Chapter 20

"To Challenge"

Uzumaki Naruto vs Edeltraft Von Schiller (Finale)

Naruto carefully nursed the cut he had received from Schiller with a mild look of annoyance. "I've gotten slow." It was true enough in his own opinion. Years of peace had increased his aptitude in many ways - such as strength, awareness and strategy - but one could not simply beat the effect age had on one's speed. This was mainly Naruto's own fault of course. It had been years since he had fought opponents who were able to actually push him.

In his youth, the Uchiha heir had been quite the rival. Itachi was a warrior unlike any other. A strange, quiet man who had abandoned the organization and even his own family - simply because he did not enjoy killing - or so they say. He turned to Katsujinken after his departure. Naruto wondered if the peace loving man was still alive to this day.

Back to the matter at hand, Naruto observed his opponent from afar. The fight had continued after the ravine and Naruto had since been able to land several hits on him, even leaving a long jagged cut on the side of his face, down his temple. He looked incredibly satisfied despite being damaged so much. It was to be expected of course. Von Schiller was a man who lived for two things. Beauty and battle. An easy way of life.

"You live up to your reputation." Schiller spat out blood. "I haven't been able to touch you since you upped the pace."

"The Hachio Danzaiba are truly a group to be feared." Naruto uttered calmly. "My student awaits me, Schiller. And I have no intentions of meeting the Sword Devil today. Let us finish this."

"Liar. If you had no intentions of meeting him, then why did you come?"

Naruto sighed. That was true. "Plans change." He could not afford Hanabi running into the monster that was his old Master. There was no way to predict Kurama's actions - and Hanabi would insist on sticking with him even if he dismissed her. The girl was stubborn.

"True enough." Schiller made an annoyed grunt. "It was our intention to use the girl to lure him out and ambush him. Perhaps we could recruit him by use of force."

"Idiotic." Naruto shook his head. "Arrogant. Foolish. Stupid even. Those are only a few words that I would use to describe that plan. Kurama isn't some mid-leveled Master that you could bend to your will. You even brought expert level fighters with you - how insulting is that?"

"We have reinforcements waiting on the outskirts of the mountains. They should be arriving soon. One hundred strong, half of my personal forces. All of them primed and polished - ready to fight to the death."

"Just for one man, you would sacrifice so many? Perhaps I've underestimated your intelligence, Schiller."

"Enough talk." The larger german said. "Let us continue our dance."

"I assure you. I've no intentions of staying for much longer." Naruto brought his white sword to his palm and breathed deeply. No sense in delaying the inevitable. He then switched Moyie into a reverse grip and flashed forward.

"Tsk." Schiller smirked. "A frontal attack? Fool." He began whirling his sword causing the air around him to form cutting winds. "Sword Masters we are! There can only be one way for this to end, Aukuang!"

"Shinto Gorenzan (Heart and Blade Become One)!" Schiller's full form began to envelop himself in a mild aura of black - and then white. His cackling could be heard from afar as the whirlwind around him began to fester more and more.

"Shinto Gorenzan (Heart and Blade Become One)!" Like his opponent, Naruto's felt his own being grow closer to Moyie - a white aura began spreading from his sword arm up to his whole being. The sword gifted to him from his late wife - the sword he promised to never slay with, Moyie sung as he charged forward.

"Hollenschlitz!"

"Jiushizi!"

A violent force of wind met what seemed to be nine serene images of the blond master - all of which seemed to phase right through the attack with ease. Schiller grit his teeth as he found himself on the opposite end of nine coordinated attacks. In a blur of white and gold - what met with the german master at the end was the darkness and the fleeting knowledge of his own defeat, having fallen to his knees. Naruto landed on a tree above the site of the battle and surveyed the damage. They had destroyed nearly half the forest and had changed the look of the terrain enough to know that it would aggravate many who would travel here.

"Well met, Edeltraft Von Schiller."

Yokohama

Kakashi finished his bowl of rice and steak, promptly leaving it for the waitress to pick it up and give him the bill. Just as he was about to leave - two new figures sat next to him. The silver-haired teen narrowed his eyes at their arrival.

"Kakashi-kun." His voice was smooth. Quiet. He had pale skin, golden eyes and wore a black top hat to match his overcoat.

Next to him was a teenage girl - she couldn't have been older then seventeen. Her hair was light purple and she had hazel eyes. The girl wore a dark brown leather jacket over a simple white shirt, and a dark orange skirt.

