Sorry I took so long. I got the case of Star Wars addiction that kept me from writing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Negima or Naruto.

Chapter 13
Fate of Vengeance

Konohagakure

The air was somber in the village. Civilians are busy with their everyday lives, as usual. But the ninjas of Konoha are a different story. The death of Sarutobi Asuma is a devastating loss. Now they have lost two great people of the same family. The first was the Leaf's very own Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who fell at the hands of the missing-nin Orochimaru, three years prior. The second was Asuma, dead at the hands of Akatsuki.

Various ninjas attended his private funeral, including Negi's group.

Minato was at the head of the ceremony, giving an epitaph. Then, one by one, they all gave their respects to the deceased jonin, most of all, Yuuhi Kurenai.

Sasuke frowned as he watched her lay down flowers by the gravestone. He slowly turned to look at Fate Averruncus, who was situated at the top of the arch by the cemetery. He then frowned.

He knew that Fate was affected somewhat by this. But despite the fact that Fate still has some semblance of emotion in him, Sasuke is still troubled by the other fact that that semblance is minimal at best. Even those foreigner kids were crying or showing off their grief in some fashion. But Fate showed none. His face still remained in that apathetic mask of his.

Fate seemed to notice him staring and looked at his direction. He gave a small nod and vanished. Sasuke frowned even more and slowly inched away from the crowd. Beside him, his mother, just as troubled as the others, didn't notice him leave.

Nearby training ground

"What is on your mind, Sasuke-kun," Fate asked. "Your stare would not be so apparent and disturbed if it was simply for analysis. Speak your mind. There is no one here."

Sasuke sighed as he massaged his temples. "How do you feel about this? I know that you are affected by Asuma's death. But for people who aren't close to you and can't sense your overall atmosphere, your blank face would show that you feel nothing. It would give the wrong impression on them."

"I told you before. I am nothing more than a doll. I may feel some emotion seep into me but that is the extent of it. True, I felt sorrow at Sarutobi Asuma's death. However, I cannot express it. I have no emotion to spare."

The Uchiha gritted his teeth. "You consider yourself as a doll, Uzumaki? Don't make me laugh. Dolls are puppets. You are no puppet. No one can control your fate."

"Funny…you sound just like Tsunade during the meeting after my arrival and like Neji-kun during our fight. I am different from before. Change is natural. It is inevitable. Neji-kun changed from someone who believes in fate to someone who believes in making his own fate. Tsunade changed from a bitter old woman to a strong leader. You too changed from an avenger to this. My banishment changed me from Uzumaki Naruto to Fate Averruncus. Do you believe me incapable of or immune to change?"

"That's what we all thought so. We believed you to be the one who makes people change extraordinarily not have one this extraordinary. You have that commendable ability to change people. Momochi Zabuza, that Nami brat Inari, the spoiled Yuki princess, Hyuuga Neji, Sabaku no Gaara, me…we all were changed because of you. Kakashi told me this. 'Naruto holds the most dangerous ability: the ability to change people. Even the most battle-hardened of enemies would find it difficult to turn a new leaf once they would meet Naruto.' That is something I have learned to agree with. Even when you weren't here, you brought change. Take the Yondaime and the three matriarchs, for example. You weren't here during that time but you were the one who brought them back. It was thanks to that that I saw change. You…are no doll, Naruto."

Fate was silent before he partially looked back at Sasuke, who flinched a bit at seeing a rather cold look grace Fate's eyes. "We will see."

Akatsuki Hideout

The body of Nii Yugito fell to the floor as the ritual ended.

"Now the Nibi is in our grasp," Leader spoke. Looking down at the body, he said, "Zetsu, dispose of the body."

The holographic figure nodded vanished only to reappear in person soon. Zetsu took the body and submerged back into the ground.

At some distance, Zetsu reappeared in front of a large chasm with Yugito's body in his hands.

"Remind me again," White Zetsu spoke, "why we can't eat her like the other corpses."

"Even if we extracted Nibi from her," Black Zetsu replied, "her body has grown used to the potency of the beast's chakra, not just her chakra coils. You might say that she absorbed some of Nibi's chakra and mixed it with her body. We don't really need the tiniest of the beast's chakra, just the beast itself, since it would take even longer. If we eat this woman, the mixed chakra would accumulate in us and would eventually poison us."

"I see. Well, let's get rid of her, then."

Zetsu threw the body into the chasm and vanished into the earth, ignorant of the fact that, as the dead body was falling, Nii Yugito slowly turned blue all over, including the clothes, and exploded into water.

