Chapter 6: Beyond

Koro didn't answer as silence continued. While I still have my smirk on the outside but on the inside, I was getting nervous. Does he have a hidden contingency plan?

"What's wrong? At this rate, your aniki is going to be-"

One moment we were on the verge of victory, the next moment it's like we were seeing our own deaths right in front of us. The whole cave was saturated with something akin to a thick murky and invisible substance, obliterating us from the inside out. Screams and tears thundered my ears despite no sound was made, my skin crawled as my instincts told me to run for my fucking life.

Satsuki and Kiba dropped their kunais and began vomiting, everyone else were doing the same and some were even crying at the same time.

"No! Why did this have to happen!?"

"Okaa-san! Otou-san! Where are you!?"

"Please! No more! I want to go home!"

Goddammit! I was being too hopeful, they're just seven-year-olds, they're not ready to handle something like this! I was barely hanging on as my limbs were shaking wildly, desperately focusing on the enemies in front of me. My deep breathing could almost be mistaken as hyperventilation at this point.

"I'll admit, you kids were smart for attacking my limbs first, especially my hands." The elder brother clenched his fists a few times, scowling furiously for what we did to him, "Nonetheless, it's still not enough!"

Taking a kunai in his hands, he was about to stab those two until I zoomed forward, grabbing the two out of harm's way. However, I got a long gnash to my left arm in return, sloppily tumbling with them in tow.

Fuck! That hurts! But at least... the pain brought me out of that fear.

"You can still move even after receiving my killing intent?" Koro narrowed his eyes. I can tell from his tone and posture, he wasn't playing nice with children anymore, "Brat, what's your name?"

Blood leaked, trickling down to my left hand and forming a small puddle. I applied pressure with my right hand in hopes to stop the bleeding. Everyone is still paralyzed and wailing, I need to buy time somehow, "Ken... Takamiya Ken."

"Takamiya? That's not even a clan's name." The elder brother grunted, wrapping bandages around his wounds as if they were only scrapes, "What are the names of your parents?"

"Takamiya Hiraku and Takamiya Chika."

"Never heard of them. And yet here you are, showing off skills to that of a chunin. So Konoha has another prodigy."

There's no telling what would happen to their psyche if everyone gets exposed to killing intent for so long, I need to draw their attention to me, "Why do you have a grudge against Konoha? Is it so bad to the point you would use small innocent children?"

The elder brother had a near imperceptible flinch. Koro however, frowned, "What do you know about what we went through brat? You were born in times of peace without worrying about whether you can live to see the next day, or about whether your own family lives to see you."

"So this is what it's about? To make the Fourth suffer the same punishment he did to you?"

"Smart brat." He spat out, and I can feel the effects of the killing intent lessening slightly, "I've lived through two Great Shinobi Wars. I was lucky to live through my first until the second came. My wife died when my son was born, I loved him dearly until the Yellow Flash killed him during the third war. He came in out of nowhere and cut him down before anyone could tell what happened."

Koro then suddenly roared in my face, "And do you know what happened afterwards!? The Tsuchikage declared a peace treaty because of one person killing a thousand, among them was Oga! I couldn't even bring back his dead body, he was treated as one of the forgettable foot soldiers! 'Everyone lost someone precious to them? You're not the only one so get over it?' Screw it all! My son put his entire life to be a proud Iwagakure shinobi, he was only recently promoted to chunin before getting sent to a slaughterhouse! Do you know what it's like to lose your family to one man as if he was just a stepping stone!? Do you!?"

"... My tou-san died seven years ago when the kyuubi attacked Konoha, kaa-chan told me about him for what he did to the village and for me. I was a baby at that time so maybe I really don't understand the feeling. But... it felt like there's always something missing in my soul, like something that's always supposed to be there for so long but never actually there for me."

"..." The killing intent finally dissipated, setting the children free from their suffering. Koro didn't say anything, simply glaring at me in contempt, "Aniki, tie them up, make it extra tight this time. No use in genjutsu when they've already broken out once."

"What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna clean up their puke, smells like rancid shit in here."

Before the elder brother could say anything, Koro already left as he used doton jutsus to move the said puke out without directly touching it. Sighing, the Iwa nin made hand signs, pinning us to the ground by encasing our limbs with cuffs made of stone. I had a hunch that this might be a revenge scenario and this practically confirms it. This is why I don't want to become a shinobi, this cycle of hatred shit makes people do crazy stuff in this world.

"So, are you in this to get revenge on the Fourth as well?"

He raised an eyebrow at me, "Shouldn't you be scared or cursing your luck about possible death?"

"At this point, I'm just bored with all these negative emotions." Losing your family members multiple times, already dying once, and reincarnating really do change one's mentality, "Besides, it's not like I got anything else to do."

