The between Tigerclaw, Tsunade and Temari raged on in the laboratory below the ground, neither woman managed to catch the mutant assassin off guard, but they where able to keep him on his toes, giving him little time to counter attack. Which was good for them having the offensive in this fight, something Tsunade made sure, having a feeling he was someone not to take likely compared to the other mutants. Tigerclaw was more formidable and cunning fighter. There was no doubt in her mind he was strategizing through out this fight like she was. Observing the way she and Temari fought, their jutsu and attack formation. Having yet to see any sort of jutsu from him, only seeing him using his pistols against them. He would fire at them a few times, which both women evaded them, especially the freeze shot. Tsunade had to get Temari out of here and back up to the others, but since Tigerclaw blocked the only exit and the fact he rarely left it, made it a bit harder. Plus she knew that he was aware they needed that spot to leave. Though she could easily make another exit, the equipment and information in this room was very valuable which told her that Tigerclaw knew that too. Knowing it held important information and who knows something in here could help her understand May, should something happen to her. From what Splinter told her and a few others about May's biology, this room had what she needed. So she had to careful were she struck and her punches landed.
The slightest strike from one of her blows would most likely damage or completely erase the information. If she could just get Tigerclaw in one spot she could deliver the right blow to him and finish him off, though not kill him. Keep him alive for interrogation and information. Find out what he knew and what his Master the Shredder wanted in their world and why? She didn't want to know how they got here, hearing from what Master Splinter told them how he and Shredder came here, along with the Shredder's men and the Kraang. All that mattered right now was defeating Tigerclaw.
The ace shooter fires another shot at the Hokage, she ducks behind something avoiding the shoot. With his focus upon her, it gave Temari the opening she needed, using the shadows she whips out her fan to attack him from behind. But he smelled her coming and turns around firing his freeze shot directly at her. Quickly she ducks away, the shot just barely grazed her. But she was alright and wasn't going to go down that easy. Scanning her surroundings, her eyes dart everywhere trying to see what could be used or how to use it. Not seeing anything, she preps her fan and gets ready.
Tsunade jumps out from her spot, this time her hand engulfed in a small sharp blade of chakra. Her chakra scalpel ready to strike Tigerclaw. Locking on him, she goes in for the strike. Expecting him to avoid this attack to be surprised that he actually stood his ground and and counter blocks to her surprise, with his own jutsu. Both their wrist lock, for a second before pushing apart and separating across the room. Feeling a burning sensation on her wrist and the smell of burnt flesh. Her amber eyes look down at singe wrist, studying it a bit more as the pain started to increase more and more like the burn slowly spreading up her arm. She hadn't seen something like this before, looking quickly at Tigerclaw who smirks. Her eyes slide down to his claw, noticing the red orangish outline around it. Emitting a sort of heatwave from it.
Tigerclaw notices her perplexed look. He look to his claw."Do you like it? I'm able to condense my flame chakra into what you see,"he holds up his claw for her to see"Through concentration and control, the fires are controlled and conceal any part of my body I so choose. That part of me becomes overheated and whatever it is that I so touch, becomes burned. And will continue to burn until I saw otherwise. Though when I spread it around my body, I become untouchable and extort the heat from my body, and-"
"It increase like a regular fire when you feed it wood."Tsunade cuts him off."So you feed more of your chakra into it to increase it?"
"Such a clever woman. But no. I don't have to keep feeding it. No."he stands getting ready to attack."Tigers are known as one of the fiercest creatures. I'm sure you can figure it out now."
He goes to strike her, Tsunade manages to avoid each blow but didn't block. After Tigerclaw told her about his jutsu, it was too dangerous to actually get into a physical contact with him and to make it worse. His body was expelling heat all around, increasing the room's temperature. With each place his foot stepped, left a burning mark or a melted mark. Now she was on the run from him, like a game of cat and mouse. He was the predator and she the prey. He swipes his mighty claw, quickly she uses substitution just as his claws landed on their mark. His touch incinerates the log to ashes. Tsunade made to the other side of the room, giving herself as much distance from the lethal mutant.
Tigerclaw kept his back to her."You are as I hoped you would be. Truly befitting of your title, as the Hokage and I believe called one of the Legendary Sanin. The best medical-nin in this whole world. Though I wonder..."he turns around his eyes flash at her dangerously. Tsunade stared back hard at him."If you can actually hold that title, if everyone dies. Or to be more accurate,"his claws pop out. Raising one he presses a button on one of the control panels. Tsunade puts up her guard expecting something to come. When instead the whole room lite up, the lights turning on. The fluids started up, everything just turned.
