Chapter 49: The Pinch Hitters! Kankurou, Temari and Gaara arrive!
Sakon punched down with all his might using his stone like arm, however before the attack struck Kiba, an object familiar to Kiba came flying through the air and rammed Sakon in the side. Sakon flew a short ways back to see a wooden six armed pupped now standing in front of him. Kiba looked to his side to see Kankurou standing their.
"So, Sand came to reinforce us?" smiled Kiba, "That's a relief."
"Me, Gaara, and Temari were on our way back from a mission when we saw the carrier pigeon from your Hokage, so we thought we'd assist as soon as possible, rather than wait for official orders," Kankurou said.
"Be careful, this guy is really two people who fuse their bodies together," Kiba warned him, "they are quite powerful."
"Don't worry, me and Karasu will take care of the rest of this one," he smiled, "Lets go."
"Don't take me so lightly," smiled Sakon charging Kankurou. Karasu jumped in the way with a poisoned dagger ready, however Sakon swung his stone arm sending Karasu flying to the side a good distance giving him a clear run at Kankurou. Sakon grabbed Kankurou's face with his hand.
"Now its time for my assassination ability, I'll be fusing my body into yours now," however through the grip of his hand it was Kankurou who smiled. The face mask peeled off revealing another pupped. This puppets body looked like a barrel with short wooden legs. Its four arms are segmented in a way that makes them look extendable. Its face extended out like a stiff wooden dog mouth and a third eye was found about the other two.
"We Shinobi of the sand," Came the real Kankurou's voice, "Are much stronger than Leaf. But to get so close to a Black Ant is trouble," with that four arms extended from this new puppet and wrapped around Sakon, then razors emerged from the two arms. Then at a very high speed the arms retracted back to Black Ant leaving deep gashes in Sakon.
Sakon quickly jumped back, and when he did a head grew from his shoulder, "You got Careless Sakon, let me take over from here," said Ukon.
"Alright," said Sakon as his head sunk into the body leaving Ukon.
"It's been a while since I've gotten control of the body," he smiled, "Time to finish you off for good," he began moving towards Kankurou, though now the wounds on the body were healed.
"We should regroup and fight him later," cringed Kiba.
"No, after underestimating me like this I refuse to back down," he smiled moving his fingers. Karasu came back flying through the air. Knives came from each hand, all dripping with poison. It charged at Ukon, who dodged back several times easily avoiding the strikes. However he tripped over something, an arm of the other puppet. Its body had opened up and closed when Ukon tripped inside of it.
"Kuroari, my Black Ant Puppet, isn't an attacking type. Its specialty is capturing a target, and when it does I can do this, Puppet Theater," with those words every arm and head of Karasu detached and formed swords, "Black Secret Technique! First Strike!" and with that the blades pierced through various slits in Kuroari. A scream was heard, but quickly went silent as streams of blood oozed from the sides of Kuroari, "and now the puppet theater is over."
Crap, I'm about to loose it, Shikamaru thought as his shadow began receding rapidly. Though just as it was about to completely disconnect, a torrent of wind slammed into Tayuya's side, sending her flying off. Shikamaru looked over to see Temari there.
"So, looks like this time around you're an ally," smiled Shikamaru.
"So, are you just going to give up again? Guess I'll have to handle this myself," She said returning the smile.
"No way," moaned Shikamaru, "I can't stand being protected by a women."
"Oh shut up," Temari said a little irritated, "Don't give me this Macho Crap. It seems she's hidden herself, so what kind of Jutsu does she use."
"It's a typical long range Genjutsu used to Immobilize a target with sound and then move in to cause serious physical damage. Right now we are at a disadvantage, we should retreat and regroup, form a stra..." but before he could finish Temari cut him off.
"I didn't ask for a strategy, I'll take care of the rest of it," with that Temari did some hand seals, bit her thumb and spread a line of blood on the fan, "Kuchiyose no Justu!(Summoning Technique)! Spinning Whirl!" She swung her fan and from it appeared a white ferret with a white cloth covering one eye, a black vest holding on to a scythe handle with its whole body. A few little blades were floating around it as it shredded through the trees destroying a large number of them as it raged. After the smoke cleared, the body of Tayuya back in her normal form lay crushed beneath a tree, blood dripping from her mouth.
"Well, that's one way to finish it," said Shikamaru sighing, "at least its over now."
"Its what I came here to do, there's no way I'm going to come save you just to have you start calling the shots," she said smiling.
"I guess this means I'll have to thank you then," returned Shikamaru.
"Don't worry, its what allies do," she said smiling again, "You really shouldn't give up so easily you know."
"Who said I planned on giving up," replied Shikamaru, "I'm almost out of Chakra and probably would have died had you not shown up."
