Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Shinobi Alliance, together in victory.
The Start of a New Life.
The Gedo statue screamed loudly as nearly one hundred or so Shinobi finally managed to surround it, """"EARTH STYLE: GREAT MOVING EARTH CORE!"""" they shouted.
The Gedo Statue's scream got louder as it fell, landing on it's feet and stopping it's screaming as it realised it was now chest height with the little ninjas.
The earth users leapt up and back as the next wave of ninja came in, half of them shouting out as their Jutsu activated, """"WATER STYLE: WATER FLOODING JUTSU!"""" they shouted, throwing so much water that the Gedo statue was up to it's hips in the liquid.
The Gedo statue flailed as it swung it's arms, Yahiko landing on one side and Sakura landing on the other as the arms approached the two lone ninjas, most other ninjas leaving the area before the arms crushed them.
Yahiko's eyes flashed as the arm was about to hit him, "ALMIGHTY PUSH!" he shouted, bringing the hand to a stop and even flinging it back slightly.
Sakura's body was glowing red with the Kaioken Flash Step as she swung her leg, "EXTERMINATING BLAST BULLET!" she shouted, the force of her kick flinging the arm back quickly.
Jiraiya landed alongside Yahiko in that moment as Sasuke landed alongside Sakura's, both of them leaping onto the arm and slamming a seal into it, causing the hands to suddenly be under a massive gravitational force that held each arm still for a moment before they leapt away, the third of each unit coming in quickly.
Kakashi's White Light Sabre tore through the air as it crackled with pure Lightning Chakra, "TRUE LIGHTNING CUTTER!" he shouted as he dove from above just as Sasuke's seal sped him up with the ridiculous gravity magnification.
Lee spun down through the air, the electricity and the Eight Gates giving him a ridiculous amount of speed and power as he held his twin-swords above his head in a dive, "NOON LIGHTNING!" Lee shouted as he appeared to become a green bolt of lightning himself.
The Gedo Statue screamed in pain as the combination managed to actually cut straight through it's hands, dismembering a finger and a thumb thanks to Kakashi and nearly a third of what made it's palm thanks to Lee. But everyone leapt back as more red chakra began to pour out of it's wounds.
Kakuzu pointed forward, "Second assault!" he shouted, sending his own battalion forward.
The few ninjas from the Land of Spring – formerly Snow – leapt forward, aiming their hands down at the water in the pit as they pushed their chakra to the maximum thanks to the first Akimichi Red Chilli Pill, """ICE STYLE: FROZEN TUNDRA!""" they shouted, trying to making the water below them all as cold as possible.
The water slowly started to freeze, but the statue was still kicking it's legs, breaking it as it got close and making them have to begin again as their chakra rapidly drained.
Off to the side, Tayuya and Tsunade both had their hands on Karin's shoulders as the red headed Uchiha knelt, "Ready?" Tsunade asked, earning a nod from both girls.
Tayuya's modified curse seal activated in it's basic form, channelling the nature chakra directly into Karin as Tsunade made it usable and pumped her own into it.
Tears came to Karin's eyes as she screamed, red chains shooting out from her chakra pools in her back and digging into the ground, coming out underwater and wrapping around one of the Gedo Statue's legs, pulling it around awkwardly to make the statue trip over itself before her chains shattered.
The Gedo statue screamed as it fell again, though this time it's scream was chakra enhanced, sending out a pulse of demonic chakra that made it's wounds open slightly wider, causing everyone to look at it's shoulder in shock.
The Ichibi – Shukaku – began to pull itself free hands first from the wound in the Gedo Statue's shoulder, tears in the massive beasts' eyes as it reached out for the outside world and it's freedom as the chakra began to pull it back in, "NO! Don't make me go baaack!" it yelled in a slightly hysterical fear.
"I've got you!"
Shukaku looked up in surprise as it's call for help was actually heard, it's eyes widening as Gaara lowered through the air on a cloud of sand, "Take my hand!" He shouted as his sand extended from his arm, forming a large arm that was a replica of Shukaku's.
The One Tail took the offered hand in shock, 'A Human is helping me?... Gaara?' It thought as the Kazekage shouted in effort, causing the massive demon to snap out of it's shock and began to push again for freedom.
The Gedo Statue screamed as the Ichibi was torn from it's power, the giant sand demon quickly but clumsily waddle-running a fair distance away from the statue before it jumped over to the back of the army, 'They're fighting dad's statue?' it thought in shock, uncomprehending as they actually appeared to be succeeding.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed as he watched the statue writhe in pain, 'One of it's eyes closed as the One tail came out... I wonder if the same event occurs in reverse.' Kakuzu thought before deciding to try and force the statue to close one of it's eyes.
"Third assault!" Kakuzu shouted as he ran forward alongside the largest part of his battalion.
The ice users breathed in relief as finally they managed to freeze an entire leg to the side of the Lowered Terrain, just as Kakuzu's men appeared as they leapt into the air over the Statue, which looked up at the eighty or so ninja as they all held the Ox seal, """LIGHTNING STYLE: THUNDERBOLT!""" the majority of them shouted, shooting the electricity into the ice and water below.
The Gedo Statue actually didn't scream this time, apparently not even registering the electric type move as it's eyes all narrowed on one person in the group above it.
People began to land or get pulled away as Kakuzu's tendrils gripped the eyelid around it's largest eye, yanking him forward as hard as they could as the Earth and Fire hearts formed their masks on the palms of his hands, "COMBINATION: LAVA FLOW!" Kakuzu shouted as he slammed into the eye feet first, his hands pouring chakra upon contact.
