Here is the new chapter. I hope you guys like it. I just ask you to review the chapter for me please. I would love to hear any comments or critiques. As a writer, I appreciate it 100 percent. So at least do that if you could. Hope you guys do enjoy this new chapter because the next one is gonna be a lot of fun.
Chapter 4
Into the Vortex
Long and winding would be a great description of the journey Kenji and his friends were on. Although most people would be terrified to be going into the proverbial lion's den. They didn't fear it, everyone knew how dire this could be. But they didn't shed one drop of sweat.
The days were smooth sailing in terms of travel. The weather was calm and nice, the nights were clear and lacking clouds, showing the endless sky of stars. All 3 couples would show their state of mind as the minutes ticked away, leading to hours, and then days. Kenji and Sakura were still focused on the task at hand. Showing no signs of diverting from the mission. Hideki and Tenten were just excited to help out… after all, as stated before it was their first mission in years. The last mission Hideki went on was helping Kenji out with retrieving a rare gem from the core of Fire Country. Tenten's last mission was helping Ryuzan out with gathering up material for a sword.
Ryuzan was calm and collected. Like Kenji and Sakura, he was focused on this mission and how powerful the enemy could be. But his attention was directed towards the last member of the team, HInata. He saw her trailing behind them and he walked by her. He didn't know if it was either the excitement of the upcoming battle or if it was the upcoming threat at hand. He would grab her hand, Hinata's eyes shifted to her husband and Ryuzan gave her a reassuring grin. She smiled back at him, as he kissed her hand and the two continued with the journey.
They soon arrived at a campsite, it was a day's journey left before they would arrive at the coordinates that Sasuke and Naruto gave them so they could set up camp for the night. Kenji, Hideki, and Ryuzan gathered up wood and gathered some food while the girls prepared dinner. They would eat the meal as they would settle for the night. Kenji would volunteer to watch the first 3 hours. He would spend the time sharpening his sword before Sakura got up from her bed and sat beside her husband.
"Let me guess, you couldn't sleep?"
"I guess you could call it pre-battle jitters. I mean it's been a while since we had a mission Ken-Kun."
"It has been a few years since we even left the village together. Let alone with a group to go into battle."
"I think the last time we went on a mission together was a year before Kaito was born."
Both of them looked up at the night sky, marveling at the beauty of the endless alignment of stars. The moon was full and fireflies were out and about in abundance. It was a beautiful night that can't be overstated, but the husband and wife just basking in the moment. Sakura snuggled next to Kenji and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Ken-Kun, do you remember the night you proposed to me?"
"I sure do, that moment will always live inside my memories forever." He said, scratching his nose. "It was a night just like this I believe. It was on your birthday when I proposed. I remember taking you to your favorite restaurant that night. We did some Karaoke, and after that, we went to the very place where we met and became friends. I managed to get down on my right knee and popped the question."
"Were you nervous?"
"I was terrified if I can be honest, Because I didn't know what your answer was gonna be. I think most guys that pop the question sweat bullets with the fear of rejection. But in the end, I guess everything worked out for us."
"It sure did, we have two of the most wonderful kids anyone could ever ask for. It's amazing how they're growing up. Mafuyu is becoming such a strong kunoichi, and soon Kaito will grow into one fine ninja." Sakura said, with a proud smile on her face.
They looked into the fire, and the realization of the next day would come to mind.
"Hey Sakura, I think we'll do just fine tomorrow."
"For real, We not only have Ryuzan and Hinata, Tenten and Hideki, but we have each other. We're gonna kick some major ass tomorrow." She said, with a fierce energy in her eyes.
Both of them kissed before Hideki and Tenten awoke to take their place. Kenji and Sakura would then get some sleep as Hideki and Tenten would then go over their supplies for tomorrow. Hideki, like Kenji, would sharpen a sword cane which was his staple weapon for so many years. It was an heirloom from his father. Tenten went over her weapons scrolls, two gigantic scrolls he would carry on her person, even after the fourth great ninja war.
"There we go, all nice and sharp. Can't wait to chop some enemies tomorrow." Hideki said, with delight.
"You know when we get home, I can always upgrade that for you?"
"Thanks anyway Ten-Chan, but my mom told me my dad got this as a gift from her. So I want to keep it as pristine as I can."
