Chapter 33
Demon island
Haku opened his eyes. By his calculations, today would be the day that they left for demon island. He looked outside. Good. It was still dark. He still had enough time to get to them. Haku sat up and swung his legs over the bed, noting how he didn't feel any soreness or stiffness in them. He quickly put on his clothes and headed for the door.
Opening the door, he felt a slight breeze against his face. "So you're leaving" a voice said next to him.
Haku paused in his step "yes" he turned around to see Isaribi. Her face illuminated by the fading moonlight "thank you for everything."
Isaribi dropped her head. Her face shadowed by her bangs "just… go" she clenched her fists. Haku moved to reach out for her. He wanted to say something. He wanted to do something. For some reason, he just couldn't bear to see her this way. He opened his mouth to say something. But nothing came out. Finally he dropped his hand and turned around "I'm going to demon island later. What you do with that piece of information is up to you. Just remember my words. Continue to do as Amachi says, and you will be a monster" he said before jumping away.
The girl watched his retreating figure. His last words echoing through her head "Continue to do as Amachi says, and you will be a monster." she stared in the direction he left. Finally she allowed
a single tear to drop. "be careful"
Xxx
Haku arrived at the inn just as the sun started to rise. He knocked loudly on the door, hoping that someone was awake. To his relief, the door was opened by a fully alert Mei. He held his hands up "call Naruto and Fu. I have confirmed that they are on demon island."
Mei made a clone to wake them up "I'm sure you remember your own procedures."
Haku nodded as the slightly less alert Jinchuriki appeared next to Mei. "how do we know you're the real Haku?" Fu yawned.
"Shiro Yuri"
Both Naruto's and Fu's eyes opened wide and snapped to attention "Haku!" they shouted, launching themselves at him.
Mei just looked at them confused. "What? Who's Shiro Yuri and what does that have to do with this?" the Jinchuriki detached themselves from Haku. "oh right, you didn't know. Shiro Yuri was the last teammate of father's genin team. She died on the same mission that earned father his title as Demon of the Mist. We used the place of her death as a reference to where we would meet up with the ANBU team when we were joining the rebels. Not many people know the significance of the place and only the three, four including you, of us know the significance of that name amongst us.
Mei opened her mouth in an 'O' shape. "such a simple yet effective code. One that uses experience as the key. A normal code can be cracked if the key is discovered, but it is much harder to get a key that is experience." She thought. "I see. Moving on, Haku said he found information that he wanted to share? Let's go inside and hear him out."
Xxxx
"…. And then I came here" Haku finished. The last hour or so was spent on catching Haku up on what had happened while he was gone and him telling him what he found. Of course, Haku didn't mention his conversation with Isaribi. He felt that was personal talk and had no significance to the mission.
"So it's confirmed that this Amachi guy is on demon island?" Naruto asked. "I believe so" Haku nodded. "Good. Then let's head over there now and end this mission!" Naruto exclaimed, pumping his fist up.
"No. Trying to approach it wouldn't be that easy. Since they clearly don't want whatever they're doing there to be found, it's likely that they would have many security measures in place. Besides, what about the Kaima? The sea is its turf. There is no way we could fight against it in open sea!" Mei argued.
"No, Naruto is right. Our best chance is to storm the island. Naruto can run diversion with his clones while we head straight for the centre. We don't have the time or resources to come up with any extravagant plan. Our best bet is to attack them while they're unprepared and hope for the best." Haku explained.
"Fine, but what about the Kaima?"
"I have a feeling that we won't have to worry about her."
Xxx
"I still can't you managed to rope me into this" Mei muttered. "just keep quiet. You don't want us discovered do you?" Fu whispered back.
The group were on a medium sized boat. It was just large enough for them and the two Naruto clones that were manning it heading to demon island.
"We're on a rowing boat. In the open sea. In direct view of anyone on the lookout. I'll be surprised if we aren't discovered.
