I would like to thank all the reviewers I had. It's nice to hear your opinions.
Even though I am using mostly cannon arcs, I am trying to change them up more than I need to. You know, just trying to make it so you're not reading the same thing you already have.
Anyways, please enjoy.
Kiri's Phantom Blade
Chapter 10
Protecting the ones you love
Naruto could barely make out the voices, they kept fading in and out. However, they all sounded somber. He must have moved or something, because all talking stopped.
With great effort, Naruto opened his eyes, a feeling of dread working its way into his heart for some unknown reason.
With a grunt he tried to sit up, only for a wave of nausea to hit him.
"Don't move, Brat. You'll only make it worse."
Slowly, his eyes fluttered open before quickly shutting, attempting to get away from the blindingly bright light.
When he was able to force his eyes open, he saw that he was in a hospital, Chojuro in the bed next to him, unconscious.
"Is h-'coughcoughcough' Is he-'coughcough'Is…"
Zabuza's gruff voice stopped him from continuing.
"He's fine, just a bad case of chakra exhaustion. You should know the feeling."
With slow movements so he didn't get even more disoriented, Naruto looked around the room. He noticed that Zabuza had bandages around his stomach that had bled red and Ao was holding on to an I.V. rack with a strange green fluid entering his system. Mei was there as well, but she seemed ok. However, he instantly noticed someone missing.
"Where's Haku?"
The look of anguish on everyone's face made the boy sit up quickly, completely ignoring everyone's shout to sit down.
In an instant he had Zabuza by the shirt.
"Where is Haku!?"
The man didn't even resist.
"We'll bring you to her, but you need to calm down."
Though on the outside he gave the appearance of calming down, his heart had never raced faster.
Together, the conscious Kiri nin made their way through the hospital. Naruto couldn't help but notice the conflicted looks in many of their eyes.
However, he had more important things to worry about.
Tears began to fall from his eyes when they entered a room, the morgue.
"S-she's…"
Everyone's eyes widened as they realized they never told him, each so caught up in their own worry. Everyone shouted the reply.
"NO!"
Zabuza took over.
"No, she's alive. However, she is frozen. From what the medical nin have been able to figure out, her Aorta Arch was severed. Her bloodline is keeping her alive."
Naruto still had tears in his eyes.
"Why can't they just heal her?"
Mei took over, placing a comforting hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"In order to heal her, they need to defrost her, she would have less than a minute to live or get healed. 40 seconds to be exact."
Naruto didn't know what to say, he just slowly made his way over to the door that said 'Live Patient: Keep Frozen'.
With slow movements, he opened the door, his tears falling from his eyes as he looked over her frozen form, his fingers gently running down her cheek.
"I'm sorry for not being there to protect you. You will be ok. I promise you that."
Naruto bent down and gave the girl a chaste kiss on the lips before sliding her back in and closing the door.
"What do we do?"
Mei and Zabuza exchanged clueless looks.
"We don't know. We were about to speak with the Hokage when you began to wake up. We wanted to be there to tell you instead of someone else."
Naruto nodded as he began to make his way back to his room to grab his stuff.
Meanwhile with Sarutobi and Jiraiya.
"I'm too old for this…"
Jiraiya looked confused now.
"Back in the day, I could take on all three of you, without breaking a sweat. Now one nearly crippled me.
Jiraiya looked down in thought.
"It's time for someone else to take up this hat…"
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
'I know he isn't talking about who I think he is…'
"It is time Tsunade Senju returned to Konoha."
Meanwhile, with Orochimaru
Kabuto ran his hands over his master one more time before sighing tiredly.
"I apologize Orochimaru-sama. I cannot heal you. You see, your chakra is what bonds you to the host body. Unfortunately, when your chakra network was shut down, the bond was damaged. I have only had limited training in healing chakra networks."
Orochimaru gave a sickening smirk.
"Well then, I believe it is time to see the one person who can."
It was at that time, that Naruto broke through the door of the Hokage tower, Mei and Zabuza following closely.
"Sarutobi-sensei, have you heard about Haku?"
The elderly kage looked up in surprise.
"No, I haven't. What's wrong?"
Just thinking about it brought tears to Naruto's eyes.
"She's hurt, bad."
Without a word, Mei handed the medical chart to the Hokage. Several minutes later the man set the file down, a concerned frown on his face.
'Why is it that any form of happiness young Naruto receives is always so plagued with sadness?'
Sarutobi gave a pointed nod to Jiraiya, who stepped forward, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"How long until you're ready to travel?"
The Kiri nin looked at him curiously.
"My old teammate, Tsunade Senju is a medical ninjutsu god. She has never been surpassed in any aspect of medical ninjutsu. If anyone can help her, it will be Tsunade. Now, how long until you can travel?"
Naruto gave his arms a few flexes before nodding.
"Now."
Jiraiya nodded, he knew very well the amount of pain that can come from seeing a loved one injured and unable to do anything about it.
9 hours later and Naruto and Jiraiya were tree hopping on their way to Tanzuka Gai, Tsunade's current location. Naruto was panting and sweating, his vision swimming on occasion but he was not about to stop.
Jiraiya fixed the boy with a glare.
"Don't be a fool! If you don't stop you might die! You are burning through chakra before you even recovered from chakra exhaustion!"
