Hey there everyone, I hope you are doing well so far. Surprise it's an early update! I got really into writing this chapter since this is the kick off to the second half of the Land of Iron Arc, I geniunely had a lot of fun writing this chapter and figured why not just publish it since I finished it pretty quickly.
Anyway let's get into the reviews,
Dragonkeeper10: Good I've still got you guessing haha, I want to make sure to give a proper set up that reveals more and more each time for the evitable reveal.
The two of the characters bonding and having a moment to relax was something I wanted to provide the two of them especially before we got into this second half because everything changes from on. It was also nice to write since I get so into the action and drama I don't get a lot of time to allow these teenagers to be teenagers.
Regarding Koyori, you bring up an excellent point. Thank you again for reading I hope to see you in the next one.
Jagsboy: Hey there! I'll give you a hint for the masked person since their identity is something that will be coming up in the story soon anyway. We've seen this person before and they've lost a lot in relation to Naruto's birth and the event that had him banished from the village, that's the hint I hope it helps.
I apperciate the reference, romance has always been one of the other genres I've always been interested in writing as well. There will be plenty of it so looked forward to emotionally stunted teens trying to figure it out haha.
The Land of Iron arc will bring a lot to the table and Mifune will definitely play a part. Stayed tuned and I'm super glad you are enjoying the story. Thank you again for reading I hope to see you in the next one.
Alexander4443: Thanks again for being here and thank you again for reading!
Atlin24: Hey there! I'm glad you are enjoying the story so far it means a lot.
Regarding the POVs I want to provide a sense of passed time with them to really vary the reactions and actions of the characters, that being said look forward to those very soon, also I love questions if you have one never hesitate to ask and I will answer.
I also highly value your trust, thank you I'll do my best to keep it. Thank you again for reading I hope to see you again in the next one.
Spellbat: Elfin Lied... I gotta revist that one haha, thank you again for reading and I hope to see you again in the next one!
TigrezzTail: I wanted to have a nice little interlude before we got back to our regularly scheduled plot, thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one.
Guest: Last but not least, this is an older review so I'm not sure if you are still reading the story but I still wanted to provide a response to you.
I apperciate the feedback, in the beginning I really wanted Naruto to be able to experience a sort of reset as to the new journey he was going to encounter. I took a few liberties to ensure that would happen, I'm taking pieces of your advice to the day to help better the story as much as possible.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you've kept up to this point. Hopefully I'll be able to see you again in the next one as well.
Thank you all again for the reviews as always I will do my best to respond to them all each any every time for each and every chapter so provide any feedback, questions, or even your thoughts freely and I'll be happy to read and reply.
Lastly, I'll be doing a few tweaks to the power system of the series. This is not to say anything horrible about the canon material but there's some wiggle room I want to take advantage of to hopefully elevate the story while introducing some interesting details. I'd rather swing and miss than to never swing at all, how else would you be able to score a hit?
Anyway enough platitudes, go on ahead to the story. Thank you all again for reading and I hope you enjoy. See you in the next one.
-Ken
{...}
Chapter 15: Iron
The sound of footsteps clacked through the halls of a hidden location, one of many for the man it housed.
There was always a distinct erriness about it that could never be shaken off no matter how many times he walked these halls. Sasuke Uchiha, for the past 7 months has been training under Orochimaru the snake Sannin in his pursuit for power.
While he was training under him, he never would have said that he held any favor toward his 'master.' In the slightest. However, he held the current best way for the strength he needed to face him.
The man that killed his entire clan… his family.
That meant that in the rare case that he needed something, Sasuke was obliged to assist with said need. His current destination was the room where the man himself had been resting. The black-haired boy turned a corner where he spotted Kabuto, the right hand of Orochimaru standing outside of his room.
"Move."
"Orochimaru is vulnerable but he is not useless… don't try anything."
Kabuto warned, causing Sasuke to narrow his eyes at the older teen before looking at the door again.
"Move."
Sasuke spoke firmly while Kabuto lingered for a moment before stepping out of the way, keeping a glare on the younger teen who entered the room wordlessly. There he saw the bandaged man sitting in his bed, he coughed before his snake-like eyes caught sight of the boy.
"Ah Sasuke…"
Orochimaru spoke while Sasuke huffed, "What do you want?" the boy replied roughly while the Sannin chuckled at the response.
"No need to be so hostile… I have good news and a small task for you…"
Orochimaru said while Sasuke glared at the man, "Task? I'm not one of your henchmen you can order around. You need something done, ask one of your lackeys." the black haired teen said while he turned to leave.
"Oh? Even if it has something to do with Naruto Uzumaki?"
Orochimaru spoke, freezing Sasuke in place, the teen turned around to face the man with a slightly surprised expression, "Naruto?" he asked while the Sannin coughed again.
"Yes, Naruto… There's something I've been keeping from you since I didn't want to distract you from your diligent training but… Naruto Uzumaki was banished from the Hidden Leaf and is now a rogue shinobi journeying across the ninja world."
Orochimaru explained while Sasuke stared back at Orochimaru like the man was completely insane, "That's impossible." the teen said while Orochimaru shook his head.
"But it isn't… You and I are both well aware of the animosity the village held for that boy, this was always a matter of when never a matter of if."
