Welcome to the next chapter!
joharasbel; Thanks!
Morregen; Thank you! It has yeah, its going to be quite explosive between the two of them. Kimimaro has, and yeah, Danzo is up to something alright~
TheGreatGodzilla; She could be or she might not be, it would be interesting if she was, I just wish it was confirmed in the series either way if she was or not. Kimimaro was beaten by Haku yeah through difficult effort. A good few people came to help out yeah. He does, Pakura has a very strong power that he'd wish for. They aren't there. I don't know which one I would do, they all look appealing. Danzo has uses for the plot yet, and is going to be in part two. Great.
ShadowUzumaki55; Yeah, Orochimaru vs Ryouta is happening, and we will get some more details about Orochimaru and other things in this and the next chapter. Haku and Lee did yeah. Lets see how it goes.
Guest 1; Thanks very much! Yeah, some could be in here.
Silver crow; Thanks, not this chapter, the next one. Haku did yeah, she pulled out all the stops to take him down. Yeah, Danzo doesn't have many forces, which he is trying to build back up, as shown in previous chapters. Yeah, Orochimaru would say it as it is, especially in his crazed state. We shall see, a normal Orochimaru maybe not, but one with immense support could be difficult to deal with since he planned to fight someone on a similar level to Itachi shortly after he killed the Uchiha. His vision is always weakening when he uses it, even if only a little bit, but it doesn't stop Ryouta who adapts, and grows. He has a fair few uses of his Mangekyou left. Canon Sasuke lost his vision in a short time near enough after gaining Mangekyou due to overuse, so yeah it can be hard to determine exactly how many uses it can be for each person, and we don't know how much Itachi had to use his during his life haha. Gaara does yeah. Kimimaro did go through a lot during his life. Orochimaru has stated in a normal fight between them that Ryouta would win, which is why he immensely prepared knowing that Ryouta would never come quietly, will it save him or will Ryouta overcome him, we shall see. Thanks for the harem suggestions. During the time skip, Ryouta will have accomplished a few things. Ay and Ryouta could meet like that yeah. Ryouta could be there when Gaara becomes Kazekage. He will have his Genin team between the time skip. Yeah, its a possibility to do a Fairy Tail story like that.
Coolguy001; Yeah, so he can teach not just fighting styles to people, but to guide them so they don't end up on dark paths like he has seen with people such as Orochimaru, or Tobi, and others, he wishes to be someone people can go to in times of crisis, teach them about the world, and things of that nature. Of course he also wants peace and to restore his clan, a dream shared with Satsuki, both which ties in with him wanting to be a Sensei for future generations. Sure, he could do.
Hinata fan; Not quite, very soon. Orochimaru, we shall see what happens with him very soon. Yeah, some Suna reinforcements came back.
Guest 2; In Shippuden, probably yeah.
Guest 3; Thanks very much!
With those reviews answered, its time to start the chapter!
Orochimaru's desperation!
Several years before the fight between Ryouta and Orochimaru, a younger Orochimaru stood with his eyes on several students, who he didn't see as promising to him at all.
Hiruzen was stood close by to him, Orochimaru became more irritated as time passed by, not understanding the significance of this meeting.
"Sarutobi-sensei, this is a waste of time, there aren't any students here that I would find interesting."
"Orochimaru, keep watching."
"Hmm, is there something I should be viewing?"
Orochimaru seemed to be disinterested, that was until a certain girl happened to be walking along. Seemingly having a happy demeanour, she tried to interact with several people, but they didn't wish to speak with her, and walked away, leaving the girl slightly dejected.
"Her, that girl."
"Her...she is that girl you decided to be allowed to stay in the village. I still don't understand the purpose of that."
"Because, she is an innocent girl, who was torn by the war of adults. I saw gentleness and kindness within her, I simply couldn't turn her away." Orochimaru watches as the girl sits down and sticks out her hand. When she does, Orochimaru was stunned to see a white snake come from the grass, and wrap around her hand, and she began playing with it. "Also, it seems that she has an affinity with snakes."
Orochimaru looked even more intrigued than ever, seeing the young girl almost having the snake bend to her will, with it following her movements, yet he saw she hadn't cast any Genjutsu, it seemed that she simply was able to connect with the snake in various ways.
"...It seems that she does."
"Also, despite only coming to the village a short while ago, the girl is already excelling in Ninjutsu, Genjutsu and Taijutsu. Also, she is rather funny."
"I have no time for comedians, but if she has talent, I wouldn't mind seeing it."
Hiruzen watched as Orochimaru approached her.
He didn't give off the friendliest of demeanour's, in fact he appeared to be quite intimidating.
When she saw him, she overlooked his appearance, before cracking a smile.
"Geez, you need to get some sun."
Orochimaru twitched his eyebrow.
"Such a funny girl, aren't you?"
"Suppose so, you have to make yourself laugh sometimes, you know?"
Orochimaru slightly laughed.
"Are you all talk? I heard you have talent, or was that a mistake from the Hokage?"
The girl tilts her head, as Orochimaru looks on.
The young girl goes to stand, when Orochimaru scoffs "I suppose you aren't..." but before he could finish, she yelled "Water Release, Water Wall Jutsu!" and forming around Orochimaru, he saw the water spin like a vortex, shocking Orochimaru immensely.
"Is that what you wanted?"
Orochimaru was in awe and looked towards the girl.
"Amazing...you can summon water with such finesse...and you're still in the Academy?"
Yukine rubbed under her nose, and flashed a peace sign towards Orochimaru.
How casual she was did caught Orochimaru off guard, she seemed like quite the outgoing young lady, yet at the same time he sensed something else was about her, he couldn't quite place his finger on it, but he knew that there had to be something else that would tie into what Hiruzen wished for her and him to meet for.
"I practice really hard, you know? I train everyday to master many Jutsu!"
"You want to learn many Jutsu?" The girl nods, giving Orochimaru a curiosity to him. "Why is that?"
