Welcome to the next chapter!
joharasbel; Thanks!
Skull Flame; Tayuya seems to yeah. It really is quite like that huh.
ShadowUzumaki55; Thanks! Yeah, they seem to be on the case to something when it comes to Ryouta. Sakura is yeah, and Ryouta has some plans for sure.
Morregen; Thanks! Yeah, he surely does~
Silver crow; Thanks. Yeah, we shall see what the plan is very soon. Garaga knows what to do. Sakura did yeah. Tayuya has yeah. Yeah, that story won. Not this chapter, quite soon. Still got stuff to do before that happens. Tayuya does yeah. Ryouta knows that not everyone would treat their comrades like Konoha would, he was pointing out the technicalities of it, and how Orochimaru basically sent them to die. He isn't Kage level yet, with his Mangekyou yes but without he's a very strong Jonin level. We shall see what happens with Orochimaru this arc. We shall see what Tayuya is going to do pretty soon. He will develop those during the time skip. We shall see what happens with Ryouta by the end.
Guest 1; Thanks very much!
TheGreatGodzilla; Tayuya doing that would alert the village very quickly, Tayuya would have lost within a short amount of time and probably would have been killed if not captured, and Kabuto and the others would have been captured/killed, then Mikoto would have died by Orochimaru's hands, that's why Orochimaru forced Ryouta to go away from the village, as he knew he didn't have the man power to do another sneaky invasion against the entire village, hope that answered the question. Tsunade came out with the reasons regarding Shizune, so did Ryouta and as others have speculated, he is buying time for Tsunade and the others to put the plan into action. Kin, along with her comrades, are still locked away. Yes, their child has already been hinted at what it would be in this story. Himawari would just look like an older version of what she is now. Tenten, not sure yet.
suryafirdaus2134; Thanks very much!
Guest 2; Yeah, they could be.
Hinata fan; A few chapters. We shall see how it goes with them. Yeah, he had her stay asleep that long to make sure she was able to tell the others the plans he had. Sakura has her role to play.
Guest 3; He could get one regardless if he has human or not in him. He can transform parts or his whole body into that of a Dragon.
Phantom Reader; Yeah, he is able to psychologically manipulate his opponents and get under their skin when he needs to do it. It isn't a skill he gets to use often, but he certainly knows how to do it when needed. Yeah, Orochimaru has warped a good number of lives. Mikoto would be a good candidate, but Orochimaru due to being driven to the brink of insanity, wants to get back at Yukine and Ryouta without other thoughts coming in about that. Yeah, it was inspired by that, and a few other anime I have seen with fast characters. Yeah, Haku, Karin and Lee are, we shall see what they do soon. Danzo is doing stuff, we shall see what he thinks about all this very soon. Thanks very much! Yeah, that is the story that won. I am sure they would have been quite shocked to see he couldn't use fire. Isekai stories have always been an interesting thing to explore, I suppose it would come down to which I think would be the best to write for.
Guest 4; Thank you!
Guest 5; Yes, this is the last arc before Shippuden.
With those reviews out of the way, its time to start the chapter!
Garaga's move!
The team consisting of Ryouta, Kabuto, Guren, Tayuya, and Kimimaro, were continuing through the forest, moving rapidly, and Ryouta could feel the tension within the air.
Not that he cared either way right now, he was more focused on what was going on with Mikoto, and how the unstable Orochimaru was treating her.
"Mikoto-san, soon I should be there, and when I get there, I'll make sure that the plan goes off without a hitch. I'll save you, just give me a little more time."
He knew Garaga would do as he had asked, and whoever was fighting the giant snake, Ryouta was sure that would be secure, as for the others, he would have to continue making plans for the future.
As he thought, he saw Kimimaro staring at him, as if he was trying to discern his thoughts.
"That one has dangerous eyes, but also kind at the same time. It seems Orochimaru probably warped him and his good nature into one that follows only Orochimaru himself. He really is one sadistic bastard that damn Orochimaru. I can see why Garaga-san hates him so much, he does give snake users a bad name."
While thinking it, Guren decided to speak up.
"Hey, kid."
Ryouta paused, and looked towards Guren.
"What?"
"I was thinking about what you said, about your Mother. That's true, about your Mother being brought back?"
"Yes, that's true. You didn't know?"
"I wasn't around during the invasion of Konoha, I was a little busy securing other things for Orochimaru-sama."
Ryouta thought for a moment about what she said, and wondered what she was securing for Orochimaru exactly.
Though he knew there would be little point in asking right now, she wouldn't be able to say anything, even if she wanted to.
"I see. So, why so curious about it? You are following Orochimaru, so would it matter what he did?"
Guren furrowed her brows, her eyes dancing up the young man's form, and showed a resisted look of curiousness.
"I was curious about why Orochimaru-sama wishes for you. Apart from the obvious Sharingan, it seems that he has intentionally gone for you and you alone. Is there something about you that is unique apart from the Sharingan?"
"You couldn't ask that monster about this?"
Guren went to shake her head, but caught herself in the act, and stopped that before she could do, simply staring on as she spoke up.
"Orochimaru-sama has his reasons for not saying, and I respect that. But your Mother, her name would be..."
"Yukine."
Guren immediately had her jaw hit the floor.
"Not Yukine the elemental master!?"
"Is that one of Mom's nicknames? I've heard some before, not heard that one."
She didn't know if he was telling the truth about that or not, and Guren was all the more curious about why Orochimaru was doing what he was doing, carefully examining the young man with her eyes, but found it extremely difficult to discern what was truly going on.
