A/N: First off, I'm really sorry about the wait. I've had barely any time on the computer due to my social life, GCSE results and parties. Worse, it's likely to get worse with my return to school on Thursday. After all I'm a college kid now. I think my computers reaching it's last days too. Here's Chouji's fight. GO CHOUJI!
Chou Oyubi Kumo
Butterfly and Spider
It was their chance to prove themselves,
To those who doubted them,
For those who always believed in them.
-----x-----
"You guys were able to escape my barrier," Jiroubou stated.
"The only one here is he," Shikamaru observed. "Looks like the rest of them went on ahead."
"Aa. They're not nearby anymore," Neji confirmed, scanning the area with his Byakugan.
"Tch. Just when we thought we'd caught up," Shikamaru said. Jiroubou clapped mockingly.
"Well done, minna. For trash, that is."
"Nani?!" Naruto cried.
"Who are you calling trash?!" Kiba cried. Both boys rushed forward and Kita sighed. "Now that we're out, he's ours!"
"Ore wa… I'll get him!"
"Matte! Both of you!" Neji shouted. The boys skidded to a stop and looked back at the Hyuuga. "Fighting him here would be dangerous."
"We got out of the barrier! We can take him!" Kiba insisted. He quickly focused his Chakra. "Tsuuga!" He began spinning and shot towards Jiroubou, who swatted him away as though he were a mere fly.
"Kage Bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto cried a clone appearing at his side as he charged forward. "Take this!"
"Too slow!" Jiroubou cried smacking Naruto in the chest with a knife-hand and head butting the clone out of existence. "You are all my meal!"
"Chikusho!" Kiba hissed.
"Shoulder charge!" Jiroubou cried ramming his shoulder into Kiba. "Knee strike!" he cried, catching Naruto before he could create another Bunshin. "You guys aren't even good enough to be appetizers." He pressed his hands together in a seal.
"Be careful. Something troublesome will come out again," Shikamaru warned. Jiroubou slammed his hand onto the ground. Making the ground shatter and Naruto lose his footing.
"Doton kekkei doro doumo!"
"Baika no jutsu!" Chouji cried jumping forward. "Nikudan sensha!"
"Go Chouji-kun!" Kita cheered from Neji's shoulder. Chouji expanded and rapidly spun on the spot, kicking up dust. When the dust cleared, they had all disappeared.
"Che. Useless."
The distraction had allowed the Genin to meet behind a bush to hurriedly discuss a plan.
"We don't have much time, we have to split up into two groups," Shikamaru said.
"Nande dattebayou?" Naruto asked, holding Kita in his lap.
"I see," Neji sad, focusing his Byakugan and looking at Jiroubou. They were far enough away to be hidden, but too close to be safe. "Even if it's five against one, he's not an enemy we can defeat quickly after we've lost so much Chakra. The more time wasted here, the more likely Sasuke and Kari will cross the border. If that happens… then there's nothing we can do… So you're saying to split up into two groups, one group to stop him and one group to pursue Sasuke and Kari, right?"
It was clear, though the Hyuuga was doing his best to hide it, that he was sick with concern for Kari. The thought of losing her was almost too much for him to bear.
"Aa. You will be the second-in-command, Neji," Shikamaru confirmed. Loosing patience, Jiroubou grinned and slammed his hand into the ground causing the dirt to crack and shatter, trees loosing their footing and falling to their sides. Naruto gasped and jumped out the way, Kita following as they avoided the heavy trunk.
"Heh. Found you."
"Neji, take Kita, Kiba and Chouji and pursue Sasuke and Kari," Shikamaru said.
"Wakatta."
"Naruto and I will do something about him." Shikamaru formed a hand seal.
"Are you going to use that Kage Shimari thing again?" Jiroubou mocked. "Keh, what a worthless technique. It's easy to know how to deal with it after I see it once."
"And who fell for that street performance earlier?" Shikamaru asked. His shadow extended from the front but stopped a foot away as he also extended his shadow through the shadows of trees to approach the enemy from behind. A second before he could catch him, Jiroubou once again punched the ground, hiding him from sight. Neji immediately reactivated his Byakugan.
"He disappeared?" the Hyuuga said confused. Kiba's nose twitched, searching for his scent.
"Behind!" he cried in warning. Sure enough, there he was behind them lifting up an absolutely huge piece of dirt that made the large guy look like a mere ant.
"Doton Doryou Dango!"
"No freaking way!" Naruto screeched. He threw the huge rugby ball of mud at them which they luckily managed to avoid. Again Jiroubou disappeared, but they could feel the earth groaning in warning.
