A/N: This is my first try as an author so bear with me. English isn't my first language so don't hesitate to pm me with any fault you find, I am always eager to learn.
According to the reviews, there are some concerns about Naruto "only" mastering one elemental family of ninjutsu. I kinda expected that reaction after his difficulties to win against the water type Suigetsu in the previous chapter. Unfortunately, learning a new affinity is not an option for several reasons.
First, as the title of the story suggest, the point is to make him strong with only wind. It's kinda like Rock Lee and his goal to prove himself through taijutsu (even if he cannot do anything else due to his undeveloped chakra coils). I think I showed that with a bit of imagination, anything is possible with that particular element. It would be a nice challenge to do so with the other elements :)
Second point is that the story is now nearing its end, I don't think another training arc is expected at this point. Would be repetitive to you and to me, we have everything in place to properly conclude. This doesn't prevent me from bringing out new wind-based moves into Naruto's fights, the ice one from the previous chapter was pretty nicely received.
Got over the 800 reviews and 800 favorites with the previous chapter. Thanks for all the reviews, regular or occasional alike, this is a great source of motivation to know that my first attempt at writing a fanfiction went this far without me or you guys giving up on it half way.
Anyway, welcome to the next chapter of Kaze No Kami.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any other manga for that matter.
Chapter 55 : Bloody Rain
Amegakure, Center of the City
The ground shook as Naruto's blade was blocked by Sasuke's Susanoo, only a second before it could reach the pillar of ice that contained Suigetsu's body. Apparently the Otokage deemed his swordsman as someone he didn't want to lose. This actually surprised Naruto even more than the Uchiha blocking his sword.
Naruto suddenly felt a disturbance in the surface below his feet, as if someone was trying to attack him from there. Thanks to his superior reflexes and speed, he managed to avoid a chakra scalpel attack by Kabuto. The Second in command went underground in order to surprise the blond, unfortunately for him, Naruto was by far faster than any of them.
As he leaped backwards, keeping his distance from the dangerous leaders of Otogakure, Naruto felt a presence behind him. It was Sakura this time that tried her chance against him. Despite her lack of speed, the power she packed behind those punch of hers was not to be underestimated. Naruto knew that she was Tsunade's former apprentice, he immediately moved away and deflected her punch aside before jumping away towards a distant Hiraishin marker.
"Well, it looks like the party is over." He said as he reappeared after the flash.
Naruto closed his eyes, took a deep breath and then summoned one more Hiraishin marker. He slowly opened his eyes and quickly threw the kunai towards his closest opponent, Sakura. The kunoichi could not even blink, as he instantly appeared in front of her and knocked her out with a powerful punch to her stomach. She fell down to her knees, holding her stomach in pain before she lost consciousness. Her body simply laid there, on the wet ground as the rain continued to fall down all around the area.
The blond didn't spare her a second look as he caught his kunai mid-air, took her down and then went to his second target without looking back. He tried to repeat the process, targeting Kabuto this time. The Second in command saw him take Sakura down and prepared himself for the incoming attack. As Naruto's kunai approached from his position, Kabuto went through his own hand signs and used a low level wind jutsu to knock it away from him.
"Do you really think so lowly of me, you would try the same attack pattern against me that you just used against Sakura ?" Kabuto said with a smirk. He was surprised however, when he realized that he couldn't locate his opponent anywhere. Naruto did vanish after he launched the kunai, but he didn't flash to its new position, after Kabuto had pushed it away. Kabuto was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts, as he heard Sasuke screaming at him from far away.
The Otokage had seen the entire scene, Naruto did throw the kunai, but he never used his Hiraishin movement jutsu. He simply disappeared afterward, most likely using his unique genjutsu that even the Sharingan could not detect, under normal circumstances. Sasuke was the only one who could notice the discrete disturbance in the flow of the rain, right between Kabuto and Naruto as the later was stealthily advancing towards his unsuspecting target. Unfortunately, he was too late to warn Kabuto as he saw that Naruto already in striking range.
Naruto had indeed predicted that Kabuto wouldn't fall for the same trick he had previously used against Sakura. Consequently, he opted for a genjutsu approach instead, knowing that Sasuke was the only one on the battlefield who could trace his movements while he was hiding behind the Kyouka Suigetsu perfect hypnosis technique.
Kabuto had just finished his taunting attempt, yet failed to realize that Naruto was already in front of him. The silver haired medic was still smirking at his apparent success in preventing Naruto from getting closer to him, when he suddenly felt an excruciating pain spreading all over his body.
The wind violently picked up around him and his glasses were shattered. Naruto then slowly appeared out of thin air, just right behind him with his right hand extended and holding a katana whose blade was dripping with blood. Not even a split second later, a large and deep cut appeared over Kabuto's upper body, with his blood gushing out of there.
Naruto knew of his opponent's ability to regenerate his damaged cells, allowing him to prepare his body against such injuries. The blond made sure Kabuto wasn't expecting the hit, preventing the high speed regeneration jutsu to kick in.
Same as with Sakura, Kabuto fell to the ground and laid there unconscious and seriously injured as Naruto mercilessly moved on to his next target.