"She...She is a very powerful...I mean she was a very powerful Ninja within the world, and had a reputation that was quite terrifying, and then there's her husband...I see, I think I understand why you're the one who is being targeted..."
Ryouta tilted his head, but Guren didn't say anything else, and kept her eyes ahead before them.
As they travelled rapidly through said forest, Ryouta became more and more aware of what direction they were going, at least in the short time.
He was sure that this was the way towards the two giant statues of the First Hokage, and Madara Uchiha.
"If I remember right, it would be the Valley of the End. I can't believe that Orochimaru would be there, its still too close to Konoha, and Orochimaru isn't stupid enough to have the exchange there. However, getting there, there are a few ways it could go, if I could figure that out, then I could get to her...its fine, I still have my plans, they haven't caught on yet."
Ryouta began thinking of where to go, he wanted to get rid of Kabuto and the others as quickly as possible.
But even then, he was sure that there was still a few ways this could go.
"I know one would lead to Oto as the Valley of the End is supposed to border the Land of Sound...but, that could be a mislead to somewhere else, knowing Orochimaru it probably is...hmmm, I'll have to keep going for the time being with them, and making sure that nothing happens."
As Ryouta was thinking about it, Kimimaro turned his head back.
"It seems that we're going to have company."
Ryouta glanced behind them, and furrowed his brows.
"Well, looks like your snake didn't manage to pin them all down."
"According to what I can see, the team has already been split."
Ryouta replied to the cocky looking Kabuto.
"Not enough. Orochimaru-sama is expecting us back as quickly as possible."
Now that Kabuto had implied they were in a hurry once more, Ryouta couldn't deny that clearly something was going on.
He didn't understand why Orochimaru would be in such a rush, although he had some educated guesses, apart from the obvious involvement of Konoha, it felt more than that.
He thought this would be a good chance to make sure that Kabuto wasn't looked at so fondly by the others, while also continuing to extract information from them all.
"Why the rush, Kabuto? He has already taken over another body, hasn't he?"
"That isn't the reason for any rushing. Orochimaru-sama wishes to confirm your location within the area we have chosen, so Konoha cannot interfere. That's why. We know that a clash with Konoha will end up with us losing the conflict if Konoha came for us with full force. I thought that you would have worked that out."
Ryouta shook his head at Kabuto.
"That isn't the only reason we have to hurry. While that is a good explanation for some, I don't buy it being the only reason. There's more to it, right? And by the looks on the others faces, I'd say they're just as curious as I am."
Kimimaro, Guren and Tayuya all look towards Kabuto questioningly, the young glasses wearer didn't respond right away, so that gave them suspicions that something else might be going on that they weren't aware of.
He couldn't think about what Orochimaru was also rushing for, because he knew that possibly Danzo could try something behind his back, and that was something that he didn't want anyone else to know about, not yet anyway.
"...Orochimaru-sama has his own reasons for keeping things secret. Even I don't know everything that is going on with him. Now, with the enemies that are coming to fight us, we cannot waste anymore time. Which means, if you're unwilling to kill them, then we will have to do so instead."
"Haven't we been through this already? I told you that you'd not kill anyone from Konoha, or I'll make sure that you all die."
"Your methods are not working, clearly. So, are you against it now?"
Ryouta went to reject...when he stopped, and thought about it for a few moments.
Without giving the game away, Ryouta appeared to concede, while also factoring more into his plans.
"Fine, but if she or anyone kills anyone from Konoha, then the deals off."
Kabuto smirked, believing that he had the opportunity to get one over on Ryouta.
But Ryouta wouldn't allow that to happen.
So when Kabuto began smirking, Ryouta had snakes shoot from his sleeves, and wrap a cocoon around Kabuto, while a few snakes began to slither away, undetected by all with the others distracted by what had happened.
"What are you doing?"
"A warning, I can get to you at anytime. Orochimaru isn't the only one who can use snakes, so we'll see who the best snake summoner really is."
Kabuto exhaled deeply as the snakes vanished from the area he was in.
Kabuto then turned to Guren.
"I suppose it would be best for you to stay behind, you would be able to stop them with your Crystal Release, wouldn't you? Or, would it be too difficult for you?"
Condescendingly saying it in a manner that Ryouta didn't like at all, Kabuto gazed towards the crystal user of the group.
Guren let out a small laugh.
"You must be kidding, do you honestly believe that I'll lose to a few kids? I'll be fine, thanks."
Ryouta glanced at Guren and watched her stop hopping on the trees.
She came to a complete stop, and turned towards him from the corner of her eye.
"Don't worry boy, I know what I've got to do. But if death should happen..."
"Then you'll know about it as well Guren-san. Even if I'm not here, Orochimaru isn't the only one who knows certain techniques." A snake shot out of his sleeve, and landed on a tree, Ryouta began bluffing while the others weren't sure what to think. "If the snake there goes, then I'll know immediately."
"Is that so?"
Guren dared back, Ryouta nodded without pause.
"Yes, that's right."
Guren and Ryouta stared off with one another for a brief moment, Ryouta and Guren meeting eyes for such a time, before she turned away, and he did the same thing.
Ryouta sighed, wishing that this wouldn't happen, but was determined to keep going, and he definitely was going to make sure the others would be fine, he wasn't about to let anyone else die...
Meanwhile, Satsuki and the others consisting of Hinata, Naruko and Neji were making their way towards Ryouta, aware that this could be a very dangerous fight ahead of them.
Satsuki kept thinking on how to play this fight, and how she was going to be able to win.
