Disclaimer: I do not own the Naruto Franchise that belongs solely to Masashi Kishimoto; I do not own Heaven's lost Property, High School DxD or any other Anime I borrow themes from. The only thing I claim is my OC's and original Story Plot.


Author's Note (A/N): Hey guys I'm back after a long and impromptu break. I'm very sorry for the long expanse of time without a word from me. I lost the internet in my house for the entire month of March and the first half of April since our bills weren't paid. I couldn't do a thing with the story in all of that time, but I'm back now and things are better than ever. This chapter is extra long and jam packed with excitement to make up for my long and silent absence.

This chapter will blow your minds with high Kage level fighting and tactics being displayed and dozens upon dozens of high level Ninjutsu being thrown around. This chapter is one big battle scene where we get to see Hiruzen go all out, and for Dino and Puma to get their very first action scene. This chapter was super fun for me to write and I managed to get it finished all in the last few days. I poured all of my energy into it.

The title of the chapter is also a reference to Episode 5: Empire Strikes Back from StarWars. I'm a super fan, so I had to show my love.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy!


Chapter 64

The Hidden Leaf Strike's Back

This was much harder than any of them could have imagined. The reanimated First and Second Hokage's were incredibly talented and strong. There were no doubts in anyone's mind. Especially those that were fighting them. "I knew old man Hashirama was powerful, but this is just ridiculous." Dino groaned as he received a heavy kick to his stomach that sent him flying. The mob boss slowly climbed to his feet while nursing the bruise no doubt on his stomach. "No one said this would be easy." Hiruzen commented as he redirected a stray attack by Orochimaru who Hiruzen was engaging to keep him from aiding or supporting the reanimated Hokage in any way.

"Sensei… you should really pay attention to me!" Orochimaru charged with an overhead slash that he substituted with a horizontal slash at the last possible second to throw off the aged shinobi, but Hiruzen wasn't deceived in the slightest as he parried this blow without even blinking as such a simple trick wouldn't be enough to get underneath the Hokage's guard. Pushing the snake back Hiruzen blurred through a quick sequence of hand signs that was too fast for even Orochimaru to clearly see.

"Fire Style: Jumping Flame Bombs Jutsu!" Six red hot orbs of fire shot out of Hiruzen's mouth seconds after one another as the flaming balls of fire bounced across the tiled roof in chaotic asymmetrical patterns. Orochimaru's face showed discomfort at this as he had to dodge out of the way of the extremely hot fireballs that were 6 feet in diameter, more than big enough to encumber his advances. Orochimaru gritted his teeth in anger as he slashed at the closest fireball coming his way only to end up failing to disperse the fire as it bounced off the ground in front of him and launched itself in a completely different direction leaving Orochimaru wide open to two more fireballs to jump at his back. Flipping his sword into a reverse grip Orochimaru pumps his chakra into the Kusanagi sword and cuts the two fireballs in half with a reverse strike from behind his back.

His troubles didn't end as the dispersed flames latched onto his sword and started consuming his whole body in an inferno. Orochimaru yelped in surprise as he quickly substituted himself with a nearby broken shingle to escape this unexpected secondary effect. Hiruzen narrowed his eyes at this as he wasn't going to give his former student any time to rest. Surging his chakra, Hiruzen pressed forward with his attack by adding more orbs to the attack. They were upon Orochimaru in seconds as he began a vain attempt at warding off the difficult to hit attack. For a brief moment Orochimaru turned his back to Hiruzen in an attempt to dodge a stray fireball and it was at this moment that Hiruzen subtly changed the hand sign he was holding. His fingers moved into a different configuration in one fluid motion and instantly the entire dynamic of his attack changed.

"Fire Style: Hōrin Entanglement Jutsu!" Hiruzen's finger tips crackled with sparking flames as he launched a thick wire made out of flames at Orochimaru who tried to cut them in half but was stopped by one of the many dancing fireballs ruining Orochimaru's chances at a counter or block. In seconds the Snake Sannin was entangled within an orange flame like whip that bound his arms to his side, but Hiruzen wasn't done yet with his ex-student. A spread of smaller web like tendrils leeched out and latched onto the surrounding fireballs which caused Orochimaru to widen his eyes in realization. 'I have to get out of here!' Orochimaru stressed as he attempted to jump out of the way but froze in shock when he found his body couldn't move.

"Ninja Art: Shadow Possession Jutsu!" Hiruzen smugly states as Orochimaru pales when he sees his own shadow attached to his old master. "I'm not known as the Professor for nothing Orochimaru!" Hiruzen taunted as he changed his hand sign one last time and the large dancing fireballs absorb themselves into the tendrils in a powerful surge that traveled down to Orochimaru's body that could not move. A massive explosion rocked the rooftop with such force that it disrupted the battle taking place between the ANBU Commander and Tobirama as well as Dino and Hashirama. Both parties fell back to regroup with Hiruzen huffing a bit in slight exertion as sweat poured down his brow while the old Hokage looked at the raging inferno that was engulfing the rooftop in its reach.

"It looks like you still have it old friend." Dino commented with a touch of sweat rolling down his face. Holding off the First Hokage wasn't exactly the easiest task anyone could sign up for. This was way too much to suddenly be thrust into without warning. "I wish my chakra network could say the same. I haven't done much, and I can already also feel my joints acting up. Old age is the bane of all great shinobi Dino." Hiruzen quipped back as he rotated his wrist in slight discomfort. Arthritis was an inescapable fate for even the most powerful of men.

'This chakra… it feels foul. Dark in nature. Orochimaru what have you done to yourself.' Hiruzen confounded in his mind as he felt a spike in his student's chakra. A pulse of energy rippled out from Orochimaru's scorched form that didn't feel quite like chakra as his burnt visage became visible through the veil of fire.

The fire around Orochimaru's body receded in the face of this energy as he glared daggers into the souls of his opponents. "I see time has not dulled your sense of battle, nor has it taken root in that old mind of yours Sarutobi Sensei. You still have such a diverse range of Jutsu at your command. Even those from famous shinobi clans." Orochimaru snarled as he peeled off the burnt skin from around his face to allow him to talk. "As I've said Orochimaru, I'm not known as the professor for nothing." Hiruzen reiterated with a dispassionate frown on his face as he saw the rage clear in the Snake Sannin's eyes. He wasn't expecting the combination move used against him and given the fact that he couldn't move due to the Shadow Possession Jutsu that came completely out of left field, it left a bad taste in his mouth. His sensei was still every bit as formidable as he expected him to be.

"You will regret this Sarutobi sensei. This day will end with your death!" Orochimaru raged as he made a signal with his hand and Tobirama sprang into action. "Water Style: Water Shockwave Jutsu!" The Second Hokage intoned as everyone felt his chakra spike and a crushing presence filled the air that pressed down on the combatant's shoulders. "Brace yourselves!" Hiruzen warned as a massive towering wall of swirling water materialized out of thin air as the legendary shinobi used his chakra to produce water nature chakra while simultaneously ripping stagnant water molecules out of the air to bring them into his building attack. The historical ninja had a stern glare on his face as he unleashed his attack in a massive show of force.

A massive surging wall of water was sent tearing across the rooftop to the three-allied shinobi who prepared to defend themselves. "Get behind me." Hiruzen warned as his surged his own potent Chakra within his body. "Earth Style: Earth Rampart Jutsu!" The elder Sarutobi member had a plan in mind as a thick wall of earth raised out of the roof underneath their feet. The group ascended into the air as the powerful water surge slammed into the wall below them with bone crushing force that nearly knocked the three-leaf ninja off their feet. Hiruzen controlled his chakra as the wall of earth started to change shape until it enclosed around the river of water preventing it from surging upwards into the air and reaching them.

"Quick thinking old friend… the upsurge of water shooting into the air would have swept us right off this ledge." Dino commented as his red imposing aura surrounded his body again. "But now it is my turn! We need to go on the offensive if we are to survive this battle." Dino urged as he saw the First Hokage racing in to deliver his own attack. "Let's get him together then." Hiruzen supported as he blurred through a quick sequence of hand signs in under two seconds. "Water Style: Water Whip Jutsu!" Taking advantage of the large accessible source of water provided by Tobirama, Hiruzen summoned two long whips made out of water just as Hashirama launched his own powerful attack. "Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!" The First Hokage intoned as a massive dragon shaped head made of fire launched from his mouth on a direct crash course with the three-allied shinobi who appeared to be sitting ducks on top of their wall.

Hiruzen was ready for this as he took his two water whips and slashed into the incoming flame ball that dispersed the powerful technique and left Dino open for his follow up attack. "Dragon Hard Striker!" Dino roared as the powerful red aura surrounding his body flared to life in a bright light. Illuminating crimson colored rays of lightning poured out in uncontrollable pulses from the elderly man that tore into the wall Hiruzen had created and raced towards the roof where it carved deep trenches of destruction into the roof top and everything around it. The ANBU agents outside of the transparent violet colored barrier flinched back in shock when some of the stray crimson colored lightning bolts pinged off of the barrier in their wild dance of death. The lightning conducted itself into the impromptu lake of water that Tobirama's Jutsu had caused which served to electrify the legendary Second Hokage who wasn't prepared for such a counter attack.

