D1: This chapter is a birthday present for HotrodFlashingKnightOfLight, and it's my birthday on the 27th. Tsunade has a bigger part in this story because of Hektols review.
DJ-Rage will now conduct act seven of the sandstorm aria. He approaches the podium, raises his baton and we here…
Chapter 7 – Turning the tides
Dawn's birdcalls were interrupted by the sounds of battle. Kiba's team were engaging their targets in a patch of rocky ground at the edge of the forest.
"Fang over fang!" Kiba bellowed as he and Akamaru rushed at Sakon and Ukon. Sakon launched himself out of the way and made several hand signs.
"Parasitic touch," he muttered and rushed at Kiba as he stopped spinning. Red chakra spread over Sakon's hands as he got closer to Kiba. Kiba dodged backwards, avoiding any blow the pale haired man tried to land. Sakon's fingers grazed Kiba's arm. Kiba yelled in pain and slammed his foot into Sakon's face, using him as a springboard. He landed next to Kankuro as Sakon was sent flying backwards. Kiba pulled his jacked sleeve up to examine the wound and stared in horror. The cut was only small, but already there was a black mark spreading across his skin. Kiba felt his muscles twitch and his arm threw a punch at Kankuro. The blow was blocked by Karasu's arm.
"What are you doing?!" Kankuro yelled at Kiba as he aimed another blow.
"It's not me!" Kiba grabbed his possessed hand, "They must be controlling me!"
Sakon managed to get to his feet, the pattern of his curse mark spreading when a hail of kunai forced him to dive for cover. He cursed as several of the blades cut into his arm. Ino joined Kiba as he restrained his arm and she started trying to heal the infection. Kiba's arm lashed out at Ino, catching her in the stomach. Kiba grabbed his wrist again as Ino got back to her feet and started fighting the infection again.
"Sorry," Kiba grunted.
Tenten readied another volley of weapons to cover Ino and Kiba as Ukon appeared from her left, first raised to strike. She managed to dodge the blow and rammed a blade into his shoulder before distancing herself.
"You think you're the only one with projectiles?" Ukon snarled, moving as if to reach inside his clothes. The skin on his forearms rippled where the curse mark had turned it black, then sharpened into spines.
"Viral darts!" Ukon screamed, flicking his arms and sending the spines flying at Tenten.
Tenten ducked the spikes but as they hit the ground behind her, they exploded into a crimson mist. She coughed and covered her mouth as the mist floated around her.
"That mist is made of particles of my own blood. Even when separated from me, I can still control those cells. Every time you breathe in, more of my cells get into your body and rip it apart from the inside," Ukon sneered as Tenten's knees gave out and she sank into the mist.
Kankuro saw Tenten fall, he swung Kuroari around and grabbed her with the puppet as Ukon moved in for the kill. Ukon tried to go after Tenten, but Karasu appeared in front of him and rammed a blade into his chest. The markings on his body darkened and spread as he went into level two. Kiba pulled a torn piece of material around his arm tight as Ino turned towards Sakon's hiding place. Akamaru whimpered, causing Kiba to turn and see Ukon's form changing. Kankuro pulled Karasu back as Ukon grabbed the puppet and pulled the blade from his chest. The wound from the blade closed and Ukon fired another barrage of darts, this time at Kiba. He grabbed Ino and launched himself away, dodging the needle like darts and the red mist. Ino pulled an explosive tag and kunai from her pouch and hurled it at Ukon. The blade buried itself in Ukon's arm, his eyes widened as he saw the tag but he couldn't react fast enough. The blast sent rock chunks flying in every direction. The team regrouped as the smoke cleared and Ukon reappeared.
Kiba called to his team-mates as he took his four legged stance, "This is when they're at their most dangerous! Stay sharp!"
Ukon's burns and wounds caused by the explosion healed before their eyes. Ukon cracked his neck and Sakon rushed out from his hiding place, red chakra covering his hands again. Karasu, Kuroari and Sanshouo blocked Sakon's attack and he retreated again. Kiba made to go after Sakon but Ukon move to black.
