Welcome to the next chapter!
joharasbel; Thanks!
Mrgamerandwatcher; It really depends on my schedule and personal life stuff, sometimes it could be, other times it wont be.
ShadowUzumaki55; He did yeah, Orochimaru got quite the surprise. Kimimaro and Tayuya, we shall be seeing their fates pretty soon. Yeah, it is going to be quite the ride.
Silver crow; Thanks very much! Despite their relationship now, Yukine and Orochimaru at one point did have a positive relationship that we could see more of in the future. It wont conclude this chapter, there's still some stuff to deal with in this arc, and set up for the future. Neither were going all out, it was more flashy to distract the others so they could gain the advantage and do what was needed. Yeah Kabuto wasn't quick enough to save himself fully, just enough to save himself being killed, still he suffered a grievous wound. Hinata did yeah, she showed her stuff and quickly disabled Tayuya. Orochimaru has a good number of bases, with many experiments, as shown in canon. Yeah, maybe in a different world Orochimaru could have been like that with Ryouta. Orochimaru is going to be going through quite a bit during this fight they'll have. Realistically only a few people would say he surpassed Shisui and have it mean a good deal to Ryouta, I think someone like Itachi saying it would make the most sense due to the closeness of the relationship he had with Shisui and Ryouta when young, and have the most emotional impact on Ryouta himself. Its an affectionate nickname, its similar to how when people call Ryouta, Ryou-chan or something similar and how its shown in other anime with affectionate nicknames, Ryouta is just showing his affection for his brother like he would others~ We will see who shows up this time. Ryouta wont be using Edo Tensei during part one, in part two, that is a different story haha, maybe by then, he could have studied a good deal about that.
Morregen; Thanks! Yeah, Ryouta had quite the plan to surprise Orochimaru with. Orochimaru and Ryouta will get a climatic battle, it will be shown in the coming chapters how that is gonna play out~ And yeah, what Danzo is doing, is going to be taking advantage of the situation, there is a hint in this chapter what he is up to.
TheGreatGodzilla; Orochimaru's fate in this arc, I can't spoil yet, all I can say that it is going to be quite interesting to see play out. I haven't decided about those characters, trying to see how they would fit into the wider story if they stayed around. I can't spoil their fates yet, it will become quite clear what will happen to Kabuto and the others very soon. He has some assistance from Suna. Danzo will be in Shippuden, and has stuff to do during that part of the story, but things will begin playing out more differently as we go forward. Tayuya hasn't ever shown any signs of hating Konoha beyond what Orochimaru felt in canon and it would be interesting if she was an Uzumaki, unfortunately it never was confirmed she was I believe.
Skull Flame; Yeah, we are entering the climatic battles for the arc! Its going to be a wild ride!
Hinata fan; Not quite yet, there is still stuff to do, nearly at the end now. We shall see Ryouta fighting very soon.
Phantom Reader; Yeah, Satsuki and Ryouta used it to do such things, and yeah, Kabuto was quite assured of how he would be able to win, believing that he could get Naruko so rallied up that he would have the excuse to kill him. Ryouta did yeah, he finally managed to stab Kabuto after everything that had happened. Haku and Kimimaro will be able to have some talk this chapter. In his own way, Orochimaru did yeah, and we might see a little of their interactions back when they were younger. Ryouta did his best, and managed to surprise Orochimaru quite a good deal, but he isn't out of tricks yet, he came super prepared this time, after his past failings with Itachi, and now Ryouta a few times. The arc will be wrapping up quite soon, just some more stuff to do, set up future stuff and wrap up stuff from this arc. It is a shame of what happens with Jugo, no real resolution to the problems he went through. I could see a solution like that happening for Jugo, it would be nice for him.
With those reviews out of the way, its time to start the chapter!
Haku vs Kimimaro!
Orochimaru was in a state of bewilderment when he saw that Ryouta had not only summoned Tsunade to the battlefield, but more Ninja were appearing from the giant snake of Aoda, to the point that Orochimaru felt violently ill at the sight.
Ryouta looked ahead, and he could see his vision had worsened from the usage of his Mangekyou Sharingan. He figured it would, but he held no regrets whatsoever, it was the only way to save Mikoto after all.
"My eyes...it seems that I can still keep going, my vision is...but, I can still see good enough. Orochimaru, needs to be taken down now..."
Ryouta held determination inside of him, that the day was going to end with Orochimaru becoming deceased, that's how he thought that this would work.
"Tsunade...who else have you got with you?!"
"We have some old friends with us here for you."
Orochimaru saw Tsunade, Anko, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Pakura, and other Ninja that have come to assist them, coming out of the body of Aoda, who immediately began making sure that others were safe on Ryouta's command. Even Sakura was stood with them, and was already preparing to help Mikoto through what she had went through, along with a small medical team.
The group wasn't large, but it was filled with some deadly Ninja. Satsuki, Naruko and Karin all looked on, seeing how Ryouta had managed to gather allies to help them. Even managing to get the Sand people there as well, it was quite the achievement.
Orochimaru's own group were scattered around the village, and all had their eyes on the enemies that appeared.
Naruko, upon seeing Gaara, became surprised.
"Gaara! Even you're here?!"
"We received word about this from a snake, and we rushed towards the area that was designated." Gaara looked towards Ryouta, who in turn gave a small smile back. "It seems that you've gotten into a messy situation."
"Yeah...its been a difficult time."
"Still, it allows us to meet again."
Gaara said stoically, but Temari lightly laughed and murmured "Since we left Konoha, all she's talked about is seeing her Ryou-kun and Naruko-chan again, and wishing to be with them both." something that earned a look from Gaara, but compared to how she was in the past, it was filled with less killing intent.
Pakura looked on, glad to see the change, while also seeing Anko giving angry eyes towards Orochimaru.
