Clash in the Snow Country: Legacy Version
Chapter 25–Out in the Open
Black Fang Castle, Hell Asylum
8:38 pm
Seven minutes. That's how long it took for the small group of ninja to run through the Hell Asylum to the exit. Seven minutes of passing exhibits depicting the deaths of people who had stood up to Doto during his ten year reign and were killed for their efforts. The reasons stated on the plaques for why these people fought back ranged from expected actions such as revolting, to seemingly petty nuisances like refusing to go to work. The horrors that Doto used on each of these groups need not be discussed or explained. Anything possibly stated would merely reinforce what was already known: Doto was a cold and heartless man who enjoyed butchering those he called enemies.
What will be stated are three facts learned by Team 7 during their nightmarish run.
The first was that had they not had a guide, they would have been lost in here for hours. Constantly running around, being affected by the dying moments of all those entombed in this place. The second was the discovery of an empty lot, dedicated to Sandyuu and his men when the bodies were recovered.
The third was the night of the coup and Sousetsu's death. This one, they deliberately stopped at much to Hisomu's dismay. After everything they learned and seen in the Snow Country, there was a silent acknowledgement between the three genin. They wanted to see what had happened, wanted to know what had brought this about.
As one, they took a step forward and relieved a nightmare that had never ended.
Black Fang Castle Courtyard
Same time
Explosions ranged throughout the stone battlements and wooden buildings. Over thirty Yuki-nin proceeded to fight against their fellows and those of the samurai stationed here. An ice tiger slammed into one kunoichi's chest, sending her following off the wall and down the deep cliff face to her doom. Two Samurai stabbed another shinobi through the chest, only for it to be revealed as an Ice Clone as the original ninja lopped off their heads from behind… seconds after being punctured with kunai.
And the blood leapt from the dying Murasaki as his final act, wrapping around the necks of the three Loyalists and snapping their necks, before he himself ceased breathing.
Several explosions collided, building off one another as several Loyalists were thrown into the air. Flipping around to regain themselves as they bit their thumbs. As soon as their feet touched the ground, they slammed their hands in unison. Smoke erupted around them, revealing the forms of a dozen forty meter tall wolves, each of them snarling blood as they looked upon the traitors deemed as 'prey.'
In response, one of the rebels jumped down next to Shiroikuma Kugi, forming seals.
"Ninpou: Yeti! Cho Baika no Jutsu!"
"Hyouton: Aisu Jaianto no Jutsu!"
Ice began collecting forming a fifty meter tall ice armored Samurai standing next to a hundred meter tell Yeti.
A primal roar came from the makeshift Yeti's mouth, accepting the challenge of the Wolf pack as the battle of giants commenced.
Grand Hall
Michy rushed forward and slashed with his katana with a Broken Samurai. Their blades pushed against one another as a Snow Shinobi jumped over head, blasting the former man with a wind blast. Ken was twirling knives in his hands like a pro. Each knife he threw embedded itself in the neck of an enemy. Hidero had picked up a spear, smacking the butt of the weapon into every Broken he could. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kaijo running over all like a maniac, tears flooding out of his eyes as a deformed Snow Ninja chased him all over, like a starving man after a jackrabbit. Hidero turn around and hurled his borrowed weapon as hard as he could. Kaijo screamed like a little girl (severely wetting himself) as he ducked, the polearm hitting the Broken Ninja square between the eyes. The neck snapped back so hard he fell flat on his back. Two Snow Samurai shoved their weapons in its chest immediately after, pinning their lost countryman to the ground.
At the doorway, Makino stood in front of it with the keen impression of an iron wall. Two broken shinobi were rushing him hurling kunai as they did. Not at him but at the door way. With a swift movement from his left foot, he kicked a fallen chair, directly in the path of those kunai. He jumped into the air and kicked the thing back, plowing it so hard, it crashed into the two former men, sending them flying across the hall in Akufu's direction. The snow hag didn't so much as blink as the two men and flying furniture passed her.
Steam blew from the old woman's nose like she was a bull. Indeed, she looked ready to charge forward like one. Instead she raised her hand over her head. Damaged kunai, swords, even pieces of armor flew towards her hand, collecting upon themselves and merging into a double-bladed naginata.
At once, each of the remaining Broken stopped in their tracks and fell back to each side of Akufu. All looking ready to charge. Instinctively, the movie crew and snow personnel that still had their own mind began bunching up on either side of Makino.
Both sides ready for a final charge to end this.
"I grow tired of this." Akufu spoke. Her voice wasn't its old cranky version that had been previously. It sounded more like a woman in her early twenties. She began spinning double sided naginata with green flames springing to life once more. Green fire flowed around her in damning circles as the full weight her chakra suddenly hit the entire room, which made everyone feel the need to really take a long bath. It wasn't normal chakra… nor did it seem anything like a Bijuu's either.
Many of the movie crew began crying at fear, and more than one begged Makino to open the doors so they could flee. And the ninja supporting them couldn't disagree. The old director merely stood his ground as if deaf as he took two pills from his pocket and lopped them in his mouth.
That's when the green fire flung towards four of the Broken Ninja, each of them a former Jounin. No sound of pain came from the former men's mouths, but the way their bodies suddenly jerked from coming in contact with the flames made it clear if they could have, they would have screamed in pain.
The four burning Broken took off in a mad rush towards the normal humans in the room. Several of the Snow Ninja prepared a jutsu but in the time they took to form their seals, Makino has already threw several objects at the Broken Ninja. What looked like misshapen coal rocks hit the chest of each broken, bursting open, secreting a green like liquid. The strange liquid constricted on the four burning men, causing each of them to fall to the ground as the flames finishing them off.
