A/N: And with this, we've reached 100,000 words! (We're actually somewhat over, but the milestone happened in this chapter.) As stated previously, please send in questions either by PM or review by Friday of next week.
The noonday sun beat downward. Like the white sun of death that legend had it blessed the first dawn of the world, the sun drew heat and flames into the world. The white stone darkened, heat pressing downward. An earthquake rocked the ground as the striking shadow impacted the ground again.
The hands laced together. A series of seals formed on Kabuto's hand.
Kōju remained still. Her feet planted firmly against the ground, her stance remaining loose and gentle.
Kabuto lunged forward, swallowing the pill retrieved from his pouch. His hand shot over the shoulder.
Kōju ducked downward. Her hands extended in a rapid pattern, her feet planted firmly against the ground.
Shizune's eyes widened. That's Heavenly Shrine Entry. Where did she learn that skill?
Kabuto's hand slowed. White chakra surrounded the hand. A sheath or shroud of energy wrapped around the white hand. Kabuto's eyes widened. Eh? He stared at his stopped hand.
Kōju drew out her tantō. Rapidly, she slashed across the surface of the gut.
Blood spilled downward. A massive wave of blood poured from the cut on the shoulder.
Kōju leapt backward. Her eyes glittered, her hand reaching upward and touching the blood on her white skin.
Shizune's eyes narrowed. She spun around, her hand aiming toward Kabuto's skin. While he's still caught up, I'll damage him from here.
Kabuto slammed his head into the arm. This is risky, but staying motionless against these two is a considerably bigger risk.
Shizune's eyes widened. What is he doing? This monstrously powerful man is simply relying on moving it with his body? Her arm drove into the surface of the stone.
An explosion echoed from the rubble.
Kōju gritted her teeth. No, you made the correct decision. Forcing it to move using chakra wouldn't work. You're lucky in that. Still, you shouldn't be able to use the same techniques.
"As expected, you're both quite impressive." Kabuto looked at Kōju with surprised eyes. "Still, it seems you really are from Rin's line. If we speak of just your abilities, you are remarkable."
"What do you know about Rin?"
"Her line originally came from Hidden Frost."
Kōju's eyes narrowed. "And this affects me how, exactly?" Her hand drew back the sword. "Shizune-san. Can you get him in hand-to-hand?"
That lust for blood comes from the north. Kabuto's eyes narrowed. In that respect it would seem fortunate. She has not yet learned the techniques associated with the berserker's power. If she had, I might need to be concerned with my life.
"I'm not too confident, but I do know Tsunade-sama's method." Shizune's arms rose. Bright light surrounded the fists.
"Excellent."
Kabuto's eyes widened. He tensed as the pair charged him. She knows that method of enhancing strength? Alone I wouldn't need to be concerned about either one of them. Both together, however, and I might find myself in some degree of difficulty!
Shizune lunged forward. Her fist shot toward Kabuto's head. The spinning fist aimed forward.
"As to me, I'll continue as I have begun. I'll find some way to reach you from here." Kōju licked off the blood from the earlier attack. Her eyes blazed with renewed fervor, a glittering intensity. "Heh."
The blade shot forward.
"I know it's bad."
Kabuto raised his headband, deflecting the blade downward in an instant. He ducked downward, dodging the fist of Shizune. Even so, if I can calculate the distance between them, I can figure out a way to reach them.
"But for some reason, I really do like seeing blood. My own or others, I enjoy it nonetheless."
Kabuto reached outward, his hand glowing with chakra. A scalpel rushed forward.
Energy surrounded Kōju's body. An aura of white light surrounded the body.
Kabuto's eyes widened.
The chakra on the hand dissipated.
What?! Kabuto leapt backward. His eyes narrowed. Quickly, he reached into his pouch. He hurled down a round object.
Kōju turned in a circle. Grasping her hand, she fell to one knee.
What the hell is that? No. Don't tell me. For a moment, let me interpret my symptoms. Kabuto scowled. Well, it's certainly not impossible. She was the apprentice of that heretic priest. Berserking is one thing; this is another. Susano'o Mikoto is an ability that will cause problems. He reached downward. So my essential flow of chakra has been disrupted. She really is a genius.
"If necessary, I'll destroy this whole place, you bastard!" Shizune shouted, her fist clenched. She punched one of the walls.
