A puddle ripples as a footstep hits the edge. Sarada finds herself walking through the ruins of her home. Vegetation climbing the destroyed buildings, and dust and rust puff off the cracks as wind brushes against them. Webbing atop the ruins shimmer in prismatic colors as light reflects upon them. Sometimes a girthy creek echoes in between the buildings.
Sarada finds it soothing. Nature, free from the constraints of humanity, growing without boundaries. Free. It reminds Sarada of herself.
Yet her heartache, being alone for who knows how long. Self-punishment for her sins. But now she had visitors. Someone to talk to, tell her story. And now they say she could have a second chance at life. To be herself. Rebuild.
Does she deserve it?
Memories of her past life flash before her mind. Boruto's smug yet warm smile. Mitsuki's reassurance and willpower. Konohamaru's humor and teachings.
Sarada clutches her chest where her heart is. It's pounding. Tears are forming in her eyes, yet refusing to fall. Fallen leaves begin to lift, higher and higher, swirling around her. It slowly becomes stronger, the wind similar to a storm.
A ghostly hand brushes Sarada's right cheek. A familiar warmth that she knew all her life. Another brushes her left. A caress she once deeply desired and eventually received. This affection is something Sarada knew all too well.
Her family.
Tears fall. She oh so misses their love, yet deep down, she hated them. For what they represent. What they turn her into.
She breathes in, then out. The winds around stop and begin to fall back to the ground. The pounding in her chest had stopped. She wipes away the tears. An objective requires to be fulfilled, and she needs to focus.
The puddle in front of her swells. A black being emerges from the water producing an arrogant smile that Sarada hates. The faint red glow from the inside emits from the mouth and hollow eyes. Its shape resembles a lot of Sarada. A copy.
Sarada groans. "What do you want?"
"Oh, me? Nothing, nothing. I just overheard what you were thinking." The Copy chuckles. "Do you honestly believe you deserve a second chance? After everything you did?"
"Do you ever tire of insulting me?"
The Copy continues to laugh. "How do you think they would react when they find out? They'll hate you. Just like everyone in your life. Slaughter them and get it over with."
Sarada claps her hands with incredible force crushing the Copy's head, leaving a black paste. The body drops then it slowly melts, mixing with the puddle below. Sarada looks at her hands, covered in the black goo.
"D-did I come at the wrong time?"
Behind Sarada is another creature of black. A black version 2 jinchūriki form with a large cloak that covers most of its frame, slimmer than the other black beings, it had two tails poking out, three white glowing eyes, and two holes on the hood letting its long ears wisps freely. It wears bone leather armor beneath the cloak.
Sarada glances at the beast, then back at her hands. The black goo of the mushed Copy's head is gone. Only the empty palm of her hands. She sighs.
"You are equipped for stealth, am I correct?"
"Yes, my Lady. My skills have been improving over the last few months."
"Good. Then I'm sending you to spy on the Suna children."
"Uh, I'm sorry but, what about Barchiel?"
"I've seen them exploring the ruins, so I don't think she's much of an enforcer."
"Ah, I see."
"As I said before, they are guests. But if they discover something they're not supposed to, then act accordingly."
"Understood."
"Dismiss."
Space bends, and from out of thin air, a mouth with large jagged teeth materializes. Opening its maw to reveal a portal leading into an abyss. The beast jumps in, and the mouth closes and fades away.
Sarada grumbles. Deep down, she wanted them to know. But the truth twists and turns oneself. To fib the end of the story would be better for them. Spares them from becoming like her. This… thing she has become.
She lets out a heavy sigh, continuing her journey across the ruined path.
Mitsuki stares at the man who killed his best friend. Envy is clearly displayed on his face. Mitsuki jumps down, and when he lands the ground shatters.
Gaoh skips back then forward entering combat with the Sage. Mitsuki blocks with grace and precision. The Headmaster is no slouch either. Any counterattack Mitsuki performs, he counters. A hidden knife emerges from his wrist and tries to strike Shima, but Mitsuki easily dodges it. The Sage scoffs, rotating his body, he places his right leg in-between Gaoh's legs and delivers a vicious open palm strike on his chest.
Gaoh's armor plate bursts by the sheer force of the hit, launching him backward. He lands on his back but recovers flipping over and stopping himself. Gaoh could feel a puddle on one of his feet.
Mitsuki sees this and waves two hand seals. Lighting builds upon the palm of his right hand. "Sage Art: Great Snake Lightning!"
Lightning, shaped like snakes, shoots forward. Gaoh waves hand seals and takes a deep breath.
"Water Style: Water Pillar!"
