Welcome to the next chapter!
joharasbel; Thanks!
ShadowUzumaki55; Yeah, Shukaku surely is. Satsuki and Naruko definitely did. Glad you liked the fight between them. Ameyuri does yeah, she'd rather pick her death than have death thrust upon her. Danzo definitely is gonna try, we'll see how successful he is in his plans for the future. Lets hope they can do yeah!
Silver crow; Thanks. Yeah, Ryouta could take on Shukaku, he's got some stuff to do this chapter. Ameyuri's story isn't over yet, is all I can say. The next chapter after this one is, couldn't fit everything into this chapter. I've got an idea when she'll receive Mangekyou. Ameyuri did yeah. Gaara didn't yeah, Shukaku had other ideas. I'm sure Kurama would act that way with Shukaku yeah. Glad you liked the Ameyuri and Ryouta part. Yeah, he was prepared to take out Danzo. Glad you liked Satsuki and Naruko's moments. Karin did yeah, and Pakura surely is. For Trihexa, he'd probably be like that. We'll see next chapter about Hiruzen's survivial. Tsunade could do. We'll see Ryouta interacting with Shukaku this chapter with his eyes. Ryouta's shown to be able to stop such things with his eyes, like he did Naruko back on the bridge. Thanks for the harem suggestions.
Skull Flame; I'm glad that you're liking her. Orochimaru does yeah.
The Headless chicken; Thanks very much! Yeah, she'll be appearing soon.
Hinata fan; Yeah, we'll be finished next chapter. Not this chapter. Ryouta could do yeah. He wouldn't trust Danzo. We'll see what happens with Ameyuri. Thanks for the suggestions!
TheGreatGodzilla; Considering Danzo is responsible for basically killing Ryouta's only living relative, it's safe to say Ryouta and Danzo's confrontation will happen. Naruko and Satsuki have done yeah. Pakura will explain what's gone on, as will others like Ryouta, about her currently doing what she's doing. Thanks for the harem suggestions. Maki is being used in the Reanimation Jutsu. Maybe one day I'll do a crossover. I'll be sure to check it out.
Darth Simp; Yeah, Pakura could do that. I could see Itachi doing that. Yeah, Yakumo's pretty cool, thanks for the suggestions.
Guestforce; Thanks! Thanks for the harem suggestions.
Guest 1; He could learn them yeah. I don't see why he couldn't, sounds good. I could see Ryouta doing that towards the end.
Guest 2; Thanks! Yeah, I'd do them in Shippuden.
Guest 3; Thank you. Danzo's gonna try and however far apart they are, he does have some support. We'll see how that ends yeah! Some good filler arcs perhaps.
Guest 4; Yeah, I could see that happening towards the end of part one here. Would be an interesting thing to do. Yeah, that could be when he begins mastering such things. Thanks for the suggestions!
Insert my name; Yeah, they could do that, would sound pretty cool~ Yeah, Satsuki's got enough support so she'd not be tempted by Orochimaru. Thanks for the suggestions!
Guest 5; I can't spoil it, but I know when Satsuki's Mangekyou is going to activate. Yeah, she didn't believe fully that was Ryouta. He could do yeah, that would be a cool way to end the first part of the story.
JustAFan; Thanks! I've got an idea when she's gonna get it in quite the emotional moment. He's gonna be doing some stuff yeah.
Guest 6; Yeah, eventually he could come up with that. He could tell her during then yeah.
Hinata is waifu; I could see Lee and Guy doing something like that.
Guest 7; Jiraiya would totally do something like that yeah. Gaara could do yeah.
Guest 8; It's going to be quite wild. Kabuto was stuck for time, and did what he thought best, didn't end well for him though. Ryouta's doing his best, he might be quite rewarded for it. Yeah, I've got a good time for when Satsuki's gonna get that, all I can say is that it will be quite the emotional time. Gaara's doing her best yeah. Ameyuri definitely did yeah, she wouldn't pass up this opportunity. Yeah, he can sympathize with people, but if need be, he will do what's necessary. Yeah, he'll never trust Danzo, no matter what he tries to pull. Yeah, he could meet other summons. Orochimaru did yeah, we'll see what his plan is. That would be an interesting way to increase their abilities, thanks for the suggestions!
TheBossBovaTannin; Yeah, one day.
Pinkflamingwarriorofjustice; I haven't watched them yet, so I'd have to get back to you.
Igreenpg; Yeah in a way that's true.
War Sage; Thanks! Glad you liked it! Shukaku is yeah, we'll see how they do it. Danzo is trying yeah. I've got a moment in mind for when Satsuki's Mangekyou is finally brought on. Glad you liked the fight between them. Orochimaru surely does yeah. Thanks for the harem suggestions!
Andrew123456; We'll be seeing that pretty soon.
LezarioFanficio; Yeah, I'll try and do that at some point. Thanks very much, I'm glad you like it!
Neonlight01; Yeah, thanks to that Satsuki knew the truth. Lets hope they can with Gaara yeah. Ryou will never trust Danzo, even without knowing what he's done, he doesn't get good vibes from him at all. Yeah, only a matter of time before discovering what Danzo had done with Shisui. We'll be seeing that pretty soon!
Guest 9; Kurama and Ryouta's meeting is going to be pretty interesting due to Kurama's hate of Uchiha in general. I could see Ryouta doing that yeah. Yeah, Ryouta could take that place during the mission for that.
Guest 10; Itachi could do something like that yeah, would be pretty cool and in character for him to do that.
Guest 11; Thanks for the votes.
Well, with those reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!
Shukaku's first step
A little before Shukaku fully took over, Mikoto was finishing off some Oto Ninja when she saw Pakura making her way closer and closer.
When Pakura finally arrived, she stood before Mikoto, bowing her head towards Mikoto.
"Pakura-san, it seems that the rumours I've been hearing are true? Suna is pulling out?"
Pakura didn't lift her head to meet with Mikoto, instead she gave an apologetic voice as she spoke.
"Yes...Orochimaru has killed our Kazekage, I have requested that all Suna Ninja pull out of Konoha, and to break ties with Oto, which I have also ordered a dispatch on sight order to any Oto Ninja remaining." Pakura lifted her head, and met the eyes of Mikoto. "No words can express what we feel at the moment-"
Mikoto cut Pakura off, and offered some kind words as a result.
"Orochimaru, caused this to happen. Suna and Konoha will have much to discuss, but right now, we can work together to stop Oto, and Orochimaru."
Pakura was grateful, but she still felt a certain way about what had happened.
"Even then, we still caused strife towards your village, and some have died as a result of our actions."
Mikoto nodded.
"Perhaps that's true, but now we have to stop the fighting and face our real enemy, Orochimaru. We can discuss later what happens, now we can work together."
"Yes...he has done much to our lands, manipulations of Suna and even Konoha. Though I have to say, Ryouta-kun...he is a kind young man, and he has endured much during this. But still, has done a lot for the village, and for me. If I don't see him again, will you tell him thank you for me?"