Orochimaru said while Sasuke shook his head, "Naruto has done nothing but whatever it took for the village, annoyingly enough, if you're trying to fool me." the teen warned while Orochimaru nodded his head toward the side of his bed.
A small snake emerged and regurgitated a scroll with the Hidden Leaf insignia on it, Sasuke looked toward the scroll cautiously while Orochimaru waited for him to open it. The teen took the scroll before opening it to read its contents.
"...No way."
Sasuke said while Orochimaru coughed, "It's the truth, right before your very eyes… apparently it was after his failure to bring you back to the village, among other things… this leads me into the task I have for you." the Sannin said while Sasuke continued to read the scroll multiple times, still trying to wrap his head around it.
"The Jinchuriki's power is an incredible resource, one that I must get my hands on while the opportunity is still open… Certainly before the Akatsuki get to him."
Orochimaru seemed to spit out that last part before Sasuke slowly looked up from the scroll, "You have two targets, one is to retrieve Naruto Uzumaki and bring him here while the other is to dispose of someone for me." the Sannin said while Sasuke looked toward him.
"Dispose of someone, who?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes toward Orochimaru who nearly rolled his own, "Let's say an old friend of ours… One that's outlived their purpose and is somehow still squirming around." the Sannin said while Sasuke scoffed at the man.
"What makes you think for a second that I'd become your errand boy? If you want Naruto so badly, get him yourself, he's no longer any concern of mine."
Orochimaru chuckled at this response, "Dear Sasuke, that's where you are wrong, this task is meant just for you precisely because you care about your friend… You see I'm not just sending you to go grab Naruto just for my sake, but for yours as well." the Sannin said while Sasuke gritted his teeth.
"Those eyes you covet, the Mangekyo Sharingan can only be activated after you've lost something dear… You bring me Naruto and I'll take what I need then I'll leave his life for you to take."
Sasuke stared at Orochimaru wordlessly while the man chuckled, a cough followed while the teen stared at the floor.
"You kill him this time and that power will be all yours…"
Orochimaru said while Sasuke kept his gaze at the floor before he looked back up toward the bandaged man, "...Is there a time limit?" the teen asked while the Sannin grinned.
"No, take as much time as you need. As long as you bring him to me in one piece. Consider it a part of your training."
Orochimaru said while Sasuke paused for a beat before he nodded his head, "Also, because the ninja world is so vast I will have someone accompany you to find Naruto." the bandaged man said before Sasuke raised an eyebrow.
"I don't need anyone else, they'll just slow me down."
The teen fired back while Orochimaru coughed, "Not this child, she holds a specific gift that will make the search for Naruto all the easier. She's recently received a promotion due to good behavior. You both will work together to retrieve him." the bandaged man said while Sasuke scoffed.
"Whatever."
The teen said before he turned once more to leave the room, "And Sasuke." the bandaged man spoke, stopping Sasuke.
"No going soft or underestimating him… I have the feeling that he is no longer the boy you fought against in the Valley of the End."
Orochimaru said while Sasuke walked out closing the door behind himself, the teen wasted no time making his way back to his quarters stomping down the halls.
Once he turned a corner he suddenly stopped.
He opened the scroll again to reveal the article or Naruto's banishment, in the article he saw Naruto riding on the back of the Nine Tailed Fox. That wasn't the real Nine Tails, it was a transformation of his summoning contract that he used as a tactic against Gaara.
Hell, any shinobi capable of detecting chakra would have been able to tell that this wasn't the real deal.
Yet Naruto was banished?
It didn't make any sense to Sasuke whatsoever, he saved the village from destruction as much as he hated to admit it. Naruto saved his life and Sakura's as well. They punished him for it.
They punished him because he left in the first place.
All that idiot had to do was stay put and let him go, if he had just done that then he could have potentially stayed in the village.
"I'll bring you back, even if I have to break every bone in your body!"
The word echoed through Saskue's head while he clenched the paper of the scroll in his hands, crushing it in them.
"I'm going to become Hokage!"
"Why? Because you're my friend!"
Naruto's words haunted Sasuke he felt a heavy sensation in his chest while thinking about his estranged friend somewhere out in the world before he shook his head shaking off the feeling, continuing to walk toward his quarters to prepare for his task.
It didn't matter to him now. In the end, Naruto made his choice and while he already figured this had to have been some set up by the Hidden Leaf it didn't mean a thing. He needed that power to kill his brother, to take his revenge.
Naruto…
Was just another person he had to bury.
No matter the bond.
{...}
Snow crunched underneath shoes while the legs ascended the hill, an orange cloak bounced slightly while he made his way up the steep hill.
"Kuro."
Naruto spoke, reaching behind him with a grin toward a black-haired girl who gave him a small grin back in return, "Ah right, perfect gentleman." Kurotsuchi joked while Naruto huffed.
"Yeah, also if you slipped and fell I would have had to laugh at you."
Naruto teased while Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes before taking his hand, he gave her a slight tug pulling her up onto the hill he himself had been standing on. She gave him a brief nod before the both of them took another step.
Blue eyes widened at the scenery in front of them, the land in front of them had snow covering the ground almost as far as the eye could see. There was a rock formation of three different mountain-like shapes that molded into each other, Naruto could also see the multiple pieces of architecture sticking out of the snow with multiple complementary colors to their surroundings.