But that was what Akufu was hoping for. The instant her foe had acted, she did as well. The first of her green flames rushed forward in a frenzy towards the opposite end of the hallway. As Makino was in the middle of a motion, he was unable to act. Adrenaline surges triggered the flight or fight response in everyone else around him and they all jumped away towards the side walls.
The green flames continued snaking along, then branching out into two lines at the edge of the big oak doorways, blasting up the frames, then to the ceiling, cutting off everyone inside those two lines of flames: Makino… and Akufu, along with every broken soldier she had left. The remaining Ninja and movie crew huddled against the walls, unable to get closer.
Trapped.
More green fire burst at the old woman's feet as she gave a battlecry, riding the flames like a surfer towards her prey, each of the Broken flanking her as they all rushed towards the lone Makino. The former Samurai and Shinobi hurled everything they could at him from kunai to helmets in a barrage that even Maito Gai would had found difficult to dodge.
Makino managed to avoid or block the first few projectiles, but a kunai found its mark, burying itself in his right shoulder. The second he extracted and knocked it aside, two shuriken came in and hit him in the left leg and right hand.
"BOSS!"
Try as he might to avoid, he simply couldn't avoid them all and with the walls of flames, he had nowhere to run. A dart hit his lower stomach, a sword piercing his right foreman, a spear pierced his left foot, further pinning him down.
Seeing this, the Snow Ninja began firing whatever Ice Jutsu they could at the advancing horde on the old man. Only about half of those jutsu that were able to break through the green flaming walls, and Akufu deliberately used the broken as human shields against those that did manage to get through. It was clearly wearing down the Broken numbers, but Akufu herself was untouched in her deadly charge, clearly not caring at all as her 'men' fell around her.
But it seemed for each warrior that fell in that charge, Makino took another hit.
Ten feet away from Makino, Akufu only had a dozen or so Broken left with her. At that moment, Makino breathed out fire towards them.
"Those pills!"Kaijo shouted, remembering what the man had swallowed prior.
Makino's homemade fire struck the advancing enemy, colliding with Akufu herself and erupting in a big explosion. It shook the very foundations of the Great Hall, hurling both man and merchandise into the cold, stone walls.
But before the smoke even cleared, six Broken rushed out, the others having been once again sacrificed as human shields. Akufu had half of her faceburned from the attack but her clothes were barely scorched. However, every fiber of her being was now focused completely on the director.
Acting on this, two shinobi – one Loyalist and one rebel – charged forward towards the green walls that separated them. The heat made them sweat fiercely as their heavy clothes worked against them, each preparing their next strike to stop the mad woman. However, the woman's katana stretched out like taffy, killing both at once. Shrieking like a mad woman, she spun her weapon around and slashed Makino – his body still riddled with weapons and his entire chest area was covered in blood, his right arm broken and useless, his left arm was bent in an unnatural shape and both legs horribly mangled – down the chest.
"KILL HIM!" Akufu roared
The man clenched his teeth in an effort to stop himself from screaming, his glasses hiding the silent horror in his eyes as many yelled 'MAKINO!' as the Broken closed in. The first one stuck its spear in his gut. Makino whipped his arm around, knocking the 'man' in front of another, making the two collide. The third broken reared back it's club and slammed it down on Makino's skull. The director merely lunged forward with a headbutt, making the Broken fall flat on the ground, making two others trip over it. The final one, wielding two long knives, hit Makino in an open wound. Somehow, Makino managed to kick the man directly, the Broken flying into the green flames incinerating him.
That's when Akufu herself appeared in front of the man, her right hand glowing black as before as shoved it against Makino's chest.
"I got you this – " Akufu started to brag but Makino's body lurched forward as he lips pressed themselves against hers.
Needless to say everyone's eyes flew open at this.
The old woman's face flushed a more natural shade of red. Insulted, embarrassed and ultimate humiliation reached new levels as she backhanded Makino away, slamming him against the doorways he was protecting.
That's when a smile slowly, but surely, appeared on Makino's face.
"Keep that camera rolling."
The movie crew and even their ninja and samurai allies came within an ant's width of face-faulting right then and there as Makino reared his head back, looking at the ceiling as though they were the heaven's themselves.
"The Konoha No Gogyou… WILL PREVAIL!"
Those last two words he shouted with every last bit of strength of the man could manage. Then his body slouched, sliding down the doors he was protecting until he hit the floor, his arms useless at his side and his legs still managing a sitting position, his head toppling forward against his chest. Had it not been for all the blood, it would had looked like he was sleeping.
Shouts of his name mixed with shouts of disbelief erupted from those around the fallen man. Akufu barely heard them retracting her blades to their initial size. A cheeky grin appeared on her face as she reared back her weapon…
… then froze on the spot.
Her eyes shot open wide as she tried to move and failed miserably. "Nani?" She squeaked out in sheer shock. She willed her body to move, but it would not comply.
Then she remembered. Makino had taken two pills! Only one had been used for that flame attack, the other was some kind of nerve toxin! No wonder he had refused to scream out in pain despite all those attacks! He had carefully kept those pills in his mouth until he was ready to use them… and used that kiss to deposit the second one in her!
NO! This could NOT be happening! He was right there, just asking for her to chop off his head! She would not be denied her… that's when her thoughts left her as she felt her body give a brief shake. It took 1.2 seconds for her to register what was happen and her faced showed complete horror.