Mikoto lightly smiled.
"Yes, of course."
As she said it, she saw a snake crawling on the ground.
She assumed Orochimaru for a few moments.
But then saw on its back, a note that was in Anko's handwriting.
So she lifted the note, and read it.
"Danzo..."
"Danzo?"
Mikoto nodded.
"Pakura-san, there is one thing that I would like to ask for your help on."
"If I can help."
Mikoto nodded, and brandished her sword high, before getting into a position.
"Lets go, Danzo is trouble that needs to be swiftly secured."
"Yes!"
Pakura and Mikoto charged off together, going to find Danzo and hoped that he hadn't caused any problems.
As that was going on, Ryouta and Karin stared at the giant beast of sand.
Ryouta looked on and thought about Gaara. Seeing her like that, he knew he was too late now.
Even from a good deal far away, Karin could feel the ominous chakra that was coming from it. The sadistic ways that the chakra fluxed told Karin that this wasn't an ordinary opponent.
"Ryou-kun, what the hell is that…?"
"..."
Ryouta didn't know how to respond.
He knew what it was, but the explanation would take a while to go into.
Karin continued on, her eyes peering straight on.
"Whatever it is...it's Gaara-san, isn't it? I can feel how wild the chakra is...Naruko...Satsuki..."
Ryouta also felt worried, so he pushed forward as fast as he could, shooting through the forest at high speeds.
With the events of the forest going on, Sakura was on a mission all her own, and had found Shino. She saw that he was in a critical condition, so she rushed to his side, and bent down, looking over his wounds.
She couldn't see anything major.
She looked around, then saw that there had been some poisonous liquid spread around.
"Hey, Shino-san..."
Sakura called, but Shino didn't respond.
Becoming worried, she began doing her best to make sure that Shino would survive this kind of encounter.
However, while doing so, her body began shaking.
As did the trees around them.
She looked around for the source…
But then in the distance, she saw what it was before her eyes.
"Damn it...Naruko, Satsuki..."
She hoped they'd be okay as she helped Shino, and the others as well...
Satsuki and Naruko stared up at the hulking beast before them, with the small frog that Naruko summoned within her palm.
Gaara's form had been fully taken over by the One Tail. His eyes displayed intense rage, that was something that Naruko felt shivers down her spine from.
Even Kabuto who wished for this to happen was shaking at the power that was radiating from such a beast.
"Orochimaru-sama wishes for the Sharingan, if I could get this brat now, then Ryouta-kun will surely follow. He'd be able to gain both at the same time, and wouldn't have to worry about anything else after this invasion. Yes, that's my role now, I'll get the Sharingan for him. It should be easy enough, she looks to be having some chakra draining issues. Though I've used some chakra too, maybe I could overpower her while she's distracted, and then take her to Orochimaru-sama..."
Kabuto made up his mind, and began preparing himself for what was to come next.
On the other hand, Shukaku was reveling in the fact that he was able to use even more of his power now. Though he felt that Gaara was still, despite being in an unconscious state, wasn't going to give up and fighting for some control, he'd not allow it to stop him having his own fun.
"Hahahaha! Are you going to do anything now puny Uchiha and little blonde girl?! Gaara's gone, she wont be coming back! Now it's time for me to finally do as I wish!"
Shukaku's angry expression, and his gleeful voice didn't match, but it made it all the more scary.
"What the hell...is that thing…?"
Satsuki wasn't sure what to make of what was before her eyes.
It looked devastatingly strong, she also saw that Naruko was in bewilderment.
"What can I do against such a large beast? Genjutsu perhaps to knock her out. But getting that close to such a monster in the first place..."
Satsuki went over the endless possibilities that were clawing their way through her mind.
Naruko on the other hand looked up at Gaara who was becoming more and more coated in sand, and leaving behind nothing but the One Tail. Even in this state, seeing the devastating power of the One Tail, it was something amazingly scary.
She knew that the Tailed Beast was strong and would be difficult in stopping.
Naruko also knew right now that Gaara was suffering, due to believing that someone she had grown to care for was deceased.
Naruko knew at that moment, she had to tap into the Nine Tails power.
As that happened, Ryouta pushed it into overdrive, and rushed the giant creature as fast as he could. With Karin still attached to his body, he was pushing himself further and further, while Karin's senses were going off.
"Ryou-kun, I know the time is short right now, but I can feel the fighting is stopping in the village." Ryouta was relieved, it meant that Pakura had succeeded. "The only ones really fighting is back with the Hokage-sama, and up in front of us. Everywhere else, the fighting has stopped."
"Ameyuri-san?"
Ryouta asked, he wanted to know what became of her.
"It seems that she's still in the village. I don't know what the circumstances are, but that man Danzo and Anko-sensei are in hot pursuit. I don't know how she's going to be able to escape, but it is Ameyuri, and she's very crafty. Wait...damn it,.."
"What?"
"We're also being followed by a few Ninja, they're trying to hide from my sensing...but I can sense them from here, they're closing in."
"Thanks for the heads up, we'll deal with them, I've got a few ideas..."
Ryouta pressed forward, ready to fight...
Back with Naruko and the others, Kabuto began sneaking around and was preparing to take down Satsuki. Taking out a kunai that was coated in a sleeping potion, he knew she'd not be able to fight this with her current chakra levels.
Naruko on the other hand could see the wild laughter of the Tailed Beast, so she made a choice.
She placed a hand to her chest, and began thinking about the foxes power.
Tapping into the foxes power.
She had to summon the Chief Toad, that was the only thing that could fight against the beast now.
"Come on fox...I need your power...I need to save Gaara...I can't let her down...I have to do this…!"
She prayed hard for the power, she had to do everything she could to fight against Shukaku to save Gaara.
Then she felt it, flooding into her.
Along with a sinister laugh within her mind, she knew to be the fox itself.
Naruko bit into her thumb, and weaved through some hand signs.
"Summoning!"
Doing the best that she could, Naruko pooled her chakra into summoning the Chief Toad.
And from out of the smoke, a large red toad indeed did come out. Carrying a large bladed weapon and wearing some kind of kimono like top, the giant toads eyes looked around, then settled in on Naruko, while Shukaku blinked.
The giant toads name was Gamabunta.
"You again! Didn't I already say not to summon me until you've earned my trust!?"
"But I need your help Chief!"
"With what?!"
"That!"
Naruko pointed towards Shukaku.
Gamabunta looked on for a few moments, then shrugged.
"I have no interest in fighting that, especially since you still have yet to earn my trust."
Satsuki sighed, it seemed that this might not be a good idea after all.
However, the small little toad summoned beforehand suddenly leapt up, and stared at the giant red one.
"Dad, Naruko is a good person!"
"Gamakichi! What are you doing here?!"
The toad roared out, as Kabuto managed to get closer and closer to Satsuki.
He thought this distraction truly was the best thing that could have come out of this after all.
Gamakichi however shakes his head.
