-AN-
Nothing fun from me this round. Let's get straight to it.
-Story Start-
Temari rubbed her arms, shuffling in place as she and Ino followed the glowing Naruto down into the cave below the skeleton of a dragon. Wasn't that a loop. Dragons were real and apparently didn't ever really die. But damn, was it ever cold down here.
"I'm gonna freeze at this rate."
Ino nodded, "I'd kill for pants." While the skirt was cute and fashionable, built for warmth it was not.
Looking back at them, seeing both Temari and Ino suffering the same issue, Naruto paused to turn around and face them. "Oh, I can warm you up."
Temari blinked as Naruto gained a smirk, walking towards her with a determined look. "Wait, wait, hold on. I know Ino was teasing you, b-b-b-but this isn't the time. I n-n-need to ready my heart!" She froze as Naruto placed a hand on both her's and Ino's shoulders. In an instant warmth filled her and her body began to glow gold much like Naruto's. "Oh. Huh. That's a nifty trick."
Leaning in, he pecked the surprised Temari on the lips before turning to walk back the way they were headed, "Keep your mind out of the gutter Mari. We'll have fun later."
Ino nudged her shoulder as she walked by, "And I thought I was dirty." This was neat, all this chakra and Naruto had who knew how much more to spare? Girl could get drunk off this.
Shaking her head as she continued on after them, Temari enjoyed the new warmth, "This is your fault."
"And don't think I don't realize what you're trying to do Ino."
Shrugging and following Naruto's back, Ino ran a hand along the narrow cave wall. There was chakra here. A lot of chakra. "It's all so, alive. What is this?"
"Probably why Madara chose to die here. Either that or it's because of him." Naruto let his Rinnegan come forth, piercing the darkness ahead of them. "No traps so far."
Temari wondered at that, picking apart the puzzle that was the situation. "Would you consider trapping your resting place when no one in the world even knows where you were?"
Considering that was sound logic, Naruto decided that he would absolutely trap his body. And everyone else's. "Absolutely, rather not end up brought back to life by some idiot looking to take over the world." Naruto ducked under a lowered ceiling, making sure both of the girls didn't hit their heads before continuing on the downward slope.
Ino giggled, "You talk like you're gonna turn into a final boss from a video game."
"I mean." Naruto motioned to his own body up and down once with a hand, before Ino huffed.
"Maybe Sakura is right. Magical Ninja Bullshit."
Naruto pauses the group, the tunnel brightening with blue light as they come up to a wall of glowing rock. The surface almost looking liquid, "Well, that's something." It was a shifting blue and green color that was almost enchanting. But Naruto could see a truly massive amount of seals shifting under its surface. That looked painful.
Ino was reaching out, wanting to feel it for herself, "It's so pretty." She paused as Naruto held up a hand, "Trap?"
"Yup. Hold on." Holding out a hand, Naruto's eyes flashed once before the wall before them began to dissolve. Not really a liquid, but certainly not a solid. They all watched the material seep into the floor. "Cool." He had to give that a go sometime.
As they continued on, Ino pondered over that, "What would have happened if I had touched that?"
"Uh. Ever wanted to know what it was like to become one with the Earth?" Naruto could feel both girls' confusion, so he simplified it, "It would have absorbed you and added you to its matrix to power itself nearly forever."
"Ah. And I bet super painful the whole way?"
Naruto nodded, "That goes without saying."
"Yeah, I'll pass."
Temari looks back towards where the barrier was, a curious look on her face, "I don't know, sounds useful."
Naruto holds up a hand as they come to another barrier, breaking it down with the same ease as before. "I don't even wanna think about it." Stepping past this last barrier, the trio came upon an open chamber, glowing in the same soft blue green light that the barriers had been. The space wasn't large, maybe as big as his old apartment in Konoha. What they found against the back wall was what had their attention.
"Is that?"
"Holy shit."
Naruto nodded with a feral grin, "Let me introduce, Madara Uchiha. Constant pain in the ass to Hashirama Senju, and the strongest of the Uchiha clan. Period. The living human calamity. Former at least."
Ino crossed her arms as Naruto walked up to the husk set into the wall, "So I have to ask. Why were you so insistent that we get to Madara's body so quickly?"
Standing before the preserved body of the Uchiha heir and descendant of Kaguya, Naruto sighed. This wouldn't be a fun one. "I was worried. Zetsu was working towards collecting the biju quickly. I didn't want to take a chance that something worse than Kaguya was coming soon. I wanted the option to be able to bring her back at a moments notice."
Temari raised a single eyebrow, "So now that you have Madara?"
Naruto released a scroll, working quickly to seal away Madara's body before turning back to the girls. "Now besides Killer B's chakra, I should be able to bring back the goddess at any time."
Ino stepped forward, a smirk on her face, "So, about that. Where is Zetsu, exactly?" Naruto had been cagey about that. She smelled a secret.
Whoops. He hadn't admitted that he was playing with time and space again, had he?
'No, you didn't, baka.'
'I blame you.'
'Blame me all you wish, it's your fault. And your funeral.'
Ino was suddenly in Naruto's personal space, very soft chest pressing against his own, "So uh, about that." Why did she have to be so hot? "Whoops?"
Ino held his gaze, poking him in the chest, "Explain."
