Chapter 8: The Strongest Will

Orochimaru stood back and watched. The ground shook as Tsunade's fist made contact with the ground. He saw that Tsunade was breathing hard. He smirked at that. She should have kept up with her training. It wouldn't be long until Kabuto wore her down and disabled her. That's when he turned to the sound of weapons clashing.

He watched as the two thirteen-year-olds were going at it. They slashed, thrust and struck out at each other. He watched with narrowed eyes when Naruto got into the Tetsuzaru no Satansu. (Iron Monkey Stance) He believed that it was the second form. Midoshi stood also in an advance form. The two engaged each other again, the pace picking up. It made Orochimaru's eyes narrow.

He hated Midoshi a lot. He never liked the power she held. The fact that she could just cancel his connection to the Hebi clan, scared him. He already did not have a good standing with the clan. He would have killed the girl but Manda made it clear that he would destroy him if Midoshi was hurt. The blond annoyed him. It wasn't just his heritage, it was the fact that his old sensei trained him. It wasn't that he jealous of the boy but he could become a large thorn in the future. His victory against Midoshi showed him that he could be a pain. He would do something but it would bring the wrath of his former comrades.

Orochimaru hated having his hand tied. He would have to do something about it.

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Naruto skid to a stop. He was on the defensive as Midoshi charged at him. He parried the sword stab and thrust at Midoshi's head. She moved and lashed out with a kick. It was blocked and Naruto swept her foot. Midoshi spun in mid-air and landed in a crouch. He sash lashed out but Naruto dodged. She shook her sword and slashed. Naruto avoided it but his weapon was cut in two.

Naruto landed a distance and got into his stance. Midoshi just walked around, staring at Naruto and licking her lips.

"You have done well so far but now you're unarmed. Are you going to summon you're monkey partner?" Midoshi asked.

"Why? Are you going to summon your familiar?" Naruto countered.

"She would sooner strangle me. Anyway, what's your next move?" That's when she saw Tsunade drop Kabuto. The boy seem to be having problems but he would figure it out. Naruto caught her line of sight and briefly looked to see Tsunade on her knees. Midoshi used this to attack, cutting Naruto down but the blond escaped using a Kawarimi no Jutsu (Body Replacement Technique). She then batted a piece of Naruto's staff away only to be kicked in the face. Naruto ran the other way just as Kabuto recovered. That's when he did hand seals.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!" (Summoning Technique) he shouted. A puff of smoke appeared in front of Tsunade. A webbed arm caught Kabuto's wrist. The smoke cleared to reveal Gama. Kabuto was stunned until he was tossed in the air. Naruto was on Kabuto and nearly bisected him. Midoshi interrupted by having her sash wrap around his ankle. She slammed him to the ground. Naruto groaned as Midoshi prepared to stab him. That's when she saw Tsunade's fist.

Midoshi blocked it with the flat of her sword but was still sent flying away. She tumbled a few feet away. She got to her feet but her arms were still shaking. Kabuto joined up with her, as did Orochimaru. They looked across to see the two face them.

"You two should have just finished them. Your playing around has drawn this out for too long. We now have other guests." Orochimaru said. As soon as he finished, Jiraiya and Shizune arrived. The white haired ninja turned to his student.

"You know, that damage you caused, I'm going to have to pay for that, right?" Jiraiya said.

"Well, I had to save her ass." Naruto said.

"I didn't need you to save me brat." Tsunade spat.

"Unappreciative bitch," Naruto muttered. Tsunade glared at him and he returned it.

"Good to see that you're getting along." Jiraiya said and looked at the three across from them. He focused on the girl who looked back at him with raised eyebrow and a hand on her hips. "That's Midoshi, huh? Hmm, she'll be quite a looker when she gets older. I approve kid." Midoshi smirked when she heard that.

"I like him. He's silly." She commented.

"Really? You have to be a pervert, right now?" Naruto asked.

"What?" Jiraiya suddenly got serious. "Naruto, you're going to have to help me out. My abilities are not at a hundred percent." He said, giving Tsunade a look.

"Alright, let's get started" Naruto said. Orochimaru just smirked and looked at Midoshi. She sighed and drew blood. She did hand seals and slammed her palms to the ground. From out of the smoke, two large serpents hissed at them. Naruto did the same hand seals and slammed his palm on the ground. The smoke cleared to reveal a toad with two swords. The two prepared for battle. Midoshi was smiling.

"Well, this is getting good." She said. Jiraiya joined Naruto on the toad's head and looked at Naruto.

"I need you to watch out for Tsunade. I'll handle Orochimaru and your girlfriend." He said,

"She's not my girlfriend." Naruto said before jumping off the toad. Jiraiya faced the two and prepared himself.

"Not to insult you but I wanted to fight Naruto." Midoshi said.

"Well my dear, if you impress me enough, I might convince the boy to take you out on a date. God knows that he needs to live a little." Jiraiya said. Midoshi was thinking about it.

"Make it two dates if I kill you." She said.

"Come on then." Midoshi and Orochimaru rushed the toad.

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Naruto made his way over to Tsunade. He arrived just in time to see Tsunade get knocked back by Kabuto. Shizune caught her countered with needles. Kabuto deflected her attack and launched forward. Naruto summoned Sora and had him transform into his naginata form. He cut Kabuto off. He raised his weapon to slice Kabuto but missed. Naruto stood in front of the two women. He looked to see Tsunade form.

"What's wrong with her?" Naruto asked.

"Tsunade-sama has hemophobia. She's had it for years." Shizune said. Naruto looked surprised by that before facing Kabuto. The young man was chuckling at them.

"Such a shame. She is supposed to be this great legend. She's nothing but a disappointment. You agree with me, don't you Naruto?" he asked.

"My opinion is none of your concern." Naruto said and readied himself.