Naruto remained stubborn though.
"No, we're not stopping until we are back in Konoha with Tsunade healing Haku!"
Jiraiya sighed as Naruto sped up.
'Sorry kid, but you're not in the right mind right now.'
Jiraiya closed the gap before lashing out, his hand connecting with Naruto's neck. The blond slumped into Jiraiya's arms.
That led Naruto to where he is now, pacing back and forth in a hotel room. He woke up about twenty minutes earlier with a killer headache and Jiraiya nowhere to be seen. However, there was a note on the night stand.
Stay put brat. I got a message that Tsunade was on the move, I need to track her down. I'll be back by 10pm.
Naruto had been pacing back and forth in his room for nearly two hours.
He was so lost in his worry and aggravation, he didn't even ask any questions when someone knocked on the door, he just opened it.
It was pure instinct that allowed him to jump back as a giant bandaged object slammed into the floor where he had been standing. The impact left a large dent in the floor. He instantly grabbed a kunai knowing that Kubikiribocho would be more of a hindrance in the small area.
"This one is quick on his feet. Maybe I should cut 'em off."
Noticing who was at the door, Naruto began internally cursing. One, he knew right away, he had heard dozens of horror stories about the man. He was fairly tall, with a blue-grey, skin tone, small round eyes, add that to the small, gills under his eyes, he had a very shark-like appearance. He was none other than, Kisame Hoshigaki, The Monster of the Hidden Mist and arguably the strongest ninja to ever belong to the seven swordsmen. That meant that the bandaged object that impacted the floor in front of him, was none other than the legendary Samehada, the most terrifying of the seven.
The other was one he was only able to guess.
'He looks too much like Sasuke to be anybody else.'
He had short black hair, and a fully matured Sharingan. He was Itachi Uchiha, Slayer of the Uchiha, the man who killed off an entire warrior clan in one night without being detected by the rest of the village.
Both of them were wearing black cloaks with red clouds on them.
'Damn it, these are those Akatsuki guys…They must be ready for the Tailed beasts then. So much for the Gallant Jiraiya's legendary spy network.'
"So, Akatsuki is here already."
It was a statement, not a question.
The one that he is sure is Itachi, responded without giving away his surprise that Naruto knew about their organization.
"You will be coming with us Naruto-kun."
Regaining control of his fear, Naruto stares impassively, his eyes never roaming over those of Itachi.
Itachi would have smirked, if he did that sort of thing.
"So, had a run-in with a Sharingan user before?"
A voice behind them spoke up, surprising all three.
"He hasn't but I have."
Itachi and Kisame turned around, just in time to see a swirling blue ball of chakra plunge into Itachi's chest.
"Rasengan!"
Itachi was unable to dodge and took the A-rank assassination Jutsu to the chest. It didn't take long for the light to leave his eyes.
Jiraiya looked up when he heard a 'squelch', followed by the sound of blood hitting the floor.
Naruto watched impassively as Kisame's body hit the floor with a thump, a kunai stabbed through his jaw and into his brain. Both however, were surprised when both Itachi and Kisame turned into very different people…
One brown haired chef they had seen earlier and one grey haired old woman they had never seen before.
Meanwhile, ten miles outside Konoha.
Itachi's eyes opened, shortly followed by Kisame.
Suddenly, a voice rang through their heads.
'Report.'
Before Kisame could speak, Itachi beat him to it.
"I got careless. I assumed my Genjutsu would have kept Jiraiya at bay for longer. It was a miscalculation on my part."
Kisame snorted before adding his own bit.
"The brat is good too. With as far away as we are, I may have only been at 15% but that is still better than most Chunin and some Jonin out there, but the kid was still fast enough and silent enough to cut through me before I knew it. Zabu-chan taught the kid well."
Whether he would admit it or not, Zabuza's skill in Silent Killing Jutsu, was one thing that Kisame both feared and respected. He knew that if he were to ever lose Samehada, and Zabuza was to truly try and kill him with it, then there was a 50 percent chance he may succeed. He never had the patience to sit calmly and listen to his surroundings as the Jutsu required.
Itachi nodded, knowing their leader was listening in for their report.
'Very well, the Kyubbi Jinchuuriki is stronger than we had anticipated, but it is of no consequence. You shall continue your missions in the area while keeping an eye on the Kyubbi. You stirred up the hornets' nest with your little scuffle in Konoha, be sure to avoid detection.'
Both Kisame and Itachi could feel the link being severed.
*Flashback, four hours ago*
"Feeling nostalgic eh, Itachi?"
The shorter one of the duo, identified as Itachi, looks around the village he once laid his life on the line for, for a second before replying in a cold voice.
"No"
The taller one, standing about 6' 6", shook his head and chuckled slightly.
"You know, sometimes I wonder if you're even human."
If he was expecting a reaction from his cold partner, he was disappointed.
"We did not come here to relive my past. We are here to analyze the abilities of the Kyubbi Jinchuuriki, and if possible, capture it. While he is outside of Kiri is our best bet seeing as Kiri changed every aspect of their security since the death of their Yondaime. While Konoha hasn't changed their security protocol since I was a child."
"Ya, ya… So, what is the plan? Can I just start killing everyone and wait for him to show up?"
