"Talking"
"Thoughts"
"SCREAMING/YELLING/SHOUTING"
"Jutsu"
"Tailed Beast talking"
"Tailed Beast Thinking"
Sound effects
Date & Time
|Location|
[Flashback]
[+]
Chapter 23: Meeting Tsunade pt 2 / 'B' stands for Problematic pt 2
[+]
|2nd Floor, Hallway|
20:45
With the noise of battle as their guide the trio of Kin, Atsushi and Sakura raced through the hallway, passing several rooms when…
"Well, well… what do I have here."
The three whipped around to see a spectacles' wearing male who appeared to be in his early twenties. He had onyx eyes and ash-grey hair which was kept in a ponytail, his outfit consisted of a dark purple shirt with a high collar, a white under-shirt, dark purple fingerless gloves, a white cloth waistband worn at an angle, dark purple pants, blue sandals, and a Shuriken holster on his right leg.
At the sight of him Sakura gasped while Kin cowered behind a wary Atsushi, "Who are you?" The Kishida asked, preparing himself to attack at the slightest sign of aggression.
"Can't say I surprised that you don't know who I am," The figure replied as he adjusted his glasses, "You weren't there when I introduced myself to your little pack."
"Kabuto Yakushi," Sakura revealed, not believing what or who she is currently seeing, "Y-you're with the enemy?"
"Yes I am," Kabuto answered with a slight smirk, "Shocking isn't it?" Sakura's eyes widen before they narrowed dangerously.
"You traitor!" She spat, causing an amused expression to appear on said 'traitor's' face.
"Traitor? Oh please I'm no traitor," He chuckled lightly, "How can I be one when I wasn't working for the Leaf Village in the first place."
"That's because he is Orochimaru's right-hand man and master spy." Kin muttered, causing the other three to focus on her, "Passing on as a Genin he spent the last 4 years gathering intel on Konoha's strengths and weaknesses."
Kabuto narrowed his eyes at the girl, "Kin-chan, what are you doing outside your cell?" Said girl cowered even more behind her Kishida meat shield, "I see, so you switched sides." He frowned a bit then sighed in resignation, "I guess I have no choice but to administer your punishment." He brought his hands together to form a hand seal.
Atsushi and Sakura immediately tensed ready to dodge whatever attack Kabuto was going to send their way, but what they weren't ready for was the cry of pain originating from behind them.
"KIN!" They yelled out as said girl was lying helplessly on the floor, her body experiencing multiple and very painful convulsions.
Kabuto just shook his head, "Poor girl shouldn't have left her cell." He said, releasing the seal thus ending the convulsions.
[+]
(With the Others)
20:49
"Parasitic Insects: Spear!" Shino fired two insect pyramids at a group of the ninja, a couple of them were momentarily startled and got engulfed by the pyramids which shortly exploded dumping the now unconscious men on the cold concrete floor. The rest charged forwards attempting to overwhelm the Aburame, unfortunately Areku appeared in front of them and slammed both of his hands on the ground.
"Lightning Style…" He began as lightning shot out from the point of contact, "Horse Power!" He declared as about 8 – 10 horses were manifested from said lightning; the horses neighed then raced forwards, trampling over the squad of ninjas and electrocuting them in to a state of unconsciousness.
On the other side the ninjas facing Sasuke realized that they were going up against the Sharingan, so they switched to throwing weapons which the Uchiha dodged after determining their trajectory with his dojutsu. Despite the fact that their weapons weren't nailing their target the enemy ninjas still continued their assault.
Hinata had just finished off two opponents with her Eight Trigrams: 64 Palms, disturbing the strikes equally among the two when she noticed something odd about the kunai being thrown at Sasuke. It didn't take long for her to see what was odd about them before she suddenly bolted towards her raven haired teammate.
Sasuke had just dodged another hail of Kunai then noticed that the enemy wasn't preparing to launch another hail, "What's wrong? Finally out of things to throw?" He asked smugly. The enemy ninjas just smirked as one of them made a hand seal.
