Hello everybody, and welcome back to chapter seventeen of The Winds of Change! I hope everybody had a fantastic Christmas, or whatever you celebrate around that time period, and an amazing New Year. I myself got a ton of anime, which should be awesome to watch :D. Anyway, this chapter is very OC based, and almost entirly fight based. As always I apologize for the the spelling and grammar mistakes which I may have missed. I was wondering, would anybody be interested in being my beta reader? Just for spelling and the like? Please PM me or talk to me about it in general :).
But, right now I want to talk to you guys about an important topic regarding this story, along with an announcement. But, that can wait until after you've finished the chapter, right? I hope you enjoy, and without further ado, I give you chapter seventeen of the Winds of Change!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. There, I said it.
Chapter Seventeen:
The darkness was enveloping the plains. However, the small light of a campfire managed to keep some area illuminated.
Fenris, Raion and Utsuro sat around it silently, contemplating everything that happened to them. Raion kept shooting them both wary glances, which Fenris returned full force.
In the only upper room, Gurei was doing a scanning Jutsu.
"Hm, you'll be fine Kataki. You'll ache for a few days, but you've managed to reset all of your ribs, and anything you couldn't do I've done."
Kataki grimaced and flexed his shoulder. "Thanks."
Gurei nodded, before he reached over to a table on the side. He grabbed a scalpel, and a test tube. "You ready for your blood test?" The medical nin asked.
"Yeah," Kataki answered, squaring his shoulders. Gurei swiftly cut a thin line on Kataki's back, and he watched the blood slowly drip out. Holding his test tube under the cut, he waited until three drops were in, before he pulled it away, and healed it up.
"There we go. Although, I think it's best to double check your spinal cord, just in case I've missed anything."
Kataki nodded, and moved from his seated position on the edge of the table to lying on his stomach.
The familiar hum of a medical Ninjutsu filled the room with a green glow.
"How have things been with Fenris?"
Kataki let out a small groan. "He won't leave me alone."
Gurei shook his head as his hand's moved down the blood Nin's bare back. "I know. We all know. Kura think's it's cute you have a sex slave."
Gurei chuckled as Kataki let out a slow whine. "He's become so attached to me; he refuses to leave my side. He's become my bodyguard."
"That's what you agreed to," Gurei reminded him.
"Yes, but I expected him to take a break for a while at least! The only reason he's down there right now and not here is because I gave him orders to keep an eye on Raion."
"Uh-huh," The med nin intoned, as his gaze turned towards the door. He gave a small nod.
"Yeah. It's not like I mind having him around, but all the time… it gets a bit much."
"But, didn't you used to have people follow you around anyway?"
"Yes, but once again, they took breaks!"
Kataki didn't notice as the green glow stopped, or the hum.
"I can understand that's how he's been treated his whole life, as nothing more but a slave, but it gets ridiculous. He's a fantastic fighter, and saved me back against that Akatsuki woman, but everyone needs a break. Even him."
Kataki froze slightly as he realised he was getting a… back massage?
"Please continue," a voice purred behind him. Kataki rolled his eyes, and relaxed again.
"Kura, really? Gurei's giving me a medical examination."
"I'm giving you one too."
The blood nin snorted, and Kura laughed, bringing her face to the small of his back. "We need to check your sexual organs are still in full function."
She pressed a kiss to the small of his back, and Kataki chuckled. "No Kura."
She pouted. "Why? You always used too."
"Yes, but not while we're on a rescue mission."
"But I need it."
"You don't."
"I do."
"You don't."
"I do…"
"You don't-"
He was cut off as Kura swiftly flipped him onto his back, and pounced on him. Her dark brown orbs met his own, and she smiled seductively.
"You can't escape," she whispered, as shadows began to bind his arms and legs.
"Really Kura? Right now?"
"Yes," She chuckled, kissing his neck," Why not now."
"I can think of plenty of reasons-"
"I highly doubt your sex toy is going to get jealous, hm?" She pressed a kiss on his bare chest, raking her nails across it.
"Come on, it'll be-"
A sharp cough from the doorway stopped Kura's on-going seduction. She smiled at the interrupter.
"Hello sensei."