"Don't be foolish Kisame, even as strong as you are, you couldn't take everyone from Konoha, especially seeing as the new Mizukage is here. If I remember correctly, you had a pretty nasty run-in with her a few years back."
The man that resembled a shark clenched his fists in anger.
He unconsciously rubbed his right arm, where the burn scars had yet to heal.
"That is even more reason to do it. I still need to give that bitch some pay back."
Even though his face was covered, Kisame shuddered from the emotionless glare he could feel his partner giving him.
"Your vengeance will have to wait, we have company."
Though on the outside, he was stoic as ever, he frowned internally.
'I see, the invasion has left them weaker than they are letting on, they are beefing up security in case of another attack. That is the only reason for those three to be doing border missions.'
"I have to admit, you're quite skilled at hiding your enormous chakra, Kisame Hoshigaki, I almost dismissed it, too bad for you, I learned a long time ago that when something seems like nothing, it rarely is. It's been a long time Itachi."
"Yes, it has Inoichi, I see you brought your faithful companions."
When Kisame and Itachi turned, standing there, was Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, and Shikaku Nara, though relatively unknown individually, they were known as the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio, since their teamwork allowed them to take on opponents much stronger than them, leading them to rarely if ever be separated.
"Can I kill them?"
"Hold on Kisame. Tell me, what is the location of the Kyubbi Jinchuuriki?"
All three tensed.
"So, Akatsuki is already moving. Jiraiya had said we would have longer."
If not for his Sharingan being active, Itachi would have missed the normally, invisible, speeding ball of chakra that left Inoichi as soon as he said 'longer' and entered Kisame.
Out of the corner of his eye, Itachi saw Inoichi's eyes go slightly lifeless, before becoming more focused.
'I see, he can split his mind and soul into two, allowing him to control his own body, as well as another. Incredible, I have never heard of a Yamanaka advancing to such a level.'
Itachi just barely dodged when Samehada was thrown at him. The sword flew by him and kept going, well into the forested area.
"Man, this guy has even more chakra then I thought. This next one would take over half my reserves but it will barely dent this guy's."
Inoichi/Kisame flashed through a long series of hand seals.
"Earth Release: Stone Dragon Missile Jutsu"
A large dragon made of the hardest stone in the area rose from the ground and charged at Itachi. Just as Itachi was about to dodge by jumping to the left, he saw their plan.
They never intended for the earth jutsu to hit. With Choza to the right, his logical spot to dodge, would be the left, however, he just barely noticed the chakra in the shadows. Shikaku was waiting.
Thinking quickly, Itachi substituted with a rock near Choza and was nearly ripped in two when he blocked the man's Bo with two kunai. The force of the hit sent him skidding back. He would have been caught in Shikaku's shadow if he didn't perform a quick substitution with the first thing he saw.
That just happened to be Samehada.
Unfortunately for the lazy Nara, being trapped by his shadow gave the sword a direct line to his chakra and the man was nearly fully depleted within seconds.
"One down, two to go."
He nearly got another one, unfortunately for him, Inoichi/Kisame was smart enough to avoid looking into the former Konoha nin's eyes, something that greatly upset the Konoha missing nin.
Itachi ran towards Choza while dodging mud bullets from Kisame/Inoichi.
Inoichi and Shikaku turned just in time to see Choza smash his bo through four trees in one swipe, but Itachi dodge.
Choza managed to heel kick the Uchiha, right towards the waiting Inoichi/Kisame. However, just as Inoichi/Kisame grabbed Itachi's face and was about to slam him on the ground, he made a giant mistake. He looked in the Uchiha's eyes.
He was shocked to say the least. No longer where they the three tomoe of a fully matured sharingan, they appeared to be made of a three bladed shuriken.
That was the last thing Inoichi saw before his world bled red. He looked around, only to find himself strapped to a cross, surrounded by his friends and family, his daughter Ino, Choza, Shikaku, their kids, the rest of his clan, along with most of the village.
He tried to stop his chakra flow before sending out a blast of it, he tried pain, he did everything he could think of, nothing worked.
Suddenly, Itachi appeared.
"Welcome to my world, I control everything here. You are going to watch as I kill your family, your friends, your leader, over and over again. I own you for the next 24 hours."
Drawing a Ninjato, Inoichi is devastated when he stabs Ino in the heart. Ino and Inoichi both scream out in agony.
Inoichi cries, sobs, and pleas with Itachi who shows no mercy for the next 24 hours, which was actually only a second.
Choza watched as Itachi let Kisame drop. A scream came from behind them before Inoichi fell to the ground, unconscious.
Kisame recovered several seconds later and was about to attack the unconscious Inoichi when Itachi spoke.
"Kisame, we must go, it is obvious that the Kyubbi Jinchuuriki isn't here. Plus there are five incoming nin, at least A-rank each. We will be unable to keep a fight with them quiet and we have already drawn enough attention."
Kisame looked like he wanted to argue before nodding to Itachi.
"Fine…"
The two disappeared right before Yamato, Gai, Asuma, Kakashi and Kurenai all showed up.
Upon making mental contact with Pein-sama, Itachi was about to speak of the mission failure when Pein interrupted him.
'Don't bother, Zetsu stumbled upon the Kyubbi Jinchuuriki during another mission, he set up two bodies for you to use. Don't fail this time.'
