A/N: REJOICE! YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER UPDATE! Alright ladies and gentlmen, good news and bad news. Good news first. I'm fresh out of my surgery-hurts like hell!-and I managed to put this up here at points between the forced anesthetic. Bad news is I still have more surgeries ahead. Still, I'm feeling a bit better now. Really. I'm hanging tough though, having just come out of my first surgery...with two more to go! UUUUUGH! I'm on painkillers almost daily and I feel like crap, as to that effect. But nevertheless, despite this pesky little hiccup-I wanted to get word out any way I could, and since for some strange reason the site is being buggy, I wasnt able to work on this anywhere near as much as I would've liked. Still...
I love you guys so much! *Cries*
So I'll skip the introduction, but might I advise you to reread the story? Just in case you've forgotten anything.
"Burn it down. Burn it all down."
~?
Inferno
Marineford was a hurricane and Sakazuki stood in its eye. The wind shouted obscenties at him, roaring and raving nonsensical gibberish as the storm raged around them, walling everyone else out. That suited the man just fine. He had no idea of what was coming his way; couldnt feel the killer intent a mile away. It was so tempting to go after Whitebeard now, to finish the man off, while he was wounded. But even a wounded animal could bite and knowing Shirohige, the man just might take him with him before he went into that cold black abyss. Still, the temptation was there...
Akainu ignored it, his attention remained decisively elsewhere. Because his daughter lay only feet away, her visage a mask of anger and sweat, her hands frantically scrabblong at her stomach in a vain attempt to keep her insides from spilling out onto the frozen ground. Tch. For a moment he'd thought her dead on the spot. But no, she'd lurched back to life, grabbing at her guts almost before she'd hit the ground. Was that seastone chainmail he glimpsed beneath the ragged tear of her shirt? Clever girl, making something like that. Just like her mother.
"Fuck!" She hissed, blood bubbling between clenched teeth. "Fuck fuck FUCK! I'm actually going to...sonuva bitch!"
The ringlets had done little to absorb something like his magma, but they'd weakened just enough of the blast that his daughter had sustained a surviveable hole in her stomach, rather than a mortal, gaping tear in her chest as he'd originally intended. She might live...assuming she received immediate medical attention. Pity she wouldn't be getting it. He raised his arm with intent, magma boiling at the edge of his elbow, searing forth across his bloodied shoulder to meet his hand. They locked eyes then, father and daughter.
"So that's it, huh?" her words were little more than a growl. "Not even a "hello dear", or "how have you been" from you? Yer just gonna kill me?"
...you are no longer my daughter." Akainu rumbled, the words deep and hoarse in his throat. "You are a pirate, and as a Marine, it is my solemn duty to-argh!"
His words ended in a pained hiss as his daughter arched her back and spat; expelling a series of razor-sharp senbon needless directly into his kneecap. The haki-laced projectiles caused him no small amount of pain but it was the knowledge that his daughter had once more gotten the best of him that truly galled the admiral. Just where did the girl keep all these weapons?!
"Looks like I was right," she gloated, though her face had since begun to pale and become slicked with sweat. "you're still just as much of an ass as you were four years ago."
"I'm going to kill you for that, you know."
Venom oozed from her words. "Then do it, dad."
Tenten refused to flinch; a touch of pride traced Sakazuki's features as he prepared to finish her off. As her father, it was the least he could do.
"You should have known better." he admonished her roughly, molten droplets of magma dripping from his arms. "Attacking me was suicide. But you would do that, wouldn't you? I salute you for your courage. Now...go join your mother." In hindsight, perhaps those weren't the wisest of words to say. Who knew what might have been listening. Alas, Akainu was far too focused, determined to eliminate his daughter, to be done with her and move onto more pressing matters. Matters such as Whitebeard, and more importantlly-
Da-ching!
A sword slammed down behind him, its absurdly long edge shattering the stone behind him. In that instant, time ceased to be. Akainu froze, his eyes flying wide open as a low growl resounded in his ears. Every fiber of his being wanted to turn around and face this new foe, but he found himself inexplicably blocked somehow; his body simply wouldn't respond to his commands. This wasn't just intimidation that helt him fast, rooting his boots in place. It was downright domination, and he realized his mistake. In lieu of that perhaps he could be forgiving for breaking character, for whispering:
"Holy fuck, he's right behind me, isn't he?"
His daughter nodded sagely.
"Yup."
"Ah, christ-
"MOTHERUCKER!"
Gale force winds slashed at the air around him; confining, constricting. He was forced one step backwards and then another, and another still, until there was nothing but ice beneath his feet; to melt that meant certain doom on his part. He turned to regardthis new foe, found baleful whites eye balefully regarding him in turn. There were no irises to be seen there, just pure...white. He was the wind incarnate, nature come to judge him and havinf found him wanting. The keening sound of the storm increased tenfold, making his wounds sting evermore, sending his jacket fluttering in every direction.
