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 once again with the next chapter and quite a chapter this has turned out to be... this gets dark pretty quickly with some heavily implied themes just as a fair warning. This chapter shows tremendous character development and exploration for all three members of Squad 7 with these developments being more evident in some more than others but we get to see different shades of the three team members than what we are used to. Naruto himself goes through an emotional rollercoaster ride throughout this chapter that takes him in multiple different directions with many of them not being to very good places. There's a lot that's covered in this chapter so let's get to it.
So without further delay. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!
(June 30th) Today is my birthday! Yeah! Here's the next chapter everyone!
Chapter 88
Terror in Resonance
'We don't have much time to waste… things just had to spiral out of control from bad to worse huh?' This was Naruto's thought process as he along with his team raced back to the movie camp at breakneck speeds. It only took them under two minutes to get back as opposed to the ten it took for Naruto to walk all the way out to the field that he found Chaos in. Time was of the essence now that their main client was missing and in possible mortal danger. Every precaution had to be taken and with this thought in mind Naruto and the others landed in the camp much to the relief of those present.
"We heard what happened and I'm glad everyone's okay, but we don't have any time to waste. Can somebody get me a piece of Ms. Yukie's clothing for me to track?" Kakashi ordered as he was already going through his hand seals in preparation for his task. "Summoning Jutsu!" In a plume of chakra smoke a familiar little pug could be seen as Pakkun yawned and stretched out his back. "Yo! Kakashi! It's been a while." The faithful brown little pug greeted in his deep masculine voice that threw off the spectator's watching. How could a tiny little pug that small have the voice of a grown man in his forties or fifties?
Predictably it was Sandayū that stepped forward in a frantic gate with a bottle of Yukie's most used perfume in hand. In fact, it was the same brand that not only did she currently have on but was the one she was going to reapply for the upcoming scene they were about to shoot. This would be everything Pakkun would need in order to successfully track down their wayward client.
"I need you to track down our client. Her name is Yukie and she's wearing this perfume." Kakashi ordered to his most loyal companion who took three strong whiffs of the open container to memorize the smell in its entirety. He would never lose that smell now. "It's a bit cold out here… wait… wait a minute? Are we back in the Land of Snow Kakashi?" Pakkun stuttered as he took a look around him and saw all of the snow and mountains surrounding them. The last time he was here was when a much younger Kakashi who was in the ANBU had a secret assignment up to this remote country.
It quickly went south and in the end his summoner required his help in performing a high-level extraction of a young VIP princess. That was the last time the little pug heard anything on that matter. "Yes Pakkun… we're back here again and coincidentally enough we're looking for the same young princess we rescued back then. She's grown now and become a movie star. But the situation has become more complicated with her uncle's involvement in these affairs." Kakashi explained in an exasperated tone as things were never meant to be simple in his line of work.
"Humm… say no more. I get the gist of it. Let's get going then." Pakkun nodded as he began sniffing the ground before his attention was brought over to the mysterious fox like creature that was leering down at him. "Well… what in the world are you supposed to be?" Pakkun deadpanned as he looked up into the eyes of the much taller fox that was curiously sniffing the little pug in order to identify him. In all of his life experience Pakkun has never seen a creature quite like the one before him now. Yet at the same time he could sense an immense amount of chakra and Yōki coming from its small body. 'This chakra that I'm sensing from it… is this the chakra of the Nine Tailed Fox? What in the world is going on here?' Something was very off here and Pakkun was pretty much thrown for a loop by the presence of this arctic fox.
"Well…" One awkward and slightly un-informative explanation later from everyone present and Pakkun was caught up to speed on the mysterious addition of this young and powerful predator to the group. Pakkun had his suspicions on the origins of his fellow animal but he chose to keep them close to his chest for the time being. The fact that the fox's energy signature and oddly enough scent was an exact match for Naruto's own was enough to send warning bells off in the little ninja hounds mind.
Having the urge to set out now to complete his assignment, Pakkun gathered everyone together and began his search. After a few moments he perked up as he took off in a certain direction leading out of camp. "Sakura you used up a bit of chakra in that fight just now, so I want you to stay behind and tend to the injured here until you recover. Sasuke and I will go with sensei." Naruto ordered as he saw the protesting look appear on her face but Sasuke himself spoke up next.
"He's right Sakura. Stay here and help the people, besides this Jairo guy and Henrietta look pretty banged up. They'll need your help." Any protest that was scheduled to come died in Sakura's throat as she looked down at her feet for a brief moment.
"Ok."
It was plainly obvious that she wanted to come with them, but the decision was made, and time was moving against them. "Be safe guys." That was about the only thing needed to be said between the three teammates as they took off with their sensei leaving the others behind at the camp.
"She couldn't have gotten too far from camp on foot. She should still be within the area." Kakashi intoned as they ran through the thick fields of snow being led by Pakkun who was keeping his nose close to the ground. The larger fox like demon was keeping a steady pace right next to Naruto's foot while Chaos and Iris were two paces behind. "I agree, unless she is being dragged away by those Goblins or anything else out here. We need to be careful." Naruto added in his thoughts as Pakkun suddenly perked up once the field they were in turned into a forest.
"Wait… something isn't right here." The little dog growled as he began to sniff the area once more. "What's wrong Pakkun?" Kakashi was inching closer to his holster around his pants leg in case he needed to pull a kunai at a moments notice. "The smell. It's spilt into two. There's two sources now and a distortion is in the area. I think it's ambient Yōki in the atmosphere." This revelation didn't sit too well with the group who now had to make a decision.
"Yōki in the atmosphere… this must be what I've been sensing ever since we started to get close to the country. It has to be caused by the source I was told about." Naruto theorized to himself, but the others heard him. It didn't take long for Kakashi and Sasuke to want answers and so Naruto explained to them what Avalesk told him.
"So… there is a Great Demon who lives up here in the Land of Snow and Dotō wants to awaken it and use it as his secret weapon. With the recent technological advancements that he's been making he wants to turn the Land of Snow into a major rival to the Five Great Nations." Kakashi mused as Sasuke looked on in concern and caution. This was bad if it was the way Naruto described it. "Great Demons come in different variants. Humanoid versions like the ones that kidnapped me a while ago are on the level of a Kage if their old enough and mature enough in their power. Then you have beast versions that are far larger than a Boss Summon from a summoning clan. They can often get up to the size of small islands. This is the kind of demon that lives up here." Naruto described in order for Sasuke to get the big picture.
A serious frown was on the last Uchiha's face at this description as he didn't want to be reminded of that time his teammate was kidnapped. He was powerless to do anything about it, nor was he allowed to go on his rescue mission because he was still injured following the invasion. It seriously bothered Sasuke back then and it was still an issue that silently plagued the back of his mind now. "So, it will be like facing off against Gaara when he let that monster out of him?" Sasuke suggested to which Naruto just nodded his head in the positive. It would most definitely be like facing off against a Tailed Beast, and if that was the case Naruto would seriously give up on life. Such a high-level battle like that was something he didn't want to take any part in.
"The ambient Yōki in the atmosphere will make it hard for us to track down Yukie and I suppose you won't be of any help to us Chaos?" Naruto intoned as he turned to his unpredictable daughter who giggled into her hands while swaying from side to side. "Nope."
Well it was official then… this was a situation he had to solve on his own without the usage of Chaos's scanners. He was hoping she would lead them straight to Yukie. Turning to look at the new addition to the group he watched as the little creature perked up and started to wag its tail. "Do you think you can help me track down our client? Would you be willing to help us?" This was the only option Naruto could think of off the top of his head at the current time. Would the little creature be willing to help them in their time of need? They didn't have much of an option at the moment.
The others turned to the little creature with an expectant look on their face and it didn't take long for the ice fox to start to wag his tail in excitement. Rubbing his head against Naruto's leg the young apex predator howled to the sky his call to the challenge.
'I'll take that as a yes then?' Naruto sweat dropped.
"We'll split up from here and check both locations. If there are two signals, then it's entirely possible that perhaps they took her clothing, or her smell has rubbed off on a group that has detached itself from the rest of their party. We should check both and quickly." This was a suggestion Naruto didn't make lightly and knowing how dire the situation was Kakashi and Sasuke agreed as they took off being led by Pakkun while Naruto headed off in another direction being led by his new mysterious companion.
5 Minutes Later
'This is the train tracks again…? This must wrap around the entire mountain range and possibly loop back to the capitol if there are no other settlements out this way.' Naruto noted as his new companion led them down the mountain and back to a trail containing the same railroad tracks that they were fighting on earlier. This area was much further along from the town of Shirakawa and most of the area was frozen over and covered in snow making the metallic tracks imbedded into the ground difficult to access and see but they were still somewhat visible.
"Dada, I sense something." Chaos spoke up as she flew through the air above Naruto's head. Her metallic purple wings gleamed off of the fading daylight giving it a beautiful sheen. She was at most 15 feet in the air, but this height was enough for the girl as she twirled in the air and practiced with her flying. "Where?" Time was of the essence so when Chaos pointed ahead of them into what appeared to be a mountainside cave that the tracks tunneled into his gut instinctively told him that this was the place he needed to go, especially after their little fox companion yipped and picked up the pace.
In moments the Uzumaki family were inside the carved-out man-made tunnel and a sense of foreboding immediately filled Naruto's heart. They could hear what sounded like muffled screams and struggling and with fear gripping their hearts they all picked up the pace and what Naruto and the others stumbled upon was a sight he would forever remember to the day he died and always be disgusted by.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end while his blood boiled to a painful point to see six demur impish goblins near the corner of the tunnel pinning Koyuki who Naruto would have to get used to referring to her as up against the wall. The slimy and ravenous little creatures were tearing into the actress's clothing leaving her in her underwear while numerous cuts, slashes, and bruises were forming on her skin with each swipe of the wicked Goblins clawed hands. One of those hands were covering Koyuki's mouth keeping her from screaming out while another painfully with its sharp clawed hands groped her inappropriately and tore at her bra ripping it to shreds.
An entire rivers worth of tears was overflowing from her eyes as those previously jaded cold blue eyes of hers were filled with nothing, but absolute and all-encompassing terror and anguish of the purest form and this sickening and disgusting scene was what Naruto stumbled upon with his heart stopping in his chest. Iris and Chaos had horrified looks on their faces with tears leaking out of Iris's eyes while Chaos's hazy eyes were dilated in with cold shock. It all happened so fast that Naruto didn't even have the conscious thought to cover up their eyes from this sight.
Naruto felt a haze settle down over his mind as his body moved before the rest of his brain could catch up with it. The goblin trying to pull Koyuki's struggling legs apart suddenly had its neck snapped violently with such force that an echo sounded out in the desolate tunnel. The one currently ripping her bra off suddenly had an accelerated punch from Naruto drill through his tiny skull that caused the little dwarf like creatures head to explode in a shower of diluted blood. By now the other goblins were finally aware that they were in danger, but it would do them no good. The one that was covering Koyuki's mouth had her in a constricting submission hold with his arms and legs wrapped around her body suddenly found his head smashed into the wall of the cave fracturing the frost covered stone wall and killing the monster instantly.
The other three goblins wouldn't get a chance to retaliate as metallic malleable blade like wings wrapped around their bodies and flung them across the cave and into the wall. "Exterminate Mode." Chaos intoned as her shadow that was on the ground showed her mouth and usually whenever she used her powers and summoned her wings her shadow would reflect this by showing her wings appearing behind her back while her head would have a creepy yet adorable if you asked Naruto and his biased opinion mouth that would be upturned into a wide smile. Now… that smile was turned down into a menacing frown as Chaos's wings crackled with black miasma like lightning. "Black Magic: Night Shade!"
Iris herself felt no remorse as her eyes glowed a powerful and menacing emerald green as white lightning sparked off of her finger tips. When she spoke up her voice was colder than the atmosphere of the north pole itself. "You are disgusting little creatures. How you were allowed to come into creation is beyond me but let me rectify that mistake here and now. I'll smite you. Holy Magic: Purification Bolt!" Sōkyoku's voice echoed behind Iris's enraged visage as she unleashed a deadly but beautiful bolt of pure white lightning that struck the same time Chaos's black lightning did completely disintegrating the three goblins who only had a microsecond to realize the danger they were in before their lives were wiped out.
In that corner of the cave nothing but a charred black wall scorched from the sister's combined rage was left as not even ash was left behind from the bodies they just killed. Retracting her wings Chaos frowned while Iris turned to the other three bodies that her father had killed and with a simple snap of her fingers their bodies spontaneously combusted into flames that turned pure white. The bodies were cremated on the spot leaving nothing behind.
A pit was in their stomachs at the horrific attack they had just prevented on Koyuki who was sobbing her eyes out. None of them would be able to forget this for as long as they lived, and they knew that Koyuki wouldn't either. Gently and quietly crawling over to the petrified young woman Naruto slowly reached out his hand to grab a hold of her and the second he did the traumatized actress lashed out and slapped his hands away while screaming. "NO! DON'T TOUCH ME!" Naruto's heart leapt into his throat at this response as he could see the pain and terror radiating off of Koyuki's body.
"I'm not here to hurt you Ms. Koyuki. It's me Naruto. I'm here now." Naruto quietly called out as he tried once more and successfully wrapped the older woman in a hug that she lashed out against. "NO! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!" This mantra was being repeated by the distraught woman over and over again as Naruto struggled to keep her in his embrace without resorting to squeezing her. "I promise I won't let anyone, or anything hurt you ever again. I promise." Naruto desperately said as Koyuki wailed and panicked in his arms.
"I've got her." Eva's voice cut through the heart wrenching tirade as she could see Naruto was struggling with what to do. Eva was about ready to go on a rampage worse than what she did to those snow ninja the other day when she was still angry at Sasuke. If Iris and Chaos didn't act when they did then it was entirely possible Eva might have accidentally brought down the entire cave on top of them.