He expels a dense, curved torrent, creating a circular barricade that flows forward. The snake attack hit the water, supercharging it, yet the current continues to move forward. The attack was turned against Mitsuki.
The Sage waves more hand seals then slams his hands to the ground. "Earth Style: Mobile Core."
The ground in front of Mitsuki lowers into a large square-shaped hole sending a section of the treatment plant down with it. The lightning-enhanced torrent flows down into the hole in its entirety. Mitsuki presses against the ground commanding the technique to move forward. The square hole expands forwards towards Gaoh, the water flowing with it.
Gaoh scoffs, he jumps out of its path. From the corner of his eye, he sees Mitsuki preparing for his next attack.
Mitsuki masticates, building a substance in his mouth. His cheeks and throat expand. The target is still in the air. An extremely sticky oil expels from his mouth, speeding towards Gaoh.
"Dammit!" Gaoh yells.
In a purple flash, Gaoh disappears. Mitsuki grumbles, wiping the remaining oil dripping from his mouth.
"You have been practicing." Fukasaku praises.
"The oil takes me a while to form. It's also incomplete."
"Oh?" Shima chimes in.
"I can't perform Fire Release. So the oil practically is useless."
"That's why you have us." Fukasaku and Shima glance at each other.
Fukasaku whispers. "That Earth Release of yours gave me an idea." Mitsuki looks at him. "When you see an opening, do it again and let him fall. Then prepare the toad oil, a lot of it."
"I see what you're planning Pa. But that teleportation of his will be annoying."
"If the information Naruto told me is correct, then we'll expose its weakness. Here's what I have in mind."
"It's been a while since we heard from the Headmaster." A Masked Man said.
He lays back against the tree, sitting on a branch. Another Masked Man stood next to him. He spoke up. "Yeah, that trap he developed requires space, but it shouldn't be taking so long."
The one sitting shoots up and points at the ground. "There. Did that shadow just move?"
"Damn it!" The shadow complains.
"Shit! That's a person!"
"Don't let them reach the Village!"
Both jump towards the shadow, gaining quickly at them. The shadow stops, and Shikadai pokes his head up, preparing a counter-attack. Suddenly, as the Masked Men reach the shadow, Shiro pounces from the shadows biting one of the men and shoving the other.
"What the hell?!" Shouts one of the men.
Shikadai thought the same thing.
The second man waves hand seals, but before he could finish another, a much larger snake pounces, swallowing him whole. The first man who was struck begins to scream. Yui and Shikadai exit the shadow, watching as the man turns to stone. Then Shiro wraps her whole body around the stone, squeezing it till it shatters.
Once the dust settles, literally, Shiro faces the two young shinobi.
"Your Mitsuki's summon." Shikadai points.
"It seems you two need some assistance. We snakes will support you on your way."
Yui with her crimson eyes can see men getting closer, jumping from tree to tree. The ground begins to shake, turning into a warm pool of mud. Two more giant snakes emerge from the mud forcing the men to turn around.
Shikadai nods. "Cool, cool." He ponders for a second. To reach the village they needed to go through the members of the Academy hidden in the shadows. "We need to reach the village. We can't risk them getting away."
"As you wish." Shiro wraps around Yui's waist making her yelp. She never touched a reptile before, and this little moment is an experience.
Shikadai forms the rat hand seal. "Get ready for battle!"
A large group of snakes stares at Shima. It's awkward between her and them. Like a predator staring at its prey or children staring at a celebrity. Shima couldn't describe it. Her tongue is extended with a face in the end. It appears to be sniffing for something.
Fukasaku speaks to two toads.
One is a red toad with blue markings around his eyes and on the top of his head. A pair of green goggles around his neck. On the back, the kanji for the word gold is painted on his back. The other toad is much younger. A light orange toad with blue eyes and a yellow belly, three yellow stripes on its head, and a mustache pattern on its cheeks to that of Naruto Uzumaki. He wears a red vest with a fur collar and green headphones. In addition, his front legs are wrapped in bandages, and there is a green medallion around his neck.
"Have you brought the scroll I asked for?"
"Here ya go, boss!" The young toad, Gamamichi, hands over a large red scroll.
"Thank you." Fukasaku gives it to Mitsuki. "Sacred tools of Mount Myōboku. Doesn't hurt to have more options."
"Thank you, Lord Fukasaku. I'll take great care of them."
"Found them!" Shouts Shima.
"Great work, Ma!"
Mitsuki puts on the scroll, carrying it on his back. "Follow Lady Shima and follow her commands until I return." Some snakes hiss in protest but Mitsuki gives a stern look.
