Well, we are back. I've decided when it comes to Shippuden, I'll be moving it onto a different story :) Although I will see if I can be bothered to rewrite the first few chapters of Team Itachi first because they were all like crap.
TheOrangeStar802: Holy shit, sorry! Didn't notice :P
LONGNodaichi: I don't get your review, but I will try to reply to what I understand of it. Itachi is a choice for Hokage but Hiruzen would prefer someone of the Legendary Sannin because Itachi is too young (I believe he's about 18-20), and in my opinion, is just not the Hokage type.
Lin: I think what you're foreseeing is definitely correct ;)
Awais: Your opinion about making a new story for Shippuden was taken into serious consideration but I'll have to settle for a new story. You can simply click on my profile and find the sequel (when it comes out) or if you still think that is too "hassling", I can send you a private message when it's up :)
Swordianspeed: Thank you for your opinion - There will now be a new story for Shippuden :)
Revolutionpunk: Close. I am from Singapore :)
Thanks to TheOrangeStar802, NTA FANFIC, LONGNodaichi, Lin, Awais, Swordianspeed, S.R.457, JNS1127 and Revolutionpunkfor the reviews!
"Chakra Scalpel!"
A short chakra-created blade appeared in Kabuto's right hand, and he swung it towards Tsunade, making the first attack. Missing, he then jumped back as Tsunade tried to punch his face.
One hit on me and I'll be dead, he thought, his left hand now glowing with the same chakra blade on his right. Popping a Food Pill into his mouth to enhance his strength, Kabuto charged again.
Orochimaru watched as both medic-nins clashed.
Kabuto is no match for Tsunade... Neither am I in my weakened state...
"Heaven Kick of Pain!"
Kabuto leaped away, Tsunade's heel missing his head by an inch.
But maybe if we attack her together, we have a chance. Orochimaru leaned against the construction wall, breathing heavily. I just need a few more minutes to recover from that damaging chakra she put into me... urgh...
"Take this!"
Tsunade attacked Kabuto with a flurry of punches, but thanks to the effects of the Food Pill, he managed to dodge at least three of them before jumping onto a tree to avoid the rest.
He was soon up and away however, as Tsunade's heel was soon making contact with the branch. The strength mustered in the kick sliced the branch from the tree and it fell to the ground.
"You're like a fly," she commented. "Always flying away, but soon enough, I'll crush you with my palm."
Kabuto made no attempt to retort, simply deciding to focus on the battle at hand. He got close and swiped his Chakra Scalpel, aiming for Tsunade's head, but she instead stopped him by grabbing his arm.
Seizing the opportunity to land a hit, Kabuto was soon punched right in the gut.
Instead of the man himself, Tsunade found her fist embedded right in a short tree log, and moments later it exploded into pieces from her strength.
"It's over!"
Tsunade turned, gasping as Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel was two inches away from her face.
He's fast...
Kabuto soon found himself crashing straight into a tree trunk, courtesy of a kick to his chest.
... but I'm faster!
Orochimaru smirked. Her strength hasn't changed at all.
Kabuto coughed violently, feeling blood leaking from his mouth. So this is the power of the Legendary Sannin's Tsunade... His hand glowing green this time, he brought it up to his chest, utilizing his medical skills. There was more speed than strength put into that kick... if she'd not been caught off-guard I would have been dead by now.
"I'm not giving you any time to heal!" Tsunade attacked, intent on finishing the younger shinobi off.
"Drat," Kabuto mumbled to himself, stopping in the middle of his Healing Jutsu, instead opting for a second Food Pill. He escaped just in time as Tsunade punched the tree trunk.
Her fist was akin to an axe. The tree came toppling down with a loud crash.
"Hyaaa!"
Zipping towards him, Tsunade tried an uppercut, but Kabuto jumped back, and then reappeared behind Tsunade with his right hand glowing in the blade of the Chakra Scalpel.