"Boss!" Tenten practically sobbed her captain's name and title. Naruto said nothing to her; he simply raised an arm toward Sakazuki-
Pain.
Akainu hissed in surprise as something sliced into his face, the unseen blade of wind sending his cap flying away into the winds. And that was just the opening salvo. He tried in vain to blink away the blood that clouded his eyes but to no avail, no amount of scrubbing on his part would remove it. He saw only Naruto stalking forward through his scarlet-shrouded vision, sword in hand, its tapered tip dragging menacingly across the dack of ice with an eerie scraping sound. Aghast, the admiral raised an arm, magma coating the limb into a ghastly claw.
"Hellhound!"
Too little, too late.
The next, he was knocked back down.
And the next thing Akainu knew, for quite some time after that, was pain.
Tenten also knew a thing or two about pain.
She'd lived alongside it as a child, grown up with it as a constant companions during her cadet years. Her father had been a harsh mentor but she'd thought him fair. Most of the time, when he wasn't drilling the motto of absolute justice into her very bones. But this was absurd. Fathers didn't try to murder their daughters, no matter the circumstances. That chainmail had saved her life once again. It had been her mother's cherished armor, passed onto her just before her untimely death during a training accident. Recovering it from the warden's quarters had been the best thing she'd ever done. Without it, she'd have a cannoball-sized hole in her stomach as opposed to this...much more painful wound.
"Itai!" She yelped, tightening the bindings still further, ripping the rest of her sleeve into strips. Tenten was no doctor, but like any marine, she knew the basics of first aid. Always bind the wound. Disenfect if you could; if not, then hope for the best. Ha! Her own papa had just obliterated her apendix and scorched half her insides. Infection was the least of her worries at the moment, the idea of dying proved far more troublesome. She needed medical attention and soon; if she didn't see a proper doctor within the hour...
"Shit," she coughed, flecks of blood spattering the ice. "And I thought Tayuya had a foul mouth...owowowow oh gods, hurts to laugh." To think, she would die like this, after coming so far. God, this sucked. At least she had managed to stab her old man once for what he'd done to mom-
"Are you alright, dear?"
Tenten stared, momentarily alarmed to find herself staring up at a dark-haired woman. Her face was that of an angel amidst the chaost, those dark eyes warm, caring, emphatic. That alone was enough to worry her; it was damn near impossible to find such a person on a battlefield. tThe moment she saw the admiral's jacket she tried to bolt. Gentle hands forced her back to the ground and with her wound, the brunette was powerless to resist, impotent as those supple fingertips glided over her bloodied hands.
"Wha...who are...
"My name is Unohanna Retsu." the marine admiral soothed, her words soft, almost motherly in their tones. "And You needn't worry. Although you may be my enemy, I will not hesitate to treat you. It is my way. Besides, I believe a favor is owed you for what your captain has done. Or rather, is still doing." an eerie look entered those almond-shaped eyes as they swiveled to regard the incredibly onesided beating Akainu continued to take. "I never did like that man...
"F-Forget about me." Tenten growled, suppressing a grimace. "The old man over there, Whitebeard...his injuries...
"Ara, you mean the one I just finished treating? He's already up and about. I warned him not to overdo it, but he should be fine so long as he doesn't overtax himself." As if to mock those very words, a heart-wrenching explosion ripped through marineford seconds later, the power of the Gura Gura no mi manifesting itself in full force once more. "I'm surprise he could endure such wounds, even with my treatments...
"Eh?" But how was that possible? Akainu had burned out his insides! How the hell was that old man still moving? More importantly, how had Unohanna healed him?!
Retsu's smile grew, ever so slightly. "I'm very good at what I do, dear. Now let me see your wound-oh my. Your father did this to you?"
...how the hell do you know about that?"
"Ah, that's another story for another time." Soft fingers glided over her bandages. "Now, I'm going to have to ask you to stay still. This may hurt a bit."
Gulping, Tenten returned her attention to the fray raging around them. She had done all she could; the rest of this battle was up to her nakama. In this battle, death was a very real possibility. And she doubted any of them would be lucky enough to happen upon a benevolent marine medic as she had.
"Don't die guys...
"Argh, I've had it!"
"Had what?" she cooed.
"ENOUGH OF YOU!"