"She summoned me, trying to summon you. But Dad listen, she protected me from that beast over there, she risked her life for mine. So please lend some assistance to Naruko, she's a good person."
When Gamabunta heard that, his own child being attacked, caused the giant toad to become enranged.
"Big mistake, attacking my kid. I wont let you get away with that!" The giant toads eyes shift to Naruko. "I'll fight for you this time, so get on and lets teach this damn sand bastard a lesson that he's never going to forget!"
"Yeah! Lets go!"
Satsuki watched as Naruko prepared to fight, Kabuto couldn't lose this chance, so he shifted behind her.
Because he was close, she was stunned when the kunai came in close.
She tried to dodge, but because he was right on her, and with using the Chidori a few times that day, she didn't have the ability to move out of the way, with Kabuto's smirking face being burned into her mind.
Naruko yelled "Watch out!" and tried to move to try and intercept to save Satsuki, but because Kabuto was so close, there wasn't away for Naruko to get close un time, and Satsuki herself wasn't going to be able to move out of the way in time...
"Aaaaaaah!"
Suddenly, a sword extends from a good distance away, and comes in hot and heavy.
Kabuto receives a slice across his leg, as he jumps away.
Satsuki's eyes look towards the new arrival, and see that it is Ryouta himself, together with Karin.
Relief came over both Naruko, and Satsuki when seeing Ryouta alive and well.
As that happened, Ameyuri managed to put distance between Anko and herself, with Danzo standing close by.
His lone eye went towards her own, with Ameyuri seeing that he had a serious expression on his face.
"I did what you asked, you're gonna be seen as someone that might have saved some of the village, aren't you?"
"I was always on the side of the village. So that's why, for the future of the village, there's one last task that I have to give you Ameyuri."
"My pay?"
"You shall receive it, do not worry. Now the task I've got for you..."
Before he could fully say, she cut him off.
"In case you're not currently aware, I am being attacked by all sides."
"Do not worry about that, I have already thought of a way for you to achieve this goal for me, you aren't the only Ninja I hired, you're just the only one who knows about me."
Ameyuri didn't really care for him, but if she got paid, then she didn't really care right now, she had her health to think about. She hadn't found the right time for her to die yet.
"Well, your plans better be so damn amazing, because I can tell that we'll have enemies upon us soon enough. And from the sounds of it, the battle is beginning to cease, so what are we gonna do about that smart guy?"
"Do not worry, I have planned this out, it is time for me to make some subtle moves."
Ameyuri rolled her eyes, while Danzo was hellbent on two things, the survival of his village, and the eyes of Ryouta's...
Back with Ryouta and the others, Naruko and Satsuki were relieved to see that Ryouta arrived. Karin got off of Ryouta's back, and looked around, seeing that the giant Tailed Beast hasn't done anything just yet.
Kabuto grit his teeth, while Ryouta glared at him.
"Orochimaru's henchmen huh, thought something was off about you when we first met."
Kabuto grit his teeth, his hand shaking while Naruko was overcome with joy, and gained a bright beaming smile.
"Ryou! You're really okay!"
Ryouta nodded.
"I am, and you've summoned a giant toad..." Ryouta looked at Kabuto, then towards Shukaku. "Damn, it seems Gaara-san really has lost control. But, with Kabuto here, and Satsuki-chan looking tired, maybe the giant toad there could stall or even overpower the One Tail, then if it is stall, I can take down Kabuto, I'm sure with my eyes I can subdue One Tail, but with those other people coming to support Kabuto no doubt, and Kabuto being a tricky guy, it's best I deal with him first..."
As he thought, Shukaku let out a laugh.
"Aah, if Gaara only knew you were still alive, I'm sure she'd be overcome with immense joy! But as it is, it seems that she'll not know!"
Ryouta stared hard at the Tailed Beast.
"Let her go."
"Nope, you're gonna have to kill me before I let go this time."
Ryouta wouldn't allow that to happen.
But then spoke to Naruko.
"Naruko-chan, with your toad friend there, do you think you can take on Gaara-san as she is?"
"Ryou that's..."
Naruko was surprised, but Ryouta gave her confidence through a smile.
"I'll take down Kabuto, I know you can connect with Gaara-san."
Ryouta didn't say it, but he knew that a Jinchuriki like Naruko, who could understand Gaara's pain, could also be able to get through to her as well.
Being entrusted by Ryouta to do this, Naruko would with everything that's inside of her.
"Right, leave it to me!"
"Right, good luck."
Ryouta nodded, as the giant toad, and Shukaku leapt a good distance away.
Leaving Ryouta alone, Kabuto looked on as three people stared at him.
"Ryou, you gonna be okay fighting? Have you got the chakra?"
Satsuki asked, Ryouta nodded
"Yes, I was given some chakra before, so I can fight. Though after gaining that, had to fight off Orochimaru afterwards, plus two dead Kage and some Ameyuri-san as well...but I'll be alright for Kabuto."
Satsuki was relieved.
Even though she wished to fight, she could feel the current limits of what she was going through so she had to defer to Ryouta this time.
"Ryou, kick his ass."
"Yeah, I'll kick his ass. Karin-chan, can you take care of Satsuki-chan?"
"Yeah, I'll do my best to treat her."
"Thanks."
Kabuto didn't know what he was going to do.
Because of what Orochimaru had said, he knew Ryouta had some trump cards up his sleeves.
But he wouldn't go down so quickly either, so he allowed chakra to dance around his hands, and formed them into a scalpel shape.
The chakra scalpel Ryouta knew could cause some internal damage, he had come across it beforehand when researching Medical Ninjutsu, and recalled Izumi also speaking about it.
The fact that he was using it in combat told Ryouta that he could be very skilled.
He then launched himself at Ryouta, who held out Kusanagi and aimed it for Kabuto.
"That's Orochimaru-sama's-"
"It's mine now."
Ryouta extended the blade like an arrow.
It travelled so fast that Kabuto didn't have time to fully dodge, and his shoulder got pierced, causing him to let out a pained cry, all the while Ryouta dashed forward, embedding his foot into Kabuto's upper body, and blasted him away down into the forest floor.
Ripping the blade out by having it come back to its original size, Kabuto cried out.
Ryouta whipped his sword around and extended it at the same time, causing it to elongate, and due to the incredible sharpness, the blade began slicing through what was in its path, Kabuto's eyes widening.
"It's fast, dangerous, and this boy is wielding it at such a rapid pace that I could be killed within moments."
Kabuto weaved through some hand signs, and then released some water from a nearby area, that came shooting out like a Dragon for Ryouta.
However the young man merely twisted the blade, making it move fast, and cleaved right through the water Dragon, dropping it down into clumps of water, then continued for Kabuto, slicing across his chest who let out a pained cry.
Kabuto put distance between them, and began using his chakra to heal his wounds, starting with the stab wound in his shoulder.