Oh No!
The pill was interfering with her chakra. She felt it being clogged up and waning. The white glove slipped off her free hand, revealing dozens of small seals inscribed inside it. At the same time, the green flames slowly started to die off as her chakra was cut off. She desperately willed it to remain, seeing the angry and sad faces all glaring at her… and all her Broken were smashed thanks to her reckless pursuit of this devil of a man!
Despite how much she wanted it to remain, the green fire walls died away. Many rushed towards the fallen Makino, medical ninja among them. Suigen Kiganai, however, was the first to leap forward at her, wearing his metal claws with that Leech Ice on those blades as he came right towards her.
"JASHIN-SAMA!" Akufu called out in desperation.
No answer came as Kiganai slashed the immobile witch across the chest. The ice attached themselves to her body and began sucking the blood, warmth and chakra out of her. Kiganai formed more of his clan's specialized ice and slashed at her again… and again.
Youba Akufu screamed as the leech encase began engulfing her entire body, sucking up every bit of energy they could from her. She shriveled more and more with each inch the ice encompassed her until she was a completely withered husk trapped inside ice, her face frozen in a silent plea for help.
It took her fifteen minutes to die.
Hallway of Black Fang
Sasuke
After finally exiting the Hell Asylum (the hidden exit turned out to be underneath the mock up Sousetsu's throne in the coup recreation ) and waking up Koyuki, they continued towards Doto's throne room, the most likely place he would be in a crisis according to their makeshift Loyalist/Guardian guide.
As the Snow Ninja had worked here, he knew exactly where to go and the best ways to avoid any potential conflicts or traps. Still, some of the fighting came across their way. One Snow Ninja slammed another one into the stone wall before running down the hallway, the group having no idea if the winner was a rebel or a loyalist.
"Alright," Hisomu said abruptly as they came to a stop at a junction to the left and right. "Either way will take us to the throne room, we just need to secure both routes, then we can hit Doto."
"Sounds like a plan," Sakura looking both directions. "Start with left or right hallway?"
"Let's hit both, meet up in the center." Sasuke said.
"Split up?" Naruto summarized his sole eye narrowing slightly as he considered it. He slapped his hands together and rubbed them. "Yeah, you're right. It's time to just go for it and to hell with planning. Guess I'll go with – "
"Enrai and I will go left, you three go right," Sasuke interrupted.
Everyone looked at him. Because of that, none of the others saw the Snow Ninja reflexively grip his chokuto.
"Need to divide up and play on what we have. Naruto's chakra may still be sealed, but his nose still works… assuming he didn't lose that ability and isn't just deadweight now…"
"I CAN still beat the crap out of you, Kizuato."
"And that's a 'yes'," Sakura said, giggling under her breath.
"Naruto can smell, I can use my Sharingan to scan. Best way to identify trouble. Naruto's worked with Enrai here already, we need to mix up so everyone can work efficiently together." Sasuke went on.
It was reasonable. Logical even. No one argued and it was a sound plan.
And they, with the possible exception with Koyuki, knew it was still complete bullshit.
Sasuke was positive Sakura had figured it out, and while Naruto may have not known the details, he was beginning to get the jist of everything. Koyuki was just looking at the four ninja in turn, she seemed to be realizing that something was out of place.
So they separated, Sasuke and Hisomu going down the left wing passage, the others down the right. Sasuke let Hisomu take the lead. Once they got ten meters down the hallway, Sasuke said. "Alright, that's far enough."
Hisomu looked over his shoulder. "Sasuke-san, we need to – "
"Don't insult my intelligence. You already know what's going on. Drop the act, Taigi."
The man didn't respond at first. He just looked at the boy. "I guess I should have said something when you called me 'Enrai', which I didn't tell to you or the girl. What gave me away?"
"Does it matter?"
"I suppose not. So, what do you want, Uchiha?"
"I'm getting the truth out of you. What's your angle? Are you with those other Snow Ninja, or you just waiting to stab me and my team in the back and give our heads to Doto?"
Taigi's eyes seemed to bore directly into the Uchiha boy. His hand came up and he removed the hood and pulled down the face mask as he had done before. Sasuke's eyes once again looked at the scar that cut across his cheek and through his left ear. "I want Doto's head. I also want yours, but I'm willing to put that aside until the job is done. There are enough opponents already without us turning on each other."
"So you expect me to just sit back and wait for an 'ally,'" Sasuke made sure the contempt was heard in his voice. "to cut my throat in the midst of all this chaos?"
"What are you suggesting?"
"The others are down the other hallway. I estimate we have about two minutes before we'll have to reconvene. You want my hide for killing your lover, fine. I want you off my back." He shifted into a fighting stance. "And unlike last time, I'm at full strength. I'll only need one minute for you."
"I'm not that weak. As I recall, I won our previous encounter." Taigi took a deep breath as his eyes glanced down the hallway and then at the Leaf genin himself. "A fight between us like this will take more than two minutes. Tell me Uchiha, how confident are you with your sword?"
Sasuke's hand clasped around the hilt of his third (or was it fourth? He had no idea) borrowed weapon. A katana was still largely unfamiliar to him. The blade was slightly too long, it's weight uncomfortable on his hand and had no formal training at all, having to rely on his Sharingan and basic weapon training. "Confident enough."
He wasn't positive if Taigi bought his bravado or not. But he did raise an eyebrow when he pulled out the scroll Sasuke knew contained his other blades. "Time's of the essence. Sword to sword. No Ninjutsu. No tech. No bloodlines."
