Kaibunkage
Arc III
Chapter II
"As one man, I will endure all that there is for the sake of my clan. It is a burden that I face alone, yet overcome with the support of my clan."
- Leader of the Tatsuhiro Clan, Tatsuhiro Kuroma
Jiraiya continued running ahead with his division behind him. There was something wrong about how the enemy spread themselves out. There was another target and it was as clear as day.
The jinchuriki.
"More Zetsu!" he heard someone call.
Jiraiya saw the plant-men rise from the ground in front of him. His eyes narrowed in thought.
They weren't just after the jinchuriki. They were after Shiori as well. And with that, Jiraiya sent a messenger to Naruto. There was a spy within the alliance.
"Uzumaki!" Naruto growled quietly as Ē stormed into the room. "We need those seals or at least the formula!"
"Forgive me, Lord Raikage, but these seals are more complicated than just smashing them into the ground!" Naruto shot back.
"Why you little runt!"
"Boys!" Tsunade shouted, gaining their attention. "This isn't the time!" Neither kage disputed against the blonde woman's words as she looked at Naruto in calm fashion. "Naruto, how far along are you?"
Naruto sighed. "Honestly Baa-chan, I think it'll be easier if I were to find who is behind this and cancel the jutsu myself. Or I could-"
"We need the original seals that will destroy them." Ē said.
"With all due respect," Naruto said. "But it would be faster if I-"
"Lord Kaibunkage! One of my hawks just received a message from Jiraiya-san." Akane said. "The enemy is heading for Demon Country! They know!"
Naruto rose from his seat. "I'm going out there!"
"Naruto, you can't. Not yet." Tsunade reminded him. "Jiraiya, Mei, and Kuroma can handle it."
"Not to mention Bee." Ē said.
"Have Sumaru send a group down there." Naruto told Akane. "Mabui!" The woman appeared. "Have the transporting seals all been set?"
"Hai Lord Kaibunkage." Mabui said.
"Akane, have Inoichi contact every member of the Sealing Team and prepare to transport the injured to Wave. For those who can still fight, I'm going to start sending my team out." Naruto said. "Starting by sending Kazudan to Jiraiya's location."
"Hai!" Mabui and Akane stated.
Naruto gave Tsunade and Ē a hardened glare.
"No matter what you two or the others say," said the Kabunkage. "If I hear that Akatsuki reached the temple, I will go down there myself. End of discussion."
While Ē wanted to argue, Tsunade knew when and when not to dispute a decision Naruto had made.
"We should get back to Shikaku." Tsunade said to Ē.
"Hn." was the only response from the Raikage.
Kakashi charged for his father. He swallowed any and all emotions inside of him as he continued his assault. Unlike his childhood, if he messed up, his father would not simply laugh and remind him of the mistake. This time he would simply kill him.
Kakashi saw Sakumo drive his blade forward and dodged left to avoid being slashed and glided through hand seals. Moving his mask down enough to reveal his lips, Kakashi exhaled the largest fireball using the Great Fireball Jutsu that he has ever made. He thought he had at least nipped his target until he felt hands wrapped around his ankles, pulling him into the ground (Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique).
Sakumo saw his son's immobilized body. While he could feel some emotion about this battle, he could not stop himself from moving in to kill Kakashi. Nothing, ninja nor swirling leaves, could stop him from delivering the killing blow. And once his blade shot through his son's head he momentarily felt a weight crushing down on him. Until his mind backtracked for a moment.
Swirling leaves?
"Genjutsu." Sakumo said before canceling the Hell Viewing Technique to see Kakashi standing a few yards away. "You're more skilled than I imagined, son."
"So they tell me." Kakashi said, forming a beast of lightning (Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Running Technique).
The beast took off for Sakumo. The older Hatake put his blade in its sheath and held his hands out. Kakashi narrowed his left eye, watching Sakumo absorbed the lightning without a problem. When all of the lightning had been absorbed, Sakumo stood with lightning-encased hands.
"Lightning Release," Sakumo stated before running for Kakashi. "Lightning Fang!"
Sakumo dove for his son, twisting in the air with his palms out in front of him, akin to Kiba's Piercing Fang. Kakashi analyzed the attack and safely moved out of the way of his father's attack. Kakashi had a split second to replace himself with a Shadow Clone before Sakumo could slice him in half.