"Considering that we have already been split down the middle, we don't have the luxury of quantity on our side, so we have to go with quality."
Neji began, Satsuki nodding.
"Yeah, they have four enemies and Ryou on that side. We only have us four left on our side. It would have to be a one on one fight. That's if he doesn't fight on our side for whatever reason. Though part of me is thinking if this is right..."
Naruko looked flabbergasted by what she said.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm just thinking out loud, for the time being."
Satsuki did wonder if this was the right way to go. She trusted Ryouta with her life, if he was doing this, then there had to be a reason for it.
That's what she thought anyway.
But she was still trying to work that one out, and kept coming to some similar conclusions that she wasn't entirely sure about.
"D-Don't forget...Tsunade-sama is also...sending out...more people to help us..."
Hinata timidly said, Satsuki nods, glancing at Naruko who seemed to be rather quiet all of a sudden.
"Yes that is true. But until they arrive, Neji is right. That's why we have to play to the strengths that we have, and hope it can match up to their weaknesses." Her eyes turn to the quiet Naruko. "Naruko, you got a good look at them all, is there any that you recognize?"
Naruko didn't answer.
She kept her eyes forward, and she seemed to be in deep thought about something.
Satsuki thought that was odd, so she spoke up once again.
"Naruko." Naruko paused her thoughts, and looked to Satsuki. "Those guys with Ryou, did you get a good look at any of their faces, and remember anything about them? You interacted with them when getting the new Hokage, didn't you? So maybe you recognized them?"
"Ah...erm...eh...yeah, the girl with the flute...she has Genjutsu, I already said that though huh...erm, the other woman with them...Ryou told me...that someone that looked like her...had Crystal Release..."
As she spoke, Satsuki could see Naruko was thinking quite hard about what was going on.
"Crystal Release?" Neji echoed. "I thought that was a rumour...so, it does indeed exist after all...Orochimaru has some servants on his side. Not to mention the white haired one...he seemed to be firing his bones..."
"A...Kekkei Genkai...with his bones...maybe?"
Hinata pondered, Satsuki furrowed her brows.
"So each has something dangerous to them. I could probably take the Genjutsu girl if she tried it with me. As for the others...they must be strong, otherwise they wouldn't have been sent with Ryou to bring him back to where they're going..."
Neji exhales slowly, and turns to Satsuki.
"I wouldn't mind fighting against the Crystal Release."
"Are you sure?"
Satsuki asked, as even she didn't know the capabilities of the young woman known as Guren.
"It seems she could be a long range type, if I could get in close, then perhaps I could be able to overpower her, or weaken her. Though it might be wishful thinking on my part that she isn't also very skilled with short range as well. She is Orochimaru's henchmen, she was sent on a mission to retrieve Ryouta Uchiha, if they recognize his Jonin level skills, then it is clear that they would have to send Jonin level Shinobi as well, and we can't take the chance that this woman isn't that same level."
Satsuki thought that maybe it would be best, they would have to make quick decisions and precise calculations to achieve a victory for their side.
Soon, they are confronted by the very same person they were talking about, Guren appeared and showed distinct strong eyes towards them all.
"She's come to stop us."
Neji murmured, Hinata nodding.
"Y...Yes, she has...we have to get through her...to get to Ryou-kun..."
She began weaving through hand sighs, and from that, crystals began forming in the atmosphere around her, forming into deadly looking shurikens.
"Lets play, shall we?"
The group looked worried about the confrontation happening, but were prepared for what was about to happen...
Currently, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino and a passed out Kiba and Akamaru were tasked with stopping Garaga.
Ino pondered how they were going to go about this, very aware that it had venom that could cause their bodies to turn into stone.
The giant red snake looked down towards them all, glancing towards the right hand side out of the concern of his eye, seeing a small white snake slithering along, Garaga had his eyes looking between them with a grin working its way onto his face.
"So, a few kids got left behind? That's alright with me, I want to see what else you three can do. I heard of the previous Ino-Shika-Cho from a generation ago. Though, that guy with the dog...how did he get knocked out?"
The three of them grimaced, not sure on how to answer.
But Ino did anyway.
"Ryou-kun used Genjutsu on him."
Garaga snickered.
"Seriously?"
"Yes, he used Genjutsu to knock him out."
"Aah, so he didn't go for the kill huh. Interesting."
Garaga used, hoping the hidden meaning didn't escape the trio.
Choji and Ino didn't take what he said to heart, but Shikamaru began thinking deeply about what he said, and curiously wondered what Garaga was referring to, and was also thinking about if Ryouta had truly defected from Konoha, then there would be no reason to knock Kiba out, he would have killed him to save himself the trouble later on.
"Interesting, how exactly?"
Shikamaru asked, with Garaga letting out a small laugh as a result.
"I find it interesting, that he didn't do it. When he did...well, I guess each their own and all that stuff. So, you three are going to be fighting against me? I don't mind, but it seems that your hands are shaking a little bit there Nara boy."
Shikamaru narrowed his gaze.
"Not shaking for the reasons you seem to think."
"Is that so? Can you find a way to defeat me? Also, you think you're buying time for those that escaped, but the reality isn't always as obvious as it appears to be. Ah well, I've said my part now, we should get on with the fighting." Garaga then raised his head, before shooting forward. "Lets do this!"
Garaga, moving so fast, was becoming something bewildering to the others, but they made a stance, and were ready to tackle this challenge head on.
With the giant snake coming in, he attempted to use the shadow possessing Jutsu to capture him, however the giant snake whipped his tail out, and generated enough pressure to send them flying backwards.