"You're a weird kid. I suppose you could say I do have some grudge, Iwa's reputation dropped after how we lost the last war and we got less jobs. Never married or got a family, he did kill some of my friends but my main reason is to make sure my little brother doesn't get himself killed."

"Huh." I was honestly surprised by this, silently testing to see if I can brute force my way out of these restraints, should've asked to learn the escape jutsu when I had the chance, "That's actually pretty nice of you, you're a good big brother."

"Not really." He was regretful, "We're not actually related, my abusive father married Koro's mother when we were kids. I was thin and too scared to stand up for him and his mother, so I stayed quiet and kept myself safe. It was only after I've heard how devastated he was when Oga was killed that I tried to reach out to him."

He does look a bit on the lanky side compared to the bulky Koro. And going by the way how he was just watching his little brother fighting us, maybe he specializes in something that's not combat.

Another sigh escaped from his throat, "He wasn't always like this. Koro tried to be positive and be the best father he could, he was really proud when Oga was finally promoted to chunin after working so hard. He wanted to go out to war to fight for the village immediately but Koro was against it because it was too dangerous. They had a big argument before Oga ran out to the battlefield. Koro bought a gift to apologize for raising his voice to his son but... Well, you got the rest of the story."

"Damn, their final words together weren't even good ones, and not to mention the bad childhood. Can't really blame him for doing this."

"It's nothing personal kid, we just can't let this slide after what the Yellow Flash did to us. Don't cause any more trouble, if your deaths are absolutely necessary then we'll make them quick and painless."

"Gee, how reassuring." I rolled my eyes in sarcasm. To my left was Satsuki gazing at me, her eyes were red and had tear stains around them from crying, though they were also red for another reason with each having one tomoe. I'll congratulate her once the situation wasn't so bad, "You're awake? How do you feel?"

"Better, what about your arm?"

Guilt was present in her voice. The bleeding has stopped after a while when I got my breathing under control, "Not as bad as it looks, just some dull throbbing."

"So much for the plan, we failed. What's gonna happen next?"

"Everyone except us are out of commission, we'll just have to bide our time for now. Our best hope is to wait for someone to come save us-" When the Uchiha was in the middle of staring upwards, she set her sights to a specific part of the cave, "Satsuki, what's wrong?"

"I think... something is flying here."

Confused, I focused my senses and she was right. Seconds later, a messenger bird came flying through the cracks, landing on Koro's thick arms. The Iwa nin read the paper before-

"That double crossing bastard!"

Killing intent started flooding back into the cave full force as he crushed the piece of paper. Koro had so much anger and fury in that scream to the point you can see blood vessels popping around his arms and forehead. A hand went to seize my neck, hanging me in midair as he started squeezing just as a stress reliever, "Aniki, we're being used! Let's just set the kyuubi here free now!"

"Are you crazy!? There's no telling what we'll happen if I temper that seal right here. It's not something that can be done so suddenly or so recklessly."

"The other team's already been wiped out, it's only a matter a time before they find this place too! They think they can make a fool out of me!? This place can go burn in hell!"

"Guh..." I choked, struggling to breathe. It feels like the hand gripping me could send me on death's door at any moment, but my smile never left, "Just goes to show that revenge isn't the answer... How about giving up peacefully?"

"Shut your mouth!"

'This better work!'

Just as he was about to chokeslam me like last time, I pushed my cuffed arms and legs to one side his forearm while turning, using my entire body weight to pivot while unleashing all the chakra I got. Using his own force to my advantage with my own, the stone cuffs smashed onto the ground and cracked, weakening them just enough for me to do the rest myself.

Before Koro could do anything else, I rushed away while carrying Satsuki and the rest at once to the other side of the cave, smashing their restraints open with my kicks before entering into battle position in one swift motion, "Satsuki, try to free and wake them up! I don't know if reinforcements will be on our side or not but this guy isn't gonna let Naruko live any longer! I'll buy you as much time as I can!"

"You've been a pain in the neck ever since I saw you! I'll kill you you right here before you can be a threat in the future!"

"Bring it on baldy!"

Both of us charged, arms reeled before we hit each other's fist at the same time. The impact caused a shockwave to whizz through, rocking everyone's bones as well as the cave.


"There's nothing more we can do Koro-san. I'm sorry, your wife cannot survive the labor." From the first point of view, a doctor was seen to solemnly report as a weak crying baby was held in his arms. Tears were falling as sadness overcame his entire being, "As for your son, his constitution is very weak, we are not sure if can make it. We have already done all we can, the rest is up to him."


Ken widened his eyes in stupor, "What was that?"


Another point of view came into vision as Ken climbed down the stairs in the middle of the night to get a glass of water. However, he heard weeping sounds from the living room and found his mother crying while holding a picture of his deceased father. It was obvious, she was holding it in and didn't want to burden her son with the pain of losing a loved one. Ken wanted to say something to her but left instead, knowing that his mother didn't want him to see her like this. He felt pathetic for not being able to do anything for her.