The Gedo statue screamed it's most horrendous scream yet as the eye began to be burned over from the Lava. The eye didn't seem to be breaking, but it couldn't even twitch since the lava had gotten into every vein and gap in and around the eye before hardening, giving Kakuzu the chance to leap away. But Kakuzu's eyes widened as a shadow appeared over his prone airborne form.
Kakuzu looked up as the massive hand that Lee had hit earlier descended upon him, making him realise that his plan hadn't quite succeeded and causing him to widen his body with tendrils as he closed his eyes, 'This is gonna hurt.'
***BOOOOOOOOOOM***
Kakuzu's arm was crushed, causing the man to blink in shock as only his Fire heart was destroyed and he was pinned under the hand, he realised he still had four of his other five hearts left, 'Earth, Wood, Lightning and Water.' Kakuzu mentally processed before he quickly took action, ripping out a pre-prepared kunai from his pouch and tossing it into the air.
**BOOM**
Shikamaru's eyes narrowed at the signal from Kakuzu, 'Since he's still alive in there.' Shikamaru thought before he took a deep breath, "Do it now! Get the arm!" Shikamaru shouted to his clansmen.
""""SHADOW STRANGLE JUTSU!"""""
The Gedo Statue suddenly found that it's arm wouldn't move other then a single part of it's chakra that circulated on it's forearm, though since it didn't have intelligence, it didn't really register the fact as Sakura and Sasuke fell at the arm from above.
"Ready Sasuke?!" Sakura shouted over the rushing wind as they plummeted towards the ground.
Sasuke calmly nodded as they two dove through the air side by side – Sasuke with his Cursed Wings and Sakura with her Radical Good Wings – Sasuke forming a single handed seal around the pole of his umbrella in his hand. Just as the two got close – appearing as a grey and pink burr to all others – Sasuke swung his umbrella around so he was behind Sakura.
"WIND STYLE: TRAVELLING VACUUM SPHERE!" Sasuke shouted.
Sakura felt herself speed up after the small sphere in front of her, knowing that the absence of air itself between her and the Gedo statue's arm would pull her even faster then before as her blade materialised, her wings fading as she poured the last of her active chakra into the strike.
"ULTIMA PHOENIX STYLE: BURNING BLADE STRIKE!" Sakura shouted.
Her executioner's blade shone with heat and fire that turned the blade white from it's power, giving Sakura time to do a single front flip as she brought forward all of her momentum, bringing her blade down at the arm of the Statue.
The Gedo statue screamed the loudest one yet as Sakura's strike actually tore off what remained of the hand, causing the Gedo statue to hold it's limb in pain as more demonic chakra began to grow out from it.
The limb stopped spewing forth chakra to everyone's shock, but the chakra that flowed from it's disembodied hand grew larger as it suddenly turned into a dark blue chakra swirl before a claw came free, the Two Tails gasping for air as it's body slowly crawled out of the hand, though many saw the immediate problem as the Two Tails was crying tears of red fire, it's other forelimb gone as well as a chunk from it's side.
Jiraiya's eyes widened from a distance, 'The Nekotama is missing a chunk of it's chakra! It won't be able to reform so the statue can just suck it back it!' he thought as the Statue got over it's lack of hand and began to open it's mouth, about to do just that.
The Two tails looked around for the rest of it's chakra, seeing a glimpse of it in the arm that the Statue had healed to maintain what it had, 'Without it, I'll get pulled back in! Without a Jinchuuriki I'll be made a part of the Ten-tails! Please I don't want to die!' it thought in worry as it's body began to destabilise.
"Matatabi!"
The kitten blinked as it looked down, seeing Kakuzu pinned by one arm and his other arm stretched out, holding weakly onto it's tail, "I've got you!" Kakuzu shouted in exertion as he used his ridiculously Earth-enhanced and now partially Wood enhanced power, actually managing to slow the pull of chakra down to a near stop.
The Two Tails' burning tears increased, 'The Humans are trying to help?' It thought in shock, though it's fear was still stronger.
"SEALING ART: EIGHT TRIGRAMS SEALING!"
The Two Tails looked up to see Jiraiya falling through the chakra stream that had been sucking towards the statue, the toad he was riding expanding and absorbing the statue's technique as it got fatter to compensate, pushing Jiraiya closer as his hand hit the kitten's forehead.
"HIDDEN WATERFALL ART: HERO'S SACRIFICE!" Kakuzu shouted as his chest open up, his tendrils forming into a seal shape over his remaining four hearts.
The Two tails blinked as it's first tail began to be sealed, causing Kakuzu to scream in pain as one of his hearts gave out due to his age at being sealed. The Gedo statue screamed as Kakuzu's second heart gave out, the second tail absorbed and it's body warped, being sucked into the seal over Kakuzu's hearts before his chest closed, Jiraiya landing and placing the second seal on Kakuzu's stitched chest, "SEALING ART: HEAVEN AND EARTH STYLE SEALING!" Jiraiya said.
Kakuzu's two hearts pulsed quickly as the chakra aligned in his system, though he passed out instantly even as his chakra system bended and stretched painfully.
Jiraiya picked up Kakuzu and leapt away as the Gedo statue screamed another chakra pulse, the rain falling around it as lightning began to gather in the sky. The chakra pulse threw the two ninja away, getting caught by other ninja before being carried away to help rest and recover their chakra.
Many ninja looked up in fear at the Lightning chakra that formed in the sky.
Lightning cracked across the clouds, lighting up the sky and making a silhouette visible above them all.
Sasuke stood in Sage Mode, his skin grey showing that the Curse Seal was the source of his nature chakra. Though his wings were gone, Sasuke stood confidently on his board as he formed a quick series of hand seals and continued to fly up higher in the sky.
The first lightning bolt hit the ground, killing a group of Shinobi, though some of them managed to leap away and only be injured.
