BORUTO ALTER

KAKASHI could feel the man's chakra as it wafted through the air. It seemingly rose from the water itself, swirling around the man's spearlike katana. Bells were tied to the edge of the weapon...they sang beautifully with each subtle movement.

Kakashi was seasoned enough to see that the bells were amplifying the man's genjutsu.

Kakashi gave a sideways glance to the young kiri nin beside him. He was dressed similarly to Zabuza, with bandages tightly wrapped around his lower mouth and neck. He also wielded a large sword, one that forked into two tongues near the point of the blade...

With that said, he had been stabbed through the knee, and was losing blood. Kakashi wasn't sure how much help the boy would be in this state.

"What's your name?" Kakashi asked the kiri nin struggling to stand beside him.

"Reizei..Momochi." The boy answered.

Kakashi's eyes widened in almost hidden surprise.

So he is related..

"I knew Zabuza. I fought him a long time ago." Kakashi said, laughing at the irony of fighting alongside a Momochi.

Kakashi wanted to know more about Reizei's relation to Zabuza, but he knew now wasn't the time. He returned his attention to the foe who stood patiently before them.

This must be Shizuma Hoshigaki.

Shizuma's demeanor was completely alien to Kisame's. Kisame had a quiet, wild bloodlust to him.. a characteristic that was subtly drawn out the more he fought. He was not a boisterous man nor an overly evil man. He was, however, a violent one.

Shizuma was more.. still.

His quiet, calculated impression was bordering on off putting.

And that chakra.. it's as much Kisame had when I first faced him and Itachi!

Kakashi swirled his kunai back into the bag strapped to his right leg.

Those bells.. He's going to be using genjutsu first. He doesn't perceive Reizei as a threat right now.. more than likely he's going to focus on me. Test my reflexes.

Shizuma cocked his head, black hair falling across his forehead protector.

"Ah, Kakashi Hatake. Your name is well known amongst Kirigakure." Shizuma called over softly rippling water.

"It's clear he isn't going to let us escape. What can you tell me about his abilities?" Kakashi asked.

Reizei grimaced, gripping his sword as it weighed down on his back.

"When he attacked me, I felt a strange pain in my body. Debilitating.. I had to force myself to move. Then, I wasn't able to see out of my right eye."

Reizei lowered his head, sweat curving down his forehead.

"He also seems to be able to attack from more than one position. I can't tell if it's genjutsu or real." Reizei added.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

I deployed ahead of the others to attract less attention.. for now..it's just me and Reizei.

"The northern base-" Kakashi began.

Reizei shook his head bitterly.

"Gone. Everyone is dead. The only reason I survived is due to the fact I wasn't inside when the attack began." Reizei answered.

Tsunade..

Kakashi shut his eyes.

Pain will never leave us, will it? As long as Ninja exist, it'll never go away.

Kakashi opened his eyes darkly.

"Was it him?" Kakashi asked.

"No.. it was someone else. A foreign shinobi. They're.. trying to work for the Hoshigaki I think." Reizei stated before his face contorted into a grimace-

Chiming susurrations filled the air...

Kakashi pushed Reizei aside as the blade of a katana stabbed upwards from where Reizei stood above water.

But then-

Pain filled Kakashi's body, burning across his skin-

He doubled over.

I wasn't prepared for this!

"Kakashi!" Reizei shouted.

Reizei leapt to shaking feet, hoisting the forked claymore onto one shoulder while running ahead.

An auditory genjutsu that activates pain receptors? This isn't good.

But I've lived through worse..

Kakashi rolled forwards, instantly recovering as Shizuma again stabbed his sword through the water. The fog had thickened-

But Kakashi could see that Shizuma still had not left his original position.

"Follow my lead, Reizei!" Kakashi shouted as he ran ahead. Reizei nodded, allowing Kakashi to orchestrate an attack as he began to flank around Shizuma.

The pain seemed to be increasing-

Kakashi gasped, hot breath crackling though his lips while his chest felt as if it was being torn open by clawed hands.