Hashirama himself took offense to this as he roared and threw a chakra covered fist forward and actually punched one of the red lightning bolts back that nearly struck him in the chest. Dino's attack was immensely powerful as the amount of energy it was giving off was enough to capture the attention of those still in the stadium fighting. Puma took this opportunity while Dino's attack was capturing everyone's attention to launch a surprise attack of his own. Disappearing in a cloudless Body Flicker that was too fast for most men to see the ANBU Commander crossed the distance between him and Orochimaru's unprotected back in the blink of an eye.

'Kenjutsu: Leaf Style - Dance of the Blood Moon – Decapitation!' The ANBU Commander was as silent as death itself as he drew his sword and came within inches of cutting off Orochimaru's head but was thwarted by an invisible barrier that pinged a dark shade of purple when Puma's sword bounced off of it. The barrier lit up with archaic sigils very similar to Fūinjutsu but faded soon after the initial impact. While Puma failed to cut Orochimaru's head off the force of his swing was an entirely different matter altogether as Orochimaru tumbled away in shock as he reflexively took his Kusanagi sword and swung a reverse slash at the silver masked wearing agent who back tracked once he saw his preemptive strike fail. "You have the barrier of an angelic being around you, what sick things have you done Orochimaru?" Puma questioned in his monotone voice as he recognized the archaic sigils to be Angelic in nature. In fact, it had many of the same characters as the sigil Kakashi broke in his brief confrontation with Kabuto in Sasuke's hospital room a month prior.

"I've done many things over the years to further my ambition Puma, you're going to have to be more specific." Orochimaru taunted as he signaled for Tobirama who was recovering from the potent blast of lightning his body endured to return to his side. Puma seeing this didn't waste any time in engaging Orochimaru as he took off at mind numbing speeds that actually left visible afterimages behind.

"Kenjutsu: Leaf Style - Dance of the Crescent Moon!" Puma's form blurred as two clones fazed into existence and attempted to cut into Orochimaru who grabbed his sword with both hands and deflected each strike expertly and with perfect precision. "Striking Shadow Snakes!" The Sannin was quick as he launched several venomous snakes from his sleeve that Puma allowed to bite into his cloak. "Fool." Puma intoned as his form started to become darker. "Secret Technique: Wraith Hunter!" Puma's cloak shimmered in the light before it started to lose form and become a dark and malevolent mass of inky darkness. Orochimaru's snakes were disintegrated in seconds as the mass of pitch black aura surged forward and attempted to skewer Orochimaru alive if it wasn't for his quick thinking.

"Tainted Holy Magic: Serpentine Barrier!" Stabbing his blade into the ground spectral images of snakes surged out of the ground and formed a coiling barrier around Orochimaru's form that blocked the darkness that was encroaching around him. The darkness was burned away when it came in contact with Orochimaru's shield which caused the Sannin to laugh in amusement. "I'll have you know I've spent the better part of 45 years training my body to perfection. Science, experimentation, thousands of hours of research. I've done it all Puma. You're precious Third Hokage couldn't handle my genius or the scale of my ambitions. Morals and humanity is a weakness that he suffers from!" Orochimaru goaded with a cynical laugh that grated on the commander's nerves.

"Lord Third's vast understanding on humanity is his greatest strength. His knowledge far surpasses yours Orochimaru and you will feel his power." Puma countered as he entered a dance of death with Orochimaru that had them clashing swords with each other in an intricate manner befitting masters of their caliber. Ducking under an overhead slash Puma attempted to stab Orochimaru in his leg but the Sannin twisted his leg in an inhuman manner to evade the fast strike. "Secret Technique: Wraith's Lance!" Black lances of darkness protruded from Puma's cloak that took Orochimaru off guard which resulted in the Sannin being impaled by over eight spears across his body.

Puma didn't even blink as he flipped his sword around and used the pommel of his sword to knock the blade of Orochimaru's sword away from his neck. "Kenjutsu: Fire Style: Dance of the Ifrit!" Puma's sword raged with flames as he swung his sword around and a long surge of fire scorched the air around Orochimaru who knocked Puma's swing of course with a kick to his wrist. "Kenjutsu: One Slice!" The cut was quicker than even Orochimaru could see as Puma used a familiar technique to inflict a thin but deep cut to Orochimaru's shoulder that was closer to his neck than what the Sannin was comfortable with.

"You were always known for your quick use of the Substitution Jutsu Orochimaru." Puma insulted as he wasn't gullible enough to believe that his previous attack that impaled the Sannin's body would be enough to finish off a shinobi of Orochimaru's caliber. It was also a testament to the older man's character as a slippery snake who evades danger better than any other.

"I'm hurt Puma… surely you don't think so lowly of me in that regard. Perhaps after I kill you in front of your father you'll change your tune in the afterlife." The powerful shinobi stated with venom dripping from his voice as Puma tightened his hold on his sword. "That won't happen Orochimaru!" Hiruzen bellowed as he intercepted a sneak attack by Tobirama who was attempting to strike Puma down from behind. The Third Hokage with finest countering his age knocked Tobirama off his feet with a picture-perfect leg sweep.

"Lord Hokage." Puma tightened his stance as he drew closer to Hiruzen who deflected several more retaliatory strikes from Tobirama who sprung up back to his feet in seconds. "You will not be dying here today Puma, of that I can assure you." Hiruzen reassured as Puma steadied his blade. "Neither will you father." Puma retorted as he revealed his secret identity as Hiruzen's elder son. Orochimaru chuckled at this as he decided to play more mind games with the usually stoic and emotionless ANBU Commander. "You've been a good commander for the last two decades Puma, but I wonder what it's done for your personal life, I can only imagine that Sarutobi sensei's grandson misses you terribly. Maybe I should pay him a visit." Orochimaru taunted with delirious words that got under the usually stoic commanders skin.

"You will die today snake!" Puma growled as he slammed into Orochimaru and clashed blades with the cackling Sannin who was enjoying the mind games he was playing with the entire Sarutobi family. "Kenjutsu: Dance of the Wraith!" Puma's sword became covered in his pitch-black aura of darkness as he clashed swords with Orochimaru who had a hard counter of his own. "Kenjutsu: Cobra Blade Dance!" The two master swordsmen duked it out with Hiruzen trading fierce blows with his own deceased sensei who was throwing multiple Water Style Ninjutsu in conjunction with his masterful Taijutsu skills to overwhelm the elderly Hokage.

'It would seem that they have their hands full…' Dino thought as he blocked another strike from the powerful First Hokage that rattled the old mob boss's bones. '…But the same could be said for me.' Dino pushed Hashirama back as he channeled his potent draconic energy within his body. The skin on his hands turned to diamond hard scales as he slashed at the First Hokage who was displaying Taijutsu skills on a level all onto its own. "Dragon Claw!" Hashirama countered with a powerful chakra enhanced punch that created a shockwave so strong it disrupted the battle going on with Dino's allies. At the end of the clash Dino took more damage than Hashirama as the elderly man skidded back farther than the reanimated Shinobi who dusted off his shoulder plates. "You're a tough one Lord First. But I've got some tricks up my sleeve!" Dino confidently stated as his crimson red aura returned to cloak his body once more.

"Your signature Aura of Ancestral Fury technique is as formidable as ever, the same could be said for your father and his father before him. You half human dragons are quite special." Hashirama complimented with his gentle nature as he braced himself when he felt Dino's power surge. "Wise as ever Lord First, but I've learned much in my years. Flare of Ancestral Fury." The crimson aura surrounding Dino's body flared to life like its name sake and pulsed out like a shockwave that barreled into Hashirama's form who stood his ground against the potent power of Dino's energy that was sending constant ripples across Orochimaru's containment barrier.

"Dragon Strength!" Dino enchanted as his muscle structure grew more pronounced and dense. His gullible pot belly many know him for disappeared as rock hard abs appeared underneath his expensive robes. "Boost!" Dino pressed as his muscles grew even denser and chiseled although much of it was hidden by his robes. Hashirama prepared himself as he knew how powerful a dragon could be. "Titanium Hummer!" Dino roared as a spectral crimson colored battle aura appeared over the surface of Dino's body that condensed all of the power and strength his body was accumulating. The energy rolling off of the elderly mob boss was a sight to see as his energy was giving off light that could be seen in the rest of the stadium and beyond. The energy gave off a low audible hum to it hence its name as Dino rocketed off from his positioned and clashed with the First Hokage who engaged him in a monstrous bout of Taijutsu that no ordinary shinobi could ever hope to participate in, let alone survive.

The roof of the main stadium building shook to its foundation as the two powerful men traded fierce blow after blow that echoed out disruptive shockwaves in multiple cascading waves that battered away at Orochimaru's containment barrier. The fierce bout happening behind them was enough to disturb Hiruzen's and Puma's fight with Orochimaru and Tobirama who stumbled a bit over their feet as the building shook heavily beneath them.

Seeing an opening he couldn't pass up on Orochimaru surged forward and attempted to stab Puma in his side but the powerful ANBU Commander was a step ahead as he substituted with his father who was more than ready for this tactic as he deflected Orochimaru's strike effortlessly. "Iron Monkey Fist: Baboon Flame Fist!" Hiruzen intoned as he entered his clans patented Iron Monkey Fist style. Red hot flames shrouded Hiruzen's hands as he channeled his primary chakra nature affinity into his technique.