"Careful, there's another one coming," Shikamaru said warily. He didn't expect a hand to shoot out the ground underneath him and latch onto his ankle. The next thing he knew he was hanging upside down.
"Heh, you're the squad leader right? It must be tough on the underlings to have such a stupid leader." Chouji's eyes narrowed in anger. "I'll take care of this stupid squad leader!" With that Jiroubou span Shikamaru over his head before flinging him towards a tree.
"Baika no jutsu, Nikudan Sensha!" Chouji cried. He managed to rush in front of the tree in time to completely cushion Shikamaru's fall.
"Than you, Chouji," Shikamaru cried, bouncing off Chouji.
"Oh? You wasted my generosity," Jiroubou said as Chouji deflated back to his normal size. "If the leader is stupid, the subordinates are trash, huh? Well, for the subordinates under this gloomy, theatre-loving guy, I'll kill you before you can suffer anymore."
"K'so… K'so! You're asking for it!" Naruto cried. "I'll be the one to…"
"Fight you!" Chouji interrupted. He stood up, eyes ablaze with anger. "I will fight him!"
"Chouji," Shikamaru said surprised.
"What are you talking about?!" Naruto cried. "He's not someone you can take on alone, dattebayou!"
"I will fight him!" Chouji repeated.
"Chouji… Omae…" Naruto said. Jiroubou smirked.
"Shikamaru, give these soldier pills to everyone," Chouji said, holding out a bag to his friend.
"Chouji… Don't tell me you're going to…"
"Yes. I have that ready to use," Chouji said with a smile.
"But that's…" Shikamaru began but Chouji walked past him.
"Chouji-kun is very brave…" Kita said, she had found respect for the large boy during the Chuunin exams but this… this made her respect him on a whole new level. His friendship with Shikamaru, it reminded her of Okaasan's aura. Protectiveness, affection, trust and respect.
"Damn trash. I won't let you do what you want!" Jiroubou cried rushing forward.
"Here he comes!" Naruto cried.
"I'll finish you all right here!"
"Go, minna!" Chouji cried standing in front of them pulling out a case of three large pills.
'Three coloured pills? They're not soldier pills, what are they?' Jiroubou wondered.
'First, the green spinach pill,' Chouji thought swallowing the green pill.
"Move it, trash!" Jiroubou hollered, but his charge was halted when Chouji grabbed him.
'Impossible! He stopped me?'
"Shikamaru. Take everyone and go now!" Chouji cried.
"Chouji…"
"What was the purpose of this squad? If we lose Sasuke and Kari-chan now, we will become what he has said… A stupid squad leader and a bunch of trash!"
"You better catch up afterward Chouji," Shikamaru said.
"Gambatte, Chouji-kun!" Kita said.
"Aa. Minna, go!"
"Yosh, let's go everyone," Shikamaru instructed.
"Aa!"
They all headed into the forest Shikamaru trying his best to ignore the twist of worry in his gut.
'Chouji…'
"Heh. I'll just finish you quickly, then take care of your friends," Jiroubou said.
"It won't go that easy!" Chouji cried pushing forwards even harder, sending Jiroubou back as the larger guy struggled to push back.
"Nani?!" He finally managed to slow Chouji and smirked but was caught off guard when Chouji lifted him above his head.
"I will…" Chouji threw him forwards. "Hold you back!"
-----x-----
"This is Chouji's parting gift, eat up," Shikamaru said throwing the bag to Naruto.
"Aa. I'll take one, Chouji," Naruto swallowed a pill and then gave one to Kita, noticing she was still tired from the mud dome. "Kiba!" he cried before throwing the bag to the Inuzuka.
"Sankyuu," Kiba said with a smirk.
"Shikamaru. The pill Chouji took seemed like some sort of trump card," Neji said. "Is there any chance of him winning?"
"He said that, right?" Kiba asked, giving a pill to Akamaru.
"For this mission, he brought the top secret ills of the Akimichi clan. When you take them, you gain an explosive burst of power. They're green, yellow and red-coloured pills. In every one of those pills there is an extremely huge amount of energy," Shikamaru explained.
"Sou ka, sou ka, that's why he was so confident!" Naruto cried in understanding.
'But pills with that much power will always have side-effects,' Shikamaru thought.
-----x-----
Chouji panted heavily warily watching Jiroubou who lay crumpled at the bottom of the tree Chouji had thrown him against. Chouji flinched from pain.
'K'so. I only took the spinach pill and it hurts so much already.'