Kakashi burst through a belt of fog, finding Shizuma standing perfectly still.

Kakashi clapped his hands together-

Suddenly, his left arm- from his shoulder to his fingertips- went numb.

No.. it was unusable.

At that same moment, Shizuma charged with terrifying, sudden speed.

A jet of water roared behind Shizuma as the Hoshigaki propelled ahead, sword held pointed outwards for Kakashi's forehead.

Kakashi leaned towards Shizuma, his left shoulder moving through a portion of Shizuma's sword-

Shizuma's eyes widened in surprise-

He then cast substitution, leaving behind a charging apparition that dissipated in a spray of mist.

Below..!

Kakashi pivoted, narrowly avoiding a fatal stab as Shizuma's blade speared from snapping water.

Kakashi warped his usable hand into a series of jutsu signs.

"Purple Lightning: Web Current!" Kakashi shouted.

Violet sparks chirped in the air, devouring nearby fog as a cage of lighting descended downwards, circling the area of Shizuma's sword.

Kakashi slid backward across the water, joining Reizei as the lightning jutsu hissed, evolving into a hazy fog that rolled softly towards them.

Kakashi flashed a sign to Reizei.

Reizei nodded.

Silence.

"You're good, Kakashi Hatake..!" Shizuma whispered.

Behind me-

Kakashi kicked himself into a turn as Shizuma's sword dug across his chest, cutting him from hip to shoulder.

Reizei flashed beside Shizuma, sword arching upwards for Shizuma's head as Reizei himself hovered only inches above the water.

Shizuma dipped his head backwards, Reizei's sword sprinkling rain across Shizuma's quiet smirk.

Kakashi's slashed body erupted in a fountain of lakewater as it fell backwards-

Shizuma hmph'd, stabbing his katana deeper into the lake as he kicked Reizei's gored knee. At the same time, the point end of Shizuma's katana erupted from the mist around Reizei, cutting him across his lower abdomen.

Reizei screamed aloud in pain. He released his weapon, throwing it upwards. The claymore fell for Shizuma- as it turned into Kakashi.

Shizuma moved for Reizei before realizing a shadow was hurtling downwards at him.

Kakashi spun in the air, palms clasping each other tightly.

I can use my arm again.. Reizei said earlier he couldn't see out of his eye, along with a strange pain. Shizuma's sword must be able to project a special genjutsu that exceeds all defense.. A genjutsu that disables one visible part of your body! however.. His sword can't cut the same area that is being affected! What's more..

A viper of purple lighting formed within Kakashi's right hand. Shizuma lifted his sword in defense-

It seems you can only use it on one person at a time, Shizuma!

Reizei splashed his submerged arm free from the lake, raising his real claymore in a lifting arc meant for Shizuma's chest.

I'm striking above while Reizei is attacking his center! He won't have enough time to activate genjutsu!

Kakashi-

Both Shizuma and his sword vanished.

What! How-

Kakashi spun, throwing his arm into the water as Reizei leapt free from the lake.

Kakashi's jutsu offered a smothered, smoky explosion as the fog around them shifted. The Sixth Hokage narrowed dark eyes, wet white hair dipping across his forehead protector. He slowly rose to his full height, staring ahead into nothingness as Shizuma's laugh was carried by the passing cold wind.

"You both...seem to misunderstand.." Shizuma's voice coolly slithered in and around Kakashi's ears.

"Any ability possessed by my blade.. Can be utilized upon my own body as well. This.. fog..even the water below you.. It isn't just a diversion..It's my..chakra."

A snap of metal cracked within the air.

Reizei!

Kakashi turned to see Shizuma's sword stabbing from the mist, angling for Reizei's already bleeding abdomen.

Reizei ducked behind his sword, shifting it downwards as it shunted Shizuma's pointed blow.

But..!

The real blade is..!

"Reizei, below you!"

Reizei threw his claymore into the air-

Just as Shizuma's katana snaked from water below him.

That's the real Shizuma!

Kakashi forced chakra into his legs as he sped for the dueling mist swordsmen.