"This boys got chakra to spare, and while I have some, I've been using it to fight against that damn Gaara, and that damn Satsuki as well...no, I have something's that can help." He takes out a military ration pill, and swallows it. "This should help me at least a bit. But still, this boy has the Sharingan, and if I make one mistake..."
His thoughts were cut off when he heard the sound of wood being destroyed, so he leapt away, only to feel the blade of Kusanagi slicing his right hand side, he avoided being pierced, but he couldn't avoid being slashed by the blade, and saw it was still extending, heading right for Kabuto himself.
Kabuto moves his body back as the blade flies over his head, missing him by mere inches.
But then Ryouta breathed fire onto the sword, which burned the air above Kabuto, and he saw that from the area that he swung, a trail of fire had been created.
Kabuto leapt back, but felt the heat of the fire burn his skin, his eyes shifting towards Ryouta who didn't look to be in the mood to talk.
"How did you find me?!"
"A Ninja doesn't reveal their tricks Kabuto, didn't Orochimaru tell you that?"
Ryouta replied in a strong manner, as he caused Kusanagi to reform to its normal shape, but had flames bursting from it.
Kabuto didn't even want to think about what kind of deadly techniques the young man could do if he used Kusanagi in deadly ways.
"You're determined to take me out. Why is that? Aren't there any other people that you want to kill right now?"
Ryouta didn't say anything for a few moments.
That seemed to cause some fear to erupt in Kabuto, more than he had thought possible.
"You're helping Orochimaru, you targeted Satsuki-chan and you did this to Gaara-san, you're also apart of the reason Pakura-san lost someone dear to her, manipulating Suna and trying to kill our Hokage-sama as well with using two former Kage against him. Then to top it off, you used my Mother against the village she loves, and her own son. So yeah, I'm very determined to take you out."
Kabuto backed away as he saw Ryouta coming closer.
With the flaming Kusanagi, it was a dangerous looking power that Kabuto knew if he made one mistake, then he'd be taken out permanently.
Just then, his allies arrived, Kabuto looked relieved, and smirked...
But he saw Ryouta's calm face, wondering what was going on inside of his mind.
As that happened, Naruko and Gamabunta looked on from where they stood, and faced down Shukaku.
"Haha, this is going to be a fun fight, didn't think that you'd be able to fight against me like this! Alright, lets see what you can do!"
Shukaku laughed, and opened his mouth, releasing a huge gust of wind to the point that Gamabunta felt his body being pushed back, so he took out his bladed weapon and pierced into the ground, seeing the trees being blown away.
"You got an idea on how to fight this thing kid?!"
"Yeah, I've gotta wake up Gaara! Get me close, I'll wake her up!"
Gamabunta looked on curiously, then shrugged.
"Fine, lets do it!"
Gamabunta runs across the ground, breaking through the trees as he does so. Going at a breakneck speed, the giant toad managed to get to the right hand side, and slam his blade into the shoulder of Shukaku.
"Aaaah!"
Letting out a grunting noise, Gamabunta successfully slices through the giant arm of Shukaku, which goes flying up into the air.
"You think this is going to be enough!? Hah, have it!"
Due to it being made out of sand however, Shukaku didn't seem to be bothered by having his arm sliced off, and then grabs grabs said arm with his other hand, launching it right towards Gamabunta, giving him no time to rest.
"Damn sand monster!"
Gamabunta swings his sword down, cleaving it in half, only to see a massive air bullet coming for him, slamming into his body, with Naruko letting out a cry as she hangs on for dear life from the top of the giant toads head.
But Gamabunta manages to recover, and pulls back, as Shukaku raises his head, and opens his mouth.
"Wind Release, Air Bullets!"
Gamabunta and Naruko watch as a good few blasts of compressed air come shooting right for him.
So Gamabunta puts his hands together, and concentrates.
"Water Release, Water Bullets!"
From his mouth, Gamabunta's water shoots out in a giant water bullet form, clashing with the air and causing them to cancel the other out.
Satsuki and Karin from the ground feel the water wash over them like rain, as Satsuki looks on, wondering what kind of battle this was turning out to be.
"Geez, they're on another level, we couldn't get involved in such things."
Karin murmured, while Satsuki begrudgingly had to admit the same thing.
Shooting out more compressed bullets of air, Gamabunta does the same with the water, clashing again and again, with Shukaku laughing, as he raises his hand into the air, forming sand into sharp weapons, firing them off towards Gamabunta.
"Hahahaha! I control sand, and wind! And you can't do a thing to stop me!"
Shukaku taunted them, showing that he truly didn't care right now, as long as he was able to have his own kind of fun, that's all that mattered to him in the end.
Gamabunta exhales, and throws his blade at Shukaku, cutting through the sand, who raises his arm to block, which he did successfully.
Gamabunta uses this chance to close the distance, and try to pin down the giant beast.
But as it was, the hands of Gamabunta weren't able to fully grip the sands soft nature which allowed Shukaku to fire him backwards, with Gamabunta landing with a small panting sound, Naruko on the other hand wasn't sure what to do about this.
"Like this, I can't pin sand down like that and a long range battle isn't going to work out for us kid, you have to transform me into something else! With claws, and fangs!"
Naruko furrowed her brows, as she sees Shukaku throw Gamabunta's blade right back, which he dodges, only for Shukaku to fire off a blast of air from his mouth, which hits Gamabunta's right shoulder, and forces him backwards.
As it did, Naruko looked towards Gaara's unconscious form, and saw a single tear.
It caused Naruko to feel even more than she did before, that she had to do something to help her fellow Jinchuriki.
"Okay, I've got an idea. Here we go, Transform!"
Naruko slammed her hand down and a mass of smoke erupted around Gamabunta.
Stepping out of it a few seconds later, was something no one expected.
A fox, with nine long tails flowing behind it.
Karin and Satsuki recognized it right away, and the latter was shocked, while the former wondered why Naruko chose to make the toad have such a form, even if it was just an ordinary fox, it would have made sense, but this wasn't an ordinary fox.
"Lets go Chief, lets take care of this bastard!"
"Right kid!"
Naruko slammed her fists together, and looked on with a strong will, the same for Gamabunta morphed into the Nine Tails fox.
With the pair together, they were ready to fight Shukaku one last time to get to Gaara.
Back with Ryouta and Kabuto, the five Ninja that had come to backup Kabuto all looked on with Kabuto smirking.
"Go on, get him."
Kabuto ordered, so they charged for Ryouta.
The young man inhaled deep, dispelled the flames to save chakra and knowing he'd not need them for this, then activated the Body Flicker, and pushed it to a high speed.
Before Kabuto's eyes, he watched as Ryouta moved very fast, and began taking out his allies.
"So fast..."
Kabuto murmured, trying to follow Ryouta.
Appearing before one enemy, Ryouta sliced him down, then kicked his body into an attacking enemy from the right, the body slammed them down into a large thick tree.
The third one came in close with a sword, but Ryouta locked eyes with him, stopping him with Genjutsu long enough for him to slam his elbow deep within his torso, sending him smashing into the earth.