I suppose I'll use that. Kabuto descended into the earth. In this case, the important move is to stifle Shizune-san's movements before anything else. Once I've dealt with her powers, I can deal with Kōju-san at my leisure. She's not the dangerous one here. Anyone would tell you that the best method is to contain Shizune.
Shizune's eyes widened.
Kōju gritted her teeth. Her hand clapped against the ground. Rapidly, she descended into the earth. He must be aiming for Shizune. In and of myself, the most damage I can cause is using my blade, so he's aiming to take advantage of that.
Hmph. Amusing, but a worthless diversion. From beginning to end, I've calculated out your moves, your strategies. I know how to counter them. Kabuto smiled as he regarded the moving figure.
Kōju's sword drove through the earth.
A clone exploded into smoke.
Kōju gasped in shock. Substitution Technique under the ground?!
The walls crumbled.
Black tattoos appeared on Kabuto's skin. His lips curled upward. Sorry, but… this isn't the only form of chakra I have. I can beat you using this system of chakra instead of my own, though my preference would be to avoid that factor.
The hands reached up through the earth. White light poured up from the sword, glimmering in bright flame.
Shizune gasped. Her leg twisted beneath her. She fell backward.
"Her tendons are snapped. Even for a medical student, that should serve to stall her." Kabuto stood upright. He studied Kōju's face. "Now, you have a lot of talent, but not much potential. The trouble with you is that you've already reached your maximum. Thus, you're out of place. In time you'll become a hindrance to that person, Uchiha Sasuke."
Kōju's eyes narrowed. Her face burned red.
"Am I somehow mistaken in saying that? After all, you—"
A ball of wind shot forward through the air.
Kabuto ducked downward.
The hand slammed into another wall.
Naruto growled. "This guy really is slippery." He turned sideways. "Hey, Kōju-san. I'm here to help you out a little."
That moron. Kabuto's eyes narrowed with rage. A cold anger filled his face. "As to this guy, he's got neither talent nor potential. He is incapable."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"Of becoming Hokage, that is. How should I say it in such a way that you understand? Even though it's your dream, it's impossible for you. You've relied on that beast inside you to attempt to possess the power of something greater. Like a monkey grasping at the moon, you have done nothing but rush forward, trying to grasp the illusion of the water you see."
Kōju's eyes narrowed.
"You're a small bug compared to those ninja fighting up there." Kabuto pointed upward toward the battling figures. "If you try to get in my way, I'll kill you. Though Kōju-san's maximum is a chūnin rank of power, you're worse than even a genin."
Naruto fell silent, his eyes downcast. A coldness surrounded hi body.
"You do enjoy it, don't you?"
Kabuto's eyes widened.
"Making traps in your words. Trying to manipulate others." Kōju smiled faintly.
Naruto frowned.
Using the right methods and forbidden techniques, it might be possible to bring out a greater sum of power than she presently possesses. On top of that, other things might be possible. Kabuto narrowed his eyes. She could be, in some ways, useful to us.
"Come with us, Kōju-san."
Kōju's eyes widened. "Eh? I must've heard you incorrectly. You seriously think I would ever join your side?" she demanded, her voice harsh and stern.
"Well, there are ways to bring out more power than that."
"Forget it." Kōju's fingers laced together.
Kabuto's eyes widened.
The blade cut through Kabuto's side. Blood poured down from the wound.
"Naruto-kun. Let me fight for a while. I'd like to find out the answer, whether his method or mine is better." Kōju drew in a harsh breath. Her hand shook.
Naruto gritted his teeth. "I finally got this technique to work, and you're telling me to stand down?"
"Without a doubt. I know it's selfish, but without it I don't know how to carry on. So allow me to continue being selfish a little longer." Kōju sighed. "Let me do as I please."
"Heh." Kabuto's eyes narrowed. "Even though you're quite aware by now that you're going to lose?" He stepped backward. Rapidly, he distanced himself from Kōju, avoiding standing within her range.
"With due respect, Kabuto-san, I don't know that. I won't know until I try." Kōju raised her arm. Her eyes narrowed. She clapped her hands together, rushing forward rapidly.
"Even so, there's a limitation to what it's possible for you to do. At this point, you should be running up against your chakra limit, or close to it. Using so many techniques in a short period of time should have left you fairly exhausted."
Kōju nodded shortly. He's right. There's very little I can do that won't result in my near-immediate defeat. Her eyes narrowed. Technique-wise, I'm near my limit. On top of that, he's aware of most of what I can do now. My Flash Technique is something he may not have seen.