"Always using it as a weapon is kind of redundant." She thought to herself.
The both of them took turns rotating the logs in the fire to keep it active. Hideki would try to keep focused but was plagued with some weird thoughts going into this battle. Thinking how Hana described Sasuke's conduction.
"Hey Ten-Chan, I was just thinking about tomorrow."
"What were you thinking about?"
"I don't know, maybe we should have stuck to training like Kenji and the others. Do you think we'll be able to do this?"
"I believe we'll be alright, if not then Hana will be so pissed at us. Just don't die tomorrow." Tenten said, with a laugh.
"I guess it can't be helped to be worried about these types of things. I mean I guess I am guilty of putting training on the back burner to be more helpful to Naruto."
"Then I guess you will have to get back to work when we defeat this guy."
Hideki rubbed the back of his neck and laughed at himself. "She's not wrong on that front."
She would then ruffle his head and kiss him on the lips.
"Don't worry little man, I'll protect you."
"I have the weird feeling you're making fun of me?" He said, with Tenten sticking her tongue at him.
"Maybe… but I do it because I love you so freaking much." She said, kissing him on the lips once more.
It wasn't too long til Ryuzan and Hinata would be the last two to take their place, while Hideki and Tenten would sleep a tad bit more. While Hinata sat down, Ryuzan would pour her some tea he brought with them. He would hand her the tea, and she nodded in thanks. He took his seat next to Hinata. They sat silently, the moments ticking away but a calmness was steadfast and they looked at their slumbering friends.
"The calm before the storm. Feels like we're walking into some sort of trap." Ryuzan said, breaking the silence.
"I don't think so, I think we have the numbers to defeat this guy."
"Optimistic foresight Hinata, but do you think we'll win this upcoming fight?"
"Our friends will lead us to a victory. We're no slouches either my love. You've become a stronger swordsman and I've become a better fighter since our union. I know for sure we will go home to Neji."
The morning soon arrived, and after eating something quick for breakfast they would be headed out. The closer they got, the area felt like it was changing. The pristine blue sky began to darken like a storm was on the horizon. The energy and chakra in the area were going off the chart. A ferocious presence was in the distance and would make any normal man run away like a wounded dog, but these were not your normal individuals. They would soon notice a weird vortex in the sky, this must be what Sasuke was telling them about. They continued until they got to the edge of a cliff.
Hinata soon activated her Byakugan to look over at the enemy ninja.
"What do you see Hinata?" Kenji asked the Hyuga Heiress.
"They remind me of the White Zetsu we fought years ago, there's quite a bit of them. And at the core of the army of these mysterious bodies is the one we're after."
"What do you think we should do?" Tenten would ask out loud.
Ryuzan looked down at the area and found there were no places where they could launch an ambush. They would have to take the fight head-on.
"We might just have to rush in." He said, drawing his sword.
Sakura would activate her seal and Kenji would also draw his sword. Hideki would pocket a few chakra pills so he could keep up Genjutsu if needed. Tenten prepared her weapons scrolls and Kenji would be the first one to leap down to confront this mysterious threat with everyone following suit. The man in the robes anticipated their arrival so he cleared his throat.
"Welcome… I've been expecting you six to join me."
Kenji could feel his chakra was unlike something he'd never felt before, and Hinata couldn't believe her eyes as well. The malevolent chakra was off the charts. Ryuzan could see Hinata tremble a bit.
"Hinata, stay firm honey. Don't show him you're scared." He said, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. She shakes off her fears and goes into a battle stance.
"So I take it you want to fight?" The man says to the ninja, as they get ready to fight against this threat. "Well then, let us begin." He says, snapping his finger, and his henchmen, like zombies, would go after Kenji and the others.
"ALRIGHT GUYS, THE TEAM THAT TAKES OUT THE MOST GETS FIRST DIBS ON THE BOSSMAN!" Sakura yells, with her and Kenji aligning up.
"Loud and clear Sakura, let's slice and dice." Kenji says, drawing his sword.
"First dibs huh, I like that type of motivation Sakura." Ryuzan said, with him and Hinata getting into position.
"For our friends and family… let's stand tall and defeat them." Hinata says, with a confident smile.
"Us vs. an army of low-ranking goons… sure brings back old memories." Hideki says with a chuckle.