-----x-----
'If possible, finish the fight with just the green pill,' Shikamaru thought anxiously. 'Whatever you do, don't take the red one. Chouji…'
-----x-----
'I will finish this right now!' Chouji thought grabbing a string with multiple kunai attached. He tied it around himself a few times.
"Baika no jutsu!" he cried, his body inflating. Jiroubou sat up lazy, feeling a bit disorientated. "Nikudan hari sensha!" Chouji cried spinning, the kunai like spikes protruding from his body. He shot forward but Jiroubou jumped out the way, leaving the tree to suffer Chouji's wrath.
'So he's using the daggers as spikes in order to increase both the rotation speed and the destructive force.' Jiroubou thought as Chouji headed back towards him. He slammed his palms against the ground.
"Doton doroku gaeshi!" A wall of mud rose in front of Jiroubou and he stood calmly. Unfortunately, he had underestimated Chouji, who simply drilled straight through the wall. "Nani!?" With no other defence, the oto shinobi had to try and push Chouji back with his mere hands. He managed to stop him, but the kunai had caught him in the left thigh and his gut, drawing blood.
'Did I get him?' Chouji thought hopefully.
-----x-----
Akamaru whined softly.
"Aa, I just thought that too," Kiba agreed.
"What is Akamaru saying dattebayou?" Naruto asked.
"You know that Akamaru can sense an enemy's powers through smell. He's really worried about whether those pills can really defeat him," Kiba said.
"That's true. If you think about it rationally, that big guy's power is unknown. The possibility of Chouji defeating him on his own could be zero," Neji said. "Demo, that's what a battle is all about."
-----x-----
Chouji's eyes widened when he noticed fiery markings travelling up Jiroubou's skin. They were like wires made of triangles and soon cooled to black.
"You really get on my nerves, trash!" Jiroubou jumped back and then shot forward again to attack. "Crushing fist!" His hand slammed into Chouji's gut with enough force to cancel out his Baika no jutsu and send him flying back. The string of kunai clattered to the ground behind him as he landed, thankfully not piercing him. "Heh! Did you know? There's one piece of trash in every group. Everyone makes fun of him. When the opportunity arises, the trash is the first to be left behind." Chouji slowly sat up. "I'm talking about you."
He knew his words stung. Chouji tried hard to ignore it, but…
"Chouji, all you ever do is eat. You should train a little."
"You know, that's why everyone makes fun of you. Sheesh."
"You said someone exceptional, didn't you? Shouldn't you ask someone like Shino instead?"
"Damn. He's useless too."
'It's true… No matter how much I try in the shadows. Boku wa…'
"Looks like I was right," Jiroubou said cockily. "Heh, Konoha is seriously lacking men with talent. They actually placed a piece of trash like you in a rescue team. I'll end this now!"
He shot forward and Chouji brought his arms in front of him in a defensive stance as he dodged the punches. One got round his block and caught him in the jaw.
"Knee strike! Shoulder charge!" He cried out with each blow and felt the ground beneath him as he slid back. "You were trash to the very end. You only seemed appealing at the very beginning. A typical type of trash." Chouji looked up to see him standing in front of him. "Trash like you weren't meant to come to a place like this. You should blame your stupid leader."
'Shikamaru…'
-----x-----
"Like Neji said, that's what a battle is. This mission was never a game. Lives are on the line," Shikamaru said seriously.
"I just really need someone to hold me right now, stupid ne?"
'Kari-chan… You've been hurting a long time. Every time something bad ends something worse happens to you.'
"Oi, Shikamaru."
"I had imagined a worst case scenario where everyone is separated and must fight alone. And right now, if we're not prepared to fight and win in a one-on-one situation, we won't reach Sasuke and Kari," Shikamaru said. He paused for a moment. "Chouji is a good guy, but he lacks self confidence. He thinks he's the weakest in our group."
"But it's true that he's weak, everyone knows that," Kiba said. "That's probably why he stayed behind to try and help us."
"Hn. Yappari ne," Shikamaru said with a smirk.
-----x-----
'Demo…' Chouji thought going to get up but knocked back down when a fist hit his jaw.
"I've teamed up with Chouji for quite a while. We work well together."
'Demo, Shikamaru…'
Jiroubou's knee struck him under his chin, sending him onto his back.
"Heh," the sound nin scoffed. Two blue butterflies fluttered over Chouji's chest, as though urging him to get up.
"But if we fight you may be stronger, right? If I fought you I might've given up. But you are you."
'Demo… Shikamaru has always…'
He forced himself up and the butterflies left. Chouji reached into his pouch.
'Shikamaru has always trusted me!'
"Chouji. Are you ready?"
Chouji pulled out the second pill, this one a mustard yellow.
