Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine, though once I develop my sinister dark powers, it could be...or not. Lawsuit Barrier no jutsu!

Just got back from Fanime in San Jose. I was the guy with the long hair and the black trenchcoat wearing a whole crapload of headbands (Sand, Mist, Rain, Sound, Cloud, Grass, etc.) Maybe some of you saw me there. Gimme a shout-out if you saw me, Tell me who you were too.

LittleShadow1: I agree about Shikamaru. It was hard having him get beaten up. It's almost like beating the crap out of a part of myself.

Only Secret: Nhaki will be unmasked during Chapter 22 or thereabouts.

TVO: Naruto is good, I won't give away the fight, but rest assured that neither combatant is going down without a fight.

Animus the Blade: Welcome, welcome! Glad to have another enthusiastic reader. Your name has given me an idea, that it has.

a: Such a concise, cutting review. I suck. Thanks for pointing it out, old chap. I already know I suck. Thou dost not need to tell me.

Scary Scary Melokudan: (Nyurr licks your face) Mwahahahahaha!

anonymous-mantis, I mean…Warfles (Laughs insanely): I'm glad you think the OC's are well rounded. Your new name reminds me of waffles. I could really go for some waffles. I try to eventually give every character an interesting backstory.

Hisoka316 and KunoichiDreamer: Welcome, welcome to you two. Enjoy the story, eh? Been meaning to read you two's stories for a while, eh?

Don't worry; I'm spending more time on this than on some of the previous chapters.

I apologize for the delay on this chapter, but I had so much work.

Good news though, this chapter is now much longer because of the delay. While I waited, I had several flashes of inspiration.

I would say that an appropriate song to listen to during this chapter would be The Devil's Cry from Devil May Cry 3. I just think the song fits a duel in the rain.

Chapter 19: Duel in the Rain: Naruto vs. Edo

The rain pattered down, soaking everyone in the arena within seconds. Naruto's hair was plastered down as rainwater ran into his eyes. His jacket became so sodden it stuck to him.

He didn't notice any of it. His eyes were fixed on Nekoarashi Edo.

"You know," Edo began, his voice barely carrying over the storm. "In my father's clan, a storm is considered the perfect battle weather."

Edo lowered his head, staring at Naruto through his mask. His black and blond hair blew to one side as a gust of wind caught it. The temperature of the air dropped as his breath plumed out.

"Strange, how fast everything you know can change."

Edo held up one of his nekode claws and examined it, watching the rain run down the blades.

Naruto interrupted his reverie. "You like the sound of your own voice, don't you?"

The former Cloud-nin simply crossed his claws before him. "Come on, then."

Naruto needed no second bidding.

CLANG!

Naruto and Edo stood at the center of the arena, their faces inches from one another. Naruto had intercepted one of his opponent's claws with a kunai, and the two strained against one another. Unfortunately, Edo had two claws. He brought his left around in a quick hooking motion. Naruto quickly ducked, disengaging his kunai.

"Heh," Edo grunted.

Naruto bulled forward, attempting to catch his opponent off guard, but Edo had already sidestepped. Edo kicked the Leaf-nin in the side, sending him flying away.

"A predictable defense and counterstrike," he called as his opponent pulled himself to his feet. "You shouldn't always take the obvious action. Look for something unconventional."

Edo ran swiftly towards Naruto. He jabbed and twisted, claws slicing through air and scraping against metal. Naruto found himself completely on the defensive. He blocked a spinning strike from Edo, then attempted his own strike, which was blocked.

Naruto smiled, shifting his weight. Edo was caught off-guard and took Naruto's elbow straight to the gut. All the breath whooshed out of the older ninja as he staggered back.

"Excellent," he admitted. Naruto grinned widely.

Edo moved back in, his claws slashing diagonally downward and his feet moving in a strange circular dance.

"Tsumetaki (Claw Waterfall)!"

Konoha's champion hopped backwards quickly, trying to ward off the strange flowing series of attacks. The claws seemed to be able to come from nearly any direction. Naruto brought up his kunai to meet the attack and was forced backwards. Rolling with the force of the strike, Edo went into the air, foot held high.

"I wouldn't recommend that," Naruto breathed, forming several seals."Hari Jizou (Underworld Guardian Spikes)!"

Naruto's hair bristled and lengthened, transforming into what looked like a spiked hooded jacket. Though Naruto did not have as much hair as Jiraiya, this technique was still effective.

