Here it is! Updated and ready for review. It took me a while to envision what could happen but here it is. Not the final chapter yet, but you'll see! Enjoy and please review!
"You've been slithering around in the shadows for far too long," Naruto said, Jiraiya's hand rising to point at him. "You may have managed to kill my best friends, and myself, but you will not bring harm to my son, my village, or my kin!"
"Ah, so you know who Yuka is then, the great Naruto Uzumaki?" Orochimaru asked with a sarcastic bow. "I claimed her years ago, before this entire fray had come to a head. What lies within her is mine and soon you'll all find out what that is. Come Yuka! Why don't you show them?"
At that there was a deafening scream, Yuka's body convulsing violently. Daisuke tried steadying her, his eyes never leaving Orochimaru. Yuka's hair was fading, turning from ruby red to the darkest shade of black. Her eyes, which were once green, had filled in, as if her pupils had enlarged to encase the entire eye. Her body, which was once smooth as cream was becoming patchy, with odd shaped bruises and symbols sprawled about it. What was visible of her legs and arms was covered in bruises, some in irregular patterns and others in perfectly formed symbols. The curse mark was making seals form all over her body.
"Daisuke! Get the Hell away from her!" Tsume yelled, moving to stand alongside Kiba. At that moment Akamaru came barreling down the arena steps, landing with a loud "thud" next to Kiba. Kiba looked down at his friend gratefully; Akamaru's fangs bore at Orochimaru. Daisuke had jumped back, moving up the arena to stand with the other Inuzuka who had positioned themselves, about a dozen of them, between the Hokage and the enemy.
"You see," Orochimaru hissed. "She's been this monster from the beginning, since she sold her soul to me for revenge. Konoha destroyed her family and she, like you're precious Sasuke, underestimated me."
"Konohamaru," Naruto said, looking up at the young Hokage. "Tell me, have you been working on your sage mode?"
"Yes, boss…" he said, a smirk on his lips.
Jiraiya's mouth stretched into a grin and then he waved up for him to lean in. He whispered something and then there was another deafening scream. Yuka's body was covered, in every spot on her face, arms, legs, and now exposed upper chest, with seals throbbing purple and black.
"Now, I think it is time I put my ultimate body to use. I wouldn't want you ruining my chance to inhibit this body like the last one…" Orochimaru pointed before clapping his hands together, forming hand signs so quickly it was impossible to see. He had finished with his last hand sign, one similar to the Yaminaka except when he formed it Yuka's body flung from the benches along the arena to the ground in one bound, standing directly next to Orochimaru. "She's such a good little puppet."
"Yuka! Snap out of it! He's got you in his genjustu!" Kiba hollered, his eyes narrowing on Orochimaru. Tsume nudged him and nodded with a smirk. Kiba nodded in return and together they started weaving hand signs before there was a loud pop. Two clones showed up where the ninja hounds had once been standing, their eyes all locked on a single target.
"Fang over fang!" Kiba howled before he took off at a sprint, the pressure around his body tightening before colliding with his target. He nearly had a hold of Yuka but suddenly everything froze, his body in mid air as was Akumaru's, Tsume's and her clone. They were hovering in all directions above Yuka and Orochimaru. It was Yuka who spoke.
"You fool," she spat, her arms held out above her. "What should I do with them, Orochimaru-sama?"
"Yuka! Yuka snap out of it damn it!" Kiba roared, his eyes focused on her. "This isn't you!"
"Do as you wish my pet," Orochimaru instructed, his eyes still focused on Konohamaru and Jiraiya. "Well, Uzumaki brat! Come at me; let us see how you and you're precious friends fair this time."
Suddenly the atmosphere around them shifted, Kiba immediately picking up on a horrid smell; putrid and damp with blood. He came slamming to the dirt hard, his vision blurring with white and black. He managed to catch a glimpse of Yuka, stepping up to his body. She knelt down, her hand placed directly on his chest. "You will submit to Orochimaru-sama's will… or die."
"Yuka! Stop, this isn't you. You know that!" he growled, his eyes shifting between Yuka and his mother, who was on the ground as well, struggling to get up.
"Sad," Orochimaru hissed. "He still doesn't realize that there is nothing left in that mind of yours that even resembles his Yuka."
"Shall I terminate?" Yuka asked, her eyes never leaving Kiba.
"No, I think he will be last," Orochimaru pondered. "For now, Yuka-chan, focus on the others. The Byakugan and Uzumaki brat are formidable."
"Understood," she said before standing straight again, weaving hand signs before placing her palm on the ground. A seal extended around her, large and woven with black symbols and ribbons of blood red extending across Kiba's body and over the area surrounding them. She immediately turned now, looking up at Konohamaru.
