Sleepless Demon: Sorry for little updates. I have had a lack of writer's block as of late.
Gato's headquarters has become increasingly quietening down after the prison break. What goons remaining outside are watching the base in both shock and confusion as they try to find different ways to get into the base. Fortunately for Naruto's group, their attempts have been unsuccessful thus far.
What little of Gato's men within the base are fending for themselves in a small selection of rooms they managed to barricade themselves into. Casualties are high on both sides, but Gato's men's moral has broken and are only in it for survival. The escaped prisoners have managed to arm themselves with makeshift weaponry, confiscated items taken from them over the months and the weaponry from fallen guards.
The floors get quieter as a certain group races upstairs. Ash, the heir to the Land of Waves leads a small contingent, wielding his sword that he keeps tightly in his right hand. It drips with fresh blood whilst a small axe is held more loosely in his left. "How many more floors?" he calls down.
Takumi's voice replies with a small chuckle, "We're about to reach Gato's office floor at the end of these stairs. There's about three more floors requiring a separate stairway to get to them."
"What are those floors for?" Ash asks, focusing ahead as he hurries up the stairs.
"Private quarters mostly, I think. Never saw the top floors." Takumi responds, keeping his hand on his sheathed katana on his back.
"There's a lab on top." Kenta informs the two, following Takumi's rear. "I saw it twice. They were dealing with something electrical, but I was to focus more on on something surgical on...a creature." Kenta responds, leaving it at that.
Ash notices this, but keeps quiet as he knows they'll be clearing the last few floors of any threats. Following behind him is Kenta, being spotless as he trails Takumi. Three prisoners follow as quickly as they could, wearing ragged clothing and some weaponry. One of the prisoners is wounded on their arm, blood still trickling from his wound. Naruto follows them, being shadowed by the Cat ANBU that's keeping a keen eye on Naruto. A few moments of their passing, a masked man in heavy bandages and wielding a large, broken sword tries to catch up to them. Behind him, a hooded and cloaked figure covered in chains and locks shining from the shadows of his cloak. One of their chains, being longer and thicker than the others drags from their right arm with a grip on the higher end, almost like a loose whip. Trailing behind them is a third Mist ninja, wearing standard Mist shinobi gear and a breathing mask, keeping a keen eye on the chained figure. Soon after, four very skinny and sickly looking prisoners wearing worse clothing than the former prison group, all armed with makeshift weapons. Next, another prisoner, but armed with a crossbow with three bolts loaded, keeping a quiver hanging loosely on his shoulder, looking somewhat nervous. Finally, taking up the read is Merle, breathing heavily as he climbs the stairs whilst bandaging up his stump and keeping a katana being held by his teeth as he couldn't get the sheathe.
"So many damn chinks..." Merle grumbles between his teeth awkwardly as he breaths hard before finishing his poorly bandaged stump and taking the katana from his mouth. He spits to the side, hitting the wall and wishing he kicked the guy he took the sword from for not washing his hands often enough.
Ash sees the door to Gato's office, though barely as it seems ominously darker than the floors below. Ash swallows, holding up his hand to alert the others. The others reach him and wait, taking a few breathers as they wait patiently, if somewhat anxious. Ash looks, listening carefully and his eyes narrow, eyes adjusting to the darker steps and noticing a substance oozing from the top steps. Blood.
"Someone's been killed behind that door." Ash remarks, figuring that amount of blood seeping through the door was likely the cause, or multiple bodies to the amount they're seeing.
"Thought it smelt a bit funky. Think that dog thing your group had ran up here?" Takumi questions, smirking a little.
"Mayhaps...why do you think so?" Ash responds, glancing at Takumi.
Takumi points at the steps just in front of them. They look down, seeing claw marks and a bit of shattered wood advancing up the steps.
"Certainly looks like Black-Tooth...though it's way too quiet." Ash responds, knowing Black-Tooth would certainly be making noises or at least a few of Gato's men. Perhaps Black-Tooth reached the higher levels, Ash pondered.
Naruto and the Cat ANBU reach them. Naruto sniffs the air, nodding and coughing a little. "Yeah...Black-Tooth was here." Naruto responds, knowing that smell of wet dog easily. His eyes widen when he notices the blood congealing on the upper steps.
Takumi pushes forward, silently going up the steps and reaching the door, ignoring the sticky substance from the blood beneath his feet. Moments pass as he listens to the door and turns back, coughing a little. "Dead quiet. Think that dog killed them all?"
Ash shrugs, slowly climbing the stairs. "Not sure...Black-Tooth certainly seemed capable and charged off ahead. To be this quiet though...not sure if he'd be able to kill everyone up there or there were so few."
