Chapter 29 ANBU conflict
Shikamaru averted his gaze to see the results of Thomas's jutsu. The water had to be at least a foot deep, since he could clearly see his frowned reflection in the murky water. Bringing his head up to reassess his surroundings, he was able to determine that he was completely surrounded in this turned swamp like area, with no clear way to determine just how much of this place was flooded. He then focused back on Thomas, who he could tell was doing something while he was observing his surroundings.
'Sakura told us about this. He uses the water to conceal his summoning tags, then he attacks at random, and even sets up traps. I wonder what else he has up his sleeve.'
The Nara inwardly groaned at his next brainwave.
'He probably already has me surrounded with the tags...this will be troublesome.'
Shikamaru formed his seal.
"Ankoku metsuki!" and stood at the ready, as his shadow solidified to a solid tendril behind him. Shikamaru's dilated pupils focused again on around him, as his 'eyes' spotted the several streams of lights slithering like eels towards him from below the water. Shikamaru didn't waste time, as he quickly thought of a way to counter and formed the seals needed.
"Kage Nui no jutsu!"
The lone shadow tendril behind him sprouted out several smaller forms of itself, which then shot towards the incoming tentacles, piercing them through the shallow water.
Thomas took this opportunity to hide from the still fighting Nara, watching from his cover from the nearby trees how Shikamaru's jutsu worked. When Shikamaru's shadow impaled one of the tentacles that was about to whip him from the side, Thomas's brow furrowed in question.
'What is that? It is almost like he can see the parts of Wani before they attack him...is it some sort of foresight?'
Thomas's interest perked, as he threw several more tagged kunai around Shikamaru's area, and noticed that Shikamaru reacted accordingly. That was until a tentacle collided hard with the shadow users back, making him lose balance. Before the tentacle could attempt to impale him, it was pinned to the ground by shadow tendrils.
'So...it seems he cannot see what is behind him still'
Thomas concluded, as he made his move and focused on getting around Shikamaru's side, using Wani's attack as a distraction. Shikamaru gritted his teeth at the successful strike as he continued fighting off more of the incoming tentacles, ignoring the swelling feeling going down his spine. Thomas was several meters behind Shikamaru now, as he began rifling through seals.
"Suiton, Suiryuu-" Thomas's eyes widened in shock when he couldn't move a muscle, despite his desperate attempts, which only resulted in his whole body trembling in firm resistance.
'He caught me again?! How?' Shikamaru took advantage of his successful capture, as the tendrils formed in a circle around Thomas.
"Kage Nui no jutsu!" he shouted, as the dozens of tendrils shot out impaling Thomas's body.
Shikamaru released an annoyed groan though when it turned out his efforts were wasted on a water clone.
'There goes surprising him that my ankoku metsuki can only help me see what is in front of me...bah I took that annoying hit for nothing!'
Thomas's brow furrowed as he concentrated on his discovery and near fatal error.
'He tried to trick me...I wonder just how efficient this jutsu of his is.' Thomas ran through another seal set. Once he finished the seals necessary he got to work.
"Kirigakure no Jutsu!" He whispered, as a thick mist started to form around Shikamaru.
Shikamaru didn't change or show any notice of the jutsu at all, since he couldn't see the mist, and continued his attacks against the wave of tentacles without any issues.
'So it seems his vision isn't like an ordinary sort of eye sight...but the way he reacted, or more so didn't...it's almost like....he didn't even notice I attempted to impair his vision.'
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Lee furiously swung his spear trying to land a blow, but no matter how much he tried, Araiki simply moved out of the way and countered. The exchange wasn't showing any progress in either combatants, until Araiki gave an arrogant smirk at Lee's next attack. Lee was shocked when suddenly he was forced on the defensive, and evaded the seemingly faster than before daggers of Araiki's fingers. Lee just evaded one aimed at his shoulder.
How is he moving faster all of a sudden?!' Lee then was forced to move back, and raised an eyebrow when he noted Araiki did not pursue but remained in his stance.
Lee gasped in surprise when Araiki within moments bolted towards him at speeds Lee didn't expect possible and attempted to land a hit, but only succeeded in grazing his side as Lee fought through the pain and tried pushing Araiki back. Lee was once again puzzled when he noticed Araiki's evasion seemed quicker, but he wasn't counter attacking...it was almost like he couldn't. Just when Lee thought it was turning in his favour, Araiki suddenly stopped in his tracks and countered as efficiently as he was earlier, and sent Lee flying back from a kusho blast. Lee's spear flew out of his hands and disappeared into the bushes, as Lee collided with the ground and groaned as he stood back up in bewilderment.
'This doesn't make any sense, one second he can attack me really quick, then the next he can move so freely...but he cannot do both, it is more than a change of stance, since it's like his body is changing...but how?!'
Araiki came at Lee with alarming speed once again, aiming this time for Lee's chest, but since Araiki's speed with his arms seemed to have slowed, Lee was able to push the offending attack out of the way with his hand.
"Konoha Senpuu!"
Lee span, releasing a shockwave which knocked Araiki back, rolling across the grass, but within moments Araiki pushed himself back up and prepared against Lee's next attack with great speed, but was stationary. Lee jumped back and threw several shuriken, and Araiki deflected the incoming blades with the violent shield of his Kaiten. Lee began his mental countdown and rushed at five seconds. He was rewarded with a Kusho from Araiki, as he soared straight into the hard and rough surface of a tree with a load protest from its hollow insides. Araiki gave an arrogant laugh.
"Do you really think that same petty trick is going to work on me again? You fool."
"It was my mistake for underestimating your intelligence...and your control of your tenketsu." Araiki narrowed his eyes in amusement to Lee's words.
"So, you figured it out." Araiki said not caringly. Lee nodded as he prepared his nun-chucks.
"You are forcibly opening and closing parts of your chakra network, allowing more chakra to flow in that part of the body. This is how you are able to move faster but lack power in your attacks, and then the reversal...you really are a very skilled Hyuuga, as expected for a man of your age and rank."
Araiki snickered "You're not as hopeless as you look."
"I still am interested in how you had your seal removed, my teammate would be grateful if it is possible." Lee said, talking as if he was speaking to a stranger, and not somebody that was trying to kill him. Araiki laughed at Lee's antics given the situation.
"You will not be alive to tell them...but since you will not remain silent, I will humour you just this once." Araiki said while remaining in his stance in case Lee was trying to trick him.
"Orochimaru removed that stupid seal from me that the main house placed on us." Araiki hissed at the mention of the main Hyuuga house.
'That confirms Jiraiya-sama's suspicion then...sorry Neji.' Lee mused in thought of his teammate.
"You must have done something for Orochimaru-san then, since he is not the sort of person that aids others for free." Lee recited from Jiraiya's own mouth at Araiki. Araiki gave a smirk that made Lee twitch.
"That is true, I had to help Orochimaru with one of his...tasks, before he removed the seal from me." Araiki said with a snicker. Lee suddenly grew very suspicious but at the same side feared what he was about to ask next.