Rushing forward Hiruzen engaged Orochimaru in a masterful display of Nin-Taijutsu that would even impress the Fourth Raikage of the Hidden Cloud. Hiruzen was a whirlwind of unpredictable hands and feet as he slammed his fist into the legendary sword of Kusanagi with minimum repercussions as he had his hands protected by his potent chakra and scorching fire. Being pushed onto his back foot Orochimaru hissed his teeth in aggravation as he was being reminded of just how skilled and resourceful his old master was. Killing Hiruzen Sarutobi was infinitely harder than assassinating Rasa the Fourth Kazekage who was young and relatively arrogant, and self-assured in his undisputed well-earned power and skill. But complacency and arrogance was the downfall of any strong or weak shinobi and the Kazekage inadvertently ended up following the superstition and curse that many say the Kazekage line is known for. Everyone to have held that title has been assassinated or kidnapped never to be seen again.

Feeling the pressure from his old master Orochimaru distanced himself from Hiruzen to erect another barrier around himself to recover from the stress of the battle. "Tainted Holy Magic: Serpentine Barrier!" Like before a barrier of snakes infused with tainted holy grace surrounded Orochimaru's form in its protective shroud. Hiruzen huffed in exertion and amusement as he channeled more of his taxed chakra. "Feeling the pressure Orochimaru, its always been in your nature to cower away when you need a break." The Third Hokage criticized as he went on the move.

"Ninja Art: Expansion Jutsu!" The Hokage chanted as Hiruzen inflated his arm in a surprising display again showing off his masterful knowledge on all of the techniques native to the Hidden Leaf. "That barrier won't protect you from me Orochimaru. Iron Monkey Fist: Kong Flame Fist!" Hiruzen slammed his supersized flame covered fist into Orochimaru's barrier that shattered under the immense power of Hiruzen's technique, the Snake Sannin recoiled in pain as the flaming fist slammed into his form and threw him through the air.

Landing in a heap, the powerful shinobi scrambled to his feet with rage clear in his eyes. "Return!" Orochimaru growled as Hashirama and Tobirama quickly disengaged from their respective battles and rushed back to the Sannin's side before either Dino or Puma could grab hold of them. "Do it." Orochimaru ordered to Hashirama who stepped forward in an imposing manner as Hiruzen could see some sweat and tale tell signs of exhaustion built up in the Sannin's form. The same could easily be said for Hiruzen but it was much worst. The Hokage's lungs were burning for oxygen and his heart was pounding against his chest in a painful crescendo. His body wasn't used to this high level of combat anymore and it was taking its tole health wise on the living legend in a negative manner. Hiruzen couldn't go on forever and soon the battle would have to draw to a close. Hiruzen hasn't had to exert himself to this degree since the night the Nine Tails attacked the village and that was 12 in a half years ago. Back then he had just passed on the title of Hokage to Minato Namikaze and he was confident he could live out the rest of his life in retirement. If only he had known this day would eventually come.

Hiruzen was pulled from his inner contemplations by the massive surge in chakra from Hashirama Senju who clasped his hands together in prayer. His chakra surged to levels none of the shinobi present have ever felt before as Hiruzen and Dino knew what was coming next. Something no shinobi, not even the legendary Madara Uchiha would dare scoff at. The First Hokage's true power…

"Wood Style Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees!" The sheer essence of Hashirama's life force could be felt for miles as Hiruzen and the others bore witness to the First Hokage's power. "BRACE YOURSELVES!" Hiruzen roared.


With Shoko – Outer District of the Village

Shoko could feel the immense power emanating from the Chūnin Exam Stadium, but she didn't let that stop her from the task at hand. Eliminating every enemy shinobi from her home with extreme prejudice to the Hidden Sound Village for staging this entire fiasco. 'Another group of these pest… this is starting to get annoying, and the giant snake is still rampaging.' Shoko growled in her mind as she came upon another squad of Sound Ninja who were raiding homes and shops looking for any hidden civilians, but none would be found. They were all being secretly moved to fallout shelters under the previous direction of Shikaku Nara who was coordinating the entire force of Leaf Ninja.

The first sound shinobi didn't even feel a thing as his head was separated from his shoulders in one clean motion. His squad mates were horrified as his body slumped to the ground, but they wouldn't have time to mourn his lost before they were embroiled in a fight with Shoko who was cutting through their ranks without any mercy. "Kenjutsu: Hazard Blade Dance!" Shoko's beautiful katana was cutting bloody paths through the ranks of the sound shinobi who were attempting to surround her.

The group of sound ninja had revenge in their hearts, but Shoko didn't even have the heart to care as she made a quick hand sign. "Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu!" The beautiful killer spat out a massive surge of water that took the entire group off their feet, but Shoko wanted them out of commission permanently. "Lightning Style: Emotional Wave!" Shoko's change in hand sign was quicker than anything the present ninja could see as pulses of static electricity channeled themselves into the surging water where it electrocuted the entire squad of ninja in seconds. The dead corpses slammed into the ground with electric burns all across their bodies as Shoko moved on without even sparing them a glance.

"Now it's your turn snake." Shoko peered as she saw the large three headed serpents turn its attention to her with its multiple heads hissing angerly at her. "Come at me then." Shoko taunted as she flexed her chakra with rapid pulses to draw its full attention to her.

Shoko could see the snake was ready to attack her, but to make matters worse two squads of Sand ANBU Black ops which were a total of 18 agents and nine Sound Jōnin surrounded her along the rooftops. Seeing this Shoko tightened the grip she had on her sword as she pointed out where all of her enemies were. This was a threat, a threat that Shoko would have to take seriously. "I'm glad you all could make it… you're going to need this many to get past me." Shoko growled as she raised the limit of her chakra to intimidate the gathered force. This many shinobi of such high caliber would be a serious threat to even someone of Shoko's prestige.

"I would agree Lady Shoko, but I'm hoping my presence here will offset that." A distinct voice said from on top of the roof in front of Shoko. "Yūra." Shoko whispered as she eyed a distinct and well-known shinobi from the Hidden Sand Village. Yūra was a short man with black hair that hung over his right eye, a goatee and dark eyes. Over his standard issue Sand Flak Jacket, he was seen wearing beige robe with black trousers and sandals. On his face was a face guard as well to add to his appearance that helped him stand out more from those around him.

"It's captain now and today is the day the Hidden Leaf will fall." Yūra stated as he unhooked his giant war fan from his back. "Not going to happen…" Shoko sneered as a hail of shuriken and kunai sailed through the air and littered the rooftops the enemy ninja were occupying. This drew everyone's attention to the buildings across the street and hanging from every angle possible was the Hidden Leaf ANBU. An entire platoon consisting of 36 members were present and leading them was Yūago otherwise known as Cat. Her cream-colored cloak donated her rank as an ANBU Captain and her cat themed mask gleamed in the afternoon sunlight.

"You're Baki's old Genin teammate, and if he's here fighting in the stadium it would also explain why you popped up, but don't think your presence here will amount to anything Yūra… this day will end the same, and that's with the Hidden Leaf emerging victorious." Shoko countered as the young man scowled in anger. "We'll see about that…" The prominent Jōnin hissed as he readied his assault. "Yes, we shall." Shoko whispered as she tightened up her stance. Theoretically, she could take on this imposing force and survive but she would be severely worn down and would have suffered significant wounds if these ANBU were competent. Yūra's presence here was also of note but Shoko would have faced this force regardless if Yūago showed up or not, but she's secretly happy her friend was here and ready for war.

"DIE!" Yūra yelled as he dove off of the roof top and slammed into Shoko's awaiting form who with masterful ease deflected Yūra's downwards swing with a simple parry of her sword. The fight was on as the Hidden Leaf's ANBU force sprang into action and began a brutal fight against the opposing Hidden Sand ANBU and Sound Jōnin. Shuriken, Kunai, and Jutsu's flew through the air as the battle began with emotions flaring on both sides of the conflict. Yūra was immediately in Shoko's face as he used his large war fan like a club as he smashed it repeatedly into Shoko's sword who was expertly battling the experienced Jōnin at close quarters.

Yūra twisted and twirled his metal fan like he was using a Bo staff… but in this instance, it came off more like he had a giant club. Ducking under a particularly heavy swing Shoko elbowed Yūra in his face before following up her combo with a vicious leg sweep that nearly snapped the tendons in Yūra's shin. The sand Jōnin fell to the ground with a thud as Shoko flipped her sword around to plunge it into Yūra's stomach but the man wasn't ready to call it quits so early into the fight. Dropping a smoke pellet onto the ground in seconds the dark-haired man jumped to his feet and pushed back to get some distance from Shoko who cleared the air around her with an inhumanly fast swing of her sword that blew the air, and everything not bolted down to the ground away from her.

