And here's the next chapter. Right, so I've gone back and changed the fight between Thorn and Danzo back in chapter Two, it's now a little longer and with a different outcome. Other than that I've just made a few other tweaks here and there to other chapters but only to change the whole 'Danzo's dead' thing.
Anyway, on with the show. Time to bring out the big guns.
Chapter 12
"Oh, I am so bored." said Hunter as he walked through the streets of the town, or city or whatever it was he was in. The sun had set long ago and the only light came from the many windows and lamps. Having perfect night vision, Hunter barely noticed the difference.
He'd tracked Naruto and Jiryia by scent all this way and nothing interesting had happened the entire time. By now Hunter was almost praying for a ninja squad to jump out and attack him. The scent trail stopped at a grey stone building that looked to be a bar of some kind. Hunter waited for a while, then one of the waitresses came out, evidently on her way home. Making sure no one was looking he shifted into his girl form and changed his outfit to look like one of the staff, then she slipped inside.
Once she was in Hunter quickly spotted her targets. Naruto and Jiriya were sat at a table in the far corner opposite from two women and a small pig. Trying to look as inconspicuous as possible Hunter walked up to the serving area, picked up an order and brought it to its appropriate table, all the while keeping her eyes on Naruto and company. So far there was no sign of Nobodies, Pete, or Heartless. Feeling a little more secure Hunter decided to risk moving in closer and get a better look at the two women. The first one was younger, twenties maybe with black hair, a pretty face and one or two concealed weapons on her person. The other one, who was playing a game of cards with Jiriya was apparently Tsunade. She looked to be in her forties with blond hair and possibly the biggest rack Hunter had ever seen. She looked down at her own chest. Nothing to be ashamed of but she was completely outclassed by Tsunade.
'Maybe I should make them larger...wait, what am I thinking. Oh I've spent too much time as a girl.'
"Hey, you!" Hunter stood up a little straighter and looked over at Tsunade. "Get me another round of Sake!" she demanded rudely.
Hunter got the distinct impression that she'd had one round too many.
"Hey!" Tsunade yelled again when Hunter did nothing "Didn't you hear me!? I said another round! Or is your brain as small as your tits!"
"Lady Tsunade!" the woman with black hair scolded her but it was too late.
'This. Woman. Is. Going. To. Pay!'
"Certainly miss." she said in a sweet, innocent voice then she left to get the Sanin a very special order.
Moments later Hunter returned with Tsunades latest bottle of Sake, which she placed on the table in front of her. "Enjoy."
Without so much as a 'thank you' Tsunade poured the Sake into her cup and downed it in one gulp. The reaction was instant. Her face turned red and she began clutching at her throat. At first Jiriya and Shizune feared that she'd been poisoned, that was when she shot over to the bar, stuck her head under the tap and began gulping down the cold water.
"You...you...What did you put in Lady Tsunades drink!" Shizune screamed.
Hunter gave her a mischievous smile and said "Sake. And a mix of every hot spice in the kitchen."
Jiriya was bracing himself for when Tsunade recovered, Naruto was just laughing loudly "Spiced Sake! Now that's a good one! HAHAH!"
Hunter turned to Naruto and gave him a seductive smile. "Well, aren't you cute."
Naruto flushed red and started sputtering "Erm...well...I..."
She bent down and leaned in closer to the blushing genin. "Why don't you give me a kiss?"
Naruto's entire face had now turned crimson. "I-I-I...What?"
"You heard me." said Hunter, still leading Naruto on. Her face was now just inches from Naruto's own "Kissssss me." That's when she made her move. Her entire mouth split and changed becoming a black jagged line.
Naruto let out a scream and almost jumped right out of his skin. Jiriya was pretty freaked out too. It was like one of his worst nightmares had come to life. Hunter was of course just laughing, which wasn't really putting anyone at ease. Shizune had no idea what was going on as she was sitting behind Hunter and hadn't seen her change, just the effect it had on Naruto and Jiriya. That was when Hunter slowly turned round. Instantly Shizune went as white as a sheet and retreated slightly into the seat. The small pig sitting next to her attempted to hide behind her, while covering its head with its hooves.
Now that her throat had finally stopped burning Tsunade removed herself from the tap and turned back to face the soon to be dead waitress who'd spiked her drink. "I swear I'm going to rip you he-Kami! What the hell!?"
"Oh, right. You." said Hunter venomously. Tsunade's look of shock grew when the part monster woman before her shifted and changed into a normal looking young man with black spiky hair, who proceeded to say "There is nothing wrong with my tits!"
Large sweat drops appeared behind everyone's heads.
"Just who the hell are you!?" demanded Tsunade once she'd recovered.
"If I had a penny for every time I've heard that." muttered Hunter.
Jiriya poked his head up from behind the chair that both he and Naruto were cowering behind. "T-Tsunade, this is Hunter. He's a-"
"He's an evil, twisted monster who likes to torment people!" interrupted Naruto.
Hunter gave him a hurt look "Harsh man. Real harsh." He turned back to Tsunade "Back to giving you what-for. Put 'em up!" he raised his fists and took up a standard pugilism pose.
Tsunade raised on of her eye brows. "Seriously? You have no idea who you're messing with, do you."
"Just shut up and give me your best shot!" yelled Hunter.
"My best shot? Are you sure?" said Tsunade, who was now smirking. Jiriya and Shizune had both moved further away and taken cover. They knew what was coming next.
Tsunade cracked her knuckles and said "Alright. You asked for it kid!" One very important fact about Tsunade that Hunter wasn't privy to is this. Her physical strength is...let's say...Absolutely monstrous. If she put all her strength behind it, one punch from her could take off the top of a mountain. Naturally she didn't put that much force behind the punch that struck Hunter, but it was enough to smash him through the bar's wall, across the street and through the wall of the building opposite.
Once the dust had settled a bit Tsunade casually walked out of the hole she'd made, put her hands on her hips and stared at the hole opposite where Hunter was lying. "If you ask nicely I might just heal some of your..."
She trailed off when Hunter got back up, dusted himself off and stepped out into the street.
"That all you got?"
Tsunade practical blew steam out of her ears she was so angry. "WHY YOU! I'll brake every bone in your body!"
Hunter didn't have a chance to fight back, he was too busy avoiding blows that could have shattered boulders.
"Hold still!" yelled Tsunade.
"NO! I may be crazy but I'm not stupid!"
Jiriya, Naruto and Shizune were all watching this fight from the relative safety of the bar's broken wall. "I give him two minutes." said Jiriya.
Hunter caught Tsunade's next punch, the force of the blow making the ground beneath him crack and give way. With her right hand caught Tsunade tired to hit him with her left fist but he caught hold of that too. The pair were now engaged in a strength contest, both pushing against each other. So far Tsunade was winning but Hunter as starting to push back with surprising force.
'He's almost as strong as the Rikage' thought Tsunade. "Give up kid. You can't overpower me."
"I-hmmph-am...not losing- grr- to some old bat..with more up front than up top!"
Tsunade's response was and angry growl and an increase in force making Hunter slowly slide backwards.
"That's it!" yelled Naruto "I'm not sitting this one out!" He jumped out through the hole and into the street. Tsunade and Hunter were distracted and didn't see him at first. "Time to bring out my new jutsu!" Naruto brought his hands together so his left was a few centimetres above his right and began focusing his chakra. Energy built up rapidly between his palms and in no time the chakra shifted into the visible spectrum giving off a bright blue glow.