Back to Konoha

Minato's frown was dangerously low as he said, "I know the pain you three must be in but that is no reason for you to deal with Akatsuki by yourselves." His eyes were cold towards the trio of Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Chouji, and Nara Shikamaru. "Do you three really believe that you alone are a match for Akatsuki? They are high S-Ranked ninjas and you three are low A-Ranked at best. Not only would you be sending yourselves to your deaths, Konoha would also lose three clan heirs."

"Hokage-sama," Shikamaru spoke as he slowly took a whiff of his cigarette, "we have to do this. Asuma-sensei-" His breath hitched as a deadly wave of energy washed over him.

"Don't even think of finishing that sentence, Nara Shikamaru," Minato glowered. "Blind vengeance is unbecoming of a shinobi. That is hard lesson that only a few ninja fully understands. The point I'm trying to make is this: you will dieif you fight Akatsuki in this state. A full four-man team, consisting of one jonin, two experienced and one fresh chuunin, can't even defeat one member. Do you think you can win, if you fight them now, with three fresh chuunin? It was very fortunate that reinforcements managed to arrive in time but I expected you three to realize their potential after seeing them for yourselves. With the three of you as you are, in your current mindsets, you are no match against Hidan and Kakuzu. Those two alone have experience beyond your abilities. Three fresh chuunins blindly chasing them down is suicide. 'Avenge Sarutobi Asuma?' Stop that childish delusion. Don't use other people as an excuse to kill yourselves."

"Well spoken, father," a cool voice spoke from outside. The Ino-Shika-Cho jumped and Minato simply looked at the right window, where Fate slowly appeared with his cold stare. "Now I know where I received my silver tongue from."

"Fate," his father greeted. "What brings you here?"

"Curiosity, I might say. I found myself with nothing to do and thus decided to visit. By coincidence, I seem to have come upon this conversation as I was just arriving."

"What say you then, Fate," he asked. "What do you think of their self-imposed mission?"

"Foolish." His blunt statement made the three flinch a bit. "Human psychology regarding vengeance is always predictable. Civilian or otherwise, vengeance will remain the same. Blind vengeance, out of all, is enough grounds for a pointless death. Uchiha Sasuke is proof of predictable human psychology." He turned to look at the trio. "You three are no different. In fact, psychology is so predictable that I can predict many things that will occur after this meeting, depending on how it goes."

Minato raised a brow. "So what is it you're suggesting?"

"Through the predictability of human psychology, I request that they see what it truly means to be a shinobi. That same naiveté that you told them of having will be the death of them if this problem is not dealt with soon."

"As much as I concede to your point, Akatsuki is not the proper enemy for them to have a life-and-death experience."

"That's why I'll be there."

The Hokage blinked. "You're volunteering to be their fourth member?" Fate nodded. He sighed. "I will agree to this on one condition. You will bring them back here in my office alive and in the exact condition that they left."

"Unharmed and without injury, I cannot guarantee. However, alive and with working limbs, I can promise you."

"Then it is decided. Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Chouji, you three will be under Fate Averruncus as you set out to defeat Hidan and Kakuzu. He will be your commanding officer. Discuss any battle plan you may have but you will answer directly to Fate, who will debrief me once you return. I have already done too much by letting three inexperienced ninjas deal with a group as powerful and experienced as Akatsuki. I will not tolerate any insubordination from the three of you. Regardless of the outcome of the mission, if I receive word that any one of you disobeyed any order, whatever it may be, the three of you will suffer the consequences of insubordination; and a demotion and indefinite suspension will be the least of your worries."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Shikamaru softly said before leaving with Ino and Chouji.

Fate waited for them to leave before saying, "Have no worries, father. I have dealt with weakened versions of those two and I wasn't even trying when I defeated them. Worse comes to worse, I will kill them both."

"Then I shall expect some form of success, be it the defeat of Akatsuki or their safe return. In the meantime, I hear that your friends are making considerable progress."

"I know. They learn quite quickly in a short period of time. Am I to be expecting reinforcements any time soon?"

"Yes. I have Kakashi, Kushina, Negi-san, and Yamato in mind."

Fate nodded. "A fine team, I must say. I admit. I'm curious as to what Negi-kun will show in this battle."

"You and I both then, son, but you will find out first before I do. Anyway, prepare your things. You'll be leaving soon."

Bowing, he said, "Then by your leave, father." He blurred off.

Minato chuckled as he lounged back on his chair. "He's right. He really did get that silver tongue from me."