"Water Release, Water Trumpet!"
Then the fourth comes up with a Water Release what shot a thin blast of water, but Ryouta dodges out of the way, and then appears before him, kicking his body to the right, and aimed Kusanagi at his stomach, causing it to elongate, and pierce not only him, but another attacking enemy, taking them out of the fight.
The last enemy that Ryouta had to deal with, charged for Ryouta after removing the defeated body off of him.
Ryouta disappeared, reappearing at his right hand side, with his blade slashing down, cutting him down completely.
With all of them down, Kabuto gave a worried look.
"No...they were strong Chunin as well..."
"They're done, you're next."
Kabuto pulls back, while Ryouta looks on with furrowed brows.
Growling at the sight before him, Kabuto wouldn't give up, and took aim towards the recovering Satsuki and Karin, Kabuto launches his shurikens towards them.
But as they travelled through the air, Ryouta moved his fingers, and Kabuto watches as wires that had been planted between the trees, and diverted the shurikens paths, keeping the girls safe.
Kabuto pulled back, with his brow drenched in sweat.
"I thought you'd probably attack them at some point. Always got to be prepared against the likes of you."
Kabuto began breathing harshly.
With his chakra drainage, and Ryouta's use of the Kusanagi and his own skills...he was worried for what could happen next.
"Damn kid, he's putting me on the defensive. If he keeps going, then I'm going to be finished off all together. I have to get close, and use my Medical Ninjutsu, maybe I could stall him long enough for me to capture him."
Kabuto moved swiftly as he landed on the ground, and shot forward.
Taking out several shurikens, he launches them forward, as well as a smoke bomb.
"So he's trying to obscure my vision, or perhaps poison me. I have to be careful and take him out quickly."
Ryouta didn't take the chance with the smoke bomb which could be filled with poison, so he weaved through some hand sighs, and then exhales a large amount of fire in the shape of a huge flaming sphere.
The flames cut through the smoke, and headed for Kabuto, who tried to dodge, but the flames caught him up, burning his skin to the point he howled, landing on the ground with said burns.
Ryouta looked on as Kabuto pulled out a scroll.
"No, I wont be beaten by you!"
Kabuto opened up his scroll, producing several dead bodies which had Anbu like outfits on, which acted as if they came to life, and took out blades, swinging them for Ryouta.
"Using the corpses of those you've killed, you and Orochimaru are indeed the same kind of evil after all."
But the movements proved to be nothing compared to a living Anbu, so he was able to weave through them, and slice each and everyone of them down.
While he did, Kabuto managed to get behind Ryouta, and with his chakra scalpel formed, he moved his hand as quick as lightning towards the back of Ryouta's neck in order to incapacitate him, something Ryouta noted to be rather agile, and fast at the same time.
"I see you Kabuto."
But with thanks to his Sharingan, he predicted where he was going, and avoided being hit in the back of his neck, and placed one hand on the ground, doing a one handed hand stand, and then took Kusanagi, pointing it towards Kabuto.
"Shit!"
Kabuto saw the blade elongate once more, he didn't have the stamina to keep up with Ryouta's form, so the blade ended up piercing Kabuto's stomach, with Ryouta pulling the blade back, and then twirled it in his hand.
Kabuto placed his hand on his abdomen and began healing the best that he could do.
But Ryouta raised the blade as he returned to his feet, swinging it down and cut Kabuto cleanly across his right shoulder to his left hip in one swing.
His blood shot everywhere, and though Kabuto tried healing, Kabuto's chakra was burned through even with the pill and he ended up collapsing onto the ground.
"Kabuto, it's time to finish this."
Kabuto's eyes widening in horror as Ryouta stood above him with Kusanagi pointing downwards.
Blood poured out of Kabuto, he tried to move away, but Ryouta placed his foot on Kabuto's chest, pinning him down to the ground.
"Don't do this..."
Kabuto pleaded, Ryouta was surprised, but it wasn't totally unexpected.
"You chose your side, didn't you? You're my enemy, you targeted those I love."
Kabuto began shaking.
Seeing the light reflecting off of Kusanagi, he felt like he was going to be finished off there and then.
"You can't do this to me! I am Orochimaru-samas right hand!"
Kabuto yelled, Ryouta shrugged.
"Orochimaru might be powerful, but he in the end will fall due to his arrogance, my Mother said it best. He is arrogant, and believes he can become immortal, but he isn't immortal, he steals the lives of others, that will only work so many times, before he's finally stopped. And believe me, he will be stopped Kabuto."
Kabuto panicked, as Ryouta's blade rose higher and higher.
Ryouta went to pierce through Kabuto.
Kabuto tried to move, get out of Ryouta's foot pinning him, but couldn't due to his injuries.
"No!"
Kabuto yelled out, while Ryouta's blade went to pierce down, when he heard a large noise behind him…
Back with Naruko and Shukaku, before the loud bang happened, riding on top of the newly transformed Gamabunta into the Nine Tails, Karin and Satsuki looked at the giant fox, and were bewildered by such a thing.
"Why did she choose the fox? I wonder..."
Karin murmured, while Satsuki looked back and forth between Ryouta and Naruko, seeing Ryouta stopping Kabuto, while Naruko was still struggling.
Shukaku looked on with a nervous bead of sweat rolling down his face.
"Are you for real?!"
"Yeah, we're coming for you!"
Naruko declared to Shukaku directly, knowing that right now, this wasn't Gaara.
"No, it couldn't be Kura-"
As he was going to speak, Gamabunta charged forward.
So Shukaku moved his mouth and shot off a myriad of air blasts.
In his new form, the fox transformed toad was agilely moving out of the way. The blasts of compressed air smashed through the area, but still he managed to avoid them, as one of the tails he had wrapped around a tree.
Moving with furious intentions, the fox toad got in close, and swung a claw for Shukaku who raised his hand and created a wall of sand to block the way. But the fox toad clawed his way through the sand with each swing of the new claws.
Managing to get through the sand, Gamabunta's claws went for the giant sand beast, when he opened his mouth, and blasted him right in the face, sending him flying back, but not before Gamabunta slammed a tree into Shukaku's face, forcing his body to bend backwards.
Gamabunta flips in the air, landing on all fours and then charged right ahead once more.
"Come on Chief...we can do this..."
"Haha, of course!"
Naruko watched as Shukaku raised his hand, and fired off a good number of sand shuriken like objects for Gamabunta, but the fox toad used his agile movements to dodge out of the way of all of them.
Panic came to Shukaku who pulled back, and then pressed on his stomach, forcing out a massive air wave for Gamabunta.
"Die already!"
Shukaku yells.
But Gamabunta pushes off of the ground, with its tails wrapping around a few trees, as he jumped high.
"What the hell?!"
Shukaku's frustrations were getting the better of him.
Not only was Gamabunta being a nuisance, Gaara was still fighting against him.
Even now, as she slept, she tried to regain control.