Before Sasuke could say another word, Taigi reached behind him and tossed his Chakra Pack to the side. The Shin Guards followed next, followed by the gauntlets and finally the standard weapon holsters. Sasuke gave a smirk with more confidence than he actually felt as he took off his own weapon's holster and tossed it, keeping the katana in his hands.
Taigi's scroll summoned his two normal katanas as he placed his chokuto in his mouth as before. The second his other two blades were in his grasp - reverse style once more - he charged forward at the Uchiha. "Santoryu: Biisuto Kyoubou!"
Blades came slashing at Sasuke from seemingly every direction. Sasuke's sword danced side to side, intercepting with sparks flying from each blow. He kept a constant pace backwards so Taigi couldn't close in on him with all the wild blows. Even without the Sharingan on, Sasuke prided himself on being able to analyze and read his opponent. Just waiting for the right moment…
It came as Taigi crossed his two hand blades like a pair of scissors and slashed. At that moment, Sasuke dropped his weight, allowing gravity to pull him to the ground. As the swords hit thin air where his throat had been, he kicked off the wall behind him and lunged forward shooting past the Snow Ninja. He stamped his left foot to the ground and kicked off aiming for the man's back.
That's when the man's foot hit Sasuke's wrist. The Uchiha heir felt his arm flung up, his sword flying out of his grasp. Taigi hopped around, bringing about his other foot and kicking the boy across the chest. The blow propelled him into the opposite wall, stunning him for a brief moment. His sword clattered next to him.
Taigi's form came at him, as Sasuke forced himself to roll on the ground, collecting his weapon as he did, just missing the man's dual swords by several hair's width.
"I thought it was swords only." Sasuke accused jumping back to his feet.
"I said 'Ninjutsu, Tech and Bloodlines.' Taijutsu's not in the list."
"Perhaps you should try being a lawyer, not a ninja."
Taigi's only answer was to charge once more. "Santoryu: Biisuto Keiteki!"
He brought both of his hand blades together, pointing straight forward, mimicking an animal horn as the name suggested. This time, Sasuke ran forward to met the attack, swinging his blade around and slamming the hilt of his katana against the dual points. This action caught Taigi off guard, and Sasuke further capitalized on it, using the full amount of his strength and forcing his opponent's blades upward.
Naturally, this also forced Sasuke's arms and sword upward but as he expecting it, he was ready. Shifting the blade around, he adjusted his grip and swung it downward towards Taigi's chest. The Snow Ninja whipped his head around, his mouth sword clashing with Sasuke's strike. The Uchiha was astonished at how much force was in the blow and found himself off balance. And by this time, Taigi had regained momentum for his hand swords and slashed downward at Sasuke.
Sasuke barely had time to put his hand on the ground and flip away from the strikes. Sweat was beginning to trickle down his face as it was becoming apparent that this might not had been such a good idea. Need to thi-
He didn't even get the chance to finish his thought process as Taigi was already coming at him, swinging his swords like a madman. Sasuke backtracked as fast as he could, blocking as best as he was able. This time, any time he got near a wall, Taigi cut him off and forced him back into the open space of the hallway. Sooner or later, he was going to get tired—
That's when Sasuke's foot slipped on some loose rocks.
—or make a mistake.
Sasuke's false bravado was swept away, every facial feature screaming 'OH SHIT!' as Taigi's foot connected squarely with Sasuke's jaw. His head snapped back and he was back on the ground before he knew it. Taigi's foot came down and stomped on Sasuke's chest in repeated succession.
"Come on, Uchiha! Get off your ass and fight back!" Taigi roared, the fire from their previous fight returning full force.
Sasuke's only response was to keep grunting in pain. His chest was aching tremendously and breathing was much harder. In desperation, he picked up the same loose rocks he tripped on and hurled them at Taigi's face. The man's left sword swatted them away with pathetic ease.
But in that moment, the kicking stopped and Sasuke offered up his own. His foot planted itself in the young man's rear, catapulting the man into the stone wall head first.
The blow stunned the Yuki-nin, but Sasuke wasn't much better as he picked himself up, cursing himself for allowing him to agree to such ridiculous terms because his pride told him he could win. The man was faster with a sword, more experienced, had three of them, and hadn't been fighting all day.
An obvious conclusion came to his mind. Which mattered more: his pride or his life?
And he hated himself for knowing which he would say 'yes' to.
Taigi rubbed his face and looked back at his foe, ready to strike again. Sasuke steady himself as he held his sword up shoulder level, blade parallel to the ground.
"You're thinking of coming at me with a thrust at full speed and strength." Taigi commented, twirling his hand swords around. "A dangerous and foolish move for an amateur like yourself."
"Only if I'm not faster than you," Sasuke countered.
That seemed to strike a nerve and Taigi looked less certain. Through mixture of determination and wanting payback, he gripped his swords harder, preparing to meet Sasuke's charge with his own.
A fraction of a second later, they both dashed at each other, blades ready. Sasuke's stab went forward as Taigi brought his own weapons down Sasuke. "Santoryu: Biisuto Wana."
A Sword Breaker Technique.
Just as Sasuke anticipated.