"Black Death Mist!" Ukon roared, spewing what looked like black smoke from his mouth.
Kiba's team backed away again as one when they saw the plants under the cloud dying. Sakon emerged from his hiding place again, joining his brother on the rocky mound.
"Ino," Kiba quietly signalled.
The blonde nodded, readying the technique known only to her clan.
"Mind destruction jutsu," Ino breathed.
Ukon's eyes glazed as the jutsu took effect and he stopped belching poisonous smoke.
"Brother, why…" Sakon was cut off as Ukon's hands whipped out and wrapped around his neck.
Sakon was forced to his knees by Ukon's curse mark strength. He countered by shifting his own curse mark to the same level. Ino was ready for the change and put the second part of their plan into action. Ukon released his grip and bashed into his brother, merging with him. Sakon choked as Ukon was forced to empty his toxins into his twin. Tenten managed to struggle to her feet and took aim. Sakon's face went white and blood trickled from his mouth as he watched Tenten. She launched herself high into the air and Kankuro sent Karasu after her. Tenten and the puppet unloaded everything they had into the twins in a matter of seconds. Sakon and Ukon fell to their knees then tumbled to the bottom of the rocky mound, blades and other weapons sticking out at every angel.
"Forgive me…brother…" Ukon gasped with his last breath, and then lay still.
Tenten's stamina failed and her vision blurred as she fell back to earth. Kiba managed to catch her before she hit the ground. Kankuro approached the body of the twins and briefly checked for vitals but found none.
"Mission complete," Kankuro told Kiba as he returned. Kiba nodded and rocketed off towards the leaf village with the rest of his team in tow.
--
Tsunade and a medical team were waiting for the team as they reached the Konoha gates. Kiba handed Tenten to the medics with a brief explanation before they rushed off to the medical tent.
"Targets eliminated," Kiba reported, turning to Tsunade but not looking at her.
"You did well," she told him. Then added, "Tenten will be fine."
The team entered the village and made their way through the tents until the found the other ninja and joined them. Kiba sat apart from the rest of the group; he couldn't get his mind off Tenten.
"She'll be fine," a familiar voice added.
Kiba jumped, he'd been so lost in thoughts he hadn't noticed Shikamaru sitting down next to him.
"Remember the first time I led a team?"
"Yeah, I was on it," Kiba muttered.
"Well, almost every member of my team ended up in the hospital, you included. I felt like I'd failed as a leader. But you only had one casualty and Tenten wasn't badly hurt. You did a good job."
Shikamaru stopped speaking as Neji and Lee sat opposite them.
"Kiba, Tenten is stronger than you think," Neji said flatly, "she will not give up without a fight."
"But right now, you are the greater casualty. We can't afford to loose moral now," Lee told Kiba.
An Anbu member appeared and walked up to Choji.
"Assemble your team. Jirobo has been sighted."
"Lee, Sakura, with me!" Choji called.
--
Gaara was in idle conversation with Temari when Naruto appeared with Hinata behind him. The former Tanuki raised a nonexistent eyebrow as the nervous looking pair approached.
"Gaara, would you allow a fugitive from Konoha to take refuge in Suna?" Naruto asked as he reached them.
"Not normally. Why?" Gaara replied.
"Hinata's father and the Hyuuga council are planning to bind her Byakugan and throw her out if she is with me."
"Even with a doujutsu, some people refuse to see what's right in front of them," Gaara sighed.
"Say the word," Temari told Hinata, "and I'll blow them away. They'll be halfway to Suna before he knows what's happening."
Hinata gave a weak smile at the thought of her father and the council flying over Konoha.
"If Hinata is the fugitive you are talking about, then I have no objections."
"See, told you," Naruto grinned at Hinata, "now all we have to do is talk to Granny Tsunade."
"I'll come too," Gaara said as he stood.