"Excuse me!" She loudly called over a waitress, smile on her face. "I'd like to taste every single type of dango you have!"

"Anko." The older man chastised quietly. The girl merely scratched her head with her eyes closed, pretending to have shame.

"Do you have them?" Kakashi asked. Not meeting their eyes.

"Perhaps. I must ask you this, do you have what I asked for?"

The silver-haired teen nodded and slipped him a package. "External hard drive. Fifteen terabytes."

"Wonderful." The pale-skinned man smiled. He slipped an envelope to the boy. "Here. What you asked for the last time we met. I even took the liberty to buy you plane tickets."

He didn't verbally respond at the gesture.

"Are you really going to China? Why? We spent two years there. It's nothing special." Anko chipped in. Kakashi shrugged. He didn't care to tell her his reasons. Nonetheless, she soon lost interest when her food arrived. It was one single large plate of sweet dumplings.

"Kakashi-kun. I highly suggest you leave soon. They will be coming for you."

Kakashi nodded. "I will. But shouldn't you be worrying about yourself, Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru offered only a sardonically smile - not bothering to answer a question so asinine.

"If you require anything else?"

Kakashi shook his head.

"No. Our deal is done. This will be the last time we meet." The boy then left without another word. Anko snorted.

"So rude. The boy even left us his bill."

Orochimaru carefully pocketed the package Kakashi had given him.

"Now, now Anko-chan. Children will be children. He's given us a great gift in exchange for his freedom. I only wonder where a boy of his talents will go now?"

Koryou

Honoka opened the front door to her house with tremendous urgency. "Mom! Dad!"

"Dear?" She breathed a huge sigh of relief when her mother appeared unharmed. "I'm glad to see that you're home! A recruiter from Tokyo University is here to speak to you."

Dread filled her once more. "Recruiter?" Honoka nodded and slowly trekked to the living room. Once she got there, an elderly man in dark robes and a shaded monocle on his right eye sat, his face completely apathetic. "This is Shimura Danzo-san. He would like to talk to you about the possibility of joining Tokyo University when you're finished with High School! Oh, I'm so proud." Her mom squealed loudly. "He's asked to speak with you privately, darling. I will be in the kitchen if you need me." She serenely walked out, leaving her daughter who was paling ever so slightly.

Shimura Danzo.

"Shimura Danzo will not stop until your line is dead." Kakashi's words rang in her mind. "Kill Danzo. Don't let him live. You will regret otherwise."

And for the first time in her life, it crossed her mind. The man in front of her - he was a killer. Honoka could tell. She hadn't fought many but she recognized the feeling of standing next to one. Her Master hid his intent the best, Kakashi hid his also quite well, but the easiest to tell were the street level killers. Shimura Danzo was definitely a killer, and a very successful one at that.

"You know who I am." He realized after a moment of reading her face. "Ah. Kakashi must have told you. He always was a red flag. He will also be eliminated...in time."

There was definitely a story behind that. But now was not the time to ask.

Or was it?

"Yeah." She admitted. "What do you mean that he was a red flag?"

"He grew impertinent over this past year. I've had others tail him but he's proven quite elusive. And his tasks were unusually sloppy. Not to mention his failure to apprehend Xinku as an asset. He also looked quite unhappy when I told him my plan to bring you in. The boy is an open book."

"So failure is a sign of impertinence? What kind of slave-driver are you?"

"The victorious kind." He replied smoothly. "There is no need to put up false pretenses then. Tell me girl, how has Uzumaki been these days?"

"..."

Danzo assessed the girl - her mannerisms, her expressive eyes, her well toned muscles - cultivated for bursts of speed. She was advanced for her age. Intelligent, skilled in martial arts - oh he could tell. Naruto did not slack off on her training. No doubt, she is more then capable of defeating some of his agents. Especially the younger ones.

She reminded him of Hyuuga Hanabi in a way - but more expressive, more fierce. Her presence was like a fire that refused to dim

"No need for alarm girl." He waved off her tension. "I'm well aware that you have called the Kiri no Kaijin and his son for back-up. No doubt, they are hunting down my agents left and right, making a mockery of the Leaf. As always."

"Then why are you here?" Honoka demanded. Danzo narrowed his eye.