Flapping her golden wings Eva unleashed a cloud of golden pixie dust that like magic began to calm the distraught woman down enough to where she wasn't in a fit of hysteria anymore. Her body was coiled tight and stuck in a fight or flight response to the trauma she endured. The poor woman was beyond traumatized at this point and Naruto barely knew what to say or do to truly comfort the actress so the only thing he could do was hold her tight.
It took nearly ten minutes before Koyuki became coherent again and by that time her makeup was ruined, and she was out of breath as the fight was drained out of her. With his client now significantly calmer Naruto took the time to unhook his climate control cloak so that he could wrap it around her body. With her clothes in tatters and breasts exposed he knew that the frigid cold air of the arctic surrounding them would cause Koyuki to die of hypothermia before long. Rolling up his sleeve Naruto tapped his arm and watched as a tattoo seal appeared on his forearm.
In a plume of smoke, a set of clothes were in Naruto's hands now. Iris had already healed her wounds and now that she was calmer it was the opportune time to tend to her emotionally. "Here… these are some clothes that my adoptive mom wears. She's forgetful sometimes so I keep some spares on hand for her in emergencies." Naruto explained as he handed Koyuki the large shirt and pants that Shoko had more pairs of. It was nothing special, but Shoko was indeed forgetful sometimes when keeping up with her own wardrobe. Especially since Anko had a tendency to steal her clothes often. At that point it was left up to Naruto to supply the legendary shinobi with clothing in the mornings.
Slowly putting it on with the help of Iris and Chaos while Naruto respectfully turned around to give her what little privacy and dignity that she had left Koyuki silently slipped on the clothes with some assistance from the little girls that she always saw accompanying Naruto. To find out that they were his daughters a while ago when they were journeying up to the Land of Snow was a bomb shell for most of the crew including her. Sniffling and rubbing her crying eyes into her sleeves Koyuki tugged at the shirt she was now wearing which she would admit was very warm and noticed that it was quite big on her. "This shirt is a little big on me… do you have anything smaller?" Koyuki mumbled out while tugging on her shirt. She didn't mind having it on… anything was better than not having any clothes on at all. At this point she was just saying it for the sake of trying to distract her mind from the ordeal she just barely managed to survive.
Turning back around to look at the trembling woman, Naruto looked towards the shirt and noticed the problem Koyuki was facing. A light embarrassed blush tinted Naruto's cheeks as he coughed into his closed fist. "Uh… you see… my mom kind of has a… you know… a big chest… so…" Naruto blushed and awkwardly answered as it was common knowledge to him that Shoko had a very large bust size for a woman. Not quite as large as Lady Tsunade's, but it was massive in her own right. In fact, Naruto was mortified to even know this tidbit of information about Shoko, but he knew that she was an astounding E – Cup. This was information that he never wanted to know but one day Jiraiya couldn't keep his mouth shut and from there the self-proclaimed super pervert was knocked unconscious by the irritated woman.
It certainly didn't help matters either that Naruto's taken many baths with Shoko over the years ever since she first moved in with him and started caring for the family. Sharing the bath with such a voluptuous woman and seeing her completely naked was embarrassing for Naruto even before he entered puberty… but despite that fact, skin-ship was a normal part of their society and culture, and he wasn't about to lie and say he didn't enjoy the parental and private moments he would get to share with the kind and gentle woman. It helped fill in the void that he was missing in his life. Now on the other hand… whenever Anko would take it upon herself to slip into the already small bathtub that was usually when things took a mortifying and embarrassing turn for the worst.
Despite herself and the ordeal she just underwent Koyuki couldn't help the slight twitch of her lips at the innocent and embarrassed expression on Naruto's face. To be able to make a face like that in light of such a terrible situation that just happened to her was refreshing for the actress. She needed the levity to counterbalance the gravity of her situation. While she narrowly escaped having a terrible and irreversible fate that all woman fear etched into her body permanently, it didn't mean that her mind was at ease and could accept the things that did manage to happen. She was just glad that Iris was able to heal her body of her physical wounds… now if only there was a way for her to heal her mind and forget everything that had just transpired. It would be even better if she could forget about coming to the country all together.
"You must really love her huh?" Koyuki whispered out in a hoarse voice that chilled Naruto's heart as he grabbed a hold of her closest hand and was glad when she didn't immediately pull away. "Yeah… I was born an orphan without any parents, but she took me in since she was a friend of my late parents. I owe a lot to her. Her name is Shoko." Naruto answered as he pulled Koyuki to her feet to where she then grabbed onto Naruto in a bone crushing hug. "I'm scared… I don't want to be in this country anymore." The woman was a wreck and they all knew it but that did nothing to make them feel any better and so Naruto sighed while hugging the older girl back.
"I know… but running away won't solve your problems. The past will always catch up with you no matter what you do. Your Uncle Dotō would have eventually come looking for you. It's better to face him now while you can." Naruto encouraged as he pulled away from the embrace to position himself so that the older girl could get on his back. He was going to give her a piggyback ride and take the load off of her shoulders on walking back through this thick weather.
"I don't want too… he's too powerful and he always gets what he wants. I just want to live me life away from him." This was a negative statement to express but Naruto could understand that the girl was in grief and pain from everything she's underwent at the hands of her wayward uncle. To be as far away from him as possible would be the natural response anyone would give… but that wouldn't solve the underlying problem at hand.
"I understand… but as long as you are alive, and he thinks you have a use then he'll continue to hunt you down. You are the legitimate ruler of this country after all. Only you can legally dethrone him publicly and set the country back on the right path." Naruto softly argued back as the group began walking back the way they came. They were quite a ways into the tunnel now and without that much ambient light around it made things difficult to see. These words rung within Koyuki's mind as she tightened her grip around Naruto's neck. He had deceptive strength for a 13-year-old to hold her up but then again, he was a shinobi, so she wasn't very surprised. She's witnessed him in particular do some extraordinary things that she didn't even think normal ninja were capable of.
"Why are you being so kind to me…? Is it out of pity for what almost just happened to me? I've been so mean and cold to you for over a month now." Koyuki mumbled in a subdued and vulnerable tone of voice that caused Naruto to internally sigh. No one should sound so scared and fragile like that. The young woman was truly under a tremendous amount of stress lately and this attack on her person was definitely not the ingredient to add to her suffering.
"No… It's not pity. I'm truly sorry for you being attacked but this has nothing to do with me pitying you." Naruto began as they made their way down the railroad track. His voice was soft and the melancholic pitch to his voice had a soothing effect on the distressed woman. "You're my childhood hero. Growing up I was poor and couldn't really afford to enjoy every day joys that regular people took for granted. The very first movie I ever got to watch was your movie. The movie you debuted in. I was so amazed by both the movie and your talent that I gained a crush on you." Naruto admitted with another healthy blush adoring his face.
He was thinking back to his first date with Hinata where she discovered his celebrity crush on the world-famous actress and his fan mentality that he had. She teased him mercilessly about it and he really couldn't fault her. He's gained instant crushes on a lot of people over the years.
Flattery would be the word Koyuki was currently feeling in this moment as the conversation she was currently having with Naruto was keeping her mind at ease. For some reason Naruto's confession was more genuine and heartfelt than what Koyuki has ever heard from most fans. It was refreshing and in the context of the current atmosphere between them it was very much appreciated. A light blush dusted her cheeks at her protector's childish and heartfelt confession. Koyuki was only 20 years old and 7 years older than Naruto. She thought it was quite cute that he would admit such a sweet and kind secret to her like that. It humanized him from being the shinobi that he was and made the metaphorically gap between them smaller than it was before. It allowed her to feel like a connection was forming between them and the actress wasn't opposed to letting it happen.
"Thank you for saving me…" A certain amount of warmth that didn't exist before was now in her voice and that brought a small smile of hope to Naruto's face that the actress could recover. "Any time… and I meant what I said earlier. I will protect you and take down Dotō. This situation is bigger than the both of us now. Whether you're in the country or not he will continue to push his agenda forward and he has really dangerous plans already set in motion. He has to be stopped and if you have a hand in doing it then your country can recover."
Anything that could have been said after that was put on hold when Naruto suddenly felt a spike in chakra beneath him. Looking down at the ground Naruto saw that an active current of chakra was now streaming through the railroad tracks below them. The ice and frost built up around the tracks began to rapidly melt and a low audible rumble could now be felt which alerted Naruto to the fact something wasn't quite right. "Naru? What is that sound and why is the ice melting?" A small swell of panic was starting to build up in the group as an unexplained sound echoed throughout the cave the were in. Something clearly wasn't right and looking behind him Naruto discovered why.
A giant metallic machine was barreling down the tracks coming at them at a surprising amount of speed. Naruto's heart hitched in his throat at this sight as he immediately took off while Chaos sprouted her wings and picked up Iris into her arms who then in turn picked up their fox like companion. A loud steam whistle like horn blared from what Naruto was quickly coming to realize was a train when a steam pipe from the top opened up to let its gaseous vapors out. "We're not going to make it!" Koyuki screamed as the train was only a few feet from behind them. It was going surprisingly fast but nothing a ninja couldn't handle. The problem was Naruto had exhausted quite a bit of chakra over the course of the day from his fight with the demon tribe and having Iris and Chaos use their own reserves of energy further diminished and suppressed his own. He was running low on stamina right now, but he wouldn't allow such a detriment to stop him. He had no interest in being crushed and ran over by a train.
"Of course, we are! I made a promise to protect you, didn't I? I never break my promises and I never go back on my word! Because that is my Ninja Way! BELIEVE IT! No Interval – Double Acceleration!" Naruto boasted as he gathered up his and his children's energies within his body and in an instant, he was surrounded by his cerulean colored chakra cloak that sparkled off his form in a fiery blaze. In seconds Naruto's world blurred around him as he began to leave the train behind him in his wake. His speed only continued to climb as a blue streak flew out of the exit to the tunnel kicking up clouds of snow and dust. The rate at which they were going allowed Naruto to dive off the tracks and land on the hill next to the tracks just as the train left the tunnel.
"See! I told you we would make it." Naruto laughed as he heard a horrible grinding sound of metal on metal and saw the train slowing down once it got past the hill they were on. 'We're almost back at Shirakawa Town now. Since the government owns these trains then it's safe to say that Dotō sent it here. I have to warn everyone else. We might be under attack.' Naruto resolved as he was about to take off when he felt Kakashi and Sasuke land besides him.
"We're back. The other scent we were tracking led us to a nest of goblins. We exterminated them." Kakashi informed as he noticed Koyuki flinch at the mention of goblins. A worried look was immediately in the silver haired Jōnin's eyes as he took keen awareness of the fact that Koyuki wasn't dressed in her usual clothes and she had on Naruto's cloak. Kakashi immediately feared the worse but a subtle nod from Naruto calmed his nerves down before he could act on his assumptions.
"I have Koyuki with me. She only suffered some scrapes and bruises but other than that she is fine. What we really need to worry about now is that train. It's heading for Shirakawa Town." Naruto wanted a change of topics right away as he didn't want the actress to relapse if anyone brought up her condition. Catching on Kakashi took charge as he too recognized that it would be better to focus on other matters at hand. "Right. Let's go warn everyone."
Outskirts of Shirakawa Town/Theatre Camp
Things weren't looking good for the film crew as a massive train pulled up to the outskirts of the little village near where their filming camp was located and seeing Snow Ninja starting to appear from the train certainly didn't help matters either.
"Dotō! He's here!" Sandayū growled out as he appeared from the crowd with a sword strapped to his waist and light armor adoring his body. Several other film crew members were dressed in the same attire and now it was abundantly clear that these were the leftover samurai warriors that fled the country with Koyuki when it was taken over. "Everyone stay calm and get behind me." Sakura called out as she rushed to the front lines as the front compartment of the train opened up and a very imposing if not distinct man made his appearance.
He was a very tall man with slicked back black hair that reached the base of his neck. He had a very thick and wide nose with small jaded olive-green eyes that held nothing but darkness in them. Large pronounced tear troughs chiseled into his face while his mouth which had thick upper and bottom lips were fashioned into a cruel smile. This imposing man was wearing an elaborate dress that only a Daimyō would be caught wearing which included a massive flowing cape like cloak with high collars that framed each side of his face and under layers of a formal yukata that were all in shades of purple and green. His broad shoulders made his whole ensemble even more imposing and that all worked to Dotō's favor who didn't relent with his cruel smile.
"So, this is where I find the last dissidence of my rule. Hiding out in this backwater town of my country that you were so foolish to return to. I hear you even brought my little niece with you." Dotō grinned with his deep voice carrying itself out to the large group of civilians in front of him. When Nadare and the others reported back to him that Koyuki was traveling with the film crew, Dotō was ecstatic as she had something he desperately needed. Something that would put his final plans into motion.
"Dotō! Today is the day you pay for all your crimes against your late brother and this great country. You are a stain on our history, and you will be removed from power!" Sandayū roared out with years of anger and oppression fueling his passion. He's waited for the chance to come face to face with his sworn enemy. He would not let this opportunity slip through his fingers to avenge his fallen lord and the rest of his country. Evil men like Dotō who worked with the criminal underground and poisoned lands with their dark trades got no mercy or sympathy from an honor bound man like Sandayū.
An amused smile graced Dotō's face at this admission by the man he remembered to be one of his late brother's most staunches and loyal royal guards and advisors. Dotō remembered not being able to stand Sandayū back in the day since he was very vocal about matters that opposed his more radical ideals and policies that he struggled to implement behind his brother's back. He wanted to kill off Sandayū a long time ago but never got the perfect chance too… luckily his revolt came along when it did allowing him to take out the entirety of his brother's government.
"Is that so… even ten years later you are as insufferable as always Sandayū. To bad today will be the day you die." Dotō chuckled as he lifted his hand and Nadare who had repaired his suit grinned in sadistic pleasure. "I see that Koyuki isn't amongst you in this crowd of trash. That's very good. I would gain so much more pleasure from killing her face to face… of course, after I obtain what I need from her that is." If evil had a name and a face it would describe Dotō Kazahana right now as he signaled for Nadare to prepare the special surprise that he had in store for them.
