"Talking"
'Thoughts'
"SCREAMING/YELLING/SHOUTING"
"Jutsu"
"Tailed Beast Talking"
'Tailed Beast Thinking'
Sound Effects
Date & Time
|Location|
[Flashback]
[+]
Chapter 34
[+]
|Medical Bay, Ryu Shrine|
BOOM! DUN! BAM! POW! KABOOM! KADUN! KAPOW!
Several medical personnel ran helter-skelter placing medical equipments and apparatus in safety drawers and closets. Their patients, Kin and Anko had already been attended to and were lying motionlessly in bed while being watched over by their teammates.
"They're having quite a fight over there," Atsushi commented.
"So it seems," Shizune replied in a worried tone, "I hope the fight is contained or we may end up being dragged into it." Eyes focused on their two unconscious teammates, "And these two are in no condition to fight."
"That won't happen!"
"AH!" The two yelled at the surprise answer from behind.
"How did you get behind us?"
"And when?"
Natsumi blinked, "I just walked in some seconds ago." She answered.
"Oh."
"I see."
The two mentally admonished themselves for letting their guard down.
"Anyway," The attendant began, "the fighting won't be spread as the walls of this shrine are inscribed with reinforcement seals that can tank jutsu up to S rank." She finished with a hint of pride.
"Wow, that's incredible!" The Chunin voiced.
'Reinforcement seals,' The Kunoichi mulled over before speaking, "Your fuinjutsu practitioners must be quite skilled."
"Of course we are," The Shrine maiden flattered by the praise just admitted that she was one of the practitioners, "So I assure you that we're perfectly safe here-"
"That's if Asa-sama doesn't use Divine Judgment."
"Yeah, no amount of reinforcement seals could possibly stop that."
"Even Elysian Tower got trashed."
"Don't you mean obliterated."
Overhearing the murmurs of the medical team, Natsumi's smile turned hesitant as the two Shinobi gave her doubtful looks.
"Well, you see…"
[+]
|Audience Chamber, Ryu Shrine|
BOOM! DUN! BAM! POW! KABOOM! KADUN! KAPOW!
Areku along with the priestess's bodyguard and 10 shrine guards were on the sidelines watching the intense battle between Asa and Orochimaru's soul fragment, "Umm…"
"Nanami." The red-haired muscleman supplied, his green eyes still locked on the fight.
"So Nanami-san," Areku continued, "why are we on the sidelines while the clan priestess is going toe to toe with the soul fragment?" He questioned as said female skillfully dodged multiple stabs of Kusangi and then countered with several jabs of her golden staff which had strangely transformed into a spear, "Shouldn't we be helping her?"
Nanami uncrossed his arms then sighed heavily, "Asa-sama requested that we allow her and the opponent to have a one on one fight."
"Why?"
"She probably wants to hone her combat skills."
"Combat skills?"
"Yes."
"But she's a priestess," The Kishida sighed, "Fighting should be left to those well suited."
"I totally agree, but Asa-sama loves sparring and she often interrupts training sessions between the shrine guards if I don't oblige her."
Said shrine guards nodded in agreement with bodyguard's words.
"I see," The Jonin replied as just as the fragment leapt back and ran through some hand seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" Marble tiles gave away as a wave of mud sped forward.
Asa without a hint of fear charged on and planting her spear into the ground pole-vaulted into the air and well over the mudslide.
"Kusanagi: Sky Blade!" The blade shot out of the fragment's hand aiming for airborne priestess.
CLANG!
Fragmaru nearly cursed as his surprise attack was knocked aside by the spinning spear, but couldn't as he had to dodge a barrage of chakra bullets from the opponent's Shade Style.
"Shade Style: Judgment Beam!"
Touching down Asa followed up with a chakra beam which the fragment avoided via substitution, reappearing some meters to the right with its hands locked in a seal.
"Lightning Style: Twin Snake Lightning!" It fired off twin blasts of reptilian lightning at the priestess who just tossed her spear aside and began spinning.
"Wind Style: Spinning Breakthrough!" A hurricane wall sprung up and neutralized the attack.
Realizing that its opponent will be weaponless once her wind jutsu had died down, the fragment transformed its lower half into that of snake and shot forward at incredible speed.
With the lightning attack taken care of, Asa cancelled her jutsu and took note of the fragment who was almost upon her but instead of adopting a frightened or shocked look like most would expect, she grinned and mouthed, 'Got you!' as a golden spear manifested in her right hand which swung downwards bashing the fragment headfirst into the ground then back right up.
"Spear Art: Ravage!" The golden spear flicked in and out of existence as it stabbed multiple holes into its target.
[+]
"Yikes!" Areku winched at the sight.
