Jinchuriki of the Leaf Chap. 3
Rika and her team froze as they sensed the familiar sensation of demonic chakra activating. They scanned the area discreetly, attempting to pinpoint the exact location. Takuya nodded and pointed to the west, where they promptly headed. As they sailed through the trees, Takato turned to the others.
"Do you think it's that kid?" he asked. His friends shrugged.
"I haven't the slightest idea, but in the end does it matter who is it as long as they're a Jinchuriki?" Rika retorted. The crimson haired boy sighed. She had a valid point.
Suddenly, two new waves of demonic energy made themselves known, forcing the group to stop in their tracks. They all wore a similar wide eyed expression.
"Three activations simultaneously after each other? That's nearly unheard of....." Takuya said in wonder.
"The first chakra has to be related somehow." Rika offered.
"This is too convenient to be a coincidence. We may be fighting three Jinchuriki soon." Takato mentioned. They nodded at this possibility. Now would be a good time to check on their 'tenants.'
Rika looked towards her inner demon and smiled. She stood in the middle of a mystic forest. Small fireflies surrounded her as she looked up into the mid-evening skies.
"So, you ready to kick some ass, Kisaki?" she asked. Kisaki smiled warmly.
"Rika-chan, you know me. Of course I am." he replied.
Takato grinned broadly at his inner demon. He knew that he was itching for a good fight. He was inside a large cave coated in silver and steel. It gleamed in the small amount of sunlight available.
"I hope you're ready for this, Kikai-san." he stated.
"You better believe it!" Kikai replied.
Takuya cracked his knuckles as he turned to his inner demon. He stood at the bottom of a canyon of some kind, where the sunlight barely touched down upon the ground.
"Alright. You ready to go, Maruishi-chan?" he asked. Maruishi nodded in response.
"Yes. Just don't be overly reckless." she said.
Rika turned to her teammates, both ready to fight. She nodded in confirmation before they sped off through the trees once more, now more determined than before to find their mysterious Jinchuriki.
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Masato and his team looked around for the source of that strange chakra they had just felt. They didn't know why, but it felt so familiar to them.
"I wonder what that was anyway." Umi pondered aloud. For a moment, Masato could've sworn that his friend's eyes had turned a turquoise blue in color, but chalked it up to his imagination.
"If we're meant to know, we'll find out eventually. If not, then it'll be just another unsolved mystery of life." Naito responded.
"Naito has a point. We should focus on getting through the exam first before going on a wild goose chase." Masato offered. Umi sighed and relented to her friend's logic.
"Alright. Let's keep going." she urged. The group headed towards the east, where they sensed a lot of chakra being used.
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Taiyou stopped suddenly and turned around, his eyes scanning the area. He could've sworn he felt an enemy presence.
"Did you guys feel that?" he asked his teammates.
"That weird chakra? Yeah, but I don't see anyone around here." Natoyo offered.
"We should still keep our guards up. You never know in this kind of place." Aki replied. Taiyou nodded. Flashing a quick series of hand signs, he began to activate his Kekkei Genkai.
"Atsusagan!" he called. His eyes changed from their normal green to a light orange in color, with his pupils becoming nothing more than a thin outline within his eye. With his heat-seeing eyes, he was able to detect a fair amount of chakra being used in the distance.
"Over this way! C'mon, let's go!" he announced. His teammates nodded and followed the young shinobi towards the fighting.
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Subaru drew a kunai from his pouch and held it in a defensive position to fend off his enemy, but none came. Kouen and Hikari were similarly confused.
"You guys felt that chakra too, right?" Hikari asked. The two boys nodded in response.
"This is weird. Some kind of massive battle must be going on for this much chakra to be released." Kouen said, marveling at the sheer amount of power being released. Subaru turned to his cousin quickly.
"Hikari. You know what to do." he said. She nodded in response while making a hand sign.
"Divine Vision." she said in barely over a whisper. Using a special genjutsu, she scanned out into the further out areas of the forest. A flash of chakra caught her vision as she pointed to the north.
"This way!" she said. The boys nodded and followed their purple haired teammate, her vision leading the way.
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Shikamaru and the rest of Team 10 looked up, suddenly worried about the massive chakra distortion in the air. There was some kind of massive brawl occurring so soon in the exam?
"You guys felt that?" Shikamaru asked his teammates. Ino nodded slowly while Chouji seemed nervous about the chakra's feeling. To be honest with himself, he was nervous about it as well. It was not human.
"What do you think we should do?" Ino asked him.
"It's troublesome, but I think we should try to find this battle going on. If we're lucky, we can pick up a Heaven Scroll and be on our merry way without having to put much effort into it." he explained. His teammates nodded in concurrence with the plan.
"Alright, let's go!" Chouji said. The trio headed towards the strange chakra, hoping to gain off the spoils of the battle.
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Hinata looked behind her quickly and expectantly. There it was again. That strange chakra. It was almost as if it was following her, beckoning her to follow it to God knows where. Kiba and Shino noticed their teammate's trance like state.
"Yo, Hinata, are you okay?" Kiba asked, generally concerned. Suddenly, the young Hyuga heiress broke into a sprint and ran the opposite way, surprising her friends.
"What the!? Hinata, where are you going?!" the young Inuzuka shouted. Akamaru whimpered slightly, already missing the presence of his comrade.
"Quick. We must give pursuit." Shino said calmly, chasing after her with Kiba and nin-dog Akamaru close behind.
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Neji, Lee and Tenten froze in their tracks, their eyes wide open. That chakra......there was nothing normal about it.
"My friends, did you feel that chakra? It was faint, but even I was able to detect it." Lee admitted. This surprised both of his teammates. Lee wasn't able to use chakra, so for him to sense it meant that this was big. Really big.
"I wonder who it is that has this mysterious chakra." Tenten asked.
"I'm not sure, but I believe it would be in our best interest to find out. We shall not engage unless necessary." Neji stated plainly. Activating his Byakugan, he quickly caught onto the trail of chakra residue in the air.
"Come now, follow me." he coaxed his teammates, who nodded and disappeared behind him into the trees.
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Gaara found himself trembling in excitement at the feeling of such chakra. Temari and Kankuro felt it as well and were baffled. Their were other Jinchuriki at this exam? That would only mean bad news for them.
"There are others here. I will find them and feed them to my sand. That is what Mother wants." Gaara said in a phlegmatic tone. As he walked past his siblings, they smirked to themselves.
"I don't know who those poor saps are, but they probably won't live to see the end of the exam." Kankuro said.
"No one has ever fought Gaara and lived, and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon." Temari agreed. They followed their brother, who was leading them to the source of the demonic chakra.
