Such a long tale for such a short part, but I really thought that this part of Naruto's story was done well, except for the part were they made him the fool of cool against Kakuzu. Anyways it is very tight to canon, but I hope you guys enjoy the small changes I made:O) School is starting to look like the trials and tribulations of Naruto, but instead of Naruto it is staring me.:O( See you next chapter.
Disclaimer: I am just a fan. I do not own Naruto
Chapter 17: Shikamaru's Revenge
Shikamaru was shadow boxing some unseen enemy with the knuckle dagger's that were the favorite of his Master. His thoughts drifted as he went through his forms. How long had he been training? How much longer until he was ready? Shikamaru was one of Konoha's greatest tacticians of this age and probably one of the greatest in its history, but he had been lazy and did not like troublesome situations, until that day. Now he gladly took on the work it required to avenge his Master. He had researched as much as he could about the Jashin faith and ran through millions of scenarios on how to isolate and destroy the monster responsible for his Masters death. He would not fail. His Master's soul would find rest soon. Finished with his shadow boxing, he focused his chakra into the knuckle daggers which were capable of storing chakra for later use. It was a unique tool; a tool Shikamaru had devoted all his time in mastering. He had become pretty efficient in the use of his new weapons too, although he was not quite as good as his Master was yet, he was getting there. He was so diligent in his practice, that it was even possible that he might surpass his Master in their use by the end of his training.
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Ino met Chouji at Asuma's grave. They had taken it upon themselves to ensure the graves upkeep. Once a month they had come here, Ino would bring fresh flowers, and Chouji would help her dust the head stone before they burnt incense and prayed for their Master to watch over them as they trained to become the elite ninja he always knew they were. At first they came, in an attempt to catch Shikamaru, but after a few months they knew it was pointless. Since their Masters passing, Shikamaru had hidden himself away from the world, including those closest to him. The only people to have seen him after the tragedy were his father and the Hokage. He didn't even bother to attend Asuma's funeral. She knew they had been close, but she thought it was a little rude the way he shut those who cared about him out, and she vowed if ever she saw him again to give him a good smack and tongue lashing for feeling guilty about things he was powerless to change.
Chouji had taken Asuma's request for him to go on a diet to heart, and had forced himself to diet for a month before giving into his body's cry for food. Although he failed to maintain his diet, he did increase his training tenfold; vowing as did the rest of his team, to avenge his Master's death. Chouji's training had transformed his once pudgy body into the physique of a strong man. Ino thought Chouji's new strong man body which she admitted was nice to look at, would more than appease Asuma's spirit for failing in his diet. Lighting their incense, they placed it in the incense holder before the headstone and bowed their heads.
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Finished with the sealing of Akatsuki's latest acquisition, the two tailed Biju. Kakuzu began walking down the mountain.
"Oy, Oy, Oy, where are you heading? I promised I would return and kill those ingrates once we were finished." Hidan yelled running after Kakuzu.
"Do you really believe that they would be waiting for you to return after all this time? And even if they were, it would definitely be a trap. You truly are an annoying idiot that the world could do without, Hidan. I am heading to Konoha to claim my prize. The bounty for the body of Asuma of the twelve guardians is too good to pass up. Especially, after we took the time to kill him."
"What we? I killed that pathetic weakling, and now I want to kill that snot nosed kid who dared to cause me so much grief. I'll kill him and those other weaklings that were there, and fulfill my promise to lord Jashin."
"I claim partial credit for having to sow your head back on. After I have claimed the bounty for the body of Asuma I don't care what you do. Now shut up you are beginning to annoy me."
"Fine! We will do it your way. I don't care, just as long as I get to kill the rest of those bastards."
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"After a year we are finally ready," Shikamaru thought to himself as he stood waiting at the front gates for his team to arrive. Eight months spent training himself. One month devoted to apologizing to his friends and team mates for being so distant, and the last three months they all had devoted to reconnecting and perfecting their team work as team ten the second coming of Ino, Shika, Cho.
"We're ready." Ino said.
"Let's go Shikamaru," Chouji said as he and Ino followed behind him as he began walking.
"Freeze," Tsunade voice boomed before they could exit the Konoha gates.
"Godaime," Ino said shocked.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"Your orders are still in effect. We regrouped with different team members and are going to continue with our mission." Shikamaru answered.
"Shikamaru you are acting irrationally. I will assign you a platoon and once we have devised a sound strategy, then you can leave."
"Just send them as backup. I already have plans worked out for the three of us."
"Enough, you are not acting like yourself; you are letting your need for vengeance get the better of you. Asuma is dead. It's just the three of you now, and if you leave without proper preparation, you'll just be throwing your lives away."
"Asuma is still with us. We are not stupid enough to go out there planning to die. It's just that if I let it go like this, I will regret it the rest of my life. And that would be too troublesome a way to live." Shikamaru said looking feral.
"Grow up; Shinobi will always be surrounded by death. Some of them harder than others, and if you can't get over them you will be no good as a Shinobi."