"What did you do?" Lee asked, and was rewarded with Araiki's smirk growing.
"I helped Orochimaru get his 'prized' Uchiha of course."
Lee's eyes shot wide open in alarm, which Araiki laughed darkly at.
"Did you ever wonder how not one, but four sound ninja were able to sneak into Konoha who were just recovering from an attack by said nation? ANBU were on patrol of 'all' areas...except the one path that Orochimaru men used, thanks to sudden...alteration in patrol routes." Lee clenched his fist, not knowing where his sudden anger was stirring from.
"So the reason Sasuke-kun was able to be taken to Orochimaru so easily...was because of you?" Lee hissed rhetorically, which was unusual for Lee's usual polite talk.
Araiki held a wide smirk "Oh? Got a soft spot for the Uchiha?"
Lee didn't even hear the insult, as his mind remembered all the damage done to the team that tried to save Sasuke on their failed return, and their broken spirits. He also remembered Sakura's tears as she begged Naruto to bring Sasuke back, and the promise he gave her. Lee winced as he voiced his pain aloud.
"Do you not care...how much pain and suffering you have caused?"
Araiki shrugged without thought. "I don't care. I did it for my own ideals, and got what I wanted out of it."
He said simply, which caused Lee to avert his gaze to the ground.
"I see...."
He replied in the same simple, and emotionless manner.
'Naruto-kun, Sakura-san, Neji, and every one that suffered from Sasuke-kun's departure, I will make the man that was directly involved in this pay for what he has done.'
Lee then showed his eyes full of determination as he stared straight into the milky white pupils of Araiki's amused gaze.
"Initial gate, Kai!"
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"Katon, hosenka no Jutsu!"
"Fuuton,kuuchuu dangan!"
The ANBU pair announced as the one with the yellow mask shot numerous fireballs through his mask, while the gray mask wielding member shot an air bullet at each fireball, increasing their size and speed. Jiraiya completed his summoning jutsu in time, and summoned a large toad that held a large shield attached to his left arm, shielding him from the enhanced jutsu.
'By combining wind element jutsu with a fire element jutsu, the fire jutsu becomes more powerful...what an annoying combination jutsu!'
Jiraiya internally cringed when he heard the loud explosions from the fireballs colliding with the turning red shield from the mass heat.
'Heh, ill teach these fools how to combo real jutsu's.'
Jiraiya rifled through his seals behind the toad and when completed the toad side stepped quickly to allow Jiraiya sight as he took aim.
"Katon, Gamayu Endan!"
In union, the toad and Jiraiya combined oil with fire and launched a stream of flaring fire towards the pair, who already were rifling through different seals again. The one with the yellow mask finished first.
"Suiton, mizu bakufuu no jutsu!" Soon after, the other readied several kunai's while emitting chakra into them causing them to glow and...Emit sparks? Jiraiya's eyes tried to focus through the squinting flames in confusion at their actions, while he continued his jutsu.
'What are they-' several huge water drops shot out through the mask of the ANBU, while the other one threw a single kunai into each one, causing the water drops to start emitting wild sparks of electricity.
On contact, the electricity followed the flow of the burning oil, and electrocuted the toad, causing it to disperse and return to its realm, leaving an annoyed Jiraiya, who stopped his countered jutsu. He then dodged the other incoming water blasts, making sure to avoid any water from touching him in case he would get zapped. He readied his palm when he felt a presence coming from his back and turned to greet the yellow mask wearing ANBU.
"Rasengan!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened though when on contact, the ANBU exploded into a massive puddle of water.
'Mizu bunshin!'
Jiraiya turned in partial surprise when he saw both ANBU charging towards him with their katana's wielded. Jiraiya smirked at the opportunity and formed a seal.
"Hari Jizo!" When the ANBU were almost on top of him, Jiraiya's hair suddenly grew longer and enwrapped around him and covered his body with sharp needles like a porcupine . The ANBU pulled back when both their katana's broke on the contact against the hard needles, and Jiraiya could tell they were glaring behind their masks at him.
"You are facing Jiraiya, the legendary toad sannin! I will teach you to try and pick on my gaki!" Jiraiya beamed as his hair returned to its normal self. Neither of the ANBU showed any emotion or reaction to the taunt, as they readied a kunai in their hands and charged Jiraiya again.
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"Raikiri!"
Kakashi shouted as he charged straight through Ronan's copied water dragon jutsu, and made a course for the surprised Uchiha. Kakashi's eyes widened though when at the point of impact he saw that he didn't hit Ronan at all.
"K-Kakashi-sensei..." Came the coughing and weak voice from Naruto. Kakashi's eyes shot as wide as possible in panic.
"N-Naruto?!"
"Fool!" Ronan hissed from an indeterminable position, as suddenly he appeared behind Kakashi and swept his sword across the back of Kakashi's neck.
'poof'
Ronan's sharingan flared .
'He countered the genjutsu, and then used a kage bunshin to make it look like he was tricked!'
Ronan span around in time to see an unwounded Kakashi flying through seals for what he could determine was a water jutsu.
"Suiton, Suikodan no Jutsu!" Kakashi announced, and then water vapour from the ground started building up in front of Kakashi in a spinning spiral, then several water sharks that were the size of dogs shot out like missiles towards Ronan.
Ronan dodged each one with ease, even though the sharks attempted to correct their path, but Ronan countered by slicing them with his Katana after he evaded. Kakashi's sharingan narrowed in frustration as he closed the distance on Ronan with a kunai in hand. Ronan prepared to block, but his sharingan eyes widened in recognition when he determined that the person rushing at him was not the real Kakashi. Before he could react 'Kakashi' formed a tiger seal when he felt he was close enough. "Bunshin Daibakuha!" The clone then engulfed the area around Ronan in a flaming explosion from the clones self destruction.
'Did it work?'
The real Kakashi thought at the ready, with his eyes glaring into the smoke to see if Ronan had been taken out. Kakashi's eyes widened though when through the smoke came flying out a fire dragon, which he escaped from by using kawarimi.
"Do you really think you can defeat an Uchiha with petty tricks you copied with that gift of yours, Hatake." Ronan hissed through the clearing smoke to reveal Ronan unharmed.
Kakashi didn't waste any time, as he prepared a second Raikiri and as a blur rushed towards Ronan, who held a smirk.
"You still are trying that, I told you, that is not going to work on me!" Ronan said arrogantly as he caught Kakashi's wrist just before making contact with his body. Ronan's smirk widened as he glared into the shocked eyes of Kakashi.
When Ronan attempted to crush his wrist in his hand, Kakashi's hand broke off as mud, as the rest of his body followed in turning into a mud clone. Ronan's eyes focused on the sparks he saw flying off from an explosive note buried inside the mud. Ronan countered with his own mud clone before the note exploded, sending bubbling hot mud flying all over the grounds.
'Even trying to use Raikiri on somebody who can track and keep up with its movements is pointless...well then-'
Kakashi bit his thumb and ran through seals from his hidings spot. He then landed on the ground and whispered his jutsu.
