Disclaimer: I do not own anything Naruto or Zelda that is mentioned in this plotline. All I own are original characters, items/weapons/jutsu/ect.
Chapter Fifteen
The door closed shut, and rushing past was a mob of those cleaver-wielding goblins. They weren't bright in the mind... They had managed to get to the other side of the airship, where it was not submerged. They had split up from the guys, whom were going to find their way to the wheel house. This mission, which had officially booted up to A-Rank, to a possible S-Rank, was still an Information Gathering/Investigation.
"Now what? These monsters litter this airship..."
"Must have been traps set by that weirdo," Kin muttered.
Kakashi and the boys haven't had better luck. They ran into the same mutant seafood monster that Hinata and Naruto encountered in the half submerged mess hall.
ROAR!
Okay... make that two mutant seafood monsters... however dangerous they looked like, their one main weakness was fire, which Kakashi discovered when he launched Katon: Housenka no jutsu. Attacking seafood squid-looking things made Kakashi wish to steer away from sushi if this mission ever ended.
"What were those things? Never seen a squid like that..."
And the way they died... Kakashi knew that somehow, the two dark shadows they saw earlier were connected to the sudden strange happenings. With stealth on their part, and Shino's bugs released as detector bugs, they found the door which led, not to the wheel house, but rather the storage area where most of the ingots of that ore had been previously stored before the supply was stolen.
"This is the storage facility I would guess..."
As the trio headed inside, Shino tensed up.
"It's a trap."
The doors slammed shut and locked, as a dark laugh echoed within the storage room.
"How very observant, Aburame," said the voice, as his shadow appeared. Suddenly the shadow fired a hook shot, and the three had dodged it, as Kakashi released some shuriken he had on hand. The shadow blocked them with some sort of device on his right forearm, as a clink sound echoed when metal struck metal.
"Foolish Hatake... you and the others may be second prizes for us, but the true prize I and my partner are after is the heads of the Hero and the Princess... and Midna as an added bonus."
Then he stepped into the light, when he had snapped his fingers, flooding the storage room with power. Although some overhead lights were broken, or few flickered, under the flickering spotlight...
Kakashi gasped.
"Gouzu? I thought you were dead or rotting in prison..."
The man smiled. Although he looked the same he now sported Zant's armor that protected the top half of his body, neck, and his head gear was still in place but now just add fish fins that resembled a Zora, and the mechanical device on his right forearm resembled a mole's paw, just made of sharp metal claws. His eyes however glowed the opposite color of what they were. To cover his lower face, the scuba gear was now the lower half of Lansing's mask. Oh, and for his bare arm, it was now larger, thicker, and resembled a small gorilla arm.
"My name is not Gouzu anymore... reborn, I am now Zugou."
Meanwhile, Kurenai and the girls had a similar encounter with the other brother. Zugou and Zumei looked almost like identical brothers; however Zumei, the one Kurenai and the girls encountered, wore his gauntlet on the left arm, and add more shark traits to the top body armor around the shoulders, and headgear with sharp bull horns.
"Though... I am not surprised you have heard of us, possibly from Hatake Kakashi," Zumei sneered.
"Yes... you THOUGHT we were captured by ANBU, but he had escaped and ever since then..."
"We work for the Twilight King," they tell Kurenai/Kakashi, "And the Hero and Princess are heading deeper into our trap beyond the sealed mess hall." And the two vanished in a swirl of twilight. Both parties had to abandon their previous investigation and now race to find Naruto and Hinata before it was too late... though it already was.
=0=0=
Meanwhile, in the darkness, Hinata and Naruto held each other's hands tightly. Naruto wielded his sword, but he had lent his shield to Hinata to hold in defense. She stayed close to him, while Naruto kept a protective stance around the girl he cared deeply for. It was very tough navigating the darkness, and already they were suffering from minor attacks such as rabid rats, for a strange thing... and once or twice they had to deal with a hidden sword wielding fugly goblin creature. Before they could go on any further, they had suddenly fallen down a shaft, screaming as Naruto tried his Clawshot... nothing to grapple. They fell and fell until they struck water. They were in the submerged portion of the airship. This was Basement Floor 1.
"It would appear this airship's bigger than it looks," Midna speaks up.