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Hiashi burst into Sarutobi's office in a rush. His breathing was heavy and the look on the old man's face told him that he already knew. He had felt the demonic chakra as well.
"Hokage-sama, I take it you felt those chakra signatures as well?" he asked.
"I'm certain half of the village felt it. Two more Jinchuriki have been discovered, and at the worse possible time." Sarutobi said regretfully.
"Do we know who they are?" Hiashi asked.
"I cannot determine for now. However, you can be certain that Naruto will be able to handle things." the Hokage replied. The Hyuga head nodded and looked out the window towards the Forest of Death. 'Hinata......Neji.......please be careful.' he thought.
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Naruto drew three kunai from his pouch and threw one at each of his targets. 'Sasuke' – who Naruto figured was Hachibi – easily sidestepped his while 'Sakura' – or Shichibi as the blonde guessed – flipped back to avoid it. Orochimaru knocked it away with his own kunai, then came at the blonde with an amazing speed. His fist found his whiskered cheek in a matter of seconds.
Naruto flew across the field, landing on the far side of it before skidding to a halt. Before the Sannin could follow through with his assault, a mass of flames surrounded him, dancing around him in a mighty conflagration. He looked up to see Hachibi staring down at him smirking evilly. Orochimaru released several snakes from his sleeves, which launched themselves up at the possessed Uchiha.
Suddenly, there was a flash of pink before the snakes were dissolved in a mystic blaze. Shichibi hovered above them, floating on wings made of her demonic chakra. Hachibi glared at her with malicious intent.
"Damn turkey, time for you to fry!" he said. He effortlessly shot a stream of fire from his mouth to her position, hoping to make contact. Shichibi only smirked slightly.
"Is this really all you have? Pathetic." she gloated. With a flap of her wings, she created a mighty tempest which blew the flames from existence as if it were nothing more than a candle. However, a snake wrapped itself around her ankle and brought her down to earth, slamming her into the ground with tremendous force.
Orochimaru recalled his summoned creature and turned his attention to Hachibi, who had left his perch in the canopy of the trees. He brought up his leg to kick him, but he caught it. That did not deter the Jinchuriki, who twisted his body to bring around his other leg. Orochimaru ducked under the attack, but failed to see the fist waiting for him upon his movement. The snake Sannin was sent into the air by the chakra-powered attack.
Just as Hachibi prepared for his follow-up strike, Naruto suddenly emerged from underground and drove his fist into his jaw. The possessed Uchiha was knocked into the air, where two Naruto clones were waiting for him. Both charged their fists with the Kyuubi's chakra, making them glow crimson red. Hachibi was unable to do anything to prevent the double demonic punch that landed straight into his gut. He rocketed back down to earth, creating a large crater upon impact.
The blonde Genin drew several shuriken from his pouch and threw them at the airborne Shichibi, who effortlessly glided past the stars of death. She formed a bolt of flames in her hand and threw it at him in a hasty fashion. Naruto jumped over the flames, barely missing the attack, then created a group of shadow clones to help him fight.
Shichibi smirked as the blonde replicated himself. Did he honestly think that would help him win? Suddenly, snakes emerged from the ground and threatened to bite her ankle. She took to the air to avoid them, but found herself in sight of Hachibi's descending attack.
Naruto grimaced as he saw the large fireball falling to earth. If that made contact, then Shichibi – and therefore Sakura – would most like die. He could not let that happen! He quickly went through a series of hand seals, his heartbeat racing. 'I hope this elemental training paid off as well!' he thought. Upon finishing the seal set, he glanced upward at the two Jinchuriki.
"Wind Style: Whirlwind Tempest!" he called. A fierce and powerful wind was summoned, wiping the flames from existence and blowing the two demons against the trees with a tremendous thud.
Naruto could not admire his work for long, as Orochimaru appeared behind him and threatened to decapitate him. He flipped back, avoiding the Sannin's sword, and created another group of shadow clones to replace the others previously destroyed by his wind attack.
Orochimaru blocked a kick from one of the clones and destroyed it with a quick slash. Pivoting his body, he cut through five more clones, each one dissipating with a satisfying pop. However, his small victory was short-lived, as a clone's fist made contact with his skull with great force, knocking him from his feet. Suddenly, three more clones kicked him into the air, each one kicking higher than the other. As he ascended, the real Naruto awaited him with his leg extended. Without warning, the blonde brought his kick down on his target's head, knocking him into the ground.
Naruto landed next to the Sannin's form, only to find a pile of mud in his place. 'Shit, a substitution!' he mentally cursed. He felt his current target appear behind him and turned his head in horror as the Sannin brought his blade through his abdomen.
"Die." he muttered in an eerily calm voice. Suddenly, in a puff of vapor, a small wooden log was where Naruto once stood, the cold steel pierced through the wood.
Before he could pursue the blonde, a rain of fire came from above, blocking his path. Glancing upward, he spied Hachibi and Shichibi coming at him in a rage.
"Die you worthless scum!" Hachibi shouted upon spewing more flames from his mouth. The snake Sannin disappeared underground as the attack sailed over his head. Before he could move, however, Shichibi slammed her fist into the ground, creating a large fissure that cracked the very earth in two. The Sannin found himself trapped in the demonic girl's trap.
"Time to finish this pathetic excuse for a human." she said deadly. Suddenly, thin chakra threads wrapped around her and pinned her to a tree. She looked around in a rage, her pink eyes scanning the area. Hachibi smirked as he clasped his hands together for his attack. Roaring fire emerged from his mouth, trailing down the threads towards the entrapped female. The attack seared their target, burning her skin to a dark red while forcing her through the trunk of the tree she was pinned to.
Hachibi admired his work from his perch. One down, two to go. The battle was in his favor. However, this was changed when a certain blonde boy put a kunai to his neck.
"Move and I'll kill you." he threatened. The dragon Bijuu scoffed.
"You do that and your teammate dies as well." he replied. The grip on the kunai only tightened, surprising the demon.
"You would sacrifice your teammate's life to win a battle?" he asked in a shocked tone. Naruto glared at him, with blue meeting green in the center.
"No. I would sacrifice a teammate to save him from the likes of you." he replied. The pure malice and integrity behind the blonde's voice shocked him. Never had he met a human like this.
Shichibi rose from the aftermath of the dragon's attack, thoroughly ticked off. However, before she could make a movement, two clones of the blonde boy grabbed her, with one holding a kunai to her neck.
"Gotcha." he muttered, her eyes wide with shock. How had she fallen for such a trick?
"You really plan on killing me? Even if it means losing your friend?" she asked in an incredulous tone. No benevolent person would ever kill their teammates. It was unheard of.