Tsunade looks around the lite room."What is this?!"she demands.
Tigerclaw to pleasure in her frustration, he presses another button. A screen from overhead drops down, the screen was static at first but turns onto a video recording. What she saw and Temari horrified and sicken them, but mostly pissed them off than anything. Smiling to himself having gotten under their skin now, he had them right where he wanted them. Gloating them on, behind his back he starts to form swirl of fire that grew bigger and bigger.
Taking the bat, Tsunade eyes go cold a merciless. Death was written in them looking to Tigerclaw, her fury would not be contain after what he just showed them and neither would Temari's. Both of them get serious discarding everything, opening her fan all the way and taking a bit on her thumb spreading the blood across, getting ready for her summoning. Temari's eyes flash with disgust and anger. Only to increase from the gloating smile the mutant had on.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
His words. That was it. They snapped and unleashed all their fury onto him, and he did just the same throwing his flamed enlarged disc that increased in size. Both jutsus hit causing a huge explosion from the aftermath. Engulfing the whole lab and all those in it, scorching the place.
Up top with the others having moved away from the entrance of the hideout, the fight still raged on but this time with something else extra added. Something that had more of the advantage having the skies and not to forget their camouflage too. Becoming invisible and undetected by the seeing eye or eyes. Even from Byakugan, making it hard to pinpoint its spot and attack. One thing was for sure, it could attack them back in their stealth mode, shooting laser rays at them. Keeping the others on their toes.
They had to take cover to avoid being hit, or Gaara would shield them or Yamato with his Wood Release. Neji managed to use his Rotation to deflect. Everyone was on the defense from this attack, they had no idea what these things where in the sky. The chrome like metal flying vehicles, at least three they managed to spot.
Another attack came from the ships. They managed to dodge it with ease and thanks to Gaara's cover."What the heck at those?"Kankuro looks around not spotting anything.
Taking down one more of those metal creatures, Sakura dodges just in time before the laser hits her."Not to mention whatever the heck these creatures or humans are. There's more coming!"she alerts them. Striking the ground causing it break.
"Being unable to see them, is giving us a great disadvantage."Kiba dodges an attack, just barely."If I couldn't smell them, this would harder. There has to be some way to mark them?"
Hearing what his teammate said, Shino looks at him."Kiba, that's just it."Kiba looks to his creepy friend confused. So Shino tells him."If you can get Akumaru to use his Dynamic Marking then I'm sure with your noise and his, it will give us a better edge on this fight."
Seeing and hearing what he was saying."I see. But their movements are to fast and with them being camouflaged it's not going to be easy."Kiba looks from behind his spot towards Rahzar who was also giving them trouble with his mighty roar."Not to mention that thing. Oh man, this is going to be harder, he seems like a master in th-"
Splinter just at that moment comes rushing by them, using the trees pushing off them leaping upward into one of the branches. Gripping the health of the blade and leaps off without a second thought, closing his eyes and swipes the blade in the air. Just barely scathing his mark, a small spark is shown. Kiba was amazed that he managed to actually locate one of the vehicles and how fearless his action was in doing so. Dropping down onto a branch Splinter leaps off again and does the same thing, he wasn't wasting any second for an opening nor giving one. He struck like lighting repeatedly, his movements where fast, very fast like he was leaving an after image behind were he had been.
Realizing what he was doing with each strike of his blade, Shino had to admit it was very clever. Turning to Kiba."He's giving you the opening you need, hurry up."He steps out from the trees and commands his bugs to follow Splinter's strike. Building up the courage he needed, getting pumped.
Kiba looks to Akumaru who was ready to go. No hesitation in either of them. They sprint off trying to remain undetected, Kiba transforms Akumaru into a copy of himself. The two of them scale the trees."Okay Akumaru! We only get one shot at this, so make it count! Dynamic Marking!"
Akumaru jumps off further eyeing the Shino's bug as a locator, he transforms back into his normal self and spins around releasing his urine. Knowing he hit is mark, he drops down to the ground landing just fine, barking to Kiba victoriously. Earning praise from his master who drops down next to him.
