Chapter 10 – Rat Race
Skipping right through to the start. Have a good read.
Disclaimer: Ownership of Naruto is not mine.
Transitions and flashbacks are in italics.
Tailed beast speech is in bold.
'Thoughts are in single quotations.'
In a space undefined by the world…
"There's still so much I want to say to you… oh no."
"What?"
"The awakenings effects are beginning to pull you back!"
"No! But I only just met you! I still- I want to-"
"Listen, and listen well! We're running out of time but there are still some things you need to know about the awakenings."
"…I'm listening."
"Awakenings aren't like the kekkai genkai you know of. It's not an ability that's just in your blood, it's a mental change as well."
"I don't get it, what does that have to-"
"Most of the big clans have them too but they're very rare things and require your mind to change. The Uchiha have the Mangekyo, the Senju have the Mokuton. Even the Hyuga have one, but it's extremely rare."
"So they have awakenings too? But then-"
"My point is that those awakenings come with unique skills yes, but also a big cost. Mostly in chakra, but sometimes in other ways. It's no different for you. Be careful Naruto, don't abuse this ability."
"Yeah, I promise."
"Now, I'm going to give you something useful."
"What is it?"
"It's something that can let you save many people. Be careful with it, they're not easy to control."
"Naruto!"
Naruto's eyes shot open suddenly. His vision was blurry and his body was stiff, but even still he had one thing that he could rely on. His chakra. It burst forth within him, flowing through every inch of his body. Grunting, he pulled himself to his feet. His ears picked up on the clashing of kunai and turning his head to his right, he realized who called him.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
For some reason, he was in some sort of cavern, not where he last was with Kakashi. The stone walls about him were strangely shaped, but more importantly there were several people about the tunnel especially-
"Hup!"
An Iwa chunin attempted to stab him but he rolled underneath it. Facing his new opponent, he realized there were eleven ninja behind the Iwa chunin who were steadily approaching. A little too many for Naruto's liking. Backing up slowly, his back met Kakashi's. Kakashi himself was parrying strike after strike from two Iwa jonin at once. Considering how run down he was, Naruto was honestly surprised he was standing. Then he remembered he'd just woken up.
"Sensei where are we?"
"Nice of you to join me two hours after falling asleep in my arms. Finding this place was something of a chore with you on my back, finding out it was a service tunnel only made it worse."
Naruto nervously chuckled.
"Sorry, I was having a really nice dream."
"Never mind that, we need to focus on getting out of here!"
"Right! I have something that could work but I need space."
"Space? You aren't planning on summoning-"
"No, not yet anyways."
Kakashi paused for second, considering the options he had before shrugging. Suddenly vanishing from behind Naruto, the two Iwa jonin panicked before their heads were both grabbed and smashed into each other. Kakashi yelled from behind them.
"Do it then!"
Naruto nodded before sprinting away from the ninja in front of him. They made to chase but then Naruto asked a curious question.
"Which way do we need to go?"
Kakashi blinked before pointing at the ensuing ninja in a confused manner. Naruto nodded before summoning ten clones.
"You know what to do guys!"
The clones all responded.
"Right! Joint Transformation: Wrecking Ball (Kansetsu Henge: Hagane-kyu)!"
A large smoky explosion erupted from the ground behind Naruto as he ran. Kakashi stared in shock as it cleared to reveal a giant steel ball that fit the tunnel they were in perfectly.
"What the hell is that?"
Naruto glanced oddly at him.
"It's a wrecking ball Kakashi-sensei. I mean, it's in the name of the jutsu."
"Y-Yes I can see that but how?! You shouldn't be able to-"
An explosion erupted from behind the ball, and it shuddered slightly in response. Kakashi's eye widened even more. Naruto ignored his shocked sensei, instead placing his hand on the ball.
"Okay, the jutsu's stable. We should be able to bust our way out of here with this."
Kakashi's stare could only widen so much, so his jaw dropped in response. The number of things that did not make sense with what Naruto had done simply baffled him. He then decided to just roll with it.
"Alright, let's go then."
"Awesome!"