A few moments later, something scraped the bottom of the boat. "we have reached shore" the clone at the steering wheel saluted "thank you for sailing ship Naruto. Good luck on your mission to take down the evil Amachi!" he said before Haku hit the original on the head, making him lose concentration and dispersed the clone. "stop being dramatic Naruto." He scolded.
"but it wasn't even me" Naruto whined. "the clone is made by you and is a part of your chakra. Therefore it is you. Now get ready to run interference."
As soon as they got off the boat Haku took out a sealing scroll and sealed the boat inside. While he was doing that, Naruto put his fingers together into a cross shape "shadow clone jutsu" he said. Two hundred puffs of smoke appeared and once the smoke cleared, in its place stood two hundred identical Narutos. "Squad 1-20, circle to the island to the left. Squad 21 – 40 circle the island to the right. Once you meet up, head straight to the centre and do as much damage as possible. The squad 41-49 spread yourselves out and head towards the centre. Trigger as many traps as you can. If you see anything suspicious disperse one of you and secure the area. Squad 50, you're with us. Hide yourselves and keep an eye out for threats. If we engage the enemy, stay back unless you're sure you can finish them without them being able to react."
To the side Fu made her own batch of 20 clones. "five of you head west. Five east. Two north east, two northwest. Five follow Naruto's trap clones. The last one, stay with us and provide cover."
Mei watched the two Jinchuriki make shadow clones as if they were just normal clones. "using an A-rank forbidden technique like that. Where do they have the chakra? And how are they not even winded from it? Naruto… Fu… what are you?"
Finished with giving their personal clone attack force instructions, Naruto and Fu turned to look at Haku. "we travel in a straight line formation. I'll be in front. Naruto behind me, Fu behind him and Mei at the back. Let's go."
Xxx
A few minutes of traveling later, Naruto felt one of his clones disperse. "one of my clones had found a staircase just west of here. It seems to be leading underground. Investigating it now."
Haku nodded and silently changed his direction.
Xxx
They arrived just in time for Naruto to feel the clone that went exploring disperse. "the way is clear. No sign of traps."
"Good. Approach with caution. The clones keep guard of the entrance." Haku instructed and started down the stairs.
Xxxx
At the bottom of the stairs was a door slightly ajar. Haku peeked through the gap. It was a reasonably large room that was only lit by torches. He opened it and took a better look around. There were many doors coming from the sides. Some were slight noises of animals, the sea, Haku could even hear some screams of humans. He closed his eyes. No, those screams weren't of humans. Not anymore. They had either gotten experimented on, insane or both. At the far side of the room was a metal door. This one seemed different from the others somehow. He had a feeling that Amachi was in that direction. He placed his ear on the door and listened "…" he frowned and motioned for Naruto. "make clones and disguise them as us" he whispered.
Naruto nodded and discretely made the clones already transformed and sent them into the room. Within moments there was the sound of a leaver being pulled and the clones falling. Naruto turned to Haku. "there are many tubes with bodies in liquid in them. Probably half completed experiments. The fourth block in front of the door is a trap the one who released it was Isaribi."
Haku frowned. "let's go"
They dashed in and took cover on around the tubes, making sure to avoid the trapped tile. They looked around and finally spotted the girl on the other side of the room "Isaribi-" Haku started. Isaribi paused for a second and turned back in surprise. But just as quickly as it came, the surprise wore off as she turned around and pressed a button before closing and locking the door.
There was a loud grinding sound as a section of the wall lifted to reveal two huge monsters. They resembled lions, but were five times bigger and had teeth the size of a kunai.
"we don't have time for this" Mei snarled as she made some handseals lava style: dissolving jutsu" she said as she spat out a concentrated flow of acidic mud at the monster's body. Despite its large shape, it was still surprisingly fast on its feet and managed to quickly dodge the acidic mud. It snarled as some of it splashed onto it and melted through its fur. The monster's tail flicked around and smashed one of the tubes. Liquid, unrecognizable body and glass shards flew everywhere, forcing them to split and take cover to avoid being hit by the stray glass.
