraiya to stop what he was doing. Menma continued his assault as he tossed one more scroll and released it from a distance. Jiraiya and the toad prepared for another wave of fire or a similar attack only for a flood of seawater to appear and send Jiraiya floating away as the toad was also forced to leave when Menma started boiling it with several fire jutsus.
'Who the hell summons an ocean!?' Jiraiya thought furiously as the flood ended and he managed to drag himself out.
"It's over pervert!" Menma yelled as he started channeling chakra into his sword.
Jiraiya snarled, "It's not over until you become obedient and your sister pays for betraying the village!" he yelled as he prepared another Rasengan.
"Then you can live with not getting what you want!" Menma yelled back as he created three clones.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" one clone casted as he used the water from earlier wave.
"Fire Style: Intelligent Hard Work!" another clone casted as Jiraiya had to work hard to avoid the attacks as they nearly took out his head.
That wasn't the main focus as he was an optional target. What Jiraiya didn't see was the water dragon was big enough for a part of it to collide with the flames and create mist. Jiraiya was unable to see through the mist or the plan as he kept running at Menma. When he saw the armored genin rush at him with another Wind enhanced Rasengan. Taking the momentum into account, Jiraiya avoided the attack and slammed his attack into Menma's chest.
Unfortunately, Menma turned into smoke as another Menma appeared. Jiraiya had already began to work up another Rasengan in his free hand that he prepared just in case his former student used a clone. However once more, he ended up facing another clone which exploded rather than turning into smoke. Once again sending Jiraiya skidding across the ground as he clutched his bleeding hand.
Just as he lied on his back trying to hold his wound, he looked up to see that Menma was trying to swing his gunblade down on him. Jiraiya quickly rolled away before Menma struck the ground and tried to take him out with another technique.
"Needle Senbon!" Jiraiya called out as his hair launched more hair as if they were real senbon.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Menma countered as he unleashed a powerful wind that repelled the senbon. Seeing that Jiraiya refused to surrender, Menma continued his attack, "Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!" he yelled out as he unleashed various projectiles at Jiraiya.
Seeing the attack heading his way, Jiraiya prepared his own defense, "Needle Jizo!" he said as his hair now surrounded his body and blocked out all the shuriken.
However, Menma was far from done, "Lightning Flash!" he yelled as he tossed a lightning coated fuma shuriken at the toad sage.
"Wind Style: Air Bullet!" Jiraiya countered as he knocked off the fuma shuriken's direction.
So with one last effort, Jiraiya ran up Menma as he made a few quick hand seals. Only to feel several chains wrapping around him. In his futile attempt to make a last stand, Jiraiya soon found himself losing a few fingers thanks to Menma's gunblade before taking a cross shape slash to the chest right before being pinned down.
(End of Song)
Jiraiya panted as he looked around to get a better view of his situation to see Menma dusting off his armor as Artemisia and Ultimecia approached him. Both of them carrying Fukasaku and Shima's bodies that were encased in ice that left them in suspended animation. Before Jiraiya could curse them or saying something ridiculous in hopes of somehow making a cowardly retreat. He found his head being forcefully tilted towards Ana who walked up to him and forced him into staring into his eyes.
'The Gorgon clan.' Hashirama and Tobirama thought as they witnessed the Toad Sage's petrification.
"Thank you Ana." Artemisia said gratefully as the girl nodded and put her hood over head.
"Jiraiya!" Hiruzen yelled out as he tried to slam his adamantine staff onto Ultimecia.
Only for Menma to put some chakra into his feet and jumped high into the air to block the swing with his sword. Leaving the preteen to use all his might to stop the swing as his ancestor moved out of the way. Just as Ultimecia was about to cast another spell, she saw the elderly hokage being restrained by his own sensei's mokuton.
"Sensei release me! I have to eliminate the witch before she destroys the village?" Hiruzen demanded.
Everyone just stared at Ultimecia as she narrowed her eyes at everyone, but nonetheless remained calm. As if she was either preparing herself or not willing to continue to fight.
"I think you've done that already Saru." Hashirama told his former student as he couldn't believe what lead his village to fall so far from grace.
However that didn't stop the fact that there was a war going on. Even if Suna wasn't aware of their leader being deceased or the fact that they've been deceived by Orochimaru who is also deceased. The only one left with any authority was the snake sannin's spy, Kabuto who had yet to realize that his former master's curse mark users had also been wiped out and that all the remaining seals were gone including the one on Sasuke as each one contained a fragment of his soul. Finally ending any and all hope of Orochimaru returning to the land of the living.
In other words, every enemy shinobi was basically a chicken running around without its head. Along with a few snakes that were still slithering around. Like the one that suddenly bursts through a wall in the stadium.
"A snake summon!" Tobirama warned as he was about to go through a series of hand seals.