*End Flashback
After sealing the two dead bodies, Naruto and Jiraiya had said the hell with staying and were quickly making their way towards Tanzuka Gai.
It was nearly midnight when they walked through the gates, and Jiraiya grabbed Naruto's shoulder when he saw the kid's head scanning everything, obviously looking for Tsunade.
"Remember, we will sleep for the night, and in the morning we will confront Tsunade. There is a good chance a fight will be involved."
Naruto nodded and they headed for the first inn they saw. He wasn't fit to fight as it was. It wasn't long after his head hit the pillow that Naruto fell into a troubled, vision plagued dream.
His sleep was plagued with visions of Haku's motionless body and her possible death.
After nearly six hours, he couldn't take it anymore, but that was ok, because the sun was coming up.
Without even stopping to wake up the obviously, still drunk Jiraiya, Naruto gathers his things, along with Jiraiya's picture of Tsunade, and heads out to find his wife's only chance. Nearly an hour and nothing…
'According to Jiraiya, she is addicted to both, alcohol and gambling. I've checked every bar and casino in this town. Damn it! Where is she?'
After taking about five more steps, Naruto was just able to sense the use of chakra, that caused his eyes to go wide.
'If I can sense it, then it is a lot of chakra. It must be Tsunade.'
*Two Hours Earlier with Tsunade*
"Winner, Winner, Winner!"
Tsunade sat at the slot machine with a worried look on her face.
When the casino manager saw it, he was confused.
"My dear, you just won. This is a good thing."
Tsunade shook her head with tears at the corners of her eyes.
"I never win. The last time I won, my fiancé died."
Her voice was so dead, it scared the man.
Without even collecting her winnings, Tsunade ran back to their hotel room to collect Shizune, and Tonton. Her eyes widened when she arrived. The place was a mess. Her eyes immediately went to the senbon in the wall.
'W-who could have done this? She's more a healer than a fighter. But it would take an A-rank ninja to beat her.'
Tonton, Shizune's pet pig was on its back, its legs in the air with its eyes swirling.
With a quick touch of medical chakra, the pig was up and about.
"Tonton, find Shizune. Now!"
"Oink. Oink."
Tonton didn't delay in smelling the ground and taking off out the window.
Tsunade was getting angrier and angrier. Tonton was heading towards the village exit. They left the village and continued to run for ten minutes.
Tonton didn't stop until they arrived at a large, empty field.
What Tsunade saw, did not amuse her.
Standing in the field was a silver haired kid with glasses. He had a sickening smirk on his face.
"Well, Tsunade, I must say, I am not impressed. Your teaching skills are hardly what I was expecting from the Legendary Slug Queen."
Her glare got even harder.
"Where is she?!"
"Oh? No introductions? Well, since you won't initiate the pleasantries perhaps I should. My name is Kabuto Yakushi."
"I don't give a fuck who you are! Where is Shizune?!"
If anything, Kabuto's smirk got wider.
"Temper, temper. Anyways, she's fine. Just seeing if there is anything she can do for my master. Should either she or you heal him, you will both leave here alive. If you fail, you both die."
Tsunade's chakra levels began to rise enough to make Kabuto sweat slightly.
Slowly cracks formed around her, the sheer pressure from her chakra destroying the ground.
"Do you still think this is a good idea?"
Having recovered from the massive chakra levels, Kabuto smirked.
Just as he was about to come out with some, smart ass comment, he was forced to dodge when Tsunade attack him from above with a chakra enhanced heel drop. The force of the attack caused a crater the size of a house.
Her level of strength amazed him. Orochimaru had warned him, but never did he imagine this.
Even with his amazing healing, he would probably be dead after a single strike.
Twenty minutes later finds Tsunade panting and glaring at an equally tired Kabuto, the man's right arm hung uselessly by his side, the bones probably resembling dust.
Unseen, on a large rock outcrop, Orochimaru stood with an unconscious Shizune at his feet. He watched his subordinate and ex-teammate go at it with amusement dancing in his eyes.
He was surprised she lasted as long as she had. She was never really trained for direct combat. She usually used her massive strength to scare her opponents into making mistakes that either he or Jiraiya would capitalize on. Though as far as combat medics go, there was none better. She lacked the speed to make any real use of her super strength, something he had told her many times when they were on the same team.
He watched as she implored a simple strategy with a standard clone and landed a kick to Kabuto's leg, easily breaking it, however, she was low on chakra and the force behind it was weaker than before.
Deciding to interrupt before things got too bad for Kabuto, Orochimaru clapped slowly. If he wasn't so well trained, he would have winced at the pain that the simple action caused.
"Well, well, Tsunade, I can see that your legendary strength hasn't lessened at all."
The second she saw who was there she scowled, even when he was young, Orochimaru was rarely up to anything good.
"What are you doing here?"
Using more strength than he should, he merely kicked Shizune into Tsunade. She was caught easily by the older woman. Tsunade set her assistant down and glared at her ex-teammate.
"Your assistant made it clear that neither you nor her, have the ability to heal what I need you to."
"I'll fucking kill you!"
She charged right at Orochimaru, intending to splatter his brains.
In her rage induced haze, she never even noticed the small smirk on Orochimaru's face.
She was just out of reach when two small snakes wrapped around her ankle, causing her to stumble.