Edo's foot came down, impaling itself on the hair. Edo let out gasp of pain, then shoved with his foot, sending him and Naruto in opposite directions. The masked shinobi kneeled down to examine his foot.

"Ow," he said with a shrug.

Naruto brought his hands together. "Kage bunshin no jutsu!"

Edo glanced up. "Hmmm?"

Sixty pairs of eyes stared back at him.

He stood up, brushing back his hair. Edo brought his hands together.

"Kozui bunshin no jutsu (Flood Clone)!"

Now, instead of one Edo, there were twenty.

In the stands, Kakashi's eyebrow raised.

"Flood clones? That's an advanced technique."

Hinata, who had returned to her seat, looked quizzically at him.

"Kozui bunshin no jutsu is a technique similar to Mizu bunshin or Kage bunshin. However, the clones require a much larger source of water and are denser than Mizu bunshins. Therefore, they can usually take more than one hit before being destroyed."

The twenty Edos advanced on their more numerous opponents. The Narutos grinned widely. They had the advantage of numbers.

Of course, the situation quickly degraded into chaos. A pitched battle occurred on the floor of the rainswept coliseum. Naruto and his clones fought in the manner they were most used to. That being, of course, charging straight in at an opponent with little or no thought for tactics. Some of the Edo's exploited this, while others jumped recklessly to battle.

One Edo found himself facing five Narutos, who tackled him, gripping his limbs and holding him down long enough for the last to strike a telling blow. Another group of Naruto's clones had clustered around one of the stone pillars for safety, but failed to notice three of Edo's clones who clung to the top like cats. Several Edos ducked and dodged through the crowd, their claws cutting and slashing. White bunshin clouds burst in their wake. They continued slashing until they themselves were cut down, reverting back to water and collapsing.

The battle continued until there were only three Narutos left. His bunshins gone, Edo crouched on a wall, preparing to attack the three. Edo nodded. The Narutos seemed off balance. The rain and shadowy black clouds gave him the perfect cover.

Edo kicked off the wall, claws first.

"It's over."

The three Narutos smiled.

"Maybe," they answered, turning around. Edo realized his mistake as he saw the swirling orb of chakra and air clutched in each clone's right hand.

Edo brought his arms together; there was time for only one move.

"Suihenge no jutsu (Water Transformation)!"

The three Rasengans spattered Edo across the arena. Liquid ran along the Narutos' arms and onto the ground, where it began pooling.

What the hell? Water? Naruto thought. A bunshin?

The water continued pooling at his feet.

Wait, that technique...CRAP! Naruto leapt up into the air.

His clones were not so lucky. The puddle at their feet rose up and transformed into Nekoarashi Edo, with clawed arms extended. Each clone was impaled through the chest before vanishing.

Edo breathed hard, head lowered. Though he looked unaffected by Naruto's attack, clearly it had hurt him. He clapped his hands together slowly a few times.

"Very nice. That was a close one. Even using my Suihenge technique, you still managed to hurt me."

"What kind of technique is that anyway?"

"Suihenge allows my body to become fluid like water. For a short time, injuring me is next to impossible. Attacks leave no lasting mark, but I still suffer pain and chakra loss, so it's a double-edged sword."

Edo raised his head and popped his neck. "I haven't taken you seriously enough. I suppose I'll start using more of my abilities."

Naruto just glared back.

"Who knows? If you keep impressing me like this, I might show you my mother's bloodline."

"Shut up and fight!"

Edo ducked down to one side, raising a claw to block Naruto's kunai strike. "Now, let's not be hasty. It's been a while since I've had so many good fights. The sense of danger makes it all the more exciting." Edo took a deep, shuddering breath.

"And you seemed so reluctant to fight before," Naruto said dryly.

Edo shrugged. "I'm not that consistent. My mood can change rather quickly." He lunged forward, head butting the Leaf-nin in the chest, and then following up with a spinning back kick. Naruto skidded along the rain-slicked ground and crashed into a stone pillar, which crumbled on top of him. He struggled upright.

"Looks like you're feeling the hits too."

"Don't underestimate me, pal," Naruto said. He charged straight for his opponent.

Edo lowered his stance. "I'll try."

Naruto dove straight at Edo, a kunai poised for a thrust.

"Too slow!"