The second and third began to descend before they suddenly changed course back up into the clouds, collecting in the sky above Sasuke's hand as he turned around in the sky, riding his board down at the Gedo Statue from above, "KIRIN: ONE THOUSAND BIRDS!" Sasuke shouted.
The lightning in the sky was taken from it's free falling state and contorted into the shape of a flock of bird before they dove into Sasuke's hand, the young man falling at the large slice that Orochimaru had made earlier.
**CRACK**
The now single massive bolt of lightning hit the wound, causing the Statue to scream in pain as Sasuke cut through the last third of the arm, hacking the arm completely off.
A mossy green and a vibrant red chakra bust forth, the green from the arm taking the form of the Three Tails as the red from the shoulder taking the form of the Four Tails.
With the statue still flailing, Gaara used the opportunity as another sand arm formed, reaching out for the Four Tails to grab on to as he couldn't make two arms at a time and he couldn't grab them both.
But to everyone's shock, two more arms of sand appeared, grabbing the Three Tails's outstretched arm as the Ichibi landed next to the Gedo Statue, "C'mon Isobu! Let's go!" The one tails shouted as it desperately tried to help it's brother.
The Three Tails' head popped free and it looked at the sand demon in shock as the supposedly insane demon was the one pulling it free, "Shukaku?" it asked even as it continued to come free.
Many ninjas leapt back as the One Tailed demon pulled the Three tails free, the both of them turning as the Four Tails' torso came out from the stump, it's eyes widening as it realised that Gaara – a human – was saving it from the Gedo Statue and certain death.
The Gedo statue turned, reaching out to grab the One Tail with it's only hand, shattering the ice below it with the large movement and letting the statue climb partially out of the hole.
Isobu's eyes widened as two of it's tails came up, pushing the Ichibi out of the way of the hand that slammed into it's shell, doing no damage as the turtle had curled into a ball so that it rolled away with little harm to it's body.
But noone was prepared for it's next move.
The Gedo statue continued with it's strike, as if the first two demons were a mere hindrance, it's true target being the Four Tailed demon that had climbed mostly free, some of it's tails and one back leg being the only thing left in the statue as it swung it's remaining hand in a chopping motion, causing the four tails to scream as it's chakra-made body was severed at the knee, causing it's body to destabilise just like the Two Tails had above Kakuzu.
The Gedo Statue's mouth opened wide as Gaara pulled the Four Tails free, though the monkey screamed as it's chakra began to get sucked right back in with little trouble.
The ninjas leapt forward to help, but the Four Tails was gone and the Lava around the Gedo Statue's middle eye heated up and melted off, letting the statue scream out another chakra wave that threw every ninja away from the area painfully.
##########
Shukaku and Isobu regrouped together at a distance, the two demons staring back at the area where the ninja were helplessly fighting against their fate, "Why are they fighting it? Don't they realise that if it were to transform into the Ten-tails then they would all surely be destroyed?" Isobu said.
Shukaku's gaze travelled from the statue to Gaara, the man running low on chakra as his sand armour was thrown away from him in the chakra pulse, "They're fighting to save us Isobu, without that monk's madness manipulating me I can feel all the sand clearly and, well look." Shukaku said looking down in front of them.
Gaara's wall of sand had risen and solidified as much as it could to protect them, only making a wall that was up to it's hips but trying to protect them nonetheless, though with Isobu's lack of tall legs it was nearly craning it's neck to see over the wall.
Shukaku's massive eyes turned towards the Statue as the demon nodded, making a decision before turning to Isobu again, "This might be the one time everyone has come together to destroy that thing, it very well be the only time we have a chance against it too!" It exclaimed, turning to the Three Tails, "Let's fight with them!"
Ignoring Isobu's wide-eyed look, Shukaku began to run it's on it's fat legs, it's stomach and chest expanding to launch a wind bullet that hit the recently standing tall Gedo statue, knocking it back so that one leg slipped back into the Lowered Terrain.
##########
***BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM***
"EXPANSION JUTSU!" Choji shouted, making his body massive to act as a shield from the Shukaku's 'small' blast of wind chakra. Even though the massive beast only saw it as a simple attack, it was still enough to rock the battlefield.
Choji shrunk down to size and looked up along with the fifty or so people he had just saved, seeing the Gedo Statue roar as it turned to Shukaku only for a high pressure blast of water hit the back of it's other knee, making sure the statue began to fall back into the Lowered Terrain.
All the Shinobi backed away, watching with wide eyes as the Gedo Statue instead managed to kick it's legs out of the hole, landing on it's back with it's chest being the part of it's body over the hole, the ground shaking with it's heavy impact.
Shukaku's sand wrapped around the single arm to hold the statue down as a massive shadow covered the sky from above, making many fear that a meteorite was raining from the sky again, but what they saw instead caused more awe then fear.
"WATERBOMB!" Isobu seemed to roar as it fell from the sky, curled up in a ball of death and demonic water chakra.
****BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM****
The Elemental nations shook with the force of Isobu slamming into the Gedo Statue, pushing it into the Lowered Terrain and cracking it's chest big time, causing a single slither of red chakra to begin to pour out of it.
Since Isobu seemed stuck down in the Hole, Shukaku began to use it's sand to pick it up and lift it out, making the hole wider as it used the earth itself to make the sand.
Isobu had only just uncurled from landing again as the Gedo statue stood with it's mouth open and missing half of the bottom jaw of it's mouth, roaring again as chakra poured from the visible crack.
""Here's our chance!""
Tsunade and Jiraiya were the first to react as they appeared in mid-air in a shunshin, Tsunade's fist glowing blue as she punched and Jiraiya's hand thrusting a bright blue Rasengan ahead of him.