"Wind Style: Cyclone Torrent Jutsu!" Yūra exclaimed as he opened up his battle fan and unleashed a powerful cyclone of rotating air that Shoko braced herself against. Yūra would have gone on the offensive but he was attacked from behind by Yūago who nearly took his head clean off with the finest befitting her station as an ANBU Captain. Ducking down from this attack, Yūra threw a few kunai at Yūago who swatted them aside as if they were a nuisance. "You're fighting me as well." Yūago interjected as she again came close to cutting off Yūra's head who had to weave and dodge out of the way of the skilled kunoichi's war path. Just when he thought he'd gotten a breather Shoko barged into the battle and began attacking Yūra relentlessly much to the young man's displeasure as he couldn't take a Kage Level Kunoichi on and an ANBU Captain. He was well known and definitely one of the strongest Jōnin of his village, but this was a task to overwhelming for someone of his skill level. He wasn't that powerful…

Blocking both purple haired women's sword strikes by horizontally bracing his war fan against them Yūra pushed back against the deadly kunoichi's with a shove of force that got him the moment he needed to breath. "Two against one is hardly fair ladies…" Yūra huffed as his arms ached from blocking Shoko's heavy strikes. He felt like his arms were being slammed into brick walls everytime he blocked one of her attacks. "The same could be said for turning your backs on your allies. Your betrayal today will not be tolerated." Shoko growled as Yūra scowled a bit in anger. "Our village is suffering thanks to yours! You're guiltier than us!" Yūra yelled in outrage as he unfolded his war fan again. "Wind Style: Wind Scythe Jutsu!" The typical cyclone of sharp blade like winds came barreling out of Yūra's war fan and together the old friends new exactly what to do to counter this move.

"That won't be enough Yūra… Kenjutsu: Fire Style: Dance of the Ifrit!" Yūago challenged as she channeled a blazing torrent along the length of her sword that she launched off in a massive column of fire. This technique was a signature Kenjutsu staple of the Hidden Leaf ANBU taught to all of its members with a Fire Chakra Nature. The roaring flames met in the middle with Yūra's wind attack and like rock paper scissors Yūago's Fire Nature Chakra overpowered Yūra's Wind Nature Chakra. The ANBU Captains attack was amplified two-fold as Yūra's eyes widened in shock once a roaring wall of flames came rushing his way. Exerting himself the Sand Jōnin jumped out of the way at the last possible second with his pants being singed badly by the flames that slammed into a nearby storefront that blew out the windows and scorched the inside of the little family owned shop. Insurance was going to have to pay for the extensive damages done to the store, but no one was thinking of this as Yūra was still very much in danger.

Yūra gasped in shock when he felt hands grab his ankles from below the ground. It was at that exact moment that he noticed he lost track of Shoko's position when Yūago blinded his vision with the large wall of flames he helped her create. "Earth Style: Head Hunter Jutsu!" Shoko intoned as Yūra was pulled under the dirt below him until only his head was shown. Popping out of the ground a few yards away Shoko as usual had the deadly look of a killer in her eyes as she stomped her foot onto the ground. "Water Style: Rising Surface Slicer Jutsu!" From the front of Shoko's foot came a dense pressurized geyser of water that tore through the ground like a shark's fin breaking the surface of the water. Yūra's face showed panic as his head was quite literally on the chopping block. Grunting in exertion Yūra with a roar of desperation pulled his war fan up from underneath the ground and placed it in front of his face just in time as Shoko's attack blasted into his weapon that cracked the fan with the sheer force and pressure behind the water.

"Persistent…" Shoko spat as she prepared to launch another attack when a phantom pain surged bolts of excruciating agony throughout her body which all originated from the powerful woman's back. Hissing in tearful pain Shoko stabbed her sword into the ground to steady her feet which caught the attention of her best friend. "Shoko! What happened?" Yūago gripped her sword in anticipation as she wasn't convinced that Yūra was the source of the powerful kunoichi's pain right now. "This pain… I've felt it before…" Shoko moaned as a cackling laugh echoed through the street which brought the attention of the fighting to a tall figure standing on the closest roof top.

"Long time no see woman…" Jūra's voice sounded out as his grinning form could be seen smiling down at Shoko who gave him a potent death glare that would kill lesser men. "YOU!" Shoko seethed as she recognized the Demon standing before her. He was responsible for marking her and attacking Naruto in the Land of Waves. "It's me… and the day's come were I collect on that mark on your back. You're coming with me… after we have some fun of course." Jūra taunted as Shoko furrowed her brow in anger. "I'm not going anywhere…" Shoko countered as she prepared herself for a worthy challenge. "…You don't have a choice." Jūra whispered out menacingly as he disappeared from the roof top with a rippling shockwave shaking the building below him. His take off was accompanied by a sound that sounded like a sonic boom as he slammed into Shoko who barely raised her sword up in time.

The two powerful beings rocketed into the previously damaged storefront which detonated like a bomb when the two crashed into the building. The fighting going on in the local neighborhood between the Hidden Leaf and its enemies came to a grinding halt at this unexpected commotion as both forces wanted to see the outcome of such an attack. The massive summoning snake sensed the disturbance going on and attempted to roll over the entire city block, but a massive discharge of chakra struck fear into the hearts of those present. 'Oh shit!' Yūago cursed in her mind as she ducked down and dropped to the ground with a few other veterans like Yūra following her example just in time as Shoko retaliated with unprecedented force. "Everyone duck!" Yūago screamed to her comrades who did the best they could to comply with this order. Many of the sound shinobi were to slow in this regard and the same could be said for the Sand ANBU but to their credit and training they began to move faster that their allies.

"KENJUTSU: HAZARD SLICE!" Shoko screamed as a gargantuan omnidirectional shockwave tore through the entire city block ripping apart the buildings and stores on both sides of the street including the trees and foliage in the surrounding areas that blew everyone off their feet and bisected or outright disintegrated several shinobi who couldn't sense the danger they were in. The shockwave was in the horizontal orientation and it was extremely razor sharp and destructive in nature. The summoning snake screeched in pain when the shockwave tore into its callous skin and ripped muscle and guts from its body.

Like a domino effect all of the buildings in the surrounding area started to crumble and collapse in on themselves which killed a few unlucky souls on both sides of the conflict which Shoko would later blame herself with for years to come as Jūra flew out of the destroyed family store he slammed Shoko into. His armor was cracked in several places and blood was leaking from a deep horizontal gash on his torso. "Damn… now that's an attack." Jūra huffed as the crunch of broken glass and debris was heard from the store front. Shoko could be seen pulling herself out from the mangled chaotic mess of destruction that the store used to be. A deep gash was on her forehead leaking rivers of blood down her face and numerous tears and cuts littered her body. Blood was also leaking from a puncture would near her ribs, but this wasn't going to stop Shoko who had a profound murderous glare on her face that spoke volumes to her inner thoughts and psyche. Every battle Shoko participates in, the same murderous look appears in her eyes with small but noticeable bags hanging below them. It was a visible indicator of her mental state that should be stated to be not completely healthy.

"I'm going to kill you… nice and slow…" Shoko wheezed as she placed a glowing green hand on her punctured lung to heal it as fast as she could. Jūra chuckled at this as he bared his fangs at Shoko in challenge. "Not if I do so first wench!" Jūra retorted as he lunged at Shoko but was intercepted by Yūago who had desperation lacing her voice. "I don't think so! Kenjutsu: Hazy Moon Night!" Yūago's arms blurred as she swung her sword in a circular motion that looked like a full moon. Afterimages formed tracing the path of Yūago's swing as she slammed into Jūra who held up his armed covered shoulder pads that rattled the ANBU Captain's sword so much that microfractures splintered her sword at the point of origin.

"You're in my way woman!" Jūra growled like a tiger as he backhanded Yūago so hard that her forearm guards shattered on impact when she quickly crossed her arms to block Jūra's swing. Yūago wheezed an audible noise as she flew through the air like a bullet and smashed into a balcony on the second story apartment of an adjacent building. Her back ached in pain as the balcony collapsed under the stress of this force taking Yūago with it who was partially buried under the rubble.

"Don't worry you little head over your friend. I have no use for her… but you on the other hand should be more concerned for the fact that you're not the only one being taken today. My brothers are getting that blond haired little brat as we speak so you'll see him soon enough." Jūra taunted as he witnessed white hot flames of rage explode from Shoko's eyes. "YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM!" Shoko roared as she cracked the ground underneath her feet with her explosive takeoff. Chakra rippled from her body as she crossed the distance between Jūra and her within the blink of an eye. "Yes! That's it!" Jūra goaded as he channeled a potent dosage of Yōki to his claw like hands. "Yōjutsu: Armored Tiger Claw!"

Taking one of his supercharged hands Jūra grabbed Shoko's sword which cut deep into his hand despite his empowered state, but it was enough as Jūra had Shoko rooted to the ground. Faster than lightning Jūra took his other hand and decked the Titan across her face with a bone rattling haymaker that rattled Shoko's brain within her skull and nearly caused her eyes to roll into the back of her head. "Like hell we can wench! You and him now belong to the Four War Gods!" Jūra bellowed as he released his grip on Shoko's sword which caused her to collapse to the ground in a heap. She was beyond dizzy and the early signs of a concussion were setting in as she coughed up spit from her dislocated jaw.

Jūra chuckled at the pathetic state Shoko was in as he watched the large summoning snake rampage around the area in pain. "Oh, what are you screeching for? I'll give you something to cry about!" Jūra taunted as he summoned his signature hand held battle cannon and took aim at the snake. "Thunder Cannon!" Jūra shouted as a powerful electromagnetic ball of supercharged Yōki shot out of his cannon and blew one of the three heads of the snake clean off in a dazzling explosion that sent the snake into a withering spasmodic state that had it crushing any and everything below it in its pain filled path.

