Naruto: Tornado of Souls V2

Blanket disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or RWBY

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thanks everyone for their continued support. Just a short note here. For some reason FF no longer sends me alerts on reviews and PM's and such. I try to get back with people on their questions but without getting alerts sometimes I miss them. That being said, this chapter is a little more action oriented. Here is Chapter 36. Enjoy!

[ ] Signifies hand signs.

Last time:

Orochimaru's Northern Headquarters

It had been a year since Oto's crushing defeat and Orochimaru was spending more time with Uchiha Sasuke to train him to be his next body. The more mundane parts of running of things had fallen upon Yakushi Kabuto who had found able assistance in Guren as a field commander and Uzumaki Karin as a scientist.

Sasuke had also been allowed to form his own team known as Team Taka which consisted of himself, Jugo, Uzumaki Karin and Hozuki Suigetsu. They were taking missions designated by Orochimaru himself and among their first was to retrieve the sword Kubikiribōchō for Suigetsu and after that their missions had grown progressively harder.

The Team often found themselves at odds with the Creatures of Grimm and as a result Sasuke started carrying his own Sword of Kusanagi in emulation of Orochimaru. What Sasuke didn't know is his Team would soon be on a mission into Fire Country very soon…

…

Lee Rock's Dojo

Two weeks later; the chunins and jonins were having a party to welcome Ren and Nora into the fold of Grimm Hunting Teams as they were officially with the Branwen twins as part of Team Qrow. The young couple was a bit overwhelmed by the warmth of the reception, but Nora in particular was having a good time so Ren was fine with it.

Naruto was dealing cards as part of the group played poker. Kakashi, Gai, Shino. Hinata, Raven, Ilia and Ino were just betting poker chips so nobody would end up bankrupted.

Even Neji had joined the festivities as he and Tenten were dating now. They were dancing. Melanie was spending time dancing with her boyfriend Lee and her twin Miltia was dancing with her boyfriend Kiba.

Asuma was playing Shogi with Shikamaru while Kurenai and Choji watched. Blake and Nora were watching as Ren and Pyrrha played Go.

Qrow was hanging out with Anko as the pair had grown fond of each other since Blake introduced them. All in all, it was a nice time for all involved and things were peaceful for now...

…

Chapter 36

Fire Country, The Village of Konoha

Team Kakashi was leaving on an easy resupply mission to the Northern Outposts One through Five. There hadn't been any Grimm specific missions lately and the Team was getting restless, so they took a simple C-ranked mission to stretch their legs.

Fire Country was generally warm year-round but it was a little chillier than usual for autumn and near the Rice Country Border it was considerably cooler. It was into this wet, muddy fall environment that Team Kakashi plunged into.

The mission itself was straightforward enough. Each of the five outposts had a scroll of supplies that needed to be dropped off and Team Kakashi had already dropped off the supplies at stations One and Two. Station Three would prove a bit more problematical though…

…

Rice Country, Orochimaru's Northern Headquarters

Orochimaru was looking over his map of Rice Country and the former positions of Oto Village and various other former fortifications, The entire southern half of Rice Country was basically a no man's land now where the ninja were concerned.

The Snake sanin looked further south at the Fire Country/Rice Country Border where the Valley of the End was and saw several small forts dotting the northern edge of Fire Country. They were simply lookout stations but they were annoying… '…And Sasuke-kun and his Team have been rather bored and lazy lately. Perhaps I'll send them on a couple of nuisance raids just to show Konaha we're still alive.'

The White Snake summoned the Uchiha and said to him, "Sasuke-kun, I want you to take Team Taka south to knock out a few minor Konoha fortifications south of the Valley of the End. They've gotten a bit complacent lately and I think a couple of raids will keep them off balance."

Sasuke thought such minor raids were beneath him but decided that obeying the Snake sanin would be better for his health than rebelling (for now) and went to gather up Team Taka and start planning a raid on the most central base near the Valley of the End. He had no idea that Team Taka was gearing up for a head on collision with Team Kakashi…

…

The Valley of the End

Team Taka stopped at the Valley of the End and looked at the long gorge cut out of the Earth where Uchiha Madara Uchiha and Senju Hashirama had battled it out generations ago. Their massive statues stood testament over the colossal battle that had taken place.