However, that wasn't the worst part. Another snake erupted from the ground brandishing the Kusanagi; even she would have trouble with the poison that the sword was famous for producing.
She felt the tip of the sword touch her skin without piercing it as she had accepted her fate, preparing to see her loved ones again, she heard what sounded like a huge chunk of steel flying through the air, followed by a squelch and a poof. The sound continued until it slammed into the dirt, standing straight up, revealing it to be one of the Seven Swords of Kiri.
"Where?"
In a mist shunshin a boy appeared, standing on the hilt, his arms crossed, a glare fixed on his face. His target was none other than Kabuto. She looked him over and saw he wore a black, sleeveless shirt, black and white camouflage pants, with a Kiri headband on sideways… He looked familiar but she couldn't remember from where. The look on his face promised pain or death, probably both.
A small part of her was upset that the giant sword cleaved the snake that was about to reunite her with her brother and fiancé.
Naruto didn't say anything. He just glared at the silver haired young man with pure hate in his eyes.
"Hey!"
Tsunade was startled by his shout.
"What are you doing? You're supposed to be an S-rank ninja…He just tried to kill the last family you have left. Are you going to let him get away with that?!"
As if those were the magic words, her fire was reborn. She easily tore apart the snakes that bound her.
Orochimaru barely dodged the chakra powered fist that turned the boulder he was on to dust.
'God damn that brat…I need to end him…He is ruining all my plans…Kabuto shouldn't have any problem with him.'
He narrowly dodged a heel drop before he grabbed his sword, no matter how much it hurt, he would never show it.
Tsunade narrowly dodged a swing from the sword, and attempted to kick him, however, he too dodged.
In her head, she could see something was wrong.
'I know he has those disgusting Jutsu…he could have taken that hit, removed my head and then spit up another body… What's the matter you bastard…'
*Across the field
"Ahh, poor, poor Naruto-kun…Angry that your wife is dead?"
Naruto snorted from his post, having yet to dismount his post.
However, Kabuto's eyes widened when a whisper came from right behind him, it came from none other than Haku.
"You're not as good as you think you are."
Kabuto quickly turned, and was surprised to find no-one. However, his surprise turned to pain when Kubikiribocho slashed deep into his back.
"Gah!"
Kabuto's mind instantly began working.
'He severed the trapezius and deltoid, ceasing all movement of the left and right arm, an effective maneuver for capture. Normally.'
Naruto watched with barely repressed rage as Kabuto struggled to move his arm, his robes being dyed red. Without so much as a twitch, a mud clone formed and charged. It wasn't ten seconds before the clone was bisected, but it did its job, Kabuto had healed, not that Naruto knew that.
Kabuto glared at Naruto as the Kiri nin approached slowly.
"You know, I could have killed you just now. It would have been easy. You want to know why I didn't."
Kabuto snorted.
"Because that's too good for YOU!"
Out of no-where, Naruto charged Kabuto at near Jonin speeds, the silver haired medic barely dodged the blade, but received a knee to the stomach, followed by a right hook to the face.
When Kabuto recovered and put some distance between him and the enraged Kiri nin, he tried to think of a way out.
'I was able to heal myself from Tsunade's hits, but I don't have the chakra to continue this fight…'
When he glanced over towards his master as he just barely dodged an earth shattering punch from Tsunade, he frowned.
'With his inability to use chakra, plus the pain that every movement causes him, he isn't doing so well. I must deal with this pest and assist Orochimaru-sama.'
However, just as he turned to face is opponent, he heard a shout.
"Water Release: Gunshot Jutsu"
He was unable to react in time and received a single water bullet to the stomach.
"Looks like the old hag really caused some damage to you."
Kabuto snarled and dropped to a knee, coughing up blood.
With slow steps, Naruto approached the traitor, his sword posed to remove his head.
Using his hunched over form to hide the movement, Kabuto flashed through a few hand seals.
"Summoning Jutsu: Hidden Shadow Snake Hands"
A small snake flies from Kabuto's sleeve, catching Naruto by surprise.
The snake latches onto the large sword and rips it from Naruto's hand, throwing it 20 feet away, something that infuriates Naruto.
'Shit! He's ok! Why does everyone insist on taking my sword!?'
With a smirk, Kabuto activates his chakra scalpels and chases Naruto as the blonde jumps back to get some room.
"I'm going to kill you, just like I did your precious Haku-chan."
Unfortunately for Naruto, he rarely focused on pure speed, he was more concerned with stealth and the strength required to swing an 80lb sword. That translates into his speed not being up to par.
He received a single strike to the stomach and one to the shoulder. The amount of pain it caused surprised him greatly.
With a single hand seal, Naruto creates a water clone behind Kabuto, just as Kabuto is about to hit the real Naruto above the heart, the clone shouts its Jutsu.
"Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu"
Looking down, Kabuto notices that the grass is very wet, it had obviously rained the day before and the water surges up, forming a dome of water around the silver haired nin.
The water clone maintains the prison while the real Naruto gives a dangerous smirk.
"You lose."
Kabuto just glares at the blonde.
"Lighting Release: Electromagnetic Murder Jutsu"
Naruto charged more lightning chakra into the Jutsu than he ever had before, he could feel the electricity traveling through his hands, numbing them before they were plunged into the water prison, shocking Kabuto and the clone.