'He believed that I am truly strong!'
Chouji's Chakra flared, spinning around him in coils of blue, the ground cracking beneath his feet.
'That's why he counted on me to fight this guy alone!'
-----x-----
"Just as I thought. Everyone thinks that way, huh?" Shikamaru said.
"Kita-chan doesn't!" Kita said adamantly. "And neither does Okaasan!"
"But I know, more than Neji, me, or anyone else here… He's strong. I believe that," Shikamaru said confidently. Kita nodded in agreement.
-----x-----
"Oh? Great Chakra," Jiroubou commented.
"Here I go, fatass!" Chouji cried.
"How dare you call me that!" Jiroubou roared and charged forward.
"Bubun Baika no jutsu!" Chouji cried. "Arm!" Chouji's right arm increased in size before slamming into Jiroubou, knocking him back. "Bubun Baika no jutsu! Leg!" He lifted his left leg and went to slam it into the enemies gut but Jiroubou moved in the nick of time. "Bubun Baika no jutsu! Arm!" Moving quickly, Chouji managed to slam his enlarged hand over Jiroubou, pinning him to the ground. Jiroubou looked up growling and slowly began to stand up, lifting the hand and in turn lifting Chouji along with it.
"Don't mess with me, trash!" he span and threw Chouji into the air over the tops of the trees.
"Take this!" Chouji cried, slamming his hands together in a seal. "Chou baika no jutsu!" Chouji's body enlarged until he was the size of a giant. Withall his weight and the force of gravity, Chouji's large body hit the ground, crushing Jiroubou underneath him.
'I did it, Shikamaru…'
"N-nani?!" Chouji cried, feeling his massive body being lifted.
"I can't believe I had to go to stage two against this guy," Jiroubou grumbled. "Rising impact palm!" Chouji gasped as he suddenly shot upwards. His jutsu cancelled and he returned to his normal size. He landed hard and winced as pain coursed through his spine and the muscles of his back. Looking up he was surprised to see that Jiroubou had changed in appearance.
'What's with that appearance?'
His skin had turned a reddish brown, pulled tight over the bulging muscles of his arms. Grotesque bumps covered both shoulders and his forehead and his hair had thickened and lengthened to reach his back. His eyes had gone black, the irises gold. He looked nothing short of a monster.
"Now that I'm like this, it's over. No one stands a chance against my Stage Two. It gives me more than ten times my original strength," he walked towards Chouji as the Genin struggled to try and move.
'I can't move because of the pain. I didn't think the side effects of the curry pill were so rough…' Chouji thought.
"Because a piece of trash weakling like you came out to fight, you end up like this!" Jiroubou cried, kicking Chouji up into the air ad thrusting his palm into Chouji's gut. The boy flew back, landing on his sore back. "Playing ninja games suits guys like you."
Chouji panted heavily his eyes closed, when a memory came to him, flashing like a movie beneath his closed lids.
---
"All those who want to play ninja, touch this finger!"
Cries of 'Yeah!' were heard as the group of kids all latched onto the boys hand, wanting to join in the game.
"Matte!" Chouji cried rushing towards them.
"Janken, janken, pon!" the children cried three choosing rock and three choosing scissors.
"Crap!" the ones who chose scissors cried and quickly ran.
"Ichi, ni, san…"
"Matte!" Chouji cried trying to keep up with the faster boy. But he quickly disappeared from sight. Chouji looked around but couldn't see him anywhere.
"Ninety-nine, one hundred!"
Chouji finally found the boy hiding behind trash and was about to ask to hide there too but…
"I said no!"
"Ite-e," Chouji said when he felt three thuds on his back. He'd had cardboard shuriken thrown at him.
"Found ya!"
"You two better give up!"
"Tch!" the boy scoffed glaring at Chouji's back.
"We finally caught them all!"
"Of course, the team Chouji's on always looses!"
"Gomen…" Chouji said sadly.
---
"Heh!" Jiroubou cried closing his hand around Chouji's throat. "I need quite a lot of Chakra for Stage Two, so I will consume the rest of your Chakra." Jiroubou tongue traced his bottom lip. "Well then, let's eat." Chouji felt a slight drain of energy. "Heh, I can't absorb any more. Damn trash. I can't consume you at all!" He lifted Chouji off the ground by his throat. He was thrown o the ground and felt the knot of his hitai-ate come undone, the headband falling to the ground beside him.
Chouji noticed a bag of chips at his side and tried to reach for them, desperate to regain some Chakra but Jiroubou stamped on his hand.