"Asa's skill with the spear is the bane of all shrine guards both male and female as no one has managed to pull off a victory except yours truly." Nanami added in a bragging tone earning some scowls and grumbles from the shrine guards.
Areku smiled at the big guy while thinking, 'He's not as stiff as I originally thought.'
SSSSSSHHHHHHH!
All attention snapped back to the fight and looks of surprise appeared on everyone's face as the fragment's near fatal wounds healed themselves.
Asa took a step back in shock, "What is this-" She cut herself off as Fragmaru gained a second wind.
"Blade Dance!" The infamous Kusanagi blurred.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
"SWITCH! SWITCH! SWITCH" Asa yelled as she found herself at a disadvantage.
The 10 guards who were sidelined instantly jumped in with Areku attempting to follow but were held back by Nanami, "We're the 2nd batch." The latter revealed.
"Nani?!"
A hail of kunai and shuriken from five of the shrine guards forced the fragment to disengage from the priestess as remaining five completed the hand seals for their respective jutsu.
"Fire Style: Inferno Bomb!"
"Wind Style: Gale Cannon!"
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!"
"Water Style: Raging Waves!"
"Lightning Style: Flash Burst!"
Fragmaru slammed both hands on the ground, "Summoning: Rashomon!"
DUN!
The demonic gate rang as surfaced, intercepting the elemental barrage with mid difficulty then breaking down after completing its task.
"Striking Shadow Snakes," His other free arm rose upwards and fired a mass of snakes at the remaining five who were attempting a falling sneak attack.
"Substitution!" The soul fragment cursed as they evaded his attack.
"Shade Style: Judgment!" Asa fired a blast of chakra but the fragment slithered away then burrowed into the ground and out of sight, "Nanami!" She yelled to the sidelines.
"On it!" The muscle man replied as he concentrated some chakra, "Ichi! San! Behind you!"
The two jumped out of away as the fragment surfaced with Kusangi sticking out of its maw before diving back in again.
"Yon! Nana!"
Said two substituted away and just as the fragment sprung out once more,
"Shuriken Storm!"
"Kunai Rain!"
It was battered by an arsenal of projectiles before dispersing into a mass of snakes.
"Wha!"
"Earth Style: Multi Dragon Bullets!" Four dragon heads popped out and began firing indiscriminately.
"Ahk!"
"Gah!"
"Nn!"
"Ou!"
"NO!" Asa cried as four of her guards were hit and sent flying.
"ASA-SAMA! TO YOUR LEFT!"
'Huh?'
Said priestess reacted too late, her eyes widening as the fragment's fanged teeth drew dangerously close to her neck, "Your body is mine!"
CHOMP!
'Hmm!' The fragment thought as it felt not its fangs sinking into a slim slender neck, but a hard muscular piece of flesh.
"NANAMI!" Asa screamed now on the sidelines beside a shell-shocked Areku.
"HAH!" The muscle man yelled as he swung his left arm downwards slamming the fragment into the marble floor and freeing said arm in the process, "Azure Fist: Impact!" Encased in chakra Nanami's right fist descended and smashed the fragment's head open spilling egregious fluids across the floor.
"Nanami!" Asa came running with Areku right behind, "Are you okay-"
"Asa-sama! Divine Judgement!" The man interrupted as he kicked the headless corpse away.
"But you killed it-"
SSSSSHHHHHHH!
'It's regenerating!' The Kishdia Jonin realized before breezing through hand seals, "Fire Style: Great Fireball!" A comet of scorching flames engulfed the bubbling figure and Areku was certain he had finished the job.
"Fufufufu!" Until a nasty chuckle said otherwise, "Wind Style: Devastation!"
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Just as the flames were snuffed out, numerous chakra chains spurted out of Nanami's back and nailed the revived soul fragment into a pillar.
"Wha-"
"Shade Style!" Asa thrust both hands forward, the diamond marks on the palms radiating a dangerous glow, "Divine Judgment!"
It was like as if a sun had been born, the temperature shot up as the chamber was engulfed in a light so bright that everyone reflexively closed or shielded their eyes to avoid being blind. Unfortunately for Fragmaru it didn't have the chance to as it was bound by Nanami's chakra chains so its eyeballs had no other option than to take in the blinding light headed his way.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
Agonizing screams vibrated around causing chills to run down the spines of those present as they nearly felt sorry for the fragment, Asa in particular could do nothing but sustain the jutsu till the very end and then finally the screams died down.
Eyes opened and gasps filled the air.
Orochimaru's soul fragment, the pillar it was nailed to and wall behind were all gone without a trace or scorch mark.
'That jutsu!' Areku thought dumbfounded before staring at Asa who had fallen to her knees with a heavy pant, 'Its way beyond S rank!'
"Asa-sama, are you alright?" Nanami loomed over the young lady.
"I'm fine, just used up a lot of chakra," The priestess replied, "Anyway is it dead?"