Itachi gave her a stern look, and with a deep sigh, she realised Kataki's binds and got off of him. "Fine, fine," she sighed, "But I will get you later." She promised, and, with that, faded into the shadows.
Kataki let out an annoyed grunt. "Couldn't you have interrupted earlier, sensei? Before it was getting good?"
Itachi's mouth curled into a frown, and Kataki bit his tongue, and bowed his head. "Sorry sensei."
The Uchiha stepped into the room and over towards the table. He looked disapprovingly at Kataki, who muttered his apologies. "Could you please refrain from sexual activities with Kura?"
"Hai sensei."
With a nod, Itachi continued, "How are you feeling?"
"Good. A bit sore, but Gurei says I'll be able to fight in a day or so."
Itachi once again nodded, his face talking a thoughtful expression. "And he's done the blood-test?"
"Yes sensei."
"Excellent. I trust it was satisfactory?"
Kataki shrugged. "I don't know. We never got that far. I was attacked by Kura, remember?"
"How could I forget? It's good that you are well. How have Fenris and Utsuro been?"
"They've complied, sensei. Although Fenris seems to have taken a liking to me-"
"And you will use that to your advantage. Loyalty is a rare trait these days, and Fenris is utterly loyal to you. He can be a valuable tool."
"Surely he needs a break every once in a while, though?"
"That's his decision, not yours. If he wishes to work to please you, then you let him. It's his choice what he does with his life."
"Well, what if his infatuation with me-"
Itachi chuckled slightly. "Infatuation? It's not an infatuation. It's loyalty."
"I…" Kataki began, but bowed again, "Forgive me, sensei. I shall allow Fenris to do as he wishes."
"Good. I presume you have been training hard?"
"Yes. The technique is almost perfected. Give me another few days."
Itachi grimaced. "Hm, we may not have that long…"
"Sensei?"
"Never mind. Tomorrow we shall be going after Tali."
Itachi span on his heel and made his way to the doorway. Kataki frowned. "You know where she is?"
"Yes."
Kataki went to voice something, but stopped. "I trust your judgement, sensei."
Itachi smirked. "That is loyalty, Kataki. Trusting in someone. Remember-"
The Uchiha was cut off as a loud explosion ripped through the farmhouse. And, quick as a flash, Itachi dived forward, grabbing Kataki bridal style, before he leapt out the nearby window as the farmhouse began to crumble violently.
Raion stoked the fire with a stick as he kept his eyes firmly fixated on Fenris. "That asshole," he thought, shaking his head, "Thinks he's amazing because he took down an Akatsuki member. Humph, big deal."
"Raion," Gurei chided teasingly from across the fireplace, "Stop your brooding."
Raion snorted. "Right, that's Kataki's job."
Fenris seemed to bristle slightly at his 'masters' name, and frowned. Raion smirked. So, this was a way to annoy him? Two birds with one stone!
"I mean, Kataki really didn't do anything during that fight. He was squashed. That's about it."
"And you got taken down by a bunch of shambling corpses."
"There were hundreds of them!"
"We faced off against the member of a terrorist organisation!"
Gurei rolled his eyes at their antics, while Utsuro, who was sat nearest to Raion, watched on curiously.
"Seriously guys, stop arguing. Especially you, Raion," Gurei gestured with his pen towards the dark skinned nin.
He grimaced. "What did I ever do!?"
"Started arguing. You both had pivotal roles to play in the battle, okay? Good."
"I was less injured…" Raion argued, causing Fenris to scoff.
"Please. That means nothing. And besides, I'm not the one with a bandage around their waist," he sneered.
Raion grunted as if to acknowledge that fact, a hand running over his stomach.
"Do you need me to check you out?" Gurei inquired, a sincere smile on his face. Raion waved him off.
"No, I'll be fine. Just a little ache, that's all.
"Do people argue like this a lot?" Utsuro asked to no one in particular. Gurei answered for her.
"Depends how stupid the people are, really."
"Hey-"
Raion was cut off as a barrage of shuriken flew out of the darkness. Utsuro moved at lightning speed, senbon coming out of her kimono sleeves. She deflected the shuriken with a metallic clang.
