Here we go with the next chapter!
"Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face."
-Nelson DeMille
"Master Thresh, I have some news"
It had been roughly 2 days since the demise and addition of Zabuza's soul to his repertoire and already he found quite a bit of use for the deceased swordsman. Opening his eyes he noticed the light slightly creeping through the cracks of the tree he had made a home out of which told him the morning was slowly coming. Coming out of the tree he turned around and found Zabuza leaning on the side of the tree, his ethereal green glow shining brightly.
"Gato is planning to amass his private army to strike at the bridge at noon when the workers will be taking their breaks" Zabuza informed him as the reaper walked towards him "news of my disappearance has gotten to him already and tensions are running high now. With all the stress getting to him and the belief someone is out to get him, he now believes that killing the bridge builder will stop all his problems"
"Has desperation really began to sink in so soon?" Thresh mused as he pulled out his lantern allowing Zabuza to turn back into a small sphere which was sucked back into the cage. From there the lantern replied "most likely, I think it would be best if we kill them all at the bridge. Makes things easier for all of us"
"As blood thirsty as always, Demon of the Mist" Thresh chuckled, buckling the soul holder to his belt, as he began moving out towards a meeting point he had assigned "The first plan on your mind is usually a slaughter"
"Hmmmph, who knew I could still find excitement while being eternally damned" Zabuza muttered before the lantern went silent.
As he continued walking he quickly put on his hood before turning the corner into the path towards the town. He continued walking past the near empty streets until a brown haired girl with long hair in a pink kimono and a basket of herbs atop her head joined him in his walk. Amongst the early risers and other denizens who were up, they were no more than another few faces in the steadily growing crowd.
"Master Thresh"
"Haku, is everything in place?" Thresh asked the effeminate boy
"Of course as you wished, but didn't you say that it would be used on a later date?"
"Change of plans, one of my spirits has reported back to me with critical information" Thresh explained "Gato's amassing his forces and as much as I prefer taking them out one at a time, he has become boring to me now that I have taken out most of his resources and methods"
Haku should have realized this sooner, being briefed on his new master's goals, he learned almost all the disappearances of Gato's higher ranked men were his doing. Of course with Zabuza now dead, he was also cut off from the hideout if he didn't want to blow his new cover.
Haku wasn't one to kid himself, he knew as well as Thresh that sometimes the best way to assassinate someone was with a lot of bloodshed. Zabuza may have been the master of the Silent Killing technique but even he had his own set of high profile kills.
As they walked along Thresh handed him a piece of paper before once again disappearing into the now thick crowds. Making his way to his position he set down his basket right across the local pub that he knew was a frequent scene visited by Gato's thugs.
Thresh had assigned him the task of gathering whatever info he could get his hands on and more importantly, healing civvies who need it and non-combatants caught in any crossfire (that he could save). Truly his new master was indeed interesting to serve, a being from the other side of life who came here to act as a balancer to the many deaths plaguing the world. To hear that the spirit world was nearly overflowing with souls wasn't really surprising. With all the wars the world had experienced in a short amount of time along with seeing the bloodline purges, it was no wonder the spirit world was taking in more than it could pump out. His master had left out a few a lot more details but that was the gist he could come up with from the reaper's explanation.
A loud crash distracted the young boy from his thoughts as a man came sailing out the doorway of the pub only to land in a heap right near him. The sword, dirty clothes and rugged face said all about who he worked for.
Now to make the same move he had been doing since yesterday.
"Oh dear," Haku cried out as he rushed towards the man "those wounds look serious, maybe you should come over to my place to heal up, I have a few remedies"
"Fuck off woman!" the thug spat out "I don't do those herbal bullshit"
"But really" Haku purred out in a sultry voice which got a blush out of the man. With his eyes focused on Haku's he never noticed the hand signs.
"I insist"
Kakashi knew something wrong was going to happen today. With the peaceful days permitted by Gato's distraction, it was only a matter of time before the tyrant remembered the bridge that was threatening his regime. And sure enough, just yesterday, his ever informed student Natsumi managed to hear about an attack plan the following day. With this in mind he had pushed the training for his students up but not too much so they would still have enough energy to push back the enemies successfully. The plan also took into account Zabuza and his mysterious assistant in the case that the reaper that was roaming about didn't get to them first.