Donflamingo snarled, his temper utterly lost as Mei Terumi danced away from him, her lithe form proving impossible to catch. His strings closed around her for an instant, just long enough for her to dart in and plant a teasing peck on his cheek. Of course her lips scalded, infuriating him to no small degree when she slipped away once more. He'd since lost his sunglasses to their battle-his thin veneer of composure having evaporated long ago much to his great displeasure. Under normal circumstances, he might've bested her but he was out of his element here, unable to secure even the most glancing of blows without exposing himself to her dead mist, that dread fog that threatened to slough the very flesh from his bones.
It didn't matter how many hostages or pawns he used; be they pirate or marine, his fellow fruit user cut them down indiscriminately. In Dressorsa, her heartlessness might've been admirable. Now it was just infuriating him, inflaming his already black temper to a feverish degree.
A sudden explosion rocked the earth near them, causing her attention to slip, ever so slightly; Donflamingo seized the moment and pounced, snaring her within his strings. Mei promptly turned and spat at him but even the burning sensation of her acid couldn't deny him now. Victory was his.
"A little fight in ya, eh?" The Don sneered, pulling her closer, snickering as thin cuts began to appear aross her bare shoulders. "I like that-
"Then you're gonna love me."
A hand closed around his shoulder, spinning him right round to face them. Their visage struck a cord somewhere deep within him; this kid, why the hell did he look like Itach-
"Tsukiyomi!"
The last thing the Shichibukai saw were those hellish eyes looming before him. That was his first and last mistake. Pain flared beheind his gaze, hellish images flaring before his mind in rapid succession; mental torture of the highest degree and calibre-so painful he never even felt the blade slide between his ribs to pierce his liver. Perhaps that was cruel of the young Uchiha. Perhaps not. Whatever the case Donflamingo would not die a quick death that day, assuming he died at all. His body crumpled like a sack of bloody potatoes, sinking to the ground amidst an ever-growing pool of blood. Live or die, his part in the battle was done.
"You alright?"
"Ara, Sasuke-kun." Mei purred, surprised, yet grateful for his timely intervention. "I appreciate the assistance, but what happened to Aokiji?"
"About that-
"Halt, fiend!"
Sasuke blanched, a rare look of discomfort overcoming him as his head snapped in the opposite direction. Mei craned her neck towards the voice, her teal eyes widening ever so slightly as a pair of figures distinguished themselves in the gloom, standing proudly amidst the fog of war raging back and forth around them. What she saw there elicted an arched eyebrow. Bushy brows, dark hair, matching outfits. These fellows why did they feel the need to wear wearing green jumpsuits beneath their marine uniforms and why oh why did those uniforms have to be skintight...?
"Friends of yours?" she asked mildly, lips twithing in the slightest of smiles.
"Hell no!" the Uchiha retorted with virulence. "I've been trying to get away from them for the last five minutes! They won't leave me alone!"
"By the power of youth I will defeat you, Uchiha Sasuke!" the younger of the pair declared, stepping forward. "Now turn yourself over and surrender!"
"That's the way, Lee!" the older of the two encouraged. "Show him power of your youth!"
"Yosh, Gai-sensei!"
It took everything Mei had not to melt their bones right then and there. All this blathering of you and whatnot...it was enough to strain even her legendary patience. And that was saying something!
"Surely you're joking."
"They're stronger than they looks" Sasuke muttered, raising his blade. "I tried, but between them and Kuzan I had to send Shikamaru ahead with Luffy, or risk being overwhelmed."
"Do you think he'll be alright?"
Sasuke frowned. "Shikamaru, or Luffy?"
Mei chuckled.
"Both."
"Do not think you can ignore us, pirates!" Rock Lee shouted loudly, garnering their attention once more. "If you will not surrender then you leave me
Sasuke's visage turned fearsome. "Oh? You saw what we just did to that Shichibukai over there. Do you really want a piece of us? I admit you're a bit of a problem for me alone, but two on two?" Impossibly, those eyes seemed to darken, warping from scary to downright murderous. "We'll kill in you in less than a minute." Lee actually faltered for a moment, his courage threatening to evaporate in the face of their combined front. Alas, it simply did not last.
"I...you do not frighten me, Uchiha!"
"Good, Lee, good! Don't let them unnerve you!"
"I've learned from the best, sensei!"
"Lee!
"Gai-sensei!"
"LEE~!
"GAI-SENSEI~!"
Abruptly the duo embraced with teary gusto, somehow evoking an image of a setting sun amidst the chaos. Both pirates simultaneously sweatdropped.
"Oi, oi, oi, oi...
Sasuke sighed.
"I hope Hashirama's having better luck than we are...
"Nyargh, what do you think you're doing?!"
"Just following orders, is all."
