The Uzumaki Namikaze Legend

by Kuma Akuma

One visit, that's all it takes to change a tale. Watch Naruto as one day a visit to the Hokage changes his entire life, but is it for the better? Will he truly rise up and become the strongest Hokage? Yes he will, for he is, the son of Kushina Uzumaki and Namikaze Minato. He has a legacy to uphold! Stronger Naruto (but not Godly) Smarter Naruto.

36. Chapter 36

FlowOfEna: Because I like Anko...and I don't think she was explored that much in canon. I plan on exploring more of her in the chapters to come, and she'll be quite the character. She also provides a much needed dynamic to Naruto and to Sasuke.

DragoFae24: Why thank you very much.

bigfan22: Why thank you. Naruto losing in the prelims was risky...and I'll admit I got quite a lot of...angry...PMs about it, but I rather like the idea. He kinda needs to humbled every so often...and he'll be getting humbled a hell of a lot more in the future, although he'll be kicking a lot of ass while doing it.

Just Another Guy Dreaming: Nah, I'm not demented. I get a lot of questions about that though. And remember...this is a fanfiction. It's perfectly legal. And yes Hiruzen is a nice guy...but remember he has more than just Naruto to look out for. He leads an entire village and must maintain a strong political image on several fronts. He can't let the masses anger spill out of control, but he can't outright quell it either in fear of creating a worse situation. Remember again that civilians would have no understanding of lots of basic shinobi knowledge, much less one not as outright explained like fuinjutsu. For all they knew the Kyuubi could have died when they killed Naruto.

Roxie (again it won't let me type your full name): Thanks. After the invasion is quite the surprise. Lots of important characters get involved and the final villain is introduced.

Lacrizar: Thank you! No one seems to get that...

Guest (Rules guy): What "rules"? There are absolutely zero "rules" saying Naruto must win in the prelims. There are no "rules" saying Sasuke can't have Zabuza's sword. This is FANFICTION? Why would I give Sasuke abilities that solely complement his canon abilities? The Sasuke I intend on building will not be like Sasuke in canon.

Guest (Work): You are completely right...I apologize.

Mrs. Mitokado: Well first off thanks for educating me. I feel like I got my ass kicked in knowledge...something I respect. And your English was spot on (probably even better than mine).

Neon and the Lost Soul: Kurama would not reveal his real name to Naruto...and neither is his actual name so it honestly wouldn't matter to him that much in my opinion.

Wolvmbm: Thanks. I was hoping it would stand out. And let me just answer that right now. Shukaku couldn't give two fucks about Cerberus. Hell he couldn't even give one. He gives NEGATIVE fucks. Yeah I kinda do feel bad for Kiba. But as of now he's kind of a one-trick pony, and a trick like that wouldn't let him have beat Kiho. Kushi-chans return may or may not mess with Naruto's seal...*cough* Ginkaku *cough*. Yeah, Anko got the short end of the stick. But it's necessary. I purposely had her fight literally one of the strongest opponents in the war. Soka couldn't beat Hiruzen, but to give you a range of his strength, he'd pressure Tsunade. The reason I said Genraika may be as strong as him will be revealed in the future, because Genraika would lose to Tsunade...pretty badly.

SPeCTeR-ll7: True. The curse-seal wielders are going to be a serious problem. But they'll be explored more next chapter. Funny...this whole invasion actually isn't gonna take up that many chapters if I keep making chapters this large.

Wacko12: Kushi-chan came back due to Orochimaru reviving her. How exactly he is capable of doing that shall be revealed at a later date.

NOW THAT THAT'S OVER WITH!

Get Back

Guren frowned as she saw another crystal structure of hers shatter because of Hiashi's strike. "I hate you Hyuga people….you're to difficult. Your abilities are hard to handle."

Hiashi smirked, dodging more shuriken that she created and threw towards him. He then rushed forwards, his sheer speed leaving a dust trail. Guren's eyes widened, a blade of crystal forming on her arm instantly that she used to slash at Hiashi. Hiashi grabbed the blade with his fingertips, chakra blasting out of them simultaneously. The strike blew the crystal off Guren's arm, forcing her to jump away before Hiashi could follow up.

"Scary," Guren mumbled. "I really can't back against you Hyuga's. You can destroy my crystal so easily."

Hiashi said nothing, merely rushed forwards, launching a kick that Guren dodged, yet it was just a lure. She had sidestepped something he had wanted. He flipped midair, spinning on his hand, lashing out with a kick to the head that she barely managed to block. Yet his other hand moved, striking her knees and forcing her to collapse as he struck her chakra network.

Guren fell to the ground, her legs unresponsive. Hiashi smirked, thrusting forwards with his hand towards her heart, yet crystal appeared in front of it, and this time withstood the blow. Hiashi frowned, seeing the massive swirl of chakra that was centered in the crystal. This would not be so easy for him to disrupt, as the cloud was making it difficult to cut apart her connection to it.

Instead of leaving himself open to a counteract Hiashi jumped backwards onto a nearby building. Guren looked at him with anger, slowly getting to her feet. "You are persistent Hiashi Hyuga…but you still cannot defeat me."

Hiashi snorted. "Should I not be telling you that? After all, you are on the losing side of this battle." Guren rolled her eyes. "Look around you, Konoha is burning. Even with the Cerberus here to fight against a bijuu, it cannot win. The Guardian of Death is no match for something that gives it its inmates."

Hiashi rolled his eyes. "I do not trust the Cerbereus to stop Shukaku. I trust Naruto…hence, while casualties may be high, there is no doubt in my mind that you lack the capability to win this fight…or this invasion." Guren's eyes widened. "Why? How could that child who has not even reached his full potential give you so much faith?"

Hiashi raised an eyebrow, seemingly pondering the thought himself. "I have no idea…" 'Especially considering the fact he's really just a tool for the Hyuga to gain more power…when has he grown on me so much? I need to distance myself from the boy.'

Guren used this moment of self-reflection to rush inwards, weaving through handseals. "Shōton: Suishō Meikyū no Jutsu (Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Labyrinth Technique)!" Suddenly, before Hiashi could react, a number of crystal flowers sprung up from the ground and buildings, before they grew to form a labyrinth. Hiashi frowned at the immense speed of the jutsu, focusing even more so on his eyes. Yet no matter how hard he tried to refraction of light caused by the crystal and the strange quality it gave made it hard for him to see. Added on to the fact that the entire jutsu was similar to a blanket of Guren's chakra being put on his eyes it was impossible for him to find her. Instead of waste chakra maintaining the Byakugan he simply turned it off. It didn't matter if he did it anyway, as he knew the locations of a persons tenketsu by heart.

"Well that's an interesting decision," he heard. He spun to where he heard the voice, frowning, yet he saw no one. "Oh come now Hiashi…don't think it will be so easy to find me."

Hiashi frowned at her mocking tone; raising a hand that he coated with chakra so dense, it was visible to the naked eye. "Come at me," he dared.

Guren wasted no time in doing so.

XxX

Shikamaru stood, his back against a wall as his eyes tracked the area. The bats had left him alone for a brief moment, but he knew for a fact that his opponent hadn't left him. If he had he would have been to open for attack.

Shikamaru had used this time to think, and thus was prepared. Slowly he drew two explosive kunai, a smirk on his face. "You know…using a jutsu like this has to be taxing. Is that why you haven't come at me with those bats yet? Because communicating with them is tiring you out in combination with this jutsu."

His opponent chuckled, the voice seemingly coming from everywhere, yet Shikamaru wasn't fazed. His father was way better at that than this guy was. "Not in the slightest. I was just waiting to see if you would break from the isolation. Clearly you're different from the others though…now how about we drop this kunai to the ground?"

Shikamaru snorted. "Not a chance."

Suddenly bats shot forwards, their wings making no sound in the air. But he didn't matter to Shikamaru, he saw them coming from a mile away, and launched one of his explosive kunai into the swarm. It exploded, sending chunks of bats flying in every direction.

"Please don't tell me that's all you've got. I thought you said darkness was your element."

"It is."

"Then why use the bats? If it was truly your element like you say…you wouldn't need the bats to see."

His opponent was silent at that, Shikamaru's sharp wit catching in a corner. Of course he wasn't going to answer that question. This opponent seemed to be rather prideful if his tone was anything to go by. Shikamaru jumped in the air, launching his other explosive kunai below him and detonating it. The flash briefly lit up the surrounding area, sending debris flying in every direction. Shikamaru however used the sudden light similarly to a flashbomb, to disorient his enemy. He landed, weaving through handseals as he sent multiple shadows out throughout the darkness.

Shikamaru smirked. It was easier to produce shadows when completely shrouded in darkness. It didn't require nearly as much chakra to maintain them. The sun naturally weakened his shadows, and the cost to keep using it while it was day time was quite high. But while cloaked in shadow, the amount of chakra it used up was near abysmal.

Shikamaru frowned as he felt his shadows connect with multiple things, yet he knew that they weren't his target. Another perk of his shadows, that when they made contact with something he could feel its general shape, and none of those were human or bats. Shikamaru frowned then, grabbing shuriken from his pouch. He had heard the faint sound of beating wings behind him.