Naruto then proceeded to kick the ball as hard as he could. Rocks crumbled as the wrecking ball slowly shifted and shaped the cave to move itself. Sudden screams could be heard and both Naruto and Kakashi mentally made sure to ignore the ground below them as they walked behind it.
"So… how long does this jutsu of yours hold for?"
"I'd say maybe five minutes. Ten if my clones hold on really tightly."
"There are several things I really want to ask you, but I get the feeling I'll just be even more confused in the end."
"That's okay, I barely understand how the jutsu works myself."
Kakashi nodded as Naruto made to kick the large steel ball again, increasing its speed. They both began to run behind the ball now that it was moving rather fast.
"Naruto, there is something that I actually need to ask you though."
"Yeah?"
"It's about the Kyubi."
Naruto made an 'oh' face.
"Um, yeah I can't use its chakra right now."
"I'm aware that its chakra is being sealed off. What I want to ask you is something else."
Naruto cocked his head in confusion.
"What is it then?"
"Have you talked to Sasuke and Sakura about it?"
"…not yet."
Kakashi sighed.
"Have you spoken to anyone at all about-"
"I just need more time."
"Well, time isn't something we exactly have a lot of right now."
"It's not like I saw them down here. For all you know they're back in Konoha-"
"They're definitely down here. I was with them after all."
Naruto's gaze shot to Kakashi.
"They're here?! Do you know where they are?"
Kakashi's head lowered a little.
"No, I don't even know if they're alive."
Naruto grinned.
"We have to get to them then! That's what we need to do, we need to go up and regroup with them. So we can come up with a plan."
Kakashi shook his head.
"It's not that simple. If I'm correct this is Iwa's primary detention facility. Every village has a detention facility, but Iwa's own is considered the most dangerous."
"Why?"
"It has a multi-tiered security system which makes it so that even if you escape, you're likely going to die anyway."
"What!? So no one has ever broken out of here?"
"Not even one of Iwa's rogues have escaped from this place."
"Darn… well, I guess we'll just have to be the first."
Kakashi grunted as Naruto kicked the large ball again, making sure it kept moving.
"It still isn't that simple. The prison itself has five levels, the most dangerous prisoners being on level one. Level four is the highest level that is underground and has the highest concentration of prisoners, although those people are usually not capable of doing much."
"Then what's on level five?"
"A tower, well rather it's a pit with very high elevation. It holds a powerful seal array which poisons anyone who enters it. What's more, there are powerful chakra turrets that will gun down anyone who dares to step within their range. It doesn't help that it's the only way in and out of the prison."
"That sounds stupidly overkill."
"Well, it gets worse. The prison itself is situated right behind the Tsuchikage's office. So even if someone escapes, they'd have to get past what is likely Iwa's most fortified location."
"We can't just do nothing though! If there's even a chance that we can get out of here, we have to take it!"
"I know that Naruto, but what I'm trying to figure out is how to raise our chances because right now, they're near zero."
Both quietened at that, and as they kept moving the silence between them began to eat at Naruto. He then spoke up.
"So, what would raise our chances of escaping?"
Kakashi closed his eyes as he responded.
"Iwa can simply direct their entire force at us if we try to escape. If somehow their response is delayed, then our chances of escaping would be heightened. I suppose, we would need a distraction. Something so threatening that they'd prioritize it over us."
"So like, someone really strong showing up to distract them? Hah, that's not going to happen…"
"On the contrary, it may very well happen soon. The Sandaime should have received my message already."
"Huh? What message?"
"On our situation in Iwa."
Naruto blinked, not knowing quite how to respond for a second.
"How the hell would you send a message from in here?!"
Kakashi winked in response.
"Foresight. I don't know when, but the Sandaime will be arriving soon, and likely with a sizable force."
"A force? But then, that means-"
"Yes Naruto. We're going to war."
Naruto frowned.
"…I see. So because we don't know when they're going to show up, it's dangerous to try to escape now. But we can't stop trying to escape either, or we'll probably die. So we have to hope that when we escape, Sandaime-jiji is there to have our backs."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"Rather astute of you. Are you okay Naruto?"