"We shall slay you before you ever lay a hand on Lady Koyuki! Come men! Today is the day our blades taste victory!" Sandayū rallied with a war cry so pervasive that the warriors of old would be proud to hear it. He drew his sword alongside his men from the film crew who were his old comrades and began charging at the train against both Sakura's and Jairo's more panicked warnings. Because of his age Sandayū fell behind his men and as fate would have it that was probably what saved his life.
A snap and a hiss sounded out on the train and right away Sakura felt a sense of dread overtake her. She didn't have much time to express the awe she felt when the train first showed up. It was quite the technological marvel to be sure and Sakura had a million different questions and inquiries that her curious mind wanted to ask Jairo, but she knew now was most definitely not the time for that. A steel shutter panel door on several of the train compartments began to open up with the gears on the inside of the compartments grinding against each other as the contents of the metal carriages became known to the world. Racks upon racks of small stacked silo tubes were revealed to the world pointed directly at the filming camp.
The train was a large vessel of considerable length. It had a total of eight cargo pods attached to the main engine unit of the train itself. It was fairly long and now that its contents were revealed Sakura realized just what kind of danger the entire crew was in. With her superior natural eyesight granted to her from her training as a shinobi and continued use of channeling chakra to different points across her body including her eyes, she could see the pointed end of kunai nestled deep at the back of the tubes. That dreaded revelation could only mean one thing and one thing only…
Those were launchers!
The cruel smile on Dotō's face that took on a persona of its own forced Sakura into action as she flipped through the several hand signs to her new favorite technique faster than she's ever done so before when she was practicing with it. The traitorous Daimyō threw his hand down and immediately more kunai than Sakura has ever seen in her entire life began to fire from their spring-loaded positions within their silos.
"GET DOWN!" Sakura screamed as she slammed her hands down onto the ground and channeled out what constituted as most of what remained of her chakra reserves. "EARTH STYLE: EARTH WALL JUTSU!" Four large and thick frost and snow-covered earthen walls rose out of the ground in front of Sakura that were each at least 10 feet wide and 7 feet tall. Half of Sandayū's men just made it over the first hill right near Sakura's new obstruction when a hailstorm of kunai blasted into them from the train tearing them apart in the most horrific ways imaginable.
Limbs were torn asunder and the agonizing screams of the brave men and women who instantly died was an experience that was going to haunt Sakura's dreams for months to come as she got a front row seat to the indiscriminate slaughter of over 25 crew members. She personally tackled Sandayū out of the way but not before he took over five kunai to his body and Sakura herself was shredded by three. One in her calf muscle and two in her upper thighs. The rest of the crew all dropped to the ground behind Sakura's walls which saved their lives as they screamed in terror and sadness as they could hear their life long friends and family members cut down not even 10 feet away.
The salvo must have lasted 20 seconds but for Sakura they were the longest 20 seconds of her life as the onslaught finally came to an end. Lifting her head up Sakura heard the mechanical gears of the launchers from the train cool down as she jumped to the top of her wall and gasped in horror. Mangled bodies of the ex-samurai turned film crew members were scattered about in the blood-stained snow. Body parts were flung everywhere as their armor did nothing to protect them from the hydraulic spring mounted kunai that were launched at them harder than the average Jōnin could throw a kunai. When you take that into consideration while factoring in the sheer amount of kunai launched and you get a wall of steel that most ninja let alone civilians with no protection would have any way of stopping.
This was the scene that Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto who was carrying Koyuki stumbled upon. Horrific gasps of shock tore through the returning members of Team 7 as they managed to now get an up-close look at the militarized train of the country. It was longer than they imagined with eight long train cars plus the locomotive engine in the front. The train was painted slate grey with a lot of dark green secondary accents scattered about. The two carts directly behind the locomotive engine were of a different design compared to the last six in the line that were clearly weaponized cargo pods if the slaughter that just took place was any indication.
"Sandayū…" Koyuki whispered out in mortification with tears leaking from her eyes. She just witnessed her dearest friend and guardian get cut down along with over two dozen crew members that raised her over the last 10 years. The bespectacled overworked manager was like a father to her when she was taken in by him all those years ago. If this was any other time in comparison to the mental trauma that she just suffered through, then Koyuki probably would have reacted with an apathetic and aloof demeanor to the critical injury of the fallen samurai. But as things stood now, she was horrified at the carnage she and the others just witnessed. Those brave men and women were her family… the only family she had left and now they were cut down mercilessly by her dictator of an uncle.
Fresh tears were streaming down her face as she and the others rushed over to the camp with an urgency in their steps. "SAKURA!" Sasuke and Naruto screamed as they rushed over to their teammate while Kakashi stood guard over them. Blood was gushing out of her legs while tears of her own crawled out of Sakura's eyes while she furiously worked to drag Sandayū's much heavier body away with his body littered with kunai. "I need help guys!" Everyone was on her in seconds with Sasuke reaching out and cradling the pink haired girl in his arms. His blood red Sharingan were active in Sasuke's anger while Naruto discarded Koyuki's weight in exchange for Sandayū's as he hauled him away in a hurry where he was transferred to Victor and Jean.
"Get back to the ship and get him medical attention immediately!" Naruto roared as he created over a dozen shadow clones to gather up the surviving crew members who Sakura was able to save by the use of her Earth Walls. Naruto's clones weren't taking any chances as they each grabbed onto two people at the same time and disappeared in lightning fast Body Flickers back towards Shirakawa Town and the docks. There was a small but spacious and functional medical bay located on the Dawn Theatre. They would need all of the supplies on the ship if they wanted any chance at saving the lives of the injured.
"Sasuke pass Sakura off to my clone! He'll get her back to the ship. I need you here with me!" Naruto called out to his teammate who gained an additional tome in his eye at seeing the condition Sakura was in. Now each of his eyes had two tome in them as his anger continued to boil over. The last Uchiha was reluctant but a certain look in Naruto's eyes stopped him in his tracks. No words needed to be spoken between the two friends in that moment as any of the animosity or awkward tension circulating around them disappeared in that moment.
One of their own was just injured… their problems didn't matter anymore.
"You leaf ninja are quite persistent. You always stick your noses in where they don't belong… now… hand over my niece to me and you'll be granted a merciful death. You are trespassing within the borders of my country. A punishment must be administered for such a transgression." Dotō mused to himself with an air of superiority and self-righteousness guiding his every action. He felt untouchable right now and the glint in his eye reflected that notion well. He also wielded power… power that he had no qualms with displaying.
"Reload the magazine and this time switch them for the more destructive ones." Dotō ordered to one of the many gunners stationed in the train. He saw that the crew members were attempting to escape back to the town and subsequently to their private ship. Seeing his enemies running with a palpable amounts of fear radiating off of them was pleasing to the traitorous leader of the Land of Snow. However, he wanted them all to know true despair and suffering. He was in the business of sending messages… that's how he's remained in power for the last ten years. He's made examples out of everyone that's ever crossed him.
The gears and levers in the chambers of the launchers began to spin causing the entire magazine launcher that was visible from the exterior of the train cart to pull in on itself and begin to roll back into the interior of the cabin. A new launcher was brought to the forefront before it clicked into place and right away the team could tell that the contents about to be launched at them were going to be different.
"Everyone get ready!" Kakashi yelled out as Dotō through his hand down in the signal to his gunners. Hundreds of kunai were launched from the many train cars towards team seven but with their trained vision the could make out the paper bombs attached to the handles of the knifes. This was going to be explosive… Kakashi's warning came a second before the first explosions rang out as the group dove down behind Sakura's earthen walls for protection but after the first few explosions rattled the thick walls and sent cracks splintering out across its surface it quickly became apparent that the young Genin's defensive measures weren't up to the task at hand.
"This has to end… and it needs to end now!" Naruto growled as his eyes turned a cold glacial dark blue in color. Frost was building up all across his body while his hair turned snow white. He was accessing his Winter Fairy King Mode right now. He needed the tremendous boost in power to pull off the attack he had in mind. That train had to go and more importantly the launchers attacking them. If something wasn't done soon, they would all wind up dead just like the crew members of the Dawn Theatre whose bodies were being blown apart and disintegrated from the rumbling barrage of explosives tearing apart Sakura's failing earth walls.
Nothing could be salvaged from their bodies to present a proper funeral now and that wasn't a notion that escaped the thoughts of any of the members of Team 7. That only served to anger them further as they prepared to make their move in retaliation. "Iris! I need you to leave and go with the others back to the ship. Many of the crew members including Sakura and Sandayū will need medical assistance. I need you to heal them." Naruto called out but his voice was growing deeper and deeper by the second. His demonic transformation was taking over him now as evident by the dark storm clouds beginning to gather around the sky above the small port town. A tremendous amount of Yōki was boiling over beneath the surface of Naruto's skin and it was permeating the atmosphere around them like an infection. Eva herself was undergoing her typical transformation as well since the charcoal black pixie dust that was wafting off of her wings were present now.
"What about you guys daddy? Won't you need our help?" Iris hesitated as she could feel a change happening within her father and it wasn't his transformation that was causing it. Sure, she could feel her divine grace being pushed off to the side inside her father's body in favor for the transformation of his chakra reserves into a full pool of Yōki but something else was at play here. His heart was darkening as his mind began to have flashes of the dead and mangled bodies being torn apart before him. His fractured mind gained one more crack to it as a certain edge of darkness began to pollute Naruto's heart. Everyone on that train was an enemy as far as he was concerned.
"I won't… just go!" Naruto yelled out as his Yōki was now visible causing snow to begin to fall from the sky. Iris knew she couldn't reason with her father at a time like this, so she took off for the town amidst the hailstorm of flying kunai while the other members of Team 7 stayed behind. 'Something is changing in daddy… his mind isn't well. Especially since this mission started. I need to talk to him about it when the time comes.' Iris thought to herself in concern as she could sense a fundamental shift in her father that was slowly and gradually happening over time. She wasn't sure what it was just yet, but she was resolved to confide in him and make him to the same towards her. Whatever was happening, she was determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Earth Style: Consecutive Earth Wall Jutsu!" Sakura's defensive earth walls broke apart not even a moment later and Kakashi was ready for this eventuality as he channeled his much more potent and rich chakra into the ground at his feet and erected several brick styled earthen walls with dog heads sculpted into the surface in the blink of an eye. The design and makeup of the appearance and composition of the defensive wall was the signature staple of Kakashi's personal rendition of the defensive technique ever since he was a kid. The explosive kunai bombarded this new encampment as Sasuke and Kakashi jumped to the top of the walls to gain a vantage point.
"We've soften them up quite a bit… target the town to set an example. Also deploy the long-range canon. I want their ship targeted as well before the crew get back to it. I want them to watch as it is destroyed before their very eyes." Dotō ordered as Nadare smirked in sadistic glee to this order. Signally one of the Chūnin gunners stationed in the train cart behind them the roof of the cart opened up with an elevator like lift pulling a heavy platform up to the roof height of the rest of the train.
At the same time as this new weapon was being deployed the six weaponized train carts began to adjust the angle of the mechanized launchers in their chambers. The barrels were facing into the sky now with a higher arc as opposed to facing towards the ground at Team 7. This notion caused a cold sweat of terror to break out in the three males of the squad. They were no longer the target… the film crew and by subsequent extension the small township of Shirakawa was in the iron sights of their very own leader.
"Fire." Dotō's face conveyed a sick sense of glee as the reloaded launchers spat out a fresh load of heavy explosive metal high into the sky that began to arc over the heads of Team 7 as the town below them at the coast was the intended target and the film crew that was almost back in its borders. "NO!" Naruto shouted in alarm while Sasuke gritted his teeth in white hot rage. Jumping up into the air and inverting himself Sasuke took out an entire handful of kunai and shuriken while his Sharingan ablaze with heightened awareness. 'It's now or never! Let this work!' Sasuke prayed in his mind as he began to execute the sacred technique his older brother Itachi made look so effortless.
"Uchiha Style Bukijutsu: Dancing Phoenix Talons!" Sasuke's own kunai sailed through the air where they ricocheted off of other kunai that he simultaneously threw at different angles. The two pairs of knives would collide in mid air forcing a change in trajectory for the dominantly thrown knives that caused them to come down at an angle on the train carts that allowed them to not be knocked out of the air by the thousands of kunai they were launching.
Sasuke's specially thrown kunai hit the intended marks he designated in the split-second decisions he made within his mind mid jump. One lucky kunai impacted against the pulley system that lifted the garage like gates concealing the launchers from sight. The knife tore through the chain-link pulley that held the steel doors up causing the metal barricade to come crashing back down to its resting place blocking the launcher in that train cart from having an unobstructed view. Unfortunately for the crew inside that one section of the cabin there was just one big problem for them. The launcher was still firing so Sasuke wasn't surprised when a massive rippling explosion rumbled out from that train car as the explosive kunai impacted against the metal doors that concealed their launchers and detonated prematurely.
Sasuke's other kunai landed on other key structures on the other train carts with another one achieving the same success with the very last train cart in the same manner that was happening to one of the other carts. Dotō as well as Nadare and the others were knocked from their feet at the explosions that rocked the entire train behind them. The crew inside those carts were dead and the other launchers were disrupted from the internal damage spreading across the entire train system. They were powered by a complex steam and cable powered system that was experimental because of the brand-new nature of the technology they were working with. With the pipes and power conveyor systems destroyed in the two carts it caused enough of a disturbance in their chain that it stopped the other four train carts from continuing their barrage.
While Sasuke's marvelous attack was successful with even a few of his kunai and shuriken nailing a few exposed crewmen and ninja in the head with kill shots it did nothing to change the fact that the damage had already been done. Thousands of kunai were already launched as it is, and they were now raining down on the unsuspecting town of Shirakawa that would be unprepared for this rude awakening in the late evening air. The northern half of the town was suddenly and unexpectedly carpet bombed from the thousands of kunai with paper bombs attached to them that were successfully launched before Sasuke's intervention.