Edo brought both claws forward, catching Naruto in the gut.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata gasped, horrified.

Neji smiled and shook his head in disbelief. He knew what Naruto was doing.

Naruto, impaled on Edo's claws, smirked and vanished. Edo started violently, and then looked down as he heard a cracking sound from below. The ground below Edo's face cracked and split, as an orange and black blur erupted forth. Edo took Naruto's double attack in the stomach and face, flying backwards.

Impossible! I didn't...notice? He must have done it while under the rubble. Such concentration...

Edo lay on his back, coughing softly. He sat up, raising a hand to his mask, which now had a huge crack running down the middle. The ninja removed the mask and shook his head. A trickle of blood could be seen running down his face and into his goatee, before the rain washed it away. Edo rose to one knee.

"You owe me a new mask," he said matter-of-factly. Edo placed the broken cat mask in a pouch.

Naruto just wiped the blood from his hands and smiled. "Heh."

Raising his arms above his head, Edo began forming seals. He closed his eyes and smiled as his hands began to glow with chakra.

Naruto ran forwards. "Not this time!"

Edo opened his green eyes and smiled.

"Suiton Idou no jutsu (Water Element Shift)," he drawled lazily, driving his claws down into the earth. The ground around him seemed to shimmer.

Naruto, very suddenly lost his footing, plunging into a small lake that had not been there seconds earlier. He floated underwater, slightly bemused.

Kakashi's visible eye widened. "I've never seen that technique before, and that's saying something."

Edo stroked his chin, bringing his other hand before his face. He looked down at the now watery arena.

"You've got guts, kid."

Edo began forming one-handed seals, mist rising around him.

"And for that, I will show you the strength of my mother's blood."

He completed his seals and then kneeled down, dipping one finger in the water. Edo nodded.

"Hijutsu: Kacchuu no Yari (Hidden Technique: Frozen Spear)!"

At once, a large pillar of ice erupted out of the flooded arena.

In the stands, Nhaki was breathing heavily.

"Ice. Just like...him," the Sound-nin muttered.

"Whom are you talking about, exactly?" Kabuto asked him politely.

"Someone I met a long time ago."

"Looks like I missed," Edo muttered as he continued forming seals. Another pillar of ice jutted from the water, then another a few seconds later in a different place.

Under the water, Naruto was trying to desperately avoid the stabbing ice. His mind raced as he attempted to formulate a plan. As another pillar began to form, Naruto made a bold move. He grabbed onto the pillar and began to run up it as it grew. As soon as Naruto's head cleared the water, he started performing a technique.

"Katon: Karyuu Endan!" Naruto exhaled a huge plume of flickering flame in the shape of a dragon. Edo glanced up, then dove beneath the water just as the flames struck. Steam plumed outward, obscuring the area.

Naruto pulled himself farther up the pillar, then jumped to the water's surface, balancing carefully. The steam cleared, revealing Edo standing upright. The ex Cloud-nin kneeled down, holding one arm out to each side. Two spheres of water rose around his hands, then began to lengthen and harden.

"Hijutsu: Huyukama (Hidden Technique: Winter Scythe)!"

The water formed into a pair of icy scythes, which Edo clutched in his hands. With a casual flick of his wrists, he sent the scythes spinning into the air. He brushed his hair back, uncovering a small black seal on his temple. Driving his arms forward, he directed the scythes to fly at Naruto, who twisted wildly in midair to avoid them. The flying blades skimmed the water, then hovered in place.

Edo began forming seals with his free hand. "We were known as Ice Shapers, who specialized in water and ice manipulation and could even control water using single-hand seals." Edo swept a foot through the water below, kicking up a small wave of water. With a few more seals, the water formed into stabbing blades that darted towards Naruto. Naruto leapt backwards, desparately dodging the stabbing ice.

"Damn!" Naruto cursed, hearing a whirring noise from behind him. He flung himself beneath the roiling surface of the 'lake'. Kicking his legs, he made some distance between himself and his opponent. He dug a kunai into a pillar and pulled himself out of the water. He leaned back against the pillar, shivering slightly in the cold rain. Edo's voice came to Naruto's ears.

"Ninpou: Kirigakure no jutsu." Thick white mist filled the arena. "Let's make things more interesting."

Naruto looked over his shoulder, then up towards the top of the ice pillar. He gave a foxlike grin.