Rolling on the ground, Shikamaru got to his feet first, and threw his shuriken at the giant snake. But Garaga merely breathed and released enough air that it stopped the progression of the shurikens, only to see that a shadow was coming from the shurikens, and heading right for him.
"Smart, using the shurikens to extend the range of your shadows in an effort to capture me. But you're out of luck here kid, I've seen how you Ino-Shika-Cho's fight before. I know exactly how you're thinking right now, trap me with a shadow, daze me with the other kid there, and then perhaps use the mind girl to possess me long enough to restrain me, or maybe even swap the girl and boy around huh? Am I right kid?"
Shikamaru tightened his eyes.
Garaga slithered away as the shadow chased him.
Thinning by the second as it stretched further, Choji used his hands, made them bigger, and raised them high, allowing a strong shadow to appear on the ground, which Shikamaru used to extend the shadow even further than he did beforehand.
However, Garaga was simply too fast for the shadows to catch him.
Ino watched on, knowing that she would have to do something to switch this situation around.
He was too fast to hit with the mind transfer, so she would have to do something else instead.
"No!"
Garaga paused when he saw a few smoke bombs being launched forward.
No, they weren't ordinary at all, they had a purple haze to them, so he presumed that they were poison laced, and would cause a little problem for him.
He turned around, seeing the shadow chasing him, and laughed openly.
"Not bad for Genin and Chunin, you have some skill as a team. Maybe you've got potential after all."
Rather than be possessed by the shadows, Garaga went underground, shocking all three of them who looked around.
"He'll probably appear under us...no, maybe that's too obvious. He is a smart snake, it seems that he would have anticipated it...Shikamaru, calm down...you can think this through and get the upper hand, the others left me in charge here, I can do this."
Shikamaru thought of the most likely things that could happen, and ended up thinking of a few plans that they could use to get the snake, but as he went about to execute them, he felt the ground below him trembling.
Naturally, he dodged out of the way, but then when he did, he saw the ground below his new location opening up, his eyes widening, Shikamaru thinking "He lured me here with that trick." so Shikamaru took out a kunai with wire, and threw it for a tree, stabbing into said tree, and pulled himself away as Garaga's head came out.
"Geez, this snake is super serious right now, isn't he? This is a boss level summon, I'm not sure we can defeat this guy..."
Ino murmured, the giant snake turns towards her, so she pulls out a shuriken, throwing it at Garaga.
Garaga doesn't bat an eye as the snake catches the shuriken within his grasp, and launches it towards the incoming Choji, who was forced to dodge out of the way.
Shikamaru comes down to the ground, and his eyes fully look towards the giant snake that slid underground once more.
"Ino, you're going to have to use your sensory skills to tell us exactly where the snake is and when it is going to strike."
"Shikamaru, I haven't been able to do it as well as someone like Karin."
"It will have to do, you have the best sensory skills here, we need you here, now."
Ino understood, and closed her eyes.
She wasn't the best sensor right now, she was learning for sure, but she knew Karin was able to do it better than she could.
Even then, she concentrated, and tried picking up the various chakras from around her.
"Choji, when the time comes, I need you to attack as hard as you can, I'll give you the signal. Remember what you can do with kunai around you, we have to at least stun the giant snake if I am to do what is needed next."
Choji nods his head and fumbles his hands together, doing what Shikamaru was telling him to do.
Ino continued concentrating, harder and harder...until she sensed him, from near Shikamaru.
She went to yell...but thought the snake would stop, so she silently moved her hands, and pointed to below Shikamaru.
Understanding, Shikamaru did his best to begin moving away without his feet really being felt on the ground…
Then Garaga burst open so Shikamaru leapt away, thanks to Ino he was able to dodge, so he gave the signal to Choji, who wrapped kunai's around his body, with wire, and then he ballooned up, looking like a spiky cannon ball.
Garaga saw it coming and went to laugh, when he looked for Shikamaru to make sure that he didn't try a shadow possession.
He saw Shikamaru a good distance away, so he spat some venom at him, Shikamaru gasped and jumped out of the way, as Choji came in close.
"A bowling ball, time to have some fun!"
Garaga brought up his tail from underground, and sent the giant ball that was Choji into the air.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Choji cried out, as his body went so high into the air, before coming down.
As it did, Garaga noticed from the ground, a shadow had been cast from Choji's own.
He looked to Shikamaru, seeing that he was still in the middle of dodging the venom, so it made him confused. That was until he began trying to detect with his senses what Shikamaru was before him…
"You turned into the boy, girl! Nice little trick! Even trying to mask your scent from me, are you? It might have worked on others. So, your shadow friend is hiding, is he?"
Garaga gained a large grin, and watched as the shadow came closer.
Choji's body came down like a boulder, as the shadow reached towards Garaga's body...
But then, suddenly, the snake observing them was flattened by Choji's body, killing it off.
As the snake was killed, Garaga suddenly stopped, and yelled "STOP RIGHT NOW!" causing them to all freeze on the spot.
Ino shuddered and felt tears in her eyes, the same for Choji, and finally Shikamaru looked bewildered, his shadow falling short as Garaga moved out of the way.
Back with Ryouta, and the others, marching on forward, Ryouta glanced back, he couldn't see any real fighting going on yet, but his Sharingan did get to see the chakras, and saw that everyone was still there, which he was happy about.
Kabuto however showed a slight smirk on his face.
"Are you worried about Guren killing the others that came for you?"
Ryouta rolled his eyes at Kabuto's attempts to try and make him feel anything like anger, he wouldn't fall for it.