Shima wiggles herself out of Mitsuki's shoulder and drops in front of the snakes. Shima still worries, they all stare at her with distrust. Yet they chose to follow her into the building.
"Kōsuke, go find Naruto-boy. Last I heard he's somewhere in the nearby village. I'm sure he'll be delighted to help."
"Got it, boss." Kōsuke hops away and into the forest.
"Michi, head back to Mount Myōboku and inform the others to prepare."
"Prepare, boss?"
"Prepare for battle. I have the feeling this man won't go quietly."
"Uh, as you say, boss." Gamamichi disappears in a puff of smoke.
Mitsuki and Fukasaku stood in front of the forest. "It's just you and me now Mitsuki-boy. How are you feeling?"
"No mutations so far. With you gathering Natural Energy, I'll be alright."
"Good. Now, no more dillydally. Let's cage this animal."
Fukasaku takes a deep breath, firing a highly pressurized stream of water from his mouth. The trees in front of them were cut clean in half. He moves from left to right, all in an attempt to draw Gaoh out.
The Headmaster rips out pieces of his cracked armor, revealing hidden fuinjutsu written on the inside. He activates the seals, summoning a large scroll and hugging it close to his chest. Gaoh hears the high-pressurized water cutting through wood. He looks to his left seeing everything cut down. Skipping a breath, he throws himself to the ground nearly avoiding the water attack.
The trees fell along with him, cut down. Only a field of stumps remains. Gaoh emergers from the chaos still clutching the scroll. He stares at the sight before him.
"This power…" He mutters. He senses them coming.
Mitsuki jumps high in the air, falling towards Gaoh's direction. He reaches into his pouch and grabs over a dozen shurikens in between his fingers, throwing them all then begins waving hand seals.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The dozen shuriken turns to a hundred, all hurling towards Gaoh. The Headmaster scoffs and then the chains wrap around him, completely covering him, like armor. The shuriken bounce off the chains and when they fall to the ground disappear in a puff of smoke. Gaoh remains inside the shield of chains.
Lightning swells in Mitsuki's hand, preparing to strike Gaoh's shield. Just when he gets close, the tree next to Gaoh suddenly rises up. Gaoh has erupted from the ground lifting tree and blocking whatever Mitsuki was planning. Reacting, Mitsuki stops himself from landing feet first.
"Fire Style: Demolisher Flame '' Gaoh expels a stream of fire igniting the tree aflame.
Mitsuki jumps up. Lightning still in his hand he throws it clashing with the flaming tree causing a large explosion. He falls back to the ground observing the fire.
"Water, earth, and now fire." Fukasaku commends. "Can you feel it? Him moving in the ground." He whispers to Mitsuki.
"Somewhat."
"Your senjutsu is still in its infancy. I'll be your senses. As of right now focus on whatever plan he has."
The chains still on the surface that use to protect Gaoh jiggles. Mitsuki and Fukasaku notice. Then it busts forward towards them. Mitsuki jumps backward, the chains hitting the floor, but jumps back up trying to hit its target.
"It's following us!" Fukasaku observes.
"He's pushing us back to his trap," Mitsuki notes looking behind. Ahead lays the small camp made to capture them.
Chains erupt from the ruins and begin to dash overhead. It surrounds their left and right, forming akin to a dome.
"Get out of its radius, now!" Fukasaku shouts.
Mitsuki sprints the opposite direction. He is fast yet the chains still outpaced him. It's going to seal him at this rate. He has an option but the risk is significant. But he sees no other way.
Mitsuki absorbs more natural energy. Not by using the teachings but with his genetic talent. His legs begin to transform, jet-like appendages on his calf rip through his clothing. Once ready, blue flames erupt, boosting his speed even further. The chains almost complete its dome trap but at the last second Mitsuki slides outside its range. The adamantine chains slam the earth behind him and form the sealing dome.
Somewhere, in hiding, Gaoh curses.
Mitsuki slowly picks himself off the ground. He is breathing heavily, looking back and seeing his mutated legs.
"Mitsuki-boy, that was very risky. Are you in control?"
"I- I am."
Fukasaku looks over in the distance. He feels his wife's presence. Her task is done, ready to rejoin the battle.
"It's time. Get ready to push back."
"Yes, sir." Mitsuki struggles to revert his legs back to normal.
Mitsuki waves seven hand seals, his finger beginning to arch lightning. He waves them forward sending the bolts across the ground. The lightning travel throughout the ground. All debris in the path was destroyed and continues forward. Chains dart forward splitting the wave of lightning in two. Gaoh has revealed himself.
Mitsuki waves more hand seals. "Earth Style: Mountain Jutsu!"
