Last time Will, Violet and the others located and secured the device that was generating the time/space distortions. Once linking up with Caleb, Cornelia and everyone else, Violet set the machine to destroy itself. Just when we thought it was over, Pai-Mey showed up and shot a poison needle at Will. D.P. caught the needle in his metal hand, saving Will's life. On with the show!
Chapter 24 Equivalent Exchange
"That bitch!" exclaimed Luffy, "I forgot about her!" "We're not leaving this place until we kill her," said Naruto, "Once and for all. Believe it!" "Spread out!" ordered Will, "She couldn't have gone far!" With that our heroes began their hunt for Pai-Mey, determined to finish the disgraced ninja once and for all. They didn't really care who got to Pai-Mey first, just as long as she wound up dead.
As it turned out, it was Will who found Pai-Mey standing atop a tall building that was leaning over the edge of a bottomless cliff. "I was hoping it would be you who would catch up with me," said Pai-Mey, "How fitting that our climatic battle take place in this ghastly place."
"You're not escaping this time," said Will, "And I have no intention of showing mercy to you like I did for Nerissa. You've used up any chances for mercy when you shot that poisoned needle at me." "Well I meant to kill you," said Pai-Mey, "But even the best laid plans don't always work out."
"Before we start trying to kill each other," said Will, "Tell me this; what made you cross over into the dark side in the first place?" "It was that fool," said Pai-Mey, "The first Hokage of Konohamaru. He tried to lock me away for life, all because I tried to push the limits of ninja arts."
"You were delving into forbidden jutsus," said Will, "To the Hokage you were on the path to evil." "Well that's his opinion," said Pai-Mey as she pulled out a kuni knife, "So put a sock in it and fight!" "Gladly!" exclaimed Will
What would have followed would have been a long and time-consuming fight scene, and if this were a movie, and expensive one. Yet fate has a funny way of working things out.
Pai-Mey was just about to charge at Will when the section of the roof she was standing on gave way and fell into the gaping chasm below. She managed to grab hold of the edge of the roof, but was barely holding on. Will saw that she could have just walked away and Pai-Mey would fall. Yet what with Will being Will, her sense of compassion told her to try to do the right thing.
She knelt by the edge and held out her hand for Pai-Mey. "Grab hold!" said Will, "I'll pull you up!" "Pai-Mey didn't grab Will's hand, she instead grabbed hold of Will's leg and tried to pull her over. Will landed on the edge of the building and nearly fell off, but she managed to shake Pai-Mey off, forcing her to take hold of the edge again.
Will's sense of compassion was overridden by a rising tide righteous furry. "I!" exclaimed Will as she kicked Pai-Mey in the face, "Have had!" she kicked again, "Enough!" she kicked a third time, "Of you!" With one last kick, Pai-Mey's grasp failed and she fell into the chasm below.
Will flew back down to the center of the city were everyone else was waiting. "It's over," said Will, "Pai-Mey is no more." She suddenly stiffened and fell to the ground, a shuriken sticking out of her back. "Will!" exclaimed Matt as she rushed over to her, followed by Aaron. "It's just a blade," said Aaron as he pulled out the shuriken, "No poison, should heal just fine." "Easy for you to say," said Will as Aaron applied some healing salve to her back, "It still hurts."
"That was just to keep you down," said Pai-Mey, "I want you to be the last one alive as I kill all your pathetic friends." "I thought you said she was gone!" exclaimed Luffy. "It'll take more than falling down a chasm to destroy me," said Pai-Mey, "You stretchy freak! So, who's first? Which of you fools want to die first?"
"How 'bout me?" asked Naruto as he made his hand signs, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Five seconds later there were about fifty Naruto's. "That old trick," said Pai-Mey mockingly, "It didn't work the last time, it won't work now."
"Well I've got something new up my sleeve," said the original Naruto as he made another set of hand signs, "Shadow Clone Merge!" The forty-nine Naruto clones then converged on the original and merged into one. Naruto started to glow bright red as both his chakra and stamina increased. "So that's what he's been working on all this time," said an amazed Sakura, "He's fused with his Shadow Clones."
Naruto then began to pummel Pai-Mey faster than she could block his blows. With his powers increased by a factor of fifty, Naruto seemed to have the upper hand. Yet it didn't last very long for he began to lose steam after three minutes. "I can't go on," said an exhausted Naruto, "I've used up all my chakra in one go. I'm done."
"But I'm not," said Pai-Mey, "You stupid little boy, you think you can defeat me?" "I can't," said Naruto as he pointed to something behind Pai-Mey, "But I'll bet he can, believe it." Pai-Mey then turned around to see Luffy with a huge chunk of a building in his outstretched arms. "Gum-Gum Smash!" exclaimed Luffy as he slammed the huge chunk of masonry on Pai-Mey.