"UNIVERSE!"
"RASENGAN!"
Their combination attack broke a small flake of flesh from the statue, causing it to scream in more pain as it's single arm came down to try and stifle the leak as if it were bleeding.
The two were pushed back from the force of their own chakra, giving Yahiko time to fly up and stop just behind the large hand, focussing massive amounts of chakra throughout his body, "ALMIGHT PUSH!"
**BOOOOM**
The massive push of gravitational force hit the statue with force enough to make it nearly fall back again in a tumble, but that's not what had made it scream even louder.
Yahiko's attack had been focussed on the hand that had been somewhat covering the wound, a hand that since it was missing parts, had a piece of it's hand on the perfect angle to be lodged into another crack. The result; the Gedo Statue ripping it's finger free in pain and taking a large flake of wooden flesh from it's chest.
It screamed as all of a sudden, the Eight Tails was popping out head first, "Killer B is back yo! Ready to show ya'll my reignited flow! Fools ya fools!" Killer Bee in the form of the Eight Tails shouted as it got free in one powerful movement of it's arms, landing right in front of the statue and inside it's guard as electrical energy appeared in it's mouth, "You mess with the bull! You get the horns! LIGHT HACK!" Gyuki's voice shouted as it gripped the Gedo Statue's open mouth and let it's attack loose straight down it's throat.
Everyone watched as the Gedo Statue screamed in pain, Gyuki's attack ripping what remained of the lower jaw off the statue completely as it burrowed out the bottom of it's mouth, piercing the stump shoulder of the Gedo Statue.
The Statue fell to the side as this time, the Four Tails managed to pull itself free in a single powerful movement, retreating into the strong grip of Isobu's longer-then-average tails, "Are you alright brother?" Isobu asked.
Son Goku looked between the two of it's three youngest siblings, "I am now, but what about Gyuki?" the large monkey asked.
Everyone was still looking at the Eight Tails, but they looked on in shock as the Eight Tails put one of it's hands on it's stomach over what looked like a giant copy of Killer Bee's seal. With a twist of it's wrist and a flash of red chakra, Killer B stood perfectly alive as he fell through the air, "Yeah! Survival of the fittest yo!" he exclaimed weakly as Gaara's sand caught him, the once more Jinchuuriki for the Eight Tails passing out after expelling all his natural chakra.
Ninja and demon cleared the area to regroup as the Gedo statue shakily got to it's knees, letting out a roar that was significantly weaker then before.
The Raikage nodded as he stood atop a tree, his resolve hardened as he shouted to their army, "OUR TACTICS ARE WORKING! FREE THE OTHER BIJUU!" he shouted so that everyone could hear.
The entire Shinobi Alliance seemed to take a collective breath before an even louder war cry broke out, every single Shinobi running forward as they formed hand seals, launching hundreds of varying jutsu at the massive enemy.
The Gedo Statue was drilled in the stomach with all the jutsu, making a large flake fall off near it's right hip, letting a grey-white chakra begin to funnel out, though the Gedo Statue immediately covered the wound with it's only hand.
"Now! Get the wrist now!" the Raikage yelled as he appeared in his lightning armour alongside Darui, C and Em.
"LIGHTNING STYLE: FOUR FINGER NUKITE!" The Raikage shouted as he spiralled ahead in the only Nukite attack he could do.
Darui finished his hand seals just as the Raikage yelled, "STORM STYLE: LAZOR CIRCUS!" he shouted, surrounding the Raikage's four fingered strike with a drill of lazors.
""LIGHTNING STYLE:" C and Em exclaimed at the same time, ""FUSION BOLT!"" they shouted in unison, their chakras forming a single massive bolt of pure lightning chakra. The electricity flying next to the Raikage's hand and barely missing his outstretched attack.
The three Ninjutsu spiralled strongly as they impacted, their sharpness proving their worth as the wrist was cut clean through other then a chunk of extra flesh that now hung limply from the stump.
The Gedo Statue screamed in more pain as the grey-white chakra began to pour out from the earlier wound while the new wound began to let out a dark thick purple chakra.
The Gedo statue seemed to tighten it's muscles and hold in the Five and Six Tails as they barely managed to get a limb free, though in the Six Tails' case, just it's big head was sticking out, "What the?!" it exclaimed as the large slug realised it had a chance at freedom.
Kenpachi leapt up through the air, confusing everyone as very few had any idea who he was. Though his technique is what had them all off guard as he pulled the pink haired girl off of his shoulder and pitched her like a football, "GO YACHIRU!" he shouted.
The pinkette shot through the air like a bullet on a face-first collision with Saiken, her odd pink chakra turning purple to match the slug's as she widened her grip, landing on it's face in an odd hug as she smiled into Saiken's left eye, "It's okay, we'll get you out Slimy-kun!" she said loudly as the massive beast blinked in shock at the little pink haired girl.
"YACHIRU SPECIAL: ONE LOVE, ONE LIFE!" she shouted as her chakra formed a stupidly cute pink heart around her and began to expand further and further, seemingly pushing everything – including the screaming Gedo Statue – away from Yachiru and the Six Tails. The moment the large love heart had surrounded the two of them in a massive pink shape, it turned purple and began to contract at high speed.
The bright pink and purple stopped and let everyone look as Yachiru fell through the air, a seal visible through the hear-shaped hole in her shirt in the center of her chest. Kenpachi caught her in a blur of speed before leaping up into the air, having to dodge the bite of the slowly rising again Gedo Statue, "Huh? I thought that was the last one." Kenpachi said casually as if dodging the massive being was of little effort.