Two enormous rock formations rise on opposite sides of Gaoh, quickly closing in. The Headmaster scoffs seeing only one option to escape. And in a purple flash, Gaoh disappears.
Fukasaku grumbles. "Good. Now let's head back."
Mitsuki dashes back to the abandoned water treatment plant.
Gaoh land on his feet. He didn't find himself inside the building like he thought but outside, in a deep hole.
"Wha- Where am I? Did they find my kunai?"
All around him was his kunai, packed in a pile. A small piece of the earth cracks beneath him. A snake pounces from the earth just scraping his cheek. He smacks it in the air knocking it to the ground. More pounce of the air, all trying to bite him. Gaoh fights them all.
On top of the hole, Shima stood with her arms crossed. Watching, waiting. Mitsuki lands next to Shima and without looking the frog sage hops onto his shoulder, rejoining the others.
"You got him into position. Great work." Shima congratulates.
"Let's finish this. Mitsuki-boy!"
"Right."
Mitsuki claps his hands and all three take a deep breath. The snakes retreat and return to the ground. Puzzled, he observes his surroundings finding Mitsuki up above him.
"Sage Art: Goemon!"
Mitsuki expels a large volume of oil, followed by Fukasaku performing a large wind technique to propel the oil, and Shima performing a large fire technique to ignite it. Instantly, it mixed and ignited, creating an oil burning at temperatures of thousands of degrees.
Gaoh panics, yet he still has a plan. He just hopes it works. With the scroll he summoned earlier he unfurls it and lets it flow in the air. He yanks it with all his strength causing the paper to form a circle. The paper sticks to the walls and it then begins to glow.
When the oil reaches the scroll it activates by absorbing the boiling oil. The paper sucks in all the oil defying gravity. Only a few drops of oil reach the ground and fewer actually hit Gaoh.
"W-what?! How did he-" Mitsuki is dumbfounded.
"Must be that Uzumaki fuinjutsu." Fukasaku observes.
"The Uzumaki were hunted down for a reason," Shima adds.
Mitsuki unfurls the scroll and summons two large stone swords. "I won't stop now." Mitsuki grits his teeth. "This hole will be his grave."
He jumps down the hole, landing on his feet and shuttering the ground. The swords dig deep into the earth by the fall. Mitsuki keeps his eyes on the Headmaster.
He sprints forward dragging the blades with him. Mitsuki swings with vicious ferocity. Gaoh puts his all into dodging the swings, waiting for an opening.
Mitsuki swings both swords at the same time but misses as Gaoh jumps backward. Seeing an opening Gaoh waves hand signs.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A large fireball expels from Gaoh's mouth and hurls at Mitsuki and Co. The Toad Sages look then nod at each other while Mitsuki waves hand seals.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall."
A large protective wall rises from the earth, in front of Mitsuki. The Toad Sages leap into the air as the fire collides with the wall. They clap their hands and their throats begin to vibrate.
In unison, they shout, "Sage Art: Frog Song!"
Croaking together, they release large, loud, and immensely powerful sound waves pushing the smoke clouds of the collision. But before it could hit Gaoh the chains on his back move back to life. It forms a flat surface, similar to a shield, blocking most of the sound. Then it expands until it hits the walls of the hole.
"Crud! He cut us off." Fukasaku curses as they land on top of the chains. "Mitsuki-boy, can you hear us? Mitsuki?"
Sunlight has been cut off. Mitsuki now relies on his night vision to see where Gaoh stands. The Headmaster smiles, and then he begins to laugh.
"Took some work, but now you're alone. It is time to come back home, Mitsuki."
"What are you talking about? The Hidden Leaf is my home."
"Of course, you don't remember. You were so young. I remember watching over you, inside that test tube."
"My father created me."
"True, but not entirely. Don't you remember the lab? All the faces you've seen. Does none of them seem familiar?
"Are you implying you created me?" Mitsuki starts waving hand seals.
"No, no. Orochimaru did most of the work. You were his personal project. Never understood why. But I did supervise when he was unavailable. You have great potential Mitsuki. You're wasting your life for that feeble village."
"That feeble village has given everything to me. They are my comrades, my friends. Friends you killed."
"I needed to send a message. To show people how flawed their leaders are. I will lead humanity beyond their limits. Together we will become Gods!"
"W-what? That's impossible."
"No, not impossible. Your Hokage proved it. And with your help so will we."
"So why am I important to you? Why?"
"Out of everyone we created you were closest to perfection. A result we've struggled to replicate. With you, our goal will be ever so close."
"I see. I'm the target, that's why you're out here fighting."