That's when she felt the metal of the kunai pressed against her neck.
He was being serious. If she made one false move, she would lose her life – and her head.
"I'd rather lose her to this knife than you." he replied.
Naruto's mind was racing at the predicament he had placed himself into to. He had trapped both of his possessed teammates with his shadow clones, but Orochimaru was still a major threat to his plan. Peaking over the bushes, he saw the snake Sannin staring up at the scene in the trees. It was obvious he was waiting for his chance to strike all of them down in a single blow.
He pondered his options carefully. There was a very slim chance he would land a strike on Orochimaru with his guard down, but he wasn't a Sannin by title only. He had the skill to back it up. He crossed that option off the list.
Concerning his teammates, he knew he had to find a way to defeat them without hurting them too much. As long as they thought he was seriously going to kill them, they would most likely cooperate. Now, though, he faced quite a conundrum. How was he supposed to reseal their demons? He had no knowledge of sealing jutsu, and he didn't think knocking them unconscious would be of any assistance.
"Dammit, I need to think this through carefully. I cannot afford to screw this up." he quietly chided himself. He should not have done that.
Orochimaru threw several kunai at the tree he was hidden behind. As soon as the metal knives embedded themselves within the wooden bark, Naruto returned it with his own volley of kunai. The Sannin easily weaved his body through the rain of metal, coming closer to his target with each step.
"You can't honestly believe that you can defeat me with this level of mediocre skill!" he boasted. Before the blonde could guard effectively, he had him in his sights. With a powerful movement, he thrust his knee into the young boy's gut. He spit out the crimson contents of his mouth on reflex before being punched square in the jaw. A deafening crack was heard as his body collided with the side of a tree.
The shadow clones holding the two demons were dispelled once the boy was knocked around by the snake Sannin. They glared at each other, then down at Orochimaru.
"Perhaps you and I should put aside our differences for now." Hachibi suggested.
"I believe you are correct. With Kyuubi most likely gone, we have no quarrel with one another. Now, we have a snake to feed upon." Shichibi replied. They jumped down from the canopy of the trees, preparing to strike the snake Sannin with every ounce of their fury.
(Inside Naruto's Mindscape)
The blonde lay on the floor, nearly unconscious. He looked up at the large fox in it's marble cage and smiled slightly.
"Man.......did I ever mess up....." he chuckled.
"It's not the end of the world. There is still a chance for you to win this battle." Kyuubi mentioned. Naruto raised an eyebrow in curiosity. What was he talking about? This battle was as good as lost from the beginning, yet he had fought it anyway. Even now a clear answer to his motives eluded him. Yet the fox's claim did pique his interest.
"How do you mean?" he asked in a curious tone. The demonic Bijuu glanced down at his container as the boy stood to listen to him.
"If you call upon enough of my chakra, you will enter a state called the 'Spirit Medium.' In this state, my powers are amplified, and more of my abilities are granted to you without any training needed. However, you tend to tire quickly while in this form, as there has been no proper way to channel all the access energy. You'll feel the sting of it later, but that is then and this is now. If you don't do something now, you may not have a 'then.'" he explained. Naruto agreed eagerly, not entertaining the idea of dying in these woods.
"Alright, but how do I access it?" he asked quickly. The Kyuubi shrugged.
"My previous container called upon this form by becoming enraged. However, that did not end well for either party involved. You, however, may be able to call upon this form by merely summoning my chakra." he guessed. Naruto sighed dejectedly.
"Well, we'll never know if we don't try. I need to be sent to the conscious plain before Orochimaru kills them – or they kill each other." he said.
"Yes. You must defeat Orochimaru in this battle! It may very well determine the future of Konoha." Kyuubi warned as the young boy faded away in front of him.
(Current Day: Forest of Death)
The three combatants were furiously exchanging blows, with Orochimaru fending off the two Jinchuriki. Neither side was attaining any advantage, as both were beginning to dawdle in their movements. 'My body will not be able to handle much more of this. I must end this!' Orochimaru thought.
Before any moves could be made, an ardent presence made itself known. Waves of energy were being expelled in high quantities. The snake Sannin turned to see the face of he who had such power.
He found Hell to have been unleashed.
The blonde gaki they had all thought dead was now standing in the middle of a fierce torrent of crimson chakra. It spiraled around his crouching form, the energy giving him increasing power with every passing second. He raised his head, revealing crimson eyes that screamed for bloodshed. An inhuman roar echoed throughout the forest, piercing the very heavens.
"I'll destroy you!" he shouted in animosity. Before a protest could be uttered, the blonde had appeared underneath Orochimaru and delivered a powerful kick to the Sannin's chin. The older shinobi rocketed into the air, the force of his chakra far too great to handle. Naruto appeared above him and slammed his fist into his gut, forcing him back to the ground. A large crater was formed upon impact, with the foundation of the forest itself shaken at the sheer force the attack was dealt with.
Orochimaru climbed out of the rubble of his landing, coughing up blood from his internal injuries. This boy had the ability to kill him! A damn Genin! There was no way that the mighty Orochimaru was going to die against an impudent brat like this! Though it pained him, he knew he must retreat, lest death be his punishment. He glared at the three Jinchuriki before disappearing in a flurry of leaves.
"One day.......I will have my vengeance!" he voice echoed as he disappeared.
Naruto turned to Hachibi and Shichibi, whom both seemed excited about the show of his powers.
"This shall be an interesting fight." the dragon demon said.
"Release my comrades or you shall suffer worse than all before you." Naruto stated in a dark, serious tone.
"Your lies do not faze us in the lightest, Kyuubi. We all know that you will die here if you battle us alone." Shichibi retorted. Suddenly, Naruto was behind her, ready for the kill. She ducked under his claw, her scalp saved from his wrath. However, he grabbed her by her hair and went to knock her unconscious.
"Return from whence you came, wench!" he said. Shichibi had other plans. Grabbing a kunai from her pouch, she severed her hair from her head and rolled to the side, dodging Naruto's fist. The severed locks of bubblegum colored hair were swept away in the breeze, leaving her with her hair to her shoulders.
"I believe this fight is not yet over." she replied spitefully. Hachibi appeared behind Naruto, ready to strike at him with his claws. The blonde jumped back from his teammate's attack, only to be met with Shichibi's fist. He flew into the air, righting himself mid-flight, and landed in a crouching position on a branch above his targets.
"Come back here and fight like a true Bijuu!" Hachibi shouted. Naruto smirked at his teammate's arrogance. Possessed or not, he still had an over-inflated ego.