Tsunade and Hunter were now both looking at Naruto.
Tsunade recognised the jutsu instantly 'The Fouth's jutsu?'
'That's a lot of power' thought Hunter 'If he can control all that I'd be surprised.'
The blue ball of energy finished forming and Naruto charged forwards straight at Hunter. He and Tsunade broke away from each other, avoiding Naruto's attack. Unable to change course Naruto ended up planting the sphere in the space where Hunter had been where it instantly blew up in his face, knocking him onto his back in a cloud of dust.
"Just what the heck was that?" asked Hunter.
"It's called the Rasengan." said Tsunade, curtly. "I take it that you taught him?" she asked, looking at Jiriya, who'd stepped out onto the street.
"Well of course. I'm the kids teacher, aren't I."
Hunter looked at the hole the sphere had made, then at Naruto. "Well, I'm impressed. That's got to be the third largest pot hole I've ever seen."
"ARRRGGGG! That's it!" roared Naruto "I've had enough of you and you smart ass comments! For once can't you just act seriously!"
Hunter was slightly taken aback by Naruto's sudden outburst, then a sly smile spread across his lips. "So, let me get this straight. You want me to stop kidding around..."
"Yes."
"..stop goofing off..."
Jiriya's eyes widened as he realised where this was going. "Um Naruto."
"Not now Pervy Sage. Yes."
"...stop holding back..." Hunter's smile grew.
That's when what he was implying hit Naruto.
"And take this completely, one hundred percent seriously. Ok then." Hunter closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Now you've really done it Naruto." said Jiriya, who's voice had taken on that same high pitched tone it always did when he knew he was in trouble, or got caught peeping.
"Really Jiriya." Tsunade still was not impressed "How dangerous can this kid be?"
Hunter's eyes opened. They were now glowing yellow. "Assuming direct control."
Before anyone had time to blink he'd shot forwards, grabbed Jiriya by his shirt and lifted him off his feet. "I am limitless. You, are bacteria." then he threw the Sanin a good ten meters down the street.
Naruto lashed out with a kick to the back of Hunters leg that did absolutely nothing, the only one who was hurt was Naruto himself. "Your attack is an insult." Hunter gave the genin a backhanded whack that sent him flying into a wall. "My attacks will tear you apart."
Tsunade aimed a punch at Hunters head but he sidestepped her. "Your allies have failed." He dodged another punch then vanished in a flash of speed only to reappear behind her."And now you stand alone."
That was when Shizune joined the fray with an upwards kunai slash aimed at Hunter's face. "An annoyance. Limited utility."
Tsunade threw another punch at Hunter who dodged it by back flipping high into the air and landing a few meters away from the pair. Jiriya and Naruto had gotten back up and raced over to stand by Tsunade and Shizune.
"The forces of the universe bend to me." Hunter took up a stance that mirrored Naruto's when he'd tired to use the Rasengan and created a Dark Bolt between his palms.
'No way.' thought Jiriya 'He can't have copied the Rasengan just by seeing it once.'
Hunter dug his fingers into the dark bolt causing its energy to flare wildly. "Now!" he yelled, his voice having returned to normal. "Black Rasengan!" he shot forwards, pulling back his arm not, aiming at anyone in particular. The ninja group was force to jump out of the way as Hunter slammed the bolt into the spot where they'd just been. The dark bolt exploded like dynamite, throwing up a cloud of dust a debris that temporarily obscured Hunter from view. When the dust settled Hunter was standing in the middle of a shallow crater that was twice the size that Naruto's Rasengan made.
"A Black Rasengan?" Naruto repeated in a quiet voice.
"You. How do you know how to do the Rasengan!?" demanded Jiriya.
Hunter shrugged and said "I don't."
"What!" yelled Naruto "Are you serious!? Are you really going to say you can't do something you JUST DID!"
"Calm down Blondie. My Black Rasengan is nothing like your jutsu. I just made it up and named it that because they look similar. That's all."
Jiriya nodded, seemingly accepting this answer 'That makes sense. Still, that Black Rasengan may only be an imitation but it looks deadly all the same.'
"You just 'made up' an advanced jutsu on the spot?" Hunter looked over his shoulder at Tsunade "Yeah right. You don't' even look smart enough to work a toaster!" she turned her attention to Jiriya "And you. What were you thinking teaching this kid the Rasengan. You and the Fourth Hokage were the only ones can use that jutsu. What's the point of teaching it to someone who can never master it. Giving him false hopes like that. Filling his head with stupid ideas. Making him think he could actually be Hokage."
"I'll show you who's stupid!" yelled Naruto "Just wait! Just wait! Give me just three days and I'll have that jutsu down flat!"
Tsunade smirked at him "Watch what you say kid. I might just hold you to it."
"I said I'd do it and I meant it. That's my ninja way." said Naruto with conviction.
"Wow. I can't decide if he's stupidly brave or bravely stupid." muttered Hunter.
"Well then. Care to make a bet on it." offered Tsunade
"A bet?" Naruto looked confused.
"I'll give you one week. If you can master that jutsu by then I'll admit I'm wrong and that you're worthy of becoming Hokage. I'll even throw in my necklace." She pointed at a simple looking jade necklace that hung about her neck.
"Lady Tsunade no! You don't really mean that." insisted Shizune.
Naruto put his hands behind his head and said in a disinterested voice "Nah. You can keep it. I'm not really into jewellery."
"You numbskull." said Jiriya "That necklace belonged to the First Hokage himself. There are only two like it in the world. Why that little thing is worth three gold mines and the mountains on top of them."
Naruto's eyes temporarily transformed into yen signs, then he agreed to Tsunade's bet "Lady, you've got yourself a deal."
"Alright. But if I win you admit that I was right. And I get all the money in frogy here." Tsunade held up Naruto's frog shaped purse.
"Ahh! Not Gama!" cried Naruto as he checked his own pockets trying to figure out when he'd lost the frog-wallet.
"And these people say I'm nuts." muttered Hunter just loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Who asked you flash-light-eyes?" said Tsunade.
"One more insult from you Grandma and I'll hit you where it really hurts." threatened Hunter.
Tsunade gave a snort of laughter "Ha! Do your worst brat."
"Can't say I didn't warn her. Alright. You're lying." Tsunade's smirk vanished "Even if Naruto wins you're never going to fork over that necklace."
"What?!" Naruto angrily butted in "We had a bet Lady! You can't just back out on it."
Tsunade said nothing but she did look away from Hunter.
"That necklace is tied to your worst and most cherished memories." Hunter continued "Half of you wants to throw it down a well and the other half can't bear to let go. Until one side wins out you won't part with it."
Tsunade was clenching both her fists tightly now "Shut. Up." she hissed.
"Hey. I warned you."
"I said SHUT UP!" she screamed at him.
"OR WHAT!?" Hunter yelled back. "Just 'cause you gave up on your dreams doesn't mean the rest of us have!"
Before anyone could stop her Tsunade had charged forwards and hit Hunter square on the forehead. Nothing happened for a second, then a crack appeared starting at his forehead and running down the left side of his face until it stopped at his jaw.
Everyone one just stared at him, unsure how to react.
"What the..." was all Naruto could manage.