I'm not going to be fast enough-

Just as the curved fang of Shizuma's katana punctured Reizei's chest, a howl was heard erupting from Reizei's sword. Reizei was pulled upwards, towards the hilt of his blade, and free from Shizuma's lethal strike.

Shizuma fully emerged, face contorted in humored confusion. He gazed upward at Reizei, who was now falling down towards him.

I was wondering how he controlled that claymore despite his smaller size. It.. orbits around him- he can follow its weight with each strike, and in turn, the blade can pull him towards it!

"Stay back, Kakashi!" Reizei snarled.

Kakashi didn't heed his warning-

He continued advancing.

However..

Reizei's chakra.. it's increasing..!

"This is the true inheritance of the Momochi, Shizuma Hoshigaki!" Reizei's voice was roaring as his chakra became visible to the naked eye.

Kakashi did stop then, water curling into small waves that splashed at cloth-wrapped ankles.

Reizei was nearly upon Shizuma-

"Dragon Water Style! Searching Wither!" Reizei screamed. His sword crashed against Shizuma's-

Before Shizuma and his katana again disappeared.

But-

Some distance away, blood spurted from the shifting white haze.

Somehow, Reizei cut him! That jutsu- dragon water style.. It seems it allows Reizei to strike wherever Shizuma appears!

Reizei landed some distance away from Kakashi. His chakra was still roaring about the waves. He began infusing chakra.

I don't know what you're doing.. but I'll try to buy you time. Kakashi's thoughts quieted as he turned his attention to the foe lurking before him.

Shizuma's fog parted as his tall figure strode forward. Blood trailed from his left arm, while long dark hair fell down both sides of his handsome yet eerily inhuman face.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

Despite Reizei's ability to strike Shizuma.. it looks like the damage is only superficial. But.. I should be able to trace his movements. If his body is tied not only to his sword, but the elements around us.. the more he vanishes, the easier it'll be for me to pinpoint his real body. The repetition of his chakra signatures will stand out like a sore thumb.

Kakashi twirled his kunai back into a waiting palm.

He's coming!

The bells tied to Shizuma's katana serenaded along with foaming, icy water that ran below them. His body whipped into non-existence.

Kakashi's right leg suddenly staggered.

He fell halfways into the water as a cold, searing pain curled around his neck.

Shizuma's genjutsu again-

He smirked underneath his mask.

This is only going to help me find your real body!

Kakashi flipped out of the water, right leg limping behind him. Shizuma's katana sped through the waves like the fin of a shark, water torpedoing straight for Kakashi.

Kakashi felt the chakra within the fog move-

Kakashi spun on the heels of his sandals, cutting his kunai into a circling arc as it narrowly deflected the edge of Shizuma's whisplike katana.

Kakashi rebounded, but forced his body forward, leaping ahead on his one usable leg.

Shizuma smiled, ducking his head downwards.

Kakashi's kunai cut through stray strands of black hair- again he felt Shizuma moving about the mist.

Shizuma's genjutsu disables the physical part of the body he targets.. but not the chakra network within it. Now that I can track him somewhat..

Kakashi formed his free hand into a series of jutsu signs.

Shizuma's essence danced about both the water and the mist.

He's trying to disorient me-

Kakashi closed his eyes as feeling returned to his right leg.

He stood steadily while Shizuma still warped between clouds of fog.

Then, Shizuma attacked.

Kakashi lowered his stance, planting his feet as violet chakra chirped within his free hand.

Kakashi could feel Shizuma tunneling through the water below-

The first attack is an apparition!

Kakashi ignored the genjutsu phantom that stabbed at his back-

Now.. he's emerging-

Kakashi swung his body to the left just as Shizuma broke free from water. Shizuma's katana was raised above his head, ebony hair flying behind his shadowed gaze like a dark sun.

Shizuma flashed ahead, entering Kakashi's zone of space in impossible seconds.

Kakashi gasped-

He just got faster!