The terrified screams of terror and death from the citizens of the town were muted out instantly due to the distance and the much louder and pervasive sound of hundreds of paper bombs going off causing untold amounts of carnage and destruction on such a unique and staggering scale that it left even Kakashi momentarily stunned as both of his visible eyes widened in silent shock and disbelief. Because of the arc of the kunai launched from the train it rained down from the very northern edge of the town that began to blanket the ground below it as it staggered forward towards the south end of the settlement to the shoreline cutting a devastating path of death and destruction that would be imprinted onto the minds of the team for years to come.
By the time the team could draw their minds and eyes away from the sea of flames and explosions rumbling out from the town below them they were greeted to the sight of a long prominent barrel shaped contraption mounted to the top of the second train cart behind the steam engine powered caboose. A black iron clad long-range cannon fixed to a turreted base was mounted to the top of the train. It was noticeable and quite intimidating if a civilian were too look at it, but for shinobi like Team 7, it only spelled trouble and danger.
Through his link to Iris that was currently being suppressed because of his demonic influence Naruto was able to sense the sudden and abrupt mass lost of life as well as the pain and chaos that he was able to sense from Chaos on her end of the spectrum. At the very least 30 to 40% of the population of Shirakawa was dead or dying while upwards of nearly 50 to 60% of them were either injured or running for their very lives. The unwarranted suffering and death that the peaceful town just had to endure was unforgivable and inexcusable as far as Naruto and the others were concerned. He could feel the muted and diluted sensation of their souls passing through Iris's small body since she was a nexus point and gateway for souls to pass on into the afterlife. The amount of deaths was staggering and unfathomable.
Through his connection to Iris, Naruto was able to tell that the film crew were blown off their feet with several of the members including Makino himself suffering injuries from narrowly avoiding the indiscriminate bombings as they managed to stop just short of the town when they were blown away by the explosives. Luckily Iris was their as she managed to block the vast majority of the explosions from outright killing off more members of the crew but many of them were now injured and hurt.
White hot rage boiled within Naruto's mind as he watched Dotō fire off the main canon on his war machine and a shining ball of flames that was a chakra explosive bomb ball was launched high over their heads and impacted onto the top deck of the Dawn Theatre causing an explosion to ripple out from the impact. Two more successful shots were shot off that managed to land their marks before Naruto finally had enough. He couldn't hold in his anger any longer as a massive amount of Yōki exploded from his body in billowing waves.
"THAT'S IT! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY!" Naruto roared as his Yōki became erratic and unstable. Rage was etched onto Naruto's face at the indiscriminate and senseless slaughter that they all just witnessed. The sensation was 100 times worse for him because he could feel the departed souls of the dead passing through Iris's body thanks to their connection to each other and the feelings and pain that they suffered which was amplified by Chaos's influence. It was all too much for Naruto to handle and to know that this served no other purpose than to entertain this madman and his ego tipped Naruto well over the boiling point. He's just come face to face with Dotō, but he could already say that he hated this man with a passion.
"Come on Sasuke… let's take advantage of this situation. I think Naruto's about to do something big as usual." Kakashi duly noted as he couldn't be certain what his erratic student's next move was going to be, but if he had to hazard a guess, he would say that it was going to be a large-scale attack. That was the kind of opening that they needed. With any luck Naruto would take everyone's focus off of them.
"Such monstrous power… is this the boy that bested you Mizore and held off your strongest attack Nadare?" Dotō questioned as the buffeting winds from Naruto's massive Yōki was pushing against their faces and they were over a hundred yards away. Dotō was able to supply his three top subordinates with replacement chakra suits of armor following the initial clash between them and Team 7. The vicious dictator just wasn't expecting his team to be beaten and forced into retreat with such injuries accompanying them. It took their best healers the last few days of constant treatment to bring the mercenary team back up to full health. To hear that a young boy possessed such strength to oppose two of his subordinates on separate occasions baffled the illegitimate Daimyō.
Now seeing it with his own two eyes however… the greedy stone-faced man could now see for himself just what kind of force they were dealing with. 'This power… I'd imagine this would be the power of those Jinchūriki weapons that the five great nations keep to themselves.' Dotō pondered in his mind not knowing just how right on the nose he was about his inner thoughts. While Naruto wasn't using the powers of the Nine Tailed Fox at the moment… it was safe to say that the amount of power he was currently outputting was on the level of his Version 1 – One Tailed State. The Yōki blasting into the air was staggering and deep down the sensation of this demonic aura had Dotō and the others terrified.
"Get to the front cart now. Detach the train." Dotō ordered as he rushed inside the train in a frantic pace. He didn't know what the little boy in front of him was capable of but considering the amount of energy that he had at his disposal he was sure that it would be destructive.
Now was the time to make a tactical retreat.
The Yōki rippled out from Naruto's body in an instant as it begged for release. With a war cry Naruto slammed his hand down onto the ground while releasing his pent-up frustration, rage, and anger all infused into his Yōki for one large scale attack that was modeled after a very recent technique he came up with out of desperation. Now was the time to use the demonic version of that technique.
"YŌJUTSU: SHATTERING GLACIAL SPEARS!"
The very earth tore itself apart as a massive crushing wall of ice the size of a glacier came rushing forth from Naruto's hands as the wall of ice fashioned itself into massive spears that started to tear into the ground at breakneck speeds. The train had no way of protecting itself from the onslaught that befell it as this monstrous technique was fashioned after Naruto's recently invented technique that he used to defend himself and the rest of the team from Nadare's final attack.
This version however was much more potent and enhanced by his Yōki which turned the color of the ice to a mesmerizing amethyst. It took all of about five seconds for this advancing glacial wall of spears to reach the armored military train and in seconds the thick pillar like spears tore through the metal and iron encompassing the transportation vehicle like a hot knife through butter. Consecutive explosions and the horrible sound of metal tearing against and into itself filled the air as Naruto's overpowered attack ripped the train straight off the tracks and plowed what remained of it into the side of the inclined hills on the opposite side of the tracks.
The two compartments behind the caboose survived this horrific onslaught as Dotō had ordered for them to be detached from the rest of the carts. With a high-pitched whistle from its smoke stack, the wheels connected to the tracks began to rotate as the train pulled away just in time to avoid being ripped apart by Naruto's powerful attack but that did not mean their trouble was over… Kakashi and Sasuke still had their own input to put forth about the unwarranted terrorization against the innocent civilians of Shirakawa Town.
Kakashi and his student made their move in tandem and Nadare who was still up top on the roof of the opposite cart saw the two enemy shinobi incoming but had no way of intercepting them because of their speed. They were simply to fast for him to counter. "Lightning Style: Lightning Cable!" Instead of just one Copy Cat Ninja coming at the train, there were two and each had a powerful Lightning Blade generated in their opposite hands with a thick charge of electricity connecting the renown ninja together to his Shadow Clone.
In one fell swoop the two-man team cut straight through the powerful long-range cannon situated on top of the train destroying it outright before it could fire off another round at the Dawn Theatre. At the exact same time Sasuke with a Chidori in hand slammed into the connecting anchor brace connecting the two train carts together causing the thing to be ripped apart in seconds. The offensive battle cannon train cart was now disabled and no longer a threat which was fine by the Leaf ninja as they didn't want any more surprises from this decked out train. All that was left was the caboose and the first cart that was speeding away much faster now that it didn't have all of the weight of the extra carts attached to it.
A few of the snow ninja that were manning the crew compartments inside the destroyed train carts managed to survive Naruto's initial assault and as the crawled out of the flaming wreckage of their military vehicle they were met with the cold eyes of Naruto who was already standing above them on the destroyed train. "You're all dead."
A slaughter was what it could be called as Naruto disappeared before their very eyes as heads started to roll. There were nine survivors from the destroyed train, and they were all killed before they could put up much of a fight at all. Dropping down to the ground in a slump Naruto felt the Yōki in his body recede as his transformation came undone. He wasn't at 100% still and to use such a powerful transformation drained his stamina immensely.
"The train is getting away." Sasuke called out as he appeared near Naruto who was panting, and dripping sweat. While others would think that having access to so many different energy sources and a plethora of amazing techniques to go along with it the truth of the matter is it wasn't as glorious as one would think. When using his chakra, it wasn't much of a problem for Naruto as he had chakra for days in comparison to almost any other person he knew. When you couple that with his Uzumaki heritage and being the Jinchūriki to the Nine Tailed Fox and you get a recipe for a living breathing nuclear reactor powered by Chakra. Naruto's stamina was never contested in this arena and if he was just using solely his chakra, he wouldn't have much to worry about.
The problem comes from the fact he also has a massive reserve of both Yōki, and Divine Grace stored within his chakra core at the same time and as for his Yōki it is mixed and harmonized with his Chakra to such an extent that they've merged and synchronized. In every Jutsu that he's performed there is a small amount of Yōki that is naturally mixed in. When he transforms into his demonic form his entire reserve of chakra is converted into Yōki which drains far faster than his chakra would at the exchange for greater power. The stress that it puts on his chakra circulatory system to change his chakra to Yōki with the added presence of his Divine Grace causing additional negative resistance puts untold amounts of stress on his body.
Right now, Naruto was reaching his physical limit on what his body could handle. "I know… but there isn't much we can do about it now. We need to get back to town and tend to the wounded." Naruto wheezed as his chakra system was currently in turmoil due to Iris's and Chaos's divine energy that was trying to expand within his body due to the two little girls trying their best to heal the injured crew members back in town and with his circulatory system currently coated in a heavy dosage of his Yōki which was now receding it was causing untold amounts of friction and pain within him.
It was utter chaos inside Naruto's body right now and as things stood, he was in no condition to chase down a train that contained the entire mercenary team that they had difficulty with last time. Kakashi and Sasuke had more gas left in the tank to take on their chosen opponents once again but Naruto was spent.
It would effectively be a 2 on 3 situation against the Snow Team since Naruto would only be a liability to his teammates. It was a valid opinion to bring up and so Sasuke relented to Naruto's advice and with a helping hand the team reconvened at the outskirts to Shirakawa Town where an emergency triage center was being established by Sakura with the help of the able-bodied survivors of the town. Civilian born doctors, nurses, and anyone with medical training were gathering around Sakura as she did her best with her beginning levels of medical knowledge to save the lives of any that they could.
Outskirts of Shirakawa Town/ Emergency Triage Center
"Naruto! I need you to spread out your clones and bring any injured victims here right away!" Sakura requested with a sense of urgency in her voice as she wrapped a tourniquet around the leg of a screaming young boy younger than them around the age of 10. His parents were close by and being treated by the crews registered nurse to the best of his abilities.
It was pandemonium in the purest sense as he watched the surviving members of the film crew along with his colleagues in the Mafia running around at full speed gathering up as many wounded and injured as they possibly could. Chakra created stone walls were set up in a perimeter around this impromptu triage camp by Sakura and Kakashi as people funneled into the entrance by the dozens.
The screams, the crying of children and adults alike, the smell of intoxicating and suffocating smoke and wood from burning buildings, the biting and freezing cold that up until now didn't bother him, the sense of chaos and panic swirling around in the air was starting to get to Naruto.
Everything was starting to spin and grow hazy for the young man as his breath started to come in at uneven intervals. A haze was settling down on Naruto's mind as the images of the many people he has killed and just finished killing flashed into his mind. Blood and the distorted sounds of their screams filtered into his mind overlapping the similar noises happening around him.
He looked like a zombie as he aimlessly stumbled around the makeshift camp which immediately caught Sakura's attention after she didn't hear a reply from her teammate. "Naruto!" The first call didn't reach him and neither did the second or third. After that point she noticed that the young Chūnin was dry heaving and had collapsed to the ground. "SASUKE!" A pang of fear ran through Sakura's heart at that moment as she was still tending to the young child in her lap who was bleeding profusely from his leg after the roof of his house collapsed in on him while he was in his room sending shrapnel raining down on him that pierced his leg. The ruthless volley of explosive kunai tore the small town asunder and the death toll was in the dozens at this point with double that number in injured victims and that number was rising by the minute.
Shirakawa had a population of just over 1600 people so with the rate things were going and the level of devastation that has been inflicted to the town that spelled an ominous omen for Sakura who now had another emergency on her hand. Calling out to her long time crush the pink haired support member of Team 7 immediately pointed out Naruto's condition to the black haired Uchiha who with his usual quickness rushed over to his partner who was clearly having a panic attack.
"Naruto! Naruto! Snap out of it! It's me! Come on!" Shaking his shoulders, a little more roughly than he would have liked Sasuke finally managed to get a coherent look to return to Naruto's eyes, but that did nothing to stop the erratic breathing or the frantic expression looming over his face.
"What's happening to him!" Sakura called out in fright as she was unsuccessfully trying to divide her attention between the needs of the child in her embrace and her downed teammate.
"He's having a panic attack! He's reached his limit! Where's Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke responded back while keeping a steady hold on his partner. He's never seen Naruto lose his grip and composure like this before. The look in his eyes was sure to haunt Sasuke's dreams for the next week if not more. For as long as he's known him the blond haired Uzumaki was usually a cheerful and collected individual who was more than what he had originally seemed to be. Back in the academy he played the part of a wash out academic and prankster with a short attention span and over the course of their tenure together as a team he's seen the real Naruto who was a composed individual who was serious when needed and approachable when off duty.
Such a slip in composure was completely out of left field for the last Uchiha… though deep down Sasuke understood what his best friend was going through. He used to have these exact same panic attacks in the months following the downfall of his clan. These severe aftershocks of his trauma and subsequent PTSD were heavily prevalent in the beginning years following the massacre and have recently calmed down in the past year since he graduated and was put on a team, but even to this day he hasn't fully forgotten or recovered from his ordeal.