Moments before their blades clashed, Sasuke's Sharingan snapped on. He allowed his blade be caught between Taigi's right hand sword and his mouth sword. Twisting his hands around, Sasuke's katana snapped into two pieces, the broken piece of blade hurling through the air. With the now suddenly shorter blade, Sasuke's strike moved past Taigi's swords, hitting him across the chest with the flat part of the blade. Nearly at the same moment, he kicked Taigi's hands sending the two normal sized katanas flying through the air. Not giving Taigi a chance to recover, he rotated his lighter weapon around and slammed the butt of the hilt the young man's stomach.
Taigi nearly doubled over, but Sasuke's next uppercut still found its target. Taigi was on the ground before he knew it, his chokuto off to the side as Sasuke's foot slammed down on the Chuunin's chest, the broken katana pointed at his throat. "Broken or not, this can still cut. You lose."
"… You not only used your Kekkei Genkai, you sacrificed your weapon for victory. No swordsman would have done that brat."
"I'm not swordsman; I'm a shinobi." Sasuke said. Then he pulled back his blade and removed his foot, reaching his free hand towards the Snow Shinobi.
"But you are a shinobi. And a swordsman. Throughout the fight, you kept your word. You stuck strictly to swordsmanship." That's more than I can say, Sasuke thought to himself, disgusted with himself that he had to break the pact in order to win. He definitely needed to work on this pride issue.
"You also had more than one chance to use killing blows, but you were careful of those since we both have enemies about. You never forgot what comes after this battle. You acted like a true swordsman, shinobi… and a better man than I." Those last words were uttered under his breath and Sasuke had to fight off the urge to avoid looking at Taigi.
Taigi gave a small laugh. "Defeating me and complimenting me, Uchiha?"
"If it matters to you that much, the scores even. One victory apiece. If you want another fight to square everything, I'll meet you later. So…what do you say?"
Taigi clasped Sasuke's hand and the teenager pulled him to his feet. Sasuke looked at the remains of his katana and tossed it over his shoulder. "Probably wouldn't be a good swordsman anyway. I keep breaking them." He muttered to himself as he reclaimed his kunai pouch.
"They say that the Uchiha clan was the massacred and the culprit was your brother." Sasuke's head turned around to see Taigi looking at him as he began reclaiming his equipment. He seemed… deflated somehow. Completely exhausted.
"What about it?"
"Your brother is the reason why you seek revenge and were so bitter. My brother… is the reason why I'm still alive."
His real name really was Hisomu, of the Enrai clan. Enrai had never been a powerful or influential clan, but they were regarded as solid as stone: standing their ground and never wavering. He was the second child of the family, eleven months younger than his brother, Taigi.
They had been close when they were younger but as they grew older, they drifted a little. That gap grew wider when Hisomu was accepted into the Saati Koukennin as opposed to Taigi. Taigi in turn, got in closer to Doto's slowly growing fraction in Yukigakure.
On the night of the coup, Hisomu had been on border patrol with the rest of the Guardians, making sure Mist wasn't attacking. In the course of one night, he went from a respected member of Yukigakure's honor guard to a labeled traitor. He did not know if Taigi had taken part in the coup directly, all he did know was that afterwards, Taigi was deemed a Loyalist.
They were enemies.
Hisomu had not believed any of Doto's accusations towards Mikata or Sousetsu, so he fought back to restore their names. A war, he soon came to realize, was a losing effect. A cry of an old man wanting to continue living in the present but had long outgrown in.
Five years into the strife, he had been cornered by his brother and for the first real time, they fought each other, holding nothing back. And Taigi won, scaring his brother's face and cutting off a portion of his left ear in the process.
But instead of killing his brother, he dropped his weapons and hugged him, apologizing for being stubborn and thickheaded, allowing the two to reconcile their past. He shoved his Loyalist Medallion into Hisomu, speaking his final sentence.
"It's the older brother's duty to protect the younger."
Hisomu later learned that while Taigi had won the fight, he had taken a fatal wound. And instead of hating his younger brother for it, he instead gave him a way out. While the two weren't twins, they did closely resemble each other to the point where only close family could really tell the difference. On top of the fact that the standard Yuki-nin attire included a hood and facial mask.
They switched places, with Taigi assuming his identity. In his final moments, he ran back towards his own comrades and died fighting Nadare, being killed in his place.
Hisomu had never felt lower in his life than that moment. Because he took the coward's way out and assumed his brother's identity, dropping the name 'Hisomu' even in his internal thoughts and becoming 'Taigi.' He justified it by saying it was logical. Taigi had been the victor and Hisomu the loser; it wasn't right for Taigi to die and for Hisomu to live.
But mostly, he wanted out of the dying war that his comrades fought in. And all he had to do was turn his back on the lingering survivors and hunt them.
For two years until the last Saati Koukennin was killed.
He avoided his clan and former close friends. He became a loner, the stone supporter to Doto. The others believed the act, feeling that killing family would tear the soul. During all that time, only one person discovered the truth, twenty months prior to the present day. The local Fire Psycho.
But instead of turning him in, she helped him through it. Two "outcasts", one deemed a local hothead, the other a hiding coward. For the first time since he assumed his brother's identity, he felt truly alive, that he really was worthy of living.
He had first spotted them when they landed that morning and did his best to mislead all the Snow Teams from discovering them. He sabotaged his own team's radios, so they wouldn't be able to support Alpha Team's strike on them. He had abandoned his comrades, his mission and his allegiances. He saw saving the lost Snow Princess, the daughter of his esteemed lord as a small way to make up for his cowardice.
But it all went to hell when Shiga died at the Leaf Ninja's hand.
The one person that could understand him was gone. As he did in the past, he turned his back on his duties in favor of ending the Uchiha bastard.
