Chapter 159: The Challenges
The Crow sailed to the island as slowly as possible. With eight people and one dog on a very small boat it would make sense.
"This is taking too long… when are we going to get some action?" asked Anko.
"The boat is really heavy, don't expect it to move quickly." Said Ino.
The boat slowly approached the island, Luffy looked at the forest which was gigantic.
"Wow… look at those trees, I want to climb them." Said Luffy.
"I've never seen trees this big." Said Hinata.
As they approached the island they saw many idols and cow skulls on torches. This freaked out Usopp.
"Oh please… everything would scare you." Said Kiba.
"Except for spiders." Said Ino laughing.
"Stop making fun of that!" yelled Sanji.
That was when a giant blade came slicing through the air.
"These things? Really?" asked Anko.
The blade went back and forth in front of them.
"Okay the key is to time them." Said Anko.
"That's easier said than done!" yelled Usopp.
Fortunately thanks to Anko they managed to get though the blade. However a giant lamprey show up wanting to eat them.
They managed to continue on their way until they got to the to a giant stature head with four moths each one had something written on it "Challenge of Swamp", "Challenge of Iron", "Challenge of String" and Challenge of Balls".
"So which one do we choose?" asked Kiba.
"I don't know… but they all sound fun." Said Luffy.
Meanwhile with the others in the crew, Zoro and Isaribi were fighting Sky Sharks. Both were handling themselves well. Though at point Chopper freak out that the shark ate Zoro, which Robin pointed out if that happen, the clouds would turn red.
Afterwards, the two were on the alter drying off.
"There's too many of them. We can't fight them off." Said Isaribi.
"Great so we're stuck up here." Said Sakura.
"Not exactly." Said Sasuke.
He pointed to Gaara who across the river on land. This shocked everyone who saw him over there.
"How did you get over there?" asked Nami.
"I teleported…" Gaara said loud enough so that they could hear.
"You can teleport?" asked Chopper.
"Only short distances." Explained Gaara.
"Do you think you can make a bridge so we can get off here?" asked Nami.
"I'll need more sand because of the distance." Explained Gaara.
That was when Robin noticed a vine.
"We should explore this island." Said Robin.
"We have no idea what is going on here… so it's probably a good idea." Said Kakashi.
"So who's going to stay back?" asked Sakura.
Only Nami and Chopper raised their hands.
As they discussed what they could find there, Nami changed her mind. Why? Because of treasure of course.
And so they swung on the vine to join Gaara.
Zoro when he swung also did the Tarzan yell. Which made Sasuke slap his forehead.
The last one to cross was Nami.
"Don't worry about it Nami! Just do it." Said Sakura.
Nami did so and swung to the riverbank, however she was headed right for a tree.
"I'm going to get that tree." She cried.
That was when arms sprouted from the tree to protect her.
"Thank you…" she cried.
"So everyone's here." Said Kakashi.
"Remember Chopper! Guard the ship! Okay!" called out Sakura.
"Okay!" said Chopper.
Chopper slowly realized that while they were exploring the island, it left him alone… which mean he was the one in the most danger.
Back with the other group, they were trying to choose which path to take.
"All right let's choose ball." Said Luffy, "That sounds the most fun."
"We're supposed to be choosing which one sounds the least dangerous." Said Anko.
"I can focus on which one is the most safe." Said Kyubi.
"Really?" asked Naruto, "Which one is the safest?"
Kyubi managed to get as much power as it can it discovered which one and why, "Swamp is the safest…" said Kyubi.
"Why Swamp?" asked Naruto.
"Because… well… frankly… the Priest who runs it is a freakn' idiot… bigger than you and your brother combined… in fact he so stupid he makes both you and Luffy look like people had spent years of teaching at Oxford."
Naruto's eye twitched, "If you're just making up crap then I'm not going to believe." Thought Naruto.
Kyubi sighed, "Just don't blame me if you ever meet the guy…" said Kyubi.
"Just leave it to Luffy." Sighed Naruto.
"Was it something perverted?" asked Kiba.
"Not this time." Said Naruto with a sweat drop.
Luffy choose the Challenge of balls, they went into the gate… or well… tunnel.
"Hey… what if we fall the way down to earth for choosing this one?" asked Luffy.