The numerous kunai shattered around the Uchiha began to grow a faint red, "Oh crap!" Sasuke got out as he finally realized what was going to happen.
Luckily for him, Hinata was already by his side, "Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!" She spun manifesting a spinning dome of chakra which shielded them from blasts.
"Thanks," Sasuke said with his female teammate nodding in reply.
Seeing their plan was fouled, the enemy was about to charge at the two when…
"Fang over Fang!" Two dark colored drills torn through their ranks disorienting them, Kurenai using the commotion to her advantage trapped some ninjas in her Tree Binding Death genjutsu.
"The Wood Style?" One of them rasped, Kurenai answered with a negative nod then slit his and his comrades' throats ending their lives.
"Areku-sensei," Shino called, engulfing another ninja with his insects, "My insects have pinpointed Atsushi and Sakura-san's location."
"Are they in immediate danger?" The Kishida Jonin asked as he slashed a ninja with his Raidenka killing her instantly as the top half of her body slid off the bottom half.
"They appear to be facing a Jonin Level opponent," The Aburame replied just as the last ninja on their side was taken down.
Areku stared at the other side and found that Kurenai and Kiba had joined up with the rest, "Lead the way." He ordered.
[+]
"For a Chunin you're pretty slow." Kabuto taunted as he dodged a punch then a sweeping kick from Atsushi, said Chunin gritted his teeth then deactivated his weights with a mental 'Kai!' before resuming his assault. As the Kishida approached, Kabuto attempted to dodge yet again but couldn't as the Kishida was moving a lot faster than before.
BAM!
With his arms raised Kabuto blocked a punch aiming for his temple then ducked under a left hook before barrel rolling away as Atsushi lashed out with a right kick. "Now that's better-" He halted his compliment as he saw Atsushi's hands in a hand seal.
"Earth Style: Concrete Flow Spears!" Several concrete spikes spouted towards the medic in an attempt to sewer him.
Weaving his own hand seals Kabuto evaded each spikes and was soon done with his seals, "Water Style: Gunshot!" His cheeks bulged before spitting out three globs of water.
The Leaf and Storm shinobi dodged their respective globs then realized whom the last glob was aimed at.
"Kin!" The Kishida cried then pulled off a substitution with said unconscious girl, taking the hit to his chest.
"Atsushi!" Sakura now cried as her comrade was blasted into a wall before falling downwards onto the concrete floor.
Kabuto chuckled at the turn of events, "Taking a hit for your former enemy… how noble." He would have continued chuckling if not for the numerous cherry blossoms which suddenly surrounded him, 'Genjutsu?' He noted.
"CHAA!" Sakura roared as she launched her fist at the nuke nin's gut, upon impact the girl almost smiled but didn't as her target turned into mud, 'A Mud clone?' She questioned before the hairs on her back stood up.
Kabuto shot out from ground right behind the rosette, "DIE!" He cried, a murderous gleam in his eyes as his chakra coated hand moved towards the rosette's vertebral artery only to be intercepted by a rapidly risen Earth column, "What?"
"SHANNARO!" Sakura instantly whipped round and buried her chakra coated fist into the bemused medic's face more precisely his nose.
BAM! CRACK!
With his now broken and bloody nose Kabuto was launched a good couple of feet backwards before crashing onto the unforgiving floor.
"Thanks Atsushi." The rosette expressed her gratitude to the Kishida who was now leaning against the previously dented wall, his hands in a hand seal.
"You're welcome." He returned, walking over until he was by her side. The two tensed up as Kabuto slowly stood back up, his face now in a scowl with rivulets of blood trailing down from his nose.
"I can't believe…" He began, "you actually managed to land a hit on me," Using his thumb he wiped a bit of blood from his nose and focused on Sakura, "You used a bastardized form of Tsunade's Super Strength didn't you?"