Shizuma turned his shoulder, pulling the hilt of his katana forward. Kakashi swerved into Shizuma's center-

Shizuma's sword disappeared in his hands.

What-

Kakashi shifted his stance backward as Shizuma's blade slashed across his forearm. The cut was deep- blood flew from the wound as Kakashi winced, gritting his teeth as the sound of bells rang in the air.

Had Shizuma been an inch closer, Kakashi would've lost his arm. However.. the purple lightning Kakashi conjured still crackled within the former Hokage's palm.

Shizuma slid ahead for Kakashi, grasping the hilt of his falling sword with a loud clap. He twirled the unnaturally long blade behind his neck, before slashing it outwards.

Kakashi ducked- then somersaulted to the side, blood trailing from black sleeves.

Shizuma pursued him, eyes widening with growing mirth. He flipped his katana to his waist, lowering it before extending the blade forward in a piercing stab.

Kakashi sidestepped the blow, rolling himself across Shizuma's back. Shizuma gasped in confusion-

Kakashi landed on Shizuma's right, extending his bleeding arm as a bouquet of purple lighting screamed between gloved fingers.

Kakashi's attack faltered, his arm falling to his side in useless, bright bravado. Shizuma himself vanished once more into the mist, but now-

I can see where you're going!

Kakashi felt Shizuma's chakra as it danced amongst the mist.

He closed his eyes in focus..and at that moment, Shizuma-

Kakashi felt the familiar pain of Shizuma's genjutsu. He ignored it, ducking as he focused the chakra in his disabled arm. He stabbed his kunai upwards above his head-

And right into Shizuma's torso as he shifted into existence seconds behind the kunai's blade.

Kakashi released his grip on the kunai, reaching down to where his violet, crackling jutsu waited. He grasped a limp wrist burning with lethal chakra.

Shizuma disappeared-

Then, the Hoshigaki erupted from behind Kakashi, silent with veiled rage.

Kakashi smirked as he spun into Shizuma's chest, stabbing his jutsu into the man's stomach.

Shizuma coughed up blood- he attempted to turn to mist-

It was then Reizei appeared above Shizuma.

The chakra he had infused..

Kakashi slid backwards across the waves as Shizuma bled, kneeling to one knee and steadily sinking below the water.

"Dragon Water Style! Serrated BULLET!" Reizei howled-

A concussion-like sound erupted from the water around them. Shizuma warped into to the mist-

He then appeared beside Reizei. Just as he re-materialized, an orb of condensed, spiraling water shot upwards from the lake, homing in on Shizuma with ferocious, impossible accuracy. He tried to vanish once more..

But Reizei's jutsu was too fast.

It punctured through Shizuma's upper chest, leaving a gaping hole devoid of blood as the man's hair flew out behind him.

Reizei landed beside Kakashi as both of them watched Shizuma stagger about, blood bountifully falling from his mouth.

"That jutsu..it's impressive." Kakashi began-

Reizei staggered forward.

Kakashi caught the boy, shouldering him as Reizei's claymore struck into the water.

His wounds are serious too. And that jutsu..

His chakra levels are almost zero. He could die.

Kakashi's gaze turned to Shizuma.

The Hoshigaki was still struggling to stay afloat, blood bubbling from a panting mouth.

Shizuma however.. he's done for.

Almost as if he heard Kakashi's thoughts, Shizuma turned his head halfways towards him, locking eyes with Kakashi.

Wait-

Shizuma steadily rose, vomiting blood as laughter eventually forced itself through his crippled vocal chords.

"Yes..yes, this is it, isn't it? I'm awake." Shizuma's voice grew bolder. It was no longer quiet and polite-

He coughed up more blood- he caught it within his palm, opening his fingers to inspect the red matter that dripped steadily from his body like rain.

Shizuma gave Kakashi a halfways glance, blood and gore staining his white teeth.

"So you're capable of this?" Shizuma spoke almost as if there wasn't a hole within his chest.

He outstretched his arm, opening his hand as his katana slid between closing fingers.

His eyes.. they're different now. Before they were almost glazed over, unfocused. Now.. they're wide, open with an acute awareness. What's going on?