The many Oto shinobi that were still observing the scene had yet to move after witnessing Sakura being defeated by Naruto. After Kabuto fell however, they all suddenly reacted and groups of Oto jonin started to run towards the blond assaulter.
Naruto could feel them getting closer, so his hands flashed through hand signs again.
"Futon : Hakugei !" He yelled as a wind breeze left his hands and moved towards the groups of Oto jonin advancing towards his position.
Sasuke's eyes widened as he instantly recognized the jutsu that Naruto had just used against his troops. It was exactly the same one that the blond had launched, the last time they met here in Amegakure. The wind would first wash over his troops and most of them would inhale it, then Naruto would somehow take control of that wind and forcibly expel it out of their bodies, killing them all in the process. Without losing any additional time, Sasuke also went through hand signs.
"Katon : Gokakyu no Jutsu !" The Uchiha shouted, as a giant fireball left his mouth and flew between Naruto's technique and the group of jonin. The two jutsu collided and a huge flash was the result of it. Sasuke smirked, as he saw his fireball burning away Naruto's wind just before it could reach his men. Said shinobi had to stop their advance, as the collision from both jutsu created a burning hell in their path.
"Don't think I'll let you do as you please inside my city, Dobe. I've already seen that jutsu of yours once, so I won't let you use it again on my shinobi." Sasuke proudly said to Naruto.
The blond frowned for a second, thinking about his failed attempt to take out his enemies. He didn't really care about Sasuke's remark; it was more about correcting a flaw in his newest technique that preoccupied him. His doubts quickly vanished though, as he smirked again and spoke to Sasuke.
"Not bad, Sasuke. That was not bad at all, considering you only witnessed it once. I was genuinely surprised when you managed to counter my newest creation, however, I'd like to see you block this one now." Naruto replied as he started a new sequence of hand signs.
"Futon : Hakuryu !" Naruto yelled as he finished a slightly longer series of hand signs. This time, Sasuke was the one surprised as wind chakra rushed out of Naruto's hands again. However, instead of the linear and relatively slow breeze, came out a dragon shaped wind gust that took quick and random turns in the air before reaching its intended target.
Sasuke's men had yet to react, not being able to detect the mass of highly condensed wind chakra moving towards them in a complete random pattern. The Otokage was the only one with the eyes needed to see that flow of chakra, inexorably making its way to his unsuspecting men. They would inhale it without second thoughts, leading them to their deaths.
"Move back you ignorant fools, he's going to kill every last one of you !" Yelled the Otokage as his men continued to charge towards Naruto, unaware of the death trap set right in front of them.
By the time they could finally hear his warning, it was already too late as Naruto's jutsu hit them dead on. What followed was a scene that would forever haunt those that witnessed it. From the group of roughly fifty jonin that were charging against Naruto, every last one of them died, with their lungs or hearts exploding from within their chest cavities.
For a short moment, those who didn't have the courage to charge against Naruto witnessed what would cause that battle to later be recalled as the Battle of the Raining Blood.
"Now, where were we ..." Naruto said as he started to move again in Sasuke's direction. Seeing no other choice, Sasuke decided to use his trump card and cast the Kotoamatsukami against Naruto. He channeled chakra through his eyes and with the EMS activated he tried to launch his jutsu against the approaching blond.
Unfortunately for him, Naruto had once again anticipated his reaction and had both his eyes closed.
"You do know that I was in that room with you, right ? When you used that doujutsu of yours to turn those guys into your loyal zombie servants." Naruto said as he continued to advance, his eyes still closed.
"I don't need my eyes to defeat you." Naruto said. The blond knew his ultimate form would allow him to feel every movement made by his opponent. The raven haired leader was starting to feel a foreign feeling at the sight of the blond marching up to him, absolute fear. He had yet to move from his spot, still stunned by Naruto's announcement.
Said blond suddenly stopped though, still half way from reaching Sasuke. He turned his head back, open his eyes and without a second thought disappeared in a white flash.
Remote building, With Konan
Naruto reappeared right beside Konan, who was watching his battle from a safe distance. He saw the Hiraishin marker he gave her before the mission, strongly implanted into the ground, but she, on the other hand, looked absolutely fine.
"Are you alright, Konan ? Why did you summon me ?" Naruto asked, trying to not sound too angered by the fact that he was just pulled away from giving Sasuke the beating of his life.
"Look around, Naruto, we need to immediately move out." Konan replied without looking back at him.
Naruto did as the kunoichi told him, he saw large numbers of Oto shinobi getting inside the city. They came from every direction, most likely alarmed by the huge pillar of ice that stood right in the middle of their city.
"Thanks for warning me, I was so focused on Sasuke and the others that I almost forgot about our mission. Where is Kurenai-sensei though ?" Naruto said with a smile for his adopted sister.
"She went ahead of us, now come, let's get out of here while we safely can. I'll explain everything to you on our way out." Konan replied as they moved back to the building they came from, when they infiltrated the city through the sewers.
"Let's pick up the pace, she left more than one hour ago. Well, she should be slowed down a bit by the package she's carrying." Konan said, as they left the surface of Ame and went back into the sewers.