"Good boy. Now then.."he turns back, sniffing the air along Akumaru they both pinpoint the flying vehicles location and manage to direct the others."Yeah, we gotta'em! One is to the the North, the other one...just couple of feet above that one and the last one..."his eyes shoot in the direction of the last one."Right there."he grins.
"Alright then!"Gai comes rushing through the trees he with Lee the two of them take the first one out with ease.
Next Yamato takes out the second one using his Wood Release, and the last one took off towards the sky away from the others. To avoid being taken down, though fast not fast enough, a stream of sand shoots up at it closing in around it, using his hands Gaara commands his sand to crush it, and crush it did. Exploding inside the sand. Now with those out of the way, they could focus on what was important. All eyes fall upon Razhor, locking onto the mutant who stares back not scared at all. More so enthralled at the prospect of them coming. Letting out another loud roar emitting across the whole area shaking the ground. Showing off his power and ferocity.
Snarling he smirks at them all."Come on! Come and DIE!"He shoots his deadly claws at them, with infused chakra.
The others manage to move out the way just in time, with that window gap. Razhor makes a few shadow clones of himself. And together they each emit the same level powerful roar, with enough force to level the surrounding area into nothing but a bairn land. The trees broke, the ground shook, if not for Yamato's quick thinking to put up a shield everyone with his justu, would have been blow back from the force. Still it was enough to rattle and crack what Yamato made.
Everything soon became hushed and quiet. Neji activates his eyes to look and see Razhor was still there all six of them."Well Neji?"Kakashi asks, Neji took a second before answering back."He's still wai-"Realizing something was wrong and something was coming. He adverts his eyes quickly downward to the ground."MOVE!"He alerts everyone.
No second had he warned everyone, Razhor comes bursting out the ground like a raging shark after its prey. The others move as quickly as they could, but Razhor's long arms gave him enough reach to inflict some injuries. Swiping his claws he strikes, Ino, and Yamato though captures Kankuro in his jaws and just barely nicks Sakura. But still injuries her. Emerging fully from the ground ready to go he flings Kankuro like nothing onto the ground out into the opening. He licks his blood that drizzled on upon his teeth delicously.
"Yum."he snickers. Coming out the hole and looks at everyone."Can't wait to taste the rest of you, especially yours!"he points to Kakashi.
"Kankuro!"Gaara calls to his brother, using his sand he speeds over to him. The other clones of Razhor see the young Kazekage and one of them rushes him ready to take him on. While the others go after the others, leaving Kankuro to bleed out. Shooting more of his bony claws at Gaara, his sand quickly blocks them. Turning Gaara's attention to the clone. Who kept coming with strike after strike. Being blocked by the sand who did its best to stay on equal speed with the mutant.
Razhor cackles at Gaara's attempt."You think some sand can stop me!"Swings a mighty claw at him, it comes crashing down on Gaara shaking the ground. Laughing manically over his victory, Razhor takes his claw back."So much for Ultimate Defense."he mocks Gaara, as the dust begins to settle.
"Oh, no. Gaara!"Lee panics, quickly blocking a attack by the clone. Getting pushed back across the ground.
Sakura dodges a swipe from one of the claws, doing her best to avoid despite her minor injury. Her eyes quickly scan the battlefield, locating the injured around her. She had to get to them, especially Kankuro who becoming paler and paler by each second she wasn't over there and without Ino and Tsunade or May, it left her being the only Medic-Nin at the moment. But with her being pushed back and trying to avoid being hit by Razhor made it more difficult to get to them. As a medic-nin and following the rules that govern her position and what Tsunade drilled into her. It was her job to make sure her teammates survived. But at this rate she wasn't sure. Razhor kept coming at her from every angle. He was very well skilled in Taijutsu and it was clear he was taught by someone on a very high level, and despite his large size he was rather quick. If she left her guard down just for a sec he could land a blow that either kill her or injure her badly. With no openings, she would have to make her own, if she could find one.
Seeing her hard concentration Razhor knew she was on edge right now, like a mouse cornered. He read her eye language, she had to get to the others to heal them and was starting to feel a bit discouraged she hadn't. Thinking, he would use this to his advantage, like dangling a string in front of a cat. Let her take the bait and then, STRIKE!