Sakura didn't answer.
"And you!" He now focused on the Kishida, giving him a nasty glare, "You stopped my kill with that Earth Jutsu didn't you?" Atsushi also didn't answer, "Oh I see… the silent treatment," Both of his hands now glowed with blue chakra, "Let's see if you can keep that up when I slice off-"
"Fire Style…" A voice behind Kabuto interrupted, "Giant Flame Bomb!" The spectacled teen whipped around to the sight of a massive fireball heading his way.
"Earth Style: Concrete Wall!" A wall of concrete rose up and intercepted the ball of fire.
"Kunai Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Earth Style: Concrete Flow Spears!"
Kabuto brought up another concrete wall to block the attacks from both Atsushi and Sakura who had taken advantage of his momentarily distracted state.
'Judging by the size of that fireball their Jonin-sensei must have caught up,' Kabuto mused, 'I already have what I came for but,' He glared at the wall which hid Atsushi and Sakura, 'Next we meet I shall grant them a slow and painful death.' He made a hand seal and sunk into the ground, the concrete walls collapsed revealing to everyone that he was gone.
"Damn it!" Areku in his White Chakra Cloak swore then punched the wall closest to him, causing it to crack lightly.
"So he got away." Shino appeared from the shadows, "What now Areku-sensei?" He monotonously asked.
Said sensei gazed at his two previously kidnapped subordinates, "You two okay?" He received a nod from both of them, "Good… now Atsushi," He gestured to the unconscious girl now lying in his nephew's arms, "Who is she?"
"Well you see." Atsushi began.
[+]
Two Day Later, October 7
|Hokage Tower, Konoha|
"And that's the end Hokage-sama." Areku finished up his own side of report.
Hiruzen took a puff from his tobacco then sighed, "I guess border patrols along the northern border will have to be increased," He mumbled to himself then focused on the two teams still in his office, "Anyway congrats on completing your B-turned A rank mission, payments shall be made to your respective bank accounts so you're all dismissed-" Areku coughed then gestured to the girl who was standing nervously behind his nephew. "Expect for you three." The rest bowed then left.
"ANBU leave us." Three Shadows immediately dashed out, slightly startling the girl, "So I take it that you're Kin Tsuchi?" Hiruzen began gently, a fatherly smile on his face.
Said girl nodded slightly, "H-hai." She answered still using Atsushi as a meat shield, a situation the older two found amusing.
"It's okay Kin, he's not going to hurt you." Areku said in an attempt to ease the girl's fears.
Kin glanced at the Hokage then to her Kishida meat shield, said meat shield gave her an encouraging smile which caused her cheeks to gain a pink tint, "Okay." She answered timidly and with a little bit of confidence left Atsushi's shadow for the spot beside him.
"Now that wasn't so hard right?" Hiruzen asked with Kin giving a nod in reply, "Now is there anything I can do for you?"
"I was wondering if you can remove my cursed seal?" She asked in a bashful tone.
"Well since Orochimaru's soul isn't within the seal, then I'm sure Jiraiya should be to remove it." Kin's eyes lit up with hope, "Unfortunately he isn't available at the moment since he's on a mission."
"I understand."
"Good, so do you have any other requests?" He pressed on.
Kin bit her lower lip for this next request, "I will like to enroll as a Shinobi."
"Oh that can be arranged," Hiruzen leaned back in his chair and took another puff, "You will have your mind scanned by a Yamanaka then be placed on probation for a few months before being tested and given a rank as one of Konoha's-"
"Arashi."
"Hmm?"
"I wish to be enrolled as an Arashi Shinobi." Hiruzen's cigar fell from his mouth while Areku blinked in surprise then glanced at his nephew wanting to determine if he had a hand in the girl's decision but judging from the surprised look on Atsushi's face he didn't.
After a few seconds the 3rd Hokage immediately regained his composure, "Well Areku-san has to take it up with the Yosokage but from the way his village acts towards missing and abandoned nin then I'm sure you will be accepted."