"I'm afraid that this battle is over. You lose." he stated plainly. The two demons glared at him with daggers in their eyes. How dare he proclaim himself the victor when they were still able to fight! The boy must have a death wish.
Naruto cupped his hands together in front of him, focusing his crimson chakra to his palms. Soon, a mass of energy began to take shape, with his hands cradling the attack. Upon completion, the technique had the appearance of a small orb with a large outer shell and a smaller inner core. The outer shell was a dark red in color, while the inner core became lighter the further it went it.
"Demonic Art: Crimson Sphere!" he called to the heavens. He jumped down from his perch, aiming the attack at the two Jinchuriki in front of him. Shichibi, summoning her wings, flew up to meet him in the air.
"Prepare to die!" she shouted. As she closed the distance, Naruto pulled his fist back and threw the sphere at her like a baseball. She glided to the side, but failed to see Hachibi standing in the target range. His eyes widened upon sight of it. There was no chance of dodging either. He had lost.
"I-Impossible!" he shouted before the attack made contact. In an explosion of red chakra, Sasuke's body flew through the air and landed on the ground below with a soft thud. The Uchiha was unconscious and shallowly breathing, but he would live.
Shichibi stared in disbelief at her mistake. However, that's when she remembered Naruto was still there. She glanced up towards him to see a second sphere prepared to slam into her. Her eyes wide with shock, she found herself unable to move before she suffered the same fate as her partner. She howled in pain as the attack connected. Sakura's body was thrown against a tree, splintering it to the point of breaking. Her wings shattered upon impact, becoming nothing more than particles in the wind. Her unconscious form fell to the ground in a heap, herself in a similar condition as her crush.
Naruto felt the chakra recede back into it's prison as he approached the broken forms of his teammates. Sunlight began to shine through the thick forestation above. Knowing that the following days were to be long and difficult, he summoned two shadow clones to help carry his injured teammates while he scouted for a safe refuge for the night.
(A few moments later)
Takato was a little disappointed when the clearing was void of people, but the environment said otherwise. Upon observation, it was almost as though a war had torn through the area remorselessly.
"This place is in shambles." Rika stated in utter disbelief.
"Whoever was fighting here made a mess of the place, that's for sure." Takuya remarked, glancing at the hole scorched through one of the trees.
"This was no ordinary battle." Takato said. It was obvious to anyone with half a brain. The damage done to the clearing was not something you would normally see Genin capable off. This was the work of several shinobi ranked Jonin or higher. He thanked God that they would not fight against those Jinchuriki, for it was obvious that they were far stronger than they appeared.
"Come on. I sensed their chakra going this way. Let's go." Rika said calmly to her team. The brothers nodded in response and followed her towards their destination.
(Later that night: Forest of Death)
Hinata looked around frantically. She knew it was here! It had to be! She would not stop until she found that chakra! Something deep inside her very being yearned for that feeling, the comforting sensation that came with it.
Kiba and Shino marveled at her sudden vitality. Usually, a three hour training session would leave the Hyuga heiress drained of chakra and in need of rest. Now, however, she had been running around at top speed – with her Byakugan active the whole time – for almost twice as long. They wondered what in the world could possibly motivate their normally timid and frail teammate into such a frenzy.
A cry in the night suddenly caught their attention. The trio (quartet if Akamaru is included) turned their heads at the sudden shout. Someone was getting his ass handed to him, that was for sure.
Hinata, however, was deeply concerned. There was something about that shout that seemed so familiar to her. Another shout, this one louder and more frustrated, rang out, alarming the group. Whoever this was, they were being attacked by no amateur.
Various thoughts and memories flowed through her mind, attempting to discern the owner of the shouts. One memory in particular stood out the most from the others. It was of a year prior, when they were all still academy students.
(Flashback: One Year Prior: Academy Courtyard)
Naruto threw yet another kunai at the already metal-littered trunk of the tree, only to have it bounce off of one previously implanted. With a frustrated shout, he fell to the ground, exhausted from his efforts.
Hinata watched from afar, too afraid to venture closer. With admiration sparkling in her eyes, she saw as he rose from the ground and went to impale the tree once more.
However, he tripped over his own feet due to his exhausted state. He landed on the ground with a small thud, a cry of pain escaping his throat. Out of concern for the object of her admirations, Hinata ran over to him in a panic.
"Naruto-kun, are you okay?" she asked in a rush. It took him a minute to register her voice, but upon looking up, he smiled widely.
"Oh, hey Hinata. I didn't know you were here. I was just practicing my aim, that's all. As you can see, I could use a little work." he admitted embarrassedly. Reverting back to her timid persona, Hinata looked away with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"Well, um...if you keep practicing, you'll get better at it.....so, don't give up....." she encouraged him in a soft tone. At least she wasn't stuttering, thank goodness. He gave her a thumbs up while grinning.
"Don't worry about it! I promise I'll keep training until I'm the best ninja I can be, and I never go back on my word!" he said happily. He turned away as he continued his training, with Hinata watching from the sidelines. Somehow, her presence made his training that much easier.
(End Flashback: Current Time: Forest of Death)
Her eyes widened in shock and fear as she remembered who's scream they were hearing. Just as before, she sprint in the direction of the shout, praying to any deity that would listen that it wasn't too late.
(Earlier: Forest of Death)
Naruto had set up a temporary shelter for his team. It was simplistic, but it would manage until the morning. He had tended to their more severe injuries, only to find half of them have already healed. Apparently, all Jinchuriki were gifted with accelerated healing.
Thousands of questions ran through his head, each one more confusing than the last. How did this happen? Why were they sealed with demons? What caused their inner beasts to attack? Why was Orochimaru infiltrating the exams? What did he want with Sasuke? He would have loved to know the answers.
Deciding that rest was best at the moment, he cast these questions to the inner recesses of his mind and before long he had drifted into a peaceful sleep.
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The Sound Genin watched with fervid anticipation. Their target was within sight. The meeting with Orochimaru had been.....less than pleasant. Upon appearing, the man looked as through he had been mauled with a wheat thresher. He ordered the four Genin teams in the exam to attack and destroy Uzumaki Naruto and his team.
Of these twelve, half were reluctant to follow through with these orders. These six were wronged by Orochimaru and forced into his service in one way, shape or form and all resented him with a fiery passion. The other six, however, were stronger than they were, so they were forced to put up with it.
Now, these six were sitting and conversing among themselves.
"Do we really want to try this? These kids apparently beat Orochimaru all on their own. We'd be committing suicide if we went against them." one girl complained. She had short dirty blonde hair covering her scalp and dark hazel eyes. She wore a light blue shirt with white sleeves and white shorts. Fishnets coverings adorned her arms and white knee high boots covered her legs.