Later

Fate's team formed up by the gates of Konoha. The white-haired boy surveyed the trio with a calculative eye. He then said, "Let's go."

En route to where Fate sensed the auras of Hidan and Kakuzu, Shikamaru started, "Look, Fate, I-"

"Don't misunderstand my intentions, Shikamaru-kun," Fate interjected. "I would have sought those two out with or without you three. As I said, human psychology is too predictable. In fact, it is too predictable to me that it's lost its entertainment value overtime. Even if the Yondaime Hokage denied your request, that would not stop you three from leaving. Your sharp mind would be able to come up with a solution for bypassing the gate guards and Ino-kun's Yamanaka jutsu would be brought up in the case of an incidental sighting. My being here simply ensures that you would survive."

"You don't expect us to survive, Fate?" Ino asked quite snappily.

She choked at Fate's words. "No. I do not. You three are simply not powerful enough to combat a group as deadly as the Zombie Duo. I know your capabilities and they are nothing to laugh at. However, against them, the only advantage that you have is that they underestimate you. How could they not? They have greater knowledge of battle than you do and the moment they realize that you are unlike any other they've faced, you will then know why they are dangerous and you will lose your sole advantage. And thus, your survival rates will drop severely." He paused a bit. "But as I said, human psychology is predictable. You would have gone anyway, regardless of that fact."

"So…what made you want to chase Akatsuki down," Chouji asked.

Fate simply replied, "Fate has decreed that they are way past their time and must be removed and I, as her incarnate, will deliver judgement upon them both. The abomination of Jashin and the taker of hearts will not live past this day."

Shikamaru frowned. "So you want to kill two Akatsuki members out of some false sense of piety? That seems like a rather childish and arrogant reason."

Fate looked back at him with somewhat amused eyes. "Believe what you will, Shikamaru-kun. However, you will find that, unlike you three, I actually have the power to back up that reason."

Dead Forest

"Tch, even though the extraction was done hours ago, I still feel tired!" Hidan exclaimed, "How long till we get to Konoha, Kakuzu?"

Kakuzu growled under his mask. "With your constant whining and distractions, we'll be there in NEVER!"

Behind them, a shadow poked out of a root and slithered its way to them.

The masked Akatsuki muttered, "Hidan…"

Hidan sighed. "Yeah, yeah…" Then, they both jumped away as the shadow split into two and struck at their previous spot. Immediately, two kunais rigged with explosive tags flew towards them and they were caught off-guard as it exploded.

The Jashinist cursed and shouted, "Oi, Kakuzu!"

Kakuzu then emerged from the smoke with one less arm. "Don't mind me, Hidan. I hardened my skin! Instead, focus on the shadows!"

Shikamaru emerged high in the sky and threw two chakra blades rigged with explosive notes.

The two ninjas, prepared for the explosion, tensed but were confused when it went above them and hit the ground behind them.

"He missed," Hidan asked before he stiffened. "My body won't move!"

Kakuzu's eyes went over to where the blades hit and finally noticed. The blades hit our shadows. I knew those blades weren't ordinary. They adapt to the chakra type of whoever wields and utilizes it. The explosive tags were just for show, in order to distract us from his true objective. This is one cunning opponent! He then saw Hidan being controlled to grab his scythe and strike him. It's too bad for the Nara, though… He ducked under Hidan's strike, just as the hand that was supposedly cut burst from the earth beneath the chakra blade and removed it. I'm just as sneaky as he is.

"I applaud you," started Kakuzu, "for using distractions to hide your intentions. But I have faced opponents who've used far more effective distractions and far more subtle follow-up attacks than yours." He turned his head to the side, where Hidan again continued his onslaught. Upon hitting a tree trunk, he sensed another Konoha brat above him.

"Nikudan Sensha," Chouji shouted as he slammed down on Kakuzu.

Konoha

Another crater was added onto the pile of craters that littered the destroyed training ground.

Uzumaki Kushina grinned widely at the orangette that caused a majority of them. "Great job, Asuna-chan, you're mastering Tsunade-sama's super strength quite quickly!" The heterochromatic girl blushed at the praise.

"Ha," Tsume piped in, "you think that's impressive, Kushina?! Try these other girls and the brat on for size!"

The redhead's purple eyes moved to the targets in question.

Sakurazaki Setsuna, being trained under Uchiha Mikoto, became extremely proficient in the use of the blade with such control and precision to the extent of being able to slice through steel balls the size of marbles that were placed atop wax candles without hitting a single one.