"To assess you, that is all. Our fight is with Uzumaki Naruto. Sure, I would like to use you to lure him out. Perhaps even kidnap, torture and kill you before sending your body to him in pieces. I am no fool. Taking you would be the end of me. Ryouzanpaku would come down on Konoha like a storm - erasing us from history. And worse, they would imprison us, spare our lives. I would rather die."

"..." She didn't know what to say to that. "Master will not fall to the likes of you."

"Perhaps." Danzo admitted. He hated Uzumaki Naruto - but it would be a lie to say he didn't respect him. "But we will come for him. No matter the cost. It is a matter of honor."

Honoka had no answer. She didn't want to answer such a foolish statement. It felt beneath her.

"I shall take my leave. But don't think you've escaped us. You will die, girl. Konoha will destroy the legacy of Uzumaki Naruto. There are ways to kill you and not bring about the ire of Ryouzanpaku. Although I dislike the ethical way." The word ethical did not sound right coming from this man.

She didn't answer him. But his silent exit was not missed. She turned around and went for the door - to see him off. But he had disappeared into the darkness.

"What a frightening man." She felt a single drop of sweat mare her temple. "What did he mean the 'ethical' way. Is there even such a thing?"

Honoka didn't know if she should have felt lucky or afraid - but one thing was for sure. Konoha would come for her. She'd have to watch her back. And train even more then ever before.

Hua Shan

Yang Zhen felt his heart break. His wife laid dead on the ground. He dropped his spear at the sight of her mangled body. "Mai..." It was his own fault. What a fool, she must have thought he was at the end. To split up in an attempt to catch the White Dragon, Hyuuga Hanabi. But the result could not be more horrifying.

"I'm so sorry, my love. I will bury you. And I will have vengeance."

Suddenly, he turned around, and gathered his spear.

A well toned, tall man sat on the ground beside a red-leafed tree. His hair was wild, long, reaching to the ground with ease - and was the color of dark auburn with some streaks of silver. The only article of clothing he had were pants, brown and slightly baggy. The man had dark eyes with a tint of red in them.

"...Who are you?"

The man didn't answer. Preferring to take a bite of the peach in his hand. Yang Zhen gritted his teeth.

"I am trying to mourn my wife! Leave me!"

The man's voice was like a growl. "You're a bother."

Yang pointed his spear at the man. "I will kill you for this insolence."

"Oh...?" The sitting man mockingly sounded. "Will you?" He took another large bite out of his peach.

Yang Zhen walked towards the man and thrusted his spear.

Only for his weapon to be split perfecting in half from the tip. Along with the arm he used to thrust the weapon. "Urgh!" Yang jumped back and looked at the sitting man. His face pale, arms bleeding. "Fast!"

"You are supposed to be the next generation of the 'Yang Spear'. What a disappointment." The red-haired man muttered. "If it's only you, it won't be any fun."

Yang Zhen took a slight step back. "Y-you..."

"I understand you've brought back up? Your leader was just defeated by my old student not too long ago. I believe he intends to flee now, with the white-eyed girl." The man scratched his chin. "No doubt he plans to avoid your men altogether by using the hidden underground cavern passage."

He smiled darkly.

"I must thank my student in the future. I did not expect to come home to a feast."

Kurama's killing intent floored the spear user. The young Master began shaking, fear gripping his heart.

"I have a question boy. Do you think Yang Zhuo will come out to play if I brought your head to him?"

As he walked forward, the red leaves of the tree began to fall.

END

Sorry for the long wait. Writer's block again.

I made a mistake in the last chapter. I wrote that Honoka had championship titles in Go. This does not make any sense because earlier in the story, Naruto was just teaching her how to play. I intend to fix this. My apologies.

I've begun to grow tired of translating the name of moves in the actual chapter. Some, I will still do. But others, I will list post-chapter. Like the ones here.

Hollenschlitz is supposed to be 'Hell Slash'. And Jiushizi is supposed to be 'Nine Cross'. Translation can get quite ridiculous. But sometimes, it's better to do it because sometimes, it sounds cooler in the different language. Among other reasons.

People have been pointing out why Schiller is so powerful even though it is not shown in the manga. The truth is, I made him more powerful in this story. It's not that Naruto is weak. I felt that the Hachio Danzaiba were not used to their full potential in the manga. It felt rushed. And some of those characters seriously looked cool.

Anyway, have a nice Holiday weekend. I will continue to write this story.