"Because...if I learn so many, then I will be prepared for any situation, you know? That way, I wouldn't have to watch people I care for die."
Those words, gave a profound shock to Orochimaru, yet he could understand at the same time.
"What is your name?"
"Yukine, what's yours?"
"Orochimaru."
He said it in a slightly dismissive, but mostly interested tone, he truly couldn't decide which one he was supposed to be on. In fact, he kept thinking about what this girl truly was capable of, if she had a family bloodline ability, or she was gifted in the art of Jutsu, or something of the combination.
Yukine stuck out her hand, perplexing Orochimaru, who did the same thing back, and shook hands with her.
"Nice to meet ya Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru stared at her, all the more curious about her...
Back in the present, Orochimaru stared down the enemies that were before him, he could see those that he had brought, were being dealt with mainly by Pakura, who was able to hold them off together with Aoda, who was able to also slam giant snakes around the area, and keep them off of the other Ninja, being supported by some other Ninja Tsunade had brought with her.
"This is interesting, I didn't think it would be like this...but, I suppose people have to suffer before they gain what they desire…! Alright Ryou-kun, I'll show you some suffering!"
Ryouta pulled forward, as Naruko and Satsuki watched on. Both wished to help, but had their duties to fight the Ninja Orochimaru brought with him for the time being. Ryouta had the Mangekyou Sharingan on his side, so it allowed him to make sure he could potentially defeat Orochimaru, and even then, Satsuki was worried that if he overused his eyes, he could lose more and more of his sight.
"This ends now Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru snapped his fingers, and the group watches as bodies begin to rise up. From the earth themselves, almost as if they were apart of it, that was until they took the form of lifeless looking people, that turned towards the group.
Ryouta looked at each of them...and there was nothing to them.
They didn't blink, they didn't even really seem aware of their presence.
"Orochimaru...what have you done now?"
Ryouta demanded, Orochimaru showed a dark smile.
"I knew you'd be coming here, so I had to prepare, didn't I? I had to make sure that you'd come with me by any means necessary. I understand that between us, you have a scary power, so I have to make sure that you will be stopped. Ideally, I would have had Kabuto, Kimimaro, and Guren along with me to fight, but I also planned for the case that perhaps they would be taken down as well. Poor Tayuya, she's probably gone as well, isn't she?" Ryouta didn't confirm or deny it. "And if people had to be sacrificed because of that, then I am okay with that."
Tsunade tightened her fist at the evilness of Orochimaru.
Ryouta watched as one approached him, and swung for him rather sluggishly if he was honest with himself, so he deflected the attack, but as he did...he saw that the enemy was littered with paper bombs, so Ryouta, dashed away as he exploded, the others becoming shocked.
"They're rigged to explode!"
Anko spat out, Tsunade tightened her fists.
"All long range Jutsu users, at the ready! Do not let any of them close to you!"
Satsuki and the others watch as the enemies come for them, on top of the others that were already attacking. A mixture of normal Ninja, and rigged near corpses essentially, they were truly caught in a dangerous situation right off the bat.
Ryouta sprang into action, and threw a shuriken, as he yelled "Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!" and split the shuriken into many, stabbing into a bunch of the clones, and caused them to explode.
"Fire Release, Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Satsuki announced, and released a giant fireball towards a group of the exploding corpse like people, clashing with them created a miniature explosion that caused the very earth to be rocked with it.
"Earth Release, Flying Thrown Stones!"
Using Earth Release, Anko caused various rocks to fly upwards, and bombard a group of enemies, hitting them with accuracy, and caused them to explode away from the targets.
"Well, I don't really have long range...but, I do have clones of myself!"
Naruko placed her hands together, and created a various number of clones, before she ordered them to go forward, punching and kicking the exploding enemies, taking one another down.
"Haaaaaaaaah!"
Gaara placed her hands out, and creates sand swords in the sky, before firing them off towards the enemies, hitting them and causing them to explode away from the others, with Gaara also using her sand to shield the others from the shockwaves as a result to make sure that no one was affected.
At the same time, the close range Ninja dealt with the incoming force, with Tsunade tightened her hand, before she unleashed a devastating punch to the ground, causing a giant fissure to appear, swallowing a number of the enemy Ninja up into it.
"Your turn Pakura."
Tsunade said, with Pakura smirking lightly.
"Sure, leave it with me." She placed her hand up, and created a giant sphere of Scorch Release. "Have this!"
Unleashing the sphere into the fissure Tsunade had created, Pakura didn't have to worry about them trying to outrun her attacks, so she could focus on a single sphere, which drained them of the water inside their bodies, turning them into mummified corpses in a single shot.
While dealing with the incoming flow of enemies, Ryouta saw Satsuki approach.
"You know what he's doing, right?"
"Yeah, he's aware that he can't win against my Mangekyou so he's trying to make us waste as much chakra as possible."
"That's what I thought, that's why we have to waste as little chakra as possible, especially you, Pakura and Tsunade-sama. You three out of everyone here has the best chance of taking him down, and he knows that as well."
Ryouta glanced at Orochimaru, seeing the disgusting smirk on his lips.
It was as Satsuki and Ryouta thought.
He was trying to grind them down as much as humanly possible.
Orochimaru wasn't an idiot, even a mentally weakened one was aware of his own limits.
But it made Ryouta wonder, if this was it, or if he had other things up his sleeve.
Because it was Orochimaru, they truly never knew what the snake like human was up to.
"Yes...I think you're right Satsuki-chan, we have to try our best, that's why I'm going to save Mangekyou for unless we truly need it. I've already used it once today, all three aspects of my Mangekyou, I can't afford to use it multiple times...plus my eyesight..."
"Yeah, don't use it unless necessary. Orochimaru didn't count on Tsunade-sama and Pakura being here, this was meant to deal with you and only you, so we can lighten the load off of your shoulders."
