Hiya! I know it took me a long while to update this. I'm really sorry for it, but I had a lot of troubles lately (including some author blocks) and… well, I just hope I'll be able to finish the next chapter sooner.
Thanks for all the reviews from the last time. I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and that you'll this one at least as much. Not much romance this time, but action fans should be pleased with this.
To all of you who were happy with Neji appearance, I'm afraid I have bad news: he won't show up in this one, but he has an important part to play in Suna battle itself and in later parts of the story.
I believe that with that said, all that's left for me to do, is to get on with it:
Chapter #11: Their Own Battles
Title Page: Yari and Gaara are posing to a photo. Yari is smiling widely and shows a victory sign towards the camera, wrapping her other arm around the redhead and the Kazekage is just staring at the girl, blushing slightly
Naraku jumper back, thus avoiding the incoming blade again. As Hasaki retreated his weapon, the young Monodane charged straight at the missing-nin with kunai already in his hands. As the swordsman's eyes widen, the former leaf-nin threw the knives at his adversary and began forming hand seals.
Acting on instinct, the Juusan Akuma member jumped into the air, thus avoiding the incoming kunai and with his swords still stretched, he began spinning around in mid-air. His katana acted as a whip and circled around him, before the missing-nin pushed it straight at the brown-haired boy.
Naraku immediately stopped the chain of hand seals and jumped up, landing on his hands on top of Hasaki's sword. In an instant the former leaf-nin jumped towards the Juusan member aiming a spin kick into his head. As the attack connected, the missing-nin's head shoot back, making him fall with his head first towards the ground.
In the last moment however the swordsman flipped and landed safely on his feet just few meters away from Naraku, who finished his set of hand seals while landing on the ground as well: "Hinote Kuiki: Ryuumori!" and with that a huge fireball escaped his mouth.
Having nowhere to run, Hasaki went through a chain of hand seals of his own and with the last one he called out: "Suiton: Suijinheki!" and right before the former leaf-nin's eyes a large water barrier surrounded the swordsman, saving him from the flames.
"Such a jutsu with no water source near?" Naraku thought to himself with a tiny smirk. "This guy sure is good… I guess typical ways won't work… and Fire Domain won't do… I guess I have to bet this one on ice…" and so he performed another set of hand seals: "Mizu Kuiki: Fubuki no Jutsu!"
Hasaki's eyes widen as he saw water shoot from under the ground around Naraku as gazers and water drops turned into snowflakes as they came to the ground. A second later they began circling around the former leaf-nin and suddenly flew straight at the surprised missing-nin.
Instantly the Juusan member charged at the young Monodane, ignoring the cold he felt when the snowflakes began hitting him and the fact that his vision got almost completely white. As he estimated the distance he had to cover, in the moment he came to its end, he unleashed his katana once more.
The former leaf-nin had to jump back again in order to avoid the hit, yet he was so surprised that he didn't manage to act in time and his torso was shallowly cut by the tip of Hasaki's sword.
When his feet touched the ground, he looked at the missing-nin with cold eyes. "Well, for a Monodane, this is sure disappointing…" stated the swordsman. "Sure Hinato and Hanone aren't really strong, but since you made such an impression on them, I figured you'll be some sort of a challenge… so far you only did fine…"
Naraku looked around the street and then his sight stopped at the Juusan member again: "I'm only gonna ask you once: what is your objective? You came all this way just to kill me or is it something else? I promise that if you'll tell me I'll let you live…"
"Actually, after what I saw, I don't really think you're the one to make treats…"
"And you're not someone who should've became a shinobi if you haven't realized a thing that's quiet obvious… look around and maybe you'll understand…" responded the former leaf-nin coldly, not moving an inch.
"What are you getting at?" demanded the swordsman angry.
"So far you got it easy…" announced Naraku with the same, cold voice. "But now we're the only, two people on the street so I don't have to hold back, fearing I'll hurt someone anymore… that Snowstorm Skill just now… is nothing compared to other, ice techniques I know…"
"Is that suppose to scare me?" asked Hasaki, laughing shortly.
"No, actually… I just said it so you'd be aware of what awaits you from this point…" and so the young Monodane began another set of hand seals.
---That time, elsewhere in the Suna---
Sasuke jumped down from the wall and landed right in front of the three, shocked shinobi: "It's been a while, right bonehead?" he asked with a smile, looking at Naruto. "I never imagined that you'll be able to survive our attack on the Leaf…"
"Why are you here?" demanded the blonde, holding back his anger.
"Well, don't think it's because of you…" replied the Sharingan user with a little bored tone. "I didn't come here for you, though it's convenient that you're here… the reason I'm here is to kill Neji…"
At hearing that Hinata's eyes widen in surprise. "Neji-niisan… is in the Suna?"