Sasuke thought to himself, 'Someday I will surpass you Uchiha Madara.' "Lets move out team." said Sasuke. "We'll crush this little outpost and move on."

Crossing over into Fire Country territory, Sasuke felt a twinge of nostalgia at the peaceful green trees of what once was his home country. Karin detected it and said, "Sasuke-kun...?"

"It's nothing." replied the Uchiha. "Nothing at all."

As Team Taka came upon Konoha Outpost Station Three they saw Team Kakashi dropping off a scroll of supplies. Kakashi was looking right at them and his team followed his gaze.

Kakashi said, "Well, well, well. If it isn't Sasuke-kun… or should I say traitor?"

Naruto cracked his knuckles and Blake and Pyrrha drew their weapons as Team Taka did the same.

Sasuke was freaking out. "But…but I killed you Kakashi!"

"You certainly tried." said Kakashi angrily. "Did it give you the power you were hoping for? You certainly don't look any stronger."

"Who is this guy?" asked Suigetsu. "What's the problem?"

"Kakashi-sensei…he's dead. I know he's dead…" said the shaken Sasuke.

"There are clearly many things you don't understand Uchiha…" said the jonin. "Perhaps I can enlighten you."

"So, we just Kill him again!" said Suigetsu angrily. "No big deal."

Karin said, "Sasuke-kun…? Are you all right?"

"Everyone go all out!" yelled Sasuke out of sorts. "We've got to send Kakashi back to the grave!"

The Uchiha charged Hatake with everything he had before the rest of Team Taka was ready only to be met head on by a rasengan square in the chest that sent him careening backwards into his team and knocked them all down.

Naruto growled, "Kakashi's ghost is the least of your worries Uchiha! I'm going to crush you for what you did to him and Sakura!"

Sasuke was hurting and stumbled back to his feet. He spat out some blood and said, "Damn you Naruto! What kind of a jutsu is that?"

"It's one that will send you to the grave Sasuke." hissed the blonde.

"Let's go Jugo!" yelled Suigetsu as he took the offensive with his Kubikiribōchō and swung the executioner's blade at Naruto. The blonde flipped backwards to evade and Suigetsu's swing went wide. The water ninja was in the process of coming around again when Pyrrha deflected it into the dirt using her magnet release. The next thing Suigetsu knew was Pyrrha's round shield ricocheting off his face and knocking him senseless.

Jugo leapt over the downed Suigetsu with his right arm transformed into a massive, stony fist. As he charged the redheaded gladiator; Jugo found his ankle entwined by Blake's Gambol Shroud in its kusarigama form. She fired a chakra charge and the blade flew back to her cutting Jugo's calf deeply. He tripped and fell howling in pain.

By this time Sasuke was back in the fight (thanks to Karin's healing) and leapt up for an overhead slash to take out Blake while she was occupied with Jugo. He streamed electricity down his Kusanagi to electrocute her but was intercepted by Naruto who parried his blow with a wind enhanced shear trigger.

Naruto and Sasuke engaged in a wicked sword duel that Sasuke was winning but the blonde body flickered out of the way so Kakashi could engage Sasuke with his white light chakra saber. Sasuke felt fear and Kakashi said, "You aren't that good against enemies who aren't tied up and defenseless."

While Sasuke was on the defensive and being pushed back Suigetsu found the Kubikiribōchō kept missing Pyrrha no matter hard or fast he swung it and he would have been dead several times over if he didn't have the ability to turn parts of his body into water. The redhead said, "This is pointless." Using her discus shaped shield as a focal point, Pyrrha rammed the water user with a shield charge that gave him a huge electromagnetic shock and caused Suigetsu to scream in agony.