Kin gave an appreciative bow, "Thanks Hokage-sama."
"Now for your place of residence," Hiruzen stroked his beard for a bit, "Areku-san?"
"Hokage-sama?" The Jonin replied.
"If I'm not mistaken there is an apartment complex beside your residence right?"
"Yes, and they recently put up an advert saying that they were looking for tenants." He enlightened, realizing where the old man was going with this, "You want Kin close to those that she's familiar with."
Hiruzen nodded, "That and you two will be her handlers," He pointed to the two Kishidans, "I'm sure you can do that right?"
"Hai Hokage-sama!" Atsushi answered before his uncle could, "We will make sure to take special care of her, right Oji-san?"
Areku sighed weakly, "Right." He answered with a small smile.
'Take special care of me?' Kin pondered before her teenage mind came up with several perverted images and thoughts, luckily for her the males present were too focused with their conversation to notice her reddening face.
"After the seal has been removed and her chakra returned, we will first have to present her to the Yosokage who will then organize the necessary tests and rites." Areku looked sideways and smiled at the two, particularly his nephew, "So Ari-kun, how about that trip to your home village?"
Said Kishida glared at his uncle for using the pet name in front of the Hokage, "Oji-san!"
[+]
|Open field outside Tanzaku Gai|
Mid-day
"I don't believe it." Jiraiya breathed as he stared at his apprentice's right palm in shock and surprise, 'He actually managed to master the Rasengan under a week and without the aid of a clone too.'
"So what's next sensei?" The Uzumaki asked, snapping the Sannin out of his thought.
"I-um… let's see," He rubbed his chin for a bit before it came to him, "Ah got it," He bit his right thumb and slammed it on the ground, "Summoning Jutsu!"
Boom!
The plume of smoke cleared revealing Jiraiya as he stood atop a toad nearly twice his size while striking a pose.
At seeing the toad, Naruto realized what his master wanted to teach him next, 'Oh no!'
"This should be good." His tenant commented dryly.
Jiraiya hopped down as the giant toad extended its tongue to reveal a scroll there, "How will you like to become the third summoner of greatest summons that ever existed?" He asked enthusiastically.
A million thoughts raced through the teen's mind, "Umm Jiraiya-sensei?" He started.
"Yes." The Sannin returned.
"I already have a summoning contract." The Uzumaki winced as Jiraiya's expression fell.
The Sage remained silent for a period of time, probably wondering who had got to his godson first with a summoning scroll, "Who?"
"Kurama."
"Who is this Kurama?" Jiraiya asked with narrowed eyes.
Naruto gulped, "The Kyubi."
A pregnant pause then…
"Let me have a look at your seal." It wasn't a request and Naruto knew that as he instantly raised his vest for the Sannin to take a look, "…Seems pretty intact," Jiraiya muttered then withdrew, "I will have to take it up with Gamabunta to see if you can wield two contracts," He sighed then added as an afterthought, "I can already count the barrels of sake this will cost me."
Naruto sweat dropped.
"Jiraiya-sama!" The two looked up at the cry and spotted Shizune running towards them, a distressed expression marring her pretty face, "Tsunade-sama is gone!" Both males froze at the information.
[+]
|Tanzaku Gai Outskirts|
Tsunade was down a knee, panting deeply as a bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face. The Senju scowled at the realization that her years of inactivity were really showing as she outclassed by the two men in front of her.
"I'm disappointed, Tsunade-chan," Orochimaru said with a frown, "We could have accomplished great things together," He concluded then gave his lackey the permission to end it.
Kabuto charged forward but halted as puff of smoke obstructed his view, the smoke parted revealing three individuals.
"Jiraiya." Orochimaru hissed as he gripped his sword tightly, of course he will be pissed at the individual who had foiled his invasion plans.