"But who is this girl?" asked Sasuke as he stared at Tamao with an evil smile. "Oh, she's from the Iwa… or rather was…" he stated, noticing her headband. "I wonder why you guys actually travel with her, but that's not really important, I guess…"
"Hinata-chan, take Tamao and go, I'll take him on myself..." announced Naruto in an ordering tone. "The time when I wanted to take you back is long gone… now there's only one thing that I want from you and that's your head!"
"So much for that lifetime promise to Sakura…" stated the missing-nin laughing loudly. "But it doesn't matter, out of the three of you I'm interested only in you anyway… Kyuubi…" and as he said so, his eyes turned red.
"N-Naruto-san, are… are you s-sure that…" began Tamao, but then she stopped as she felt her arm being grabbed. She look back and saw Hinata pulling her away from the blonde and the raven-haired boy. "H-Hinata-san, what are you…?"
"Naruto-kun do not wish us to interfere…" stated the Hyuuga heiress simply. "He'd never forgive us if we'd get in the way…" and with that she smiled slightly. "Besides, I'm sure Naruto-kun wouldn't wish his friends to see him as he'll become in a moment…"
Naruto's whisker-marks became larger as his eyes turn red. Red chakra began surrounding him, his nails became claws and teeth grew into fangs. Sasuke kept smirking, standing confidentially with his arms crossed.
"This is so predictable…" he whined. "I assure you that this time it won't do you much, Dead Last…" and as he said so, the two charged at one another.
---That time, near the gates of the Suna---
Another sound-nin let out a yell of agony as toxin that entered his body began working. He collapsed to the ground with his view becoming completely black, his sight stopping at the puppeteer with purple markings on his face. The one who defeated him and his three companions.
"Why would the Sound attack Suna?" wondered Kankuro as he retreated his dolls. "I thought Orochimaru concentrated on killing the Leaf survivors for the time being… is he after that blonde brat and the white-eye?"
---Meanwhile, another part of Suna---
Few sound-nins crushed hard against a wall as a sudden wind blew them away. Shikamaru had an annoyed expression on his face as he glared at Temari, who was standing right next to him: "You know, it's really troublesome trapping those guys in my Kagemane just to make it easier for you to use that wind technique of yours…" he stated a little bored.
"Hey, you're a guest in this village so you could at least help us out a little, consider we're being attacked…" responded the blonde kunoichi with a vein appearing on her forehead. "And stop whining, we need to find Gaara and the others…"
"Out of all the people, he's the one you should be worried about the least…" noticed the lazy ninja. "Especially since he has that sand of his… and he's the Kazekage and all…"
"Yeah, it may be right…" the girl thought to herself, staring into space. "And it's not really Sound that I'm worried about… but that thing Gaara protects… it's a great opportunity for those who attacked him those three months ago to make another try…"
---That time, somewhere else---
Gaara's sand shoot right at the incoming Tsumeko, forcing the missing-nin to dodge the attack. Being in a thin alley, the former sand-nin jumped up and used chakra to keep on running on the wall, still aiming at the Kazekage's head.
Before Yari could even move, the Juusan member jumped down straight at Gaara with his metal glove out front. The Godaime jumped back, trying to avoid the assault, even though his sand immediately appeared before the missing-nin.
To the kunoichi's surprise however, Tsumeko's claws went right through the redhead's sand. The spear user eyes widen at the sight, yet Gaara didn't seemed to be moved by that at all as he was already performing another attack: "Sabaku Tomurai!"
In an instant spikes made of hard sand began shooting from the ground, creating a trail of spikes that headed straight towards the missing-nin. The Juusan member didn't try to dodge however. He just jumped into the air and spinning parallel to the ground, he used his claws to destroy all the spikes that were aiming to pierce him.
"He's able to go through Gaara-kun's Sand Shield and destroy his sand…" concluded the blue-haired girl a bit worried. "Those claws are the same as my spear! But that means…" and with that she stared at the missing-nin with her eyes widen.
"Yari-chan…" suddenly Gaara spoke up, gaining the kunoichi's attention. "Please, leave here… I'll take him on by myself…"
"You can't be serious…" stated the girl, acting tuff. "Your sand won't do much against this guy… you saw it yourself, those claws of his are capable of getting through it and thus your defense is way less effective ten usual… fighting him on your own is too dangerous…"
"I beat him once, even though he was using those claws…" announced Gaara as he send the missing-nin a cold glare. "I can do it again… considering this is a thin passage, right now I have to watch out so that my attacks won't hit you… at this point, you'd be getting in my way more then you can help…"
The blue-haired girl just dropped her sight to the ground and after a moment of hesitation she left the two. Tsumeko smiled behind his bandages as Gaara's eyes narrowed and in the next moment the missing-nin jumped up to avoid a huge sand hand that reached out to grab him from bellow.