"Hahahahaha! Man! Everything around here is so damn weak. I don't get why my brothers told me to be careful…" Jūra arrogantly ranted with his guard completely dropped which was a mistake as he was socked in the jaw by Shoko who unleashed a potent chakra enhanced uppercut strike that shook the area around her and launched Jūra through a building to its roof where he then landed on the roof next to it on his descent. "Don't underestimate me!" Shoko roared as her jaw showed signs of already being healed which was evident by the fact her opposite unused hand that she didn't punch Jūra with had an ethereal green glow that was fading by the second.

Yet again Shoko took off from her position so fast that she cracked the ground below her as she jumped onto the roof top Jūra was on only to narrowly dodge a compact lightning ball fired from his cannon as the great demon was already back on his feet and ready for battle. "Kenjutsu: Hazard Blade Dance!" Shoko shouted as she smashed into Jūra's form who blocked with the bulkier section of his cannon. Trading blows the tiger demon shot of dozens of lightning balls that Shoko cut through expertly with her signature sword technique while weaving around ones she didn't want to expend energy on. Clashing once more Shoko kneed Jūra in his crotch which even for the demon had his eyes widening in searing pain.

"Water Style: Tearing Torrent Jutsu!" Shoko was relentless as she opened the palm of her hand and a swirling mass of volatile water erupted from her hand were she then slapped Jūra across the face with such force that the roof below them broke apart sending both combatants into the apartment below. The lived-in space was instantly flooded by the water from Shoko's attack that she like the veteran she was had further use for. "Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!" Jūra growled in anger when he became trapped in a sphere of water that immobilized him long enough for Shoko to stick her hands onto its surface. "I'm not done with you! Lightning Style: Emotional Wave!" Shoko growled as she channeled a potent dosage of electricity into the water sphere that had Jūra screaming in real pain as the demon glared at Shoko through half opened bloodshot eyes. "… You bit…" Jūra began to curse but was cut off by Shoko whose chakra pulsed in agitation.

"Lightning Style: Shockwave Jutsu!" Shoko roared as 10 times the amount of lightning she was producing before surged out of her body and struck every electrical item within the apartment causing explosions that chained together to destroy the entire apartment unit with the purple haired woman and her captured enemy in the epicenter. "DIE!" Shoko screamed as she surged every bit of electricity into the water sphere searing the skin of Jūra whose body was enhanced by his potent Yōki granting him powerful ranges of durability but for the first time in a very long time he felt unimaginable amounts of pain. "I won't die here woman!" Jūra groaned as a white aura of Yōki surrounded his body that dampened the onslaught battering him. Jūra reached out through the electrified sphere of water and grabbed the fabric of Shoko's shirt around her chest.

"Yes, you will!" Shoko insisted as she ripped his hand from her shirt and wound her fist up that she let fly into Jūra's face with thunderous force that sent the great demon out of the ruined building to the street below where a massive crater tore the ground apart in front of an adjacent shop that caused residual damage to it.

Shoko's body ached in pain but that didn't stop the vengeful woman who jumped from the destroyed apartment building they were in to the street below with her foot craned for a leg drop. "Heavenly Kick of Pain!" Shoko roared as she slammed a devastating chakra enhanced falling axe kick into Jūra's form who was climbing to his feet which detonated the ground below him and obliterated the nearby buildings with its destructive force as the previous crater already in place grew larger in circumference.

The ANBU and surrounding shinobi braced themselves as gale force winds blew debris into their bodies from Shoko's destructive battle. 'This is insane…' Yūra thought breathlessly as he stumbled away from the climactic battle happening before him. Most of his force of allied ANBU were already killed and most of the Sound Jōnin who joined them were also dead. The Leaf ANBU suffered some casualties and injuries but numbers were on their side. The Leaf won this skirmish and if he didn't get out of here soon he'd wind up dead as well.

"You will never take my baby boy from me!" Shoko roared as she slugged Jūra across the face repeatedly with blood and tiny specs of tears trailing down her face. She could imagine what would happen if these monsters got their hands-on Naruto. "It's been so long since we've seen you… about 14 years now… back during your great war." Jūra coughed with a laugh as Shoko's eyes widened with fury. "I should have killed you back then… you disgust me… so much blood… so much blood on your hands. If only I knew it was you who marked me a few years back. I would have hunted you three down to the ends of this earth and killed you for what you did." Shoko seethed with blood and spit flying from her mouth with each word she spoke. Jūra cackled at this as slugged Shoko in the nose in between her strikes which broke it in one shot. Stumbling off of Jūra the powerful kunoichi was left open to the demons follow up attacks as he punched Shoko repeatedly across her body before taking his hand-held cannon and using it as a blunt force club smashed it across Shoko's skull dropping the powerful woman to the ground in another heap.

"Those were fun times… that clan deserved to fall for forsaking us… I'd burn that island to the ground again if I could go back in time. Only this time, I'd make sure you and your friends wouldn't make it out alive. The princess is dead now… she can't save you." Jūra taunted with bloodstained teeth as he bared his fangs in a toothy smile. "…It's a good thing I don't need saving." Shoko countered as she slapped her palm against Jūra's chest. "Genjutsu: False Burn!" Shoko fumed as an illusion assaulted Jūra's mind of his entire body being engulfed in flames. The demon screamed in phantom pain as he backed away from Shoko while writhing in pain. "Your little tricks won't save you human!" Jūra roared as he pulsed his Yōki and broke out of the Genjutsu battering his mind.

The Tiger demon thought his pain was over with but as soon as he had dispelled the first illusion a second one took its place causing his body to combust into flames once more that had the powerful demon screeching in pain. "Genjutsu: Double Optic Delusory." Shoko spat in a spiteful way as she stumbled to her feet in searing pain.

"I hate you!" Jūra roared as he broke out of Shoko's secondary layered illusion and backhanded her across the face, but she wasn't ready to fall this time as she stood her ground. "I changed my mind… I might just kill you here and now to save me the trouble later!" Jūra raged as he pumped his potent Yōki into his arms and hands. "Yōjutsu: Baneful Tiger Claw Blitz!" Jūra's arms became coated in a skin layered armor of Yōki that transformed his arms into monstrous inhuman forms of their former selves. Roaring with anger Jūra pounced on Shoko who gripped her sword and parried each blow to the best of her exhausted ability.

"Just die already… you can't save the boy and you can't save yourself." Jūra admonished as he slashed at Shoko in a frenzied state, but a cold-blooded steel was in Shoko's eyes as she pushed back with all her might. "You will never have him! I won't let you take the last precious thing in the world from me! You've already taken enough!" Shoko roared as chakra exploded from her form in a purple haze as she quickly sheathed her sword before unsheathing it for a powerful attack. "Kenjutsu: Fury Cutter!" Shoko's sword seemingly disappeared as she slashed at Jūra hundreds of times per second while simultaneously increasing the strength of each consecutive strike. Jūra's bones were rattling within his body as Shoko pushed him down the street with such tremendous force that the ground shook below them.

"Enough!" Jūra yelled as he shot of a shot from his cannon that disrupted Shoko's rhythm, but the Titan wouldn't be deterred as she kneed Jūra in the stomach and karate chopped him in the neck at a precise point of impact. "Iryōjutsu: Nervous System Rupture." Jūra in that moment lost all motor functions throughout his body as he felt total paralysis take him over. "It's enough when I say it's enough… and enough is enough already. You die right here and right now… and your brothers are next!" Shoko said with a familiar deadly look in her darkened eyes as she took a particular bold stance with her beautiful katana shining in the afternoon light.

"Kenjutsu: Singularity Point!" Shoko whispered in a deadly voice as she thrusted her sword straight into Jūra's cracked chest armor with such ghost like force that the air compressed around the tip of her blade and exploded in an unprecedented column of condensed depressurized vacuum that launched Jūra off of his feet and three blocks down the road with every building along the way being completely destroyed from the concussive shockwaves rippling out from the vacuum wave tearing through the village with god like force.

Shoko's entire body ached all over as she used her sword like a cane and hobbled her way down the street that was consistently sunken in by at least five feet as a deep concave trough was dug out down the street. She had to see Jūra's body to ensure that it was a corpse and not an unconscious enemy. She hoped that her finisher was enough to kill a being such as Jūra as anything less wouldn't do. 'To think those three would return after all this time… I should have known it was them years ago when they marked Naruto and me. I need to get to him before the others do or else they'll take him.' Shoko thought with pain throbbing in her heart. 'They took everything from us back then and we were powerless to stop them… and our prophecy still hasn't come to pass yet Kushina and the others are dead. Why did I have to be the one to survive throughout these years?' Shoko grieved as she shed bloodstained tears that trailed down her face to the ground below.

'Things would have been so much different if her clan never fell. Naruto would have been born a prince…' Shoko continued as she reached Jūra's body to see that he was still alive but heavily injured just like her. '… and it's all their fault why things are the way they are now!' Shoko raged within her mind as she prepared to stab Jūra in the head with her sword when a thunderous shaking of the ground interrupted Shoko's vengeful kill. The injured summoning snake from earlier was still rampaging around the neighborhood and had made its way over to Shoko's location on instinct alone since it could sense her powerful chakra signature.

"That thing is still alive…?" Shoko moaned in pain as she couldn't properly move with the usual grace and agility of a seasoned kunoichi right now. Her body was in immense pain right now along with the fact she was running low on both stamina and chakra. Shoko was in danger of being crushed underneath the giant snakes' body, but intervention came in the form of her beloved mentor.