Gaara's sand caught the man and pulled the two of them to safety alongside the redhead's airborne form, "No, we still have two more." he thought as his eyes narrowed on the grey-white chakra that had finally revealed itself to be the Five Tails, it's head sticking out as it gasped for freedom.
The Dolphin-Horse gasped in fear as it began to slowly be dragged back, 'No! I'm one of the fastest and strongest beings on the planet! I can outrun this! I-I!' it thought in a slightly hysterical panic, denying its fate as it began to lose sight of the outside world, it's two front hooves the only thing left on the outside world.
And then, it stopped.
"C'mon Lee! We must help our friend Kokuo!"
"Hai Gai-sensei! Kokuo-san! We'll have you out in no time!"
Kokuo – the Five Tails – blinked in shock as it registered the two tiny grips on some on it's leg fur, 'Who is this that wants to save me of all things?' it thought in confusion as it was slowly but surely being pulled back out.
Once Kokuo's head breached the chest, the Gedo Statue screamed in pain, but could do little about the pain as it's targets were too small for it to even register. Kokuo looked at the two small ninja pulling it free with physical strength alone, though they both spiralled with the green chakra of the Eight Gates.
Lee gritted his teeth, "Gai-sensei! We must go higher!" Lee shouted with a forced grin to Kokuo's massive eye as he and Gai-sensei walked backwards to pull the demon free.
Gai nodded as his skin turned red, "Feel the power of the Green beast of Konoha! Maito Gai! THE SEVENTH GATE: OPEN!" Gai shouted.
Lee grinned as he matched his Sensei, "And the Second Green Beast! Rock Lee! LIGHTNING STYLE: RELEASE RESTRICTIONS!" he shouted, the electricity in his body forcing his Six Gates Released form to be as fast and as strong as the Seventh gate.
The two green beasts leapt back with a massive push of strength, pulling out Kokuo in one clean movement once they were past it's shoulders.
Gai and Lee slammed their chakra gates shut once the Dolphin-Horse was freed, but being the respectful being it was, two of it's tails managed to catch Lee and Gai as they fell through the air weakly, having damaged their body to extreme levels before it leapt to land behind it's brothers, placing Lee and Gai down for recovery gently, "I thank you Green Beasts." it said softly to the unconscious duo that in it's mind, had saved it's life.
The Gedo Statue screamed once more before it suddenly stopped, causing everyone to glance up in a moment of confusion as the whole being was seemingly frozen mid-movement.
There was only a seconds hesitation before Gaara shouted as the General of the main armed forces, "ATTACK NOW! HIT IT WITH EVERYTHING!"
Basically every Cloud Ninja were the first ones to react, launching their village's signature victory jutsu at the Statue, "HIDDEN CLOUD LIGHTNING STYLE: STORM CLOUD STRIKE!" they shouted in unison, the Raikage leading the single powerful jutsu that summoned a real Lightning Bolt from the storm clouds above, striking the Raikage's back as pure energy that channelled into his fist at the exact moment his punch hit the Gedo Statue's leg.
****BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM****
The attack obliterated the thigh of the statue, letting A pass through harmlessly as he cleared the area.
The action caused the statue to wake up again and scream as all nine of it's eyes suddenly snapped open and it balance on the one leg.
So now, it was the Sand Village's turn.
"HIDDEN SAND WIND STYLE: BATTLE SCARS!" the forces of the sand village shouted as Gaara led the attack since Light was unable to do so. The massive wind blades taking the shape of the Sand Village's symbol as it enlarged around Gaara's Gold Dust, standing the entire span of it's torso as it froze in the air before disappearing completely.
The invisible attack made the Gedo Statue scream as massive gashes appeared over it's chest, causing the cracks to nearly cover it's entire torso, making the statue lean over and make it's head open for a direct line of attack
Which meant, it was now the Leaf Village's turn.
"HIDDEN LEAF FIRE STYLE: BURNING VICTORY JUTSU!" they all shouted as Tsunade led the charge this time, approaching the statue from the side and aiming for what remained of it's face.
Tsunade used her ridiculous strength to jump the height, her Yin Seal released across her form as the giant flaming Konoha insignia followed her through the air and focused it's point around her fist, leaving her unharmed as she healed as fast as the fire burned.
Tsunade's flaming fist hit the Gedo Statue just on the bridge of it's nose, exploding in fire that lit up the Statue's entire head while Tsunade's punch managed to completely destroy it's center eye.
The Gedo statue flailed in pain as it was partially blinded and then set on fire, throwing Tsunade through the air as she watched the Gedo statue begin to fall backwards.
Falling down near the Rock Village ninjas, "HIDDEN ROCK EARTH STYLE: MOUNTAINOUS EARTH SPEARS!" they all shouted, their spikes follow Kitsuchi's massive spiked golem up through the air.
And that's when the illusion of human victory over the Gedo Statue ended.
The Gedo Statue paused and seemed to defy gravity mere meters from the spikes as it suddenly rose up, letting everyone see the six wings of chakra that lifted it up into the air easily, not even reacting to the fire on it's face any more as the seventh 'tail' came up to act like an arm during the battle.
"FIRE STYLE: SCORCHING FLAME BOULDERS!"
"WIND STYLE: DRILLING AIR BULLET!"
Everyone's eyes widened as the giant flaming wind ball that arrived surrounded by Lava rocks, flying up to the Gedo statue and making it block the main flame-wind ball with it's chakra tail, pushing it back as the many smaller parts hit it and pushed it back anyway.
"WATER STYLE: DEEP PRESSURE WATER CANNON!"
"BOIL STYLE: SUPERHEAT BOILING POINT!"
The scalding hot hose of pressurised water hit the Gedo Statue's actual arm, causing it to deform slightly from the damaging effects of the superheated water as well as push it back through the air.