"Yes, I can't sense its chakra anymore," The big guy replied before chuckling, "Nothing could possibly survive that vaporization jutsu!"
"Good, so it's finally over-"
"Yayah!"
"We did it!"
"Nicely done Asa-sama!"
"You were incredible!"
"Three cheers for Asa-sama!"
"Hip! Hip!-"
"HURRAY!"
The guards broke out into celebration interrupting their priestess who didn't seem to mind one bit until her bodyguard lifted her on top his shoulder.
"Nanami, your left arm is bleeding!"
"Don't worry about it."
"But it bit you!"
"Said arm was enforced it with chakra so none of its filth got in, I just need a couple of bandages and the bleeding will stop."
Asa nodded in reply then gazed at Areku before giving a curt nod, "I'm grateful for your assistance."
"I didn't really do much!" The Jonin replied with a perplex look, "You and Nanami did most of the work."
"True, but I still need to repay you somehow."
"There is no need for that."
"No, there really is."
"I see!" Areku finally relented after seeing that she won't take no for an answer, "So anything in mind?"
The priestess thought about it then clapped her hands, "How about a sparring match?"
"Huh?"
"Asa-sama!" Nanami scolded.
"Not today," Asa added, "They will still be around for some couple more days."
"I will think about," The Kishida sweat dropped as the group headed towards the medical bay.
[+]
|Underground Complex, Otogakure|
While watching a new death match between two of his latest experiments, Orochimaru stiffened as a chill went down his spine, "Impossible!" He muttered.
"Lord Orochimaru?" His spectacled assistant called warily, "Is something wrong?"
"Anko's curse seal, I can't sense it anymore."
Kabuto raised a brow, "So she's dead?"
"No, she still lives but her seal appears to have been erased."
Now this surprised the white-haired spy, "But that's impossible! Only you Lord Orochimaru can remove the seal."
"That doesn't seem to be the case anymore," The Sannin replied before turning towards the exit, "I'm retiring to my chambers for the night, inform me of the match's outcome first thing tomorrow morning."
"Hai?" Kabuto answered confusedly as his master left the room, 'But it isn't noon yet?'
[+]
Once within the confines of his room, the Rogue Sannin griped his chest tightly as he collapsed to his knees hacking out a good amount of blood in the process.
"What's going on?" He questioned in a frightful tone, "No one should able to extract yet alone kill of my soul fragments but Anko's-"
Cough! Cough!
Another spasm of coughing interrupted the rest as the pool of blood beneath him grew much larger with each cough. Scowling at what he had been reduced to, Orochimaru wiped his mouth clean and got back up albeit a bit shakily.
"This body is already at its limit; I will need to speed up plans!" Using Kusangi as a crutch he headed towards his bed and lay down.
[+]
|Medical Bay, Ryu Shrine|
"Asa-sama!"
"Nanami-san!"
Atsushi and Shizune perked up at those names.
"I'm mostly fine, but Nanami and four guards got injured."
"I just need a couple of bandages, pay top priority to the four guards."
"Hai!"
Areku separated from them and joined up with his group, "I'm back!" He announced.
"Oji-"
"Areku-san!"
"san…" Atsushi trailed off as Shizune began checking up his uncle.
"Hmm, no wounds or injuries," The medic-nin placed a glowing hand on his chest and performed a circular motion, "Both heart rate and chakra levels are stable."
The Jonin blinked then let out a laugh with Atsushi joining in, Shizune got confused at the two before realization kicked in and she began blushing from embarrassment, "Ah sorry."
"No need, I'm actually glad you were worried about me."
"I see."
"So who were you guys fighting against?" Atsushi finally asked.
"Well, it was a fragment of Orochimaru's soul," Areku answered.
"So I was right."
"It's pretty obvious if you think about it."
The three nodded in sync then gazed at their unconscious teammates, "So now that Kin's and Anko's issues have been resolved it remains…" Areku stared at Shizune.
"My training," The Kunoichi finished, "so who are my partners?"
The Jonin directed his gaze to the right and the two followed until it landed on the priestess and her group.
"So the Shrine guards." Atsushi assumed.
"Nope."
Shizune gulped, "The bodyguard."
"I'm not that wicked, it's Asa-sama."
Areku's answer caused the two blinked, "Huh!" They said as one.
"I too was surprised, but it turns out that the priestess is a decent fighter as she went toe to toe with the Soul fragment for most of the fight."
"Most of the fight?" Atsushi repeated, "So she later got overpowered."
"Pretty much."
"So what rank?" Shizune asked curiously, her on Asa as the priestess wrapped a bandage over Nanami's arm.
"Judging by what I saw… She's a bit better than you." The Jonin confessed.