"Pocket dimension that I can control which has no concept of time unless I am present." Naruto could feel nervousness in his heart.
Temari joined the other blonde woman, pressing herself against the Uzukage, "So. Hypothetically, we could drop into a pocket dimension for as long as we wished?"
Naruto wanted to back away, but realized he had no where to go. Switching between Temari's teal eyes and Ino's blue eyes was doing something to him. "How about, once all of this is over and done, I'll show you how it works."
Ino nodded quickly, pulling away with a smirk on her face, "I can accept that."
Temari shrugged, "Gives me time to adjust I suppose."
Shaking his head, Naruto pulls free and tosses a Hiraishin tag to stick to the ceiling. "And done. Time to return home."
Ino considered things before snapping her fingers, "I thought this was supposed to be dangerous?"
"I was being cautious. I didn't know what we would find here."
Temari looked around before holding out her arms, "Enough stored chakra to probably power a nation for centuries?"
"Traps that would have pulled us apart by the atom?" Ino did have to consider that, "But you also undid those in like, an instant."
"You wanna go up and fight the dragon?"
Temari paused as Ino violently shook her head. "Wait, it's dead right. You were joking right?" She watched as Naruto walked up to pick her up, "Please tell me you're joking." Oh his arms were firm. So many muscles.
Ino placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Somehow, I don't think he is."
"Plus, I have the Hiraishin. I can be anywhere in an instant. Uzushio is never in danger so long as I am free and alive." Naruto grinned as he extended out his senses. "Let's return home with this Desert Rose."
Blushing, Temari felt light, "That was corny."
In the next breath they were back in Naruto's office with Ino grinning at her, "He's full of those." but at least they were home and nothing was on fire. Always a plus.
Naruto turned back to Tayuya, arms still full of Temari, "We're back. See, it was quick." Even though he really, really wanted to go back and fight the dragon.
'Later, after the women are asleep.'
'Sounds like a plan to me!'
-b-
If there was a minor complaint Shochiro had for Kumo, it was that getting used to the high altitude had always been impossible for him. The thin air probably made for amazing training for the ninja, but for his old bones, well, it was a good thing he wasn't expected to fight at all today. He had decided Kumo was going to be wiped off the map but part of the decision weighed on him.
Children.
It was the bigger reason why Naruto spared Iwa. Children shouldn't suffer the failings of their parents. However, Shochiro was older. Had watched Uzushio burn. Had watched women and children, his own at that, put to the sword all in the name of conquest. What of their peace? Why weren't they considered by their enemies. What of the few that were taken away, carted far and wide to suffer in programs much like Kumo's own.
Shaking himself as his mind tried to go in circles, Shochiro reminded himself that Kumo didn't deserve mercy. The ghosts of the Fallen cried out for justice. For vengeance. Lord Naruto had given him discretion in this task. So he would use it. Naruto would want to at least offer Kumo a chance, so Shochiro could do that. After all, Naruto didn't want Uzushio to be like Kumo. And neither did Shochiro. Of course, that didn't mean their chance couldn't be, weighed heavily, towards their own destruction. With a grin as the sun reached its zenith, he placed a hand down on the fountain he had been resting on. A small amount of chakra activated seals, lines of power arcing away to several seals he had placed all along the village's walls. There were cries of alarm from people all over the market as a few were unfortunately zapped by the chakra, but Shochiro had to focus to direct chakra he could not directly control.
A dome of blue and red energy rose from the walls of Kumo, rising to completely engulf the village and mountaintop, locking everyone inside and keeping out some lucky civilians who had been at the gate. Alarms rang out, civilians ran to their homes while Kumo's ninja forces took to the rooftops. Several ninja easily found the seals along the walls, and yet, none knew how to remove them. A few unlucky souls attempted to anyway, only to be pulled screaming into the barrier, bodies broken down into pure chakra as their comrades watched on in horror.
As the chaos and screams filled the air Shochiro watched it all, the chakra lines that had radiated out from him fading away, all except for a single seal that began to glow on his chest, a simple design of a pulsing blue spiral. Though that wouldn't last either, slowly growing into something truly massive that would take over most of his body. Taking his staff in hand and waiting, it didn't take long for a sensor type to lock in on him, before more ninja began to surround him. Well, at least they hadn't killed him right off the bat.
A rather burly blonde man corded in muscle was stalking towards the Monk, scowl on his face as he pointed at the intruder, "You! What have you done!? Release this barrier or die!"
Shochiro blinked while his smile never left his face. "Me? Why, killing me won't help you." He let himself be picked up by the front of his robes, "In fact, you might just be in more danger threatening me." So saying, the man was electrocuted, body convulsing as screams died in his throat. Shochiro dusted himself off and watched the meathead die twitching and gurgling on the ground with bloody foam coming from his mouth, Shochiro turned to the dozen or so ninja that had surrounded him, "Bring me someone in charge! I have orders for them!" Watching them waiver while many backed away from him put a good feeling in his chest.
Darui had been having a decent morning. It was supposed to be peaceful while A was away, and he had sworn to keep the village in one piece while the Raikage was gone. And now this. Some intruder had locked the village down, no one could get in or out and they didn't even know why. Not that Kumo didn't have a shortage of enemies at this point. "Just my luck."
Behind him and trying to keep up, Mabui took in the barrier that shifted and boiled above them, "It's a work of truly masterful seals. Easy guess is Uzumaki origin."