"Hope they like imitating a pin cushion." Tenten proclaims, unraveling one of her giant scrolls and deploying a giant battle ax.
As the hordes of henchmen came charging at Kenji and the others, Kenji and Sakura would begin the fight. Kenji would close his eyes and red lightning would surround him as his hair would change from silver to crimson red and his eyes would change as well... from cold blue to crimson red. He would take a few steps and like a blue would cut down 4 with no effort. Sakura would take a battle stance and activate her seal, enhancing her speed and strength. She would duck one coming, she then would channel chakra in her hands and feet and would take one down with a ferocious punch and knee one on the face. One would try to grab her from behind but Kenji would chop its hand off, allowing Sakura to go for a powerful uppercut. One would go for Kenji, but Sakura would return the favor to Kenji by nailing it with a heel kick.
"And that's how we lay the smackdown." Kenji screams out loud.
Ryuzan and Hinata stood back to back, waiting for the next group of henchmen to come at them. Hinata focused her Byakugan and saw one try to strike her. But she blocked it and Ryuzan struck it down. Another tried to hit him but Hinata struck a vital point on the lackey. Two lunged but Ryuzan sucked and Hinata attacked one with an open palm strike, while Ryuzan sliced the other one in half. Both Ryuzan and Hinata looked at each other with a cocky smirk. Four more tried their best to get at both of them and would suffer the unstoppable defense Hinata had laid for these mindless soldiers with her 64-palm defense strike. Leaving Ryuzan to take out the trash.
Ryuzan and Hinata were tied with Kenji and Sakura with 8 apiece.
"Damn it… looks like we're tied." Ryuzan said, snapping his fingers.
"Let's see how Hideki and Tenten fare now." Hinata says as they wait for what their body count will dictate.
All Tenten and Hideki had to do was glance at each other to initiate their combination plans. As 4 of the man's thugs charged in, all it took was Hideki to take a glance and they quickly stopped dead in their tracks. You would think that Hideki was a Uchiha with a powerful Genjutsu like that, but the years of training with his sensei made his jutsu robust to the point where he could lock low-level ninja in a mind-altering jutsu with just a look in their eyes. This would set up Tenten to fly through hand signs and the giant scrolls she had on her to explode with hundreds of Kunai, Shuriken, and Senbon needles to rain down on the henchmen. However, one would hit Hideki with a kunai, causing him to stab him with his Sword cane and Tenten come down with an Ax slam. While they didn't take out as many as their friends, they did prove that they were not rusty by any means.
"Man, what a freaking rush." Tenten proclaimed, with a Cheshire cat-like grin.
"We'll celebrate later Ten-Chan, right now we have more pressing matters." Hideki said, with a bit more serious tone. This would snap her out of her celebratory mode and focus on the task at hand.
The man clapped his hands, impressed by the actions of the ninja in front of him. He slowly started to approach them as the Konoha six stood in battle position.
"I must say, I have to applaud your effort. It goes to show how well your teamwork has gotten you. But now the true test is at hand. I want you to give me everything you have, and if you don't I will destroy your entire world!" He shouted as dark energy enveloped him.
Kenji looked at the others and all of them agreed without muttering one word that it was not the time to show off, it was now time for the six of them to fight and defeat this mysterious figure. Kenji gripped his sword tight as Sakura would crack her knuckles. Kenji then lays out the battle plan.
"Alright guys, we'll start things off. Once we go… Ryuzan, I want you and Hinata to follow up. Then Hideki and Tenten, once we open him up… follow up with a quick Genjutsu to paralyze him enough for Tenten to nail him with more weapons."
"You think this will be enough to take him down?" Hinata would ask Kenji.
"I'm sure, with you shutting down his chakra network, and with us distracting him we should be able to take him down for sure. Think you could hit him with a more powerful Genjutsu Hideki?"
"No guarantees Kenny, but I can give it my best shot."
"Ken-Kun, how should we approach this?" Sakura asked her husband.
"We will just have to go for a basic offense first, and then we'll go for the Kenji-Sakura double whammy technique." He answered with a smile.
"Man, it's been a while since we nailed that." She chuckled, focusing her chakra on her feet.
"Kenji-Sakura Double whammy technique? You couldn't think of a better name than that?" Ryuzan scoffed, shaking his head.
