Another figure's foot stepped onto the white sand. The sands of the forest glimmered, the moon shining down through the branches of the trees.
White eyes turning from side to side, the burly man smirked, his dead black hair glistening on his head. "Let's go," Gekido declared, his voice determined and furious in its complexion and statements. Rubbing his head, he sighed after a moment. "That's what I'd like to say, but it's not like that. I got lost."
The forest creaked.
"But she said to make a lot of noise. Well, for me, that's truly not a problem. The angrier I get, the easier it is to perform this kind of distraction. Though in truth I don't like being in this kind of situation, she's right. It's easier for me to attract attention. Far easier!"
A wave of energy spread from Gekido's feet. The hand lowered. Gekido's hand drove into the ground. "Summoning Technique!"
A massive form emerged from the shadows. Winter-white paws covered the ground. The earth itself shook under the impact of the massive form. The snow-white bear roared, its voice echoing through the valley.
"Come now. We have a lot of work to do and not much time to do it. Let us obliterate them—those fools who lie down the mountain."
The bear opened its mouth wide. A ball of energy formed in the mouth of the beast. Energy gathered around the ball, dots of energy rushing inward.
The flames rose from the center of the massive fire in the center of the ring of stones.
"Tailed Beast Bomb."
The ball of energy released rapidly.
Gekido smirked. His eyes narrowed.
The air glimmered.
"Only a fool would continue fighting after seeing that attack! I'm going to end matters for you myself! After all, you did request my assistance, so you can't complain no matter what form it takes. Even if it were to result in your own death."
Wind blew upward across the ground.
"You partners wouldn't care. If you died out here, Kūkyo-san, no one would blame me. Especially since you used that ability of that person, that shinigami you stole the life of so long ago."
The mouth opened.
"Target the smaller set of flames with your next blow. Make sure they fall under the weight of the world. Overturn that paradigm. End it with a wave of clear-minded foresight! Kill it before it grows!"
Energy surrounded the vast maw of the polar bear, once again summoned.
"Let it end here. With you. Let whatever ambition concealed you from the eyes of the world, whatever dream led you to believe you could win against the heavens, disappear like a line in the sand." Gekido's eyes narrowed. "Let it pass."
The air glimmered.
"If you would like to see hell—as a god of death, it's your right. I suspect that even you could reach that heaven, see it beyond you. Aren't you afraid?" Gekido's eyes narrowed. "Tell me, aren't you afraid of death? Aren't you truly, really afraid of dying? Isn't it something that weighs heavily on your mind?!"
The polar bear roared.
Energy gathered in the mouth again.
"Destroy everything near a fire! Don't let her have even a moment to recover! If she does, we are in deadly danger indeed."
The polar bear gathered energy in its mouth.
Gekido grinned. I'll tear away that deceptive realization of yours—I'll make you believe, once and for all, in the miracles that are life and terror! You should fear again, now that you've exposed yourself to me in this way. You've put yourself in far too much danger, haven't you? A fool—a fool from the start of this journey! You are inferior to me!
Akatsuki
The flames of the small fire rose. The pair of tents darkened, sparks flying upward from the fire in a wave of motion.
"Heh."
A mountain disappeared in the distance.
"It's no surprise whatsoever. In terms of your skill, you're not equal to me. Over there, you can see a better example of what a member of Akatsuki should be able to do. Still, that's him for you. Skill would simply be a useless addition." Kūkyo stirred the fire again, her sword poking into the embers.
"Eh?" Deikōgi sat up, her eyes wide. "What was that, yeah?"
"That would be a Tailed Beast Bomb. It's a very dangerous, powerful little attack. Combines yin and yang chakra in an unstable mode of energy that results in a high-destruction impact."
Waves of energy spread from the base of the sword.
Kūkyo smiled. "As a member of Akatsuki, your first mission is to protect that woman until she reaches neutral territory. As of this moment that is the duty I now assign you."
Chinmoku's eyes narrowed. "How talkative you are!"
"I have little choice in the matter. Attempt for a moment to understand my position, my dear fellow. My partner has begun to fight in a rather fierce manner. Not truly a berserker, he nonetheless apes them in his anger. Despite his understanding that I will probably die from his actions, he's prepared a trap for me. He's fighting with the full intention of killing me." Kūkyo grinned broadly, fiercely, her eyes narrowing. "And that suits me just fine."