"I said I haven't had enough!" Jiroubou picked up the bag and looked inside. "What's this? Just one last bite?" he complained. "Just this when I haven't had enough?" He ate it nonetheless. "You were just a pawn, ready to be tossed away like trash. Die pig, who's always left out by everyone."
---
"We're not going to have you play ninja with us."
"Doushite?" Chouji asked sadly.
"Because if you play, that team will lose."
"You're too slow."
"But if you do that, the numbers won't match," an eight year old Shikamaru pointed out. "Shougi is fun because the right number of pieces are in place."
Chouji felt a smile light his face. He wasn't sure if the boy was intending to stick up for him or not, but it meant a lot to him that the boy was helping him out.
"It's better to not have a worthless piece from the start."
"Right, right!"
Chouji's face fell.
"We'll be low on numbers so you can't complain. Let's go."
"If you guys are ok, that's fine."
"Then it's settled."
"Now we can win!"
"Okay, where should we hide?"
Realising they weren't going to let him join; Chouji walked away his heart heavy with pangs of loneliness. He tried hard, he really did… he just wasn't that fast. He stopped when a movement caught his eye. A butterfly was caught in a spider's web. Without hesitation Chouji gently freed the beautiful insect and let it fly away. Shikamaru watched surprised by the boys kind actions.
-
"And they say that the Akimichi family is full of slow fatties. Everyone says that," Chouji was sitting on his father on a rooftop and was explaining why he wasn't with the other children.
"Sou ka. But you know Chouji…" Chouji's father said and Chouji looked up. "You're kinder than anyone. I'm sure that some day you'll find a friend who sees that in you. Then, you will treat him well and become friends who can trust each other."
Chouji felt a smile spread across his face at the thought. 'Will I ever find such a friend?'
-
"Don't worry, you're not the only one I'll consume. After I kill you, I'll take care of the other cold-hearted dirty trash who treated you like a pawn to be tossed away," Jiroubou promised.
-----x-----
"We made a promise," Shikamaru said to himself pulling out a kunai and beginning to carve into a tree. They were taking a quick break.
"You better catch up afterwards, Chouji."
"Aa!"
"He will defeat the enemy. He will definitely catch up to us," Shikamaru said confidently.
"Aa!" Naruto agreed.
"Heh. That's right, he can do it if he wants to," Kiba said and Akamaru barked in agreement. Kita nodded, proud they finally believed in Chouji.
"Yosh, also…"
"Me too!" Kiba said following Naruto. Neji smirked as Kiba and Naruto pulled out kunais and began carving into the same tree Shikamaru was. Even Kita joined in, though still struggled with kanji. Neji eventually decided to help her.
"Listen everyone, we're going to get Sasuke and Kari before Chouji catches up with us," Shikamaru said jumping up to continue.
"Matte yo!" Kiba cried, not wanting to be left behind.
"Yosha! Here we go!" Naruto cried punching the air wit one hand while he held Kita in the other.
-----x-----
"He's late, that Jiroubou," Sakon commented.
"He's a gluttonous, dirty fatass. He'll probably consume the Chakra all the way to the bone," Tayuya scoffed.
"I want to switch pretty soon," Kidoumaru said, tired of carrying the barrel.
-----x-----
"Here, I'll give this back," Jiroubou said, throwing the screwed up empty chip packet at Chouji letting it bounce off the boys forehead. "Well, if I don't hurry up I won't catch up. I guess I'll end this now."
'The only pill left is the red pepper one. But if I take that, I will definitely… die.'
-----x-----
'You better not die Chouji.' Shikamaru thought as he carved another arrow later on before changing direction. 'Ever since that day, we always did things together…'
---
Shikamaru walked along thinking when a blue butterfly floated in front of his nose. With nothing better to do he decided to follow it, it was heading in the same direction he was anyway. It led him to a roof top and he was surprised to see Chouji and his father sitting there.
"You," Shikamaru said with a smile.
"You're the boy from earlier," Chouji said in recognition. "What about the ninja game?"
"It was too troublesome so I got out of it," Shikamaru said simply walking closer to where they were sitting. "Also, that's my special seat."
"Special seat?" Chouji repeated.
"I like to lay on my back and look at the clouds on a beautiful day like this."
"You came to look at the clouds?" Chouji asked.
"Can I sit there?" Shikamaru asked with a smile. Chouji moved closer to his father to make room for Shikamaru. Sure enough, he laid down and looked up at the sky. "This place is the best; I can see the clouds clearly."
"Aa…"
"You too. Why don't you lay on your back and look at the clouds with me?" Shikamaru offered.
"Okay! Chouji said happily. "I brought some snacks, you want some?"