Gaoh walks to the pile of kunai make with his sign. "Yes, a calculated risk. One that unfortunately is not paying off. Didn't think you'd be able to master senjutsu."
Mitsuki kept quiet knowing the case its the opposite.
"I wish you join our side, just like how many others did. Fortunately for me, I don't need you alive."
Gaoh throws a kunai targeting Mitsuki's head. The Sage dodges it easily by moving his head left. As soon as the kunai flew behind him, Gaoh teleports to it, his cheeks bloated. He spews water at high pressure aiming at the back of Mitsuki's head. Using his enhanced senses Mitsuki rolls away as the water cuts the earth open.
As Mitsuki rolls, he fires lightning from the palm of his hand. Chains drop from the ceiling and in front of Gaoh blocking the attack in an explosive fashion. Mitsuki scoffs waving more hand seals. He moves his hand forward commanding the earth to erupt on the surface. Giant spikes shoot upward barely hitting Gaoh, skriking the chain ceilings.
A large bump sends Shima momentarily in the air and then back down on her face.
"Ma, stop messing around. We need to help Mitsuki-boy."
Gaoh waves more hand seals when he notices Mitsuki shaking. He smiles. "I guess you're not in control after all."
Mitsuki drops to his knees, stomach-churning, head throbbing. "N-no! It was only two techniques."
The Headmaster sees an opening. He retracts all of his chains and forms a giant tendril. Fukasaku and Shima land on the ground, watching as Gaoh creates this giant arm made of adamantine chains. The Frog Sages sees Mitsuki on the ground whiting in pain. His body slowly changing.
The giant arm slams directly on Mitsuki, shattering the earth and pushing back the air.
"Mitsuki!" Both Frog Sages scream.
Darkness is all Mitsuki can see. He can feel the grass pressing against his back. That's when he realizes he is laying inside a bush. Light gently filters through the leaves and branches. Someone pushes the vegetation calling out to him. The young boy rips the bush open finding himself face to face with Mitsuki.
A little boy with blue eyes, bright blond hair, and two whisker markings on each of his cheeks. His head completely blocks the sun making him look like a divine being coming to his aid.
"Are you okay?" He asks. "You took a pretty nasty fall there."
Mitsuki clutches his head. "Y-yeah. Guess the branch I was standing on broke."
The young boy helps Mitsuki up giving a bright smile. "That's so cool! You can already clime surfaces. Name's Boruto by the way."
"Mi… tsuki. My name is Mitsuki."
"Can you teach me how to climb like that?" Boruto asks, his eyes beaming.
"Uh, I guess?"
"Cool! Hey, wanna meet a friend of mine?"
Mitsuki remembers his Father's words before escaping. "F-friend? Y-yes!"
"Great! Follow me!"
Boruto leads Mitsuki across the park. Kids were training with their fathers and doing other various activities. Dogs running around chasing little critters.
They walk past a mother practically yanking her son. "I told you not to interact with that child." She scolds.
"But Mom, she-"
"But nothing! She is trouble."
Boruto grits his teeth. People always do this to her. He didn't know why it happens but it makes him furious.
"Sarada" Boruto reaches out. "Are you okay?"
"I- I"m fine…" Sarada sniffles. "Who's with you?"
"My name is Mitsuki."
"He can walk up trees," Boruto announces.
"Really!?" Sarada remembers her failure to climb a tree. Classmates laughed at her. "Can you teach me?"
"O-okay." Mitsuki walks near a nearby tree. He takes a deep breath and then plants a foot on the bark, walking up the tree and impressing his new friends.
"Wow! He really can do it!" Sarada shouts in excitement.
"See, told you!" Boruto replies.
"Amazing! Truly amazing." A man claps.
"Dad!" Boruto shouts in excitement. "You came!"
"Of course, I would. Who's your new friend?"
"His name is Mitsuki." Sarada informs.
"Ah. Quite talented for his age. Say, you look familiar. Who are your parents?"
"Well… eh… I guess… Orochimaru."
Naruto's jolly expression turns into a state of shock. Boruto and Sarada notice it. They poke him but no reaction. Both look at each other with worrying glances.
"W-when did he… Who would pair with… I think need to sit down."
"Dad are you okay?" Boruto yanks on his pants.
Naruto shakes his head. "Yeah, yeah. Hey, Bolt. Hang with Autie Sakura for a while."
"What? But Dad you promised!" Boruto pouts.
"I know, Bolt. But something came up. You tell her that."
Sarada nods. "Yes, Uncle Naruto. Move it, Boruto." The young Uchiha grabs Boruto's shirt and starts dragging him.
"H-hey! Wait!"