"Your sword art and stance is impressive for your age but the mark of a true warrior is the ability to learn, evolve, and adapt," Uchiha Mikoto lectured Setsuna at the beginning of their training. "The skills of today's swordsmen scratch but the surface of true swordsmanship because they stop at a level they feel comfortable and confident enough with. With enough discipline, however, any swordsman of any age can rise up to be the best. The Nidaime Hokage, Senju Tobirama-sama, for example, held such a skill that is remarkable even for his time, when many true kenjutsu masters lived."

"Are the swordsmen of that time truly that powerful?"

Mikoto gave a soft chortle at that. "If you were to face an ancient kenjutsu master in combat, you would learn that we are as children playing with toys compared to the prowess of the old masters."

Nagase Kaede, trained under Hyuuga Hitomi, learned the art of assassination. The Hyuuga matriarch noted that her techniques lack subtlety or finesse and thus sough to rectify that mistake.

She instructed her student thusly. "Any weapon only achieves its worth in how it is wielded – in the effort, the struggle of one who holds it. Wielding weapons is more than overpowering the opposition. It is more than using strength to battle strength. To wield a weapon is to be an artist, an artist of weaponry."

"That is a really interesting way of putting it, Hyuuga-dono. Can you elaborate?"

"A ninja uses subtlety to strike at the enemy; and only the exceptional can merge the subtleties of a ninja to the theatricality of a circus clown. Naruto-kun is one of the best examples of such. But I digress. I admittedly commit more to the precision of my Jyuuken, my weapon so to speak, preferring to get to assassination as quickly as possible. However, when I kill, when I dispatch a target, it is not about wanton slaughter; about body count. It is about finesse, function. Doing more with less, it is 'art'."

Finally, Inugami Kotarou received harsh tutelage under, and against, the claws of Inuzuka Tsume. With familiarity to canines as their common ground, they unleashed their feral sides and let loose. In Kotarou's sealed state, he could only hold his ground against the combined assault of the Tsume-Kuromaru combo.

"You're really are something, kid," Tsume praised the fatigued boy. "Even Hana and her three ninken couldn't last this long against me and Kuromaru. If you were born and raised in the Inuzuka, you might have contested, and possibly won, the title of clan head."

"Um…thanks…I guess."

"Sadly, you're not an Inuzuka, so I can't really teach you any of our jutsus or allow you special treatment in bonding with a ninken. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean I can't train you."

"So if you're restricted in what to teach me…what can you teach me?"

Smirking, she said, "Hey, I did say that you can't choose a ninken from our Inuzuka kennels. That doesn't mean I can't help you in getting your own."

"Is that really okay?"

"Hmph, please, there is a ritual that we Inuzuka must go through before we look for our ninken. I won't give you the specifics but I will tell you that the only way to know if a ninken has chosen you is if it will attempt to kill the chosen. Others will just walk away."

"Well, if you can't use the ritual to help me in choosing a partner then I'll just have to make do without it!"

"That's the spirit! There aren't that many special places that can provide adequate ninken. Fortunately, the Forest of Death has a great assortment of them!"

"Forest of Death…what's that?"

"Oh, that's just a very big and dangerous forest filled with powerful beasts – including a boa constrictor-sized centipede - that has stood since the formation of Konoha."

Despite the danger he'd heard, Kotarou couldn't help the massive grin on his face. "What are we waiting for then!? Let's go!"

Afterwards, after many attempts and near-death experiences, Kotarou managed to link with a gray wolf three-quarter the size of his transformed form. The basics of the bond, as limitedly taught to him by Tsume, required him to channel his energy through his hits and see if the opponent reacts to it. After giving a headbutt to the aforementioned wolf and channeling his magic, he discovered the wolf reacting with it. He named his partner Akuto.

Kushina smirked at them. "They're exceptional students; that's for sure! Naruto sure knows how to pick 'em!" She clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Off to Ichiraku's for a celebration! Tab's on me!" Then, she stopped as an ANBU appeared in front of her. "What is it?"

"Hokage-sama requests your presence, Kushina-sama. Alongside you, he has also requested the presence of Hatake Kakashi-dono, Yamato-dono, and the prodigy child Negi-dono. He has also requested that only you attend out of the current group. None but the aforementioned people are admitted."

The redhead blinked before deflating and turning to the group with sheepish look on her face. "Sorry, everyone, you'll have to make do without me."