"What package ? Why did she leave before us ?" Naruto asked as he followed behind Konan.
"I'm not quite sure myself ..."
Amegakure, With Sasuke
Sasuke understood why Naruto suddenly left, as reinforcements arrived all over the area. Karin, Guren, Kimimaro and Juugo were back from their previous assignments and brought troops with them from the front lines.
He seethed in anger as he looked around, his city was in ruin again and Naruto alone was the cause of that. He knew he still lacked the proper power in order to defeat the blond, even if they didn't actually got to fight each other.
Kimimaro and Juugo rushed to Sakura's position and took her body with them to the hospital. Karin went to Kabuto and tried to heal him with her unique bloodline. Guren was quite neutral to all this, she was working with them only because they had Yukimaru in custody.
Sasuke sighed as he started to use Katon chakra in order to melt the giant ice structure that Naruto and his dragon summon had created during their battle. Suigetsu would most likely be injured but nothing life threatening, his pride though, would take a serious hit for sure.
Once done, the Otokage made his way back to the Kage Tower, thinking about ways to get stronger.
River Country – One Week Later
Naruto's group was now resting in River Country. Konan and Kurenai were currently resting in their own rooms in a hotel while Naruto went to discuss with Gaara.
True to what he heard during his spying mission in Ame, Gaara had conquered this nation back with what were supposedly only hit and run assaults. The Kazekage told Naruto that he fought against Oto shinobi under the command of a young red haired woman, wearing glasses. She apparently had little to no experience in leading troops to war and he took advantage of that, managing to break through their defensive lines and forcing them to fall back towards Ame.
After their arrival, Naruto learned from Kurenai that Itachi and Danzo were Sasuke's prisoners. He also learned that she managed to sneak out a boy they kept there, in an artificial coma for whatever twisted reason she didn't know, but they would try to discover it, as soon as possible. Tsunade's expertise might be needed though, as the boy had yet to regain consciousness.
Then, Konan told him about the Hero's Water, and how they were increasing their army's power. Finally, Naruto told them about Sasuke's brainwashing jutsu and his fight against the Uchiha and his lieutenants Kabuto and Sakura.
"I see, that's most disturbing. Sasuke Uchiha managed to do all those things while we were trying to repel his armies." Gaara said after Naruto gave him the information about his spying mission.
"Yes, and he's definitely stronger than before. I didn't encounter any Akatsuki member during that mission though, we have unfortunately no idea what the last two members of that group are up to." Naruto replied.
"Anyway, good job on your mission. Kurotsuchi will arrive soon enough and we'll set out for Konoha immediately after her arrival. There are lots of things we need to discuss with the other members of the Alliance." Gaara said.
"Oh it's Kurotsuchi now ? Whatever happened to Tsuchikage-dono, a bit familiar, aren't we ?" Naruto said with a smirk, not missing Gaara's embarrassed expression when he spoke.
"I-I don't see what you're talking about. This meeting is adjourned until Kuro- Tsuchikage-dono arrives." Gaara replied as he stood up and left the meeting room without looking back.
Naruto smiled at his red head friend's reaction, he couldn't help but think that Gaara had the worse luck, with his bijuu being a crazy uncooperative one. Maybe this new development was the start of something good for once in Gaara's life.
Thinking about Gaara's bijuu, Naruto realized how he missed Natsuki. They had to leave in such a hurry once Otogakure's invasion was announced that he couldn't properly say goodbye to his girlfriend. This also made him remember Bee and Yugito, he wondered how those two were doing on their end.
Konoha – Hokage Office
Tsunade was sitting behind her desk, a glass of sake in her hand. She had a huge stack of paperwork to do but didn't care so much about it. She was dead worried about Naruto and his infiltration mission in Amegakure. Gaara had sent her an update, saying that Naruto came in Suna with Konan and Kurenai and then left for Ame to complete his mission but since then nothing. She was pulled out of her thoughts by the arrival of Shizune in her office.
"Tsunade-sama, the Mizukage and Raikage have arrived with their escorts. They request a meeting with you immediately." The brunette reported to her master.
"Fine, bring them to my office. Also summon Natsuki to my office, she will be needed for that meeting too." Tsunade replied.
Shizune left immediately, not wanting to make two Kage waiting for her.
A/N : What do you think ?
The end of the spying mission with some Naruto versus Sasuke and his staff. How was the fight ? I know I may have made them too weak against Naruto but this was a necessity for one last thing I have in store before the final battle can start.
What is Akatsuki and Tobi/Madara up to ? Where the hell is Zetsu ?
Read the next issue to find out ...
Next time, the last Kage meeting before the final clash and some reunion with characters that were a bit left out up until now.
As usual please Read and Review.
New Jutsu :
Futon : Hakuryu , translates as the White Dragon. Upgraded version of the Futon : Hakugei. Instead of the large and unrefined mass of wind that slowly flies towards his enemies, Naruto uses a faster and controlled dragon shaped form. Other than that, same principle than the regular version, sends out highly charged wind chakra gust that is inhaled by the target(s) and control it to explode inside the target's body.