It was infuriating to the One Tail, he couldn't stop fighting both battles at the same time.
Gamabunta didn't stop though, and unleashes the trees from up above, raining down towards Shukaku like heavy rain.
Shukaku looked up, and growled.
"I wont lose to trees you idiot!"
He shattered the trees with a few nicely timed air blasts.
But that gave Gamabunta the time to send very finely movements of his tails, acting like whips, one such tail smashing across his eye, and causing him to let out an annoyed growl, the frustrations having grown far more than Shukaku had ever thought possible.
This gave Gamabunta the time to wrap the tails around the remaining limbs of Shukaku, bite into his neck, his claws digging into the sand and all together, it pinned down the giant so it couldn't escape so easily.
"Now brat! Do it! Get her!"
"Yeah!"
As Naruko went to go, Shukaku laughed as curse like marks appear around Naruko, and the others.
"Hahaha! One last trick! I knew saving it for now would be the best! You can't escape me!"
Shukaku stood tall, and began channeling his chakra.
As he did, his taunting eyes went towards Naruko.
"What are you going to do now huh? Gonna fight against me are you?!"
Naruko tried to move, but to no avail, the same for Satsuki and Karin.
"What is this?!"
Karin yelled, Satsuki looked at Shukaku.
"Some kind of...sealing Jutsu..."
As she said it, Shukaku opened its mouth, and formed what looked like a sphere of chakra.
"Gaara...stop..."
Naruko called, but Shukaku laughed.
"Gaara can't hear you."
Despite saying that, Shukaku could still feel Gaara fighting strong within.
He also saw that the chakra sphere was smaller than he had hoped, he couldn't draw his full power, but it was still strong.
"Tch, Gaara's still pushing me...but it's fine, this should be enough to wipe you all out!"
Panic rose within Karin, Naruko, and Satsuki.
Shukaku gleefully laughed, placing his mouth towards all of them.
"Good night kids."
Shukaku with a movement of its mouth, released its chakra ball forward.
Naruko, Satsuki and Karin tried to move, but couldn't.
As the sphere neared them however, suddenly Ryouta came out from the trees, Shukaku's eyes widening, as Kusanagi was enveloped in chakra.
"Forget about me did you!?"
Ryouta announced, as he makes Kusanagi longer to combat the sphere, and with running his chakra through it, he swung it forward towards the Tailed Beasts attack, clashing violently in the air.
Shukaku looked, and saw Kabuto tied to a tree with wire, and under Ryouta's Genjutsu.
Gritting his teeth, Ryouta pushed more and more into his sword, while the sphere tried pushing back.
A violent clash between them.
A struggle with Ryouta protecting the others, and Shukaku wanting to end this.
"No, you're fighting my chakra?!"
Shukaku was immensely surprised, Ryouta didn't give him, and though it was difficult, he couldn't back down now.
"That's right, I'll stop you!"
"Get lost kid!"
Shukaku swing out his arms, sending several waves of sharp looking blade like sand for Ryouta.
Still he held his ground and took the shots, some blood dripping him the areas he was attacked, knowing if he moved then the orb would blast him.
Shukaku wore surprise on his face, seeing the resilience on Ryouta's own.
"Seriously kid..."
Shukaku was stunned, while Ryouta pressed forward, seeing an opening.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Powering on, Ryouta swung the blade, and sliced through the orb, exploding all around him, shocking Shukaku.
Karin looked relieved, Satsuki let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and Naruko smiled in relief, as the curse like seals vanished.
"Get away!"
Shukaku tried to escape, and placed a wall before him made of sand.
But with a few swings of Kusanagi, Ryouta got through, and turned to Naruko.
"Now Naruko-chan! I'll protect your toad from the sand, wake Gaara-san up!"
"Yeah! Leave it to me!"
Naruko charged off as Ryouta sliced several times against Shukaku.
Her fist came up as she rocketed herself to Gaara.
Shukaku panicked, and tried to move.
But Gamabunta wouldn't allow him to move at all, and Ryouta protected Gamabunta from Shukaku's attacks, pinning him from moving out of the way.
So he manipulated what sand he could and sent it towards Naruko, who tried to dodge mid air, but some of the sand smashed into her right arm, and then again into her left arm as she dodged another blast.
The third blast came for Naruko, who tried to dodge, but the blast hit her forehead, blasting off of the forehead protector she wore, exposing her forehead.
"What the hell girl!?"
Shukaku was baffled.
Even though he couldn't go full power, he thought that might have been enough to stop her.
But no, it wasn't stopping her.
"Go on Naruko-chan!"
Ryouta exclaimed, Naruko smiled, and nodded strongly.
Naruko kept going, faster and faster through the air, propelled like a fast moving bullet.
Shukaku panicked, and kept trying to push Gamabunta off.
Doing everything he could, and was beginning to weaken the grip that he had on.
But Gamabunta was relentless, and wouldn't let go.
Plus with Ryouta managing to stop the sand from attacking Gamabunta, there was no way to go now, as Naruko neared Gaara.
"GAARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! IT'S TIME TO WAKE UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!"
Naruko couldn't use her arms.
So she used what else she had.
Her head.
A loud banging noise rang out through the area, as the heads collided with one another.
Blood came from both Naruko's, and Gaara's head, with Shukaku's movements becoming stalled.
"No, I wont go back! I can't go back!"
Shukaku yelled, and unleashed a burst of sand around himself, which forced back Gamabunta a good deal onto his back.
But didn't have a choice as he felt his consciousness being suppressed more and more.
Gaara's eyes began shifting open, as the giant sand creatures form disappeared completely, dropping the pair from the ground.
Satsuki, Karin and Ryouta the pair fall hard and fast, knowing such damage could cause some injuries they'd have difficulty recovering from.
So Ryouta shot up towards them, as Satsuki did the same thing.
She caught Naruko in her arms, while Ryouta managed to get Gaara in his arms, and fell towards the trees safely.
"Geez...never thought...you'd do this..."
Naruko admitted, Satsuki huffed.
"Don't get used to it."
While Satsuki was saying that, Ryouta looked towards Gaara.
The relief in her eyes, told Ryouta she truly had been going through quite a lot.
"...I thought you were dead."
"Sorry for arriving late, had some thing's I needed to do."
Gaara looked relieved to see him once more.
"You saved me..."
"From falling, but Naruko-chan woke you up."
Gaara's eyes went towards Naruko, seeing her now resting on a tree.
"That girl...what is she?"
"She's like you, Gaara-san."
Ryouta whispered, with Gaara becoming intrigued.
"Like me?"
Gaara's question was met with a nod.
"Yes...life was unfair to her as well, she didn't have a family and for a time, no one would be friends with her either. Because she also...has things about her that would drive others away, but she's a kind compassionate girl, that would go the extra mile for anyone, and she sensed a kindred spirit with you. After this, it would be good if you could speak together. You'll see...you're quite alike, that you both...have a lot of in common. Maybe you could even support each other...I know for certain Naruko-chan would want to get to know you more."