Behind them, a man leapt out of the shadows, kunai drawn, ready to strike down Fenris. The snowy haired in had no time to reach for his sword, but Raion did. He caught the man's wrist before it pierced Fenris' shoulder. He cocked his fist back and swung. The man dodged, before he drove his knee into Raion's injured gut. A glob of blood escaped his lips, and he collapsed onto his knees, letting go of the man's hand.
Fenris had just enough time to grasp the hilt of his sword, and swing it hard. The man blocked it with his kunai, and flipped backwards, and into the darkness.
Fenris let out a guttural growl. "The Sound Five."
"Who?" Raion rasped as Gurei made his way over to him, his hands glowing green.
"Orochimaru's elite bodyguard..." Utsuro answered, senbon appearing in her hands from her sleeve.
Out of the darkness, three figures appeared. The first was a ginger haired girl, who held a flute in her hand. The other was a dark skinned male, with four spider like arms.
The final one was tall and lithe, with pale skin and white hair that ran down his back. His eyes were jade green, and a singular red dot adorned his forehead.
Fenris grimaced. "Kimmimaro."
'Kimmimaro' regarded Fenris with indifference. "Fenris."
They both stood there, regarding each other with cold eyes. "What do you want?"
"We want the blood user," the ginger haired girl said, twisting her flute around in her fingers.
"And you're going to give him to us." The four armed man began. "That is, if you want to live."
Utsuro giggled lightly. "Funny."
The four armed man turned to look at her. "What did you say?"
"You look funny. Something weak, and easy to kill." She giggled again.
"Kidōmaru," Kimmimaro scolded, frowning. "Back off."
"You're scared!" Raion yelled suddenly, smiling triumphantly as he stood back up, his stomach healed. "Hah! Definitely not elite-"
"Earth Style: Sphere of Graves!"
A giant ball of earth cascaded through the charred farmhouse, destroying all remnants of it with a thunderous roar.
The group leapt to the side to avoid the giant boulder. But, their battle had only just begun.
Utsuro was the first to right herself, which made her the first target. Kidōmaru charged at her, a kunai in each of his four hands.
Utsuro managed to deflect the first set of blows with her senbon, but one of the blows during the second set of attacks got through, cutting through her kimono.
She grimaced, before ducking another slash, viciously kicking Kidōmaru in the gut. Without waiting, she swiftly brought a senbon into the lower half's arm's wrist. The spider like ninja let out a cry of pain, but he separated himself from her with a kick to the stomach. As she flew backwards, he spat out a web.
Utsuro dodged to the side in the nick of time.
Kidōmaru grimaced. This kid was going to be far more trouble than he originally thought. Ah well, all the more fun to toy with them. He always liked playing games with his prey.
Utsuro didn't seem to want to wait for his meanderings as she threw a flurry of senbon. He dodged out of the way, and began to form some of his sticky gold to fight with.
The white haired nin went to retaliate when a large man came tumbling out of the sky straight towards her. She leapt out of the way as he collided with the floor, creating a small crater.
With a grunt, he charged once more.
However, he was intercepted by a tendril of blood that wrapped around his wrist, pulling him backwards.
Kataki leapt out of the shadow's and made a flurry of hand signs, "Blood Shuriken!"
Globs of blood spat out of his wrists, eventually forming into three large shuriken. The large man ripped away from the tendril and made some hands signs of his own. "Earth Style: Earth Wall Jutsu!"
A large wall of earth rose from the ground quickly, just in time for the shuriken to crash into it, before they turned into pools of blood.
Kataki cursed, and went to leap over to help Utsuro, when something collided with his shoulder. He was sent flying sideways, but soon righted himself, despite the pain.
Kimmimaro stood there, bones protruding from the top of his hand like claws.
"Kataki Rimen. Lord Orochimaru has interest in you."
"Yeah," Kataki began, unsheathing his dual katana. "I'm sure."
They ran at each other and clashed.
Raion grimaced as Gurei roughly pushed him out of the line of fire, a deep pain rumbling in his chest. Gurei blocked a pale man with grey hair and green lip stick. They pushed back and forth, before Gurei purposely let the guy gain the upper hand, allowing himself to be pushed back, when he ducked and formed a chakra scalpel. What he didn't expect, however, was another hand to protrude from the man's knee and grab his arm. The look of shock soon turned to one of pain as the man's two arms smashed against the back of his skull.