"You're cutting it close Kakashi." Sakumo cautioned.
Kakashi wanted to make a joke about a swordsman using the term "cutting it close" but chose not to at the moment. He would have a lot of time to laugh about that after this battle was over. And that was regardless of whether he won or lost.
Mifune and his men ran through the forest after defeating a horde of Zetsu clones. Sakura's orders were simple and he would follow them accordingly.
"Mifune-sama, we have some more up ahead." A man from Hoshigakure with the Katsugan stated. "One of them is…"
The man's obvious fear stopped him from finishing that statement. Mifune soon came to a small clearing, seeing an opponent he had not seen in years.
"Hanzo." Mifune muttered as he spotted the man.
The former leader of Amegakure looked at the samurai with an indifferent stare. There was a tense silence that surrounded the group before Hanzo spoke.
"You look familiar." Mifune's hand went for his blade. "Yes… The samurai… You seemed to have lived after all."
"I did." Mifune said. "And it was because of you that I stand here today." Hanzo's brows rose as Mifune drew his katana. "It is because of you that I know that as long as I have faith, my blade shall never go dull!"
Ino and Shikamaru both frowned at Mifune's declaration, while Temari just prepared herself with the others. And without another warning, Mifune and Hanzo came for one another, each with a blade of their own.
The exchange between samurai and shinobi was a display that momentarily paused the fighting around them. The sparks lit like miniature fireworks every time Hanzo's kusarigama met Mifune's katana, neither sickle nor sword resisting to the other.
"The years haven't hindered your movements, I see." Hanzo stated.
"I could say the same." Mifune said before their two weapons met again.
"No… My skills have been revived by this damnable jutsu." Mifune and Hanzo separated as the former Ame leader continued. "Your skills and faith are what has remained." Hanzo bit his thumb. "Tell me, do the men in my village have my faith?"
"We are currently at war with Amegakure." Before Hanzo summoned his trusted salamander, he paused and frowned. "They, as well as Oto and Ishi, have joined together to face the rest of the shinobi world and the samurai."
"Why?" Hanzo questioned.
"Akatsuki." Mifune stated as he prepared his blade. "Now the only way to defeat them is to beat those who were brought back from the dead."
"I have faith in you." Mifune said before slamming his palm onto the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"
The reanimated Hozuki Mangetsu dove for Kageno, slowly liquidfying himself. Kageno only smirked and stopped the young man in midair.
"You swordsmen never fail to amaze me with your stupidity." Kageno stated before Mangetsu's solid body hit the ground. Kageno stood overe Mangetsu, his smirk gone. "Who summoned you Mangetsu?"
"…" The swordsmen said nothing before Kageno was forced to dodge the thin sword of Kuriarare Kushimaru.
Kageno was seconds away from retaliating before a fist shattered Kushimaru's mask, the thin man sent backwards at amazing speed.
"Sakura of the Salamander," Kageno said. "It seems that my nickname stuck to you."
"Can you handle these guys while I find Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, ignoring the man's earlier statement.
Kageno grinned. "I can do a lot. I did defeat you, remember?"
Sakura let out an annoyed growl before Kageno did a set of hand seals. When he was finished, he raised his hands to the sky, dark clouds forming overhead. Sakura watched as the man's body became clear water before floating upwards to the clouds, becoming evaporation as it ascended (Evaporation Technique).
"Kotetsu!" Sakura called towards the man who briefly looked at her. "Where's Kakashi?"
"Hey took Guy-san and went after Kankuro's team." the Leaf Nin responded.
"Then I need to make this quick." Sakura said before biting her thumb and making the appropriate hand sesals. "Summoning Jutsu!" Kotetsu, as well as a few others, were glad when Sakura summoned Ibuse. However, their happiness was demolished when Sakura stood confused. "I couldn't summon Ibuse? That can only mean-" Sakura's words were cut off when she saw the large salamander being summoned elsewhere. "Hanzo."
"Don't inhale the poison!" Mifune warned as Ibuse let lose a cloud of poison.
Hanzo stood atop of his trusted summon. He could feel a slight drift between he and his salamander, making him believe that someone else must have been using it in battle now. And whoever this person was, Ibuse had a stronger bond with than with him now.