Gecko Moria gasped desperately for breath as he found his neck twisted at an excruciating angle, the bones threatening to pop and snap at the slightest provocation. The rest of him was in no better shape, his bulky body entrapped by all wooden blocks from the waist down, the earthsome shackles holding him firmly in place whilst his would-be killer prepared to take his life from this world and usher it into the next. Ironically his tormentor seemed genuinely regretful in his actions-nay-he seemed inclined to apologize for his "misdeeds" even as he prepared to administer the killing blow.
What the hell was going on here?! He'd tried to take the man's shadow, only to find himself like this; it had all happened so swiftly he was still struggling to make sense of it. Now, Moria relied heavily upon his Shadow Shadow Fruit to do the bulk of the fighting, but the man had even done something to secure his doppleganger, pinning it to the ground with these strange wooden stakes of his. Without the power of his fruit to aid him, Moria was as helpless as a child, and it showed in the way he struggled.
"I'm sorry youngin', but orders are orders." The last Senju replied. "The moment you decided to attack me, your fate was sealed. I must admit, even that admiral was more of a challenge than you."
"No wait, don't-
"And the neck goes snaaaap~!"
Moria's neck proved surprisingly fragile; it snapped like a brittle twig. His body held out for but an instance, the whites of his eyes showing red as his bloated heart struggled to receive signal from a brain that no longer held any function. Hashi released him, allowing the man's long neck to collapse with the rest of him. What were the others doing, he wondered? Naruto's wind could clearly be heard wailing somewhere beyond the yard but he'd no idea where Sasuke and the others had gone. As if on cue, he a spiky head of hair caught his eye.
"Ah! There's Shikamaru!" A pause. "Why is he running away...?"
"RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIII~IIIIFE!"
Luffy couldn't help but share Shikamaru's opinion; despite everything they'd gone through to make it this far, through hell and high water, Aokiji was still chasing them! Kizaru and Akainu remained occuppied, but even one admiral was one too many for his liking; to make matters worse, his companion had no way of slowing him down; they'd only been able to evade him thus far by plowing through hordes of marines; knowing Kuzan would never risk harming his subordinates merely to capture a pair of pirates.
"Shit, shit, shit!"
Unfortunately that strategy entailed escaping said marines; an effort that exacted a most painful-not to mention hilarious-toll on the two men. Luffy could at least rely upon his Gomu Gomu abilities for protection; all Shikamaru had to his name were a pair of energy knuckles knives and his own superior intellect. Needless to say, he was running out of ideas! They'd barely escaped Smoker with Hancock's assistance; there would be no such haki-powered kicks to wrest them out of trouble this time!
"Which way?!" Luffy demanded! "Left or right?!"
"Um...right! Go to the right!" Together they cut past another clash of pirates and marines, skirting the conflict, only to feel the temperature plummet perilously. That was the only warning they had before all hell broke loose, a wave of artic winds rushing down to slice them to pieces. Aokiji made his appearance seconds later, swinging down at them with all his considerable might.
"Ice Sabre!"
"Kyaaaah! Not that waaaaaay!" The ex-marine shouted as they scrambled around the frigid blade. Just being close to it was enough to chill their skin!
"Then which way?!"
"I don't know, alright?! I've never been here before!"
"But I thought you were a marine?! What good are you then if you can't show me where to go?!"
"That hurt, you jerk!" But the younger pirate was right; they couldn't dodge Aokiji forever, not in a battlefield like this. Still, he wasn't a fighter! Not even remotely adept at close combat! He specialized in long distance tactics, using the terrain and superior forces to overwhelm his opponents. Having nothing but haki and a knife was...disheartening to say the least. But no! He had to try! Make a stand here! If he continued to run away while his nakama fought and died around him...what kind of man did that make him?!
Luffy's head snapped around as the marine strategist ground to a halt beside him, sandals biting deep troughs into the ice. His face was set in iron, his hard black eyes glaring unflinchingly back the way they had come, back ramrod straight as he stood in the face of the encroashing enemy.
"Pineaplle-ossan?"
"I TOLD YOU TO STOP CALLING ME THAT!" Shikamaru growled, unnotching his knives. "Now go on ahead!" Raising a hand to his mouth, he bit deep, desperately trying to overcome the fear with pain. It worked, albeit barely, the flinty taste of blood serving to momentarily clear his mind. "I'll cover you!"
"But-
"Godamnit Strawhat, I said go!"
Luffy dithered only a moment longer, his fear for Ace winning out against his fear for the older man.
"I'm counting on you!"
Shikamaru watched him go with a wince; suddenly terribly aware of the trembling in his hands. Stupid. This was so stupid! Why did he suddenly feel the need to stand his ground?! But even as he started to reconsiderr the consequences of his actions
"Hmm?" the icy admiral arched a frigid brow. "You're not running anymore?"
