Well, my exams are official over (got the final result today) so from today I'm free for awhile. I'm not promising anything, but with all that I may even be able to update this one faster then in a month time. Do keep in mind that I'm not promising it.
To answer your reviews:
Your grammar sucks: I know... I seriously do and I am trying my best to keep it on an at least acceptable level. The position of beta reader is open so anyone who feels like it is welcome to become one. At least this time I was able to double check it... it's probably still filled with mistakes, but I'm really doing my best.
Too many secrets: well, I can assure you that they will all be revealed in the right time... some quite soon even.
Too many fights, too little romance: yeah, that I know, but I can promise you that once the battle this fic is currently on is finished, the action will slow down a bit and you'll see more romance... also some secrets and history of my OC's will be revealed... all you'll need to do is hold on just a little more for that.
Some of you may not like what's coming in this chappie, but I can promise you that it has it's purpose...
Now, without further to do:
Chapter #4: Family Connection
Chapter Cover: Naruto dressed like a gangster from the old Chicago, with the hat and everything, sitting behind the desk with a cigarette in his mouth and flipping a coin
Naraku jumped back and lightly hitting one of the chandeliers, he landed on the table. The pushed chandelier moved back and forward, making the light in the tavern shake. The former leaf-nin observed the floor on which there was still a shadow that came from the pineapple haired boy.
"So this is his ability…" Naraku wondered to himself as his raised his sight at the boy. "If I'll allow his shadow to get me, I'm done for… more then that he can change its shape and use any shadows to increase his range… with such a dim light in here his jutsu practically has no limits… unless I'll get out of here, I'll lose this fight…"
Shikamaru performed another chain of hand seals and as he completed it, he called out: "Kagekui!" and right before Naraku's eyes his shadow turned into tens of spikes that came right at him.
The former leaf-nin instantly jumped into the air and grabbed the chandelier, but seeing that the shadow spikes were still chasing him he turned up-side down and using the ceiling as the floor, he ran in the direction of Shikamaru.
The lazy shinobi just smiled seeing that and the moment Naraku ran into the dark part of the tavern, he prepared himself to perform his standard jutsu, however the former leaf-nin was faster.
In a fracture of a second Naraku perform a set of hand seals and with the last symbol he called out: "Hinote Kuiki: Hibashira no Jutsu!" and instantly a powerful wave of fire came out of his mouth straight at Shikamaru.
The lazy shinobi immediately jumped back, cursing to himself: "So he's a fire expert… damn, with those sort of jutsus he can enlighten the whole place and my strategy to get him by the domination of shadows in this tavern becomes useless..."
Naraku landed safely on the floor with a smirk appearing on his face: "Looks like this is far from over, isn't it?"
"Looks like it…" nodded Shikamaru. "How troublesome…"
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Kasumi bite her finger and instantly wrote the required symbol on the scroll. A second later she unwrapped the scroll as it was a carpet and placed it on the ground. The effect was immediate: before everyone's eyes a tornado raised from the scroll and on its borders spun tens of shurikens, kunais and other, sharp objects.
The former mist-nin smirked as she called out: "Hijutsu: Aka Yaiba!" and as the tornado went right at the hooded shinobies, she once more began writing on the scroll and a second later a small scythe was summoned.
As it circled in the air, Kasumi grabbed it by the handle and jumped into the air. As she was coming down at her enemies she threw a single shuriken at them and to everyone's surprise performed a quite set of hand seals with one hand: "Shuriken Kage Bushin no Jutsu!"
Instantly the single shinobi star she threw separated into tens, wounding most of her opponents. Most of those who were able to dodge the shurikens got captured in the tornado and got ripped into pieces by the weapons circling with it.
As she landed on the ground she instantly cut the nearest enemy that got hit by the most of shurikens, ending his life. A moment later she jumped into the air again and spinning wildly she deflected all the kunais that were thrown at her with her scythe.
Hinata spun around, creating a small, chakra sphere around her that stopped all the shurikens that were coming at her. As she began to slow down she called out: "Hakke Shou Kaiten" and instantly all of the shinobi stars got blown away to a huge amazement of the hooded shinobies that decided to attack her.
Not waiting for her opponents to regain the touch with reality she got into her fighting stance and choosing the unlucky one that was the closest to her, she attacked his tanketsu points at an incredible speed, calling out: "Hakke Nisho! Yonsho! Hassho! Jurokusho! Sanjunisho!" and as her speed reached its top, she finished the job: "Rokujuyonsho!"