"Hey there teme," Jiraiya returned with a cheeky expression, "You're still as ugly as I remember." He got before the Snake master rushed him with the intent of ending him right there.
Said sage immediately jumped backwards, "Let's take this elsewhere," Jiraiya suggested then led his ex-teammate away from the others.
Now that Orochimaru was gone, Naruto focused on his assistant, "Wait… Kabuto?"
"Hello Naruto-kun," Kabuto greeted with a twisted smile, "Congrats on becoming a Chunin."
"Tsunade-sama are you-" Ignoring her apprentice's concerns Tsunade charged forwards aiming to end Kabuto's life now that his master was absent. Unfortunately Kabuto was already two steps ahead of her as he slashed his left hand and splashed her with his blood.
The world's greatest medical ninja froze up as her hemophobia kicked in along with images of her loved ones drying in front of her eyes. Seeing her wide open Kabuto punched the Senju across the face and into the ground.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Creating four shadow clones Naruto instantly charged at Kabuto and engaged him in a taijutsu match while Shizune ran to assist her mistress.
Having learnt his lesson from Atsushi and Sakura, Kabuto didn't underestimate Naruto or his Shadow Clones as they came at him with a barrage of kicks, punches and sneak attacks which he mostly blocked or evaded.
Naruto was shocked when Kabuto suddenly pinpointed him from his clones and jump-kneed him in the nose, breaking it. The Uzumaki fell backwards then quickly barrel-rolled to safety as Kabuto's Chakra Scalpel crashed into the ground kicking up a small dust cloud.
"Come on Naruto-kun, where's that flame you use to defeat Gaara?" He asked, sounding some worth disappointed at the blonde's performance.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Was the Uzumaki's response as a dozen shurikens were launched towards the nuke-nin, said nuke-nin prepared to dodge them when…
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" Their speed doubled and eight of them managed to slice into the medic's body causing him to hiss out in pain.
[+]
(With Shizune)
The brunette looked at her master and sighed. She had managed to clean all the blood off her, but Tsunade was still unresponsive to the outside world. She then looked towards the battle and was surprised that Naruto was actually holding his own against Orochimaru's right hand man.
She watched as Naruto succeeded in injuring Kabuto with a combination of bukijutsu and a wind jutsu, then pressed on by conjuring a dozen more shadow clones.
"Be careful Naruto-kun." She whispered as the fight intensified.
Little did she know that her mistress was also watching.
[+]
(Kabuto vs. Naruto)
As soon as Kabuto had defeated all the shadow clones, Naruto came back in with a brutal jump kick into his opponents gut only for said opponent to turn into a pile of mud. 'What!'
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!" Numerous spikes sprouted towards the Uzumaki who just leapt into the air evading them.
'Where is he?' Naruto thought as he touched down on solid ground and found no Kabuto in sight.
Sensory abilities blaring, Naruto twisted round and ducked under a chakra scalpel then shot his right foot upwards nailing Kabuto in the jaw and knocking him skywards for what became the perfect setting for the… "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"NA"
"RU"
"TO"
At this point the fourth shadow clone appeared above the nuke-nin and with a cry of "Uzumaki" axe-kicked the silver-haired downwards where the Original Naruto with his own cry of "Cyclonic Thrust Barrage!" slammed his hurricane covered fist into Kabuto's torso.
"GAAAHHH!" Orochimaru's lackey yelled out as he was blasted through the clearing and into a boulder.
Boom!
[+]
(Orochimaru vs. Jiraiya)
The two Sannin were going at it with speeds that most Jonin will have a hard time following, the jutsus being launched had already transformed the immediate environment into one that had be bombarded with nuclear missiles.
"It appears that your right-hand man has met his match," Jiraiya taunted as Kabuto's screams echoed across.
"Striking Shadow Snakes!" Was Orochimaru's response as numerous snakes sprung out from his sleeve.
"Fire Style: Giant Flame Bomb!" Jiraiya countered firing a massive fireball which incinerated the snakes and continued towards Orochimaru.