"Th-Th-That's right, asshole!" The navigator willed his knees not to knock together. "Bring it on!" I don't have to beat this guy! I just need to slow him down! "You have no idea who you're messing with!"
"Well, you've got guts, I'll give you that." Kuzan replied. "But I know a distraction when I see one. I think I'll just get rid of you and go on after Strawhat...
"Crap...
"Ice-
"DORYAH!"
There came a sharp flash of bitter steel-the icy edge intercepted, then shattered altogether by a jagged weapon of angry iron. Shikamaru gulped, willing himself to follow up, to look into the eyes of his savior. Attached to said steel was a hilt, and to that hilt an arm-the owner of said arm none other than one Zaraki Kenpachi in all his grinning glory. He looked like absolute shit, grisly cuts adjourning the length of his body, the top half of haori and hakama having been lost to battle, exposing his scar-ridden chest. All in all, it was an utterly terrifying sight.
"Yo, Shikamaru." the man grunted. "Looks like you found somebody strong. Mind if I cut in?"
'I'm saved!'
"B-Be my guest...
"Shit, this time its an admiral, too!" Kenpachi laughed; it was a deep, throaty sound. "Lucky me. Hopefully you're good for more than a warm up, ice boy."
A cloud of cold steam pushed past Aokiji's mouth, his lips furrowing into a thin line as he considered this new foe. "Ararara, now I recognize you. You're that guy who butched all those people in Eneies Lobby. Kenpachi Zaraki, was it? What happened to Hawk Eye? I thought he had you preocccupied."
"Waaas that me?" Zaraki returned with a grin. "Can't remember. But as for Mihawk, I let 'em go for old time's sake, brat wasn't up ta par after all these years." Shikamaru almost gulped at that. The man was cut up all over and he didn't even consider that a warm up? This guy wasn't just crazy...he was batshit insane! Unshouldering his ragged blade, the master swordsman leveled the weapon at the icy demon, eyes abrim with battleust, like a full cup about to overflow. "Ain't got no reason to do that with you. Now, you gonna play with that little shit, or are ya gonna fight a real opponent?!"
"Wait just a moment!"
Both men turned as another figure resolved itself through the battle, his red-armored figures distinctly striding towards them. His body caked in blood-none of it his own-the yellow, slanted eyes of the sage regarding his two comrades and the admiral with a frightening disparity. Despite himself, Shikamaru gasped.
"Hashirama?"
"Stay away, Shikamaru." their shipwright warned. "I don't want you to be caught up in this."
"Whaddya want, Senju?" the larger man growled, visible eye narrow as he regarded his nakama. "This is my prey."
"I beg to differ." came the quiet reply. "I have a score to settle with him."
"Godamnit, you already got one admiral! This one's mine!"
"Care to elaborate on that?" Aokiji frowned. These men weren't bluffing; Kenpachi had spoken with complete confidence of an admiral's defeat. The only question was...whom? Losing even one of their number would be catastrophic; two, disastrous...and he didn't even want to think of what might happen should Akainu bite the dust. And then there were the Shichibukai; the Wraiths seemed to be targeting them as well. Almost as if he-Naruto-wanted nothing more than to slay the most powerful men and woman
"Ara, you mean Kizaru-san?" Hashirama smiled then, not his usuallly friendly grin, but a ghastly grimace so chilling it made Aokiji himself shudder in revulsion. "I left him in the esteemed care of the Whitebeard Pirates, back in the plaza. You can rest assured he won't be causing anymore trouble."
"And now I get this one!" Kenpachi bit out, waving his blade dangerously close to the sage's head. "Ain't no way in hell I'm letting you have two in one day!"
"Shall we take him together, then?"
"Not if I kill him first!"
"Oi oi, you don't mean...
Hashirama's left eye twitched in the beginnings of another smile.
"That's right. Our true objective is none other than...
Time got funny when you were near death.
Take one Portgas D. Ace for example.
The man was certain he would've died-multiple times-if it were not for the timely intervention of the Wraith's and Whitebeard. Who knew what pitched battles were raging down below, what foes fought unseen? A knot of worry twisted in his gut at the thought; the battle must be going badly if even Sengoku himself had gone down to fight. He could hear the wind shrieking and keening down below, wailing in relief or distress, he knew not. Akainu was probably dead or at least in dire straits; he must've been-else the Fleet Admiral wouldn't have gone down there in a panic only moments before. Whomever stood there, whomevever wielded the powers of the Kaze Kaze no mi, they were going absolutely berserk in the courtyard.
Now, with only grandpa Garp left guarding him, it was only a matter of time before someone tried to be a hero-
"Demonic Sonata/Ten Sword Style!"
Ah.