Shikamaru pulled Asuma's lighter out from his chuunin vest pocket.
"Carrying this lighter, it feels as if Asuma is with us watching and protecting us. This lighter will stay with me until I have settled the score."
"Get real! Platoons are four man cells, and there are only three of you," Tsunade said frustrated.
"Then a fourth member is all they will need, correct?" Kakashi said appearing out of nowhere.
"Kakashi-sensei," Ino said startled.
"I will serve as captain for team ten."
"Kakashi what are you doing," Tsunade asked.
"They are going to go whether you like it or not. I might as well go and keep an eye on them, and make sure they don't do anything drastic. It's not like I have anything better to do since Naruto is training with Jiraiya."
"Fine, do as you like."
"Yes" Chouji and Ino shouted.
"Thanks a million, Kakashi-sensei," Shikamaru said gratefully.
"Let's go team ten."
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Jiraiya found Naruto underneath the water fall practicing control over his fuuton elemental chakra. The rate at which he was growing was amazing, but then, he had learned to expect nothing less from him. Naruto's pigheadedness and drive to protect his precious people would allow for nothing less. He walked down the mountain side towards Naruto. Once he was close enough, he saw that the water was not touching him but flowed around him instead.
"I see you have improved your chakra control; how long have you been like that," Jiraiya asked tossing Naruto a scroll.
Naruto inhaled deeply and expanded the invisible fuuton barrier that wrapped his body like a second skin; he diverted the water to his sides, and stepped out from underneath the water fall. "I am up to thirty minutes now," Naruto said as he walked across the small pond towards Jiraiya catching the scroll as he did so. "What's this?"
"A decision for you to make," Jiraiya said as Naruto unrolled the scroll and began to read. They had been gone a year and this was the first bit of news from Konoha Jiraiya thought was worth breaking training for. Naruto would have never forgiven him had he not shared it with him.
As he waited for Naruto to finish reading, Jiraiya recalled how possessed Naruto had become with training. After the burial of his grandfather, Naruto was so driven he learned how to use his Fuuton elemental chakra in three months. It took another month before he would come to talk about anything that wasn't related to the advancement of his skills; it was after he had finished learning the basics of combination attacks with toad summons that his infatuation with training had finally changed and he spoke with Jiraiya in detail about his grandfather, the cavern, and the extensive library he had bequeathed him, as well as all the lessons he had been taught. Jiraiya was honored that Naruto had decided to confide in him and had promised Naruto that he would not speak about these things to anyone unless he wished it.
"My decision Eh," Naruto said looking from the scroll to Jiraiya.
"It's your training."
"Well, I guess training is going to have to be placed on hold for a little bit then."
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"Since you spent all this time planning where do we start, Shikamaru," Kakashi asked.
"According to intelligence they were last spotted heading in the direction of our last encounter, but I believe that to be a faint. That Kakuzu guy was really adamant on collecting the bounty for Asuma-sensei's body. So that only leaves two possible roads they could take to reach Konoha."
"Right, but we have no idea which road they will take or where they are now." Ino said.
"True but we can find them using that," Shikamaru said pointing to an eagle in flight.
"I'm on it," Ino said smiling.
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"Shino" Tsunade called.
"Yes Tsunade-sama."
"I want you to find another member for team Kakashi so that they can back up team ten. Preferably someone who can fight at a distance, since they are mostly comprised of close to mid range fighters."
"Yes Hokage-sama."
"And Shino, once they are assembled send them off immediately."
"Yes Hokage-sama."
"I wonder if my request has reached its destination." Tsunade thought sitting with her elbows on the desk, hands folded and her lips pressed against them.
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Kakuzu and Hidan were walking through the forest when Kakuzu discretely told Hidan to prepare for battle. Hidan nodded his head in understanding. Kakuzu and Hidan leapt into the air avoiding Shikamaru's shadow jutsu, and were attacked immediately by two kunais attached with explosive tags. The tags exploded engulfing the two Akatsuki members in smoke, but both were unharmed. Shikamaru pressed his attack, sending his shadow clone jutsu after them once again, but this time as they avoid the shadow clone, Shikamaru fell from the sky throwing his knuckle daggers with tags attached to them at his two opponents.
"Hidan more explosive tags dodge!" Kakuzu warned his less observant ally.
Both members of Akatsuki braced themselves for the incoming explosion but are only greeted by Shikamaru's words.
"Kagemane Shuriken no jutsu (Shuriken Shadow Mimic) complete."
"I can't move. What did you do bastard? Your shadow never touched us."
"The blades I threw at you are chakra blades. I am sure you are familiar with them. They absorb their user's elemental chakra allowing him to use them as a basis for his techniques."
"Kakuzu, what the hell is this little piss ant talking about."
"Hidan, quiet you moron."
"All you really need to know is that they are mementos from Asuma. The man you two murdered." Shikamaru said his voice filled with satisfaction.
"Huh," Hidan said in confusion.
"The thirty five million ryou," Kakuzu said reducing the memory of Asuma to monetary gain.
