I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.
Him Again
When the sun sank below the horizon, Naruto and the others stopped for the night. they were almost at the port village but didn't want to get there at night. They wanted to be able to see if they were going to have to fight.
"You two get some rest," Naruto said. "Gaara and I will handle guard duty."
Matsuri nodded and went to bed and Hinata did as well, albeit a bit more hesitantly.
"What do you think we will find in the Land of Snow?" Gaara asked.
"I have a few theories," Naruto said. "So far I'm praying I'm wrong."
"I see," Gaara said. "Perhaps we will not find anything except what we want to."
"A safe haven from the zombies?" Naruto asked. "Wouldn't that be nice."
"We probably won't find that but we may be able to retrieve Lady Koyuki without any trouble," Gaara said.
"Gaara," Naruto said. "How many times have things ever been easy for us?"
"You have a point," Gaara said. "So, I guess we better plan for the worst."
Naruto nodded and sent out clones to make a perimeter then he and Gaara began to make a plan. When the sun rose, they woke up the others and they all went to the village and took the only intact ship. Once they were on their way, one of Naruto's clones took the helm while others played the role of the crew. Naruto leaned on the handrail with Hinata and Gaara and Matsuri sat in the crow's nest. Everything was going fine until Gaara glanced to his left and saw a storm moving toward them rapidly.
"Storm!" Gaara called down to Naruto.
"Thanks!" Naruto said.
They continued to sail but the clones all got ready to do anything they might need to to survive the storm. The storm hit a short time later and they managed to continue despite enormous waves. After a good hour of this, the storm began to get worse. Then, a tornado began to form above them.
"Dear God," Gaara said. "Abandon ship!"
Naruto wasted no time in jumping overboard with Hinata followed by all of his clones. Gaara and Matsuri followed and Gaara barely managed to stay on top of the water.
"You okay?" Naruto asked.
"I don't practice walking on water that often because I can levitate on my sand," Gaara said.
"I could carry you," a Naruto clone teased grinning until Gaara threw a kunai through him.
"We need to move," Hinata said pointing.
Three clones were struggling against the wind, but they were slowly sliding toward the tornado and they were picking up speed. Water was being sucked up into the tornado forming an inverted funnel of water. The water was pulled up so high on the tornado that it began to freeze.
"Crap," Naruto said. "Run!"
They began to run and after three minutes, the frozen water shot at them. It had frozen into spikes and Naruto could have sworn it was a jutsu if he wasn't watching it. The shards of ice shot in every direction but the Naruto clones shielded everyone.
Naruto created more each time some died and they kept running. It was working for the most part but Naruto was losing energy like crazy and was barely keeping up with the rate of the clones destruction.
After an hour, Naruto couldn't create anymore clones and collapsed from exhaustion. Hinata ran back to him just as more spikes shot out of the tornado. Just before they hit her, Naruto grabbed her and pulled her underwater. Gaara and Matsuri both dove under as well. They swam as fast as they could breaking to breath as far between as they could and as fast as they could. Finally, the tornado caught them and pulled them up. Once they were at the same height as the shards shot from, the tornado sent them flying. Naruto managed to shield Hinata from the landing and Gaara did the same for Matsuri and they crashed down in the water, bouncing three times before smashing under the surface and shooting along for another hundred feet. Finally, they swam to the surface and found themselves a hundred feet from the shore of the Land of Snow. Hinata and Matsuri pulled an unconscious Naruto and Gaara to the shore then into a nearby cave.
"Can you heal them?" Matsuri asked.
"Yes," Hinata said.
Hinata healed Gaara first since he was less severely injured due to the sand helping shield him from the collision. Then she began healing Naruto and found several smashed vertebrae. After an hour she finished healing what she could and let him rest.
"Thank you," Gaara said. "Unfortunately I'm now out of sand."
"I'm sorry," Matsuri said.
"It's not your fault," Gaara said. "I'll just need to get some more and lace it with my chakra."