"Recharge. I can take care of the others." Hanzo said hopping off of the salamander than tunneled underground.
Mifune watched as Hanzo came for his team, many of his members too busy covering their noses and mouths to prepare for Hanzo's strike. Mifune forced himself to move faster than he could, his body reminding him of the slight age difference there was between his current age and his prime. But he would defeat Hanzo one way or another.
The sound of metal clapping rang throughout the air before Mifune and Hanzo stopped, their backs facing one another.
"…" Hanzo was silent as the gash slightly above his venom gland began to heal. "Close…"
Mifune gritted his teeth. If he had have been a little bit faster and a little bit stronger, he would have pierced Hanzo's only known weak spot. However, he had missed due to Hanzo intercepting the attack at the last possible moment.
"Gari, Pakura," Hanzo said. "Destroy them."
The two revived shinobi moved to attack Mifune's men and women. His mind played out scenarios to either protect his comrades or defeat Hanzo. However, the former Ame leader made the decision pretty clear to him.
"Kill me, Mifune. Show me that you haven't grown dull in your late years." Hanzo said.
Mifune prepared his blade. "Hai, Hanzo-san."
Sakumo watched as Kakashi's slashed body collapsed into a puddle of water.
"A Water Clone?" mused the deceased nin. "Makes me wonder how many jutsu you have in your arsenal."
"It's rumored over one thousand." Kakashi said creating two Shadow Clones. "But like I said, that's strictly a rumor."
Sakumo prepared his blade as Kakashi sent his two clones to attack his father. As he watched his clones fight Sakumo, Kakashi mentally pondered why he could not simply crush his father with Kamui. It should be easy, using his past feelings of abondment as a source of motivation. But he couldn't. Those past feelings that fueled his anger were no longer a factor. The question was: Why?
"Kakashi! Stop playing with me and give me everything you've got!" Sakumo ordered as he neared Kakashi at blinding speeds.
Kakashi leapt backwards, momentarily thinking back. Minato, Obito, Rin, and his parents were constantly haunting him, being the ghosts of his past. They reminded him time and time again of his failures and why it was no surprise that his entire team had defected from the village.
Dodging his father's blade, Kakashi's mind took another turn. He was now thinking about those that he still held dear to him. They ranged from Asuma, Kurenai, Anko, and, dare he say, Guy, all the way to Naruto, Sakura, and even Sasuke. He could not go back in time to fix his mistakes, he knew that. But he did have enough time to make amends for them. And he'd be damned if anyone stopped him, his father or not.
Sakumo was shocked when Kakashi dodged his blade with speeds that he had not been using earlier. He turned his head to see his son standing with a calm expression.
"So you're finally serious?" Sakumo asked.
Kakashi closed his eye. "I realized that stopping you will do more than let out my anger, but save those people precious to me. A lesson you taught me." When Kakashi opened his left eye, he now had his Mangekyo Sharingan activated. "And I will save those who I can, even at the expense of my life."
Sakumo grinned. "Come at me with the intent of killing me. That is the only way you will succeed."
Kakashi actually smiled.
"I plan on it." Kakashi said.
"…ren… Guren…" Black eyes opened to see the familiar face of Rin.
"Rin…? Where am I?" Guren asked.
"Medical wing in the Land of Waves." Guren groaned before taking her left hand and rubbing her face. The battle between her and Matsuo still fresh in her mind and… She paused.
"My hand!" Guren exclaimed staring at her re-attached left hand.
"Don't get so used to it. We had to do some altercations and they weren't perfect due to the speeds that we had to operate on it." Rin told her. "For example, it may look like your hand and feel like it, but ultimately, this is Matsuo's entire left arm." Guren stared at her hands. Next to the scar she possessed the backside of her left hand that trailed down her arm, she really could not tell the difference. Well, other than the obvious left-hand/right-hand difference. "You should really be thankful that you arrived when you did. His diamonds were closed to sealing off your entire left side."
"So, can I fight?" Rin sighed at Guren's question.
"I'm sorry. You'll be bedridden for a few days." stated the medic. "And afterwards, I'll need to make sure that you get used to your new acquisition." Guren's brows furrowed. "The Diamond Release."