"That's not funny." Said Ino.
"I wonder what will happen to us then…" said Anko.
"Stop it!" yelled Ino.
They got to the other side of the tunnel and fell down. Everyone was shocked… they were going to fall down to the earth… well never mind it was just a long fall.
They landed in the forest below.
"That sure was fun." Laughed Anko.
"No it wasn't!" yelled Kiba, Usopp and Ino.
"I agree with Anko it was." Said Sanji with pink hearts floating around him.
"Where are we?" asked Hinata.
The forest they were had strange white balls floating in the air. As they sailed along the way, they just relaxed despite the fact that there was an enemy around.
Luffy and Naruto were tossing one of the weird balls back and forth when suddenly a snake came out of it! Anko grabbed the snake and tossed it away.
"What the hell." Muttered Naruto.
That was when a ball was in their way.
"I'll get rid of it, I do know how to handle snakes." She said.
She tossed a kabob skewer at it which caused it to explode.
"Okay! That was unexpected…" said Anko.
That was when they heard a really annoying laugh "Oh ho ho!" came the laugh.
They saw a strange man with long red hair wearing glasses and a bowler hat… however the sternest thing about him was his body… he was ball shaped… really… his torso was perfectly round.
"You're one of those priests, aren't you?" asked Ino.
"I am! I am Satori!" laughed the ball-man.
"Nami and the others better be okay!" yelled Sanji.
"They are for now…" laughed Satori, "But all roads lead to death, even if you do rescue them."
"If we beat you, we can rescue them?" asked Luffy.
"That's right." Said Satori.
Luffy began to wind up his arm, Satori smiled as Luffy used Gum Gum Pistol. Satori dodged. He came in fast and flamed his hand into Luffy face while shouting "Impact!" Luffy fell to the forest floor, barely conscious.
"Luffy!" yelled Naruto.
"That ball did something to him!" yelled Kyubi, "Be careful of his palms!"
"Right!" said Naruto going half demon.
He aimed his tail at him but he dodged and slammed Naruto who too fell out.
"He can predict our moves…" said Hinata.
"I bet he can't protect himself from this." Said Ino, "Mind Mind Possess!" she shouted.
Satori dodged… he laughed when Ino fell to the ground.
"She won't get back to her body for a while and he threw her onto Naruto.
"Why you!" yelled Sanji.
Sanji tired kicking him, but it was futile, Satori slammed him as well.
"How is able to do that!" shouted Kiba.
"You don't know the power of Mantra." Mocked Satori, knocked both Usopp and Kiba out.
Naruto managed to recover first and placed Ino into a position so that she'll be okay until she can get back to her body.
"Hinata's still up there." Said Naruto.
Anko launched her attack, a snake came from her sleeve and went in for the attack, aiming it's self at Satori's crotch, he dodged, laughed then realized something.
"Was that snake going to attack my happy man?" he asked in disgust.
"Actually whatever is there." Said Anko.
Naruto watched on the ground and sweat dropped.
"That's a metaphor for something… I just don't know what…" said Kyubi.
Satori hit Anko with his attack sending her out of the boat, all that was left was Hinata.
"Hinata's only fought off one enemy since she joined… there's no way she can beat this guy with his weird weapon." Said Kyubi.
"Hinata!" yelled Naruto.
In the boat Hinata glared at Satori, "I don't know how you're predicting everyone's moves but I'm going to be the one who will stop you!"
Satori laughed, "There's nothing you can do, my Mantra won't let you land a single attack!" taunted Satori.
That was when Hinata slammed her palms into Satori sending him flying into a tree.
He managed to do get up, "How were you able to do that?" he asked.
"You don't know the powers and abilities of the gentle fist!" shouted Hinata.
Those outside of the boat were surprised, after all Hinata while a skilled martial artist never really did anything when it came to fighting, this time she would be the one would fight, after all there was much more to the Gentle Fist than meet the eye and it was perfect against fighting the big ball of a man.
Next Time: There are ways to defeat someone who can predict moves, one of those ways is the Gentle Fist. Which begs the question: Is it is okay to feel sorry for Satori as he's beaten to a pulp by Hinata? What will happen? Find out next time!