Mitsuki lands on the ground next to Naruto. Masked men drop to the ground surrounding Naruto and Mitsuki, terrifying the young boy.
"Scary, huh? Yeah, I myself still ain't use to it."
The cloaked man in a bird mask steps forward. "Lord Seven, I'm sorry. Your child approached him first, I couldn't interfere."
"It's alright, Bird. I sense no ill intent on him." Naruto faces the young boy. "So, your Orochimaru's son? What brings you to the Village?"
"Father said, I'll meet a friend here."
"A friend you say?" Naruto smiles brightly. "Well, I say you came to the right place!"
Gaoh retracts the giant arm. To everyone's surprise, Mitsuki is still intact, breathing and even moving. The snake sage slowly picks himself up, bloody and bruised. His kimono is torn and destroyed exposing his top half. Fukasaku sees Mitsuki's form, realizing the danger everyone's in.
"Ma, get the staff out off the scroll."
"Huh? Has he lost control?"
"Afraid so."
Gaoh raises a brow. "Lost control?" He smirks.
Mitsuki begins to mutate. A cyan chakra shroud forms into ethereal snakes around his body. The markings around his eyes expand further and a single horn grew from his forehead. But it doesn't stop there, he mutates further. His skin tone slightly darkens and his sclerae turn black. The skin also grew ticker and so did his muscle and size. Two smaller horns grew side to side with the middle one. Green flames erupt from his mouth, swallowing his head and engulfing it. It snaps back to normal, his hair turning into a living flame. Green in color, flowing gently in the wind.
"I see. This is Jūgo's kekkei genkai. Senjutsu at the cost of mental instability. I guess no matter how perfect you are you can't escape the clan's curse."
Mitsuki glares at Gaoh. Like an animal staring at its prey. He opens his mouth quite ample, extending a snake which then opens its mouth and produces a sword. The Kusanagi Sword.
He holds it firmly, slowly removing the sword. Once removed, he swings the sword to his side shattering the earth beside him. Shima is blown away by the gust of air, but she quickly recovers using her tongue to swing herself to a safe location.
"Ma!" Fukasaku calms his nerves when he sees Shima land on her feet. "Ma, get the staff!" Shima unfurls the scroll and summons the staff.
"Looks like I need to-" Mitsuki dashes forward not even giving the Headmaster time to finish his sentence. The Sage lets out a monstrous visceral scream striking instant fear into Gaoh's heart. He swings the sword missing the Headmaster by a thread.
Gaoh lands on his behind looking over the monster before him. Mitsuki's free arm mutates, a burst of flame erupting from it. Using the momentum of the sword swing Mitsuki spins around with his jet fists at outrageous speeds. In this spit second, Gaoh teleports next to his pile of kunai. The fist collides with the earth, hitting nothing. Gaoh breaths rapidly having narrowly avoided certain death.
Mitsuki slowly turns his head. While mindless he still calculated his moves. He raises his free hand pointing at Gaoh. A piece of chakra shroud molds then shapes into an ethereal snake, wailing then pouncing at him. Gaoh throws a kunai up and then immediately teleports to it. The snakes crash against the earth, shattering it.
Gaoh lands on his feet, watching for Mitsuki's next move. Slowly moving his head, Mitsuki's gaze meets Gaoh. He takes a deep breath. Mitsuki lets out a booming roar that makes everyone in the vicinity cover their ears.
Shikadai and Yui sit back as the snakes fight Gaoh reinforcements when the booming roar reaches them. Both cover their ears as a reaction. Shikadai looks around trying to find the source. All members of the Academy were the same, covering their ears.
"What the hell is happening!?" Shikadai thinks to himself.
Team 7 relaxes in a private room. Sakura drinks a glass of water as she hears out Naruto.
"The Sound Lord just wouldn't shut up. She made so many demands. I felt more awkward than annoyed. If Nasu wants to become a proper Kage then she needs to stand up for herself."
"It's not easy to overcome family," Sasuke says as he sets his glass.
"You have no idea how many arguments with my mother I've lost," Sakura adds.
The group hears a faint boom outside. To an average person it would seem like a random sound in the city, but to the experienced like Team 7…
"What the hell was that?" Naruto asks.
"That roar…" Sakura remembers the incident in the hospital. "Mitsuki?"
"Mitsuki?" Both Naruto and Sasuke question.
Snakes pounce at foot soldier trying to recover. Shikadai gets on a few skirmishes but retreats to safety. A shinobi slips through the battlefield and lands in front of him. He draws a blade, ready to strike Shikadai down.
"Rasengan!"
The Hokage soars through the air and slams his attack on the Academy member. The ground shatters, as the shinobi is buried underground.