And he felt worse off as a result.
"I thought I had killed you…and I didn't feel any better. I just felt worse off. Not just because I once again abandoned the principals and oaths I had once sworn, not because I followed vengeance to get you and leaving her body in the wilderness… But because you three… young shinobi, outsiders, were doing what I should had been doing all along. And you were even succeeding." The man shook his head. "You know what? Revenge really doesn't help even if you achieve it. It just makes you feel emptier because your goal is gone and nothing has changed."
"Hisomu…"
"My name is Taigi. 'Hisomu' died years ago. I owe my brother that much." Taigi said, turning his back.
"If you really owe your brother that much, then live the life he gave you." Sasuke said quietly. "Label that life however you want, but live it. Don't throw it away."
Taigi didn't answer to that as they came back to the converging hallways, Koyuki, Naruto and Sakura already there. "What happened to you two?" Naruto demanded. Sakura took a look at the Snow Ninja and noticed the sliced ear, her eyes immediately darting to Sasuke, asking the silent question.
"Had to deal with a meddlesome Yuki-nin. He won't be a problem anymore." Sasuke replied, a slight smirk on his face.
The shinobi of the Snow merely chuckled. "Hai. That particular Snow Ninja won't be bothering anyone anymore."
Doto's Throne Room
Doto sat on top of his throne, clutching the right arm of the magnificent seat. The veins in his forehead looked ready to pop like an overcooked hotdog and had it been any other person, they would have by now. The only reason Doto hadn't let it all out was because there were appearances to maintain.
But appearances or not, his internal thoughts were another matter entirely!
How in the bloody, fucking hell did this happen?
The Leaf Genin he expected to make a racket. The wild, idiotic youngsters that had plagued him over the course of this day. Brave children, no one was denying that. A certain amount of damage had been expected from them.
Orochimaru had been a slightly different matter. No one in Snow had fully prepared to trust him. The Sand Village showed what happened when fools did so, but the potential the Snake offered had been too good to pass up. They just hadn't expected to be betrayed so soon. It didn't even make sense for Orochimaru to do so now! The Uchiha brat was still loose! What else did the bastard expect to claim by sabotaging their efforts now?
And while both of these had been foreseen, if not miscalculated, the third headache had not! Where the hell did these rebels come from! He was positive he had exterminated the last of them with that last retainer – what was his name again? Sand Dyu? It was so easy to lose track of them all – of his brother and his little group. Who were these new individuals? What did it take to finally stamp out all these pathetic radicals and establish his order?
A thought occurred to him when he realized he hadn't had an update from Akufu yet. He looked at the radio system built into the throne arm. She had hundreds of Samurai and dozens of Snow Ninja with her in the Great Hall. Against messily little movie producers. No… no, no, no, NO! She could not have lost as well! Not that witch! The image of that "director" flashed in his mind and the piece of throne he was clutching crumpled apart.
Suddenly an explosion rocked his entire throne room blasting apart the doors and nearly made the two Chuunin guards piss themselves. Glancing over, two swift figures dashed into a room little more than blurs.
Orange and blue blurs.
The Kyuubi brat, Uzumaki Naruto
The last of his clan, Uchiha Sasuke
In near perfect symmetry both blurs slammed a fist into a Yuki-nin's stomach, snapped kicked upward to their chins, knocking them to the ground. The two Leaf-nin somersaulted in the air and slam their foot on the downed Snow shinobi faces'.
They would not be getting up anytime soon, if at all.
Doto merely narrowed his eyes as both boys looked up at him, a controlled look of confidence in their eyes. The sort of look you would see in the final portion of a sporting event where the winning team had a significant lead, with no fear of the losing team catching up.
Both boys stepped past his useless ninja and sure enough, more figures arrived. The girl came strolling right behind them, followed by one of the Snow Ninja traitors and finally his niece. He gave her one quick look, the silent question passing between them.
Unnoticed by the shinobi, she gave a slight nod.
Excellent.
Doto's mood was finally starting to improve.
Sasuke
"I suppose this is the part where you expect me yell in anger." Doto's voice came booming down on them as he picked himself up from his throne.
"Or you can tremble in terror. I'm not picky." Naruto replied, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.
"It's over, Doto," Sakura said. She made a gesture to Taigi beside her. "You've lost. Your castle is coming down, your men are turning their backs on you, and you have nowhere to escape."
"And why would I want to escape?" Doto replied smugly. Sasuke didn't like this. The man was a bit too smug. He had some sort of hidden ace up his sleeve, but what?
Doto went on, oblivious to the Uchiha's thought process. "You three have caused me a great deal of trouble. More than those blasted Saati Koukennin ever did. However, it's all been for naught. Isn't that right…Koyuki?"
Before any of them could say anything, Koyuki ran past them towards her uncle. Taigi's mouth fell right open, Sakura jerked as if she had been dunked in cold water. Naruto's sole working eye flung wide as it could. Sasuke himself felt his chest constrict on itself.
All this effort… all this suffering… all for this two-faced bitch, and she stabbed them in the back!
Koyuki looked back at them, a mischievous smile on her face and the Hex Crystal in her hand. "This shouldn't be a surprise to any of you. I mean, really, I'm an actress, aren't I?"
In that moment, Sasuke realized what she was doing and he didn't even need his Sharingan to read the subtle body language. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Naruto's face dawn in realization, that eye going from 'wide shock' to 'disapproving disbelief'. Sakura apparently also picked up on it, judging from her own body language, though he had little idea what tipped her off. Whatever was going through Taigi's mind was a mystery.