Deactivating his shadow Shikamaru spun, launching the shuriken in the general direction of the noise, the spread of the shuriken rather large. They hit nothing, however they did elict a curse from his opponent, causing Shikamaru to smirk. He was slowly but surely luring the man out.

Shikamaru once agained weaved through handseals, closing his eyes as he tried to expand his shadow even further. If he could get to the borders of the dome of blackness it was possible that he could control everything in it. His shadow was technically connected to the entire dome of darkness.

And it qualified as a shadow, so as long as he could reach its borders everything in it was his.

Shikamaru snorted at his clans staple jutsu. For something so basic it sure did have a lot of technical issues and modifications that made it extremely hard to use. Of course that was also what made his family so dangerous.

Shikamaru smirked as he suddenly felt strain on his shadow. It had connected to the border and thus everything and anything underneath its shadow as not his to manipulate. "Now I don't know exactly where you are," Shikamaru began. "But I honestly don't think it will matter."

Shikamaru groaned however. Controlling a shadow this large along with everything in it was extremely taxing. He couldn't maintain this for much longer. Shikamaru launched four explosive kunai at each of the cardinal points, idly noticing the shuffle footsteps nearby mimicking his movements. The explosion and flash of bright light illuminated his target and SHikamaru wasted no time in charging the teen, noticing that he was charging him back if the growing sound of his footsteps were any indication.

Shikamaru drew a kunai and lashed out, smirking as he felt the metal rip through flesh. Suddenly the large dome of darkness collapsed inwards causing Shikamaru to smirk. It revealed his opponent, whose throat was gourged open. The cavity was wide for the world to see. Shikamaru couldn't help but ignore the dead mans body. He wasn't notable as he was dead and would no longer be a threat. In fact, Shikamaru was fairly positive he didn't even know his name.

Shikamaru however was interested in the bat jutsu of his, but he didn't know how the teen knew the jutsu. Just as he was about to leave he saw a small scroll fall out of his pouch. Shikamaru reached down, picking it up before a smile developed on his face.

"Jackpot," Shikamaru mumbled.

A summong scroll…for the bats.

XxX

Kushina glared at Jiraiya. "If I wasn't all for you guys stopping this invasion I'd kick both of your wrinkled old asses and feed you to Orochimaru on a silver platter before massacring the snake like the scumbag he is."

Jiraiya gulped at the red-haired Uzumaki, terrified of what she might do to him. Kushina however charged Gai who met her in clash of fists not far away from her starting point. Kushina smirked, impressed. "Gai…you really have become much stronger. I assume my tutelage was a part of this?"

Gai smirked. "Sensei…you taught me well." Kushina smiled, ducking under Gai's powerful round house, sweeping his legs out from under him before bringing a foot up that sent him skidding backwards. Gai frowned, clearly irritated his blow hadn't landed. Kushina smirked, her hair slowly beginning to rise as she flared her infinite amount of chakra. She had no intention of losing this fight, despite the fact that she knew Gai had to win.

"Let's see if you've surpassed the sensei," Kushina smirked. Gai gave a great smile, before he took off his weights, rushing forwards at near impossible speeds. Kushina smirked, her eyes almost lazily tracking him. "You're not as fast as Minato…don't bother thinking that I can't track you."

Gai nodded, changing his tactics. He spun on his heel and blasted off, cracking the tiled ceiling with every step. Kushina frowned, ducking beneath a punch that sent a blat of air pressure forwards. She tied to repeat her previous action, however Gai jumped over her sweeping kick and lashed downwards with his leg, yet Kushina dodged it by a hairs length. The redhead spun upwards, lashing out with a backfist that Gai deftly caught before kicking her feet out from under her before proceeding to flip her onto her back. With her arm trapped Gai immediately broke itw tihout a moment of hesitation, before bringing his leg up once again to finish the fight and obliterate her body.

Yet Kushina was ready. She didn't even truly feel the pain that a broken arm should have made her feel. She simply generated a chain from her body, wrapping it around Gai's body. She smirked, swinging the large man off of her with strength she should't possess, the chain digging into Gai's skin, drawing blood. Gai groaned as the chain slammed him against the ground. He stood, only to stare in awe as Kushina's arm fixed itself.

Kushina smirked, weaving through handseals. "Jump Gai! This is gonna be bad!"

Kushina then finished her handseals, opening her mouth. She normally wouldn't be capable of using this jutsu. It was one only her idol, Tobirama had created and only he could use as naturally as this. She, even with her massive chakra pool and insane control, couldn't pull water droplets from the very air. However, with the jutsu forcing her to do the jutsu she had no prerequisites. This jutsu was easily available to her.

"Shinzui no Utaseyu Taki (Quintessence of the Cascading Waterfalls)!"

Kushina then opened her mouth and a torrent of water surged from it. Water roared around her as it surged upwards, her form invisible through the thick, murky water. The water roared above her, the tsunami splitting into two large water falls, forming a sight akin to an octopus without as many legs. The water rushed around her, ripping tiles from the ground, and sending it all surging forwards the waterfalls rushed to spear Gai. A tidal wave of the murky water flew after the waterfalls, taking on the image of a dragon.

Gai's eyes widened at the immense jutsu. This was a jutsu he had read before. It was created by Tobirama, and to his knowledge no one other than him could use it. Of course, the prerequisites to use such a move if you were not him were preposterous, hence it wasn't unbelievable that only that man had managed to create the jutsu. Yet it seemed Kushina had too perfected the technique, and apparently had no prerequisites. He knew she idolized Tobirama for she too was a Suiton user, a masterful one at that, but he had no idea she was this powerful.

Gai knew there was no way he could dodge that attack. Kushina had likely been forced to put more chakra in the jutsu than she had desired if the look was anything to go by. It reached the top of the dome they had been entrapped in. Gai couldn't help but smirk in pride at his teacher. She certainly was impressive.

Gai then steadied his body as the water came roaring in, the waters roar almost overshadowing his shout of pure power.

"Keimon, Kai (Gate of View, Open)!"

Gai's body exploded, water surging around his form. Kushina's attack had effectively been negated, the force Gai was exuding with his chakra pushing her attack backwards and instead causing it to swirl around him. Gai smirked, his eyes glaring at Kushina. His blaring red skin was all that was able to be seen. His eyes, now covered by his sclera, were invisible in the murky water.

Gai then moved, shattering the dense cloak of water, the droplets sent everywhere from the force of his movements. Kushina's eyes widened at the negation of her attack before she felt her head blown off from the sheer force of Gai's punch.

XxX

Jiraiya smirked as he looked at the destructive battle Kushina and Gai were undergoing, idly noticing that her head was already regenerating from the insane punch. Gai was moving though. He had no intention of letting her regenerate.

"To see someone capable of using my technique, even when under this accursed jutsu…it truly makes me glad," Tobirama said, a small smile gracing his usually stoic face. "However, to see it be negated as easily as that…truly these generations have only grown stronger."

Jiraiya smirked, weaving between Tobirama's strikes. The man launched a kick that Jiraiya ducked under, launching two kicks that sent the man skidding backwards. However, Hashirama descended right next to him, causing Jiraiya to go on the defensive from the First Hokage endless attacks. The man was faster and stronger than Jiraiya, and if his brother managed to get into the fray Jiraiya had no doubt that he would be dead. He had to keep them separated.

Jiraiya was just glad they were keeping this to taijutsu, because if they weren't he was sure he would have already been murdered fifty times over.

Jiraiya's eyes widened as Hashirama clapped his hands together, multiple roots sprouting from the tiles and ripping them apart, the emerging tree barreling straight towards Jiraiya. However, the Toad Sage smiled and weaved through handseals, a large fireball surging forwards and hitting the tree. While it lacked the power to burn the tree to ash it managed to slow it down enough for him to get away.

Yet suddenly Tobirama was upon him, launching a series of attacks that sent Jiraiya reeling as they struck. A blow to his side connected, sending Jiraiya to his knees at the raw impact. Tobirama was much stronger than his frame would have suggested.

Tobirama began to weave through handseals. "Jiraiya get out of the way! This will be a series of big ones!"

Jiraiya wasted no time in listening the the Nidaime's words, instantly forming a wall of earth and standing atop it. He had begun weaving through handsigns once again, still doubtful a mere wall of earth would be capable of stopping these next few attacks. "Suiton: Tsunami no Genbu (Genbu's Tsunami)!"

The water in the air suddenly rushed around Tobirama as he opened his mouth, spewing multicolored water from it. The water in the air also began to change color, the strange qualities it was taking in do to the jutsu causing the change. The water coalesced into one single form that terrified Jiraiya. It was massive tortoise. Purple water made the head, while black water created its body, tail, and shell. Tobirama rode atop this form, spewing highly pressurized blast of water that blasted holes in Jiraiya's earthen wall. Jiraiya frowned, noticing that another jutsu was coming. Yet he didn't have time to pay attention to that as the giant tortoise slowly lumbered forwards, spewing a large, highly pressurized blast of water from its mouth. Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief as he jumped, his eyes wide as his earthern wall was destroyed before it could even halt the blast. Jiraiya then finished the handseals for his jutsu.

