Oh, the humanity! There was no chapter last week! XD Sorry bout that, but thing with my father came up and I didn't have the time (nor strength) to write even a single line, much less the whole chapter (I'll try to make it up to you guys with some multiply update once the eliminations will come to an end, but I'm not promising anything). Basically I'm busy all week long since Monday as well, but once I returned from work today, I sat down to it and kinda miraclessly managed to actually finish this.
I seriously had doubts if I'll be able to, coz the instant I sat down to it, I found lack of inspiration. For some reason I couldn't get through writing the parts when Sabure used her abilities. That kinda annoyed me, as I wrote Gaara's fights in the past and as it's not hard to figure out, Sabure uses similar style. But in the end I managed to combine Ibuki's fighting style with how Sabure fights and I'm actually pretty happy with the final result of it all. Though, as I did wrote it down, I came to realize that this match may take longer then I first intended it to… and since Takai vs. Kyuu is still ahead… damn.
Upon reading your reviews, I came to realize very few of you actually give Ibuki any chances at winning (though most would prefer she'd advance). Do you really believe I have nothing in stored for this match? I'll stop right there, coz as you all probably figured out by now, I hate spoiling things, but I do assure you both Ibuki and Sabure has tricks up their sleeves you, hopefully, don't see coming. And, since I'm at reviews, as always I wanna thank everyone who did took their time to leave a comment. Arigatou!
At this point I also wanted to remind everyone, who didn't voted yet, that they still have a chance to do so! The rules of the voting are written down in chapter 93! Remember: every vote counts and the contest is coming to an end pretty soon!
Now, before I'll invite you to read the newest chapter of N:NG, one, last warning: as I already stated, I had little time this week and thus I'm saying it straight: I finished this chapter around 5 minutes ago and I didn't had the time nor strength to proof-read, so I wanna apologize in advance for probably higher then usual number of grammar mistakes. I just figured that if I won't submit this one, you might had to wait another week for the update and came to the conclusion that since with me there are always grammar mistakes, you hopefully won't mind this once. But still, sorry for the inconvenience.
And with that, I believe I can start the freshest chapter of N:NG! Hope you'll find it worth waiting for:
Chapter #98: The Legacy
Title Page: Sabure is standing with a raccoon laying on top of her head
"If you won't give up now… I will kill you" Sabure said with an emotionless voice. Hearing this, Funbo merely smirked: "I think I'm gonna like her" he stated, making Horohoro throw him a look, yet the blue-haired boy said nothing.
"Those eyes and techniques" began Naruto, narrowing his eyes as he gazed at Kankuro. "They just confirm what was basically obvious anyway; she is Gaara's daughter. However that fact brings a certain question to mind… although it's been a long while since I last talked to Gaara, I recall him have two children… twins… a boy and a girl. That means both are the same age and should the boy enter the exams it's doubtful he wouldn't reach this far. So, where's this girl's brother and why didn't he enter the exams? Was someone of Gaara's strength not ready to do so?"
The puppeteer merely shoot him a quick look, before turning back to the arena, as he replied: "Not quite… Touba's absence during these exams is of a different nature. For him it'd be problematic to attend it… since he's already dead…" and at those words Naruto's eyes shoot opened as he gave the sand-nin a confused glance: "What the hell are you talking about? How can Gaara's kid get killed? In the past there were countless assaults on Gaara's life even when before he graduated from the Academy and yet, regardless to how skill the assassin was, Gaara preserved! And his son possessed the same abilities as him! I know, because I saw it when the kid was only five! How is it possible that with those skills he was killed, especially since he was the Kazekage's child?"
"Well, it may be hard to accept for you, but these are the facts, I'm afraid" Temari cut in, lowering her sight. "Touba was killed before he could even graduate from the Academy. And the one to kill him… was Takai" and instantly, at hearing those words, Kai jumped away from the scythe user, clinging onto Kumiko, who just dropped him onto the floor annoyed.
"But this boy seems to be around that gourd girl's age" Hinata noted in her mind as she examined Takai with her eyes. "That'd mean he was less then twelve!" but at this point Kai exploded as he pointed an accusing finger at the black-haired sand-nin: "What the hell is your problem? Do you really mean to say you killed a member of your own village? Whatever reason could one have to do that?"