"Stop glaring at me Anko!"
"I will glare, because you went after my student!? Again! Are you for real?!"
Orochimaru sharply breathed through his nose.
"Are you for real Anko?! I am your Sensei!"
"Former Sensei, and its a shame that you haven't been formerly alive yet either, bastard."
Yukine snickered, drawing a look of ire from Orochimaru.
"What are you laughing at huh?!"
"A joke, Sensei."
Orochimaru was livid when he heard that.
He then saw Anko approach, so he stuck out his hand and stopped her.
"All I wanted was the Sharingan, was it so bad to do what I did?! I studied it and I demand that it becomes mine!"
"You weren't born into the Uchiha you moron! Seriously, I wont tolerate it anymore! Targeting my adorable student, you deserve death for this!"
Orochimaru began shaking and wanted an explanation immediately.
"No...this can't be happening! This is a mistake! I'm supposed to win this!"
Orochimaru yelled out, as Tsunade steps forward.
"You're not going to win, Orochimaru."
Anger filled the snake like humans eyes, and a pang of despair was rippling through him, believing that this could truly be a fight for his life, even he was struggling to think of how he was going to get out of this now, seeing as Guren and Kabuto weren't there, Kimimaro was missing in action to him, and now that he would have to deal with huge threats such as Tsunade, Pakura, and others could truly could make his life a living hell.
He had to go with other plans, knowing that this was his final shot...
Standing face to face with Kimimaro, Kabuto still having his deep injury and was having difficulty getting it under control, Kimimaro stared between Haku, Hinata and Lee.
The grassy lands that they had landed on, was a perfect battlefield for them. The waterfall was towards the left hand side of them, and trees were towards the right hand side, it was an area that Haku thought would be either a great asset, or a great hindrance.
"Hinata-san, I have to ask you, please keep your eyes on Kabuto. I don't want you to fight him on your own either, but if he does try anything, then please alert us, and react to the best of your abilities."
Haku thought logically, they knew if they all went for Kabuto now, then it could lead to Kimimaro getting in a sneaky attack, and Kabuto himself would try something, his mobility had been weakened by the assaults of Naruko and Ryouta, but he still was very dangerous.
"I understand...if he moves a muscle...t-then I will alert you Haku-san..."
Haku nods in thanks, turning to Lee.
"Lee-kun, we shall face down Kimimaro together. This one is very different to the other Orochimaru forces we have had the displeasure of facing. I can tell by his eyes, the undying loyalty to Orochimaru, is similar to how I was with Zabuza-sama, he sees himself as a simple tool for Orochimaru to use and would die for him."
"So, that means he will try and kill us with everything inside of him?"
Haku confirms it with a nod of her head.
"Yes, and from what I saw, his ability is to use his bones, and he also has a Curse Mark, we have to assume that he is going to be able to release that power towards us. Also..."
"I wont be able to be delayed any longer." Kimimaro began, and from his finger tips, bones began to appear. "And I don't have time to deal with you either."
From his finger tips, moving like bullets, he shot small bones towards both Haku and Lee.
Lee was stunned by the speed of them, but Haku was able to raise a barrier of ice, which caused the bullets to be blocked due to the thick sheet of ice.
"Ice Release...that shield of ice, was strong enough to stop my bones…? It seems that you might be able to fight me..."
"Despite you wishing to stop us and get towards your Master...It seems you do not wish to kill us, but will if you have no choice."
Kimimaro didn't say anything as he thrusted his hand out to the right hand side, and from that, a thick bone began to appear. It looked very sharp, and acted akin to a sword, with Lee gaining determined eyes.
"I guess I'll go, Haku-chan! Please support me!"
Haku nods, and watches Lee rush forward, and comes at Kimimaro with a swing of his foot, with Kimimaro blocking with his bone sword, then Lee danced right, and punched towards his face, but Kimimaro dodges out of the way.
Lee grits his teeth, and increases his speed, allowing him to move through the area at a rapid pace. However, even then, Lee had his moves predicted by Kimimaro, and moved at insane speeds, and blocks the multiple strikes from Lee, who came at him from various angles, even Hinata who spectated as she stared down Kabuto, was astonished to see that Kimimaro was capable of doing this so well.
"Kimimaro, is very good, right?"
"P-Please do not try to discount those on our side too…!"
Hinata replied to Kabuto, as Lee back flipped, with Kimimaro firing bone bullets from the finger tips, releasing them as Lee saw the ground being broken by the attacks, Lee had to admit that this felt even more difficult than the time that he fought against Lee with the speed that Kimimaro was going at.
Kimimaro saw a chance to slash against Lee, but Haku used this chance to create a ground of frost, which Kimimaro stepped into. The ice began to circulate around the feet, before spreading up Kimimaro's form.
"This ice is fast..." Kimimaro saw the ice spreading further and further, until it reached the stomach area. "But with my bones...I will shatter the ice." Bone structures released from all over the body, from the tips of Kimimaro's toes to his stomach area, and ripped through the ice all together, surprising Haku. "And I shall return to Orochimaru-sama who has picked that boy to be his vessel!"
Kimimaro rushed towards Haku, who in turn prepared to fight, when Lee came up from above, and slammed a kick down towards Kimimaro's head, but at the last moment, Lee saw Kimimaro dodge the kick and only received a kick to the shoulder area, which in turn didn't seem to bother Kimimaro at all.
"No, Ryou-kun wont become his vessel, you don't understand what Ryou-kun has done for others before and will continue to keep doing! He saved me...he gave me a new purpose after Zabuza-sama and I departed one another...he helped me, and he needs me to win against you...so, I will do just that!"
Haku cupped her hands together after weaving through some hand signs, and Lee was stunned as he saw a giant ice Dragon forming. Using some of the water from the Valley of the End as a catalyst, even Kimimaro was surprised to see that giant ice Dragon come right for his body.