"Kuchiyose Doton, Tsuiga no Jutsu!" However nothing noticeable happened. Kakashi then readied a kunai in one hand as he waited for Ronan to attack. Kakashi did not expect though what happened next. Kakashi suddenly felt pain as the ground burst around him and he was ensnared by the fangs of his own nin-dogs.
'WHAT?!' Kakashi shouted mentally as he tried to break free.
"What are you doing? It's me!" Kakashi shouted at his summons, only to hear several growls in response as they dug their fangs deeper. An amused laugh was heard as Ronan stood before him.
"Well, it seems your own summons have turned against you, how sad." Ronan said in amusement. Kakashi's glared at the smirking Uchiha.
"What did you do?!" Ronan just laughed, not even bothering answering Kakashi's demanding question. Ronan then cut his laughter off, and reached into his kunai holster and pulled out a lone kunai.
"It's time your 'gift' was returned to its rightful owners." Ronan hissed as he suddenly went to stab the kunai into Kakashi's alarmed sharingan eye.
Ronan suddenly went eyed however when he suddenly felt pain, and blinked in realisation that somehow his body had got turned around, and he was staring at a free and unharmed Kakashi standing in front of him with his arms crossed. Ronan averted his gaze to see his predicament and growled.
"So...you can reverse genjutsu's." Ronan stated void of emotions, as the dogs that had now ensnared him bit down harder on his shoulders and legs.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, "Why...would somebody that was once hailed in Konoha as one of the best ever in ANBU, suddenly turn a mad man?" Kakashi spoke void of emotions.
Ronan grinded his teeth together as he hissed out his venom filled answer. "It is you who is the mad man Hatake, do you not care that so my lives were lost in the kyuubi's attack!?"
"The Yondaime was my sensei...I think I care." Kakashi said almost cheerfully stating the fact.
Ronan's eyes widened in surprise, but returned to a slit like glare."But you still protect the failed jinkuriki?!...You really are a fool!"
Kakashi lowered his head as he returned the gesture. "No Ronan, you're the one who is the fool. Naruto has no debt that he owes to Konoha because of what he holds. It is Konoha that is in debt to him."
Ronan laughed darkly as if Kakashi spoke pure blasphemy. "I am tired of your delusional talk."
He admitted as Kakashi's sharingan eye suddenly noticed something.
"Bunshin Daibakuha!" 'Ronan' exploded, causing the dog summons to fly off in numerous directions before 'poofing' back to their realm.
'He copied my clone explosion jutsu!'
Kakashi shouted internally, getting back up from the blasts knock back, as he dodged the incoming fire balls.
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'He is up to something.'
Shikamaru searched again for Thomas, but found to no avail, as the tentacles kept their onslaught of attacks, and he counters with his tendrils. Shikamaru did notice though that the tentacles were being more tactful in their directions and choice of attacks...it's almost like he was being tested for something.
'So he is trying to work out my jutsu's method of sight, and its limitations...'
His 'eyes' caught a strange movement in the shallow water though, which did not look at all like the slithery tentacles he had been clashing against.
'What is-'
His eyes widened when he picked out the fine details of small tentacles that belonged to a swarm of possibly dozens of small squids.
"Meet the Gigas." Thomas said from an unknown location. Shikamaru had no idea what they could do to him, but he did not want to find out as he jumped back at the incoming swarm. He gritted his teeth to a familiar feeling though when he felt his chakra being sucked from his when his shadow attempted to ensnare them.
The Nara didn't need to think long to conclude what was happening to him.
'They can absorb chakra!!' He screamed mentally in realisation as he cancelled his jutsu, no longer feeling the sensation. The swarm then gave chase as Shikamaru was forced back, but he quickly had to dodge as the familiar large tentacle made a swipe at his back. His eyes widened further when he noticed the once silver colour on the swarms scaly hides now changed to vibrant red, making them stick out in the murky water like glow flies in the night.
'The Gigas can devour chakra, then use the small amount of chakra they consume to perform techniques unique to the user for a short time by mixing it with their own.' Thomas said as he saw his swarm from his hiding spot begin to glow.
Shikamaru almost was in too much shock to react in time when his own kage nui erupted out of the water in a violent swarm trying to impale him like a wall of spikes. Shikamaru performed kawarimi with a log that was torn to shreds, as he hid on a branch in a nearby tree.
'What the hell was that?! That was my own jutsu they just used then?!' Shikamaru eyed the swarm that were still glowing vibrant red, but then noticed they soon returned to their original silver shade.
'...Maybe they can't do whatever they did for long...maybe by absorbing my chakra, they were able to perform my jutsu's for a single instance or maybe a short time...but it wears off after a while...that still is a freakish summon.' Shikamaru released his agitation with a sigh.
'Those things have to be dealt with...but how?' Shikamaru's eyes focused below as he noticed the swarm of small squid were circling around his tree like a pack of sharks.
'So they found me...maybe they are tracking me from my chakra they absorbed?' Shikamaru's mind mused, then he smirked.
'I guess I get to use them after all.' He reached into his pouch and pulled out several kunai wrapped with exploding notes as well as a set of chakra blades that looked very similar to a certain Jounin instructors.
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Flash back Konoha, Nara residence, over a week ago
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Asuma shook his head in disapproval at his student. "You know that it is extremely risky to seal all your possessions in one scroll. If the enemy targets it, or it gets damaged, you can lose everything inside it." Asuma said in a matter of fact way, although he knew he was wasting his time.
Shikamaru shrugged while presenting said summoning scroll on the table.
"The enemy would never think somebody is so stupid to do such a thing...and they are designed to be quite resistant on the outside." Shikamaru rebutted very lazily.
'That's still is no reason to go ahead and do it then!' Asuma internally scolded, as he looked through the scroll at its possessed items.
"You have two spare." Asuma announced in interest.
Shikamaru scratched his head, "I honestly couldn't think what to bring that wasn't too much of a drag, and you never know what else I might need to seal depending on a situation."
Asuma nodded in acceptance, but then he reached into his weapon pouch and pulled out something Shikamaru couldn't see at first.
Then Asuma presented his pair of chakra blades and set it on top of the partly opened scroll.
"Then at least place something useful in it, like these." Asuma said looking at Shikamaru to prove he was serious. Shikamaru blinked in confusion.
"Sensei, those are your special chakra blades, I can't take those...and I can't use them anyway, I am not wind natured." Shikamaru voiced in his confusion.
"I have a spare set, since it's not as if these things are indestructible or anything like that." Shikamaru nodded, but still held his confused gaze.
"Even if you do not have wind element manipulation Shikamaru, these chakra blades will take anything you charge through it with chakra, and temporarily store it. While this really is only useful for wind users like myself, it doesn't mean somebody like you couldn't take advantage of their limited chakra storage. Knowing you, you would probably find some use out of them."
"...I guess I will take them, thanks Asuma-sensei."