Quickly he moves his footing stepping to the side just a bit, giving her room. Seeing this she gets ready to take the opening, not aware of Razhor's claws rising above her from behind until its shadow cast over her. She realizes it was a trick, but it was too late she already took the bait and Razhor had his prey, plunging his claws down upon her. Fear froze Sakura for the moment, her mind couldn't think of a way out of this all she could think of was her life, flashing before he eyes. The feeling of the tip of Razhor's claw brushes on her, feeling them starting to pierce her skin. Fear gripped her tightly, screaming in her mind causing something to react on her. A burst of golden energy expels from her, preventing Razhor from harming her and blasting him back a bit. The mutant was startled by this, even Sakura. Who thought she was going to die when she the glow around her told her to open her eyes or at least that was what she thought. Looking at herself outline, just like before when she was protected from the explosion, the same outline May had on her when she healed herself or just to add extra protection. Standing up in awe and confusion just a bit, looking around she noticed the same with the others, even those injured. They began to glow, the pain she felt began to heal she felt nothing. Looking over her body, she noticed something, some sort of either strange small symbol or mark over her heart. It flashed for a second before it disappeared.
Feeling the warmth and protection from the energy, looking down at her hands then to the energy. An image of May came to her mind smiling, tears of grief comes to her eyes. The energy started to flicker on and off. It was becoming weaker, but trying to so hard to keep the protection around Sakura. It was determine, determine to stay here and protect her and everyone. Enlighten by this and understanding, Sakura quietly thanks May and promises to get her back. Turning around back to the clone, pulling on her gloves a furious gleam in her eyes. That enthralled Razhor even more, he stands up ready to go, the two of them charge at each other.
Over with Razhor and the Kazekage, he did not expect Gaara to be shielded by this sudden energy that protected just as he attack. A huge sphere surrounded Gaara like his sand, it felt like May came wrapped her arms around him to protect him kissing the area of his symbol, looking at his hands and himself. There was nothing, no injuries at all. Standing up, no doubt the protection from May. Again she managed to put her life out one line for his sake. Though thankful, he couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt and responsibility for it. Looking to Razhor with cold eyes. Seeing he was serious now and even better upset. The clone smiles with joy and extends his claws even more.
"That little protection won't last forever. Once it goes out, it's going to be just as dead as she is."he said to Gaara happily. Who didn't take it kindly, with a swipe of his hand his sand viciously attacks the clone. Seeing this, it takes to the ground to avoid being capture. With those injured they slowly start to heal and come too. Though Kankuro took a bit longer. Throughout it all he heard the faint voice of May calling to him. Telling him he was going to be okay, he wasn't sure if his mind was playing a trick on him, but he was sure he saw her standing over him with those eyes calling to him. Calling him that horrible name, Mr. Kankuro. But instead of it being annoying he found it comforting. Her eyes looked down at him, her hand reaches out to him and rest upon his injury. His hand reaches out to her only to go through.
Lee looks at his hands. Smiling with gratitude."Thank you May." He looks to Guy who had on the same smile though looking more emotional.
He strikes a emotional pose."My daughter, I will SAVE YOU!"his eyes shoot towards the clone."You messed with the wrong, daughter! Let's go LEE!"
They two of them charge at the clone who gets ready and charges back. Neji uses his rotation to push another clone back, his eyes activated trying to locate where he could strike the clone. All the while thinking about May, her energy coming to protect him and the others. Placing a hand over the area he saw the symbol appear. It was like she stood there taking the blow for him, all the while smiling telling him she would make sure he returned home safely. When he wanted the opposite. Her charm was becoming weaker and he had to use to what was left to his advantage promising something to her.
Over with Kakashi and Splinter who managed to move Ino and Yamato out the way so they would not suffer any more injuries. They take on the real Razhor, who clearly was out for blood them both. Holding a grudge against them both with each strike. Unleashing his jutsu upon them, slamming his hand down on the ground causing Earth Spikes to shoot out or creating a fissure, sending his Earth Bony hounds at them. But the two managed to avoid and deflect his attacks. With the two of them as a team, they stayed in-sync giving Razhor a run for his money. One would distract the other attack or vice versa. Trying to overwhelm the mutant who was not going down just yet.
With a quick glace at each other, Kakashi and Splinter communicated non-verbally and charged together, one drawing his blade the other steps back and inhales just as Splinter goes for the swipe, it was slow. So Razhor dodges easily, his cockiness blinded him from the real plan. Just as Splinter jumped out the way a huge Fire Ball comes right at him. Realizing he was just tricked, he hit by the jutsu. The two masters watch the flames do their work. But Razhor was not going to go down that easy, having enough of these games. He slams both his claws down savagely burying them into the ground.