"Do you really think that you can defeat me? Not even your sensei can defeat me. I'm on the same level as Kakashi." Kabuto said.

"We'll see about that." Naruto charged and attacked. Kabuto engaged him. He was fast and easily parried the thrust. He slashed at Naruto who dodged. He twirled his weapon and lashed out. Kabuto jumped over the attack and launched several kunai. Naruto countered with shuriken and fired a ball of fire. Kabuto twisted out of the way and landed. Naruto was on him.

Kabuto dodged, blocked or parried Naruto's quick thrusts. However, he did not notice two hands grab him from below. Naruto used the naginata to propel himself up and launched several kicks. Kabuto blocked all but one that got through. Naruto land and his cheeks puffed out.

"Suiton: Mizurappa! (Water Release: Wild Water Wave)" Kabuto was sent flowing away with the water that Naruto spat out. Naruto ended the jutsu but he could not see Kabuto. His training was the only thing that saved him as he ducked Kabuto's glowing hand. Naruto used Sora and tried to hit him but Kabuto dodged it before kicking him in the back. He was about to push his attack when three clones popped out of the ground.

They attacked Kabuto, making him try. They managed to force him to a knee but Kabuto cut them down. The smoke cleared and he get punched in the jaw. He stumbled a little before getting swept away by a mud river. He was slammed into a boulder. He jump up and away as several flaming bullets of mud destroyed the boulder.

The two faced off again. Kabuto rubbed his jaw.

"Not bad Naruto, you definitely caught me with that punch. Still, it was only due to the lucky breaks that you have gotten." Kabuto said.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.

"Student of the Sandaime Hokage, student of the Gama (Toad) Sennin (Hermit), you've gotten such amazing training, training you don't deserve." Kabuto stated.

"Really? Why don't you explain that?" the blond asked.

"You're really nothing without the training you received. You had no talent early on and because of your tenant, the Hokage showed you sympathy. Jiraiya only trained you because you are both the same. Face it, without those two, you're a second-rate shinobi." Kabuto asked.

"Wow that reminded me of Neji just now. So, was I supposed to get angry and attack? So what if I got lucky and then got training from two powerful ninja? It happened and I profited from it. I'm not going to apologize or get angry by a few words. You're an idiot for even bringing up. You're not any different for me." Naruto said.

"Oh, how do you figure that?" Kabuto asked.

"Something tells me that you had multiple masters or leaders. I bet that they never gave a damn about your skills or abilities. Then Orochimaru came around and gave you a purpose. He appreciated your skills and your abilities, making you his right hand man. You took advantage of that and look at you now." Naruto said. Kabuto did not look happy after Naruto said that, mostly because he guessed it somewhat right.

"You have a big mouth and you need to shut it." Kabuto said.

"You're welcomed to try. You're a joke Kabuto. Talent doesn't make a shinobi. Having the will to push forward, to push pass your limits, that is the true power of a shinobi. You say you're on Kakashi's level? Sorry to say, you're not even close." Naruto declared. Tsunade looked at the blond after those words. Something stirred in her, something that she buried long ago. Kabuto scoffed at Naruto and readied himself.

"Very well then, let's see if your will is as strong as you say." Kabuto said.

"The time for games are over." A voice said. Naruto looked around only to get carried into the air. He fell to his back and looked up at the sky. That's when the sky went dark for him. As it did, he heard someone scream his name.

XXX

Orochimaru stood on the snake as it swallowed the blond. Tsunade and Shizune watch in horror as it happened.

"NARUTO!" Tsunade shouted. This got Midoshi and Jiraiya's attention. Jiraiya was shocked at watching his godson getting swallowed. That shock turned to rage. However, his rage was nothing compared to the intent that Midoshi was releasing. She didn't know why but seeing Naruto get killed flipped a switch. Her eyes were white with rage. Midoshi was about to launch herself at Orochimaru when the serpent he was standing on began to bulge. It got bigger and bigger until the snake exploded. From the body, hundreds of clones came out.

Orochimaru was in the air as Naruto's clones surrounded him. With a growl, he started to destroy them. He felt someone coming at him from behind. He used his sword to cut Naruto across the chest. He was dispelled and so was another who tried to catch him from behind. He spun to cut another one but his blow was stopped by a naginata. Naruto's clones' dog piled him and held his limbs. Orochimaru could easily free himself but he would not be given that chance.

"Rasengan!" Naruto exclaimed and shoved the chakra sphere into Orochimaru's back. The Sannin screamed as he felt the grinding effect of the jutsu. He was sent flying into the ground. Kabuto was stunned by this as Naruto's clones dispelled. Naruto landed on the ground and right to his knees. He was tired and slimy. That took a lot of chakra. That's when a shadow appeared above him. He turned to see Kabuto and his glowing hand. He brought his hand down but it never connected due to Tsunade and Jiraiya blasting him away. Kabuto was sent flying like a missile and hit the ground with a boom.

The two looked at the winded boy.

"Are you okay kid?" Jiraiya asked.

"No, I'm not okay! I was in a snake man!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Well, now you know how I felt." Jiraiya said. That's when they turned to see Orochimaru stand. This shocked the blond.

"How in the hell is he still standing?!" Naruto demanded loudly. They saw the large hole in his back before he turned around to face them. When Tsunade and Jiraiya saw him, they instantly saw why he was still alive.

"That isn't him. He's using someone's body." Tsunade said.

"Well, if that is your answer Tsunade, then I will use other methods to get my arms back. When I do, I will burn Konoha to the ground." He turned to look at Naruto and glared at him. He began to sink into the ground. Midoshi did the same with Kabuto on her shoulder. The two was gone after a few moments. Everyone was still on guard but after a while, they could no longer sense them.

The fight was over.

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