"Shall I hold back?" Yuka asked?
"Dead or alive, their bodies will be useful," Orochimaru sighed. He then stepped up behind Yuka, his hand going around the front of her to press against her thigh. Kiba struggled, his anger boiling over but Orochimaru just grinned, Yuka stiff as a board. Suddenly she winced, the seals and symbols on her body glowing purple once more. "Don't be careless," Orochimaru hissed in her ear. "I still have plans for you."
The second he stepped back there was a shift in the air, the pressure becoming lighter, less dense. Before he realized it had happened, Yuka had went bolting straight at the arena wall, scaling it in no time to pounce right in front of a young Inuzuka, no older than Konohamaru. She dodged his kunai, using her hand to encase his face. There was a terrifying cry and whine before the boy fell to the ground in convulsions. Kiba struggled again, watching in horror as Yuka dodged around ninja hounds, Fang Over Fang, and the all seeing eyes of the byakugan. She nearly mistepped right into Neji's range, missing him by mere centimeters. She bounced around, her eyes searching each face for the weak spot. Before he knew it there was smoke exploding from the location, purple and consuming. Kiba could smell the others, panic rising over them. He could no longer smell Yuka, her scent nearly vanishing.
"Useful seal isn't it?" Orochimaru commented when he saw Kiba's face. "Developed it herself to counter that pesky nose of yours."
Suddenly Yuka came bounding down the arena to the edge of the steps, her eyes searching around her. Hinata was coming at her with her twin lions, keeping pace with Yuka's blows as she tried to avoid her seals. Hinata was much nimbler than Yuka, her eyes watching the different chakra points. Suddenly Hinata held up her palm, Yuka flying backward onto the arena floor, unable to counter Hinata's air palm. The smoke was clearing above them and as Yuka avoided Hinata again, the realization of what was happening struck Kiba.
She had put Orochimaru and himself under a barrier, something strong that could not be penetrated. It was as if he were in an entirely different world, watching the events on the outside play back in slower motion. It wasn't his eyes deceiving him. Two bodies lay on the steps above him, Konohamaru organizing the remaining Inuzuka to pull the bodies out and provide backup to the Hyuuga. Neji was backing up Hinata, Hiashi sticking close to Konohamaru along with Shikamaru. Then he realized it, Jiraiya was missing.
Before he knew what was happening, Hinata was being knocked down to the ground, her body heaving. Neji countered, his gentle fist meeting Yuka's shoulder but when it did Yuka clasped his arm, her seal glowing before Neji was blown backward. That's when he spotted him; Jiraiya was behind Orochimaru, his palms flat against the invisible barrier. The barrier started weakening, the pressure about them shifting. Orochimaru turned and was about to send a kunai the boys way when Yuka came up, bowling him over so that he was flat on his back.
Hiashi screamed out, about to jump into the arena when all of the sudden Yuka froze, Kunai inches from Jiraiya's small face. She jerked a little, her body going from stiff to limp, her eyes searching about frantically. There was another earsplitting scream before a blood red tear went streaming down her face.
"Help! Kill me! Someone! The seal!" she screamed, her head tilted back in an unnatural position. Orochimaru started weaving seals, tightening his grip on the genjutsu but before he could do anymore, the barrier shattered fragments of purple and blue shimmering to the ground.
"Shadow clone jutsu!" Konohamaru yelled before two shadow clones came barreling down the stairs toward Orochimaru, holding in their hands two spiraling rasen-shuriken, their tips encased in flame. Before Orochimaru could gain control of Yuka again, the shuriken came streaking at him, his only option to dodge, one ripping and singing the sleeve of his shirt. His arm underneath looked burnt, red and black.
"Tch," he groaned, bringing his arm back up to create hand signs, this time his own hands glowing purple with identical seals. "Foolish girl."
Yuka went stiff again, Jiraiya managing to struggle away from her moments ago to help Kiba. Before Kiba could move to protect him he was vaulted aside, his small body slamming into the wall of the arena floor with a thud. He groaned, the glow around him flickering slightly. Yuka was on top of Kiba now, her kunai poised just above his eye. There were several blood tears streaming down her cheeks, leaking from the corners of her eyes and sliding to his own face. Her face was downturned into a slight frown and her brow crinkled as if confused. It tightened on Kiba's chest like a vice, watching her cry tears of blood for him.
He just met her eyes, as if challenging her. He wanted to pity her, wanted to pull her to him to hold her and bring her back to herself but he knew this would never work. He would have to face this end, at the hand of the woman he loves.