"Tell me something I don't know already Mabui." Darui grunted as they touched down in the market, they could already see a circle of ninja ahead of them, and a couple dead lay on the ground. No visible wounds, but broken bones and joints. He turned back to his other shadow who he had been with when the emergency started, "Stay out of the way but close. We may need you."
Karui nodded quietly, "Yes sir." Was she going to be blamed for this? Of course she would, damned Uzumaki blood.
The crowd parts, Darui in the lead with a hand on his sword, "What is the meaning of this?" Eyeing the bald Monk standing before them, he considers his options. "Did you do this?"
"My what impressive deductive reasoning. Top marks." Shochiro chuckled lightly before sighing and leaning on his staff, "I'm only offering this once, so listen and listen well."
Darui raised an eyebrow, sword edging out just a millimeter, "You think to give us orders?"
"When the fate of your village hangs in the balance. Yes. Yes I do." Eyeing the redhead just behind Darui, Shochiro smirked internally as a dark idea entered his mind. "I'll keep this simple. Round up your children and one civilian adult for every 20 of them. They will be allowed to leave peacefully. So long as that happens, we can talk about what happens next." Would Kumo become a vassal much as Iwa had? Whispers in his mind screamed against the idea, and he had to agree silently.
Huffing, Darui waves a hand to the crowd of ninja around them, "Counter offer. We take your head and figure out how to drop the barrier." It might take some time, but they could figure this out. Bowing to this trash was out of the question. "I can feel it, you have no chakra of your own. You're no threat to us."
"Hmm, then, a warning." Shochiro thrust his staff into the ground, before pulling his arms free of his robes. The top fell, revealing a massive seal that crossed his body, while his family crest pulsed at his heart. "You should know a deadman switch when you see one, yes?"
Well, that was a problem. Damned Uzumaki. "Why? What is this about? You're going to lock us in here and do what? We'll kill you for this eventually." He wasn't the Uzukage after all. No one else had such destructive potential.
"Kumo has committed numerous sins, and the reaper is here to collect." Shochiro takes his staff in hand again, the rings chiming and shaking in his grasp. "I've given you a chance to live for a time, do as I say. The children and their minders will be allowed to leave as refugees to the Land of Hot water or another settlement close by if they choose."
"You can't expect us to separate our children from their parents like that. No. Surely we can come to a different understanding yes? Aren't you Uzumaki all about understanding and redemption?" Darui had read their profile on the Uzukage. A bleeding heart through and through. He had mellowed out recently. Though he had the capabilities to destroy villages, he refused to. He was, in a word, weak.
Shochiro shrugged, "You're human. I expect you to exercise you free will. Do as you wish. I have laid down my terms."
Mabui leans forward, eyes on Shochiro but turned towards Darui, "The Uzumaki respect their blood above all else. Their seals do not work against other Uzumaki. Sir."
"Mmm, good catch." Darui motioned Karui forward, a smirk on his face, "We could always kill you with her. You Uzumaki always take care not to kill one another."
Karui looked between the dead bodies on the ground and back to Shochiro. To think the Monk she had talked to the other day had been an intruder. If only she had caught him then. "Sir."
"If I order it, take my weapon and kill him. Pierce his heart. Prove you are a loyal Kumo Kunoichi."
"Sir." Her mind flies into a frenzy. Was she enough of an Uzumaki for this to work? Could she do it? Would this put her back in the good graces of the Raikage and end her duties as…
Locking eyes on the girl, Shochiro's smile doesn't leave his face as he could see the turmoil behind those eyes, "Think carefully about this girl. The fool tells the truth that Uzumaki seals do avoid other Uzumaki." Here he leans towards her mockingly, pointing a free finger at his chest, "Will killing me give you what you want?"
Darui nods, "She is a true Kunoichi of Kumo, you can't sway her." Here Darui unhooked his weapon from his belt, holding it out to Karui. "Put him down Karui."
"Yes sir." Karui took the sword from Darui, drawing it and walking slowly towards Shochiro and finally some recognition crossed her face. "Old man Shochiro. I remember you now."
"Oh do you child? Does that sway your decision at all?" Sadly, he remembered her mother. Poor woman had finally bitten off her own tongue when they took Karui away from her. The rest were fitted with muzzles after that.
"No. You should have stayed gone with the rest of the trash."
Mabui takes this all in. The barrier above them, the calm that practically oozed off of Shochiro, the seal the pulsed with his heartbeat. "Sir, maybe, maybe we should pause, consider things. Something isn't right."
Darui turned to her slowly, "Do you know something?"
"No, just a feeling. It isn't right. Why is he so calm in the face of certain death?"
Darui watched her, eyes locking onto her own and seeing that she had a certainty that he currently didn't feel. Turning back to Karui who had nearly reached Shochiro, Darui sighed, "Karui, stand down."
Except Karui couldn't hear him, mind buzzing with white noise as she kept her gaze on Shochiro, "I'm a member of Kumo's elite forces. I've sacrificed everything for my people. I will see you dead, Uzumaki." She lunged, readying her strike.
Shochiro grinned, subtle genjutsu were so useful. Not always needed to give the target new sensations or illusions. Sometimes, just blocking out things was enough. Like a commander ordering you to stand down. "I'm ready to die little girl. Are you?"