Satsuki understood that very fundamental thing, what Orochimaru was hoping to gain through this.
But, now that they were, she and the others didn't want to have him to face this alone, so they pulled together, and fought as hard as they humanly could do.
As that was going on, Hinata was doing her best to defend Haku and Lee from an attack of unknown Ninja.
There weren't many, in fact only three appeared, now they became two. One of them had taken Kabuto despite the groups best efforts to stop them, but due to their low chakra and the enemies other attacking Ninja coming for them, they weren't able to reach Kabuto, and the other two remained behind, fighting against Hinata, since she was the only one that could currently fight.
"These guys must be with Orochimaru, if they took Kabuto, right?"
Lee asks, with Hinata thrusting her palm out, and went to slam it into the enemy, when the other launched a kunai for her, so she blocked it, and got into a defensive position.
"Y-Yes...I would imagine so..."
Hinata replied, but Haku wasn't entirely convinced.
She didn't know why, but it was a gut feeling, as they didn't attempt to take Kimimaro with them. Even if in a dying state, Kimimaro was very much alive for the moment, it would make some sense to either silence Kimimaro before any secrets could be spilled, or take him with them, either way it was a curious case indeed.
However, more pressing than that, Haku looked at how Hinata was doing her best for them.
"Hinata-san, I'm sorry for leaving it to you...I would help, but my chakra..."
Haku felt regretful that she couldn't also fight in this battle.
Hinata however didn't even bat an eyelid, as she continued fending off the Ninja by herself. Haku surmised that they were High Chunin Ranked in terms of power and were going for Hinata, who did her best, and was making headways, being able to repel them and get in some hits, but they also got in some on her as well.
"No, please do not worry about it Haku-san, you did everything you could to protect us, and fight hard...I-I can also do the same thing..."
She waved her hands through the air using her Gentle Fist and Byakugan, gathering water in the tip of needles, and began firing them off towards the enemy Ninja which began doing their best to block the attacks.
They were repelled enough for Hinata to put breathing room between them.
Hinata entered a stance, when one Ninja came for her, she went to deal with it, when suddenly the ground opened up below her, and began dragging her deep inside.
"Aaaah!"
"Hinata-san!"
Haku went to move…
When suddenly, a voice called "Wind Scythe Jutsu!" and a huge vortex of wind appeared around the two enemy Ninja, trapping them, as Hinata was brought out of the earth, thanks to the caster of the Earth Release being stopped all together.
"That Jutsu..."
Haku murmured, as a puppet came out, along with a voice calling "Heh, looks like we made it just in time." and suddenly caught one of the enemy Ninja inside of its body, before the head, and limbs of the puppet came off, and pierced through the opening holes of the puppet, killing the man off completely.
"This is it...this is my chance…!"
At the same time, Hinata saw a chance, and leapt forward, using her Gentle Fist, she was able to catch the enemy Ninja off guard, and took him down without worry.
Lee looked to see Temari, Kankuro and Karin coming down towards them, with other Ninja scattering around to take care of any other immediate threats.
"You guys...so, Ryou-kun pulled it off?"
Temari nods at Haku.
"He's back there, fighting the creepy snake guy. We were sent to come and get everyone else, since its been a hard battle for you all. We managed to clear this area up rather quick though, if I do say so myself."
Karin folds her arms.
"So far, I sense no causalities. But, I can sense the chakras of our comrades going down while Orochimaru's seems to be fluctuating."
"In what sense?"
Lee asks, so Karin explains.
"Its hard to say, it seems to go down, then suddenly it spikes up. Not like he is flexing his chakra or anything, more like he is...gaining more...but, it seems to be a sudden increase that's burned through fast...its hard to really say. But I can sense everyone back there is doing their best, and fighting hard."
Haku didn't like the sound of that.
But because she didn't have chakra to go and fight, she hoped the others would be doing well.
"Forget that for now, the others?"
Temari asks, Hinata points towards the right.
"Back there...we came here, and...it seems that Kabuto got away..."
Hinata looked saddened by it, but Temari shut that down right away.
"Do not begin feeling guilt, you alone protected these two, and fought so hard. So he got away, he wont be getting away forever. His time shall come one day."
Hinata smiles gently at the words, she did feel somewhat better from Temari saying that, though she wondered how the others were, hoping that they were okay...
Back with Ryouta and the others, they finally managed to take down a good chunk of the living bombs Orochimaru had made, though they weren't difficult to do, the sheer number of them had caused some inconvenience, and now they were ready to face down Orochimaru.
"My, you dispatched them in record time, I am impressed."
Ryouta pulled forward, together with Anko and Gaara, the others staying behind to deal with the remaining living bombs.
"The way you use humans for your sick games, I truly do hate you."
Anko spat out, with Orochimaru laughing.
"Haha, Anko. Are you jealous because I found someone else?"
Anko shook her head with a quiet rage inside of her.
"Not at all. I am glad that Ryou-kun is kicking your ass, and I will do as well."
"Then what's with the angry look in your eyes? Do you despise me that much?"
"I have always despised you, Orochimaru. I just didn't know how much until the years we became apart. Like...I just don't understand how you are so cold hearted, to do all of these things to this boy. You cared for his Mother! You taught her, and this is how you treat that relationship?! Trying to body snatch her own son?!"
"Its precisely why I aim for him. Life is fragile Anko, it ends for all, but me. I wont allow myself to be killed here. I am going to surpass life and death, and go beyond something that is a law of this world. To learn many Jutsu, and the Sharingan is going to help me. If you get in my way, then I will kill you as well."
With each passing word, she really did hate him more and more.
"I wont allow this boy to become your puppet!"
"Good luck trying, I taught you everything you know."
"No, you taught me a lot, but not everything!"
Anko started off the fight, with her releasing a thin beam of fire from her lips, and headed right for Orochimaru. The snake like human chuckled, easily avoiding the attack only to see that snakes came from her body.