Koro was in a similar state, "Genjutsu? No, that felt too real."

Both shrugged off whatever that happened and continued. Ken held back a wince and leaned his head back from another incoming fist, tapping away a right hook with the dorsal side of his left hand before jumping over Koro. Ken was aiming to thwack the back of his head until the Iwan nin blocked with the palm of his hand. A solid kick zoomed as the former barely got his left arm and leg up to block. Ken was hurtled over until the the latter was suddenly in his face for a downward haymaker. Blood pumped so hard as adrenaline flowed through his veins.

Ken's body moved almost instinctively, hands placed on the ground as both legs kicked upwards directly to his sternum. The wind was knocked out of Koro's lungs from the counter. He recovered, snarling in the moment when the child recovered his breathing. His hands went his holster, flinging shurikens and kunais at blitzing speeds.

*Exhale*

Not just vision, Ken sharped all of his senses. Iruka said he has talent as a sensor and he can use it to his advantage. As a sound of wind sliced by the metal projectiles closed in, the child drowned out everything around him, letting it all fade to black and white. He's already seen and learned his moves before, he can anticipate them better now.

A rotating sharp star-shaped weapon was nearing to pierce Ken's neck. As it got nearer, it felt as if the shuriken was traveling slower. Manipulating the chakra below his feet, Ken became light on the battlefield. Flipping over the shuriken before twisting around several other, he snatched a kunai and used it to deflect the ones coming towards him and his friends. He even managed to catch another one and threw to it to Satsuki.

The elder brother was at a loss as what their next move will be, his step brother is blinded by rage and didn't want to retreat after coming so far. At this point, killing the Yellow Flash's daughter could hardly be counted as revenge to Konoha, it's just to satiate Koro's hatred. However, if they waited too long, they'll be killed off by the people who double crossed them.

That messenger bird was supposed to be sent either when there's a change in plans or when there's an emergency from the main group. They are the main fighters and stronger than him and Koro. If they've already been wiped out, then what chances do they have? This place is just a hidden hideout only known to their group but it's only a matter of time before they'll be found.

Meanwhile, Satsuki wasn't sure what she was seeing. Scratch that, she could see better than before due to reasons unknown to her though Ken was fighting even better than before, it was as if his muscles were adapting to how they should move in a fight. And it's not just that, he's doing it under the influence of the enemy's killing intent, she was barely hanging on while endeavoring to break these stone cuffs.

A kunai landed in front of her, she got the hidden message and used it to start hacking those restraints, though she was having better success by using it as a pickaxe.

"Wake up you morons! Wake up!"

She began slapping them senselessly out of dreamland.

"Uwa- Huh? Teme? I had a nightmare dattebayo. You were there, Ken-kun was there, we were kidnaped-"

"It's all real you dope! Ken is still fighting. Don't wimp out on me this time and help me get them up!"

"E-eep!" Hinata nearly cried from waking up the second time to another scary scene, "N-no more, I don't want t-to die."

Ino complained/wailed, "Just let us go already!"

Satsuki was about to snap at them until the next sound that reached her ears made her heart dropped.

"Doton: Doryūdan (Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet)"

Countless balls of earth straight out of a mud dragon's maw were hurtling at them at sonic speeds, the children screamed as they knew that those condensed projectiles could easily pierce through them. Ken rushed in front and deflected with a lone kunai as well as his limbs, his hand blazing at lighting speeds to the point even Satsuki's Sharingan couldn't keep up. The more Ken fights, the better he gets.

Swiftly, fluidly. He started by shredding through a piece of earth with one swing at a time, and then two per swing, and then multiple at once. Without stopping, the physically seven-year-old gave it his all to protect his friends. Arcing downwards, kicking sideways, even punching the smaller pieces, doing whatever he could with whatever limited repertoire he has.

"Tch!"

Doesn't mean that he's getting away scot-free, the bullets lacerated his clothes and body, revealing wounds as drops of blood splashed. The impact from those projectiles were also travelling through the kunai and limbs, vibrating to his bones and gradually numbing them. Lungs were expanding and contracting rapidly to compensate for the overexertion, yet Ken will hit his limit sooner or later.

"Ken!"

"Ken-kun!"

"Stay back! No matter what, don't lose your cool! Think of a plan, don't give up! HAAAAAA!"

In the middle of defending and deflecting those bullets, Ken dived forward, defending and deflecting even faster as he got closer to Koro, his senses sharpening further as his reflexes heightened. Koro was non-plussed by the child's rapid improvement, quickly weaving hand signs for another jutsu.

Out of reflex, Ken threw his only weapon in attempt to cancel Koro's next jutsu though it was too late.