"Just a simple code word, you'll see in a bit. Just remember to follow our lead."
"Alright, good luck then you guys." Hinata said, with Kenji and Sakura giving them a thumbs up.
And with that, with the man closing in on the six of them, Kenji and Sakura would launch into their combination. It would start with Kenji rushing in and swinging his sword, the man would avoid the attack. Kenji tried a few more attacks with his sword but the man would duck and weave through each of Kenji's sword swings.
"He's fast, he managed to dodge each of my attacks."
The man then appeared behind Kenji and elbowed him in the back, sending him tumbling to the ground. Sakura would then make her move and would dart right towards the man, she would try to attack with a flurry of strikes. Punches and Kicks but her attacks would do nothing as he would dodge her attacks. Sakura would then try to nail him with a kick, but the man would grab her foot and would toss her away. Kenji intercepted Sakura and caught her in his arms.
"Ken-Kun, he's a lot faster than I thought." Sakura said, dusting herself off.
"Yeah, I guess since we tested the waters... it's time for our combination jutsu."
Sakura would leap out of Kenji's arms and dust herself off. Both kissed each other before round two.
"Alright Sakura, you start it up." Kenji said as Sakura would dash towards the man in the cloak.
She would activate her seal once again but also activate an additional speed seal he had on making her movements massively untraceable. This would catch the man off guard. She would appear in front of the man and hit him with a knee. And then a few punches for good measure. Kenji then had his turn he removed his speed seal and then flash stepped in front of the man and slashed at him with the sword, while cutting him there was no blood to be seen. Kenji then ducked down and placed his blade against his gauntlet as he let Sakura leap on his shoulder. This would be the start of their combination jutsu.
"Hayabusa Combination Technique: Cherry Blossom Storm Jutsu"
Red lightning travels up from Kenji's sword and transfers to Sakura, enveloping her with the red lightning. She would then leap from his shoulders and fly at the Cloaked man, shower him with punches, and then duck down and kick under his chin sending him into the air. Kenji would then hold his sword up as a pillar or red lightning would strike down at the man.
"RYUZAN… HINATA… You guys are up."
Ryuzan would then vanish and appear above the man and cut him down with his sword. Sending him flying into Hinata standing in strike position.
"8 Triagrams 128 palms!" As she would strike at the man's pressure points with her precise strikes. He would then stumble as Ryuzan would drop next to Hinata as she would prepare for her ultimate attack.
"Gentle Fists: Twin Lion Strike Jutsu" She screams as her fists with the lions hit him hard. At the same time, Ryuzan surrounded himself with water and focused it on his sword, he would swing his sword down at him.
"Water Style: Dragon Storm Slash Jutsu!"
A torrent of water in the shape of a massive dragon would strike him, and since he was still suffering the effects of the lightning would be electrocuted. Ryuzan looked over at Hideki and Tenten.
"Alright guys, go in for the grand finally!"
Hideki would then focus and get ready for the most powerful Genjutsu in his arsenal. A technique that would allow him to command the man in the cloak.
"Forbidden Technique: Mental Override Jutsu!" Hideki said as he told the man to remain perfectly still. As Tenten kicked the last bit of her giant scroll open to fly through more hand signs, the scroll would explode. Soon it revealed a gigantic array of every type of ninja weapon. Kenji and the others were petrified as they saw the sick and sadistic smirk on her face.
"And just to let you know asshole, I have some of the most deadly poisons coating the blades of these weapons." Tenten shouted, as she used the strings on her fingers and prepared the final commands.
"And now my grand finale, Tenten Specialty technique: Steel Hellstorm Jutsu!" As the metal weaponry would shower on the man in the cloak, countless amounts of ninja weapons pierced his entire body. Kenji and the others don't sense any chakra whatsoever from the human equivalent of a pin cushion.
Tenten stumbled a bit after, she started to fall as Hideki would catch her. She gave Hideki a groggy smile as she looked like she was gonna pass out. He would gently lay her down as he placed her head on his lap.
"Did I do good Hideki?"
"You were phenomenal Tenten, now rest up." He said, giving her a quick peck on the lips.
Kenji, Sakura, Ryuzan, and Hinata soon arrived next to their friends. Kenji was quite impressed by the jutsu both Hideki and Tenten used.