"Snakes? Against me?"
Orochimaru countered with his own snakes erupting from his arms, and came for Anko's, clashing in the middle, with Ryouta shooting forward, and cleaved through Orochimaru's snakes, allowing Anko's own to get through and head for the snake like human.
"Have this!"
The snakes tried to bind Orochimaru, but with surprising strength, he ripped them apart.
"Anko-sensei! Please support me! Gaara-chan, please do as well!"
"Yeah, we got your back!"
"Go ahead, I wont let him touch you."
Ryouta thankfully nods, and unleashed his devastating speed. He was moving so fast even Orochimaru couldn't help but think he had reached a truly incredible level of speed.
Orochimaru, murmuring "Fast little boy." brought out his sword he was wielding up, and clashed violently together with the incoming young man himself, sparks dancing between their blades.
Ryouta pulled back, and came at him with a myriad of slashes, which Orochimaru parried over and over, but was also being pushed back, that was until Anko came in and from the side, she twirled two kunai in her hands, and came for the snake like human, putting even more pressure onto Orochimaru.
"This is wonderful, all of my students are here."
Orochimaru spun around and repelled Anko, before Ryouta extended Kusanagi for his face, with Orochimaru bending out of the way in time to avoid being stabbed, but did receive a heavy cut across his cheek which bled profusely.
Orochimaru thrust his hand out, and released a snake from his arm.
"Yukine isn't here!"
Anko yelled as Ryouta did the same thing as Orochimaru, and released a snake, which fought the snake of Orochimaru's, and began struggling against one another for a brief moment, before Ryouta released flames across his snake, which in turn transferred to Orochimaru's own, and burned the snake out of existence.
"Ooh, Yukine is here alright! She is always here! She wont leave me alone the evil woman!"
Orochimaru watched as the ground erupted in stone spikes from a Jutsu Anko cast, so he leapt away, as Ryouta announced "Fire Release, Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!" and breathed out a number of fireballs to catch Orochimaru.
But the snake like human dashed through the city, and dodged the flaming spheres, which crashed through different houses, and set them ablaze.
Using them, Ryouta coated the Kusanagi with the flames, and made a huge swing of the blade, as it extended outwards. Growing longer and longer, Ryouta's sword began cleaving through the city with its immense sharpness, and left a trail of fire in its path.
Orochimaru laughed, and went to avoid, when his feet began to sink.
He saw it was sand, and Gaara was using her powers from a distance to distort the entire area that Orochimaru was in, creating a wide stretch of whirling sand.
"Shit..."
Orochimaru could see that he was somewhat stuck now, but then he simply exhaled, and snakes came out like a wall. Ryouta wasn't surprised he could do that, so he pressed forward, and cleaved through the wall of snakes, leaving behind a trail of fire in his path.
He also saw Orochimaru used the wall of snakes to climb out of the sand pit, and in turn escape the flaming Kusanagi, but what Orochimaru didn't count on was Anko having used her own snakes, and mixed together with Gaara's sand, scattered a wide range of paper bombs all the way around the area, which thanks to Ryouta's flaming sword, was now being set off in a massive explosion.
"Damn..."
Orochimaru was caught in the heavenly destructive force, which blew away a good number of buildings all the way around.
Even Tsunade could feel the effects of the giant blast wave despite being a good distance away, at least half a towns worth, going to show the incredible destructive might of the trio.
"Did they get him?!"
Naruko yelled, as she repelled a Ninja coming for her, creating clones all the way around and launched them to combat the enemy.
But Satsuki shook her head, nailing a head shot on another of the enemies.
"No, this isn't over by a long shot."
Proving to be true, Orochimaru came out of the smoke cloud that had formed thanks to the explosion. But he was damaged. His skin had been burned, and seeing the individual underneath that Orochimaru had taken over and he was panting, Ryouta felt sickened by such an appearance.
"What's wrong Ryou-kun? Seeing your future, does it terrify you?"
"No, seeing you taking over another's body makes me feel sick."
Ryouta spat out, seeing the disturbing smirk that was appearing on the face of Orochimaru.
"You have it wrong, this individual gave me this body in response to a request he asked so humbly of me."
"Did you fulfil it?"
Ryouta expected that he didn't, and even if he did ask for such a thing in exchange, he thought it was wrong to do this in the first place.
Orochimaru scoffed.
"No, it was a desperate plea from a man that would be killed regardless. He wasn't worth fulfilling any requests. He was the best of a bad situation, I had to take this form to survive after you and your rag tag group decided to stop me from requiring you and Satsuki-chan. I could have made you both brilliant, amazing and strong. You both could have been great, but you threw that away for, what exactly?"
Orochimaru laughed out, so Ryouta expressed his thoughts directly to him in a strong manner.
"For free will, for the chance to do what I wished to do in my own life. To not be your puppet, and die a meaningless death. And the fact that you said that this man was the best of a bad situation, how twisted do you have to be?"
Anko nods to what her student was saying, and went to speak, when Orochimaru cut her off.
"Most lives are thrown away anyway." Orochimaru turned his eyes to Tsunade. "Like Dan, and Nawaki. Their lives, thrown away for a village that never even thought about them once after they died." Tsunade scowled as he turned to Ryouta. "Like your parents, and precious Shi-chan, their lives, became meaningless the moment that they died. All of their accomplishments, simply fade to the test of time. That wont happen to me, I wont fade away like that. I will live forever, and I will learn every Jutsu, gain every Kekkei Genkai!"
Orochimaru was sure in his self and his belief.
That he would come out on top, that he would be able to live forever.
But to Ryouta...he couldn't, he simply couldn't see anything redeemable about this snake man. He was speaking nonsense, all so he could justify his sickening reasoning's so he could continue stealing the bodies of others for self preservation.