"We need to get ou of this water and fast," Naruto said, as began to swim to the metal land island. Hinata followed. Thankfully, Midna was smart enough to zap the sword and shield into her dimensional pocket. The two humans had gotten onto the broken generator hub which was used like a boat. She said nothing but get a bit of a jealous glare in her eyes as Hinata snuggled up next to Naruto.
"We're stuck down here... but Midna could bail us out of here, but then that would leave behind our other team mates and senseis."
Hinata nodded softly.
"Say, where did you learn that fire jutsu of yours?"
"Well... it was during your small training regimen with Sanosuke-san when he was in the village..."
"Ai for protection, Hi for attack... it was powerful enough, the way you used that technique."
That smile of his lit Hinata's face, and also brought comforting warmth inside of her.
"Hinata-" He was cut off by her lips, as she boldly kissed him. Naruto closed his eyes, and moved his arms around her hips, and she pressed herself closer, as the two continued to make out.
"Naruto-kun," she began to say, once they had parted lips, "I... I never got to thank you... on that day, when Mizuki-teme tried to kill me killing you."
Naruto raised his eyebrows at the one swear she used. Why was that so arousing to him? Midna paid no attention to them, but she was feeling jealous. Of course she was berating herself that even though Naruto was Link's reincarnation, that boy had a pure heart. He could love one girl, and love another in the same way... that... that charm of his... so addicting... so far Naruto had kissed her, Kin, and now Hinata. Well, actually, they all in a way made the first move for a kiss from their blonde-haired, green-dressed hero. And Naruto... he would smile that charm of his, and you could clearly see no deception in his cerulean eyes... no, nothing but warmth, comfort...
//FLASHBACK//
Who... who was that?
Him... he is the one who did this to me... that's the man I told you about.
And then the Twilight King descended upon Naruto, and Midna was unable to stop him because she did not have any protection against this light world.
//END FLASHBACK//
When he attacked the first time... she had saw through Naruto's eyes the Twilight King, the last person he saw before her incarceration. The conversation that came during his unconscious state...
//FLASHBACK//
"He was the one who attacked you?"
She nodded. "Yes... he was..."
"What do you know of him?"
"Well, other than being a Twili like myself, with the way he appeared and vanished... nothing much. All I know was that he felt so dark... so evil... if only Link was here..."
"Link... oh, right... my ancestor..."
"Yes... he was so brave, and strong... a true hero. He saved not only Hyrule, but my kingdom as well, the World of Twilight."
She frowned. Remembering the painful memories of her departure... she was unable to say those three words... before she shattered the Mirror of Twilight for good. She opened her eyes when she felt someone hug her. It was Naruto.
"I saw this shared between family members, or for a person who needed comfort... you look like you needed comfort."
She clutched his shirt tightly in her small hands.
I... I loved Link... but its centuries too late for him to know...
//END FLASHBACK//
She opened her eyes. Yes, she loved Link. She loved him dearly. But now... it was safe for her to move on... however so, she still had that one fear... even if she was falling in love with Naruto, this relationship would not last... not forever... no, a tragic love story such a this would only end in heart break, when she will be, one day, forced to leave this world... yet again. The silent moments between Hero and Princess, and the Twilight Princess is interrupted by a loud splash. Naruto and Hinata blushed, as their teenaged hormones had almost made them cross that one barrier. Hinata fixed the shorts she wore, but whimpered a bit as his soft touches felt so good, and Naruto... he had to deal with that boner he got feeling the girl up.
Midna noticed the light redness on their cheeks, but said nothing because they had to shield themselves from a surge of water that came down on them. That greeted them... was another one of those mutant seafood monsters. Only this one was wrapped in this weird seaweed-like coat of skin. It looked like a giant eel of all things, with lobster claws for its four tentacles that lined the wide bulldog-like jaw and an angler fish head, with spiny fins lining down the head and down its entire length. Naruto had once read a report on Sarutobi's desk when he was little, about this man named Orochimaru who had fled the village when he was discovered experimenting on human and animal life. Seeing this mutant freak made him think of Orochimaru... if these were any of his experiences gone rouge. Then again, like that squid-like thing, it was one of those shadow creatures...