"Sensei" A voice called out from his left. Turning an eye he carefully regarded his only male student "I sure hope you have a plan" Sasuke continued, eyeing his enemies carefully like a hawk as he fingered the rings on the two Windmill Shurikens he had folded to act like swords.
"We can take them easily enough, they don't have access to awesome ninjutsu like we do" boasted the blonde Natsumi as she pulled out her two fans, a small wind beginning to pick up around her.
"But they have the numerical advantage" Sakura pointed out as she tightened her black fingerless gloves. Her large white coat somehow still not flying off her in the small wind even though her arms were not in their sleeves "So don't get too cocky"
"Maa, maa, don't worry too much" Kakashi replied giving them a thumbs up and his own signature smile via his single eye. "Your sensei will protect you"
"But who'll protect you from all of us!?" A loud cry rang out forcing the group to focus ahead.
While Natsumi had found out about the when part of the attack, she had been unable to find out exactly what time it would happen (nonetheless they were prepared), and more importantly, how many enemies were they considering. And now here they were, at the bridge near midday facing down what looks like hundreds of armed thugs while protecting their client who stood in the behind their formation. Heading the mini-army was the tyrant himself, Gato the Shipping Mogul, who despite the stressed look on his face looked happy enough like a kid being given an early Christmas present. Tazuna was absent from the spectacle as they had given him orders to bunker down and hide at his place under guard from one of Natsumi's clones.
"We've got the numbers to tear down this bridge once I'm through with you!" Gato yelled out. Inwardly he was actually surprised when all of his remaining men had gathered at the dock area. He was sure he asked only for a slightly lesser group but if everyone else wanted in on the fight then who was he to turn them down? The more they had to fight, the easier it is for them to fall.
"But leave that blonde girl!" He added as he pointed his walking cane at the group "Konoha will pay a lot to get her back and that means a whole lot more money for all of you! Now bring me their heads on a fuckin' silver platter!"
With a loud roar the hounds were unleashed and a wave of sheer testosterone barrelled towards the Konoha shinobi. In retaliation Kakashi formed 2 clones of himself while Natsumi formed 4 to give them an extra hand. In just a few moments the first wave of thugs found themselves being slammed into each other and tossed off the sides of the bridge as a massive water dragon blew right through them.
A black blur shot past them and a few men crumpled to the ground as they soon found themselves missing their legs. Sasuke ducked under one man's wild swing and kicked low knocking the breath from the man before swinging around his neck and using him as a shield for the hammer that swung past where he used to be. Dropping the unconscious man, he eyed the hammer wielding titan before him who smirked as if thinking his size really meant anything. Unfurling one of his Demon Windmill he hurled it at the man who leapt aside and let the spinning blade cut into the men behind him. Momentarily distracted by his comrades' cries of pain, he forgot about the deadly ninja behind him and soon knew no more as his head was separated from his body courtesy of one Demon Windmill Blade.
"You bastard!" one thug cried out as he watched the taller man fall dead "I'll fuckin' kill ya!"
Sasuke paused for a moment before dodging the other men who cried in vengeance for their fallen comrade. Quickly pushing the thought of his first kill back for a later time, he immediately engaged his enemies again.
On the another side a group of thugs found themselves clinging on for dear life as hurricane like winds whipped around the blonde girl they were tasked with subduing. It almost seemed like a serene dance as the girl danced with gentle geisha like movements, the wind following her command as she twisted and twirled, moving her own two fans in rhythm.
"What the hell is this boss!?" One thug yelled out, the wind almost drowning out his voice "She ain't human! No human 'an do this kind'a shit!"
"No" a gentle yet commanding voice rang across the wind
"Only we shinobi can"
And with one great heave, Natsumi brought both fans down in a wave, causing all the wind whirling around her group to pick up and toss them all around. The young girl examined her handiwork before a large cheshire grin broke through her calm facade.
"Oh yeah, never mess with a hero!" she cried out, jumping in joy "I'm just too darn awesome!"
The other thugs were too busy picking their jaws off the ground after that display of power until Gato's voice telling them to stop gawking and start fighting broke their reverie.
"Yo man, I never signed up for this kind of thing!" One thug voiced out before turning around and running away. He would have made it too had a gloved fist not smashed right into his face knocking him out cold.