The Tailed beasts watched in shock as the Gedo Statue took their attacks, taking damage but managing to recover and push itself higher into the air, black chakra forming a massive ball above it's head.
##########
His eyes opened, taking in the view of the slowly rising giant in the distance, 'Choumei? What does that mean?' he thought to himself as he pulled himself up onto the lookout, shaking his head as he closed his eyes before they snapped open in the first stage of the Sharingan, his gaze turning to the figure he had mistakenly thought of as the Seven Tailed Beetle.
The redhead's eyes widened as he saw the Gedo statue lifting into the air in the far off distance, a large black formation of chakra appearing over it's open mouth.
'That's a Tailed Beast Ball! But that things huge!' he thought as he stood on shaky feet before pausing as he closed his eyes and took a calmly breath.
He opened his eyes with his alternate EMS glowing a crimson red as he nodded to himself, "I can win. I will win again." Naruto said to himself as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, red chakra forming around his body and settling as a single tail of crimson chakra behind him.
Naruto's Sharingan eyes opened wide as his red chakra swirled in the Kamui technique, disappearing in but a few seconds from atop the Wooden Lookout in the center of the Land of Lightning.
##########
The Gedo Statue roared from it's place in mid-air, forming a Tailed Beast Ball that was nearly the size of it's torso, easily dwarfing the opposing six balls in front of it.
Shukaku had used it's sand manipulation to pull every single Shinobi behind them, protecting them as Killer B stepped forwards now that the Eight Tails had regained some of it's chakra and pumped it back into him, taking the form of a Gyuki in a flash of red chakra alongside the other Bijuu, "A big one together brothers! Let us survive this day!" Gyuki shouted encouragingly as all the other Bijuu lifted their heads to channel their power.
Isobu was the only one to hesitate after a small complaint, "Following the Oxtopus? How desperate are we." it mumbled, though it's brethren ignored it as large amounts of black chakra began to form together, nearly matching the Gedo Statue's surprisingly powerful attack in size at least.
Killer B's voice roared out from behind Gyuki's lips, "Now's the time, time to hit the Gedo Statue! We'll beat it down, show the power of us Bijuu!" he rapped poorly.
The Gedo Statue's massive attack compacted as it threw the attack forward just as the combined Tailed Beast Ball from the Bijuu did so with their own.
""""""TAILED BEAST BALL!"""""""
The two massive black and purple chakra entities shot towards each other in the deciding attack of the war, looking like they hit eachother and began to try to fight back and forth. But after a few moments of no momentum from the chakra balls, they all began to be wary of their opponent once more.
"No More!"
Everyone stared in shock as the two balls of chakra began to get smaller and smaller, Naruto standing in between them, holding the attacks as they were slowly absorbed into his palms. In less then a minute, the Statue and the Bijuu stumbled as the lost the pressure from their attacks.
Naruto landed on the ground between the Shinobi alliance and the Gedo statue, the now red-headed man calmly glancing around before turning to the statue, raising his hand towards it as it roared, "I said no more!" Naruto shouted as if the statue would listen to him, his outstretched hand shaking as the Gedo statue rose slightly higher into the air.
Everyone gasped as the Gedo Statue dive-bombed at Naruto, aiming to punch it's stump of an arm at Naruto as it came closer.
Naruto's Rinnegan flashed as the statue came close to him, tears pouring from his eyes as he was forced to feel the Statue's pain and suffering from feeling like it wasn't whole, "NO MORE!" Naruto shouted as the statue impacted his open hand.
***BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM***
##########
The Shinobi alliance was blown hard from the impact of the collision. Barely being protected by the large Bijuu standing between the blast and them.
It was nearly a full minute of the forceful blast shaking them. Then there was nothing but a dead silence and a crater the size of a Hidden Village and as deep as the Lowered Terrain.
##########
There was white.
Naruto weakly looked around as the bright flash from the Gedo Statue hitting his Rinnegan powered defence covered everything for a moment in the never ending flash.
Naruto weakly formed a Ram seal as he looked up, seeing only the bottom of the head of the Gedo Statue and the demonic chakra pouring from it, "Six Paths: Reincarnation." He said weakly before reaching out to the familiar chakra.
White gave way to red as the demonic chakra spiralled, tears in Naruto's eyes as he watched Choumei's unstable chakra try to take form, 'Please... is there any of her left?' Naruto thought as he reached out a hand hopefully.
Naruto's consciousness began to fade as the demonic chakra changed, seemingly reaching out to Naruto's form as it fell through the air, his eyes closing as the chakra formed a hand-like shape, reaching out to grab his hand.
Naruto smiled softly as his vision faded, but just before the hand grabbed his own, the chakra receded, causing Naruto's smile to fall as the tears once more built in his closing eyes.
'Fuu-chan...'
##########
It was nearly half an hour later when the Bijuu finally lowered their guard, "I think... that Human actually did it." Isobu muttered in disbelief, the first one coming to terms with the fact that their creator's statue – and subsequently the body of the Ten Tails – was destroyed.
Shukaku's sand wall fell as the Sand Bijuu – being the most reckless of the group – began to run forward as it looked back at it's siblings, "C'mon! I wanna see!" it said somewhat immaturely, wobbling forward on it's stubby legs.
Son Goku sighed as the majority of it's brothers ran forward as well, though it just turned to the Shinobi alliance and grinned in a terrifying – but apparently friendly – fashion, "So, umm... just a heads up I think we'll all be fighting for our freedom again now that there's no one trying to snatch us for some kind of scheme..." The four tailed monkey began as it glanced between the supposed remains of his biggest fear, more scared then curious, "Soo... later." The large monkey said before jumping far to the east in a single bound that made the majority of the beast disappear over a nearby mountain, making it to the horizon in only ten or so jumps before it disappeared.