"Doton: Doryūheki (Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall)"

The kunai was embedded into the defense, cracking it a bit. That happened before several more erupted forward to trap Ken in one spot or crush his gut. He leaped, riding through the air to cross the distance as Ken made his own hand signs.

'Ram! Snake! Tiger!'

Five illusionary clones were summoned to his sides, each in different positions to confuse his opponent. His chakra and footwork working in tandem to race around the earth walls as the six surrounded him from all sides. Koro scoffed, blocking a knee kick from the original. Ken chained the momentum to hop over the large Iwa nin.

Koro uppercut Ken until he realized that it was a clone, swapped in when he flipped over. The Iwa nin parried a punch and landed a straight jab to the gut, knowing that it's real this time from feeling his fist connecting something solid. Too solid-

*POOF*

A smokescreen revealed that he punched a substituted boulder. With a roaring battle cry, Ken came zipping faster than a missile from above for a heavy drop kick. Despite the size and mass difference, the force made Koro skid through the ground as he tanked the blow with his left shoulder. There was a crack echoing loud enough to make the kids gasp from shock, whether it was from Koro's shoulder or Ken's legs, everyone else wasn't sure.

Both of them grunted in pain yet resumed. Ken did a roundhouse kick while still in the same position though Koro avoided by rotating away in the same direction before seizing his leg and flinging him. The little boy recovered and leaned to his left from a downward punch before jabbing to his enemy's head. Koro leaned back, swinging his large left arm before kicking with his right leg.

The kick got to Ken's face hard, he ducked from another kick before before pivoting his body around to land a fist to Koro's kidney. Ken weaved back from left and right punches, then two swift right kicks. Ken batted away an incoming thrust before waving his arm down to deflect a ram to the top of his head, turning his body around elbowing into his sternum. Koro kept up with the barrage as he tried to find an opening on a Konoha brat of all people!

"You brat! Don't get carried away!"

His huge fist was about to cave his face in before Ken responded with his own.


"Why did you just take it and didn't say anything!?" A teen Oga yelled, frustrated by his father's lack of initiative, "You could've just kicked their asses for making fun of you! Why did you stay silent!?"

"It's not worth getting involved in those kinds of bastard Oga. Trust me, they're not gonna stop even if I beat them down."

"But they still talked shit to you! It's not fair! You don't deserve that!" The son sulked as Koro sighed from the teen's hot bloodedness, must've got it from him, "I'm going to the frontlines to Kusa tomorrow."

"Oga, we already talked- What? TOMORROW!?" Koro's yell nearly blew away the contents on the table away, "You dumbass! I specifically told you that you can't go there! You just became chunin recently, you're not ready!"

"Too late, it's already been approved by the captain and you can't rescind my submission since now I'm not a gennin anymore."

"You stubborn little... What on earth is going in that head of yours!? Do you want to be killed off that badly!?"

"Oyaji, think about it. If we succeed, I can get a special promotion and nobody will mess with us anymore, they won't call you a 'screw up' or 'big oaf'-"

"Goddammit Oga, just because I messed up that mission with the daimyo once and got demoted, that doesn't mean you're involved in my shit or you have to fix up my mess! You can just live how you want!"

"This is what I want! You never stand up for yourself and let them talk you down as if one mistake means that your whole life is a mess! I had to hear them hounding over me too everyday because of you-" Oga clamped up, realizing his mistake. Koro had an indescribable expression, feeling that his own son couldn't live a decent life because of him, "Oyaji, I didn't mean..."

"... Fine." Koro got up from his chair, going out to buy groceries, "I'm assigned to a different location and at a different time so don't expect me to come save you if you cry for help. You're on your own if you mess up on the battlefield."

That was the last conversation Koro ever had with his son, and it was what he regretted the most in his life.


"Mama, I want to have ice cream!"

"No, you know you can't have deserts before dinner, it's not good for you."

"Mu... Papa, pleeeeaaase."

The little boy pleaded to his father innocently with his big doe eyes. At first he was going to deny his son like the mother until that most adorable sight struck his very core, shaking his resolve. He smiled wryly to his wife, "Maybe a small cone is fine."

"Yay!" The little boy opened his arms up while grinning toothily, "Papa, carry me."

"Yes yes."

"Mou anata, you keep spoiling him rotten. It won't be long until he enters the Academy you know, he's too old for this."

"Ah, I'm sure it will be fine." Despite his son already appearing a little older than a toddler, he happily got his piggy back ride while wrapping around his dad. "Children grow up so fast, I won't get to spoil him anymore before I know it. Come on, let's go before your favorite ice cream gets sold out."

As the family walked away from the playground, Ken watched the entire interaction with loneliness. Before his mother could notice anything, he put back on his normal face and went to her, grabbing her hand and walking back home, "Kaa-chan, can you carry me?"

"What's this Ken? Are you tired?"

"Just a little."

"Can you still walk? Sorry, kaa-chan isn't as strong as when she was a shinobi, you've gotten much heavier than when you were a baby."