Jugo was hurting badly and transformed his injured leg into a stone form to get some mobility back. He tried to mount an offensive, but Blake kept him from getting very far with a clone barrage. Jugo punched his way through two ice clones and a mud clone before he roared, "I have you now!" at the last Blake. He punched her with everything he had only for he to explode and knock Jugo out of the fight. The real Blake appeared from under a genjutsu nearby…

Sasuke was kicked back and skipped like a stone from the vengeful Kakashi. His Sharingan eyes spun with madness as he saw Suigetsu was down and Jugo was lying there unmoving. Karin was at a loss as to what to do and she couldn't heal all three of them at once.

Getting desperate Sasuke used most of his remaining chakra to summon the Snake Boss Manda. The giant snake summons said, "What is the meaning of this Orichimaru?"

Sasuke stumbled to his feet on top of Manda's massive had and said, "It is I, Uchiha Sasuke who has summoned you!" He laughed as Team Kakashi scrambled back and said, "Crush my enemies and I will promise you the sacrifices you require great Lord Manda!"

That's when Naruto said, "Summoning Jutsu!" and the Toad boss Gamabunta appeared. Naruto said, "Boss, there's a snake infestation and I need your help."

By this time, Kakashi, Blake and Pyrrha had cleared the battlefield as had Karin and the wounded Jugo and Suigetsu.

Manda hissed, "Gamabunta… I'll finish you for good this time."

Gamabunta growled, "Not if I make a snakeskin belt out of you first!"

Manda moved like lightning to bite Gamabunta with his fangs but the Toad boss drew his massive sword and sliced at Manda as he jumped clear. Neither titan hit their target but the landscape was rearranged in the process. As the to giants dueled Naruto managed to knock Sasuke off Manda's head with a Wind: Great Breakthrough which distracted Manda for a spit second…

…That cost the great snake an eye at the hands of Gamabunta's blade.

"RRRRRAAAAAGGGGHHHH!" roared Manda in pain as his left eye socket bled. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS INSECTS!" He tried to tail whip the Toad boss but Gamabunta dodged and the Snake boss dispelled to lick his wounds.

Naruto noticed Sasuke and Team Taka had escaped in the meantime and said, "Damn, they got away. I owe you big time Boss."

Gamabunta smiled and said, "You're alright kid. I didn't get to kill that overgrown garter snake, but I took a good chunk out of him." He lowered Naruto to the ground and said, "Later Naruto!" before he dispelled.

The tired blonde came over to his teammates and asked, "Is everyone okay? I think Sasuke and his team escaped us."

Kakashi gave a double eye smile and said, "Well done everybody! Chasing them off was a victory in itself. Blake, Pyrrha; are either of you injured?"

"I'm okay." said Blake. "I'm just a bit winded."

"I'm fine as well." answered Pyrrha. "It's a shame about the forest though. The landscape is a mess."

Naruto sweat dropped. "This is why we only call greater summons in emergencies…"

…

Rice Country Orochimaru's Northern Headquarters

Team Taka had escaped on the back of a lesser snake summons which deposited them on Orochimaru's doorstep several hours later. It had been a less than stellar day for them. Sasuke was beat up and suffering from chakra exhaustion, Jugo was cut up and seriously burned and Suigetsu was terribly shocked. Karin was exhausted from tendering her wounded teammates.

All in all, Team Taka was a mess, Orochimaru was displeased and Kabuto was going to be busy healing the others for some time…

…

Fire Country, Konoha Outpost Station Three

The members of Team Kakashi stayed at Outpost Three for the night figuring they deserved a little rest after such a huge battle. Though none of them were injured seriously they were all tired and bruised up a bit.

"Man, that was a hell of a battle to observe." said the chunin in charge of the outpost. "I've never seen a greater summons that close before. I was afraid we'd be flattened."

"I had no idea the Uchiha could summon snakes, let alone Manda." said Naruto with a frown. "We need to update the bingo books again."

Team Kakashi was filling out their after-action reports for the Hokage and trading notes on what they'd seen and heard. "We know who Uchiha Sasuke is obviously and we already have a bingo book entry on Uzumaki Karin." said Kakashi. "The other two are new through."