"There's more to it then you think" Tarakudo cut in, chuckling behind his bandages. "Wanna hear the fun part? The truth is Touba was Takai's best friend" and at that statement the loud mouth's jaw dropped: "You can't be serious! Why the hell did he killed him then? What sort of friend would do such a thing?" the boy demanded, not even realizing that Naruto's eyes narrowed at those words: "Those reasons always turn out to be meaningless in the end… isn't that right, Sasuke? You should know… since you did kill me…"
However a sudden noise made everyone turn their attention back to the fight bellow. Sabure's sand once again shoot at Ibuki, this time in the form of long, thick whips, each ended with a spike. As the young assassin ran to her left in order to avoid the raining spikes, she reached for her porch again and jumping forward to dodge the sand whip that struck from above, she rested her free hand on the ground, while she unleashed the shuriken from the other. Yet also this time the shinobi stars got stopped by a wall of sand that arose from the gourd.
In a flash the wall began swirling and forming itself into a dragon, it came right at Ibuki, whose feet just touched the ground. As the sand beast came, sliding on the floor, the young assassin acted on instinct and jumping up, she somersaulted, making the 'monster' go below her. However while she tried to land safely on the dragon's back, another head shoot out of it, this time hitting the leaf-nin heads-on and sending her flying back, cutting her skin in several places.
While Ibuki was still in mid-air, the sand suddenly switched directions, thus tossing her straight at the ground and making her crash hard against it with her back, as she cough out blood. The instant the dragon retreated, the young assassin rolled away, getting back to her feet a second later. She was already panting, while pain shoot through her left shoulder, yet she merely clenched her teeth and narrowed her left eye to stop anything from showing an obvious injury.
"This is ridiculous" stated Hari with a little bored tone. "Even now you can tell that girl has no chance against Sabure. Why even bother continuing?" she asked, turning towards her father, yet Kankuro didn't reply. Meanwhile Ibuki reached for her hostel again, picking out more, throwing weapons.
"Again?" the redhead girl asked with an emotionless voice. "Do you not see this won't work? My sand will stop this assault regardless. Just give up, before I really do kill you. It doesn't take much to realize you're nearing the edge with every second…"
"Blah, blah, blah…" the young assassin shoot back with a smirk appearing on her face. Instantly she unleashed the weapons, making them head towards the Suna gennin. As the knives and shinobi stars came closer, a familiar wall of sand rose yet again, blocking their way. Surprisingly however, Ibuki's smirk only widen as she quickly maneuvered her hands, throwing the incoming blades of course and making them flank the sandy barrier.
"She attached strings to them!" Horamaru realized instantly as the weapons came at Sabure from every direction. The redhead eye's widen slightly at the turn of events, yet immediately more sand shoot from her gourd, forming an umbrella above her head with a sole purpose to stop the incoming blades. As the first shinobi stars collided with the barrier, the sand began pouring down from the edges, also blocking the weapons that came nearer the floor.
"Even with that, she still managed to block" Ibuki cursed in her mind as she jumped back, letting go of the strings upon realizing Sabure's sand went for her using them. "That freaking sand of hers must work regardless to her will. This makes it more troublesome then I have anticipated…"
"Ibuki-chan, watch out!" Kusari's voice suddenly rang in her ears and upon looking down, she realized her opponent's sand laid right beneath her feet. She was only quick enough to widen her eyes as the sand instantly shoot up, wrapping around her, while forming into a hand, crushing some of her ribs in the process. This time however, the young assassin was incapable of holding back the yell of pain.
"Sabaku Kyuu" Sabure announced, still as emotionless as before, while she held up her right hand, controlling the sand the engulfed the young assassin. "With this technique I can crush your entire body in less then a split second. I will repeat myself: you're not the one I wish to kill, thus I give you this one, last chance to surrender. Fail to do so and your blood will paint crimson this room…"
"Dammit, she has total control of that stupid sand" Kumiko analyzed quickly. "And this is in an isolated room! Who terrifying she can be when the sand covers the ground as well?" and at that she shivered, also realizing the situation her teammate was in.
"Just as I thought" Funbo said to himself with a bored tone.