Back to Fate

Chouji was pushed away by the solidified arm of Kakuzu. "Hmph," the masked Akatsuki scoffed. "That didn't even tickle." Then, he gasped as four spikes burst from behind him and pierced four portions of his torso. "What the hell?" He looked back and saw the apathetic visage of Fate Averruncus on a tree branch with his free arm held straight at him. I didn't even sense him! If he can do that, why didn't he just summon five of those things? He summoned over a dozen back when he was with the group to rescue the Ichibi jinchuuriki but he deigned to use only four now! Why? Do they want to capture me for interrogation?! Che, I won't let that happen! Your hesitation will be your downfall, brat!

With a powerful grunt, he pushed himself off of the four spikes and glared up at Fate. "I'll get you for that brat."

"What the heck," Ino screamed. "Those hits should have pierced his lungs! He shouldn't even be alive!"

Fate's voice spoke from within the trio's minds. Ah, I forgot to mention. Akatsuki is a group of dangerous people, and therefore must have dangerous abilities. You already know Hidan's. Kakuzu's is Jiongu, Earth Grudge Fear, which allows him to steal another's organ and implant and integrate them into his own body. I have hit four of his five hearts.

Ino was about to exclaim something when Shikamaru slapped a hand to her mouth. When did you establish a mental link between us? Shikamaru replied. Is it a Yamanaka jutsu or something?

You really are the brightest of our generation, Shikamaru-kun. You immediately acted and shut Ino-kun up before she gave away this link. To answer your question, this link is caused by a small seal, which I planted on the back of your necks the night before.

The trio tensed – or in Ino's case, widened her eyes. Chouji joined in. You knew we were going to do this?

I thought I told you to the point that it would have seeped into your minds. Human psychology is predictable. Kakuzu killed your sensei; you want nothing more than to kill him for doing so; you would stop at nothing to get it. It is too obvious that the only reason the Hokage hasn't thought of it is that he believes his rank will prevent you from doing so. I, however, am not so idealistic. I know how vengeance works. That is why I snuck into your homes and planted these mind link seals onto you. In addition, I put one on Yuuhi Kurenai on the off-chance that she too desires revenge.

Shikamaru couldn't help narrowing his eyes. Why include her in this?

You think too lowly of me. I am well aware that Yuuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma are in a secret relationship in order to avoid gossip and rumors. But we digress. Kakuzu is getting suspicious.

Fate said to the Akatsuki, "To you who defy the ultimate fate of death, you will not live past this day."

"SCREW YOU, BRAT," Hidan shouted as he charged at Fate. The white-haired boy took out his blade and clashed with Hidan's scythe. "It is YOU who will not live past today!"

Kakuzu clicked his tongue. "Sure, leave me to these brats, why don't you?" He turned his glare to the trio. "Even with my four hearts gone, I'm still a formidable opponent! Don't think I'm easy prey for brats like you!"

Ino smirked and shouted, "Fate easily took down those four hearts of yours! And he's just one guy! Now, it's three of us against you! You can't hope to win!"

Kakuzu hummed in thought. "That is true. Let me even the scales." Making his seals, he exclaimed, "Doton: Chikyu o Musaburi (Earth Release: Devouring Earth)!"

The earth beneath them shook wildly before it split apart to form jaws that threatened to devour the trio and crush them. They jumped away from the jaws of death, causing them to split up, and as they landed, they came face-to-face with three Kakuzu clones each.

"Your words, woman, imply that I'm weak. Do not call me weak. After all, I'm a member of Akatsuki. Now, I have a question for you." Spreading his arms wide, he concluded with, "Would you like my clones to go all-out or not?"

Shikamaru sighed in exasperation. "Ino, you really did it now."

With Hidan and Fate

Fate's face remained passive amidst the flurries done by Hidan's scythe. "Is this all you've got, Jashinist? None of your strikes have reached or cut me. If this is the extent of your real power, I am disappointed."

"SHUT UP!" Hidan shouted as his strikes became faster. "YOU HAVEN'T YET SEEN MY TRUE POWER, BRAT!"

"Then, why don't you release it? We don't have any other witnesses; just you and me. Your partner's busy fighting mine. What's stopping you?"

Hidan's grin turned even more insane. "Alright, you bastard, you asked for it." He stopped his flurried and jumped away from Fate as he cut his own hand with his scythe and licked the blood off it. His hair turned jet black, his purple eyes shifted to blood red, and the scythe melted off his hands. "Jashin-sama, forgive your servant for going against your will," he prayed to the sky. "But I will sacrifice this blasphemer in your name, he who unleashed this side of me." He looked down and blood erupted from various orifices from his body. "With the power of Jashin-sama, I unleash Chi Tochi (Blood Governance). Be overjoyed, mortal, for you have been shown this!" The blood surrounded them in a dome and Hidan, blood covering his whole body, shouted, "Blood Field!"