"I guess Rinka-Sensei decided to teach you that one I take it."
"Hell yeah, you don't think I was truly retired did you Kenny?"
"Well no, It just seems like it's a bit taboo, to be honest."
"She told me not to use it unless there was a truly unstoppable threat. And I thought, why not unleash it on an opponent like him."
"Pretty impressive move I have to say." Ryuzan responded, patting his teammate on the shoulder. "You done good Hideki, you done good."
"Aww shucks Ryuzan, it was nothing."
Sakura and Hinata looked down at their friend as Sakura and Hinata both applied a healing jutsu to help restore some of her Chakra. Normally it would take a chakra pill to heal her, but that jutsu drained her energy for a simple tablet to regenerate her completely.
"Thank you girls… Hey Hinata, since when did you learn any healing jutsu?"
"Sakura-San taught me some basic healing jutsu, since with my Byakugan I can be more thorough with chakra network recovery."
"I have to say Tenten, that was an amazing showcase of your weapons usage. Lady Tsunade would be so proud of you." Sakura said, causing Tenten to blush. Since Tsunade was one of her inspirations.
"You think so Sakura?"
"Hell yeah, I believe you should show her that technique to her when she comes home next time."
"So Kenji, what was with that jutsu you and Sakura came up with... Cherry Blossom Storm?" Ryuzan inquired his teammate about it.
"Just something we came up with years ago, we wanted to create a special jutsu that only we could know. And it paid off completely."
Ryuzan then thought of something, it was troubling him a bit but it was something that felt weird.
"I know we're celebrating this victory, don't get me wrong but I feel that maybe that was a tad bit too easy of a fight."
Sure enough, Hinata could see movement coming from the man's downed body. She started to tremble a bit. Both Kenji and Sakura were in shock as well. The man soon arose from the ground. Hinata couldn't believe it, same with Kenji. The man soon shook off all the weapons that Tenten implanted in him. He then pulled out a giant Katana blade that was stuck in his neck. There he was standing in front of them, completely undamaged.
"I… I can't believe it! We hit him with everything we had. And now he looks like he is unfazed by our onslaught." Hinata stumbled with her words.
"What do we do now Ken-Kun?" Sakura said, holding her husband's arm. Now she was trembling like Hinata was earlier.
Kenji tried to think of a plan, but the man lifted his hand and a blue aura surrounded it. It would push the 6 ninjas away.
"Very good my 6 ninja. Have to say I'm quite impressed. But now I'm afraid that you all must die. I'm not like any other ninja… you are looking at a god. And now I will have to eradicate the six of you." He said, lifting his hand and the same blue aura surrounded it and the man thrust his hand at them.
However… something happened to Kenji and the others. What they felt could have been the end of their lives was warm and calm. Kenji looked at his body as the blue aura quickly recharged him. The same went for Sakura, Hideki, Hinata, Ryuzan, and Tenten. They weren't in danger at all, they were fully healed if they suffered any damage from that fight. The man in the cloak chuckled a bit as they were puzzled.
"Umm excuse me, I have a question. I thought that you were gonna kill us?" Tenten asked the man in the cloak.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Sakura asked as well.
"I was never gonna kill you or your husbands, my dear. This was a test to see if you are worthy and you passed with flying colors."
After a few moments of processing what just happened, the six of them would erupt in one moment of unison… "WHAT!"
After a bit, The six of them would hear out the man in the cloak, he would then begin to explain who he was.
"I'm so sorry about putting you through that. I didn't mean to be so upfront. Sending my creations to do battle with you but it was all part of my plan to test you six. My name is Kronos and I'm a god of time and dimensions. And I have foreseen your arrival here and I am requesting your aid"
"What do you mean your aid?" Ryuzan asks the man named Kronos.
"There is a mysterious threat somewhere in another dimension, and I need help dealing with it. I originally was gonna enlist the help of your friend Sasuke Uchiha, but he didn't pass my criteria. But I sensed a few ninjas in this world that had the potential in this mission."
"What do we have to do to stop this threat if you don't mind me asking?" Sakura asks him, and the man answers.
"Because my dear, if this threat isn't stopped then eventually it will come over to this dimension and destroy not only the dimension where this is starting but this one as well. The only way to defeat it is by sending you to the other dimension."
