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Chapter 3: The Fierce Battle among Demons.
The woman ran her fingers through her wild brown hair as she stood up. "Not long enough I suppose." A long muzzle emerged from the cave. The teeth that lined the muzzle were larger than swords and just as deadly. A paw emerged and crushed five men to slow to escape beneath it. The top of the cave began to collapse as a large head chipped away at the rock.
Gaara was surprised and inwardly was glad his mask hid his expression, but he held his ground regardless of the impossible thing emerging in front of him. Expectedly, most of the men fled to the forest behind him. They feared the wolf demon but served him out of greed. On the large ears of the demon were gold earrings the size of wagon wheels. On his leg there were more gold bracelets. He had an ornate collar with skulls and jewels imbedded into it. The demon was certainly one of profit it seemed. Gaara noticed that the wolf had three pairs of red eyes, the ones in the middle was large but above and below that the smaller eyes were barely open but he could see the liquid black pupils darting back and forth independently of each other. The middle eye was fixed on the Anbu.
There was another laugh from the demon's throat. Kirae and the other remaining humans could feel the vibrations rise from the ground and shake their courage. Gaara however was already assessing what he would need to do. The demon wolf was nearly as big at the Shukaku in full form yet…The Shukaku was powerful but slow. A few hits from the sand demon's renkuudan would probably finish him but that is only if they hit. Also, he would need someone to wake him once and if he defeated the large demon. The last thing they needed as to kill one demon and have another running amok, just as dangerous as the last. The situation was beginning to look like a job for a Kazekage.
He should have become Kazekage but because of people like you that hold that incorrect opinion towards him… Gaara remembered his brother's words. He took a deep breath and looked around.
He saw Kirae standing a few yards from the cavern opening. She would have to do it. But... He looked back toward the village. Just the battle between the two demons could have a large effect on the surrounding area. It looked like the villages had suffered enough, he didn't want to add to their misery. Someone would need to tell the villagers to evacuate. Damn! There was not enough time or man power to execute all that was necessary. Why did Kankurou have to hold so much faith in him. It wasn't the first time that his brother had overestimated his power but, like a fool, Gaara never let him know when he had reached his limit.
The sand ninja turned Anbu grabbed one of the terrified humans hunkered behind a tree. "You." The man whimpered, his eyes wide with terror. His gaze darted between the emerging demon and Gaara. "You will go to the villages and warn them about the danger. Tell them to evacuate."
He let the man go but the worthless lump of flesh covered his head and cowered in the shadows. Gaara growled. He turned to the gigantic wolf. It was half way out by now. The claws were massive. It would have been nice to have someone with a summoning jutsu. He looked again at Kirae. She was standing there calmly, waiting for the wolf to come out completely.
How could she be so calm? wondered the Sandnin. He growled and ran over to her. She tilted her head to look at him. He stopped. For a moment he wasn't sure who or what was standing in front of him. Her expression was indescribably expectant. She smirked as she said, "You have to go to the village and warn the villagers that they could be in danger. I will hold him off until you can return."
Kirae turned back to look at the demon. Gaara could feel his heart pumping his now boiling blood. How could she be so insubordinate at a time like this? " Kirae!" he yelled more forcefully. "Go back to the villages! I am your captain on this mission. You have to obey me!"
"Obey?" asked the demon. When he looked up, Gaara's green eyes went wide with slight fear and amazement. The demon's three sets of red eyes, all lined up on his skull, had settled on them with a gaze of unwavering bloodlust. Looking at those eyes made Gaara want to run away. They filled him with fear but he remained steadfast in his position. "When did you ever 'obey' anyone, Kirae?" The voice of the demon boomed across the landscape. Birds scattered around them.
The Anbu woman did not move. "I don't obey anyone but myself. I live by no one's rules but my own."
How does he know her, Gaara wondered. "Kirae…" The situation had changed. The kunoichi had expressed concerns that Gaara would be influenced by the Shukaku and side with the demon. Now it seemed the it was not Kirae that should be concerned about traitors. She would have to be eliminated.