"This is the Land of Iron."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto continued to marvel at the landscape, "There's so much snow, isn't the weather too much for snow right now?" the blonde asked while Kurotsuchi shook her head.
"The Land of Iron is geographically special and is one of the only lands that can experience two seasons at once, the only other one being the land of Spring and Snow to the far north."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto chuckled, "That's what it's called now, that feels like something Koyuki would do." the blonde said casually while Kurotsuchi' quickly gave him a surprised look.
"Like the Koyuki Kazahana? The Daimyo of the Land of Spring and Snow, you met her?!"
Kurotsuchi exclaimed while Naruto grinned and pointed a thumb toward himself, "I sure did! I even got an autograph, I'm still a big fan to this day. I wonder if they have any theaters we could catch one of her movies at. Hell I'd even see one of her Romcoms at this point." the blonde chuckled while Kurotsuchi blinked.
"You really are something else, you've been on your fair share of adventures."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto nodded his head, before he slid down the hill with Kurotsuchi sliding down right behind him before they started walking together.
"Jealous?"
Naruto asked in a teasing tone while Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes at him before s sneaky smile came to her face, "And what if I am, what would you do?" the girl teased back while the blonde's ears heated up from her words.
"I haven't seen her in a while anyway... so there's nothing to worry about. I know you're joking but I just wanted to say that."
The blonde tried to reassure while Kurotsuchi smiled before her eyes trailed down to Naruto's hand, ever since the bathhouse the two of them have been closer than ever yet there was also a new distance between them.
While things that night began to get out of hand, they were interrupted. It was both sad and good thing, they had a pace they needed to take she was pretty sure they weren't anything more than friends.
One heated interaction wouldn't change that and may it's a good thing it didn't. Neither one of them have been in any relationship before, that's a solid maybe for Naruto in her eyes because of how well traveled he seemed. It could be detrimental to the both of them to be in one while being so unfamiliar with how it would work between them.
Yet for some reason, she could push down that nagging voice in her head that was challenging that notion.
Kurotsuchi mustered up her courage stepping forward and grabbing Naruto's hand, the blonde boy looked into her pink eyes as she held it close to her chest looking back into his eyes.
The ocean, the kind sea. That was the only way she could describe the blue in the blonde's eyes, they were so calming yet held a fierce determination unlike any other. She shouldn't but she really wanted to.
Naruto looked back at the girl while she pulled him closer, their breath mingled while snow fell gently around them. He never took his eyes off of her while he held onto her hand a little tighter, whatever sort of boundary was made between the two of the for the sake of one another is constantly being threated.
The pair allowed themselves to stay like this before they were interrupted once more by a pile of snow falling off of a tree scaring off a nearby animal, sending it running off into the snow-covered forest.
They both let each other go while Naruto nervously scratched the back of his head before he continued with his tale.
"Right... but that wasn't even the most exciting part! I had to fight this one ass hat that was trying to kill her while trying to convince her I was the best ninja she's ever known and trying to protect her on top of that. Anyway, that guy was a menace I had to resort to using my signature technique."
Naruto explained the story while Kurotsuchi registered what had happened before she sighed nodding her head, "Did you do that Railgun technique on him using your clones?" the girl tried to guess while Naruto shook his head.
"No, that's a new one. The technique I'm talking about is the Rasengan!"
Naruto said cheerfully while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened at the name as her blood went slightly cold, she had heard him say the name of the technique before but that was while they were fighting Deidara so she didn't pay much attention to it but he's brought it up again causing a thought to come to her head.
Wasn't that the name of the legendary technique of the Leaf Village's 4th Hokage?
"I used it and it was suddenly covered in rainbow chakra and it was epic! I wonder if that director guy managed to make that into a proper movie."
Naruto continued to speak while Kurotsuchi kept her eyes on the blonde, "Naruto how do you know about that techni-"The girl was cut off by the blonde suddenly stopping in front of her.
"Hey Kuro, you said that the Samurai guys of the Land of Iron were neutral right?"
Naruto asked while Kurotsuchi nodded her head before she looked toward where the blonde had looked, her eyes widened when she spotted through the trees multiple small groups of samurai seemingly patrolling a large area of the city outskirts.
"Remember these guys are samurai, their ways are different than ours. They follow a specific code strictly, this could just be the result of that. Regardless, we should approach with caution."
Kurotsuchi said while Naruto nodded, the pair walked toward the road where they began to follow it toward the city that had a large wall built around it.
"I've got a weird feeling about this, something feels off."
Naruto said while Kurotsuchi looked around at the samurai looking toward their direction, "Just keep walking, while they are neutral I wasn't expecting them to be super friendly right off the bat. Let's keep sudden movements to a minimum." Kurotsuchi said while Naruto nodded his head in agreement.
Kurotsuchi adjusted her braid allowing it to fall to her back while Naruto kept walking straight ahead, his eyes looking toward the top of the wall. Samurai were also at the top far too many of them for this to be some standard patrol.
It felt like they were preparing for something.
"Halt."
The sound footsteps stopped Naruto and Kurotsuchi, they both turned, spotting three of the samurai approaching them.
"Welcome to the Land of Iron, we'll need to see some identification."