Said Snake master didn't bother dodging and just dove through the flames, his sword aiming for the Sage's forehead.
Clang!
'What!' Orochimaru got out surprised that Grass Cutter couldn't penetrate the forehead protector, the sword was legendary for cutting through most metals.
Jiraiya brought him back to earth with a solid punch to the face that launched him into one of the still surviving trees in the battlefield.
"Mt. Myobokuzan steel," Jiraiya elaborated tapping his headband, "Your puny blade wouldn't be able to cut this."
"Lightning Style: False Darkness!"
"What the-" Jiraiya narrowly managed to dodge the speeding spear which tore through several trees behind him, "You know Lightning Style?" He asked shocked.
"Surprised? Well you should be," The Otokage answered with a light chuckle, "My immorality jutsu grants access to all five basics natures."
"Then how come you never used them against sensei?"
Frowning Orochimaru answered, "I didn't expect him to put up much of a fight."
Despite the situation Jiraiya couldn't help laughing, "You underestimated him didn't you?" He didn't bother waiting for an answer, "I see that some things never change."
"Like how you're still the weakest one among the Sannin," Orochimaru snarled at Jiraiya silencing him, "Every student you have taken under your wing ends up DEAD! Doesn't that speak of your teaching capabilities?"
Jiraiya's face twisted up with rage, "You just cross the line Orochimaru," He jumped back a great distance and went through some hand seals, "Summoning Jutsu!" He called slamming his hand on the ground.
Poof! Poof!
"Jiraiya-chan/boy?" Shima and Fukasaku croaked as they appeared before him. "It's been quite some time since you last summoned us," Shima croaked happily before She and Fakusaku noticed Orochimaru's presence. "Oh! That's why."
"I honestly taught you were going for Gamabunta not two geezer toads." The Snake Lord deadpanned.
"Well these two geezer toad are a lot better than Gamabunta," Jiraiya retorted as Ma and Pa hopped on his shoulders.
Orochimaru looked on uninterested, "I have yet to see results."
"Oh the results shall come," Jiraiya grinned as he clapped his hands together, "When your snakey hide gets whopped by the Legendary Toad Sage of Mt. Myoboku!"
[+]
Upon seeing the motionless and seemingly unconscious form of Kabuto, Naruto visibly relaxed his muscles, "Glad that's over."
"Not quite."
"Huh?"
"Most impressive Naruto-kun," Kabuto complimented as he got up to his feet, "You broke four of my ribs and fatally injured me with that blow." He added as he used the Mystic Palms Technique to heal the mentioned injuries.
"H-h-how…" Naruto stuttered, "That should have knocked you out if not killed you."
"I'm not easily killed Naruto-kun," Kabuto calmly said, but on the inside he was slightly afraid, 'I need to keep him busy or I won't be able to finish off Tsunade,' with that decided he made a hand seal.
Naruto tensed up but Kabuto made no other move, 'What's he up to?'
"Naruto-kun behind you!" Shizune's warning alerted the Uzumaki of the presence behind as he ducked underneath the slash of tanto.
'ANBU?' Naruto thought as he took a step back while taking the appearance, 'How come I didn't sense him… them?' He corrected as another joined the first one.
"I think I will leave you to be acquainted with my Dead Soul Jutsu," Kabuto said heading towards the females.
Naruto attempted to go after but got his path blocked by one of the Zombie ANBU who immediately attempted a vertical slash which the blond sidestepped only to be tackled down by the other one.
[+]
"Tsunade-sama, please snap out of it!" Shizune pleaded as she fired a hail of Senbon at Kabuto in an attempt to slow him down.
Kabuto dodged them with relative ease, an arrogant smile on his face as he took his time approaching them, "You should just give up," He told the brunette, "She's practically deadweight at this point."