"He is very smart." Kakuzu remarked once he realized that Shikamaru staged his earlier attack in order to manipulate them into this moment.
"Huh," Hidan said confused by his partner's statement. Kakuzu revealed to him Shikamaru's cunning.
"You had to get caught too, didn't you Kakuzu? Oh man, we're really screwed now."
"You were screwed the moment you walked into my trap, just as I had planned." Shikamaru said as he took control of Hidan's body.
"What the hell are you doing?"! Hidan shouted at Shikamaru.
"I am making sure I target the right guy first this time." Shikamaru said as he forced Hidan to charge his partner. His scythe made ready to cleave Kakuzu in two.
"You're not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you," Shikamaru taunted Hidan, closing the distance on Kakuzu. The rest of team ten remained hidden waiting for their moment to strike.
"Kakuzu duck," Hidan screamed as his scythe struck out. At the last second, Kakuzu ducked. His hand removed the knuckle dagger blade, breaking the jutsu. Shikamaru was surprised that Kakuzu's arm could move while detached, and his mind ran through the circumstances of the events searching for the moment when he had removed it.
"You said we were finished, but you kept your distance because you still were uncertain of my capabilities. You actually think unlike my partner. But things do not always go according to plan, no matter how much you analyze the situation there is always an unknown variable." Kakuzu said, as realization of when Kakuzu had removed his hand dawned on Shikamaru. "He must have removed his hand while he was concealed in the smoke from the explosive tag." He had to admit, that the abilities Akatsuki and its members wielded were otherworldly. Thoughts aside, Shikamaru sent Hidan flying at Kakuzu swinging his scythe wildly, forcing Kakuzu back against a tree. Chouji recognizing his chance to attack fell from the sky. Nikudan Herisensha (Spike Meat Tank) He said as he fell upon Kakuzu creating a huge creator. The rest of team ten watched still hidden. Chouji flew out of the huge cloud of dirt created from the impact and asked Shikamaru what had happened. Hidan had walked out slowly from the huge cloud unharmed; Shikamaru stood analyzing the situation. "This was what Raidou-senpai described," he told Chouji. "He must have some kind of body solidifying technique."
"An astute observation; you are correct, physical attacks cannot harm me." Kakuzu explained to him.
"This is not good I accounted for their abilities to a point, but this is going to be more troublesome than I anticipated. If we can't attack him directly, then what will we do?" Shikamaru thought finding himself in a more difficult situation than he had expected.
"Cower in fear, you pathetic atheist. Now it is our turn. Kakuzu hurry up and free me from this jutsu already." Hidan said laughing.
"Sure." Kakuzu answered, when Kakashi surprised him from behind with a chidori through the heart.
"How the hell, I didn't even sense you." Kakuzu said shocked.
"Too bad for you," Kakashi replied. "I observed your iron skin technique. It is an earth based jutsu. Earth cannot stand against lightening. You were dead the minute I was made part of this mission."
"You could observe my jutsu even though it was performed at such a high speed, but how? I see you're the Sharingan user Hatake Kakashi." Kakuzu said in comprehension.
Seeing Shikamaru struggling to maintain his shadow mimic technique, Kakashi jumped away from Kakuzu allowing his body to fall to the floor. Freeing his arm, he turned to Hidan; chidori at the ready, Kakashi sprinted forward to run him through when Kakuzu stood up and sent him flying into a nearby tree with a well placed side kick.
"That's what he gets for acting all cool and saying stuff like your dead," Hidan smirked.
Kakashi stood brushing the scraps of tree from his body, trying to piece together what had went wrong. He knew he had landed a direct hit destroying Kakuzu's heart. And yet, there he stood.
"Nice, now lets slaughter these idiots."
"I intend to," Kakuzu said coldly, removing his traveling cloak; stitched on his back, was what had been four complete masks, Kakashi's chidori having destroyed the mask that had occupied the portion of his back nearest his heart. Kakuzu bent over and all the stitching which bound his body together began to unravel. The four masks leapt from his back to form monstrous creatures. Once they were unleashed, his body stitched itself back together. The creature which inhabited the mask destroyed by Kakashi, melted into sludge immediately after gaining its freedom from Kakuzu's back. Kakashi and Shikamaru took note of the occurrence, and Ino who had yet to reveal herself maintained her concelment, observing everything and biding her time. Three beasts, whose abilities were unknown, now stood before team ten along with Kakuzu and Hidan. To make matters worse, Shikamaru had reached his limit and could no longer hold Hidan with his Shadow Mimic jutsu. Hidan invigorated to be freed from the accursed jutsu, was ready to begin the impending carnage.
"So are you ready to kill them now?" Hidan asked Kakuzu.
"Yeah."
"Lord Jashin-sama, watch me. I am going to go nuts, seriously, non-stop insane on all of them." Hidan said giddy with the delight of a madman who reveled in the pain of others.
"Chouji, get ready," Shikamaru told him, preparing himself for the Akatsuki member's first assault.