"Trying to murder children. How low can you go? Now then…" Naruto glares at the pair, more importantly at Yui. "Aren't you suppose to be in the Leaf Village?"
"Forget about us, save Mitsuki!" Yui shouts.
"Mitsuki!?"
"The Headmaster. He's here!" Both shout in unison.
Naruto's eyes widen. He stares between the trees where the roar emanates from. Rage boils his blood—a second chance to avenge his son. A loud thud interrupts his thoughts. He looks behind him, seeing a giant snake disappear in a puff of smoke.
A group of men jumps in the air ready to engage in combat with the Hokage. Naruto scoffs, and an orange aura emanates from his body. He hears a loud boom to his right when soundwave sweeps off the air. When he looks at the source, he finds the Otokage.
"Vermin like you don't belong in my Village." Nasu declares.
More men appear from the shadows. Naruto and Nasu glance at each other, then at the battlefield ready for the upcoming battle. While it pained him not to confront Gaoh, he knew his friends would end this nightmare.
Fukasaku and Shima look on as Gaoh fights for his life. The Headmaster struggled when Mitsuki used Sage Mode, but in this berserker form, he stood no chance. The Sages observe from the side, letting Mitsuki rampage across the forest. Both agreed to let Mitsuki massacre the Headmaster and then stop him before he reached the Village.
Gaoh falls on his back, staring up at Mitsuki. He looks up as Mitsuki begins to gag, and little crackles of lighting leave his mouth. Thunder erupts from Mitsuki's mouth sending it straight into the sky. Mitsuki stares at Gaoh, mouth filled with lighting. The Sage prepares, charging his attack. The Headmaster readies his latest attempt to escape when suddenly Mitsuki stops.
Mitsuki's chest cracks. Dust leaves drip down as he drops to his knees.
"Mitsuki!" Both Frog Sages yell in a panic.
Gaoh looks carefully; a sight he's too familiar with. "Guess you're not perfect as I thought."
Mitsuki stands up ignoring the pain and moves forward causing his cracks to grow. A tongue wraps around his upper body. Fukasaku lands on top of him, baton in hand.
"I'm sorry boy, but your power is too much for your body."
Mitsuki's forearms extend and grab the toad by the neck. He proceeds to put force into his grip choking the Sage.
Gaoh chuckles as he stands up. "Thanks for taking the heat off me."
Someone lands in between them shattering the earth as they made contact. Mitsuki and Fukasaku land on one side while Gaoh lands on the other. A woman with pink hair and extraordinary strength has joined the battlefield.
Mitsuki quickly gets up and roars towards Sakura.
"Lady Sakura, the staff!" Shima points at the rod in the ground.
Mitsuki pounce. Sakura quickly picks up the staff and as Mitsuki nears her, she swings. Sakura hits Mitsuki right on the ribs knocking all the wind out of him. Due to the strength of the attack, the staff expels all of Mitsuki's energy he had gathered. He slams against the wall, unconscious.
Sakura winces then looks at the staff. "Too much power in that swing." She turns around to face the enemy. Fukasaku jumps on her shoulder.
"Thank you. Mitsuki is still young in his training. But considering of opponent, we had no choice."
"Who is he?" Sakura asks.
"The Headmaster of the Academy, Gaoh Uzumaki."
Sakura's body tenses. The one responsible is laying before her. Gaoh stands up, his chains rattling. Sakura and Gaoh glare at each other, prepared for a fight.
Gaoh waves hand seals when lightning strikes. A limb flew in the air. The headmaster reels in pain.
Sasuke Uchiha arrived and immediately cut down the Headmaster. Gaoh's entire right arm lands on the ground. Sasuke shifts his gaze revealing the glow of the Sharingan. The man who killed his student, mentally scared his daughter, and spread fear into his village laid before his mercy.
Loads of blood leave Gaoh's wound. Sasuke's eye turns into the Mangekyo. "I'll cauterize it for you." Black flames envelop the wound and his right shoulder, melting his flesh.
This is the side Sakura wished to never see again.
The susanno arm manifests and grabs Gaoh's whole body, lifting him up. "This is your end." The begins to squeeze. Gaoh feels every part of his body scream in pain. He could literally burst in a second. With no other idea coming to mind he made a choice.
The Headmaster disappears in a purple flash. The group looks around trying to find Gaoh. After a while, it's clear that he had gone. Frustrated, Sasuke grits his teeth. The Headmaster has slipped between their fingers once again.
"Suspension is just the beginning," Naruto yells.