The firebrand blinked as his grandfather's battered body sailed up to join him on the execution stand, his broken hands still twitching towards his groin in a vain attempt to cover the damage that had been wrought too close to his family jewels; that was what happened when you were blasted by a soundwave at pointblank range and kicked in the balls. Seconds later his savior reappeared, dress fluttering in the wind as she alighted a mere milimeter before him.
"Well," a dulcet voice crooned. "That takes care of him."
Ace might've been in mortal peril-prepared to die at any moment-but he simply couldn't get over just how godamned beautiful this woman was. Flowing scarlet hair mirrored a crimson dress, offset by all cream-colored skin, a heartshaped face and dark eyes. She was the most stunning creature he'd ever seen, gorgeous in her intensity, terrible in her beauty. And then she opened her mouth.
"Stop staring, fuckface."
Ace's jaw promptly dropped to the ground.
"What?"
"'Sup?" she raised a hand in greeting. "My boss sends his regards. We're here to bust you out."
"We?"
He finally became aware of the dark-skinned man standing behind her, his bulky form marred with blood-Garp's blood-black sunglasses regarding him intently.
"Who're-
"Wheee! The name's Killer Bee! Now its time ta' set ya free!"
"Yeah, ignore him. He's an idiot."
Tayuya said nothing more; quietly kneeling behind him. The click of a key openng the lock was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard. The last son of Gol D. Roger felt strength flood his veins, angry embers licking a trail of fire down his flesh as his power came flooding back to him. Grimacing he stood, forcing himself to stand on sleeping legs, his lower body numb from kneeling for so many hours. Power roared through him and he welcomed it with relief. It seemed today wasn't his day to die after all.
"Thanks," he muttered, rubbing at a raw wrist. "Oi, where is your captain, anyway?"
The redhead turned her gaze aside, her mouth set in a slight grimace. Was that fear or consternation that tightened her brow? Who knew?
"He's...preoccupied."
Akainu reeled from yet another impossibly-strong blow, his world spinning as another wrenched agains this ribs. He'd lost count. His opponent was an unstoppable force of nature, it seemed, and defeat was growing near. To think...he'd been holding back this entire time! But no longer he realized, as another blow dropped him into the ice, only for a second to launch him into the skies moments later. A third sent his body caroming off the tundra once again-mercifully putting his body out of range from the deadly and almost unseen strikes.
"Daishinkan! (Great Dragon Shock)
Or so he thought.
The marine admiral narrowly rolled to the side, his body chilled as Naruto's sea-colored blade slammed into the ice, obliterating another swathe of land with his blade. That deadly slash didn't stop there however; it kept right on going, carving yet another swathe of destruction into Marineford. Men and women alike were tossed about like mere ragdolls; unable to do anything but scream helplessly as their beloved base continued to fall apart around their very ears.
A squad of those very soldiers rushed to assist him, desperately calling out for him to rise up and fight back. "Sakazuki-san!" Utterly unaware of the danger standing mere meters away. Akainu tried to open his mouth to call out to them-to warn them away, but to no avail; the words wouldn't come.
"Out of the way, small fry!" Naruto growled as he swung the blade forward.
"Yokouzan!" (Cursed Flame Slash)
A swirl of ghastly green fire burst from the blade's tip, engulfing the soldiers before they could reach him, sending them shrieking to the ground. His sword seemed to sing as they burned, devouring their charred husks, growing stronger with each passing instant. Naruto ignored them and their deaths, reaching down to take hold of Sakazuki's collar. The Admiral's attempts to burn him were met with emtpy atmosphere; one simply did not burn the air. The pirate only drew him closer, his fingers digging fiercely into the lappels of the man's jacket.
"She was your daughter!" He snarled, his words like knives in the man's ears. "How could you do that to her?!"
Akainu spat a bloody gob at him.
"You have no right to question what a father does to his child!"
"I have every right!"
Clenched knuckles barreled into his visage, bending bone and crushing cartilage as if they were tissue paper. Blood trickled into Akainu's mouth-courtesy of his now newly broken nose-entire universes detonating before his vision in a series of white-hot supernovas. Unbearable, blinding agony. He barely felt the ground when Naruto tossed him down, scarcely recognized north from south. Trying to decipher either proved nigh impossible for his faded vision at the moment, he could only barely see his tormentor in pursuit.
"You shouldn't have touched her." Naruto growled, advancing upon him. "Shouldn't have touched my gramps, either. They're precious to me. Both of them. Part of my pride. And My Pride...
"...IS A HURRICANE!"
Black wind leapt up to snare the admiral's broken body, ripping him from the ground and battering into his body from every angle. This was not pain. It was more than that. This...was torture. His every wound cried out for solace and was given none as the gale drove After an eternity trapped in that vortex he was finally released, flung to the ground like a broken toy. Agony arched his spine-leaving him vulnerable to any attack that'd been forthcoming, prepared in light of this situation. If Uzumaki were to attack him now...he'd be helpless.