"Ara, ara" the lone medic murmured as she observed the chaos around her teammate "leave some for me Natsumi!"
"Oy Sakura, go find your own thug army!" Natsumi whined before squeaking in surprise as Sakura's fist shot right past, inches away from her face. Hearing the sound of breaking bones and a cry of pain, she turned around to find one thug on the ground moaning before slumping unconscious.
"Pay attention to your surroundings!" she said before the two ninjas adopted a back to back stance. Eyeing the thugs they realized they were surrounded in such a short time though instead of cowering in fear like the men expected, the two girls smirked at each other.
"Most takedowns buys dinner" Natsumi challenged bringing up her two fans, a small wind beginning to pick up.
"Ha, easy for me then!" Sakura replied as she tightened her gloves before reaching into her coat and drawing two vials, both with rainbow like liquid, before chucking them at the enemy. One dumb guy thought nothing of the liquid before smashing both vials with a swipe from his sword. His smile, along with a few others, was promptly blown away literally as a massive explosion met them. That sound was the start for both of them as they immediately dived into combat. Natsumi giving them nasty cuts and blowing others away with her wind and Sakura punching with super-human strength causing one poor sap to turn into a makeshift missile as he crashed into the others coming up behind him.
Soon though one managed to run up behind the pink haired medic and he yelled a furious battle cry as he brought down his katana on her unguarded back. What he didn't expect was a clang of metal and two metallic fists to suddenly shoot out and occupy the dangling sleeves of her lab coat.
"Oy, oy!" Sakura said as she turned around looking more frustrated than surprised "Didn't you hear me say that a shinobi's always pays attention to her surroundings?" The thug gulped as the girl cocked her fist back causing the larger metal ones to mimic her movements. A punch later and he found himself eating concrete and blacking out.
"Good thing you always have my back, right Haruka*?" Sakura called out as a spherical puppet head with two glowing red eyes popped out behind her own and occupied the collar of the lab coat.
"Ara, like those dumb weak peasants could touch us" the puppet replied in a haughty tone.
As more thugs came barrelling in the Medic and her guardian puppet in a lab coat readied themselves for the long battle ahead of them. As they rushed forward to meet the mercenaries, they noticed out of the corner of their eye that even Kakashi had joined up with Sasuke and together they were taking down enemies left and right.
"Looks like we got this" she thought as she delivered a roundhouse kick, knocking away a few guys who came in too close and tossing a few more explosive vials at the remaining brutes "The question now is when will Gato give up"
Ah how fun it is to watch those poor pathetic fools even think they have a chance at beating 4 shinobi with their numbers alone. Had Zabuza fought them then maybe he may have been able to weaken them a bit but as it stands, they foolishly fought without weakening them. Eyeing the fight from the very end of the unfinished bridge, obscured by the slight fog, as he sat on some crates he thought about how easier it was for him to have the two of them wipe each other out. Yet his subconscious screamed out to him to slaughter them all himself.
Clenching his hands he reigned in his insanity before he could jump in feast on the souls popping out here and there from those poor men who succumbed to their wounds. A slight breeze blew past him before he tilted his head slightly, acknowledging the presence of his new tool.
"That was everyone Master Thresh" Haku said, the effeminate boy smiling at the thought of pleasing his master "Everyone got a message that those who would fight today would get a pay raise"
"Ha!" Thresh laughed out, the raspy voice sending chills down Haku's spine "How predictable, dangle a carrot in front of an ass and off he goes trying to get a bite"
"So what shall we do now Master? Gato looks like he's about to make a run for it"
"Oh?" Thresh chuckled as he turned his stare towards the short stubby man with a cane, standing behind what was left of his so called 'army'. Indeed with the panicked look on his face as the Konoha shinobi came ever closer he did look like he was ready to cut his losses. "Ah but we can't have that can we? He caused the many deaths in a short amount of time with his regime and Death says it's time for him to pay back with interest"
Seeing it was the best moment, he signalled Haku to fall back and leave the rest to him. As the cross-dressing boy disappeared in a flurry of snow crystals, Thresh stood up and began walking towards the tyrant who was blissfully unaware of the reaper walking up behind him. As a maniacal grin began spreading itself over Thresh's face, he flipped open his lantern.