Gaara looked at Naruko.
She was surprised that she did go to such lengths for her.
She didn't really know her, but she was determined to save her.
She remembered bits and pieces, of what had happened.
But then as she was looking towards him, she felt a pulse from her heart.
More and more, she felt something crawling its way back to the surface…
It was Shukaku.
"N-Noooo! No!"
"Gaara-san, what's..."
Before Ryouta could finish, he saw that part of Gaara's face was beginning to turn right back into Shukaku, so this time, before he could do, Ryouta came face to face with Gaara, and locked his Sharingan eyes with Shukaku's own.
"Time to end this."
"Nooooooooooo!"
Before Shukaku could fight it, he and Ryouta found themselves in Gaara's inner world.
Sand and dust erupted everywhere, while Ryouta looked on at the hulking giant beast before them, with Gaara now in his arms.
She looked tired, weak from what was going on.
Shukaku on the other hand was growling and his hands tried to reach out, but before he could move on, Ryouta held out his sword, ready to fight.
Ryouta thought about the best way to do this, what would be best for Gaara's future, so he tried speaking with the beast, to try and reason with it one last time, he didn't know what would happen after this, if he'd be able to see Gaara again for a while due to the situation with the villages, so he had to try and speak to Shukaku to see if he could have her stopped.
"One Tail."
"Damn you Uchiha! What are you doing!?"
The beast demanded as Ryouta exhaled.
"I'm going to have to stop you. You can't keep doing this to Gaara-san. You've caused enough pain, you could have let her know I was living when you saw me, you didn't have to take over her like this. Can't you see that she's in pain?"
Shukaku laughed in Ryouta's face, something that didn't make Ryouta back down even for a moment.
Gaara looked on, seeing Ryouta trying his best.
"It's no good...he wont listen..."
Gaara dejectedly said, with Ryouta wishing that there would be another way to do this.
He could stop Shukaku with his eyes, but he might not always be around.
He didn't want Shukaku to try and take advantage of a vulnerable Gaara.
"Maybe not...but I don't want you to have to always be fighting with the One Tail, I want you to be able to live a normal life. I know, maybe he wont listen to me, but I have to try."
Gaara was quite stunned.
He was truly trying to help her.
With everything that he could use, he was going to try for her, which made her heart flutter.
Something that she hadn't ever felt before.
Ryouta stared at the laughing Shukaku, and moved closer.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because an Uchiha thinks that I am going to change with a pep talk!"
"No, I don't think that you'll change with a few words. But I want to know something about you."
"About me?"
Shukaku was surprised.
He couldn't recall anyone from this time ever asking anything about him.
He only recalled a very select few people wishing to get to know anything about him.
"Yes, tell me about your life, as a Tailed Beast, what it was like, and why you feel the way you do."
Shukaku laughed.
"I thought you said this wasn't going to be a pep talk?"
"This isn't a pep talk. I want to understand why you feel the need to do this to Gaara-san. What has she done to you? She didn't ask for you to be sealed within her. She didn't ask for you to torment her on a daily basis. So why do you do it?"
"It's kill or be killed in this world kid, haven't you seen it already? You have to be strong, and humans...humans really are the monsters. Treating us as nothing more than power supplies and using us in your wars!"
Despite being loud, and howling at him.
Ryouta could feel there was something more to it than that.
It felt like he almost was feeling unsure about something.
"People see you as a monster, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"People also see those you are inside as monsters, like Gaara-san. They see her as such a being."
"Not my problem!"
"Maybe not, but she can empathize with what you're feeling, can't she?"
Shukaku paused…
He hadn't really thought about it before.
"Even if she can..."
"You seem to be against Gaara-san, tormenting her. Is it, to get back at humans? For what and how they've treated you in the past?"
Shukaku was baffled.
Making him think like this wasn't what he had planned for.
"What difference does it make?!"
"Because Gaara-san isn't the human that did these things to you. In fact, she was forced to become a Jinchuriki, Pakura-san told me about it. When she was born, you were placed inside of her. So like you, she didn't have a choice but to become the weapon of Suna."
"..."
Shukaku didn't say anything while Ryouta continued on.
"What I ask is...why not work with Gaara-san? Become better together? You have common ground, you both have been mistreated by those around you. You don't have to war with Gaara-san, you can work together. Coexisting together, would be better than this. The endless back and forth, you trying to take over her, and her forcing you down. Nothing will come out of this, and in the end, will make you both hate the others existence."
Shukaku wasn't sure on how to reply.
He hadn't thought about these things before.
Ryouta's words made sense.
His actions also showed that he cared for Gaara, coming to her side, stopping him from harming her.
All of it cultivated in showing that Ryouta wasn't a bad human.
"You also care for the Nine Tails Jinchuriki, don't you? That girl with blonde hair."
"Yes, Naruko-chan is precious to me as well."
"Heh, that bastard fox wont be swayed by mere words you know? He's more ruthless than I am. Even then, you're going to help her?"
"Of course, I'll do anything to help Naruko-chan." Shukaku turned his head to the side. "By the way...do you have a name?"
Shukaku's head turned back.
"Why do you care?"
"I'm sure you don't like being called One Tail, and while I don't know everything about Tailed Beasts, I've read that some Tailed Beasts have a name, a name they've chosen, or were given, do you have a name you want us to call you?"
Shukaku was beyond surprised.
Not many in his life have ever asked that.
No one ever cared to ask that before.
"...I do, but I haven't decided if I want to tell you."
Ryouta raised a brow, as he felt a shift coming from beside him.
Ryouta glanced at Gaara, seeing her eyes on Shukaku.
Gaara pulled to her feet, and took a hold of Ryouta's hand.
"...I do have something to say."
She directed at Shukaku, who raised a brow.
"What's that?"
Shukaku asked without looking.
So Gaara spoke as Ryouta watched on.
"It was...difficult, and still is, housing you inside. However...it has also given me...a unique view on many things...that need to happen. You and me...Naruko and her beast...we have both found someone...that accepts us, even knowing...what we house inside. You, and the Nine Tails...Ryouta-kun, is someone that...has shown me that acceptance can happen, that there are...people out there that will accept us despite our circumstances. You might hate me...but, I wont hate you, because I also managed to gain a few things from you...one being able to find...someone like Ryouta-kun."
Ryouta was surprised that she was saying it.
But it did warm his heart to hear her words.
It felt beautiful, magnificent at the same time as sadness that she had to endure so much when she was young. Losing people that cared for her, having nowhere to turn to, that's why he was going to be there for her and be there for her to turn too.
Shukaku wasn't sure how to feel about this.
He didn't say anything, but he did stare at Ryouta and Gaara.
Seeing them hand in hand, was surprising.
Someone...accepted them.
Even despite knowing about their Tailed Beasts, even when being threatened, Ryouta didn't run, he didn't back down, and he didn't show fear of either him, or Gaara either.