The Juusan member performed a quick set of hand seals and with the last symbol he called out: "Fuuton: Kaze Tsume no Jutsu!" In an instant a strong wind began blowing and as it hit Gaara, the Kazekage felt his skin got cut.
As the redhead looked at his arm, he noticed a newly formed gash on it. And before he knew it, another cut appeared just bellow it. His eyes widen as he formed a sand barrier around himself, making the wind hit it.
"Come on, you can't tell me that you've already forgotten…" yelled Tsumeko so that his opponent could hear him even within the barrier. "The last time I fought you, I promised that I'll find a way to get through that stupid sand of yours… you didn't expect that my metal claws were the only thing I've counted on when I came here, did ya?"
"And did you expected to defeat me so easily?" asked the Kazekage calmly with a emotionless face, as usual. In the next moment sand began shooting from the walls and from the ground, blocking the missing-nin any way of escape.
"Dammit, I got careless!" the former sand-nin cursed in his mind as he looked around. "All those times I cut his sand into pieces, he still controlled it and made it stuck to walls so that later I wouldn't have a way to run! That's the reason why he send that blue-haired away!"
"Whether it's back, up or front, my sand will still get you…" stated Gaara coldly. "And even though your claws are capable of getting through my sand, you can't use it to block the entire attack… this fight is over…"
"Not yet…" Tsumeko thought to himself as he began another set of hand seals: "Fuuton: Tenkuu Tama no Jutsu!" but the moment he called out the technique's name, he got covered by the redhead's sand.
The Kazekage stayed as he was, looking at the place where the missing-nin got buried, with his eyes slightly narrowed. They widen just a bit in the next moment as he saw his sand being blown away in every direction, with the former sand-nin standing where he did, breathing a little heavily.
"How did you survived?" asked Gaara a bit curious, but still emotionless.
"I managed to surround myself with the sphere of wind currents…" replied Tsumeko without bursting. "When you create wind in many directions, it can change the structure of some things… and sand, which structure isn't very solid, is quite effected by something like that…"
"I see…" nodded the redhead. "Most impressive…"
"Thanks…" responded the missing-nin. "But no matter what you say, I have to kill you… okay, actually, I just want the symbol, but killing you is a bonus…" and with that he charged straight at the Kazekage again.
Gaara instantly put a wall of sand in front of him and performed another technique. As Tsumeko went straight through the wall, using his claws, the redhead finished his jutsu and called out: "Suna Shuriken!"
In a flash a wall of appeared before him and in the next second tens of sand shuriken flew right at the missing-nin. Having no, other way to avoid them, the Juusan member jumped up, but that was just what Gaara wanted him to do.
The Suna leader immediately send his sand towards the missing-nin while he was still in mid-air, making the end of the wave end with a sharp spike. Acting on instinct, Tsumeko began spinning around and deflected the attack with his claws.
Gaara's eyes widen slightly as he saw his sand changing directions and the Juusan member using his spinning move landing on his sand and sliding straight towards him. Without a second thought the redhead changed the shape of the sand Tsumeko used as a rail and spikes formed themselves in the missing-nin's way.
The mummy jumped of the sand trail and somersaulting, landed right behind the Kazekage, just to get blown away with the redhead's sand wave. As he slammed against a stone wall, he saw another wave of sand coming straight at him, only this time he was ready.
Making the air around his metal claws circle, he attacked the wave, cutting it in half and making the sand went from both his sides, but not touching him. In a flash he performed another set of hand seals and with the last symbol he called out: "Fuuton: Tatsumaki Shindou!"
In an instant wind began circling around him, creating a small tornado. Before Gaara knew it, Tsumeko got lifted up by his own wind and was send flying straight at him, still surrounded with the tornado.
Acting on instinct, the redhead send his sand against the incoming enemy, making it mimic his adversary's attack and forming it into a tornado made of sand. The missing-nin however held his metal glove in front, this cutting the Kazekage's attack easily. Gaara had to jump back, to avoid being pierced.
As his claw sunk into the sandy ground, Tsumeko used the hand with his metal glove to bounce off the surface and came at the redhead with a kick aimed at the boy's head. Yet this time the Kazekage's Sand Shield managed to get in his way and stopped him.
A smirk appeared on Tsumeko's face behind bandages as he prepared his claws again, ready to cut through the blockade and finding his target defenseless on the other side. Things didn't go as he planned however.
Just as he thought of his plan. a blade on the end of the spear went straight through Gaara's sand and went for the missing-nin's head. The Juusan member jumped back just in time to avoid certain death. As he came to a sliding stop, he glared at the place the attack came from and as the sand dropped, he saw Yari standing next to Gaara with her spear held out front.