A tick mark appeared on Naruto's head.
"So I can't say something smart and not be okay?"
"You're implying that as if it's something you can control."
"Dammit Kakashi-sensei."
Kakashi did his eye smile while Naruto pondered if he should stop saying dumb things before ultimately deciding that it was too much work. Kakashi then continued.
"In all seriousness, are you okay? When you passed out, you were seriously banged up."
Naruto realized that yes, he'd been really tired and in pain when he passed out. Yet, he was able to move around as if it had been days since that occurrence and while that wasn't all that uncommon for him it usually took a full night's rest not two hours. He could still feel the soreness of his injuries, his back especially, but they weren't affecting him anymore. A thought crossed his mind then.
'I haven't heard Kyubi for a while now…'
Indeed, he hadn't heard him at all. Closing his eyes for a second, he focused on his chakra. He could still feel the inkling of Kyubi's chakra entering his system.
'Weird his chakra is still there…'
Shrugging to himself he began mentally calling out to the fox.
'Kyubi? Yo Kyubi! You there? A hi would be nice! Kyubi? Kyubi!? Kyu-'
Shut up already kit!
'So you are alive!'
Why would I be dead? Just because I wasn't responding?
'Well you didn't take me on before so I thought-'
Forget it I don't care. I had to waste a large amount of my chakra healing your injuries, with the way the seal is it was near impossible to do. I'm tired now, so I'll be taking a nap.
'Oh okay! Don't die!'
Stuff it gaki.
Naruto chuckled to himself and Kakashi looked at him oddly.
"Well Naruto?"
"Yeah, I'm just fine."
"Good, let's keep our heads up because you never know when-"
CRACK!
"What was tha-"
Just then, the wrecking ball vanished from in front of them and they began to free fall down a sudden pit. Naruto floundered at the sudden loss of his footing while Kakashi righted himself in the air. He shouted over at Naruto.
"By any chance, did something happen to the ceiling by the junction for this floor!?"
"Yeah a jonin punched a bunch of holes in it!"
Kakashi groaned.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!"
At that same time, in the main junction of floor one…
It was going so well. With the escape of two high priority prisoners, and an unknown situation occurring on floor two, the ninja on floor one were managing to control the situation in a unique way. They actively had ninja tracking down the escapees but the other issue was that the other prisoners could become a liability. So, with that in mind, a decision was made to transfer all remaining prisoners on floor one to floor two. The gates had been opened and a platoon of chunin stood guard while a few jonin guided the prisoners in a line. The prisoners themselves had been cuffed and chained to one another, and cloths were placed over their heads to prevent seeing and speaking through unique fuuinjutsu. For the prisoners it was a confusing situation where they did not know much, for the other ninja present it was quite stressing. It was then that it happened.
CRASH!
The ceiling buckled and cracked before exploding, revealing a huge steel ball. All the Iwa ninja present were in shock and caught completely surprised. No one even sensed it coming. It rapidly hurtled towards the ground before landing somewhere completely unexpected. Right on top of one of the escaped prisoners. The others near the prisoner were pulled downwards by the crushed chains, causing them to fall on the floor. The Iwa ninja near the ball scattered, with the jonin rapidly shouting orders while the chunin quickly began to take positions. Dust clouded the air around the ball, and chunin and jonin anxiously waited for it to clear for confirmation. Then, two voices began to speak from it.
"Why didn't you say something earlier!?"
"I don't know you seemed to know what was going on..."
"How considerate- Is what I'd say if we weren't in the middle of a prison!"
"My bad next time then I'll try to remember the holes someone put in a ceiling. Oh um sensei, we got guests."
"You don't say…"
The dust finally cleared to reveal the two figures in the form of a crouching Naruto and a relaxed Kakashi with a hand in his pocket. Neither of them looked like they were in good condition, yet they had an impressive aura about them. Not one of power but one that simply spoke one thing. Everyone here would be going down. The jonin yelled attack orders and formations, and the chunin began to move in accord. Naruto smirked.