"Probably...an ambush..." Merle says, taking deep breaths as he leans on the banister. "Doubt doggo...would be...quiet."
"I'll check." The Cat ANBU responds, sinking slowly into the wooden wall and vanishes.
Ash keeps close to the door as a couple of other prisoners manoeuvre forward.
The ones nearer the front are the masked man, holding his large blade at the ready and the prisoner armed with his three-bolt crossbow, aiming at the door. They all wait, feeling each second passing like it was an hour.
After a few more seconds, noise could be heard from the other side of the door, making everyone jolt in surprise. The noise sounds like something being pulled and dragged away from the door before the handle itself jiggled. It slowly opens and the Cat ANBU returns, making everyone relax a little.
"Well?" Ask questions, trying to read the ANBU's face through his mask.
"No ambush that I can tell. Many of Gato's men were slaughtered." The Cat ANBU warns before opening the door for the others to enter.
Ash feels both confusion and concern upon hearing that. He steps forward cautiously as he ignores the sticky sensation from the carpeted flooring. He looks to his left, seeing what he can only assume was the body by the door. It's only illuminated by the flickering light from above. A cold chill goes down his spine when he realises the man's head was missing. He quickly scans the corridor, counting three more bodies spread across the nearby vicinity. The blood that soaks the carpet came from them as obvious from their organs being spilled on the floor. Ash swallows the bile reaching the back of his throat and his keen eyes sees signs of chewing. What creeps him out of this situation isn't the gore, but their faces, frozen in expressions of horror and pain.
The others begin to enter the corridor. The crossbowman looks horrified as his hands shake from the shock. The masked man doesn't seem to react at all, if anything, seems to ignore the bodies and continues down the hallway. Ash follows, holding the blade at the ready as he waves the others to follow with his axe.
Others soon follow, each with different reactions of seeing the massacrer. Most of the prisoners appear horrified, one even attempting to throw up, but his stomach had nothing to give. Two of the prisoners seeing the sight quickly cursed aloud, turned and fled back down the stairs. The Mist ninja, ANBU and the chained man walk, by, not reacting to the sight at all. Naruto looks in shock at the gore, swallowing deeply as he ties not to gag. He follows the group and soon hears a piercing sound behind him. Naruto looks over and sees Merle pulling his katana out of a body's head and goes to pierce the other.
"What are you doing?" Naruto questions in shock.
Merle looks at Naruto, keeping eye contact for a few seconds before stabbing the next body through the head. "Making sure." Merle replies before pulling the blade out and goes for the last one.
Naruto looks disgusted, quickly turning before seeing Merle stab the head of the third one. Naruto quickly hurries to reach the pack. Naruto wonders what happened here as they pass a few broken doorways shrouded in darkness.
They reach the end of the corridor, reaching a T junction with 2 large hallways nearly leading the length of the base. The party scans both sides for signs of activity, but find mostly darkness with some illumination from what light fixings were still operational, if not flickering. The walls, floor and makeshift barricades destroyed, showing claw marks, blood splatters and something heavy slammed into them. There are bodies on both sides, most looking like they were hit by paper bombs and what few seem to show expressions of wishing they had.
They can see a few door line hallway on both sides, perhaps more if the blockades didn't block line of sight. Two or three of the doors are open, having been left ajar by those that fled or splintered from a destructive force that walked through this area.
Takumi walks to the right path, stepping over a body as Kenta follows after. Ash sighs and motions for the masked man with the sword to take the other path before following Takumi. Naruto follows Ash and the Cat ANBU follows Naruto. The third Mist ninja glances back at the chained man before following Takumi's group along with a prisoner, the crossbowman and Merle taking the rear.
The masked, bandaged man takes the left route, taking the chained man and the four remaining prisoners, taking the brighter path of the two as they check rooms as they pass.
Ash's group step over broken furniture and bodies, crying to remain calm and focused on any potential dangers. "Lot of bodies here..." Merle remarks, following the rear and stabs a corpse's head.
Takumi looks around, somewhat interested with what slaughtered these people. "Gato's office is this way." Kenta informs the group, pushing on ahead with Takumi and the third Mist shinobi following after.
"What happened here? I don't even think Black-Tooth would be able to do all of this." Ash ponders, glancing into one room and feels bile in the back of his throat as he sees what can only be considered pâté at that point.
"Reminds me of my childhood school." Takumi remarks, smirking as he thinks back.
The Cat ANBU bends down, glancing at some of the wounds, "The place looks like it was torn through by a tiger."
Ash feels a shiver down his spine, looking into the darkness, swallowing. "Anyone feeling that?"
Takumi stops, sniffing the air and smiling. "Bloodlust." Takumi responds.