"The water user that Pyrrha-chan was fighting had Zabuza's Kubikiribōchō." said Naruto. "He must have stolen it from Momichi's grave in the Land of Waves."

"The fact he could turn into water would indicate he's a member of the Hozuki Clan of Kiri." added Kakashi. "It's a shame we didn't catch his name."

Blake nodded. "He called the big guy I fought Jugo, but I don't know if that's a clan or a given name."

"At least we got some information." said Pyrrha in a positive tone. "Just as importantly we learned a bit about the way they fight. The water user was very proficient with that huge, unwieldly sword."

"The one called Jugo fought like a berserker and seemed to be able to transform different parts of his body at will." said Blake. "As the battle went on, he seemed to become more and more unhinged. It was disturbing."

"Maybe his transformation had an effect on his mental state…" replied Pyrrha.

They finished their reports that evening before turning in for some well-deserved shuteye…

…

Konoha, Nora and Ren's Apartment

The next morning; Ren woke up feeling contented just to hold his wife in his arms. They were due for meet at training ground seventeen where their new teammates Qrow and Raven Branwen would be in about two hours. Ren had met Qrow before and found the slightly older man likeable. He and Nora weren't as sure about Raven, but she seemed friendly enough to them even if her personality was a bit harsh.

Nora was waiting on a new Magnhild from Tenten's Heaven's Blade Weapons shop but for now was relying on a heavy war hammer. Ren was also patiently waiting on a new Stormflower and was currently using a pair of dueling kunai knives he could stream his wind element along like swords.

All things considered Ren Lie was quite happy with the way things turned out. Soon enough Nora reached up and touched his nose with a good morning 'Boop' and the young couple got up to start their day…

…

Hyūga Compound

Hinata had just arrived home from a Grimm extermination mission with Team Kurenai and was tired. She wasn't too tired to see her little sister Hanabi and Sustrai Emerald off to the Konoha Ninja Academy though. The two eleven-year-olds were doing very well in class and Hinata was proud of her little sister and her apprentice.

As it turned out the pair had teamed up with Sarutobi Konohomaru's little group to form a pranking alliance and no one at the Academy was safe from their (relatively) harmless pranks. They were still after the harried Hyūga Elders though who had finally managed to grow back their hair and ditched the chartreuse and fuchsia wigs forever into the Hyūga Hall of Shame otherwise known as the round file.

Speaking of the Hyūga Elders, Hinata was tiredly having breakfast with Hiashi and her grandfather. It was a pleasant enough time since Clan Politics hadn't been brought up. Hiashi said, "Our sources indicate that the majority of the Creatures of Grimm are coming from the west. I just can't fathom these animals."

Hinata said, "Their origins seem to be in Rain Country but unfortunately the borders there are closed. I can't imagine what it must be like living there with so many Grimm. It must be hellish."

"What did you face on your last mission Hinata-chan?" asked her grandfather.

The Byakugan Princess answered, "We had to face off with two Sphinxes. Given they can fly and breathe flames they are very dangerous opponents. We had our hands full as they were attacking a village instead of out in open country where we prefer to fight them. There were non-combatants caught in the crossfire but luckily were able to destroy them without any civilian casualties. We were very fortunate in that respect."

"I'm surprised the creatures haven't ever attacked Konoha proper." said the Elder.

"Konoha is too well defended to attack directly." replied Hinata. "Besides, the people here are usually in good spirits. Fear and other negative emotions are what attract Creatures of Grimm more than anything. Konoha is a pretty safe place… relatively speaking…" 'As long as no Leviathan Class Grimm ever appear. That would be a disaster. I have no idea how or why they are appearing here to begin with...'

…
Konoha Outpost Station Three

Team Kakashi awoke, had breakfast and were off again to Outposts Four and Five. Having fought a major battle the day before; the group was expecting a peaceful time for the remainder of their mission. How wrong they were…

When they reached Konoha Outpost Five, Kakashi was presented a message via carrier bird with information on an emergency mission. "What's the message Kakashi-sensei?" asked Pyrrha.