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Present time
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Shikamaru double checked his surroundings, as he then eyed the swarm below him and charged chakra into the blade. The chakra blade emitted a low hum with the chakra being stored in it.
'Now or never.' Shikamaru mused, as he threw the blade at the base of another tree close by just above the water.
Thomas looked curiously at the blade.
'I have seen those before, that is a chakra blade.' His eyes then widened in realisation and in Shikamaru's amusement, the swarm shot towards the blade like it was attracting them.
'So they do see with only chakra.' He cheered as he then threw his several explosive kunai's towards the tree.
Thomas dashed out his hiding spot to stop the fate of his summons, but it was too late as water and squid body parts blasted all around the place, several colliding with Thomas, as all of the remains of the small swarm floated on the water surface.
Thomas didn't know what he was feeling, but his eyes narrowed to angered slits to the smug posing Shikamaru.
"Well...it seems your summons are as simple minded as they look." Shikamaru announced cheerfully. Thomas didn't speak as he ran through seals as Shikamaru's shadow tried to close the distance, but Thomas finished in time.
"Kuchiyose no jutsu!" The water around Thomas began to bubble almost like a spa bath. Shikamaru almost had Thomas, until he was forced to move when a red tentacle shot out from the puddle in front of Thomas. Shikamaru's at first gritted his teeth in anticipation, then replaced it with shock when he saw the long tube like head of a squid emerge from the no deeper than two feet deep water puddle they were fighting in. The flaming red squids large eyes were bigger than Shikamaru's own head, and it had wildly slithering tentacles splashing around the water as it stopped rising, towering at least a meter above Thomas's height.
Thomas gave a disturbing smirk as he crossed his arms next to his summon.
"Let's see how well you gloat after Kirkii here is through with you." He said in an attempt to sound amused. Shikamaru inwardly groaned at the new arrival.
'Yet another summon...what a bother.' He mused as he pulled Asuma's chakra blade out of its embedding in the tree.
'Note to self, I will never have sea food again after this.' Shikamaru concluded.
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"Heal gate, Kai!" Lee shouted as the chakra began flowing rapidly throughout his body.
" Life gate, Kai!" His skin colour soon changed to flaming red, as his web like veins could clearly be seen pumping blood in overdrive.
Araiki's eyes widened as he saw what was happening internally with his byakugan.
'His chakra is going berserk! It's flowing through all his tenketsu at an impossible rate.' Araiki then narrowed his eyes in recognition and refocused.
'Ah yes, the celestial gates...I have heard of this before. They allow the user to push their body physically to their limit...what a pity that it can potentially kill the user once the gates are closed if they open too many.' He recalled and got at the ready, as Lee shot as a blur towards him, then disappeared just in front of him, to within an instant reappear behind Araiki to deliver a kick. Araiki's byakugan eyes already found Lee and he blocked the hard side kick with his arm.
'He has gotten a lot stronger as well as faster.' He concluded as Lee continuously tried to land a blow through his guard.
'Even with the third gate open, he can still block my attacks and keep up because of his jutsu...at least he isn't fast enough to counter attack now.' Lee mused when he jumped back and began unwrapping the bandages on his arms.
Araiki perked an eyebrow at the strange action.
'I don't know what he is planning, but he is going to regret granting me time to do this.' He inwardly smirked as he ran through seals and finished. Lee's eyes twitched in confusion when nothing happened.
'What did he do?' Lee suddenly felt a presence behind him, and quickly span around and evaded a sweep kick and he gasped when he saw his attacker. Who else did Lee know that wore such a familiar looking spandex and vest?
"G-Gai-sensei!?" Lee stuttered in shock when he looked into the lifeless eyes of his sensei. Lee tried to speak again, but Gai resumed his attack, matching Lee's speed with ease.
Lee suddenly felt a hard jab at his side that stung like somebody had pierced through his skin with a sharp blade, as Gai's knee connected with his side, sending Lee hurling back.
'W-What was that? Even if Gai-sensei is attacking me for some strange reason...a punch from Gai-sensei never stung like this.' Lee was cut from his thoughts as Gai was upon him once again.
"What is going on Gai-sensei!?!" Lee shouted in confusion as he once again with exchanging fists in self defence against his silent, puppet like sensei. Lee noted that every time he attempted to counter, Gai would evade, and when he attempted to block, Gai would feign his attack.
'What is going on?'
'So it seems Thomas was right, the boy has no clue in knowing when he is in a genjutsu.' Araiki mused in deep amusement as he watched Lee attempt to evade an imaginary kick. Araiki chuckled as he held his seal.
'While I am not fast enough to fight him effectively while he is using the celestial gates, using a genjutsu that calls forth a figure the person knows, I can play him into my hands-' He watched with his byakugan as the illusion lured Lee right towards him.
'-until it is time...' The illusion overlapped Araiki perfectly.
'To strike!' He concluded as he aimed for Lee's heart, but succeeded in hitting his right shoulder, overlapping with Gai's fist.
Lee once again was sent back, as he stood back up in confusion, and gripped his shoulder.
'That is not an ordinary attack....' Lee's brows furrowed, then widened in realisation.
'This feels like an attack from Neji's jyuken style...that's why nothing happened when Araiki-san finished his seals...he set me in a genjutsu to see Gai-sensei!.' Lee then reached for his nun-chucks, and flicked them idly in his hand.
'I will have to wait for the right moment before I can make my move.'
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Flashback two days ago, field outside wave
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Jiraiya sighed and wiped away his sweat.
"I must say Lee, you are very skilled with your taijutsu."
To say Jiraiya's words had made Lee ecstatic would be an understatement.
'I was praised by one of the sannin's for my hard work!'
"However..." Lee suddenly snapped to attention at Jiraiya's harsh tone.
"...as we saw earlier, you are susceptible to genjutsu...very badly."
Lee's eyes widened at the memory of the prank.
"B-But Jiraiya-sama...Sakura-san only did that as a prank."
Jiraiya nodded then looked at Lee in seriousness. "That is true...but what if Sakura was actually an enemy, and she wanted to kill you."
Lee went agape and responded after recovering. "....I would be helpless."
Jiraiya nodded "Being very skilled at taijutsu or ninjutsu can be a very determinative factor in a fight...but those two are ruled out if the opponent cannot counter a genjutsu." Jiraiya then continued as if this was something he explained to Naruto.
"Genjutsu's control the bodies senses, depending on the users skill, they can make you see or feel anything...if you can't break out of a genjutsu, you are done for. There are no ifs or buts to that."
Lee winced at his bluntness. "...So you are saying that if I ever encounter an opponent that uses genjutsu to fight, I will lose?"
Jiraiya sighed and nodded. "Yes, that is exactly what I am telling you...that is why I am going to help you work on a way to break out of them."
Lee suddenly grinned wide and nodded furiously in acceptance, causing Jiraiya to chuckle.
'Oh god, he gets just as excited as Naruto...just what we need, not one hyperactive ninja, but two.' Lee turned serious suddenly in a blink of an eye.