As her opponent felt to the ground, unable to move, Hinata spun around on her foot and launched her hand into the air, releasing chakra at the same time. A moment later, the enemy that stood few meters away got hit by a powerful blow that seemed to came out of nowhere.
"Hakke Kuushou…" announced the Hyuuga heiress calmly. "It works just like the Jyuken, only on a distance..." and with that she got to her fighting stance once more.
Yari spun around on her foot and as she found herself behind the opponent that charged at her, she attacked his legs with her spear. As the stick hit the target, her enemy left out a yell of pain and losing his balance, felt on his back with his eyes looking at the former sand-nin.
Instantly she placed her spear behind her back in order to block the incoming katana with it and once the two weapons connected, she performed few hand seals, just like Kasumi single handed, and called out: "Fuuton: Tenma Kaze no Jutsu!" and before the one who attacked her noticed, a powerful tornado appeared, surrounding the former sand-nin and a moment later he was taken away by it.
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" Naruto called out as four clones appeared right next to him and they all charged at their opponents. The hooded shinobies tried to withstand the assault, but they all were soon knockout by the blondes with whisker-marks.
"We may have underestimated them, Hinato-chan…" announced Hanone to his partner as they both stood on top of the panther and looked at the battle from afar. "Should we re-join the fight?"
"Whether you wish to our not…" they both heard a voice and a moment later Hinako came right from above with her ring ready. "… I'll make you!" she finished and as she left her weapon fall down a powerful thunder came from the sky at her sister.
As the flash disappeared and his vision became a bit less blur, Hanone noticed his partner standing in a defensive position with her metal gloves with claws ready. "So, she decided to use her bloodline limit already?... I guess I shouldn't worry about her then… I'll finish what I've started with that blonde then…" and with that he jumped off the panther and landed safely on his feet just few meters in front of Naruto.
"You again…" noticed Naruto a little irritated. "You came so I could finish kicking your ass or do you wanna surrender?"
"Nothing from the above, I'm afraid…" announced the missing-nin. "This time around I'll go all out, so prepare yourself to get killed…' and with that he performed a quick set of hand seals, ended with a call: "Kagekui!"
"What?" the whisker-marks eyes widen. "But that's Shikamaru's technique… how did he…" was al he could think of as he jumped back, avoiding certain death. Few of the shadow spikes created by Hanone were able to wound him a bit. The blonde cursed under his nose as he raised his head to look at the former leaf-nin again.
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" called out Naruto as he performed his standard technique.
"An idiot with one move…" smirked Hanone as three Naruto's charged right at him. "I told you already that I'm not the type of guy who'll fall for the same trick twice…" and with that he performed hand seals of his own: "Kumori Hitoya!' and with that he slammed his hand to the ground.
Before Naruto knew it, shadows shoot from under his feet and circling around him, grabbed him, making him stop. The two clones got distracted by that for a second, but that was all Hanone needed.
Performing another set of hand seals he called out: "Kagekui!' and instantly both clones got pierced by the shadow spikes and disappeared in the cloud of white smoke. "And that's that…" announced Hanone simply as he walked closer to the whisker-marks. "And to think I thought you could give me a challenge…"
"Sorry to disappoint you… I'll do better this time…" and right before Hanone's eyes his Shadow Prison got thorn into pieces and Naruto came right at him with Rasengan in his hand.
"Damn, I totally forgot about that stupid, chakra orb… it doesn't require any seals so he can perform it even with his hands imprison… those sort of techniques won't do then…" and with that last thought he received a powerful blow in the stomach from the Rasengan.
But to Naruto's surprise his body broke into tiny pieces of shadows and just like that his opponent was gone. "It has something to do with that bloodline of his… what the hell is his ability?" he asked himself as he looked around for the former leaf-nin.
Hinata landed a powerful blow in another opponents stomach, thus sending him into unconsciousness.
"And I think that's the last of those guys…" announced Kasumi as she looked around. "Is everyone alright?"
"Seems like it, but we should go help out Hinako…" replied Yari. "She went to face her sister on her own… plus, Naruto-kun is fighting that other blonde…"
"Since when is she allowed to call Naruto-kun by 'kun?" Hinata gave the former sand-nin another, evil glare, but still said nothing. A moment later they all heard a loud yell coming from the top of he panther and before they knew it, they saw Hinako falling down to the ground motionless.
Suddenly a huge hand made of rocks appeared and grabbed the former cloud-nin softly before he hit the ground. The hand then gently placed her near her companions before it disappeared. Kasumi gave Tamao an angry look and a second later she shoot out: "What are you doing? Have you already forgotten what Naraku said?"