Trying a kick again, she was annoyed to see Kabuto dodging the blow once more. "Stop moving!"
"Am I annoying the great Tsunade? I am honored."
Tsunade growled threateningly. "Shut up!" She propelled herself into the air. "Heaven Kick of Pain!"
Having a taunting smile on his face, Kabuto dodged her fatal heel. He then started coughing, and fell on one knee. The effects of the Food Pill are going away...
Using this as an opening, Tsunade landed in front of Kabuto and aimed a fist at his face.
Then, her mouth formed an open 'O' as Kabuto spat blood onto her arm.
Her fist stopped in mid-air.
She jumped back, frantically attempting to get the blood stains off.
"So it seems... the great Tsunade of the Sannin is afraid of blood," Kabuto laughed, coughing out more blood that stained the grass.
Tsunade glared at him hatefully.
Ah, Tsunade, Orochimaru chuckled silently, spitting out his Sword of Kusanagi. You have never gotten over Dan's death, have you? He gripped onto the weapon's hilt. I feel better. I won't be able to fight at my full strength with these troublesome wounds, but I will do what I can... heheh.
In a flash, he was behind his fellow Sannin, sword about to impale her back.
As long as I don't hit a vital spot, she'll still be able to heal me.
"Orochimaru...!" Tsunade uttered his name, turning her head in alarm. She began to move, but the blade was already poking at her shirt.
"Leaf Style: Crescent Moon Dance!"
Sensing three attackers from the right, left and top, Orochimaru jumped back, forced to release his grip on his sword and seeing it falling to the ground. Three Narutos appeared where he had been standing at, and two of them dispersed, revealing their identity as clones.
"Rasengan!" A familiar voice called.
Orochimaru turned to see his old friend, Jiraiya, closing in on him with his own student's technique. "It's been a long time since I've seen that jutsu... heh." He raised his arm. "Striking Shadow Snakes!"
Jiraiya cancelled the Rasengan, instead opting for a dive to the right to avoid the snakes rising from Orochimaru's sleeve.
"It's nice to see you again... Jiraiya."
"I don't think I can say the same... Orochimaru!"
Jiraiya and Orochimaru fixed each other with an uncharacteristically solemn look and a dirty smirk respectively. With his smirk however, came a vastly contrasting thought.
Darn it... Jiraiya's here... how will I beat two of my old teammates, with wounds too?
"Jiraiya..." Tsunade muttered.
Catching Tsunade's awkward gaze, Jiraiya shot her a perverted grin and a wink. "Don't beat yourself up about the drug. You can pay me back later."
Even in battle, he could be such a pervert. Tsunade growled, briefly contemplating changing sides and beating Jiraiya up.
"Brat, you need to help." She pointed out quickly. "He's weakened from the drug-"
"Then why drug him, you old hag?!"
"J-Just go help him, you little brat!"
"Pft." Naruto unsheathed his sword. "You sure you can handle things here by yourself, Grandma?"
Tsunade was about to tell him all about the Legendary Sannin and that she was a part of it, but he had already jumped away. "Tsk." She turned, focusing on the enemy at hand. Kabuto had got back up on his feet.
He mumbled to himself. "So that is the Kyuubi Jinchuriki... Naruto Uzumaki."
"Haaa!"
Kabuto leaned forward and dived away as Tsunade's heel slammed into the position he was on before. If I want to have any chance of defeating her and her brute strength, I'm going to have to use this fear of blood against her.
He jumped straight towards his opponent, his Chakra Scalpel raised.
Tsunade prepared to defend herself, but Kabuto landed a meter away from her, and held up his arm for her to view. Next, with a kunai, he slit his own wrist, drawing blood.
Feeling herself going faint, Tsunade found herself paralyzed. Blood...
The feeling of losing Nawaki and Dan washed over her again.
This is my chance, Kabuto thought with an evil grin. "Chakra Scalpel!" His feet ascending from the air, he swung it down towards Tsunade.
