Chapter 59: Blood Vs Crystal
After a while the Jonin came back in the room ready to go over the plan for all of us listening to Shizune tell Hinata, Sakura and Ino they'd be with her. Our goal was to seal the Three-Tailed beast and protect the boy that Naruto saw because he was linked to the Tailed beast in some way. Listening to Naruto talk about how he had the fox inside him and was worried they'd turn the boy into someone like him I frowned.
"Our goal isn't to capture the Tailed beast but to seal it away where no can else can touch it, that is what Lady Tsunade wants." Shizune said watching Kiba cross his arms saying, "But the Tailed beast has a huge mass of chakra so I don't see how we can put a seal on it."
"Yes, it will take a delicate and extreme amount of chakra control and concentration, with Sakura and Ino's medical Ninjutsu their experience will be very useful. Hinata, though you don't do medical Ninjutsu your ability to control chakra is crucial as well."
"Hinata you'll do great." Naruto said encouraging her as she blushed saying, "Understood."
"I guess girls are better at delicate chakra control… but how come Tenten and Yuna aren't part of the sealing team since they're girls?" Naruto asked seeing Tenten take out her weapons while I shook my fist at Naruto saying, "So what if our chakra control isn't perfect?!"
"Eh I didn't mean it like that." Naruto said getting in a defensive position as Tenten turned to me whispering, "My chakra is clumsy anyway."
"The rest of you will work with Yamato and I to provide protection." Kakashi began snapping us back to the matter at hand, "No doubt our enemy won't sit by and let us seal the Tailed beast so we must be ready to defend them from any attacks."
"How will we team up for that?" Tenten asked as he looked towards Shino and I saying, "I have an idea."
"Well don't hold back..." Naruto said getting antsy while Kakashi said, "The most important part of the battle is to stop the crystal user however, if we all attack her the sealing team is without protection from the others. With that in mind I'm thinking of splitting up the teams into two with one team focusing on her and the others on the other enemies."
"Keeping in mind that Shino's insects can be useful against this fight as well as Yuna's blood they will be a part of the team that attacks the crystal user head on with Naruto, Sai and myself as backup. Yamato will oversee the other team fighting the others." Kakashi said as we all began splitting up with our squad leaders to go over the final arrangements.
It was decided that should the boy be seen protecting him was top priority since if he is the one controlling the Tailed beast without him, they'd have no leverage.
Looking over at Tenten I held my fist out saying, "Good luck."
"You too." she said with a wink while Lee came over fist bumping my fist hard saying, "Our youth will prevail!"
Feeling a shock of pain rush through my body I held in tears saying, "Yea..."
Seeing it was light out we all headed out towards the lake seeing that the fog had lifted enough to where we could see through easily. Still weary of being trapped in an illusion we all took our time until we saw the lake ahead of us.
"Alright, let's begin, everyone in their position." Kakashi said as we all jumped off looking over at Lee and the other team giving them a peace sign before jumping up further with my team.
Jumping alongside the others I saw Sai kept looking over at Shino realizing they have never met as Naruto realized it too saying, "Oh that's right you two have never met before."
"Sharp of you to notice Naruto." Shino said hearing the hint of sarcasm in his voice, but it went over his head as Naruto pointed to Sai saying, "This is Sai, he came from the ANBU and he's sort of gloomy and depressing like he's missing something… just a weird guy who's constantly reading books."
"Naruto..." I went to slap him as he replied, "But he's really good at drawing and is really strong."
Sai looked away embarrassed as Naruto pointed to Shino saying, "This is Shino… Shino is… well Shino."
Giving Naruto a glare I murmured, "You really can't say anything but that?"
"You're Shino Aburame, you're the son of Shibi Aburame and have participated in numerous missions relying on your skill in combat as a bodyguard and in search and seizure. Your specialist is the Secret Jutsu of manipulating Parasitic insects. Right?" Sai asked staring towards him surprised as Naruto marveled at him, "How come you know so much about Shino?"
"You've done your research, but I guess that goes without saying. After all, you're a former ANBU member." Shino said unbothered by him making Naruto clap saying, "Well, now that you know each other we can be a team."
"Naruto, my favorite foods are wild grass salad and winter melon." Shino said seeing Naruto make a face while I piped in, "He doesn't like foods that have strong odors."
"So what of it?" Naruto asked clearly confused making me go to speak but Shino got up right next to him saying, "Since we're on the same team we should know about each other, it affects our teamwork."
"It really doesn't matter what kind of food you like..." Naruto began as I saw Shino start to sulk smacking my fist into Naruto's forehead saying angrily, "You really should know more about him ya know?!"