Sand started to creep towards the kunoichi but she disappeared and was suddenly behind Gaara. His enemies had increased and this was troublesome. Even if he went full Shukaku, Kirae could wake him at anytime and prematurely end the battle. Then he would not have enough chakra to continue fighting. The mission would be a failure and the catastrophe of Konoha and the Nine Tailed Demon Fox would be destined to repeat. He would need to destroy the traitor first he realized but he doubted the wolf would simply allow his ally to be squashed. More problems were piling up. He felt the something cold on his neck.
"It's not what you think, Gaara," came the voice from behind him. Kirae put away her kunai and lifted her mask. "That is not a lie. You have to believe me."
"I don't know what to believe," he replied coolly. "The demon knows your name…" There was silence. Cool green eyes narrowed then turned to regard the demon.
The beast laughed and looked down at them, swishing his two tails. "I was growing weary of these weak creatures. I was going to eat them after I acquired what I desired but I think that this will be more interesting." He tilted his head. "Is this your new toy? I hope he lasts longer than the last one." He ended his comment in a laugh.
Kirae snarled at this. Her whole body was shaking. Gaara still was not sure what to do. The wolf opened his exaggerated maw and tried to bite them. However, both of the Anbu were quick and the demon found his mouth full of only dirt.
"Dairouchimimaru!" Kirae called out. "Return to hell!"
"Is that a command?" asked the wolf. "I suppose then that we're both disobedient!"
The Anbu gave out a battle cry and rushed him. She quickly dodged his paw and jumped on the arm running up. In one single motion she pulled out her sword and slashed at the demon wolf. He snapped at her but again she took to the air and came down on his muzzle while stabbing him. This caused Dairouchimimaru to swing his head to dislodge her.
She landed by Gaara but returned to battle immediately. This time she tossed out a hand full of shuriken and hit him in the chest. She rolled out of the way and the shuriken carrying tags with seals on them exploded. The wolf tossed his head back and stumbled into a sitting position. She panted and grinned.
"I'm not the same person that you knew before…," she hissed.
"No…" He lunged forward so abruptly she barely had time to get out of the way. "You're weaker!" He swished his tails at them causing spiraling clouds of dust and debris. Both ninja threw up their arms which made an opening for the wolf. A massive paw hit them but Gaara quickly grabbed Kirae and landed with her on the sand softened ground.
Kirae and Gaara dodge another bite from the over sized dog. The kunoichi threw several kunai and shuriken at Dairouchimimaru but they only succeeded in getting tangled in his fur of his chest. There was only one thing that could be done but still Gaara hesitated to do so. His trust for his partner was not complete. He did not want to unleash the Shukaku until he was certain that he would be woken by someone.
"I am bored by you." The wolf began to walk towards the villages, shaking the ground. Trees fell and the ground shattered under his weight. The tails of the beasts caused small tornadoes all around. If this was the power of Dairouchimaru, Gaara was certain that he didn't want to know what power of the nine-tail fox demon was in comparison.
He looked around and found himself alone. The Anbu woman had fled, it seemed. He didn't understand her relationship with the beast but it was enough to send her packing. Gaara dodged a paw and was backed into a tornado that tossed him against a tree. The sand cushioned the blow again but for a moment the shinobi was dazed. It was getting bad. The Kazekage, no, his brother had entrusted him with the responsibility of eliminating this before it became another Konoha disaster. Kirae or no Kirae…he would have unleash the Shukaku.
He formed the necessary seals with his hands, when Kirae showed up beside him. "What are you doing here?"
"I warned the villagers to evacuate…," she stated a matter-of-factly. Gaara was in disbelief."You ordered me to, Captain."
"Impossible. But how did you-," She gave him a look that begged him not to ask. He nodded. "Then I have a very special order. I am going to unleash the Shukaku." She gasped. "Your duty is to buy me time and to wake me when Dairouchimimaru is defeated. Can you do that?"
Kirae nodded slowly but took his hand. "How should I wake you?"
"Hit me," he answered simply. "Anyway you can."
After letting him go, she moved in front as another tornado came their way but was able to defend with a wall of earth to absorb the attack. "I will buy you time, Gaara-sama," she said with an icy tone. She performed a series of hand seals. "Release Form!" Before his eyes, Gaara saw the woman began to change. Brown and black fur grew from her body. Her eyes turned yellow and wild. Claws came from where carefully manicured fingernails used to be.