"But in the way you wish to preserve yourself, you will be thrown away. A meaningless life, is what you're doing right now. You are a body hopping coward that takes advantage of the innocent, the desperate, and uses them for your own games, to make sure you get to live. What right do you have to live above anyone else? Who said you could do these things to anyone, all so you could continue your disgusting work of torturing people and ruining everyone's lives for your sick and twisted ideals?"
When hearing the truth like that, Orochimaru felt angered.
In fact, Yukine suspected that because Ryouta said those words in a way that painted Orochimaru's goals, his desires, as nothing other than pathetic and desperate, that he would never get what he would want in his life...it was a meaningless existence, something Orochimaru would always want to avoid.
He clutched his hands tightly, before showing a wicked smile.
"Boy...you think you can beat me?!"
"Whatever it takes, you can't be running around anymore."
"Then, why don't you fight these huh? They're very explosive, forgive the pun!"
Orochimaru bent down towards the ground, so he was on all fours, and placed his hands downwards fully, allowing something to be activated. A few moments later, Ryouta saw what it was that was being activated.
Like before, he saw that there were many people, the same bomber people that Orochimaru had used, and now he was directing them all towards Ryouta and the others. They walked rather fast, and yet their eyes displayed nothing to them, Ryouta felt disheartened by seeing how many people Orochimaru had truly used as sacrifices.
"You're disgusting Orochimaru."
"In this world, you have to survive by any means, all I did was make sure that I survive, that's all."
Gritting his teeth, Ryouta contemplated on how he was going to fight them all, seeing as they were scattering far and wide. He had a few ideas that he could do, but he wanted to save chakra...
Meanwhile, Guren who had suffered a good deal from the attack of the Konoha group, stayed behind her crystal dome where she could see the others were still watching her. She wondered, if this was going to be the end for her, and if this is how she was going to go out.
Neji using his Byakugan kept eyes on her every movement.
"Little Hyuga...I can't fight you, so why are you watching me so?"
"Its precisely that reason I am watching you. I don't know what you're going to do, you're a dangerous woman and one that could kill us all if we had our backs to you."
Shikamaru nods his head in agreement.
"Do you think we would leave you here, alone? For you to make a run for it?"
"Even if you did, I couldn't get very far on my own. So the only way I'd be able to get out of this is if Orochimaru-sama sends help, and truthfully, that could go either way."
Guren said with a mirth smirk, Ino scowled.
"You're one of the reasons Ryou-kun has to go through this! Because of your crazy love for a creepy guy like Orochimaru!"
"For the record, I don't love Orochimaru-sama, I admire him and follow him."
Ino glared as did Guren.
"It doesn't make a difference either way! You forced Ryou-kun away like this!"
Guren laughed.
"I wonder how the battle is going? I wonder if he's been taken by Orochimaru-sama? Only time will tell I suppose. Since this is just me thinking this, but Orochimaru-sama has been preparing for this eventuality. It wont make a difference to tell you guys now, since you can't run there anyway."
"...So he's set traps for Ryouta?"
Kiba asks, Guren nods.
"That boy, is more dangerous than you could know. If it wasn't for him, Satsuki Uchiha would have the Curse Mark, and the Third Hokage would be dead as well. That's why, Orochimaru-sama wishes for him, to gain the power that the boy has, and to take it for himself."
Ino hated Guren and the Orochimaru group all the more when hearing that.
Neji spoke up, after seeing the expression on the others faces.
"Trying to attack us with words isn't going to make a difference for you."
"True, but I also get to have a little fun before I'm taken down."
As they spoke however, suddenly Neji spotted something.
No, he spotted a few people coming their way, and his face turned blank...
Looking down the lifeless bomb people wave coming for him, Ryouta thought about using a Fire Release over a wide area, but Gaara had an idea, and called out.
"Ryouta, you are going destroy these beings."
"Over a wide area..."
"No, it will be closer than that." Gaara clasped her hands together. "Sand Tsunami!"
Ryouta watches as Gaara feeds her sand into the ground, breaking up the rocks and minerals there to increase the amount of sand at her disposal. It was growing more and more, Ryouta saw that the very earth was converting into a world of sand, and a giant wave of sand shot up, and begins washing over the lifeless people, battering them with incredibly dense waves of sand, to the point even Naruko thought "Damn...I am glad she didn't do that in our fight." upon seeing that most of the town had been engulfed in the sand, and the lifeless people had lost their fortitude.
Ryouta then watched as the sands brought the people together into one area, into a giant pillar with them all stuck inside of it, unable to move thanks to the dense sand.
"Now is your time to do it, Ryouta."
Ryouta nods, placed Kusanagi down, and thrusted his hand out.
Gathering chakra in a single space, he formed a sphere, but different to the Rasengan, his own creation that had a good deal of power behind it.
"Lets grind them down with the Spiraling Ring!"
Forming the Jutsu, Ryouta leapt up into the air, and thanks to Gaara, all of the people gathered in a giant pillar for him to come down against, which he did, with the sphere smashing deep into the giant pillar of sand, Orochimaru growled as he saw the sphere obliterating his giant flurry of experiments in one fell swoop, collapsing and destroying them out of existence as the swirling energy swept all over their bodies.
The shockwave from it caused most of the sand over the town to be caught up in it, and generated enough pressure that it scattered everywhere, even blinding Orochimaru's vision for a few moments, so he cleared it with a summoning of a snake to sweep the sand particles away.
When he did, he saw Ryouta rushing for him, so he smirked.
"Nice trick..." He looked at Ryouta's hand, and saw...he didn't have Kusanagi. "Wait, where is..."
Before he could finish, he saw a shadow on the ground.
He quickly turned to see that Anko was coming for him, Kusanagi in hand, and swung for his neck.
"Shit!"
Panic came over him, and he tried to escape, when hands of sand erupted from the ground, and grabbed various parts of his body, pinning him down, with Gaara panting at the usage of such a giant technique, Ryouta mentally thanking her for such a thing.