The Shinobi Alliance was understandably stunned silent for a few moments, making Gaara realise that he was possibly the only high ranking person in the Alliance left. So he gathered what little chakra he had left and used some of the massive amount of sand that Shukaku had made then left behind to lift himself high up into the air, turning to face the allied forces as they started to react and move again.
"Everyone! The I think it's pretty fair to say that this war is all but won!" Gaara shouted happily.
Many Shinobi cheered at his words, letting Gaara see the few who were watching him with furrows in their brows, 'The Kages... A, Tsunade, Light and... where's Onoki?' Gaara thought as he spotted all but the Tsuchikage.
Jiraiya and Tsunade stumbled as they helped Light and Orochimaru respectably up to the sand podium that Gaara had risen, causing many to stare at the Snake Sannin once they realised who he was and that Tsunade was helping him. A marched confidently through the crowd under his own power, though he was definitely as drained as the others as they all came to a stop behind Gaara.
The Shinobi alliance continued cheering and hugging each other in victory and celebration as the Higher-Ups gathered, "The Statue and the Main enemy force is destroyed, but any words of those other Zetsu spawn points?" Light asked weakly as Jiraiya settled him down.
Gaara shook his head, "Since the one that Hokage and Raikage destroyed with Naruto back with the Jonin exam invasion we haven't been able to locate a single one." Gaara said.
"That's not true!"
The group turned as a panting but smiling Yamato arrived, "My squadron managed to locate one once I felt an odd pull on my Wood Chakra. But I can feel that pull even now, many of them far out of my range of standard detection, I'm sure Naruto can feel them as well with his Wood Chakra." Yamato reported.
The Higher-Ups looked at each other with a spark of hope in their eyes as Tsunade stepped up to her ninja, "Once we all regroup at the alliance headquarters we'll make plans for a united hunting squadron to find and destroy these spawn points." Tsunade said confidently.
A nodded, "Obviously we should make two teams, one with this fella in charge and one with Naruto." he agreed.
Jiraiya was the one to look around in worry, his eyes searching for the signature bright blonde hair that symbolised his student, "Speaking of which, where is the gaki?" Jiraiya asked out loud as he looked into the still celebrating crowd.
"AHH!"
The cheering stopped and everybody turned at the ninja that had stabbed two other ninjas in the neck, it's disguise falling off to reveal a White Zetsu that turned, ready to attack another stunned still ninja before a shadow appeared behind it.
Kakuzu's chest opened up as his tendrils poured out, wrapping the Zetsu up and breaking it neck as it was pulled in and then through his body, losing it's heart as it came out the other side dead and Kakuzu put himself back together, "Everybody down! I can sense three more!" Kakuzu shouted, his two Wood Hearts beating in tandem as the new one settled into his system.
The Shinobi Alliance trusted their captain and dropped to the floor, but the Zetsu in disguise seemed to believe it was a good idea to leap at Kakuzu in an attack.
Kakuzu formed a hand seals for the one Wood Jutsu he knew, "ENTRAPPING VINES!" Kakuzu shouted.
Vines grew out of the airborne Zetsu, making them scream in pain as their own body was turned into a bundling wraith of vines that Kakuzu merely stomped on as they landed, their movements stopping instantly.
Kakuzu turned and nodded to the Kage as the Alliance Shinobi began to surround Kakuzu, asking him a million questions at a time as he merely stepped back in shock, not used to being the center of attention at any point in the last sixty or so years.
Orochimaru chuckled as the group looked at Kakuzu, "He could sense the Zetsu as well, I say three squads." Orochimaru said.
Many in the group looked at Orochimaru with uncertainty as he gave his opinion, but Light was the one to speak up, "That's all well and good," he began before coughing heavily, "But can we please go back now? I kinda need medical attention."
The group chuckled as Gaara used his sand to lift the group up above the tree line, though there was only ten trees in view beyond the crater and massive battlefield, signifying a sign for the alliance to follow as they slowly drifted back towards the Alliance headquarters, the battalion helping eachother out as they began moving in a tight group so that no Zetsu could appear in disguise and let themselves in.
Towards the center of the group, Kakashi sighed in relief as he lowered his headband over his eye after checking that everyone around him had human chakra signatures and not plant based ones, "Looks like it really is over." Kakashi muttered to himself.
"Sensei?"
Kakashi turned and instantly stepped closer to Sasuke and Sakura, taking Sakura's other arm over his shoulder to take her weight as she sighed in relief, absolutely exhausted and running on barely a shred of chakra, "How are you two? Are you okay?" Kakashi asked.
Sakura weakly nodded, though didn't say anything else since she was so tired, but Sasuke nodded, looking like he could even go another round, "Yeah, I've taken a soldier pill cause there's something I need to check." Sasuke said.
Kakashi raised a brow, though he took the tired Sakura onto his back at Sasuke's words, guessing that he needed to go somewhere, "Something bugging you Sasuke?" Kakashi asked.
Sasuke nodded and glanced ahead as they walked amongst a group of allied ninja, though he pointed ahead to a specific duo that was surrounded protectively by some Jonin, "Those two, the ones that saved the Six Tails," Sasuke began, pointing to Kenpachi and Yachiru, "They were in Naruto's protective guard. And if they're here..." Sasuke said, letting his sentence trail off.
Kakashi's visible eye widened, "Then where is Naruto?" he asked as Sasuke nodded and disappeared into the crowd, going to ask the two that very question.
##########
Naruto groaned as he opened his eyes, glancing left and right as he realised he lay just to the side of the deepest point in a massive crater. The cerulean blue of his eyes slowly sweeping from side to side before he went to take a deep breath, coughing as he felt a weight on his chest.