A kick to his face stunned him, knocking him back and snapping Tsunade out of her stupor.
"Had a feeling you couldn't!" Naruto grunted.
The female Sannin glanced at him, and it turned into a glare when she realized what he'd said. "Where's Jiraiya?"
Naruto shrugged. "They disappeared somewhere. Anyway, Pervy Sage should be able to handle himself just fine. Everyone's going on about how he's some legendary ninja and all... even if he's drugged." He shot an accusing look towards Tsunade.
Rolling her eyes, the great medic-nin charged, keen on pummeling her opponent. How dare he... how dare he try to use my fear of blood to...
Seeing Tsunade attacking, Kabuto raised his arm, and scratched some new scars on his arm, wincing in pain as he did so. At the same time, he smiled as Tsunade started to back away.
Is that old hag... afraid of blood? Naruto concluded, as Kabuto rushed towards her, his Chakra Scalpel glowing back to life.
"Oh no, you don't..."
Kabuto turned, forced to stop his run towards Tsunade as Naruto descended behind him. His scalpel met Naruto's sword, and the two clashed.
To his surprise, Kabuto found Naruto to be extremely efficient with a weapon. He swung and swung, and the silver-haired man had to pay close attention to parry every single strike. He's improved since the last time I observed him...
"I don't know who you are, but if you're working under a creep like Orochimaru, you must be an asshole!" Naruto yelled. "Take this!" He got a hit in, and Kabuto gasped as he felt searing pain in his abdomen. Naruto had left a long scar, courtesy of his blade.
It began to bleed, and he hurriedly applied the Healing Jutsu on his wound.
"Wind Style: Razor Wind!"
Kabuto looked up. "Urgh... pesky kid." He dodged the attack, and the Wind Style jutsu slammed into a tree, cutting it down.
Naruto turned to Tsunade, who was now staring at Kabuto's stomach scar fearfully. "Come on, old lady! Snap out of it!"
"Hah!" He turned to see Kabuto already in front of him, and brought up his sword to block the strike. With all his might, Naruto forced Kabuto back with his sword, and in a split second, managed to do a hand seal.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
As Kabuto moved forward, he was engaged by thirty clones. Three clones appeared in mid-air in front of him, catching him off-guard and managing to land three kicks on his face.
He was soon surrounded by the army of clones.
Is he trying to buy time for something? Kabuto held his right hand up, wielding the Chakra Scalpel. His left hand focused solely on his scar, slowly healing it.
As Kabuto got to work dispersing the clone army, Naruto and another clone was standing outside.
The clone furiously worked his hand on the original's own hand.
Tsunade stared in surprise as a blue sphere started to form into sight. Is that... is that the Rasengan? Did he master it... in just one day?
Just as I thought! Naruto smirked. With another person helping you focus on the shape and stability of the sphere... it's easier to form! Who cares about that third step Pervy Sage was talking about?! Go, Naruto Uzumaki, you genius!
The sphere got bigger, and bigger as the clone worked furiously for the completion of the jutsu.
Just as Kabuto withdrew his hand from the last clone's chest, seeing it disappear into smoke with a pop, the clone beside Naruto dispersed as well.
In his right hand, was a fully-formed blue sphere, about the size of the rubber ball Jiraiya had handed to him before.
"Now's the perfect time to test this..." Naruto smirked. "Are you watching, Grandma?"
Tsunade dumbly nodded, despite Naruto having his back turned to her.
"What is that?" Kabuto adjusted his spectacles.
Naruto charged, pushing chakra into his feet to enhance his already-high speed level. "This is...!"
"What?" Kabuto jumped back, but Naruto was quickly in front of him, pushing the sphere straight into his chest.
"Rasengan!"
Rasengan! Damn. I love typing that. And 'Chidori!' too.
Question of the Day: How does the title 'Team Itachi: Shippuden' sound to you?
In the next chapter, the three Legendary Sannin face off! Until next time.