"Hidan, sit this one out, I want to fight him." Kakuzu said ignoring Chouji and Shikamaru.
"Hold on, I'm tired of them always tricking me. I need some payback; let's do it like always, Okay." Kakuzu nodded his agreement. Hidan smiled as he charged Kakashi. He swung his scythe madly at the Konoha Nin. Consumed by blood lust, Hidan laughed wildly as Kakuzu finished their combination jutsu. The creature possessing the mask with the wavy blue markings on both sides of his cheek took flight. Moving behind Hidan, the creature released a devastating air attack which consumed both friend and foe alike. Ino looked horrified from her concealed position as Kakashi was consumed by a huge chakra filled sphere of air. The enormity and devastating power of the blast uprooted trees as if they where nothing, hurling them and everything else around like little toys through the sky. The overwhelming force of the attack pushed Chouji and Shikamaru back, and they had to channel chakra to their feet, so as not to be swept away along with everything else.
After pausing for a moment to admire his handiwork, Kakuzu turned to Chouji and Shikamaru. This time, with the use of the creature that possessed the mask with the yellow nose, he unleashed a tremendous lightening attack aimed at the two young Nin from Konoha.
Shikamaru dug into his ninja utility belt and withdrew a scroll of sealing possessing the word shield on it; stepping in front of Chouji, he held it before him to draw in the lightening attack, but seeing the enormity of the attacks power, he became doubtful that the shield scroll would be sufficient enough to protect them. No longer able to standby, Ino ran to her friends. Just as the lightening attack bore down upon Chouji and Shikamaru, Kakashi leapt in front of them and absorbed the entirety of the lightening blast released by Kakuzu's elemental beast. Ino finally reaching her fellow Ninja asked Kakashi in unison with her fellow team mates if he was alright.
"I'm fine." He said as Hidan walked up surprising him.
"I'm impressed. You are the first person to ever have survived that combo attack Hatake Kakashi."
"Saved by your Sharingan again, but can you keep it up," Kakuzu said forming some hand signs; he called forth his third beast that wore the mask with the red lips.
"Katon Zukokku," he said as the beast opened its mouth spewing fire.
Team ten and Kakashi took evasive measures. Shikamaru leapt backwards in a grand display of acrobatics, flipping and jumping, he found cover behind a thick, tall, tree. Chouji and Ino's escape had been less graceful; unable to escape the full concussive force of the blast, they both lost their balance and bounced and rolled their way to safety, but were otherwise unharmed. Kakashi leapt into the sky, jumping away from the blast at the last second, he was able to use its concussive force to carry him to safety. Choosing to pursue him rather than wait, Hidan leapt through the blast. While still in the air, He engaged Kakashi in close quarter combat. Kakashi withdrew a kunai from a hidden pocket. Matching Hidan's strikes blow for blow, he parried. Landing on the ground, Hidan pursued Kakashi up a very old, thick, and gnarled tree. He lashed out at Kakashi repeatedly with his scythe, only to be thwarted time and time again. Returning to the ground some distance away from Kakashi, he complimented him on his fighting prowess.
"Not to shabby."
Kakuzu and Hidan stood patiently as team ten regrouped with Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei," Chouji called as team ten landed behind him.
"Are you alright," Ino asked concernedly.
"Yeah," he replied as he thought. "Though I've been using my Sharingan this whole time, plus four Raikiris; we need to finish this quickly."
"They are extremely good at combo attacks." Ino said.
"Yeah," Chouji agreed "And Kakashi-sensei definitely connected with his Raikiri, but that guy is still not dead, why?"
"Your right, I definitely ran him through the heart with my Raikiri. He should be dead, but instead what I killed was one of the mask creatures from his back. We should assume that it died in his stead."
Shikamaru continued Kakashi's train of thought. "It was the same when he escaped my Shadow mimic jutsu. Something like a heart was attached to his arm and it moved independently."
"What do you mean?"Chouji asked confused.
"In other words, each one of those monsters he controls has their own heart. Plus his own, that gives him five hearts total."
"So we have to eliminate the four remaining hearts in order to kill him for good," Ino asked.
"Yeah."
"Good observation, you are absolutely right, each one of them has a heart that I took from a shinobi that I have killed. I'll need to stock up, and your hearts will be perfect!" Kakuzu said casually.
"I know you guys came here for revenge for the pathetic fire breathing ninja I killed, but that's not happening with your skills." Hidan taunted.
Chouji, always the easiest to become riled yelled, "Don't you talk about Asuma-sensei like that."
Hidan seeing his words have an affect on at least one of the four Ninja from Konoha continued his Asuma bashing. Chouji unable to stand by and listen to Hidan insult the memory of his sensei anymore charged Hidan in a blind rage. Hidan smiled and when Chouji was close enough swung his scythe to cleave the boy in two. Knowing Chouji's temper, and seeing through Hidan's mind games, Shikamaru was able to stop Chouji before Hidan could succeed in killing him through the use of his Shadow Mimic jutsu. Missing his first strike, Hidan followed through by leaping towards Chouji bringing his scythe in a downward strike to finish Chouji off. Kakashi blocked the scythe with his kunai saving Chouji's life. His opportunity to murder someone robbed by the copy ninja once again, Hidan switched targets. Leaving Kakuzu to deal with team ten, he once again took up the game of cat and mouse between him and the elusive Sharingan user Hatake Kakashi.