Naruto led the way through the tents until they reached Tsunade's. Shizune left the tent and saw the solemn looking party. She knew better than to try and stop them so she just held the tent flap open for them. Tsunade finished debriefing the Anbu squad and turned her attention to Naruto.
She smiled, "I knew you'd come to bother me today."
"You won't be smiling after I tell you why we're here," Naruto said.
Naruto and Hinata told Tsunade the story, her face darkened as the story continued. The second the word 'disowned' slipped from Naruto's mouth, she exploded.
"He what?!" Tsunade shouted, "I swear, if he wasn't a noble I would…"
She cracked her knuckles menacingly and glared at no-one in particular as Hinata took refuge behind Naruto.
"I do not believe how stubborn the Hyuuga family can be!" Tsunade yelled to the heavens, "no offence," she added, looking at Hinata.
"So what do we do?"
"Leave it to me," Tsunade told them, "we'll find a solution."
"Naruto suggested that he and Hinata leave. Hinata's Byakugan can't be sealed if she can't be found. And I'm willing to offer her sanctuary in Suna," Gaara told Tsunade.
"We'll keep that as a last resort. Before we do anything, I want a word with Hiashi."
--
Choji, Sakura and Lee rushed past the Anbu at the Konoha gates and launched themselves into the trees.
"I appreciate you coming along Lee," Choji said as Lee came alongside him and Sakura.
"It is no problem. From what you have told me of this Jirobo, we need all the power we can muster."
"I just hope Kimimaro doesn't choose now to appear," Sakura breathed.
"Remember, we don't know if he has even been resurrected," Lee noted.
All three ninja fell silent as they saw a large shape bounding through the trees ahead of them.
"That's him," Choji growled, "keep back until we have a clear shot."
They followed Jirobo at a safe distance until he emerged from the trees into one of the old battle sights. The large area had been torn up by the fierce battle, offering little cover. Choji held up his hand to stop his team at the edge of the tree cover. Jirobo looked around the battlefield as Choji's team took their places.
"Go!" Choji yelled and the team rocketed out from the canopy.
Jirobo turned as the leaf ninja appeared.
"Hey fat-ass! Remember me!" Choji called.
Choji didn't give Jirobo time to reply before he smashed his massive fists down on him. The sound ninja cursed as he was released from under Choji's fists and the leaf team landed in front of him. Lee crouched, undoing the weights at his ankles. He stood again, weights in his hands.
"Catch," he called as he threw his weights.
They caught Jirobo in the stomach, sending him skidding backwards. Jirobo regained his footing and glared back at the leaf ninja to find they'd gone. Lee's feet slammed into the back of his head. He whipped around to slam his fist into Lee to find he'd vanished. Lee appeared again and punched Jirobo's stomach. The pattern continued until Jirobo managed to grab his arm and slammed him into the ground.
"Any last words?" he asked Lee, wiping a trickle of blood from the side of his head as he stepped on his neck.
Jirobo raised his leg to slam it back down on Lee when the ground underneath him was sent flying into the air. Sakura grabbed a chunk of rock and hurled it after Jirobo. Jirobo righted himself in the air and grabbed the rock before it hit him and sent it back to Sakura. She shattered it with a chakra enhanced punch. Jirobo landed with an immense crash and his curse mark spreading over his body. The sound ninja snarled as he got back to his feet.
"Earth style, Rock Tsunami!" Jirobo yelled, slamming both his fists into the ground.
The ground heaved, forming a massive landslide that surged towards Sakura, Choji and Lee. Sakura hammered her hands into the ground, raising a barrier of earth Choji led the way in ducking behind the earth wall, followed by Lee and Sakura. The earth wall roared towards the team and impacted against Sakura's wall. The team held on as the earth surged past on either side of the wall. As dust cleared, Sakura stood up and looked wildly around, trying to find Jirobo. She was caught of guard as he appeared and grabbed her neck; the sound ninja lifted her clear off the ground then tightened his grip, squeezing the air from Sakura. Lee aimed a kick at Jirobo but was batted away by Jirobo's free hand. Choji moved to ram Jirobo with a human boulder but stopped as he realised Sakura was in the way. Jirobo took advantage of Choji's dilemma and kicked him away.