"Katon: Yōnajigokuhonō Bakuhatsu (Fire Release: Searing Inferno Flame Blast)!" Jiraiya's chest expanded as he kneaded chakra in it before he spewed a torrential wave of flame from his mouth. The force sent him flying even higher into the air as the large wave of flame, at least half the size of the tortoise, descend on Tobirama.

Yet the Nidaime was forced to defend against the attack.

The Nidaime knew that hiding inside his Tortosie would not be enough. The only reason it was not evaporating due to the immense heat was because of the simple fact that he had infinite chakra supplying it, yet even with infinite chakra the wave of flame would at the very least carve of path to him. No, he needed something else. His tortoise groaned as even more water in the atmosphere rushed to serve their master, swirling around him defensively.

"Mizu no Sekai (Water World)."

A massive sphere of water swirled into existence around him and his pseudo-summon protecting them both from the intense flames. The sphere was completely gone by the time the attack had ended, yet it had done its job. Tobirama cursed, irritated at how he had created this jutsu. Its infinite chakra forced him to misuse the amount of chakra he intended in his jutsu despite his godly control and it was clearly overpowering Jiraiya no matter how hard the Sannin tried.

Jiraiya looked at the sight with horror, unable to grasp how one of his most devastating attacks had been defeated so easily. He frowned, biting his thumb as he prepared to summon two friends of his that would hopefully even the odds. However, before he could complete the summoning jutsu Hashirama was there, riding a tree and he grabbed Jiraiya's face. Without a moments hesitation he slammed the mans head into the tiles and dragged him across it at insane speeds, as if Jiraiya was a weightless bug.

Tobirama couldn't resist the order to take advantage of the situation, and thus his tortoise groaned as another large, high pressurized water blast escaped its mouth, cleaving the roof in two and causing the entire battlefield to collapse. The attack had however hit its target.

As the entire stadium collapsed in the dust Hashirama could be seen, his injuries automatically repairing themselves while an exhausted Jiraiya looked at both of his enemies, unrestrained fear in his eyes.

XxX

Hiruzen looked at the plummeting combatants, noticing the Gai and Kushina had not stopped their engagements despite plummeting. He sighed, looking at the now extremely limited battlefield that was nearly destroyed. There was onbly about a fourth of the remaining roof still standing, and only he and Orochimaru were on it.

Orochimaru smirked, a dark delight on his face. "Sensei…can't you see? Konoha is crumbling…and its two past Hokage are doing all the dirty work for me."

Hiruzen frowned, lifting his staff, which was truly the Monkey King Enma, with anger on his face. "When your corpse is being burned with all the secrets that you know Orochimaru the world will be a much safer place." Orochimaru laughed at the barely veiled threat, however was caught off guard when Hiruzen sped forwards with a series of blows that broke several of Orochimaru's bones. The snake growled, his mouth opened wide as to spit out another body, yet Hiruzen jabbed his staff into the mans mouth, and irritated look on his face.

"You did not pass your sensei you fool. You never could have surpassed me."

Hiruzen lashed out with a fish that battered Orochimaru's already broken body that was slowly regenerating. Hiruzen had no idea how the snake was doing it, but he was healing. However, he noticed a pushing force on his staff and proceeded to put force again it, smiling as he knew that Orochimaru had to be suffering from the cruel beating he was being given. Yet suddenly Orochimaru's rectum opened…and he came out from there.

Orochimaru growled at his teacher, the fluids of the old body still covering him. "I hate coming out that way…it's vulgar."

Hiruzen smirked, amused that he had cost Orochimaru some chakra and humiliation.

"Good. There will be more where that came from."

Orochimaru snarled in outrage, rushing forwards, yet Hiruzen's advanced reach made getting close to the master of the staff impossible. Orochimaru ducked under another staff swing, taking advantage of Hiruzen overextending, yet the move was intentional as an arm extended from the staff and wrung Orochimaru's neck, however it turned to mud almost intantly.

Orochimaru appeared from behind, the Sword of Kusanagi in hand, yet Hiruzen ducked and slammed a kick into Orochimaru's knee, shattering it. He then brought his staff around, slamming it into the snakes side and sending him flying off the roof. Hiruzen launched a large fireball down at the snake before he jumped downwards to meet his opponent once more. Orochimaru screamed as the flames impacted against his body, yet he quickly made a new one. Hiruzen smirked.

If he kept this up there would be no doubt about who would win this fight. Creating an entirely new body, similar to the way a snake would shed its skin, had to be extremely taxing on the mentally deranged man, even with his large chakra capacity.

Hiruzen smirked. This would prove to be an interesting fight indeed, yet he couldn't afford to play around. He had two ninja to save.

XxX

Naruto stared at Cerberus in awe, completely unable to believe that he ahd summoned this monstrous organism of death. "There's no way…"

Cerberus snarled, glancing up at Naruto with one of his three heads. "Idiot! What are you doing standing up there like an idiot? You're the one Fenrir talked about no? Naruto Uzumaki?"

Naruto nodded, afraid of the large beast that had the capability to speak along with simply give off this aura of death. The large hellhound snarled, his muscle's buldging. "Then I assume you desire me to assist you in fighting the Ichibi? I should have you know that even I cannot fight a bijuu directly. No summon can."

Naruto nodded, his fear of his own power and the creatures he had bonded with slowly evaporating as he realized the situation. He didn't have much of a choice but to fight against the large creature in front of him using the terrifying demon he stood upon.

The Cerberus snorted. "You hold the same fear that everyone else holds…it seems Fenrir chose irrationally. I'll null your contract after I've saved you and this village."

Naruto's eyes raced, looking at the large hellhound with anger. "NO! It's just…well you don't have to great of a look." The hellhound snorted. "Of course I don't! I guard the doors of hell so that those who are dead can't come back and join the realm of the living! Not exactly the best job!"

Naruto frowned. He couldn't deny that logic, no matter how much he may have wanted to subconsciously. Naruto glanced at Shukaku. "Can you lure Shukaku out of the village? The death toll is already high here, and we don't need any more due to two titans clashing."

Cerberus snorted flame in Shukaku's direction, causing the tanuki to snarl. It seemed like it was preparing to attack. "You gave me the physically weakest of all the bijuu to handle boy…I'll force him out of this village."

Cerberus roared and lunged forwards, before he leapt, easily leaping a solid 300 feet in the air. Naruto couldn't help but marvel at how high they were, the extreme change in air density throwing him for a loop momentarily. Yet it did nothing to effect Cerberus, whose chains wrapped around Shukaku. Cerberus smirked, letting loose another deathly roar before he flung him from Konohagakure, sending him spiraling far away, digging a trench throughout the ground.

Cerberus smirked as he landed, causing a miniature earthquake upon impact. Naruto struggled to hold on, fear dancing through his eyes.

"Holy shit."

Cerberus snorted before he opened all three of his mouths, letting loose a torrent of white flame. They blast slammed into Shukaku, causing the bijuu to rar before a large wall of sand rose up in front of him, almost instantly becoming glass. Cerberus snorted. "At least you put me up against the Bijuu I have the best chance of defeating."

Slowly, behind the glass wall, Shukaku rose, the anger obvious on his half-glass face. The glass suddenly cracked, shattering, yet more sand simply rose to replace it, the terrain around the area they were fighting turning into a dessert slowly as Shukaku eroded the entire area. Naruto frowned. "Well that is simply not acceptable. Konoha's lush forests cannot be touched."

"The fact that you don't care about the environment that he could manipulate at will and dominate us with if that happened is worrisome."

"Just fight damn you!"

Cerberus snorted, letting loose another torrent of flame, yet a wave of sand easily stopped the blast, and this time it did not turn to glass. Naruto frowned, weaving through handsigns, spewing a large ball of wind. Shukaku snorted however, batting the ball away like nothing more than trash. Naruto growled, forming three shadow clones that rushed towards the ground to attack Shukaku and hopefully distract it. Cerberus moved in tandem with the clones, yet Shukaku completely ignored the clones, grabbing Cerberus' sides and swinging him up in the air. Cerberus snarled, his chains acting on a mind of their own and ripping one of Shukaku's arms off. Shukaku snarled.

"I'll kill you you fool! You cannot defeat me! I was just freed! I'm invincible!"

Cerberus snorted as he collapsed onto Shukaku, his body weight to much for the tanuki to hold up with one arm. Shukaku however quickly reformed the arm and punched the hellhound off of him, sending it skidding along the ground, its claws digging trenches into the earth.

Naruto's eyes widened. 'Note to self…Bijuu and summons change the very terrain. Don't summon in homeland unless you have to.'

Cerberus snarled at Shukaku, the chains around its neck igniting into a blazing white inferno. The chains shot towards SHukaku, wrapping one of its arms.

Shukaku snorted, sand surrounding the arm before it could be turned to glass. "Please Cerberus! We've fought before, and you lack the capability to defeat me! Now…JUST DIE FOR ME!"

Cerberus snorted, his eyes glinting dangerously as all three of his heads snapped forwards angrily. "Katon: Yōnajigokuhonō Bakuhatsu (Fire Release: Searing Inferno Flame Blast)!"

The three heads of the hellhound all glared at Shukaku before unleashing a torrent of white flame that blotted out the sun. Jiraiya's own version of the jutsu looked tiny in comparison. This version would have swallowed up Tobirama's tortorise, along with his protective jutsu.