One of the samurai said while Kurotsuchi looked toward Naruto who shrugged, "Sure!" the boy said while he reached into his pouch Kurtotsuchi kept her eyes on the men standing in front of them while they kept a close eye on Naruto's hand.
"I'm not sure if this is still valid but here."
Naruto showed them his ninja registration license, the black-haired girl watched their demeanors change while another one of the samurai looked toward her forehead where her headband was.
"...This works fine. You'll come with us, we'll escort you into the city."
The samurai said while Naruto kept a cautious eye on the men who surrounded their sides, "Is this the usual protocol for everyone? Almost seems like it's dangerous heading into the city these days." the blonde poke while the samurai kept walking beside them.
"Of course it's dangerous, while the walls of the city are safe there are still those who present a threat toward them."
"Like who?"
Naruto probed, causing the samurai at the front to look toward them, "That's none of your concern, we samurai are specifically trained to deal with a situation of any unknown enemies. That's why we provide an escort." the samurai spoke while Kurotsuchi kept her eyes on the other two men.
"I was asking because we could possibly help… we are shinobi after all."
Naruto spoke deliberately causing the samurai at the front to stop, "Indeed you are… now allow us to finish escorting you." the samurai said while the two behind them slowly reached toward their sheathed blades.
"Let me ask you something… When you escort a shinobi behind those safe walls of yours, what happens next?"
Naruto asked while the samurai looked at the blonde wordlessly, he could see the breath of the man underneath the armor.
"Shinobi… are then dealt with."
The samurai said while Naruto narrowed his eyes at the armored man, Kurotsuchi went to reach into her own pouch.
"That's what keeps these walls safe."
The samurai said before the two other samurai brandished their blades, chakra flowed over them cloaking them in sharp blades. One of the samurai went to slash but a sudden explosion sent them all flying backward launching snow all over the place.
Naruto was currently in the air holding on to Kurotsuchi who looked down at the rest of the quickly approaching men, "Looks like the total patrol is 80ish men not including the ones on the wall, we don't have a choice but to fight through until we can get into the forest for cover." the girl explained while they both began to fall back toward the snow.
"So much for them being neutral."
Naruto said while he glared down at the ground below them, multiple blades glew below waiting for the pair to make their landing.
All the while during their freefall.
Naruto prepared for war.
{...}
"Kuro!"
Naruto yelled while the black-haired girl nodded her head before the blonde grabbed her ankles and swung her around while she weaved hand signs, "Fire Style…" the blonde launched her before making two shadow clones and launching them right behind her.
Kurotsuchi exhaled heated air igniting the air around her descent back toward the ground while brandishing her blade, "Heated Descent!" the girl yelled while crashing into the earth in the fireball she had created around herself sending multiple samurai flying while the clones around her smashed into a few more.
"Subdue the shinobi!"
One of the samurai called out while they approached the girl in droves, Naruto rapidly landed back on the ground creating another explosion of wind pushing several samurai back away from their position.
"I'll take the ones on this side!"
Naruto yelled brandishing a kunai while Kurotsuchi nodded, "I've got your back! Let's create a circle and meet each other counterclockwise before pushing toward the forest!" the girl yelled while Naruto nodded his head at the plan.
"Got it!"
The boy yelled while he leaned forward ready to cut through the air with his technique while Kurotsuchi formed more hand signs, "Earth Style: Sliding Earth Spears!" the girl yelled before she jumped, landing on the newly created mass of sharpened earth.
The wave of rock sent her toward the wave of men on her side while a change in air pressure could be felt before Naruto blasted directly into the fray on his side, the girl kept her blade close while she weaved more hand signs slapping her hands against the moving mass she was sitting on.
The rock spears began rapidly firing from the mass while the samurai narrowly avoided or tried to block the spears, Kurotsuchi twisted her hands causing her ride to turn while still firing out spears from the large rocky mass.
"Earth Style!"
One of the samurai yelled before he used his blades to cut through multiple spears, another one of the samurai came riding in on a horse while pulling back on the drawstring on his bow. The horse galloped through the chaos of the rock firing earthen mass narrowly avoiding a few rock spears sent his way.
One of the spears smashed right next to his horse sending his horse flying to the ground and himself into the air, the samurai flipped a few times before recovering mid air aiming his bow at Kurotsuchi.
"Lightning Stance…"
The archer said while he pulled back on steel covered arrows, Kurotsuchi turned, watching electricity violently crackle from the archer.
"Volley!"
He launched the three arrows all covered in lightning toward Kurotsuchi, the girl had little time to think turning to avoid the lightning fast arrows. They pelted against her earthen structure causing it to explode violently, Kurotsuchi flipped off of the structure rolling in the snow before getting back to her feet.
One of the samurai came at her with his chakra sword, the girl quickly ignited her blade in fire before clashing swords with him. She then leaned backward deflecting another sword swipe from a separate samurai, she black flipped kicking the one in front of her in the helmet while landing in front of the one whose blade she deflected earlier.
The two swordsmen crossed blades before Kurotsuchi deflected a heavy strike before dragging her blade across the armor of her opponent, she noticed it was barely effective before she had to quickly jump away from a volley of arrows.