"They can hold their own."
Ryouta replied to Kabuto who snickered.
"You think so?"
"I know them better than you do Kabuto. I know Satsuki-chan particularly well, so if she's there, then I am sure she would think of ways to defeat Guren. Even if she's stronger, Satsuki-chan, Naruko-chan, Hinata-chan and Neji-san are capable of pulling off a victory."
That, was what Ryouta was sure of.
Kabuto gave a scathing look towards Ryouta, not wanting to lose any kind of battle with the young man.
"Despite my feelings for her, Guren was once a candidate like you, to become Orochimaru-sama's new vessel. She is immensely powerful, and there's no way that they'd be able to defeat her, especially if you think they would overcome her with power."
Ryouta thought of a flaw in Kabuto's words, something to exploit, so he began to do that very thing.
"Are you saying she is stronger than you? Because, if I recall right, correct me if I'm wrong, then you haven't ever been considered as Orochimaru's new vessel." Kabuto scowled as Ryouta continued on. "Maybe he doesn't see you as worthy. That's how it goes with him, right? Your worth, is if he wants to steal your body or not. Since he didn't want yours...you know where I'm going with this, right?"
Tayuya suppressed a laugh.
She couldn't help but show a large smile on her face.
But that was soon quelled by the look of Kimimaro.
Kabuto himself continued to scowl, and show what looked to be an aggressive look on his face.
"Listen kid, you don't know anything. Orochimaru-sama and I have a relationship that is close to student and master, he has taught me many things, and I in turn have been beside him."
"What has he taught you exactly?"
Kabuto let out a breath, not revealing anything.
"I don't have to reveal anything to you boy. Remember, you're still a child."
"Though I am young, I also was promoted to the rank of Jonin, and I am more than capable of discerning feelings between people, and what you're really thinking right now. Using my age as some factor to try and gain superiority doesn't work in our line of duty."
Kabuto tightened his hand.
Ryouta noticed and continued on.
"The more we travel, the more I realize what kind of person you really are, and well, I can see why Orochimaru chose you, in this case, similar twisted personalities attract."
Kabuto felt his anger twisting into a deep rage that was building up inside of himself.
Something that he wanted to hold back and keep from getting too involved.
Tayuya loved it.
She was loving more and more of Ryouta roasting Kabuto to the point that she was beginning to feel something else within that she didn't expect, but she was loving all the same, and that was Ryouta and how he made her feel.
Though she couldn't outwardly express it herself, she thought that he was pretty cool, even though she did hold some fear from how he was able to kill three of the sound four together, and did it relatively quickly.
As that went on, back with Satsuki and the others, they were watching Guren's crystals forming, so they had to deal with them quickly, Neji however didn't waste a moments pause, and charged right ahead with his fingertips going towards Guren.
"You all go, I shall fight against this enemy, and deal with her swiftly."
Guren snickered, and moved her finger outwards, allowing them to fly at high speeds for Neji. Neji using the Gentle Fist, began moving his fingers in ways where he was able to divert the crystal shurikens away from himself.
However, Neji didn't have any luck as when he tried to divert them, they split into shards, and began bombarding him with said shards, cutting into his flesh making him wince, so Satsuki weaved through some hand signs, and fired off a huge flaming sphere right for Guren.
Guren raised her hand, and formed a shield of crystal, that blocked the attack, before she allowed a blue blade to appear from her forearm, and she showed it towards Satsuki, who in turn narrowed her brows.
"Big brother Neji..."
Hinata held concern, Neji despite the cuts and how they bled waved his hand.
"I'm fine, really."
Hinata wasn't as convinced, and watched curiously as Neji rebounded, and got on top of a tree branch.
"These crystals are a nuisance, Neji wont be able to defeat this one alone. He is a close range, and I don't think his Gentle Fist is going to be able to tear through those crystals so easily. And we don't know what else she can do...but, if she's put here, then she has to be incredibly strong. They want us to be stopped by this woman, but if we are, then we wont be able to get towards Ryou...damn it all..."
Satsuki pondered it, when Naruko suddenly created a clone, and began summoning the Rasengan within her hand. The twisting orb of chakra was something that perplexed Guren at the sight of her using such a move.
"You aren't getting in our way! We will bring back Ryou!"
Naruko launched herself forward, as Guren released a small breath.
"Is this what you're going to do now? While that technique is pretty interesting..." Guren weaves through some hand signs, and before her, a red crystal was formed, in the shape of a circle, and she smirks. "You wont be getting through that."
"We'll see about that!"
Naruko yells out, and slams her Rasengan into the red crystal, but even though it begins to tear through the crystal barrier, it was able to stay strong and completely nullify the effects of the attack, to the point that it simply vanished as a result.
As it stopped, Guren broke the crystal shield Jutsu herself, and slammed her foot deep into Naruko's upper body, sending her flying back into a tree, where the leaves all fell off, and began scattering all around her, shocking the others.
"I thought that it might have done more damage than that."
Neji murmured, Guren however showed a dark look to her face.
"I'm not Orochimaru-sama's personal right hand for nothing. You cannot defeat me."
"We wont give up!"
Satsuki saw Naruko get back up, when Hinata stepped up, and stopped her.
"Naruko-san wait, s-she is very strong...we have to think...about what to do next..."
"We have to get through her, plain and simple! She's in the way of getting to Ryou!"
"He left with us, and you're wanting to save him?" Guren mused aloud, igniting rage within Naruko. "I don't think that's how it is going to work, not this time little girl."
