Disclaimer! Before we begin the epic smack down fest of super awesomeness I have for you this time I would like to say something. As one of you pointed out and a few of you have probably noticed Age's of people is a bit vague so here are the current character ages.
Naruto: Age 23
Akari, Azuko and Taki: Age 13
Tsugashi: Age 16
And before any of you give the whole 'he's to young to be a dignitary or a Daimyo' you clearly don't know the feudal system that the Daimyo are part of. Basically line of succession transfers to the oldest at the current lords death, and being a feudal era adulthood came about at the ages of 13-14 so Tsugashi being a noble is perfectly entitled and bale to be a Daimyo and all that.
But yea, thought I'd that at the very least. Now on to the Awesome!
Akari felt her heart quicken as she walked down the steps to the mail hall, of course people were going to stare she was with the Daimyō for crying out loud, but she still didn't like the odd looks and whispers that began floating between groups as they made their way through the crowed. Tsugashi on the other hand being born into nobility was perfectly at ease as he mingled and mixed with the crowed exchanging pointless pleasantries with other dignitaries.
Akari for her part stayed mostly quiet. She felt out of depth to say the least as the other lords and ladies came and talked to them as they made a lap throughout the main gathering hall. She still displayed her Konoha head band which thankfully made people treat her with a bit more respect as they talked.
She made small talk occasionally when she had a firm enough grasp on the subject at hand to add her own opinion. The night dragged on painfully slow and the moments she was able to converse with Naruto were painfully brief as he was assigned to be Lady Yokuna's guard for the night and she had her own list of things to do.
The banter briefly abated as Tsugashi and Akari moved away from the general hubbub of the party.
"You're doing well." Tsugashi said when they finally had some breathing room. Akari shrugged it off. "It's been hard to keep up with conversation when I'm constantly on the lookout for potential dangers." She admitted.
He smiled at the comment and turned back to the crowed of people. "Well a part of me hopes it would just end already, there is only so much hollow banter I can offer people." He said a little wirily.
Akari chuckled at that and turned her attention back to the room before her.
Azuko and Taki moved around the Manor on another standard patrol, there were another thirty standard guards on top of ten or so skilled Shinobi loyal to Tsugashi's family. As they walked Taki tried light conversation to alleviate the boredom.
"So you think he'll show tonight?" She asked as they reached their look out post. Azuko shrugged.
"Maybe," He said in his absent minded tone. "This seems like a much smarter place to target him than the funeral."
"But there are so many people here tonight and so many guards." Taki began.
Azuko nodded. "That's true, but this guy seems like the theatrical type and considering he seems to be after the Land of Planes itself if he can capture and kill both the lands Daimyō and the other noble lords then the land will be as good as his. Granted the land of fire will most likely try to step in but this guy was able to fight Naruto sensei so it's not like he'll go down easy. Also considering the Ninja he had with him in the pass I'm won't be surprised if that was just a small portion of his forces." Azuko said.
Taki nodded and looked out over the village. "Well then I guess be best be ready." She said.
The night dragged on slowly and after two hours of constant walking and talking Akari found herself begging for Isalla to attack. She knew it was a dangerous thing to wish for but she was reaching her limits.
Being on constant high alert whilst trying to mingle with Nobility was just not something she was cut out for.
She briefly wondered how Naruto was able to manage this constant state of high alert without wearing himself out like she was.
Eventually Tsugashi announced that the dinner was going to commence and the hall slowly emptied into the dining room of the estate.
It was thirty minutes into dinner when Akari felt something tugging at her senses. She looked up and about herself whilst trying to look discreet in an attempt to locate whatever had disturbed her.
A quick glance at Naruto showed her that he too had caught onto something else that wasn't quite right.
He put a finger to his ear and spoke quietly, his voice echoing mechanically in her ear from the com set they were all wearing.
"Azuko, Taki, anything?" He asked almost casually.
"Nothing sensei," Azuko's voice crackled back. "Why what's wrong?" The boy asked.
"Something just doesn't feel right." Akari whispered into the microphone. "I think someone snuck past you guys." She said.
"I didn't ask you." Azuko snapped back as Akari spoke up.
"Easy Azuko," Naruto scolded. "She's right, there is defiantly someone in here that shouldn't be, though they probably snuck in past one of the regular patrol's."
Akari allowed herself a momentary smile as Azuko grunted frustratedly into the microphone. Her senses spiked again and this time she started taking an obvious look around. Trying to find what kept tugging at her sense.
Tsugashi said something to her but she held a finger up for silence as she focused in listening. A faint sound was there that didn't mix with the ambient sound of the room.