Karui didn't see Darui order the others to grab her, or pay attention to several ninja already sprinting to stop her. Even if they were far too late. Her arm was already coming forward, years of training with the likes of Killer B honing her reflexes to a deadly edge. "I will save my village with this tainted blood, and be redeemed as a loyal Kumo ninja." The sword pierced him easily, blood bursting from his back as Shochiro shuddered from her weight. "See, this was a foolish endeavor."
And yet, Shochiro was still smiling, blood coating his teeth and dribbling from his mouth. "Thats right though, you aren't an Uzumaki. Just a brainwashed little Kumo ninja." Shochiro's world fades as he finally allows himself to rest. He wondered if he'd get to see his wife and children, one last time before the Shinigami took him to hell.
To the few onlookers at Kumo's gate, it was a terrifying scene to watch. Brick by brick, atom by atom, everything within the barrier began to pull inwards towards a dark sphere at its center and dissolve. There were screams, a tortured sound as matter came apart and reality was bent. Nothing was spared. The process was less than a minute, the barrier eventually turning fully black before with a clap of thunder the barrier shrank down to a ball no bigger than a meter that eventually faded away with a whisper. An entire village, gone in a breath. The top of the mountain carved out and a smoking crater, in which the remaining gate and path leading to it began to collapse into. The survivors fled, eventually spreading the word of what had happened. Kumo was no more. Erased from existence.
-b-
Settling back into his chair with a groan, Naruto accepted Tayuya reclaiming his lap with a sigh. His office was quiet, Temari and Ino sitting across from him at his desk while Sasuke and Sakura continue to be lazy in the provided couches under his weapon wall. Apparently Tayuya had been busy, wrapping up the pile up of his work while he was away, even though it wasn't yet noon. "You really wanted to get out of here huh?"
Tayuya nodded, "You wanted us all back at the compound, so I was going to retreat the first chance I got." Snuggling deeper into his chest, Tayuya hummed, "Even gave Yugito the rest of the day off. Last I heard she's headed to the beach with Samui.
Naruto hummed at that, appreciating her efforts. "Lucky them, maybe we can go join them later." A beach trip sounded good. Relaxation was sorely needed. "Thanks, for listening to me. I appreciate it." He had to make sure to tell them that from time to time. Best to not have misunderstandings. "Well, we've got Madara's body so I feel better. Now to check in with Iwa and make sure they're being good, before I circle around to Kumo and have a word or two with the Raikage."
Tayuya nodded and worked her way free, standing eventually next to his chair, "Think he'll listen to reason?"
"That boar? No way, so I'll probably have to smack him around a little harder this time. Shochiro should have his village nice and locked up by now." Grunting and feeling something shift, Naruto holds up his left arm to pull down his jacket sleeve, a blue seal crawls around his wrist, a solid band with a single white spiral on top that held only one meaning for him. "Nevermind. Kumo is gone."
Everyone in the room blinks at that, but it's Tayuya who places a hand on Naruto's shoulder, "You knew Shochiro would have given them a chance."
"And knowing Kumo, they would have refused." Naruto sighed, before shaking himself free of worry. Kumo had a few lifetimes worth of sins to answer for. This was their fate. "But, at least that means we don't have to worry about them anymore. So that's good news for us."
Ino relaxed a bit in her chair, ignoring Temari who seemed to be heavy into thinking mode, "Guess it's best to lay low, let things settle around the world, before issuing any type of statement? We should call Tsunade and Mei."
Naruto nodded, "Yeah. Might flash out and let Koyuki know. She'll probably cut her trip short, or leave it to Shion and the others." It was Shion's homeland after all. She would still want to see stability secured there. Naruto still stared at the band around his wrist. Something was missing. "Guess we can call Mei first, then Tsunade." Saying as much, he pressed a button on his desk as the monitor on the wall came alive.
Tayuya sighed, sitting on the edge of the desk, "Guess we can lower our readiness alert rating?"
"Hmm, maybe." Something was tickling him as the phone rang. What had he forgotten? Wasn't there supposed to be some red in there? Mei's face appeared, all smiling and sultry to distract him for a moment. "Hey Mei."
"Hello love. Nice of you to call. I'll assume since you aren't here this isn't the fun kind?"
Shaking his head, Naruto eyed her carefully, "I had to get rid of Kumo. The entire village is a crater."
"Thats…" Seeing her eyes go wide in surprise, they all watched as Mei seemed to grapple with the news before a sad smile graced her features, "I know you must have tried to negotiate. Does that mean the Raikage and Killer B have fallen as well."
"Wait…" Now he remembered what he'd forgotten! All at once all of their radios chimed at once, Naruto instantly keying his, "This is Mr. 9, report."
"Barrier group reports a massive chakra signature moving through the waters of Uzushio, it will make landfall in 30 minutes. Signature matches records sir, it is the Jinchuriki Killer B."
Naruto extended his own senses, everyone else in the room already standing and preparing themselves. There he was. Killer B. He hadn't been captured in the seal then. Same with A and what felt like three others. But where were they going? Those ones were splitting off at high speed. Oh fuck. A finger keyed his radio again, "A team is already on the way to intercept the intruders, I want a full lock down of the city asap. Mr. 9 out." Hearing at air raid siren rise up around the city, Naruto turned to Tayuya and the girls, "Get back to the compound, someone thinks they are sneaky."