A loud crash comes, making everyone jolt and point weapons at the source. One of the prisoners had accidentally kicked a partially destroyed chair which was holding the weight of a partially demolished barricade. The prisoner shivers, coughing a little as he tries to steady his heart.
"Fucking retard." Merle remarks, pushing pass the prisoner who looks more apologetic now.
Naruto stays for a moment behind the prisoner. Something isn't right. Naruto can feel something and it's stirring something inside him which makes Naruto instinctively grasp his stomach. The Cat ANBU is as still as the shadows, his eyes focused on Naruto. The young Jinchuriki notices this, jolting a little before pushing forward, following the others.
Kenta moves ahead, stopping when something catches his attention. He looks to his right, staring at a partially opened door, reaching out with his index and middle finger out, pushing the door quietly. Laying on the floor, a corpse lays there, veins blackened and a small splatter of blood on its left shoulder. He realises what caught his attention, the rancid smell of vomit which was spewed from his mouth, having a mixture of blood with the body fluid. He stares at it a few moments as the other Mist ninja passes him along with Ash before he continued onwards.
They reach the farthest doors, double doors which hangs on their hinges. Gato's office. It was obvious as they cautiously enter, looking around and seeing excessive damage on the furniture with scratch and puncture marks on the walls and floor with pools of blood sprayed everywhere. Ash glances up, seeing the high ceiling is damaged from something scratching it and what he can only assume is a body smashed into it.
"Looks like a monster was let loose up here..." Takumi says, looking around and glances back outside. "And no markings of the big thing leading into this place. Ground zero." Takumi chuckles, walking towards the wall and brushes his fingers against it. He feels the roughness of the claw marks, feeling the splattering of blood and the paintings. "Think that dog came in here and puberty hit?"
Ash looks around, seeing bits of flesh and small pieces of organs. No bodies remain which worries him as he circles the room. His eyes glances towards the desk, seeing it partially pushed up to the back, near the cracked windows, he spots a figure, slouched against the wall, unmoving. "Damn it." Ash curses under his breath, quickly walking over and soon identifies his belief. "Black-Tooth..." he mutters, seeing the blood soaked beast.
Kenta passes Ash, crouching down and examines the body. "Several punctures and slashes. Likely from bladed and piercing weapons. Multiple sources are obvious. Painful, but quick."
"What are we here for?" Naruto asks through gritted teeth, noticing the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
Takumi responds by tearing a painting from the wall, having the sound of wood being sheered off as the painting was held up by hinges. Takumi reaches for his katana and begins to focus. The others in the room look at Takumi and begin to back away.
"Funding." The unnamed Mist ninja informs Naruto through his filter system.
Naruto grabs his stomach, his eyes focusing and looking around rapidly. He can feel it, something evil which is making his stomach churn. 'Why do I feel this?' he ponders, glancing into the hallway momentarily and the world seems to stop.
The darkness which was held just outside the doorway was slowly being replaced by red, bloated eyes and a nauseating, phosphorescent light coming from the core of this emaciated, horse sized bestial quadrupeds. Its mouth slightly open to reveal jagged fangs that filled their slavering maw. What fur it has was mottled and patchy with evidence of all its kills by the blood staining it. Naruto thought it would closely resemble a deformed dog, if not for the spikes that grew from its back as it creeps forward.
Everyone stops, feeling overwhelming dread filling the room that could choke hope. Bloodlust was a sense which one should not feel this sharply yet all could sense it coming from the hallway. Their eyes turned, finding the source and colour drained from a few faces.
"...Where did that zombie horse mongrel come from?" Takumi asks, slowly sheathing his katana as he begins to use his explosive slash.
'Mongrel?' A voice enters their minds, fear rising and eyes widening slightly as the creature enters the room, showing its full form. A scorpion like tail, covered with spikes in place of its tail swishes around, almost ready to strike people's hearts as it would fear. 'I will make your bodies rot as you live and feast of your remains.'
The Cat ANBU clenches his right fist, his left hand reaching over and grabs Naruto by the shoulder, pulling him behind him. Merle, pale and having never seen such a creature in his life slowly backs away, trying to keep out of direct line of sight. Kenta and Ash stand behind the desk with their weapons drawn, even though both knew it would be paper against the hellfire before them. The crossbowman shivers in fear, trying hard not to release body fluids. The other prisoner however lost function of his body as a puddle forms from his foot and his legs nearly giving way. The third Mist ninja glances towards the window, seeing it already cracked from an earlier slaughter.