Oh yeah, and did I forget to mention that this thing kept trying to knock him out of the air? Naruto was during his internal thoughts flying around with the Double Clawshots, latching onto the metal grating-covered ceiling. Midna clung to him, and she had a hold of Hinata with her ponytail, who was releasing the only fire technique she knew of. Proved an effective weakness, but this thing was tougher than the mutant jellyfish. Naruto got knocked down by what looked like a large blue snot ball-looking projectile, but he had quickly grappled another grate, and flew away from the thing before Hinata and he had landed on another floating table. The beast came at them however.
"Good as time as any..." He shifted through several hand signs, "take this! Fuuton: Rasengufuu!"
He suddenly spun around and around, sword extended out as a whirlwind wrapped around him. He went flying towards the creature, and it screeches as the blade slices through several times of the surprisingly thick skin before the spin stopped and Naruto was sent falling. He however fires the Clawshot and reeled himself to the ceiling, where he then made his way back to Hinata.
"Damn... still a bit dizzy..." Naruto isn't really much of a wind user, which would explain the slight dizzy spell. Hinata shielded them from an Electrical Breath the enraged beast expelled with Hinata no Ai. Just where is Samus Aran when you need her, eh? The trio knew that it had to be glaring at them, even though where the eyes would normally be, were instead spikes for eyeballs. The creature roared before it dove back into the water, and vanished. They heard the screech of a metal door slowly opening behind them.
"Hinata-chan, you okay?"
"Yeah, are you? You're not hurt, right?"
Naruto shook his head. "I'm alright, Hinata-chan..."
They turned around to face the barely lit corridor. This time, Hinata decided to unseal her Short Iron Sword she had. Naruto was armed with the Master Sword and the Konoha Shield. Midna finally put her hidden weapon to use, taking off the horns of her helmet and snapped them to make the boomerang. They had no choice but to travel down this passage, waist-deep in murky water.
"I need a bath when we get out of this damn mess," Hinata suddenly said, causing Naruto to stare at her. She blushed a bit.
"What? I can swear if I wish to..."
"Please... never hide your true self, Hina-hime."
She blushed even more, and Midna rolled her eyes. "Well... maybe I can teach her a few things..." Midna then gained a wicked gleam in her eyes.
In heaven, Link sneezed. "Uh oh... something is disturbing the force."
Midna before was a sassy girl, and if Hinata becomes the same...
Thankfully, all things returned to normal when Naruto spoke up. "Good offer, but if her confidence is at my level, she can be a great fighter on her own."
Midna pouts, but agreed. After all, she does bear the Triforce of Wisdom, and a part of Wisdom is confidence in oneself. Anyway, while Midna stayed well dry thanks to her magic, the two in waist-deep water had to traverse onward through the tunnel, at one point almost slipping into a hole that led right into the ocean itself.
"Kuso!"
The door was thick, and would not budge. Kakashi and Kurenai were unable to get past the door, which the name plate near it read MESS HALL (in katakana of course).
"Kuso! It won't budge!"
Naruto and Hinata were trapped beyond this door, and yes, there could be other ways to get into the room, however if those ways are flooded, then taking a dive into the water where it's possible there are no air pockets... that was just suicidal.
"We should call for back-up. This is definitely become an S-Rank Mission," Kurenai told Kakashi.
He growled. He may have failed, but there was no way in hell he would fail Minato. He knew that Naruto was Minato's son. Damn it he was there when it happened, when Minato fallen after defeating the kitsune and all that was left of Minato was the flesh and blood that is his offspring...
Don't worry Naruto... I will not lose you... I may have failed to protect Sasuke, but I won't fail you... fail your father... my sensei... "We'll leave and contact ANBU... and alert Lady Hokage."
They left together, leaving behind the ship. Outside the storm had stopped, but the storm clouds were still lingering. The water was calm enough for them to get across, the Jounin of course helping the Genin. They had no choice but to return to the village for back-up.
A pair of yellow eyes watched from the darkness, before those same eyes vanished. Meanwhile, inside the wrecked Valhalla, Naruto had pulled Hinata up onto a set of stairs; thankfully they were now out of the water. Those damn fish kept biting at them, and each school they killed, a minute later another would appear out of no where to try and feed on them. Wherever they were... the staircase they climbed took them to the outside. Finally, some damn fresh air and light.