Before he'd realized it Akumaru came bounding at them, bowling Yuka over onto her side. Kiba vaulted himself up and found that Jiraiya was back, a long orange arm extending from his body. It gripped Yuka's, the Kyuubi's chakra encasing her in a haze of orange and red. Orochimaru immediately countered, pulling a sword from his mouth. He launched at Jiraiya, the sword just missing him as he sprang to the side, his tail growing in size.
Kiba immediately formed a man beast clone with Akamaru, using fang over fang. Orochimaru barely countered by erecting a door, almost twelve feet high, between himself and Kiba. Yuka, who was still constrained by the Kyuubi's chakra, screamed and thrashed, her body glowing from within the cloak a sickening black and purple. When Kiba and Akamaru could not break through the door, Tsume and Daisuke dropped to the arena floor, immediately engaging in rapid taijutsu with Orochimaru. This gave Shikamaru the time he needed to make a connection, with his shadows, to Hinata, who was leaning against the wall healing her sore side. She froze a moment and then jumped between Jiraiya and Yuka, her eyes analyzing Yuka's every move.
"She's transforming again! Her chakra is fluctuating!" Hinata yelled, moving into a defensive stance in front of Jiraiya.
Almost immediately, Hiashi was standing next to Hinata, his eyes watching Yuka like a hawk. "Shikamaru! Do it now!"
"Not yet!" he yelled from the top of the arena, Konohamaru watching with anticipation.
Neji, who had been convulsing on the ground only moments ago, was recovering. His body still shook but he forced himself to stand upright, his face contorted into a mix of pain and frustration. "Shikamaru! Her seals fluctuate. Target between them. She can only activate one at a time!"
Tsume, who had been avoiding Orochimaru's shadow snakes, was becoming tired, her breathing harsh as Daisuke tried to penetrate Orochimaru's defenses. Before she could weave another hand sign Orochimaru had already avoided Daisuke and was making hand signs of his own.
Large white snakes in the hundreds began pouring from his mouth, forming a wave that was rushing at quick speed towards both Tsume and Daisuke. The loud hissing had defended the chamber, the arena walls echoing their shrill cries. Tsume had leaped across the short distance between Daisuke and herself, pushing him out of the way. There was a deafening howl before the snakes dispersed, almost evaporating into midair. The only thing left in the wake of the wave was Tsume's twisted body lying on the dirt floor, convulsing and heaving with every breath.
Kiba immediately rushed to her, Akamaru standing in a defensive position between Kiba and Orochimaru. However, Orochimaru just dashed off toward Yuka, his eyes narrowing on his target.
"Ma!" Kiba called, his eyes frantically searching her now scarred and bleeding neck and face. "Ma! Hold in there! I'll get you to safety. I'll-."
"Kiba," she murmured, just loud enough for him to hear. "Don't be a fool. You're Alpha now. Get your lazy ass over there and…" she coughed, her brow wrinkling in pain. She started breathing a little harsher, her eyes closing. "Get over there and protect you're clan; protect you're Alpha."
"Ma!" Kiba roared, his eyes going wide as she just smiled up at him, her body shaking slightly before her breath hitched in her throat. Kiba couldn't control himself, a tear streaming down his already dampened cheeks. "Ma!"
Before he could even think about a counter attack there was a loud rumble, the entire atmosphere shifting. Kiba grabbed up his mother's body, placing it gently at the top of the arena. Konohamaru had rushed over, his eyes wide when he saw Tsume's limp body on the cold stone.
"Kiba," Konohamaru started but when he made eye contact he took a step back, his eyes wider. Kiba was transforming. His eyes were black as night, his muscles more strained and enlarging. He was growing in height as well; he was nearly a foot taller than Konohamaru. His hair, which was usually unruly, was stretching in every direction. "Kiba, wait. We have a plan. Don't do something-."
"I'll handle this my way, like I should have from the beginning," Kiba uttered, his voice deeper, gruffer than usual. It sounded like he was growling almost.
"You can't do that," Shikamaru confessed, his shadow stretching to Kiba's, locking him in place. "There is a plan. You'll see. Trust in Naruto, if nothing else."
Daisuke had now shown up, kneeling next to Tsume's body with a look of horror on his face. "This is my fault," he groaned, his eyes closing. "She protected me when I had let my guard down. She took the full force of that wave because of me. I've failed at protecting my Alpha."
"That is not your job," Kiba said, turning to look at him. "It is the Alpha's job to protect future generations. She did what was required of her. And now, I will do what is required."
"Kiba-sama," Daisuke said, moving to stand again. "I have you're back."
"Let him go Shikamaru," Konohamaru said, looking over at the lethargic Nara. "He'll provide for an excellent distraction."