"You don't know anything about him! He'll come back home with us, I know it!"
"Your belief in your friend, it is quite admirable. But why else did he summon that snake against you huh? If he wanted, he could have teamed up with his friends, and fought us off. But he didn't...did he?"
Naruko grit her teeth, tightened her hand, and for a moment, her eyes began flashing red from the Nine Tails power inside of her.
"Because you've done something! It has to be that! I've known Ryou nearly all my life! He wouldn't abandon us at all! Especially for your creepy leader!"
Guren shook her head in amusement.
"I find it kind of funny, that these bonds you seem to have, really run so deep."
"Yeah, they do! That's why I know that you have done something so we will stop you!"
Guren raised a brow at the anger of Naruko.
She went to strike, when Satsuki stopped her by grabbing her shoulder.
"What is it?! I have to stop her!"
"She's goading you into making a mistake, stay calm."
Hinata thought Satsuki was right.
That Guren was trying to preserve as much chakra as possible so she could get out of this rather quickly.
Guren then placed her hands together, and gave a small but darkened smile on her face.
"I don't need to goad you, I simply wanted to see where you would go and what you'd do when presented with certain situations."
Before she could launch the crystals, Neji launches himself at her, and does a series of jabs towards her to stop her, but she easily evades, and summons a giant shuriken of crystal, throwing it towards Neji who nimbly dodges out of the way, but does receive a cut on his arm due to the speed that she was able to use.
Neji pulls back, and then gets into a stance, while Guren notices a giant hawk coming down, and allowing Satsuki and the others onto its back.
"Distracting me huh?"
Guren weaved through some hand signs, and summons a crystal Dragon to attack the trio.
But Neji gets in the way, and begins using the Gentle Fist onto the crystal Dragon. Using precise jabs to break it apart with injecting his chakra via his hand style, some cracks appeared within the chakra based substance.
However, Neji couldn't overpower it, and was slammed into a tree as the hawk with the trio took flight.
"You're a bad match up for me, Hyuga-kun. You can't fight me if you can't get close, and with the way my crystals work, even your Gentle Fist is not going to be able to break through. You'd need to be physically strong! Even if you used your Gentle Fist to try and break down the chakra or whatever it is that you Hyuga's do, they're so dense you'd not be able to defeat me."
Guren said it as a finality, but Neji held convictions within his eyes, and looked ready to brawl with the more experienced Ninja.
"Perhaps, but I'll still fight against you."
"Why? For the Uchiha?"
"Yes."
Guren looked confused as to why Neji seemed to care so much as the trio were able to begin flying away.
Guren didn't want that, so she summoned a number of crystal shards around her, firing them off like dangerous bullets.
"I don't think so lady!"
Naruko however got some clones summoned, and they became a wall for them to be safe against the crystals assault.
While she did that, Satsuki threw a few shuriken, and used the Shurikenjutsu, with paper bombs attached to them, to get them around Guren, as she launched a giant fireball towards her.
Guren naturally blocked with her crystal barrier, but saw the paper bombs igniting, as Neji leapt away, Guren laughed.
"Not bad. Still wont work."
Guren's crystal barrier held together, despite the numerous explosions, and when they stopped, she released it, and saw the trio in sight, so she prepared a large shuriken to cleave the hawk and the others down.
Neji came back up, and attacked her once more, Guren released a sigh at the sight.
"Seriously, such a simple trick."
"Sometimes, the most simplest of tricks, have the best kind of effects."
Neji retorted, Guren sighed, and then turned to Neji.
"You do know, you wont take me long to kill. I know about your Byakugan, and I have ways of dealing with that little visual prowess of yours."
Neji grit his teeth, and got into a stance.
"Whether it is for a minute or an hour, anytime for them to get away, is better than nothing."
"Sounds like someone's famous last words."
Guren murmured out, showing some bemusement on her face.
But Neji shook his head, and tightened his resolve with each word passing through his lips.
"I don't plan to die here today. In the past...I might have said it was destiny, but now...for certain, it is about me taking control. You might be superior to me...but, I wont stop until I have no breath in my body."
"That can be so easily arranged dear Hyuga-kun. I'll estimate five minutes you'll go up against me. And that's me being generous."
With those dangerous words coming from Guren, the young woman allowed a beautiful movement of tiny pink crystals to begin forming around her. Neji himself could feel his body tensing up, but he wasn't going to quit, he would fight this woman with everything that he had.
As that was going on, Ryouta, Kimimaro, Tayuya and Kabuto kept going on with their movements, speeding up as to get to the location faster, beginning to hear the battle that was going on behind them, and tightened his eyes for a moment to keep a calm and composed expression on his face.
Ryouta also thought it was a way to put distance between him and the others, so he didn't go back and help them out, that's how he thought anyway.
"So, you think Guren is going to stop them?"
Tayuya asks, surprising Ryouta when he saw the question was directed for him.
"I honestly don't know her full capabilities, so I couldn't say one way or the other. What do you think?"
"Well, her crystals are very dangerous and scary. It was a power that Orochimaru-sama wanted at one point or another. So yeah, she's very dangerous. Wouldn't be shocked if those guys back their bite the dust."
Ryouta glanced at Tayuya, it didn't seem like she was saying it to be mean or anything, it felt more like she was making conversation, which also felt odd why she would suddenly want to do something like that.
"Not that you're concerned or anything, right?"
She laughed loudly, shaking her head.
"Not at all, they're nothing for me to worry about. But you are, right? Because even though you've left your village, not worried about them hating you now?"