The beast launches forward, sprinting towards them with a frenzied force. The Cat ANBU pulls Naruto with full force, throwing Naruto to the back corner to keep him as far as possible from the beast. He keeps his right hand pointed at the beast as wooden spears sprout and rapidly grow from his arm and launch towards it. Takumi remains still as the grip on his katana remains firm and focused. Kenta and the third Mist ninja throw a barrage of kunai and shuriken at the beast while the crossbowman releases his load from his crossbow, screaming in the process.
The projectiles collide against this monstrosity, some bouncing off whilst others barely piercing/slashing against its hide. Cat ANBU's wooden spears collide and entwine the beast and tightens. The beast roars in anger, struggling and making it crack already from its force. Takumi vanishes for a second, reappearing next to it, his blade flashing as it has half a dozen paper bombs attached to it before colliding with the creature. A flash comes as splinters and blood fly as Takumi stumbles back, coughing a little and chuckling.
Smoke fills the room, the others coughing from the large sum of it as the sound of something splatters on the floor. "Take that, bitch!" Takumi laughs, flicking his katana which causes black blood to stain the floor.
The smoke begins to disperse and blackish blood splashes on the floor. A low, deep growl comes from the beast. Takumi glances in surprise, catching movement and raises his katana in reaction as the creature's stinger whips the katana. Takumi curses loudly, his shoulder nearly dislocating as the stinger whips back and aims for Takumi.
Kenta smashes into Takumi, throwing him out of the way as the stinger stabs into Kenta's chest. Kenta coughs, blood spilling from his mouth before tearing away in a split second as a desk is thrown across the room, smashing into the beast.
The third Mist ninja stands where the desk was, breathing hard as he just launched the desk at the monster. They hold a kunai up, their eyes focused and chakra flowing into their feet.
Ash curses a little as the beast recovers itself and looks at the two. The wooden spears continue to tighten around it but it swipes its tail at at the wood, cracking it before its limbs broke free. It lunges towards Ash and the third Mist ninja.
Ash yells, diving across the room, narrowly avoiding the slash of the beast whilst the Mist ninja ducks, throwing kunai from a low swipe which collides with the beasts legs. The Cat ANBU was about to launch another barrage of wooden spear, but saw the stinger of the tail targeting him, forcing him to dodge.
Some smoke from the beast's wounds clear up, showing its side burnt, flesh torn so much that you can see its ribcage, illuminated more from the light in its core. It doesn't seem fazed by the damage, only a fury and bloodlust came from that attack it seems.
The Cat ANBU, recovering from the dodge and landing near Ash grabs his back, pulling hard and throwing him towards the wall near Naruto. The Cat ANBU takes a breath, aiming his left hand at the beast, spears growing once more from his arm and flying at it. The beast slashes at the attack, hitting hard at the protrusions to throw it off course, smashing into the windows. The Cat ANBU curses loudly, his shoulder nearly dislocating from the force alone and quickly detaching the wooden branch of spears.
Takumi is in a stance once more, coughing a little, glaring at the beast as he steps over Kenta. Kenta lays on the ground, his right hand gripping his bloody wound, blood seeping from his lip and watching as a substance leaks from his wound that isn't blood. He looks up at Takumi, trying to say something, but his body isn't working and he's struggling to breathe.
Takumi takes no notice, sheathing his katana whilst his other hand grasps the second katana handle which just sticks out of his collar. "Fuck you. Fuck you and your mongrel bitch face as I mount your head on my urinal!"
Merle, seeing the beast's attention on Takumi decides it's best to leave. He slinks his way to the exit and as soon as his foot reaches it, sprints. The crossbowman follows Merle's plan of action, fleeing and dropping his crossbow so he isn't weighed down. The third Mist ninja jumps to Kenta, his foot landing by Kenta's side and does a few hand signs. "Water Style; Water Prison Jutsu!" he says, causing creaking to come from the walls before pipes burst and water pours out, surrounding them in a sphere of water.
The Cat ANBU quickly does his own hand signs. Wooden pillars left and right quickly form a done-shaped barrier which forms half a sphere to block Naruto, Ash and himself. The Cat ANBU quickly lowers, slamming his palms against the floor and opens a hole. The ANBU looks up, quickly motioning the others to quickly go down into it.
Naruto looks confused, objecting to it as he looks to Takumi and suddenly notices the only other person in the room is the soiled prisoner. "Wait! We gotta-" Naruto complains before the Cat ANBU grabs Naruto by the front of his shirt and throws him down to the lower floor. Ash quickly followed, dropping down and accidentally smashing into a cabinet before hitting the floor. The Cat ANBU drops and performs a few hand signs once more before slamming his palms onto the ground, creating a dome to seal them inside.
Naruto stands up, seeing darkness from the sealed dome and curses loudly. "Damn it! There was a-"
The surroundings shakes as a deafening explosion happens. Naruto yells loudly, holding his ears as he screams, trying to defeat the loudness with his own.