Mei called from the wall monitor, "Should we send ninja to assist? I can be on my way as well." Already they could see movement behind her, but Naruto was shaking his head.
"We've got this, but I'd say stay alert."
"Hmmm, I suppose." Mei ended the call first, a determined look on her face while Naruto was turning back to the others.
Tayuya gave thanks her chakra was stable once more, body shifting into her seldom used second form with ease. "We'll keep home safe." Tayuya and Ino grabbed hold of Temari who had yet to learn the Hiraishin before flashing away.
Naruto was cracking his knuckles as Sakura and Sasuke formed up at his shoulders. Naruto eyed the girl and the interesting pendant on her forehead, "Sure we can't convince you to sit this one out?"
Sakura grinning, eyes flashing as Sasuke's own bled into his Mangekyo, "You couldn't get rid of me if you tried. Plus, I wanna try something." Rolling his eyes, he latched onto his friends. "Well, let's put down some intruders." In one breath they are in his office, in the next they are touching down on a sandy beach, looking out over the clear Uzushio waters. "Can't wait until we can have an un-interrupted and peaceful week."
Sakura groaned and stretched an arm over her shoulders, "You just want more time to canoodle your wives."
"That too, and maybe a week straight of sleeping and doing nothing important. Sue me." Naruto paused as Sasuke and Sakura pulled ahead of him, bantering back and forth with each other was another chakra signature smacked him in the face. "Oh for the love of."
"Naruto!" Yugito crashed into his back, arms circling his shouldered to hold on tightly and pressing a bikini clad body to him, "I didn't think I would get a visit from you."
Rolling his eyes as the woman nearly purred in his ear, Naruto looked at the long haired blonde from the corner of his eye, "Yeah uh. I forget you don't have a radio, but there's a bit of an emergency going on right now." Sasuke and Sakura were staring at him now, as Samui joined them wearing a rather daring all white number. Naruto smirked as Sakura slapped a hand over Sasuke's eyes. So little fabric. "You should evacuate with everyone else."
Yugito sighed, pulling away as indeed they could hear the air raid sirens that had sent everyone else running to the underground shelters. Only, she wasn't in the mood to run. "Who is it?"
"I promised you that you wouldn't have to fight anymore Yugito." Naruto pulled away, turning to face the pair fully. "Your time fighting is done. Go back and stay safe."
Yugito shook her head, hands on her hips and feet planted, "You all have been good to your word, and I've built a home here. I've been able to have a peaceful life, I've made friends. Reconnected with someone I thought I'd never see again. I want to give back a little." Pointing at him, Yugito grinned, "So, who's coming that we need to smack the shit out of for interrupting our day?"
Naruto watched the quiet Samui join up next to Yugito and sighed, "Killer B and A." Seeing both of them with wide eyes, Naruto nodded, "Like I said. I don't want you to fight. Plus, you aren't really in the correct attire for it."
In a puff of smoke and the sounds of some shuffling, both women were redressed in more serviceable clothing. Yugito did however look uncertain, "Killer B is coming huh."
Samui sighed, eyes turning to the ocean as she considered things, "At this point the Raikage is probably going to execute me anyway." Not like she was going to be of much help in a fight against a Kage and a Biju.
Sasuke sighed, turning away as Sakura finally let go of his head, "Heads up, they're close."
Bobbing his head in a nod, Naruto turned back to both women, "What'll it be. Once they're here I don't think I'll have time to spare." Two clones burst into life on either side of him. "How about a compromise if you want to help so much?"
Yugito and Samui were startled as the clones grabbed them. Yugito was quick to figure things out, "Wait a minute! You ass-" And then they were gone, whisked away to assist with the defense of his clan instead.
Sakura sighed as Naruto turned back towards them, "They're gonna give you hell later."
Sasuke grunted, "You need to be neutered."
"That's for future me to worry about. And hush, before I toss you at the next Daimyo I meet." Chuckling and turning back to an explosion of water not far from the coast, Naruto began to power up. "I'll handle B, think you can smack down A?" B was in full chakra biju mode, though it looked wrong. Forced even. A was riding on his head, glaring down on them as they approached.
"Kukuku, getting the chance to beat down a Kage? Why would I refuse?"
Sakura shivered and smacked her love for his efforts, "Don't do that, you sounded like Naruto."
"Naruto Uzumaki! I've come for your head!" A's voice boomed, and Naruto feigned indifference and wiggled a finger in his ear.
"Sorry, totally not my type! I'm into jiggly bits not dangly bits!"
Veins bulged from A's forehead as lightning coursed all over his body, "I'm going to kill you brat and shove your head on a pike!" Launching himself forward, he's almost immediately intercepted by a dainty red nailed fist. "What?" Said fist smashed into his face and set him bouncing along the beach.
Sakura grinned as she rebounded off of the bucking chakra construct that B had become and chased after Sasuke who had moved to intercept A. "You gotta get through us first old man!"
B moved to stop them, but was met with Naruto. The golden form of Kurama grinned down on the malformed Octobull. "Uzumaki."
"B. Guess this is the path you chose then?"
B sighed, locking eyes with the younger Jinchuriki, "You should understand. I have a duty to uphold, and honor guides me."