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"You dumb ass, you see what happens when you allow yourself to be riled so easily," Shikamaru asked Chouji, his voice filled with annoyance as he removed his jutsu.
"Gomen," Chouji replied when Kakuzu appeared before him.
Standing Chouji swung his mammoth arm at Kakuzu, but Kakuzu having decades of experience, simply dodged the blows. Seeing an opening he ducked an overhand left and sent Chouji rolling head over heels until he was halted by a tree with a well placed elbow strike. Chouji sat up only to find Kakuzu in front of him. Before he could muster himself to retaliate, Kakuzu side kicked Chouji in the gut embedding him into the tree.
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The situation once again found Kakashi being chased up a tree by Hidan. Only this time, not only did Kakashi have to parry and dodge all of Hidan's attacks, but he also had to contend with Kakuzu's Elemental Fire and Wind beast as well. Hidan reveled in the chase. It always gave him a thrill, the way others fled for their lives unable to stop his immortal self. Kakashi ran for cover behind a particularly large branch, but was caught in the leg by the wind elemental. The wind elemental's attack was followed by two fire balls from the fire elemental. He rolled unconscious across the top of the tree, when Hidan swooped down with his scythe and cut him in two.
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Ino in an attempt to save Chouji, found herself caught in the same predicament as him. Kakuzu had fired both his arms like harpoons and now had them both in a strangle hold, bidding them to die. Shikamaru was currently working his way in to save them dragging Kakuzu's lightening beast behind him. Shikamaru dug into his vest pouch and pulled forth another scroll. Opening it, he threw it to the ground before him and stepped on it forming some hand signs. The scroll read water, and as he stepped down, it released a large puddle which Shikamaru leapt out of as the lightening creature fired. Kakuzu, however, did not have time to react. Still holding Chouji and Ino in a strangle hold he was electrocuted. Shikamaru seeing that the electricity had no real effect hurled a kunai attached to an explosive tag forcing Kakuzu to release his team mates in order to defend himself. Shikamaru safely extracted Chouji from the line of danger and Kakashi had done the same for Ino.
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Poof, Kakashi's shadow clone disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Hidan stood atop a tree dumb founded after realizing he was tricked by his opponents once again.
"Come on," Hidan said before returning to Kakuzu's side to regroup.
"Dude that was weak, what was up with that?"
"Same goes for you, being fooled by a shadow clone," Kakuzu retorted.
"Oops, you saw that," Hidan replied rubbing the back of his head embarrassed.
"Shikamaru, what's our next move," Kakashi whispered so as not to be overheard by the two Akatsuki.
"They really work well together. We have to isolate them and remove their ability to do combo attacks. Once we defeated Hidan, we'll focus on destroying Kakuzu's remaining hearts."
"But to be successful, someone will have to distract Hidan." Kakashi replied.
"I'll do it, I have the most chakra, plus I don't have the best skills when it comes to straight up fighting. I'll use my mind transfer jutsu on him and lead him away from here so that the rest of you can focus on Kakuzu." Ino said confidently as she stood.
"No way, that technique is only successful if you can keep your opponent still long enough for it to take affect. I doubt Hidan will give you the time necessary to perform the technique. If you miss you will be unable to return to your body for several minutes; it is too risky. I'll do it. I'll bind him with my Shadow Mimic and lead him away."
"How do you plan on doing that; he has already fallen to your technique multiple times and is wary of you. You will have to distract him too." Kakashi said.
"Then I'll…," Chouji began.
"No, if Hidan gets a hold of even a single drop of your blood then you are dead. It is just like last time, our team rushing in was the wrong move. Chouji, you and Ino need to save your chakra to help Kakashi-sensei fight the masked guy. I'll capture him, and… fulfill that role as well."
"Understood, we will leave him to you Shikamaru," Kakashi said as he handed him a small vile he dug out of his waste.
Placing the vile in one of the pouches on his belt Shikamaru strode forward, fired by determination and a need for vengeance. His shadow sought out Hidan and separated the two Akatsuki members.
"This again; is my scythe and abilities that scary," Hidan asked as he jumped away.
Kakashi took advantage of the momentary distraction to attack Kakuzu, grabbing Hidan's interest.
"You are my opponent," Kakashi said coolly. He engaged Kakuzu in close quarter combat with his kunai, slicing and thrusting, adding in kicks here and there. It was a well balanced attack, but Kakuzu countered him at every turn, and seeing an opening he leg swept Kakashi who fell to the ground and rolled to the side avoiding his heel stomp. Kakashi continued his evasive tactics trying to regroup. He went from a back roll into a leap to gain some distance from Kakuzu, but Kakuzu would not give him the satisfaction and shot out his hand grabbing him by the ankle before he could get away. Kakuzu then followed up by slamming Kakashi to the ground and finished by hurling him into a tree.