"Have these."
Releasing bone bullets from his fingertips, he thought that maybe they would pierce at the different areas, and shatter the structure, but to Kimimaro's surprise, the bullets froze as they got closer and closer and simply stopped mid air all together.
"Yeah, that's it Haku-chan!"
Lee praised as he rushed up the Dragons back, while it got close towards Kimimaro. The young bone user used the blade bone in his hand, and slashed it for the Dragon when it came down towards him at a rapid speed.
However, before it could reach, Lee used his speed, and slammed his foot into the arm of Kimimaro, parrying the blade away from the ice Dragon, before Lee leapt through the mouth of the Dragon, Haku allowing Lee to come out of the head by opening a hole up, and the Dragon itself smashed deeply into the body of Kimimaro, at the same time was beginning to freeze the young man right down to the core of his body, as the Dragon coiled around the body akin to a snake, to speed up the freezing of the bones.
Kimimaro couldn't escape by normal means. The ice was even chilling the bones inside of Kimimaro, and stopping the progression of the bones.
"I am sorry, I do not hold a grudge against you, but you did take Ryou-kun away, and work for a mad man who wishes to do harm to my Ryou-kun."
Kimimaro released bones from different areas of the body to try and break the ice, but Haku drew more water from the Valley of the End, and used that to fuel the ice all the more, something even Kabuto was surprised by.
"Since when were you this good?"
"I have been increasing my combat ability, and I have been training to stand beside Ryou-kun who progressed to Jonin. I will also become a Jonin, it is my dream to become that, and to fulfil my own desires. After him, you're next, Kabuto."
Hearing the warning, Kabuto began moving his hand to pull a kunai, but was surprised when a needle of water came from Hinata, who used her Byakugan and Gentle Fist to guide the needle to a vital point, forcing Kabuto to stop his movements, and he then watched on with some anger at Kimimaro being caught like this.
"Kimimaro isn't going to go down so easily."
"I suspect that Kimimaro is going to use the Curse Mark, right? To increase the chakra, and power that he has?"
Kabuto was mildly irritated by this happening, and watched as what Haku said, came to pass.
Bones grew out from Kimimaro, and black markings spread across Kimimaro's body, with the ice Dragon also having bones shoot through it, shattering it all in a single place, with Haku and Lee looking astonished, but it wasn't unpredicted, since they both knew that this battle had only just begun.
Meanwhile, back with Orochimaru, Ryouta and the others, the snake like human tightened his hands, something Tsunade noted, seeing that he could do that now, meaning that he had switched bodies already.
At the same time, some giant snakes began to come around, so Aoda expressed "Ryouta-sama, I shall deal with them." which Ryouta thanked him for and Aoda then shot forward, slipping around some of the giant snakes, and flung them away from the others, Orochimaru felt anger at that, seeing how Ryouta's snake would be capable of dealing with such creatures he had prepared.
Enemy Ninja began attacking them, with Ryouta springing into action and began cutting down enemies, Satsuki used her Sharingan to predict some attacks, and then counter attacked, the same for Naruko albeit without the Sharingan and used Shadow Clones to pin down the enemies, before she punched them unconscious.
"This boy...this body of mine doesn't have the suitable chakra...but those pills I have...even then they would only replenish a certain amount, and the effects...no its fine as I will eventually switch to his body, this body will hold until I gain his...I have to weaken this boy as much as possible, before we engage in combat, good thing I was able to acquire the services of some rogue Ninja, they might not be up to the standards I would like...but there is a quality that will tear down at least part of their chakra levels...I wish he didn't have the others...but, I wont give up now..." Orochimaru, while thinking that, saw Ryouta shoot Kusanagi at him, so he avoids it, but gets a cut on his cheek, causing Orochimaru to growl as he snapped his fingers, more Ninja coming for Ryouta. "You do not get to win here boy!"
"No Orochimaru, you got it wrong, you don't get to win here. This time, I'm going to make sure that you're buried, once and for all."
Orochimaru had his eyes whirl around in his head, his face was contorting to one that showed difficulty in understanding and comprehending how this was going to be going now, it didn't make sense to him.
"You can try kid, I got away last time, what makes you so sure that you'll take me out this time?"
"I don't see Guren or Kabuto around this time...it seems that the others had managed to stop them."
Orochimaru glared hard for the young Uchiha.
But then he smirked.
"Young Uchiha, you drag the Hokage away from the village. Now that she is gone, the village-"
Tsunade spoke up however, and looked ready to brawl at any moment.
"Will be protected." Tsunade's voice was something that irritated Orochimaru. "Did you forget Sarutobi-sensei? Did you forget Jiraiya? And all of the other Ninja there? Yes, we are aware of how disturbing you are, so we had to make sure that both the village, and this young man is protected. We even had allies such as Suna come to our side, after how you used them as well as Konoha, it seems that now we have banned together, a united front against you, to make sure you're buried once and for all. Honestly, you have been slipping Orochimaru."
Orochimaru tightened his eyes closed, he was trying to work out what was his next move. What he was going to do now. How he was going to get through this. It was something that he found to be difficult and cruel to his plans at the same time.
"You're slipping Tsunade! You miscalculated against me!"
Tsunade knew that Orochimaru truly had been driven insane. He always had this air of calm and mystery to him, but this was difficult, and different. Orochimaru had been driven into a corner, mentally, and physically, and because of that his grip on sanity was being put into questioning.
"You planned a lot of things, yes. But you underestimated this young man once more Orochimaru. You counted on being able to somewhat delay his eyes...but you forgot his other abilities, his intelligence, and his ability to make plans. You are low, using Mikoto in such a manner, trying to obtain Ryouta-kun through such methods. Because of that, you shall see the consequences for your actions!"