"Damn…" Ibuki cursed under her nose. "And I thought I could finish this in better shape too" she announced and it was only then that a frizzling sound reached Sabure's ears. Her eyes widen as explosions covered her completely, lifting up tons of smoke.
"She got her!" yelled Hanamaru surprised as he leaned over the rail. Takaru merely narrowed his eyes as a tiny smirk crossed his face: "So you didn't just tie strings to those weapons, but also attached explosive tags to them? Nice, Ibuki…" and with that thought he settled his gaze at the smoke, that slowly began clearing.
As their view became clearer, most people's eyes widen in surprise as in the place Sabure was now stood a dome of sand. Ibuki merely gazed with disappointment at the sandy barrier as the sand began dropping, freeing the redhead girl from the darkness within, revealing the Suna kunoichi standing just like she was before the explosion.
"I take it you're not surrendering" concluded Sabure in her usual, emotionless voice and with a quick motion, she tightened her fist, making the hand of sand squeeze, in a flash popping, spraying everyone gathered in the room with warm substance. Taki shivered in horror as she did not bare to watch. It took her a moment to realize that what fallen upon her, was not liquid.
The boomerang user gazed at her hand confused, seeing the last, tiny granules falling off it to the floor. "Sand?" she noticed, even more surprised, looking around. Karame already felt a single drop of sweat running down his face beneath the bandages: "That Konoha brat… she broke through Sabure's sand!"
"Could it be…?" Dekai wondered, narrowing his eyes, yet remained silent.
Sabure followed his example, narrowing her eyes, as they rested on Ibuki, who was standing few meters away from her, breathing quickly, however a wide smile could easily be spotted upon her face: "This is not good" she stated with a sorrowful voice. "It seems physical attacks won't get through that stupid sand of yours, which makes my weapon throwing skills completely useless against you. Naruto-sensei was right: you are the worst, possible opponent for me… however I cannot allow myself to lose here. How would it look to be the only one of my team to fail? I'm really out of options here" and with that she managed a weak and short laugh.
"She just realized she can't win and she's laughing?" concluded Aoru, totally confused. "Is she insane?" and with that question she turned towards Torune, yet her teammate didn't reply. The blonde's eyes were settled on the weapon mistress, drilling through the young assassin.
"This was supposed to be my thumb card for the finals" Ibuki went on, still smiling. "A key to defeating my brother. Sadly there will be no finals without it. I guess you might call it an irony" and with that she laughed again, yet Sabure still didn't react.
Once the Leaf kunoichi calmed down, he eyes settled on the redhead as well, while she went into her fighting style: "Watch closely, my friend, coz I'm about to show you something few outside the Tanken clan are aware of… I'll show you Tanken's ninjutsu!"
---releasing destructive power… next issue: Tanken's Ninjutsu!---
And that's it for now. Hope some of the 'sensations' from this chappie did surprise you, but more importantly I do hope you enjoyed the chapter itself. The only techniques used this time around are those of Sabure's, that are basically originally Gaara's tricks, but at the very least I can give you a translation to the name of the jutsu mentioned:
Sabaku Kyuu (Desert Coffin… like you wouldn't know XD)
Konoha #7: Murasakki Kumiko, Tanken Ibuki (in progress), Gekido Takaru, Hagane Kusari, Haisha Kai
Konoha #3: Konpaku Rei, Amagasa Toku, Debano Kitsune, Gusoku Hanamaru
Konoha #4: Benda Kokoro, Kobushi Galu
Konoha: Hamano Taki, Hyuuga Hitomi, Manako Akira, Tanken Funbo, Horohoro
Suna #1: Aoru, Torune, Honemaru, Tarakudo, Takai
Suna #2: Sabaku no Sabure (in progress), Hari, Dekai, Horamaru, Karame
Kusa: Hokku Tobane, Kanraku Nezumi, Kuchibashi Taka, Kyohaku Tokame, Wanabi Hizoku
Ame: Furikuzu Tsuino, Hebereke Nazaa
Bakufu: Abura Tetsu
Tsuki: Junsei Teela, Tenka
Hane: Ono Reiji
Kumori: Kyuu
And this truly concludes this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. Take care and may the Kage Bushin be with you! Until next time!