Chinmoku's eyes widened. He stared at Kūkyo with shock. "Is it truly the nature of that guy to eat that power? Aren't there only nine Tailed Beasts? How can he possess a Tailed Beast?"
"The simplest way to explain the difference between us is that I am 'death' where he is 'life'. If you want to describe it in a neater way, there are nine Tailed Beasts that came after the first. So our legends say. To put it another way, the ones that matter came before their numerous ill-favored brethren. He possesses one of those ill-favored brethren." Kūkyo chuckled. "Though even as teammates, we disagreed frequently, before that arose as an issue. Well. The point is that under the circumstances it is quite probable that we will not be capable of recovering our poor escort without a certain amount of help."
"With respect, that wasn't my exact statement," Chinmoku remarked. "I'm curious. As a member of Akatsuki, will I always be concerned regarding the matter of my partner killing me in my sleep?"
"You don't necessarily have to be." Kūkyo sighed. "It just so happens that those with different talents rarely appreciate those with different powers. I always heard Itachi-san and Kisame-kun got along well, but they're an exception rather than the rule. You should attempt to develop a good relationship with your partner."
"Why did you not?"
"I preferred him to hate my guts. In truth, as a team, we got along about as well as one might expect. Well, when you've known a guy for about two hundred years, you start figuring out what makes him tick." Kūkyo smirked. "Though the reasons behind that, themselves, are complicated."
A ball of energy shot through the air. The howling sound of the ball echoed through the valley, reverberating off the mountains.
Kūkyo's smile dissipated. "You better get going." Her golden eyes narrowed. "Things are becoming too dangerous here." Her hand landed on the hilt of her sword. "Things are about to get truly messy."
Chinmoku gritted his teeth.
"There's only so far people can grow. That's the simple truth, and it is something that you should understand without exception." Kūkyo's eyes narrowed. "Even if you have fought me to the point where you were nearly able to defeat me, that doesn't put you on the same rank of power as me. That's also a quite simple truth, and one you have failed to understand as yet."
Chinmoku scowled. "Deikōgi-san. You heard her. Let's get moving." He clapped his hands together, forming the symbol for the Flash Technique.
Deikōgi formed the same symbol. Stay safe, yeah, she fretted quietly.
Akatsuki
The air glowed. Waves of sparks rose from the flames.
"There's something wrong. He's been gone too long," Yukime fretted.
She has a point. Under the current circumstances, it's undoubtedly true that something is going on. It's unlikely that something is being overlooked here. That would cause him to go missing, that is. Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Which means he's gone missing. Something's going on. She closed her eyes.
A wave of energy formed around the hand.
"There!" Sanzengan!
The eye flashed.
Black tomoe and crimson eyes blazed in the light.
Huh? I can barely see. Sasuke blocked her eyes, her face shocked. There's some kind of massive energy over there.
The air glimmered.
A blast of energy slammed into the surface of the mountain.
Nōtō sailed into the air, knocked away by the concussive impact.
Pakura's head slammed into the ground. Blood trickled from the impact mark.
Huh?! Naruto's eyes widened.
The mountain vanished.
Asahi's brow dripped with sweat.
"Naruto, we're splitting up."
"Wait!" Kōju shouted loudly, her face shocked.
"This is our first opportunity."
Kōju's eyes widened. Wait! Don't you get that teamwork is the only way to do this?!
"Let's test how strong we are on the bodies of our opponents."
Naruto nodded.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "If you die doing this. Be warned, I truly don't intend to forgive you!"
Light poured downward.
"Heh. That's just fine." Naruto's eyes narrowed.
Light poured downward.
The pair vanished.
"Morons!"
"Split up into two teams. Each of them will follow one partner." Shikin gestured rapidly. "It's a pity that Chinmoku-san isn't here. Since that's the case—"
A Tailed Beast Bomb shot toward the fire.
Kōju gasped.
"Shiki Fūjin!" Shikin shouted, her hands clapping together.
A form appeared before Shikin's body.
The Tailed Beast Bomb shattered in the wave of energy.
A figure emerged from the smoke.
"Eh? This is."
"Shiki Fūjin's ability permits the use of the contracted shinigami for any theoretical purpose." Shikin's hand lowered. "It is only the taking of life that does not permit the contractor to live. For me." Shikin's knife stabbed into her hand. "It's not dissimilar to a defensive maneuver. It's quite easy to use such techniques."