Shukaku snorted at the attack. While it was in fact a very dangerous move it still couldn't defeat him. He had to admit, as one of the stronger boss summons Cerberus was deadly, yet Gamabunta had proven to be the better of the hellhound several times in the past, and if Gamabunta couldn't touch Shukaku, there was no way Cerberus could.

Even with his advantageous abilities.

Shukaku laughed, a demonic, twisted laugh that warped the very air around him. It perverted the area, making it vile in comparison to the rest of the world. Shukaku then glared at the incoming attack before deciding to do something that many would consider stupid.

If you weren't a living chakra entity that is.

"Fūton: Renkūdan (Wind Style: Air Bullet)!"

Naruto's eyes widened as he barely heard Shukaku over the roaring of the flame. There was no way that Shukaku, even if he was a Bijuu, was dumb enough to use a Futon jutsu against this wall of searing flame. There was absolutely no way. Naruto didn't care how powerful he was, there was no way it was possible for the Bijuu to overpower this wall of flame with wind.

Naruto clearly lacked the knowledge of how powerful a Bijuu was.

The wind tore through the wall of flame like paper, shredding it apart. Cerberus frowned, bracing his body, as he tore his chains off of his collar. "Prepare yourself boy! This won't harm you because you have our contract, but it sure as hell might be surprising!"

Cerberus' body was suddenly enveloped in a cocoon of white flame, spreading over his body and Naruto's like a blanket. Naruto's eyes widened as he studied the technique, completely unconcerned about the fact the flame was flickering off of his skin without harming him or the fact that impending doom was roaring their way in the form of a massive, wind-styled chakra blast. No Naruto didn't care at all, because the fire had given him a breakthrough in how to develop his own jutsu, the Kaze no Kago (Divine Protection of Wind).

Naruto was violently snapped back into reality when Shukaku's jutsu impacted with Cerberus, the fire nullifying most of the damage due to being able to counteract it, however the explosion that was caused sent Naruto flying off of Cerberus, roughly landing on the sandy ground.

Naruto groaned, slowly rising, however he suddenly saw small tendrils of sand rise from the ground, the sand forming small figures of Gaara.

"Let us see how the Uzumaki lasts without you to aid him Cerberus!"

Cerberus snarled, brilliant white flame where his eyes used to be. "Face me Shukaku!"

Naruto however was forced to look away from the two titanic creatures, both of which obviously relied heavily upon overwhelming force. He was now faced with opponents that would not be easy to defeat. Naruto rushed forward, his afterimages trailing behind him. He slammed through one Gaara, obliterating it into sand once again. Naruto smirked, jumping as he felt a movement in the sand beneath him. From the sand rose another Gaara, his hand outstretched as though he wanted to grab Naruto. Naruto frowned, disappointed in the result of his actions.

"They just turn back into sand," he mumbled. "I can't defeat them by turning them into sand...and I don't have a large body of water!"

"Then maybe you need flame."

Naruto raised an eyebrow at the Kyuubi actually being helpful to him for once, however he quickly frowned. 'I don't know any Katon jutsu if you weren't aware!'

The Kyuubi snorted. "You don't…but have you ever wondered why a Bijuu's chakra burns others? For other Bijuu, bar the Nibi, it has to do with a non-Jinchuriki not having the built up immunity to the toxicity of out chakra when we despise someone, but for me it's something more."

Naruto's eyes widened. 'You're kidding…you can use fire techniques?"

The Kyuubi snorted, his eyes opening in Naruto's mindscape, blazing with a powerful flame that meshed blue and white together. "Of course boy! All you need do is draw upon my chakra! Turn Shukaku to glass!"

Naruto sighed, closing his eyes. Suddenly they snapped open, his nails now claws, his whisker-markings deeper and darker, his teeth now fangs. His eyes were a bloody crimson, a single slit for a pupil. Naruto snarled at the clones of Gaara, his eyes glowing as if fire was pouring from them.

Naruto then opened his hands, snapping them open like hungry wolf's snout salivating at an easy kill. Flames slowly flickered to life in Naruot's hand, yet he didn't frown at his pathetic ability. 'Expected…I don't know how to use it truly yet…I can't use fire like Sasuke can…but I think the amount of chakra will more than make up for that!'

Naruto smirked, letting his chakra fuse with the Kyuubi's briefly to create a roaring tornado of fire surrounding his right arm. Naruto smirked, unleashing the bluish-white inferno that doused the Gaara's, turning them to glass almost instantly. Naruto smirked at the damage he had caused. The entire area had been turned to glass, something he was proud of.

"I guess they're right when they say Jinchuriki cause shit tons of damage when they fight."

XxX

Genraika frowned as Kakashi shot upwards, slamming a fist into Genraika's chest. Genraika bowed before Kakshi, grabbing his stomach in pain as the breath was forced from his lungs savagely. Kakashi smirked, raising a leg before slamming Genraika's body into the water. Genraika coughed, water instantly filling his lungs, his mouth opened again in a reaction.

"Suiton: Suikōdan no Jutsu (Water Style: Water Shark Bomb Jutsu)!"

Kakashi smirked as the water shark formed, rushing towards Genraika who had seen his blade, and was striving madly towards grabbing it once again. However, the shark grabbed him it its mouth before slamming into one of the submerged walls of the Chunin Exams Arena violently. Genraika gave up on his sword, slowly pulling himself above water. He slowly heaved, reching out the water from his lungs.

He then glared at Kakashi, his half-submerged body bruised. He was bleeding profusely from his right arm, and his chest had several bite marks in it that were bleedingly slightly. However, through titanic effort Genraika raised himself above the water, using chakra to make sure he wasn't submerged once again.

Kakashi looked at the defeated man, collapsing himself when he saw Genraika's will to fight vanish.

"It seems that we are even in now Kakashi…or maybe you're just lucky."

Kakashi smiled weakly, not that Genraika could see it. "Maybe."

Soka then landed in front of Kakashi who instantly got on his feet, ready to face the man in the heat of battle despite his wounded and exhausted state. Soka however simply raised his hand, shaking his head.

"I have no intention of fighting you Kakashi Hatake. Instead I will be commencing Sunagakure's retreat."

Genraika's eyes widened at the words. "What? Soka you can't be serious!" Soka nodded however. "Konoha was never a target we should have attacked. Make no mistake that if we continued with our course of action we would win…but Sunagakure would be to weak to last for much longer. The show of strength we get either Kumo or Iwa to target us, and with the power vacuum left in Konoha's place…we would start another war, one that Suna would not survive. Likely the only two villages left standing would have been Iwa or Kumo. Kiri certainly would not survive the fallout of a war, especially with its own civil war going on right now. Who knows. Maybe even a smaller village would rise from the ashes and grow to be a prominate power…these are risks I cannot afford to take. Thus I am making Sunagakure retreat. Konoha will be weakened and our goal accomplished. Otogakure will either be destroyed or severly weakened. We may have an enemy out of both Oto and Konoha, but that is a better option that the destruction caused by staying. Besides, our Jinchuriki could very well die in the fight he is in right now…at least, if the reports of Naruto Uzumaki are correct."

Kakashi frowned, preparing to launch an attack at Soka. He couldn't believe the mans words, and no one who was accustomed to how shinobi operated would blame him. The man could have, and likely was, lying. The consequences may be true, but withdrawing certainly would not give Suna as much as they could possibly gain. As long as they managed to direct the attacks to Otogakure they would be able to survive long enough to take their new standing when Konoha had been defeated.

Thus, it was a risk Kakashi could not afford to take.

Yet when Genruko landed next to Soka he understood that Soka's words were true. Genruko would never stop attacking Margaret unless she was dead, and from the sound of feet behind him, she clearly was not. Baki then landed next to Soka, an annoyed look on his face.

"Gather the Sunagakure forces, retreat to the randevu point," Soka stated with authority. It was clear that he was the head of Sunagakure in this dire situation. The Sunagakure shinobi, bar Soka and Genraika immediately moved out, moving to gather the Sunagakure forces. Soka then lifted Genraika, putting him on his back.

"Soka…"

Soka made no move to respond to Margaret, instead leaving the duo of Konoha Jonin in their silence as he jumped away.

"Kakashi…what do we do now?"

Kakashi frowned, a tired look appearing on his face. Just as he was about to answer the building housing the battle between the Hokage and Orochimaru collapsed, and the field stopping anyone from interfering disappeared. Kakashi smirked.

"I guess that was answered for us now wasn't it?"

Margaret rolled her eyes, both of them rushing to assist their Hokage in combat against one of the Sannin.

XxX

Kankuro smirked, noticing that Tenten lacked the capability to use her puppet while simultaneously using her own skills. Admiteddly he couldn't do both either, however if she was resolved to face him in a match of pure puppetry she would undoubtedly lose.

Tenten sent Black Angel forwards, the small girl's hand slowly being replaced with a knife. Tenten simply was not skilled enough at using Black Angel yet. She may have designed her, but puppeteering was not her art of mastery.