Said Brunette gave him a nasty glare then charged at him chakra scalpels blazing, the silver-haired activated his and met her in the middle where an incredible Kenjutsu match, but with Chakra Scalpels ensued.
[+]
(Naruto vs. Zombie ANBUs)
Naruto hissed out as he received a slash to his back from one of his Zombie opponents, them being dead made the fight that much difficult as they felt no pain and weren't emitting any emotions rendering his sensory abilities inefficient.
'How do you kill someone that is already dead?' Naruto asked his tenant as he dodged a roundhouse kick.
"Hmm…" Kurama mused before he came up with something, "Try burning them."
The Uzumaki nodded and while in the process of weaving hand seals he jumped back avoiding getting impaled by two blades, "Fire Style: Fox Fire Missile!" He spat a flaming fox at the two zombies in front of him but unfortunately for him said zombies were ANBU while they were still alive and dodged it with relative ease.
"Earth Style…" The Uzumaki whipped around shocked at what he was hearing, "Earth Flow River!" The ground beneath him immediately turned to mud trapping him in place.
'They can use jutsu!' Naruto thought before a zombie ANBU appeared in front of him and slashed forward decapitating... his fellow zombie comrade as its now headless body sunk into the mud.
The switch had surprised the Zombie so much that he was quickly pinned down by four shadow clones as the original finished a set of hand seals and with a cry of "Fire Style: Fox Fire Missile" roasted him whole.
[+]
(Kabuto vs. Shizune)
Realizing that clashing scalpels with Kabuto will take her nowhere Shizune disengaged and jumped backwards.
"Ninja Art: Poison Fog!" Holding up a one-handed hand seal she spewed out a purple cloud which engulfed the nuke-nin.
"Do you really think this will work on me?" Kabuto's voice came as Shizune noticed a faint green glow from within the poison cloud.
'He's healing himself!' The raven haired realized then flashed through some hand seals, "Fire Style: Flame Bullet!" She spat a fireball into the poison cloud igniting it in a blazing inferno. [1]
Thinking that she had got him with her combination Shizune sighed in relief, "Glad that's over-"
"Chakra Dissection Blade!" She heard before crumbling to the ground, her Achilles tendons severed, "You almost got me," Kabuto commented as he stood over the brunette, the silver haired reached into holster and pulled out a kunai which was usually long and curved towards the end, "Time to wrap this up."
Shizune thought he was referring to her but he spun on his heel and charged towards, "Tsunade-sama!" She yelled out in fright.
Said female looked up eye widening as the nuke nin heading towards her with his dagger-like kunai, the Slug Princess tried to move but body wouldn't obey. Tired of it all she just closed her eyes and awaited death.
[+]
(Jiraiya vs. Orochimaru)
Noticing that he was being overwhelmed by Jiraiya's sage mode, Orochimaru was forced to level the playing field by transforming into his true form: a giant, white-scaled snake made up of a multitude of smaller snakes, this form had long spiky black hair, black eye making and a pointed chin.
The Snake master ascent to his Great White Serpent form seemed to have tipped the scales in his favor until Jiraiya, Shima and Fukasaku nailed him with 'Sage Art: Bath of Boiling Oil', an attack which resulted from combining Fire, Wind and Toad Oil to form a super heated jet of oil capable burning through rock.
Orochimaru couldn't dodge the wide spread attack and took it head on, Jiraiya cringed at deafening screams coming from his ex-teammate. The victims of this attack died before they could even register the pain of their bodies dissolving. However Orochimaru in this form did not have that luxury as his scales were incredibly tough.
The screaming soon died down as the giant serpent began to shrink until all that was left was a naked Orochimaru in his human form.
"Is he dead?" Jiraiya questioned as he drew closer.
"Be careful, Jiraiya-chan," Shima warned, "Something doesn't fill right."
The elder toad was proved right a second later as the motionless body convulsed before a white serpent measuring 10ft long and 2ft wide shot out of its mouth and dug deep into the ground making its escape.