"...Okay."


"Again!?"

Momentarily distracted, the clash from their collided fists won in Koro's favor as Ken was thrown off his feet and falling onto the ground facedown. Ken finally figured out that what he saw were Koro's memories in the past as more kept coming, the memories and emotions carried in his heart during the fight were transmitted to him, 'It can't be! Ninshū!?'

However, what Ken doesn't know is that ninshū was only the side effect for what's bigger to awaken inside of him.

"Doton: Ganchūsō (Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears)"

A sharp spear made of hard rock rose from the ground, impaling him into his gut before Ken could dodge. Naruko and the others could only watch in horror as Ken spat out blood right in front of their eyes, every moment of it deeply imprinted into their minds.

"KEN!" Naruko ran forward to his side as the spear retracted into the ground. Panting in terror, the blonde drop to her knees and saw that her best friend was groaning in pain while holding the wound in attempt to stop the bleeding, "Ken! Ken! Are you okay!?"

Her only answer were pained yells and moans, blood kept flowing and reaching her knees. Her hands were dyed in a deep shade of red as the warm liquid soaked her in... so much... red...

Shikamaru and the others were too busy keeping watch of the other Iwa nin to do anything, and now stunned by what just happened. Although they did collect the kunais and shurikens littered on the floor, supporting Ken was out of the question as he was fighting too fast with his opponent for them to keep up. They would've accidentally hit him instead. And not to mention that they've already expended most of their chakra in their earlier fight... That, and they're also too scared after what happened earlier.

"K-Ken-kun!" Surprisingly to the rest of them, Hinata ran to him next. The others followed suit, trying to do what they can about the wound.

Koro panted as sweat dripped all over his body, taking a few seconds to catch his breath. He was tired from soreness and using so much chakra, the brat gave him much more trouble than he initially thought, especially when he started seeing weird things. However, he was puzzled about his last jutsu. He came at him with the intention to kill and was certain that it could stab through his tiny body.

No matter, the Iwa nin can still finish the job now. Koro dashed to right in front of the children who surrounded their fallen comrade, scaring the shit out of them. With a kunai in hand, Satsuki got in front with a sharingan-enhanced glare, "Stay back, or I'll-"

Another fresh wave of killing intent pressured her into submission. The kunai slipped out of her hands as the Uchiha lost her strength. Satsuki was lifted up by the hair and tossed away like a rag doll, everyone else was punched or kicked away. They sustained heavy injuries, be it bleeding or fractured bones. Koro especially put extra attention to grip Naruko's head and slam her into the ground, making a small crater.

Just as the Iwa nin was about to make hand signs to kill Ken once and for all, Naruko was already back on her feet and clenching his wrist. Hard.

"What the- How are you-"

A sudden chill went down his spine as a pair of red slitted eyes unnervingly stared dead back into his. Short fangs and claws beginning to grow as her whiskers darkened, "Leave him alone!"

At first Koro was scared, and then he smiled. He wanted to make the Kyuubi emerge anyway, he can make this work, "So you decided to come out, does seeing your friend hurt make you angry? What would happen if I do... THIS!?"

A foot crashed onto Ken's wound on his gut, inflicting great pain and making him cry out a bloodcurdling scream. Naruko's breathing was becoming heavier, and more animalistic. Koro's smile widened until he felt Ken weakly grabbing his foot.

Allowing tailed beast chakra to wrap around a genin who has trained for months was one thing, though allowing it on a seven-year-old little girl without anyone else here who can stop her is another, "Don't get angry Naruko! Or else your life-"

"Enough of you-"

"Koro no!" The elder brother grabbed his step sibling away from the two, "It's too dangerous to set that thing free. Listen, I know you want to get back at the Yellow Flash, but we can always do it next time-"

*slam*

The lanky Iwa nin was punched to the other side of the cave, coughing saliva from the direct thump to the solar plexus, "K-Koro?"

"Next time!? NEXT TIME!? You've always been like this! Always a coward, always hiding away in safety when your shitty old man kept abusing me and my mother! You have no idea how long I've waited for this!?"

He flinched, knowing that what his step brother said was the truth, "Tha-that was in the past, but right now-"

"Right now you're afraid of the Kyuubi coming out and just trying to save your own hide! Do you know how close I am to my goal!?"

Due to Koro shifting his rage to another target, the effects of the killing intent have weakened, permitting Shikamaru and the others to somewhat regain their senses, blurred yet enough to get a hold of reality. The small children want to cry about their pain and agony, they genuinely do. They've already tried their best, exhausted themselves, and got severely hurt. And right now most of them bundled up together, crying about wanting to go home. Even Satsuki almost joined in.

"Ken-kun... Ken-kun, please don't die. Please, wake up." Naruko stayed by her friend's side, crying with her Kyuubi features still out.