Orochimaru widened his eyes, then lifted his hand.
"Have this!"
A snake came out of his arm, and went for Anko, when another snake came from Ryouta, and bound Orochimaru, pulling his arm back with enough force that he felt pain run through his shoulder.
"Sensei! Cut him down!"
"Yeah, I've got this!"
Orochimaru couldn't stop Anko, who ran her blade through his body, leaving him down from the right shoulder, to his left hip, with his top half flying up into the air.
Anko looked up to see a befuddled Orochimaru...only to see that he then came out of his own mouth, like shedding a skin.
She presumed he already began the Jutsu before her blade reached him, so she went to prepare to strike again, when Orochimaru spat out a sword from his mouth via a snake coming out of his new mouth.
"Damn..."
Anko blocked it, but couldn't reach Orochimaru, which Orochimaru was expecting to happen…
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
But then Tsunade appeared, and slammed her foot deep into his face, sending him smashing deep into the earth, drawing a good deal of blood from the impressive kick, and then she continued down, twirling in the air, and smashed her fist deep into the body of Orochimaru who let out a howl of pain, the earth split into many different pieces due to the sheer power that Tsunade had within her fist.
"Have this!"
Tsunade reeled another punch, and smashed into Orochimaru's body, causing blood to erupt out of his mouth, before he punched Tsunade himself, which she blocked, and propelled her away from him.
However, Ryouta was on his case, and came down with a kunai to stab into him, Orochimaru twirled and got to his feet, swinging for Ryouta using his foot, only for the attack to go through him, Orochimaru calling "Damn, after image!" and turned to see Ryouta behind him, stabbing for him, so he blocked with his hands, only for Ryouta to smash his foot deep into the face of Orochimaru, blasting him across the battlefield, Tsunade was impressed with his physical strength.
"Tsunade-san!"
"Yeah, got him!"
He also angled Orochimaru towards her, so she gathered her energies, before embedding her fist into his back, Orochimaru screamed at the impact, as Tsunade smashed him deep into the ground, creating a giant crater all around her and his body.
Seeing the destructive force of their attacks, Naruko cringed and Satsuki thought "Damn, it seems that this battle is going to be truly intense...but, he couldn't have...no, he would survive that, Orochimaru wouldn't go down that easily." and watched on with keen eyes, while fighting off the hoard of Ninja Orochimaru had gathered, also looking over her Mother, who Sakura was guarding with her life, which Satsuki was grateful for.
Tsunade looked down at Orochimaru, beginning to reel her fist back...when she saw his head was buried in the ground.
"No!"
Knowing what that meant, she grabbed him, and began pulling him…
But he came out of the earth a good distance away, with his neck elongating and a sword coming from his mouth, and it was heading for the surprised Anko. She tried to move to intercept it, but Orochimaru laughed, and activated a seal, causing her to be stopped in place.
"A-A seal!"
Orochimaru laughed when Anko yelled that out, Ryouta thinking "He must have placed it on her when she cut him down before..." as he also began moving, seeing that Anko was going to take a sword to the chest.
He pushed his speed as fast as he could go, crossing the distance so fast, and before he could reach Orochimaru, the blade was an inch from Anko's chest, Ryouta growled as he smashed his foot into Orochimaru's face, diverting the blade away from a killing shot on Anko, and sliced her in the stomach instead, as while Ryouta kick forced his head to bend away from Anko completely, he turned his head back and managed to cut her deeply, before Tsunade fully pulled his body and head away from her.
"Sensei!"
Ryouta got before her, catching her in his arms, and laid her down near a tree, looking over her as she bled from her stomach, so he began helping her.
While Ryouta did that, Tsunade fully pulled him away and got him into the ground, where she repeatedly punched him, using her incredible strength to break apart Orochimaru, to the point that he had to do the replacement again.
Coming out of his mouth, Orochimaru panted, and saw Tsunade gritting her teeth.
"Tsunade, you didn't have to do this, if you had healed my arms back then. You could have had Dan and Nawaki back by now, but instead you became the Hokage to a dying village. How touchingly sickening."
"Keep wasting your breath, it only helps me get more rallied to fight you. I shall make sure that you are finished here, and now!"
"You and what army!?"
Before Tsunade could answer, Pakura released a sphere of Scorch Release for Orochimaru, who panicked, and managed to summon a snake to take the attack, seeing the water evaporate out of its body.
"She has me." Pakura turned to the panting Gaara. "Gaara, I need you to help with fighting off the experiments Orochimaru has. Though they might be considered fodder, it seems that numbers are difficult after all."
"...But, Ryouta Uchiha..."
Pakura developed an understanding face.
"Go, do not worry about him, he shall be fine."
Gaara looked at Pakura, lowering her head, and then turned her hands towards some incoming enemies, releasing sand to capture, and crush them out of existence, as Naruko and Satsuki were doing the same thing, doing their part to support the fight going on there.
Orochimaru stared between them, then turned his eyes fully to Pakura.
"What is wrong with that look in your eyes? Are you angry?"
Pakura tightened her fist, as orbs of Scorch Release flew all around her. The powerful spheres looked deadly, and loomed around her menacingly to Orochimaru's eyes.
"Maki, remember her?"
Orochimaru looked generally perplexed.
"Maki...heh, can't say that I do. Is that someone of significance?"
"...You callous bastard. You killed her."
Orochimaru showed an uncaring face.
"Did I? I have killed many, you can't expect me to remember them all, can you?"
Pakura wanted to fly into a rage when she heard that, but she knew that was what Orochimaru wished from her, so she didn't say anything and kept her composure, but did tighten her hand when she saw the feelings inside beginning to get to her.
"You will remember her, as we end your life, like you have so many others."
Orochimaru laughed.
"Well, looks like I've got Pakura of the Scorch Release, and Tsunade fighting me. The Scorch Release, is so powerful, and it shall be mine. Yes, it is true. You are someone that could have been a good ally to me, but you care too much, you have too much humanity within you."