Orochimaru was becoming more unhinged, especially when he could see that Yukine was glaring at him. It was driving him more insane than he already was, and he already didn't feel the best at all. In fact, the more he went on...he was truly unsure of how this was going to go down.
Back with Haku, Lee and Kimimaro, plus Hinata and Kabuto, Kimimaro emerged from the ice, and looked to be in perfect condition. No injuries, and the frost that grew across the skin was completely destroyed.
Bones grew from Kimimaro's arms, looking like they would make a brace at the same time as making deadly weapons. Haku tightened her hand, while Lee looked astonished by such a situation occurring.
"You managed to not be frozen…? I knew you'd activate the mark, but your wounds..."
"I had a thick layer of bone under my skin, acting as another defence, it seems that you ice user is stronger than I thought. Even you, Taijutsu user, are a skilled fighter. It is a shame that I am...I am on my way out. But while I am, I will keep going, and save Orochimaru-sama before my timely death."
Lee felt saddened when hearing that, Haku lowered her brows, Hinata felt disheartened hearing the unyielding loyalty, at least that's what she thought, though Haku felt as if there was something more going on.
"You don't have to die like this, you don't have to fight us."
"The boy said something similar to me, he said that we are free to decide for ourselves."
Kimimaro replied, with Haku nodding in agreement.
"He is right. I wish you weren't my opponent, circumstances have forced us to fight, but I will stand against you for the man that I love, he gave me the will and support to carry on and forge a new path for myself, he could do the same for you."
Kimimaro paused briefly, and thought about what had been said, before shaking the doubts inside due to the pained feeling of the disease inside forcing Kimimaro to remember what he was doing, so he rushed forward.
"I wont give up now. Like how you feel for Ryouta Uchiha, I see Orochimaru-sama as someone that saved me from a life of isolation and gave me purpose."
"The purpose he gave you, conflicts with your very nature. He turned you into something you aren't, I wish it didn't have to be like that."
Kimimaro felt something deep inside, the doubts that he felt briefly before, came back once more.
But so did another wave of pain, to the point that Haku saw that he was breathing harder than before, and a small trickle of blood was coming out of his mouth.
"No...I wont quit now...!"
Lee saw him coming, so he dashed forward, and thrust his foot out in a sweeping motion, but Kimimaro blocked with his newly formed arm spikes, which Lee kicked so hard he thought that it would shatter the bones or cause some damage at least, as he had broken bones with this kick beforehand.
But when making an impact on the bone, it didn't suffer any damage. Even Haku was surprised by the durability of the bone. Lee didn't even give it a scratch, before Kimimaro swung his arm out, and caught Lee's leg, cutting him ever so slightly, Lee surprised by the increase of speed Kimimaro had now.
"Would you look at that? Haku, your ability is good, but this is going to be over with now."
Haku scowled in Kabuto's smug looking direction.
But then she saw Kimimaro come in with high speed, the bones on his arms having grown to the point that they were about the size of normal katanas, but because his hands were free while these were attached to the arms, it was highly dangerous as he could fire other bone projectiles quickly.
Getting to Haku, she went to defend, when Lee yelled "Leaf Hurricane!" and came in with a strong swing of the leg, only to be repelled by Kimimaro, and slashed at. Lee dodges, barely, and then sees Kimimaro right on his form, Lee grits his teeth, and begins pushing his speed further, allowing him to begin avoiding the attacks.
Haku used this chance to create ice shuriken in the air, and fired them off towards Kimimaro from behind to cut him down.
"Enough."
Kimimaro used his arm blades, and began moving like a dance. Twisting and flowing, he sliced the ice shuriken out of the sky, and released bone bullets towards her at the same time as he repelled Lee with the constant movement of the bone swords he had created growing from his arms, the movement was near unreal to Lee who had only witnessed few ever going faster than this beforehand, and Lee managed to receive a few slashes as a result of the incredible speed that Kimimaro was going at.
Haku managed to avoid being pierced by the bone bullets, only to see that Kimimaro was on her form, so she didn't have a choice, creating an ice mirror, and slid inside, just as Kimimaro stabbed towards her.
The bones stabbed into the ice mirror, but saved herself from taking damage as she appeared near Lee.
"Ice mirrors, sliding between them at speeds surprising even me in the Level One Curse Mark form, it is a good technique. But the fact that you don't use it more, tells me that it probably eats more chakra than you'd like."
"Perhaps that's true, but I can keep them up for a good while, and I will do to stop you." Haku breathes sharply, as she allows ice to fill the area around, forming mirrors around Kimimaro. "Lee-kun, please back me up, we need to stop this person now, before he can release anymore power."
"Right, leave it with me!"
Lee watched as Haku pushed Lee into her mirror, and she followed. Lee didn't know that she could bring others with her, and neither did Kimimaro, seeing the reflection of both of them appearing in various mirrors, it was rather terrifying for most opponents when Haku busted this Jutsu out.
Bones escaped his body, and formed around him, almost like an armour. However, Kimimaro noticed that his bones were beginning to become brittle as ice flooded the area from the mirrors.
"This Jutsu, I heard that it simply allowed you slide between the mirrors..."
"It used to be just that, but now I have been able to harness the coldness of the ice and spread it inside of this area, freezing the opponents movements, and in your case, your very armour of bone. Lee-kun, we're only going to get one chance at this, so lets do it."
"Right behind you! Lead the charge!"
Haku nods, and clutches her senbons between her fingers, but these were different to normal senbons. They were icy senbons, and releasing an eerie mist as she began zipping through the mirrors, and came at Kimimaro again and again to cut into him and pin him down for good.
However, Kimimaro was incredibly fast, even she had to admit that this battle was going to be highly difficult to deal with, but thanks to Lee, who came with her, used his incredible strength to break through the brittle bones that Kimimaro was dealing with thanks to Haku's ice powers making them like that, and shattering allowing Haku to cut into Kimimaro, and release ice inside, freezing the young man gradually.