Karasu immediately took advantage of the situation, binding Black Angel before shredding the puppet into pieces. Kankuro smirked at the sight. He had played with Tenten for a long time during this fight, but now he would have to end it. However, he wouldn't kill her, even if it was just because she had taken on the art of puppeteering. He refused to kill a fellow puppeteer. That was also the reason Black Angel was not torn to mere shreds. With how meticulously he had broken the puppet it could be put back together.

Kankuro then looked at Tenten whose pale face glared at Kankuro with anger. "Damn it." Kankuro laughed. "You shouldn't have tried taking me on with a puppet. You should have kept with your guns. Don't worry though, your puppet is repairable."

Tenten sighed, collaspign to her knees. She was extremely drained. Kankuro frowned. "It seems you haven't built up the chakra capacity to constantly use puppets. All puppeeters have large chakra pools Tenten, we have to to constantly control our puppet in the heat of battle. You simply tried to use this against someone to soon, especially when your opponent was an experienced puppeteer."

Tenten growled at Kankuro but couldn't deny his words. Her anger had blinded her; this much was obvious. She should have had much more practice before attempting to match him in combat with his own art.

Tenten had lost…again.

Tenten growled, yet she closed her eyes. She realized her mistake and accepted it. She knew she shouldn't have fought with her heart instead of her head, and it showed itself in how easily Kankuro had toyed with her throughout the entire fight. However, she opened her eyes slowly to see Kankuro standing in front of her, Karasu wrapped up on his back.

"I won't kill you."

Tenten's eyes widened at Kankuro's declaration, completely unable to believe what he said. "Wh-why?"

Kankuro smiled. "You may be a complete idiot…but you're also a fellow puppeteer…and frankly…you're a half-decent kunoichi. More people like you are needed in the world…but don't expect me to let you off so easily next time understood?" Tenten's eyes widened, the concept that her opponent wouldn't kill her still confused her. However, before she could ask why a man landed in front of Kankuro. While Tenten did not know who this man was, Genruko looked at Kankuro, a look akin to pride of his face.

"Good…you defeated your enemy…however we are retreating. Sunagakure has no interest in continuing this battle."

Kankuro raised an eyebrow. "Is there any reason why we are not going to continue the battle?" Genruko frowned. "We are retreating on Soka's orders. Don't kill another shinobi…despite your desire to do so. We leave…now."

Kankuro nodded, although he snorted. He had no intention of killing Tenten, despite Genruko's obvious desires. "What about Temari?"

Genruko rolled his eyes. "Someone else will find your sister. Move to the randevu point."

Kankuro frowned. "And Gaara?" Genruko frowned. "The Ichibei container will be contained and brought back to Sunagakure. Hopefully he will end up killing the Kyuubi container in the process, however that perspective is highly unlikely. Now let's move."

Kankuro frowned at Genruko referring to his brother as a container. He knew that Gaara was a person, with his own wants and desires…despite them being extremely twisted. However, he was still a person, and not some object that Genruko could dispose of whenever he desired to.

XxX

Hiashi frowned, the upper portion of his robe shredded, revealing several deep cuts that were bleeding heavily. However, he had no time to dress his wounds, a dense shroud of chakra covering his body. It was the Juken: Gādianraion-shin (Gentle Step: Guardian Lion God). However, this version was much brighter than Hinata's and seemed to barely drain Hiashi. Hiashi's eyes swiftly shifted to his side, dodging a lance of crystal that possibly could have impaled him, even with his armor. Hiashi laid a hand on the lance, closing his eyes and sending a pulse of his chakra through it. The chakra rushed through the crystal, however before it could find Guren's position the crystal shattered. Hiashi frowned, glancing around, unable to find Guren's position.

He had no idea what she had done, but she had managed to increase the intensity of her attacks, however he noticed that it was slowly decreasing. Apparently the woman couldn't maintain this level of combat for an extended period of time. Hiashi was simply stalling now, waiting until she had chakra exhaustion to strike. However, suddenly he heard a shout.

Thorns shot from the ground, spearing upwards in an attempt to hold him place. However, the thorns missed his legs as Hiashi lept into the air, easily dodging them. Hiashi smirked, only for his eyes to widen as he looked forwards to see a large dragon of crystal roaring towards him, carving a path through the air.

Hiashi frowned, drawing back his hand before firing off a large pulse of chakra that slammed into the dragon. The dragon shattered like glass, causing Hiashi to smile, however as he looked upwards from the ceiling of the labrynth a trail of crystal shot forwards in an attempt to spear Hiashi. Hiashi managed to turn and avoid the brunt of the attack, however it did shred the first layer of skin on his right arm. Hiashi landed, an irritated look on his face as he glanced around. As he was now he would never defeat the woman. Clearly he couldn't afford to sit back and wait until she fell into a state of chakra exhaustion. It simply would prove to be an impossible task.

Hiashi glanced upwards to see three more dragons form, however he noticed idly that the labrynth around him was slowly shrinking. He smiled.

Maybe it wouldn't be so impossible afterall.

XxX

Gai weaved between Kushina's punches, lashing backwards hesitantly as she pressed her advantage. Golden chakra was licking the woman's skin as she pushed Gai backwards, his vast power and speed being trumped by Kushina's outright infinite chakra.

Gai launched a punch that Kushina caught, idly analyzing the forced technique that she had been forced to use. Her eyes widened as she figured it out. "Gai this is essentially my Chakura Kafuka (Chakra Overload)! It's filtering chakra the same way, but with this infinite amount its blasting it outwards and allowing me to keep up with you without actually using the technique because I lost all the chakra stored in it when I died. Be careful."

Gai nodded, skipping backwards on his heel as Kushina's punch shattered the cement beneath them, leaving large cracks on the wall. The duo had fallen into a large pit, the sunlight only just barely reached the bottom and dimly lighting the battlefield. Already however, the battlefield was torn to shreds. When Jiraiya and the two previous Hokages arrived they had torn several chunks out of the cement surrounding the whole and nearly caved the entire place in. Gai had to sacrifice his attention on Kushina to stop the cave in that would have killed him and Jiraiya. That was what allowed Kushina to activate this technique, and now both of them were being severly pushed back.

Gai frowned, another rocket punch flying from Kushina and slamming into his side, causing him to spit blood over the ground, his eyes blurry and unfiocused. Kushina frowned, sad at this unfair way of facing her student, yet she had no choice as she spun on her heel and slammed her heel into his face, sending him flipping into the cement. Gai groaned, his skull cracked and nose broken and twisted. He forced himself out of the cement, yet he could barely stand. The man sighed, his eyes growing blurrier as Kushina rushed forwards, her speed displacing the upturned cement around her. Just as she formed a chain around her arm, one that would easily spear through his body Orochimaru slammed into Kushina, the force splitting her body in two. However, it quickly began to repair itself.

Gai's eyes instantly focused, surprise in his eyes. Orochimaru slowly rose, groaning as blood poured form his midsecntion and mouth. He glared at Hiruzen who landed next to Jiraiya, Enma in hand.

"Gai, are you okay?"

"Hokage-sama…don't worry…I was just getting my second wind."

Hiruzen smiled kindly. "It seems that we will need it against the foes that we face."

Gai smiled, his eyes closing. He didn't want to do this…but it seemed like he had no choice. In order to survive…he would have to become the Red Beast. The Blue Beast would allow him to defeat Kushina, but he would be of no help afterwards. If he could destroy all three reincarnations and kill Orochimaru so that when the reincarnations returned it would be equal…it would be worth it.

However, just as he was about to release the final barrier. Kakashi and Margaret landed right in front of them both, their eyes sharp. Margaret looked at Kushina with a light surprise in her eyes however. "Sensei…how the hell are you alive? And why are you helping Orochimaru?"

Kushina sighed. "I was reincarnated by the dick. It wasn't my choice." Margaret nodded, needing no other words. She simply knew that Orochimaru was going to pay for disgracing her teacher like he did.

"No…go help Jiraiya," Gai stated. Kakashi and Margaret looked at him with surprise. Both of them knew what he was about to do and they simply couldn't accept that. With them here they could at the very least even the odds. Jiraiya was the very least surviving his onslaught, no matter how barely.

"Jiraiya is the key to all of this. He's the only one here who can send Kushina, Shodai-sama, and Nidaime-sama back to the grave. If he doesn't live…all of us will die."

Orochimaru smiled, his face cold. "Then why do you think I'll let you accomplish that Gai, Kakashi, Margaret."

The trio glared at Orochimaru. "It's funny how you think you can stop us." Orochimaru was about to laugh, to call the weaker shinobi insolent, however Hiruzen appeared in front of him, lashing out with a kick that Orochimaru blocked. Yet a Enma's fist collided with his face, sending the snake Sannin flying into the air.

"Do not make me have to kill you, Orochimaru," Hiruzen said. "You will die…but it may not be by my hands."

Kakashi and Margaret used this opportunity to rush towards Jiraiya, racing full speed to assist him. Kushina frowned, her eyes trailing them. "While I'm happy that you all are cooperating well I'm afraid I don't have much of a choice in the matter but to fight you seriously now Gai. So I should tell you to get serious now…or you will die."

Kushina then closed her eyes, her chakra slowly flucauating.