"Sounds good, sankyuu," Shikamaru said accepting some chips. "Looking at the clouds while eating chips… That's great."
"Mm!" Chouji agreed.
"I'm Shikamaru from the Nara family. What's your name?" Shikamaru asked.
"Chouji. I'm from the Akimichi family. Akimichi Chouji," Chouji replied enthusiastically.
"Chouji, eh? I think we could get along," Shikamaru said with a smile.
"Me too."
---
'We're going to do things together from now on too,' Shikamaru promised. 'Chouji…'
-----x-----
'Shikamaru… Gomen… I can't catch up…'
"This is the end," Jiroubou stated lifting his arm.
'But this guy…' Chouji pulled out the last red pill. 'Must be defeated, even if it costs me my life!'
"It's too late to do anything now! Pressure palm!" However when Jiroubou struck, he only met the earth. Blue butterflies appeared and Jiroubou waved one away from his face. Chouji's Chakra increased, shaping into butterfly wings behind his back.
'W-what is that?' Jiroubou wondered. "However… Boulder strike!" But his fist was caught with ease.
"It's useless. I'm a hundred times stronger than before!" Chouji said. Pushing Jiroubou's fist away he elbowed him in the gut. Jiroubou flew back and Chouji appeared in front of him with speed he never had before. "They say the grudge of overeating is dreadful. But that strike was the grudge for eating my last chip."
'Impossible, his Chakra is completely changing his appearance.' Jiroubou thought as Chouji's fat was being converted into Chakra.
"And this is for…" he punched Jiroubou in the jaw sending him further back. "Making fun of me by calling me a pawn to be tossed away and a fatass. But what I can't forgive the most is…" Chouji walked forward, closer to the enemy.
"It must be tough on the underlings to have such a stupid leader."
"Well, for the trash under this gloomy, theatre-loving guy, I'll kill you before you can suffer anymore."
"You should blame your stupid leader."
"…You making fun of my best friend!" Chouji cried his expression pure anger. "That's worse than eating someone else's lat bite of an expensive meal… That's worse than calling me a fatass…" Chouji's Chakra flared. "And it can't be forgiven!" Chouji stood on Jiroubou's hand when it twitched and concentrated his Chakra into his left hand.
'This is bad!'
"This last strike is heavier than life!"
"Matte! Don't rush it!" Jiroubou pleaded, but his plea fell on deaf ears and Chouji struck him right in the stomach causing the earth to crack and mud to fly. Even softened by Jiroubou's large body, the punch still left a large crater in the ground. The curse mark receded and Jiroubou returned to normal, eyes rolled to the back of his head. Chouji panted and felt the pain begin to take hold of his body.
'I won… I actually won…' Chouji thought smiling weakly. He managed to get up and preached for his hitai-ate. He was surprised to see large grey paws standing beside it and once he had grabbed the cloth he straightened and saw it was a grey wolf. Its golden eyes were completely calm, intelligent but seemed to not wish any harm. It turned it's back on him and swished its tail, knocking into his free hand. It stared at him until he grasped the soft fur and the wolf began leading him.
'Is it a summon…?' he wondered. It didn't seem wild. It led him further into the forest and he collapsed against a tree the pain becoming too much. The wolf stared at him patiently, though didn't seem concerned. A butterfly floated next to him and he pushed himself to follow it the wolf pulling him along gently. His chest hurt and his vision was blurring. He took deep breaths and struggled forward. He became aware of the wolf's tail slipping through his fingers and stopped trying to catch his breath.
"But you know Chouji… You're kinder than anyone. I'm sure that some day you'll find a friend who sees that in you. Then, you will treat him well and become friends who can trust each other."
He felt a tear slide down his cheek as he looked at the words carved into the trunk.
"Hurry up and come!" "Heh, that must be Naruto."
"We're all waiting!" "Kiba."
"We believe in you!" "The writing is shaky, Kita-chan."
An arrow, showing the way. "Shikamaru…"
"Otou-chan, I made lots of friends…"
"He was right to believe in you, ne?"
"Huh?" Chouji looked round confused. "Kari-chan?"
"More or less," she said with a soft smile. She was hazy with a golden glow, almost like a ghost. He gasped in pain and fell against the trunk his friends had carved into. Kari's face saddened and she knelt in front of him butterflies dancing around them. "Chouji-kun, you are a very brave person." she said gently her hand moving to touch his. He felt no pressure only the sensation of warmth, like the sun warming a patch of ground in the forest. "Arigatou gozaimasu."
He felt her lips brush his forehead lighter than the brush of a butterfly wing.