The only reason why he was allowed to finish the academy and become a Genin was because he was counseled by Inoichi himself on multiple occasions and the village council pushed their weight around to ensure he passed. He could recognize the symptoms unfolding before his eyes in a heartbeat because he wore the exact same look on his face many times over the years. This strange revelation made him feel oddly closer to the first person he has ever called friend let alone best friend which he was. It also made the pit in his stomach over the confrontation they had the other day grow worse with guilt which caused his Curse Mark to stir subconsciously in the back of his mind. Any negative thought would due for the nefarious physical reminder of Orochimaru's presence in his life.
"He just left a minute ago to go search for more injured survivors. Some of the others are gone as well!" Sakura called out as she tried to remain focus on the task at hand.
Sasuke hissed his teeth in annoyance as now would be the time he'd ask his teacher for help in this situation. Undoubtedly, he would have far more experience in this field then him given the fact he is a veteran who has more than likely gone through the same thing. "Breath Naruto! Breath! I need you to breath for me!" Sasuke repeated in a comforting mantra… it came out stiff since all things consider this was Sasuke in question. But his tone was far more understanding and comforting than anything his teammates have ever heard from him before.
"IRIS! I need you now!" Sasuke called out as he immediately jumped at the next instinct to cross his mind. He knew that the little mythical girl's very presence should be enough to help calm Naruto's nerves if only for a little while. While he still didn't quite know what either Iris or Chaos was, he had his suspicions as his mind flashed back to the very first serious conversation that he shared with Naruto back in Firebend town. It was alluded to him that they might be some kind of gods which was mind-blowing to the vengeful boy but even he could not deny the mystery surrounding the close companions of his team.
He was also aware of the effect Iris's presence had on a person and the surrounding area after spending almost a year around her. Said girl was upon them in seconds with an equally panicked expression on her face as well. "Daddy!" Iris knew that something wasn't quite right with her father… and now she was seeing first hand what this was.
'His mind is fracturing under all this stress. He can't handle having the Nine Tails active inside of him on top of both me and Miya now inhabiting space within his mind. Factor in his recent conflict with Sasuke, which is a new experience for him and with the repeated injuries he has sustained and the back to back bloody and violent battles over the last few months with barely any down time in between and you get this…' Sōkyoku theorized to herself as she allowed her presences to wash over not just Naruto but over the camp itself bringing a sense of order and serenity to the disorder and calamity.
Looking over to her left Iris gasped in shock as she saw Chaos collapse to the snow-covered ground face first in her frantic dash to be at her father's side. She was holding her head and chest in blistering pain and nausea as Naruto's pain was transferred to her like it normally is. Since Naruto's negative emotions were poisonous for Chaos to ingest as opposed to others the little Angeloid was currently crippled since her father was in a predicament he's never been in before.
"Come on Naru! This isn't like you. You're supposed to be the one who's in control." Eva cried as she buzzed around Naruto's head dousing him with her pixie dust which wasn't having the desired effect that she would like. His breathing was not stabilizing, and Eva could feel the madness and chaos ravishing his mind apart. Tears leaked out of Evangeline's eyes as she's never once in her life seen Naruto quite like this before. Sure, there have been times when he would lose his composure in the most stressful of situations that they've faced over the years but never before has she seen him collapse and have a full-blown panic attack on such a severe level before. This was something completely new.
"Hang in there Naru! Everything is going to be ok I promise you." Eva cried as she planted soft kisses down on his forehead, but they amounted to very little as Naruto was barely registering Eva's presence. "Oh my god. Is he going to be ok?" Jairo panicked in concern as he rushed over to the group as well to get a look at his rescuer who saved his life not even an hour ago. As far as Jairo was concerned, he was in Naruto's debt for saving his life and showing him his honor and integrity as a ninja. However, they weren't the only ones worried about Naruto; there were others still in the camp who wanted to be by Naruto's side in his time of need.
"NARUTO!" As it turns out Henrietta was also currently in the camp. The others had set out into the burning and destroyed town to rescue more survivors under the supervision of Kakashi which served as the perfect recipe for disaster as the young female agent dropped the bag of medical supplies into the snow and rushed over to her partner with frantic steps. She barely registered Chaos down on the ground before her who had to be picked up by Koyuki herself who was helping Makino direct the crew in keeping everything in order.
The world-famous actress felt emotionally drained and numb to the carnage swirling around her yet at the same time she found a renewed vigor igniting a flame in her heart as she was pulling her own weight in applying aide to those who needed it. Her hands were covered in layers of blood from bleeding and dying people but that did nothing to stop her from helping where she could. This situation was allowing her to block out her own trauma from the situation Naruto just rescued her from and if she could return the favor even just a little bit by helping Chaos and the others then she would gladly do it.
Anything to keep her from feeling the despair crawling into her heart right now.
The chestnut-haired girl was smothering Naruto in an instant as Sasuke filled her in on the situation at hand. It took nearly two minutes, but nothing was changing in Naruto's condition, so the marionette did something that she knew was crossing the line. 'I'm seriously going to need to talk to Hinata about this. I just hope she can forgive me.' Without a second of hesitation afterwards the young emotional girl crashed her lips onto Naruto's immediately silencing his outburst and causing Sasuke's eyebrows to disappear beneath his headband.
"Please be okay Naruto… we're here for you." Henrietta whispered into his ear as those gathered around watched as Naruto's breathing began to even out. A far away and frantic look was in Naruto's eyes as silent tears trailed down his face. There was too much blood and chaos surrounding him. It was all that he could hear or see.
'I can't believe I just kissed him like that…' Henrietta squealed in her mind in a combination of panic and embarrassment but on the outside, she was showing a facade of absolute concern for her best friend and partner. His mental state must be in total disarray right now considering the condition he was in.
"It's too much… I'm sorry guys." Naruto choked out as he was trying his hardest to regulate his breathing in the face of his abrupt panic attack. He's never experienced anything quite like this before but if he had to hazard a guess, he would think back to the dreadful night of his fourth birthday when Kenichi died in the explosion at the orphanage as well as to the occasion where he broke into a convenient store and ran into a bunch of criminals who attacked him. Those men were his first kills while Kenichi's death shook him to his core.
Ever since then death has followed Naruto around into such encounters against Toiret the Ogre Demon and many more over the years. But now… it was starting to pile up. It was become too much for him to bare and as long last Naruto has to acknowledge the fact that he had PTSD.
'I'm just like Shoko now huh…?' It was a depressing and demoralizing thought that bogged its way through Naruto's mind that did nothing to help his current mental state. Through his usual persistence and charisma, he was able to persuade his surrogate mother into seeking help for her own trauma. Now the universe in its infinite wisdom was seeing fit to extend the same amount of karma to him in return.
At the moment Naruto couldn't form very many coherent thoughts but he was able to pick out the most recent one of Henrietta kissing him to bring him back over the edge. A light dusting of pink painted his cheeks with the frigid cold climate of the north pole making this coloration deeper in saturation as everyone was freezing cold.
"Henrietta… you did that for me?" Naruto whispered out in surprise and embarrassment as that was quite the bold move for his shy partner to do. She was just as shy as Hinata used to be and even to this day still sometimes is. The Hyūga princess has gained a lot of confidence in herself over the years from hanging out with Naruto and having his brash street sharpened personality rub off on her and that attribute was only enhanced further by her successful career so far as a shinobi. She's progressed by leaps and bounds and become very powerful which has done wondered for her temperament.
The brown-haired marionette on the other hand didn't possess the exact same shade of confidence that her close friend did. While she prided herself on being a member of the Jasmine Dragon Mafia it still wasn't enough to bring her out of her shell… both figuratively and literally since she was reminded everyday of her condition.
"Of course, silly… you know why I did it." The bashful girl squirmed while tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. It was the most typical and stereotypical feminine response to female embarrassment and flattery, and none could criticize the girl for how she was feeling right now after what she had just done. Naruto didn't trust his own voice to reply to that statement as his guilty mind wandered back to fact that he had already made an agreement with his faithful partner to hold off on any romantic affections until they were both ready since Naruto was still getting used to his very important and under the surface complex relationship with Hinata. There were a lot of strings attached with entering a relationship with the heiress to the Hyūga Clan. He had to jump through a lot of hoops to get to the point he was in now, so he wanted to take things slow…
That notion was out of the window now, but he chose not to dwell on it as he met the panicked and worried eyes of his beloved daughter Iris and his best friend Sasuke who were trying to come up with words to say.
"I'm sorry for scaring you guys like that… my head just started spinning ya know… and it all became too much for me all of a sudden. I've pushed myself farther both mentally and physically than even what I'm truly capable of and I didn't even realize it until it was too late… for that I'm sorry." Naruto said in a defeated and tired voice that was wracked with guilt and self-blame. He knew that his stamina was legendary in its own right but that did nothing for his mental health where it truly counts.
He was metaphorically drowning for months now with one shocking stressful stimuli after another and with this mission in particular it really has been taken a toll on him as had that dangerous and nerve-wracking large-scale battle orchestrated by Balalaika that he was the target of. He didn't know it at the time, but those stressful encounters were piling up mentally without his knowledge until finally seeing such carnage to such a peaceful and innocent village right after preventing Koyuki from being assaulted was the final nail in the coffin.
It simply became too much…
"You have nothing to apologize for Naruto… you aren't invincible, and nobody is expecting the world from you. You've done more than enough." Sasuke states in an unusual subdued voice that honestly surprises Naruto the most as he wasn't expecting to hear such sincerity and transparency within his teammate. Comforting others really wasn't his strongest suit. The brooding boy was usually to emotionally unavailable to be capable of such a feat.
"…"
"Thank you… thanks Sasuke…" Naruto mumbled out after a moment of speechlessness with a tired yet genuine smile that for a short while managed to reach his eyes as he was most definitely not expecting his teammate and close friend to express such a soft spot in his usually infallible stoic persona.
"Hn…" Sasuke grunted with a small grin on his face as he helped Naruto into a comfortable sitting position. Chaos and panic were starting to become suppressed around the camp since Iris was generating her aura to help keep people calm but it did nothing to calm the hearts of the suffering people still trapped within the town. Things still weren't resolved and as things stood now that wouldn't be the case at the pace they were going. They only had so much man power on hand with Kakashi and the few able-bodied crew members doing much of the rescue operations. But with this trend it would quickly spell doom for the majority of the citizens crying out in the burning town. Kakashi and the others couldn't be everywhere at once…
But Naruto could…
"Naruto are you okay now?" Henrietta quietly and tentatively inquired as she pulled on his jacket with a look of trepidation in her eyes. Not once in her entire life has, she seen Naruto so thrown from his game, he was usually level headed and mentally sound. This was very out of character for him. Yet, deep down the marionette girl knew that the stress that he's been under for the last few months that he confided in her with while on the ship was the cause for this mental break down.
"I'm fine Henrietta, I promise… I pushed myself too hard and it's my fault for not noticing." Naruto placated in a softer tone while grabbing onto her hand in a show of comfort. He appreciated just how deep her feelings for him ran, it reminded him of Hinata and her unyielding devotion to him and their relationship. With Henrietta he knew that it wasn't just a crush that she had on him but also hero worship. He was her first friend and the first person to treat her as an equal and peer. He treated her like an individual and a human and was easily relatable to the vulnerable girl when they were young.
In her eyes he could do no wrong as she grew up beside him watching as he would succeed and even fail only to triumph later on throughout their career in the Mafia. The tender and openly inviting personality that he extended to her foster sisters was a huge plus.
It also didn't help that he unknowingly used to flirt with her when they were younger which helped bolster her feelings for him… in hindsight he regrets his dense and oblivious nature back then and the way he responded to and interacted with females. He was so starved for affection and attention, particularly from the opposite sex that whenever he came around one, he would latch onto them strongly.
He had no doubt in his mind that his own damaged nature and outlook on life inadvertently boosted Henrietta's outlook on him.
In that same vein he couldn't necessarily lie to himself and say that he didn't feel anything for the brown-haired girl. He was convinced at this point that he had a thing for the shy types as Henrietta and Hinata were mirror images of each other and shared many similarities. Shy, playful, and strong-willed girls were the road of life that he traveled down. Both Hinata and Henrietta fit that bill perfectly, while Eva fell into that path when she wasn't busy being influenced by her own demonic nature. For the most part Eva was far more outgoing and dominate as far as personality goes than either of the other girls, not to mention perverted and mischievous.
When he first met Aria, she also displayed these qualities which quickly endeared her to him in the long run, these qualities over time would remain the same but the witch obviously adopted shades of Eva's personality as well. Supernatural types must like to stick together in that department.
Surprisingly enough Shoko fit this category as well when Naruto met her all those years ago. Before they developed the mother and son relationship that they have now he used to have a massive crush on her do to his need for a strong attachment to an adult maternal figure in his life. While incredibly dominant, strong willed, and infallible the Legendary Titan in her everyday personal life was also very reserved, shy, and playful which helped mold Naruto's preferences for girls.
Naruto wasn't willing to add Anko to this category much to his internal embarrassment since while yes, he did eventually develop a crush on the lead interrogator for the ANBU he was at a point in his life and old enough to realize that he had to gain control over his emotions. He was starting to receive the parental and familial love that he was missing out on for the first six almost seven years of his life from Shoko, so he was able to control himself better.
But years later in the present Naruto could honestly say that he did hold some feelings for his mafia partner. As he discovered earlier in the month he was going through a hormonal period of lust for the cute and attractive agent and their mutual young age and inexperience in their own hormones was making things difficult for the both of them. Even now the girls first response was to kiss him in order to bring him back to his senses. There was lingering sexual tension and desperate feelings bubbling beneath the surface for the two of them ever since their conversation earlier in the month on the Dawn Theatre.
That would need to be resolved on their own time.
Refocusing his mind to the task at hand Naruto comforted Iris in the same way yet retained enough self-awareness to note that a searching and guarded look was in his little princess's eyes. A lot of was on the young girls mind and he knew she wanted to share it with him.
All in do time he supposed.