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Hidan was busy performing all manners of acrobatics in order to avoid being caught in Shikamaru's jutsu.
"Still attacking from a distance with your shadow clone? You're pathetic." Hidan said annoyed at having to dance around avoiding Shikamaru's shadow, but Shikamaru was unaffected, focused on his strategy to trap Hidan. Hidan leapt up a tree to avoid the chasing shadow and barely dodged the chakra blade flung at his shadow.
"He can throw blades wit his shadow," Hidan thought startled as the twin to the first blade sped towards him.
Ino was excited. "There is no way he can avoid it," she said, but was disappointed when Hidan stuck his scythe into the tree and leapt up to avoid falling into Shikamaru's technique. Standing on his scythe Hidan chastised them for thinking he would fall so easily, but was completely caught unaware as he saw Shikamaru lunge with a punch aimed at his face. Hidan caught the fist, but was once again defeated by Shikamaru's intelligence. Falling to the ground, Shikamaru pronounced his Shadow Mimic jutsu a success, and dealt Hidan some of his own medicine, correcting him for calling him pathetic.
"You son of a bitch," Hidan said angrily.
"Go Shikamaru," Kakashi said over his shoulder once he saw that Hidan was once again under his control.
"Leave the rest up to us," Chouji yelled while Kakashi was still engaged in hand to hand combat with Kakuzu.
"Right, Lets take a walk together, just the two of us," Shikamaru said, forcing Hidan to drop his scythe and run with him to his doom.
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Kakuzu's elemental beast surrounded Kakashi as Kakuzu strolled forward.
"You sure you want to let him go alone? He is severely underestimating Hidan. That Shikamaru kid would have been a big bounty one day; but now, he will be dead before the end of the day. Then again, I can't fault your logic. I am strong too, and I have more experience then all of you put together," Kakuzu said as he held up his right arm, tendrils protruding from the three sections where it was sown together. "Looking at your forehead protectors reminds me of the first Konoha ninja I ever fought, the Shodai Hokage!"
"How old is this guy?"! Ino asked shocked.
"Then you really are immortal?"! Kakashi said startled.
"No, there is no such thing as true immortality in this world. I simply managed to extend my life by stealing the hearts of powerful ninja I have defeated before my current heart gives out."
Kakashi leapt away from the elemental beast as they began to move. The wind and fire elemental combined.
"I had five hearts. Kakashi, it is only fitting I take yours to replace the one you destroyed." Kakuzu said menacingly.
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Hidan and Shikamaru were trapped inside a web of wire connected to a plethora of explosive tags. There was a cut on the cheek of Shikamaru and he looked terrified as Hidan stabbed himself in the hand and used the blood which fell to the ground to form his ritual circle. Hidan smile was beastly as he looked down on Shikamaru from inside his circle.
"Everything is finally complete. I have been waiting for this, DIE!" Hidan screamed as he stabbed himself through the heart with his portable spike ended baton. Shikamaru fell forward grabbing his chest. Hidan walked forward slowly laughing at how pitiful Shikamaru's attempt at ending his life was. Hidan fell back shocked, grabbing his neck as his forehead protector fell to the ground. Shikamaru had leapt forward and scored a hit to his throat, but it was to shallow to severe Hidan's head from his body. Quickly Shikamaru once again bound Hidan with his Shadow Mimic jutsu.
"Bastard, why are you still alive," Hidan screeched enraged that he had been wounded in the throat by someone who should be dead.
"I thought the answer would be obvious, it wasn't my blood on your spike." Shikamaru said nonchalantly.
"Not your blood, then whose blood was it?"! Hidan demanded.
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Kakuzu bent over Kakashi, his tendrils embedded in Kakashi's chest as he clutched his own chest with his free hand. "Impossible," was all he managed to say, the pain of his heart, as it slowly ceased to function unbearable.
"It was the two of you who underestimated Shikamaru that allowed this to happen. He refused to allow the knowledge his sensei Asuma died for go to waste," Kakashi said calmly.
"How," Kakuzu rasped as he fell to the ground his breathing labored.
"I managed to steal some of your blood when I struck you with Raikiri. It was that blood I handed to Shikamaru in a small vile before he took Hidan and left, and it would appear he was able to fool your colleague into using it in his ritual.
The elemental beast seeing their master lying dead on the ground rushed forward to save him. Kakashi ripped the tendrils from his chest against Ino's wishes as he told her and Chouji to prepare, because the beasts were coming.
Chouji leapt in front of them bellowing, "Baika no jutsu!" (Multi sized technique). Facing his palms out he howled, "Chou Harite," (Mega Palm Thrust) chakra formed around the palms of his hands and he slammed them down upon the elemental beast seeking to rejoin there master.