"We don't want to Yuzu, but we have to. Orders are orders. Kouen and his team don't want to fight either, but they do." one boy replied. He had blue-violet hair and deep blue eyes. He wore a purple vest over a black shirt and blue jeans. Black battle gloves were fitted on each hand.
"Sanba-nii-san is correct. We haven't a choice in the matter." a similar looking girl replied. She had the same eyes and hair as her brother, with a purple hat covering her scalp. She wore a purple crop top with black shorts. Two black bands were wrapped around her wrists.
"So just like that we're giving in? What about our promises to avenge our families?" another girl asked. She had long brown hair in a ponytail and orange eyes. She wore an orange tank top with a pair of black cargo pants. A red ribbon kept her ponytail in place.
"Sayako, Niaka, you both know that we cannot do anything as of yet. We still have time. During the invasion operation, we can betray him and worry no more." the last boy stated. He had long green hair worn down and brown eyes. He wore a white and yellow short-sleeved jumpsuit with white wristbands.
"Takeshi is right. We've no need to worry at the moment. Let's just try and make it look like we care about this inane mission." the last girl said. She had long light blonde hair and deep silver eyes. She wore a white shall over a blue tube top and a pair of black shorts. She also wore fishnet coverings on her wrists and ankles.
"Okay Tomiko, we get it." Niaka said, flipping her ponytail back behind her.
"Let's just wait for the others to give the signal. Then we can just get this over with." Takeshi suggested. The others decided to listen to him and wait. Deep down, however, they were still strongly opposed to their mission. However, with no say in the matter, they had to grin and bear it.
(Concurrently: Forest of Death)
Naruto was awoken by the sound of something in the surrounding woods. His chakra senses went full circle as he scanned the area for enemies. His eyes widened in shock and fear. 'Oh my God there's twelve of them! I cannot fight twelve people at once!' he shouted mentally.
Brandishing a kunai, he peaked his head around the corner of the shelter to get a better view of his potential opponents, but the darkness of night hid them well. What his eyes could not see, however, his spirit could. His chakra senses had practically pinpointed the locations of his opponents.
Despite the small advantage he had, he knew it would not be smart to charge headfirst into this fight. He needed to come up with a strategy beforehand or he could very well end up killed against the numbers he faced. He knew that using Kyuubi's chakra was a necessity for this battle.
Stepping out into the open, he let loose a small wave of killer intent. Hopefully, his enemy would turn tail and flee.
"I know you're out there. If you want to fight, you'll be throwing your life away." he said in the most seriously deadly voice he could manage. He was answered with a chilling cold laugher from the darkness.
"Ah, I was hoping for a challenge and you seem strong enough to give it to me." the voice replied. Suddenly, six Sound ninja jumped out from the bushes, surrounding Naruto with no chance of escape. The blonde ninja was immediately on guard, prepared to counter any attacks they might throw at him.
"Who are you guys?" he asked. One Genin stepped forward. His head was wrapped in bandages, with some kind of shall made of straw on his back, baring some semblance to a porcupine.
"We were sent here by Orochimaru-sama to exterminate the three Jinchuriki children he fought earlier. For your transgressions against the mighty Orochimaru-sama, you will pay with your lives!" he explained.
"Dosu, you talk too much. C'mon Kin, let's show this kid what we're made of." a boy with spiky black hair said.
"Don't have to tell me twice, Zaku." a girl with long black hair replied.
"You better leave some for me." a boy with spiky purple hair interjected.
"Same goes for you, Arashi. Let me have some fun this time." a boy with short black hair said.
"Can it you two. Let's just do this already." a girl with long hot pink hair replied.
"Kegume, Kasuki, get ready." Arashi said to his teammates. Naruto glared at the six Genin in front of him.
"I won't let you harm my friends! If you even so much as lay a finger on them, I'll kill you!" he warned.
"Let's see if you have the firepower to back that up!" Kin challenged him. She threw several senbon needles, hoping to land a hit. Naruto skillfully weaved his body through the shower of needles, then threw his previously drawn kunai at her in counterstrike.
Arashi, however, blocked the shot and sped towards the blonde with amazing speed. He found no time to block as his fist was lodged into his gut, which was followed through with a powerful kick to the chest. Naruto cried out in pain as he sailed through the air.
Before he could right himself, Kegume appeared above him and slammed his large fist into the boy's face. With a frustrated shout, he was sent spiraling into the ground. Naruto quickly broke his fall, rolling along the ground to cushion the impact of the landing. Thankfully he did that, as Kegume had slammed into the spot he had occupied only seconds after he had moved.
With a powerful strike, the blonde slugged the black haired boy in the face with his fist, knocking him off his feet temporarily. Then, he noticed Zaku sliding along the ground, his hands together as if in a hand sign. The Sound boy aimed his palms at the blonde, smirking evilly.
"Slicing Sound Waves!" he called out. Compact waves of sound were launched from the air tubes in his palms, knocking Naruto into the air and against the bark of a large tree. Just as he was about to finish the blonde, however, his target disappeared in a puff of smoke. The real Naruto appeared behind him, his hands together in a hand seal.
"Wind Style: Whirlwind Tempest!" he called. The blades of wind slammed into Zaku, cutting the skin on his exposed arms and slicing the fabric of his clothing. He landed a fair distance away from the boy, rolling along the ground due to the force of the attack.
Before he could enjoy his victory, a fire jutsu launched by Kasuki caught him off guard, searing his skin with many small burns. He grit his teeth and glared at the offending kunoichi. Acting quickly, he threw several kunai at her, hoping to land at least once. The metal knives were blown away by Dosu, who released a massive sound wave from the gauntlet on his wrist.
Naruto turned his attention back to Arashi, who was walking towards the shelter he had made. Without even batting an eye, his fist connected with the boy's face, sending him flying in the other direction. Breathing heavily, he deflected a round of needles thrown at him by Kin, but was unable to block the massive punch delivered by Kegume. He rolled along the ground before landing with a thud.
He slowly rose from the ground, his injuries from both now and before beginning to take their toll. His knees were shaking from exhaustion as he glared at the six Sound Genin in front of him.
"D-Damn you all....." he muttered in anger. They scoffed at his plight. Is this the boy Orochimaru had really warned them about? He was a pathetic weakling! Ah well, not everyone was as gifted as they were.
"Too bad for you. You weren't that much fun." Kegume admitted. Naruto felt Kyuubi's chakra enter his coils, the fiery sensation a familiar one to him now. He found it ironic, considering how he used to fear this power. Now he embraced it as a part of him, as a weapon to be used to protect those who were precious to him.