Guren's eyes shot wide. She now had that cursed bloodline? The one that made hers seem inferior? How bittersweet?
Sakumo raised his blade high above his head, the sword charging a large amount of lightning chakra. With one heavy swing, he brought his blade into the ground in front of him, creating a wave of lightning that sliced through ground, going for Kakashi (Bane of Zeus). Kakashi side-stepped the attack, subconsciously watching it destroy a few more trees behind him before ending.
"I think it's time to end this," Kakashi said forming a Chidori. "Your lightning versus mine. What do you say, Dad?"
"Give it a shot." Sakumo said preparing another Bane of Zeus.
Kakashi nodded and took off with great speed, heading directly for Sakumo. When the wave of lightning shot forth from Sakumo's blade, Kakashi thrust his arm forward, using his only original technique.
"Chidori!"
The blinding light that followed spread throughout the entire area, blanketing the battlefield in white. The light slowly dimmed down, Kakashi's hand planted in his father's shoulder.
"Dammit…" Kakashi muttered, wondering how he missed his target.
Sakumo could only stare at his son for a moment. His attack, the Chidori, sliced through his attack effortlessly. What else was Kakashi holding back?
"K-Kakashi! Move!" Sakumo warned as he felt his body move without his control, his arm raised to slice his only child with his tantō.
Kakashi was able to move, though his left shoulder now sported a gash from the swing. He hissed in pain before glaring at Sakumo. He had a chance to immobilize him so that the Sealing Team could do there job and he missed his target. More importantly, he changed his target.
"You can't do it." Kakashi momentarily closed his left eye at his father's words, his head down in shame. "Kakashi, you have to be the one to stop me. You can't make the same mistake that I did."
"I… I can't…" Kakashi responded.
"If you don't," Sakumo said, his chakra rising. "I will be forced to kill you." Kakashi did not move. "Kakashi! Do it now! Let out your anger and send me back to your mother!"
Kakashi wished he could do what his father wanted, but his body would not allow him to do such a thing. Why? Why was it so hard to kill someone who wanted to die? Is this what Naruto felt when Haku pleaded with him years ago? At the time, Kakashi could only give Naruto a bit of advice, though Kakashi had never experienced the phenomenon. Now it seemed as if his own words did little to help himself in the matter.
Kakashi's mind soon brought him back to the battle where he was able to move backwards, only to receive a cut across the midsection. Wounded, he was unprepared for the spinning back-elbow that knocked him clear on his back.
"Kakashi…" Sakumo growled.
Kakashi moved to his feet, still trying to get a grasp of this event. He came in with the full intent of defeating his father. Now… Now he could barely stand harming the man.
"I can't." was all Kakashi said before Sakumo to land a quick and powerful combination of strikes on Kakashi, avoiding the use of his blade.
Kakashi found himself slowly getting off of the ground again. The split second that his Chidori shot into his father's shoulder, everything changed. He didn't see the reincarnated corpse attempting to kill him. He saw his father's grinning face. The same face that he received decades ago whenever Sakumo stated how proud he was. A face that was now nothing but a distant memory up until a few moments ago. A face that brought back so many memories… Feelings… Dreams…
"Get up." Sakumo's voice wasn't that of a kind father's. No. Now it was that of a very pissed off general. "I said get up!"
Kakashi was finally able to stand on both feet, staring at Sakumo's face. Nothing was said between them as Kakashi began to regret even facing an opponent who was probably stronger than he was. And with no emotional strings on Sakumo's part, he was clearly at a disadvantage.
"I don't want to be the one to do this…" Kakashi finally admitted, his chakra building. "But I guess you're not giving me much of a choice!"
Sakumo's eyes narrowed. "Some times a shinobi is faced with doing what's right for himself and what's right for the village. That was a mistake I made, putting my own feelings above the mission."
"No," Sakumo saw the seriousness within his son's implanted eye. "Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worst than trash. That is Minato-sensei taught me."
Sakumo came for Kakashi, this time his blade drawn to attack.
"Dad… Forgive me…" Kakashi said as his Mangekyo Sharingan began spinning. "Kamui!"
Kabuto watched as a pebble shattered and frowned curiously.