Kurotsuchi somersaulted while deflecting arrows from another samurai on horseback, she then started to form hand signs with one hand while using her other to deflect arrows, her blade clipped an arrow's head before she turned to slash her blade across the helmet of an approaching attacker.
She then finished her hand signs with both hands before taking a deep breath, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" she yelled while aiming the jutsu to her feet.
"Fire Style!"
Another samurai called out, causing him to ground his feet, "Water Stance: Bladed Torrent!" the samurai yelled while the chakra around his blades turned into blades of water that he launched to Kurotsuchi's jutsu causing an explosion of steam.
The horseback samurai rode toward the steam with his bow drawn only to receive a heavy kick flinging him from his horse, Kurotsuchi landed nearby while deflecting several more swings.
'The samurai are using jutsu? Specifically to counter the ones we use?'
The girl thought to herself while she threw off her opponents, "Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!" Kurotsuchi yelled out, causing spears of rock to form from the ground, launching several samurai backward.
Meanwhile Naruto backflipped, landing on the shoulders of one of the samurai before wrapping his legs around his neck slamming him into the ground, "Wind Style: Great Separation!" Naruto pointed his hands outward blasting a large amount of air from his palms pushing back multiple samurai.
"Wind Style!"
A samurai yelled while another one planted his feet, "Fire Stance: Crossed Blaze!" the samurai yelled cutting through the wind with flames while moving forward before he turned swiping his blades sending waves of fire at the blonde.
Naruto flipped over the flaming waves and summoned a clone that did a somersault before kicking his feet, "Wind Style: Quickgun!" the blonde yelled blasting through the slamming his knee into the chest of the samurai hard enough to dent it.
The samurai fell to the ground while Naruto rolled and landed before he deflected a chakra blade with this kunai before swiping, his knife sparked off of the armor not affecting it while the blonde recovered.
"These guys are heavily armored and it looks like blades and regular jutsu don't do much… but blunt force."
Naruto said to himself while he looked at the unconscious samurai on the ground, more opponents approached him while he narrowed his eyes.
"Works perfectly."
Naruto said while he formed his famous hand sign, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" the blonde yelled out while multiple clones formed, Naruto himself ran through the samurai while his clones launched themselves at the samurai around him.
"Uzumaki Missile Formation!"
Naruto yelled while he spun and kicked a samurai in the helmet sending him into the ground, the clones that had launched themselves suddenly began to explode sending multiple samurai flying backward.
"Multi Shadow Clone Explosion Jutsu!"
Naruto yelled while his clones around him exploded rapidly each time they launched themselves, sending groups of samurai flying while Naruto himself attacked the samurai in front of him, with blunt attacks to make sure to knock them down.
Naruto flipped over one of his clones launching past him exploding directly in front of a samurai in front of him, he then landed crossing blades with another samurai before jumping above planting his feet on the shoulder blades of the man blasting off of him with wind directly into the path of another one of his clones that launched exploding.
Naruto dodged a few more attacks before he slammed his fist into the side of the helmet of another samurai summoning more clones, those clones launched toward the other side where Kurotsuchi traded blows with several samurai.
Tha clones flew over exploding giving Kurotsuchi room to advance, she quickly deflected the blade of one kneeing him in the face before ducking underneath one of the exploding clones, she dashed taking on another samurai before she reached another one of Naruto's clones.
The clone reached its hand out toward Kurotsuchi who quickly took it, the clone tugged her swinging her around allowing her to kick a samurai firmly in the face. She landed on her feet tugging over the Naruto clone who punched a samurai with a wind enhanced blow.
The blonde clone then landed leaning downward to allow Kurotsuchi to roll off of his shoulder to kick one into a larger crowd, she then hoisted the clone upward slamming it down into the crowd where it exploded. The explosion sent Kurotsuchi into the air where she weaved more hand signs.
"Fire Style: Fireball Barrage!"
The girl yelled before firing multiple fireballs causing explosions all around the battlefield on her side, she quickly landed on the ground again slapping her hands against it creating another large earth mass that she sent over to Naruto's side.
Without missing a beat Naruto noticed the earth mass backflipping onto it, he created more clones while surfing on top of it the clones would launch from the tips of the spikes creating more explosions sending more samurai flying backward.
Naruto then created a bunch of clones and left them on the top of the earthen mass the all exploded creating a large explosion while the blonde looked down at the opposition, "Wind Style: Vacuum Kick!" Naruto yelled kicking an air wave into the ground sending snow flying upward.
Naruto then landed on the ground moving toward the road in a circular motion corralling the leftover samurai behind him while Kurotsuchi did the same with her side beginning to reach the blonde teen in the middle of the circle they made.
Naruto reached out and grabbed onto Kurotsuchi and held her close, right as the samurai closed the circle around them surrounding them one of Naruto's clones exploded launching multiple samurai out of the way creating a path.
Kurotsuchi was bound to be running low on chakra at this point, he had to make it to the forest so they could lose them.
Naruto grounded his feet, the air pressure around the area changed. The blonde boy aimed at the gap that was made by his clone ready to take off but he stopped.
He felt a sudden chill.
The samurai around them stopped closing in taking steps back away from the pair, Kurtosuchi also felt that same chill that Naruto did as the sound of the gates opening caused the boy to slowly turn around toward the open gates.