"He is so good, Kimimaro-san...he has incredible speed and power, and in a state of illness as well. If he was at full capability, then I don't know the outcome of this fight. But, thanks to that, I think our combination is going to succeed...even then, as I cut into him...I feel for the misguided ways he is going through, and to die so young as well...I wonder, if Ryou-kun didn't save me back then...could I have ended up like this…?"
Haku questioned this herself, seeing Kimimaro resist to the very end, even as Lee was battering him with his swift punches and kicks, and being frozen more and more by Haku.
"It can't be...you're able to even keep up with Kimimaro in that state..."
Kabuto was stunned to see Kimimaro unable to fight back...no, rather, he was fighting back, and he did get out some cuts onto Lee and Haku, despite their high speed, yet their attacks were more deadly, and were getting through to him all the more.
Kimimaro himself could see the resolve in both Lee and Haku, and even Hinata who was doing everything she could to make sure that Kabuto didn't make a move, that he didn't even try and get out of this.
"Ryouta Uchiha...he must mean a great deal to them to keep going. I have cut them, and managed to wound them...yet, they don't stop. They keep fighting me...I think I can understand why...I saw it in his eyes as we travelled, the passion and kindness...I wish, I could have seen those eyes again...he was an interesting boy after all...Orochimaru-sama, I am sorry...it seems that my time is slowly coming to an end...but, maybe...I can win this last battle...Orochimaru-sama...I wonder if what Ryouta Uchiha said...was true...I wonder...if I would be remembered...no, I'm his to use...yet, part of me is feeling...doubt...even in these final minutes...did that boy stir something up inside of me? And now, these two are...making me think even more about it...Uchiha boy...maybe you were right...I wish I could have spoken more to you...Ryouta Uchiha..."
As Kimimaro thought, he allowed the Curse Mark to advance even more.
Kimimaro's appearance was similar to that of a dinosaur, with dark grey skin, dark black eye sclera, yellow eye irises, sharp teeth, six large bone spines protruding out of his back, a long bone-spiked tail and two dark black curved like markings under his eyes, one under each eye and two as elongated eyebrows, one above each eye.
"Curse Mark, Level Two, Kimimaro has gone to his limits now."
Kabuto gave a strong smirk.
Haku watched as he slammed his hand down, and the area was filled with bones erupting out if the ground. Her mirrors shattered immediately, and the pair of her and Lee were flung out of them, slamming into the ground.
Lee was slashed across his leg, causing a good deal wound that stopped him from moving for a short time, while Haku had her right hand side cut.
"...I am sorry, but while I am intrigued by your love for the Uchiha, I also have a duty to fulfil, and that is...to end you both."
Lee panted, while Haku gritted her teeth, knowing that she would have to pull out all the stops to take down Kimimaro.
Back with Orochimaru and the others, with the snake like human yelling "Attack! Kill them all apart from the two Uchiha teenagers!" the men and women that Orochimaru had gathered, did what was asked of them, and attacked.
"Not on my watch!"
Pakura saw a wave of enemies coming, so she threw her spheres of Scorch Release out, and collapsed an opponents body with them, several in fact, with the Scorch Release turning them into dry mummy looking beings.
Tsunade prepared for the next fight, having the Ninja she had go to locations she thought would be best, she kept her eyes solely upon the enemy that was before her, all the while going towards Mikoto, and making sure that she was well, wasn't poisoned or anything else that Orochimaru could have done beforehand.
Tsunade had Naruko and Satsuki act as their bodyguards, with Sakura setting up a very quick area to work as a medical station to help those that could be injured during the fight, which Tsunade was appreciative of.
Ninja such as Pakura lead the charge against the incoming enemies, with her firing off her balls of Scorch Release, and caused the enemies to die in a single hit, Kankuro used his puppets to capture some enemies together, and then Temari used her winds to cut through their bodies.
"Pakura, we need to check on the others."
Tsunade expressed.
Pakura turns to Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
"You three, go and..."
"Wait, Gaara-san. Please stay here."
Ryouta called to Pakura's surprise.
But Pakura didn't argue, she had come to know by now that if Ryouta suggested something, then it probably would play into some kind of plan. So she nods her head, and looks towards Temari and Kankuro.
"Then you two go with a few of the Konoha Ninja in case they need you."
"I'll go to, in case I'm needed for healing or sensing."
Karin said, Tsunade didn't have a problem with that, she thought that Karin would be better used with them, so she gave the go ahead.
"Then those going, get going right away, we have no time to waste."
The Ninja nod, and leave the area, some tried to purse them, but Pakura got in the way and used her Scorch Release to create a wall so no Ninja could get by, and was forced to do a battle against her, and some other Ninja with them.
Upon seeing this, Tsunade turns towards Ryouta.
"Ryouta-kun, until I'm finished healing Mikoto, I need you to go against Orochimaru. I'm sorry for asking this, but only a few can stand against him here, I know right now you have used some chakra, and he is as fresh as possible, but..."
Ryouta shook his head, and turned towards Orochimaru who flinched.
"Its fine, I was hoping to face him now anyway. I want to repay him for everything that he has done."
Orochimaru glared, as Ryouta moved closer. Orochimaru scornfully watched as Anko also appeared beside Ryouta.
"I've gotta repay this bastard as well. For what he's done, he might be my former Sensei, but he's nothing to me now. So lets go, Sensei and student against this monster, Ryouta-kun."
Ryouta looked towards Anko, nods a single time, and then turns to Orochimaru.
But Orochimaru smirks.