"I am eager to begin right away Jiraiya-sama." He said in full attention causing Jiraiya to raise an eyebrow in surprise.
'...At least he is respectful and knows when to listen.'
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Present time
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'Gai-sensei is avoiding making direct contact with my attacks and blocks until he lands a blow...that must be when Araiki-san is attacking, since he cannot hold the genjutsu while moving...so I am being lured into his trap.' Lee thought as his theories proved correct as with the next rush from Gai, came the familiar sting to his gut once he was pushed back.
'I can't keep getting hit like this!' Lee cringed through gritted teeth as Gai closed in again.
'This time I will do it.' Lee concluded as 'Gai' began his onslaught. After the second exchange, Lee ignored the next fist which phased through his face as his entire body tensed.
'I must release as much chakra as I can in an instant.' Lee recalled from his training, as the nun-chucks began wildly spinning around Lee in a blur.
Suddenly Lee accelerated his flicks with the nun-chucks as fast as he could, as he released a violent almost whirlwind shaped shockwave around his body. Since he was using the celestial gates, his arms were practically invisible as they moved at inhuman speeds.
'Since I cannot mould chakra through seals, I have to use taijutsu to break out of Genjutsu's, since they can be broken by a sudden large burst of chakra.' Lee again recalled, as 'Gai' faded out of existence, and revealed in a haze a wide eyed Araiki not far away.
'Impossible! he-'
Araiki's thoughts were cut off with a solid foot connecting with his chin, causing him to groan in pain. A second kick, and a third kick followed as he was ascended higher and higher into the air, Lee now appeared at Araiki's back with his loosened bandages. Before Lee could ensnare him, Lee suddenly was pushed out of the way by some invisible but unbelievably powerful force from Araiki's back, causing Araiki to land on the ground and fall into his stance as he wiped away the blood trickling out of his mouth.
"You bastard!" Araiki hissed in silent rage.
Lee recovered and formed his stance as well 'What was that? I felt a strange shockwave emit from his body.'
Araiki gritted his teeth as his milky eyes glared at Lee.
"You life will end here today."
He growled out at Lee, who gave a smirk. "Still letting your arrogance lead you to believe you have the upper hand...you will regret tha-"
"Enough!"
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'These two are really pushing my patience.'
Jiraiya mused in annoyance, as the pair of ANBU evaded his attack yet again. The pair had got lucky with one of their combination jutsu's and had burnt a portion of Jiraiya's arm although it was minor. He also had a faint cut on the back of his jacket, but no wound. Jiraiya internally cursed when he noticed that the pair still hadn't received a single hit.
'If I stay at long range, they use their combo jutsu's, if I move in close they evade and counter. When one is on the ground, usually one is up in a nearby tree...I need to get them both on the ground before I can make my move.'
Jiraiya concluded as he finished his seals and slammed his hands on the ground to summon a toad. Gamakichi appeared through the smoke looking at the pair of ANBU in front of him.
"Yo, little Jiraiya, I never thought you would need my help to deal with just a pair of ANBU." Gamakichi teased while looking back at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya glared, no longer seeming to care he was in a fight.
"Just because you are taller than me you brat doesn't give you a right to call me what Pa toad calls me...you're not even old enough to drink yet you oversized gaki!"
Gamakichi turned and pouted in an amazingly similar fashion to Naruto as if from habit. "But Jiraiya I smoke."
Jiraiya smirked in his victory at his opening. "You mean underage smoke...what would you do if somebody...accidently told your dad next time he was summoned."
The pair of ANBU watching exchanged a look to each other, even though their faces couldn't be seen, it was obvious both were thinking the same thing.
'...What the hell?'
Gamakichi whined in protest. "You wouldn't do that to me!...would you?"
Jiraiya's smirk widened. "Oh, who knows, no?"
Gamakichi not liking where this was leading to, decided to use his secret weapon.
"Well, somebody might let it slip what you debate about with your colleges about a certain Godaime Hokage."
It was amazing how the simple phrase that included 'tell' and 'Godaime' could make the sannin suddenly turn ghostly white.
"I-I don't know what you-"
"Their 105 no...At least 115, they are HUGE!" Gamakichi said in a mocking attempt at trying to sound like Jiraiya, he even added a perverted giggle at the end.
Jiraiya blushed and crossed his arms in deep annoyance.
'Oh bloody hell, I will never discuss my 'theories' on Tsunade to a juvenile toad EVER again.'
"I swear, if you ever tell any-"
At this time the pair couldn't stand listening to the foolish argument anymore and attacked with their Katon and Wind combination, their announcements of their jutsu's silencing the bickering pair.
"Katon, hosenka no Jutsu!"
"Fuuton,kuuchuu dangan!"
Jiraiya and Gamakichi ascended to the opposite tree in time, as the ground they were standing on was set alight in a roaring flame.
"These two seem to work together well." Gamakichi commented as the flame slowly died down.
"Indeed." Jiraiya grunted in annoyance.
"My guess is they have worked together for quite some time, their coordination and attacks are very efficient and effective." Jiraiya added, with his annoyance being voiced.
"Gamakichi, I will keep them busy, your job is to destroy the nearby trees around them. I want both of them on the ground before I will trap them both." Jiraiya instructed as he began going through seals.
"Right little Jiraiya!" Gamakichi barked as he jumped further back and disappeared in the forest ground.
'Oh this isn't over yet.'
Jiraiya mused as he finished his jutsu and jumped down onto the hot but no longer burning ground.
"Doton, Doryuudan!" Jiraiya shouted as the gigantic head of a mud dragon emerged next to him and starting blasting out numerous large mud balls at high velocity, forcing the pair to evade to opposite trees.
The ANBU wearing the yellow mask made a surprised cry when his supposed tree though began tumbling on its side. He made a jump for another and the same thing happened. Similarly Jiraiya put on the pressure with the other one with his mud dragon. Eventually both ANBU were forced to land on the ground after several trees hit hard on the forest floor.
"Doton: Yomi Numa!" Jiraiya shouted as he slammed his hands into the ground, and turned the entire area in front of him into a sinking swamp, pulling the two surprised ANBU down with it. Just before they were submerged in the swamp, a Large tentacle shot out from what Jiraiya assumed was a marked kunai.
'Oh no you don't!'
"OIL!" He screamed to the reappeared Gamakichi, who followed Jiraiya's command, while Jiraiya readied another jutsu.
"Katon, Gamayu Endan!" The familiar stream of fire left his mouth aimed directly at the tentacle, setting it on fire as it began shaking furiously in pain.
Jiraiya stopped when most of the entire submerged swamp had turned into a bomb fire, and smelt the foul odour of burning flesh.
'I don't know what that summon was trying to do. But at least I stopped it.'
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Shikamaru readied both his chakra blades in his hands.
'How does Asuma sensei even swing these things so freely...it feels like I am carrying bricks when you charge chakra into these.'
Shikamaru mused in both frustration and amazement for his sensei. Shikamaru soon returned focus to the blank looking expression of the squid in front of him. Thomas shared a glance at the head sized eye.