Hunter raised his hand to cover up the crack "We'll call this one a draw." then he turned and started walking away.
"Hey wait! yelled Naruto. "You can't just leave. What happened to your face, just what are you?"
Hunter stopped in his tracks.
"You don't know do you." said Jiriya.
"I know exactly what I am." said Hunter plainly "And believe me. That's even worse." then he disappeared into a black portal.
'I'm starting to understand.' thought Jiriya 'He's not a jinchuriki, he's an actual tailed beast.'Hunter
Miles away.
Hunter reappeared in the wilderness to the towns west. "Ah snap." That had not gone how he'd hoped. Tsunade had broken his armour, nearly revealing the Heartless underneath. Hunter liked to think of himself as human or at the very least forget he was a Heartless but today that lovely delusion had come crashing down.
Hunter wandered aimlessly for a while until he found a small cave and went inside. The current occupant, a large brown bear, was less than happy at having it's sleep interrupted. It reared up on its hind legs and roared at the intruder. Hunter's mouth split open as he let out an even louder roar that was accompanied by a powerful gust of wind. The bear gave a submissive whine and trotted out of the cave in search of a new place to sleep.
Hunter sat down and just stared at the rock wall. Time passed and eventually sunlight began to stream in through the entrance.
"Rough day huh?"
Hunter looked up and to his left and saw...
"Riku!? When did you get here?"
The teen shrugged "About two minutes ago. I said 'hi' but you were kind of lost in your own world."
"Oh. Sorry, I'm just...mmm." Hunter let out a tired sigh.
"You wanna talk about it?"
Hunter stood up and started pacing to and fro. "I'm feeling...I don't know, I just. Every time I look at someone now I feel like...I want to eat them. I want to hurt them. I've almost killed someone twice now a-and what happens if I don't stop myself next time?"
Riku nodded in understanding. "You're afraid of losing control."
"Dam right I'm afraid. I need to keep a lid on this. Keep myself 'normal'."
"Ignoring your nature's not really much of an answer."
"Well then what do you suggest? Therapy?"
Riku shrugged "How about a spar?"
Hunter raised an eyebrow "Really? That's your solution?"
"It always helps with me." said Riku as his blade materialized in his hand.
Hunter started smiling, then his eyes began glowing and he turned to look through the cave walls.
"Trouble?" asked Riku.
"Sort of. A lot of people parked outside. I can't go one day without someone trying to kill me." Hunter focused on one person in particular. "Her again?"
"Need any help with this?" Riku offered.
"Nah. I'm-" Hunter stopped mid sentence, struck by a moment of inspiration. "Actually..."
Meanwhile on Apocoly-erm, I mean, outside the cave.
"He's in there." said Yugito.
"If he's there then why are we, up in this tree?" asked Bee.
Both Cloud jinchuriki had been sitting in the branches of a large tree for the better part of two hours now and Bee was starting to get restless.
"There's no way to get into that cave unnoticed." said Yugito. "We wait for Hunter to leave, then we attack. And in case you haven't noticed, we're not the only ones here."
Aside from the two Cloud ninja there were two other shinobi teams present all in the trees around the cave, and Yugito knew that if she knew they were there then they also knew where her and Bee were. One of the main downsides of being a jinchuriki was that it was very difficult to hide her chakra signature, and it was downright impossible for Bee. Stealth missions were not their strong suite.
"You want Hunter out of the cave? Then I'll call him out and see if he's brave." rapped Bee.
Yugito was about to say 'no' when the entire cave exploded in a ball of fire that rocketed twenty feet up into the air. It defiantly got Yugito's attention.
Someone leapt out of the flames and landed a few feet away from the conflagration. At first she thought it was Hunter but she quickly realised it was someone else. This stranger had shoulder length spiky silver hair and wore a long black coat. In his right hand he held a strange blade that was styled to look like a bats wing, which he was currently holding up by his head, like a scorpion ready to strike.
Yugito briefly wondered who he was, then Hunter appeared, slowly walking out of the flames, his two chain-hooks dragging behind him.
"I've been waiting for you, Riku-Wan. The circle is complete. Now I am the Master!" Hunter declared as he swung his chains over his head, then down at Riku.
The silver haired teen dodged one chain and blocking another, grabbing hold of it and yelling back "Only the Master of Evil Hunter!" then he pulled, dragging Hunter forwards, trying to slash at him with his blade.
Hunter turned his fall into a roll, avoiding the sword and ending up behind Riku. He pulled on his chains, dragging them towards him and forcing Riku to jump out of the way. He fired two dark bolts which Riku deflect into the ground where they exploded in showers of dirt.
"You're powers are weak, old man. You should not have come here." Hunter taunted.
"You cannot win Dark. Strike me down, and I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."
The two ran towards each other but stopped when a kunai landed between the two of them. One of the ninja teams had come out of hiding. There were eight of them, six men, two women. Half of them had large scrolls slung over their backs which marked them out as a sealing team. All of them wore headbands with a star symbol on it.
"Hoshigakure." groaned Yugito.
"I take it you know these guys Yugito!?" Hunter yelled up at her and Bee's hiding place.
'Dam he's got good hearing' she thought as both her and Bee jumped down out of the tree.
"Ok, now that just leaves you three!" Hunter pointed up at another section to tree line. After a moment's pause three more ninjas dropped down to ground level. They weren't wearing headbands but from the general look of them Yugito guessed that they were from the Hidden Mist.
"Still sure you don't need help?" asked Riku.
"Nah, I got this. Finish this match later?"
"That was you fighting? I thought you were just play acting." said Riku as he vanished into a dark portal.
"Hey! Get back here and say that to my face you ya...hey...Riku! Ah Snap."
"Wait." said one of the Hidden Star ninja "So, all that was just for our benefit?"
Hunter smiled and nodded "Yep. Now for introductions, who are you and what do you want." He pointed at the squad of Star ninjas and said "Go!"
"We are representatives of the Village Hidden in the Stars." said the closest ninja, a man with brown spiky hair who was apparently the team leader. "We're here to retrieve you by the order of the Hoshikage."
Hunter reached into his back pocket and brought out his stolen bingo book. "Hmm, Kage..kage. Here we go. Hokage, Raikage, Mizukage, Tsuchikage...That's it. There's no Hoshikage in here."
"That's because there isn't a 'Hoshi' kage." said Yugito, not bothering to hide the contempt in her voice and ignoring the angry sneers from the Star ninjas. "The leader of the Star village calls himself a Kage but he has no right to the title."
"That brings us nicely to you Yugito and...sorry, who are you?"
"Yo! I am...The amazing rappin' Killa Bee! Jinchuriki of the mighty Eight Tails, ya fool!
"O...Kay. So, you wanted a rematch and you brought a better team is that it?" asked Hunter.
Yugito smiled confidently "That's right. We're here to put an end to you."
"I'd like to see you try. That just leaves you three."
One of the ninjas, a woman with short black hair stepped forwards. "We are not here to fight, Hunter. We came to deliver a message from the Mizukage."
Hunter blinked a few times "That's... new."
The woman calmly walked towards Hunter, producing a sealed envelope from the pocket of her fleck vest and handing it to him. He carefully opened it, convinced it would explode at any second. When it didn't he removed the letter and read it.