Only one child in the cave right now wasn't crying, though the pain and fatigue made it tempting. He was so tired from using so much chakra, his heart beat so loud that he can hear it in his ears. Pain radiated from the throbbing type in his skull to the sharp type in his gut. Eyes were half lidded as he struggled to maintain consciousness while his breathing were deep and erratic.

'Fuck... It hurts... Why did I come here again...? Did I feel responsible because the timeline changed...? Or was it because I am the oldest one here...? Why... was I conceited enough... to think that this seven-year-old body... could change anything...?'

"Ken-kun! Ken-kun!"

His dull near-lifeless eyes were drawn to the sad Naruko, then to the other despairing children as memories of his families returned to his mind once more. Ken tried to find whatever strength he could to get up, 'At the very least... I need to... get them to... safety...'

Unknowing to any of them, small wisps of darkness appeared around Ken, more so around the wound on his stomach.

"Enough! I don't need you anymore! I'll get that monster out myself! Doton: Doryūdan (Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet)"

The dragon head returned, shooting mud bullets through his own comrade and colliding against the wall of the cave. The elder brother cried out in agony, holding onto his wounds as he curled into a ball. The moment Ken saw what happened, something snapped inside of him, 'What...?'

"Making a fuss over small injuries like this? You really are a coward." Koro berated without hesitation, every tone laced with anger withheld for so long, "A shinobi like you should've stayed back at the village where you should be."

"Ko-Koro please..."

"Good riddance aniki."

The Iwa nin did the hand signs once more, conjuring another barrage of bullets. The elder brother could do nothing but squeak, keeping his head down with his hands up to protect himself to brace-

"HRRRRAAAAAAAA!"

Ken flashed to right front of the elder brother, deflecting or swatting away the bullets away with his hands and feet. As the final mud bullet reached him, Ken caught it with his bare hand and crushed it decisively.

This attracted all who were present, eliciting responses with only two emotions in their hearts: shock and confusion. Koro stared at the seven-year-old's state, his skin was bruised with injuries and pale from blood loss, the hole in his stomach was still bleeding as the color red didn't stop to spread down to his pants, and now his hands and feet were also battered black and blue from taking the hits for his cowardly step brother.

Yet, the fire in his eyes burned even brighter than when Koro first saw him, "What do you think you're doing?"

"That's my line you fucker." Language aside, his voice was rasp. It was obvious that he was at his limit, "Blood related or not, he may have left you to fend for yourself, though he came back to help you when you're at your lowest. IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT YOUR FAMILY!?"

"Don't lecture me about family! You don't know what I've been through!"

"Cut the bullshit! I've seen your memories and I know you've seen mine! The abuse from your step father, what you've been through to protect your loved ones, the pain you've suffered after losing them! But that doesn't mean you can throw what you have left, Oga wouldn't want you to do that either and you know it!"

Outraged, Koro's expression contorted into pure fury, "DON'T TALK LIKE YOU KNOW HIM!"

Both of their feet launched of the ground, creating mini tremors as Ken's kick clashed into Koro's forearm. The former went for a left hook though deflected whereas the latter aimed the shoulder with a straight punch which was blocked. Those two traded blow for blow more intense than before, damaging the pillars and surrounding area.

"Ken-kun!"

"No you dope, you'll only get in his way!"

Satsuki held Naruko back, the latter's features returning to normal upon seeing her friend exploding in anger. They as well as the other Iwa nin were getting worried now that rocks were starting to rain from the ceiling. Their fight was causing too much destructing in this enclosed area.

Closing in, Ken landed a punch into his opponent's gut before roundhouse kicking Koro's right side. The Iwa nin stopped an elbow to his face and retaliated with a right hook. Ken countered with a straight left kick, sole knocking back the fist before he chained a reverse spin kick move to whack the side of his head. Thrown backwards, Koro grunted in pain before hurtling more mud bullets at him.

"I've already seen the move before you one trick pony!"

The Iwa nin couldn't believe what he witnessed, every projectile was perfectly dodged or parried away as the little boy bolted towards him screaming, it didn't even slow him down. He was actually getting faster! How is that possible!?

"Tch! Don't get ahead of yourself, arrogant brats like you always die first on the battlefield! Do you want to get the Yellow Flash's favor that badly!?"

"No!" Ken axe kicked yet missed, ducking Koro's kick before blocking another.

"So you have a crush on his brat!?"

"No!" Leaning left from a punch, Ken low sweep his feet, disrupting Koro's balance before knee kicking into his chin.

"That's right, you just want to preach your justice! You want me to admit that I'm wrong!"

"Guess again!" Both of them landed away from each other, catching their breaths while sending death glares to each other.

"You want to save your friends!"

"Good one. But at this point, I'm don't think that's why I'm even fighting anymore!"