It sounded almost like…stretching. Like the straining of a bow string.
Her eyes flew wide as she tackled Tsugashi to the ground. The room went into up roar conveniently covering the thick 'twang' as the arrow was launched.
The heavy 'thock' of the arrow slamming into the wall sent the whole room into a stunned silence.
Akari strained her ears as she tried to locate the attacker by sound alone. He was using some sort of cloaking Ninjutsu to make himself disappear, chances were he'd been here the whole night. She thought to herself as she stood over Tsugashi protectively, her wakizashi in hand.
She head footsteps but couldn't discern location or distance so instead did the only thing she could. She drew her thumb along the blade of the wakizashi and held it in her mouth as she made the hand signs.
"Kuchiyose no jutsu."
The smoke cleared and a panther stood looking about the room. Akari had spent as much time as she could familiarising herself with as many of the panther summons as she could, knowing who was good at what hand how to summon them specifically.
She yanked the arrow free of the wall and held it to the panthers' nose. "Hyōnaka, can you locate the owner?" She asked.
The panther sniffed the arrow experimentally for a few seconds before turning back to the room.
"Be careful." The panther said as it turned around. "That arrow is poisoned."
Akari nodded and looked at Naruto, who seemed to be meditating. Akari wanted to shout at him but she guessed he had his reasons.
Hyōnaka sniffed the air again and beared his teeth. As he hissed Akari heard the familiar stretch and 'twang' of another arrow being released. Hyōnaka jumped to the side to avoid the arrow. He would have been killed if Naruto hadn't thrown a Shuriken to intercept.
She cast her gaze back over to her Sensei and stumbled as she laid eyes on him. His eyes had an odd orange shadow and they'd become yellow with rectangular pupils, like a toads.
"Give up I can sense your Chakra." He said as he stood up.
Another 'twang' from the invisible bow men sent another arrow aimed at Naruto but he deflected it with almost contemptuous ease. "Attacks like that won't work." He told the cloaked assassin.
He made to move but the assailant had the advantage of invisibility. True while Naruto's danger sensing abilities were greatly enhanced by his Sage Mode, it was hard to adjust to an invisible attacker.
The arrows had become visible the moment they had been fired, but the attacker still kept the jutsu active, making it difficult to counter his blows fully, even in sage mode.
The attacker sent down a rain of blows against Naruto, never breaking through his guard but keeping him on the defensive. Hyōnaka tried to aid but the attacker was skilled and it made little difference in the fight as the invisible man nimbly held off both his would be attackers.
Akari cast a glance back to Tsugashi, "Stay here." She muttered as she leapt over the table to help Naruto. The attacker saw her coming and sent a heavy kick into her head as she came in. She rolled with the blow on an instinct and threw her hand at him.
Curry powder filled the air with a red cloud as both Naruto and Hyōnaka jumped back. The assailant was launched into a coughing fit as the powder filled his lungs and the man staggered back. He tried to retreat now that the powder had given away his location but a heavy punch from Naruto sent the man sprawling the ground.
The cloaking jutsu wore off and they were finally able to get off and they were able to get a good look at the man. An Iwa missing nin.
"Yojino Gutaka." Naruto said allowed recognising him from the bingo book immediately.
"Well done Uzumaki-san." A familiar voice said form behind them.
Naruto and Akari turned to see Isalla standing next to Tsugashi a blade held casually to the man's throat.
Akari let out a growl and took a step towards him but Isalla pressed the tip lightly to Tsugashi's throat.
"Ah, ah, ah," He said, waving his finger in a disapproving manner. "Not any closer," He warned.
"Bastard," She hissed.
"Watch your tong girl," Isalla snapped pressing the blade ever harder against Tsugashi's neck. "On your knees, both of you." He demanded.
Akari and Naruto shared a glance and complied, there was nothing they could do at the moment, if they attacked now Tsugashi would be dead well before they could reach him.
"Send it home," He ordered Akari, she grunted again but complied and sent Hyōnaka back to the jungles he was born in.
Isalla seemed to revel in the moment of superiority he had over the room, he opened his mouth to speak and that's when Naruto striked.
He came from above slamming a Rasengan into Isalla's back. The man let out a cry of pain before he exploded into Shadows.
The katana dropped to the ground as the darkness that had once been Isalla gathered together, taking on a more or less human form.
"We never did finish our bout did we Uzumaki-san?" The darkness asked in a deep distorted voice much different to the one before.
Naruto gave Isalla a half glair, "No we didn't," He replied.