The shoulders of the medic-nin slumped, "Thought so." She muttered before gaining a determined look, "I will do my best."
"Kin and I will be cheering for you." Atsushi supported.
"Same with Anko and I." Areku added.
The raven-haired nodded, happy to have such caring companions.
[+]
|Hokage Tower|
"Team Overcoat reporting for a mission!"
"Team Kunoichi reporting for a mission!"
Team Overcoat – Asuma, Choji, Shino and Kiba (with Akamaru)
Team Kunoichi – Kurenai, Sakura, Ino and Tenten.
Hiruzen nodded as the two squads gathered in his office, with a throat clearing cough he began, "Today both squads will be undergoing a joint mission!" Certain murmurs sprung up but a look from their Senseis quieted things down.
"Apologies Lord Hokage" Kurenai bowed.
"No need," The Hokage waved off, "Now the mission is basically escorting the Leader of Takigakure – Shibuki back to his village."
Kiba blinked, "Wait, that's it?"
"Kiba." Asuma warned.
"I understand young Inuzuka's surprise," Hiruzen sighed, "Initially it was filed as a C rank mission to be taken by a single squad but due to certain obstacles it has been upgraded to a B rank with a potential of an A rank."
"My first B rank." Tenten said to herself, recalling that she hadn't been on one yet despite being a shinobi for almost 2 years.
Ino was interest in the change in mission rank, "Hokage-sama, what are these of obstacles?"
"The presence of Iwa-nin along the Northwestern border."
Audible gulps were heard even Choji paused his snacking.
"So it may turn violent?" Sakura asked with a hint of worry.
Kurenai placed a hand on the rosette's shoulder, "As long as we don't cross paths then it should be fine." She assured.
"Shino's insects will alert of any possible agitation," Asuma followed up, "Isn't that right Shino?"
"You are correct."
"Then I wish you good luck," The Hokage said handing the scroll to his son, "Departure time is 8 AM tomorrow morning."
"Hai Hokage-sama!"
"Then you are dismissed." Once they had all left, the aged man leaned back on his chair and sighed tirelessly, "Jiraiya hurry up and take this hat away from me."
Ding! Dong!
"Hokage-sama," A voice called from the intercom, "Elder Danzo is requesting an audience."
A frown came over Hiruzen's face, "Let him."
"Hai."
Schooling his features, the Hokage sat up and waited.
The door opened and the bandaged elder walked in, "Good day Hiruzen," He greeted.
"Good day Danzo," The Hokage returned, "So what do you want?"
"You are aware of the current situation right?" Danzo started after taking a seat, "The presence of enemy troops along our borders."
"I won't exactly called them 'troops' but continued anyway."
"For that reason I suggested that both Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki should be confined to the village and immediately placed under CRA."
Hiruzen blinked before his face distorted in anger, "What are you playing at Danzo?"
Said elder feinted obliviousness, "What do you mean?" He returned.
"I understand the Council, particularly the Civilian part requesting that Sasuke be placed under the Clan Restoration Act but when did Naruto join the list?"
"Calm down Hiruzen-"
"That's Hokage-sama to you and I'm perfectly calm."
"… Young Uzumaki's performance in both the Chunin exams and the Invasion has been nothing short of astonishing to most individuals of the village," Danzo revealed, "Is it that shocking that some will request that he revive the Uzumaki clan?"
The aged Hokage allowed some of his anger to dissipate as Danzo's words were mostly true but, "Unfortunate Naruto can't be placed under CRA as he don't meet the requirements."
The bandaged elder tilted his head, "But isn't he the last of his clan? Tsunade may count as an Uzumaki but she's the head of the Senju," A smirk came upon the elder's face one that Hiruzen didn't like at all, "Or is there another Uzumaki that the village doesn't know about?"
'He knows,' Hiruzen groaned before sighing, "Yes, there is another Uzumaki in the village and she just transferred recently."
Danzo stood up his aim already accomplished, "I suggest that she be introduced to rest of the council, they will surely be overjoyed at the presence of a female Uzumaki in the village."
Hiruzen glared daggers at the elder who left with a triumphant gait, 'You win the round Danzo but not the next one,' He then clapped his hand, "Cat!"
A purple-haired ANBU instantly appeared, "You called?"
"Summon Tsunade."
"Hai!"
[+]
[Statistics of this fic]
P = Population
A = Area (sq km)
DA = Dominant Affinity of its Shinobi
Msr = Military strength ratings
Esr = Economic strength ratings
SP = Shinobi Population (x% of P, x: number)
Land Of Waterfall:
P = 232,000
A = 599,790
Hidden Village: Takigakure
P = 24,000
SP = 15,170 (63%)
Msr = 1.5/5
Esr = 1.5/5
DA = N/A
[+]
Next up
Chapter 35
Total Number of Words: 3250 Words
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