The surrounding blood swirled around Fate in a twister of violent energy and the very earth shook and cracked under the weight of the technique.

Kakuzu, from the other side, was wide-eyed at the power. Is this Hidan? Where was he hiding such power?

Hidan laughed with madden glee. "DO YOU SEE IT NOW, FOOL, THE POWER OF JASHIN-SAMA?!"

He was silenced when the sound of ripping reached his ears. The Blood Field that surrounded Fate was bisected cleanly and exploded in a torrent of blood. Fate stood without a break in his usual posture.

"So this is one of the techniques of Chi Tochi, Blood Field, said to be wielded by those solely of Jashin's cult? I find it lacking. Behold. This is a Blood Field." Before Hidan's eyes, the blood that was showered around them was bent to his will. And the blood surrounded Hidan as it once did to Fate.

"IMPOSSIBLE," Hidan shouted as he was covered by the blood, "HOW COULD YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CONTROL BLOOD?!"

Fate replied, "Blood is part water. I control water. Therefore, I control blood."

Technically, that is a lie. When Cosmo Entelechia destroyed the Jashin cult of Mundus Magicus, they were then tasked with destroying the notes that the Jashinists acquired so as to not taint their world again. But Fate, unwatched and alone in another part of the cult's base, chanced upon the secret notes of Chiton, felt a brief bout of rebellion, and kept it hidden from their sight in a seal. He studied it deeply under the guise of reading novels from the Ostia library.

Once again, the Blood Field was ripped apart and Hidan was at the middle of the explosion with his fist slammed onto the ground.

How could this be? Both of us are unharmed but it was different from how he extinguished my Blood Field with as little chakra as possible. I expended much of my chakra to force the dissipation. Does it mean that his claimed ability to use the water in the blood is better than Chi Tochi?

Fate spoke up, "Now, try it again."

With Kakuzu

"I can't believe it," Kakuzu uttered, "the bastard has been hiding his true strength. I too have been hiding mine; but for him to actually be this strong. That's a cunning bastard for you." He turned his gaze to the fatigued trio. "Is that it? The clones have been holding back and you still can't defeat even one? I guess I was wrong. I guess only that one guy is powerful."

The battlefield was a wreck. Chunks of earth were overlapping one another and trees were uprooted from their spot. Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji held wounds in different parts of their body and were struggling to catch their breath.

Fate was right. Shikamaru, Chouji, and Ino chorused. The Akatsuki are monsters. The clones don't even have one scratch on them. And with the blood tornado in the distance, it must be the Jashinist.

"Tch," Kakuzu scoffed, "The shinobi villages must have gone soft if they produce weak ninjas like you. It's time to end this."

The nine Kakuzu clones clapped their hands together and, as one, said, "Doton: Tsuchi Maiso (Earth Release: Earth Burial)."

But as they released the technique, there was a combined shout.

"Raiton: Jibashi," came from a child and a man.

"Suiton: Dai Bakusui Shoha," came from a woman and another man.

A large amount of water came from above and covered the everywhere but the trio's area and was followed by a barrage of lightning, destroying the nine clones. The water then seeped into the fissure and allowed the reinforcements to land.

Kakuzu looked down at them and said, "Uzumaki Kushina, Hatake Kakashi, Orohimaru's failed Mokuton experiment and another brat. At least, Konoha isn't so feeble as to send more children against me. Anything less is an insult to Akatsuki."

"Where's Fate," Negi asked the trio behind him, his martial arts stance at the ready.

"H-he was headed over there with that guy's parter," Ino shakily replied. Negi nodded and burst off after him.

"Hmph, let him run. Judging by the jutsu earlier, the brat won't last long."

Kushina smirked, as well as Kakashi. "You underestimate him!"

"We'll see." He held out his arm, where there were four seals labeled 'Fire,' 'Water,' 'Lightning,' and 'Wind.' "Your white-haired brat killed four of my hearts. Luckily, I have spares."

In a cloud of smoke, four hearts appeared on his arm, still beating with life.

Ino's face turned green and threw up on the fissure beside her. Shikamaru and Chouji looked just about ready to follow her example.