"Ok, let's see here. 'Dear Hunter'. Good start, nice and formal. 'If you are reading this then you are a very hard man to find. It's not every day I have to personally dispatch a hunter team just to deliver a message, but if half of what I've heard is true, it will be worth it. I know that my fellow Kage have been less than amicable towards you' You can say that again. 'but then they never did know how to say 'please'. So consider this an invitation to the Hidden Mist Village. I look forward to hearing your reply.
Yours faithfully
Mei Terumī. Fifth Mizukage.'
'A letter from the Mizukage?' Yugito had not been expecting that. 'I suppose that makes sense. Kiri lost the Three Tails so their down one jinchuriki, and now they want Hunter to replace him.'
"Well, thanks for being...nice." said Hunter as he handed the letter back. "But I'm afraid I'm gunna have to say no. I've already got a mission. An important one an-"
While Hunter had been distracted The leader of the Star ninjas had quietly signalled his team to start using their sealing jutsu. The four ninjas with scrolls on their backs had suddenly appeared around Hunter, unrolled their scrolls and started making rapid hand signs. Instantly a ring of glowing green runes surrounded Hunter accompanied by a rising ethereal light.
"Oh no, not this time!" Hunter leaned his head back and opened his mouth, which had split into its jagged, black Heartless form.
'What the!?' declared then Eight Tails in surprise and alarm. 'Matatabi was right. He is one of the Dark Ones.'
The runes on the ground began to vibrate, then they flew off the floor and into Hunter's open mouth. In a matter of seconds he'd consumed the entire seal.
Everyone just stared at him, dumbfounded.
"He...ate the seal." said one of the Star ninjas, eventually.
"That I did." confirmed Hunter as he cracked his knuckles. "Now, I'm gunna pound all of ya into-oooh!" He stopped mid sentence and placed his hand on his stomach. "Into-Mmmph!" he was interrupted by an apparent stomach cramp again.
"You seem to be in pain. Care to explain?" rapped Bee.
"Gaah! It's that seal I ate. It's hard to digest." Hunter gave another groan and slowly turned so his back was now facing the Yugito, Bee and the Star ninjas. His tail suddenly grew out of his lower back, surprising everyone again. It waved around for a second, then it bolted upright.
Yugiot's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no. Not that! AHHHHHHHHHH-"
PPPPPFFPFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTT!
When Yugito woke minutes later she found that both she and Bee had been blow backwards by about a mile. The forest looked like it had been hit by a hurricane. Trees had been blown over or completely uprooted, several large rocks had been thrown about and the Star ninja team were currently strewn about in various uncomfortable looking positions.
And of course, Hunter and the Kiri nin were gone.
Bee got back up and surveyed the destruction for himself. "Seems like Hunter has left us in the dark, after blowin' us away with a killa'...um, Yugito?"
Yugito had gone red in the face, was grinding her teeth and clenching her fists so tight they were shaking.
"Ut oh." said Bee
Yugito threw her head back and yelled "Ffffffffu-!"
Far away.
"Well, we weren't followed. So that's something." said Hunter. He and the three Mist ninja had left shortly after the super fart had blown everyone else away, none of them wanting to be there when the two Kumo jinchuriki came to.
"Are you sure you won't reconsider the Mizukage's offer?" asked one of the ninjas.
"No." said Hunter, firmly. "Having a bit of fun with you lot is one thing, but actually taking sides is-" he froze mid sentence, then he swung out his left arm sending out one of his chain hooks.
For a second the three ninjas thought he was attacking them, then the chain hit something red that exploded mid air. They all spun round to face where the attack had come from. Standing in the branches of a tree not far away was possibly the strangest sight the ninjas had seen yet. The attacker had the general form of a man but it was all in the wrong proportions. He was dressed mainly in white and purple and was armed was a large and strange looking crossbow.
A glowing red laser bolt materialised in the bow and then it fired at them. Once more this shot was deflected by Hunter. More strange white suited beings appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Much like the first one they had vaguely humanoid bodies but all where warped in some way.
"Ah snap." said Hunter. "You three. Run back to your Mizukage and don't stop until you're standing in her office. Got that?"
Several Dusks darted forwards only to get caught in Hunters chain attacks and destroyed. The Mist ninjas all body flickered away, leaving Hunter to face the Nobodies.
"Alright then!" Hunter charged his right arm with darkness, transforming it into a Heartless claw. "SAVAGE CLAW MODE!" the he charged towards the Nobodies, slicing apart Dusks and Creepers. The Sniper in the trees took another shot at him but Hunter jumped up off the ground and kicked the laser bolt away, causing it to hit another Nobody.
Hunter threw his chains upwards, shredding through the branches and just narrowly missing the Sniper who was forced to jump out of its perch. Hunter dashed towards it, pulling back his claw to finish it off just as it aimed its loaded crossbow at him. His claw smashed through the Nobodies chest and it disintegrated, but not before it fired a laser bolt point blank into Hunter's stomach.
"AHHGH! Jab, bloody...snap that! Hurts." Slowly he reached down, grabbed hold of the bolt then after closing his eyes he pulled it out in one go. "YEEEOW!"
"Interesting."
Hunter spun round on the spot and saw an almost identical copy of himself standing a few feet away. "Twilight." he snarled.
"You remembered. Good. It's nice. To be remembered."
"Shut up!" ordered Hunter. "What do you want with Naruto?"
Thorn tilted his head to one side as though he was curious "Why do you care?"
"Is that even a serious question? Why shouldn't I care?"
"You a Heartless." Hunter flinched slightly but didn't back down as Thorn continued "These people are your food. You should be attacking them. On sight."
"I'm not like the others." countered Hunter.
"Simple thought. Belief. Does not make you different." Thorn took a few steps forwards "You want to forget. Pretend you're something else. I can. Understand. But you can't change your nature. Sooner or later. The Hunter of the Dark will emerge."
Hunter gritted his teeth and griped his chains more tightly. "What do you want with Naruto?" he repeated.
"Figure it out." a black portal began to appear around Thorn. Not wanting to let his Nobody get away Hunter surged forwards and tried to trap him with his hooks but he was too late. Thorn disappeared moments before a hook flew through the space where he'd just been.
"Oww! He got away again! Dam that guy gives me the creeps."
After carefully healing the hole in his stomach Hunter decided it was probably a good idea to find Naruto again and stick to him like glue. Whatever Thorn and the Organisation were up to here it involved Naruto in some way. The question is, why him? Was Thorn after that Nine Tailed poodle? No, if he wanted to simple whisk Naruto away and pull out the Fox he'd have done it by now. There was more to this than just getting more power but Hunter still couldn't see the whole picture yet.
For the next few days Hunter stayed within sensing range of Naruto at all times. And It was possibly the most boring, tedious thing in the world. Fortunately for Hunters sanity a few Creepers showed up every now and then and when the Nobodies were nowhere to be seen he found a new way to pass the time. Beating the snot out of local criminals.
Currently he was holding a mugger upside-down while the old woman he'd been trying to rob was beating him with her walking stick.
"OW! Stop! OW! I said I'm-OW!"
"Alight I think he's had enough." said Hunter.
"Oh, just one more." said the old woman.
"Hunter shrugged "Ok. Just one."
The mugger looked up at him incredulously. "What!?"
"Oh suck it in would ya. It's just one more-"
The old woman brought her cane smashing down onto the man's groin. He let out a long high pitched scream, then Hunter dropped him and he curled up into a ball.