"Drop the boy. We can continue our fight. It's been a long time since I've felt this.. felt as if I've died. Yes, this is the only thing that proves credence to my existence!" Shizuma threw his head backwards as another laugh spurted between rivets of blood.

He vanished.

Kakashi's alarms instantly went off.

I can't sense him anymore?

A shadow passed over Kakashi-

But it wasn't Shizuma.

Mugino landed at Shizuma's flank, flashing there for just a moment before leaping in the air. He flashed jutsu signs together, then extended his arm as a bow exploded into existence in his palm.

"Duck.. Kakashi.." Mugino said calmly as he twirled upside down in the air.

Kakashi ducked, bringing Reizei with him.

"Kyūjutsu:..Talon Arrow.." Mugino spoke as chakra flared from the center of his bow.

Kakashi felt Shizuma's presence emerge just as Mugino's jutsu flew ahead- a blackened arrow engulfed by flame.

It shot through Shizuma's throat, throwing him backwards as the force of the attack caused his body to crash through water.

"You're late, Mugino!" Kakashi smiled underneath his mask as Mugino landed beside him.

"We split up to search for you. We sensed an attack.. but then as we got closer it was almost as if this fog dulled our senses." Mugino spoke, glancing at Kakashi before nodding his head to Shizuma's body before them.

"Was it all from him..?" Mugino's voice was typically rather monotone. Now, however, it had a quiet reverberation of shock.

Kakashi's eyes fell upon Shizuma. He floated face upwards, blood pouring from numerous wounds.

"Yes. Shizuma Hoshigaki." Kakashi said softly between sharp breaths.

He was strong.

"And who's he?" Mugino asked, motioning to Reizei.

"Reizei Momochi. An ally."

Mugino nodded knowingly.

"From the north."

Kakashi locked eyes with Mugino then.

"Shizune is dead. We'll have to return back to Kiri proper. Change our strategy.. Tsunade will need to know before we chart our next moves."

Mugino's goggles seemed to shine almost in surprise. He collected himself, but his voice rang of a silent sadness.

"Lord Seventh will want to know as well."

Kakashi closed his eyes.

I'm sorry.. Naruto.

Suddenly, chakra flared from Shizuma.

You've got to be kidding-

Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise as Shizuma flipped himself over, before clambering to shaking feet.

His expression was even more crazed than before.

"More.. MORE!" Shizuma grinned.

"I feel it! I feel free! My mind.. no more- no more walls! My thoughts.. They're loud!" Shizuma began crying between manic fits of laughter.

He lurched his head forward, black hair dyed red with blood.

"I want more! You're strong! Give me more!" Shizuma hissed.

He clapped his hands together.

It was almost as if the light of the sun, for a second, was extinguished.

Shizuma's chakra...

Mugino shot Kakashi a bewildered expression as water sprayed outwards and around Shizuma.

His chakra is nearly.. tailed beast level!

"Trench Release: Syphon Grave..!" Shizuma shouted as the water itself rumbled.

Trench Release?! This is.. a Kekkei Genkai! No- this chakra..

It's a Kekkei Tōta!

The water.. no, beyond that. The ground below the water began to churn. Kakashi could instantly feel the shift in force. Bubbles of gas began belching upwards from the lake as well, exploding in small clouds of mist as Shizuma's chakra continued to rise.

"Quickly, he'll kill us all!"

Kakashi's eyes leapt to the sound of voices shouting from the mist near Shizuma. One of the voices emerged-

He was young, with cropped blond hair that gathered into a rounded topknot. He wore a bamboo chestplate, while on his back a thick, cylindrical-looking blade was found resting.

The man's expression was hurried- he didn't even acknowledge Kakashi and the others.

The man rushed for Shizuma. Once behind him, Kakashi watched as the man stabbed some sort of syringe into Shizuma's neck. Shizuma's boisterous laughter ceased almost instantly.

The man did turn to give Kakashi one look then. He glared back at the Sixth Hokage, before gathering up a now comatose Shizuma.. and retreating.