Taking Chaos's limp body from Koyuki who fretted over him for a brief moment Naruto focused down on extracting the poisonous negative emotions drowning the little girl in her mind. He had to be careful how his own emotions were processed since his beloved daughter was connected to him on a level most people never could be.
"Naruto… I'm running out of medical supplies. I just used the last of my rations on this little boy. What are we going to do?" Sakura called out in an octave of distress as she was finally able to secure the young boy that she was treating so he was now in the clear, but in doing so she used the last of the supplies in her medical bag. She didn't have much to begin with… only enough to service a typical three-man team like the one she was on. But when you spread out those supplies to dozens upon dozens of injured civilians was a myriad of different injuries and it quickly becomes understandable why the budding support specialist of Team 7 was now out of all of her supplies.
A glint of determination and understanding flashed into Naruto's mind. He could finally breath properly again but that did nothing to stop his mind from wandering back to the suffocating feeling of people dying all around him and his own demons coming to claw at his mind. He could feel those dark poisonous thoughts itching at the corners of his mind, but he had to focus himself on not feeling that way anymore. If he wanted those thoughts to go away, then he had to fix the source of them… and that was the suffering of the people around him.
"I'm going to go get you both more patients and those supplies that you need. Leave everything to me Sakura. Believe it!" Naruto said with the dark bags underneath his eyes betraying the bravado he was spewing. However, this was Naruto Uzumaki in question… pushing past his limits was the hallmark of his character. He's done so many times in the past and was slated to do so many more times in the future than he would properly be capable of counting.
"No way… Naruto you must be out of chakra by now and you're in no condition to go anywhere or do anything. I still need to check on you myself." The pink haired girl denied heatedly as she wasn't able to rush over to her fallen teammate like she would have liked… she couldn't rest for her own peace of mind until she was able to check on him personally.
A small appreciative smile adorned Naruto's lips as he slowly and gingerly aligned his fingers into his favorite hand sign that he was over time little by little making (in)famous and synonymous with his name. "No can-do Sakura… we're shinobi so we have to keep pushing forward no matter what. I'll feel better once I help these people." Naruto said passionately as a massive build up of chakra began to hum beneath the surface of his skin stunning his teammates and colleagues.
"Multi…"
Koyuki who was nearby widened her eyes in concern first which soon turned to awe along with everyone else as Naruto finished unleashing his chakra for his favorite technique. 'How far is he willing to go?' The actress asked herself.
"…Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A massive discharge of chakra swept through the area as well over 100 shadow clones of Naruto appeared around the camp with eyes shining with a determination equal to that of steel reflecting off of their eyes for everyone around them to see and be basked in.
'He should have keeled over by now from chakra exhaustion… I know for a fact he's low on chakra from using his demonic transformation. He's explained to us many times over the month we were traveling here its inherent weakness on its cooldown period. Just how far is Naruto willing to go for the sake of others.' Sasuke thought to himself in morbid and unrestrained awe as he hasn't seen Naruto produce this many clones in a long time, not since the failed Sound/Sand joint invasion has he seen this many.
'Just what are you Naruto… what drives you to do these things. Do you not have a concern for your own well-being?' Sakura wept in her mind as she couldn't bring her intelligent mind around to processing just what motivated her blond-haired teammate and what fueled him and his infinite power. Even till this day having been on the same team with him for almost an entire year and knowing him ever since they were six and had enrolled in the academy Sakura still felt like she was no closer to understanding the young Chūnin. Even now he was still an unapproachable mystery that she couldn't quite comprehend.
"I'm not done just yet… this isn't everything." Naruto boasted as he flashed through a quick yet familiar chain of hand signs while biting his thumb before slamming his hand into the cold snow beneath him. This time a larger quantity of chakra was in a consistent stream being channeled through the blond Chūnin as more smoke exploded outwards from his palm.
"Summoning Jutsu: Toad Clan Summoning!"
An unprecedented showcasing of raw mastery of the Summoning Jutsu was what the onlookers were witnesses too as only a ninja on the level of a Kage would have the chakra capacity necessary to summon the number of summoning companions as what Naruto just demonstrated. Chakra smoke whited out the makeshift triage camp for a few moments before the harsh winds of the polar atmosphere blew them away to reveal the spectacle that Naruto had called forth.
When the smoke cleared there were now well over 60 plus resident toads from Mt. Myōboku now gathered in the medical camp from different castes of their hierarchy. The Toads from Mt. Myōboku were a highly versatile and variable species with numerous different biological types of toads that could fill a number of roles and functions in various capacities for any kind of situation you could think of. They were a fully formed society that was well equipped for whatever their summoner had in mind for them and Naruto was banking on this as he needed a special variety to help deal with the crisis currently going on around them.
The first few toads to step forward were all over around 6 to 8 feet tall with bulky and robust figures that had a myriad of brighter almost neon themed colorations adoring their skins. However, one at the front of the pack drew Naruto's attention to it as it was a familiar denizen of his allies that he literally ran into when he first met Jiraiya. It was the very effeminate and flamboyant toad named Gamariki who had kissed Naruto in a surprise attack that left him under the effects of a strong love themed Genjutsu that embarrassingly enough made Naruto embrace Iris and rain down a bunch of kisses on her while from his own skewed perception she had an identical face to that of Gamariki.
It was a very embarrassing memory that Naruto wanted to bury as far down as he could. Upon seeing the toad in question, he saw Iris flinch in morbid embarrassment as he had no doubt that the little girl was remembering the same thing he was. "Look at what we have here… it certainly has been a long time, how have you been honey?" The very suave and flamboyant toad drawled out as he greeted his summoner with a smile on its lipstick colored face. "Not long enough…" Iris mumbled under her breath which was a statement heard by her father and those around her but promptly ignored except for the tiny up twitch of Naruto's lips. He loved Iris's feisty and spitfire attitude. It warmed his heart.
"I've been better Gamariki but now is not the time for a reunion. We're facing a major crisis here and I need all the help I can get. This entire town has been attacked and we have hundreds of injured civilians in need of medical attention. I need you and any of your partners here to administer first aid using your powers. My clones will be scattering out into the city to rescue and bring back the surviving injured victims. Can you do this for me?" Naruto was quick to take command of the conversation as he didn't want to become distracted from the task at hand.
He was working on a tight schedule here. His reserves of chakra really were down as his teammates were suspecting. He didn't have an exact estimation of how long he could sustain both the army of clones that he summoned or the battalion of different toads, but he knew it wasn't indefinitely. If need be, he would hazardously push himself past his limits to at least keep the toads here but that was a long shot in and of itself. The Summoning Jutsu as a Time/Space Ninjutsu worked on a timer that expired once the summoner ran out of chakra to sustain his summon in the material world. Of course, this didn't affect the summon if its summoner was either asleep or unconscious just so long as the person had enough chakra in their body that the summon could siphon off of but if their chakra connection was disrupted or the summoner ran out of usable chakra then the technique was instantly canceled.
The exuberant toad immediately got serious as its facial expression changed to a grim countenance once it took in the carnage and destruction around it. The area looked like a war zone and that was enough of a motivation to get the veteran toad into performing his role. Gamariki was from a sub species of the toad clan called the Support Toad class as they had very acute and fine-tuned reserves for precise chakra control which makes them masters of Genjutsu and Medical Ninjutsu which was exactly what Gamariki excelled at. Messenger Toads and other small unspecialized toads also fit into this caste as well.
Nodding in acceptance to its assigned task the reliable toad took off with the others of is species and began healing the closest injured by using their tongues to administer healing chakra to their wounds. Though before taking off Gamariki did make a passing complaint about not being comfortable in the harsh and frigid environment of the north pole. Naruto figured this would be the case for most of the toads present but as their summoner he had faith in them to be hardy and resilient and get the job done.
Turning to the next caste of toads in front of him Naruto looked about the bulky and somewhat tubby toads at his disposal. These amphibians were called Shop Toads for their unique and bizarre ability to expand and transform their bodies into building like vessels with a completely malleable interior that could house inhabitants. Unlike other kinds of toads such as Gourd Toads and Infiltrator/Dive Toads whose insides contained a special Time/Space pocket dimension that expanded the interiors of their bodies to vast proportions a Shop Toad was limited to the physical dimensions that its body takes on when it expands.
"Okay, I need you Shop Toads to set up shop here and convert to buildings so that these victims can get out of the cold. It will also provide a more sterile and safe environment for everyone involved." Naruto ordered with a light-hearted pun mixed into his order as the tubby toads nodded before taking off to the different corners of the camp before transforming themselves into large spacious two and on occasion three-story buildings in the unused space. The heat from the fires near them didn't even faze the now significantly larger toads as they had so much thick fat on them that it made them slightly fire and heat resistant as well as giving them a general resistance to most environmental harsh climates.
This was a much needed levity in the grand scheme of things as the able bodied film crew members and uninjured citizens of Shirakawa Town started to move their injured counterparts into the safety of the newly erected organic buildings that initially weirded them out but seeing the lengths and sincerity that Naruto was going through for them left little to no doubt in the minds of everyone present that they could explicitly trust Naruto and his decisions to aid and protect them.
Turning to the Dive Toads in the group Naruto issues out his commands to them. "You guys have the tough mission. I need you to head out into the town with my clones and rescue the stragglers and injured civilians. Some are going to be far too injured to move so I need you guys to transport them within your bodies where they will be preserved in a safe stasis field with the aid of my clones. This is very important, but I know you all can do this. Please stay safe out there… it's a real mess guys." Naruto softly supported as he could tell the town was like a war zone with the thousands of explosive kunai that managed to go off before the war train was disabled.
These specialized toads all nodded their heads in pride and gratitude for the praise and confidence that their summoner had in them before taking off, but not before Naruto requested for two of them to stay behind as he had a separate assignment for them. Turning to the next and last group of specialized toads Naruto addressed them as he sat down in the snow with exhaustion bearing down on his shoulders. He was already feeling the strain of this massive expenditure of chakra. He was prepared to sustain this technique for hours on end if needed but that brave bravado was leaving a trace of doubt and weariness in his tired and fragile mind.
Where was his limit? How far was he willing to go for these people that he didn't even know? Naruto didn't know the answer himself, but he was afraid to find out.
Speaking up to address this group which consisted of a main faction within the Toad Clan called the Aqua Toads the young Chūnin issued out his orders. The Aqua Toads were one of the main factions on Mt. Myōboku and many toads were from this subspecies. They all had powerful Water Nature Affinities and along with belonging to the Warrior Class the Chief Toad Gamabunta himself was also an Aqua Toad. There was a caste for each of the Five Elemental Natures living on the mountain, but Water and Fire Natured Toads were the most common and prevalent with Lightning being a smaller but effective secondary caste. Wind and Earth Style affiliated Toads were very rare and were birthed in extremely small numbers in the clan and most went on to join the Warrior Class which usually grew to the size of the Chief Toad.
"I need you Aqua Toads to help put out the fires around town with the help of the rest of my clones. We need to save as much infrastructure as we can and help minimize and eventually contain the spread of this fire before it spreads to the rest of the town. I know you guys will succeed." Naruto cheered as the varied cast of toads in front of him that ranged in size between being just slightly over three feet tall and over twenty feet tall all nodded before jumping off into town with the intention of carrying out their duty.
Turning to the last of the toads in front of him Naruto let a tired, yet fond smile cross his face as he looked down at his four special familiars that were his personal summons. Gamakichi, Gamatatsu, Gamasoap, and Gamaspeed were back and eagerly awaiting Naruto's instructions as they knew now was the time to be serious. They wanted to all rush him since they haven't had time to talk to him since before, he left on this mission. He only recently used them for the first time when he was introduced to them during the False Invasion and since then he summoned them daily to play with his children. That practice came to an end when he left for his long-extended mission up here to the north pole. He was actually glad to see them again. He had special tasks for them.
"Naruto this is absolutely insane… just how far are you willing to go?" Sakura admonished with a clear undercut of awe mixed in with concern in her voice and facial expression. This was going too far in her opinion. She could understand these actions if he was fresh and at 100%, but the truth was he wasn't. She understood him now as her teammate better than she did many months ago and with that time came an eventual growth of trust. She understood that with his massive reserves of chakra for him to convert them to Yōki and then back again strained his reserves and made it dangerous for him to use his demonic transformation.
Realistically right now Naruto shouldn't even be capable of the feat he just pulled off. He shouldn't have any chakra left yet somehow, he did… and with that as the case it also made Sakura concerned for the fact that she didn't know just how much he had left or how long it would last with the constant sustainability he would be tasked with when it came to his clones and the summoning he was maintaining.
Their had to be a limit.
"I'll go as far as I need to Sakura… once these people are all safe and sound then I'll finally stop. After that we can focus on Dotō and take him out, but not a moment before we help these victims. They were caught up in the crossfire of our fight so that makes them our responsibility and I'll never just sit by and watch as people are suffering, and if I can do something to help them then I will no matter what." Naruto retorted with his peculiar brand of charisma that his teammates were long since used to by this point. He was a very passionate person by nature and so deep-down Sakura knew that the blond-haired boy would never sit by and watch these atrocities go on… but there had to be a limit to what he was willing to put himself through. Somewhere along the line his health had to count for something.
This topic was now a closed avenue and Sakura knew it… she didn't have the time to get into a lengthy debate with Naruto over his reckless actions and she was sure she would lose that argument to begin with so instead she switched gears a bit.
"What about these toads… what will they be used for? I can understand the others but what will these be used for?" The pink haired support specialist asked as she couldn't possibly see a point to summoning these tiny toads. Seeing the tasks that Naruto assigned the other much bigger and more experienced toads convinced Sakura of their usefulness but what could these very young and tiny toads do?
"You'll see… Gamasoap you're up first girl. I know that Bubble Toads are the offspring subspecies of both Aqua Toads and Support Toads, so I know that you have knowledge on Iryōjutsu and medicine. I need for you to use your bubbles to create sterilizing chemicals such as Alcohol to help treat the wounds of the small children while your older cousins work on everyone else." Naruto issued out as the shy toad nodded to her master before hopping away to first help the young boy that Sakura was just helping. She was going to give him one last ounce over to make sure that Sakura hadn't missed anything.