"It is those who are strong of heart, that are the strongest," she said gently. As his vision faded he smiled once more though his joyful tears still streamed.
'Hai Kari-chan. Just like you.'
His world went black and his grip loosened on his hitai-ate, letting it fall to the ground. He let go, and no longer felt anymore pain.
The butterflies floated by, flying through where Kari's ghost had once been.
-----x-----
Shikamaru and Kita simultaneously gasped as a butterfly passed.
"Doushita?" Naruto asked, sensing the tension.
"Nothing…" Shikamaru said softly. Kita nodded in agreement. Akamaru sniffed the air and barked.
"They're close," Kiba confirmed.
"Demo, I can't sense Okaasan properly," Kita said her face scrunching slightly. She hoped it was just her inexperience, but felt her belly squirm anxiously. Neji's eyes narrowed slightly and he activated his Byakugan.
"That's strange, I haven't seen a single trap," Neji said. "Shikamaru. What do you think of this?"
"They're underestimating us," Shikamaru replied. "The only person they think is catching up to them is that big guy. They wouldn't set traps for their comrade."
"What? Taking us lightly, huh?" Naruto growled. Kita sighed softly, still trying to find her mothers aura. It was hazy, as though something was interfering. Well Neji did say she was in the barrel. It must be an odd barrel.
"I think you're right. Indeed, we've been completely underestimated," Neji agreed. "However, this is our chance."
"Aa, we will take them by surprise."
-----x-----
"Jiroubou is late," Sakon stated.
"Iie, he's here," Kidoumaru said as Jiroubou's form appeared behind, keeping up with their pace.
"Sheesh. What took you so long?" Sakon asked.
"Sorry. It took time to suck up the chakra of those pieces of trash," Jiroubou replied.
"You fatass, don't waste time," Tayuya said. "Hurry up and carry the barrel. That's your job. You piece of shit."
"Aa."
"What's with you Jiroubou? You're too obedient today," Sakon said suspiciously.
"What do you mean?" Jiroubou asked.
"I can't hand the barrel over to you…" Kidoumaru said stopping. He threw the barrel to Tayuya. "Since you're not Jiroubou!" 'Jiroubou' growled. "Leave this to me. Sakon. Tayuya. You guys go on ahead." They both continued leaving Kidoumaru behind. Jiroubou went to strike Kidoumaru but his arm was caught. "Jiroubou always warns Tayuya about her foul mouth."
"Heh. Sou ka," Shikamaru said, letting go of the henge. His kick was also caught.
"Ninpou kumo shibari!" Kidoumaru cried spitting out a spider web and pinning Shikamaru to a tree. He smirked but didn't expect to see Naruto clones coming at him from behind.
"Damn you!" one of the clones hollered. Kidoumaru chuckled and jumped of the tree falling backwards. He spat spiders thread into his hands and began moulding it.
"Ninpou kumo soukai!" he said, and a huge spiders web spread out, sticking itself to the trees. It caught all the clones sticking them down.
"Naruto!" Shikamaru cried.
'Now! Kiba! Akamaru! If he's in the air he shouldn't be able to make any moves, dattebayou.'
"Gatsuuga!" Looking around, Kidoumaru saw Kiba and Akamaru (who was in a Kiba henge) spinning towards him. But with a simple tug, he used his thread to pull himself out the way, landing safely on a branch. "I won't let you get away!" Kiba cried as he and Akamaru landed.
"That's my line," Kidoumaru chuckled. "Look at your feet." Looking down, Kiba saw he was standing on the sticky thread.
"Temee! It's too early to think that you've caught us!"
"Hn. Whatever."
-----x-----
"Sheesh. What was that fatass doing? That shit," Tayuya cursed.
"I guess it was a mistake to leave the weakest among us," Sakon said.
-----x-----
Neji went to strike from behind but Kidoumaru dropped, causing Neji to miss. Kidoumaru landed on a branch and began to mould more thread. Neji gaped when a web shot out like a net, preparing to catch him.
"Neji!" Naruto cried in alarm.
"Nani?!" Kiba cried shocked.
'Tch. Even with me, Naruto, Kiba and Neji attacking at once, it still didn't work,' Shikamaru thought as Neji struggled in the web. Akamaru's henge dropped and the puppy whined.
"I'll make a cocoon around you here," Kidoumaru said, covering Neji's body in thread in a matter of seconds.
"Kuso," Naruto hissed, grabbing a kunai. He tried to cut through the web but it wouldn't work. "Chikusho! Chikusho! What's with this web? I can't cut it."
"It's useless. My web can't be severed even if two elephants pull on it," Kidoumaru said laughing. "Kage Bunshin eh? How interesting."