"About damn time... fresh air..."
Hinata smiled wearily, as she too was glad. Midna decided to cut it loose and stayed within Naruto's shadow where it was safer. However, things just went from bad to worse. The door behind them sealed shut... Naruto turned around and tried to open the door, but there was no handle on the outside. This apparently was one of those one-way exits... or the handle was broken off so no one could get back inside. From where they were... they ended up on the outdoor front deck just to the front of the airship. The floor itself may be in a slight slope, but it gave off the impression of a battlefield. A clap of thunder broke the silence, and brought a chill in the air, as a mist slowly began to cloud around.
"Kirigakure no jutsu?"
"Heh... so, the Hero and the Princess... we have you all to ourselves now!"
Stepping forth from the fog was...
"Zugou! Zumei!"
The two brothers held dark glares in their glowing eyes. Even with the fog, the thunder rumbled high above their heads, as the mist now just trailed along the ground with the coming of another rainstorm clearing the air. One brother closed his meaty hand tightly.
"There is no one who can save you now. You see... the outer armor of the airship is made with a chakra-resistant metal, so shinobi can't use chakra to stick to the outside surface. Inside is a different story... so no one can save you both now!"
The storm began to grow once more, as the winds begin to beat down upon all four combatants.
Twilit Kiritaicho: Zugou and Zumei
"Time to die!"
The two brothers each went to their own target. Zugou attacked Naruto, and Zumei attacked Hinata. Both prep their swords and block the slashes from the long pronged claws that made-up the mecha gauntlets. They rolled into a back flip, before launching themselves at their enemy, not noticing that their marks glowed softly. Each brother combat against their chosen opponent in their own way: Hinata's enemy went in for speed purposes, while Naruto's opponent used the strength method.
"C'mere!" Zumei shouts, releasing a Hookshot... which came from his uncovered hand. The chain wasn't chain, but... was that bone material? The spike at the end almost pierced her in the chest, had she not simply gone Matrix by bending back, and letting it sail inches past her face. She got a good look at her opponent, and Naruto noticed the same thing when Zugou released his Hookshot attack: their arms became skinny, as if being pulled through a tiny tube or something. But when the bony Hookshot retracted back into their hand, where there was an odd-looking pair of lips with fanged teeth in the palm, the arm reverted back to normal.
Before they could think of something, they were once again pushed back into the defensive.
"Screw this!" Naruto dodged, and threw a Senbon into his opponent's right eye. This caused enough of a painful distraction for him to switch out for the Chakra Grapple in his left hand, and in his right hand, he unfurls Kagura. He grapples Hinata and reels her right into his arm, holding her closely while jumping back. Once landing, he swung his fan, releasing several cutters that bombarded them. They weren't as effective as the Kinzokuton-type jutsu, but it was useful...
"Suiton: Suiryuudan no jutsu!" They launched the water dragons at the couple, but Hinata took a page out of her cousin's books, and just did then without even thinking.
"Hinata no Ai: Kaiten!" She spun as Naruto dropped to avoid getting hit, expelling the force behind the technique. The dragons were sent flying elsewhere where they crashed back into their attackers. Dropping the protective aura shield, Naruto held the fan in a near feminine pose.
"Fuujin no Mai (Dance of the Blade)!" He released a storm of cutters this time around. Both blocked and fired their bony Hookshots again, but Naruto this time spun his Chakra Grapple, lassoing the two spine-looking chains. He gives a forced tug, reeling them towards him before dropping flat to the ground. Hinata at this time swings her sword, and cuts into them both, spilling blood. Naruto flips back up to his feet and dragging out the sword while the fan is caught by Hinata, swings, slashing them as well. The whip at this time releases the spines, and the bone was reeled back into their mutated arms.
Both are sent back, but then get up once again. This time, they focus on Naruto, who counters with Gokumonken. They jump back again, as this time another interruption comes in the form of that serpentine-looking creature with the spike eyes. Both brothers let off dark auras, as thunder roared in the skies followed after the dangerous flash of lightning. The creature roars at them, seemingly stirring up the wind itself. Naruto and Hinata regroup as far as they could from their potential enemies. Both brothers jump onto the creature from the sea, and they begin to fuse into the thing, their bodies absorbed halfway from those thick spikes the monster calls eyes.