"After him, Jiraiya-boy! He's heading back towards the others!" Fukasaku informed.
"Right!"
[+]
(With the Others)
A ripping sound and splatter of blood made her open her eyes.
Before Tsunade stood Naruto with his back turned to her, the pointed tip of the dagger was visible to her as it has impaled through the Uzumaki.
"H-how did-" Kabuto paused, a cold shiver running down his spine as he stared into Naruto's slit red eyes.
"I personally don't like the old hag," Naruto began, his eyes reverting back to ocean blue, "But that doesn't mean I won't come to her aid."
Shizune gasped softly as Chakra began to swirl in Naruto's right palm, Kabuto noticed this too and attempted to withdraw his dagger but the Uzumaki's grip on his hand was too strong.
"RASENGAN!" was roared as Naruto slammed the spiraling orb into Kabuto's chest, the Rasengan rotated with such velocity that it drilled into Kabuto then expanded swallowing him whole.
BOOM!
Kabuto's screams were silenced as the Rasengan exploded blasting him backwards in a swirl pattern.
Shizune and Tsunade were wide-eyed as Kabuto was blasted several meters by the attack before disappearing in a dust cloud, a groan of pain from Naruto as he fell to a knee clutching his chest brought their attention back to him.
Regaining control of her body, Tsunade crawled over to the blond and placing both hands on his shoulders laid him down on the grass. She grabbed the kunai Kabuto had dropped during his flight and tore open the teen's top.
'Punctured Right Lung,' Tsunade sighed with relief then began her work. Midway into the healing she locked eyes with the Uzumaki and mouthed the words 'I'm sorry'.
Naruto grinned slightly, 'Don't be' he mouthed back then closed his eyes for some much needed rest.
Shizune who was done healing her ankles watched the two with a warm smile. She got up on her feet and joined them while idling noting that her mistress seemed to have gotten over her hemophobia.
"A truly dreadful attack but still not enough"
The three snapped their heads to the dust cloud caused by Naruto's Rasengan, 'How is he still ALIVE?' was the universal thought as a disheveled Kabuto emerged slowly from the dust cloud, the gaping wound in his bare chest swirled to a close surprising the two Medical Kunoichi present.
Before Kabuto could take a step forward a massive snake erupted from the ground and with its mouth open swallowed him whole.
Shizune and Naruto turned a bit green while Tsunade did a double take as he recognized the eyes of the snake, "Orochimaru?" She exclaimed.
The snake hissed hatefully at her then dug into ground disappearing out of sight, the female Sannin sighed then looked to her left as she sensed Jiraiya closing in rapidly.
Thud!
Jiraiya in his Sage mode landed some meters away; the ground cracking under his feet. "Damn it, he got away!"
"It's okay, Jiraiya-chan," Shima told him comfortingly.
Fukasaku nodded too, "You will get next time, son."
"Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked as she and the rest were flabbergasted at the sage's appearance. "You managed to beat him, huh?"
"With some help," He gestured to the elder toads on his shoulders, "Thanks Ma, Pa."
"Anytime Jiraiya-boy," Fukasaku replied then added, "But you should make out sometime to master Sage mode."
"I will," The two toads bid farewell then vanished in a puff of smoke, once they were gone Jiraiya returned to his normal look.
"Is everyone okay?" He asked the three.
"A little bruised but fine." Tsunade replied, taking her hands off Naruto's chest as Shizune wrapped bandages around it.
Jiraiya spotted a bit of blood on Tsunade's hands and turned to her with a smile, "So you've finally gotten over your fear of blood, huh?" She nodded but did not elaborate, prompting Jiraiya to ask: "What happened?"
Tsunade glanced at the Uzumaki who was being tended to by her assistant, "Your apprentice happened."
[+]
A/N: Finally done with this Arc.
[1] – I made her Poison fog flammable.
Have a nice day.
Chapter 24: The Return.
Total Number of Words: 5603 Words
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