The darkness let out a deep rumbling laugh as it floated around the room. "So why don't we?" It asked.
Naruto was about to remark when Akari attacked it. She swung her wakizashi clean through the centre of the darkness and met no resistance as she continued through it.
She let out a startled gasp as she hit the ground. She felt week, her Chakra levels had dropped dramatically burnt away by the darkness.
Isalla laughed contemptuously at the girl, "Stupid child." He mocked as he floated over her. "You should learn not to dive in head on like that without knowing your opponents capabilities."
"You're right," Naruto said as he launched another Rasengan at Isalla.
The darkness buckled slightly but a moment later the Rasengan vanished and Naruto yanked his hand back like it had been burnt.
He could feel his Chakra being burnt away by the darkness that Isalla had become. It tried to consume him but Naruto jumped back, he picked up Akari while his doppelganger grabbed Tsugashi.
"Everyone get out of here!" Naruto ordered as a third clone arrived to take Yokuna somewhere safe.
The dining hall was immediately enveloped in panic as the Lords and Ladies ran for the exit. In the ensuing panic Naruto was able to take all three of them outside Appearing on the roof next to Azuko and Taki.
"What happened?" Azuko demanded as Naruto appeared.
"It's Isalla," Naruto answered as he examined Akari. Her Chakra had been drained considerably; she had nowhere near enough for a fight. He sighed and drew on Kurama's Chakra again, feeding it into the girl.
That was the intention anyway but the Chakra was rebuffed immediately by something else. Naruto growled softly as he stood up. Akari would be down for the count unless she got some more Chakra, worse was the fact that in Isalla's current form he seemed to be nigh invincible.
He had somehow shed his caporal form and could know drain a person's Chakra at a touch, taijutsu wouldn't work seeing as there was no physical body to attack and Ninjutsu would just be destroyed the second it made contact with the darkness.
"Shit," Naruto breathed as he tried to figure out a way to solve the situation.
He needed Isalla to take a physical form again but it didn't seem like he was going to.
"What happened?" Azuko asked – there was only so much he could learn from the com chatter.
"Isalla activated a jutsu that lets him become darkness." Naruto told him. "He was able to completely drain Akari's Chakra in an instant."
"What do we do?" Taki asked fearfully.
"We need to find out his weakness," Naruto said. "Every jutsu has one we just need to find his. If we can't then he'll just suck the Chakra from our bodies until we're dead." He let out another growl and clenched his fists. If Shikamaru, Sasuke or Kakashi were here they'd be able to deconstruct and analyse the jutsu to figure out its weaknesses, but they were all back in Konoha.
He had never faced a Jutsu like this before; it was in a way, unbelievable. It was on a completely different level to Obito's ability to move parts of his body into another dimension.
"What are you going to do, eh, Naruto?" Kurama asked him.
"Shut up," Naruto shot back. "I'll think of something."
Isalla appeared on the rooftop behind them grinning like a child. "Are you running away Uzumaki?" He jeered.
Naruto bit back the overwhelming urge to shout at the man, it wouldn't doo him any good here.
"I'm guessing that seeing as you've dropped that jutsu of yours; it takes a considerable amount of Chakra to maintain and won't last long if you don't have anyone with enough Chakra to feed off?" Naruto asked. He had his ideas but he could never be too careful.
Isalla tilted his head to the side as he took a step towards them. "Why don't we find out?" He asked.
"Guys I need you three to take Tsugashi and Yokuna away from here," Naruto ordered them softly as he took a step forward.
"Sensei you can't," Akari began weakly.
Naruto offered them a smile. "Don't worry about me," He said, "I can take him."
The level of confidence in Naruto's voice gave the three Genin new resolve and they nodded. Taki took Yokuna by the arms while Azuko helped Akari to her feet.
They left a moment later leaving Naruto and his clones to fight Isalla.
Ikino and his team gathered outside the small village half a day from Howaitofīrudo. "I've finished the interrogation." He declared letting the Shinobi in his hand hit the ground.
"What did you find?" Yin asked.
"Seems we were right he is hear, the plan was to attack the Daimyō's estate at Howaitofīrudo during his coronation." He told them.
"He always was one for theatrics." The only girl in the team added.
Ikino nodded. "That he is Hina; Howaitofīrudo is half a day away at a walk." He said getting back on topic. "If we hurry we can be there in twenty minutes."
"Do we have to be so fast?" The other boy asked.
"He's planning to attack the Daimyō's coronation Makabi," Yin interjected. "It's probably already begun. Even by himself he be able to take out all the guards with the 'Haisui Yami no jutsu'."