"Summoning: Bring Down the House Jutsu!" Jiraiya's voice could be heard as a massive aquamarine colored toad over sixty feet tall fell from the sky through a summoning array and crushed the flailing snake under its titanic weight with brutal efficiency. Standing on top of the toads' head was Jiraiya with a serious frown on his chiseled face. He surveyed the land around him and the dead snake down below as he decided what to do. 'This has gotten out of hand. Such destruction… my home shouldn't be facing such strife.' Jiraiya mulled in his mind as with the vantage height granted to him he was able to see the Chūnin Exam Stadium off in the far distance and the purple barrier surrounding its roof. "Sensei…" Jiraiya knew the Third was in trouble… the stadium was going to be his next destination but he first sensed Shoko's immense chakra reserves battling it out with a being he could clearly sense wasn't human.

Turning his attention back to the task at hand Jiraiya prepared himself to help his home. "Gamahiro, stay here and help protect the village. Root out any and all enemy squads and kill them and show no mercy to the Hidden Sound if you find any." Jiraiya ordered to his trusted toad who croaked and nodded its head. Hiro wasn't a big talker and preferred silence as appose to conversation. Turning his attention to Shoko down below him Jiraiya's eyes widen in panic once he saw an imminent danger to his daughter figure. "Shoko! Behind you!" Jiraiya yelled as he disappeared form Gamahiro's head in a dazzling burst of speed.

Jūra was in mid lunge at Shoko's unprotected back and his razor-sharp claws would run the woman through with no difficulty at all. Shoko turned around in slow motion as she didn't have it in her to dodge the demons desperate sneak attack. "Rasengan!" Jiraiya roared as he slammed a potent sphere of highly compact chakra into Jūra's chest which blew away the fragmented pieces of his chest plate that were destroyed by Shoko's final attack. The Rasengan tore into Jūra's skin and left a spiral imprint on his body as it launched him down the street into a group of fruit stands. "Stay away from her…" Jiraiya warned in a deadly voice.

"You bastard… I'll kill you." Jūra seethed as he coughed up blood caused by his newest injury. "Not if I do it first." Jiraiya challenged as he created another Rasengan in his hand in warning. He would have followed up on his threat, but a wall of crimson colored flames blocked Jiraiya from doing so. A large red-orange magic circle with its central design being a sunflower opened up beneath Jūra on the ground and began to suck him in. Realizing what this meant and what was happening Jūra slammed his fist into the ground in fury. "DAMNIT! I should have won this!" The demon raged as his body was swallowed up and teleported away by the portal that had a distinct design on it.

"Lilith." Jiraiya spat as the sunflower themed magic circle disappeared alongside the wall of flames that was protecting it. "To much of a coward to even show up and show her face. Damn that fairy." Jiraiya cursed as no trace of Jūra ever being there was left behind. "Master… there's no time to worry about that. They're after Naruto. The other two are here in the village looking for him." Shoko warned while coughing up blood as tears fell from her eyes. Jiraiya caught Shoko who collapsed into his arms from exhaustion and pain. "What?!... Damn… don't worry Shoko. I'll keep the brat safe ok." Jiraiya promised as he steadied the strong woman on his shoulder while looking up into the sky.

"Naruto."


A Block Away

"Lilith… so she has returned." Balalaika mused while peering at the crushed snake beneath Gamahiro. The powerful mob boss was smoking a cigar as she clenched her fist a bit in aggravation. "Shoko's regained a lot of her old strength, I'm impressed… but she's still not quite how she used to be. But what concerns me is the fact Lilith is back and she's brought her little lackies with her. It's inevitable that we'll meet again soon enough and she's after Kushina's son now. I won't allow it." Balalaika mulled as the deadly look in her eyes grew deadlier as she crushed the cigar previously in her mouth on the ground.

"That fairy's grown bold. No one preys upon what I've claimed as my own." Balalaika whispered as she began to leave the area with purpose in her step. She could sense another immense chakra signature a few miles outside of the village and it felt like Tailed Beast Chakra. She knew that Naruto's fight with Gaara was heating up. "Lady Balalaika? What do you want us to do?" Kurotsuchi asked as the granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage looked to her superior for orders. Akatsuchi and Takei were with her and they were all peering up at the very tall business women who had a scowl on her face.

"We're going to check in on Naruto Uzumaki… some people have an interest in a prey that I've claimed as my own." Balalaika growled as she disappeared in a cloudless Body Flicker with the Genin team from the Land of Earth following her.

An Apex hunter was on the loose.


To be continued...


Jutsu Library

1.) Fire Style: Jumping Flame Bombs Jutsu - A unique technique is a Jutsu that Hiruzen Sarutobi created in his long life as a Shinobi and passed down into his clans scrolls. This technique functions similarly to other Fire Style Ninjutsu baring similar names but in this instance the giant flame bombs that are created retain their form and gain a small bit of autonomy from their creator. The balls of fire will indiscriminately jump around the target in odd and asymmetrical vectors that are extremely hard to predict without an aid such as the Sharingan. The flame balls give off excessive amounts of heat and incircles their target preventing their escape.

2.) Fire Style: Hōrin Entanglement Jutsu - This unique technique is a Jutsu that Hiruzen Sarutobi created in his long life as a Shinobi and passed down into his clans scrolls. This technique creates a long fiery whip with crackling lightning surrounding it that allows the user to lash at opponents or entangle them within the whips grasp which will paralyse them and immobilize the target. Another specialty of the technique is its abnormal ability to fuse and chain itself to other Fire Style Ninjutsu and even Lightning Style Ninjutsu.

3.) Ninja Art: Shadow Possession Jutsu - This is the signature secret technique of the famous Nara Clan. The user extends their shadow on any surface even water and as far as they want as long as there is a sufficient area. Once it comes into contact with a target's shadow, the two merge and the target is forced to imitate the user's movements. If the target is out of range, the user can produce a better light source to increase their shadow's size or rely on pre-existing shadows for their shadow to freely travel through. It's also possible to split one's shadow, either to trap more opponents at once, or to create a distraction.

4.) Water Style: Water Shockwave Jutsu - This technique allows the user to make a spiralling vortex of water. The vortex then proceeds to explode from the top in the form of a wave. The user can also control the direction the wave goes with hand movements.

5.) Earth Style: Earth Rampart Jutsu - This technique makes a gigantic rampart rise up beneath the user's feet, by shaping the ground and increasing the amount of earth with chakra. Depending on what the user imagines, the shape of the rampart can be anything from level ground to a steep, needle-like mountain. If the user increases the volume of earth too much, he can be forced to keep his chakra consumption down.

6.) Water Style: Water Whip Jutsu - The user creates a whip made of water that can wrap around the opponent. The user can also channel lightning chakra to shock anyone wrapped in it. The whip can be created from any volume of water including a simple glass of water.

7.) Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu - The user compresses a large amount of chakra built up inside their body and changes it into a dragon head-shaped fireball. The user then skillfully manipulates that great fire, and attacks their opponent. Even outside of the attack range, its power and reliability are stressed. The flames have a high temperature, which can create an upward movement of air currents which in turn can give rise to thunder clouds. A master of this technique can fire off several flames in succession and anyone caught in the technique could potentially be reduced to ashes.

8.) Dragon Hard Striker - An immensely powerful attack by Dino that allows him to discharge billions of volts of crimson electricity in the form of massive lightning bolts that strike out at any and everything it their path. While seemingly uncontrollable, Dino has the ability to direct these bolts of lightning towards his intended target where he can concentrate the entirety of his attack into one place with devastating effect. With most of Dino's techniques they all rely on his base dual step techniques called Aura of Ancestral Fury and Flare of Ancestral Fury.

9.) Kenjutsu: Leaf Style - Dance of the Blood Moon – Decapitation - An advanced form of the Hidden Leaf's Dance of the Crescent Moon technique. This assassination technique allows the user to sneak up on their target and decapitate the unsuspecting individual with such speed that the head is still alive and functioning long after it hits the ground. This technique is so difficult that only skilled ANBU level ninja can master it as it requires hundreds of hours of training to remove all traces of the users presence in order to execute the attack to its maximum potential so that the enemy doesn't hear or see the user coming.

10.) Kenjutsu: Leaf Style - Dance of the Crescent Moon - The user creates two shadow clones before proceeding to assault the enemy, with the clones attacking from the left and right and the user attacking from above. The assault occurs on three fronts simultaneously; it is almost impossible to catch the opponent flat-footed. Furthermore, the mighty sword strikes are so severe that receiving a blow from just even one among the three will inevitably result in a fatal wound. The style and magnificence of how the user and their shadow clones leap and swing their swords at the opponent's upper body creates an orbital pattern, the elegance of which is reminiscent to the shape of a crescent moon, hence the technique's name.

11.) Ninja Art: Striking Shadow Snakes Jutsu - This technique allows the user to eject snakes from their wrist or sleeve, usually after a punching motion. The snakes are used primarily to attack from a distance and, being snakes, can inflict multiple poisonous wounds on the victim's body or hold them in place. The snakes can also open their mouths to extend Kusanagi-like blades. This technique can also be classified as a variation of the Summoning Technique. This technique can also produce snakes from different parts of the user's body.

12.) Secret Technique: Wraith Hunter - A unique and exclusive technique of ANBU Commander Puma. This secret technique allows Puma to summon a dark miasma like fog from his cloak that he then directs to attack targets of his choosing. The attack is omnidirectional and extremely powerful with very few counters. The darkness can smash through other techniques and most barriers but can be stopped by particularly strong defenses and barriers such as barriers created from other energy sources that aren't Chakra. The technique gains its name from the appearance of the attack itself and how it makes Puma look how is usually stationary when using it.