Raion let out a roar and charged, his fist cocked back with destructive power.
However, he was forced to leap out of the way as a giant beast smashed its club onto the ground. The ginger girl from before smirked, before another large giant, this one blindfolded, and with claw like weapons on its arms, charged forward.
Raion leapt forward, and charged chakra into his fist. With a punch that sent a large shockwave, he sent the giant flying in the opposite direction. However, as he was coming back down, the other giant swung at him with his club. Raion felt some of his ribs break as he was sent flying backwards and into the dirt.
The green lipstick wearing guy, picked up Gurei by the hair, and swiftly kneed him in the face. The crack of his nose was evident as he fell to the floor. "I could have handled that Tayuya," he said frowning.
"Save it Sakon," Tayuya snorted.
Her smirk soon froze when Sharingan eyes pierced back at them from the darkness. "Don't hurt my students."
Oh shit.
Utsuro dodged another flurry of webs, but wasn't quick enough to dodge Jirōbō's punch. It slammed into her spine, causing her to cry out in pain. And as she flew in a direction, Kidōmaru spat out another web, ensnaring her. She let out a cry of pain as she hit the ground awkwardly, twisting her ankle.
"Hehe, this has been a fun game little one, but now it's time for you to die!"
Kidōmaru pulled out a spike of sticky gold from his arm, and raised it above his head, before bringing it down. He was stopped, however, by a tendril of pure darkness. "Hey you four-armed freak, how about you leave my girl alone!?"
Before he knew what hit him, a shadowy tendril grasped one of his lower arms and squeezed, crushing it with a thick crack. He let out a sharp cry of pain, before he was roughly pulled backwards.
He landed back first, and Kura swiftly withdrew a kunai, running out of the shadows and straight towards him. Jirōbō blocked her path, however, withdrawing his hand for a seismic punch. Kura ducked, skirting around Jirōbō's large form, and quickly made a flurry of handsigns.
"Shroud Style: Abysmal Foundation!"
Thousands of tendrils of shadow erupted from a portal that formed under Jirōbō's feet, slowly pulling him downwards. "Heh," Kura began, smirking, "This portal will drag you all the way to hell. Have a nice trip."
"You've forgotten about the enemy behind you!"
Kidōmaru leapt forward, his arm lying limply by his side, broken and twisted.
Kura merely turned her gaze backwards and uttered, "No I haven't."
As soon as Kidōmaru reached her, his three-armed punch ready, she disappeared into black nothingness.
Before he could react, she appeared behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ninja Art: Shroud Coil!"
Tendrils of dark sprung from Kura's back as they wrapped around both her and Kidōmaru.
"No!" he howled. She was going to crush him into nothingness.
Kura suddenly felt a greet surge of power, and before she could react a meaty red hand wrapped itself around her throat and roughly shoved her to the ground. "Of course, The Cursed Seal!"
Jirōbō had transformed his formerly tanned skin, and it was now red and blotchy. Warts covered his face and arms, and his hair had stretched back and grown longer. He pounded her into the ground twice, causing her to cough up blood before she was thrown away.
"Piece of trash forcing me to use my curse seal!"
"Yeah. Shame you attacked your own teammate too, wise guy."
Jirōbō turned around and was met with the smirking face of Kura, who gestured to the side. Instead of her broken form that had been there only seconds ago, it was Kidōmaru, who slowly pushed himself upwards.
"So easy to put into a Genjutsu. I must say I'm not that impressed. Sound Five? Elite bodyguards? Bah! A fatty like you has nothing on a goddess like me!"
Jirōbō let out a titanic roar before charging.
Kataki let out a grunt of pain as a bone sliced through his side. This guy… was something else. He was strong. Even at full strength, it would take all he would have to beat him. And even then, it might not have been enough. Every slash, every kick and punch he made was precise and to the point. His poise was phenomenal. Bones jutted out of, not only his hands, but his elbows, knees and shoulders. And even though everything was precise, it was also random and so unpredictable Kataki felt as though Itachi-sensei would have trouble keeping up with it.