"There you have it," Doto gloated as Koyuki handed him the Crystal. "Another brilliant performance by the great Fujikaze Yukie."
Koyuki reached into her sleeve. "Yes, just an act."
Pulling out a tanto, the Snow Princess spun around and shoved it into Doto's chest. Doto's face changed to faint horror as he gazed down at the knife in his chest. His large hand clasped around Koyuki's throat. "You wretched - !"
"Koyuki!" Naruto and Taigi shouted.
"It's alright…" Koyuki managed to chock out. "I always knew… this would happen… if I returned…"
She never got the next word out because Doto's fist tightened at that moment. Taigi dashed forward, pulling out his two normal katana while Sasuke snapped his Sharingan on, utilizing its hypnotic abilities right on the Daimyou. Perhaps he could…
The Sharingan's power scattered about like autumn leaves, leaving Sasuke more dumbstruck than Koyuki's "betrayal" earlier.
Both Koyuki and Doto tumbled off from the top of his throne stairway, a good ten meter drop. Taigi, already further ahead than the Leaf Ninja, rushed towards the falling duo, his swords out and ready to slice Doto's arm. Or perhaps throat.
Taigi's swords flashed out but in a surprisingly swift motion, Doto reposition himself in mid air and blocked with his left arm, while still holding Koyuki in his right. Taigi's blades shattered apart like glass. Capitalizing on his stunned subordinate's face, Doto's fist slammed into Taigi's chest.
He went flying backwards at incrediblespeeds, smashing right into the opposite stone wall and leaving a sizeable crater in his wake. Blood erupted like a volcano from his throat along with a cry of pure anguish before dropping to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut.
"JUST KIDDING! YOU AREN'T THE ONLY ONE IN THE FAMILY WHO KNOWS HOW TO ACT FOR THE SAKE OF DRAMTIC FLARE, MY DEAR NIECE!" Doto shouted with that unsettling laugh again.
Completely fine and unharmed. By this point, Koyuki had lost consciousness as he tossed her over his shoulder, his cloak falling to the floor from the action.
And confirming Sasuke's theory. No blood from the wound, or dripping from the man's mouth. Simply subduing Koyuki, rather than aiming for a killing strike after she attacked him. The controlled way he recovered from the 'fall', even that superhuman punch he landed on Gamabunta.
Doto was wearing Chakra Armor. Unlike the mismatch pieces that they had seen with Nadare, Fubuki and Mizore, this one was a single chest piece, with two sizeable gauntlets on his arms. While he was no blacksmith, even Sasuke could tell that the quality of this metal was several grades of higher caliber than even the San Eihei's.
"Like it?" Doto asked. "It's the latest prototype of the Chakra Armor. Designed by me personally. I'm not the Kagirinai Kachuu for nothing!" Wings unfolded from his back. "Now if you excuse me, I have a fortune to retrieve."
Instead of retorting, all three members of Team 7 charged forward towards the man. At the same moment, a vertical line appeared in the stairway of his throne, revealing a pair of doors opening up.
So that's why he had such a needlessly elaborate showcase for a throne; it was a concealed room for his bodyguards!
Right on cue, Nadare, Fubuki and Mizore all charged out towards their desired adversaries. At the snapping sound of Doto's fingers, strings appeared around each of their fingers and the entire room began shaking. The roof crumpled open, revealing an air passage as Doto flew off through it and into the night sky. Still barely alive, Taigi nudged his head up and managed to pull out some kunai with exploding tags as San Eihei and Team 7 clashed.
Uttering a slight prayer to the gods and his ancestors, Taigi moaned slightly as he hurled them at the San Eihei.
The explosion, combined from the collapsing throne room blasted Taigi through the wall and outside as he blacked out.
Courtyard
A huge makeshift fist slammed down on a wolf in front of the group, the summon howling in pain. Three more wolves slammed into the merged being's chest, knocking it back. Before the wolves could capitalize on this, the Ice Giant slapped them away.
Right as two wolves slashed at the Giant's heels. The Giant tumbled down with a thundering crash, still managing to catch two other wolves under its weight.
Another explosion erupted from the castle. What drew everyone's attention as the fact it came from Doto's throne room. The fighting momentarily paused as all the fighters glanced upward, noting the fallen debris and looking for any human figures in it.
Sure enough, they spotted a half dozen of them all in mid air. Two of them clashed in the air, resulting in another semi-explosion, hurling another two to the top of the castle proper, while the four came hurdling towards the ground and the gathered shinobi.
Automatically, the Kugi Yeti backhanded at the figures much like one would swoo away a fly. All four figures were batted into the opposite direction, arching high into the air towards the forest. Kugi barely was able to see that one of the figures took hold of a different one in a bear like hug, clearly intending to send the victim into a dive-bomb crash.
But what were the other pair doing?
Forest
Sakura
Haruno Sakura was still trying to piece together what just happened in the last thirty seconds. One moment she was standing in Doto's throne room, the next she's soaring in the air, out past the castle and into the forest. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the Snow Ninja falling directly in her direction.
Fuyukuma Mizore.
Sakura, in spite of herself, felt a rather heated emotion of passion. While part of her undoubtedly recalled the beating she had gotten from the large man back at the iceberg, it was dwarfed by what else she was currently feeling.
Anticipation.
Perhaps foolishly, she was looking forward to a rematch. She wanted the chance to make up for what happened earlier and make him the one bleeding in the snow.