"Let's finish this brat already, then move over to his teammates. This'll be the easiest mission we've had in a long while." Kasuki remarked. Arashi smirked in delight.
"My pleasure. You can go handle his teammates. I'll finish up over here." he said, drawing a kunai. He walked over to his target slowly, watching in amusement as the blonde tried to lift himself from the ground.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Takeshi and his squad couldn't bare to watch the murders of the Konoha Genin. Such heartless killing could not be what being a shinobi was about. It was wrong and vile, yet they could do nothing against it.
Yuzu contemplated using her bow to save the young blonde boy, but found herself unable to pull back the bowstring. She could not fight against the elder Sound Genin. They were too strong for her, and the others as well. If they fought against them now, it would most certainly mean their deaths.
That's when the young boy said something that they would never regret hearing.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Rika, Takato and Takuya stopped in their movements. The chakra signature was close, the presence strong in the air. The trio quickly peered from behind the trees and into a small clearing, where a horrid sight met their eyes.
The young boy from earlier was lying on the ground, battered, bruised and bloody, while an advancing Sound Genin was going in for the kill. Such cold-blooded behavior was so unfathomable that it was almost taboo.
"Rika, what do we do?" Takato asked. The blue eyed girl looked out into the scene and nodded in confirmation with herself.
"We help. We cannot allow this to happen. Takuya, Takato, get ready for battle." she stated. Before the trio could deploy themselves, however, the boy spoke something that reminded them as to why they were here.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Hinata had led her team on a wild goose chase, but they had finally found whatever it was they were looking for. The members of Team 8 found themselves beside a clearing, where there was apparently a battle going on. Upon peering out into the battlefield, they were mortified.
Naruto was close to unconsciousness, his teammates nowhere to be seen. Six Genin from Oto were in the field as well, some looking more banged up than others. A purple haired boy was walking towards the blonde with a kunai in hand.
They were awestruck at the sheer malice the boy held in his eyes as he stared at Naruto. He didn't deserve this. What had he done to receive such a cruel fate?
The young Genin subconsciously agreed with one another to assist the young blonde. However, just as they were preparing to fight, Naruto began to speak, saying something that would change their outlook on life forever.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Naruto glared at Arashi as he came closer to his target. Dammit, there was no way in hell he was going out this way! Feeling the crimson chakra coming to a peak, he began to rise from the ground.
"You think you're some kind of powerful warrior, just because you were chosen by a low-life bastard like Orochimaru? I spit on that kind of power! True power comes from within yourself, the very essence of your heart and soul. It stems from the desire to protect those you cherish, and flourishes when much more is at stake. Right now, you're threatening my precious people, my few friends on this entire planet earth, and you think I'm gonna let you get away with it?!" he exclaimed. As he spoke, his crimson chakra exploded from his body, forming a powerful aura around his form. All movement in the clearing came to a standstill as the six Sound Genin prepared to fight off the young Jinchuriki.
"Ah, so the demon's powers finally show themselves. I was wondering when the container of the great Kyuubi no Kitsune would show us what he was made of." Arashi stated nonchalantly. Naruto shot him a crimson glare, coated with death.
"Yes, I have Kyuubi sealed inside me. Yes, I've been abused and alone for the majority of my life. Yes, I pretended to be a loser and a washout for the attention it brought, but there is one thing that I will never do. I will never betray my home. I will never betray the people I've come to know and cherish. Power itself does not make you who you are, it's how you use it that matters, and if you use yours to attack my team and I just because we're all Jinchuriki, you're dead wrong!" he announced whole-heartedly. His chakra aura seemed to flare up at his words. The force of the chakra was so great it was pushing the devilish Genin back!
"I have a mission to find the other Jinchuriki on this planet and let them know that they're not alone! I refuse to have anyone else live the hell that's been my life, and if you plan on interfering with that dream I'll be forced to take you out! Get ready, cause you're all going down!" the blonde shouted.
"We knew it!" someone shouted. The combatants looked to the sky and saw three Genin from Kumo standing atop a tree branch. They were smiling at Naruto with a joyful expression in their eyes.
"We had a feeling you were a Jinchuriki too! I hope you don't mind us dropping in." the girl said, jumping down with her teammates. They landed across from the Sound Genin, glaring at them in hatred.
"Who do you little bastards think you are?" Kasuki asked, obviously offended by their presence. The girl glared at her harshly, her blue eyes changing into a deep purple hue.
"My name is Misumi Rika, Jinchuriki of the spirit Kisaki and protector of the Four Tails." she replied.
"I am Icuchi Takato, Jinchuriki of the spirit Kikai and protector of the Two Tails." one of the boys said.
"And I'm Icuchi Takuya, Jinchuriki of the spirit Maruishi and protector of the Five Tails." the last boy said. This revelation surprised all present and within earshot. Even more Jinchuriki?! That was unexpected.
"We came as.....representatives of all of the Jinchuriki back home in Kumo to find the ones here in Konoha. From this boy's skills and unique chakra signature, we were able to discern that he had demonic powers. His little monologues a moment ago confirmed our suspicions." Rika explained.
"He is also right about everything he said. Someone like you who uses power for their own personal gain is nothing more than a brigand. I hope you have made peace with whatever twisted Gods you worship, for we will end you here." Takato said, a fierce glare in his eyes.
"We may be of a different village, but all Jinchuriki are a family. We all share one burden. One curse. One destiny. One hope. And there is no one in this world or the next who can take that away from us. Together, we have something that no one else has, and it is something you will never be able to defeat." Takuya stated, his expression mirroring his brothers.
Naruto's eyes were wide in disbelief. These strangers – people he had known for all of sixty seconds – were defending him and agreeing with him as if they were best friends since birth. Then, one last thought registered: they were Jinchuriki. Like him. Tears of joy began to build up behind his crystal eyes.
"You guys........thank you. I don't really know you yet, but I hope I can fix that soon. My name is Uzumaki Naruto and it's a pleasure to meet you." the blonde said in a nonchalant tone.
"Well met. Before we continue with the pleasantries, let's take these goons down." Rika suggested. Kasuki glared at her harshly.
"That's only if you can!" she shouted, forming a series of hand signs. Before she could complete the set, however, Rika had already made her last seal.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Current!" she called. Several thick bolts of electricity flew from her fingertips and towards the pink haired Oto kunoichi. Dosu went to guard it, but Takato's sudden grip on his wrist made that impossible.