"Boy, you think I didn't plan for this? I knew you would be rebellious to the end. To be honest, if we fought in my current condition and both of us started at our best, I would die." Admitting that certainly surprised Tsunade and the others. "I can see the raw power and skill you have, I would compare it to Itachi when he was your age, maybe even more."
Still surprised to hear Orochimaru admit these things, Ryouta glared.
"If you say that then, you know you will end here."
Orochimaru's face twisted.
"You think you got me?! You have the sand girl with sand spirit, Sakura Haruno..." Sakura was shocked he remembered her name. "...Anko that damn apprentice of mine, the Uzumaki brat, Satsuki who is my backup measure, Tsunade that damn Hokage, and the girl with Explosion Release!"
"Scorch Release."
Pakura corrected as she slayed another Orochimaru village member, Orochimaru scoffed with disheveled hair swaying all around him.
"Alright Pakura, Scorch Release." Pakura shook her head at the vile way he said it, Orochimaru didn't care in his current state, crushing his hands together. "Your Kekkei Genkai will be mine eventually anyway you damn fire witch! And I shall have the Sharingan, hahahaha!"
Ryouta looked towards Anko, and then stepped forward.
"Sensei...please allow me to take the lead."
"No worries, I'll back you up to the end."
Ryouta nods, and turns to Gaara.
"Gaara-san, I need you to support us with defence, and capture, okay?" She nods. "Thank you." Orochimaru watched with squinting brows as Ryouta drew forward. "Come on then Orochimaru, lets end this."
"Ooh boy, end this now...we shall see."
Orochimaru opened his mouth wide, and revealed a blade coming out. Twirling it in his hands now that he had access to them again, Ryouta did the same thing with Kusanagi, and got into a fighting position.
Back with Lee, Haku and the others, Kimimaro in his Cursed Mark Level Two release, Haku could feel the different in power, like it was night and day. Lee grimaced when he saw such a sight, and Haku herself prepared herself for what was to come.
But, she also saw that he was breathing hard, it seemed that the fight had exasperated the illness that Kimimaro had. Whatever it was, it seemed to be something truly difficult, but even then, it seemed that Kimimaro wouldn't back down either.
"Are you ready to finish this?"
Kimimaro said without expressing any emotions, Haku looked towards Lee, seeing that he was in a state of pain, so she stepped forward.
"Yes, I am ready."
"Wait, Haku-chan..."
Lee tried to move, but his leg injury stopped him, so she looked on with a kind smile.
"Please relax, I think that I might have a way to defeat him. But, its going to cost me a very great deal of chakra, please keep your eyes on Kabuto, and make sure he doesn't do anything together with Hinata-chan. Its the best thing to do now."
Lee nods, and wishes Haku luck, knowing how deadly this opponent truly was.
Haku takes a few steps forward, and then produces a kunai from her pouch, coating it in an icy mist after she did a few one handed hand signs, showing the incredible skill that she had, but it didn't deter Kimimaro.
"Before we fight, I wish to know one thing."
Haku was surprised that he was asking something of all people since he seemed to be gung ho about most of this fight wishing to end it quickly.
"What is it?"
"The Uchiha boy, what does he mean to you?"
She wondered why he was asking that now, of all times.
Kimimaro was someone difficult to understand.
"Ryou-kun...is my home."
Those few words, summed up what Haku felt deep inside.
To Kimimaro, he understood perfectly.
"I see, and that is the person you return to?"
"Yes, he is the person I wish to return to. He is the one I have decided is going to be my future...he and I will have a future together, I will always come running home to him."
Kimimaro, not usually one for expressing emotion, began to slightly smile, even taking Kabuto off guard.
"It must be nice, having found a place you belong."
"It is...and you could do the same thing."
"Impossible, I have no home anymore, I am…" Catching what he said, both Haku and Kimimaro widened their eyes. "...No, I do have a home, it is with Orochimaru-sama, he is the place that I return home to..."
"You slipped...you are beginning to doubt what Orochimaru truly means to you. Aren't you? Thinking over the times you were together, and to now...I don't like this, I hate fighting when it leads to circumstances like this. But I became a Ninja to stop the needless bloodshed, to make a difference when I can. And with you..."
"Save your breath with me, I am dying...I am going to be killed one way or the other. There is no need to hold feelings about me, as they would vanish as my death becomes a certainty." Kimimaro thrusted his hand out, and bone blades fired out towards Haku, who in turn began to dodge. "This is my final call."
Kimimaro hunched forward, and reached upwards. When he did, Haku saw a disturbing sight, it was Kimimaro's own spine beginning to come out.
He pulled out his own spine, and used it like a whip towards her.
Dodging out of the way, the spine smashed into the ground, and caused it to be ripped up.
Haku grit her teeth as she saw bone bullets coming for her, so she maneuvered out of the way with nimble movements, with the spine whip coming for her again and again, ploughing their way through trees that Haku tried to hide behind, or destroying the ground itself.
"His movements have dulled, he seems slower. But he's sacrificed speed for power, if I'm caught a single time then I could be torn apart by that attack. ...I have an idea...but, I don't know if I have enough chakra...I have to try...Ryou-kun wouldn't stop until the end...neither will I."
Haku dodged several attacks, and threw her senbons towards him, but they didn't even puncture his skin.
Even with her accurate throwing, she didn't get through to him, and he was relentlessly pursuing her with his spine whip, and firing off bones.
Lee was amazed to see how well Haku was doing, and even managing to fire off attacks herself, all the while keeping the others out of the battle, he thought "She truly is a genius after all." and continued watching the fight unfurl.
As he tried to capture Haku, Kimimaro suddenly felt a bout of pain ripple through his entire being.
He hunched over, and blood dripped from his mouth.
"No...my body is giving up..."
Haku had a moments pause that she was going to use, even dashing forward to get towards him.
However, Kimimaro recovered quick enough to have his eyes become rather enraged.