The black-cloaked figure glanced over his shoulder, a look of irritation on his face. "You shouldn't summon me so casually!"
"Quiet, Makizō-san." Shikin's eyes narrowed.
The bomb dissipated.
"At any rate, it's true that a spiritual body can reflect and deny damage to some quadrants of the world."
"Now, let's find those two…"
What an interesting ability. Kōju frowned. If I could learn that, certainly I could recreate that power. What am I saying? Right now, the most important thing is finishing him off alone, certainly!
The light faded from the sky.
Energy gathered again.
"Split up, keep moving. Stay away from the fire for certain; it's too dangerous. Most importantly avoid taking foolish actions on your own, like those other two!" Shikin rushed forward, following the path through the darkness.
Flames lit within the forest.
"Remember, the objective is to capture Deikōgi-san. Everything else is completely indifferent. Don't get distracted by 'Akatsuki' or whatever. It's quite dangerous to underestimate someone like that."
Kōju's eyes narrowed. That's undoubtedly the correct path, yet under the circumstances.
Waves of energy spread through the forest.
"Let's move forward."
Shikin rushed forward.
Akatsuki
Flames rose through the forest, glowing brightly like the inferno of hell.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Damn. I must be some kind of idiot not to have asked where I was going!" He gritted his teeth. "But there's definitely a way through here. I'm sure of it. If we include that fact, then, Multiple choice test method! Shadow Clone Technique!"
The clones appeared rapidly.
"Spread out and look for people wearing black cloaks!" Naruto lowered his hand. "It makes sense to underestimate some things."
"Ah."
Naruto turned around, his eyes wide.
Water poured downward.
"Too naïve."
The air glimmered.
Golden energy blasted downward.
Naruto tensed. He turned slowly in a circle.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to run or hide. You can fight me in any way you choose." Kūkyo spread her arms wide, her expression calm.
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"In return, allow me to request something of you."
"I'm listening."
"When you die…" Kūkyo smirked, pulling back the robe. "Don't complain about losing."
"Where's Deikōgi-san?"
"I've left her safety to a certain demon."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "So you're confident in yourself being able to hold off the whole army?"
"To be perfectly honest." Kūkyo smirked. "I could take on the whole of Hidden Stone right now and be 'confident' in it, if you must know. The trouble isn't that. Rather, the trouble lies in your error. You made a mistake. You underestimated the difficulty of your victory. You presumed. You erred—you erred most greatly." She paused. "Consider for a moment the problem of defeating God. Your destiny is to die and rot in the earth. That's a simple truth for everyone. Only the boldest ever achieve higher. So I must ask you clearly, what are you after? What kind of naïve assumptions have you made about this world we live in?" She fell silent for a moment. "I would also like to know," she remarked quietly, "what it is that you have that has made otōto-chan so interested in you."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Otōto-chan?"
"You mean they didn't tell you?" Kūkyo smirked. "I'm the older sister of Kuroi Unmei."
Naruto's eyes widened in shock.
"In part, that's the incredible skill possessed by myself. But there's no strength there, you know." Kūkyo paused. "Like trying to compare the darkness and the light. There's no difference between us save the color with which we were painted." She reached downward. "As I have said before, I would like to see the matter through clearly."
Naruto lowered his hand to his side. "Then you should know that the only reason he's interested in me is the Nine-Tails."
"Che." Kūkyo sighed. "Something you probably don't know about my brother, but he doesn't take interests in jinchūriki so easily. He's interested in something else entirely. Trying to understand it like that, it's too naïve. His desires are entirely different in this world. It's true that he prefers things to be like that, too."
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"Though, at times, even I can't comprehend his motives." Kūkyo's eyes narrowed. "So. Let's get started, shall we?"
Naruto tensed.
"I'll be attempting haruspex using your innards, I think. Try to understand him like that." Kūkyo's hand drew upward.
Akatsuki
Dirt blew up across the forest.
Gritting her teeth, Asahi slashed through the polar bear's flank, her expression serious. Damn itttttt! Her hand retracted the sword.
The bear roared. The glowing-white injury sizzled in the bear's side.
"Hisame-san! Can you pull it off?!" Asahi demanded. Her hand tightened on the sword. All that and I suddenly went out of chakra, too. Can I really handle this level of opponent?!