It didn't take long for the clone to dispel. Naruto looked down at the convulsing Kabuto with an emotionless face as he drew a kunai, ready to plunge it deep into Kabuto's eye socket. Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto noticed the other fight and can see Orochimaru about to impale Tsunade with the Kusanagi.
With no other way to defend her, he performed a single hand seal with a tear in his eye.
"Substitution"
One second she was watching as her traitorous teammate was about to stab her in the heart, and the next, she is across the field watching Orochimaru's assistant convulse on the ground, likely from some lightning attack.
It took her nearly five seconds to figure out what happened. She was shocked to see in her place, was the blonde Kiri nin.
Orochimaru couldn't help but smirk when he saw what had happened.
"Kukuku. Naruto-kun, you had such potential. Why would you throw your life away for this has-been?"
Tsunade, had tears in her eyes and was just barely able to hear his response.
"S-she *gurgle* Is the only *gurgle* one who can save my wife. You snake bastard. NOW DIE!"
Before the snake could respond, a kunai was shoved into his stomach by the dying teen.
Kabuto was shakily by the bleeding Orochimaru's side in less than a second and they both melted into the ground.
Without the sword impaling him and keeping him standing, Naruto fell to his back.
Tsunade was by his side before he hit the ground.
'T-this is just like Nawaki, sacrificing his life for someone else.'
"W-why w-would you? WHY!?"
"y-you c-can still s-save h-her. Please, I beg you. *gurgle*"
Barely even affected by the large amount of blood, Tsunade wasted no time in trying to heal the young man. However, she didn't have the chakra.
With a fire in her eyes that hadn't been present in almost twenty years, she put her blood covered hands in the ram seal.
"I won't let you die here!"
"Yin Seal: Release"
The diamond on her forehead spread around her face into an intricate seal. However, the truly amazing thing, was that her chakra levels sky-rocketed, approaching that of the Ichibi himself.
During the time Tsunade was attempting to keep him alive, Shizune awoke and began to help, without asking questions. She was however shocked when she saw that her master's seal was released.
That is the scene Jiraiya jumped upon…When he saw the state of his godson, he was nearly broken. He had gone out drinking when they arrived and was hung over when he woke up, he couldn't sense their chakra levels until the fight was over. The slight breathing that he could see reassured him, but he was still scared.
It was nearly an hour later, and Shizune had long sense passed out, the boy was just too close to death… She just couldn't get him over that edge.
Even releasing the chakra she had been storing for upwards of forty years, it just wasn't enough. Slowly, the green chakra covering her hand began to fade. She tried to dig deeper for more chakra in order to keep it going, but it just couldn't be done, she didn't have any.
With nothing else to do, she removed her hand from his chest and put two fingers on his neck. She could still feel his pulse.
Thumpthump, thumpthump, Thump…Thump, Thump….Thump, Thump…..thump….
The legendary medic could do nothing but look away as tears fell from both, hers and Jiraiya's eyes.
Just after her fingers fell away from the blonde boy's neck, inside his mindscape, a giant red eye with a black slit, opened for the first time in months. A vicious grin spread across the mouth of the Lord of the Tailed Beasts.
"After a hundred years, freedom is mine!"
Nearly thirty seconds later, a giant aura of red surrounded Naruto. The hatred and malice was so thick you could almost taste it.
"Jiraiya, what is this?!"
When she turned to him, she saw he was just standing there, hands together, eyes closed.
"Are you Meditating now!?"
The thin, whisker like marks on the boy's face became thick and more feral looking, his canines protruded over his bottom lip, overall he looked like a beast.
That was only brought further when his eyes snapped open.
Deep blood red, full of anger and a black slit down the middle, promising a world of pain to anyone he gets his claws on.
Looking to her teammate, she was angered further when he had yet to move.
Only the instincts that got her through two of the three great wars allowed her to dodge the glowing clawed hand that would have taken a chunk out of her stomach.
"What the hell is the matter with you Brat?! Get a hold of yourself!"
"Don't bother."
"J-J-Jiraiya?"
Tsunade couldn't believe what she was seeing. What was once a single red line going down his cheeks was now a strange design covering nearly his whole face. His nose was larger and covered in warts. Strangely enough, there was an elderly toad on each shoulder. However, none of that compared to the change in his chakra. He had always been powerful, but what she was feeling now was insane. It made her feel pathetically weak.
His chakra was actually radiating off of him.
"W-what?"
"You're out of chakra, you need to leave. This is going to be a long fight."
"W-what is this? What happened to you?"
Jiraiya didn't dare look away from the possessed Naruto.
"Remember during third war, when I disappeared when we started to lose?"
"Yea, by the time you came back, Minato had already won the war."
Jiraiya nodded.
"With or without Minato's help we would have won and this is how. The legendary Sage-mode of the Toads of Mount Myoboku."
Obviously upset at being ignored, the Kyubbified Naruto let out a deafening roar, so powerful that the two Sennin were actually forced to apply chakra to their feet to keep from being blown away.
"Ok, that explains you, but what about him…this chakra…"
"I know, this is the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox, and it has taken control of Naruto's body."
Tsunade's eyes went wide and her mouth dry.
"The Kyubbi? Then this is…"
"Yeah, now I need you to get Shizune out of here. This is not a fight I can keep contained."
He got even more nervous when the fourth tail of chakra grew.