"No...I can't die here...not yet...I wont die here!" Kimimaro placed his hands on the ground, and looked towards Haku. "Dance of the seedling fern!"
Using that technique, Haku watches as many bones shoot out of the earth like they were trees, but had sharp tips and acted as blades. They scattered everywhere, indiscriminately ripping through everything that was around.
Lee and Hinata widened their eyes, as Hinata sprang into action, and managed to protect Lee with her Byakugan seeing when and where they'd come and avoided, Kabuto was safe since Kimimaro didn't target him, and finally, Haku was able to avoid them by creating an icy path in the air, connecting it to one of the already formed bone structures.
Haku stood up upon it, and looked around for Kimimaro, unable to see him whatsoever.
"That Jutsu must have taken a lot out of him, along with his illness...he must be nearly depleted by now...right?"
Haku asked herself, almost afraid for the answer.
That's when she heard a noise behind her, so she looked and saw Kimimaro had merged with the bone, and was coming out of it, with a large spear shaped bone wrapped around his right arm, aiming it right for her.
"I have you now, Haku."
She knew in that moment she didn't have time to dodge out of the way, so she began falling backwards, and from behind her, an ice mirror had formed.
Kimimaro widened his eyes, as she took the lance of bone to the right hand side of her body, and looked Kimimaro in the eyes.
"Its time to go for a ride."
Haku, with Kimimaro's bone lance inside of her stomach, dragged him along with her.
Using her mirror, she and Kimimaro warped towards the large body of water that made up the Valley of the End, with them dead in the middle of it, the waters all around them.
Kimimaro watched on as Haku did a one handed hand sign, before simply moving her hand forward, and allowing an icy mist to escape said hand, which began freezing the entire area, to the point that even Kimimaro was surprised.
"I see...so this was her last ditch move...well done Haku from the Yuki clan, it seems that I have lost to a worthy opponent..."
Kimimaro thought, the worry coming from knowing what she was about to do. He couldn't fight it, as the ice was spreading all around him, and he was stuck in place thanks to Haku using her hand to hold his lance of bone in place, before dislodging it from her once satisfied that he wasn't going to be moving.
The rapid waters froze all around Kimimaro, and Haku came shooting out of the waters, with Lee and the others watching on, as the giant body of water was freezing more and more, even going towards the waterfalls, and freezing up them somewhat.
"Wow...that is incredible..."
"Yes...she really did it..."
Le murmured, Hinata agreed.
Kabuto looked violently sick as Haku weaved through some hand signs, blood dripping from her stomach as she announced "Ice Release, Certain Kill Ice Spears!" and by using her chakra, she shaped the frozen waters, into many thick spires of ice, that came shooting up, and pierced through Kimimaro, who was already frozen a good deal, weakening his body enough for the ice to get through, and stabbed in multiple places as he as dragged up to be revealed to everyone else.
"Damn it...she did it...she actually won against...Kimimaro..."
Kabuto was in a state of absolute shock, he couldn't expect anything like this would have happened.
Once Haku won the fight, panting and bleeding from the fight itself, she kneeled down once landing on the ground and overlooked Kimimaro who was still impaled by her spires, seeing him return to his previous form, the normal human looking form at that.
Moving towards him, she peered into his eyes, before Haku got him from the ice spires, returning to the ground, and laid him on said ground.
"Kimimaro...this is the end."
Kimimaro looked up towards Haku, seeing the sad expression on her face.
She was a Ninja, and she could control her emotions very well, but as the fight progressed, and how she learned more about Kimimaro, she thought that it was a cruel existence what Orochimaru had done to Kimimaro, stripping away a potential future that Kimimaro could have had.
"There...is no need...to be...saddened...by my death...I was your enemy...I was one of the reasons...your lover was put into danger...it is my error that I wasn't...able to understand something's like you did...maybe, I never wanted to look at that reality..."
Kimimaro suddenly announced, to the surprise of Haku, who gave a dejected look.
"...I wish it was different, that you could have come to Konoha with us, you could have had...a good life with us."
Haku said in a depressed tone, she truly thought that Kimimaro was a good person. While having done bad deeds...she could see that there was more to Kimimaro than he was allowing to be shown, and wished that this was a different time and place.
"...Yes...I wish I could have...learned more about you...and about Ryouta Uchiha...I understand a lot...about Orochimaru-sama's desires...but, as I travelled with him...Ryouta Uchiha...he was speaking a lot of sense...and unlike Orochimaru-sama...he held passion...and kindness in his voice...real passion...and real kindness, he even displayed his kindness to me...I understand why you love him. In this world...many Ninja close themselves off from their feelings, believing that it is a weakness...or simply that they don't exist...but, I think that Ryouta...and you, disprove that...even towards me...you both...tried to reach out to me...thank you..."
Haku wiped her eyes, dispelling any tears threatening to be shed.
"...Are you sure, there's nothing to be done?"
"I will...be gone soon...I can't move anymore...so, I shall lay here...and await what is to come..."
Haku bowed her head, as Kabuto looked on with disgust.
"Abandoning Orochimaru-sama in your death...I was right before, you are worthless."
Haku turned her eyes towards Kabuto, and gave a sickened glare.
"How dare you say that? Orochimaru used these people...and you're saying Kimimaro-san is worthless, because he realized the truth?!"
"Kimimaro...is a worthless traitor."
"No, Kabuto...you, are the worthless one, you betrayed Konoha, and serve an evil being that has caused many people to suffer."
Haku spat out, with the young man looking on with furrowed brows.
He saw Haku, a somewhat recovered Lee, and Hinata all coming together, and with his injuries, fighting them now wouldn't be to his advantage.
However, as they were going to move...Hinata widened her eyes.
"No..."
"W-What is it?"
Lee asks, Hinata with her Byakugan could see something coming...no, she could see a few something's coming.