"A wolf…,"whispered a still remaining thief in awe. A paw was going to swipe at them but again a block of earth intercepted catching the blow. Kirae was now almost completely unrecognizable as a human being but she continued to grow. Suddenly, Gaara realized that Kirae was never human to begin with. She was an oni, just like Dairouchimimaru was. The feral look in her eye and even the way her presence unsettled something inside of him.
Gaara took a good look around, frantically searching for answers. There were many people still lingering for whatever reason but it was far to dangerous for them to remain, criminals or not. "EVERYONE RUN IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIVES!" He pointed towards the villages. His voice must have sounded more vicious than he thought for it was enough to snap everyone out of their stupor and flee.
Kirae jumped into the air, a two tailed wolf oni and landed with a resounding boom. She was nowhere near Dairouchimimaru's size; perhaps only half but her speed left Gaara without words. She cut through the forest, felling trees and tossing up earth, like a bolt of lightening. In a flash she was on the back of the larger wolf, snarling. Gaara couldn't keep up with her movements at all.
He realized that he didn't have time to gawk at the battle between the two demons and began to perform the seals to release Shukaku. "Tanuki Neiri no Jutsu." Gaara slumped over and fell to his knees no long conscious. Inside, the tanuki demon screamed in triumph and rushed to take over his vessel's body. The sand swirled around the young man consuming him like a flower closing its petals.
Dairouchimimaru slung Kirae off of his back with his long tail. She spun in the air but landed on her feet. As soon as her claws hit the ground she was off like an arrow again repeatedly scratching and biting the larger demon. Indeed, Dairouchimimaru was too big to retaliate at her speed but he did manage a few hits when she lingered too long in one spot.
The demon was growing increasingly more annoyed. "Kirae! I will kill you and devour your body." He tried to bite her but there was only air. "KIRAEEEE!" He swung his massive head to and fro trying to locate her.
But the female wolf appeared in front of him panting. A canine smile spread across her snout. She was enjoying herself. Her own blood and the blood of Dairouchimimaru mingled all over her fur. Her eyes were filled with feral hatred and lust for battle.
There was a large crash of trees behind the giant wolf demon prompting him to turn his head. All six of his eyes widened as he saw a large sand tanuki stand before him. It gave a feral yell before fixing its gaze on him. "Shukaku…but-" He turned back to Kirae and was met with her fangs being buried into his muzzle. He roared and shook his head trying to free himself.
The she-wolf held on with everything that she had but eventually he succeeded sending her flying across the landscape. Kirae's body slid across the ground taking whatever was in her way with her, mostly trees that became small needles that stabbed her in the side. Kirae winced at the pain but noted that the Shukaku seemed to be ready for battle.
Gaara asleep on the Shukaku's forehead was slumped over and oblivious to the battle ensuing before them. "Finally! I'm free! This time I'll stay out for longer," exclaimed the Shukaku victoriously. He looked before him and saw Dairouchimimaru. "Aah, you. the worthless dog demon."
"The same to you. Heh." They two large beast faced each other and stared into the other's eyes waiting for an opening, a flinch, or even a hesitant breath. Just one sign of weakness could turn the tides of this war.
"Shall we, old friend?" asked the Shukaku, resting a massive paw on his stomach. "We have a score to settle."
Dairouchimimaru crouched down growling, the fur on his spine raised. "Then let us settle this once and for all… DESERT INSECT!" He lunged for Shukaku but the sand demon hit his stomach expelling a large ball of wind and chakra. Dairouchimimaru took the full hit and was sent flying like he had done to Kirae. Though he was slow in his previous battle, in this situation speed was his all. The giant wolf was quick to get up and disappeared from view. He appeared behind the Shukaku and grabbed his tail in his mouth.
The sand demon screeched and turned to face the wolf. The twin tails thrashed wildly and sent tornados cutting through the ground and into the Shukaku. When the tanuki demon thrashed it ripped off part of the tail that Dairouchimimaru was holding. The wolf chuckled deep in his throat, holding the piece of tail like a prize.
"Your no match for me, old friend," he spit out the tail, sand still dripping from between his fangs. "I will enjoy killing you and pissing on your remains. I fitting tribute to a piece of shit like you."
Kirae simply watched. Shukaku was terribly powerful but he was no match for Dairouchimimaru's speed and agility. She would have to slow the large wolf down if there was any chance at success. She dashed forward and slid under Dairouchimimaru and bit him in the stomach. He reared up and exposed himself further. Shukaku took the chance and hit them both indiscriminately with a renkuudan.