"I… I'm sorry… I just…" began the former stone-nin, lowering her head.
"Hey, leave her alone, she saved the greenhead!" yelled Naruto. "But what happened to her?" he asked and only then noticed a hit mark on the girl's face. "What the…?" was all he could say before they all noticed that the panther got dispelled and now two figures stood in front of them.
One was Hinato with her metal gloves on which her claws were surrounded with electricity. The other was a hooded man, but not the same Naruto fought. A moment later Hanone appeared in front of the two and giving a quick bow, he announced: "There really was no need for your presence here… Resshin-sama…"
"Resshin-sama?" repeated Hinata as her eyes widen. "The older brother of Naraku-san?"
The hooded man finally threw away his cloak, thus revealing himself. The man seemed to be around two years older then them. He had medium-length, brown hair, made into dreadlocks that were partly falling on his face. His eyes were green and you could see that his left eye-brow was pierced by a single earring. He wore a black t-shirt and a brown waistcoat on that and black gloves with no fingers. Due to the fact that his hands were almost completely uncovered, you could tell that he was full of muscles. He had long, black pants with metal protectors on his knees. Naruto also spotted two katanas attached to his back, both handles were visible above the man's left shoulder which was protected, just like his right shoulder for that matter, by another metal protector, filled with small spikes on the outside. He too wore the Konoha headband of his forehead, only the symbol of the Leaf was slashed on it.
"I'm rather disappointed in you Hanone… Hinato… I recall ordering you to kill Naraku while you waste both time and chakra on some low-ranks…" announced the one called Resshin with a clod voice, not paying too much attention to Naruto and his companions.
"Forgive us, Resshin-sama…" this time Hinato bowed. "I think we underestimated your brother's companions… but if you'd allow us to…"
"Enough" ordered the older Monodane in a stoic voice, yet there was something in it that send chills down Hinata's spine. "I'll handle things from here, you just stay alert for my brother… he'll show up here sooner or later…" and with that he turned to the blonde and the five kunoichi. "So you're the people that travel with Naraku? I will never understand his way for choosing comrades…"
"What did you…!" began Naruto, but was instantly interrupted by Kasumi:
"Do you have a death wish?" she asked him. "You couldn't even defeat Naraku and this guy is at least at the same level as him. Attack him and you'll only end up dead…"
"We're as good as dead anyways…" stated Yari. "For the moment he came…"
"So now what?" Hinako asked herself shaking. "Should we allow Tamao to fight? But what if she'll lose it again? Naraku-sama, where are you?"
Resshin slowly walked towards them with a small smirk on his face. Naruto made two steps back, terrified by just the sense of the chakra coming from within his opponent. "This feeling… Kasumi wasn't joking, such chakra… that's inhuman… but I gave Naraku my word and at all costs I will protect everyone…" and with that thought he charged right at the former leaf-nin.
His action seemed to surprised the missing-nin for a moment, it didn't stop him to act instantly: he side-stepped Naruto's attack and raising his right hand he made the blonde crush right into it.
The whisker-marks felt to the ground and immediately got crushed into it even more as Resshin hit him in the stomach with his other hand. The blonde caught up blood and barely breathing laid on the ground as the dreadlocks walked by him and once more headed at the kunoichi.
"Pathetic…" announced the former leaf-nin. "I hope you'll be more of a challenge…" but then his words froze in his throat as he felt an incredible chakra appearing. "What the…? That's not Naraku, so…" and with that he turned around to see Naruto getting back to his feet with red chakra surrounding him, forming claws and tails. The blondes eyes turned red and his teeth seemed more like fangs now. "This brat…?"
"That pinhead… he's a Jinchuuriki!" noticed Hinako with her eyes widen.
"He… he's… he's just like…" began Tamao, backing away a bit.
"Oh, a demon vessel, eh?" asked Resshin, smiling a bit. "I figure that since the war started you guys would be in the frontlines… but since you've gone this far to stop me, I can sacrifice some of my time to check out your skills… come on then, show me the power of the human sacrifice…" and the moment he said so Naruto jumped right him.
Naruto's hand, surrounded by chakra smashed the ground in the place where Resshin stood just a moment ago. The blonde looked to the air, spotting the former leaf-nin firing few shurikens at him. But as the shinobi stars came closer to the whisker-marks, they got blown away, causing no harm to the loud mouth.
"With chakra alone?" Resshin's eye-brow went up. "Quite impressive… I guess this won't do then… I'll have to go to close range combat then…" and as he landed on the ground, he performed a quick set of hand seals and as he finished, he called out: "Tsuchi Kuiki: Ishihada no Jutsu!"