Makabi sighed and nodded. "Alright I got ya," He said in a wiry tone. "Let's get going then we can't wait too long."
"What about their reinforcements?" Hina asked before they left, "Where are the rest of them and where have they been hiding?"
Ikino offered the girl a smile.
Sharp as ever. He mused to himself. "They've been hiding out in the mines near Howaitofīrudo," He told her, "They disguised themselves as miners and used an abandoned section of tunnels as a hide out until the main assault began, now let's go, we've waisted enough time as it is." He said before heading off to Howaitofīrudo.
Azuko and the others stopped a short distance from the village walls.
"What now?" Taki asked as they came to a stop.
"We need to help Naruto Sensei." Akari began.
"We were hired to protect the Daimyō," Azuko retorted.
"Not entirely," Tsugashi interjected. "It's true I hired you to provide security, but also to help with Isalla's disposal. I'll be fine, you three go help your Sensei." He told them.
As if on cue eight of Tsugashi's Shinobi guard appeared around them.
"Lord Daimyō." Their leader said taking a knee.
"Futo, where are Hashi and Monone?" He asked.
Futo shrugged. "I don't know my Lord, we lost contact with them just before the attack began, my guess is they were overpowered by the attackers." He said.
Tsugashi nodded and turned to Azuko. "You three go, I have my retinue." He said. Azuko looked like he wanted to argue but relented. "Thank you my Lord." He said. "Taki and I will go, Akari you stay here." He said.
"Like hell I will!" Akari shouted back. "This is our job, our mission, we need to do it as a team!"
Taki sighed and stepped in. "Akari I know it's not fair to leave you here but it's for the best." It was hard for her to say those words, even harder for her to bear the look of hurt and betrayal that inevitably found their way into Akari's eyes.
"I'm not going to hold you guys back, I'll fight!" She said desperately.
"With what Chakra?!" Taki shot back, "You could barely make it here to begin with do you really think you'd be able to join in a fight with the likes of Naruto Sensei with your current Chakra levels? Hell we are probably going to get in the way as it is." She said steadily. "You've lost too much Chakra to be able to fight this one. So for the good of the mission and the team stay here with the Daimyō." She said.
Akari bit her lip and turned away. "Fine!" She spat back.
Taki and Azuko lingered there a moment longer before running off to aid Naruto.
Naruto was breathing heavily as his second clone was dispelled. Isalla let go of his jutsu but Naruto knew it was another ploy. He was able to activate the jutsu on a whim without the need to weave hand signs.
Azuko fought his way back to his feet but his Chakra was almost gone. Too many badly timed Ninjutsu and Isalla's Chakra draining jutsu had robbed the boy of nearly all of his Chakra, next to him Taki was in a similar condition.
Naruto sighed as he took a readied stance. Form his own actions and the actions of his students he'd been able to figure Isalla's jutsu.
It allowed him to turn his physical body into living darkness but it took more Chakra to activate and maintain than he was currently able to syphon from his opponents, on top of that he wasn't able to use either Ninjutsu or Genjutsu while in that form.
Currently he was in his physical form but Naruto knew he needed to lower Isalla's Chakra levels more before he would be able to win the fight.
It was a defensive jutsu, activating in response to any physical attack that would cause too much damage to his body. He need long range weapons like Akari's demon wind shuriken but she was with the Daimyō and he couldn't send Taki or Azuko to get them, they barely had enough strength to stand. He'd tried to send clones back to the estate to keep the safe but Isalla had stopped all of his attempts thus far.
This is going to be hard. He said to himself.
Akari bit her lip, just as much to keep herself quite than to quell her rage. She could understand why they had left her behind, she could feel how low her Chakra was, she knew she would lend little strength in battle but she couldn't stand by and be useless while her team mates put themselves in danger.
Her anger only grew and she slammed her fist into the wall out of sheer frustration. "I need to be stronger!" She vented to herself as the wall cracked under her hand.
"Akari-." Tsugashi began, sunned by her sudden outburst but Akari cut him off.
"No, I'm sick of not being able to help, of being useless while my comrade's fight and put themselves in danger!" She snapped.
"Hold you tong child!" One of Tsugashi retinue shot back, "The enemy forces could be on us any minute now, protecting the Daimyō should be your only concern."
Akari shrunk back under the man's words. They had been constantly moving to avoid detection for twenty minutes now while Ninja from Isalla's gang moved in on team. She knew she had to help but she couldn't help but feel that her place was with her team.
"In coming!" One of the rear guard shouted before half a dozen paper bombs went off, vaporising her instantly
"Yuu!" Another shouted in despair as enemy Shinobi started to move through the smoke. Tsugashi's body guards responded with force killing of half a dozen or so of the enemy before they could get to close.