Strings from his other arm extended and assimilated them into his body. "Now, the real fun begins." He shed his cloak and four black monstrosities emerged from his back with white masks on their face. "Against such legends, I cannot afford to hold back."

Making a seal, he exclaimed, "Futon: Atsugai!" The wind mask unleashed a cyclone that blew away trees. Following through, Kakuzu shouted, "Katon: Zukkoku!" The fire mask now released a fireball towards the cyclone that turned it into an inferno.

Kushina frowned as chakra chains emerged from her back and covered them all in a dome. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, she unleashed her counter. The tips of the chains, which were circling through the ground beneath them, burst from beyond the dome and struck the inferno, disrupting its spin and dispersing it. She smirked at him. "I'm an S-Ranked ninja too, 'ttebane! Don't think this would be easy!"

"I would be foolish to think otherwise." He made some seals again and said, "Raika Horai no Jutsu (Coming of the Lightning Fire Phoenix Technique)."

The lightning mask beast slammed a hand down on the ground, creating a stream of lightning that surrounded the group. The fire mask then fired a fireball at them.

The lightning trap was about to shock them all when Kushina, Kakashi, and Yamato grabbed the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and jumped away.

Kakuzu then said, "Yodo Ranfunka no Jutsu (Molten Earth Wild Eruption Technique)." The earth mask and fire mask beasts slammed their hands on the ground and the ground that was once occupied by the lightning trap slowly shook and unleashed a volcano that continuously released molten fireballs at them. Kakashi and Yamato, with their respective charge over their back, clapped their hands together and said, "Suiton: Suijinheki!" They blew out a large amount of water that combined to form a wall, which protected them from the lava barrage.

Finally dropping off the trio in a safe place, Kushina jumped over the wall and formed her own seals, saying, "Suiton: Tajuu Mizu Kiri (Water Release: Mass Water Drill)!" Using the water wall as the source of water, she manipulated it to form numerous drills that spun at high velocity towards him.

The masked Akatsuki replied in kind by using "Doton: Dochubaku." The earth behind him softened and started to flow towards them. Kakuzu then used the Hiding like a Mole technique so that he was swallowed by the earth just before the landslide hit his place. The water drills hit the landslide but was absorbed soon after.

As the landslide stopped and Kushina landed on a nearby uprooted earth spike, she slammed her hands down and shouted, "Kanketsusen Bakuhatsu (Geyser Explosion)!" The area started shaking before hot water burst from the cracks around her. The sudden eruption of the water caused the unstable earth spikes to shake about and crumble onto one another.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio gaped at the power they witnessed.

Ino swallowed the saliva that got stuck on her throat. If this is a battle between S-Ranked ninjas, I shudder to think what would have happened to us if that freak went all-out against us.

With Hidan and Fate

Hidan kept on growling as he sent Blood Field after Blood Field towards Fate, only for the white-haired dude to dispel it every time. It didn't really help that Fate kept saying, "Again," after every expulsion.

Right now, the only thing that gained damage from the Blood Fields is the background. Craters and broken trees littered the area while Hidan and Fate were unharmed.

The Jashinist was getting frustrated. How does he keep on doing this?

"Fate," the sound of a child's shout alerted him to a new presence. They both turned to see Negi rushing towards them and stopping in front of Fate. "Please, don't go any farther," he whispered to his friend. "Your father wanted you under the radar and that is what I will do. You have done enough. Let me do it instead."

Fate stared at Negi before sighing. "Then do as you will, Negi-kun. He has just about exhausted his power. He has nothing else to show me."

Negi charged at Hidan, who started unleashing the Blood Fields again, which he dodged effortlessly. He got into his guard and punched him square on the stomach. As Hidan was sent flying, Negi jumped towards him and slammed him down on the ground with a Hon Shin Kou Ryuu (Flipping Dragon Descend). Not yet finished, he cocked his fist back and slammed it back down on Hidan, exclaiming, "Raika Hoken (Crushing Fist of the Lightning Flash)!"

He jumped right back towards Fate and waited for a reaction. True enough, Hidan slowly crawled out of the hole he was in and glared at the duo.

"Unforgiveable," he uttered out, "you dare to strike against Jashin-sama's chosen?! It's unforgiveable! I refuse…I refuse to be beaten by BRATS LIKE YOU!"