"Nice one Chouji," Ino yelled in victory a little too early. Tendrils wound its way up Chouji's arm, impelling him to release his jutsu, so as not to fall prey to whatever technique the beast might have performed had he not. But that was all they needed. The Lightening beast flung himself into Kakuzu's body. The creatures mask shattered after it had completed transferring its heart to Kakuzu. Kakashi gave a low curse as Kakuzu was revived.
"He is still alive," Ino said shocked and dismayed, when Kakashi explained that he had absorbed the lightening creature's heart. The other two elemental creatures seeing their master stand, leapt into him and Kakashi along with team ten stood startled as Kakuzu's body transformed into something hideously inhuman.
"What is he," Ino squealed, disgusted by what she saw.
"Even his main body is a monster," Kakashi said in disbelief by the transformation. Kakuzu's arms detached. Wherever there was stitching, they were elongated and held together by writhing tendrils. His back had a huge main of wild looking tendrils, and it spewed from his mouth as well.
"You have destroyed two of my hearts; it has been ages since anyone's managed that. You won't escape again."
"Here he comes," Kakashi said as he prepared himself. But the warning was to late, and they found themselves entangled by Kakuzu's living tendrils which had tunneled underground to reach them.
"Hatake Kakashi, I was going to use your hearts to replace the ones that I had loss, but I changed my mind." When Kakuzu was finished speaking the two remaining elemental creatures masks appeared beside him. One on his left, the other on his right.
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Hidan stood over Shikamaru who was kneeling exhausted.
"You idiot, after using your technique so many times even I could figure out that it weakens the longer you use it. You are out of chakra aren't you, Now DIE!" Hidan said laughing as he raised his spike to stab Shikamaru, but his glee was short lived as Shikamaru held his hand up and closed it bringing it back to his side as he said. "Kageyose no jutsu"(Shadow summoning technique). The Shadows around Hidan wrapped him in the web of wires and explosive tags. Bound and unable to move, Hidan glared at Shikamaru.
"I still have enough chakra to accomplish this," Shikamaru said satisfied at the completion of his plan.
"You bastard," Hidan said as Shikamaru threw a kunai at a spot marked on the ground.
"What are you doing?"
"Just wait and see."
The ground cracked open to reveal a huge crater beneath Hidan's feet.
"WHAT?"! Hidan shrieked startled by the deepness of the whole. "When the hell did you set this up?"
"I had this all prepared before we came out here?" Shikamaru said casually as if it was an everyday occurrence. Hidan was stunned by Shikamaru's foresight and planning of this moment and completely enraged by the fact that he was lead around by the nose this whole time by someone he considered to be pathetic.
"You dig to holes when you curse someone. Do you understand what that means?" Shikamaru asked coolly.
"OF COURSE NOT."!
"When you kill someone with a curse, you'll be killed with a curse in return, meaning that the curse ends up burying two people." Shikamaru said digging Asuma's lighter out and attempting to light it. "Your curse killed my teacher, and you thought you would get away with it. That whole is your grave."
"I'll never die! Even if you destroyed my body and all I am left with is my head, I'll escape somehow and rip your throat out with my teeth!"
Shikamaru lowered his head and smiled. He directed Hidan's gaze to some deer that had gathered nearby.
"Deer?"
"This forest is a special part of the Fire country. Only people from my clan are permitted to enter here. My clan will keep you buried here forever!"
Staring into the eyes of a stag that had ventured closer, Hidan had realized the truth behind Shikamaru's words and was struck by fear for the first time in a long time. Done speaking, Shikamaru continued to try and light his teacher's lighter when a hand placed itself on his right shoulder. Looking over his shoulder, he smiled. Asuma stood beside him looking at Hidan.
"You caught him, Shikamaru."
"Yeah," Shikamaru said flustered by the look of pride on his deceased master's face.
Asuma dug out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and placed one in his mouth. The lighter finally lit for Shikamaru as he held it up to light his master's cigarette. Asuma took a long drag from the cigarette and exhaled as he said, "I entrust my Will of Fire to you," and faded back into the ethereal. Shikamaru took a deep breath as he gazed at the small fire held in his hand.
""Damn you! What the hell were you lighting!"
"The powerful will that protects our village, the Will of Fire." Shikamaru said tossing the lighter at Hidan. "Farewell sensei."
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It had taken forever to reach Kakashi and team ten Sakura thought finally able to see them through the forest trees as she ran with her fellow team mates Yamato and Sai.
"DIE!" Kakuzu yelled as his elemental creatures combined their abilities creating a huge fireball to destroy Kakashi, Ino, and Chouji.
Sakura gasped, and Yamato told them to speed up, but Sakura knew by the time they reached the others it would be to late, and she took her grief out on the mysterious fourth person that was supposed to meet them and had not arrived. "When I get my hands on that worthless fourth person who was supposed to be here already they are going to wish they were never born."
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The cloaked figure and his companion arrived in time to see Sakura, Yamato, and Sai burst through the forest trees opposite him, but they would not reach their fellow Konoha ninja in time to save them.
"Its time to show them what we can do Gamakichi."
"Let's do it!" Gamakichi said as he leapt into the air.