Naruto shoved a foot into B, tossing the construct away and into the surf. "I hate those words. Like you don't have a mind of your own!" Walking after B with all nine of his tails thrashing into the waves and into the sky around them, Naruto pointed a finger at B, "You are human aren't you!? Choose damnit! You aren't a slave!" They came together with a crash, sending up water and earth as Fox overpowered the Bull hybrid.
"All of us are slaves to something boy!" Working a horn free, a tentacle slammed into Naruto's chest, only for two golden tails to smash into B's face. This would be much easier if Gyuki would stop being stubborn.
'I truly hope he kills you.'
No help there of course. Instead he rode the hit, letting it launch him away as dense chakra began to build within his mouth, "Try this on for size boy!"
Naruto's eye lit up, deciding it was time to show the other container just why fighting him was such a stupid idea. "Go ahead! Whatever you send my way, I'll give it back ten fold!" Having exchanged some hits with the other container, Naruto could tell. Gyuki wasn't in this, B was fighting alone.
'B's committed a great sin.'
'He's made his choice.' Naruto watched as the dense black chakra grew in size, his own hands mirrored by Kurama's shell and coated with seal, "Guess we'll need to free Gyuki then."
'Good choice little brother!'
B forced the dense biju chakra to condense, before forcing the chakra body to eat it. "Taste a full powered Biju-dama from the eight tails!" There was light and heat, all sound drowned out in an overwhelming display of power that saw the very ocean begin to boil. He couldn't see as Naruto caught the ball, stripping it of it's chakra and absorbing it into himself. But he did see Naruto still there, grinning within the chest of the Kyuubi and rushing him, "What?"
"Hold this!" A biju sized Rasengan burst into life, mixed with wind and fire chakra to form a spiraling shuriken filled with liquid fire. "Rasengan-disintegrator!" Naruto let the attack fly, catching B in the face and watching the other chakra construct get captured in a massive dome of wind and fire that howled high into the sky. Knowing the timing, Naruto was already racing ahead, just reaching B's reforming chakra cloak as the attack ended. "Let's go B! Is this the fight you wanted!?"
Hands and tentacles coming up to struggle against Naruto's own tails and hands, B gave ground. He'd have to take to the water, use what advantages he had. Staying this close to land was only helping the boy. Stumbling back once, twice, three times, B grinned as he felt the ocean floor begin to slope heavily away. "We're just getting started Naruto!"
"We better be!" Naruto needed to subdue him properly so he could extract Gyuki. Killing him or atomizing him wouldn't do him any good. Making the captive Biju suffer wasn't high on Naruto's priority list. So, looks like he was in it for the long haul. B hauled Naruto up and over his head, slamming Naruto into the deeper waters before disappearing into the depths himself. With a little effort Naruto was back up and on the water's surface, a smirk on his face as he waiting.
'This'll be fun.'
'Absolutely.' Just finishing the thought, B now in a much smaller more form fitting chakra cloak was sent spiraling out of the water into the air, three chitinous tails chasing him. "Thanks Sanbi!" A roar answered him from the water, but Naruto was already flying ahead, abandoning the overkill that was the Biju mode, to instead move on into his Sage mode, Rinnegan shining. "Let's see what kind of swordsman you are B!" Kubikiri was in his hand with a thought, already arcing through the air to dismember the bigger man.
B drew two of his blades, blocking Naruto with some effort before the impact pushed him away. But Naruto was right there, falling through the air with him and raining down heavy bone rattling strikes on him all while keeping that feral grin on his face. Face twisting into a scowl, B drew a third blade and wielded it with his teeth. "You've giving to much of yourself to your Biju boy!"
"More like you've stopped listening to your's at all!" Naruto brought down an overhead strike, speed and power increased with magnet release on his blade, while further sharpened with wind chakra along its edge. All three of Killer B's weapons here destroyed in an instant, throwing B like a falling star back into the rolling sea below them. Naruto floated there in the air for a moment, eyes shining as he waited, before a half transformed B rose out of the depths, screaming in rage and trailing fiery red chakra. Holding up a hand as his grin increased, Naruto dug into the Rinnegan now. "Shinra Tensei!"
B was thrown back down into the waters below, chakra wavering but trying to come up with a plan. 'You'll really sit back and let him kill us?'
'Hump, you assume he'll kill you.'
B rose back to the surface, deftly avoiding the searching tails of the Sanbi circling around below their fight. 'Sure seems like he wants to!' Chakra snapping back into existence, he rode within the uprising water while drawing three more of his remaining four blades. "You'll have to try harder than that Naruto!" Naruto was in his face, eye's shining as his right arm opened with augmented puppetry technology and began to glow with power.
"How hard would you like it!?" Chakra exploded forth, the chakra cannon utilized by the clone sending B careening away to skip along the water's surface. The Jinchuriki of the eight tails was quick to find his feet, only to be assaulted by five more clones. His last blade was in his hand, deftly blocking a clone grasping for his head before getting launched away by the puppet Naruto once more.
The real Naruto floated above, watching B weave between the attacks and doing his absolute best to counter attack while he could. And inside, Naruto could feel the trapped Biju. Gyuki was angry, hurt, a mix of emotions as the container he had thought he could trust and depend on had finally betrayed him in the end. A dreadful feeling washed over Naruto, before Kurama huffed.
'You'll never be like him, remember that.'