"hidden jutsu: scale powder jutsu" Fu called from on top of an unbroken tube. The artificial light reflected into the monster's eyes and blinded it.
"Water style: glimmering water chains jutsu" Naruto called from the roof. The fluid released from the tube rose up and formed many chains that bound the monster tightly. It's glowing red eyes glared hatefully at them. "ice style: coming of winter" the chains binding it froze and became a prison. "Mei! Fire your jutsu at its face! Haku shouted.
Mei rushed through her handseals faster than she had before "lava style: dissolving jutsu!" she shouted and jumped up before shooting a highly pressurized stream of acidic mud straight through the monster. Entering through its head and exiting through its stomach. An instant kill through the brain. She landed on the floor and panted.
Just then, the floor gave away.
Mei had landed on the trap tile.
"Mei! Naruto shouted, diving in after her with Haku and Fu following behind.
Xxx
Mei landed on her feet and quickly dodged Naruto's body before he landed on her "oh my. Diving right in after me without any hesitation. Aren't you just the gentleman." She smirked as Haku and Fu landed next to Naruto.
"ugh. All this mushy mushy stuff makes me sick." A voice said from around a corner. Following it was the same man that fought Haku a few days ago. "oh, you're still alive? I could've sworn I sucked your chakra dry" he smirked at Haku "I'll make sure to finish you off this time."
Naruto pointed his finger at the man "It's you! The one who almost killed Haku!"
The man bowed cockily "Yoroi Akado" he said.
Naruto stepped forward "why you…"
Haku held his arm out and blocked his path. "you go ahead. He caught me unprepared last time. That won't happen again."
Naruto stopped "fine, you better take him down good."
"be careful" Mei said.
"we'll be waiting for you" Fu added as they began running towards the exit.
"not so fas-" Yoroi moved to stop them but was forced to dodge or be impaled by needles. "you want to die that badly? Fine with me!" he shouted as he dashed towards Haku, his hands already glowing in anticipation of sucking out the ice user's chakra.
AN: phew. For the first time in forever (no frozen reference intended) I got this chapter out not only on, but ahead of schedule!
Next chapter will be the conclusion of Isaribi arc! (unless I somehow drag it out even longer…). Now which arc should I do next?
Star village
Snow/spring
Shion
*enter your own arc not on the list*
Hmm other than that… not much really. Same as always. Looking for beta.
The trivia question: it was Yoroi Akado (the guy that sucks chakra and fought Sasuke during chunin exams in canon for those who don't remember). No one got it
Reviews:
AndiDuel: he wasn't exactly caught per se, more like… being helped? Also, yeah that would be interesting, but I'm pretty sure the only thing that would prevent him from dying from the mark would be his plot armour lol
BlackDragonShinigmi: here it is…. Well chapter anyways
Thor94: thanks
Noahendless: thanks
Dinohuntsmen: oh, no wonder I didn't get the reference lol (the translator didn't help either lol)
Jacklvmage12: amazing preview(though I imagine a bit of DB overdose). Isaribi was an experiment in cannon so experiment she shall be lol. Yoroi was basically cannon fodder (that guy who fought sasuke during chunin exams preliminary). The reason he beat Haku so easily was because Haku was caught unprepared and therefore didn't realize his chakra was being sucked before it was too late.
"If you have internet there is a site called_ or something along those lines" ? I think you completely missed the most important word there lol.
Hmm dunno either. Probably some primordial law or another. Welp I guess that's what happens when you don't do your own work! A universe destroyed. I don't want even more paperwork, thank you. This grandpa can't take it. As for the internet…. Well I only get like 4 gigs a month (really not a lot- it is usually finished around halfway through) so that's a problem ^.^ll. Just updating the games would take more than 4 gigs( from what I've been told)