Edo kneeled atop the water, one hand dipped beneath the surface. He opened his eyes and cocked his head. Someone was moving beneath the lake.

"Going underwater again, Naruto?" Edo shook his head. "I'd advise against it."

Edo performed a technique. "Shuurai no jutsu (Lightning Strike)!" A bolt of lightning struck down into the water, electrocuting everything beneath the surface. Edo felt the presence stop moving.

"Did I overdo it?"

"I don't think so."

Edo looked up. Naruto leapt from his hiding place atop one of the pillars and planted both feet in Edo's chest. With a shove, he knocked Edo down into the still electrified water, where he disappeared with a yelp. Naruto clutched the pillar with both arms, and stared down into the water until the electricity stopped.

"Gotcha."

"Is that a fact?" came a voice from the pillar.

Naruto's head whipped back around. He found himself staring into the upside-down face of Edo, who seemed to be suspended within the icy pillar. With a quick movement, the longhaired shinobi's leg emerged from the ice and axed downward, blasting Naruto down to the bottom of the deep pool. The breath shot out of Naruto's mouth as he struck bottom. Edo seemed to swim towards the bottom of the pillar, emerging at water level.

"You're very interesting, Naruto, but I think it's over now."

Edo began forming seals with his right hand, resting his left hand on the water.

Naruto kicked frantically for the surface.

The left hand of Edo now had black mist swirling around it.

Naruto's head and shoulders broke the surface.

Edo completed his technique.

"Hijutsu: Kurokoori (Hidden Technique: Black Ice)!"

Naruto was now trapped up to his shoulders in hideously cold black ice. He struggled vainly. Naruto glanced up as he heard measured footsteps making their way accross the frozen water. The mist, apparently dispelled by its creator, began to dissipate.

Edo stopped his advance fifteen feet away. Forming several seals, he caused a small seat made of ice to rise upward. Edo sat down, looking thoughtfully at Naruto.

"I must confess, I'm a little disappointed," Edo began. "I expected a bit more. I felt something up there that made me want to fight. Your spirit and confidence impressed me, to say the least. And your strength down in the arena, was something I wanted to see personally."

He shook his head sadly.

"Perhaps I was wrong. I thought there was something about you, but…"

"I'm just getting started," Naruto growled, struggling.

"A bluff," Edo sighed. "I sincerely doubt that you can break the ice from that position. It's no normal ice. My black ice is filled with…special chakra which makes it nearly impossible to break or melt."

Edo stood up and turned around. "It's over, Naruto."

Naruto gritted his teeth, glaring daggers at his opponent.

"Don't turn your back on me!"

Edo glanced over his shoulder, one eyebrow raised.

"Talking so big…don't talk down on me just because you have a bloodline."

Edo turned around, crossing his arms. "You're overreacting."

"You act like you know so much, but you don't really know anything about me!"

An orange aura began forming around Naruto

"You said it's over? No way, I'm not finished yet!"

Edo's eyes widened slightly as Naruto's aura increased in size, the ice engulfing him beginning to steam and crack.

In a rush of steam and flame, Naruto ripped himself from the ice. In the blink of an eye, he had crossed the distance between Edo and himself. Edo raised an arm in vain protest as Naruto's punch sent him flying away.

That speed? Is it possible? Edo thought to himself as he quickly leapt to his feet. He skated backward along the ice, forming several seals. Several icy obstacles shot up before Naruto, who disappeared, reappearing behind Edo and headbutting him into the ice. Edo recovered, then leapt towards Naruto, claws scything. Naruto dodged back and performed a technique. He opened his mouth and blasted an intense flame at Edo.

Edo shielded himself from the resulting fireball with his arms, though he was still forced back. Steaming, he reached his arms backwards and called his two icy scythes to his hands. He spun the one in his right hand.

"Take this!" he yelled as he flung the scythe at Naruto. Naruto closed his eyes and stood still. At the last instant, he raised his hands and caught the weapon, then tossed it aside. Undaunted, Edo ran in, swinging the remaining scythe expertly. Naruto ducked and dodged with inhuman speed, but was caught by a swift reversal of Edo's momentum.

Naruto raised a hand to the new cut on his cheek and rubbed the blood away. Edo's eyes widened, then narrowed as the cut healed before his eyes.