"Enough is enough!"he snarls at the two."Ninja Art Earth Release: Cenote Charybdis!"The ground started to shake, getting everyone's attention. The ground started to shake and shift. When it went down a level and another and next thing the Earth started to slowly swirl into what seem to be a whirlpool. Going down and down, sucking everything. Leaving them unbalanced. But Razhor was just fine, he takes delight watching his jutsu take affect."Now the real fun begins!" He digs his claws in further increasing the process. His clones jump away from their oppenates to avoid the jutsu
He gets ready to do it again, when caught onto a scent that surprised and caught him off guard. Quickly looking in the direction, something swift and strong comes like a speeding bullet, knocking him back. Canceling his jutsu. Whatever hit him, they both roll along the ground like timberweed. Until Razhor separates himself from them, kicking them off him. He stands up snarling at whatever it was. Kakashi and Splinter look to see who and what it was that managed to come and save everyone just in the nick of time. All eyes look at the dust cloud, waiting for the particles to settle when a figure slowly begins to stand up. And what they saw made everyone's eyes widen in shock and confusion.
Standing there nude in a sense, if not for being coated in dark chrome metallic skin from head to toe even the hair and mouth, with reddish circuit markings trailing all along their body. Looking like something out of a science fiction movie. Upon their back there was some sort of branding mark. Realizing the sign on their back Splinter snarls in disgust and sorrow. The Foot Clan's symbol was branded upon their back in-between their shoulder blades, their eyes had no color. Instead they where completely black, like an endless hole. Soulless. They stood there stiff like, but focused on Razhor. One thing they could tell, this thing was female.
Razhor stares hard at them, before he starts, he chuckles."Well well, if it isn't the insufficient obsolete piece of shit software. I thought we pulled your plug. Guess not?"
The figure paid no attention to what he said, except cross their hands in front of them and form them into blades. Earning another laugh from Razhor, looking closely he could see the struggle in their eyes to remain in control. He gloats them to attack. Which they take, with such speed they go in for the kill. Thrusting one of their blades at Razhor, be blocked by another blade from nowhere. Stopping their attack upon Razhor, with their might they push them back and stand infront of Razhor protectively. It was the same the same thing as the one trying to attack Razhor, just the only difference the lines that ran along their bodies and the height. One was taller than the other at least by a few inches. They were also not as full figured either. But still just as deadly. Both of them had dark pupiless eyes, though the taller one seemed darker.
Baffled by this."What the heck are those things?"Sakura said, her words tremble a bit.
Razhor rest a hand upon the shoulder of his protector."Good job. Now finish off the the defect. And the other defects."he tells them pointing to the others. Listening to his command, the figure goes and attacks the other one. Kicking her back with little effort. Sending her crashing and tumbling back on the ground. Smiling sadistically Razhor turns back around to the others."Now then, where were we?"
Splinter gets ready when he noticed out the corner of his noticed right off the back who those creatures were. That his blood began to boil. He turns around to Razhor and lashes out at him."What did you DO?! How dare you! How dare you!"he points his blade at him. The others where a bit lost by this his accusation, but Kakashi was able to read the burning fury in mutant's eyes. Horrified by the realizing of who the two or at least one of them are. He shoots Razhor a deadly glare.
The others where still a bit lost, Sakura was trying to deduce what was going on."Sakura! Sakura!"Hinata's calls get her attention, the pink kounichi turns around to see her coming over with Naruto and Sai who was holding Tenten in his arms. Seeing her friend injured Sakura rushes to her, Sai places the knocked out konichi down so Sakura could do her work.
"What happened?"she asks, though more demands.
Hinata ends up filling her in quickly and what she told Sakura with Naruto's validation shocked her. Taking her eyes off Tenten, looking in the direction the two figures where fighting, singling out the short one. Who took blow after blow from the other one, she just looked on in disbelief. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't. She wasn't sure to feel angry or grief now. The two just mixed together. She looks to Naruto who moves his eyes to her, telling her it was all true. Even if she didn't want to believe it. Watching his eyes cast downward like he was silently mourning. She saw the anguish look and fury boiling. About to erupt no doubt. Turning her green eyes back upon the short figure."...May...why?"
Just want to say thank you to all who have been reading the story :) Oh and if you would like there is a poll for the story on my page.