Shukaku took a minute to decide what to do.
Fight.
Sleep.
Ignore their words.
Listen deeply.
All these thoughts rank through his mind, it was difficult for Shukaku to even think about it.
So he turned his neck away and murmured "I ain't interested in fighting. Sleep if you want girl, I can't be bothered." and simply walked off until he vanished from the area.
Ryouta breathed slowly, as Gaara tilted her head.
"Ryouta-kun, what does this mean?"
"It means that maybe, the One Tail, hopefully he'll tell us his name one day, is on his path to becoming closer to you. It might take time, and effort...but, I think there could be hope for him yet Gaara-san. As he thought, I could see in his eyes...he's never really been spoken to like this. But whatever happens, I'll be right beside you, supporting you the best way that I can do. With the One Tail, with whatever you need."
Gaara felt touched, and humbled.
To the point that she leaned closer.
"Ryouta-kun...I want to experience your warmth again."
"Experience my..."
Before he finished, she crushed her lips onto his own, and caressed his lips with her own soft ones.
He was surprised, but happy as he allowed his arms to wrap around her.
There was no more need to fight, or to do anything other than enjoy one another's warm happy embrace with the other.
While Ryouta was doing that with Gaara, Satsuki watched Naruko rest on a tree, while Karin did what she could to take care of Naruko's injuries, all the while her eyes shifted to Kabuto, wondering what he was going to be doing.
"It seems that Ryou has managed to subdue Kabuto."
Karin nodded.
"Yes, this situation really has been quite the event. But even then..."
However, as they were speaking, Karin picked something up, so she stopped talking.
Her senses shifted to see what it was.
Though they were far, she honed her senses, and felt a group.
Powerful at that.
"Satsuki...there's something coming here, with a group."
"A group? Oto?"
"I presume...but something else is with them, something that feels...I don't know what this feeling is, but it feels strong, wild...it feels like a dark presence, many dark presences."
Satsuki narrowed her brows, wondering what it was that was coming, but seeing the states of Ryouta and Naruko, she'd do her best to defend them...
Back with Yukine and Hiruzen, with the pair coming together, Orochimaru grit his teeth.
Hiruzen weaved through some hand signs, after biting his thumb to draw some blood, and placed his hand down onto the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Hiruzen summoned a monkey to his side, which was a bit taller than he was, wearing a headband, the Monkey King himself, Enma.
"Sarutobi, why have you summoned me..." Before he could finish, he glanced at Yukine. "...you're back, with that Jutsu it seems. Good or evil?"
"I'm on your side if that's what you mean."
Yukine replied with a kind smile on her face.
"I see. Hiruzen, what are you going to do?"
"We're going to be taking down the enemies before us, that's what we'll be doing."
"Right, then I'll transform."
"Please do old friend."
Hiruzen said kindly, as Enma looked on at Orochimaru.
"You should have killed him when you had the chance."
"I know, it is my error that we didn't. Forgive me, old friend."
"...Well, I don't have a choice."
Orochimaru scowled as Enma began to transform, so Orochimaru snapped his fingers.
"Go now!"
He sent both the First and Second Hokage's out, the former shooting off his Wood Release to try and bind Hiruzen, while the other weaved through some hand signs, and released a hard breath of water, which rippled through the area, and shot right for Enma to slay him.
Yukine got between them, and weaved through two separate Jutsu's, before placing her hands forward, and summoned a large barrier that had a seal attached to it, so when the wood hit the sealed barrier, it caused it to shake for a moment, before stopping in place.
"Tricky as always Yukine-chan."
"You know it Sensei."
But the water managed to cut through it, and continued on towards Yukine.
She weaved through two hand signs, a seal and a Lightning Release, shooting them off mere inches from her body, and hit the water, causing not only for it to pause in place, but to also send a strong electric current through the stream of water, heading right for Tobirama.
"Tricky girl."
Orochimaru cut off Tobirama from using the water, and had him jump back, only to see that Yukine had appeared behind Tobirama, and her fist balled as she swung it forward, Tobirama tried to react, but her fist smashed into his body and sent him flying backwards.
"Orochimaru, your control will never be able to replicate their powers, their minds, and how they use them."
Tobirama slammed into the ground, while Hashirama weaved through some hand signs, and caused trees to erupt up and out, attempting to bind around Yukine's form, when Hiruzen suddenly jumped into the fray, and used his newly formed staff to cleave through the wood, and stopped Orochimaru doing what he was trying to do.
Standing side by side, it was time for the pair to finally get going together, and defeat the enemy before them.
Yukine looked towards Hiruzen, then down at herself.
"It's time to finish this...Hiruzen, thank you for being this strong, just a little bit longer...then this will be over. I wish I could've seen my son again...but, I know he'll do just fine...Ryou...be safe, be strong, and be kind...now, I have to see this through to the end. Sensei...to think even like this, we'd be against one another...I wont let you get my son you bastard."
She smiled at her thoughts, as she stared at Hiruzen fondly.
He glanced back at her, and felt something different was going on.
Whatever it was, Hiruzen knew this would be what would settle everything.
The fight, was soon going to end, but the victor...would soon be decided.
End chapter!
So, a few things happened this chapter! With Naruko and Shukaku having a fight, as did Ryouta and Kabuto.
Naruko managed to deal a blow to wake up Gaara, after Ryouta and Gamabunta held Shukaku down, giving Naruko the time to do such a thing.
But Shukaku kept trying, so Ryouta used his eyes to delve into Gaara's subconscious. Confronting Shukaku directly, despite him arguing back, seems to have something's to think about after Ryouta and Gaara spoke to him, and tried understanding him more. Ryouta even saw a Tailed Beast ball and fought against it.
Ryouta also managed to cut down Kabuto and end that fight for the time being, even managing to scare Kabuto a good deal.
Danzo is also having his plan come together, with him using Ameyuri, what that plan is and how it goes forward, we'll soon see~
Mikoto and Pakura also came together, and are now going after Danzo together.
Also, I can confirm that next chapter is gonna be the finale of the Konoha Crush arc! We'll see what Yukine's had planned for a while now, what's gonna happen with certain people, certain peoples fates, and setting up some other stuff for the future!
Finally, a question that I've been asked about a few times, about what rank Ryouta's gonna be after this arc, considering what he's done like fighting the dead Kage and some have said, if he should be Chunin or Jonin rank, so I've decided to put it up to a vote! I could see either, as he'll eventually make Jonin regardless.
I'm sure some might wonder if he's made Jonin now, where would he go for Shippuden, like how most became Chunin and in Neji's case Jonin, and that is to be a Sensei to his own team. So regardless, he'll still keep progressing.
So yeah, if you're interested, please vote, and until next time, thanks for reading!
Ryouta; Satsuki, Sakura, Naruko, Hinata, Gaara (fem), Ino, Haku (fem), Kurotsuchi, Karin, Konan, Mei, Anko, Samui, Hanabi, Mabui, Temari, Pakura,