"Ow," Naruto said sitting up and cracking his back loudly. "Good job healing me Hinata."
"Thank you," Hinata said blushing slightly.
"How long do you think it'll be until the rain stops?" Naruto asked.
"A while," Gaara said using an Earth Style jutsu to crush the floor of the cave into sand. "I suggest you rest."
He laced his chakra with the newly formed sand then filled his gourd with it. He tested the sand by tossing a rock into the air and letting it fall at him and the sand protected him perfectly. He seemed satisfied so he set the gourd down and went to sleep. Naruto grinned and sat against the wall and also blacked out. A couple of hours later, Hinata woke them up to tell them that the rain had stopped.
"Let's go," Naruto said standing and reaching for his swords only to find their scabbards empty. "My swords!"
"I have them," Hinata said. "I picked them up after we landed."
"Oh, thanks," Naruto said.
He put them away then looked around. Gaara was ready and so was Hinata but Matsuri was on the verge of passing out. Naruto created a clone who knelt in front of her.
"He'll carry you so that you can sleep," Naruto said.
"Okay," Matsuri said.
The Naruto clone picked her up piggy back style and they all left the cave heading for Doto's mansion. When they arrived, Naruto stopped. The last time he had been here, he had been chained in a prison cell with a Chakra Negator strapped to his stomach. Then, the mansion had been dark and foreboding. Now, it looked like they had stepped back in time.
"This can't be good," Naruto said.
"Why?" Hinata asked.
"Doto," Naruto said. "Gaara. I'm really glad you're here, but he uses Water Style jutsus."
"I see," Gaara said. "Does he have subordinates?"
"Yes," Naruto said. "Three. they use kunai that cause giant ice thorns to impale anyone not fast enough to dodge them."
"I'll handle them," Gaara said.
"He also has an army of shinobi who are about as skilled as the average jounin," Naruto said.
"On second thought, I'll handle them," Gaara said. "Matsuri, you and Hinata will have to handle the other three. Be careful."
Matsuri nodded and Naruto dashed forward a bit then stopped and summoned two clones. He entered Sage Mode then created a Rasenshuriken and threw it at the mansion. It exploded against the side and part of the tower collapsed. Three ninja began running across the field between them. Naruto was thankful it was Spring because it meant that their enemies wouldn't be able to use as powerful jutsu.
"We'll handle them," Hinata said. "You guys go."
"Okay," Naruto said. "Fair warning, the big guy's got a mechanical hand that he can shoot and has a chord attached so he can retract it. The other guy's good at jutsu and the girl can fly but relies heavily on kunai that can generate ice spikes big enough to wound the Chief Toad."
"Okay," Hinata said.
Naruto and Gaara ran out around the three shinobi and then toward the tower. A train pulled up in front of the breach and the sides opened to reveal hundreds of small holes in each car all of which were angles so that they could hit Naruto and Gaara. There was a seat at the top of each car occupied by a Snow Ninja zombie and there was a mechanism with a crank in front of them.
"The train launches kunai!" Naruto said.
Gaara moved in front of Naruto and the zombies began turning their handles as fast as they could. Kunai began to shoot at Gaara and Naruto and Naruto used clones to cover the sides while Gaara's Absolute Protection protected the front. Once the train had stopped firing, Naruto leapt over Gaara and landed just as the train in front of them fired again. Naruto couldn't dodge them but before he had to try, Sasuke dropped in front of him and slashed a gap in the kunai cloud with his Chidori.
"Naruto," Sasuke said. "Let's go."
"Right," Naruto said.
They ran forward and both threw a kunai with a paper bomb at two different points on the train and when they exploded, the train was flipped over by the concussion. Naruto smiled and they both jumped over the train and into the tower. They climbed through the tower killing zombies until they reached the top where Doto sat in his thrown like he didn't have a care in the world.
"Hello brats," Doto said.
Just then, two Akatsuki members dropped to the ground and drove Chakra Negators into their stomachs. The Chakra Negators activated and electrocuted Sasuke and Naruto who fell to the floor.