Watching him fall I went up to him pumping my fist saying, "Even a stranger knows more about him than you do which is bad since you've known him since the academy."
Jumping back up between Sai and Shino I could hear Naruto mumble, "I'm really not on the same wavelength as you guys..."
Watching Sai write things down I heard him whisper, "Be nice to Shino around Yuna..."
Looking over at Shino he wasn't sulking anymore watching him turn to me as I flashed him a smile with a thumb up hearing him say quietly, "Thank you for that."
"Of course, anytime." I said hearing Kakashi say, "Be alert we could run into the crystal user at any time now."
Reaching the opposite side of the lake as the others Shino got to work concentrating telling Kakashi he needed a little more time. Kakashi turned towards Sai telling him we'd be using the same formation as he was with Yamato hearing them talk about the ANBU.
"The way they fight, they have no protocol to protect their comrades but this time we're fighting to protect our comrades at all cost. I want you to keep that in mind..." Kakashi said looking towards Sai who smiled replying, "Don't worry, having faith in my comrades is something I believe in now and is the reason I'm here."
"Now you're beginning to understand." Naruto said looking towards him as I frowned remembering Hayner could possibly join them in which case we'd rarely ever see him.
"They're coming!" Shino said suddenly looking up as a large man brought his fist down, but we moved in time for his attack.
Doing some hand signs I said, "Ninja art: Blood Bubble!"
My blood sprouted out of me wrapping itself around Shino seeing he wasn't ready yet knowing I'd have to keep him safe. Landing beside the others we began using our kunai to block the crystal users attacks at least until Shino was ready. The large guy began focusing on myself and Sai as we began jumping out of the way of his attacks seeing how powerful they were. Looking back towards Kakashi I saw him being chased by a bunch of crystals making me glare.
"Yuna go help Kakashi-senpai." Sai said as I looked towards him nodding jumping towards him just as he was impaled by a crystal, "Kakashi-sensei!"
Seeing her go to attack him with another crystal dragon I did some hand signs sending a large X of blood finishing my hand signs as it ignited with my electricity watching it shatter. Landing in front of Kakashi I heard him say my name weakly but my eyes were focused on the woman.
"You're going to have to get through me first." I said tightening my fist as the lightning began to spark around it seeing her glare at me, "So you use blood… but it's useless."
Feeling a rumble from under me I saw a crystal start to form watching my blood go upwards around me just as the crystal would have encased me it burst out seeing her stare surprised. Creating two blood swords I ran at her as we both began going back and forth seeing her realize my blood was too hard to break. Though it took an immense amount of chakra it seemed Kakashi was right that she couldn't crystallize it. Watching her jump up high she sent shards of crystals towards Kakashi and Naruto putting my arm out as my blood shielded over them to keep them from getting hit. Grunting she kept attacking them and me simultaneously knowing I was losing a lot of blood.
"At this rate you'll bleed it, it's just a matter of time." she said laughing watching three giant dragon heads appear going towards Naruto, Kakashi and myself.
Shit I only can protect two… wincing I quickly shielded the others watching the head come barreling down towards me but get stopped by thousands of bugs. Watching the crystal shatter Shino stood in front of me as I kneeled breathing heavily looking up towards him.
"Just in the nick of time..." I said thankfully seeing him look towards me replying, "I will take it from here Yuna."
"So if it isn't the insect user but it's useless against me." she said watching Shino send out thousands of bugs at her seeing her crystallize them as she laughed, "See I told you it was useless."
"I wonder about that." Shino said confidently watching his insects begin to break out of the crystals they were trapped in as he said, "You're jutsu won't work against me and that's because my insects can evolve limitless times."
Realizing she was in trouble Shino sent his insects at her while Naruto charged up multiple Rasangan attacks. Helping Kakashi up we watched her jump in the air forming a giant crystal to shield herself as every hit that went through fixed itself.
"Her crystal is mending itself right away." I said watching Naruto land beside us replying, "There is no end to it."
"Focus your insects attack on one spot." Kakashi said charging up his Chidori as I did the same running towards her with Shino's insects right beside us.
Just as Shino's bugs cleared off the crystal Kakashi and I went to hit her feeling my arm get stuck as did Kakashi seeing mud surrounding her. Shino's bugs began getting pelted with mud as the large man grabbed onto the woman throwing her to safety making me glare.
"We're not letting you get away!" I said as my hand sparked up again with Kakashi hearing the man yell out in pain before the mud dissipated falling.
Feeling someone catch me I looked to see Shino who set me down as I panted frowning at the broken crystal, the woman had gotten away.