The Shukaku laughed into the sky. He began to advance towards the two fallen wolves but Dairouchimimaru was still able to move. He struggled to get to his feet and glare at his enemy. Blood seeped from his mouth and stomach. The bitch, Kirae had interfered for a final time, he decided. He gave a look to her limp body some distance away and howled.
Four powerful legs launched him into the air as he aimed his body for the smaller wolf before him a column of sand took his foot and snatched him back to the ground. "Don't forget that I am your target!" warned the Shukaku annoyed. "I'm still not done kicking your ass yet." He opened his mouth to create another attack but the wolf would have none of it.
Dairouchimimaru reared around and gnawed off his foot then dashed away from the attack. He panted heavily, lifting his injured hind leg. "I won't be defeated by a fat slug such as yourself, Shukaku!" He rushed the tanuki and tackled him with all of his strength, they both fell to the ground but Dairouchimimaru was on top of the battle and began ripping and tearing at the soft sandy body of the Shukaku.
In the distance, Kirae tried to force her body to respond. The attack of Gaara's demon was the strongest that she had ever felt. She could hardly believe that one human man was able to contain it. She opened her eyes to see Dairouchimimaru bleeding yet still fighting fiercely. There was only one chance to end it, she realized. Somehow she found the energy to stand. "Earth Elemental…" she rasped but coughed up some blood. "Earth Shackle Technique!" She planted her feet firmly and the ground rose up as it cut a path towards the large wolf.
Dairouchimimaru looked back when heard the sound of crumbling earth and saw Kirae panting and sitting in the distance. He tried to jump away but he was so intent on destroying his opponent that he didn't notice that the Shukaku was holding him with his pliable body. The earth spiked up and held fast each of Dairouchimimaru's leg. He began to panic and struggle against his shackles. The Shukaku slid from underneath him and put his claws around the wolf's muzzled.
"It's over…" he reared his other arm back and stabbed the large wolf through the chest, killing him. The blood dripped all over his hand and some sprayed on his chest and face. A low chuckle became a raucous laugh and pulled his hand out and stabbed the wolf over and over again. "Yes, sweet blood! More! I want more!"
The kunoichi demon stared at the slaughter with morbid fascination and curiosity. He was pummeling a dead body, spraying the landscape with demon's blood. But if it kept up then there wouldn't be much left and he would turn his direction towards something else. She was the closest thing alive. It was time to wake Gaara.
She bounded towards the bloodfest and pounced on the back of the demon corpse. The Shukaku was absorbed in his killing and at first did not notice her. When he did she was again the human kunoichi. She replaced her mask sped towards Gaara. The sand tried to stop her but she was too fast to be caught. She jumped to land on the Shukaku's head and immediately sank on foot knee deep into the sand. A trap.
A yellow eye rolled up to look at her. She pulled out a kunai and tossed to towards Gaara's arm but the sand blocked it. "Troublesome girl. Irritating bug! Your blood smells so delicious," gurgled the Shukaku. A bloody paw began to rise to pick her up. The sand was solidified around her leg and she couldn't move it. She had to wake Gaara. "I won't let you take my freedom. I'll kill you first!"
Kirae pulled perform a few hand seals and crumbled into rocks on the tanuki demon's snout. He snarled and tried to grab her before she disappeared but his movements were too slow. She reappeared in the air about Gaara. "WAKE UP!" She was falling towards him. A spike of sand shot out to claim her life but she twisted in the air and dodged it. Another one came at her but she repeated the technique. She was only a few feet about Gaara when the sand formed a shell to cover him. Kirae cursed when she landed beside the shell. A ring of earth was trying to keep the sand at bay, leaving a whole large enough for her arm. She reached in and grabbed his shoulder and dug her nails into his skin. "Wake up, Gaara!"
The pain from her nails, made him open his eyes. Below them the Shukaku screamed and thrashed. "Not again! Dammit! I still want to have some fun! No!" The sand began to retreat and Kirae was able to grab Gaara. He kept his eyes closed but by his labored breathing she could tell that he was fully awake.
"We did it," she declared. Gaara put his arms around her shoulder and nodded. She carried him down to the ground and rested with him against a tree.