The slight blizzard that had kicked up only displayed the silhouettes of four horsemen, Naruto paused at the sight while he felt a heat in his body. It was an almost instinctive feeling, one that was burning inside of him at this moment.
Telling him death was approaching.
The blonde suddenly threw Kurotsuchi from his arms away from the road while leaning himself, narrowly avoiding a thin cut that flew through the air past him. The road then opened up in a violent slash that sent him flying backward away from it.
Naruto landed in the snow a little ways away from the road while Kurotsuchi was on the other side, "Naruto!" the girl yelled while the four horsemen began riding toward them. Three of them broke off toward Kurotsuchi while one of them rode towards him on a pale horse.
"Kurotsuchi!"
Naruto yelled out trying to reach her but he was stopped by another cut in the air sending him flying when it exploded open tearing into the earth and snow in front of him, the rider the pulled closer to Naruto who brandished a kunai,
"Shinobi… If you wish to stand a chance in this encounter…"
The deep voice of the samurai in the deep navy blue armor instead of the standard white that he saw on the others rumbled causing Naruto to tremble slightly.
"Then it would be best that you focus on the blade that is willed to cut you down."
{...}
The samurai were spoken about in the same way one would describe a separate indigenous people, while contact with them was rare…
One should never approach with intent to fight them.
The swing was heavy, nearly heavy enough to push Naruto back when he blocked the blow from his sword with a kunai, the knife shattered in Naruto's hand while the armored man on horseback galloping toward him winded his blade back for another swing.
The time Naruto opted to dodge the attack, narrowly weaving through the slash as he landed looking across the snow toward Kurotsuchi. He spotted the girl having a hard time fending off three of the other samurai on her at once.
"Kurotsuchi!"
Naruto yelled while he backflipped just in time to avoid another heavy slice, "I thought you samurai were supposed to be honorable? What the hell do you find honorable about taking on someone three on one!?" the blonde yelled while the samurai with the pale horse looked toward the boy.
"Honor… Shinobi have no honor."
The rider said before he rushed at Naruto at high speed, the blonde brandished kunai after kunai but each blade he had shattered under the weight of the slashes from the samurai. "Ninja hide in the shadows. They poison, deceive, betray! Whatever it takes to ensure their own homes are secured despite the fact they would crumble down someone else's without the nerve to look them in the eye when they do it!" Naruto blocked another blow this one sent him flying into the air while the samurai lifted his blade.
"Lightning Stance: Raijin's Blow."
The samurai said while the blade crackled to life with electricity, his blade was longer than the other samurai's steel blade being the length of a normal katana. He brought his blade down bringing with it a crashing stream of lightning down upon Naruto.
Naruto avoided the attack with only his side taking any sort of damage, tearing apart his cloak completely and ripping into his clothes. The blonde slid and landed, he kept his hands to the ground and panted before he looked up toward the approaching samurai.
He had stepped off of his horse walking toward Naruto on his two feet, his blade was ready to cut Naruto down while the blonde glared toward the samurai. He was about to move but stopped when he heard a cry of pain come from the other side where Kurotsuchi was.
His head looked toward the other side where he spotted Kurotsuchi beginning to be overwhelmed the the three samurai, "Kuro…" Naruto said while the navy blue samurai swung his sword downward.
"Your weakness shall be your downfall!"
The samurai yelled while he felt a change in air pressure, his blade stuck the ground slashing into nothing but snow, "Weakness?' Naruto asked while he spun, kicking the samurai into the ground again as hard as he could before he landed on his feet dashing again toward the other side.
The samurai on the other had different weaponry, one had a large hammer that was also a bell, another one had a long halberd, with the last of them wielding an iron scythe. Kurotsuchi lifted her blade to defend against another attack but it was interrupted by Naruto volleying kicks between all of them bouncing into the middle where he grabbed Kurotsuchi,
"You call this weakness?"
Naruto asked while he blasted toward the other side where the last samurai was, he gently laid Kurotsuchi in the snow while she reached toward him. "Naruto… wait." she tried to speak to the blonde while he turned his back to her standing between her and the four horsemen.
"You call saving a friend weakness!? You bastards fought against us! No… this isn't weakness… I'll prove that to every single one of you!"
Naruto yelled while the samurai rode toward him, the blonde blasted toward the samurai with the bell hammer backflip kicking him before he turned and threw a paper bomb at the two others that were approaching him, knocking them off of their horses.
He deflected a blow before jumping up and head butting the samurai in the navy blue armor, launching him off of his horse to the ground, "SHINOBI!" the samurai with the hammer roared while riding toward Naruto with his hammer lifted.
He brought his hammer down only for Naruto to roll off of it spinning into a heavy knee launching the large samurai off of his horse onto the ground. When the blonde landed the blade of the halberd slashed across his back while the scythe slashed higher, cutting Naruto's forehead.
Naruto fought through the pain, he turned kicking the halberd user in the middle of the chest while planting his feet against their armor blasting toward the scythe user headbutting him. A sword slash rang past Naruto's ear while he flipped, punching the navy blue samurai in the face.
Kurotsuchi watched from where she was recovering Naruto trying to fend off the four samurai, she had never seen that expression on Naruto's face. One of pure determination pushing through every attack to get even a single moment to attack back no matter the damage he took.