"You're so obsessed with your own goals, that you think you can get away with this?"
Tsunade said incredulously, but Orochimaru shrugged his shoulders.
"Yeah, I think I can."
Tsunade growled, and jumped forward, so Orochimaru quickly dodged, only to see several orbs of Scorch Release coming for him, so he turned his lower body into a snake and shot through the area, the orbs smashing into the ground and generating liquid evaporating heat, Orochimaru could see they were gaining distance, so he placed his hand out, and revealed two snakes shooting for Pakura.
Responding to that, Pakura created a shield of her Scorch Release, the snakes being mummified immediately. Orochimaru figured that, so he had another snake shoot up from the ground, larger than Pakura, opening its mouth and tried to swallow the young woman whole.
In that moment, Tsunade ripped it asunder with her strength, destroying the snake and then carried on towards Orochimaru.
Orochimaru laughed, and pulled out his sword again, and swung it for Tsunade, who dodged, and kicked him in the face…
Or so she tried, when he bent his neck in an abnormal manner, and sent it around Tsunade, wrapping around her to the point of constriction, and his teeth elongated, going for her neck.
"Lets give you a snakes bite!"
Tsunade pushed her strength, and moved Orochimaru with a flex of her power, Orochimaru was forced back, his neck unravelling all around her, before she grabbed him by his face, and squeezed so hard that he actually began feeling his skull beginning to crack ever so slightly.
"Lets give you a skull crushing."
Tsunade placed both hands on his head, and applied pressure, Orochimaru growled, as Pakura attacked his body with Scorch Release, the spheres slamming into him and began destroying the liquids in his body in such a fast rate, so he was forced to create a new body from his mouth, escaping his body and jumped away, landing on the ground to see Pakura firing off some orbs of Scorch Release towards him.
"You're going to pay for what you've done Orochimaru!"
"Yeah, and you're going to be dead soon little girl."
Orochimaru swiftly avoids, and sees Tsunade landing on the ground, tightening her fists.
Looking between them, he laughed rather loudly.
"It isn't fair, you both have such strong abilities against me. One hit of Scorch Release, and I could be killed. As for you Tsunade, you hit so hard like it is a hundred people punching me. But your efforts, are fruitless. Did you think I didn't plan for this event?"
"What are you saying?!"
Tsunade demanded, so Orochimaru chuckled darkly.
"You think that you're buying time for the Uchiha boy, but the truth is, you wont. I will gain his body, even if I have to kill everyone in Konoha to do it. Nothing will stop me, I have come far, too far to not gain what is mine!"
Neither Tsunade or Pakura would give up, especially when hearing that, and continued the fight...
As Tsunade and Pakura fought off Orochimaru, Ryouta used his Medical Ninjutsu to heal Anko the best that he could, after releasing her from the binding seal that Orochimaru placed on her. Anko looked on, and felt regret.
"Sorry...seems that even though I'm your Sensei...I have...I've become wounded..."
Ryouta glanced into her eyes, and saw the pain within them, so as he healed her, he spoke in a gentle manner.
"Sensei, what are you saying? You cut him in half, each time he does that new body creation, he wastes chakra, you forced him to waste chakra, and it could mean the difference between life and death. Everyone is contributing right now, even if they aren't fighting Orochimaru directly, they are holding off those Ninja, and taking down his little army so we can focus fully on Orochimaru. Everyone here is important Sensei."
Anko adopts a small smirk on her face.
She always did like when he spoke like this, it showed his generous and kind hearted nature despite the world they lived in currently. It was sweet to her, it touched her like others hadn't been able to do in her life.
"Then don't waste anymore on me...I'll be alright..."
Anko shifted uncomfortably, but Ryouta wasn't convinced at all.
He couldn't go just yet.
He had to make sure that she was safe.
"Not until you're in an acceptable condition, I wont allow Orochimaru to claim any lives here today."
Anko mildly blushed when he said that.
It always made her happy to hear him say it.
But, thoughts came to her, and she had to express them.
"Saying such things...you know, Orochimaru...he so desperately wants to turn you into a new version of him, you know?"
"Sensei..."
As Ryouta tried to speak, Anko spoke up instead.
"I could see, as I witnessed and heard what he was doing. It is clear to me that he wanted you to break and become as crazy as he is. You're going to be fighting him after this...remember, whatever he says...don't let him under your skin. Not that I think he would...but, he will come at you with every little tactic that he can. To gain even the slightest of advantages. He is pure evil and twisted, Ryouta-kun. He will throw your brother, Mother, Father, Mikoto-san, Satsuki, and everyone he can think of at you, all so he can make you suffer, and slip."
"I know Sensei...I have seen the lengths he is willing to go, what he will do to accomplish his goals, I wont let him get to me, he can say whatever he wants, but I wont fall to his mind games."
Anko moved her hand, and placed it on his face.
"I am sorry...I am leaving the burden to you. But, I know you can win this if you give it your all...he is strong, show him you are stronger."
Ryouta took her hand within his own, Anko looking deep into his red eyes, and saw gentleness staring right back at her.
"It is no burden...it is my honour to carry out this mission, Sensei. Orochimaru, needs to go."
Anko smirks and nods strongly.
"Yes, he does. And I know...you will do me proud."
"Yes, Sensei. I shall do my best and end him."
Watching him perform Medical Ninjutsu on her, she couldn't help but feel at ease with the green chakra surrounding her body and wound. She was grateful for what he was doing, but she also worried about the others as well.
Ryouta went as fast as he could, and make sure that she would be stable enough for him to be able to keep going with the fight.
From his location, he saw that Tsunade and Pakura were keeping Orochimaru plenty busy.
Anko, in the middle of that, lightly smiled, and gave him a kiss on the cheek, surprising him.
He looked at her with slightly reddening cheeks, and she winked.
