Summary/Disclaimer: Time for another chapter of the Merc and the Medic. Enjoy the 2500-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.
(Konoha, Sakura and Marmora's home.)
Marmora slowly poured his Charka into his Sea Swords and watched the familiar water like swords form around his hands.
"Ok… Just slowly do this… Even if I master it, I have to keep training it… This is step 1, not step 99." He said, Sakura rolled her eyes before the swords slowly started to form into ice.
He blinked as they froze over, he tapped one on the tree, solid. He blinked before turning and slashing a target.
The arm covering ice parted the target like butter and he looked at his hands.
"Uh… Sakura, is that a good step or such?" He asked, Sakura rolled her eyes again before Marmora coughed.
He wandered over to Sakura who helped him inside. She walked him to the couch before sitting next to him.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Marmora asked, he removed his coat and kicked off his shoes while Sakura placed her bare hands on his back.
"Do I think my healing will stabilize you during Kuraokami coming and allow him to talk longer? No, I don't… I don't have access directly to your Charka network like a Hyuga… I'm gambling here… Kuraokami?" She asked before the spirit of the water and snow god appeared in the room. She blinked and looked at Kakashi, the Jonin had been sent to record anything from Kuraokami… And also, to mess with his former student.
Sakura noticed he was glowing bluer and had small snowflakes coming off him now.
"You are very resourceful for someone with little experience of beings like me… You remind me of the kid's mother." Kuraokami stated, he rose up like a snake.
"You have a lot to talk about… And if you've been living in my soul or whatever, you know what I'm going to ask about." Marmora muttered, panting before Kuraokami nodded.
"I think the first thing to discuss is the Aito Clan… Marmora, you shouldn't have much of a wait talking to me with Charka Control, it should come with time." He stated before clearing his throat.
"Kid, my history with your bloodline starts with our dear old pain in the ass, Kaguya… Who your new girlfriend broke a horn off…" Kuraokami said?
He smiled like a shark at this, moving close to Sakura till he was face to face with her.
"I enjoyed seeing that thoroughly… I must thank you for that…" He said before clearing his throat.
"The kid is the long descendent of the Aito Clan… Possibly one of the last clan members… I met them after I tried to stop Kaguya. I nearly laid slain for my efforts." Kuraokami said, Kakashi raised an eyebrow at this.
"You fought Kaguya?" He asked, the dragon god nodded and looked at him.
"I did and lost; she wasn't from this world I believe. I couldn't let such pure Charka energy be used by someone that would go down such a horrible path. She ripped through me, I bled into the area. You would know it as the Land of Snow today, created through my blood if I hear from the humans right." Kuraokami stated.
"The kid's ancestor? She found me, dying in the snow. She would heal my wounds, a trait passed from all females of the Aito Clan, they were master healers with their males being well known for their combat skills and control over Water Jutsu and then later ice charka… I do not know if the females possessed Wind Charka or if they were gifted… But the woman who healed me was the first to approach me without fear." He stated, Marmora grunted, Sakura went to say something before he stood up enough to look at her.
"My ancestor was a healer and my great Grandfather or whatever was an assassin?" Marmora hissed out, Kuraokami looked at him.
"Yes. I would give her access to my power; your clan would be one of the few to try and resist Kaguya… Though they ultimately had no role in things as I'm sure the Hokage and you know, Sakura." Kuraokami said before he looked at his body.
"I have pulled from my own power to stabilize myself. It isn't permeant, but with the kid taking a step to mastering his Charka, and the healing from Sakura? I believe the bond is much stronger." He said before sighing.
"I choose only the most noble and caring members of the clan. My power has long since been coveted, seen as a god among the human race." Kuraokami stated.
"My power isn't infinite, I have the limited power to see into the future, but not endlessly, a few years at best. I also do not die of age… I can still be killed and such, half of me is sealed away, not within a person, but away. Where I do not know. My power was surpassed by Kurama, his brethren and the Hokage. I find it amusing the nine forget a being that assisted in their creation though I am not their progenitor." Kuraokami said before Marmora coughed.