'Thanks Kurama, I'll keep that in mind.' There was an explosion in the distance, and Naruto saw sand and dust rising into the air. 'Sasuke and Sakura are having fun.'
'Best get back to it, B is starting to wane.'
Naruto could see that as well, the clones hemming him in though he had destroyed one at least. But his chakra was an unstable mess, the bastardized Uzumaki containment seal doing its best but just not enough. Shooting down towards his target, Naruto kicked up water in a high rooster tail as he flew towards his fellow Jinchuriki, "Brace yourself Killer B!"
B was already turning, the clones around him jumping away as red and black chakra snapped into a thin cloak around his body. Sword already in mid swing and beginning to trail electricity, his glasses glinted in the sun as Naruto was suddenly before him. "Let's go!" Naruto's sword whistled through the air, crashing against B's own that was encased in both his biju chakra and lightning chakra. It wasn't enough, the Sage breaking through and taking his arm as he flew past, leaving B whirling and trying to stay on his feet. The pain didn't register yet, even after spying his arm splashing into the water and staining the sea with his blood. Naruto was already back, sword flipping and reversing back towards his legs. So fast. Too Fast. B was falling, his left leg gone below the knee as he watched his foot spin through the air. So, this was it. He really had lost.
Naruto sighed, holding his sword over Killer B's chest as the large man lay in the water panting for breath. The only reason his body hadn't fallen below the waves was Naruto's own chakra keeping up the surface tension. "It's a shame you know? We could have been friends, made a real difference. Fuu wanted to see all of us come together someday ya know? You just-"
"I have my honor. I never would have turned against Kumo. Even for you."
Shaking his head, a tail extending from his cloak, a scroll bursting into view from a seal, "Maybe you should have. Kumo might have survived."
Blinking as the last of his chakra faded away, B turned tired eyes towards Naruto. He was so cold now. So tired. "Wh-what?"
"Kumo's gone B. They couldn't be saved."
"A was right. *cough* You Uzumaki would be the death of Kumo in the end. Seems all the warnings meant nothing in the end."
"Sounds like a self fulfilling prophecy. If you'd left us alone, we'd never have anything to do with you."
"Says you."
Naruto nodded, sealing B away before he could bleed out. "Yeah. Says me." Turning to spy a rising dust cloud in the distance before a shockwave hit him, he rolled his shoulders, "One down."
Kurama was grinning in his mind, 'One to go.'
-b- We turn back time, to just as Naruto separates from Sasuke and Sakura
Sasuke draws his sword, blitzing over the sand after the Raikage who was already back on his feet, with a shout, lightning chakra met lightning chakra, Sword against super powered muscles. "Well, you're big."
A grinned down on the boy who thought to stand up against him, "Move aside boy. You aren't the Uzumaki and not worth my time." The Kage was forced to lean back and retreat, a foot trailing visible chakra passing through the space his head had been. Another tremor shook the area, but he was unable to counterattack, Sasuke already there swinging his sword to protect his wife's back. A's fists flashed back and forth, deflecting and redirecting strikes with little space to spare. Sand and dust fly in the air, surrounding the two in a sphere of low visibility while Sakura circles around the edges of their kill zone. There was no time for her to shoot in and assist, not yet. Even still, she circulated even more chakra through her body, muscles coiled and ready for the sign of something changing.
A moment, Sasuke pushed back as A blocked his blade with a lightning covered fist, and then Sakura is there, her own fist coming forward to crash into his own that had been shooting for Sasuke's head. Sasuke was already inhaling and molding chakra in his lungs, determined to melt A's face off. A uses Sakura's fist to leapt away backwards, the Grand Fireball immolating the space he had been in and liquefying the sand and silica into a thin layer of molten glass in seconds. As the attack ends and the wind carries away the dust, A is there in Sakura's face, a mad grin on his face as his arm is extended for his signature move. "Lariat!"
Surprise morphed into a matching grin, Sakura ducking in order to drive a straight right deep into the Raikage's solar plexus. "Lariat this meathead!" Eyes shining, she drives the Raikage further back, with Sasuke coming to stand just in front of her with his sword raised. Standing up and cracking her knuckles, Sakura huffed, "He's fast. Naruto fast."
"Almost, and don't overdo it."
A made his way back to his feet, chuckling as he dusted his pants off. "Ahhh, it's been a long time since I've fought someone that could react that fast. Odd." A looked at the Sharingan wielding Uchiha, then to the smirking pink haired woman, and began to frown. "So that's how you do it. Genjutsu a specialty of yours girl?"
Sakura huffed, adopting a stance and widening her base, "Among other things." Pupils shifting slowly into two tomoe Sharingan, "Should have figured you'd notice."
"Another Uchiha brat, should have known. Why are you helping the Uzumaki, they're a blight on this world. You of all the clans know this." A fist came up, intercepting Sasuke's sword and they were back to fighting within their own personal circle of death.
Sasuke smirked, "Maybe we know better, and you're the one who's been operating under a lie."
"You're saying someone pulled the wool over all of the previous Raikage? Be serious boy." That sword of his streaked by his face, a thin line of blood opening up on his cheek.