XxX

The Kyuubi looked up from its cave, his eyes wide with surprise. 'I felt her presence but I couldn't believe it. She was reincarnated. But there's no way…she's…damn!'

Naruto frowned, a painful tug in his gut that forced him tpo his knees. Suddenly the tug disappeared however, but he felt significantly more drained. He sighed, his body weak. The Kyuubi's chakra no longer coursed through his veins, instead he felt cold…empty. His body convulsed, and Cerberus frowned, glancing at his summoner. He felt the chakra connection between the two slowly begin to fade.

"Stay focused!" Cerberus managed to say, avoiding an attack from Shukaku, who quickly pressed his advantage. Naruto grumbled at Cerberus' words but stood nonetheless, racing to assist his summon.

XxX

Kushina's hair flicked widely in the air, separating into nine tendrils. The golden, flaring chakra slowly darkened, becoming a deep crimson as her eyes bled red. Golden streaks shot throughout the flowing red chakra periodically, a clear sign that she was combining the Kyuubi's chakra with her jutsu, however her chakra surged, matching the amoung of chakra she had drawn from the Kyuubi. Half of her aura was golden while the other was a dark red that twisted violently around her body. Gai's eyes widened upon the transformation.

"You can still use it?"

Kushina frowned, her eyes soft as she looked at Gai, however she still had to fight him, something she did not desire to do. Yet the choice was not hers. She softly muttered the name of the technique, the technique that made her a threat even larger than the Yondaime Hokage. "Kami no Ōbādoraibu (Invocation of Divine Justice)!"

Gai's eyes widened upon the invocation of Kushina's strongest technique and immediately opened the Seventh Gate. "Kyōmon (Gate of Wonder)!"

Gai's body exploded, intense heat radiating from his body then even made Kushina frown. A blue aura surrounded his body. Kushina would have called it an aura of chakra like her own if she hadn't known any better. She knew that it was truly just sweat that was immediately evaporating due to the intense Gai was radiating. She frowned at the action, truly realizing just how much of a dangerous situation that Gai was in.

He knew as well as she did that this form wouldn't be able to withstand her technique. Pace it…maybe…but outright defeat it? Not a chance. Yet she also understood that he knew he couldn't afford to use the Eighth Gate until at the very least the Shodai and Nidaime were delayed. This entire fight came down to the fate of the Shodai and Nidaime it seemed.

Kushina frowned. She didn't want Gai to use the Eighth Gate either…but it seemed that she was forcibly not giving him much of any choice.

Kushina rushed forwards, a tornado of red and gold collidied with a tsunami of blue, fists and kicks blazing forwards, slamming into one another with terrifying force that left shockwaves tearing through the air itself. The cement hole they were in was shattering under the force of each and every blow. Kushina launched a kick that struck Gai in the chin, a kick that would have killed him if he hadn't been in the Seventh Gate. However, he retaliated with a punch that shattered a hole into her body. Gai shot forwards, taking advantage of her disabled state to launch a furious attack.

"Asa Kujaku (Morning Peacock)!"

Unable to force Kushina into the air Gai settled for letting loose an inferno upon his teacher's body. Gai's fists moved like meteors, scorching the air around them with the speed in which they flew. His fists suddenly blazed into actual fire, the friction and speed causing them to burst into flames. Gai winced in slight pain as he felt the fire sear his skin yet he simply increased the speed of which is attacks slammed into Kushina's body. The fire formed a slight peacock around Kushina's and Gai's body. Gai then thrust both of his hands forwards, slamming them into her chest and sending her flying away.

Kushina shot backwards, her destroyed body already having completed its healing. Apparently the Kyuubi's chakra's healing ability applied to her even in death. Gai frowned, his blue aura increasing as he began to sweat more. To anyone other than those like Kushina who understood the Seventh Gate they would have took this as Gai becoming more serious, yet it just proved how tired he was becoming. The larger that aura became the closer to defeating him one would get.

Gai glared at his teacher, raw respect and fear in his eyes. Kushina smiled kindly, whispering to her best student however he heard it even from their distance.

"Prepare yourself Gai…I have no choice but to kill you now."

Kushina shot forwards, an explosion of red and gold swarming the large cement hole and pushing the other two raging battles into small sections of the arena. Gai's eyes widened as he saw the tornado Kushina created rush forwards, yet even his eyes could not keep track of her body. He simply felt his body erupt with pain as he felt like a hole had been torn in his side.

Gai glanced at his side, to see a small hole having been punched in it, Kushina's titanic strength forcing him back step by step. Luckily it was not bleeding, as the intense heat from his body cauterized it immediately. Gai snarled, launching several punches wildly in an attempt to force Kushina backwards, however the red-haired Uzumaki weaved through the strikes, launching a kick that shattered four of Gai's ribs.

Gai groaned in pain, blood sputtering from his mouth. Kushina frowned, her body forcing her to move forwards and continue her brutal assault. She sighed, hating this. She was drawing on at least four tails worth of the Kyuubi's chakra, and with that added to her infinite chakra reserves…she would be unstoppable unless Gai unleashed the Eighth Gate.

With that the tornado of gold and red engulfed the tsunami of blue.

XxX

When one asked Margaret how she would compare herself to the Nidaime Hokage she would always say that she could at least give him a slight, very slight, challenge in using Suiton ninjutsu. She believed that she was at the very least fairly proficient, as she was trained under Kushina Uzumaki, one of the best Suiton users to have ever existed and who could even recreate some of the Nidaime's techniques.

So when she was faced with the actual Nidiame Hokage, with infinite goddamn chakra, for crying out loud, she couldn't believe she was outmatched so quickly. She personally wanted to attest it to him having infinite goddamn chakra, but she internally she knew that he would have destroyed her just as easily if they had fought on a large body of water, if not easier.

Margaret dashed away from another concussive blast of water that slammed another hole in the cement. The hole was beginning to look less and less like a hole and more like a formicary. Margaret glanced at one of the holes the Nidaime had created, rushing into it quickly before she quickly weaved through handseals. She understood that she was trapped in this small area, a bad idea when faced with that large tortoise, but she knew that she could break through it if this jutsu landed. She finished her handseals as she glared out the whole, noticing the tortoise slowly moving towards her direction. She had to hurry.

"Raiton: Zeusu Ya (Lightning Release: Zeus's Arrow)!"

Surging yellow lightning quickly coalesced around Margaret's arm, viscously flowing like water. The jutsu spun, spinning like a drill, releasing a hollow, roaring sound similar to cracking thunder. Margaret smiled before she shoved her arm forwards, the lightning expanding as it shot forwards, carving through the ground, scorching it violently. The powerful lightning bolt slammed into the tortoise's powerful water blast, exploding upon contact. The intense heat caused the tortoise to diminish in size quickly, something Kakashi took advantage of.

Kakashi rushed forwards, his body surging slightly more than usual due to him opening the first gate, before he jumped towards Tobirama, his hands weaving through handseals. "Katon: Karyū Endan (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet)!" Kakashi roared into existence a genuine looking dragon. The flaming dragon then separated, forming three coloumns of flame, one from the front and two from the sides of the tortoise before the coloumns slammed into the large water construct.

Kakashi smiled, not that anyone could see it, expecting to see the tortoise at least slowly evaporate, decreasing to at the very least half of its original maybe if Tobirama was alive that is what would have happened. Yet for just as much steam was created due to the intense heat Tobirama had enough chakra to continuously pull from the atmosphere, and thus the tortoise stayed the same size.

Kakashi's eyes widened at the sight, completely unable to believe his eyes. The tortoise was actually expanding to the size it was before Margaret hit it with her most powerful jutsu. Kakashi couldn't help but be amazed. This was the power of the Nidaime Hokage. To completely negate a fire style jutsu with his water style, and to make even a lightning style jutsu nigh-useless against someone as powerful as he.

Kakashi spun, his heel burning with the friction before he marked a line on the ground, gouging it slightly with the force. He smied lightly, weaving through handseals, his lone Sharingan spinning. The constant shifting of the crimson eye left a shining light that Tobirama glared at with slight contempt. The Senju then weaved through handseals himself.

"Doton: Yomi Numa (Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld)!"

Kakashi slammed his hands on the ground, directly on the line he had created. Suddenly the ground morphed, forming a large mud pile that grabbed onto the tortoise and slowly began to absorb it. Kakashi smiled, although he fell to a knee soon after his jutsu. His swamp was nowhere near as large as Jiraiya's and he was also almost completely drained of chakra. He likely only had enough left for his prized jutsu and then he would be completely out of energy. Fighting Genraika had truly been a tiring experience.

And then Tobirama went and made Kakashi's hard work pointless.

"Suiton: Tsunami (Water Style: Tidal Wave)!"

The tortoise Tobirama had covered himself in suddenly surged upwards, the man spewing water everywhere. It completely submerged the swamp and crashed against the cement hole, ripping to shreds anything that wasn't destroyed by its force or Kushina and Gai's battle. The large wave's force instantly covered Margaret's hole, filling it to the brim. The sudden force pinned her to the wall, and she struggled to fight against the force, slowly losing her breath.