"Your sealed?" Sakura asked, the dragon god hummed and turned to him.
"That brings me to Ayumi and Daiki… Though I suppose you know them as mom, mom and dear old dad…" He said with a grin.
"What… you knew them?" Marmora asked, Kuraokami frowned, looking at the ground, like the thought of them hurt him.
"Kid, about 50 years ago? Before the war? Your parents died, warriors of a battle that would be sunk to history." He said before he brought a hand to his face.
"Your parents would lead their clan against the being who is… Would be, your worst enemy… Momoshiki Otsutsuki." Kuraokami said, Sakura's eyes widened.
"Marmora fights an Otsutsuki?!" She yelled, Kuraokami hummed.
"Yes, but let me explain. I will need time to rest, but I am working on a way to talk with the kid even when I am gathering energy. He is the most kind and selfless since his ancestor and father." Sakura heard from the god for a moment before he went to speaking again. He sounded much more tired at the moment.
"Your parents were fighting against him and 2 others, your father was the last one to use the Jutsu known as the Samurai of the Snow. They fought to stop him from learning of the source of power known as the God tree. I loaned him all my power, I hated the Otsutsuki clan, I had become indebted to them, their power and caring… No, the kid's past is for another time. My power is starting to dim." Kuraokami said before he started to fade. He fed more of his Charka to the power keeping him tethered at the moment.
"The kid's parents were slain in battle. his mother a very caring priestess that led the clan in chants and well, me. Daiki was a general, a brave and cunning warrior. I will tell more another time, in 1 day." He said before he turned to Marmora.
"I was sealed because I failed… Kid, you are destined to fight alongside the Hokage and the Uchiha against Momoshiki and 2 of his clansmen. Your duel is in 2 years." He said, starting to fade again before Sakura blinked.
"Wait, what about me?" Sakura asked, Kuraokami laughed before dimming a bit.
"You? you are there… Ms. Sakura Haruno Aito…" He said, grinning like a shark as Sakura gasped.
"You will marry someday before the battle. I do not know when. My power is spent and I grow tired… Kid, train and grow. Shin and his friends? They will not be your mortal enemy, Momoshiki will be. I will contact you in 24 hours after I rest." He said before he fully vanished, the snow turning to pitiful snowflakes before fading.
Marmora was able to gasp and then blinked before looking down at the ground. Kakashi turned to Sakura.
"Seems you both have some talking to do. I'll report to Naruto… Ms. Aito." He said before Sakura threw a pillow at the retreating copy ninja.
"So that's 90% of the story. He just said the same guy I fight to the death is the same guy who killed my parents." Marmora said, Sakura was silent.
She was still processing the information. Marmora would fight an Otsutsuki, possibly 3, with Naruto and Sasuke. She would be married to him before then. His parents had died in combat against the Otsutsuki.
"I have a lot more training to do then." Marmora said as he pulled on his shirt and sandals. He could tell Kuraokami knew their conversation wasn't over yet.
'don't think this means our talk is over.' He thought, he got an answer a moment later as he pulled the back door open.
'no, we have much more to discuss… Just don't think the girl will stay out of this, kid. She's grown rather fond of you or at least will. My visions are never wrong.' The dragon god stated before recalling himself into Marmora's soul.
Marmora looked at Sakura once before walking outside to get more training in.
"If I'm going to fight someone that strong? I'm going to need everything I have to do it." He said as he started to form the Sea Swords from scratch.
He would master the Sea Swords, then the Aqua Salvo and move onto the 3 other moves he currently knew. He wondered if there was more inside his father's journal.
"I'm going to spar with you, go to the training grounds." He heard and turned to see Sakura in her Shinobi clothes pulling on one of her gloves.
The tension between the duo was palpable, Kuraokami couldn't have dropped a bigger bomb on them.
"I think you should reflect more on what he said. He just blew up an inferno." He said, Sakura walked to Marmora and flicked him on the forehead enough to get him to rub at it.