"That looked painful." observed Hunter. Then he sensed something. Naruto was on the move.
Hunter ran off in the same direction staying just close enough to keep the boy in sensing range. He could see Jiriya and Shizune with him but he could also feel someone else further away but still heading in the same direction. It took Hunter a moment to recognise it as Kabuto.
'If Specs is here that means Lizard Man is to.'
Focusing his hyper hearing Hunter listen to Shizune explain the situation. Apparently She and Tsunade had met Orochimaru a week ago where he'd made the Sanin an offer. She'd heal his arms and in return he'd bring her dead lover and younger brother back to life.
'To heck with this. Time to deploy sonar.' Hunter stopped in his tracks and focused on expanding his sensor net. Eventually he found who he was looking for, Tsunade, Orochimaru and Kabuto were to the west and from the sound of it they were fighting.
"Gotcha." he said as he opened a black portal.
With Naruto and Jiriya.
Now Jiriya was far from a pessimist but he had to admit that things were not looking good for them at the moment. Tsunade was down, Kabuto having used her intense phobia of blood to debilitate her. He himself had been drugged by Tsunade earlier and was still suffering from side effects. The only two there who were in top shape were Shizune and Naruto and they were no match for Kabuto or Orochimaru.
Still, at least Orochimaru's arms were still useless. That was something.
Naruto was still reeling from the revelation that Kabuto was a spy and had only helped him in the chunin exams as part of his mission.
"I found out something very interesting about you Naruto." said Kabuto. "You have no ninja talent whatso-"
He was cut off when a black portal appeared a ways behind him and Hunter materialised surprising all present.. The dark haired teen looked around as though he was confused.
"Be this some dream I wake from? Am I in Dwarven lands? Why seem their roads so empty?" he asked of no one in particular.
Naruto was more confused than ever "Dwarven? What?"
That was when Hunter noticed them. "You! Serve you at the temple of Dumat? Bring me hence! I must speak with the first acolyte."
"Pervy Sage, what's he talking about?"
"How should I know?"
"You look human." continued Hunter "Are you not citizens of the Empire? Slaves then, to the Dwarves? Why come you here? Whoever you be, you owe fealty to any Magister of Tevinter! On your knees! All of you!"
Everyone just stared at him for a moment, then he broke the silence "Sorry. I thought this was Shakespeare in the park."
Naruto and Jiriya fell over backwards while Shizune just blinked a few times.
Kabuto threw a Kunai at him but it harmlessly bounced off Hunters head.
"Ow! Tis this a dagger I see before me?"
"Well well. This is a surprise." said Orochimaru, as creepy as ever. "I didn't expect to find you here. Hunter. Especially not after failing to save Sarutobi."
Hunter just gave a bestial growl in response.
"Hm hmhm" the Snake Sanin gave a sly chuckle. "Kabuto."
The spy nodded and bit his own thumb, drawing blood. Then He took hold of Orochimaru's useless left arm and pulled back his sleeve revealing some kind of tattoo on the man's forearm. He smeared a line of blood over the tattoo and called out "Summoning justsu!"
There was a huge puff of smoke and two monster sized brown snakes appered.
Hunter heard another yell of "Summoning jutsu!" from behind him and turned to see a small puff of smoke appeared before Jiriya. When it cleared it revelled...a small orange frog.
"What's up?" it said in a cocky voice.
"What the!? Why are you here?! Where the hells your father!?" yelled Jiriya.
"Hey, hey. Long time no see." said the toad, apparently oblivious to Jiriya and Naruto's reactions.
"Well well, Jiriya. Still playing the fool I see." taunted Orochimaru "You always were ridiculous but this time you've outdone yourself. Clearly our Tsunade has gotten to you somehow."
"Your jutsu did require a sacrifice." suggested Kabuto. "Perhaps she was thinking ahead. Drugging him somehow to suppress his power."
"To think she would make a sacrifice of Jiriya. Well, just as ruthless as ever aren't you Tsunade."
'Well how do ya like that' thought Jiriya 'he's already spotted my weakness.'
"Hmhmhm. You're as big a disgrace as the day we met."
Having had enough of Orochimaru, Naruto decided now was the time to act. Quickly he bit his thumb and began his own "Summoning Justu!" There was a small puff of smoke that parted to reveal...a small yellow toad.
"What? What happened!? Where the heck did I go wrong!?" yelled Naruto.
"Hi everybody." said the toad in a easygoing, slightly dumb voice. "Hey friend. How are ya?"
The orange toad looked over at the yellow one "Hey. Gamatatsu. Why did you pop out? Where's the old man?"
"Gamakichi, what's goin' on. This is the first time anyone's ever summoned me. I'm finally gettin' a chance to shine."
Gamakichi was not impressed. "You dummy! Get some munchies and find a place to hide, will ya."
This did not have the desired affect "Wait, they got snacks here. Gee wiz this is the coolest."
Hunter face palmed three times, then he just pinched the bridge of his nose "Un. Be. Leavable."
That was when Orochimaru and Kabuto attacked, the two massive snakes launching themselves at the leaf ninjas.
"Jiriya is mine, the rest are yours to play with!" said Orochimaru.
"Too bad. I was hoping to test my metal, against one of the sanin!"
Hunter launched himself into the air, slamming into the snake Kabuto was riding. The Sound Spy jumped off before Hunter could catch him but he did manage to get his hooks into the snakes mouth. sitting atop the reptiles head he used the chain like reigns and redirected the snake away from the others. They still had to avoid the other snake that slammed into the ground, throwing up a huge cloud of dust and rocks.
Kabuto went after Shizune and Tsunade while Naruto ended up being swallowed by the snake. Fortunately Jiriya was able to stop the thing by creating a small swamp in which the snake became trapped. Soon after Naruto crawled out of the things mouth, but it did manage to use its body to smack him into a large boulder.
Looking down Hunter could see that Kabuto had incapacitated Shizune and was now attacking the helpless Tsunade.
"I am going to rip him apart! RaarGHHHH!" Hunter's mouth split and he began to glow with a black aura. He pulled on the chains again, brutally twisting them and snapping the snakes neck. It promptly vanished in a plume of smoke and Hunter fell, crashing into the ground.
Kabuto was about to punch Tsunade again, but suddenly Naruto appeared in his way and his punch instead hit the blondes forehead protector.
"You-Huh?" Kabuto noticed the ground next to him bulge. It was all the warning he got. Hunter suddenly burst up out of the dirt, claws first, coming straight for him. The spy was just fast enough to get out of the way.
Hunter stood where he was for a moment, clenching and unclenching his claws, then he started muttering, "Calm blue ocean. Calm blue ocean." Slowly his hands changed back to normal and his chains disappeared in a puff of black smoke. "Ok, I'm calm. But I'm still gunna kick your ass."
He looked over at Naruto, raised his hand and said "Cure." A ring of green ethereal flowers appeared above Naruto's head for a second, then vanished. When they did all his wounds were healed and he felt like he'd just eaten a Food Pill.
"Huh? What did you do?" asked Naruto.
"Healing Spell. And you'd better be grateful. That used up all my magic. I can't do anymore until I recharge."
"What!?" yelled Naruto. "You could have just stopped time and-"
"Oh shut it! Wisdom is easy with hindsight."