Naruto looked down, his eyes widened as he saw the top of a familiar shade of mint green hair, "F-Fuu-chan?" Naruto croaked out as he raised a weak arm, propping himself as his eyes focussed better.
Naruto sat up, the small child in his arms rolling as she began to cry thick tears, causing Naruto to realise the little girl wasn't Fuu. Naruto lifted the one-year-old looking child into his weak arms and cradled her softly, "Shh... it's okay..." Naruto murmured to the baby as he ignored his dirt and blood stained clothes to pat the baby on the back, feeling something odd.
Naruto looked down at the girl in his arms as her tears stopped, causing Naruto's eyes to widen at pitch black bug eyes as he realised what he was feeling was a second set of arms. Naruto's mind flashed to the Six Paths technique he had used, making Naruto realise that he had made her.
This child, using the physical form of Fu and the spirit of a mere child version of the Seven Tailed Beetle. A human child fuelled by demonic chakra. Naruto had made someone.
Naruto felt his own tears build in his eyes as he hugged the suddenly smiling baby gently to his chest, "She's our daughter Fuu-chan..." Naruto murmured softly before holding the baby up above his head, "Hello Taifuu-chan, little Whirlwind." Naruto said with a smile on his face.
"N-Naruto?"
Naruto and Taifuu both turned at the new voice, seeing Sasuke's wide eyes staring at him in shock as the rest of his body faded into existence thanks to his Mirage Shunshin.
Naruto smiled, "Hey Aniki, how's it going?" he said casually as the smile grew into a grin and he began to laugh in relief as he realised the battle was over, causing the baby in his arms to laugh too, coming out as an adorable dribbly giggle.
Sasuke blinked in shock as he looked at his brother. The were obvious changes, Red-Hair, suddenly streamline muscle making him seem taller and thinner, though even more powerful. And then the not so obvious changes, like the Chakra pools behind his eyes that Sasuke's Sharingan could see, confirming that he had in fact seen the Sharingan in his brother's eyes. Not even mentioning the Baby that was in his arms or where the Bijuu had gone after coming over to apparently look in the mostly empty crater.
There was a lot of explaining to do.
##########
The War was over.
The finally regrouped Alliance ninjas joined together as those from the Minor villages filtered one by one between Kakuzu and Yamato to confirm they weren't Zetsu before they began to move back towards their individual minor villages in groups of no less then twenty.
After nearly spending the whole night processing everyone, eventually letting in group of up to ten at a time as Yamato and Kakuzu got used to the sense for Wood Chakra.
But that night gave time for the Kage to convene.
Mifune had been the first to leave with his men, saying that the time of the Samurai was done with in the ninja world. They would keep to themselves in the Land of Iron unless called upon again.
It was at this point that Onoki and Iruka arrived, the Tsuchikage laughing as he explained how easy it was for him and the ninja following him to destroy the few remaining enemies. But the seal master only had the chance to apologise as his seals didn't disconnect the Reanimated Ninja immediately. But at least none of them healed automatically, making everyone's job easier.
So with the majority of their matters resolved. The Kages gathered the remaining ninjas in the valley again, though unlike the first time where everyone had segregated themselves, there was no distinction between villages now, only Shinobi.
Tsunade was the one to step forward with Light and Onoki by her sides since they were the ones that had the most distance to travel, "Shinobi! We have won these battles! But I'm sad to say that the war isn't exactly over yet!" Tsunade declared, Light stepping up by her side to continue since all his visible burns were healed.
"We ask that you all take caution until the Four Kage come to an agreement concerning the Zetsu Spawn. If you see any, run or kill it. Those are the only options we have at this time and I'm sorry about that." Light said.
Onoki floated forward as he raised his arm into the air, "Alright then, those from the Stone Village! We're leaving now but I want every ninja here to know!" He said as he floated out over the massive crowd, holding a Shinobi Headband above his head, "Any ninja who presents this headband is welcome in my village. This unification of the Elemental Nations is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reach for true peace and I hope this is the first step!" Onoki declared.
There was what started as a small cheer before it erupted throughout the crowd of ninjas.
Tsunade smiled as she watched everyone cheer, though the Stone ninjas hugged their fellow Shinobi as they exited from the back of the alliance before Light floated out over the crowd in the same manner, "Sand Shinobi and those who have the headbands I declare the same! Let's return home and please! Any of you who want to please do come visit." He said as he began to fly after Onoki, his own Sand ninjas following as the two armies walked side-by-side for the longest of the journeys since their villages were on the western side of the Elemental Nations.
Tsunade waited for a moment of silence as A stepped out behind her, surprising many as he wasn't their earlier, making some fear the worst for their Kage, "Leaf Ninja! We'll be taking our leave as well! Any who wear the Shinobi Headband will be welcomed to our village to of course!" She said before stepping to the side.
A frowned as he looked over the large number of people, "Those of you who remain took part in something special. I hope you all realise that." A said rather kindly, surprising many with his expression.
This was the last that was heard of the Raikage by the Leaf Shinobi, since they all began to follow after Tsunade as she left with a Leaf Shunshin, appearing on the other side of her battalion before she ran ahead, her Higher-Ups surrounding her as she led her ninjas home.
##########
Chapter End.
END OF WAR... kinda!
The next chapter will be one of the final chapters of ADJ: P2, but part three is coming.
Should I do a list of what to expect from Part Three upon the release of my final chapter?
Tell me what you think of the 'child' Naruto and Fuu have 'had together'. This way a piece of Fuu lives on with the Uzumaki-Namikaze family.
So now, everyone returns home. What awaits their return?
Next time: Chapter Thirty-Nine: Questions and Answers.