Xxx
Gato's base was still, its windows darkening as what few of Gato's men continue to try and find a means of entry. Worry was filling their minds as the sound of combat was dying down in there and no one they knew was signalling them from what few windows showed signs of life.
The upper levels of large windows which held Gato's office explode. A blazing inferno erupting from it as the foundation itself shakes from the abrupt destruction. Many of the goons screamed in fear, looking up in horror as flaming debris flies down into the shacks and rudimentary buildings they built catching alight. Few saw a large, blazing shape smash into the brothel, crashing and setting the high concentration of alcohol ablaze.
What few sane enough people were rushing around, trying to put the flames out, their focus away from the base as others begin to flee, not wanting to face Gato's wrath when he sees his home destroyed.
It was then, they heard screams of fear, pain and cries to run away came as a creature they've never seen emerges from the brothel.
Xxx
The side of the building is inflamed, somewhat being put out with the burst water pipes and release of a Water Prison Jutsu. The third Mist ninja stands in the water, his joints shaking as he looks at his hands. Blistered, red and smoking from the heat of the explosion. A ringing sound coming as he feels his body shake from the ripples of the explosion through him. He reaches up, quickly removing his mask and vomits, trying his best to ignore the warm, dripping sensation from his ears and taste of blood in his mouth.
He looks to his left, seeing no sign of Takumi, but perhaps what remains of the prisoner. He coughs a little, trying to ignore the smoke as he looks towards the opening of the window/wall, seeing the burning ram-shack of a base. He curses his stupidity of sealing himself that close to Takumi and within a building as well.
His foot grazes something. He looks down, seeing Kenta, unmoving and black markings along his flesh. He'd have thought him dead if not for the green glow coming from Kenta's hand on his wound. Kenta's body is not functioning, but his chakra network still works, healing and trying to remove the toxin from his body with what little he can do with paralysis.
The Third Mist ninja shakes his head, walking weakly towards the exit and looks out. Smoke filling the hallway as the lighting gave up, yet what little the fires showed was Takumi, sprawled out on the rubble of failed barricades.
Takumi's clothing is heavily burnt, his exposed skin blistered and burnt from the explosion. His eyes remain closed, perhaps the explosion in a confined space knocked him out, or the debris he smashed into did the finishing blow. Shallow breaths could be seen from his chest.
The Mist ninja shakes his head, coughing more as he looks back into the office, seeing the safe still standing. Some luck, he guessed as he walks out of the room, heading towards Takumi.
A crashing sound came from ahead, deeper into the building. The Mist ninja looks up, having bearly heard it over the ringing in his ears, seeing something moving in the shadows. Cursing under his breath, pulling out a kunai and waits, wondering if it was the other group or something else. He curses a little, his vision blurry, his hearing deafened by the ringing, smoke filling his smell and balance off. He knew he was not in the best position if it was a threat. He grinds his teeth, holding a pair of kunai in his hands, staring as the crackling of flames sends embers ahead.
The rubble ahead explodes, shrapnel flying at the Mist ninja who squints in response, feeling a few splinters hitting his face. A hulking creature rushes forward, showing reddish skin and long, straight black horns rushing at him. Its speed is surprising and the Mist ninja knew his reactions at this time would not be able to match or dodge and curses. His wrists pull back and focusing chakra into the blades and throws them low.
He watches as the horns remain low and soon pierce straight through his abdomen. A wince of pain and blood escaping from his mouth as he feels the horn go through his back. He would've been thrown back, the creature continuing if it hadn't stopped abruptly and roars in both pain and rage. The Mist ninja grabs hold of the creature's neck, grinding his teeth as he now sees the beast more clearly.
It was certainly human in shape, its body a blackish red with green veins pulsating out from its body. Shackles wrap round its wrists with claw like fingers that could likely tear through stones. Its thick neck was all he could see of the beasts head which is pointed down and horn piercing through his intestines, feeling blood trickle from the second horn that grazed his side. Tufts of hair cling to this beast's neck which was thicker than its own legs. Its legs seem to be very lupine in nature, but the kunai he had thrown managed to meet their marks, pinning its shins and feet into the floor itself and a greenish blood spilling from the wounds.
The Mist ninja keeps clinging tightly on the beast's neck as he focuses on what remains of his chakra into his legs. "What will give? The body...or floor?" he says before flipping to themselves sideways. The grip and sudden twist took the beast by surprise, losing strength and has its legs snap in response. The Mist ninja lands, legs giving up as he falls to his knees. Blood escapes his lips as he sees the beast's body twisted and its left shin bone broke through the skin. Its screams of pain and fury was but music to his ears as he uses the remainder of his strength to pull a kunai out and stabs into the beast's neck, feeling it clash against its spinal cord. The beast silenced, falls limp and smashes into the floor and making the Mist ninja yelp in pain as its horn pushed down and tore a slightly larger hole.