"Well Ma, Pa, you did say you wanted to meet my newest apprentice."
The female toad on his left shoulder, identified as Ma gave him a glare.
"This is not what we had in mind Jiraiya-chan."
Apparently, the Kyubbi/Naruto did not like being ignored and attempted to take the Toad Sage's head off with a chakra claw.
Then the fight began.
Naruto attacked Jiraiya like a wild beast, backed into a corner.
Jiraiya found out quickly that even with the incredible power Sage-mode granted him. The Kyubbi was stronger, faster and more agile then him. The only thing allowing Jiraiya to stay alive was his vast battle experience and Naruto/Kyubbi's lack of style.
"Damn it Jiraiya-Chan this isn't fun anymore."
Jiraiya avoided being decapitated by mere inches.
Jiraiya gave the two a solemn nod.
"I know, I was hoping that somewhere in there, Naruto was alive. But it seems as though the beast has taken over…Time to get serious. You know what to do."
Jiraiya flashed through a few hand seals.
"Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon"
Hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of white hairs flew off Jiraiya's hair, each piercing the red chakra cloak, causing the beast to roar out in anger and stumble slightly.
The pain filled roar silenced when a fifth and sixth tail grew from the chakra cloak, the power increase was incredible.
"Ma, Pa, could you imagine if someone were to actually be able to control themselves like this?"
Ma and Pa both looked solemn, both knowing how hard this was for Jiraiya.
"That would be a man, I wouldn't want to fight."
"Right you are Pa, right you are."
With speed that would make even the Yondaime Raikage blink, Jiraiya landed a powerful kick to the Kyubbified boy's face. The force sent him flying back several hundred meters, crashing through several large trees.
Like most times, the boy simply gave a yell and got more powerful.
"Seven tails, it's time to end this."
The beast/boy began charging at him with reckless abandon.
With tears rolling down his face, Jiraiya holds out his hand.
A large, blue ball of chakra begins to form. It starts out not much bigger than his hand, then becomes larger than his head.
"I'm sorry Naruto…If I hadn't…I guess there is a lot I could have changed that would have changed this."
"Sage Art: Ultra-Big-ball Rasengan"
The big blue ball of chakra crashed into the boy's stomach…
The swirling ball battled with the angry red cloak…
Slowly but surely, the ball tore through the red chakra and reached the boy's skin, this caused the beast to let out a loud wail of pain.
With a final push, the Kyubbified Naruto was sent flying backwards until he came into contact with a cliff.
Jiraiya idly looked at his hand to inspect the burn.
"To think, Kyubbi's chakra is so corrosive that it alone burned my hand while I was in Sage mode."
"The Kyubbi is truly a frightening beast."
"Agreed"
"Well, I shouldn't need you here anymore, you can go ho…"
Slowly the ground cracked, the pressure being applied was nothing like Jiraiya had ever felt.
The killing intent flooding the area had even him shaking. If they were closer to town, the civilians would have just killed themselves to get away from the horrible feeling.
When Jiraiya looked for Naruto, he got even more scared…
No longer was there any trace of Naruto, he was covered in such a thick chakra coat that he couldn't even be seen. On top of the chakra coat, a fox's skeletal structure manifested itself, providing even more protection.
"Ma, Pa, any ideas?"
"I hope you've made your peace with god."
Jiraiya's face was grim.
"I'll take that as a no."
Suddenly, the Kyuubified Naruto disappeared, no smoke no leaves, no blur, just gone.
Never in his life had Jiraiya ever taken such a beating… He couldn't do anything about it, the boy was too fast.
When the berserk Naruto got distracted and started chasing a nearby pack of wolves Jiraiya slowly climbed to his feet.
"Man, that kid's punch is devastating."
"No kidding, not to mention his chakra burns with every touch… If only I could hit him without touching him."
"What about those stone swords you use…Those should cause some damage."
Jiraiya scoffed.
"They would disintegrate the second they got near him."
Jiraiya couldn't help but sigh sadly when he saw his godson, pound away at the ground, a bloody smear that was once a wolf under him.
It was Ma that thought of the next one.
"Didn't you say your new apprentice used a sword…What about his?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened and he began to look around frantically.
It only took him a second to locate the giant blade.
The second he grabbed the hilt, he couldn't help but feel an unwelcome jolt, followed by...Not a voice but neither was it nothing. It was a feeling that reached to his very core.
'Assist my master in taming the beast.'
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
'Sentient?!'
Without a second thought, Jiraiya charged the Naruto/Kyubbi. Bringing the sharpened side of the sword straight onto the beast's unprotected side. To Jiraiya's surprise, without too much resistance, the sword managed to cut through the aura and into Naruto himself.
"So, it isn't as powerful as we thought. If it bleeds, it dies."
The Kyubbi's roar sent Jiraiya skidding backwards.
Before Jiraiya could even acknowledge him, Kyuubi/Naruto was holding him by the neck, his elongated claws digging into the legendary ninja's neck…When all of a sudden the vicious red eyes of the Kyuubi turn blue…
*In Naruto's Mindscape*
Slowly, Naruto stood; he felt as though he had just been stabbed… oh wait, he did.
It only took him a second to recognize where he was. He had only been there once but it was a time he would never forget. However, if he thought it was bad before…then damn!