They fought, killed and were killed in kind as the enemy shinobi rained down on them. Another dropped dead at Akari's feet, body littered with kunai as she chocked on her own blood.
No! No! No! No! No! Akari screamed over and over. I need more power, I need to be stronger!
Somewhere in the back of her mind a voice laughed at her. Foolish child, it said almost mocking her. Shinobi fight and die, it is their lot in life, your lot in life.
Shut up! She shouted back at the voice. I can see that all too well, I need power, I need to protect them!
Again the voice only laughed. Very well then, I shall lend you that strength you desire. It said.
Chakra flooded through her body like it had when Nagi had stabbed Taki, she felt her fear and her fatigue leaver her as he body was filled with more power than she had ever felt before.
Her fingers curled around her wakizashi and she exhaled.
She streamed Raiton though her blade and looked up at the surrounding enemy, fifteen and counting, three of Tsugashi retinue were able to fight, the rest were down either dead or dying.
She let out a roar of power as she charged the nearest enemy, cutting him down before he could even react.
Two more came at her, shouting at her for what she had done a she dispatched them just as easily as the first.
There was a brief pause in the flow of battle as the enemy paused to react to this new, more powerful threat.
She cut her right hand with her blade – the blood flow stopping almost immediately but she had what she needed – and ran through the signs.
"Kuchiyose no jutsu!"
Three battle ready panthers stood in a circle around her as the smoke cleared. "Hyōna, Hyōka, Hyōya, protect Tsugashi, attack any shinobi that get past me, got that?" She asked.
"Who are you to order us around girl?" Hyōna spat at her with a growl in his throat, of all the panthers she had summoned he was the most difficult to work with.
"You're god damnd summoner, know quit arguing and do as I ask!" She shot back at him hotly. The panther growled in response and she turned her eyes to him. "Do. It." She ordered silently. "There is no time to argue with me, so just once swallow your pride and do what you need to do." She said as she blocked an attacking Nin.
As one the three panthers nodded and hopped down from the roof top to guard Tsugashi. She sent a kick into the Nin's ribs breaking a few of them before she brought the butt of her wakizashi to the back of his head savagely, knocking the man out stone cold.
A few more came at her, while the rest sipped past her. She let out a low hiss as she attacked the circling Ninja, striking out left and right with blade and body inflicting as much damage as she could.
One of them brought a Kunai down in an opening and cut open her back. Akari cried in agony as the blood flowed down her back and she collapsed. She rolled down the roof tops and landed heavily, she rolled over dimly aware of someone shouting her name as she saw the ninja that had struck her descending on her.
No! She growled. I can't let myself die here. She brought her blade up and the Ninja came down, taking his hands off in the process.
He screamed in shock before collapsing, his comrades not far behind. Akari forced herself to her feet ignoring the searing back in her back as she fought back. Even with her new found power the wound in her back was substantial and her moves became slower more sluggish as the fight continued.
She managed a last minute block of a strike aimed at her neck and attacked back weakly. Her breath was heavy and her vision as blurring, she needed more power but the voice wasn't there to hear her this time.
She was struck down by a heavy handed blow from and enemy blade and she cried in pain as she hit the ground hard.
Her attacker prepared for another strike but someone appeared above her. "Ranton: Arashi ken!" There was a sound akin to a thunder clap and a burst of wind as the man was thrown through a house.
There were more shouts and more blasts as jutsu's were let off in quick succession.
Akari tried to stand but her body was too weak to do it alone. Her saviours offered her a hand and she took it shakily as he hauled her to her knee.
"Hina over here!" He shouted. "She needs a medic!"
"They all do!" A girl responded.
"Just do it." He growled at her.
Akari tried to stand but the boy held her gently. "Just relax we're on your side." He said soothingly. Akari allowed herself to relax slightly as a hand came to her back and she felt the pain go away.
The colour came back to Akari's face and her breath became less laborious as the wound to her back was healed.
"We don't have time for this we need to help Ikino Sensei with Isalla." A third person said.
"Isalla!" Akari all but shouted as she leapt to her feet, drawing a shout of surprise from the girl behind her. Her hand instinctively went to her wakizashi but the boy grabbed her wrist.
"Easy," He said. "We're here to capture him." He told her.
Akari calmed slightly and looked at the boy in front of her; he was about her age with dark green eyes and shaggy black hair.
He like his team mates was dressed in standard Yorugakure mission gear, all black fatigues, vests and long coat.