And let the children sing.
"No! you can't win!" Gato yelled out as the few mercenaries he had formed a half circle to shield him from the ninja closing in. Yet even they were shaking in terror after seeing them fight and easily defeat the others despite their superior numbers.
"Oh yes we can!" Natsumi replied, a grin etched on her face, looking none the worse for wear "A hero always defeats the villain"
"Face it Gato, you lost" Kakashi said as he held his kunai at the ready, just in case the midget had any other ideas up his sleeve "Now you can either leave here alive or in a body bag"
"Bah! Fuck you!" Gato spat out "Come on boys its time..."
Suddenly a chill passed through the man, stopping him mid sentence, as he heard the sound of children laughing. The others paused as well as the sound got closer. Suddenly out of the light fog at the end of a bridge came a few children skipping along with no care. What caused Kakashi's eyes to narrow were the fact that you could see right through them and they were slightly glowing green.
Gato's mind suddenly remembered the words of one of his own thugs. "The children! They sing! The last song will ever hear!"
Everyone suddenly found themselves unable to move, and as they came closer they heard the unmistakable sound of music as the children began to chant in what sounded like a morbid nursery rhyme, twisted and disturbing.
Cling clang go the chains,
Someone's out to find you.
Cling clang oh the chains,
The Warden's right behind you.
By now the spirits had encircled them and were now slowly closing in. To the shinobi's surprise they were ignored as the circle ran around only Gato and his remaining goons. Looking at Gato and his men they could see them paling with terror and it only took a moment for Kakashi to connect the dots.
Quick now, the seeking chains,
Approach with their shrill scrape.
Don't stop, flee the chains,
Your last chance to escape.
The men were struggling to move but an invisible force kept them stuck where they were standing. With a pounding heart Gato felt terror like never before. A panic which seeps into your very bones.
Drag the chains, drag the chains,
With all the strength you may!
Drag the chains, drag the chains,
'ere they drag you away!
While the song continued Kakashi and his students were also trying their hardest to move. With the song slowing down they could just see the finale coming.
"What the hell's holding us!? " Natsumi desperately yelled, two clones beside her trying to pull her out "It's like chains are all over my feet and legs!"
Kakashi blinked at the idea and formed a ram seal to dispel illusions and immediately a large crisscrossing network of chains revealed themselves as holding their legs in place. When this happened Gato's thugs began swinging at them trying to cut the chain while the man himself tried to pry himself out with his cane. As if in amusement the children closing in only smiled as they started the last few lines Gato would ever hear.
Cling clang go the chains,
There's no more time for fear!
By now the man was on his knees begging them to let him go, that he'd pay any price to live again but his wishes were drowned out by the sounds of the chain links suddenly clinking together in rhythm.
Cling clang go the chains,
The last sound that you'll...
"... hear..."
Gato gasped as he felt a sharp object go through him. Looking down he was horrified to see his own heart sticking out of his chest, impaled on a sickle. The last thing he saw before he drew his final breath was the face and words of the reaper who had finally caught up to him.
"You're falling apart... What to do with the pieces?"
Now here's the latest chapter of the series! I'd like to apologize for the delay in getting this out since my Zamboanga is being plagued by 8 hour a day black outs and the computer is also being used by members of my grandmothers election team. This leaves very little time for me to work each day but hopefully I manage to end this all in the next chapter with the confrontation between Thresh and Team Seven before I have to take the family trip to bloody Russia.
I've also been trying to keep this faithful to the game so points to those who can recognize his in game moves (I've used two already in the last chapter) as well as parts of his lore and quotes.
Also I have a beta reader now, hands up for Apocalyptian Scribe who volunteered to help Beta this thing. Expect the beta read versions to come up soon as well when I get the time.
*Haruka's puppet originally had no name in Shinovi Versus and therefore I decided to use her name for the puppet instead in Sakura's case. Yeah I am a Senran Kagura fan. Points for those who can find out which character I based Sasuke's fighting stlye on.
I've also been meaning to try out another Naruto x LoL story with another hero instead and right now Rengar, Sona and Lissandra all seem to be occupying my mind (and game). If I use either Lissandra or Sona then expect a Naruko story.
Read and Review!
-Al Azif the Necronomicon