Blood escapes from this larger wound and blood seeps from his mouth. He looks around, seeing the smouldering flickers of flames trying to ignite more, but failing. He glances back at Takumi, seeing him in the corner of his eye, still breathing. He can't help but chuckle a little, causing more blood to escape his mouth and spill down onto the back of the beast's head. 'Lucky bastard.' he says to himself as his eyes glaze over and his head then slumps.
Xxx
The wooden dome opens, allowing Naruto and Ash to quickly leave the dome which is slightly ablaze. The Cat ANBU walks out, taking a few breaths as he looks up at the nearly collapsed ceiling. "We have to leave." He says, grabbing Naruto's wrist and looks towards the window.
Naruto rips his arm away from the Cat ANBU, glaring at him. "There was still people up there! One of the prisoners! The others!" Naruto yells, quickly turning to leave to find the stairs and the Cat ANBU is in front of him once more. He pauses in surprise, remembering that ANBU are on a different level.
Ash steps forward. "Look, we have nearly cleared the flooring and...well...I'm unsure if that thing is dead." Ash tells Naruto, looking up at the smouldering remains of the ceiling.
"And I'll Rasengan it to oblivion to save anyone I can up there!" Naruto yells back, looking at the Cat ANBU. "They joined our side! They're out comrades! I have to save any I can!" Naruto yells, his muscles flexing and his hand going to his grabbed one. "Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto yells and the room explodes into smoke as multiple Naruto fly from the exit and a few jumping up, destroying part of the heavily damaged ceiling to get to the office.
The Cat ANBU curses, keeping a tight grip on Naruto as the others vanish. "You're just wasting chakra, Naruto. We have to-" he begins before the Naruto he's grabbing explodes and leaves the ANBU and Ash looking in shock. "Substitute with one of his clones? I..." The ANBU queries, somewhat impressed of the subtly Naruto gave that he didn't notice the swap with the split second of chaos.
Ash chuckles a little, cracking his neck, "He's got spunk." he comments, starting to leave through the door as he suspects Naruto went upstairs.
"...Quite..." the Cat ANBU simply replies as he sinks into the wooden ground.
Xxx
Naruto and several of his clones reached the upper floor, scanning quickly as they push to explore and find any survivors. Naruto jumps over smoking rubble and stops upon seeing the deceased body of the Mist ninja with some monstrosity laying in front of him, having impaled him. Naruto curses loudly, looking further ahead and spots the weakly breathing Takumi. Naruto ushers one of his clones to start healing him as half a dozen hurry into the burning room to look for survivors.
After a few moments, Naruto drags out Kenta and a heavily burnt prisoner that was too scared to flee. Naruto hurries over, checking on their vitals with their glowing hands. He sees Kenta is alive, though his body paralysed by the venom the creature injected with its stinger. Naruto curses when he realises the prisoner is dying, body broken and can sense several organ failures. Naruto glances at the three injured people, seeing his clones struggle and he knows they're feeling pain from the healing they're attempting.
Naruto thinks back, knowing the basic Medical Ninjutsu his foster mother taught him. It was a struggle to do so as he remembers her saying you need such precise chakra control. Each time he tried, he was able to give some healing process, though at a large chakra exchange and left his hands with a burning sensation and left him exhausted.
Naruto looks at the fallen, seeing the clones healing Takumi, another trying to remove the toxins in Kenta and the last clones trying to heal the heavily injured prisoner. Naruto stares at the prisoner, seeing his burnt body of the prisoner and broken body parts. Naruto knows he's dying and a few of his clones are trying to heal what he can to save them.
Naruto's nose begins to bleed and a ringing comes to his ear. Naruto steps forward, seeing his vision haze over, almost like it's glitching as the prisoner is swapped by another burnt body. One that looks familiar. Naruto raises his right hand, kneeling down and places his palm on the man's torso. He stays like that for a moment before a sudden surge flows through Naruto's palm. Naruto yells in pain, throwing himself back and holding onto his hand, feeling his palm burn for a few seconds before calming.
Naruto lays there, breathing heavily as the clones cease their function and seem to stare at Naruto. They seem unsure what had happened and the few that were tending to the heavily injured prisoner lays there, breathing weakly, but is no longer deteriorating. The clones stare at him, seeing a white, circular mark on the man's torso which remains in place.
Naruto remains laying on the floor, his right arm twitching as he wonders what he just did. Naruto feels notices a tear drip past his right eye and landing on the floor. He's crying? Naruto blinks, wondering if it's from pain or memories he doesn't know yet.