"He's fighting Naruto Sensei and the rest of my team," She told them.
"Thanks for the intel, come on then," He said to his team mates before heading off. Akari gritted her teeth as they took off without her. She cast a glance back at Tsugashi who had summoned another panther to treat the wounded while Hyōna, Hyōka and Hyōya stood protectively around him with the last three of his bodyguard.
Their eyes met and he nodded to her. "Get to your cell," He told her. "I've got this covered."
She nodded her thanks and gripped her wakizashi tightly before heading off to the distant sounds of a fight.
Isalla had long since given up on the Haisui Yami, true it was a good jutsu to use against multiple weaker victims without killing them but in a situation where he was fighting a Shinobi of vastly superior power than the jutsu's large Chakra consumption made it a useless battle tactic.
Naruto came in with another Rasengan at the ready while Ikino took a support role aiming for Isalla's counter move.
Isalla wrapped Chakra around his fist and made the 'dragon' hand sign. His fist became wrapped in darkness and he met the blonds' jutsu with his own punch. The Rasengan lost out and Naruto had to jump back quickly before he was hit.
"Make sure he doesn't hit you." Ikino told him as the two met back up.
Naruto nodded, "Thanks for the advice," Naruto said. "So now what, how are you going to take him down?" He asked.
"I have a jutsu prepared to take him down but I need the rest of my team here to complete it." He said.
"Okay well until then what do you suggest we do?" He asked. "And what is that jutsu?" He asked pointing to Isalla's fist, still writhing with darkness.
"It's a type of kekkei genkai that a few of our village ninja possess, it's a type of Chakra stealing jutsu." He explained. "When he makes contact with that kind of jutsu he is able to burn away an enemy's Chakra."
"That explains a lot." Naruto said. "I thought it was a Chakra syphoning jutsu."
Ikino nodded. "Most people do and he lets them believe that it makes for a scarier jutsu than just burning it." He said.
Naruto nodded, he readied himself for the next attack when another four ninja came up from behind.
He guessed it was Ikino's team. He spared a glance back and nodded as they walked up, Akari in toe.
"Sensei," She said a little breathless. "Where are Taki and Azuko?" She asked clearly concerned.
"I've got a clone looking over them," He told her. "Isalla was able to burn all of their Chakra but they'll be fine." He assured her.
"That's good." She said gripping her wakizashi. "So what's the plan?" She asked.
"We can perform a sealing jutsu but it takes a bit of time, we need you two to distract him for a few minutes." Yin said, looking at Naruto and Akari.
"Sounds do-able," Akari said looking at Naruto.
Her Sensei nodded, "Sure you're up to it?" He asked her. She grinned slyly at him and her eye seemed to twinkle.
"Sure." She said.
Naruto nodded and held his hands in a cross seal. "Alright well I have a battle plan so everyone lend an ear. We're going to do this my way." He said.
Isalla watched on curiously as the group vanished with a loud 'boof' sound and a cloud of smoke. Naruto and Akari came out of the smoke first, with a large shuriken in hand while Akari ran Raiton Chakra through her wakizashi.
Ikino and his team came out second weapons ready.
Then another Naruto cleared the smoke, and another, and another, and another, and another.
Needless to say Isalla gave up counting at eighty.
He readied both his fists bathing them both in writhing tendrils of darkness. "An interesting tactic, but not a useful one," He muttered to himself as the small army rushed him. He blocked both of Naruto and Akari's strikes before clearing Ikino's team entirely. He knew their tactic was to seal him away and so long as he wasn't hit by any of them they wouldn't be able to activate the sealing jutsu they had prepared.
He landed in amongst the clones and began striking out left and right. Clones vanished at a mere touch as he moved in between the horde of Naruto clones.
Inevitably the others doubled back to fight him and he stepped back as Akari came down with a cut aimed at his arm. A clone elbowed him in the back as Akari landed, coming to her feet with an upwards cut.
He grabbed the blade dissipating the Chakra running through it before he sent a fist into her stomach. Akari coughed up blood and staggered back as Naruto came in. His eyes were rimmed with orange and the iris was stained yellow. He rolled past Isalla's swing and sent out an upper cut. Isalla stepped back well before the blow connected but a moment later he felt the stinging impact of a fist against his jaw and he was thrown back.
Hina was waiting for him, her hand covered with a Chakra mark she went for a palm press to put her mark on him but he pressed a hand to his wrist summoning a blade to his hand. He landed before her and stepped in past her out stretched arm, dismembering the girl in a matter of seconds.
He heard Yin scream though the sound was cut off midway as another Naruto clone set a heavy hand into the side of his head.