A heartbeat later this thought proved prophetic; Naruto's blade pierced the point of his shoulder, his tone modulating to a darkened glee over the man's screams.
"How do you like my Seven Star Sword?" his words trailed after him, dousing him with further mockeries, "It wasn't exactly easy to reforge this thing when I found it, ya know. They say it causes madness in whomever wields it but its actually funny, I'm feeling quite sane right now. I suppose its curse doesn't affect those who've already delved through the depths of insanity and emerged untouched. It seems to want you dead just as much as I do, though. Lets remedy that, shall we?" He took the blade from the wound and cut down again.
Once more, Akainu screamed.
Yes, he had beaten back Whitebeard-for the moment-and defeated his daughter, for all the good it had done. Naruto was dominating him, proving the superiority of his element in every way. And that damned sword of his! It radiated an aura of pure menace, malice incarnate. Shichiseiken. The sword wanted his blood, and if this continued, it would have it.
"Nothing can protect you from me." it hissed as it cut into his flesh; cutting the air itself in twine whilst it sought his blood. "Not weapons, not men, not armor...
"Inugami Guren!"
Naruto's blade snapped up in a block-removed from Akainu's flesh-and he scrambled away like a drunken spider, putting some distance between himself and this impossible fighter. "You..." he glared at Naruto's defiant figure, almost unable to believe what-the hell-he'd been put through because of this one simple action-because of this mere man. This filth! This pirate! "I...will not...stand for this...!" Droplets of magma coursed across his flesh, boiling at the ice beneath their feet as his voice thundered out. "I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT!"
"Too bad." Naruto's voice snaked into his ear-when had he gotten behind him?!-causing the admiral to start in surprise. "You don't get a say; not anymore."
"Yokouzan!"
It was a rare thing for Sakazuki to experience the pain of being burned, but this blade did just that; its emerald flames crashing through the protection afforded by his magma to sear his dark sin. Angry red welds broke out on his skin when the inferno roiled over him, blisters boiling upon his face as he baked in the firestorm. Naruto slashed down again and the burning hell ended, hurtling his scorched shell to the ground once more. A terrifying moment of silence passed between them; the admiral realizing he might very well die should this torment continue.
That was when he saw it; there, just in the corner of his peripherals.
A familiar figure, creeping around the edges of the battle. Could it be...? Was he hallucinating? Was that really-
BAKRAM!
Akainu's face kissed the soil and the spell was broken-that'd bruise-striking the terrain with enough force to make him bounce. Before he could recover Naruto was there, opening a deep trench in his back with his blade uncaring as the Shichiseiken sung its song of battle and bloodlust. Yes, Naruto grinned, he deserves this! He-
"Boss!" Tayuya's voice split the air between them, jerking him out of the depths. "We've got him!"
"What the hell's going on here-?"
"Tayuya?" Naruto turned aside, sanity returning to his features as he beheld the burning pirate beside her. "Good, looks like you did your job. And you've got Ace. Now, you're both just in time for the finale-
Now!
Akainu lashed out with the last of his strength, magma erupting from his every pore; sights set upon the last of Roger's legacy. His fire would be no match for his magma he'd burn right through the boy before he ever knew what had happened. But nothing happened. Instead he stared, gawped as found his advance inexplicably halted-stalled against the unbreakable edge of Naruto's blade. Something was wrong. Why couldn't he feel his everything? His arms? His legs? He couldn't even move a muscle! It was only as he looked down, saw the smooth steel sticking into his chest, that he realized what had happend. The edge had pierced through that cloak of lava he wore, penetrating his intangibility to strike at the one thing no human thought he had. His heart. He was dead. And if not, soon would be.
"You stubborn son of a bitch." Naruto gave the blade an angry wrench, causing Sakazuki to shudder. "Tenten wasn't enough-you had to go after him, too?! Can't you just roll over and die?!"
Sengoku pounced in that instant, massive fist swinging down at the blonde's head. With Akainu dead or dying, and the blonde's sword still trapped in his body, this might be the only opporunity he had-
"HIKEN!/MUKAIKAZE!"
A wall of fire and wind greeted his surprise attack, an inferno superheated by the strength of the hurricane behind it. But Sengoku hadn't become Fleet Admiral for nothing. Still he plummeted towards the blond, driving his massive golden downward with all his willpower and might.
Never made it.
"No you don't, fucker!"
Tayuya shrieked an obscenity and exhaled in a massive burst of sound, both blinding and deafening him in a single instant. Stricken by the sudden loss of sight and sound he faltered, losing control of his descent. That momentary lapse was all he needed, Naruto did, to end him. Fist met fist and the latter yielded, his now matte black arm crushing Sengoku's in a single swing.