"Yari-chan, what are you doing?" asked the Kazekage. "I asked you to get back…"
"I did…" she replied with determination in her voice. "But I'm not a kid anymore… I've changed… and this time… I won't run away!"
A small smile appeared on Gaara's face as he threw her a quick stare and then, looking back at Tsumeko, he announced with his sand starting to circle again: "Get ready then…"
---Meanwhile---
Hinata and Tamao ran through the streets of Suna towards the Kazekage Tower. Suddenly the Hyuuga heiress stopped, making the former stone-nin slow down as well confused. A second later two figures appeared right before them in the middle of the street.
The white-eyed girl made few steps back as she noticed who the two arrivals where. The first one was a girlie man with long, blonde hair, clipped in a ponytail and blue eyes. He was wearing a black robe with red clouds and a hitae-ate with a slashed, Iwa symbol on the forehead.
Right next to him stood or more like kneeled, another man, dressed just like the blonde one. His hair was black as well as his eyes. He also had his mouth covered behind the black shawl. What drew the attention the most in him however was a scorpion's tail that stuck out of his robe.
"Oh, the Kyuubi isn't here, yeah…" noticed the blonde man with a small smirk.
"Doesn't matter…" stated the scorpion's tail. "We can always catch it later… as well as Shukaku… for the time being lets secure the seven tails…"
Hinata's eyes widen in surprise at hearing that. "Seven tails? What are they…?" but at that moment she realized what the two meant and looked behind her only to see Tamao backing away slowly, not taking her eyes of the two figures. She was terrified and shaking.
And this chapter ends! Hope you like it!
Next time: Naruto takes on Sasuke! Who'll win this time! Will Hinata be able to keep Tamao safe! Gaara and Yari have a showdown with Tsumeko! The conclusion of Naraku versus Hasaki fight! Tune in again!
And before I finish this, it's time for another jutsu encyclopedia. This time around I have some things to write (sorry if some of the descriptions ain't clear enough… I'm not the best when it comes to explain something in English '):
Suiton: Suijinheki (Water Element: Water Barrier Wall) – in order to perform this jutsu the user must first concentrate the right among of chakra in his mouth and then, with the use of right hand seals, release it in the form of water that creates a barrier around him. This technique is usually used to block fire jutsus, but it works on paper just as good, as you read.
Mizu Kuiki: Fubuki no Jutsu (Water Domain: Snowstorm Skill) - technique used by Monodane clan members who mastered Water Domain. Even though it's from the Water Domain, this technique also requires from the user to have some skill at controlling wind. To put it simply, the user first sends his chakra into the water source (in Naraku's case it was an underground water… yet, it's a desert, but it's only logical to built a village where you can get water, since that liquid is hard to find in the desert, so I figured Suna was created on some water source) and then, with the use of right hand seals, lowers its temperature, turning it into snow. The user then sends a little bit of chakra into the air (only enough to create a weak wind), thanks to which he/she is able to send the created snow towards their opponent, blinding him.
Sabaku Tomurai (Desert Funeral) - jutsu invented by Gaara. The user first sends his/hers chakra into the sand and then, with the use of right hand seals, makes the sand came from the ground in the form of a spike, harden by the users chakra.
Fuuton: Kaze Tsume no Jutsu (Air Element: Wind Claw Skill) – technique used by Tsumeko. Basically the user first sends his chakra into the air, thus creating a wind current. Then, with the use of right hand seals, sends the wind towards his opponent, with his chakra traveling with it and the moment parts of users chakra hit the target, they cut their skin. This technique may not be the most powerful, but it's useful against a bigger number of enemies.
Fuuton: Tenkuu Tama no Jutsu (Air Element: Air Sphere Skill) – technique used by Tsumeko. In this case the user also must release some of his chakra into the air surrounding him and then, using the correct hand seals, make in move in many directions and that way creating a sort of wind barrier, which is very effective in blocking throwing weapons and physical attacks overall.
Suna Shuriken (Sand Shuriken) - a jutsu used by Gaara. Practically the user just throws shurikens at his enemy and then, using chakra of course, surrounds them with sand, making them harder.
Fuuton: Tatsumaki Shindou (Air Element: Tornado Impact) - another technique performed by Tsumeko. To put it simply, the user first sends his chakra into the air and then, with the use of the right hand seals, makes the air circle around him, creating a small tornado. Thanks to his own chakra, that is still in the air, the user can choose the route of the tornado and even get taken with it (which is exactly what Tsumeko did).
And that's that for this time. Hope you like it.
Best wishes and until next time, hopefully.