This was the Naruto she hadn't seen, the one who placed his everything on the line for others with little to no regard for his own life.
"Damn it!"
Kurotsuchi yelled while she mustered up as much of her chakra as possible, she dashed with her blade brandished blocking a strike coming from behind Naruto from a halberd while the surprised blonde looked toward her.
"I already told you! I've got your back, no matter what!"
Kurotuschi yelled while Naruto nodded, "Let's make it through this then!" the blonde yelled out while the two teens planted one foot against each other in the middle of the four attacking samurai. The air pressure changed, launching them both toward their respective opponents.
Kurotsuchi swung her blade toward the halberd user and the hammer user, she went on the offensive igniting her blade with flames attacking the two of them while Naruto fought against the scythe user and the navy-blue colored armor samurai.
Kurotsuchi blocked several blows from the halberd user before she twisted avoiding a heavy slam from the hammer, she jumped on top of it using it as a step stool to jump over the hammer wielding samurai slashing his helmet before kicking him in the back of the head.
Naruto meanwhile swung at both of the scythe user and the navy samurai enhancing his kunai with wind chakra, the scythe swung toward the blonde who caught it with his kunai right as the blade broke the blonde ducked moving toward the navy samurai kneeing him before bouncing off of him to land a blow on the top of the helmet of the scythe user.
"Shinobi!"
The navy-blue samurai yelled before he swung his sword only for it to clash with a flaming sword; instead, he looked toward the girl with surprise through his mask while she pushed back against him, slashing toward him with the blade.
On the other side Naruto had already blasted forward using Gale Step drop kicking into the chest plate of the halberd wielder, he then spun kicking the hammer wielder in the face before a sword slash from Kurotsuchi followed up.
The navy-blue samurai watched in surprise as Naruto and Kurotsuchi switched back and forth between each of their attacks, one blocking against an attack the other would have had to avoid while the other immediately countered using the opening they created.
The two of them worked in tandem to create a perfect attack and defense pattern, the navy-blue samurai struggled to break past the guard of Kurotsuchi's sword. Her blade was clearly in the hands of an experienced swordsmen meanwhile the sheer amount of power that came from Naruto's counters was enough to the point where the armor hardly mattered.
"Damn it!"
The samurai yelled while Naruto and Kurotsuchi kept their circle tight between the two of them fending off the four of them, Kurotsuchi ran past Naruto who aimed his hands at her sword causing her flames to burn from an orange to a vibrant red.
She then turned, reaching her hand out toward Naruto's feet causing them to ignite, the wind that had been built around them sparked before they burned a bright red colored flame.
"True Scorch Style: Blazing Blade of the Breeze!"
Kurotsuchi yelled while she swiped at the navy-blue swordsmen with a heavy slash that sent him reeling backward while Kurotsuchi flipped immediately attacking the scythe user rapidly overwhelming him with the sheer amount of slashes she was swinging.
Naruto meanwhile launched kicks that left vibrant red streaks in the air, "True Scorch Style: Flare Step!" the blonde did a cartwheel kick, sending both the hammer user and the halberd user flying backward before he launched toward where Kurotsuchi was.
The both of them began to attack the navy-blue swordsmen in unison while he struggled against the barrage of both of their attacks, Kurotsuchi swiped her blade before she noticed the three other samurai closing in on them quickly.
"Naruto!"
Kurotsuchi yelled out while Naruto nodded dropping to the ground, Kurotsuchi jumped, deflecting a slash from the navy-blue swordsmen before she used Naruto's feet to kick herself high into the air meanwhile Naruto did a handstand and began to spin.
"True Scorch Style: Akai's Windmill!"
Naruto's feet began launching out waves of scorch style at the samurai who tried to defend against it, their armor beginning to crack much to the surprise of the navy-blue shinobi. Naruto stopped kicking before he blasted upward.
Kurotsuchi grabbed his hands before she started turning the both of them in the air, a small vortex of the red flames began to form while they started crashing down toward the ground where the samurai looked at the jutsu with shock.
"Combination Style: Homukaze Comet!"
The two teens yelled out in unison while the jutsu burned brighter falling toward the ground, the navy-blue samurai quickly planted his feet to the ground he began to go through a series of movements creating water around his blade.
He continued his movements while the water that had formed around his blade began to crackle with electricity, the water and electricity danced around each other before they both became vibrant covering his blades with a vibrant blue that crackled like lightning yet moved like water.
Naruto and Kurotsuchi roared as they were about to slam into the ground, the samurai lifted his blade high at the descending teens.
"Storm Stance: Susanno's Tear!"
The samurai said while he slashed the air with his technique at the same time Naruto and Kurotsuchi crashed into the ground resulting in a massive explosion sending snow and earth flying everywhere, the nearby samurai were blasted backward by the impact as well.
Smoke covered the battlefield while the navy-blue samurai panted heavily, his helmet was gone and his armor had been shattered in multiple places. The other samurai around him were also heavily damaged and on the ground slowly getting back up.
"Sir, these two are…"
The hammer user said while the navy-blue armored samurai looked through the smoke noticing the standing silhouette of Naruto over Kurotsuchi who was kneeling.
"We have to use it… This is the perfect opportunity."