"Doesn't look like we're getting out of here without a fight!"
Kakashi nodded.
"Indeed, we'll have to make a stand. Naruto, I'll trust that you can hold your own."
Both jumped down from the steel ball, and it vanished in smoke behind them. Wasting no time, Naruto crossed his fingers.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu (Kage Bunshin no Jutsu)!"
Five explosions of smoke went off behind Naruto to reveal clones. They all nodded to him and they dashed off in different directions. Kakashi himself vanished into thin air, and the cry of a chunin near the back of a formation echoed through the room. Naruto quickly approached the closest group of chunin.
'I think… I get something now…'
Two chunin sprinted towards him, one swinging his kunai once he got close while the other threw shuriken. However, Naruto seamlessly jumped over both chunin's attacks, kicking the first in the back of his head mid-flip before spawning two Kage Bunshin while still in that flip. They grabbed the second chunin, leaving him open to an axe kick from the original. He easily dispatched the two ninja in the span of about two seconds.
'Genin, chunin… even jonin…'
Three more chunin appeared in front of Naruto, all of them performing a sudden rush of hand signs.
"Earth Style: Sandwich (Doton: Sando no Jutsu)!"
The ground quaked and suddenly two large slabs of rock rose from the ground before closing in on Naruto. They slammed shut, and the Iwa chunin behind those that performed the ninjutsu wiped the sweat from their brows. Then, a fast black object flew from the split between the two rocks. The three chunin panicked and the one in the centre dodged what he realized was a fuuma shuriken.
POOF!
'None of that matters. In a fight, strength isn't about rank…'
And it became Naruto. The confusion didn't even reach his face before a kick met his jaw, rendering him unconscious. The two other chunin attempted to retaliate but Naruto was faster in that instance, kicking at one of the chunin's legs while generating three clones behind him, who each launched a punch at the other chunin, forcing him to block one and take two others. As the chunin fell to Naruto's attacks, his danger instincts shot off as he turned around to watch eight chunin all holding swords fall upon him. As they struck him, a cloud of smoke went off, leaving a log in his place. The chunin all stared in a confused manner, before one of them shouted to look up. They did, and even those behind them froze. A mass of Narutos crowded the roof, each of them holding a kunai with a kibaku fuda attached. They all cocked back their hands.
'It's about who wants to win the most, and who has the greater power!'
"Go! Shadow Clone Explosive Volley (Kage Bunshin Kibaku Bore)!"
All the Kage Bunshin threw their kunai, and explosions roared about the room. His Kage Bunshin vanished, and Naruto sighed.
"I really hope we have the greater power here…"
On the second floor…
"Sasuke!"
Distorted. Bright. Everything around him was bent and misshapen. His guts twisted and nausea built up in his throat. The ringing wouldn't stop and his skin felt hot and cold at once. Then he caught himself. He reminded himself where he was. In a high security prison attempting to initiate a riot and eventual prison break. He reminded himself of his current task. Get to the communication stations on level two, and secure it. He reminded himself of his situation. He and Sakura had been running through a corridor towards a stair way which would lead them to the upper half of level two and that much closer to their current goal. However, the appearance of two ninja stopped them, and they used a very explosive attack which Sasuke took the brunt of. He grunted as he looked forward. The ninja were still there but behind them at the end of the corridor was Sakura. One of her sleeves were a little singed but that was of little consequence.
'She's okay…'
The world stopped spinning. His hearing cleared. Chakra began to thrum through his body, and when he opened his eyes, his vision was exceptionally sharp.
"So the Uchiha lives…"
The two ninja in front of him wore bandages all about their body except on their eyes. On top of those bandages they wore their flaks. The ninja to the left wore black cargo pants but no shoes, with his head band wrapped around his eyes, yet he showed the ability to see. The one to the right wore black shorts and black sandals with his headband wrapped around his forehead. The one to the right was the one who spoke and he continued.
"It's good to see that your eyes still work."
Sasuke ignored them.
"Sakura, go on ahead of me."
Sakura looked back at him for a moment before nodding. However, the ninja who was speaking before stopped them.