Everything seemed to slow down, as the fireball headed for Kakashi, Ino, and Chouji, and they knew the fireball would be the last thing they ever saw. The first thing they noticed was the intensity of the heat from the blast and they had to avert their gaze less their eyeballs shriveled and dried. Ooare Goouka no jutsu (Great Storm: Flood Devastation technique), that was what Sakura and the rest heard before a huge wall of water fell from the sky negating the fireball and enveloping them all in a huge cloud of steam.
"If that's all you need, I am going to head out now. I am a little tired." Gamakichi said before disappearing. Although Naruto was used to it, the combination jutsu was fairly new and took the majority of Gamakichi's chakra. The vacuum created by Gamakichi's disappearance cleared the steam revealing their savior. He wore a white hooded traveling cloak with a red orange swirl at its center and red-orange trim around the part of the hood that concealed the Naruto's face from view and at the bottom which rose up to form flames. The cloak stopped at his ankles. He had form fitting black pants that were not to tight with two white bands that wrapped around his right thigh, tight black sleeveless turtleneck shirt and a sleeveless white vest, black elbow pads, black gloves that mirrored Kakashi's except for the knuckles which had small sharp spikes protruding from them, black open toed ninja sandals, and finally slung across his back in an x pattern where two short Kusanagi style blades.
"Sorry I'm late," Naruto said as he removed his hood revealing his unruly blond hair, Konoha head protector, and foxy grin.
"Perfect timing," Kakashi thought.
"So what did I miss," Naruto said taking on a more serious appearance.
"There are two of them. This one and the one Shikamaru led away. You should send a medical nin and a long distance fighter to help back Shikamaru just in case." Kakashi said to Yamato as he summoned Pakun. As for this one, well, we just need to kill him another three times and we won't have to worry about him anymore."
"You guys rest; I can handle him," Naruto said striding forward.
"He is dangerous Naruto be careful."
"I don't care if had all the skills of every warrior that once lived. No one endangers the lives of those I care about without suffering consequences."
Kakuzu laughed. "You are very confident for someone who has no clue of who there dealing with."
"Who needs clues; there is nothing to figure out. You're in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Oh, I see. Then there is no more need for words." Kakuzu said as Naruto called forth two Kage Bunshin who charged after him. Unsheathing their blades, the two Kage Bunshin attacked and were dispatched by Kakuzu with ease. Kakashi was the only one to notice that Naruto had used his Shadow clones to gather intelligence for him and marveled at the high degree of skill he had obtained. Formulating a plan Naruto created three more Kage Bunshin and sent them to attack.
"Wrong place at the wrong time," Kakuzu said mockingly as he dispatched the second wave of Kage Bunshin with the same ease as the first not realizing that Naruto had used them to mask his movements.
"That's what I said," Naruto retorted landing and crouching behind the shadow clone Kakuzu had pierced through the heart. Drawing forth his blades, he cried Fuuton: Arekuruukaze Enbu Sensotsuchou Tayokufan (Ravening wind's Dance of the Captain of a thousand Multi bladed Fans). Naruto spun with his blades forming a mini tornado which lifted Kakuzu into the air as a thousand wind blades shredded his remaining hearts to pieces. Kakuzu hit the floor with a loud thud.
"I can't believe I was beaten by a bunch of kids," Kakuzu spluttered.
"I suppose anyone who has fought the Shodai could consider us kids, but to us you look like a washed up, decrepit, old man." Kakashi said as he finished Kakuzu off with a Chidori.
Shikamaru arrived with Sakura and Sai to find Kakashi standing over the corpse of Kakuzu.
"So you managed to finish him off, I'm glad," Shikamaru said to Kakashi.
"No, not me, him," Kakashi said as he directed Shikamaru's gaze to Naruto.
"Naruto, when did you get here?"
"I arrived with team Kakashi."
"But I thought you were training."
"I was, until Tsunade sent me news of your journey of self interest, and thought, I could lend a hand. I'm sorry about Asuma."
"It's alright now."
"Does that mean you will be returning to Jiraiya to continue your training," Sakura asked more than a little sad to see Naruto leave so quickly.
"No, I am heading back to Konoha with you. Jiraiya said he wanted to take care of a few things while I helped you guys out and that he would meet me at the village when it was all done."
Kakashi gazed fixedly upon Naruto in deep thought. "Naruto has become so strong. Can you sense it? You are always in front of Naruto's eyes, making him stronger… right Sasuke."
"Kakashi senpai, its time," Yamato said.
"Yeah," he replied walking to join the others.
"When did you change the look," Ino asked curiously. Everyone's ears perked up in anticipation of Naruto's answer.
"That's a story I am willing to share after eating my fill at Ichiraku's, I am starving." Naruto answered.
"Sounds like a great idea," Chouji said excitedly.
"My treat," Kakashi said curious to find out where he got his swords. "Consider it my welcome back gift."
"ALRIGHT," Naruto and Chouji yelled in unison.
Next Time: Chapter 18: Ichiraku's: Tale of the crimson blades