The silver haired jonin sighed and said, "Team Asuma was in a pitched battle near the Takigakure Border*① with a Clan of ninja called the Kemuri Clan. They need backup and we are the closest team. We're to meet Nara Shikamaru near the entrance to the waterfall cave system."

"What about the rest of Team Asuma?" asked Blake.

Kakashi shook his head and said, "I'm assuming MIA until we meet up with Shikamaru."

"I've never even heard of a Kemuri Clan." said Naruto.

Blake was looking through her bingo book and said, "The Kemuri Clan were hostile against the Village Hidden in the Waterfall but were thought to have been wiped out nearly fifty years ago. There was a kunoichi named Kemuri Suzu that was a missing nin. She's listed in the Bingo book still but would be in her eighties by now assuming she's still alive."

"Assuming it's the same clan, what were her abilities?" asked Kakashi.

"They had a bloodline that allowed them to turn into smoke for short periods of time." explained Blake. "It gave them the ability to slip through almost any fortifications and assassinate their targets. Suzu was particularly talented and could make smoke clones and smokescreens. The smoke could also cause someone to choke. It was all a form of fire chakra manipulation."

Pyrrha said, "It sounds like your wind element might be handy against them Naruto-kun."

Kakashi said, "That's probably as good of data as we are going to get for now. Let's move out team."

…

Waterfall Country/Fire Country Border

Nara Shikamaru of Team Asuma was hidden deep in the foliage of Waterfall Country. They had been on a mission to the Hidden Waterfall Village and had just emerged from the waterfall cave system. The Team was headed back towards Fire Country when they were confronted by ninja of the Kemuri Clan. The Kemuri wanted to know the hidden path to the Waterfall Village and attacked them.

Asuma's team was caught unprepared and had to scatter. Shikamaru managed to get a message to one of the outposts in Fire Country before returning to the last place he'd seen the Kemuri ninja right outside the waterfall cave entrance.

Now the Nara heir was carefully observing two Kemuri ninja and waiting for backup…

…

Team Kakashi arrived two hours later and reconnoitered the area. The sun was setting and they spotted the two Kemuri ninja fairly quickly. Finding an unmoving Nara hidden in the shadows was much harder, but Blake finally located him due to her superb night vision. The four members of Team Kakashi sneaked up to where Shikamaru was and Kakashi whispered, "Report chunin."

If Shikamaru was surprised, he didn't show it. He said, "Asuma-sensei and Ino have been captured and I can't locate Choji. There were twenty-two Kemuri Clan ninja that confronted us. Asuma-sensei ordered us to scatter and at least seven Kemuri went down in the process. I can't confirm that any of them are actually dead though."

"Let assume all twenty-two are still alive for the sake of planning." said Kakashi. "Do you know the current locations of Ino and Asuma?"

"Ino is just inside the cave entrance as a hostage." said the Nara. "They took Asuma deeper in but I don't know how far. The have both been tortured but I can only say Ino hasn't cracked. I doubt Asuma-sensei gave in a centimeter either"

"Our first objective is to retrieve Ino and Asuma." said Kakashi. He got out a pair of binoculars and saw the normally sassy blonde was laying on her side unconscious. She'd been punched and kicked a lot from the looks of it. "Four guards… She's still breathing, that's a good sign." muttered Kakashi. "Let's locate Asuma."

"On it sensei!" whispered Naruto. He created a pair of shadow clones that henged into mice. They quickly scurried off towards the cave entrance where the two Kemuri guards were standing stock still. The guards paid no notice to the mice as they scampered past them, looked at Ino and traipsed over about 30 meters deeper into the cave where Asuma was being held.

Asuma was awake but had obviously been beaten up as well. Looking around the area, the two mice saw only one kunoichi guard standing over Asuma. There were no others to be seen in any direction. One of the mice shrugged at the other before it went behind the Kemuri guard and undid its henge.