"Don't ignore us you brat… don't you know who we are?"
"No and I couldn't care less."
The one to the left spoke, his tone calm in comparison to his partner's lively one.
"We are Iwagakure's Dynamo Brothers. Rising stars in the Bakuha Butai (Explosion Corps)."
He looked back at Sakura before continuing.
"Your friend isn't going anywhere Uchiha. And neither are you because you have a use to us."
Sasuke sneered in response.
"And what would that be?"
"Your eyes obviously. Since there are two, we will be taking both of them. But we can't have you struggling, so we'll kill you first before taking them."
"Kill me…?"
Sasuke looked at the ground before chuckling darkly. Then his gaze shot upwards at the ninja, Sharingan spinning madly. Both ninja froze up at the sudden pressure being exerted on them.
"What… is… this?"
"I'm afraid it's the other way around. Neither of you will be going anywhere, but your only use to me…"
Sasuke drew a kunai slowly then.
"Is your deaths. Sakura, go on ahead I'll catch up."
Sasuke would admit to forgetting about the ability he discovered back at the camp. He hadn't expected it to be so powerful either, to be able to restrict two seasoned ninja. But more than that, he'd been looking for an opportunity to test his limits freely. Yes, it was selfish of him but he never said he was a saint. And two ninja with the Bakuton were ideal for Sasuke. Especially since they were trying to kill him. Glancing down at his clothing, he realized half of his shirt was now gone, and several burns lined his side and arms. He hardly felt them though, and perhaps that was because he was just that excited.
"This should be fun!"
He dashed towards them. The ninja to the left barked out an order suddenly.
"Bakushi. Roar."
It wasn't even his eyes that warned him, but his instincts. He threw himself onto the ground and the corridor walls and ceiling suddenly exploded outwards. Chunks of rock fell here and there, and Sasuke coughed as dust began to settle in his vision. His eyes darted about the place before picking up three chakra signals. At first he blinked, wondering if his Sharingan deceived him before realizing that yes, the creature before him had caused that explosion.
"You foolish shinobi… You're in for a treat now…"
The dust finally cleared to reveal the brother on the left on top of what appeared to be a summon. The summon was an abnormally large white lion, with bandages wrapped around its arms, legs and torso. It also had an Iwagakure headband. It growled rather menacingly as Sasuke got back up to his feet. Realizing that he was in the open, he could even hear the clashing of blades in the distance and could see the high ceiling of the second floor, he sighed to himself.
"Well this was unexpected."
"Always expect the unexpected."
His eyes widened as he heard the voice behind him and for the second time he was forced to throw himself as a ninjato passed just over where his head was. A magnificent explosion released from it, flinging nearby rubble away. Sasuke rolled back to his feet, facing sideways to both of his enemies, one with a summon that could release explosive roars and another with a blade that could release explosions. He chuckled to himself.
"Certainly unexpected. But not unwelcome, try me if you can."
"If you say so Uchiha!"
The sword wielder rushed at him. He thrust his sword at Sasuke, who deftly sidestepped the explosive attack by inches. Swinging again, Sasuke ducked. He swung one more time, with Sasuke performing a quick backflip. The swordsman grinned and Sasuke realized why a second later as a paw came crashing down on him. He attempted to dodge but it tore into his left shoulder, and blood ran down in rivulets. Staggering, he only just evaded the swordsman's following thrust, the explosion burning a cut into his cheek.
"Surprise!"
Suddenly, the swordsman launched a fist with his free hand at Sasuke's face. Sparks of explosive chakra went off on it as it approached and Sasuke realized he was seeing this in real time. Time seemed to slow more and more until the fist was hardly moving at all. He realized that, should that fist connect, he'd likely not get up again.
'Was I… always this slow?'
He remembered the chunin exams, when he fought Gaara with speed and moves like Lee's. When he used Chidori to break through Gaara's powerful defense. He went further back, when he fought with Orochimaru, actually fighting with the man and not simply dying. He went even further still, mulling over time and time where he fought opponent after opponent but one thing stuck out in those scenarios. He always fought with a high confidence in his abilities, win or lose.