The few Oto shinobi look on as Team 7 scolds the kids. Mitsuki is still unconscious with Sakura overlooking his condition. The cracks were still there, moving as his muscles spasm. Fukasaku and Shima sit on Naruto's shoulders. Nasu observes further away, waiting to join in the conversation.
"But Lord Seventh-"
"Don't!" Naruto stops himself and takes a deep breath. "I get it, okay. I really do. Wanting to save your friends. But you have to realize when you an over your head. Challenging the Academy on your own is suicide."
Shikadai faintly tries to reply. "We just-"
"You will do nothing. Not until your father arrives."
"W-what?"
"We have the Academy cornered. Shinobi from all five nations will come to Oto to finish this war. Shikamaru has already left the village, and said he has choice words for you."
Nasu walks and stands next to Naruto. "Is she the one?" She asks.
"Yes. Half Senju, half Uchiha."
"Interesting." Nasu glanced at Mitsuki. "What about him? Will he be alright?"
Sakura at Mitsuki solemnly. "I don't know. Those cracks aren't normal."
"Is this related to why the Headmaster wanted him?" She mutters to herself.
After the scolding everyone went around doing multiple tasks while Naruto had a moment to himself. The Toad Sages went inside the village searching for Kōsuke. He was apparently arrested for entering the sound village without permission. Naruto starts to feel warm, fanning his shirt to cool down. From the corner of his eye, Naruto sees her. The love of his life.
Hinata stood afar, smiling at him. Naruto couldn't believe it. He had so many questions, but he wasn't mad or disappointed. He just wanted answers.
Naruto runs towards but when he reaches her she fades away. The Hokage looks around finds her further away and gives chase. Leading far from the camp.
"Hokage? Hokage!" A random Oto shinobi shouts.
The Shinobi beside him replies. "What the hell? Is he chasing someone?"
"I don't know. I didn't see anyone."
Naruto continues running into the village and then into the food market. Bumping into people left and right leaving them stunned as they look back. Naruto sees Hinata enter a restaurant. It's brim with civilians, coming and going. When Naruto enters most people froze.
"I- It's the Hokage." Someone mutters.
"Have we been found?" A man whispers.
Naruto is too focused on Hinata to listen. He storms into the back finding a normal kitchen. Hinata is nowhere to be found.
"I don't get it. She was just here."
"Naruto behin-"
Before he could react something hits the back of his head dropping him to one knee. An employee then over the corner and performs a Jutsu that sends him into a deep sleep by simply holding his head.
The man who knocked Naruto out, The chef, glares up. "What are you thinking!?" He yells as low as posible.
The man who hit Naruto from behind speaks. "I- I thought he found the entrance."
"Forget it! Help me take him down. Everyone else closes the shop."
A few men grab the unconscious Hokage while others handle the customers. The men kick out a few customers while other members of the Academy, hiding as civilians, head to the back.
A tired man panics as he gets to the kitchen. "What the hell is happening."
"Just open the elevator." The chef barks.
A section of the wall opens up revealing a large elevator that leads down. The group huddles together inside, holding the Hokage firmly.
"I hope the Headmaster doesn't react badly to this."
Outside, a young female locks the doors as the last customer exits the premises. She notices someone standing outside. The veins in her eyes bulging. She shifts her gaze at the employee. A tear rolling down her orange eye.
"I'm sorry. I- I just realized we are approaching the end."
The employee, confused, just gives her a thumbs up and says "Cool." And rushes back inside.
Hinata stares back at the restaurant, watching with her Byakugan as they take away her husband. She feels a finger brush her cheek, softly wiping away her tears.
"DO NOT CRY. WITH HIS DOWNFALL, THE WHEELS WILL BE SET IN MOTION."
"But The Academy, they'll execute him."
"SO WHAT? YOU CAN MARRY AGAIN. MOVE, WE NEED TO PREPARE."
"Prepare?"
"THE HUMAN CONSTANT. INGRAINED IN HUMAN NATURE LIKE SALT IS TO THE OCEAN. THE ONLY TRUTH THAT MATTERS. MY TRUTH. MY NATURE."
"WAR"
A/N: Hey, hey, Author here.
I have been gone a while. Why? Well, because everyone in my family got sick. Yes, everyone. Including me. Even our cat got sick. And unfortunately, the newborn baby got sick. In fact, she was the worst of all, being hospitalized 3 times. But no worry, we all recovered. And now the baby is kicking and screaming like any other baby.
I wrote it before, and I'll write it again! I hope it doesn't take months to write my next chapter.
On to the copy-paste outro! Please favorite and/or follow, share, and leave a review. Don't be shy, tell me what you think of the story and leave me tips on how I should improve my writing. Thanks for reading and I hope to see you next time.