It was much to Sarutobi Asuma's surprise that the kunoichi behind him suddenly had her neck snapped and her body silently lowered to the floor by Naruto's shadow clone. The mouse in front of him suddenly transformed into another Naruto and cut his bindings. "Can you move on your own sensei?" whispered the clone. Asuma nodded and one of the clones handed the Jonin his weapons that were nearby while the other dispelled.

…

Outside

Naruto blinked at receiving the memory of his clone that dispelled. He said, "My clones freed Asuma-sensei and eliminated one target. Asuma has his weapons back. We need to free Ino before they can react or set off an alarm."

Kakashi nodded and said, "Shikamaru, I want you to immobilize the outside guard in the line of sight of the guards around Ino. I'll eliminate the other guard outside. Pyrrha, Blake and Naruto will extract Ino and kill the other four guards in the meantime."

Once everyone was in position the sun had fully and Shikamaru said, "Capture operation; success!"

Kakashi slit the throat of his target and the rest of the team blitzed the four guards. Within seconds the four guards were dead and Ino had been extracted. Asuma and Naruto's other clone ran out seconds later and the one Shikamaru had captured was knocked unconscious by Kakashi.

…

Ino woke up from smelling salts a few minutes later and saw her teammates and Team Kakashi there. She looked around and whispered, "Where is Choji?"

"We were hoping you could tell us." said Kakashi. "We have one prisoner and took out six targets. We need to know how many targets are left and if they have Choji."

"Let me look inside the prisoner's mind." said Ino. She quickly entered the Kumuri ninja's mind and said, "They started with twenty-two including three jonins. They lost five to us when they captured Asuma-sensei and I including one jonin… They are trying to find Choji and Shikamaru."

Naruto nodded. "So Team Asuma got five and Team Kakashi got six plus we have a prisoner. That's twelve."

"That only leaves ten but two are jonins." said Blake.

"…And Choji is still missing." added Shikamaru. "Ino, can you sense Choji anywhere near?"

Ino closed her eyes and reached out telepathically to Choji. "…He backtracked to The Hidden Waterfall Village to get help just like Shikamaru ran out of the cave to call for backup. He and several teams of Taki ninja are pursuing the Kemuri ninja in the waterfall paths. The remaining Kemuri are retreating back the way they came and Choji is alright."

"Thank the gods for small favors." said Asuma. "We got roughed up but it looks like we're all going home team. Thanks for you and your team's timely assistance Kakashi."

"It was our pleasure Asuma." said Kakashi with a double eye smile.

…

By the next morning Choji was reunited with his team and the few Kemuri ninja left were safely in the custody of the Takigakure ninja forces.

As the two Konoha teams travelled back home together they were discussing Team Kakashi's run in with Team Taka. Ino shook her head, "To think I used to have a crush on the Uchiha. I must have been out of my mind."

"It sounds like he's become a younger version of Orochimaru to me." said Asuma.

"I can't say it was the kind of reunion I hoped for." growled Kakashi. "You don't know how ashamed I am that I helped train that little traitor."

Pyrrha sweat dropped. "At least you really spooked him."

Blake added, "And Naruto-kun sent him running."

The scarecrow gave a double eye smile. "Sorry kids, I guess he's just a sore subject for me."

Naruto chuckled. "I was expecting you to take him over one knee and spank him with your pimpin' cane!"

"If he hadn't been armed with a sword, I would have caned him!" replied Kakashi with a laugh...

…

Konoha, Hokage's Office

The Fifth Hokage was reading over the various soul mergers which had taken place during the last couple of years as well as the appearance of the Creatures of Grimm in their various shapes and sizes and was trying to figure out some sort of rhyme or reason behind it.

She looked at a map of the Elemental Continent and found it strange that the highest concentration of the beasts was in Rain Country which was a mysterious place in and of itself. Tsunade had to wonder exactly what the future held…

…

*①: Takigakure (Village Hidden in the Waterfall) is pretty well known but for whatever reason the country it is in isn't named. I'm simply calling it 'Waterfall Country' in this fic.

This filler chapter flowed pretty nicely. I'm working on ideas for the next arc and rewatching RWBY and some of the Naruto Movies for ideas. See you next time. Blue out. 4/14/22