'I always did think I was stronger, faster and smarter… yet here I am about to die, again. Why'd I start doing that?'
His mulling reached a point where he remembered the first time his life had ever been on the line. Itachi. Suddenly, he remembered something odd. Something he'd… forgotten? No, something he'd been forced to forget. He'd never been able to fully remember the details of that night. He remembered a lot yes, the bodies, his parents, Itachi, but there were gaps, points which lacked definition and clarity. Like grey spots, void of information, simply there. And suddenly, one of those grey spots came to life.
"…How'd you do it?"
"How'd I do what Sasuke?"
"How did you kill them all!? There's no way they'd simply let you! You couldn't have fought everyone and come out unscathed!"
"How curious… you're interested in what I'm doing that the other Uchiha couldn't?"
"D-D-Don't lump me in with you!"
"Let me tell you a secret then. The Sharingan's visual prowess is strong, certainly, but without the physical skill to utilize them they are limited. However, that is only part of the truth."
"You're calling our clan weak?!"
"No, there were certainly some that could hold a candle to me. But, what I did was different. Instead of merely relying on the Sharingan to see, I used it to control what they couldn't. Every movement you make is involuntary believe it or not, there is always something that causes you to do something else. What I did, was make it so that my every movement was voluntary, that I could no longer be made to do other things. I could always move that much faster than my opponent because of it. Because of this, there is no way they could have beat me, and that also applies to you. Because not only do you lack hatred Sasuke…"
"Wha- your eyes are-"
"You lack control. But that is a secret you won't learn of, until you've seen it for yourself."
Realization flooded through him as he figured out what exactly Itachi meant by that. The very chakra that flowed through his body, which he would use to exert extra power, the way that he merely used the Sharingan to dodge opponents, and rarely to actually see. He finally knew at last what he was doing wrong. What he should have been trying to do.
'What I needed wasn't new jutsu, or new training. Nor was it even to test my limits. I needed to understand myself first, understand my own potential. To grow as a ninja, I need to know every inch of my capabilities.'
The fist was three inches from his face. Where at first Sasuke saw no escape, he realized there was plenty. He just didn't know how at first. For the first time, he saw things with his Sharingan, things that he could have seen but never noticed because he'd never thought to do so. Too focused on a single goal, too focused on Itachi.
'I've had enough of that damn hatred for you to last a lifetime. It's about time I use it as I want!'
Sasuke jetted chakra through his body. His Sharingan spun quickly as time seemed to speed up once more. However, the most interesting thing happened. The swordsman's fist never touched him. And it wasn't on purpose. Just an inch away from his face, the swordsman found himself unable to move. Out of fear. If the pressure Sasuke exerted with his eyes was bad before it was far worse now. Where before there was a deep rage that fell upon them, now it was a dark coldness. A coldness that could only be associated with death.
"S-Sakki (Killing Intent)…"
The swordsman begged his body to move, to do something. But he couldn't even shift his stare from those cold red eyes. Sasuke merely gazed at him with a cold expression. Now he was capable of doing something that only high level shinobi could do. Orochimaru had done this to him and Sakura in the Forest of Death. Now he could do the same onto others, although he required the Sharingan for it to work.
"That blade is a good one. I'll be taking it off of your hands now."
Taking the sword, he thrust it right through the man's throat. His eyes widened and he gargled blood which stained his bandaged mouth. Sasuke kept holding the blade, letting the man slide off of the blade. Sasuke then turned around. The other brother sat on the lion's back in silence. Then he spoke.
"It appears we underestimated you."
"You did not. You would have certainly killed me there, had it not been for the revelation I received."
"It does not matter, I have no choice but to kill you now. Completely."
"That is understandable, but I won't hold back anymore."
"Bakushi, roar for him."
Sasuke watched as chakra built up inside the lion. He noted that both the summoner and summon had their chakras in sync. He could tell that the summoner was lending the lion his chakra nature in some fashion in order to let it release those terrifying blasts.