The once giant blue lake of chakra was boiling with angry red chakra…the dam that held the fox at bay was gone, just a floating seal holding back a viciously laughing Nine Tailed Fox…
"Hahahahaha! Just two more minutes and I will be free to roam the world for the first time in over 100 years…And it's your entire fault! Hahahahaha!"
Naruto's eyes went wide for two reasons…One, the Kyubbi was going to escape. Two, he had been locked up for over 100 years…that was news to him.
"I won't allow it…"
Kyubbi's smile just got even more vicious.
"You say something? Boy!"
Naruto stood tall, and turned hard, blue eyes towards the giant fox.
"I SAID! I WON'T ALLOW IT!"
Naruto stood tall, the blue and red water both, bending to his will.
Holding out his hand, the two color water blended together, forming his sword.
The Kyubbi could only watch, shocked as the human before him was powerful enough to command his chakra. There had only been one other human to ever be able to do that, and he had been dead for many millennia.
Naruto admired the power coming from the giant purple sword.
"It's over Kyubbi. I won't allow you to hurt anyone I care about!"
Naruto jumped as high as he could, making it at least 50 feet over the Kyubbi.
The demon fox could do nothing but watch as the boy plunged his sword deep into his skull, causing the fox more pain than it could ever remember.
"REMEMBER THIS NEXT TIME YOU TRY AND ESCAPE! I WON'T ALLOW IT!"
With that, Naruto jumped back as the fox's chakra rejoined him in the seal, converging at his wound in order to heal him.
Jiraiya could only watch, shocked as all eight tails of chakra began to disappear.
"H-how?"
Naruto's blue eyes looked at the man in front of him.
"Your nose looks funny, Jiraiya."
Without another word, Naruto was unconscious.
"I wonder why The Great Toad Sage forbid you to teach him summoning. He would be an incredible summoner."
Jiraiya just looked to the two elderly toads on his shoulders.
"Speaking of that, you think you can find out why?"
Fukusaka shrugged.
"We can ask, but you know how the senile old bastard it. He probably won't remember what we're talking about."
Jiraiya nodded as the two toad bid him goodbye before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
"Th-that's…"
Jiraiya nodded to Tsunade who was slowly approaching him.
"W-why is he a Kiri nin?"
Jiraiya shrugged.
"He was hated in Konoha, Sarutobi-sensei sent him to Kiri as part of the alliance."
"O-oh…"
Jiraiya, comforted her, using one of his rare, non-perverted smiles.
"It's ok Hime, he's happy. He is married to a woman he loves. He has 'parents' that love him, even if they'll never admit it."
"H-he's married?"
Jiraiya nodded.
"Why did he come here?"
Now Jiraiya looked down sadly.
"His wife is in critical condition, the medics in Konoha refuse to attempt to heal her because they know she will die."
"What is wrong with her?"
"Her Aorta Arch was severed."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
"H-how?"
"The snake bastard's little protégée."
Tsunade spoke in a surprised whisper.
"Chakra Scalpel"
Jiraiya nodded.
"How is she alive?"
Jiraiya stood up in front of his teammate.
"She is from Kiri's Yuki clan, allowing her control over ice. She froze her body before the damage progressed too far. The medics said she had about forty seconds after she was defrosted…"
Tsunade's eyes went wide. All this seemed too familiar.
"Dan died from a severed Aorta Arch. His was the fastest I had ever done. That one took me 44 seconds… I don't know if I can do it."
"You must try. For your Godson."
They both knew pointing that out, was a low blow. But she had been grieving her own losses and hadn't even seen either Minato or Kushina in years when she had heard. She just added them as others that she mourned.
"I-I'll try."
Jiraiya smiled.
"Are you well enough to travel?"
Tsunade's eyes went wide.
"Now?"
Jiraiya smirked.
"The kid will be insufferable if he is awake during the trip back. Let's make it while he's quiet."
She just gave her perverted teammate an amused nod.
Jiraiya summoned a frog the size of an elephant and all four rode back towards Konoha, with Tsunade keeping an eye on Naruto. Something Jiraiya was very thankful for. Because he has so rarely used his demon's chakra, his body in not accustomed to it, causing a lot of damage.
Even after the long trip to Konoha, Naruto was still out. However, Tsunade assured Jiraiya that everything was alright.
As soon as she arrived, Sarutobi and the council greeted her, Jiraiya had told her they wanted her to consider becoming Hokage during the trip and she still wasn't sure about it.
"Shut up! Before I do anything, I'm healing this boy's wife, along with anyone else that needs emergency attention…Understand?"
Knowing the woman's temper, everyone just nods.
"Good"
Tsunade and Shizune just began to make their way to the hospital, a determined fire in Tsunade's eyes.
That is it for Ch. 10! Finally after 6 months this chapter is over!
-Just so there is no confusion. No, Naruto can't control the Kyubbi at all. He merely distracted the beast long enough so it missed its opportunity to overtake his body.
-This is straight off of Wiki, so it could be wrong. The Aorta Arch is basically the 'intersection' of most of your main arteries. I don't imagine it taking long to bleed out if that was damaged.
Please Review! Let me know what you thought!
Chapter 11 should be posted next Friday, but unfortunately shit happens. If not Friday, then definitely by Sunday. Anyways I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please let me know.