"I will leave this one to you." He said in his usual neutral tone, as turned around, and casually started walking away. Shikamaru instantly assumed the worst case scenario.
'He is going off to help the others!' Shikamaru then threw his left chakra blade, only to agape when the squid got in the blades course, and the weapon deflected off of the squids hide, as if the blade had bounced off a steel wall.
'What the...' Thomas gave a strange snicker without turning.
"Kirkii doesn't like it when people ignore him...I'd advice if you actually want to stand a chance you pay him some attention." He said as he disappeared into the trees.
Shikamaru cursed.
'Where is that creep going?!' He questioned, but before he could give further thought, his eye caught a red blur moving towards him. Shikamaru jumped back wide eyed, when he saw the squid closing in on him at seemingly impossible speeds for an animal of such size. The squid made to whip him, but Shikamaru ducked under it, only to receive an upper whip to his gut from another tentacle he missed seeing, sending him several feet back.
"Troublesome!" He grunted as he rubbed his chest, eyeing the standstill squid.
'How is it able to move so quick?' Shikamaru's question was soon answered when the tentacles curved around the creature, and Shikamaru noticed that the water around the creature was being sucked in. Shikamaru went agape when the squid suddenly released the water throughout its tentacles, allowing it to fly towards him.
'Oh come on!' He groaned, as he Kawarimied with a now snapped in half log.
Shikamaru eyed the squid from above in the trees.
'So its skin seems very strong, and it can move fast in the water.' He mused, trying to understand what he was fighting. The squid soon caught sight of him and moved to under the tree and enwrapped it with its tentacles.
'what is it-' Shikamaru's thoughts were cut off by the loud crack from the trees base.
'OH CRAP!' Shikamaru jumped to another tree in time, as the other fell to the ground with a loud splash.
'...And it has ridiculous strength...Perfect!' Shikamaru added in annoyance as the same thing happened again to the tree he was standing on.
Shikamaru then caught something blue and glowing during his next jump. Shikamaru continued jumping from tree to tree, until he got close enough and fixed his eyes at the cause.
'So that is how only the immediate area is so flooded in comparison to the rest!' he concluded, as he saw several of the tagged kunai glowing with a chain made of chakra linked to the other.
'So the water is being summoned from the squids realm, allowing the water to stay at a constant level in an area.' Shikamaru landed onto the dry land and looked back in interest as the squid was shooting towards him.
The Shadow user perked an eyebrow when the squid suddenly stopped just before the barrier.
'So...the squid can't proceed out of water...I wonder why.' Shikamaru thought, but froze when he saw the chakra tags suddenly stop glowing . Before Shikamaru knew it, a small wave of water brushed through his feet, noting that it wasn't as deep as before. Shikamaru then heard Thomas's amused voice come from somewhere.
"Looks like Kirkii needs my help after all." suddenly Shikamaru sensed something coming from his right. It was Thomas, with Shikamaru's lost chakra blade wielded in his hand.
Shikamaru then heard the violent splashing from before from in front, meaning the squid was coming at him again.
'This just keeps getting better and better by the minute.' Shikamaru whined, as he dashed towards Thomas, ignoring the squid closing in now behind him. Thomas wasn't expecting the shadow user to do such a bold action.
'What is he up to?
' Shikamaru then threw his other remaining chakra blade at Thomas, but it was off course, and landed a couple of feet before Thomas. Thomas ignored it, and continued his running, while forming seals, until suddenly he froze on the spot.
'W-what is happening?! I can't move!'
Shifting his eyes to his feet, Thomas tried to gasp in shock when he saw the round shadow he was encircled by, with the blade Shikamaru had thrown in its dead centre. Shikamaru smirked.
'Just like what happened before.'
-
Flashback two days ago, field outside wave
-
"Why do I have to spar against these two, by myself?" Shikamaru whined lazily, as Naruto and Sakura stood several meters away from him. Kakashi amused eye lifted from his books.
"Because I know you think best in 'troublesome' situations." Shikamaru would have retorted, but found it too much effort to try and talk himself out of it.
Shikamaru groaned as he readied Asuma's chakra blades in each hand, causing Naruto and Sakura to share a confused glance, before breaking charge together. Shikamaru formed his usual shadow seal, while he began pouring chakra into one of the blades.
'Now then, let's see if this works' He mused in anticipation as the pair came closer and closer. Shikamaru then casually dropped the blade into the ground in front of him, and jammed his hands into his pockets.
Sakura snickered while still continuing to charge.
"What t hell do you think this is Shikama-"
Sakura's taunt was silenced when both Naruto and Sakura froze mere inches away from colliding their fists at Shikamaru. Shikamaru chuckled.
"Why, its training of course." He said simply, as he admired his work. The chakra blade was emitting a small circular shadow around its point in a roughly two meter radius.
Kakashi looked up in surprise. "You are able to cast your shadow jutsu's into those blades?!"
He said in amazement. Shikamaru shrugged. "Asuma-sensei told me that they can store chakra...so I guess jutsu's like Kage mane no jutsu can sustain themselves from the blades."
As he was talking, the radius was getting smaller until both Naruto and Sakura were free again.
"...For a short while." Shikamaru concluded.
Naruto recovered from his shock waving an accusing finger.
"That's cheating Shikamaru, we agreed to us only using taijutsu without clones, and you were not allowed to use kage mane!"
Shikamaru smirked. "Well...too bad this is called kagename shuriken no jutsu" he said, satisfied with its name. Sakura's sweat dropped, while Naruto was shaking in annoyance.
"Kakashi-sensei!!"
-
Present time
-
Shikamaru wasted no time as he turned and faced the red bull like squid. Thomas's eyes widened in realisation to what was happening, but couldn't do anything to stop what was about to happen. Shikamaru then Kawarimied with another log, as the squid broke the small hollow log apart, and collided head on with Thomas, knocking him out of the chakra blades radius. Shikamaru grabbed both of the blades and returned them to his pouch, while he was searching for something. He then found what he was looking for, the chakra tags keeping the water surfaced, only these were further away.
'I see...so the ANBU went away to set up further tags in case I worked out that the squid can only move in water.'
Shikamaru dashed towards the line of tags, then stopping a couple of meters before them and turning around to face the recovering squid, while Thomas rubbed his bleeding head and struggled to stand from the high speed collision. Shikamaru then formed his seal.
"Kage nui no jutsu!" He whispered, as a lone tendril rose behind him and ducked into his weapon pouch and pulled out a thin layer of wire.
'I will set the wire on the kunai, and pull them out. That should expand the water area, meaning that the depth of the water will drop even further.' Shikamaru's mind concluded, as his shadow was done joining the wire to four of the kunai.
The squid was preparing to charge again, but Shikamaru didn't wait this time.