"You men are worthless on your own," she said,
"At least we're not so annoying an loud," he replied as they moved forward to make sure the others were all right.
The spiked fist came at Lee, but when he braced for impact nothing happened. A wall of sand placed itself between him and Lee, "Gaara!" Lee proclaimed.
"I'm here to help," Gaara returned, "looks like I got here in time."
"Two on one," Kimimaru said, "I can't afford to pull any more punches."
"Dessert Coffin," Said Gaara, and the sand swiftly latched on too Kimimaru and began encasing his entire body, "Dessert Funeral," and with that the sand exploded inward, compacting immense force onto Kimimaru.
"Don't think you've won that easily," came Kimimaru's voice. His hand, now turned a blue tinted Grey, ripped out of the sand. Kimimaru's entire body tore from the coffin. However now a bone tail had grown from him, his entire body had shifted to that color and in addition black markings were around his eyes. He charged at Gaara. The sand formed a wall, but Kimimaru ripped clear through it and smashed into Gaara.
Gaara stood back up, the sand of his armor of sand crumbling off his skin, "Your too hasty," is all he said.
"Gaara," said Lee, "Please go on ahead and make sure Naruto captures Sasuke."
"But can you fight him on your own?" Asked Gaara, his voice as emotionless sounding as ever.
"Please trust me, I promised I would defeat him, and I will. Go ahead," he said again, a determination Gaara though looked familiar burning in his eyes. Gaara realized this was the same determination and drive Naruto possessed, and couldn't refuse the boy.
"Good Luck Lee, I'll see you soon,"and with that Gaara took off using his sand to fly him forward.
"Don't think you can win without Gaara," Kimimaru said, "your speed and power are useless when I fight at this level."
"Don't think I've shown you my true power," said Lee, a powerful Aura emanating from him, "I'll prove too you that I can defeat anything you throw at me. I have a dream to fulfill, and in order to do so you will be defeated."
"I too have a dream, and for that I can't allow you to stop Sasuke," replied Kimimaru.
"What dream could you have with a madman like Orichimaru," replied Lee.
"Don't ever insult Orichimaru-Sama!" yelled Kimimaru.
"Why is it you serve Orichimaru," asked Lee, "His ambitions will only cause suffering to all people. How can you follow someone like that."
"Do you know what its like, to be shunned from society, to be hated by everyone around. One person is all it takes to give your life meaning and to fill the void in your heart, to me that person is Orichimaru. I have a drive to see his dreams become real for all he's done for me, I want to be of use to him. He saved me from death, and because of him I, the only survivor of my clan, has a purpose. Do you too have someone important to you?"
"Yes, however now I have many important people to me. And to become man my sensei can be proud of, and to protect those I love, I will defeat you," and the energy around Lee erupted in a green light, and his eyes turned pure white, "Third Gate, Life Gate, Open!"
"So, you can use the eight celestial gates," Kimimaru said, slightly surprised quickly going into a defensive posture, focusing his bones to make a layer beneath his skin.
"I'm not done yet, Fourth Gate, the Wound Gate, Open!" Kimimaru felt Shivers as the power grew in the boy, "Fifth Gate, the Forest Gate, Open!"
Even with my weak heart, am I still strong enough to withstand this? Kimimaru thought. Though the thoughts didn't last long. Lee charged in with incredible speed, and decked Kimimaru square in the face sending him flying back. However he could tell the bones were barely damaged.
"It would seem your attacks won't be enough," smiled Kimimaru.
"No!" yelled Lee, "I shall show you my newest and most powerful attack, open the Sixth Gate, the View Gate!" The time Lee charged in, delivering a powerful kick to Kimimaru's jaw sending him flying into the air. He jumped up and grabbed Kimimaru by the ankles, at which point they were at an extreme height.
Spinning rapidly in the air, Lee built up momentum and then hurled Kimimaru down to the earth. As Kimimaru flew down, Lee rolled into a ball and continued to spin down after Kimimaru faster and faster, "Hybrid Lotus!" Lee yelled as half way down he connected with Kimimaru's gut, continuing to spin into his gut, Lee smashed Kimimaru into the ground with extreme force.
The energy Lee emitted faded as he looked at Kimimaru, who in his weakened state changed back to normal, "Orichimaru-sama, I pray that Sasuke will reach you," and with that Kimimaru's life faded away.
Lee fell on his back, unable to move. He could feel he had many torn muscles. He trained himself to learn that technique since Gai wasn't their to show him his attack at the sixth gate, but he hoped Gai would be proud of his Hybrid Lotus. Then, succumbing to the Pain, Lee passed out.
Next time, Naruto Vs. Sasuke. Enjoy the final fight of the Retrieval mission soon.