Koro was livid, he was getting his ass handed by a child and now he can't even tell what's on his mind, "Then what's your reason!? What's gotten you in the mood for a fight to the death!?"

"Isn't it obvious!?" Ken spat blood accumulated in his mouth, getting his breathing more controlled and regular, "What is there to think about in a death battle other than victory! A fucker like you who cared about his family so much has forgotten that you still have one, you're still the same stubborn old man Oga tried to get you to listen but couldn't."

"Nothing else matters to me anymore."

Ken walked slowly, wisps reappearing.

"I'm gonna beat the senses into you even if I die trying!"

More and more wisps blinked in and out on his fists.

"I! Want...!" Masses of darkness were forming, "To! WIN!"

"Don't screw with me! Doton: Kengan no Jutsu (Earth Release: Fist Rock Jutsu)"

Rubble were attracted to Koro's right fist, forming a giant dense earth gauntlet as big as his own torso. The Iwa nin primed to smash a hole right through Ken until something completely incomprehensible happened to him. His rock fist was broken through, chipped into useless little pieces as a small ball of darkness was inching too close to his head.

Choji mouth was opened nearly as wide as when he's eating barbeque, "What is that?"

"Beats me. Naruko, did you know about this?"

"No, he never told me about this before dattebayo."

"Whatever it is, I can only see black around his arms. Normally I can see better but now it's blocking my vision."

Evading in time, what Koro saw astonished him. Pitch black chakra with tints of violet around the edges were around his fists, augmenting his punches somehow. Koro doesn't understand, how is he still fighting like that with a fatal wound on his gut. The answer became clear when his gaze drew to the wound, '! He closed his wound with a layer of that same black chakra! What is that!? Some kind of kekkei genkai!?'

Ken turned around to aim at Koro, trying to maintain his new powers as stable and long as possible. He flipped, landing down fast with a fist reeled back only to hit air. Koro jumped back until the little boy was hot on his trail, ready to elbow his side. The former defended with an open palm though got pushed back with a surprise incoming kick. Ken had a clear shot to his gut.

As the boy closed the distance, Koro revealed a hidden kunai he picked up during their fight. As the latter was going to stab him, Ken's darkness practically ate the metal weapon like it was nothing, heavily injuring Koro's hand in the process. Holding back a yelp of pain, Koro took the attack leaned back from another punch, swatted away another by the wrist, kicked Ken's side before jumping back.

Koro checked out the wound, his skin was almost gone and revealed muscles underneath. Strangely, only now the blood was starting to flow out and going by the way how that darkness disintegrated that kunai earlier, the Iwa nin speculates that black chakra can destroy anything it makes contract, be it chakra or non-chakra.

As powerful as his new ability is, it's draining away a lot of charka. The darkness around Ken's fists and stomach are diminishing. And not to mention his stamina.

'No more taking any chances. I have to end this now!' Even with a mutilated hand, Koro began weaving his hand signs faster than Ken could stop him, "Doton: Ganban Kyū (Earth Release: Bedrock Coffin)"

The ground beneath Ken rose, disrupting his balance somewhat just long enough for two gigantic sections to encase and crush him. Nonetheless, Koro wasn't done yet.

"Doton: Dosekidake (Earth Release: Earth and Stone Bamboo Shoot)"

Soil hardened, forming multiple large spikes in separate directions, all speeding towards the dome to skewer Ken. Before that could happen, a wave of darkness propelled out omnidirectionally, destroying the dome as Ken hoped onto one of the spears and ran along it. Annoyed, Koro formed more spears from anywhere he could get, fully focused on killing the little annoyance once and for all.

One came to cleave Ken in half vertically until his fist crumbled it, his hand touching it as he raced along. He had to jump to another and ran upside down as more came from the ground, punching the spears right at the tip to nothingness. As the rubble fell, he noticed that they were dangerously close to the clan hairs and heiress, forcing Ken to move away as far as possible.

Ken landed down, jumping away from an incoming spike before ducking as another came from behind. He breathed, getting his chakra control in check and sensing where the cascade of rock spears are coming from. Backflipping from another spear, Ken did a downward haymaker and slammed his fist to the ground, spreading his darkness to the arena. He was disappointed that it didn't travel as far as he hoped though it was good enough.

Koro's chakra manipulating the ground below them was gone, now it's only the other walls and ceiling. As the remaining spears came to pincer Ken in one spot, he condensed whatever chakra he has left in his right fist, storming towards the Iwa nin while smashing the spears at the same time. As the fist pushed against rock, splinters of stone flew everywhere as a grinding sound screeched across the entire cave.

Just as Ken was about to reach his target, Koro smirked when one last spear emerged behind the latter and was heading straight to the former's head-

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu)"

A ball of flames rammed into Koro, burning him and ruining his concentration, causing the last spear to halt midway. Satsuki smirked as she finally got her payback, sharingan deactivated from exhaustion.