"If I did or didn't, it wouldn't matter. I can't change the past, and I can't change how others feel either."
Tayuya understood that.
"But even then, what if they all think you're a traitor?"
"That's how Orochimaru wanted it, is it not?"
Tayuya shrugged.
"I don't know, I'm not worthy enough to know."
When she said that, she surprised even herself, as she hadn't even meant to say that, it slipped out as she was rather entangled in the conversation and spoke what came to her first.
"Tayuya-san..."
"Its nothing, a slip of the tongue. What I meant was that I haven't a clue what he's got planned for you. I'm not even entirely sure why he wants you so much. Maybe he wants to be cute and that's why he wants to take you over?"
Ryouta felt the corner of his lips tug upwards.
"Well, maybe that's it. Who can really understand someone like Orochimaru anyway? I don't even think Orochimaru understands himself anymore."
Tayuya wanted to grin so hard at that point. But she could see that Kimimaro was staring at her, so she didn't do that for the time being.
As he said it, Kimimaro looked back, and saw a peculiar sight.
"Guren, failed?"
Kabuto's face dropped.
"What? She couldn't have failed. She was more than enough for all of them combined."
"She has, three of them are making their way towards us."
Kabuto bit his lower lip, while Ryouta wondered what was going on, so he looked to see that Satsuki, Naruko and Hinata was still coming for them.
"Who would have thought these little Genin and Chunin could cause us so many problems."
"Seems like even your group isn't able to properly deal with them, right Kabuto? Should have listened to me before, never underestimate Konoha."
Kabuto shot a glare for the cool looking Ryouta.
"Be quiet, if you had simply stopped them before they made it this far..."
"You're blaming me? Yet it was your own teammate that failed to stop them. I am struggling to understand how that would remotely be my fault. It seems that your team isn't as good as you thought it was, isn't that right Kabuto? Or maybe, it is Orochimaru overestimating your group."
"We still have Mikoto, and while we have her, we also have you. So you better begin thinking of ways on how to help us out of this situation."
Ryouta shook his head, he could see that Kabuto was becoming more rattled as time went on.
It made him wonder, apart from body swapping and the possible invasion of Konoha to where they were...why Orochimaru and Kabuto seemed so keen as to get him to his destination. It seemed to be more than what anyone had suggested.
"Is that so? Alright, then."
"Alright then, what?"
Kimimaro asked, Ryouta glanced back.
"You want them stopped? I'll do it myself."
Ryouta thought of their safety and well being. If he had the time and the chakra, plus saving some for Orochimaru, he would have suggested other ways and means, but in this instance, he thought it would be best if he was the one who was confronting them.
Plus, with Kimimaro being a relatively unknown power right now, what he was truly capable of, Ryouta felt Kimimaro was probably one of the strongest there, maybe even stronger than the current Kabuto, Ryouta got that feeling and he didn't want Satsuki and the others to face someone so potentially dangerous, so he knew he'd have to do this himself.
"You're right, you really should fight your old lover, one last time. See one another, one last time, before Orochimaru gets his hands on you."
Ryouta felt like mentally laughing at the threatening tone Kabuto had.
He kept his mental composure, and looked back, apologizing to Satsuki and the others for what was about to come to pass.
Meanwhile, back with Shikamaru and the others, they couldn't believe that the giant snake all of a sudden had turned to yelling at them, and showing aggression that felt less threatening as an enemy, and more of someone who was speaking to children as an annoyed adult would when they'd want them to stop.
"W...Why are you yelling at us? Isn't it enough you're trying to kill us?"
Ino asked, Garaga gave sharp eyes, causing Ino to wince.
"Seriously...you know, its fine...I can do this..."
"Eh…?"
Choji wondered, Garaga sighed, and explain.
"You damn brats, I guess if that's how the kid wants to go about it...right, listen to me and listen good. I do not repeat myself, and I certainly will not be taking questions until I've said my thoughts, understood?"
They all nod, and watch quietly as Garaga begins to explain.
As they did, relief flooded into their hearts.
They were happy that Garaga was able to tell them the actual truth and said truth was something good, even if it came from a bad thing.
Ino cried happy tears, and thrusted her hands into the sky.
"I knew it! I knew Ryou-kun wasn't evil! He was really trying to protect us and Mikoto-chan as well!"
"How come you didn't tell us this information until just now? They already have been gone for a good time, you could have shared, couldn't you?"
Shikamaru asked a question he thought made sense.
Garaga had strong eyes, Choji felt frightened and kept his head down.
"...Those eyes are terrifying Shikamaru, maybe don't piss off the giant snake that can turn things to stone."
Garaga laughs.
"The kid speaks sense, good thing some Konoha kids understand these feelings, isn't it Nara boy?"
"I...I suppose. But, I would like to get back to the other question..."
Garaga released a sharp breath, Shikamaru felt like it was annoyance that Garaga had.
"Because Orochimaru, the snake bastard and one of the worst evils in the world, was spying on us. Yes, its true, but I managed to make sure that the snake got caught up in one of your little attacks, and end up being killed off in the most plausible way."
"We were being monitored this entire time?"
Shikamaru was shocked to hear that, Garaga confirmed with a nod.
"Yes, that's why Ryouta didn't say anything, he physically couldn't. When it came to us, it seems that they were a little more lax. That's why, we can speak now."
Shikamaru placed a hand to his chin and thought deeply.
"So, to get this straight, Orochimaru took Mikoto-san, and now Ryouta is going to go and save her. He has a plan, but needs sometime before Tsunade-sama is ready to achieve it, so he is buying time but in the best plausible way so he isn't found out, yes?"