"Don't forget about us!" he warned as he slammed his knee into Dosu's gut. His single visible eye widened in pain and surprise and the Kumo boy brought a swift uppercut to his chin, knocking him into the air. He reached to the handle of his sword and drew it, storing his chakra into it at a rapid pace. The blade began to glow with a silver hue as he brought the sword towards the sky.
"Metal Wave!" he called. He stroked the sword in the air, emitting a blade of silver hued energy towards the bandaged Genin. The attack made contact with a small explosion in midair. He watched in satisfaction as Dosu fell back to Earth in pain of the attack. He was forced to duck as Kasuki's body came flying over his head due to the force of the attack she had suffered.
Takuya saw Kegume charging at his brother and sealed in rapid succession. Suddenly, the ground underneath the large boy opened up, revealing many small spears made of solid rock.
"Earth Style: Stone Spears!" he called. The spears rocketed upwards from the ground, nearly impaling the boy through the stomach. Kegume, however, contorted his body to avoid fatal blows, only receiving large gashes on his legs and arms. He clutched his wounds as he landed, hoping to slow the bleeding.
This, however, proved to be a costly error on his part, as Takuya took the chance to slam his interlocked fists into the back of his head. Without so much as a second thought, the Kumo boy unleashed five powerful punches to his gut, then sent him reeling across the field with a devastating kick to the side.
"You really think you have a chance?" he asked in a mocking tone. Suddenly, Zaku appeared by his side, prepared to slit his throat with a kunai.
"I think you're about to die!" he said. Before the knife could reach its target, a powerful wind blew the offending Genin away from him and against the trees behind him. Takuya turned to see Naruto standing a few feet away, his hands in a seal for his attack.
"Like you said, we're a family, and I'll die before I let anyone hurt my family." he stated plainly. The Kumo boy smiled and nodded in response.
"I've only known you for about five minutes and already I like you." he said with a laugh. Arashi grit his teeth and charged at the two boys.
"Enough of this! I'll finish you all here and now!" he shouted. Suddenly, two black wings sprung from the Sound boy's back as he took to the air in a storm of feathers. The two young Jinchuriki were taken back by this sudden transformation. Arashi took advantage of their shock and quickly slammed his legs into Takuya's gut, knocking him to the ground. Before Naruto could defend, the black winged boy jammed his shoulder into his chest.
Takato was distracted by his brother's shout long enough for Dosu to get his barring together. The Sound shinobi grabbed his gauntlet and unleashed a wave of sound that deafened his target and damaged his ear to the point of bleeding. The Kumo shinobi grabbed his ear in pain, trying to block out the sound. 'Dammit, too late!' he mentally cursed.
Rika brought her leg around to kick Kasuki, but Kin's sudden storm of needles knocked her off balance. She somersaulted under the needles, but failed to see the trap laid by her opponent. Flames erupted from the ground and seared her body, forcing her to the ground in pain. 'How could I have been so careless? These guys are tougher than I thought.' she said to herself.
Takuya jumped away from Arashi's fist, bringing up his foot in a flip. His kick landed straight in the boy's jaw, snapping it with an audible crack. Taking advantage of his temporarily stunned opponent, the Kumo shinobi punched him swiftly in the chest. Arashi was knocked away by his attack.
His victory was short lived as Kegume emerged from the ground and wrapped his arm around his neck, lifting him from the ground as he began to strangle the young boy. Takuya struggle against his captor, only to find his enemy's build stronger than his own. 'Dammit, I can't break loose!' he thought.
"Hehe, look who's high and mighty now!" Kegume gloated. The crimson-eyed boy grit his teeth in frustration. As soon as he got out of his grip, he was so going to get it......
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Hinata awoke with a slight headache. She felt as though she were hit with an Akimichi's Human Boulder. As her senses awoke from their temporary slumber, she noticed that the ground beneath her was awfully cold for this time of year.
That's when she realized that it wasn't the ground itself she was lying upon.
She jumped up with a start, her sandals crunching in the snow around her. She had somehow ended up in a frozen forest, the icy crystals decorating the trees. A frigid winter breeze flew through the forest, scaling the grand slope of the mountain beside her. Hinata looked around for some sign of life or where she was. How did she end up here when she was taking the Chunin Exams?
A loud, majestic howl echoed throughout the frozen woods. She turned her head at the sound, peering up at the mountain behind her. Upon the lowest ledge stood a proud, four-tailed white wolf with bright blue eyes. The creature itself was worthy of royalty, its natural majesty and grace akin to that of a queen.
The wolf jumped down from its perch, landing beside an awestruck Hinata. The two locked gazes for only a moment, yet she would never be able to forget the ardent look in its eyes.
"You must be my container. I am Yonbi no Okami. Welcome to your mindscape, young pup." the wolf said in a majestic voice. This revelation came as a shock to the young heiress.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand....you mean that I'm like Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, almost scared to know the answer.
"Naruto? Kyuubi-kun's container?" Yonbi asked curiously. That's when memories of Naruto's plight returned to her.
"Naruto-kun! He's in trouble! I have to help him somehow, but I don't know what to do...." she said in a worried tone. The wolf Bijuu thought for a moment. She knelt down next to Hinata, her head resting on her paws.
"I may be able to help you, but it will most likely involve me taking control of your body for a small time." she suggested. The young Hyuga seemed skeptical of this idea.
"You can use my chakra to assist him, but since you're inexperienced with its usage, I'll take temporary control of your body so you are not overwhelmed with its strength. Just stroke my fur to use it for now." she explained. Hinata relented to the plan, still somewhat suspicious. Reaching out, she gently stroked the Bijuu's soft fur, noting how serene it was to her senses. A bright light consumed the area as Hinata felt herself fading out.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Well, what do you want to do?"
"We should assist our comrade. He needs it."
"I know, but we can't just leave her here like this!"
"......."
The "argument" between Kiba and Shino had been continuing since Naruto summoned his demonic chakra. Mysteriously, Hinata passed out as soon as the chakra made its appearance, both worrying and frustrating her teammates. While they wanted to assist in the battle against the Sound Genin, they couldn't just leave her unconscious in the forest. Now, they were trying to determine the best course of action. Trying, but failing.
"Ah, you're impossible! How about one of us stays here with her while the other goes out to fight?" Kiba suggested.
"That would be emotionally unacceptable. Would you be able to stand by and watch as your teammates fought while you were hidden in the bushes?" Shino retorted. The young Inuzuka growled in agony. Why did that damn bastard make everything so freakin' difficult?
"Then what are we gonna do? Just sit here and twiddle our thumbs waiting for Hinata to wake up while Naruto and those guys risk their lives like this?" he asked. At that moment, the Hyuga heiress began to stir. She rose from the ground and turned to the scene beside them, her eyes gazing upon the battlefield.