"Naruto!" Ash's voice calls out and hurried steps come towards him.
Naruto coughs, pushing himself off the floor and rubs his eyes with the back of his forearm. "Yeah? I'm okay! What's going on?" Naruto questions, looking around and sees his clones return to healing the injured.
"Are you real?" Ash questions, looking at the group and sees the three unconscious people and the two bodies nearby. "That's new...We didn't fight that thing, did we?"
Naruto looks over to the horned, chain covered beast that impaled the Mist ninja. "Nope...that one's new...how many monsters does Gato have in his attic?" Naruto ponders as he slowly stands up, holding onto his head as new memories come to him from fallen clones. "The base is nearly clear...and the assault on the entrances have...basically been quiet for a few minutes now."
"That's good at least." Ash comments, looking at the burning office and the large hole that overlooks the mercenary village. "Should we head for the top?"
Naruto nods, holding his right arm, "Yeah...I've sent some of my clones up there to check and clear out anyone up there." Naruto responds, looking at Ash before turning to the burnt prisoner. "They should be fine..."
Ash looks at the burnt man, questioning that believe but doesn't bring it up. "Right, let's head up."
Xxx
Five of Gato's men are pushing heavy furniture against the main entrance. They continue to yell at one another as they hold strong as they push against the cabinets, tables and other heavy objects. "Make sure that fucking thing can't get in!" One of them yells in fear.
"It's the size of a fucking horse! The fuck are we to go against it!?" Another of the goons yells back in annoyance.
Further into the room, heavy amounts of wiring cling to the ceiling and lab tables. A large container stands in the middle of this makeshift lab as it buzzes from the electric cables connected to it. "Get that thing working!" A man yells, holding a club with a several nails hammered through it. He stands by the container and looks aggressively at the other man wearing a jumpsuit, covered in grease stains.
The engineer checks the monitors with a stressful look as he grabs some cables with sparks coming from it. "I try! I try!" the engineer yells with a heavy accent.
"Hurry up or you're going to be my shoe! Burn those fuckers!" The club man yells in anger.
Sparks fly as the engineer attaches live wires to the container. The monitors go haywire as they try to take readings of the container. The engineer quickly rushes to the keyboard in front of the monitors, checking and correcting any errors it is displaying.
The club man begins to smirk, looking at the container and rubs his arm. "Those fuckers are going to die. Ain't that right, comrade?" he chuckles in a mocking manner. He looks towards the engineer and his smile drops.
In the shadows, a monkey mask is all that can be seen, floating in the corner of this dimly lit room. The club man yells, throwing his club at the apparition in an attempt to scare it away. A shuriken hits the club, causing it to spin off in a different direction. The club man glances at his club as it flies off and goes to look back at the monkey mask. Nothing stands there any more, yet fear continues to flow through his body, knowing it's not gone.
"What happened?" One of the door goons asks, looking towards the club man. "Shit! Shio! Behind you!" he calls out, seeing the Monkey ANBU standing behind the club man named Shio plunge a kunai into the back of the man's neck, severing the spine before turning to the others.
"Get him!" One of the goons yells, grabbing a chain and throwing it at the ANBU.
The ANBU remains in position, grabbing the chair in mid flight and spins, giving it momentum and launches it back at the tosser. The tosser yells as the chair hits with hard force, throwing him back against the barricade. The ANBU quickly does a flash of hand signs and breathes into his hand. "Fire Style: Flaring Bombardment!" The ANBU calls, having a sphere of flame in his palm before he throws the glob of flames at one of the charging men. The moment it collides, it explodes and several smaller flaming spheres fly out, hitting the walls, furniture and other goons who catch on fire.
The men scream in agony as they continue to burn, running for some sort of escape from the flames. One of the goons drops to the ground, rolling in an attempt to put the flames out. The initially targeted goon is totally ablaze, screaming in such horror and pain as he crumples to his knees and burns alive. The ANBU flicks his wrists, sending kunai out and hitting the men in vital areas to put them out of their misery.
The ANBU turns to look at the engineer who looks somewhat fearful, but gives a smile. "Greeting, comrade. Killing those men means you no friend to them, da? Have offer! Machine weak at moment. But can turn on and people within distance turn to dust. Dust good, da? Build defence and it targets life. Need chip to not get shocked, but easy change to target, da?"
The ANBU looks at the container and looks back at the engineer. "You saying you've got a machine that vaporises people that don't have a chip, but you can alter to target...whatever chipped people means?"