Twilit Umikaijuu: Goumei
With the brothers now fused by the waistline where the spike eyes once were, this creature roars and fires a ball of electricity at them. He shoves Hinata to the side and shields himself with the Konoha Shield. The creature roars, as Zugou's body seemed to now animate as if on strings, and slashed his claws, releasing a claw-shaped energy wave. Naruto back flips as it create its mark in the metal floor.
"Damn," he muttered.
Naruto! Look out! Midna calls, just as Naruto was struck in the side by Zumei's Bone Hookshot. Naruto cursed as he backed away, and the creature lunged, trying to snap its jaws at him. He was out of its distance however, but before it reeled back, it expelled another sphere of thunder; one blocked by Hinata's Hinata no Ai.
"Thanks, Hina-hime," he says with a smile, pained however due to the injury he just suffered from.
"I don't have many jutsus to use from, but we need to survive."
"Hai."
Both faced off their enemy. The sea creature roars and lifting its fish-like head back, exhales what looked like goops of snot. The balls of snot landed in haphazard formations, before the hatched, and out come small tadpole-looking fish. In fact, they were the piranha that kept nipping at them, but now they had land legs. Slithering like lizards, their razor teeth wanted their flesh, but Hinata simply used Hinata no Hi, though a bit weakened form the rain. It did its job however burning to death the offspring it coughed up.
Naruto then got a crazy idea. When it lunged at him when he got close once more, this time he uses the Chakra Grapple, and lassoed the angel bulb-like appendage. The chakra fused with the glowing bulb coming from the antenna, and the creature screeched as he was reeled back, and sent flying. He kept a good grip until he was not on the creature's back. He rushed up, having released his hold, and prepared his sword.
Hasakikinan, Naruto though, piercing Zugou in the back, out the chest, and then with enough chakra channeled, rips the blade up, through the right shoulder. He spun, cutting the head off. The sea creature seemed to screech in pain, and Zumei grappled Naruto with the Bone Hookshot, and flung him away. Naruto caught the railing before he could fall into the ocean below, and reeled himself up and over. The thing was mad, as Zugou's corpse remained there, spilling blood. Zumei, having lost a brother in arms, screamed as the aura returned. This time, it had a red tint to it as his hands trailed through three dozen hand signs.
"Suiton: Kuraioji-nikusu (Water Release: Cryogenics)!" A tsunami formed behind the sea monster, as Zumei's insane laugh reached them, before the deafening flow of the icy water, frothed with snow of all things, washed over the wrecked Valhalla. Naruto had the smarts to use one of the Clawshots to hang onto the railing, and gripped Hinata as tight as possible, her gripping his waist. It was their only saving grace from a watery grave. The icy Suiton jutsu however had chilled them down, and they were shivering. Perfect setting, due to the storm, for hypothermia to set in. Midna formed before the two shivering teenagers, and she cried out as she willed her magic, calling forth the twili magic and strikes down Zumei, her hair having lengthened to the point of spears. One impales him in the heart, neck, and the brain. The magic that coated her hair had burned away any liquid caught as her hair receded back.
"Naruto-kun! Hinata! Get up now!" she yelled, as the sea monster, with both its fused occupants dead, roared with anger, and lunges at her. Her hair takes on its hand shape again, and she grabs it. She grunted, holding it in place, long enough for a somewhat exhausted Naruto to initiate a strike. He sliced the antennae, making a cut in the stalk. Then, switching for the Kubikiri Hocho, spun around before slamming the blade down. Morigari no Kanketsusen. A force of chakra rushed upward like a geyser, cracking the skull. Naruto was jolted of as Midna lost her grip. The thing reeled back, and then attempts a dive at them. It is impaled by the giant sword... and grabbed around its neck by Midna, who applied a crushing force.
The thing cried out with the last bit of life force it held, before slumping free, the sword yanked form the head as it went over the edge, creating a large spray of water. The thing exploded into ash, and miscellaneous lifeforms of seafood and mutilated fish guts and whatnot. It was like pureed soup, almost... and flying into the air, and hitting Naruto in the head were the two gauntlets the brothers once wore.