Panicking, Koro saw that Ken was already in front of him, "Doton-"

"Too late! Meiton! (Dark Release)"

He put everything he got into one last punch, striking into Koro's gut. The Iwa nin screamed in excruciating pain as the darkness went through his body, from his stomach to his back, then to the wall of the cave behind Koro. The wave of energy phased through effortlessly, spreading wider as it travels, disintegrating a large chunk of the wall while rocking the whole cave. A loud echo resounded, Ken yelled his heart out. His anger, his sadness, his desire to win. Everything! To achieve victory!

"Burakku Uingu! (Black Wing)"

The collision and rumble was ferocious enough to force everyone to cover their ears and close their eyes for what's to come. Eventually, it passed, that was until rocks were really raining down hard, the cave is collapsing!

Ken wheezed, staggering backwards while dismissing the newly named meiton around his fists to conserve whatever chakra he has left, but the one around his stomach was still present to keep the wound closed.

"Koro!" Genuinely worried, the elder brother reached out to his fallen little brother, inspecting his wounds before sighing in relief, "It's okay, it's not at a vital spot."

"I held back at the last second. However, he still needs medical attention or else he really will die." Ken commented out, "I'm surprised that you still care about him."

"I... I didn't want to make the same mistake again."

"Why...?" Koro hacked out blood, prompting his step brother to quickly tear his own clothes and wrap around the wound, "Why are you helping me...?"

"Isn't it obvious by now baldy? Oga tried to do the same thing, he wanted position and reputation for your sake. So nobody would bother you anymore, everything he did, he did to repay you with love. Just like what your brother is doing now."

An especially huge rock crashed next to me kicking up a dust cloud. Koro couldn't take it anymore, quivering and hicuping from all the pent up emotions, "Dammit... Dammit... I... *sob* I miss them so much..."

Staring at the younger brother in sadness, the elder brother called out to me, "Brat, why didn't you kill Koro? You could've easily done it."

"My desire is to win, not to kill."

"That's a weakness that will eventually get you killed. A shinobi should never show kindness to an enemy."

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. I'm not a shinobi, I'm not even studying in the Shinobi Division. You guys caught me as a civilian when I was trying to save Naruko."

Now that put an incredulous visage on the elder brother, staring at me with an awkward and almost comical face, "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Still, you'll regret this someday. Everyone will notice your strength sooner or later and target you. And it won't be just you, those close to you will also be targeted."

"Then I'll just have to get strong enough to protect everyone. I'm not delusional enough to think that I can guarantee my happy ending. However, this is the path I've chosen, and I'll see it to the very end. Because to me, questioning what I've been believing my entire life and throwing it all away the moment it becomes a burden, is a weakness."

...

The elder brother was silent until he weaved hand signs, Ken entered battle stance until the sound of earth moving behind him reached his ears. Turning around, Ken saw that he opened up the layers of rock and made an exit.

"Go, this whole operation was a failure the moment we got that messenger bird, I need to go treat Koro's wounds." He slinged his little brother's arm around his shoulder and made another exit in a different direction, "Takamiya Ken... I'm sorry."

As the Iwa shinobi left, the rocks were raining harder and harder. The whole cave is really coming down and Shikamaru called out, "Ken, let's go! We got our exit!"

Regardless, he didn't move from that spot. Ino was getting mad from the hold up, "Ken, what are you waiting for!? An applause!? We need to-"

Ken fell to his knees, landing face first to the ground. They shrieked in panic, darting over to find him collapsed and almost unconscious, the black chakra around his stomach was also gone and he's bleeding again. Once the tension and enemies were gone, the moment of relief washed over him and fatigue overcame his being.

"What a drag! He's got chakra exhaustion! Everyone, help me carry him up! Hurry!" Shikamaru ordered while trying to staunch the wound.

They ran as fast as their short tired legs could carry them, avoiding the plummeting rocks in the process. Huffing and puffing, they got out as the cave collapsed, making them cough from the dust cloud.

The sun was barely up as the faintest of rays shined over Konoha. Nevertheless, they still can't stop Ken's bleeding!

His body is getting colder and paler, pulse and heart are weakening. Kiba was hyperventilating from seeing a friend dying in front of him, "No man, it can't end like this. Someone! Please! Is anyone here!?"

"Ken-kun!" Naruko and the rest were shedding tears, "Please, we all got out. You can't die."

"And I won't let him die."

They turned around to find a Konoha shinobi, the first that attracted their attention was the pair of fully matured sharingan eyes. They were relieved, yet none more so then Satsuki, "Nii-san!"

Ken's pupils drifted at the newcomer, he was finally able to rest in peace, 'What took you so long...'


AN: I'll admit, I had more fun writing this than I thought and got carried away with the chapter length. That's all for the fights, the next chapter or two will wrap up some stuff before I go writing into canon.

Ja Ne