Hisame's eyes narrowed. "My specialty is genjutsu. Rather than me, ask that woman beside you."
Yukime grasped the hammer tightly. "Here we goooo!" she sang out, her face bright with beaming smile.
The hammer drove into the surface of the bear's forehead. Blood exploded from the surface of the hammer.
The bear roared. Slowly, its body dissipated into pieces of energy.
Up till now, we haven't had to deal with the member of Akatsuki. As long as this Tailed Beast Bomb is a threat, this is the first thing we should concern ourselves with. Maybe his only strength was summoning... Asahi drew in a tight breath. I hope so. Trying to overcome that chakra shroud took too much out of me. Please let that be the case!
Akatsuki
The forests glowed. Flames and sparks rose from the trees.
Tightly, Sasuke gripped the hilt of the sword. She glanced sideways. "He's here, right?"
"...Yes," Soyokaze whispered. Her fist clenched as she stared into the darkness.
The black-cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows. His teeth showed beneath the straw hat. "Jeez, you guys piss me off!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I don't need your help, so back off. I have this under control."
"...If you choose to fight alone... you will probably die." Soyokaze's voice trembled.
Sasuke's hand tightened on the sword. "I can do this myself. If I can't, then it's my destiny to die here. Don't mess with me."
"Hey, hey! That's my line! I, Gekido, formerly of Frost, am not going to let this kind of insult pass!" the black-cloaked figure shouted. His clawed hands drove into the ground. "You guys seriously think you can take me on?!" His body glowed, waves of pressure spreading from his feet. "You're wrong, if so. Even if both of you come at me, it won't mean a damn thing!"
"..." Sasuke's brow dripped with sweat.
"Release! Three-Tails Transformation!" Gekido roared. The tails whipped out behind his back, spinning in a circle. His face became distinctly lupine, the fangs growing longer.
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock.
Soyokaze's foot shifted slightly back in the sand.
"TAILED BEAST BOMB!" Gekido roared. Energy gathered rapidly around Gekido's mouth, his jaw yawning open wide. Bursting energy gathered around the mouth.
Is this truly what Akatsuki is like? Sasuke drew in a deep, shaking breath.
Soyokaze lifted her fists, her expression stern.
A/N: Surprisingly, adapting ten 2000-3000~ word chapters in five days is a lot of work, so I'll be adding author's notes at the end of each chapter to address changes made in the chapters as compared to the original series. Thus, these won't be in the longer Author's Notes next week. Also, as a somewhat related note, that Author's Note comes out to a total of more like six thousand words if I'm doing my math right. This means that I'm going to need to send it in a single update or divide it by arc. According to what I looked up, according to the rules, links aren't advised. Send in opinions on which I should do sometime soon.
Gekido and the Tailed Beast:In general I've tried to follow Kishimoto's principles of teams, with a few minor exceptions. Gekido is the third member of the team Unmei belonged to before he became Kage, and is probably closer to the Toad principle than any other paradigm.
The issue of Tailed Beast proliferation is probably more problematic for most people. In my thinking, the Ten-Tails was the progenitor of the species of Tailed Beasts, as opposed to the first and only example, and the One-Tail to Nine-Tails were offspring. This permits their individuation, personality, and, most importantly to me, the idea that they are living beings as opposed to masses of chakra separated from an original being, as that simply gives rise to the idea of multiple personality disorder.
The difference between shinigami and Tailed Beasts: Though rather lengthy, I originally had a chapter at the beginning consisting of a legend regarding how Ten-Tails and the shinigami were originally created. This was cut out because the information it provided wasn't entirely accurate and also didn't fit the tone; however, essentially, shinigami and Tailed Beasts are diametrically opposed beings as a result of several things mentioned in that chapter. Tailed Beasts are, one and all, obsessed with living and life. Shinigami represent the end of that life. That's the shortest way to put it.
MAKI-MAKI:Most of you probably don't remember this character from Bleach, but he's Makizō Aramaki, tenth seat of Eleventh Squad. At this point, he's closer to twelfth or thirteenth seat, however. Essentially, this character was put in to indicate to some degree the time period. As I see things happening, the events of this fanfiction take place before or during Turn Back the Pendulum. Thus, cameo appearances have to be appropriate to that time period.
Shikin's Abilities:As a shaman, I figured that Shikin should be able to summon spirits. Thus, that particular technique was suited to her repertoire.