"You are dying, you know." Amado's voice was characteristically casual as he inspected a sample of darkened blood underneath a microscope.

Amado was within his lab, diagnostic charts beeping alongside screens that continually ran through numbers, simulations, and preprogrammed medical protocols.

Jigen chuckled.

He was seated beside Amado, tubes slithering into his skin as blood slowly circulated within them.

"Death would drag a laugh out of you." Amado frowned as he raised himself from his microscopic inspection.

"The body is failing. We knew that already. But I had thought that artificial tissue would slow its progress. It's not. It's getting worse."' Amado lowered his gaze to Jigen.

Jigen closed his eyes, turning his hand over before opening his fingers. He inspected the lines that marched across stolen palms.

"There's more you aren't telling me." Jigen said softly.

Amado smirked.

"I was waiting to see your reaction. There is more, yes." Amado rose, traveling across his lab. He stood before a rectangular container- he opened it, procuring a smoking tube of blood.

"You sacrificed your left eye to.. do what you did to that body. Due to the damage you sustained, the process was flawed. Now it seems that flaw is traveling into your own body. It's beginning to even affect your chakra."

Jigen smiled thinly.

"When will he be ready?" Jigen asked. His voice was simple- quiet and well natured. It almost made Amado think, for a moment, that Jigen didn't grasp the situation.

But Amado knew Jigen.

Almost too well.

Jigen knew he lived on borrowed time.

This was simply how Jigen is.

"Otogane's work on Kashin Koji is nearly complete. It seems he's able to use it." Amado said, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Jigen.

Jigen again smiled.

"Yes. Though I imagine it won't be of the same quality as Otogane." Jigen said.

"He won't be able to use the same techniques.. But his chakra is of the same density. Nearly ten times that of any living being." Amado answered.

"And.. he was able to activate sage jutsu as well. When he did so, two red lines appeared underneath his eyes. Almost as if they were tattooed."

"So you believe we will be able to use this to strengthen the vessel. Is that so, Amado?" Jigen lifted almost black eyes forward, looking at Amado and then through him.

Despite himself, Amado felt a tinge of fear creep down his spine.

"I believe so." Amado shook himself free of his paralysis. He almost forgot he had a container of blood within his hand.

He walked over to where Jigen was, replacing the blood within the machine that fed its tubes into Jigen's flesh.

"Kawaki's only weakness was the fragility of his chakra network. He almost has the same body as Code.. without the rest of Code's defects. Kawaki fully inherited your mark.. but it's activation would kill him. Even waking him right now would end his life." Amado continued to speak as he worked.

"With Kashin Koji.. we can use his senjutsu to reinforce Kawaki's own body. Like I said, Kawaki inherited all of your abilities. You know what that means in regards to Kashin, don't you?"

Jigen chuckled warmly as he felt fresh blood rush through veins.

"Of course. That is simply the way of things. That process.. is the only thing I truly remember from before." Jigen said almost somberly.

Amado didn't hide his surprise this time.

"Dying has made you more human." He said with a grin.

"Do you still intend to-" Amado began.

"Of course." Jigen answered.

"What I plan.. what we planned, is not a cruelty born out of animosity or a need to be a god. It is simply an act of reclamation.. for survival." Jigen spoke, but it was almost as if another voice was using him.

Amado gave Jigen yet another incredulous look.

"You say you don't fully remember what happened.. yet you say things like this." Amado graced Jigen with another grin, this one dangerously close to a leer.

Jigen rose from Amado's machine as its tubes retracted back from his skin. He stretched, feeling slightly reinvigorated. Amado was right. This body couldn't take much more.

Once he had Kawaki.. his true goal could begin. Only then could he take back what Kaguya stole.. and perhaps restore his memory. The only thing Jigen remembered was the darkness of the voice within him. The voice that spoke in slow, cackling tones.

The voice that asked for only one thing.

Cursed Eye...

NEXT TIME: BORUTO'S AMBITION, THEN SWORD VS PUPPET!