"Kage Yose no Jutsu!" Shikamaru shouted, as the wire suddenly tugged on all four kunai, pulling them out of the ground. Shikamaru suddenly lost his footing, as the water rushed from underneath his feet, pushing him backwards as he slid along with the flow of water. Shikamaru finally recovered, noting that his feet could touch the soggy ground now. He turned and widened his eyes at the sight. The squid was lying and furiously twitching on the ground, almost as if it was suffocating from...being unable to breathe? Shikamaru went agape when the squid suddenly stopped moving after several moments, and all life within the creature was gone.
'...So that is why it couldn't leave the water....they can't breathe without at least their mouths being under water!' Shikamaru then shook himself out of his shock at his discovery and looked around for Thomas, only to find that he was nowhere to be found.
'He is long gone...damn it!' Shikamaru cursed, as he stood up and ran a hand through his wet hair.
"I hope the others are doing alright." Shikamaru muttered more to himself, as he began trying to listen to determine who was the closest to his position, before running off through the trees towards that direction.
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Lee dodged the incoming attacks aimed for his tenketsu's, but Araiki seemed to not stop in speed then when he reached 64 palms, he didn't stop, as his speed suddenly doubled. 'This is!' Lee had to break out of it, or he would get hit, and jumped back only to have Araiki pick up where he was and continue his bombardment. Lee tried again, but his eyes widened as he suddenly felt the shockwaves almost pinning in his spot from the small impacts with each palm Araiki just missed by his backpeddling.
'He is performing Kusho with each palm strike to stop me from evading!?!' Lee screamed internally as he got pushed back by a near miss and was now open.
"Hakke Hyaku Nijuha Sho!"
A single palm implanted into Lee's chest, sending Lee blasting away as he flew through some bushes and landed next to his long discarded spear. Lee stumbled up as he spat out a small lump of blood.
'That was only one successful hit?! If I get hit again like that, then it's all over!' Lee thought as he coughed while picking up his spear, as Araiki came flying through the bushes to attack Lee again. Lee had already prepared his spear and spun it around his body continuously in a blur, cutting deep into the ground all around him, sending debris flying. Araiki was forced to pull back, as anywhere within 3 meters of Lee would get shredded by the onslaught.
'So by his chakra now moving so rapidly, he can create a more violent build up within his weapons too.' Araiki gritted his teeth in frustration.
'I don't have a choice! Even if I will be unable to help the others in their fights, if I do not take this guy down, he will go and help the others in their battles.' Lee concluded firmly.
"Dai Senpuu!" Lee then span the spear around on the spot, forming a whirlwind around him forcing Araiki to back down from his next attempted attack.
"Harm gate, Kai!" Lee shouted as the pain from the hits suddenly numbed to nothing. Araiki's eyes widened to buldging.
'His chakra is moving too fast! I can't even distinguish the flow of his chakra anymore!'
"Limit gate, Kai!" Lee near screamed as the fifth gate opened.
Araiki didn't even know how Lee had caught up to him without his byakugan seeing his sudden movement, but he sure felt the bone crushing punch to his gut as it sent him meters in the air. Within moments Araiki felt even more blows connect with his body, near shattering his bones in the process, as he coughed out blood at the next blow hitting his chest.
Even when Araiki pushed Lee away with his strange shockwave, Lee was back on him in an instant as if his body didn't feel anything. The bandages were enwrapped tightly around the barley conscious Araiki as Lee screamed out his jutsu.
"Ura renge!!"
Lee delivered the final blow with a bone shattering punch, sending Araiki into the ground at near instant speeds, emitting a tremor similar to an explosion, as a large crater digging meters deep formed on the once levelled ground. Lee landed not far from the destruction and slid down the tree near him as his eyes jammed shut from the pain he felt once he closed the gates. Every single Kusho that Araiki had hit him with was hurting now tenfold, and his muscles were stinging like he was being electrocuted.
'I don't think my muscles have torn, but this hurts a lot.' His shivering hand reached into his jacket and pulled out a large brown soldier pill.
-
Flash back Hatake hotel, yesterday
-
"Sakura-san." Lee knocked on her door, it had only been half an hour after the meeting, so Lee assumed Sakura was still up doing her 'task' Shikamaru had set her to do. His suspicion was correct as a fully awake Sakura answered her door.
"What is it Lee-san?" Sakura asked in interest. Lee decided to be direct in his question.
"I was wondering if I could have your approval with something" Sakura blinked at the strange question.
"Sure Lee-san?"
"Tomorrow Sakura-san...I have a feeling I might need to use the celestial gates." Sakura was already at him with her worried scolding.
"Lee-san! You cannot use that! Don't you remember what happened last time with Gaara?! I can handle the damage that the gates will do to your body, but Lee-san...if something happens to me, you could die without medical treatment immediately!"
Lee nodded and responded calmly.
"That is why I came to consult with you first." Sakura stopped her berating and waited as Lee continued.
"Gai-sensei told me when I became chuunin, I had responsibilities to choose when to use the gates and when to not. He told me only I could truly know when to use it, but I am aware of the risks...which is why I made it my rule to only use them with the approval of a medic-nin, or when my friends are in life threatening danger."
Sakura at first was agape, but soon gave an approving smile.
"Well I do agree with that rule." She replied, while her brows furrowed in thought.
"Lee-san..."
She sighed in defeat. "I cannot control your actions, you know your bodies limit. However I am glad you came to ask for my approval."
She then grinned. "I can make for you a soldier pill by tomorrow. The pill is no miracle medicine or anything, but if you are forced to use the gates, it will help with the pain and will relax your muscles once the gates affects have worn off."
"Really Sakura-san?!" Sakura nodded with a smile but soon turned to a serious gaze.
"However Lee-san, just because you won't be in immediate danger after taking it, doesn't mean you can fight anymore, as you're body will be exhausted from the strain the gates puts it under. Do you understand?"
She said in a tone that was like a direct order. Lee was about to give a protest, but she cut in harshly.
"The pill is effectively a sedative Lee-san, don't be surprised if it almost knocks you out...and I read Tsunade-sama's report on what the gates do to your body...Your bones are weakened so bad that even a plain punch can cause them to shatter."
Sakura raised her index finger.
"I will give it to you regardless, but I want your promise that once you take it, you will not fight afterwards regardless what is happening...promise me." She instructed with no traces of joke in her voice or expression.
Lee's solid salute didn't even break her serious posture.
"Hai, you have my word Sakura-san!"
-
Present time
-
Lee placed the large pill in his mouth and chewed. The pill had a very strange sour taste to it, but Lee refused to spit it out as he then swallowed the pill. The effects were already starting as the pain had reduced enough for his tenseness to relax, as he emitted a weak sigh and a cough.
'Remind me to thank Sakura-san after this.' He said in thought as the pain reduced further to the point he could stand up using the tree for support. He then turned his gaze at the crater not far.
'I need to confirm he is dead.'