There is another outburst of blood that swirled around Hidan. Once it cleared, it showed Hidan with a set of wings of blood. His right eye bled down to his chin but he paid no attention to it. His maddened gaze was on his eyes and grin as he raised his hands. "Jashin-sama, forgive me but I had to. I refuse to let my pride as your faithful servant be broken by two unbelieving children. I swear that this is the last time I shall unleash the powers you have given me." He turned his gaze to the two below him. "With the power granted to me by Jashin-sama, I sentence you both to DEATH!" The two wings flapped once before it turned into phoenixes that zoomed towards the duo.

Negi weaved through hand seals and whispered, just as the phoenixes struck them, "Naru-Kami."

Light burst from the explosion of blood and formed into an extended blade that hit Hidan's chest before he could even blink. Losing his concentration, Hidan's wings dissipated and he fell to the deep crater Negi made for him. Before losing sight of them, Hidan spied the redhead holding onto a blade of light that he pointed at his head before the blade extended past his normal senses and pierced his brain and retracted before he could even comprehend he had been stabbed.

Fate raised a brow at the blade in Negi's hand. "With the speed of lightning, you have created a fearsome blade, Negi-kun."

Negi released the technique and smiled at Fate. "This was told to be an A-Rank technique by Kakashi-san when I created it. Shinobi really do go through hardships to create new jutsu."

Nodding, he replied, "Indeed. Why don't you return to the others? I will deal with the final blow here."

Giving him a curious look, he nodded and went away. Fate slowly walked to the crater and saw Hidan struggling to rise. Not having any of it, Fate summoned earth spikes that pierced his limbs so that he can't move.

"Damn you, brat," Hidan growled out. "I can't believe that I let two fucking kids beat me."

Fate gave a dark chuckle that made Hidan shudder. He knelt in front of Hidan's face and whispered, "While I cannot speak for Negi-kun, I can answer for myself. How do you think you can beat me when you and your partner combined can't even land a hit on me back then on Iwagakure?"

Hidan's eyes widened at that. "Wait…you can't be-"

"Kukuku, it doesn't matter. You won't live long enough to tell anyone. After all, I am well-versed in executing Jashinists."

His eyes widened even more. "What did you say?"

"Yes. I killed your fellow cultists back then and drained the group there for what it was worth. That is how I know the Chi Tochi."

"You basta-ack," he was cut off when Fate struck his throat with a small strike.

"No more words, Jashinist," Fate whispered as he took out a small key with a globe on the bow: a smaller version of the Grand Master Key with a more limited ability range. "Say your farewells to Jashin." The Code of the Lifemaker has many powers: Rewrite, Relocation, Defending, Attacking, Force Summon, etc. One such power is Exorcism. This has the power to completely remove a person's soul from existence. It is most useful against ghosts, ghouls, poltergeists, and the various cultists that gained physical immortality through rituals.

Fate then pushed the key onto the hole on Hidan's forehead and muttered, "Exorcism."

The light faded from Hidan's eyes and he grew still. Fate put an explosive note on the body and stood up to leave. The note exploded as he left the confines of the crater. Fate never looked back.

In a way, Fate revelled in Hidan's destruction. He couldn't explain why but his thoughts as he spoke to the Jashinist always went back to Asuma's. Seeing the blood-stained face of the Akatsuki member before him reminded him of the same blood-stained face of the Sarutobi jonin.

He frowned as he was rushing back to the others.

Vengeance is a predictable human psychology, he once said. He believed that his revelling in his earlier actions were a result of wanting revenge.

He clicked his tongue. I'm growing soft here. I never succumbed to human psychology before. Why am I starting now?

Deciding to learn more of the issue at a later date, he surveyed the sight before him. Kakuzu and his four masks were in random places, all dead or destroyed. His mother, Kushina, stood over Kakuzu with her chakra chains piercing his heart along with the center of the four masks. Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji were leaning by a nearby tree for support, their breaths labored. Kakashi and Yamato flanked Kushina with signs of fatigue on their faces. Negi was beside him, looking forlorn.

Fatigue finally catching up to Kushina, she released her hold over her chains, which disappeared, and was about to fall over when the two male jonin held her steady. Kakashi looked at Fate, who nodded, and released a sigh. "Mission is complete."

Kushina gave a weak grin. "Hehe, now can we have some ramen at Ichiraku's?"

All laughed a bit at that. Even Fate's lips twitched upward.

Game, set, and match

That's the new chapter done…FINALLY!

Again, I'm sorry about the delay. Addiction to Star Wars prevented me from continuing.

But anyway, I have a question regarding this chapter.

I took references from two different sources and used it in this chapter: one from a game, the other from a manhwa. Can you guess which sources I used and where I used them?

Read and review!