"What is that jutsu?" wondered Hinata as she activated her bloodline limit again and the moment she did so, her eyes widen. "Naruto-kun, he's created a chakra armor!"
"Armor of chakra?" the blonde looked surprised at the girl. "What the hell is that suppose to give him? Do he really believe that something like that will help him withstand the demon's strength?" but even with such doubts he charged at his opponent once more.
Resshin began dodging Naruto's furious attacks, blocking few of them as well. Finally he jumped to his left in order distract his opponent, his eyes widen however as the chakra that was surrounding the blonde shoot right at him in the form of another hand with claws.
The hand smashed into his stomach and send him through the stone wall. "I see, so that sphere around him is not just for the effect… interesting… however, it seems he's still not able to use more then 10 percent of his full strength… a pity…" and with that he slowly stood up with dirt on his clothes, yet except that, unharmed.
"Not a scratch?" Naruto was a bit shock, but didn't show it. "Is that his chakra armor?" and with that he jumped to his left and charged at the former leaf-nin from hi right.
As he came closer, small fireballs shoot out of his mouth and headed right at the older Monodane. "With no hand seals even…" noticed Resshin as he jumped back, avoiding the hit. "Such abilities could be useful… I guess I know why the Akatsuki were so desperate to get the Jinchuuriki… I should stop playing around or he may end up defeating me…" and with that thought he came to a sliding stop.
Sensing that his opponent found himself behind his back, he turned around just to see Naruto slamming a huge orb of red chakra into his stomach, calling out: "Kitsune Rasengan!"
Time seemed to froze for few moments. Resshin bended over a bit and then was send flying at a nearby wall, spinning wildly when he flew. Naruto began breathing heavily as he observed the dust that lifted the moment his opponent crushed into the wall.
"Naruto-kun won!" Hinata smiled, but her expression instantly as she noticed the looks on both Hinato's and Hanone's faces. "Their boss have just been defeated… maybe even killed… how can they stay so calm?"
The answer to her question revealed itself soon later as all the shinobies gathered heard a mad laugh and then saw Resshin getting back to his feet, still surrounded with the dust that lift itself up. The shirt in the place where Naruto's Rasengan hit him was turned into bit and you could see few, bleeding wounds, but none of them could be even consider a serious injury. Blood dripped also from his mouth but the former leaf-nin seemed to be perfectly fine none the less.
"You're pretty good…" announced Resshin as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "It's been a while since anyone made me feel pain… even more since the last time I bleed. I'm impressed. If you could use your power to the maximum, then who knows, maybe you would be able to kill me… unfortunately, at your current level, you won't be able to do more damage to me then you already had… but to show you my respect for you, I'll give you the taste of my real power…" and with that he instantly performed another chain of hand seal, finished by the call: "Tsuchi Kuiki: Ishi Hakachi no Jutsu!"
Instantly stone spikes started to shoot from under the ground. In order to avoid getting pierced, Naruto jumped into the air, but that was just the thing Resshin needed. In a fracture of a second he appeared behind the Kyuubi vessel and collecting a huge among of chakra in his right fist he punched the blonde right in the face, sending him to ground at an incredible speed.
"Naruto-kun!" yelled both Hinata and Yari as the whisker-marks came closer to the surface.
"From that height and at that speed if he'll hit the ground…" began Hinako as he observed her companion coming closer to his death.
Suddenly someone appeared right behind the falling blonde and grabbed him before he hit the ground. Landing safely on the ground with Naruto in his hands, he looked at Resshin with fury in his eyes. That only made the former leaf-nin smile under his nose.
"You kept your promise, Naruto…" announced Naraku as he placed him gently on the ground. "Shikamaru, take care of him…" with that he turned to the lazy shinobi who came with him. "I'll handle my brother…"
"Shikamaru…" Hinata couldn't believe who she was seeing. "You're alive!"
"Yeah…" replied the pineapple head simply. "And glad to see you two are alright as well… Naraku told me you're traveling together, but skipped the details…"
"I guess the reunion will have to wait…" announced Kasumi as all the kunoichi came closer to the leaf-nins. "Now we should take care of those two…" with that she pointed at Naruto and Hinako. "And move to a safer distance…"
"What do you mean, Kasumi-san?" asked Hinata a bit confused.