'The web is starting to absorb me,' Neji thought. 'This attachment is probably made with something mixed with the special strength in his body and Chakra. Furthermore, even after he releases it from his hand, there's still a lot of Chakra flowing. The Chakra is constantly flowing. Impossible! His technique level far surpasses reality. Calm down. I need to calm down. Kari needs me. My Chakra…'
Finally Kidoumaru stopped chewing and reached to his mouth.
"Ninpou kumo nenkin," he said pulling out a gold substance and stretching it between his mouth and six hands.
'The colour of the web is different than before. What is he going to do?' Shikamaru wondered. Separating it from his mouth the gold substance began to change. 'Its hardening.'
"Heh. Since you're the first one I'll put a show on for you. We're going to play a little game called 'Let's figure out which one of you is the real one'."
"Nan da to?" Naruto hissed.
"First will be the one at the very end." He threw the hardened web and it struck the target in the back.
"Naruto!" Shikamaru cried. But luckily, it turned out to be a clone.
"Heh. So that was a Bunshin. Then next will be this one!" He hit his next target in the gut which again turned to smoke. "You're a lucky one. Next will be two at once. Now there's a fifty percent chance!" Both turned to smoke and Kidoumaru laughed. "You have very good luck! But this time it's one or the other!" The last clone was destroyed. "Tch. So you made it to the end. Maa, it was fun while it lasted. Now, it's game over. Die!" Naruto was hit. "That's the first one finished!" But then he turned to smoke. "Nani?"
The real Naruto wet to punch from behind but was deflected.
'I see. He let his replications get caught and hid himself in order to find an opportunity to attack. I didn't think trash could plan that far ahead in such a situation.'
"You're pretty good," Kidoumaru said. "But…" he had Naruto caught by a thread around his wrist. "If you have no more ideas it's time to die!" With a yank Naruto was pulled towards him but Neji appeared and cut the thread with his hand.
"Naruto! Thanks for buying some time," Neji said catching the boy before setting him down.
"Neji!" Naruto cried and Kita landed next to him having tried to free Neji herself from outside the cocoon.
"Omae… How?" Kidoumaru growled. Neji freed the others and they all landed together.
"That which is made from Chakra, can be destroyed by putting Chakra into it. It's pointless against my Jyuuken."
'His technique… Only I can deal with him,' Kidoumaru thought with a smirk.
"Go. I'll fight him," Neji said to the others.
"Neji-kun!" Kita cried jumping onto his shoulder worriedly. Akamaru whined and took some shaky steps back.
"Akamaru?" Kiba asked bending down. Akamaru jumped into Kiba's coat. "Doushita? Looks like he's stronger than the fatass… By a lot."
"You calculated that we had to fight one on one in order to move on. You said that, right?" Neji asked.
"Aa. That's exactly right," Shikamaru agreed.
"Besides if we stop here we can't catch up to Sasuke and help Kari," Neji said. "Chouji hasn't come back yet. We're here because we're on a mission to bring Sasuke back. But that's not all. What we're pursuing and trying to protect is the bond as a ninja from Konohagakure no sato. Do you remember what Iruka said at Sandaime's funeral?"
"Iruka-sensei, why do people risk their lives for others?"
"When one person dies… he disappears… along with his past, current lifestyle and his future. Many people die in missions and wars. They die easily, and in surprisingly simple ways. Hayate was one of them. Those who die have goals and dreams. But everyone has something important as those… Parents, siblings, friends, lovers… People who are important to you. The bond to people important to you, ever since birth and the string that binds them becomes thicker and stronger as time goes by. It's beyond reason. Those bound to you by that string will do that. Because it's important…"
"Listen. Sasuke is being brought to Orochimaru's place. We can't allow someone from our village to go to him. Never!" His fists clenched. It was Orochimaru who'd been behind Kari's suffering. It was he that made her so ill and weak. "Also…" he turned to look at Naruto and smiled.
"Naruto. Your eyes are alike to Kari's, they are better than mine." He turned his back on them. "Right now, Sasuke is in darkness. Kari is struggling to hold onto him while she slips in herself. Hurry up and go. Kari needs your help."
"You… You really care about Kari-chan," Naruto said picking Kita up. "Kari-chan always did have a way of choosing good friends."
"I'll catch up later," Neji said.
"Yosh, let's go," Shikamaru said.
"You better catch up with Chouji," Kiba said.
"Hai!" Kita cried.
"Aa." They jumped off continuing after the two remaining enemies.
'Neji. For Kari-chan more than anything, you better catch up.'