Ear still ringing from the blow Isalla righted himself quickly running the darkness of his arms though the blade he readied himself cutting left and right as more and more clones came in.
Akari dashed through the mob nimbly before she charged Isalla. He met her blade with his own and used his superior strength force the girl to the ground.
She held firm on a knee using both hands to ward off the murderous blow before she rolled to the side slamming the pommel into his stomach.
Isalla grunted in discomfort and dispatched another two clones before he moved in for the kill.
Yin came in, another Chakra mark on his palm his eyes blazing with anger. He lashed out with a fist and Isalla cut it off.
Yin screamed in agony as he hit the ground clutching the stump of his for arm. Isalla left Akari on the ground and moved in to kill the second member of Ikino's team.
Before he could finish the boy off a clone got a solid kick into the man's chest. He priorities and dispatched the clone. The sealing jutsu wouldn't work against him know that he had killed Hina, he had nothing to fear from them.
The only two threats left were Ikino and Naruto.
Speak of the devil. He laughed to himself as both men rushed him. Naruto in sage mode and Ikino's entire body swathed in darkness. The three of them went toe to toe with each other, as they trade blows one after the other.
Realising two on one was a bit too much considering his Chakra levels Isalla jumped back. He weaved a series of hand signs and brought a hand to his lips.
"Katon: Nana ryū no ikari no jutsu." He took a deep breath as a cloud of flame erupted from his mouth, the flame writhed and contorted in the air until seven dragon heads emerged from the cloud.
They hit the horde of clones and destroyed them in an instant. He landed just in time to ward off another strike from Ikino.
The Yorugakure Jonin laid down a hail of blows against the man but he managed to avoid them all.
"I really don't see why the Yorukaze sent you here, it's not like you were ever able to beat me." Isalla mocked before sending a knee into Ikino's ribs. The man grunted him pain but fought on sending a savage blow to Isalla's knee taking the man's legs out from under him.
Isalla gave out a grunt of pain before he stabbed up at Ikino. The blade cut the man's shoulder deeply, and he staggered back under the blow, holding his wound.
Naruto came in and did a double palm thrust, the force of the impact sent Isalla hurtling backwards he landed with a heavy thud and got to his feet slowly.
He stood up ready for more and paused. All of the clones hand given him a wide birth and the darkness around Ikino was growing with every second.
He made to move but Ikino pressed his hand to the ground. The Chakra mark reached him in less than a second and he couldn't move. The four binding marks hand him completely locked down, head legs, back and chest.
He struggled in frustration. "How!?" He screamed in rage. "How could you have activated the 'Yon sumi koi shīru' I killed Hina, I cut of Yin hand how the hell did you activate it, only you hit me!"
Naruto smiled and let the clones go, Makabi, Yin and Hina vanishing with them.
Henge clones!?
"How? It's impossible to keep a Bunshin after it's been cut, how did you do it?" He roared at Naruto.
The blond only offered the man a smile. "Oh please, give me some credit. I've been using the Kage Bunshin even longer than I've been using the Rasengan, no one can use them better than me." He said with a mischievous grin.
As one Yin, Hina and Makabi let their own henge of Naruto. Isalla let out an unbridled scream of anger and his eyes blazed with hate.
"Damn it!" He screamed. The darkness from Ikino, Hina, Makabi and Yin started to forge around him as it travelled down the Chakra marking connecting the five of them.
"I will not be sealed for ever Ikino!" Isalla screamed as the darkness took him from their sight. "I will not be swayed, I will have my revenge!" He screamed finally before the darkness receded into the Chakra mark on the ground surrounding him.
Ikino and the others took out a scroll each and laid it before them making a series of hand signs.
"Fūinjutsu: Yon sumi koi shīru!" The four shouted together as the darkness reached them again.
It whirled about the four of them before finding its way down to the sealing scroll laid out at their feat.
Once the seal was placed the four of them bound the scroll with yet another sealing tag before handing them over to Isalla.
"Thank you for your help Uzumaki-san." Ikino said as he put the scrolls away, breathing heavily.
Naruto grinned at the man and shrugged. "You're welcome although you guys were kind of helping me." He said.
Ikino grinned in return, "Actually we've been tracking him for some time." Ikino said.
Naruto nodded. "Yea, Ba-Chan told me in the messenger toad I sent to her a few days ago. I'm just glad you guys rocked up when you did." Naruto said. "Would have been in a bit of a pinch without you four."
"You don't know the half of it." Akari said with a wiry sigh before she passed out. Naruto caught her gently and picked her up.