"It was a kiss for good luck, you'll get plenty more in the future~"
Blushing lightly at her actions, he continued to heal her.
When he was finished, Ryouta flashed behind Orochimaru silently.
Getting in close, Ryouta came at the snake like human with Kusanagi, only for Orochimaru to yell and avoid the slash, but his leg was amputated as a result, forcing Orochimaru to create a new body.
Slithering forward, Orochimaru looked between them.
"The holy trinity have come together." Ryouta, Tsunade and Pakura looked perplexed at that. "Well, it seems that you have managed to cause some problems for me."
"We will cause more than problems for you."
Tsunade spat out, Orochimaru shrugged.
"It is unfair, three on one. That isn't really going to be a good thing for me. Aah, I wish Sarutobi-sensei hadn't caused me to lose the use of my arms. Even transferring like this, has caused me pain. Not to mention Yukine as well…!"
"You mentioned that before as well, what do you mean? What did Mom do?"
Orochimaru glared at Ryouta.
"How am I meant to know what she did huh?! She invented some Jutsu that has caused some of her spirit or a chakra imprint inside of me to haunt me always! I am being mentally destroyed by your damn Mother! Even now, she is saying things to me, and destroying my soul! I wont give in though, I am unstoppable! I am powerful, and I will always win the day!"
When Ryouta heard that...it all made sense.
Orochimaru's decline into insanity, how irrational he has been acting. Yukine had been attacking his very soul and making him lose himself.
"Ryouta, be careful, he's been injecting himself."
Tsunade spoke, Ryouta raised a questioning brow.
"For what purpose?"
Ryouta had a few ideas, but wished to hear Tsunade's thoughts before confirming some of the theories that he had.
"That body and its chakra levels, it seems they aren't up to what Orochimaru would want, so he has been boosting his chakra with various drugs. Though there is a limit to it from what I can see, he knows that his chakra levels wouldn't have been enough to capture you or kill you so easily. However the side effects would probably kill a normal person. Orochimaru may have been modified before so his body could accept it, even then using them indefinitely would kill even Orochimaru. But for this battle, I think he's planning to do it until we all can't fight anymore or he runs out. He truly has gotten desperate, possibly knowing that if he doesn't get you now, he wont be able to get you in the future. To be honest, doing what he is doing, would probably destroy a body anyway, maybe because he is intending to swap with you, he believes that destroying that body would be worth it."
Orochimaru hated to admit that she was right.
"I see...so that's how it is..."
Ryouta watched as Orochimaru hung his tongue out of his mouth in a sadistic manner.
"We all have to make sacrifices, this is the one that I had to do. It is annoying to deal with these injections, but I applaud you for figuring it out Tsunade. Then again, the Medical Ninja that is supposed to be the best in the world, it was only a matter of time before you'd figure it out. I have to use this method, it wasn't easy, and it takes a good deal of time...but, I used all of the time that I had to achieve my lives goals, and get the victory that I rightfully deserve."
"Of course I did, it was acting unnatural, your chakra I mean. But that's highly dangerous from what I have observed, your body wont be able to keep going with such doses."
Orochimaru placed a hand on his chest.
"It is sweet that you care for me, but I promise you, that I have taken every precautionary measure, and I will live long enough to get what I want."
"Oh, I don't care about you Orochimaru, I was merely stating it to those in my group, as I have begun understanding your weaknesses."
She dismissed his words, something that he scowled at.
"I see. That is pleasant Tsunade. But, I've had enough of you now, Ryou-kun and I need to be alone."
"Tch, you can try, but that wont be happening."
Orochimaru snickered, and clicked his fingers.
When he did, Orochimaru stood there, as two giant snakes came ripping out of the ground accompanied by a number of smaller snakes, and headed for Tsunade, and Pakura respectably.
"Remember the snake I made for Mikoto? Yeah, I also made some others too, along with some friends for you. Good luck with them, the Uchiha is going to be mine now."
Tsunade dodged, as did Pakura, while the snakes spewed venom at them, separating them from Ryouta.
Orochimaru then smirked as Ryouta faced him harshly.
"And then there was one."
Saying it in a condescending manner, Ryouta scowled at the snake like human.
"Even if it is only me, I wont back down."
"I thought that you might say that, but I think it is getting too crowded around here."
"I am surprised, no Manda?" Orochimaru scowled. "Maybe you can't control Manda this time, huh. It seems even he hates your guts."
"Its a risk for sure, so I wish to end this, right now. I don't have the time for the others to come, so Ryou-kun, a final climatic battle between you, and me! No one, only you, and I, will fight! Be ready to sacrifice your life to me!"
Orochimaru laughed as he opened his arms.
His eyes stared directly towards Ryouta, who in turn clutched his hand together.
This was it, this was going to be the battle to end this series of events.
There was no turning back now.
Ryouta could feel it inside of him, that he would have to stop Orochimaru, right here, right now.
Looking from afar, was a certain man in a mask, who went by the name of Tobi.
His lone eyehole in the mask looked towards Ryouta, and Orochimaru.
"Ryou-kun...I am cheering for you to win...do not disappoint now. Show me that potential I saw in you, and can still see."
His mask covered the smirk, he simply sat in silence, and watched the events unfurl...
End chapter!
So, this chapter had Ryouta and the group teaming up against Orochimaru, who broke out everything he had to try and fight against them. Sacrifices to try and hinder the group, even using his knowledge along with Kabuto's to take some stuff to enhance his chakra to unnatural levels to keep the fight going, but was pushed back by Ryouta and the others, he managed to get some wound on Anko, but she didn't get killed. We also learned a bit more about the first time Orochimaru and Yukine met one another, Hinata also defended the others from being attacked with Temari and the others coming into help, and Guren also seems to be getting targeted.
And now, the next chapter, is going to be the conclusion of this arc, with the final confrontation between Ryouta, and Orochimaru ending the arc! How it plays out, we will find out next time!
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,