'But when he lends it his chakra nature, it takes time for it to build up chakra before release. I need to predict its trajectories and blast radii, and close in on him. He doesn't seem to be able to use those blasts up close after all.'
The lion released a blast from its mouth and it travelled at high speed towards Sasuke. However, Sasuke was faster. He dashed across the terrain, avoiding the explosion. Then it released another one. Sasuke however, also saw this coming and avoided it to by leaping high up into the air. The summoner shouted.
"Now Bakushi!"
It fired an extra powerful blast from its mouth and it sped towards Sasuke's mid-air position.
'Attempting to avoid now is the best choice, I'll try to close in from another angle despite this being the best one-'
"You lack control."
The powerful chakra bullet was mere feet away from Sasuke but he already knew that without needing to see it. Focusing on his chakra, he pumped it into the blade which he'd already analysed was highly chakra receptive. Especially to chakra of the Bakuton. It may not work but… to hell with it. He clashed with the attack and instead of it going off it sparked angrily against his blade, trying to press on past it to its target.
"Control… I have plenty!"
The orb shrank, smaller and smaller until it completely vanished. The summoner was in shock. It wasn't supposed to be possible to do such a thing, simply absorbing an attack. But yet he did it, and it was… he didn't know how to feel about it. Not even as Sasuke's blade met his chest. And not even, as it exploded.
High up on the second floor…
"S-Sir you can't be serious!"
Garbage, it was everywhere. Every time he looked about the meeting room he was in, all he could see was trash. Iwagakure ninja, who were supposed to be strong, who were supposed to be in charge, they were in panic. He could not bear the sight of them. He walked up to a large glass canopy, giving him a complete view of the second floor. He spoke in a deep muffled tone.
"When am I ever not serious? Do you want me to repeat myself?"
"N-Never sir! It's just…"
Disgusting. He watched the chaos unfold in front of his very own eyes, and yet he could do nothing. Iwa feared its own power, perhaps for good reason in past but now it was simply dooming itself. Iwa ninja after Iwa ninja were defeated and everyone was in disarray. The cells were open, prisoners were running amok, and chiefly among them were the Konoha ninja. Dirty trespassers who wreaked havoc on foreign soil. In particular, the Last Uchiha. He watched as he coldly dispatched a member of the Bakuha Butai.
"It's just what? It hardly takes anything at all to do."
"But we're not authorized to make that decision!"
"And communications with the other floors have been rendered mute. Which would you rather, me or the enemy?"
The ninja appeared torn between his possible answers. It was then that particularly loud explosion went off, causing the room to shake. This seemed to unnerve the ninja.
"Y-You sir…"
"How about this, we will head to the communications room and see if we can contact the surface through the direct method. That way, we can gain confirmation and you won't have to worry about a demotion."
"That is a… suitable course of action sir."
"Good choice."
He turned on his heel, grasping the katana on his waist.
"One more thing. Call me Commander."
Time Until Iwa Invasion: 20:00:00
End of Chapter
First chapter out for the New Year after a nice Christmas break, apologies for not releasing last month. Focusing on new developments with this and the next one. I estimate that this arc will probably end in around maybe fifteen chapters, hopefully not more than twenty. So maybe by July possibly August this year given that I'll likely increase chapter release speeds when the arc reaches its climax. There's still a ton of things I have planned. I do realize that this story is supposed to be about Naruto leaving the village but the way I want it to happen requires a lot of changes. Especially since I decided not to follow the plot and build something different. So… patience? Hope you enjoyed the read and leave a review.
Name: Shadow Clone Explosive Volley (Kage Bunshin Kibaku Bore)
Type: Ninjutsu, Offensive
Range: Long (0 - 20m)
Rank: TBA
Description: Naruto generates a large number of Kage Bunshin. Each bunshin then draws a kunai tagged with a kibaku fuda (explosive tag). They proceed to throw it at either a single target or a multiple targets. This improvised jutsu is highly destructive considering it has relatively low cost for Naruto.
Technically not a jutsu but it's a jutsu now in my books considering that this is not the last time he'll use this.