That was when Kabuto butted in "If you two are quite done. This won't be like last time Hunter. I'm not running."
"Your funeral. Ok Naruto, here's what we'll do." That's when Naruto ran past him to engage the enemy. "Hey! Oh well. That was the plan anyway." Hunter ran after him.
Naruto conjured up another Rasengan ball as he ran, planning to finish off Kabuto quickly but the Sound spy had other ideas. He dodged Naruto's attack with ease and used his own chakra scalpel jutsu to sever some of the boys leg muscles, crippling him. That just left Hunter.
'Blast it! I can't Move!' realised Naruto from where he knelt on the ground. 'If he uses that attack on my arms I won't be able to use the Rasengan!'
Kabuto dodged on of Hunter's punches and touched his arm with the scalpel. He was surprised when Hunter used the same arm to grab him and toss him several feet away.
"How...why didn't that work?" asked Kabuto as he got back up.
"Tell you a little secret. I've got no muscles or internal organs. That energy blade is useless against me, Specs."
Kabuto's eyes flicked up, then he looked back at Hunter and smiled. "Alright, let's see if this works." He threw a single tagged kunai at Hunter who having learned from the past batted the thing away.
"Ha!" then he saw that Kabuto was still smiling. He looked up and saw another tagged kunai in the rock just above him. It exploded, breaking off part of the boulder which fell down towards him.
"Oh bugg-"
SMASSH!
Kabuto smiled to himself. Naruto and Hunter were down. Now he could finish off Tsunade and...Naruto was standing again and once more he was between him and Tsunade.
"You just don't know when to quit, do you."
"I said I wouldn't run away and I won't. I never go back on my word." said Naruto.
"Little kids think life is so easy. That's why they go on about their dreams. Why they never give up." He drew a kunai out of his pocket.
"Naruto! Get out of here!" yelled Tsunade but Naruto stayed put. He made one hand sign and made a single shadow clone next to him.
Kabuto rushed forwards "You've just thrown it all away! Dreams don't come true when you're dead!"
"Just get out of the way Naruto!"
"Get ready to pay up on that debt. Your cursed necklace is about to be mine!"
Just as he was about to stab Naruto the boy reached up and grabbed his hand, cutting himself on the kunai in the process. Kabuto tried to pull back but Naruto wouldn't let go.
Over by the fallen boulder the top half of Hunter's body popped out of the ground. "Pfft! What's happening? What'd I miss?" he asked after spitting out some dirt.
"Until I become Hokage. I don't care what happens, I'm not gunna die! Ok, let's see you dodge me this time!"
Naruto's clone began collecting and compressing chakra in the originals free hand.
"Another Rasengan?" wondered Hunter. "No. This one's better. More stable. I'll be dammed. The kid actually did it."
Naruto rammed the blue ball directly into Kabuto's stomach and held it there. The ball expanded and grew, then it shot forwards, pushing Kabuto along in front until he was smashed into a large rock several meters away. Amazingly Kabuto was still standing, his shirt had been ripped and he had a large burned crater in the flesh of his belly, but he was still breathing. Naruto took a few heavy breaths, then he fell backwards.
Hunter focused in on the boy's body. 'I see. Kabuto must have touched him with the energy blade. He's got a lot of internal damage around his heart. And I still don't have my magic back yet.'
Fortunately for Naruto Tsunade finally pulled herself together enough to get up and rush over to his side.
"You, how are you even still standing?" she asked.
Kabuto gave a dry chuckle "I focused my chakra at the point of impact. Before he'd even hit me I was healing." as he spoke his injures healed themselves without leaving so much as a scar. "Now you see why Lord Orochimaru values me. Not just for my jutsu, but for my resilience. No matter how great the injure I can repair and reenergise any damaged cells."
"That sounds like a challenge to me!" yelled Hunter as he pulled himself up out of the ground. "Nice move by the way. I didn't see that coming."
'Dam it, he's recovered! I didn't think he'd dig himself out so soon' thought Kabuto. He looked over at Tsunade and Naruto. 'I'll have to finish this qu-'
"Arrgh!" Kabuto let out a cry of pain then he dropped to the ground.
"So, couldn't heal all your injuries could you." said Hunter. He ran over to Tsunade and Naruto, the medic nin had already opened Naruto's jacket and sliced through his shirt and now had her green chakra covered hands over his chest.
"How's he doing?"
"Not good. The muscles around his heart have been torn to shreds." answered Tsunade.
"Give me thirty seconds and I can do another healing spell."
"He doesn't have thirty seconds!"
"He's finished!" yelled Kabuto from where he lay. "I cut off his heart from his chakra system. Even the demon can't save him now!"
Naruto stopped breathing.
"Don't die." said Tsunade, who was barely holding back tears. "Don't die."
"He won't." insisted Hunter.
Seconds passed that may as well have been years. Then Naruto's hand reached up and gently took hold of Tsunade's necklace.
"Hey...don't forget...our bet." he just managed to say. "Told ya...I'd win." then he fell unconscious.
"He's...still alive." Kabuto couldn't believe it.
"Told ya." said Hunter, who got up and took a few steps towards Kabuto. "Luck, man. It protects children, fools and ships named Enterprise. Naruto's got two out of three so he's not going to croak any time soon."
Kabuto gritted his teeth in rage, then he spotted something out of the corner of his eye that made him smile. "Actually his luck just ran out!"
Hunter sensed it before he saw it. Orochimaru flew horizontally past him, a blade protruding from his mouth. There was a loud and horrible shhick as it struck...Tsunade. She'd gotten in the way, and been impaled through the chest.
Orochimaru withdrew and the blade retracted back into his throat. "Tsunade. You are the one person I wouldn't want to kill. Listen to me. If that brat is allowed to live, it will mean more trouble than you or your friends can ever imagine. Stay out of my way."
"No. You listen to me." Tsunade's voice was trembling slightly as she spoke. "If I do nothing else I will protect this boy."
"And how do you plan to do that, your body is shivering like a leaf in the wind. Besides, why would you, one of the sanin, risk your life to save a lowly genin."
Tsunade coughed up some blood. "By saving him. I'm saving my home. The Village Hidden in the Leaves."
That wiped the smirk of Orochimaru's face. "You really think you're protecting the village."
Hunter hadn't said a word, he was far to enraptured by something going on inside Tsunade's Heart.
"You see, this boy. This lowly little genin. Has been chosen by fate to be Hokage someday."
That made the Snake laugh. "What nonsense. Even if it is true, who cares about the Hokage! Only a fool would want that job."
Tsunade was quiet for a few seconds, then she shakily got to her feet. "From now on. I'm gambling everything to. I'm putting my life on the line."
"Well, if you're willing to throw your life away for one insignificant brat, I'm happy to accommodate you!" Orochimaru's blade shot back out of his mouth as he swung his whole body to strike at Tsunade. The blade was just inches from her when someone caught it. Orochimaru's eyes widened in surprise and then he saw Hunter standing right next to him.
"I don't get it." said the teen. "You. You're not the same Tsunade I met a week ago. How can you have-" that's when he remembered.
"What do you want with Naruto?"
"Figure it out."
"I see. That's why."
"Why what?" demanded Orochimaru, even though he was in no real position to demand anything.
"You wouldn't get it. Your Heart is weak. You'd make a great Nobody. But you'd be a poor Heartless."