"You two are pathetic," Kisame said standing over Naruto.
"I agree," Deidara said.
"You're still alive huh?" Naruto asked. "Good. I'll take fish boy."
"Deal," Sasuke said as he and Naruto stood despite the Chakra Negator electrocuting them.
"Shall we?" Naruto asked.
"Do you need to ask?" Sasuke asked.
They both began to funnel as much chakra into the Chakra Negators as they could and after about one painful minute, the Chakra Negators overloaded and exploded before falling off.
"Now then," Naruto said drawing his swords.
"This will be fun," Sasuke said.
"I agree," Doto said. "I'm going to enjoy the show."
Sasuke and Deidara leapt out of the mansion where they would have more room and Kisame swung at Naruto. Naruto easily blocked it then spun and swung at Kisame's stomach. Kisame jumped back and Naruto chased him. Kisame swung again and Naruto blocked it then shoved it back shredding the bandages. Then he swung at Kisame's head again this time charging his blade with chakra. Kisame blocked it and Samehada absorbed Naruto's chakra and grew. Naruto stopped charging his blade and shoved Kisame's sword away again then stepped back. Samehada was now about as broad as Kisame was tall.
"That's a lot of chakra," Kisame said. "Let's see how you like it shall w-"
He stopped when a chokuto blade sprouted from his face. The Naruto he had been talking to disappeared and the real one removed his sword.
"You should pay better attention," Naruto said.
Sasuke landed on his feet and instantly jumped again just before a hidden land mine exploded.
"Sharingan!" Sasuke said and looked around. He could see the mines so he grinned. "Chidori Senbon!"
He shot Chidori Senbon into all of the mines then landed and smirked up at Deidara who was standing on a clay bird.
"Impressive," Deidara said. "Shall we begin?"
Just then Sasuke's chokuto sprouted from Deidara's chest and Sasuke appeared behind him as the Sasuke Deidara had been seeing thanks to a Genjutsu disappeared.
"Already did," Sasuke said before ripping his sword upward.
He looked back at the mansion to see Naruto had also finished his fight. He joined him and Doto stood clapping.
"Very good," Doto said. "I'm impressed. But now I'm beyond you two."
"I don't think so," Sasuke said entering his curse mark two form.
"Same here," Naruto said entering Sage Mode then smirked at Sasuke. "I'm stronger than you."
"Shut up," Sasuke said.
"My turn," Doto said and cracked his neck then pulled the center of his armor out and replaced it with a pure Gelel Stone.
"Oh shit," Naruto said.
"What?" Sasuke asked.
"That's a Gelel Stone," Naruto said. "You need to go get the girls and Gaara and get out of here. He's right. He's beyond us while he's got that."
"So wasn't Haido," a familiar voice said as Temujin and Itachi landed beside them.
"Temujin!" Naruto said. "Glad you're here. Ready?"
"Yes," Temujin said holding his hand over Naruto's.
Naruto created a Gelel Rasengan and held his out to Sasuke.
"I'll need a Chidori Rasengan too," Naruto said.
Sasuke held his hand over Naruto's and Naruto created the Chidori Rasengan. Then he turned and charged at Doto.
"Nice try," Doto said. "Ice Style, Twin Dragon Blizzard!"
Two huge black dragons erupted from his hands and Naruto used the Gelel Rasengan to blast his way through. Naruto slammed the Chidori Rasengan against the force field Doto's armor had created but just as the shield shattered, the Rasengan disappeared and Doto slammed Naruto back. Naruto landed on his feet and grinned.
"Impressive," Naruto said. "You've upgraded your armor."
"Naruto!" Koyuki said running up the stairs.
"Hey Koyuki," Naruto said. "Almost done here."
"You think so?" Doto asked.
He grinned and his armor exploded off of him. Then his body changed until it was similar to what Haido's had looked like when he had been using the power of a Gelel Stone.