Kakashi groaned as the water slammed into his chest, shattering the majority of his ribs on contact. The intense force pinned him against the wall, the force of it slowly raising him to the surface of the water. Eventually he surfaced, luckily face-upwards, however he could barely move his body, and using a jutsu was a nigh impossibility. He could only stare at the outright destruction that Tobirama caused with his attack. If he had thought Genruko was impressive he was mistaken, as Tobirama's aquatic battlefield made Genruko's look small. It was a miniature ocean, all created in an instant.

"So this is the strength of a Hokage…" Kakashi muttered, his voice weak, flimsy, as if anything could shatter if given one more blow.

Tobirama looked at Kakashi, pity in his eyes, and even as he looked at the hole that Margaret was in, sure that she would enver escape. He couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for these actions. If he had never created this jutsu then none of this would have happened.

Tobirama looked at Jiraiya, battling Hashirama on top of the water, furiously trying to avoid the Shodai while finishing writing his cancellation jutsu. Tobirama slowly felt his bdoy desire to rush the man, and unable to resist, he followed his intructions, his tortoise rushed forward, sending a surge of water in every direction.

XxX

Jiraiya jumped, dodging a tree, landing on the wall, looking down at Hashirama who started sending several trees sprouting from the waterlogged ground at him. Jiraiya glared at the assault, weaving between the trees, moving quickly as branches quickly grew from the trees in an attempt to ensnare him. Jiraiya landed on a tree briefly, preparing to launch off, and he would have gotten away with it if Tobirama hadn't appeared at that exact second, his tortoise blasting an intense blast of water that struck Jiraiya dead on, sending him through the tree and into the cement wall, blood leaking from his chest.

Jiraiya's eyes were wide, his body spasming with pain. The Sannin was on the brink of unconsciousness, yet he knew that he had to provide his seal or the entire village would be destroyed. Jiraiya continued to try and write the crimson letters of blood on his right hand, yet Tobirama sent an even larger pulse of water at the Sannin. Jiraiya's eyes widened as he saw the blast surge forwards. He knew for a fact that if that hit he would not be waking up from it. He likely wouldn't even survive in the exhausted state that he was in.

He was fighting two immortal Hokages with infinite chakra after all…something was bound to give.

As the pulse of water neared Jiraiya raised a hand, forming a basic handseal as he looked for anything he could substitute his body with. Jiraiya eventually found Margaret's body and his face cringed at the only option that he seemed to have, idly noticing the women seemed to be extremely close to unconsciousness.

Yet there was no doubt in his mind that she would at least survive if he substituted with him…but would he survive being under the water in his current state? As the pulse of water neared he knew he would have to make a choice.

Die or protect Margaret.

Possibly kill Margaret and possibly kill himself.

The choice was easy.

Jiraiya closed his eyes, preparing to feel a blaring pain, however nothing happened. He opened his eyes to reveal Gai in front of him, his body broken and bruised, defending him from the attack. Gai then glared one last time at Kushina and the two kages before he fell to the ground, complete unconscious, and on the borderline of death.

Jiraiya looked at the scene with horror in his eyes, horror at his weakness, horror at his incapability to protect the shinobi that were supposed to be under his command. He was the one who sent Kakashi and Margaret off to face Tobirama, and they had been swiftly defeated. He was the one who told Gai to face Kushina, and Gai was now laying, face down in the water, unconscious and slowly drowning.

Jiraiya snarled and felt a rush of adrenaline and despertation fill his body. If he didn't quickly stop the reanimated corpses, Hiruzen would be another sorrow added onto the already long list of his regrets. Jiraiya shot forwards, moving like a man possessed across the water, completely ignoring the spears of wood that jabbed into his body. He simply focused on running, desperate to reach at least one of the corpses and cause them to destabilize.

He never made it that far.

Water rose up around him, trapping him in a cocoon. Kushina looked on sadly, but had no choice as her body rushed forwards, preparing to kill Jiraiya in a single hit. Jiraiya looked at the woman with a logning and fatherly face before he let his chakra explode outwards in a dome, shattering the water right before she made contact. He then tapped her stomach, his eyes weak and fading yet he stood strong.

Slowly Kushina's body cracked, breaking into small specks of light before she shattered into dust, the transformation so quick she couldn't even get the words forming in our mouth out. Jiraiya wanted to stumble over and kneel. He was completely exhausted, yet he glared at Tobirama and Hashirama.

He still had lots of work to do.

XxX

Aiko glanced at Genma, and amused look on her face. Her entire form was completely unharmed, nor a mar or scratch on her clothing or body. Gemna was a different story. His entire body was covered in bruises and wounds, and he was bleeding from a cut on his chest and a slash on his shoulder.

Genma glared at Aiko, idly fiddling with the senbon in his mouth. "You are a terrifying little girl you know thar right? You're the same age as our Genin and yet you can give me a run for my money…terrifying."

Aiko simply twitiched her fingers, her chakra blasting outwards in a dome like fashion. The dome of chakra then thinned, forming several constructs of chakra around her body. Genma raised an eyebrow, clearly curious about this technique.

"I still don't understand this. To have such good control over such a massive amount of chakra…this isn't possible. You would have to be as gifted as the Nidaime Hokage…"

Aiko revealed nothing, not having spoken to Genma throughout their entire confrontation, and instead moved her fingers, the chakra strings connecting the constructs to her fingertips.

Genma's eyes widened as several blades flung themselves towards his body. He suddenly coated his body in Katon chakra, spitting out his senbon in the path of several of the constructs. The senbon erupted in flame, forming a miniature phoenix that dashed through several constructs, reducing them to cinders of chakra on contact.

Aiko frowned, sending several constructs at the phoenix, who had a peculiar ability to destabilize her chakra.

However, before she could truly focus on the approaching phoenix Genma rushed towards her, his eyes glinting. She blocked one of his punches, frowning as his strength pushed her back slightly. She responded with a kick that he ducked under, launching a sweeping kick that knocked her feet from the ground.

Aiko landed on her back, quickly flipping upwards. However, she was greeted with a kick to the chest that sent her flying backwards. Aiko flipped midair, landing on her feet. She quickly waved a hand down, and several large blades flung themselves towards Genma. Genma glanced upwards, his eyes wide with surprise. He hadn't even seen the blades moving into position.

However, his phoenix surged forwards, incinerating the chakra constructs.

The phoenix then surged towards Aiko who glared at it. She formed several large walls in front of her, each made of chakra strings. The strings did slow the phoenix's assault, the flames having a more difficult time burning through this chakra. However, eventually it accomplished its goal.

Yet Aiko was no longer behind the wall of chakra strings, instead rushing towards Genma. Genma's eyes widened, and he raised his forearm, blocking her punch. Yet she instead changed her punch to a grab, easily grapsing his arm, the movement as fluid as water. She then pulled, yanking his body forwards with unnatural strength before she jumped, sprailling her body like a corckscrew before slamming her feet into his chest. She then forced her body to unravel, the added force combined with her unnatural body strength sending Genma flying, all of the air forced from his lungs.

Genma slammed against the wall, groaning as he greedily tried to suck air back into his lungs. However, it took him to long, and another large spear of chakra strings rushed towards his unprotected body. Luckily for him, his phoenix did not require his constant attention to control, and managed to flicker out of existence just as it removed the spear from existence.

Aiko merely raised an eyebrow, idly noticing Genma standing once again.

"Determination…"

Genma raised an eyebrow at hearing the word. It was the first time the girl had spoken throughout the entire confrontation. Her voice was soft and gentle, completely unlike her demeanor. Before Genma could question what she meant, several constructs of chakra swirled around her, each larger than the last. Genma simply smirked, picking up his senbon and placing it in his mouth once more.

"Well then…this is becoming fairly anti-climatic. Do you not have any new moves to spice things up a bit?"

"You're one to talk."

"Well look who's actually communicating now?"

Aiko was silent at Genma's quip, instead deciding to send a wave of constructs that were clearly intended to end his life. Genma however had no intentions of being bifuricated today.

Genma suddenly turned on his heel, sprinting up the wall in an attempt to get out of the way. However, the constructs chased after him, some slamming into the wall and spearing straight through it before dissolving, weakening its structural integrity.

Genma continued his dash for freedom, completely understanding the fact that he would be completely incapable of defeating Aiko, at least in such confined quarters. He needed more of a distance to distract her. Sure, he could get closer to her faster, but her weapons could reach him at even faster speeds and he was barely avoiding them already.

Several swords, spears, javelins, and large daggers suddenly started spearing through the wall around him, forcing him to do very acrobatic maneuvers in order to avoid being skewered. However, as he reached towards the top of the wall it collapsed, its integrity to weak to stay standing. His eyes widened, gravity grabbing his shirt and pulling him down along with the wall.

Genma suddenly felt an immense sense of dread and jumped off the piece of wall he was connected to, barely avoiding several large spears that speared through the collapsing cement and into the sky. Genma looked downwards, his eyes wide as he plummeted from so high up in the air. He noticed Aiko send several more constructs his way, yet he noticed her body was shining. Clearly maintaining such costly attacks was beginning to take its toll on her.

An axe spun like a buzzsaw through the air, air currents whipping around it causing his eyes to widen. She had essentially mimicked a Futon jutsu. He was unable to avoid the devastating winds and was flung away from the axe, straight into a large spear that shoved itself right through his midsection.