The navy-blue samurai said while the others nodded rising to their feet, they planted their feet into the ground and began going through multiple movements.
"Kurotsuchi, listen, I'm getting us out of here. You're almost completely out of chakra."
Naruto said while the girl huffed, "You've spent a ton too, once we make it to the forest we find somewhere to hunker down. No more spending so much of yourself." Kurotsuchi said while Naruto nodded his head.
He went to lift her from the ground but was stopped by a heavy tackle from the side from the large samurai, the blonde went flying backward rolling into the snow while the large samurai pursued him with his hand extended his palm glew a heavy purple color.
"Shinobi!"
The large samurai yelled while slamming his palm onto the left side of Naruto's chest, the blonde's eyes widened while he felt his heartbeat heavily. The large samurai moved out of the way for the halberd user who kicked Naruto across his face before she slammed her palm into the same spot causing Naruto's heart to beat heavily again.
Naruto fought through the pain and tried to throw a swing but it was easily deflected by the scythe user who then slammed his palm onto the same spot causing Naruto to cough while the navy-blue swordsmen approached the teen.
His black hair was spiked with a small ponytail before he kicked Naruto who was writhing in pain, "You fight well Shinobi, but your weaknesses are glaring." the man said while the blonde coughed clutching where the others had slammed their palms into.
The man grabbed Naruto by the collar looking him into his blue eyes with his own black ones before he slammed his palm onto the same spot, he then dropped the boy who hit the snow. The blonde screamed while his body was engulfed with dark flames.
"NARUTO!"
Kurotsuchi yelled while the man gave Naruto a disappointed look, "Since you fought this well I shall give you my name… I am Arashi Nobuzagi, general of the new Land of Iron, the harbinger of the end of the Shinobi, and liberator of this world from anarchy bringing it back to it's honor." Arashi spoke while Naruto continued writhing on the ground.
"You lack discipline."
Arashi said while he brandished his sword and walked toward Kurotsuchi who struggled to get up, "The fire that forges and molds warriors." he continued to approach while Naruto kept screaming out in pain. The girl looked between Naruto and the approaching Samurai.
She noticed under the exposed under armor of the samurai there were cores that were directly connected to the armor, she quickly went to grab her blade but it was kicked away by Arashi who kicked her back to the ground with his boot.
"You lack strength."
Arasahi said while he pointed his blade down at Kurotsuchi, "The force that allows mankind to transcend their limitations to achieve the ability to push forward and gain victory." He aimed his blade right over the head of the weakened ninja.
Naruto looked toward the man lifting his blade, "Most importantly, the will that allows one to make the choices to achieve their dreams, that tempers their blades, and is the reason for their strength and discipline." Arashi said while he swung.
Blood flew through the air while Kurotsuchi's eyes widened, Naruto had moved between himself and the descending blade allowing it to slash across his chest to protect the girl. The pain caused Naruto's eyes to roll into the back of his head while Arashi stood firm.
"You lack conviction."
Arashi said while he swiped his sword swing the blood into the snow, Kurotsuchi looked toward Naruto in utter shock while the boy began falling backward on top of her
"NARU-"
Kurotsuchi's scream was cut off by the sound of snow crunching, Naruto had stopped falling instead his fist clenched. He swung, smashing his fist directly into Arashi's exposed face sending blood flying from the samurai's face.
"What!?"
Arashi yelled while Naruto dashed while he kept swinging blood still freely flowing from his wound, punching the man multiple times while the rest of the samurai looked at the boy with shock, his eyes were still rolled in the back of his head while he swung wrathfully toward the samurai.
He ignored the bleeding.
He ignored the fact that he couldn't use a single jutsu.
He ignored the pain.
No matter what would happen next, he would keep swinging.
Naruto punched Arashi's face multiple times not giving the samurai any time to fight back while he kept throwing swings, one of his fists collided with the core cracking it before another punch cracked across Arashi's face again.
"You… You demon!"
Arashi yelled while he took another punch giving him an opening to throw Naruto off before went to swing his sword at the boy, another blade suddenly intercepted it while Arashi's eyes narrowed at the man standing in front of him.
"Mifune!"
Arashi yelled while an older man threw back the navy-colored samurai before reaching back to grab Naruto, another set of men retrieved Kurotsuchi while fending off the rest of the samurai who tried to stop them.
"Oi…"
Naruto's voice spoke hoarsely while he pointed a finger at Arashi weakly, "I refuse… to let a bastard like you… ever try to take down the shinobi." the blonde spoke while Arashi looked toward the blonde who glared with whatever little energy he had left.
"I challenge you to a duel!"
Naruto roared while Arashi's eyes widened at the boy, "For the fate of your so-called Land of Iron and the rest of the ninja world… and the fact that you hurt someone precious to me… I'll beat you with your so-called honor and win!" the blonde yelled while Arashi stood there wordlessly.
Mifune the older man grabbed Naruto who was still glaring at Arashi while he was being carried.
"Believe it."
Naruto spoke while Arashi watched them leave quickly. He looked at his own sword for a moment before he huffed, one who fought so fiercely even while wounded. A ninja had challenged him to a duel while trying to be honorable?
As if he could have ever believed that, but alas he wouldn't back down.
"...I accept then, Shinobi."