"I was wondering when that was going to happen," Yin said with a smirk. "How much Chakra does she have?" He asked
Naruto offered the boy a cheeky grin. "Oh she's got a plenty." He said slyly.
Ikino tilted his head slightly but otherwise ignored it. "In any event," He said changing the conversation. "We must get back to Yorugakure immediately." He said, more to the three young shinobi in his squad than to Naruto.
"Oh come on Sensei," Hina pleaded. "We've been in the field for over month now, can't we relax her a little, we've completed out mission."
Ikino shook his head. "The mission isn't complete until we hand over these scrolls to lord Yorukage." He said sternly. "Until then we still have a mission to complete and no time to waste, we must leave now." He said.
"Now don't be like that." Another voice said.
The five Shinobi turned around to see Tsugashi approaching, an old and withered looking panther riding on his shoulders.
"You have just saved not only myself, but my people from a dangerous man." He said with a polite smile. "I could hardly call myself a man if I let such deeds go un-rewarded."
"We were just following the orders of the Yorukage. There's no need to-." Ikino began but Tsugashi held up a hand for silence.
"Regardless of the source of your orders you have all preformed an invaluable service for the Land of Planes." He said. "As such I will insist that you at the very least allow us to tend to your injuries and give you a bed for at least this night before you begin your journey back to the Land of Night." He said.
Ikino seemed reluctant but the three teenagers at his side answered for him.
"It would be an honour and a privilege lord Daimyō." Hina said with a deep bow.
Tsugashi smiled again and nodded in response. "The honour is mine." He said turning back to his family estate.
Akari woke up early the next morning feeling sore but otherwise fine. He back was still aching slightly but other than that she felt fine.
She looked about the room and noticed the dress she had been wearing the night before. It had been cleaned and the cut down the back had been patched up expertly, if she hadn't known it had been cut she wouldn't have known it had happened.
She stretched and put on some her usual clothes before walking out the door. It was probably half past six and as she walked through the estates gardens she ran into Tsugashi.
"Akari," He said a little confused. "What are you doing up?" He asked.
Akari shrugged. "I woke up," She said smartly.
Tsugashi grinned and the two walked the garden together. "I want to thank you." He said after a while.
"What do you mean?" She asked him.
"You've done a lot, not just for me, but for the Land of Planes itself, far more than that which has been asked of you." He told her.
Akari blushed and gave him a playful punch. "Don't sweat it." She said. "You saved me remember, it's not like I could turn away from that. Form you when you were in need."
Tsugashi smiled and looked at her. "Still I should thank you, not just as a Daimyō but as a man. You all risked your lives for other people and other villages. I can't thank you enough."
Akari smiled and looked at him. "It's okay," She said softly. "Honestly I don't think I want you to thank me." She said.
Tsugashi raised an eyebrow and she paused. She was bad at expressing her feelings, unless they were defensive of course, anything else she had been almost afraid of. But know she felt different, Taki was her friend and so was Tsugashi.
"I'm not really good with stuff like this." She said after a long pause. "My parents died when I was young and ever since then I've been alone, and people have hated me. I don't know why they hate me but some just do. Only some though. Other people looked at me funny and other people just avoided me, if anybody tried to get close to me, treat me with anything other than indifference or thinly veiled contempt I just turned them away, I shut down and I ignored them. I'm really bad with things like this, so to be honest, right now I think it would be better to save the 'thank you's' till next time." She said.
Tsugashi nodded silently and looked over the wide open planes before them.
"Yo, was wondering where you two were." Naruto said as he walked up to them.
"Sensei," Akari said.
"Breakfast is ready if you're interested." Naruto said to the two of them. They both nodded and began to walk back to the estate, though Tsugashi and Naruto hung back a little.
"So how much longer will you be staying?' He asked Naruto.
Naruto shrugged. "We'll be leaving about midday I guess." He answered. "Ba-Chan has sent three squads over from Konoha to aid in any repairs and mop up you need should be here in a week or two." He said.
Tsugashi nodded. "You have my thanks." He said.
Naruto smiled at the man. "Don't worry about it." He said.
Okay sorry this took so long guys, was being a really uncooperative chapter, BUT I STAND VICTORIOUS!
That's it for the Land of Planes sub arch of the story, next will get to the Chunin exams and all of that jazz.
Jutsu in order of appearance were;
"Storm style: Storm fist."
"Fire Style: Seven dragons wrath."
"Sealing technique: Four corner dark seal."
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, reviews are always appreciated.
Until next time I wish you all the best.
Yours truly.
Nicolai Grey.