13.) Tainted Holy Magic: Serpentine Barrier - A staunch barrier created through the use of Tainted Grace. This technique is a strong barrier that Orochimaru can employ to defend himself against most forms of attack. Spectral images of snakes appear around Orochimaru in a tightly compact sphere that surrounds him on all sides for an ultimate defense. While most chakra based attacks are dampened or deflected off of the barrier, particularly strong physical or elemental attacks can break through, another prerequisite to breaking the barrier through the use of chakra is the quality of the chakra in use. Rich and potent samples of chakra can be enough to overpower the barrier. Other energy types such as Yoki or Pure Holy Grace can penetrate the barrier with ease depending on their individual powers.

14.) Secret Technique: Wraith's Lance - Another exclusive technique of Puma's, this attack allows him to from thin sharp lances out of his darkness that allows him to pierce and impale targets of his choice.

15.) Kenjutsu: Fire Style: Dance of the Ifrit - This specialized technique taught to any ANBU who has a Fire Chakra Nature is a destructive attack that coats the users sword in roaring uncontrollable flames that can be launched off of the sword into a crescent wave when the user swings their sword. The technique has both close range and long range applications to it and in a few rare instances can be combined with Wind Style Ninjutsu to further increase its potency.

16.) Kenjutsu: One Slice - A sword technique where the user slashes their sword in front of them and a cut will appear on the target even though the sword never touched the target. This is a long-range attack that cuts the opponent with the same cutting ability as the actual sword that is used.

17.) Substitution Jutsu - One of the three basic Jutsu's required by the academy for everyone (with exceptions of course) to master in order to pass or at the very least to adequately on. This Jutsu is simple in how it works. The user searches or senses out a target and with his chakra he will identify that target and latch onto that object or target with his chakra. Then using his chakra like a beacon and transmitter the user will jump to the location of the object causing the object to switch places with the user so that the user can reconnect with his chakra in a space not already being taken up by said object.

18.) Kenjutsu: Dance of the Wraith - Puma's own personal blade technique. Much like its counterparts this technique allows Puma to masterfully integrate his Wraith's Darkness into his sword techniques to inflict massive amounts of damage to his targets on a large scale.

19.) Kenjutsu: Cobra Blade Dance - Orochimaru's own personal blade technique. Much like its counterparts this technique allows Puma to attack targets in an intricate and complex sequence of maneuvers that allows to user to rapidly slice an opponent or object at great speed. What makes Orochimaru's version unique is the venom that is secreted along the length of his Kusanagi sword that can fatally poison a target if they are cut by his sword.

20.) Dragon Claw - A potent technique of Dino's that allows him to transform his hands into reptilian draconic claws that have massive amounts of explosive and penetrative damage when used to strike a target. The durability of Dino's arms are also buffed to extreme measures as his reptilian skin is extremely dense and his dragon scales protect him against the hardest of attacks and allows him resistance to many forms of elemental attacks with Fire being an immunity of his.

21.) Aura of Ancestral Fury - Dino's signature technique that is passed along through his family. This technique is the base that forms the premise for many of his attacks. Dino channels his massive and potent reserves of Draconic Aura throughout his body that buffs his durability, stamina, speed, and strength as a side effect. A crimson red aura shrouds Dino's body as a visual effect to this which can be seen from a great distance.

22.) Flare of Ancestral Fury - The second step to Dino's signature technique. With this Dino flares his aura outwards which he can then transmute into the form of any of his many techniques in his arsenal or he can choose just to release it in the form of a powerful omnidirectional shockwave that can blow everything within his immediate vicinity away.

23.) Dragon Strength - A particularly useful technique that Dino can use in his human form. Taking his base technique a step further the mob boss can condense the draconic energy inside his body and channel it straight to his muscle system which will allow Dino to shed his elderly form and take on a very muscularly fit and streamline form built for strength and speed.

24.) Titanium Hummer - A particularly powerful technique, Dino envelopes himself in a crimson translucent skin tight aura of draconic energy that further compresses the statistical buff he receives from his Dragon Strength enhancement technique. When this technique is active a low audible hum can be heard that gives this technique its namesake. All of Dino's physical abilities are further enhanced to godlike levels when using this technique and any strike he delivers will have explosive and massive amounts of kinetic force. It's rumored that at maximum output DIno can match Tsunade Senju at her upper limits of physical strength.

25.) Iron Monkey Fist: Baboon Flame Fist - A technique of the Iron Monkey Fist Taijutsu style. Hiruzen attacks his opponents with frenzied punches and kicks with his appendages covered in flames that increases the attack potency of this technique and buffs the defensive output of Hiruzen's enveloped appendages.

26.) Ninja Art: Expansion Jutsu - This is the signature secret technique passed down in the Akimichi clan that increases the user's body size by converting their calories into chakra. The user can freely alter their size at will when using this technique, and can use it for an extensive period of time. A common application of the techniques gives the user a very round appearance by mostly increasing the size of the abdominal section, which is done in order to use the Human Boulder Jutsu. Other, more common applications increase the size of the entire body, turning the user into a giant.

27.) Iron Monkey Fist: Kong Flame Fist - A very unique technique that combines the Akimichi Clan secret techniques with that of the Sarutobi's. Hiruzen inflates his arms to massive proportions in comparison to his body and slams a flame covered fist into a target with such force that it can even break through barriers powered by different energy sources.

28.) Wood Style Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees - A technique developed by Hashirama Senju, where the user forces trees to grow on any surface, easily creating a dense forest anywhere they choose. A small plant can grow into a forest in an instant. By generating chakra, the user manoeuvres it as they see fit for attack and defence; and furthermore, this immensely powerful technique even allows them to capture the enemy at the same time. With their tremendous life force, the trees can pierce through earthen walls, and extend their branches at their prey in an instant.

29.) Kenjutsu: Hazard Blade Dance - Shoko's signature technique. Shoko's sword gains a purplish hue to it as she performs an intricate and complex sequence of maneuvers that allows the user to rapidly slice an opponent or object at great speed. Another thing to note is the fact Shoko's blade is vibrating at a low but powerful frequency that expels a jarring force whenever it comes into contact with any object.

30.) Water Style: Water Wall Jutsu - This defensive technique creates a wall of water around the user. Enemy attacks are completely intercepted by a fence of water blown out from the mouth, and is raised from below with tremendous might. The water is blown out in the form of a circle around the user, and it makes for a defense without openings. It is also possible for the user to control the amount of water and duration at will. The wall's strength and resistance change following the quantity of chakra poured down into the water, so a skillful shinobi will be able to build a sturdy one. Furthermore, because the field of vision is maintained even while defending one can easily go on to the next move, which is a great advantage. The wall can also be formed from a pre-existing water source.

31.) Lightning Style: Emotional Wave - This is a fusion technique where the user employs Water Style and Lightning Style. After releasing a large water wave from his mouth, he then forms the Lightning Style seals, thereby mixing a lightning strike to the water. If this technique hits an enemy, they instantly receive an electric shock.

32.) Wind Style: Cyclone Torrent Jutsu - A relatively strong technique that allows the user to launch a cyclone of wind at a target that can lift people and objects off their feet and impact them with blunt forces.

33.) Wind Style: Wind Scythe Jutsu - A Wind Release technique, where by using a Giant Folding Fan, the user can freely manipulate gale to cause air currents to collide to create vacuum pockets. The person enveloped by this gale is assaulted by countless invisible blades, carving up their body. Also, the strong wind power will blow away all incoming projectile weapons and will even make the opponent unable to stay on their feet.

34.) Earth Style: Head Hunter Jutsu - This technique allows its user the ability to stealthily move under a light surface of the ground without being detected by the enemy. Once under the enemy the user is able to drag the opponent down under the ground to their head. The opponent will be immobilized momentarily until they are able to break free from the technique, this also allows for easy targeting to the head of an opponent for the duration of their capture. Skilled Shinobi can use the substitution technique to evade this fate however.

35.) Water Style: Rising Surface Slicer Jutsu - This Jutsu requires no hand seals and will create a fast jet of water running through the ground that is powerful enough to slice through solid rock.

36.) Kenjutsu: Hazard Slice - An upgrade and advanced form of the One Slice technique, the user swings their sword at such a high rate of speed that a shockwave forms and blows back anything in the vicinity. In addition, clean razor-sharp cuts appear on anything caught in the swing of the sword. This technique is actually the follow up combo technique to Shoko's Hazard Blade Dance hence the similarity in name.

37.) Yōjutsu: Armored Tiger Claw - An upgraded move to Jūra's signature Tiger Claw technique. The Great Demon encases his hands in an ultra thick coating of super condensed Yōki that is strong enough to block attacks from other high level beings in relation to him. This attack increases both the durability and attack potency of his claw strikes.