"Why another dimension?, I mean I hate to be all negative but why are you asking us for help when you could either use ninja that dimension or stop it yourself." Hideki would insert his own two cents.
"I cannot interfere with the happenings with that dimension. Should I do that, my life force could be erased. I am seeking your help, that is the loophole. As for seeking help in that dimension… I'm afraid the people I seek will not have the tools to stop this threat. I will not force you to do this, it will be your decision and your decisions alone. I will give you all the time in the world. However should you accept, you will integrate with the versions of yourselves from that world."
Kronos soon disappeared and this would allow Kenji and his friends to decide this urgent matter. They took little to no time to talk it over. The others soon started to talk it over.
"I don't know if we should trust him. It could lead to a trap that could destroy us all." Tenten sounded off, with a bit of hesitation. "But on the other hand, I don't want my darling princess to be erased by this new threat. So if we're gonna vote, then I vote to go.
"I know Tenten, but while I am skeptical about it… the possibility of it spilling over to this world and killing Hana and our loved ones is something I am more worried about." Hideki added some perspective about it.
"While I agree to some degree with Tenten, Hideki also makes a good case as well. So if we're holding a vote on it… Count me in to stop this threat." Ryuzan said, with a smile of confidence.
"I'm with you 100 percent Ryuzan. If it means protecting Neji and my sister and father then I'm voting with you as well." Hinata says, holding his hand.
"If you guys are in, then I'm also going. No chance in hell I'm gonna allow Mafuyu and Kaito possibly get involved with this." Sakura casts her vote.
Kenji is the last one to voice his opinion. "Our families, our friends, our loved ones could be in danger by this unknown threat. As the captain of the Konoha Elite Guard, it's my sacred duty to keep our village safe. And now it looks like we will all do our very best to save not only our home but our world protected, so let's do our very damn best and lay the smackdown on this mysterious enemy."
"Mister, we accept this mission." Hinata said, with the man moving.
"Perfect, now I will tell you that by accepting it you will be going into this dimension as you were when you were just becoming genin. I picked this part of the timeline for you to try to stop it by the source so you can also become stronger."
"Genin, man I never thought I would experience my childhood once again." Sakura says, with a giggle.
Ryuzan smiles and holds Hinata's hand. "I think it's awesome, I feel like it will allow us to spend more time with the people we love."
"However, I must give you a fair warning. While most things will be like they were in this world like certain events, you will notice a lot of changes. This is a whole new world for you to explore so beware."
Kenji looks at his friends and takes a deep breath. "Alright Kronos, we are ready to go to this dimension."
The man soon emitted a blue aura and it once again enveloped Kenji and the others. As they began to levitate off the ground.
"Kenji, I wish you and your friends the best of luck. Have fun and stay safe."
Kenji, Hideki, and Ryuzan grabbed their significant others hands and they flew into the vortex in the sky. As they flew through what looked like a weird dipliction of outer space. They would stretch and twist, it was the weirdest experience their bodies would experience. They would start to feel their bodies soon regress into their 12-year-old versions. They began to weaken as well.
"Ken-Kun?" Sakura said before her hand began to lose its grip.
"Sakura, don't worry I'll find you soon." He said, before all six of the ninjas separated from the party, and saw a blinding light and it would all go dark. It was quiet and silent, a void in front of one of the six, as a voice would soon break and awake him.
"Hideki… HIDEEKKKIII… it's time to get up honey." A voice said, calmly and gently.
Hideki soon awoke and sat up in his bed. He would rub his eyes and get up. At this moment he was still used to sleeping in a big bed with his wife. But this was a smaller bed than what he was accustomed to.
"What a weird dream, I wonder if Tenten is making my favorite breakfast. But her voice sounds very different." He said as he approached a mirror.
He stopped and saw the reflection in the mirror. He looked it over a bit, seeing a young man in the reflection, and tried to scold the young man thinking that the young lad may have entered the wrong house.
"Hey little boy, I think you should go back to your home."
No response from the kid, he repeated what he just said but saw that the image was matching his movements. It would slowly come to him.
"Wait a minute, you're not some stranger in my house... Oh my god... I'M FREAKING 12 YEARS OLD AGAIN!"
Hideki would let out the loudest scream. Kronos did it, he brought the Konoha Six into another dimension.