Only for several meteors to fall from the sky and shatter the serpent's skull. The nidaime looked back Ultimecia with surprise.
"I suppose while I am here with no other purpose. Someone needs to clean up your mess." she told him as she approached Artemisia. "Now then Naruko or was it Tortilla?" she asked.
The younger sorceress in training blushed, "Artemisia!" she said.
"You will be helping me as I will have trouble determining who to avoid hitting." Ultimecia said as she grabbed her descendant's hands. "Hold on tight, this will take a toll seeing as you still lack experience." she said as the younger girl nodded.
Kushina could only feel worry as she saw her daughter close to the woman she was told about. All her parents did was refer to the woman as if she was something out of a nightmare. A bedtime story meant to scare children into obeying clan laws and the insanity caused from abandoning family. What she would soon learn along with Mito, the dark truth of their family history.
Meanwhile Artemisia started to take deep breaths as she felt the heavy amount of magic coursing through her body. All the while Ultimecia closed her eyes and kept focus.
"Pay close attention Naruko. For this is a spell, that I have yet to fully master and it takes a seismic amount of mana to utilize." Ultimecia stated as the magical power began to grow.
"What is this power?" Artemisia asked.
Ultimecia gave a rare smirk, "I call it... Law." she answered as they both released a powerful golden wave that spread throughout the corner of Konoha.
Elsewhere in the village
Karin once again found herself preparing for another rather scary phenomenon.
"Why do I get stuck by myself in a war zone!?" she asked as she saw the golden wave moving past her.
Only to see that she came out unscaved. The same couldn't be said about the Oto shinobi who all appeared as if they had aged over thirty years and began to collapse. She watched as the various clay warriors and golems started to regroup as the Suna shinobi feared for their lives and were already attempting to retreat.
"Was that some kind of detonation?" Karin asked as she rubbed her temples. The concept of magic only gave her migraines, "I know chakra is everything, but magic is literally just an excuse to do bullshit. Ow my poor head!" she said before a White Mage approached her.
"Karin-dono, a message from Kimimaro-sama." the white mage said as they presented a crystal orb that showed Kimimaro's face.
Karin adjusted her glasses as she took the orb, "Something wrong? I saw a giant bright light." she asked.
"Artemisia-sama has won the battle but exhausted herself. We are to return to the castle right away." Kimimaro ordered.
Karin scratched the side of her cheek in confusion, "Alright, I'll be there in a minute." she said knowing she had a few civilians to have evacuated seeing as she was setting up a few tents. "This is going to take a while. So why did I get stuck with all the work?" she whined.
At the same time, Konoha shinobi would make many reports of Oto shinobi suddenly collapsing from exhaustion and Suna fleeing with their tails in between their legs. Arrogantly enough, many claimed it was Konoha's win and that it was natural for a "superior" village to pushaway a "weaker" and "arrogant" village that betrayed them. Though there were a few Konoha ninja that collapsed as well and exhibited the same symptoms as their defeated enemy.
Back at the stadium
The formerly deceased hokages watched in shock as Hiruzen also yelled in pain as he looked slightly older and drastically weaker.
"It didn't harm anyone except Hiruzen." Tobirama said before Hashirama pointed out the various unconscious Oto shinobi that collapsed in the arena.
"Of course, I believe this technique was meant to differentiate friend from foe. All without hurting anyone else that was caught in the attack." Kingu explained as through his hypothesis.
Before anyone else could question what happened. Everyone turned to see that Naruko had collapsed into Ultimecia's arms. Menma quickly helped up his sister and carried her in a bridal fashion.
"What's wrong with her!?" Kushina demanded as she ran up to see her baby girl's condition.
"She exhausted herself. If my castle is still intact, that would be a safer place to treat her properly." Ultimecia said as she summoned a portal that lead directly to her castle.
"Take me with you!" Kushina demanded as she placed a hand on Ultimecia's shoulder.
One glare from the sorceress and Kushina found herself backing off for a moment. Leaving Minato shocked that someone scared his wife who was considered very terrifying for being the Red Hot Blooded Habanero.
"Why?" Ultimecia asked.
"Naruko-chan is my baby and I need to be by her side!" Kushina said as she fought back her tears.
Despite Ultimecia's cold glare remaining in place. Something inside of her went off.
"Very well, just you. I can't fathom and trust towards anyone else here." Ultimecia said as Kushina gave a nod to Minato who understood the situation and believed he could rekindle with his scorned daughter at another time.
As his family left, Minato was left wondering how Konoha could come back from this mess. While the enemy is either dead or running away. The real danger was the current state and future of Konoha. At least now, the village had three capable hokages who could try to put out the metaphoric fires that Sarutobi lit. None of it being the will which was passed down to him. Rather than a Will of Fire, it was a Fire of destruction.
TO BE CONTINUED...
NEXT TIME: EPILOGUE