"I heard what he said. You and I know what happens. I'm a part of that fight as well, even if him saying we're married is…. Ridiculously stupid and forward to say so early? He said for you to train… I'm allowed to make my own choices for myself and I choose to train as well." She said, jabbing a finger into Marmora's chest with every sentence.
"We're going, if you don't come, I'll punch you halfway across Konoha to there." Sakura said before walking towards the training grounds.
'Yep, takes after your mother, masterful healer, can break concrete with her pinky, doesn't take crap from anyone… She's a keeper, kid… I like her.' Kuraokami thought mentally, it took very little power to say things in bursts.
"Shut it, you oversized salamander." Marmora grumbled with a tinge of pink in his cheek.
(Training ground, 20 minutes later)
Sakura dodged a blast from Marmora's Aqua Salvo. She could tell from the blasts that Marmora was trying to perfect and refine the technique. The blasts were sleeker, faster, smaller. They hit like razor-sharp kunai.
"You've been training nonstop since we've gotten back, haven't you?" Sakura asked while she rushed forward.
Marmora dodged a punch that would have taken his head off. He kicked at Sakura's legs, trying to unbalance her before she managed to grab his arm.
Marmora flipped over her shoulder and landed a roundhouse kick which sent her skidding backwards.
"We're going up against Jonin level enemies, I'm going to fight Shin with all I have. I can be serious when it counts." Marmora said, Sakura rolled her eyes before sighing and rushing towards Marmora with a Charka enhanced punch.
Marmora rushed Sakura before springing into a handstand which threw him over the arc of her punch.
"Aqua Salvo Jutsu!" He yelled before going through the motions and firing another water blast.
It barrowed towards Sakura who blinked before turning into a log. Marmora scowled as the blast of water impacted in front of Sakura's location, throwing up dirt and rock.
"Damn substitution Jutsu, I almost had you!" Marmora mumbled before he landed on one of the pillars.
Sakura appeared a few feet away and crossed her arms before Marmora sighed. He rushed towards the water before leaping across it and skidding to a stop on the other side. His heels dug into the ground.
"Sea Sword Jutsu!" He yelled before leaping at Sakura, pulling water from the stream and rushing her.
"Your always so eager to rush in, do you ever plan and wait for a moment to strike?" Sakura asked. she knocked aside a stab at her face before responding with a kick Marmora twirled around as her foot met empty air.
"I do that when surprise isn't an option. Sakura, Shin has the Sharingan, he has dozens of eyes and his clones do as well. they might as well have a Byakugan. I can't sneak up on them if they always know I'm coming. Sakura, your Ninjutsu kind of isn't very quiet since you throw earthquake punches, remember." Marmora said, Sakura sighed before rushing in again.
Marmora scored a small cut up her right arm before being forced to block her left punch. He had to use both hands as Sakura's hit drove him to one knee.
"How the hell are you so strong? You hit like a damn train." Marmora muttered while he tried to force himself up.
"Try training with Lady Tsunade and your see." Sakura said with a grin before Marmora hummed.
He pulled on Sakura's arm, yanking her close for a headbutt which caused her to fall to the ground. she rubbed at her head while Marmora smirked.
"Ha! You can't just punch me into dust, cherry blossom…" He said before Sakura smirked and rushed at him.
"Crap…." Marmora muttered before he started backflipping away from punches that were very obviously centimeters away from hurting him badly.
"Aw, is little Marmy warmy scared?" Sakura mocked before slamming her fist into the ground.
"CRAP!" Marmora yelled as the resulting trench of rock and dirt threw him into a roll backwards and into the water.
Sakura laughed as Marmora climbed out of the water and sighed before starting to wash himself off and wring the water out of his clothes with annoyance.
He looked at a smirking Sakura and hummed before the sound of a Kunai caused him to lean back.
Shin and Boro stood apart from them, Boro growled before rushing Marmora.
Author Notes
Phew, another chapter done! I want to apologize for the grammar and exposition dump. I'm trying to improve and wanted to get as much information out as possible. I also want to point out this fight will mark the end of a fight every 2 chapters. Next chapter will be next Saturday or so and will show Marmora and Sakura fighting Shin and Boro. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!