Genma cried out in pain, blood flying from his mouth and gut. He clenched his eyes to block out the pain, yet he could do nothing. He was expecting to feel the spear dissolve; however, it simply began to expand as Aiko pumped more chakra into it.

Genma cried out, tears forming in his eyes as the chakra burned his insides, slowly stretching him. If this kept up his body would tear itself apart.

However, instead of mindlessly focus on nothing but they pain and die, Genma fought through it, and spat his senbon out one last time. He managed to form a very small form of his phoenix that burnt through a small portion of the spear, enough so that he could fall off of it.

Genma spiraled towards the ground, his shoulder releasing a loud crack upon contact. He would have hollered in pain if his vocal chords weren't so strained already. Aiko watched the man, her eyes apathateic to his pain. She simply turned on her heel and shot away into the village. If left untreated the man would die, and either way he would be an example of Otogakure's power.

XxX

Naruto stood atop Cerberus, the Kyuubi's chakra wreathed around his body like a flaming cloak. On top of the already deadly chakra was Cerberus' flames, something Naruto appreciated very much. The intense heat the duo were likely creating didn't bother him in the slightest, and he knew that Shukaku even being in their presence was struggling to fight back against the heat that slowly turned his body to glass.

Naruto did not delude himself though. He knew, with Cerberus only confirming his belief, that if the two had a drawn out fight Shukaku would win. Cerberus was only doing so well because of his natural capability to slow Shukaku down.

Naruto cocked his arm back, his eyes glowing a deep crimson as flames flickered to life around his arm, before exploding into an outright inferno. Cerberus seemed to take interest in Naruto's knew ability, and quickly added some of his flames into the inferno.

"Together!"

"I'll kill both of you fools! A lone Jinchuriki and a hellhound cannot stop me! I'm SHUKAKU THE SAND SPIRIT!"

Just as Naruto and Cerberus unleashed the large inferno of flame that tore the sky asunder Shukaku raised a great wall of sand. However, the sand was instantly turned to glass upon contact. Yet Shukaku slammed through the glass, sandy tendrils flinging from his body and wrapping around Cerberus neck and legs, jagged spikes digging into Cerberus skin. Before the large hellhound could stop it his heat solidified the glass, trapping it inside his body. The hellhound cried out in pain, the large, sharp pieces of glass stuck in his body, and most definitely to large for he himself to pull out.

Shukaku smiled at his work, forming several miniature snakes on the ground made of sand that slithered towards Cerberus, binding his legs together as they sunk their fangs into him. Cerberus snarled, letting his body explode into flame once more, forcing the snakes to remain in a glassified state. Naruto looked at the hellhound with worry. Shukaku had found a way to use his natural abilities against him and it seemed like he was a sitting duck no matter what he did currently.

Naruto glared at Shukaku, rushing forwards and leaping off of Cerberus body. He had not idea what he planned on doing, but he knew that he had to stop the large bijuu. He quickly formed several clones in the air, which flung him towards Shukakus head. Naruto roared, gathering flames in his arm once more before unleashing them. However, despite their power they barely bothered Shukaku and only served to annoy him even further. Shukaku battered Naruto down into the ground with his tail, breaking several bones. However, the Kyuubi quickly went to work, healing his injuries. Naruto growled, the sudden loss of a lot of the Kyuubi's chakra making him feel extremely drained before he drew more, a two-tailed cloak covering his form once more.

Shukaku watched Naruto with more interest as he snarled at the bijuu. "Well this is definitely impressive. To be able to draw upon two-tails of chakra and still be in control…you must have quite the powerful will and be quite the capable shinobi. However, number of tails isn't everything!"

Naruto snarled at Shukaku, racing towards the sandy Bijuu, barely avoding the sandy tendrils that threatened to wrap around his form and could withstand his heat. Naruto snarled, looking at the chakra that wreathed his body.

He let the Kyuubi's chakra run wild, flames shrouding his form in an uncontrollable manner. While it was his chakra due to his complete lack of control the flames even harmed him, however due to the constant healing by the Kyuubi he could use this suicidal attack with no downside. Yet even this heat was incapable of turning Shukaku's to sand like it should have. Naruto's eyes widened as he raced up Shukaku's leg, sand animals slowing his progress enough for Shukaku to bind him. Naruto couldn't believe his eyes. His flames were not turning Shukaku's sand to glass.

"It's called using more chakra dumbass! Now, DIE!"

A wave of sand rushed from Shukaku's leg, slamming down on Naruto and binding him in a coffin. Naruto groaned, trying to conjure even more flames in an attempt to turn the sand to glass, yet no matter how hot the flames were they still couldn't turn the sand to glass. The sand slowly began to crush his body, actually quenching the flames. Naruto groaned, expelling the Kyuubi's chakra in a dome shape in an attempt to hold off the sand, however even that was failing. The sand was slowly but surely pushing him back.

Naruto snarled up at his sandy prison, his eyes filled with desperation and fear.

"Surrender yourself to me."

Naruto's eyes widened at the Kyuubi's voice, completely unable to even comprehend what the fox was asking. 'I'd rather die! There's no way I'd give up my freedom just to win a fight!'

"Even for the sake of that Hyuuga girl?"

Naruto was silent. He knew he shouldn't be paying attention to the Kyuubi. He knew that given enough time he could fight his way out of this. He knew that the fox was simply striving for its freedom, striving to finally be rid of the boy known as Naruto Uzumaki forever and to wreak havoc on the world in its hatred…yet he couldn't ignore the fox.

"What about that Hokage? The Uchiha swine? The pink-haired pig? Your teacher? All of your friends," the Kyuubi said the word in a mocking tone, but Naruto couldn't help but notice the seriousness of his words. "What about all of those innocent civilians? Isn't it your duty to protect them? Face it! You're weak! You're nothing without me! They'll all die if you don't give into the hatred! You must know that Shukaku will go and destroy your precious village and kill everyone in it. There would be no one capable of stopping him. But if you surrender yourself to me…I can stop him."

Time seemed to slow for Naruto as he thought over this decision. He knew that no matter what happened it would weigh heavily on his conscious. His rational mind knew that it was a stupid idea to even consider it. The Kyuubi was using his emotions to manipulate him, something the fox did often. He knew that given enough time…time…the word was redundant to Naruto. He understood the situation, it was pointless to complain.

The simple fact was that he didn't have enough time.

He would die and Shukaku would kill them all.

'What do you want in return? What do you gain from this?'

"What do I get from it? Is the satisfaction of defeating my brother and proving my superiority along with helping people not good enough for you?"

Naruto snarled at the Kyuubi's words. He knew the fox was lying. He had to be.

"Oh come now Naruto…would I lie to you? When have I ever led you astray? In fact, I saved your life several times if I remember correctly. I'm the reason you're even alive in the first place."

Naruto snarled at the fox mentally. However, he knew he was running out of time. His body was slowly being crushed, Shukaku clearly increasing the amount of energy he was using in killing the young shinobi.

But the Kyuubi's terms were completely unacceptable. There was no way he was doing this through the kindness of his heart. The Kyuubi didn't have a kind bone in its body.

"Wow…that's the closest thing you've done to damage since we've met."

Naruto rolled his eyes, before he closed his eyes. Neither option was available. He couldn't allow the Kyuubi to be in control, but he most definitely would die. He saw the sand race downwards. Clearly Shukaku was going to end this now. He had to his answer now…or everyone could die. And he had to chose correctly.

'If you backstab me…I'll kill you.'

The Kyuubi roared as he felt Naruto release several restrictions in the seal automatically. His chakra flooded the boys body, Naruto's mind completely overwhelmed by the negative emotions as the Kyuubi took over. In most cases he would simply have Naruto return to his more primal instincts…but he allowed a slight portion of his consciousness to seep through. He would enjoy this.

The Kyuubi snorted. "Good ahead and try."

Two more tails sprouted from Naruto's tailbone, releasing a torrent of chakra upwards into the air, shattering the sand that was instantly turned to glass like…glass. The pure power of the chakra formed a large dent in Shukaku's leg and caused the bijuu to roar.

"Brother." The voice came from Naruto's mouth, but it sounded foreign. A blend of Naruto's and the Kyuubi's voice, however it was dominated by the latter. "It's been far to long since we've played!"

---

Yes I know I know. I'm a horrible person. I sincerely apologize for the...EXTREMELY large wait. I am NOT dead. I was just...well busy. I hadn't lost my muse I was just literally so busy that I barely had time to work on this. Honestly I still don't deserve any forgiveness. I finished chapters and didn't upload them to several other fanfics...for some reason I don't even remember hehehehe. Track practice got way more intense, and I nearly had to stop taking Karate because of it. I like Track more than Karate. And I got a girlfriend...finally! I haven't had one for a while and I really adore her. But hey you guys still got an update right? A rather large one might I add. Yeah...I still don't deserve any pity do I? None? Not even a slight amount? What about when I rule the world and let you guys get like a place the size of...half of Italy? Will that be good enough for you all? No? Didn't think so. Also for those who are going to complain about typos remember that I don't have a beta. And this is a massive chapter. I promise I've done my best...but it's still probably FULL of typos. I apologize for that.