"Hey fatso!"
Jirobo turned to see Tsunade standing behind him.
"Take your hands off my student!" Tsunade yelled and rushed at him.
"If you want her so bad, then take her!" Jirobo shouted back, throwing Sakura across the clearing.
Tsunade leaped after Sakura and caught her with ease; she landed next to Lee and Choji. She put Sakura down and advanced on Jirobo again.
"Earth barricade!" Jirobo yelled as he crouched, the earth rising to shield him.
Tsunade aimed at the rock barrier and shattered it with a well placed blow. Without missing a beat, Tsunade slammed her foot into Jirobo. The sound ninja shattered into earth.
"An earth clone," she muttered.
Tsunade turned as Jirobo appeared next to her and they both moved to land blows but their fists met. Sakura, Choji and Lee dived for cover as the shockwave created by the meeting fists rushed towards them. They looked out to see both ninja standing at opposite ends of the battleground. Tsunade and Jirobo rushed forward at the same instant. At the last second, Jirobo dodged to the side and planted his hands flat to the ground.
"Encircling rampart!"
The ground Jirobo was standing on rose, forming a sheer cliff face, forming a solid wall of rock around Tsunade. Tsunade sprinted towards the cliff and continued up it.
"Rock barrage!"
The edges of the cliff started to crumble and fall towards Tsunade. She responded by slamming her fists into any rocks that came anywhere near her. One rock came straight back at Jirobo, catching him in the face and knocking him off balance. He recovered just in time to have Tsunade's chakra fuelled punch send him flying. He tumbled to the foot of his cliff, Tsunade landing gracefully next to him. Jirobo's curse mark covered his body and his hair grew as he growled at Tsunade. He grabbed a rock from his failed landslide and hurled it at Sakura, Choji and Lee. Tsunade rushed forward and shattered the missile.
"Final resting place, imperial mausoleum!"
The earth shifted under the team then it dropped from under them, forming a deep hollow. Jirobo grabbed the earth in front of him and heaved. The earth gave and he hoisted a massive weight of earth over his head. He walked over the hollow and was about to slam the earth down and burry the leaf ninja when a something hidden in a blast of smoke knocked him backwards.
"Summoning jutsu!"
The smoke dispersed, revealing the giant slug and Tsunade standing on its head. Jirobo stood, anger bursting out of him. He sprinted towards the slug and gabbed the front of Katsuyu. Tsunade almost lost her balance as she felt her summoned creature lurch.
Strength isn't working, so maybe this will. She thought as she launched herself into space.
Tsunade focused chakra into her hand, forming the trademark chakra scalpel of a medical ninja.
Jirobo glared up as Tsunade fell towards him. He raised an arm to strike but it dropped limply to his side as Tsunade severed his nerves. Jirobo tried to use his other arm only to have Tsunade sever the nerves in that arm too. Tsunade slashed Jirobo's knees and they crumpled, making him crash to the ground. She stood over Jirobo as he struggled against his own body. Her eyes widened as Jirobo managed to get into a kneeling position.
"Even if I die, Lord Orochimaru will destroy you!" Jirobo growled.
"The fire of the leaf village will burn forever!" Tsunade replied.
Tsunade landed a strike on Jirobo's chest, just above his heart. Jirobo choked and dropped to the ground.
"You three alright?" Tsunade called to the team.
They nodded
"Then let's go home!"
--
D1: Hektols pointed out some flaws in the story so being the perfectionist I am, I went back and modified those points. There only little changes but like it says on my profile I'm a perfectionist so I had to do it. Just uploaded the first chapter of a bleach story I've been working on, so if you like bleach please check it out. As always please R&R this chapter, see you soon.