The moment he took the first step did the 'sedative' part of Sakura's speech finally hit the miniature Gai tenfold. He felt unbelievably heavy, but at the same time his legs wore wobbling like jelly. Lee was finding it very hard to resist just collapsing and not moving, but he pushed himself with all his will to press forward. Lee gritted his teeth when he felt a sharp spike of pain shot up his spine he walked towards the crater to confirm Araiki was defeated. His eyes met the gaze of what was once Hyuuga Araiki. He unconsciously looked away at the damage he had done, it was clear just by his glance that Araiki's arms and legs were broken, and his skull probably was completely crushed on the impact...it was sickening to say the least.
Lee turned back and gasped in surprise though when he saw a red glow appear from Araiki's kunai holster.
'NO!' Lee internally screamed, but he was in no state to stop what happened next, as a large tentacle the size of Araiki's entire body covered over the dead Hyuuga.
"How troublesome!" Shikamaru groaned not far as he pulled out an explosive note and threw it into the crater.
Lee couldn't even voice his surprise as Shikamaru tackled him to the ground.
"Shikamaru-ku-" Lee couldn't even finish his announcement as his voice was drowned out from the violent explosion.
The explosion didn't block out Lee's loud grunt of pain from the almost electrifying contact with the unbelievably solid ground.
"Are you alright?!" Shikamaru blurted out in surprise at Lee's sudden fragile appearance, which he gave a shaking thumbs up.
"I-I'm ok!" While the Nara didn't believe him in the slightest, he stood back up and wondered why it suddenly felt so boiling hot. He turned and went agape at the impossibly gigantic flames from the crater.
"...Well...that was unexpected.' He said plainly as he eyed the 30 ft flames rising out of the crater.
Lee shared a similar shocked expression, before groaning in pain at the still shooting pain from his landing. Shikamaru turned in concern and said in a scolding way.
"Don't tell me, you used the celestial gates." Lee at first was stunned but nodded.
"How did yo-"
"You were limping like a sack of potatoes towards the crater...and of course there was a crater." Shikamaru said simply while shrugging. Shikamaru then helped Lee get to his feet.
"Can you move?"
Lee winced. "My apologies Shikamaru-kun, but...not very well." Shikamaru sighed, almost as if he knew that would be the answer, as he stayed by Lee's side.
"I assume that was the Hyuuga." Lee looked hard into the burning flames and finally nodded. Shikamaru caught a strange emotion flicker in Lee's eye, but he didn't comment on it.
"Well...at least that's one of them down for good." Shikamaru said void of emotions, as he turned them both around and started walking away from the blazing flames.
"Was that the first time you...defeated someone?" Shikamaru asked, surprisingly very serious. Lee knew Shikamaru meant 'kill someone' and shook his head, which made Shikamaru sigh in relief.
"Good...at least one less troublesome problem."
Lee blinked in sudden realisation. "What about your opponent Shikamaru-kun? If you're here does that mean you defeated them?"
Shikamaru groaned in disappointment. "He escaped...I am the proud killer of a few dozen minor squids, and a 10 foot long troublesome squid though."
----------------------------------------------
'This is going nowhere.'
Kakashi concluded as he felt the presence of another genjutsu placed upon him and countered it appropriately. Kakashi had minor injuries at most, from a few close calls from a katon or Ronan's katana, Ronan shared similar minor injuries but there was a growing issue for Kakashi. In a battle of stamina and chakra, Kakashi knew he would eventually fall to the Uchiha.
'Guess I am all out of options now.' Kakashi formed a seal and stretched his palms out.
"Raikou ookami!" Both his hands glowed bright as two balls of electricity violently formed out each hand almost like a line of static charge.
Eventually the sparking line reached several meters in length, and a large head of what looked like a wolf appeared, made completely from electricity. Within moments, Kakashi had standing on all fours next to him on each side, two man sized wolves, made completely from chakra. The wolves emitted a silent growl sending out sparks from their mouths at Ronan who watched in amusement.
"Hmmph, now this looks like an interesting jutsu Hatake, I see though they are limited to the range of your chakra though...they aren't perfect." Ronan said as if addressing a student. Kakashi smirked under his mask.
"You can never judge a book by its cover." He then released his chakra chain on the wolf in his left hand, as the wolf released a silent howl of electricity and charged at the now shocked but toothy grinned Uchiha. Kakashi then formed the tiger seal in his hands and closed them in deep concentration.
'This is going to require a lot of chakra.'
Ronan noticed Kakashi preparing something, but reverted his focus on the crazed wolf that was desperately trying to sink those electrified fangs into his flesh. Kunai didn't seem to faze the wolf, as instead most of them were deflected and shot back in an electric wave.
'What a very interesting jutsu!' Ronan concluded as he Kawarimied with a log when the wolf attempted to lunge onto him with its sparking claws.
Ronan took opportunity of the wolfs minor confusion before it located him again and finished his seals.
"Fuuton, Renku Dan!" He shouted, then punched his stomach as a overwhelming sized shockwave of chakra shot out of his mouth making a course to the wolf. His eyes narrowed when the wolf evaded.
'Amazing, even though its essentially walking chakra, It has a mind of its own...it's practically like a miniature bijuu...this jutsu must use a lot of chakra though if it's able to sustain itself for this long.'
Almost coincidently as the wolf started closing in did it disperse in a shocking wave of violent sparks that shot out like lightning in all directions from where the wolf once stood. Ronan then turned to see the other wolf now had been released and was upon him, only this left Kakashi wide open without it on the defence. Ronan took advantage and evaded the large K9, as he readied his Katana and attempted to impale Kakashi, smirking when he felt the impact. He screamed in pain though when 'Kakashi' exploded in a violent ball of electricity.
'This is a Raiton bunshin?!'
Ronan fell to the ground hard on his shaking knees as he saw the lighting wolf close its distance, but then dispersed a few meters away. "It does consume too much chakra for my liking." Kakashi said not far from the stunned Ronan, who turned and glared. Kakashi was still in his concentrating position, with his sharingan eye shut tight.
"You..." Ronan growled as he slowly got up, only to collapse again.
"The amazing thing about the Raiton bunshin is its explosion temporarily stuns the targets that are caught in the blast, too bad most of its chakra was wasted flowing into the wolf..." Kakashi said in an educative manner causing Ronan to growl in anger as he finally got up to his feet.
" ...The lack of the chakra in the clone means it would only slow you down instead, leaving me with only this jutsu to finish you off since you seem to evade everything else." Kakashi said as his one sharingan eye opened to reveal it no longer had 3 tomoe, but instead was in the form of an odd shaped shuriken.
Ronan didn't need to think about what he was seeing, but everything in his mind refused to accept it.
"Impossible! You cannot..." Ronan couldn't finish his sentence as he glared. It didn't make any sense at all, and a part of him felt insulted that somebody that wasn't even of the Uchiha bloodline, had achieved something he had been longing for.
"HOW?! YOU ARENT EVEN AN UCHIHA!" Ronan screamed in fury, as his body shook still in rage.
"That is something you will not be around to find out." Kakashi said flatly as he was about to use his sharingan, until he snapped his head in the direction where he, and the others heard the ear piercing and spine chilling scream from Sakura echo throughout all the forest.
"NARUTO!!!"