With an acrobatic flip into the air, Kimmimaro ended up behind the blood user. Quickly charging forward, he swung his leg around for a kick. Kataki swung around and blocked with his katana. However, a bone protruded quickly from Kimmimaro's shoulder, and pierced Kataki's. He let out a cry of pain, before the bone was retracted and Kimmimaro did a spin, the bones slicing across his chest. And, finally, using the momentum he gained from the twist, he pushed his hand forward. However, Kataki was more resilient than he thought, and had quickly used a substitution jutsu and exchanged himself with a rock.
Kataki let out pained breaths. The blood seeped from the cuts on his chest, and he sucked in a sharp breath. Slowly, the blood began to pool around his feet, and as Kimmimaro rushed towards him, he slammed his palm down.
"Vessel Rupture!"
A vast quantity of blood shot through the ground, creating a shape akin to a shark's fin. At such speed Kimmimaro didn't have time to dodge, and the blood fin crashed into him with explosion of blood.
As the blood settled, Kimmimaro retracted the bone's that shielded him from the fin back into his body.
Kataki grimaced. Shit, that was one of his best techniques, and he held it off easily. Shit!
He made a quick hand-sign, and three clones materialized from the blood. Quickly, they all scattered forward.
Kimmimaro let out a non-committal grunt, before he raised his hands outward. Out of his fingertips, a barrage of bone fragments hightailed it out at full speed. The fragments easily cut through the blood clones rendering them into red pools.
Kataki was running out of options now. He didn't expect this… freak to cut them down so quickly.
"Come with us. This will be your last warning," Kimmimaro intoned, cracking his neck as if he was warming up.
"You'll have to take my corpse."
"Very well."
And, with that, Kimmimaro leapt forward at a speed which made him look as if he was running watercolour on a running canvas. Kataki quickly made handsigns and slammed his bloody palm onto the ground. A large dome made of solid blood surrounded the blood nin. Kimmimaro didn't stop his sprint, and, with an outstretched hand, he slammed it into the wall.
He heard Kataki let out a sharp gasp of air as he was sent flying backwards. The dome soon 'melted' leaving a thick large pool of blood in its wake.
Kataki lay on his back, blood seeping out of the wound on his chest. Kimmimaro calmly walked over to him, and sent him a scolding look. He did, however, notice that the boy seemed twitchy. Almost as if he was in great pain. His stab couldn't have caused that much damage, could it? No, that didn't make-
Kataki's hand shot upwards, grasping around the leader of the Sound Five's neck. However, the image of Kataki soon disappeared, revealing the contorted face of Fenris.
"Now!"
With Fenris' cry, Kataki rose upwards from the pool of blood, a flurry of handsigns being made. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A burst of flame shot from Kataki's mouth at a high speed.
Kimmimaro didn't have time to frown as six bones protruded from his neck, going through Fenris' hand. He let out a sharp gasp of pain, and was forced to let go. But, Kimmimaro wasn't quick enough as the fireball hit him in the back, sending him flying forward.
Fenris stood unharmed, biting his lip as he opened and closed his hand. Shit, that hurt.
Kataki couldn't help himself as he stumbled onto one knee. He didn't know how much more he could take. And that was the only successful attack that he landed on him! But, he wouldn't retreat. This was going to be honourable. And if he died and honourable death protecting his teammates, then he would sleep in piece.
Fenris' sharp cry of pain stopped Kataki's thoughts as he raised his gaze up. A bone in Kimmimaro's hand was shoved straight through the snowy haired nin's shoulder. He could just see the point sticking out.
"Hm. An impressive tactic," the white haired nin began, "by using your dome as a feint, you managed to get your friend here," he twisted the bone for good measure, and Fenris let out an agonized screech, "into the dome, where you moulded with the blood while he henge'd into you. Very impressive."
Kataki let out a guttural growl. This was getting him nowhere. Both himself and Fenris were at low strength because of the previous battle with the Akatsuki member, and this guy was probably better than her! Even at full strength, they couldn't have been able to take him on.
With a resilient snarl, he stood up. But, that didn't matter. He would die an honourable death. He owed to his team. Both of them.