"We...We've got company...!"
New enemies, had approached them.
What this meant...they truly didn't know.
Even Kabuto looked confused.
"Orochimaru-sama...he wouldn't be able to send people to come and get me...no, it couldn't be...shit, not now, I can't afford to fight a big fight...!"
Widening his eyes, even Kabuto looked on with some worry...
Back with Ryouta, and the others, squaring off against Orochimaru.
Yukine glanced at Orochimaru, seeing his hand shake ever so slightly.
"You look nervous, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru glared at Yukine.
"I'm not."
"Your eyes say something different to me. Same for your hand."
"You know nothing..."
He growled, but Yukine shook her head defiantly.
"I am literally in your head, I know what you know, I feel what you feel. I can see, you're thinking about the time you met with Itachi, when you tried to take his body and failed. The same for Ryou back in the forest, how he repelled you, and is doing the same thing now. Now you're thinking that you might not be able to win this. Even with your plans. Targeting my son like this, this is the results of your disgusting actions."
Orochimaru ground his teeth, turning his crazed eyes to Ryouta.
"Let me begin boy!"
The young Uchiha saw Orochimaru shoot a snake from his sleeve and it came for him, so Ryouta split it in half, only for Orochimaru to be on his form immediately, so Ryouta acted swiftly, and blocked the incoming strike from Orochimaru.
"Earth Release-"
Before Anko could finish, Orochimaru stretched his neck and tried to bite down on her, only for Anko to flip and avoid, shooting several kunai towards his face, Orochimaru growled and avoided the kunai, before Ryouta pushed Orochimaru's sword out of the way, and slashed towards his right hand side so fast even Orochimaru was surprised.
"Kill him son! He's evil and a bastard!"
Orochimaru glared at Yukine, who glared right back.
When Orochimaru went to dodge, Gaara's sand came up, and bound around his legs, stopping him in place.
"Sand!?"
Orochimaru yelled, before a snake came out of his mouth, and went for Ryouta, so the young man cut the snake down, giving Orochimaru time to avoid the slash Ryouta intended, but his throat got cut ever so slightly, causing him to growl as a result.
"Hah!"
Anko came in, leaping up and then came down with her duo kunai ready to pierce through Orochimaru, but the man had different ideas, and immediately avoids as he breaks out of the sand, glancing to Ryouta, and saw that he was right towards his left hand side, his blade already going out once more.
"Get lost!"
Orochimaru had his lower half turn into that of a snake, and he slithered off, as Ryouta extended Kusanagi like an arrow, Orochimaru panicked at the speed, and strength of the stabbing, to the point that when he dodged, he saw the area erupt in flames as it pierced the ground.
Orochimaru placed distance between them, and saw Ryouta, and Anko coming together.
The snake like human allowed his blade to dance between the two before him, Anko and Ryouta. It was clear that they were pretty good in a team fight, but Orochimaru even with his handicap was very powerful, they had to have their wits about them, otherwise they would have been in a terrible situation, but now they were putting Orochimaru in that situation.
"Back when I tried to take Itachi, I was unprepared, I thought that I would be able to capture him, but he reversed it onto me with his Genjutsu, even you with yours could be highly dangerous for me. I made a mistake with you before, I didn't consider that you could be like Itachi, and defy me like this."
Ryouta watched as Orochimaru stared at his feet, doing everything he could to avoid eye contact.
He then continued as he placed his hands together.
"That is why, unlike Itachi, this time, I pulled out every measure I could, gathered everything I could to stop you. True, I didn't plan for you to summon people to the battlefield like Tsunade, and Pakura who are very dangerous for the current me, but it remains the same. I have gathered many forces, hired many people, bribed, blackmailed, and downright experimented as hard as I could to achieve victory here! You haven't seen everything I have yet! I will break your spirit boy, and you shall be mine!"
The threat that came from him was laced with killing intent and also desire to achieve his goals.
Ryouta could see that Orochimaru was becoming more desperate as time went on, even to the point that he was shaking side to side, and he also kept looking around, almost as if he was expecting something, or perhaps even someone to get the jump on him.
Whatever seemed to be the case, Ryouta didn't back down for even a moment.
He couldn't.
He knew if he did, then everyone could perish.
"No, you wont break me Orochimaru. I will never be your puppet, you bastard."
Orochimaru scoffed.
"You'll have to watch in despair, as I use your body as my experimenting tool, after I take care of your loved ones here! I will turn you into the ultimate Ninja, of course your mind wont be there to enjoy it, you can watch on from the afterlife with your family!"
Ryouta gains determined eyes.
This only told Ryouta even more that Orochimaru was truly evil.
That he had to be stopped.
"For everything you've done, and how you've destroyed peoples lives, innocent peoples live, and what damage you've done to those that live, and are deceased, you've lived past your expiration date, now its time to go!"
Orochimaru gave an antagonizing look to his face.
He could see that this was going to be indeed a very difficult fight.
But there was no way this time Orochimaru would stop, not after everything that he had done until this point.
Ryouta conversely was also the same, after everything Orochimaru had done, what he was put through thanks to the snake like human, this was his chance to fight, and get what he wished for, Orochimaru dead, for everything he had done, and what he had planned as well.
End chapter!
So this chapter focused in part on Haku, with Lee, fighting against Kimimaro, and having a little back and forth, Haku seeing a potential future she could have had by looking at Kimimaro, and felt truly saddened by what she saw. On the other hand, Ryouta and the others began their attack against Orochimaru and his group, with Orochimaru becoming more desperate and going with wild plans that he had to explore, understanding that taking them would be no easy task. With Ryouta, Anko, and Gaara teaming up together, and soon to be followed by some others! Orochimaru is pulling out all the stops, so we shall see how Ryouta and the others deal with it.
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,