First thing she had to do was make sure she landed safely. Wiping out wire and a kunai, she pitched it to the closest tree she could, the shinobi knife embedding itself into the wood.
She almost jerked her arm out of its socket from the sharp recoil, swinging only half way before losing her grip entirely. She managed to grab the nearest tree branch with her hands, and flipped on through to stabilize herself.
Mizore, on the other hand, shot his metal hand out as it closed on his own tree branch, expecting to swing towards her. Getting on edge, Sakura quickly propelled herself from the tree branch, neatly avoiding his next strike that cleaved the tree branch in half.
As she controlled her fall to the cold covered earth, she began hurling at many of her kunai with the pouches.
The Profiteer easily brushed them aside as his snow board burst from his feet, now boarding toward her with the level of a professional, despite all the specialized kunai she hurled, small paper fluttering the air with each blow. She finally hit the ground, rolling along like some discarded doll. As she came to a stop, she held up a regular kunai with a normal exploding tag. "Sakura Fubuki no Jutsu. ENJOY!"
Mizore finally seemed to realize what all the littering paper in the air meant as the newest kunai hit the first of them. The tiny series of explosions built up in rapid succession with Mizore right in the center of it.
The Konoha kunoichi felt the heat from the explosion as she brought her arms in front of her.
"Almost youjo. Almost."
Sakura just looked on in disbelief as the smoke around Mizore began to disperse. The man stood calmly in the center. At the center of his chest, she saw something seem to crack and break apart, she hoped it was that power seal.
"I'll admit you caught me and my power seal. You've no doubt heard that if the power seal is destroyed, we lose a great deal of strength. However, my style is taijutsu. I don't rely as heavily on ninjutsu as my companions do, so the drain isn't as damning to me as it is to them. And then…"
At this point, the smoke from the explosions cleared entirely. The moonlight shined down on her foe, allowing her to see him clearly from the first time.
He had an entire set of armor on. A full chest plate on his upper body, covering his back and front entirely. His nonmetallic arm was also heavily with armor plates and a thick looking gauntlet. His right arm was now sporting a new metallic arm, easily four times the size than the one she had seen at the iceberg. His legs were similarly protected with thick greaves and guards. Mizore waved his hand over his now power seal-less area and in a loud 'PUFF' of smoke as a metal helmet with a full face visor appeared in his hands.
"This time…" Mizore continued placing the helmet on his head, his two beady eyes glaring out from the eye holes. "I'm ready for you."
Sakura just slumped dumbfounded, her arms just dangling by her side and her eyebrows twitching questioningly. She had been the one to get beaten down, questioned her ability and shinobi status and came close to a complete mental breakdown because of it…
… and all Mizore got was one broken nose and he completely armored himself up with a new metal arm? And she thought she had been overacting! This guy took the cake!
Mizore took a step forward, pointing his new arm at her. "You will fall to me, youjo. You'll fall to my superior offensive might, my latest toy Fuiuchi Oujou Te and be stopped cold by my new armor. And I'll be sure to mount your head on my wall as my latest trophy."
At first the girl said nothing. Then a smile appeared on her face as she looked Mizore directly in the eye. "Then all I have to do…" She slammed a fist into her hand. "… is break that armor."
(Author's Note) At last it's time! The ending fights we've all be waiting for and we'll be starting with Sakura vs. Mizore, Round 2! An entirely armored and reequipped Mizore to boot! If you recall in Chapter 23, Nadare did mention the three of them were going to go shopping.
Taigi's story is also revealed and bonus points to anyone that remembered all those little contradictions in the previous chapters, like the Snow Ninja that spotted the group at the end of Chapter 14, how Alpha Team wasn't able to reach Gamma Team (The team Taigi is one) on the radios due to "static" in the following chapter, or how Taigi stated that 'this changed everything. He would have to adjust his plans' in the Sixteenth Chapter.
Also, things don't look good for Makino, does it? Is he alive, or has he succumb to death in his own movie (talk about taking his job way to seriously!)? And in all honesty, it doesn't matter one way or another.
And before anyone says 'what about all the movie stuff in Chuuten', as I now have full reigns on the story, let me worry about how the movie is affected and made for its influence on Chuuten, should Makino end up kicking the bucket as it'll still happen regardless.
So, there is a poll in my profile. Cast you're votes and we'll see what the Hand of Fates deals our beloved – if not highly annoying – director.
Fuiuchi Oujou Te-Surprise Attack Death Hand
Santoryu: Biisuto Keiteki-Three Sword Style: Beast Horn/A charging attack. Taigi will hold both arm swords together in front of him, mimicking the horn of an animal. Similar to the Biisuto Shuugeki (Beast Charge) but where that attack as the swords shoulder length apart, the Biisuto Keiteki has the swords back to back at the chest area, effectively turning it into 'one' sword for a quick piercing strike, allowing Taigi to follow up with his mouth sword. (High C-Class Kenjutsu)
Santoryu: Biisuto Wana-Three Sword Style: Beast Trap/A Sword Catch/Breaker Technique preformed by Taigi. He will intercept an enemy's blade with one hand sword and his mouth sword, locking into place and then use his remaining sword to break the caught sword. Once done, Taigi will slash with all three of his blades on the opponent. Requires not only a decent amount of brute force, but exact timing, least Taigi miss. (High B-Class Kenjutsu).
I do not own Naruto. It belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. Also, any jutsu that Tellemicus created that are used in this story belongs to him. Big thanks to Tellemicus for beta-reading this!