"Even at after death," spoke the medic. "Sakumo continues to put his need above the sake of a mission. What a disgrace." The other person within the room said nothing. "Is there a problem?"
"This technique… It's wrong." said the person.
Kabuto chuckled. "Well, I'm sure you're dying to use your genjutsu on me, eh Shisui?" The blind and deceased Uchiha said nothing. "Shame that you're stuck guarding me. But I promise, in due time you will get to inact some sort of revenge against Danzo." Shisui's brows rose. "Isn't that what you want?"
"You're a twisted man." Shisui responded.
Kabuto did not respond, looking back at the board in front of him. With a number of their forces moving for Wave Country, his, or should he say Tobi's, next target was Demon Country. Udon's intel provided them with great leverage and now they could slowly chip away at the Allied Shinobi Forces. And then the greater battle began.
Kakashi did not know whether or not his attack landed in time, but he could feel a slight numbing feeling in his chest. He realized that he was somehow in a forest, the night's moon shining in all its glory above him. He moved to a clearing where Sakumo sat at a fire. Realizing that he must have landed his attack later than he expect, he moved to sit across from his father, the fire in-between them.
"You did well, Kakashi." Sakumo said in a neutral tone. "I didn't think you would actually do it."
"…" Kakashi sat in silence before sighing. "Well, it doesn't matter now. I was too slow."
Sakumo grinned as he rose. "You're not dying. Not today at least." Kakashi was relieved to hear that part. "Now, I have to return to your mother just like you have to return to Rin."
"Rin…? But I thought you said that I wasn't…?"
Sakumo laughed. "You don't know, eh? Rin is alive and well." Kakashi's eyes widened. "And now your mission is to find her, son. Get the closure that you so deserve."
"Hai." Kakashi said. "And… I'm glad that you were my dad."
As the area around Kakashi began to fade to white, he could hear his father's voice responding to the statement.
"Thank you for letting be your dad."
"Rasengan!" Jiraiya called as he shoved the two spheres into two members of Sasuke's Curse Seal Army.
"I can't believe that they keep coming!" Sumaru shouted, blasting a group of White Zetsu away with his Star Bullet.
"We have to make it to the palace." Jiraiya said, the Hoshikage nodding in concurrence before defeating more of the men and women coming his way.
"Well, well," Jiraiya paused at the voice. It just couldn't be… "This is quite the ruin, eh Jiraiya-kun?"
"Orochimaru." Jiraiya said as he saw his former teammate standing with the revived Sound Four behind him.
Orochimaru snickered. "Oh Jiraiya-kun, the look on your face is simply priceless. Sakon," The revived boy looked at Orochimaru expectantly. "Infiltrate the palace. Destroy the seals."
"Hai." Sakon said before he and the Sound Four left to do their mission.
"Tell me, Jiraiya-kun, are you prepared to finally end this silly rivalry of ours?" Jiraiya gritted his teeth at Orochimaru's words. "Let's be honest. You could never beat me then and now that I'll simply regenerate from anything…" Orochimaru paused and licked his lips. "You don't stand a chance!"
"Don't underestimate the power of the legendary Toad Sage!" Jiraiya retorted. "Kazudan!" The man who had recently been summoned to the area with reinforcements looked at Jiraiya. "I don't want anyone interfering."
"Hai." Kazudan said doing hand seals before slamming his hands on the ground.
Orochimaru watched as Kazudan's Great Iron Curtain created a large dome around himself and Jiraiya. The area was clearly a large portion of the battlefield, big enough for them to roam around.
"This time," Orochimaru said with a smirk. "Sensei isn't here to save you."
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "Or to stop me."
The two prepared for their battle, glaring at one another. They both wondered if Hiruzen was currently watching them prepare for battle, just as they did in the arena many years ago. But like Orochimaru said, Hiruzen was not here to step in when the battle had cross the line of two friends sparring and mortal enemies. And that meant that at least one of them was not leaving the dome on his own two legs.
Question was: Who?
A/N: Forgive me for the Kakashi vs. Sakumo battle but it was hard trying to imagine just what moves Sakumo had in his arsenal outside of kenjutsu. Still, I hope you enjoyed it and the next chapter should be out next week. Till then.