"Gamaspeed I have a special task for you. I need you to race out to the harbor with these two Dive Toads and any Aqua Toads that you meet along the way to put out the fires on the Dawn Theatre. Once that's done, I need you guys to raid the medical wing on the ship and bring back everything form there. We've run out of supplies and need everything we can get. My clones will raid the houses and buildings of the town that aren't on fire and scrape together anything extra like premade emergency med kits." Naruto orders as this was a task that needed to be done with the utmost urgency.
"I'm on it master! I'll get it done so fast you won't even be able to blink!" Gamaspeed raved before taking off in a bolt of lighting that sparked off from his body while the two dive toads took off at high speeds to catch up to their enthusiastic youngling.
"Gamakichi, Gamatatsu I don't have any special tasks for you since that's being taken care of by the others, but I do have one that is as equally important." Naruto began with a small smile spreading out across his face. It was dim like a waning moon, but it was still there.
He chuckled within his mind to see them along with everyone else present leaning in to learn what this important task would be. So far, every order he gave out were strategic and sound which would go a long way to the relief effort. What could these little toads do that was important?
"I want you to go play with the children here. They've been through more than they ever should, and they will need a friend now more than ever. Some might have even lost a family member for all we know so bring them all together inside one of the empty Shop Toads and keep them company. They need you guys now more than ever to be there for them in their time of need." Naruto said with the softest tone he's used yet and that blew everyone away at the thoughtfulness and forward-thinking mentality that Naruto had.
'A ninja like him couldn't possibly exist… right? He's remarkable.' Jairo blissfully thought to himself as he never in a million years would have thought he'd see such selfless actions from a shinobi of all people. He knew Naruto had to be strong and a unique spirit to come to his rescue and defeat the demon tribe that was attacking him, to learn that he was the Shī-ō of the Uzumaki Clan was an even bigger shock… but to see his self-sacrificing attitude and the humble way he wields his incredible power was humbling and awe inspiring to the young engineer. This was something that he would never forget for the rest of his life.
'Amazing…' Koyuki thought to herself with Sakura mirroring her exact same thoughts. The few that were also listening in couldn't help but share similar sentiments while Sasuke on the other hand wasn't focusing in on this last piece of the conversation. His mind had wandered to a place he didn't' think it would go.
'How can he still perform at this level… just where does this strength come from and how come I still can't seem to grasp it?' A gaseous pit of jealousy was bubbling up within Sasuke's stomach against his will at the sheer awe-inspiring feats his best friend and teammate was capable of. He was trying his hardest to no let any of their earlier animosity creep up again but seeing what he was currently doing and what he did earlier against the train was unbelievable. Sasuke's curse mark throbbed painfully on his neck while seductive and heinous whispers of jealousy and promises of power tickled his mind's ear. He didn't want to think such offending thoughts about his best friend when they were trying to get over the hump that they just recently went through but he couldn't help how he felt.
"You see Sakura… not every Ninjutsu that we cast has to be used for destruction and not everyone's calling has to be something tangible. Their mere presence will go a long way to healing these people more than anything else we can do for them." Naruto said with a small smile as the bags under his eyes continued to grow. He could feel Iris's Divine Energy starting to return to his body now that the overwhelming demonic presence has receded from his quick transformation.
The divine grace was burning his demonically rich chakra pathways in their attempts to heal him which was only further adding more stress to his body. The one good thing that they were doing was that they were naturally replenishing his reserves of chakra so he was confident that he would be able to continue to maintain his summoning, but that remained to be seen.
"You're amazing Naruto… reckless… but nonetheless amazing." Sakura quietly stated with eyes filled with nothing but respect for her teammate. She now had an inkling into how far he was willing to go for others and to see the depth of it and to know that even then that wasn't even the whole scope of his resolve was awe inspiring to the young kunoichi who was now catching an inner glimpse to Naruto's soul.
A faint smile greeted Sakura's vision as the only response that needed to be said. He was glad to gain the respect and recognition of his peers and teammates. It felt nice, but like all nice things they eventually have to come to an end and this time it would be in a violent manner.
Naruto saw Chaos perk up in alarm after being quiet and slightly incapacitated for a while. The noise couldn't be heard at first due to the raging fires spiraling out of control in the town in front of them and the added hectic hustle and bustle of the injured civilians running around tending to each other but eventually the trained ears of the members of Team 7 picked up on a strange sound that none could quite identify but it was coming from the sky so looking towards the sky behind them was something that they never thought they'd see.
'What the hell is that?' That was the thought that flashed through Naruto's hazy mind before it grew clearer as his well-honed shinobi instincts started to kick in. He sensed danger and taking a closer look at what was floating up in the sky was all he need to know why.
The front train cart was hovering in the air with a large balloon like metal carapace attached to it with small fan like propellers giving it the ability to stabilize itself and change direction. This was the train cart that got away from Kakashi and Sasuke and now they all knew that it most definitely didn't go very far.
The side door opened up with to show Mizore standing in the door with a grin on his face. His gauntlet covered hand was pointed towards them all and Naruto's mind immediately knew what was going on. "KOYUKI! RUN NOW!" Naruto roared as he felt his tired and fatigued body move on its own.
Sasuke and Sakura themselves reacted as well once they saw the burly man shoot off his long-range grappling hook claw that wrapped around the panicking actress that had pushed away an injured young teenage that she was attempting to help. The disguised princess screamed in fear as she was hoisted up into the air with Sasuke doing his best to cut her free with a well thrown kunai, but it was blocked by Fubuki who also stood in the doorway and fired off accurate kunai throws of her own.
The pink haired woman wasn't done though as she then threw several of her specially made icicle bomb beads that were attached by string to the end kunai. The projectiles hit the ground around camp within seconds causing explosions of icicle spires to shoot up into the air. The dangerous spires of ice sprouted thick sharp spears in multiple directions that sprayed shrapnel everywhere.
"Sasuke, wire NOW!" Naruto roared as he drew his own kunai within a moments notice. The black haired Uchiha tossed his partner a spool of ninja wire without a moments of hesitation as adrenaline and instincts drove both boys to act in haste without thinking things properly through. Tying the wire around his kunai Naruto then through it through the air with cover fire from his two teammates preventing his own kunai from being knocked away by their enemy where it then wrapped around the guard railing of the ascending aircraft.
The multiple explosions were more than sufficient to cause a distraction as some of those kunai landed dangerously close to the large rescued groups of already injured civilians and with such a danger present both Sakura and Sasuke had to deflect the attacks that they could leaving Naruto in a very vulnerable position as he was hoisted up into the air.
"Naru! I hope you know what you're doing! This really looks like it's turning into a stupid idea right now!" Eva cried out as she wasn't expecting her precious other half to recklessly put himself into such a vulnerable position like this. They were dangerously low on their respective energies and coupled with Naruto's extreme exhaustion and limited offensive options in a delicate hostage situation taking place high in midair which was a precedent that nobody could have predicted paints the picture of a dangerous situation that they couldn't possibly come back from.
"I... Eva... We have to save her!" Naruto stumbled over his own words as he himself couldn't even think of the next step to their predicament. His body moved before his mind could catch up with him.
"Daddy! NO!" While the others were preoccupied Iris and Chaos weren't as the dangerous little Angeloid unfolded her metallic wings while Iris herself started to generate a massive amount of wind around her in defiance to the threat posed to their father.
The more emotional twin launched her hands skyward were she sent a powerful updraft of wind into the sky that carried with it thousands of pounds of snow. Chaos herself took off into the air with a panicked flurry in an attempt to catch up to the quickly rising blimp that was high into the air and far out of the normal throwing range of a Genin. Naruto himself was only now just figuring out that he screwed himself with his spontaneous actions. The best solution he could think of in the heat of the moment would be to quickly grab Koyuki before they tied her up and then jump from the blimp while littering it with explosive tags.
However, he wasn't sure what he was going to do now that he was up here, and the beginning symptoms of his mental state was starting to flare up. He didn't think this through and now he didn't have much options available to him since he was spotted by Mizore who already had Koyuki in his grasps.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu." Creating a single clone Naruto let the copy of him drop out of the air to the ground before it was too late as he needed an extra contingency plan in case anything happened to him. He made sure to pump that particular clone with the vast remainder of his own chakra bringing him down all the way to what the average Genin would have. It was an uncomfortable feeling to have such a small pool of energy to draw on. He was so used to having this never-ending battery source of chakra within him in comparison that this new state was quite debilitating.
"Ice Style: Frost Touch Jutsu." Naruto weakly whispered as he began to freeze over the surface of the blimp that they were on in a last-ditch effort to cause damage to the metal machine that was carrying them further up into the air than he was used to. The highest place he's been to has been Mt. Hōrai back on his home island and now they were starting to get higher than that.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Chaos incoming at a high rate of speed and that was a comforting visage to see but Fubuki littering the sky with her bombs sure wasn't. "Aegis!" It was a quick decision on Chaos's part as there were now far too many bombs in the sky for her to fly safely so a timely usage of her powerful shield saved her from unneeded damage. However, it still left the problem of reaching her father. "Artemis!" In another quick volley the little mechanical angel launched dozens of her tainted flame bullets at the rising blimp that slammed into the reinforced steel cabin of the former train cart jostling the occupants inside around in a frenzy who were now trying to catch their footing.
Chaos couldn't use this attack on a higher power setting as she risked blowing the entire craft up and potentially killing her father and Koyuki, but she had to damage the craft just enough that it would even the odds. Smoke rose from the side of the cabin as one of Chaos's fireballs managed to tear through a window and explode inside the craft. It wasn't as much damage as she would have liked but she had to be selective in the damage she could inflict to the flying machine. Taking the opportunity granted to him Naruto rushed the opened hatch just as Mizore was regaining his footing. He was in the process of handing Koyuki over to Nadare when Naruto struck stabbing Mizore through his thick calf muscle with his kunai causing the man to screech in pain.
Fubuki immediate reacted and backhanded Naruto into the side of the passageway connected to the outside hatch before he could properly follow up on any counter attack. "Black Magic: Nightshade!" Chaos didn't have many more options left as the snow that Iris launched into the air smashed into the blimp tossing it into a brief spin through the air that nearly caused Naruto to be flung from the opened hatch on accident. The black lightning impacted the metal train electrocuting everyone inside as the Snow Ninja's chakra armor did very little to protect them from Chaos's magic attack, but this set back did nothing to stop Nadare who with one hand formed hand signs just as Naruto was regaining his own balance.
"Ice Style: Wolf's Bane Jutsu!" The snow that was launched at the blimp from outside transformed itself into the visage of a wolf made out of snow that attacked Naruto from behind clawing into his back and snapping down on his neck with its fangs. The blond Chūnin screamed in pain with blood spurting from his back and neck as his tattered clothes and battered Flak Jacket offered him little protection in the face of this attack that pinned him to the floor with hundreds of pounds of snow packing onto him. He tried to reach out for Koyuki's crying form, but it wasn't to be as she was dragged away by Fubuki kicking and screaming.
'I can't let them know I'm here with Naruto. I could attack and probably nail one of them but then what? Naruto's about to collapse right here and now. It's best to let them capture us and escape later. It's the only thing that will keep Naru and Koyuki safe.' Eva thought to herself as she had to make the tough decision of not backing Naruto up on his attack. She barely had any Yōki left to spare following the erratic way it was used throughout the day so she wasn't confident that she could one shot one of the mercenaries in front of her in a surprise attack. An attack like that would only prompt them to either kill her or Naruto outright which was something that she would absolutely never let happen. In the end Eva's mind was made up as she decided to remain anonymous for the sake of her other half. 'I hope we make it out of this one Naru... you've really stepped us in it this time.'
A sense of Deja vu was overcoming Naruto as his vision started to become distorted along with his other senses as his mind became unrestrained in the trauma that was weighing him down. He felt his body seizing up in response to this as Koyuki's screaming pain filled cries caused Naruto to become paralyzed in an intense flash of PTSD. He's barely had any time to process it back at the camp and now he was doing everything he could to distract himself from the feelings and pain that he was feeling and now he was helpless to save the one person he wanted to save above all others in the moment. It was all too much for him and with him wasting what was left of his chakra on that extra clone that he had to purposely separate from himself and Chaos's own attacks draining his already strained body he had nothing left in the tank to fight back with.
He was both mentally and physically exhausted to fight back.
In that moment outside of the blimp Chaos was assaulted with a sickening wave of nausea from the dark thoughts emanating from Naruto causing her to lose power without warning as she held her head in immense pain. The blond haired Angeloid let out a strangled pain filled cry which was a rare event in and of itself as she felt out of the sky with no way to control herself. She felt drained now and Naruto's mental state wasn't helping as it sent a debilitating mental backlash causing her to lose control over herself.
"CHAOS!" Iris screamed as she raced out of the camp in the direction that she could see her twin sister falling. Waving her arms around the divine girl used the wind to control the snow in the area and raised it into the air just in time to break Chaos's fall who was reaching a dangerous velocity. The heavy girl slammed through the safety net of snow that her sister set up to cushion her fall and smashed into the ground a few yards away from Iris blowing the young Phoenix off her feet from the impact.
A sadistic grin was on Nadare's face as he walked up to Naruto now that the hatch was closed by Mizore. "It looks like you fail boy… a valiant effort, but a stupid one to pursue us up here. Because of your actions and resistance, the rest of the settlements and cities here in the country will face the same punishment that the pathetic little town you tried so hard to protect witnessed. You've wasted your life trying to protect those weaklings and now it will cost you." The leader of the Snow Ninja's chuckled as he signaled to Mizore to move forward.