"So that's how it is…" he breathed, raising the scythe again. Edo darted forward, slashing and spinning with both scythe and claw. Naruto however, was too fast to be struck. He dodged almost instinctively. Naruto grabbed the scythe after another swing and with one quick movement knocked it away.

Edo laughed, then attempted to bull forwards. Naruto threw him back, then raised his fist and charged, an orb of chakra and air clutched within.

"Rasengan!"

Edo blocked the attack by crossing his nekode before him, but the Rasengan powered through, shattering the claws and blasting Edo through one of his own ice pillars. The black-clad man bounced across the ice, then rose, cradling one of his arms. He allowed the ruined claws to slip from his grip as he leaned down to pick up the fallen scythe, which he had landed near.

Naruto approached. "Isn't that arm broken?"

Edo looked at the limb in question. He straightened it with a sharp crack.

"Yeah, a little," Edo shook his head and began twirling the scythe again. "No big deal. I'll be fine in a minute."

"Feel up to continuing?" Naruto asked.

In answer, his opponent slammed the butt of the scythe into the ice and began forming seals. Both hands began to emit black mist.

"Hijutsu: Kurokoori (Hidden Technique: Black Ice)!"

Edo brought both hands down, slamming his palms into the ice. Naruto felt increased chakra activity below him and jumped aside just as a huge spire of black ice jutted upwards. He had evaded the initial attack, but one of several smaller pillars was able to catch him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Edo cracked his knuckles and broke into a run, scythe keening through the air.

Naruto landed catlike on all fours, glancing up quickly as his opponent approached through the rain. As Edo brought the scythe down, he sprang into action. He leapt over his head, kicking backwards as he passed over and catching Edo in the shoulder. He recovered and rushed Edo again, smacking him into the black pillar with a shot to the gut. Naruto continued punching, smashing the larger shinobi repeatedly against the ice. Naruto shot out a hand and gripped Edo by the throat, holding him against the frozen pillar.

Strangely, Nekoarashi Edo did not seem in the least perturbed by his situation.

"Excellent, excellent. I knew there was a reason I agreed to fight you," Edo smiled weakly as a trickle of blood ran down his face. "I've been looking for someone like you."

"What are you talking about?" Naruto would not loosen his grip.

"Someone who can help me. Someone who is…like me," a flash of pain ran through Edo's head and he winced.

A spasm ran across his face. He seemed frightened now, his eyes flicked back and forth. "He's coming…I'll do what I can, but…" The man's words were cut off by a loud hiss of pain. Edo twitched twice more, then calmed.

"I'll do what I can. Stop him. Don't let him hurt anyone. Please." He went silent again, then shrugged awkwardly. "Sorry for the trouble."

"What are you talking-? Who-?" Naruto began.

"As I suspected," the ex-cloud shinobi's voice growled out, in the same tone that he had used against Shikamaru. Cold black mist began to emanate from his body, and green electricity danced along his flesh. The tattoos on his arms pulsed and twitched. "I thought you seemed familiar."

"Familiar? What the hell are you talking about?"

Edo smiled, a horrible, predatory smile. His eyes were still closed. The strange symbol on his temple pulsed once more, then disappeared completely. Edo began to laugh softly.

"It's been a long time," Edo's eyes snapped open, revealing pupil-less glowing green orbs. He inclined his head towards Naruto and hissed in his ear. "Kyuubi..."

Next Chapter: The Fox and the Panther

Oh dear, this can't be a good thing.

Stay tuned, kids.

By the by, Edo's Water Shift technique is actually what first gave me the idea for Edo's character. I simply liked the thought of turning the ground into water.

Well, Haku and Edo's clan finally has a name. Mizukoru, which I believe roughly means 'Frozen Water' (Mizuwater, Koruto freeze).

Oh, and some good news, I got a major burst of inspiration recently that should make certain characters far more interesting in the future.

Cat names are still being accepted, just so you know. The deadline for name ideas is when I post chapter 21.

I am also currently seeking (maybe) a beta for this story. When I write chapters, I angst over things that don't look right, thus it would be nice to have a little aid. Just email me if you're interested.

I've just gotten into One Piece. Watched the first 143 episodes in about three weeks. I love it, but Naruto is my primary fanfiction target. However, in the future, expect a One Piece Filler Arc (Set after the Alabasta arc) and a Jak and Daxter story (Set after Jak 3, Jak/Keira) to begin. My brain, it pulses.

I am a review whore. That being said, please review!