"That did it!" exclaimed Nami, "She's good as dead." "Never!" raged Pai-Mey as she stood up again. "Sh$t!" exclaimed Jill, "What does it take to kill this bitch?" "Nothing!" raged Pai-Mey, "I cannot die!"
BANG!
Pai-Mey stumbled back from the force of the bullet impact. She looked down to see blood beginning to flow seep her heart. She then looked ahead to see Violet aiming her pistol at the disgrace ninja. A look of utter disbelief fell on Pai-Mey's face as Violet pulled the trigger again.
A second, then a third, a fourth and a fifth bullet found it's way into Pai-Mey's heart. She finally fell to the ground, apparently not moving. As Violet holstered her empty gun she looked Jill in the eye and asked, "Now are you glad that I came along?" "I am now," said Jill.
"Is she really dead?" asked Luffy. Saske 'borrowed' one of Zolo's swords and used it to remove Pai-Mey's head. "She sure is dead now," said Saske, "Believe it." "That's my line!" protested Naruto.
"She got what was coming to her," said Al, "Right, brother?" "You got it Al," said Ed, "The first law of Equivalent Exchange applies to more than Alchemy. 'To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.' Pai-Mey tried to gain ultimate power. She lost her soul, now she has lost her life."
"Aw, I missed it!" exclaimed Chouji as he limped towards our heroes. "Chouji!" exclaimed Shikamaru, "You're alive!" "It'll take more than a bunch of demons to get rid of me," said Chouji, "Anybody got anything to eat? I'm starving." "We'll fix you a 17 course feast when we get home," said Ino, "You can count on that."
"Speaking of getting home," said Irma, "Do you think we could get out of here before any more demons show up?" "Too late," said Matt. He was pointing towards a large red vortex that was forming up the street. From the vortex emerged a tall woman with long spiky green hair, very pale skin and large bat-like wings. "Now what?" asked Cornelia.
"That," said Guts, "Is one of The God Hand. That is Slan." "So glad you recognize me, Black Swordsman," said the demon Slan, "I must admit, I'm impressed by how long you've survived. No matter how many minions sent against you, you always slay them all, despite the damage inflicted to your body."
The demon then looked at Will, Taranee and the others. "And you Guardians," said Slan, "up until recently you've been a minor annoyance. Yet this particular generation has disguised itself as a 'pain in the ass.' You should feel proud." "In a way we are," said Will, "To have gotten the full attention of The God Hand."
"Oh I'm the only one here," said Slan, "The others are merely watching" "Well if Griffith is watching," said Guts, "I hope he has a good view as I permanently remove your head!" "All in good time," said Slan, "And here are the famous Ramblers, you have given us more than a little trouble." "Glad that we've made such an impact," said Max.
"Oh cut the crap already!" exclaimed Naruto "If you're here to fight, then put up of shut up!" "I was right to assume that patience was never a virtue with you, young Uzimaki," said Slan, "I can assure you that your dream of becoming Hokage dies here!" "That's what you think," said Naruto, "Saske! Now!"
Standing exactly 100 yards behind Slan was Saske; his right hand gripping his left wrist and the left hand hovered just above the ground. He was generating so much chakra, Will and the others could actually see it spark and flash from his hand. "Lightning Blade!" shouted Saske. He charged at Slan, moving so fast that he appeared only as a blur. His left hand impacted on Slan's back, the force nearly disintegrating her spine.
"What the f#ck was that?" asked Steve. "That was the lightning blade," said Sakura, "A ninjutsu reserved for assassination. She's good as dead."
"How dare you!" raged the crippled demon, "You'll live to regret this insult!" "You demons appear to be all high and mighty," said Guts as he raised his sword for the finishing blow, "But when you get down to it, you're all just a bag of hot air." He swung his sword and removed Slan's head from her body.
"That's one," said Ed, "Let's hope the other four are as easy to defeat." "Don't count on it," said Guts. He then turned his gaze upwards, "I know you're watching, Griffith!" he yelled, "So why don't you come here and finish it!"
There was a minute or two of silence, and then another red vortex appeared. From this vortex emerged what appeared to be a man completely covered in red leather and wearing a red cape. The leather turned out to be its skin, the cape were wings. From it's red helmet-like head Will could see a pair of deep blue eyes that seemed to pierce directly to her soul. "Hello, Guts," said the demon Femto, also known as Griffith, "It's been so long."
The end of chapter 24. Next chapter, it's do or die as Guts faces Griffith. Please review and I'll see you next time!