"Basically, the kid is strong, but Orochimaru is tricky, so backup was needed in case something went wrong. He understood the village was at a time where many couldn't leave, he probably predicted you guys would be sent out, so made assurances in case you were. He informed me with a snake, the kids pretty fast you know? Able to move so fast, even certain creatures spying on him didn't notice things being summoned, I had to do a good deal of work to make this plan go off, Aoda too. Orochimaru, he really sucks, I hate him so much!"
Ino loved how Garaga was quite amusing with his words towards people he didn't like at all.
Shikamaru slowly nods his head, believing that he understood what was going on.
"Even then, this plan, is it going to work?"
Garaga laughed.
"Honestly, I haven't a clue. But, I think I know the kid very well, and I think that if it is that kid, then if he sets his mind to it, then he's got a good chance of succeeding. But, now that you're involved, you've got to go and help out the others. I'd go, but I'm working for the kid you know? It would only alert them to it being like we planned this. So, we've got to make it convincing. least until the surveillance is taken out so I get wreck Orochimaru's henchmen."
Shikamaru understood, and began nodding, when Ino chimed in.
"Sakura too, right?"
"The kid made some plans and backed them up a few ways. Orochimaru is crafty, he didn't take chances that one or two of them would have been discovered. He made sure that he had multiple ways of pulling his plan off. When Orochimaru appears...the kids gonna do his best, and I will to, especially considering it is Orochimaru and he always has some stuff up his sleeves. Orochimaru might be a wounded animal, but they are usually the most deadly."
Shikamaru thought that was a pretty smart way to go about it, to plan and make plans on top of the ordinary plans. They had to go a smart way about it otherwise they wouldn't be able to succeed, it all made sense to him.
Choji just looked relieved that Ryouta had been on their side the entire time, and was doing his best to protect everyone, it was a quality that Choji admired about him, how he would go the extra mile for everyone that he cared for.
Ino on the other hand was just so happy, that he didn't betray the village. He had been meticulously planning and organizing everything to make sure not only Konoha, but Mikoto would be safe as well.
Understanding what they'd have to do, they began making plans to go and help the others…
As that was going on, going full throttle, Karin, Haku, and Lee were heading in the same direction as the others. Wanting to do their best, and get to what was going on as quickly as possible, Lee was determined to see this through to the end, while trying to comprehend what was going on.
Karin, who was being carried by Haku so she could fully concentrate on the battle ahead of them with her chakra sensing, and checking on the different battles that was going on, but so far she couldn't fully sense everything that's going on.
"It seems that Shikamaru, Choji and Ino have stopped using chakra..."
Karin observed, Lee gave a worried look.
"Are they okay?"
"Yes, I think the battle has come to a natural conclusion."
"So they won!"
Lee cheered, but once more, Karin shook her head.
"No, I don't think that's it either."
"So, a draw?"
"I feel like it isn't that either. I can't explain it, I'm feeling like the battle was stopped mutually. Based on how they're standing around, and engaging one another so readily, I can't say that it is simply them stopping because one side won over the other."
Lee held some relief on his face, at least he knew his friends were safe and sound.
Karin looked to have an uneasy expression on her face, Haku on the other hand looked determined, peering down at the small snake that was carefully wrapped around her hand, nodding to herself.
"We have to keep going...yes, we can keep pushing through and getting to the others. Karin-san keep sensing, Lee-san, be prepared. We have to fight whatever comes for us, we have to save the others, and help Ryou-kun, no matter what."
The duo nodded, prepared for the events that were about to unfurl.
Meanwhile, Ryouta got prepared for what was to come.
He wished he knew how the others were getting on, but he had faith in Tsunade, and the others, that they would be okay.
He believed that they would be able to help him, and that they would be able to achieve victory for this, he had to play his part now.
With everything he had planned, he could feel the nervousness of if it failed...but, he didn't allow himself to be ruled by that, deciding to place his trust within his comrades.
"Kabuto...and the others, are watching and I have yet to find Mikoto-san...I have to put on a performance of a lifetime, or else we all could suffer as a result, I am so close, I am sure it wont be much longer now...Mikoto-san, please be well...if Orochimaru has indeed killed you by now...then he is also going to perish...Satsuki-chan, Naruko-chan...everyone..."
Mentally preparing himself for a job he didn't want to do, a mission that was taking an emotional hit on his head, and his heart, he steeled his will, and began planning for what was to come...
As that was going on, Danzo sat quietly within his chair, not making a move.
Never making any kind of move.
He simply listened to the bustling streets of Konoha from outside of his window.
However, within his mind, he had far more sinister thoughts than his outward appearance would suggest.
"Orochimaru, you think I would be the fool in this? Your scheming shall be your undoing, I wont allow you to get away with this...but your fate, shall be sealed by someone else...good luck my partner. I wonder how your mind will be torn when you realize what is about to come...? At least, I will get something from your crazed idea."
Keeping his dark thoughts to himself, he simply sat back in his chair, waiting for the events to unfurl...
End chapter!
So, this chapter focused on a few things, with Ryouta putting some mistrust within the group of Kabuto, questioning on why they have to hurry, though right now most are unaware of Danzo and his involvement. Satsuki and the others came up against Guren, but Neji stayed behind to fight her. Garaga put on his best performance to Ino-Shika-Cho group, and after finishing his task, has informed them of what is going on. Haku and the others have also seemingly been contacted by Ryouta, so we shall see where that goes pretty soon.
Well, 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, Fu,