"Da, shown people can wield electricity in palm of hand. Using your world's power can increase machine's power. Though can only target exterior. Burn ublyudki to ground." the engineer responds, gaining a tilt of the head from the masked ANBU. The engineer pauses for a moment and then looks down at the dead club goon and points to him. "Ublyudki. Only few have chips. But can target metals. Do you have comrades in exterior?"
"Not as far as I'm aware...why should I trust you on this front? You could be Gato's man for all I know." Monkey replies, raising a kunai in a threatening manner.
"Gato is not good person to my comrades. Killed few and have not worked willingly. Happy to end his capitalistic ideas." the engineer responds, walking over to the keyboard and presses a few buttons. The container opens and shows a large, metallic suit with a red symbol engraved on it. A hammer and sickle overlapping one another. An arm with electrical coils generating a large surplus of electricity is going through the wiring that is connecting to the outer walls. "Do you have control of electricity like dark skinned man?" the engineer questions, gain a small nod in response. "Good, place arm into holster and channel power. I establish targets." the engineer responds, walking over to the keyboard and begins typing.
"Yeah...hold on." Monkey says and presses his neck. "Tenzo, Boa...are either of you on the outside or the Jinchuuriki?" he questions, looking at the machine before him.
"Negative." a voice responds over his ear.
"Jinchuuriki and clones have not left the compound. Why? What's the situation?" Tenzo's voice comes over the headset.
"Have potentially acquired means to eliminate all enemies within the town. Requesting permission to do so." Monkey requests as he continues to stare into the machine.
"What is this method?" Tenzo asks, a hint of sceptical is heard.
"Gato was preparing a machine to act as a defence against invaders. Found one of it's creators who is a hostage and is willing to target the enemy." Monkey replies, walking over to look at the screen the engineer is working on. He scans it and finds it somewhat difficult to know what is being typed and displayed. "It destroys the targets through electricity and the guy says he'll target their 'chips' and metals outside. I believe he is a prisoner. Heard some of the other prisoners around the place have that accent, killing Gato's men."
A few moments pause as Tenzo thinks it over, "Proceed, but place insurance."
"Already have." Monkey replies as he places a paper tag on the back of the man's head. The engineer looks back at Monkey and reaches for the back of his head. "I wouldn't do that. It'll explode if not removed properly and it'll explode after a certain amount of time. Understood? Only I can remove that and if you're lying to me, you will die."
The engineer looks a little confused and fearful, but nods. "Understood? Ready to activate Tesla Coil?"
"Yeah, ready." Monkey replies, walking over and points at the sleeve looking coil to which the engineer nods. Monkey reaches through and slips on the sleeve and feels the finger holes. "Okay...now what?"
"Use electricity to power through hand and it will do the rest." Engineer responds nervously, trying not to touch his own head.
Monkey does as told, flowing chakra to his hand and converting it into lightning and feels his hair stand on end as the container begins to light up. The cables around the room spark and light up as well as a cackling sound can be heard going through the whole base. Suddenly, a flash and all is white.
Xxx
Outside, men scream and hide as carnage ploughs through the very streets they've lived in for the last several months. They have given up fighting whatever that beast is and are currently pondering whether to burn the place down and hope it burns along with it or flee in general.
A trio of men are rushing down a street, jumping over a body which has been torn in half and continue to search for their way out. The air shifts and they all stop, looking confused as they look around, trying to figure out what just happened. A buzzing sound begins to emanate from somewhere and a sudden light begins to flash in the corner of their eyes. They turn, seeing Gato's base glow near the top. The aerial at the top with several wires connected to it begin to radiate with lightning coils as plasma can be seen reacting to the very tip. They feel their hair stand on end.
"The fuck is tha-" one of them begins to question as a bolt of lightning flashes from the aerial, hitting somewhere in the town and several more as it coils around the town rapidly. Screams of fear, horror and pain begins to emanate as buildings begin to explode from suddenly being hit by the lightning coil. The light begins to flash by, hitting one of the men's sword in its sheathe, causing him to scream in pain before he explodes from the connected coil, turning to dust as it dances across the street. It hits a building. The two remaining men see the cables connected to a radio turn red and the radio explodes. The coil of lightning continues towards the men and one of them is hit. He screams as for a brief moment, his skeleton can be seen before vaporising into nothing but dust and the lightning coil continues on its way, destroying its designated targets.
The remaining man duck, laying on the floor as he tries his best to do nothing and praying to whatever god he can think of that it won't return to hit him. This fear he has never felt before this power is unheard of to him, even the Cloud ninja were not this powerful and the beast seems nothing against this god like power.
Sleepless Demon: Sorry for the late story. I hope you all enjoyed my update and will continue to write when I can. It's been a long time and I can only hope my writing hasn't become rusty. Peace out.