"Ow..." He collapsed onto his back, seeing some stars from the hard hit by metal to skull. He didn't pass out, but he was damn close to.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata grunted, as she moved up to the boy, and held onto him, helping him sit upright. Midna floated over, as the storm clouds started to go away. In the distance was the setting sun, finally revealed. The skies were painted with the colors of light fading to darkness.
"You okay?"
"Yeah... head hurts though..."
Midna grabs the gauntlets with her hair, and looks at it.
"These things flew from that sea monster we just killed, and we had also defeated Zumei and Zugou."
Naruto smiled a bit, as he gathered his weapons, and sealed them away again. He didn't have a spare scroll for the new item he acquired...
[Naruto obtains the Mole Gauntlets. Originally Kiri-based weapons tipped with poison, these things now morphed into a different form could be used to burrow out of traps or through soft clays and earth.]
Midna floated a bit away, and then created a portal. "Let's get out of here... we still need to find your team mates and your senseis."
"True..."
Naruto got up, using the Master Sword as a crutch. Hinata wrapped her arms around Naruto as the two stepped onto the portal formed in the ground. Midna vanished, and they too disappeared into pixels of twilight. The portal took them to the beachside, as they turned around, and watched as the Valhalla was lost to the sea, sinking into the murky depths.
"Oh no... I hope they made it out..."
Hinata used her Byakugan, and looked at the slowly sinking depths. Other than wildlife, no immediate chakra signatures detected. "Hey, I found something..." Over at a tree, where Midna was at, was a kanji for "Mission Back-up". They had escaped, and had gone back to the village for backup.
"So... they left, thinking we were in trouble..."
"We should head back to the village though."
They heard a snort, and saw Epona standing a bit aways, under an apple tree. Apparently, she did not leave for home, but merely stuck around the area. Naruto knew she was a smart horse; at least they didn't have to walk away. He plucked one of the wild apples, and fed it to her.
"We need to get there quickly. It may be a long trek, but we can make it..."
Hinata was hefted up, sitting before Naruto, as he took the reigns, and snaps at them. Epona whinnies and gallops away, Midna following fast after them.
Now, whenever I do these Zelda-like fights (with ninja styles of course), or just plain out write my stories, I always listen to music. Music helps me think clearly. In this instance, Zugou, Zumei, and Goumei's music I was listening to two themes:
Kenji Yamamoto - Chykka Larva Boss Theme
Kenji Yamamoto - Chykka Adult Boss Theme
For those who may notice things and have sharper wits, yes, I had based the wrecked airship off GFS Valhalla, and used the same name... also listening to the themes helped make it creepier. I tried my best at making it sound like a truly deserted, haunted area. As for the weapons: Kaitouken is just a name I tagged to that giant shuriken that Naruto owned in the manga/anime. From the Twilight Princess are the Double Clawshots and the Spinner. The Clawshots are different as instead of three claws, it's four. Chakra Grapple is a cross between the Grapple Lasso and the ever-famous Hookshot. Mole Gauntlets are the Minish Cap Mole Mitts. Kagura comes from her namesake in Inuyasha, and crossed with the Gale Boomerang from Twilight Princess.
-- Naruto's Status --
Collection: [Men's Wallet - 23,413 Total Ryo] [Midna's Headgear] [Naruto's Ninpod] [Tsunade's Necklace] [Horse Call] [Letters - 02]
Sword: [Kubikiri Hocho] [Master Sword]
Shield: [Konoha Shield]
Costume: [Hero's Clothes]
Ninja Inventory: [Ninja Pack - Kunai x24] [Ninja Pack - Senbon x25] [Ninja Pack - Nin-ombs x17] [Toad Summon Contract]
Inventory Pack: [Relic Spinner] [Kagura] [Kaitouken] [Chakra Grapple] [Double Clawshots] [Mole Gauntlets]
Hidden Skills Learned: [Gokumonken] [Mikazuki no Mai] [Morigari no Kanketsusen]
Jutsu Skills Learned: Kage Bunshin, Sennen Goroshi, Kawarimi, Oroke, Harem, Shougekiha, Uzumaki Naruto Rendan, Fuuton: Rasengufuu, Ichi Ni Ko Rendan, Rasengan, Kenjutsu: Hasakikinan