"What does any of that even mean!?"
"It means you're porked. And Tsunade here is about to kick the crap out of you."
Orochimaru smiled around the sword in his mouth "Ha, how is she going to do that!? She can't even stop trembling. She's too afraid of blood."
Now it was Hunter's turn to smile "Three...two..." Tsunade stopped trembling. "One." Quick as a flash she punched Orochimaru square in the jaw. At the same time Hunter let go of his sword and the sanin went flying.
"Took you long enough." said Hunter.
Tsunade gave a dismissive 'humph' as her answer.
"You need healing?" he asked.
"No. I think I'll rely on my own healing jutsu." The small diamond shaped mark on Tsunade's head came apart, becoming irregular lines that snaked across her forehead.
"No, Lady Tsunade!" Yelled Shizune "Let me treat your wounds! Don't break the seal!"
She didn't listen, she made a simple hand sign, then a thin red aura covered her body for a second, then the lines on her head faded. And all her wounds healed.
"It seems I'm not the only person who's been spending time discovering new jutsu. This one's very impressive. How's it done?" asked Orochimaru.
"My chakra. For years for years I've stored it up in a space behind my forehead. Saving it for just such an occasion. With this chakra reservoir my bodies ability to create new cells is accelerated. The cells divide rapidly, spreading throughout my body and regenerating any damaged organs. It's like having the ability to reincarnate myself. You see you can slash away at me all you want, but I can't be killed."
'What she doesn't say is that a person, any person, even her can only generate new cells a limited number of times' thought Shizune. 'If you speed that up, you shorten your life.'
Tsunade drew a line of blood on her forearm.
'That can only mean one thing' thought Kabuto "Lord Orochimaru!"
The snake sanin jumped over to his fallen minion who also drew a line of blood on his masters arm.
Further away Jiriya bit his thumb and performed a similar action.
They slammed their palms into the ground and all cried out "Summoning Jutsu!"
One giant puff of smoke later and Hunter found himself standing on top of , of all things, a giant white and blue slug along with Tsunade and the still unconscious Naruto. To their right was Jiriya, who'd summoned some kind of giant jacket wearing, pipe smoking toad. And of course there was Orochimaru's summon. A huge purple snake.
"Where are the Power Rangers when you really need them." muttered Hunter.
"How ya doin' daddy!" yelled the small yellow toad from where it was down on the ground along with the pig Tonton and Gamakichi.
The giant snake turned one of its eyes on the trio.
"Ut oh, he's looking right at us." said the orange toad "Hey Gamatatsu, time to skedaddle!"
"But it's just getting exciting."
"SHUT UP AND RUN!"
The massive toad led out a puff of smoke. "Manda and Orochimaru. Tsunade and Katsuyu. All the old faces together again. Did you bring a hanky Jiriya, I think I'm going to cry."
The Toad Sage smiled slightly "You old fool. I didn't summon you here after all this time just to listen to your stupid jokes." He looked out at Orochimaru "This rivalry's gone on long enough, time to end it. Today, I'm putting Orochimaru out of our misery. Once and for all."
"Well Orochimaru. Why did you drag me here? You know I don't like being summoned." said the giant snake, menacingly. "Maybe I should just eat you and be done with it."
"No! Please don't talk that way Lord Manda." begged Kabuto "You'll be well rewarded for your trouble, don't worry."
Manda was not placated in the slightest by this "Who do you think you're talking to you little bug?! What would the like of you have that I could possibly want!? Bah!" Kabuto had no answer for him. "So Orochimaru, when this is over I'll expect a hundred human sacrifices."
"Katsuyu. See to the boy. Take him to Shizune at once." said Tsunade.
"Yes My Lady. At once." surprisingly the slug had a very soft feminine voice. A smaller version of the massive slug grew up from its own skin underneath Naruto, then it carried him away.
The giant toad, Gamabunta, blew a stream of smoke at the snake.
"I'm going to pop you like a balloon you dirty stinkin' toad!"
"Just try it. I've always wanted a snake skin wallet."
"This thing is a snake?!" Everyone looked down at Hunter, who'd somehow gotten from on top of Katsuyu to the tip of Manda's tail without anyone noticing. "I thought it was a giant flat headed earthworm."
The snake moved its body so it was facing Hunter. "What did you call me!?"
"Oh, so snakes do have ears after all. I called you an earthworm you legless geko!"
"Why you insolent little...!" Manda lifted his tail and brought it smashing down on Hunter, but when he lifted his tail there was no body underneath.
"What?"
That's when they heard it "OH! Earth Worm Jim! We think he's might fine!" Hunter was standing on the underside of Manda's tail. And he was singing. The giant snake tried to crush him again by slamming his tail into a rock, but Hunter vanished just before impact.
He reappeared on the ground to Manda's left "Earth Worm Jim! A hero for all time!"
"SHUT UP!" Roared the snake.
"No Manda you fool. He's baiting you!" warned Orochimaru but his words fell on deaf ears.
Manda surged forwards intending to swallow Hunter whole but every time he got close Hunter back flipped away, all the while singing "Earth Worm! Earth Worm! EARTH WORM!" Then he stopped running away and jumped up onto Manda's head, passing Orochimaru and Kabuto and jumping off one of Manda's horns. "Hor! Ray! For! JIM!" then he landed on the ground between the three Sanin and their summons.
"Ha! Did you summon me here to fight Jiriya, or to watch a comedy show?" joked Gamabunta.
"Play time's over." said Hunter as he let a summon charm drop out of his sleeve. "Time to bring out the big guns."
The charm began to glow brightly and then it began to transform, becoming larger and larger.
"Oh, I know what this is! Prepare to be smashed by God-"
The summons stopped growing and glowing. Hunter looked down, eyes wide "...Zilla!?"
Hunter was standing on top of a huge two legged lizard, with two long arms, a long tail and blue sail like spines running the length of its back.
"AH! I tried to summon the King and instead I got the Joker!"
"That's not what you were trying to summon?" asked Jiriya.
"No you old coot! I was trying to summon Godzilla, the monster king. Instead I got a box nosed. Flat headed. Chicken legged. No-atomic-breath-having. French-Polynesian. WATER IGUANA!" Zilla flinched backwards with every yell.
"That's enough!" Manda seized the opportunity to attack, striking out against Zilla and Hunter. His massive jaws opened wide and bit down on...thin air.
Zilla was now standing right behind Manda.
"Wow. You're fast." admitted Hunter.
Zillar ran forward, avoiding another bite from Manda by power sliding underneath his head. Then he jumped up onto Manda's back, and bite down on the space behind the snakes head. Manda let out a roar of rage, then fell backwards in an attempt to crush the other lizard but Zilla let go at the last moment and rolled away to the side.
The massive snake let out a grunt of annoyance, then it shot off to the left to go after the slug. Manda may have been a giant but he was as fast a lightning. In moments he'd wrapped his body around Katsuyu and began crushing her.
Gamabunta tried to stab Manda's head with a massive, thin bladed knife but the snake avoided it and then bite down on the blade, holding it in place. That's when Zilla attacked, it took a running start at Manda then it leapt into the air, spinning round and round like a demented Catherin wheel aimed at Manda's head.