"Hardening." Naruto muttered, his right arm turning black with the power of haki, becoming impervious to even the most brutal of blades. Instead of losing a limb to his opponent he simply stood there, cold white eyes boring into the fleet admiral. His surprise attack having failed completely, the man struggled to escape but the Hurricane held him fast. Despite his Buddha form, he simply couldn't tear himself away from the blonde. A silence passed between the two men, infinite in its meaning.
And then it was over.
Naruto struck upward.
His fist found purchase in the massive man's gut, shattering the control over his fruit. Sengoku toppled forward with a gasp, his form shrinking, golden sheen fading, as his body returned to its true form. With his free hand. Naruto quietly tugged the Seven Star Sword from Akainu's chest, the green blade still glimmering with the dying man's blood. Sengoku had no doubt of what would happen next, yet in all his might, he simply couldn't find a way to fight free. His free hand smashed relentlessly against the boy's face but he'd hardened that too, and merely received a broken knuckle for his efforts. Naruto didn't even so much as flinch, his lips parting for a slight sigh.
"Tayuya?" He spoke softly, his gaze falling to the small form still perched on her back. "Yachiru?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't look."
Naruto didn't even bother to speak to Sengoku; he simply raised the Shichiseiken and cut down. Hard. Sengoku barely even felt it when the blade split him in twine; its alabaster edge cleaving through his right shoulder to emerge effortlessly through his left, completely bifurcating him. Damn. That was his last thought before his two separate halves split and toppled apart. He was dying before he even hit the grounds-his lifeless gaze a silent plea unto the sky, begging for mercy as that cold steel descended upon his neck. Naruto gave none.
Sengoku's head rolled away from his shoulders...
...and the last hope of the Marines died with it.
A/N: And there ya be! Despite my illness, I was so moved by your many reviews that I worked REAAALLLY hard to get this up. I've racked up quite the body count thus far: Sengoku-Akainu-and of course Moria are dead; Kizaru and Donflamingo are questioniable, and Tenten survived. But we're not done just yet! What happened to Whitebeard?! Will he survive?!
To those of you who were expecting Unohanna to appear , you were correct. I do believe the Wraiths have finally found their doctor! The battles picked up big tme in this chapter, as we see the Wraith's are quite capable of holding their own. Naruto. It should be mentioned in any case that absolute CHAOS is about to ensue, what with Naruto telling his crew to go all out and wreak havoc! He'll finally get to chat with his gramps as of next chapter, and their body count will nothing short of enormous! Look forward to it, ya'll!
So...in the immortal words of Atlas...
...Review, would you kindly? And of course, enjoy the preview! Next chapter! Mastermind!
(Preview)
"Muhuhuhuhu," The masked man chuckled, a hand lingering over the orange facade that covered his visage. "Thank you for all that you've done, Naruto-kun. Truly. I honestly didn't expect you to form such an alliance of rogues when I broke you out, let alone weaken the marines this much. Congratulations on your victory. Such a shame that so many had to die to see this day won...
Naruto bristled. How dare he speak of that...!
"Oi oi," A strong hand clasped his shoulder, Shanks' palm the only thing restraining him from lashing out. His uncle-surprise surprise-had arrived here and the end of the battle-at the loss of so many, to effectively bring the War of the Best to a close. The last living link to his mother-excluding Whitebeard-standing here beside him.
"Don't let him get to you, kid."
"My thanks to you as well, Red Hair!" The stranger laughed loudly, the lone eye of his mask turning to regard the emperor. "It is only fitting that you of all people, be here to witness this! The day the World Government was brought low, down to its knees! The day I abolished it and gave rise to a new world!"
"Keh...!" Zaraki snorted. "What the hell is he blabbering about?"
Retsu frowned as well, her mouth downturned in silent approval.
"Ararara," Aokiji's weak gasp merely confirmed his disagreement. "Whoever you are, that won't work. I'm still here...
Marines and Pirates alike glanced about, wondering just who this masked madman was. Who he claimed to be.
"It will be the dawn of a new era!" His voice rang out loudly across the yard, speaking to all assembled. "A new organization, one truly dedicated to world peace! To prosperity! A world, where no one will suffer! Where there are no losers, only the winners! Long have I strived from shadows to reach this goal, and now you, each and evey one of you, shall see it come to fruition! The name of this organization, you ask? Why, it is none other than...
"Akatsuki!"
"New era?" Naruto finally found his voice, eyes flashing a dangerous red. "World peace? You know what I think of that, as a pirate?"
"Do tell."
"To hell with that bullshit!"
R&R! =D