Itachi's vibrant red eyes watched the two sound ninja, taking in their every movement. Who would he take out first?
Tayuya didn't give him another option as one of her doki charged forward, its club raised above its head. Itachi simply looked up at it as it came crashing down on him. There was a small explosion. Tayuya frowned, but a spittle of blood soon flew from her mouth as a kunai was embedded in her shoulder. "An interesting tactic," Itachi began, removing the kunai from her shoulder, "and an interesting technique."
With a snarl, Tayuya swung round, swinging her flute around as a club. Itachi simply blocked it with his hand, and, after staring at her for a few long moments with his red eye, he kicked her hard in the stomach. Sakon cursed, before he swiftly withdrew some kunai from his pouch and expertly threw them towards Itachi. The Uchiha simply and swiftly batted them away with one kunai, not taking his eyes off the red-headed form of Tayuya as she stood up. "You bastard!"
Before she could charge, Gurei stood up quickly and charged into her with his shoulder, knocking her backwards. Using his hand, as it buzzed with a chakra scalpel, she tried to slice into her arm. However, a doki appeared, and using its massive claws managed to swat him away.
Itachi frowned slightly, ignoring the massive barrage of kunai and shuriken that Sakon threw at him. Honestly, he expected better from one of Orochimaru's elite bodyguards. He continued to swat them away like flies as he carefully watched as Gurei tried to engage with Tayuya, but her doki blocked his path. Hm, he wasn't acting at maximum efficiency. Itachi pondered this for a moment before he's scoped eyes zoomed in on a small seal on the back of Gurei's neck. "I presume this was your handiwork?" he questioned Sakon. The Sound nin went to retort, but didn't get the time as Itachi's fist rammed into his face. Without a second passing, Itachi gripped the Nin by the collar and smashed his knee into the nin's stomach. A glob of blood flew out of Sakon's mouth, as another blow with the knee connected.
"I think you should remove it," Itachi's eyes spun dangerously, as one of his hands moved upwards from the collar of the shirt to the neck.
"Heh," Sakon couldn't help but smirk, "Intel really dropped the ball with you. They said you didn't care about anyone."
"I care about my students."
"I care about something as well. Beating you!"
A fist materialized from Sakon's stomach, striking a surprised Itachi in the chest. Slightly shocked, Sakon moved in for another shot as his curse seal began to envelop his body. Itachi blocked it with his hand, and leapt up into the air. He swung his foot around, ready to connect with Sakon's head, but another arm shot out and grabbed his foot. The arm in Sakon's stomach fumbled through his kunai pouch before grasping the hilt of one of the blades, and tearing it outwards, ready to strike Itachi's leg.
The Uchiha was not known as a prodigy for nothing as he twisted his body, and with lightning fast reflexes grasped a kunai from his pouch and blocked it. There was a clang of metal, before both opponents broke off, Itachi's kunai flying behind Sakon.
Itachi watched as the seal enveloped Sakon, turning him into a red horned demon. "Well, the curse seal certainly does increase power, doesn't it?"
Sakon let out a slow, evil laugh. "Well, this is Itachi Uchiha? Bah. I will destroy-"
With a quick substitution with the kunai, the Uchiha was behind the sound nin. "You shouldn't brag. Tell me how to break the seal!"
Itachi grasped an arm that materialized from Sakon's back, before thrusting his other hand into his elbow, snapping it in too. A cry of pain, not emanating from Sakon himself, echoed across the clearing.
"Hm, I wonder how many of your limbs I could snap."
Sakon tried to flee feebly as Itachi grasped at his two arms, and with a sharp yank pulled them backwards. He quickly released them, and made a number of handsigns "Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"
Two small fireballs erupted from Itachi's mouth, setting ablaze Sakon's hands. He screamed in pain, his arms now once again clutched in Itachi's arms. The burning seemed to intensify, and so it was not red flames that licked at Sakon's arms, but black.
"Amaterasu."
Itachi's Sharingan eye had changed its shape, and a large stream of blood cascaded out of said eye. Sakon's screams intensified, his curse seal receding as the nature of his pain and suffering shone through. "Tell me." Itachi stated once more, the flames casting him in a dark light.
"Aaahhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhh! Th-Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Two Pronged Seal-Ahhhhhhhhh!-"
A sick squelch was heard as Itachi mercilessly thrust a kunai into Sakon's head. Twisting the blade, he pulled it out again, leaving a deep hole. The black flames still licked at Sakon's now deceased corpse.
"Nooo!" Another body crawled out of the fire, the black flames now engulfing his body. Itachi just watched as he crawled fruitlessly forward, and with an ear shattering scream, he lay still.
Itachi's eyes cast towards Gurei and Tayuya's battle. With a non-committal grunt, he flew forward. Gurei had just leapt backwards to avoid a club, when Itachi touched the seal on the back of his neck with two fingers. It seemed to fade into his skin.
"Gurei, eliminate her." Was Itachi's sole command before he disappeared into the night.
Tayuya grimaced. Shit, this was bad. The Uchiha had managed to take out not only Sakon, but Ukon as well. And now, the chakra suppression seal that had blocked the med nin's chakra to only thirty per cent was now gone. Just how powerful were these guys?
Her thoughts cost her dearly as Gurei whipped a scroll from his pocket, unravelling it and slamming his palm onto it. "Release!"
There was a flash of white light, before a large, watercolour ape appeared. Beating its chest, it charged forward at a thunderous pace. The doki was sent flying by the shoulder of the ape, and Tayuya had to react quickly to dodge the massive fist that rained down upon her. Bad day. A very bad day.
Kura had to admit; maybe she had been a bit too… what was the word? Ah, yes. She had been a bit too expectant coming into this battle. It wasn't that she couldn't keep up with this guy, she could. And it wasn't because she couldn't beat this guy, either. She could. But, well, it was getting boring.
Dodging another punch she let out an annoyed sigh. "Seriously, we've been at this for the past few minutes. Can't you do something original? Summon a giant dragon with eight mystical balls that can grant wishes?"
She dodged the combined force of two fists as they crashed into the ground.
"No? Okay, how about you use the sheer power of thought to toss me up into the-"
She once again dodged the stomp, an annoyed scowl playing on her lips. "Okay, seriously? Can you not do anything original? You fat carnivorous bastard, I've seen ants with bigger sex appeal than you."
Before she could dodge out of the way of yet another clubbing blow, her body tightened. Kidōmaru's web had trapped her arms and legs, effectively binding her. "Well shit," she muttered to herself as Jirōbō charged for her. "Probably should have been watching for four arms. This is going to hurt…"
She braced herself for the impact. It never came.
She opened her eyes, and cocked her head to the side. Jirōbō was but an inch from her face, his breath rancid, his body heaving. But he refused to move.
Kura's eyes trailed down his body, when she noticed a long shadow stretching from his feet back into the darkness. And as she turned, she saw the unmistakable glint of a Sharingan eye.
And that's it! I hope you've enjoyed chapter seventeen of the Winds of Change! However, some announcements first:
I've been thinking a lot about pairings for this story, recently, and I'm somewhat stuck with what to do with four people. Originally, this fic was going to have KakaAnko, and AsuKure. However, now I rather like the idea of KakaKure and AsuAnko. But, on the other side, I'm still fond of the other two pairings. This mish-mash of thoughts about these four pairings has been driving me up the wall, and I can't decide. So, I was hoping you would. Or, at least provide me some feedback.
So, what I'm going to do is put a poll up on my profile. You'll be able to pic either KakaKure/AsuAnko, or KakaAnko/AsuKure. Whichever one gains the highest amount of votes by, say, February will be the pairings that I will decide to use. I ask that, even if you don't care, vote anyway.
KakaAnko will be a very angsty pairing, as they both have scars. KakaKure will be slightly sweeter and funnier. And much less dirty ;). This could perhaps sway your opinion.
I should also point out that the girl who is paired with Kakashi will be featured far more heavily than the girl paired with Asuma. So, if your not sure about the pairings, but you prefer one of the girls over the other, then vote for that girl. I would really like it if you could vote for this guys, because I want your input about where you want the story to go. So, thanks in advanced!
Anyway, that's all. Next chapter will take a break from the fighting and will be much shorter than usual, but will contain some characters in high demand.
Have a great morning/afternoon/evening/night!