The snake twisted, releasing Katsuyu, pulling the sword away from Gamabunta and avoiding Zilla. The snake then came at Zilla, trying to slice him apart with the blade. Zilla's spines began to glow, then he opened his mouth and a jet or blue flame blasted Manda right off the ground. The snake let go of the sword, which flew up into the air, where it was caught by Gamabunta who immediately rammed the blade down through Manda's mouth, pinning the snake to the ground.
"So you do have atomic breath after all?" said Hunter.
Zilla gave a roar of approval in response.
The battle wasn't over yet though. Orochimaru saw his chance and sent his long tongue out, wrapping it around Tsunade's neck even though she was all the way up on top of Katsuyu.
'Ha. You say you can't be killed in battle. But what happens If I strangle the life out of you as fast as you can regenerate it?'
Tsunade's strength was fading fast but somehow she managed to get her arm up under Orochimaru's tongue and get it off her neck. Then she pulled as hard as she could. The snake sanin was lifted off his feet straight towards Tsunade who punched him in the face with all her might. He was sent rocketing back towards the ground but he managed to do a mid air recovery and landed on his feet.
"Oh no you don't!" Tsunade jumped down after him. but before she could get to him Hunter teleporting in his path.
"Time for my greatest taijutsu move." he announced. "The Boreal Attack!" He body flickered away, then reappeared behind Orochimaru, punching him in the ribs. "Multiple!" he vanished again, then hit the snake in the face "Simultaneous!" this time he kicked the side of his knee, breaking his leg "And devastating!" elbow to the back of the head "Defensive!" punch to the face "Deep Strikes!"
Orochimaru staggered backwards.
'Time to end this!'
"There is no time to be lost! Battle Brothars!" Hunter gave him a right hook to the face.
"Todeh we are in SPESS!" left hook to the face.
"We die heroes deffs!" three punches to the gut.
"But we shall not die, no!" several punches and a kick.
"It is the enemy who will tehste deff-" Hunter jumped off the ground, spun in the air "- and da feet!" and smashed his foot into Orochimaru's face with all his strength. The snake man was sent flying back and slammed into the side of Manda.
"Lord Orochimaru!" Kabuto jumped down to aide his fallen lord.
Hunter just stood where he was, then he proclaimed "I am a SPESS MAHREN! I AM THE EMPRA'S FUREH!" A background slide appeared showing a power armoured bald eagle haloed by light behind him and two space marines on either side holding massive chapter banners.
Despite themselves Jiriaya and Tsunade both sweat dropped.
"Orochimaru. I'd eat you right now. But thanks to this hole in my mouth, I won't be eating solid food for at least a week." grunted Manda. "If we ever meet again. Well, just hope that we don't!" then he vanished in a puff of smoke.
"It's over." breathed Tsunade.
"Don't count on it." muttered Hunter, who was looking balefully at the smoke. She followed his gaze and saw that, amazingly (or horrifyingly) Orochimaru was standing, although he was slumped over and breathing heavily.
"So then Tsunade. I take it this means that you refuse to heal my arms? No matter. I still have one other option."
Hunter gritted his teeth. "He's gunna swap bodies again."
"Swap bodies!?" Tsunade looked disgusted.
Jiriya was equally nauseated 'I thought there was something different about him.'
"I hope we all met again soon...my friends." rasped the Snake Man as he slowly sank into the ground and vanished.
"We'll met again." said Kabuto smugly. He made one hand sign , then he vanished in a puff of smoke.
"I hate that guy." said Hunter. He looked up at the giant lizard standing behind him "But I'm starting to like you. Good job out there."
Zilla gave a quiet growl of thanks, then he began to glow and shrink back into a charm that flew down into Hunter's waiting hand.
"Three out of four now. I wonder who the last one will be?"
"Thanks for your help." said Jiriya, who jumped down to ground level now. "But I'm afraid this doesn't change anything. You're still a wanted criminal in the Leaf."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." said Hunter as he started walking away.
"Wait!" Tsunade called after him. "Before, you said that you understood now. Understood what?"
Hunter didn't answer.
"Enough secrets." said Jiriya. "Whatever you're doing here I can tell it has something to do with Naruto and I demand to know what it is!"
"Naruto's going to be fine." Hunter turned to face them all. "Soon I'll complete my mission and leave. You'll all wonder about me for a while, then you'll start to forget. I'll be a funny story you tell from time to time. A bed time story for your kids and grand kids. And I'm sorry about before." he drew a line down his face with his finger where Tsunade had cracked his armour. "You weren't supposed to see that."
"Just what are you?" asked Shizune. "And tell us the truth this time. No riddles."
Hunter shrugged "Not sure entirely. My best guess is I'm an idiot who jumped into the abyss. And it swallowed me whole. Oh, now before I go." He pulled out the bingo book from his back pocket. "This entry on me is a disgrace. I want to be at least A rank. Got that! And I want all my stats listed as..." he paused for breath "OVER NINE THOUSAND!" then he vanished into a black portal, leaving everyone else blinking in confusion.
"Something tells me that one'll be trouble in the future." said Jiriya. "We're going to have to keep a closer eye on Naruto from now on."
Miles away. On the road back to the Leaf.
"Today was good." said Hunter to himself was he walked down the dirt path. "Now I've figured out what Thorn's after it just a matter of time before I take him down. And then...home. Yep, things are going my way."
There was a puff of smoke in front of him and Yugito and Bee appeared.
"Oh snap."
"We finally caught up with you." said Yugito.
"You've lead us all across this land. But the game is up, your end is at hand! Ya fool!" rapped Bee.
"You'll pay for ruining this golden moment!" Hunter let his finally summon charm drop into his hand. "I can feel it. This is my most powerful summon yet! You're in for a world of hurt!"
Somewhere close by.
"Target acquired." said the leader of the Star ninjas. As one they jumped down from the trees to face Hunter. "We've got you this time!"
Hunter turned to face them but he said nothing.
"You'll pay for humiliating us Hunter!" said another ninja "We're going to drag you all the way back to Hoshigakure if we have to!"
Something stepped out from behind him. It had a vague appearance of a woman but it was also defiantly not human.
"What the? What on earth is that?"
The Dancer Nobody took a step forward so she was now next to Thorn.
"Don't risk yourself." he said plainly "I'll deal with them." The Dancer seemed to hesitate for a moment, then it moved away. "This conversation isn't over. I'm still angry at you. For fighting Hunter." then the Dancer vanished into a black portal.
"But you are Hunter. Aren't you?" asked a ninja.
"I am Thorn. And I am not please with your. Interruption." He pulled a card out of his pocket and examined it carefully. "Ironic. Indeed." he placed the card on the ground and it began to glow, forming a digital outline of something big. Slowly the details were filled in. The black trench coat. The yellow mottled skin pulled back over skinless lips.
The Star ninjas stepped back in horror as the beast finished forming.
"Data Nemesis. Exterminate." ordered Thorn.
The replica monster began to implacably walk towards the ninjas. Some of them, threw kunai at it but it didn't seem to notice or care. It just kept coming. Then it spoke in a gurgling, distorted voice.
"Starssss."
So the massive summon is...Zilla. I did originally want to go with Godzilla but I though he's just too powerful. I needed something that could fight Manda but wasn't actually stronger than him. So I picked Zilla.
Next episode will include the Final Summon Charm, a mass ninja brawl, a dark deal goes down and Yugito and Bee find out what happens when you push Hunter too far.
TTFN