Shikamaru sighed. "You being the Hokage is such a drag, kid." Then he released his shadows, his eyes locking back on Orochimaru. Hinata, Neji, Hiashi, and Naruto were standing on the arena floor, their eyes watching him like a hawk. He was weaving hand signs, standing directly behind Yuka as the cloak that was once orange and red pulsed with purple and black.
"It seems we've run out of play time. Too bad," Orochimaru admitted, his eyes never leaving Jiraiya. "I was hoping to get a sample of that child's DNA. This body will suffice for now."
He weaved one last sign before placing his hand, palm down, on the Kyuubi's chakra cloak. It erupted with sparks of purple and black, a deafening shatter sounding throughout the arena.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Yuka screamed, her body twisting and turning within the cloak. A bright light started penetrating through the cloak at that moment, knocking Orochimaru back as the chakra swirled about them. With bright flash of light she was gone, moving so fast that the byakugan barely had time to register her movements. She was directly in front of Jiraiya, her body a mash between purple glowing seals and her overwhelming green chakra.
Before she could do anything Kiba came rushing down the stairs, barreling over the edge and toppling her over with a single strike. She landed on her side, twisting to regain her legs when he bowled her over again, positioning himself on top of her so that her hands were pinned to her side. He glared down at her before placing a hand on her forehead, making a sign with his free hand. She struggled against him, trying to touch her seal to his leg but he kept her pinned, turning his attention back to Neji.
"Go for it, I've got her," Kiba said, his eyes turning back to Yuka. The second Kiba started funneling his own chakra into her she went limp, her eyes wide and blank. Orochimaru, who was dodging consecutive attacks from the Hyuuga, Shikamaru's shadows, and the Inuzuka, came around the arena's edge, his eyes on Yuka and Kiba. He managed to dodge a barrage of gentle fist before landing back in the arena floor and running directly at Yuka. Daisuke used his fang over fang, barely missing Orochimaru's shoulder, colliding with the ground before jumping back up to continue his attack.
Kiba's attention, however, was entirely on Yuka. He funneled his chakra into her, feeling her own recede, the smell from Orochimaru's seals fading. Yuka was his Alpha, subject to his will and he only hoped that the chakra he was pouring into her would bring her true self back to light. He hoped he could overpower Orochimaru's hold with his own. Yuka still lie limp on the ground, her body slowly clearing of the bruises and markings that covered it.
"Orochimaru," Naruto said now, and Kiba looked spotting Hiashi's body heaving on the ground. Hinata was struggling to stand upright, avoiding the barrage of shadow snakes Orochimaru sent her way. Neji was preoccupied, the summoning of a giant snake slithering after him as he dodged. Daisuke was helping him, a couple of other Inuzuka nin backing him up as they used fang over fang, trying to wear the snake down. "You're not going to succeed here. The will of fire is too strong. Surrender peacefully or face the wrath of the sixth Hokage!"
Orochimaru just smirked, licking his bottom lip. "My, my… you're still an interesting child. You're son will make an excellent vessel, Uzumaki brat."
At this the Kyuubi's chakra had enlarged, encasing not only Jiraiya but Hinata and Hiashi. They glowed the same orange-red color, their bodies being repaired at a rapid rate. "Hinata-chan! Use twin tigers, Hiashi-sama, provide her backup. I need the time to build the rest of my chakra."
Hinata just nodded, moving so nimbly that Kiba nearly missed her movements. She struck first at Orochimaru's abdomen, missing barely as he dodged. When he did, Hiashi hit him, knocking him to the ground with a cloud of dust. He slunk back to standing position, a slight smirk on his face. As he was about to weave hand signs for a new jutsu, Hinata came up from behind, swinging her leg and causing Orochimaru to dodge again, right into Neji, who had passed the handling of the snake to the Inuzuka. Neji hit Orochimaru square in the chest, falling to the ground almost instantly. Before Neji could kneel down and give him the final blow, the body started to shrink, melting away into a pool of white.
He'd come out of nowhere, in the blink of an eye, using one of his most powerful jutsu. His body started to break down, his limbs becoming more snake like as he reached out and clasped his elongated snake-like arms around Hinata, pulling her to him in a defensive manner. He coiled around her tighter and tighter, her body almost completely restricted. "Well, it looks like I've got a prize here," Orochimaru hissed, bringing Hinata toward him so she was almost eye to eye with him. "The Uzumaki brat's girlfriend. How quaint! Tell me, Hinata-chan, do you honestly think you can protect your friends like this? What about your son?"
"Get off me you bastard," she hissed, struggling in his grip.