"Hinata, are you okay? You passed out and-" Kiba was cut off when the young girl turned to them, meeting them eye-to-eye.
Her eyes were no longer the light lavender famous of her clan. They were now a light, almost icy, blue in color. The bright smile she wore seemed to illuminate the cyan orbs. She also seemed to carry herself with a more regal and sophisticated air about her.
"H-Hinata......is that you?" he asked, caution laced in his voice. She continued smiling as she patted Akamaru on the head lightly. Then, without warning, she disappeared from sight, leaving behind two bewildered teammates and an overexcited puppy.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Naruto struggled against Arashi's grip on his collar, to no avail. He was still too weakened from his battle with Orochimaru and his demonic teammates. The winged boy laughed at his plight.
"Did you honestly think that you could win? With the power Orochimaru-sama has given us, you don't stand a chance, demon boy! Now, prepare to die!" he said. Just as he brought a kunai to his stomach, something slammed into him from behind, making him drop his target as he flew to the ground.
"Who did that?!" he asked in rage. Turning, he found himself face-to-face with the burning glare of cyan eyes, and feral growl to match. The girl that stood by the blonde kid was radiating some kind of weird chakra similar to the Kyuubi's.
Naruto watched in shock as Hinata took a defensive position, standing between him and Arashi. What was she doing here? And why was she surrounded by an aura of chakra?
"Hinata......what are you doing here?" he asked in surprise.
"Fret not, Kyuubi-kun. I will not let them harm you." she replied in a voice that was not her own. Realization gripped the boy's mind as he began to understand, to his horror, the events unfolding. No way......not her. Please, she didn't deserve it. What had she done to be sealed with a demon? This was his burden, not hers!
"And who might you be?" Arashi asked the sudden newcomer.
"I am Yonbi no Okami, and I will not allow you to harm my brothers and sisters unhindered. Prepare yourself. You know not what you face." 'Hinata' replied.
"Yonbi-chan, please protect Naruto-kun. I beg you." Hinata said from her subconscious.
"Don't worry, young pup, I will not let them harm him." she replied mentally.
Rika ran next to Yonbi, a surprised look in her eyes. Suddenly, she bowed and knelt before her like a soldier to a queen.
"Yonbi-san, it is an honor to finally meet you." she said respectfully.
"Ah, you must be one of my vassals. Misumi Rika, I believe your name was? Anyway, I request that you assist in the protection of the young boy, otherwise my container will be heartbroken." Yonbi replied. Naruto lifted himself from the ground, ignoring the slight pain it caused him.
"I can still fight. I am not a princess to be kept behind the vanguard. I am a ninja and I will fight." he said with ardent determination.
"As obdurate as ever. Ah well, you are Kyuubi-kun's container. I supposed you inherited it from him." Yonbi said with a chuckle. Arashi grew more and more annoyed with their idle chatter.
"Enough of this! I don't care who you are, I will end you here!" he exclaimed. He charged at the three Jinchuriki, prepared to kill. Yonbi stared at him as if he was stupid. Which he was. Most people who charged at her ended up on the receiving end of an icicle blade.
"Very well. Feel the wrath of the arctic winds." she warned, shifting into her battle stance. Rika and Naruto suddenly felt a strong killer intent coming from behind them. On instinct alone, they flipped away from Kegume, who shattered the ground where they previously stood.
"Did you forget about me?" he asked mockingly.
"Naruto, you're too injured to fight him by yourself. Let me help you." Rika urged. He was tempted to protest, but decided against it. No need to emaciate his body further. He nodded in response, preparing to fight Kegume with Rika at his side.
Takato clashed kunai with Dosu once more, struggling against his opponent's strength. He was mentally cursing his small muscular build as he kicked the Sound Genin in the stomach before flipping away. There was no way he could lose this fight.
"I will not lose to you!" he announced, drawing his sword once again.
"You may not lose to him, but what about me?" Kasuki asked, appearing behind the boy. He braced himself for impact when, suddenly, two spinning drills of fang and claw came from the surrounding bushes, ramming into her and saving him from her attack.
"Sorry to drop in like this, but I'm not letting you guys have all the fun." the newcomer said.
"Honestly, I'm just glad you did that. She's all yours." Takato said smiling. Kiba nodded in response.
"You got it. If Hinata is fighting, so will I! C'mon, Akamaru!" he said with a vigorous zeal. His dog barked in response, joining his master on the battlefield. Kasuki wiped her lip, blood trickling from her mouth.
"You'll pay for that." she said venomously.
Takuya ducked under Zaku's leg, grabbing his extended appendage and flipping him over his head. With a swift kick, he sent him flying across the field. Kin launched herself into the air, drawing scores of senbon that rained down upon him. Takuya, seeing the attack, quickly went through his hand seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!" he called. A wall of solid rock was erected between himself and the needles, preventing them from landing their mark. However, as he held the wall, Zaku came towards him with a punch aimed at his head. He found himself unable to move, his hands still needed to maintain the wall.
A swarm of insects caught the boy's fist, wrapping themselves around his arm before carrying him away from the Kumo shinobi. 'What the? Bugs?' Takuya thought in confusion. Following the swarm's path, he found a Konoha shinobi controlling them. He figured that he was a friend of Naruto's.
"Thank you, friend! He's all yours!" he called to Shino, who nodded in response.
"Hey, lemme go you damn freak!" Zaku protested, struggling against the swarm.
"You have endangered the lives of my comrades. For you, I have no mercy." Shino stated nonchalantly.
Naruto was pleasantly surprised by the arrival of Team 8 and was thankful for their assistance. These guys were some supercharged Genin, being some of Orochimaru's thugs. Now that everyone was tied up in their own fight, though, they had a fighting chance. No matter what, he had to protect his friends. He would rather die than let these guys have their way! He stared down Kegume as he stepped in front of Rika, almost as if protecting her.
"I hope you and your Sound buddies are ready to lose, since you have no chance of beating us!" he said with a smug smirk. Kegume glared at him with malice.
"I beg to differ, demon boy." he replied.
"Then have at us and learn your folly." Rika replied, preparing to fight. The Sound Genin prepared to fight their respective opponents, who were all determined to protect their friends and teammates. For Naruto, he was no longer a one-man army. Rika, Takato, Takuya, Hinata, even Sakura and Sasuke, were all Jinchuriki. They were all like him and Hell would freeze a thousand times over before he allowed the death of any of them.
As the battle began to reach it's climax, he focused on his demonic chakra, knowing that this next blow would decide it. Kegume was prepared to throw his punch when suddenly all he saw was the crimson color of a rose.