Pressing his attack, Sasuke stepped forward, forcing the Raikage to retreat, "I am being serious and you would know all about it if you had just given us a chance to talk to you." Sparks flew between them, and Sasuke was beginning to wonder how long his sword was going to hold. It wasn't some legendary creation like Naruto's Kubikiri. "Naruto has been trying to get you to see reason you old bastard."
Veins bulging, A's next strike broke Sasuke's sword in two, shards embedding into his knuckles before his over-extension saw him drive his fist into the ground. The earth shook as a pillar of dust and sand was thrown into the air. It took more time for the area to clear, but in a small crater that had been formed A was there, frown on his face as he picked metal from his hand. "Don't speak to me about that brat. I'll be dealing with him after I'm done with you."
Sasuke sighed and exchanged a look with Sakura who shrugged, "You can't say you didn't try. Should we go ahead and tell him Kumo is gone?"
Rolling his eyes, Sasuke turned to keep the Raikage in his sights, "You just did."
"Whoops?"
A looked between them, pausing in his march as he looked for the lie. For some show that they were messing with him. No. He knew. His forefathers had warned them. So long as the Uzumaki live, Kumo would fall. It was only a matter of time. Which meant this was now a mission of vengeance. "I'm going to kill you both."
Sasuke held his right hand out, concentrating as black fire rose and built into a 3 foot rod. With some effort and thought, the fire solidified into a blade of darkest obsidian, which he held in his hand with a smirk. "Point to me, let's continue."
A jumped away, closer to the coast as he finished a set of seals with lightning assisted speed, "WATER LIGHTNING DRAGON!" A construct of water rose and built behind him, before taking in the pair of Uchiha and lunging for them, gaining lightning as it passed by its master. Sasuke was there to intercept it, while Sakura dove in to re-engage A in close combat. "Foolish girl!" A fist came down.
Sakura's left rose from her hip to meet it, Tomoe spinning and eyes shining, "The only fool here is you, Last Raikage!" Their fists met in a shockwave that cleared the area down to the rock underneath the beach sand, the pendant on Sakura's forehead shining and chakra ink bleeding out in a tribal design down her cheeks. They fought against each other for a moment, before they broke away as an even match.
And then Sasuke was there, sword coming down on A's arm, "Don't touch my wife." The cut was clean, the wound cauterized by hellfire was A was left staring at the stump of his left arm. Huh. That would make things harder. But both Uchiha were already upon him, and with some clarity, he realized he needed to pull back. Regroup with B.
"You aren't my targets, I need to get after that Uzumaki brat."
"Oh, don't mind me, I'm enjoying the show." And there he was, floating harmlessly over their battlefield with a smirk on his face.
A's face twisted further into a scowl as hatred built in his heart, "You!" He avoided another sword swipe as he reactivated his lightning armor. He knew better now than to touch this blade.
Naruto was all grins, "Me." Eyes shining, he considered the Raikage as he fought between Sasuke and Sakura. They really were giving him the run around.
'And I thought you played with your food.'
'Never let it be said Sakura and Sasuke don't have a mean streak a mile wide.'
A kick sent the pink haired girl rolling back into the sand, but that just gave Sasuke more room to work, sword coming in a whistle before reversing and carving through sand and air alike. Even the rend in the terrain had instantly turned to sand. A's voice was tinged with rage now, "You Uzumaki should have stayed dead!"
"And you should pay attention to your surroundings."
A didn't have to look, a back kick nearly catching Sasuke in the midsection, but Sakura was back with a fist radiating chakra that crashed into his knee. He knew it was shattered even before he hit the ground. And then there was that blasted sword, his right arm gone just above the elbow before he could think to react. Down and beaten, A started up at the pair while Naruto floated above them like a demented demon. "This. How?"
Sasuke sighed, dispelling his technique with ease, "How does it feel, knowing you were on the wrong side of history?"
A stared in defiance directly at Naruto, eyes for no one else but him. "The world will see you for what you are. Sooner or later. You're no savior. But a demon to tempt humanity to their death."
Rolling his eyes, Naruto created a single clone bearing the Rinnegan which walked up to the Raikage, "Honestly, I'm not too worried about what the world may or may not think of me when this is over. You made your bed, time to lay in it."
A tried and failed to fight off the hand that grabbed him by the scalp. "I won't talk, not to you. Kumo will rise again."
"Not your Kumo, and they'll know better than to fuck with me." Naruto watched as the clone pulled A's soul from his body. It was quickly stored away for later use, before he turned back to his team and family. "And so ends the lunacy of the Raikage." He'd really have to let Koyuki know about the state of things now.
Sasuke and Sakura were already jogging towards him, worry on their faces, "We should head back to the island, what about that team?"
Naruto was already grinning as his friends latched onto him as he lowered himself down to their level and stood on his own two feet. "Oh, I wouldn't worry too much. Those girls have some frustration to work out." With a thought they were gone, leaving behind a quiet beach that come high tide would be washed clean. No sign of the battle that had taken place there. And by tomorrow? It would be a fresh and clean play, ready for peaceful visitors.
-AN-
I wondered for a bit, if I should really draw out B and A's battles, but ultimately decided it wouldn't be a good idea. B might be able to fight somewhat with Naruto for a time, but only because Naruto needed him alive. A though? As far as Naruto was concerned, A was never a threat.
That said, this was fun to write. And I'm happy with it. Now some focus on the other Uzumaki, and then a cooldown chapter. After that, well. Who knows.