"We won't be able to help Naraku-kun…" responded Tamao quietly. "The best thing we can do is not interfere…"
"Unfinished business, eh?" asked Resshin as Naraku walked closer to him. "I was wondering when you'll show up. I prefer to kill you anyway… so now you're going to tell me that you'll do what you should have done twelve years ago? Back then you had an important advantage… now I do not think that you killing me is a possibility…"
"We'll see…" replied the younger Monodane as he began to form hand seals. A second later his brother did the same.
And with that the 4th chapter is finished. Hope you enjoyed it and that you'll sacrifice some of your time to write a review with your opinion.
I know some of you are probably a bit pissed that Naruto once more got defeated rather easily and when he used the Kyuubi even, but I can promise you that his defeat was pretty important to the storyline... and do keep in mind that he fought Resshin who's at a similar level to Naraku.
Well, I won't make character profile this time (I'll keep that for the next chapter)... but that gives you some opportunities: if you want me to make the profile of any, specific character (preferable OC's) write it in your review and you can be sure it'll appear in the closest chapters (the character that will be the most 'popular' will be descriped first, of course). I'm posting the jutsu encyklopedia with the jutsus that were used previous and I didn't had enough free time to write a description for them though. Here goes:
Kumori Kessoku (Shadow Unity) – special ability of Hanone's clan (you'll find out more of it later on). Basically it allows him to control shadow even more effectively then the Nara clan members. By staying touch with the shadows Hanone can perform an instant Kawarimi (he exchanges himself with shadows) without even the use of hand seals. It's only limit is the fact that he can teleport himself to a place with which his shadow has contact. It gives almost unlimited possibilities during the night (of course).
Kumori Tsume (Shadow Claw) – jutsu used by Hanone. Basically it's usage is the same as in any jutsu Shikamaru uses, the only difference is that in this case Hanone gives his shadow a certain shape: a hand with claws.
Kumori Tanken (Shadow Dagger) – jutsu used by Hanone. It's quite similar to his Shadow Claw. The basic difference are the fact that this time he separates his shadow into tiny pieces and sending them at the opponent, makes them form into daggers.
Kagekui – this is one of Shikamaru's new jutsus. I got it from the latest manga chapters and I'm not that familiar with how it works, so in order not to spread false information I'm just mentioning it. As soon as I'll find out some details about it, I'll be sure to let you know (if anyone has some I'll gladly accept them as well).
Hinote Kuiki: Hibashira no Jutsu (Fire Domain: Fire Pillar Skill) – a jutsu that can be used by the members of the Monodane clan who master the Fire Domain. It's usage isn't that different from the Uchiha's Goukakyuu no Jutsu (Grand Fireball Skill)… basically the difference is that in this case the flame is released from the mouth in the form of a wave (kinda like the breath of dragons).
Hijutsu: Aka Yaiba (Secret Skill: Bloody Blades) – jutsu used by Kasumi. A technique invented by the Mist assassins. Basically it works similar as Tenten's summoning weapons from the scroll, the main difference is that in this case the user must send his chakra onto the surface of the scroll and the moment the weapons are summoned he makes his chakra circle, thus creating a powerful tornado that carries all sorts of weapons with itself.
Hakke Kuushou – this is also from the newest manga (there it's used by Neji). The situation is the same as in the Kagekui's case… sorry.
Fuuton: Tenma Kaze no Jutsu (Wind Element: Demonic Wind Skill) – jutsu used by Yari. The user first collects chakra in his feet and then releases it, by performing the right hand seals, in the form of a small tornado. By standing in the eye of the cyclone, the user stays unharmed whereas the opponents that were unluckily to get too close gets carried by the wind.
Kumori Hitoya (Shadow Prison) – jutsu used by Hanone. It's usage is the same as in other case, only this time the shadow takes the form of roots that surrounds the opponent and imprison him (or her).
Tsuchi Kuiki: Ishihada no Jutsu (Earth Domain: Stone Skin Skill) – a technique used by the Monodane clan members who mastered the Earth Domain. Above it's name it is more based on the users endurance. The user releases his chakra from every part of his body, which forms a kind of an armor around his body that lowers the physical damage done to him. The strength of this jutsu (basically just like EVERY Monodane technique) depends of the users own strength and skills.
Tsuchi Kuiki: Ishi Hakachi no Jutsu (Earth Domain: Stone Graveyard Sill) – another Monodane technique from the Earth Domain. The user first sends his chakra into the ground and then, with the use of right hand seals, make it push up stone spikes. Dependable on the users skills, this jutsu can be even used against the whole army!
And I think that's that. Hope you liked it and that you'll stick around to see what happens next.
Take care and hopefully till the next update.