Kabuto's lips curled upward.
No, wait. During that fight against Kin, Zaku, and Dosu, I used that technique. If he wasn't watching, he presumably had someone else watching. Kōju's eyes narrowed. I'm now facing a fight against an enemy who's seen every one of my techniques. She drew back her blade. Even so, I think I'll use this.
White chakra burned around the sword rapidly.
Kabuto's eyebrows furrowed. Using chakra and sending it through the blade. This can likely be compared to Kakashi Hatake's technique. It's risky to use up chakra like this. She must have some secret plan.
Shouting loudly, Kōju ran forward. A line of dust kicked up across the ground.
No plan? Kabuto's eyebrows furrowed. Let me see, then.
Kōju slashed forward, her expression desperate.
Naruto gasped. Don't risk your life so recklessly!
Kabuto weaved away from the blade. He leapt backward. "Not bad. Even a plan like that must fail, however."
"Eh?" Naruto's eyes widened.
"She was attempting to get me within range of that Heavenly Shrine Entry of hers." Kabuto chuckled. "It was a nice start, but... It's insufficient."
"Insufficient, huh?" Kōju grinned. "You fell into my trap. That's not the technique I was planning to use!"
Kabuto's eyebrows rose.
Naruto gasped in shock. Eh?! That's your best technique!
"In truth, I don't have enough left to use that technique! No matter if I wanted to or not, it's not happening. Looks like you fell for it, though!" Kōju stuck out her tongue, pulling down her eyelid as she grinned.
Kabuto took a step backward.
"My actual plan was this. Earth Style..."
"Rising Earthen Fortification?" Kabuto prompted.
Kōju gasped.
Kabuto smiled. "It's no good. You might have had me if you developed a proper plan." He extended his finger. "You pretended to have no plan at first. That was fine. It led me to suspect something. But then the plan you presented for my inspection wasn't well thought out. It won't do, Kōju-san." He spread his arms wide.
Kōju blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You don't have that kind of character. You don't tend to take unnecessary risks. How should I put it?" Kabuto paused, his brown eyes darkening. "You don't take risks or make mistakes that obvious. In preparing a double plan like this, it was clear that you rushed. You failed to account for the possibility, no matter how faint, that I might have seen through that plan's error." Kabuto's hand rushed forward.
Kōju gasped in shock. The edge of the hand passed forward, cutting through the skin.
"Whirlwind Bullet!" Naruto shouted, driving the whirling ball of wind toward Kabuto's back.
Kabuto ducked downward. "Of course I haven't forgotten you, Naruto-san. But that sweeping motion won't do. Not even a little."
Naruto gritted his teeth. "You aren't the one I was aiming at. Kōju-san. Wake up!" He extended his hand.
Kōju flinched.
Naruto placed his hand on Kōju's shoulder.
Kōju blinked in shock.
"Pull yourself together. That brain of yours can work out something else, right?"
Kōju's lips curled upward. She drew in a deep breath, her eyes dark as she sighed deeply. "Yes. There is one other possible method."
"Hm?" Kabuto's eyes narrowed. "I can reverse that Rising Earthen Fortification of yours. I can defeat it. Knowing this, you still persist in insisting on your eventual victory?" He sighed wearily. "No matter how you try, it's useless."
"On the contrary, I wouldn't have been able to reach that victory if it hadn't been for you mentioning it."
Kabuto's eyes widened.
"Get ready, Naruto-kun." Kōju drove her hand into the ground. "We'll have to finish this in one strike."
The earthen wall rose around Kabuto.
Kabuto's eyes narrowed. The same plan? No. Wait! His eyes widened. Naruto-kun can still attack me. Bearing that in mind, no wonder that move was made!
Naruto lunged forward. His whirling bullet rushed upward, driving toward Kabuto's body.
Kabuto dodged backward. Even so, that sweeping motion is too much. With that, it's not possible for him to hit me. As long as I keep calm and focus on the moves that have been made, I can win.
"ORA!" Shizune lunged forward, her hand extending rapidly.
Kabuto gasped.
The fist drove into Kabuto's back.
I get it now. A bit late, but I understand every aspect of her planning. Not bad. Kabuto's body flew through the air rapidly.
Kōju bumped fists with Naruto, grinning broadly. A slight shadow covered Kōju's eyes as Kōju turned away.