"Still almost done," Naruto said.
The Gelel Stone was imbedded in Doto's chest and it began to glow. Naruto summoned two clones. One charged Doto as a distraction and the other formed a Giant Rasengan. Doto easily destroyed the clone then a blast of energy shot out of the Gelel Stone and blasted everyone in the room out of the mansion except Koyuki. Naruto flipped over and saw that they were falling straight toward an army of zombies. He smashed the Giant Rasengan into one of them and it exploded clearing a space for them to land without being swarmed. Hinata and Matsuri landed beside them and got ready to fight. Naruto created a Rasenshuriken and threw it into the zombies. The rest of the zombies charged and Gaara smashed the first fifteen rows with a huge fist made out of sand. Then Naruto and Hinata moved into the zombies and began to behead them. Matsuri beheaded anyone that tried to get close enough to get to Gaara and after ten minutes, there was only a small number of zombies left. The Zombies began to retreat and Doto blasted the rest of them into tiny pieces.
"Where's Koyuki?" Naruto asked.
"HEEEELP!" Koyuki screamed from above them.
They all looked up and saw that Doto had grown wings and was hovering over them with Koyuki under his arm.
"Now what are you going to do Naruto?" Doto asked.
"Simple," Naruto said then disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"This!" the real Naruto said falling past Doto and pulling Koyuki free before kicking Doto into the ground.
He landed beside the crater and set Koyuki down then turned to see Doto standing and brushing himself off.
"Not bad," Doto said. "Too bad you still can't hurt me."
"Want to find out?" Naruto asked.
"Sure," Doto said. "But looks like your time's up."
Naruto exited Sage Mode and sighed.
"Shall we begin?" Doto asked.
"Give me a couple seconds," Naruto said.
"One...two," Doto said then appeared behind Naruto and smashed him skyward.
Naruto flipped over and smashed his fist into Doto's face but felt his wrist break before Doto flipped over him and smashed him back down into the ground. Naruto created a clone who went a ways away to gather Nature Energy but Doto blasted it before continuing to attack Naruto. He smashed Naruto across the ground and when Naruto stopped he didn't try to stand and began to gather Nature Energy. Doto smashed into his back and Naruto stopped before he could mutate into a frog. Then Doto threw Naruto across the ground again and Gaara caught him.
"Hurry Naruto," Gaara said.
Gaara held his hand up and Sand shot up and surrounded Doto. Before Gaara could blast Doto, however, he blasted the inside of his sand coffin and the sand flew off of him. He charged at Naruto again and Naruto entered Sage mode just in time to duck under his lariat and drove his knee into Doto's chest. Doto flew backward and landed on his feet then sprinted forward. Naruto moved to match him and they punched each other in the face. Both flew backward but Naruto managed to stand while Doto tried but collapsed.
"Impressive," Doto said. "I didn't think you could match me."
"Match?" Naruto asked. "I won."
"Did you?" Doto asked then blasted Naruto.
Naruto landed on his back unconscious and Hinata beheaded Doto before running over to Naruto. She began healing him and after a moment he was mostly healed but the blast had severely weakened his skeletal system resulting in him barely being able to move without breaking a bone.
"What do we do?" Hinata asked.
"I don't know," Naruto said.
"I do," Koyuki said walking over and handing Hinata a bottle of liquid. "This is called a panacea. It can heal any illness but not any injury. Last I heard, there was a shinobi that attacked the Hidden Leaf that was able to control his skeletal system at will."
"Kimimaro," Gaara said. "I fought him. He died."
"You can still get his DNA though," Koyuki said. "Then Lady Tsunade can merge it with his own. And if she can't-"
"Koyuki," Naruto said then shook his head.
"What?" Hinata asked.
"It's nothing," Naruto said. "We need to get going. Tsunade should know where Kimimaro was dumped."
Hinata picked Naruto up and Gaara retrieved his swords. Then they all began heading home with Matsuri carrying Koyuki.
THE END
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