Mizore who was nursing his bleeding and injured leg sneered and kicked Naruto in the side of the head with a vicious blow instantly knocking him unconscious. "Put him in the brig when we get to the palace. Lord Dotō is sure to have plans for this boy. He's special in comparison to the rest." Nadare ordered as Mizore nodded and picked up Naruto's limp body before limping off to secure him, after that he would tend to his injured calf muscle.
Back on the ground Sasuke and Sakura could only stare out disbelieving that they lost their teammate to the enemy. He was taken and there was nothing that they could do about it as they rushed out to Iris and Chaos who was injured and hurt as well. Henrietta was speechless as there was nothing that she could do in the face of this surprise attack to help out her own partner and with the sudden weight of the situation dawning on her she collapsed to her knees and cried.
"DADDY!" Iris wailed to the sky as she cradled Chaos's unconscious body in her arms. It wasn't the harsh impact that knocked her sister out.
No.
She was made of far tougher stuff than that to succumb to an impact like this. It was the overwhelming amounts of negative energy infecting her body. She couldn't handle the amount that was coming from their father and it was enough to force her out of commission. She didn't know what was going to happen to her beloved father and the dangerous reality of the fact that after a certain distance was met the girls and Naruto would start to suffer through the side effects of being to far apart from each other.
They wouldn't be able to call on the full weight of their individual powers nor would they be able to concentrate properly as their bodies reacted out of an insistent need to bridge the gap distance wise between them. Symptoms like fevers, headaches, and general loss of stamina and energy were typical after such a phenomenon. The little princess wasn't sure what to do now but after spying the clone that her father dropped, she could make a good guess on what he wanted her to do with it.
Kakashi who was deep into the town helping with rescue operations rushed back once he sensed the battle taking place but seeing the aftermath of the incident and finding out that they lost both their client and teammate left a heavy weight on the veterans shoulder. It eerily reminded him of his ill-fated mission with his team back during the Third Shinobi World War. The loss of an important person to the team and one of their members rushing off recklessly to save them hit Kakashi with a ton of unwarranted memories that he'd rather not remember at a time like this. Placing his hand over his headband that covered his implanted Sharingan the grey haired Jōnin sighed as he began making his way over to comfort his team. They wouldn't let this incident set them back. They needed to move forward and begin working on a way to rescue their client and teammate.
The last being to cry out was the little fox like familiar that howled into the darkened sky a screech of rage and sorrow as it has finally caught up with its master only to lose him to the enemy. It would stop at nothing to track down its creator and it would get him back.
Now the only question remained:
Where did they take Naruto?
To be continued...
Jutsu Library
1.) Summoning Jutsu - The Summoning Technique is a space–time ninjutsu that allows the summoner to transport animals or people across long distances instantly and uses blood as a sacrifice. Before an animal summoning can be performed, a prospective summoner must first sign a contract with a given species. The contract comes in the form of a scroll, on which the contractor uses their own blood to sign their name and place their fingerprints and once signed it is valid even after the contractor's death as long as the contract itself remains intact. After this, they need only offer an additional donation of blood on the hand they signed the contract with, mold their chakra with hand seals and then plant the hand they signed the contract with at the location they wish to summon the creature. The amount of chakra used during the summoning determines how powerful the summoned creature can be. It is possible for a summoner to summon a group of the same contracted animal, as opposed to a single individual.
2.) Black Magic: Night Shade - This technique is a very peculiar attack that Chaos can use that directly affects a person's body by damaging a victim's body based on the amount of energy they contain. Chaos fires a black or dark crimson beam which travels similar to lightning; outlined in red, blue, or purple from either her hands or wings at the intended target. Chaos can also use this ability in an omni-directional wave. Chaos's body is surrounded by a purplish aura that dyes her actual body a pale purple color. She then releases multiple crimson rings from her body at the target. When the rings hit the opponent, their body becomes surrounded in a pale purple like aura. The technique works by poisoning a person's energy reserves and causing it to shock the person's body from the inside out like a taser. If the victim has a small pool of energy within their body, then they will barely be affected by this attack. On the other hand, if the victim is a powerful being with large reserves of energy then their very own power will inflict pain on them. It will have the same sensation of being burned or electrocuted from the inside out.
3.) Holy Magic: Purification Bolt - A Holy Magic attack that Iris can use that purifies any impurities that comes in contact with the energy shaped like a lightning bolt hence the name of the attack. Since the attack is Light Magic and Holy Magic is a sub-magic category the technique burns and purifies any dark elements within its path. If used neutrally against an opponent, the energy would only hurt them based on how much power was used in it. However, if used against a dark being or a person with a very dark presence or attributes then the attack leaves physical burns against the target as well as spiritually cleansing and burning away those impurities.
4.) No Interval – Double Acceleration - The Special variant of Double Acceleration. It works much like its base technique. However, the difference comes in the fact that there is no lag in-between each jump. This is achieved by connecting both spheres of kinetic energy together before releasing them. Once released the user has to control the opening in the chakra cloak and syphon out the kinetic energy in one continuous burst of propulsion. Also, an alternative would be to release the second bubble of kinetic energy before the first one depletes but you run the risk of damaging your legs and feet by releasing so much kinetic energy upon them.
5.) Earth Style: Earth Wall Jutsu - The user creates a solid wall of earth as a form of defense. Chakra is either converted to earth within the body and then spat out to form the wall or the user can manipulate pre-existing earth to form the wall. The earth then instantly rises up and takes form. The barrier itself is also coated with chakra, making its strength incomparable to that of a normal mud wall. Because of the earth's special characteristics, the wall is highly resistant against, for instance, fire and water.
6.) Body Flicker Jutsu - A high speed ninja technique that allows the user to travel at high speeds in short microbursts. Usually the technique is accompanied by a special effect that masks the movement of the user.
7.) Earth Style: Consecutive Earth Wall Jutsu - Like the parent technique, it creates a reinforced wall of earth to be used as a defensive mechanism. Using a pre-existing source of earth however, it allows the user to create multiple walls of earth, further fortifying their defence, so that even while the outer walls are destroyed the inner ones are still left intact. The walls can also be curved inward to block escape from above.
8.) Uchiha Style Bukijutsu: Dancing Phoenix Talons - The maneuver made famous by Itachi Uchiha himself, the user jumps into the air in an inverted orientation and using their Sharingan for the maximum efficiency of the technique will begin to throw both shuriken and kunai in intricate and complex vectors that no normal shinobi would ever be capable of doing. The shuriken and kunai will ricochet off of each other at the most opportune time allowing all of the thrown projectiles to change course and hit their intended targets at impossible angles and trajectories while often times scoring perfect headshots.
9.) Yōjutsu: Shattering Glacial Spears - The demonic version to Naruto's Ice Style: Ice Glacier Jutsu. Channeling a massive amount of Yōki into his attack Naruto swipes his hand forward after hovering it above the ground causing a massive wall of ice and snow to rip the ground apart in front of him and then surge forward in an unstoppable advancing wave of sharp shards and spears of amethyst colored ice. The power of the technique is so powerful that it can rip through heavily armed military vehicles such as trains, ships, and defensive walls while soft targets such as civilian homes and city buildings can be utterly demolished without any form of resistance.
10.) Lightning Style: Lightning Cable - Kakashi and a shadow clone both perform the Lightning Blade on opposite hands, which they connect together with a sharp cord of lightning between themselves. The technique can also be used to wrap around a target and restrain it.
11.) Shadow Clone Jutsu - A Jutsu invented by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. The technique was created to be used to spy on an enemy without fear of going in person. The Jutsu works by splitting the chakra of the user evenly in two which makes the clone have half of the user's chakra. By creating multiple clones, the fraction in which you have to split your chakra becomes larger. The clones can think independently of one another and can use any technique that the original can use as long as they have enough chakra to use it. A clone can feel pain and can even bleed, but it will be dispelled if it is hit hard enough. The unique ability of the Jutsu is that during the clones' entire life span it is recording everything that its five senses experiences and upon dispelling all of that information is transferred back to the caster of the Jutsu. Because of this training or learning something new that would take an extended amount of time can be cut down to a fraction of the time depending on the number of clones you use. Because you have multiple people learning the same thing at the same time and having all of that knowledge compiled into one person it can speed up the time it takes to learn something.
12.) Lightning Style: Chidori - The Chidori is a high concentration of lightning chakra around the user's hand. To perform, the user first gathers lightning to their hand; the high concentration of electricity produces a sound reminiscent of many birds chirping, hence the name. Once the chakra is gathered, users charge at their target and thrust the Chidori into them, piercing them and typically causing fatal damage. Despite the sound it makes, the rapid speed at which it's used makes it useful for assassinations.
13.) Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu - The Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu is the advanced version of the Jutsu and creates hundreds of clones instead of just the average number.
14.) Summoning Jutsu: Toad Clan Summoning - A specialized variation of the standard Summoning technique that allows the summoner to summon an entire tribe or the entirety of their summoning partners species. In this instance the wielder of the Toad Contract can summon dozens upon dozens of toads from the many different castes systems in their society all at the same time.
15.) Ice Style: Frost Touch Jutsu - A move that is identical to Ice Style: Frost Step Jutsu. However, this Jutsu is not limited to Naruto's feet. Any body part that Naruto uses to strike an opponent with will freeze the person's body instantly. However, Naruto can control the temperature of his ice so that he can either rapidly cool down a person's body just by touch or outright freeze the person solid.
16.) Aegis - A unique ability that Chaos demonstrates. She creates a light blue shield that has hexagonal shapes as its pattern. The shield is in the shape of a large sphere that increases its diameter and can encompass anything Chaos wishes it to. Chaos can also summon her Aegis shield at long ranges to encompass objects that are not connected to her; effectively allowing her to trap people, objects, and targets within an inescapable prison.
17.) Artemis - While her wings are manifested Chaos can conjure her tainted flames and target multiple objects or enemies at the same time using her targeting systems. When they fire they are fast, traveling two to three times faster than the fireballs she shoots from her hands. They are smaller and in the shape of bullets. They have a lot of piercing power but a lower amount of explosive power. They are good at intercepting or bombarding targets.
18.) Ice Style: Wolf's Bane Jutsu - A powerful restraining technique utilized by Nadare that uses pre-existing snow to form a large wolf that is powerful enough to pin down and restrain strong and struggling targets. The wolf is heavy enough that it can pin down a target beneath its weight while it claws and bites into the target drawing blood to immobilize the intended target from the blistering pain and bloodlost leaving them imobile and defenseless.
Author's Note (A/N):Hey guys how was that?
This was quite the heavy chapter to digest, trust me I know. The chapter starts out with the very heavy topic of Koyuki almost being sexually assaulted by those Frost Goblins which at this point for those who aren't aware are based upon the violent ones from the Goblin Slayer Franchise. It's a delicate subject and one that I wanted to treat with respect in how it is depicted and handled so the presentation that we got was my best attempt and tackling this grim scene. The complex and humanizing conversation that Naruto has with Koyuki in the cave was something I took great effort in putting together as I wanted a true bond to form between the two of them that was genuine and not forced. From Koyuki's very own perspective Naruto's actions humanized him and made him more approachable from her eyes.
Things become darker once Dotō makes his apparences with his famous military train. Sandayū bravely tries to stand against this violent dictator but is mercilessly cut down along with the rest of the retired samurai before Sakura's very eyes who tries her best to save them. Only Sandayū himself was saved by Sakura but only barely as she drags his battered body away from the carnage and destruction that the kunai launchers on the train caused. This is the scene that Naruto and others return too as they rescue the remaining members of the film crew and send them back to Shirakawa Town with the injured. Team 7 is helpless however to stop Dotō from attacking the town itself with explosive kunai that destroy the northern half of the town killing dozens up dozens of innocent civilians while injuring hundreds more. Simultaneously the Dawn Theatre itself is attacked by the train's long range cannon that damages the ship in its assault.
This however, becomes to much for Naruto to take as he taps into his Demonic Transformation while Sasuke himself masters his brothers famous shurikenjutsu that allows him to disable the trains ability to fire its launchers. In the meantime, Naruto himself launches an immense attack against the train itself that destroyers all six launcher carts while the two forward carts start to pull away. Kakashi and Sasuke disable the last weapon pod together while the final cart on the train pulls away while Naruto viciously kills the last remaining survivors of the train.
Returning to Shirakawa Town, Naruto and the others are caught up in a triage center where they are desperate to help save as many lives as they can from the injured civilians. This hectic and chaotic scene all becomes to much for Naruto who collapses into a panic attack due to the mounting stress that he has been suffering from since the beginning of this mission. The stress has finally caught up with him in this moment as a severe backlash of PTSD paralyzes his mind from everything that he has experienced up until this point. Sasuke himself shows a rare softer side to him by trying to console Naruto using his own prior experience as his guide. It is a dynamic change for Sasuke who is far more compelling and complex in this moment. Eva herself tries to console Naruto to little effect before Henrietta steps up to the plate and in a bold move does what none of the others present are capable of doing and brings him back to his senses with a bold kiss.
Once more the romantic tension is in the air between Naruto and Henrietta as their own budding feelings for each other were put on display. Things can never be simple for him. Things escalate further once Naruto pushes himself past his limit to help the injured citizens of Shirakawa Town by summoning a massive group of Toads to help them. In doing so we get to see a large variety of toads of different kinds with a few returning characters as well. The other characters are shocked and humbled by the lengths Naruto is willing to go to for these people while the citizens themselves showing a lot of gratitude for his efforts.
The strain of his efforts on top of his physical condition prove to be his downfall as Dotō returns and has Mizore kidnap Koyuki from their blimp. Naruto recklessly pursues Koyuki with Sasuke's assistance which leaves him in a very dangerous and vulnerable position once Nadare captures him. Chaos who tries to rescue him feels the side effects of Naruto's negative emotions which cripples her advances and cause her to fall out of the sky.
The chapter ends on a somber note with everyone helplessly watching on as Naruto and Koyuki are taken away.
Next Chapter: Chapter 89 (Avalugg the Glacier Demon)
That's the end of Chapter 88 I sincerely hoped you enjoyed it.
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Published: 6/30/2019