"Don't be so mean girl," Orochimaru countered, his tongue flicking out to taste her neck. "My, the Hyuuga are deliciously powerful. It will be a shame to watch you die."
"No one else will die here," Naruto said. "It seems your plans have failed, Orochimaru." He looked over his shoulder, Orochimaru following his gaze with mild interest. There, standing next to Kiba was Yuka. Her eyes were aglow with green and her expression was murderous.
"Leave this to me, Naruto-sama, Hiashi-sama… Hinata will not be harmed," Yuka said, taking a step toward Orochimaru. Kiba grabbed her hand quickly, squeezing it gently before letting it go. "The legendary Sannin Orochimaru will die today."
"Such confidence Yuka; such confidence," Orochimaru spat, pulling Hinata closer to him. His long snake like arms were wrapping around her midsection and chest, restricting her arms more. "Tell me, where did this new-found confidence come from? The Inuzuka dog?"
"You know as well as I that I was you're last resort, you're hidden gem. I'll kill you here and now so you will never get the chance to hurt anyone ever again," Yuka growled, her pace picking up as she crossed between Jiraiya and Hiashi. "What are your final words, Orochimaru?"
"There is not time for talk Yuka. You think you've won because you've broken the hold I have on you with that ridiculous Alpha tradition," Orochimaru said. "But you'll never be able to overpower me without the curse mark. You might as well come along peacefully before you get anyone else killed."
"I will not. I am my own person, not you're pawn. I'll do as I see fit and what I think fits," Yuka whispered, her eyes narrowing. "Is a nice pair of snake skin boots."
She'd crossed the distance in a second, her hand clasping around Orochimaru's neck. His eyes went wide for a moment, but then he smirked. "You wouldn't dare. You know I'd just regenerate within another body. It'd just be a waste of effort to kill this body."
"That's right," Yuka said, grasping harder, making his eyes grow even wider. He'd loosened his grip on Hinata so much that she slipped to the ground, Hiashi retrieving her. "It would be useless to kill this body. So…"
She weaved a couple of hand signs before placing her hand on his forehead, the green glow from the seal consuming them in light. Kiba, who'd been watching the whole time, began to panic. Her scent was fading and he could sense the pressure about them changing. Then, everything froze. Jiraiya, Hiashi, and Hinata all froze in place, Hiashi and Jiraiya still hovering over Hinata with worried eyes. The Inuzuka, who'd been watching from a distance, waiting for their chance had all frozen as well. Even Konohamaru and Shikamaru stood stone still, as if statues atop the arena wall. The only one moving was Kiba.
"Kiba," Yuka's voice came, and he looked about, as if expecting to see her. "Kiba, my love, listen to me. I've lied to you; mislead you, manipulated you, and worse of all… I made you fall in love with me. This is my way of righting all these wrongs, ensuring that you'll be happy."
"Without you I will never be happy," Kiba assured, looking around again.
"My love, you will be happy. Listen carefully now, I only have so much time. While dueling Daisuke earlier I set up this seal. It freezes time for a few minutes. In the room, under the bed, is the seal to seal Orochimaru and myself. You have to go get it."
"No! I won't deliver the tool that will kill the woman I love," Kiba protested.
"Stop acting like a child!" Yuka demanded. "Damn it Kiba, you're mother died protecting you and you're clan. Why can't you realize that that is your job now?"
"Because, I've finally found meaning in my job. I want a life with you; I want you to be by my side forever!"
"And I always will be, Kiba," Yuka said, her voice softer. "I love you. But you have a duty to your clan, to your mother, and to your village. You must see past your personal grief and do the right thing. It took me years to realize my mistake. Please, don't repeat it."
Kiba stood there a moment, his eyes downcast to the ground. This was it. If he went and got that seal it would kill Orochimaru and Yuka, something he never planned to happen. He didn't know what compelled him, he didn't even remember doing it but he left the arena and came back moments later with the scroll in hand. His body had just acted on its own, his mind still reeling.
"Thank you," Yuka whispered and before Kiba could protest any further, the seal broke, everything returning to motion. Hiashi was whispering to Hinata and the cloak around Jiraiya was starting to fade. Konohamaru and Shikamaru had both jumped to the arena floor, their eyes focused on something beyond Kiba. Even the Inuzuka, who'd been keeping a safe distance in battle were standing around him, watching the scene in front of them play out.
Yuka stood before Orochimaru, her hand still on his forehead, her eyes closed in concentration. She'd performed the seal, the text and symbols spreading over his forehead and body and onto hers. Before Kiba could even think about approaching them there was a deep inhalation of air before both Yuka and Orochimaru crumbled, like the ash falling from Asuma-sensei's cigarette, onto the arena floor.
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