38.) Thunder Cannon - It is an attack that is unique to the weapon used by Jūra as it shares the same name with its own weapon. The portable cannon shoots out an extremely compressed ball of electricity that is made up of pure potent Yōki. The attack travels fast and can cover long distances fairly quickly. It explodes like a bomb and can cause considerable damage to anything that it hits. Their is at least a 3 to 5 second reload time in between each shot as the weapon itself is not a rapid fire one as it needs time to gather, compress, and then shoot out the electric ball. Also when shot it is accompanied by a very loud and noticeable bang and flash of light which eliminates the weapons use in missions of stealth and discretion. A cloud of smoke and exhaust also leaves from the barrel of the cannon which further diminishes the weapons roll to nothing more than a front line weapon as stealth is out of the question.

39.) Water Style: Tearing Torrent Jutsu - This technique creates water that spirals in the user's hand and fires at a high speed at the enemy. The overall amount of water formed is large enough to help extinguish even large-scale fire style techniques. The technique however will do no damage to an enemy if connected.

40.) Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu - This technique is used to trap a victim inside a virtually inescapable sphere of water. The only downside to this technique is that the user must keep at least one arm inside the sphere at all times in order for the victim to remain imprisoned. This technique requires a sufficient amount of water, which can be provided by expelling it from one's mouth. Once trapped the target is unable to move or breathe while within it due to the heaviness of the water. Because of the density of the water it can be used, to a limited extent, for defensive purposes if performed on oneself. It can also be stored in scrolls as traps. Water clones can be used in preparation for the technique, which block an opponent's attack and trap the attacker in the prison using the clone's own water.

41.) Lightning Style: Shockwave Jutsu - A very basic Lightning Style Jutsu that allows the user to send a surge of electricity out of their body into the surrounding area. They can send it into the ground where it can spread via conductive properties underneath the surface or they can send it out as a shockwave in midair.

42.) Heavenly Kick of Pain - This is the signature technique of Tsunade Senju of the Legendary Sannin. The user concentrates a massive amount of chakra to one fine point on the person's heel when they are in midair. The user will then fall towards the ground in the formation of a falling axe kick. Once the user strikes the ground or target they release the pent up chakra in their foot which detonates with tremendous force. A massive crater is formed in place of this and the stronger the user the stronger the damage will be.

43.) Genjutsu: False Burn - A Genjutsu that gives off the false perception of being burned. It is a fast acting Jutsu and can easily be used in the heat of battle.

44.) Genjutsu: Double Optic Delusory - This technique places another illusion within another illusion created by the user. When the target dispels the first illusion, they will not realize that a second is in place.

45.) Yōjutsu: Baneful Tiger Claw Blitz - A wild and frenzied blitz. Jūra incases his hands in his potent Yōki and enters a berserker like state as he slashes repeatedly at his opponent. His entire arm which is encased within his Yōki transforms into inhuman grotesque versions of their former selves which adds to Jūra's monstrous physique.

46.) Kenjutsu: Fury Cutter - A sword technique that is an advanced version to Shoko's Hazard Blade Dance technique. The same principle applies between both moves however this move is more powerful and precise and is meant to be used against a single opponent so that the maximum effect of the technique can be used. Also, the technique is meant to hammer away at an opponent's defenses as the user actually stomps forward in a never-ending progression of forward momentum that has the opponent trapped against the user's charge. In comparison Hazard Blade Dance is comparable to an actual dance and is better suited to being used against multiple opponents where the user can dance his way through his or her opponents and dealing maximum damage.

47.) Iryōjutsu: Nervous System Rupture - An extremely high-level technique, used as a medical Ninjutsu. The human body is controlled with electrical signals from the brain, but a person who had those electrical signals cut off with this technique will become unable to make their body move as they want. By transforming the chakra within one's body and giving it the properties of electricity, one creates an electric field. As soon as a strike of the hand lands, electricity is poured into the enemy's nervous system, severing the signals and deranging their body control. The target's body moves in any way, except how they want it to move. For the common shinobi, battle, not to mention even just walking, will become impossible.

48.) Kenjutsu: Singularity Point - A powerful advanced move of Shoko's that she commented on not having to use for a long time. The user takes on a rigid and strong stance and it is implied that they are as still as a statue and immovable like one as well. When they have their target in sight they will thrust their sword forward at such a dangerous speed that they can pierce almost anything. The attack is very precise oriented, and it hits one spot and one spot only. However, the thrusting power is so immense that it can pierce and shatter almost any defense. Furthermore, the massive buildup of kinetic energy will release itself in a cylindrical cone of concussive compressed air in the form of a shockwave that will go on for an undetermined distance and will pierce and destroy anything in its path as demonstrated by Shoko. As for the target, they will violently implode at the point of singularity or origin hence the name. It can be heavily implied that this is one of Shoko's more destructive sword techniques and is one that she rarely has to use.

49.) Summoning: Bring Down the House Jutsu - A destructive dive that takes full advantage of a giant toad's body mass. The strength of the fall varies depending on the user. For example, in the case of someone like Jiraiya — one of the Sannin, the summon can be performed in an instant right above the target, further adding the great gravitational force of a several hundred metre-high dive to the toad's own weight.

50.) Rasengan - The Rasengan is a spinning ball of chakra formed and held in the palm of the user's hand. Once it is formed, it also does not require any additional chakra to sustain it, which means that there is no definite limit to how long the Rasengan can be used. Though the Rasengan's shape is consistent from user to user, its size varies from only barely large enough to be noticeable to much larger than the user's hand. With greater experience with the Rasengan comes a larger size. On contact, the Rasengan grinds into its target, propels them along the Rasengan's trajectory - either away from the user or into the ground beneath them - and at some point bursts, causing severe damage at the point of contact.


Author's Note (A/N): It's finished... that was a rollercoaster ride to hell and back. This was one of my all time favorite chapters to write. I'm immensely proud of the finished product and I hope you guys are too. This chapter is insane as we get to see the Legendary Professor at work. Hiruzen knows a whole library of Ninjutsu in his head and decades of experience to fall back on. Hiruzen pulls out tactics and Ninjutsu you wouldn't expect from him and definitely ones we never saw from the Manga/Anime. It's safe to say that this version of Hiruzen is one not to sleep on.

We see ANBU Commander Puma putting in work. He is an exceptionally powerful shinobi with deadly techniques in his arsenal and it is revealed that he is Hiruzen's other son which makes him Asuma's older brother and Konohamaru's father. This doesn't do much for the story plot wise but I wanted to add his character in and give him an interesting backstory that would hopefully be interesting to develop over time.

As far as Dino is concerned. The Dragon of the Leaf fights for the first time and we get to see just how strong he is to go toe to toe with Hashirama Senju in a Taijutsu match. I would like to know if anyone knows the cartoon series were I got Dino's move list from? It came on Cartoon Network in the Mid to late 2000's.

But the most interesting parts of this chapter came from its second half with Shoko's POV. We pick up where we left off last time with her taking on the invading army of Sand and Sound Ninja and as we can see she was handling things just fine. Shoko's questionable killer like instincts and mentality to fighting could be seen on display as she dispatched the first group of Sound ninja in seconds without even blinking an eye. I introduced Yūra into the story way earlier than his Manga appearance which was in Shippuden when Gaara was kidnapped by the Akatsuki. He was the sleeper agent Sasori had implanted within the Sand Village that killed all of the guards to let the duo in. He was also the one Naruto got as his only canon confirmed kill when he was permanently transformed into Itachi by Pain's Jutsu. I portray him to be a very competent and powerful Jonin just like it is implied in canon who can somewhat fight evenly against both Shoko which is a feat in and of itself and Yūago at the same time which is no joke.

But the meat of this chapter comes from Jūra's arrival and titanic fight against Shoko which got extremely brutal and personal. Some hidden backstory and past is explored here through their dialogue which hints at Shoko having a very checkered past with these Demons that goes back from before the stories beginning and from before Naruto was born. What could it all mean? I can't wait to reveal it and explore it in depth with everyone when the time comes.

Shoko pulls out all the stops as we get to see her in another detailed and drawn out battle against a powerful foe. I love writing Shoko's fight scenes but sadly their haven't been many in the entirety of the story. The problem is she's a powerful Kage level Kunoichi and not many could stand on her level which is why I need powerful bad guys like Jura to bring out the best in Shoko. In retrospect it also means I can't just have her fight weaklings or irresponsibly use her character in every chapter to solve the problem going on with brute force. Writing a character like Shoko takes patience and careful planning which is why I'm always happy when I get to use certain characters like her.

Jiraiya returns in typical fashion and gives Jūra a Rasengan he'll never forget but it would appear that Lilith swoops in without even showing herself and saves her subordinate much to Shoko's frustration. It's all going to come to a head soon and Naruto is in grave danger against these powerful Demons who we should know by now since I've name dropped what their actual group name is called.

Finally, Balalaika is in the background watching events unfold and she is very unhappy with how things are going. It would appear that she too knows who Lilith is and what she's like. Balalaika isn't too happy about Naruto being targeted by this particular faction of individuals as she refers to Naruto as her property and prey. What is Balalaika's obsession with Naruto and what is her connection to Minato, Kushina, and Shoko? Kurotsuchi and her team are under Balalaika's wing with the Tsuchikage's granddaughter being a member of Hotel Moscow as revealed during the Preliminary matches. What is Balalaika's next move?

All the pieces are falling into place and things will explode. A climax is coming which will set Naruto down a different path than what he could have ever thought possible. Stick around for the next chapter which will be coming soon. The fun's far from over.


Next Chapter: Chapter 65 (The Will of Fire)


That's the end of Chapter 64 I sincerely hoped you enjoyed it.

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Published: 4/16/2018